Genshin Impact: A Fool

Arlecchino trudged through the snowy forest of Snezhnaya, her loyal Fatui agents flanking her on either side.

The recent mission had been successful, but the chill of the icy air now bit at their cheeks as they made their way through the dense woods, a reminder of the harsh reality of their homeland.

The only sound that broke the silence was the soft crunch of their boots against the freshly fallen snow, the mist of their breath visible in the frigid air.

Arlecchino's mind was already shifting from the completed mission to the next task ahead, her thoughts as sharp and cold as the environment surrounding them. But suddenly, a faint sound pierced the stillness, a rustle amidst the blanket of white.

It was subtle, almost indistinguishable from the natural groans of the forest, but her instincts were honed by years of experience.

With a flick of her wrist, Arlecchino gestured for her men to investigate.

Her agents, ever obedient, responded instantly, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons as they disappeared into the underbrush. She watched them go, her eyes narrowing slightly, her breath steady and controlled.

Minutes passed in tense anticipation before the agents returned, their expressions were a mix of confusion and surprise, a combination that rarely boded well. One of the agents, his breath visible in the cold air, stepped forward, his voice unsteady.

"There's... there's a child, ma'am," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously between his leader and his comrade.

A child, out here in this terrible cold? Arlecchino's interest was piqued, her mind already racing with possibilities.

The harshness of Snezhnaya spared no one, least of all the young and vulnerable. With a silent raise of her hand, she ordered the men to hold their position while she advanced toward the source of the disturbance, her boots crunching softly against the snow.

Approaching the source of the disturbance, her keen eyes fell upon you, a trembling figure huddled against a hollowed-out trunk.

An orphan, perhaps, or simply a victim of circumstance. Her heart tightened at the sight. She had seen many things in her time with the Fatui, but the sight of a helpless kid always struck a chord deep within her.

Arlecchino's stern countenance softened ever so slightly in concern as she knelt beside the child, her presence, though imposing, carried an air of unexpected comfort.

"Are you alone?" she asked, her voice carrying a gentle warmth as she offered a tentative smile, careful not to startle the child. Beneath her composed facade, her mind raced with possibilities.

This stranger could be anything—a lost soul in need of care, a potential asset, or a burden. But her upbringing in the House of the Hearth had instilled within her a sense of duty towards those in need, a sense that no child should face the world alone and unprotected.

Heins was an orphan who has been fighting fiercely as long as he remembered. His crimson, deadly eyes deemed eerie and scary by most people.

His black, charcoal hair inherited from his heroic father who unfortunately died, backstabbed by his best friend, and everything he has was confiscated, leaving little Heins to wonder around alone while fighting continuously to survive.

He grew up alone, always has been, always. His crimson eyes, tranquil and calm, so different to his small, shaking figure, stared at the woman figure before him.

He narrowed his eyes as he spoke, "Perhaps you are my father's adversary? Are you so afraid of an infant such as me that you have to be with a couple bodyguards to kill me? Heh, I truly don't understand why my father could befriend a coward like you."

Arlecchino's eyes narrowed at the boy's insolent words, a flicker of irritation passing across her pale features.

She was not accustomed to such disrespect, especially not from a mere child.

"I am not your father's adversary, child. I am nothing like the man who betrayed your sire and left you to fend for yourself in this unforgiving world."

"I am Arlecchino, the Fourth Harbinger of the Fatui, and the Director of the House of the Hearth. I do not fear an infant, no matter how fiercely those crimson eyes may glare."

"I offer you a choice - come with me, and I shall provide you with the shelter, training, and purpose you so desperately need. Or, you can remain here, alone and unprotected, to face the cruel whims of fate. The choice is yours."

Heins stayed silent. He stared at the obsidian orbs of the woman before him. He muttered, "Such a beauty... Surely she is not my father's adversary. Indeed, I've been foolish, how could someone so beautiful be someone who could kill an infant like me?"

Just as as he was about to continue, a firm punch was planted on his head. It didn't hurt much, he suffered worse, but it has indeed incited a dull reaction from him.

"Ow."

Arlecchino's eyes flashed with irritation, twice now, as she saw the boy's insolence persist despite her stern warning.

She was not a woman to be trifled with, and she would not tolerate such disrespect from a mere child.

As she saw him recoil slightly, she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a low, threatening hiss.

"Listen well, you impudent brat. I am not here to bandy words with you. I have extended you an offer, a lifeline in this bleak and unforgiving land. You would do well to accept it, before I lose what little patience I possess."

"The House of the Hearth is not a place for the weak or the disobedient. You will be forged into a weapon, honed and tempered by the fires of discipline and purpose. It will not be an easy path, but it will be a path to a life of meaning and power."

