Chapter 11: Memento Mori
"Greedo!!!"
Dony immediately rushed forward toward Greedo's lifeless body.
'H-Huh…?'
Time seemed to slow down.
What exactly just happened?
Just a second ago, Greedo had been standing there, ready for anything. And now he was… dead?
Osha's heart began pounding violently in his chest. His hands started shaking as the shock hit him, his instincts screaming inside his head, fight or flight.
His body chose for him.
"Greedo!!! Hmph-!"
Before Dony could reach Greedo's lifeless body, Osha lunged forward and grabbed her, clamping a hand over her mouth as he dragged her back down the stairs.
"Mmph!"
Osha groaned as Dony bit down hard on his hand. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled wildly in his grip, desperately trying to break free and run back to Greedo.
'I'm sorry… I'm sorry!'
Osha repeated in his mind as he dragged Dony behind the counter.
She clawed at him, biting and scratching his hands, struggling with everything she had. But the struggle slowly weakened. Her movements became slower… weaker… until finally her body went limp as she lost consciousness.
Right now, only one thought remained in Osha's mind.
Survive.
Without hesitating, he grabbed the lamp from the counter and violently threw it onto the floor.
*CRASH!*
The light went out instantly, plunging the entire shop into darkness.
"Did you think I would just let you bastards use me like this?!"
A voice shouted from upstairs-angry, bitter, and filled with the rage of someone who had been pushed too far for too long.
But Osha didn't care about any of that.
Not right now.
"Come out, you damn-! H-Huh…? A kid…?"
The shop owner stepped forward, his voice suddenly faltering.
His eyes fell upon the lifeless corpse lying at the top of the stairs. Greedo.
Blood spread across the steps, the small body lying twisted and unmoving.
The man's eyes widened in horror.
"No… no, no, no… I didn't-"
He was about to reach out, but stopped when he realized it was already too late. He had been expecting those brutes to come back.
Not… children.
"I'm sorry! I-I didn't know! I won't s-shoot any of you anymore! Are any of you injured?! I-I can help!"
The man pleaded desperately. Slowly, he placed his blunderbuss on the floor, letting it slide away from his reach. Then he began stepping carefully down into the darkened shop, his eyes useless in the sudden darkness.
He was completely blind.
But Osha… didn't care.
Innocent or not, this man had just killed Greedo.
And right now, Osha had an opening.
He took it.
Slowly, while crouched behind the counter, Osha pulled the flintlock from inside his clothes. His hands trembled, but he forced himself to stay still. He didn't rise. He didn't expose himself.
Instead, he quietly lifted the pistol over the edge of the counter, his wrist twisted awkwardly, the gun nearly upside down as he aimed only by sound.
The man's footsteps creaked against the wooden floor.
Osha squeezed the trigger.
*BANG!*
The gunshot exploded through the dark room.
"Ack-!"
The man cried out as the ball struck him in the lower body. His legs buckled instantly, and his body slammed heavily against the floor with a dull thud.
"HAAAA!"
"WAIT-!"
The moment Osha heard the shot land, he moved.
He sprang up from behind the counter and lunged forward, pouncing on the man before he could even recover from the gunshot. The shop was drowned in darkness, but Osha's vision still guided him, his cat-traits allowing him to see faint shapes in the blackness. The world around him looked pale and washed in a dim white haze, just enough for him to make out the man's form writhing on the floor.
And then Osha struck.
*SHANK!*
"ACK! STOP!"
The first stab plunged into the man's right shoulder, piercing through fabric and muscle.
*STAB!*
The second went into his upper left arm, forcing the elbow to twist awkwardly.
*SLICE!*
The knife cut across his chest, scraping ribs and opening a shallow line that bled quickly.
"AHHHH"
The man screamed, his voice cracking into panicked, choking cries as he tried to shield himself, his hands desperately trying to grab at Osha's arms.
But Osha's mind was empty.
Completely empty.
There were no thoughts left, only rage… and grief.
Earlier, he had been thinking about fight or flight.
Now there was no question.
He had chosen the latter.
The knife rose and fell again and again, each strike wet and violent. Fabric tore, skin split, and blood spilled across the wooden floor, warm and slick beneath Osha's hands.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He didn't stop.
Even when the man's struggles grew weaker… even when the screams broke into choking gasps… even when the body beneath him stopped resisting.
Osha kept stabbing.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Twenty-eight times.
By the time his arm finally stopped moving, the knife in his hand was dripping with blood, and the floor beneath them had become a dark red pool of blood.
