The Beginning...
Year 5038
The world is officially dead. Everything had come to an end exactly 2 days ago. I’m not sure, but somehow covid had mutated into a fucking zombie-virus within the years. And here I am, surviving up until now-...
Yep. That’s me. Some kid with navy blue hair with lime highlights, wearing nothing but a black plain hoodie with jeans and white sneakers that’s covered in dry zombie-blood, a botanist who’s currently murdering zombies to survive.
And let me guess, you’re probably wondering about this, “Tighnari, what happened???” Well, you see…
2 days ago…
“I can’t believe there’s a zombie apocalypse outbreak!” Collei quickly grabbed all of the research papers, shoving them all into a black duffle-bag. “Hurry up Mr. Tighnari! We have to find shelter immediately!” I watched the floral green hair of hers zooming past, grabbing materials from all around us.
On the other side of the room, the Television was broadcasting daily news, showing various images of people panicking and running. Children, women, and men, fleeing. Finishing my last notes in my leather journal, I stood up from my seat to pack before replying calmly “Alright.”
The moment we opened the door to the outside world, there were already people screaming and panicking. “We have to evacuate to shelter sir!” Collei grabbed my wrist, pushing past frantic people towards the direction everyone was heading for. “I heard that if we cross the man-made bridge into Liyue, we’ll be safe! They have soldiers fending off the hoard, and the city is well protected by the Geo Archon’s wall barrier!”
We both continue to push and shove our way towards the bridge that was not so far from us. “Mommy!” I turned around to see a small girl falling onto the ground and getting trampled by people. My eyes widened in absolute shock when nobody was stopping to help the poor child. Civilians were trampling over a child just to escape to the other side.
“Neomi!” The girl’s mother desperately tried reaching out to the girl, only to be pushed back. Nobody’s stopping for them, I thought. At this rate, they’ll both be left for dead or trampled.
“Mr. Tighnari! Let's go! It’s our turn to cross the bridge!” Collei yelled, “What are you doing? We have to go! The infected are here!” She pointed to the ground below– where I could vividly see a mass of those who once were the living; mouths hanging wide open and blood staggering that trails behind.
I turned back around to the child, then at Collei before biting down on my lip. Shit shit shit, I cursed in frustration. “Give me one moment!” I yelled back, immediately turning around to shove my way to the hurting girl. Once reaching, I lifted her in my arms and made my way to her mother. “Go!” I shouted at her, handing her the girl.
“Sir! The bridge isn’t stable!!!” Collei began to panic by putting hands to the side of her head in desperation. “The infected are pushing against the base!!!”
But there’s still people who haven’t made it over yet!
My chest thumped loudly against my rib cages, my breathing rhythm increasing. I grabbed my bow and arrow and called my prayers to the Dendro archon,“By the words of our Dendro Archon shall I summon one with the forest!” I shot arrows rooted with dendro below the bridge, summoning vines that grew to hold the bridge.
I kept firing to slow the hoard, waiting until the last person made it safe to the other side. Once the last person, which was an elderly couple, had crossed over, I hurried behind them. The wooden planks creaked under our steps and just before we were over– the wood under us snapped.
Without a second to waste, I boosted the couple in front– Falling back afterwards in a slow motion.
“Mr. Tighnari!” I heard Collei scream.
Ah. Just below me is my death that awaits I suppose. I could see the infected below me, their hands reaching as if they wanted to soften my fall like angels after death. Holding my emotions, I smiled once last time at the horrified people watching above, falling into the arms of my death.
And that’s when I remembered something, what the hell am I even doing? Am I just going to accept my fate and die a gruesome death???No, I heard myself answering. Not if I fight until my last breath.
I never used my vision without my bow, but if only– I can use it with my hands… I can’t- No wait, I have to try. Tighnari, you have to try. “What a drag.” I extended my hand out, concentrating on the dendro dust that began to form around it. The green shimmered brightly and grew warm. Focusing, I inhaled and drew my breath. Vines began to wrap around me like armour, protecting any exposed skin before growing sharp thorns and slamming into the ground through a plunge attack.
Thorns of plants grew from the ground as the light of the dendro flashed. Each infected that awaited were speared clearly through each needle, their blood purple running like a fountain down their wounds.
Feeling unfazed by the killings, cheers erupted from above by the civilians. “We have a saviour! Thanks Archons!” The people above yelled. I smiled and bowed to the people, hiding my shaky hands that held tightly onto my bow behind my back. God dammit. If what I pulled off didn’t go according to plan, I turned to look at the bodies of the dead, I’d become one of them.
“Mr. Tighnari!” I snapped back to reality, finding Collei above. “I’ll find a way to get you back up here!” Ah, this girl. Quite caring and determined.
“No, it’s alright! I’ll find a way to catch up to you ahead! I’ll meet you at the shelter!” I called back.
“But-” She began before getting pushed back by the moving mob of people who were continuing to make their way through.
“I promise I’ll be alright! See you there!” I insisted, before making my way ahead below. Looking ahead, the sun started to set. I better hurry to the shelter if I wish to live. But… “Where’s the shelter again?”
I’m pretty fucked you see. And this is how The Botanist starts his journey in this zombi-fied world of Teyvat.