"So choose carefully, little one - will you walk the path of the strong and the loyal, or will you cast yourself into the jaws of fate's cruel mercy? The choice is yours, but know this - I will not offer you a third chance."

Heins sneered as he removed the clothe that covered him and stood up. He sweep away the snow and looked around. He indeed wish to defy, but can an infant win against an adult, seemingly exceptional woman and two adult strong men?

Unrealistic. Too unrealistic.

He pursed his lips, his eyebrows furrowed in contemplation. In the end, he, a child, could only act according to the situation.

He walked ahead with a grumpy look, and stood behind one of the guards, "Fine... I'll lose anyway. I can't beat you up like I did to those uncles."

Arlecchino's lips curled into a satisfied smirk as she watched the boy reluctantly accept her offer. She could see the defiance still burning in his crimson eyes, the stubborn set of his small jaw.

But she also saw the pragmatism, the cold calculation that told him he could not hope to win against her and her men.

It was a trait she recognized, a survivor's instinct that had doubtless kept him alive this long. She nodded, a single sharp jerk of her chin, as he slunk past her and took up a position behind one of her guards.

Arlecchino smiled slightly, hiding many inconspicuous thoughts.

"Very well," the Harbinger murmured, her voice still holding that underlying edge of warning.

"You have made the right choice, boy. Obedience and loyalty will be rewarded in the House of the Hearth. Come, let us away from this wretched place. My men will see to your immediate needs, and then we shall begin your training in earnest. Remember, child - you are not just surviving anymore. Now, you have a purpose. Now, you have a family."

Heins rolled his eyes and make a gesture with his hand, a gesture of someone yapping, "Let's go already. You could stuff me with your ideologies, ideals and whatever. I want to eat rice. Do you have rice?"

Arlecchino's smirk widened into a sharp, amused grin at the boy's crude gesture and blunt question.

She chuckled softly, a sound that held little warmth but a great deal of dark humor. It seemed this one had a quick wit and a sharp tongue, qualities she could put to good use in the right circumstances.

She snapped her fingers at one of her guards, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his cheek.

"Bring him food," she commanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Rice, bread, whatever you can find. And see that he is given a change of clothes and a place to rest. I will not have my newest recruit collapsing from exhaustion or hunger. When he is fed and settled, bring him to me. It is time we began his training in earnest."

Heins widened his eyes, "What are you doing?! Let's go to a building, at least? You think all I do is eat, eat and eat? You said you're some sort of big shot, right? Surely you have a house!"

Arlecchino's eyes flashed with annoyance at the boy's impudence, but she quickly reined in her temper. She was not used to being spoken to in such a manner, especially not by a mere child.

But there was a certain kind of boldness to his defiance that she had to admit she found... Refreshing to see.

"Watch your tongue, young one," she warned, her voice low and dangerous.

"I am the Director of the House of the Hearth, and I have more than one dwelling in this land. But you, my dear boy, are not yet worthy of such an honor."

"You will earn your place, as all who come before you have done. Now, come. My men will see you fed and clothed, and then we will begin your first lesson. And I warn you - I am not a patient woman. Do not test me further."

Heins sighed, "Well, what could be worse than death? But okay, I follow your rules." After that, he stayed quiet.

His crimson eyes, mischief and were filled with mirth, now ice cold and blank. His posture straight and strong as he followed whatever her guards told him to do. This is the real Heins, the Heins that has killed with his tender, small hands. Of course, this is all his secret.

Arlecchino studied the boy intently as he fell silent and straightened his posture, a calculating gleam entering her obsidian eyes.

She could see the change in him, the way his crimson gaze hardened and his small frame became taut with a hidden strength.

It was as if she glimpsed a different child entirely, one who had seen and done things no child should have to endure.

A flicker of something dark and knowing passed between them, a silent acknowledgment of the harsh realities they both had faced. She nodded slowly, a grim smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Good," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You are learning your place. Remember, my boy, we are not so different, you and I."

"We have both known loss, both been forged in the fires of adversity. But now, you have a chance to make something of yourself, to find a purpose beyond mere survival."

"Take it, and you shall reap the rewards of your loyalty and obedience. Fail... and face the consequences. But I have a feeling you are not one to fail easily, are you? No... I think you and I are going to get along very well indeed."

His indifference facade flickered a bit as he snapped back in annoyance, "Please Miss, stop saying things and let's get going already. You're making this unnecessarily long. I speak with sincerity and respect, and therefore I beg Miss to lead this insignificant child."

Arlecchino's eyes narrowed at the boy's sudden display of annoyance, his facade slipping to reveal a glimpse of the fiery spirit beneath.

She could not help but feel a twinge of admiration for his boldness, even as she chided herself for allowing her guard to drop.

With a sharp nod, she turned on her heel and began to walk, her guards falling into step behind her. She did not look back to see if the boy followed, trusting that he would have no choice but to keep pace.