Osha's breathing came in ragged gasps, his eyes wide as they landed on the butchered body sprawled beneath him. It was almost unrecognizable, clothes soaked through with blood, limbs twisted at impossible angles. His bloodied hands shook uncontrollably as he raised them to his face, and then, as the adrenaline finally subsided, a strange clarity hit him.
"Hmph!"
He vomited violently to the side, bile and remnants of adrenaline leaving him hollow and spent.
"T-the… fuck…?"
He crawled backward, every movement sluggish, and stared at the corpse before him.
"I… I did that…?"
The question hung in the air, unanswered, echoing in the quiet aftermath of chaos.
But there was no time to question his sanity, right now, survival came first.
"Don… Dony?"
Osha hurried back to the counter, only to find Dony still unconscious, her small body slumped limply.
That was bad. He couldn't carry her and make it out without being spotted. The patrols, the Clockwork Mekas, they'd notice immediately.
Then it hit him.
'Whistle…'
Without hesitation, Osha burst out of the shop and let out a sharp, piercing whistle. The echoes bounced off the narrow alleyways, stretching into the darkness. Silence lingered for a heartbeat, then the distant sound of hooves broke through.
*Neigh.*
A horse, or rather, Roach, responded to his call, galloping closer with measured speed.
"Wait here."
Osha said, his voice firm, before slipping back into the shop to deal with Dony.
Osha's head was in turmoil, his thoughts hazy and disjointed. He didn't even notice it at first, but his eyes were beginning to water.
He gently lifted Dony into his arms, carrying her like a princess. Her weight, especially while unconscious, strained his arms, his muscles trembling from exhaustion and shock.
Just as he was about to leave, he looked back.
"Hmpf!"
He immediately regretted it.
Greedo's lifeless body lay at the top of the stairs, unmoving. In the dim light seeping through the doorway, it almost felt like those empty eyes were staring back at him… asking a silent question.
'Why did this happen?'
"I'm sorry… I'm sorry… I'm sorry…"
Osha whispered the same words again and again as he stepped out of the shop.
Outside, Roach had already approached. The horse seemed to sense his turmoil, nudging him gently with its muzzle.
"Not now… please…"
Osha murmured weakly.
Roach let out a soft neigh and lowered itself slightly, allowing Osha to carefully place Dony onto the saddle.
After that, Osha settled himself on the back to make sure Dony didn't fall.
"Let's go…"
Osha said quietly as he guided Roach on where to go.
The short journey back was silent.
Just earlier, Osha had been admiring the city's beauty at night, walking through its quiet streets and making a promise with Greedo and Dony. A promise to leave this place together someday.
And yet… it had already been broken within the next hour.
His head stayed lowered for the entire ride, his thoughts drifting back again and again to that shop, the gunshot, the blood, Greedo falling, the knife in his hands.
The images refused to leave him.
Fortunately, no one seemed to notice them during the ride back. No patrols stopped them, and no Clockwork Mekas turned their way.
When they reached the manhole, Roach lowered his body to the ground.
Osha climbed down first before carefully lifting Dony from the saddle once more.
"Thank you, Roach… You can go back now."
Osha said quietly.
His eyes looked hollow and empty as he gave Roach only a single tired pat.
Osha carried Dony on his back in a piggyback, his breathing slightly strained as he felt her weight pressing down on his tired body.
"Roach, can you-"
Before Osha could finish, Roach bobbed his head as if understanding, the loyal steed already knowing what he meant.
"Thank you…"
Osha murmured before slowly descending the ladder into the manhole, carefully keeping Dony balanced on his back.
Above, Roach leaned his head over the opening, watching them for a moment. The horse let out a soft, gentle neigh before using its hooves to nudge the manhole cover back into place, sealing the entrance once more.
'It's okay… we're okay… almost there…'
Osha repeated the words in his mind, trying to convince himself.
But the memories kept coming back.
The journey through Fleuve Cendre was slow. Dony's weight on his back grew heavier with every step, and Osha's legs gradually began to weaken beneath him. His pace slowed, his breathing turning ragged and uneven as exhaustion crept in.
"Hmpf!"
Eventually, his legs gave out.
They both crashed onto the ground with a dull thud. Osha landed hard beside a narrow, filthy waterway where the sewer water slowly flowed past, the foul smell rising into the air.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then he slowly raised his head.
In the faint light reflecting off the murky water, he caught sight of himself.
His face… his clothes… his hands…
Everything was covered in blood.
"Damn it…"
Osha muttered under his breath. His right hand curled into a fist before he slammed it against the floor in frustration and exhaustion.
The impact stung, but he barely noticed.
