Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Wendy looked up at the tree, then at Xuan Yue in her hand, feeling a pang of despair. Seeing the approaching travelers, she knew it was impossible to bring Xuan Qing down; she could only do what she had done before and have a gust of wind carry Xuan Yue up.

Paimon: "It's Wendy! Wendy—!"

Kong: "So you really are still here."

Wendy: "The breeze through the trees is lovely, it smells so good... Haha, I said the same thing last time. Sigh, why do I always say that when I'm having a bad day?" (Just like last time...)

"So, what is the [Heart of God]?" Just like last time, Sora went straight to the point.

Wendy: "...You noticed? Sigh... This isn't a topic I should be discussing with ordinary people. But, it's okay to tell you quietly."

Wendy: "You should know that a 'Vision' is an external magical organ possessed by an extremely small number of people in this world. They use the 'Vision' to guide elemental power. In fact, every possessor of a 'Vision' is qualified to become a god, hence the name 'Genshin Impact,' and is qualified to ascend to the Sky Isles."

Paimon: "Genshin Impact? I don't think I've ever heard of that term before..."

Wendy: "Hmph, because that's a secret only true gods know. Anyway, we don't need a rudimentary organ like the 'Eye of God'—instead, the gods' magical organs resonate with Sky Island…that is, the 'Heart of God.'"

Kong: "Then what's that hanging on your waist?"

Wendy: "Hey, it's just a glowing glass ball, used to avoid unnecessary suspicion."

Xuan Qing, watching the show helplessly from the tree: (...)

Xuan Yue, perched on a tree branch eating melon seeds: (...)

null:……

Paimon: "So, who exactly was that wicked woman who blew me away the moment we met and stole Wendy's 'Heart of God'...?"

Wendy: "She is [Lady]—the eighth of the eleven Fatui Enforcers, codenamed 'Lady.' Every Enforcer of the Fatui, like her, has been granted divine authority by the Queen of Winterfell, gaining power beyond that of mortals."

Paimon: "The Empress of Winter's End? Isn't that...?"

Wendy: "Hmm, one of the Seven Gods, the 'Ice Queen' who sits in Winter Palace, the sole object of loyalty for all the Fatui Executors. Although the relationships between the Seven Gods aren't all entirely harmonious, I never imagined she would be plotting to seize the [Heart of God] from another deity..."

Sora: "What kind of goddess is the Ice Queen?"

Wendy: "Ah... how should I put it? I know 'her from 500 years ago,' but I'm a complete stranger to 'her now'... After a great catastrophe 500 years ago, she cut off all communication with me... However, let's talk about the God of Ice and the Fatui later."

Venti: "Kong, your journey to find all seven Archons will likely be fraught with difficulties. Let's head to Mondstadt's neighboring country first—the Geo Archon there is different from mine; he personally governs the entirety of Liyue. He only officially descends once a year to bestow divine pronouncements, guiding the management of Liyue for that year."

"Let me tell you a secret: Liyue is the only kingdom still ruled by two gods, but the battle 500 years ago put the [God of Order] in Liyue into a deep sleep, and there's no sign of him awakening yet..."

The [Order] himself in the tree and the original [Order] split soul on the branch: (Let's fight, Barbatos!)

Paimon: "Is it the God of Order from Liyue? It seems like there are legends about him everywhere in Teyvat. I've heard for a long time that he can supposedly rival the Seven Gods on his own. I wonder if it's true?"

Wendy: (Why bring up something I shouldn't have said...)

Wendy: "Ahem... Anyway, it seems like this year's 'Invitation to the Immortals Ceremony' is about to begin. Hmm, if you miss it, you'll have to wait another whole year."

"Wow?! Why didn't you say such important information sooner? Well then, goodbye, Kong, let's go!" Paimon pushed Kong to leave.

Kong: "Paimon! We don't have enough funds to get from here to Liyue."

Paimon: "Ah...oh! Then let's hurry up and go to Catherine to get the quest, and earn the travel expenses first."

“Wait a minute, Stranger Catcher in the Wind,” Wendy called to the two who were about to leave. “…When you embark on your journey again, always remember the meaning of the journey itself. The birds of Teyvat, the poetry and the cities, the queen, the fool and the monsters… they are all part of your journey. The destination doesn’t mean everything. Before you reach the end, observe this world with your eyes…”

Empty: "Wendy..."

Wendy: "Well! That concludes the Wind God's sermon! Now it's Wendy's time. I'm off. I heard Angel's Gift has some new wines; I'm going to try them." With that, he transformed into a gust of wind and vanished...

Sora and Paimon shrugged, indicating their helplessness. After all, this scene was very much like Wendy's, but only the person involved knew that it wasn't because of the alcohol, but because there was a killer in the tree...

"Where do you think you're going?" Just as Wendy was about to fly into Mondstadt, a hand reached out from a black hole, grabbed his clothes, and stopped him from getting any closer to Mondstadt.

"Hey, well... I just wanted to get some drinks sooner..."

Xuan Qing: "If you want to drink, come back to the manor with me and drink your fill!"

Wendy: (Someone save me!) (???????????)

Wendy was "invited" back to the manor by Xuan Qing, and no one knows what happened afterward.

a week later--

"Xuanqing, are you really not going back to Liyue?" Wendy asked the merchant who was reading a book, sitting by the window next to Xuanqing's desk. The man paused in his book-turning motion but quickly resumed his work without replying.

"What do the Liyue Immortals mean to you?" Venti didn't hear a reply, only sighed, then walked up to Xuanqing and patted him on the shoulder: "You can't keep running away forever. You should go back and see them as soon as possible." He left only this advice, then turned into the wind and left. The wind blew past a Cecilia flower, which landed right on the page of the book in his hand...

The meaning of the Cecilia flower is: the true love of a prodigal son.

Xuanqing picked up the flower, looked out the window, and felt extremely complicated.

At this moment, Xuan Yue transformed into human form and lay on the largest tree in Mondstadt, watching the fallen leaves return to their roots. The poet beneath the tree played music, creating a perfectly harmonious scene.

Xuan Yue asked the poet under the tree, "Barbatos, Xuan Qing, why don't you want to return to Liyue?"

Wendy: "Haha, logically speaking, you've spent the most time with him, so how would I know if you don't even understand him?"

Xuan Yue: "Well, that's true, but that's just how Xuan Qing is. He keeps everything to himself. Before, I could at least know what he was thinking, but now that we've separated, it's even harder to find out what he's thinking."

Wendy closed her eyes, put down her violin, and lay down on the grass, saying, "We demons have long lifespans, but we will experience wear and tear, memory loss, confusion, madness, and finally self-destruction. This is our fate. However, Xuanqing is an exception. His soul changes with the times but is not worn down, which makes him remember everything that happened, the beautiful, the warm, the happy. Like the thorn of Dvalin, it is hard to remove. After all, losing something after you have it is far more painful than never having had it at all."

Xuan Yue: "Is there any way? I know it's a bit selfish to say this, but I really miss Li Yue..."

Wendy sighed, "The one who tied the knot must untie it, but perhaps someone can help..."

Xuan Yue: "Who is it?"

Wendy chuckled: "The Night Hero of Mondstadt."