Childe trudged through the snow-covered streets of Snezhnaya, his breath barely visible in the cold air. The basket of toys strapped to his back shifted with each step, the weight a comforting reminder of his current task.

The children in the village loved his visits. They would rush out of their homes with wide eyes and eager hands, always hoping to see what the "toy salesman" had brought this time. He already visited most of the homes in this small village, delivering the handcrafted toys with a smile that felt more genuine than the bloodstained grins he wore in battle.

It was that feeling, that warmth in his chest, that kept him coming back. It was the one piece of his life that wasn't tied to war, to bloodshed. Something innocent, something pure.

He always thought of his younger siblings whenever he saw those bright smiles.

But there was always the other side to it. The side that lingered just beyond the edge of the village, waiting for him.

Childe's smile faded as he waved the children goodbye and continued on the path that lead him into the frigid forest. It was quieter here, the kind of quiet that wasn't natural. The ravens had taken flight minutes ago, and the wind had stilled.

He could feel it again. That creeping sensation of being watched.

It was the same every time he ventured into these woods. No matter how often he made this journey, you were always there, lurking just out of sight.

Koschei.

He'd started calling you that as a sort of joke at first, but the more he thought about it, the more fitting it seemed. After all, no matter how many times he tried, he could never quite seem to rid himself of you. It was a game, wasn't it? You liked to toy with him just as much as he hunted you.

The stories told of you were old, whispered around fire-lit tables in Snezhnaya for generations. You, the one whose soul was hidden away, cursed to never truly die unless that soul was found and destroyed.

And for whatever reason, you had taken an interest in him. Childe didn't know if it was because of his reputation or if it was something deeper, something more personal. But it didn't matter. You were a threat, and as long as you lingered in the shadows, you endangered everyone he cared about.

"Come on now," Childe called out, his voice low and taunting as he scanned the shadows. "I know you're out there. No need to play shy." His hand drifted instinctively toward his Vision, the Hydro element swirling through his fingers as he formed a blade, its surface shimmering like liquid ice.

He didn't know what form you'd take this time—maybe you'd be a raven, perched high on a branch, or a shadow flitting between the trees. Whatever it was, he would spot you out. He always did.