His small body and aching muscles screamed for rest, even just a moment, but he forced himself back up anyway. Gritting his teeth, he lifted Dony onto his back again.
Step by step, he pushed forward.
The short journey felt endless. Every step dragged, every breath heavier than the last. His legs trembled, threatening to give out again, but somehow he kept moving.
Eventually, after what felt like forever, the familiar stone wall came into view.
The secret door.
The one they had come out through earlier.
"Fuck… what was it again…?"
Osha muttered as he leaned against the wall, trying to remember the code Greedo had told him.
But his mind wouldn't focus.
Every time he tried to think, the memory dragged him back to that shop...
And frankly… he didn't want to remember anything right now.
"Fuck! Open up! Open the damn door! Please…!"
Osha pounded his fist against the cold stone wall. But no reply came.
"Damn it…"
His strength faded quickly after that outburst. He slowly leaned forward, resting his forehead against the rough stone surface.
His eyes were still slightly watery, his teeth clenched tightly as he tried to hold himself together.
Osha didn't even notice the approaching footsteps from the side. His mind was too consumed by the turmoil inside it, his thoughts drowning out everything else around him.
"Osha?"
A familiar voice called out to him, a voice that once sent a shiver down his spine.
Osha slowly turned toward the sound.
"…Peruere?"
She stood there in the dim corridor, her posture straight, her face as stoic and unreadable as ever. Those unmistakable X-shaped eyes looked down at him quietly.
There were faint streaks of dried blood on her cheeks, and more stained her heeled boots.
Peruere didn't ask why Osha was covered in blood. She didn't ask why he was carrying an unconscious person either.
Instead, she simply said,
"Let me carry her."
Her voice was calm and flat.
She stepped forward and reached toward Dony, but just as her hand was about to touch her, Osha took a step back, clearly refusing the help.
"This is my burden to bear."
His voice was strained.
Was he being stupid? Irrational?
Maybe.
"You're being irrational."
Peruere said quietly as she reached out again.
*SLAP!*
Osha knocked her hand away.
For a brief moment, Peruere's eyes widened slightly in surprise… but just as quickly, her expression returned to its usual cold calm.
"Why do you care?!"
Osha suddenly snapped.
His voice cracked, exhaustion and anger spilling out all at once.
"Do you think I'm not strong enough to do this?! I know you don't care if she dies! I know you're not that type of person!"
His breathing was uneven, his hands shaking.
"You're not the type to care about others! You're the type that would kill anything or anyone that stands in your way! Everything is for your own gain!"
His voice lowered slightly, bitterness slipping through.
"Maybe that's why you killed her…"
He glared at her.
"So don't act as if you care…"
Truly, Osha was being irrational. Had anyone asked him yesterday what he thought of Peruere, he wouldn't have said any of those things. But right now, grief and turmoil clouded his mind, and every word was just a raw, irrational coping mechanism.
"I see."
Peruere's voice was calm, almost detached, barely reacting to Osha's outburst. Without another word, she turned toward the stone door.
"Praise thee the frozen Tsaritsa, for she watches her children with warm eyes."
She said the code, and the stone wall slowly began to rise. Flourne, finally not slacking, had only followed orders, failure to do so would have earned him punishment. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of Osha, bloodied and carrying an unconscious Dony, but he stayed silent, knowing better than to intervene.
Peruere didn't rush ahead. Instead of leaving Osha behind, she picked a torch from the wall and stepped forward slowly, her presence steady and deliberate. Her pace was measured, silent, yet the light she carried illuminated the path ahead, guiding him without a single word.
Even when Osha faltered, pausing now and then to catch his ragged breath, Peruere stayed close. She didn't turn to check on him, didn't offer a hand or a word of encouragement, yet she stayed.
Only when they reached the top of the stairs did Peruere finally stop guiding him. She lingered at a short distance, her posture rigid, eyes never leaving him, making sure he reached his room safely before she silently walked away.
Finally reaching their room, Osha gently laid Dony down on her bed, careful not to jostle her.
The moment he let go-
His legs gave out again.
"Augh…"
He groaned as he collapsed onto the floor, his body refusing to cooperate any longer.
He tried to push himself up, his arms trembling with the effort, but his legs wouldn't respond. They felt heavy… numb… like they didn't belong to him anymore.
So he stayed there.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
For half an hour, Osha lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. His eyes were dull, unfocused, and his mind… completely empty.
"I want to go home…"
He whispered the same words to himself again.
Osha didn't remember Genshin being this brutal.
Sure, the lore had its dark parts… but the game itself? It was just switching characters, fighting Hilichurls for their masks, and watching cutscenes you couldn't skip. It never felt real.