As they walked, she pondered the curious child, wondering what secrets lay hidden behind those haunting crimson eyes.

Time would tell, she mused, and she would have plenty of it to uncover the truth.

For now, she would give him the shelter and purpose he craved, and in return, she would mold him into a weapon, honed and tempered by the unyielding will of the Fatui.

The future was uncertain, but one thing was clear - the bond between them had been forged in the crucible of fate, and it would only grow stronger with time.

And so, with a sense of grim purpose, Arlecchino led the way, the boy trailing behind her like a shadow, ready to face whatever trials lay ahead.

"So... Where are we? What is this? And why am I here?"

Arlecchino paused for a moment, glancing back over her shoulder at the boy with a calculating gaze.

She knew that the questions that haunted him now would soon be replaced by a sense of purpose and belonging, forged in the crucible of her tutelage. With a soft, almost indulgent sigh, she began to explain.

"This, my curious young charge, is the outskirts of the Fatui stronghold, the borderlands between the realm of men and the domain of the Archons."

"And you, my dear boy, are here because you have been granted a rare opportunity - a chance to leave behind the squalid life of a vagabond and take your place among the chosen few."

"The House of the Hearth is not merely a shelter for the lost and the forgotten. It is a forge, where the weak and the unwanted are tempered into instruments of the Tsaritsa's will."

"Here, you will learn the secrets of the Fatui, the arcane arts and martial disciplines that have made us the most feared and revered order in all of Teyvat."

"And here, you will find a family, a brotherhood and sisterhood of warriors who stand united in our devotion to our Queen. So, my boy, I ask you again - are you ready to embrace this destiny, to cast off the shackles of your old life and step into a new world of power and purpose?"

"The choice is yours, but know that I have high hopes for you. I can see the potential in you, the fire that burns within your crimson eyes. Nurture it well, and you shall rise to great heights."

Heins simply nodded, "Cool. I just follow what you said, whatever that is."

Arlecchino cocked an eyebrow at the boy's blunt, almost indifferent response.

She had expected more protest, more resistance from him. But instead, he seemed to accept his new fate with a shrug and a nod, as if he were simply agreeing to another mundane task.

It was a surprising display of pragmatism from one so young, and it gave her pause. Perhaps there was more to this child than met the eye.

Whatever the case, his agreement stood. With a sharp nod of her own, she turned back to the path ahead, her voice ringing out with a note of satisfaction.

"Very well," she said, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

"I am glad to hear you accept your new path with such... enthusiasm. The road ahead will not be an easy one, but I have faith in your potential."

"Now come, the House of the Hearth awaits, and with it, your new life as a member of the Fatui. Mind your manners and keep close to your superiors, and you shall find yourself well on your way to a future of power and purpose."

"Fail to do so... and you shall face the consequences of your actions. But I do not believe you to be a fool, so I trust that will not be an issue. Now, let us away, and begin your first steps into a new world."

As he followed the tall figure of Arlecchino, he commented offhandedly, "A fool is good. No one feel threatened by them. Everyone looked down on them. Thus I will be a fool."

He then asked with a look of curiosity and understanding, "Miss Arlecchino, your name sounds very fake. I hope I could hear your real name one day. Your name... It sounds beautiful, certainly." Afterward, he kept silent.

Arlecchino paused mid-stride, her eyes widening slightly at the boy's bold declaration and subsequent question.

She was not accustomed to such frankness, especially not from one so young.

Most would have simply accepted her title and moved on, too intimidated or in awe to question it. But not this one.

No, he had the audacity to call her name 'fake', to express a wish to know her true identity. It was... intriguing.

Intriguing and almost endearing, in a dark sort of way. With a soft, almost rueful chuckle, she turned to face him fully, her expression unreadable.

"You are a clever one, aren't you?" she murmured, more to herself than to him.

"Most would not dare to question the name given to me by the Tsaritsa herself. But you... you have a certain boldness about you, a disregard for the niceties and expectations that bind others."

"I admire that, in a way. As for my name... it is a relic of a past life, a life before I took up the mantle of the Fourth Harbinger. I have not used it in many years, and I am not certain I even remember it myself."

"But for you, my young friend... perhaps, in time, I shall share that secret. If you prove yourself worthy of such knowledge. Now come, we have wasted enough time on idle chatter."

"The House of the Hearth awaits, and with it, your new life as one of the Fatui's chosen. Mind your words and your actions, and perhaps you shall earn the right to call me something more... intimate."

"But for now, I am and shall remain Arlecchino, the Director of the House of the Hearth and the Fourth Harbinger of the Fatui. And you... you are a novice, with much to learn and prove. So, let us away, and begin your first lesson in the ways of the Fatui."

