The Traveller and the Heron Chapter 1
Kamisato Estate 21:06 | Ayaka
As beautiful as it has ever been, the Inazuman night was stunning. The night spoke to me as I sat outside in the shelter of the Kamisato Estate. I was filled with the sound of crickets singing and water flowing endlessly near the shrine. The tea I had Thoma prepare seemed extraordinarily tasteful for reasons I could not find.
The night really was beautiful, but perhaps it was not entirely the night that put me in such a giddy mood. No. Perhaps it might have been the fact that the renowned Traveller from Mondstadt would arrive on our islands tomorrow. Ah yes, the day I have been waiting for many a time would finally come. As Inazuma begins the journey towards light and hope, the day of the first glimpse is here.
If I don't release some of this energy, I may not be able to sleep! As I reach for my Amenoma Kageuchi, I get up and walk nearby to the dry landscape garden and the balcony overlooking Tenshukaku. Basked in the majestic light of the full moon, I perform several slashes of the Kamisato Art, Kabuki, letting my Tachi move at its own whim. The familiar sound of the blade cutting through a stray breeze rang out. The technique was one I have been perfecting for many years ever since I was young, at this time, it's become nothing more than second nature to me. My blade became an extension of who I am and what I've striven to become.
Feeling satisfied with myself, I then hear the soft sound of footsteps treading across the grass followed by applause.
"Ahh my lady, your form is as flawless as ever", I turn to see my loyal retainer Thoma appear before me. "Although try a softer touch", he says in a contemplating posture, "So no one gets injured?"
"Oh!", I suddenly realize what I was doing and the way I was swinging my blade with reckless abandon. "Was I hitting too hard?" I ask Thoma, "perhaps I still have room to improve". With that, I immediately decide more training is in order, especially with the magnitude of tomorrow.
"Thoma, before the traveller arrives, spar with me some more," I ask of my retainer.
"As you wish, my lady!", he accepts, summoning his spear from his Vison.
The next day, Guyun Stone Forest - The Alcor 10:13 | Aether
"Ah, you finally made it!" Captain Beidou hails me and Paimon over to her, "All these years, come rain or storm, the Crux Fleet has never suffered a delay. If it were anyone else, I might've set sail already."
"Apologies, Captain!" I say immediately, feeling slightly guilty, "It's an honour to be aboard!" Still, however, I was thrilled to be here on the Alcor. The feeling of the next part of our journey coming together after so long was noticeable, to say the least. Captain Beidou just laughed, "Don't look so serious Aether, I was only joking, you're just on time, the crew just finished the final preparations for the journey to Inazuma."
Captain Beidou turned and faced the ocean ahead of the ship, hands at her hips, with a confident charisma that lived up to her title of Queen of the Crux Fleet.
"We sail for the land engulfed by storm and tempest...the nation of Eternity!"
With that, the Alcor's crew sprang into motion, bringing the ship to life almost instantaneously. I take in all the sights of the Crux Fleet in action. Battening down the hatches, moving and securing down cargo, crew taking their posts all across the ship. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a familiar set of maple-coloured clothing above. I look up to see Kazuha sitting on one of the Alcor's giant crossbow defences, he waves down at me and Paimon, I wave back. Captain Beidou was at the bow of the ship, the wind ruffling her clothes. She turned to face Paimon and me.
"Better strap in kid, it's going to be a long voyage!" she exclaims. Just then, the wood of the ship creaked and shifted beneath my feet as the ship began to move through the water. The wind above deck picked up speed along with the ship, my clothes moved violently in response. For how massive this ship was, it moved incredibly fast, to the credit of the Crux Fleet.
"We're finally going to Inazuma, Aether!" Paimon excitedly says.
"You bet we are," I reply, "but like Captain Beidou said, it's going to be a long voyage"
Somewhere in the middle of the ocean - The Alcor 14:38 | Aether
It's been a few hours since we left Guyun Stone Forest. Paimon and I ate lunch below deck in the galley with the rest of the Crux Fleet. She eventually fell asleep after eating a lot of food, classic Paimon, I laughed to myself. I came back above deck to have a look at the view from the bow of the ship.
The view was nothing but the vast expanse of the ocean, the weather was clear as far as the eye could see. The sun beaming down on the surface of the water caused it to have a shimmer, like that of Loach Pearls. Although the wind in my hair felt nice, Lumine always tied my hair in a way so the wind would pass through.
I do hope the Electro Archon has some information about her, and what she's been doing this entire time. Princess? Of the Abyss? How is that possible? How long has she been here? These questions and many more like them have been racking my brain ever since the encounter with Dain and that Abyss Herald monster. I'd like to also know where Dain is too, we haven't seen him since. Aside from Khanrie'ah and what I've seen, something tells me there's much more to him than meets the eye, much like myself in the view of some.
"Lost in thought, my friend?" a voice says. I turn to my right see Kazuha, leaning against the ship, arms crossed with a small smile on his face.
"Am I that obvious?" I ask him, returning my gaze to the waters ahead.
"Perhaps," Kazuha says in his usual cool calm demeanour, "I won't press you on it, maybe we can talk about something else."
"Any advice for when I get to Inazuma?" I ask him.
"You will face many challenges as soon as you set foot in the nation, that much is certain. However, there will be good people there who can help you find what you seek. Once you make connections with those people, you can do many things.''
"Do you know anyone who could help me?" I inquire.
"Well, there's the Queen of the Summer Festival on Narukami Island, as well as the Shirasagi Himegimi and her followers. Both of them may be invaluable to you on your adventures" Kazuha answers.
"The Shirasagi Himegimi?"
Kazuha joins me in looking out to the far ocean. "The lady of the Kamisato Clan, much like the princess that she is, she is as elegant and perfect as a person can be, though our paths have seldom crossed. I know only that much about the person, but she could have the resources to help you"
"Thank you, my friend," I say with a smile.
"You're welcome," Kazuha returns.
The Shirasagi Himegimi huh? I ponder.