But this Teyvat…
This wasn't the one he knew.
This one was cruel. Unforgiving.
This world he had been reincarnated into… felt less like a fantasy, and more like hell itself. And right now, it felt like the world was his tormentor.
He finally managed to stand after giving his legs a bit of rest, though they still wobbled beneath him as he staggered toward the bathroom.
Once again, he faced the mirror.
Just moments ago, he hadn't looked anything like this.
Paranoia… he had told himself earlier.
But now, blood was everywhere.
It stained his uniform, smeared across his pants, dried along his face in dark streaks. His reflection barely looked like the usual adorable cat boy.
Slowly, he reached for the sink and began with his hands.
"It's not coming off…"
He whispered.
Osha scrubbed harder, water splashing as his movements grew more frantic. His fingers rubbed against his skin over and over, trying to peel the blood away, but the dried stains clung stubbornly, refusing to fade.
"H-Huh…?"
Panic crept in.
He scrubbed faster. Harder.
Again. Again. Again.
The sound of water and skin rubbing filled the bathroom, his breathing growing uneven. He didn't even notice when his nails scraped too deep, when his skin began to break.
"WHY WON'T IT-"
*KNOCK KNOCK*
"Osha!? Osha!"
A familiar voice called out from outside, the urgency clear as the door was pounded again and again.
"I'm coming in, okay?!"
The door swung open before he could respond.
"Clervie…?"
"Osha…"
Clervie froze for a moment as she took in the sight of him—his clothes stained, his face smeared with dried blood, his hands dripping with water.
But…
His hands were clean.
Osha slowly looked down at them.
The blood… was gone.
All that remained were faint scratches and a bite mark on his other hand.
His breath hitched slightly.
He had been scrubbing and scrubbing, convinced the blood wouldn't come off. But it already had.
"…Huh…?"
The realization sank in slowly.
He had been hallucinating.
A sudden wave of fatigue crashed over him, heavy and overwhelming.
His vision blurred, his body swaying as his strength finally gave out. He almost fell backward, but Clervie was quick.
She caught him just in time.
"I got you…"
---<>---
"It all happened just too fast…"
Osha muttered.
Inside the bathroom, Clervie carefully wiped the blood from his body with a damp towel while he sat on a small stool. His hair, his fluffy ears, even his tail, everything had been stained.
Peruere was actually the one who told Clervie about Osha, she's the reason why Clervie rushed over to his room. That little action of Peruere made Osha regret saying those words to her earlier.
"It's okay… you can tell me the rest when you're ready. Osha, none of this is your fault. At least be proud of yourself, you got Dony out of there. You did what you had to do, and no one will blame you for it…"
Clervie said softly as she worked through his hair, gently scrubbing away the dried blood.
But Osha's eyes remained hollow and distant. He didn't react, not even when her fingers brushed inside his cat ears, something that would normally make him flinch or squirm.
"I'm so used to being sold again and again… but to a place like this…"
He curled his legs up on the stool, making himself smaller.
"I want to get out of here, Clervie…"
Clervie paused, the cloth still in her hand. She took a slow breath before speaking again.
"I… want to get out of here too."
Her voice was quieter now.
"I've tried… multiple times. I always get caught."
She looked down slightly.
"But I can't just leave everyone here…"
Her grip on the cloth tightened just a little.
"I tried to change Mother's ways, but nothing ever gets through to her… I…"
She hesitated.
"I sometimes wish she would just… die. So I could finally create a place where children here don't have to go through what you've seen…"
The words hung heavy in the air. A child… wishing for her own mother's death.
"Osha, will you help me make my little fantasy come true? I only have a few friends here who would actually commit to such a reality… even I have a hard time convincing Peruere to help me…"
Clervie's words hung in the air, heavy with hope and desperation as she waited for Osha's answer.
"I wi-"
*THUD*
Both their heads snapped toward the sudden sound from the bedroom.
"Dony!"
Osha sprang from the stool, adrenaline immediately replacing the exhaustion that had weighed on him moments ago.
He burst into the bedroom. The window, previously shut tight, was now wide open, letting in the cold night air. The curtains fluttered in the wind. And Dony… she wasn't in her bed.
Osha froze, a chill crawling up his spine. Slowly, he moved toward the window, his heart hammering in his chest.
Below… the ground was painted in crimson. A body lay motionless, surrounded by the dark stain of blood pooling around her head.
Osha's legs gave out beneath him again. He slid down the window frame, arms wrapping around his head instinctively. His chest heaved with a mix of disbelief, horror, and shock.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHH!"