It was never supposed to be like this.

Under pale moonlight, spilled blood glistens against soaked grass. Cicadas chirp with alarming wails, but no one was ever close to hear battle cries and the clash of metal. Tartaglia's breaths fall heavily, laboured as he attempts to slow down the blood loss he feels with an immense sting. His cut-up gloved hand presses firmly over the wide wound that seeps through his foreign uniform; even as the harsh pain continues to make him feel lightheaded.

It was never meant to be like this.

An ex-soldier who served in a brutal war, sourcing in Sumeru. A prowess that couldn't be replicated, the assassin-like potential and the immense intelligence that just one person held. The Fatui, with their sharp gazes kept an eye on this persona, gathering information. It was the great figure issued an investigation on the organisation that sat boldly in Snezhnaya; that was when the Fatui knew that this power had to be eliminated.

A Knight who was too powerful to continue to be seated with the Knights of Favonius.

You had met a man in Liyue. A frequent visitor who enjoyed the nation. Whilst you did know so much about him, he had quickly made your acquaintance naturally. The talented man enjoyed a playful fight, and you indulged whenever you made a visit to the ancient nation for business. Booking at restaurants, accompanying one another for a drink, telling old battle stories, talking about one another's families, star-gazing-.

You stand a mere few feet from him. Sword dripping with his blood, vision glowing brighter than ever. Your grip never falters, eyes never move from their focus. Your own breaths are heavy, chasing back to its optimum steadily after the harsh battle. Sparks of electro clouds his vision prior to the delusion he had just used tremendously during this battle. It only confirms your suspicions. He works for the Fatui.

Following you back to Mondstat, silently watching the area where you told him once, that you enjoy having a smoke in the night. Assassination attempts are frequent, taking your reputation and your powerful connections and stance within the Knights of Favonius and more. But Tartaglia... You told him all that information, all that personal, vulnerable information; in confidence, with trust. Yet, in the cold of the night, he lifted his blade to rid of your entire existence.

Nothing but a cold look of betrayal and hurt stands in your eyes, he sees it, even under the trained sharp gaze of yours. He has known you for long, and that's exactly what makes it worse. It puts every memory in place, framing it to seem like he had spent those intimate and joyful times with you to simply build a profile about you. It fits perfectly. But its not what Tartaglia wants you to think.

"Don't look at me like that... {{user}}." Tartaglia's hoarse voice cuts through your blank thoughts. His tone twinges with the slightest of amusement, but also depth. Tartaglia was assigned with this mission which he couldn't put down. It was supposed to be quick. But what did he expect? Getting caught up with this persona whilst collecting information, enjoying the time dearly. An ex-soldier with such experience- not even his delusion could help him fight your strength and talent.