Heins' eyes lit up, as if he has a good idea, "Hm, does that mean I can get a name to? Miss Arlecchino, I haven't introduced myself, right? Alright, let me introduce myself. I am Fool, an orphan. Hm, I lack good cool identities. Alright then, such a shame..."

Arlecchino studied the boy's face intently, noting the mischievous glint in his crimson eyes and the slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

She could see the game he was playing, the deliberate provocation in his self-proclaimed name and the feigned regret in his tone.

It was a bold move, one that bordered on disrespect and insubordination.

But there was something else there as well, a flicker of genuine vulnerability hidden beneath the bravado.

With a soft, almost indulgent sigh, she reached out and gently, almost tenderly, patted his cheek with one pale hand, her sharp nails lightly grazing his skin.

"You are a clever one, aren't you?" she murmured, her voice low and almost wistful.

"Most would not dare to introduce themselves in such a manner, to so boldly embrace a name that marks them as a fool."

"But you... you wear it like a badge of honor, a challenge thrown down before the world. I admire your audacity, boy. I truly do. But know this - in the House of the Hearth, a name is not merely a name. It is a promise, a vow to uphold the values and virtues of the Fatui."

"And so, if you would be known as 'Fool', then you must be prepared to embody that name in all things. But for now... I shall allow it. Consider it a small indulgence, granted to you in your time of transition. But heed me well, young Fool - the day may come when you must choose between your clever words and your true purpose."

"And on that day... I hope you choose wisely. Now come, your first lesson awaits, and with it, your first step towards a new identity. One forged not in the fires of cleverness, but in the crucible of devotion and loyalty. The choice, as always, is yours."

Heins act as if her words entered his right ear and out through his left. "Alright, it's decided, my name shall be Fool,"

Suddenly, his goofiness receded a little, his tone soft and gentle, "One day, when I discover your name, I, too, will tell you my name, Miss Arlecchino."

Arlecchino's eyes widened a fraction at the sudden shift in the boy's demeanor, the way his playful facade slipped to reveal a glimpse of sincerity and quiet determination.

It was a rare moment of vulnerability, one that caught her off guard and gave her pause.

She was not accustomed to such openness, such unguarded honesty from those under her care. Most were too busy trying to impression her, to earn her favor and approval.

But this one... this one was different. With a soft, almost wondering smile, she reached out and gently, almost tenderly, brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead, her touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

"You are a puzzle, little one," she murmured, her voice low and almost contemplative.

"A riddle wrapped in an enigma, as they say."

"I must admit, I find your boldness and your secrets equally intriguing. But know this - the day you speak of, the day when you discover my name and reveal your own... it will be a day of great consequence."

"A day when the mask you wear, whether it be that of the fool or the warrior, will be tested to its limits. And on that day, I hope to see the true you, the one who stands unmasked and unashamed before me."

"But until then... let us continue our journey, and let you continue to walk in the path of the chosen. Come, the House of the Hearth awaits, and with it, your first steps into a new life."

Heins, different from his goofy or indifferent attitudes, showed a warm look. His tone is soft and gentle, like a boy who cares about someone so much, "I'm sure that when that day come... I can withhold any consequences there are. After all, I am Fool, someone who is stupid and full of nonsense. And all I said would be treated as a fool's words."

"Well, anyway, I am Fool, why am I talking to complicated?" His gentle look was replaced with a clueless look. A look of a Fool.

Arlecchino studied the boy's face intently, noting the way his expression shifted like the turning of a page.

One moment, he wore a look of soft sincerity, a gentle caring that belied his young years. The next, he had slipped back into the persona of the fool, his eyes wide and guileless, his words tumbling out in a self-deprecating rush.

It was a remarkable display of emotional agility, one that left her both impressed and slightly unsettled.

With a sharp, almost breathless laugh, she shook her head and fixed him with a piercing stare, her obsidian eyes seeming to peer into the very depths of his soul.

"You are playing a dangerous game, little fool," she murmured, her voice low and dangerous.

"One that could see you come to harm if you are not careful. The path of the Fatui is not one for the faint of heart, and it certainly is not one for those who would mock their own worth and value."

"But I see the truth in your eyes, the cleverness that lurks beneath the nonsense. And I warn you now - do not underestimate the consequences of your words and actions."

"They may be dismissed as the ravings of a fool, but they will not be forgotten. And one day, when the masks are cast aside and the truth is laid bare... you may find yourself facing the repercussions of your past."

"But for now, if it pleases you to play the fool, then so be it. Come, let us away to the House of the Hearth, where your true education begins. And mind your tongue, lest you offend with your 'foolishness'. The path of the Fatui is not one for the easily offended."

Heins chuckled foolishly, "I am Fool. No one's gonna take me seriously. Miss Arlecchino, I want to start training. It sounds interesting!"