The land of Inazuma lies far in the ocean, secluded and away from the main continent of Teyvat. The people born and raised on those lands very rarely see those who come from beyond their borders. The ones who do set foot upon the land, easily draw the eyes of the locals to them, regardless of their origin. Those who do not adapt are forced to leave, and those who do have to face scrutiny from almost everyone every day. It did not matter if you carried the blood of Inazuma, as long as you draw attention from anyone, be it with your physical appearance or the accent in your voice, the locals do not care about you.
This was the daily experience Thoma had before he was rescued by the Kamisato Clan.
"For some of the more conservatively minded people in Inazuma, the idea of an outlander working as a retainer for one of the Commissions is unthinkable. So there was a time when I was not that welcome here."
Before Inazuma, Thoma remembered a time when he was living in Mondstadt. He had been a child, born with the blood of Mondstadt and Inazuma, living with his family in the city of freedom. However, one ill-fated day, after his father had left for Inazuma for business weeks ago, Thoma took off for Inazuma on a boat with noble intentions to bring his father dandelion wine. The boat capsized when a large wave overturned the boat, throwing Thoma into the stormy waters. He was washed ashore, unconscious, the bottle of dandelion wine lost to the sea.
When he finally woke up, he was alone in a country he had heard only stories about, far away from his home and unsure if he would ever see his mother again.
He wanted to find his father, who was still in Inazuma. However, no matter how hard he searched, he could not find the man. He wanted to return to Mondstadt, however there were no boats that would take him, not when the Sakoku Decree was in effect. He spent weeks wandering around Inazuma, eating whatever he could find in the streets to survive or relying on the goodwill of a few locals taking pity on a child. He would take up odd-jobs from everything to anything. It was only when the Kamisato Clan found him, collapsed in the alley, and offered him a home that he finally had a place to rest.
The Kamisato Clan was different from the locals of Inazuma. They did not care what Thoma looked like or his origins. They treated him like family despite their difference in statuses. Although Thoma loved his blood parents, the Kamisato Clan felt like a family.
"The Kamisato Clan always has a room for me, and there are people I've met here that are like family."
Soon, the days of wandering turned to days of repayment as Thoma tried to find ways to repay the Kamisato Clan. Even when the clan head told him that there was no need for repayment, even when the clan head told him not to swear loyalty to the clan, Thoma would not budge.
In the end, the Kamisato Clan caved to Thoma's wishes, allowing him to do as he pleased.
Thoma stayed with the Kamisato Clan as the years went on. Even when he found a way to return to Mondstadt, he never left Inazuma. Even when he had the opportunity to search for his father, he never went for it. Even when the clan head told him that he would always have a place to return to, Thoma never left.
"How do you deal with homesickness?" Aether asked, leaning against the tree as Thoma knelt down to feed the stray dogs and cats.
"I would take walks around Ritou and pretend I'm in Mondstadt or immerse myself in chores. But sometimes, you can't get rid of the feeling."
When news of the Traveller arrived on Inazuma shores, the locals shrugged it aside. After all, they did not need to care what lies beyond the borders of Inazuma. Within the top ranks of the Inazuma government however, there were many who were interested in the Traveller. The Kamisato Clan was no different. It was not often for Inazuma to receive a person who had saved two cities within a span of a few weeks. A hero like that speaks of power and strength beyond mortal comprehension and a few dared to compare the hero's strength to that of the almighty Raiden Shogun. A hero who appeared out of nowhere with the strength that rival gods, imagine what one could do if they could bring him to their side.
(And if they could not bring him to their side, then they would ensure no one else could convince him to join other sides.)
"It seems that the Traveller will be making his way on our shores soon. Thoma, be prepared to greet him once he has arrived. Be careful of any unexpected surprises, it is not beneath the other clans to ambush our guest upon his arrival."
"By your will, milord."
The first time Thoma met the Traveller, it was at the docks in Ritou. He had not been surprised when the Alcor pulled up along the wooden dock. He had not been surprised when Captain Beidou walked down the gangplank. He had not been surprised to see a young teenager dressed in exotic clothes with a fairy trailing behind him. He was definitely surprised when the Traveller missed a step and nearly fell off the gangplank. Had it not been for the Captain's quick reflexes, the Traveller would have fallen into the sea.
"Watch your step Traveller," Beidou said as she pulled the Traveller back to safety.
"Sorry, I should've used Elemental Sight."
'Elemental Sight'? Thoma had heard that term before but he could not figure out where he heard it or what it meant. His gut feeling was telling him that what the Traveller had said was important. Perhaps he would have to refamiliarise himself with the lord's library again (after he finished the evening chores of course).
It was only when Beidou pulled him aside to inform him of the Traveller's situation that he felt that he would have to up the schedule on the research.
"Listen here Thoma, this is important. The kid here, the Traveller, is blind. He can see but only with Elemental Sight, that is, he can see elements and nothing else. So if I get word that you've been bullying the kid, I'll hunt you down okay?" Beidou threatened with a smile on her face.
The Traveller stood beside the captain, his face red in embarrassment while his fairy asked, "Does that mean we're adopted?"
After making Thoma promise that he would not pull anything on the Traveller, Beidou left with her ship as quickly as she had arrived after bidding farewell to the Traveller. Once the Alcor had put a considerable distance away from the docks, Thoma tried to steer the Traveller to the border checkpoint, only to quickly release his grip on the Traveller's shoulder when he saw the man tense and scowl at the physical contact.
"Just because I'm blind, it doesn't give you permission to physically move me. Just lead me normally, I can use Elemental Sight to see you. Otherwise, Paimon knows how to guide me."
"My apologies. I won't do it again," Thoma apologised quickly, his hands raised in a placating motion. "I'll treat you to lunch later as an apology."
"Well Paimon won't say no to free food!" Paimon said, already anticipating the meal. The Traveller sighed but made no comment on her antics.
Thoma led the Traveller to the Outlander Affairs Agency, this time by walking in front as Paimon gently pulled the Traveller along, her hand holding the Traveller's. He took care of the documents for the Traveller as soon as he saw the man staring unamused at the papers that were handed to him. He even went as far as taking care of the processing fee.
Once they had gotten past the border checkpoint, Thoma was faced with a pressing problem. He was supposed to test the Traveller to see how resourceful he is, but the test he had in mind required the Traveller to be able to see. He needed to contact the clan head to get orders on how to proceed with this unforeseen problem.
"Hey Thoma," the Traveller called out, making Thoma stop in his tracks as he turned to face the man. "Do you know where the closest Statue of the Seven is?"
"Oh! Yes, there's one in Ritou behind the Hiiragi Estate. Do you want me to lead you there?"
"No need, Paimon can lead. You just have to tell Paimon how to get there."
What was special about the Statue of the Seven that the Traveller needed to know about it? Thoma was tempted to follow the Traveller to find out, however, Lord Ayato needed to know of the Traveller's disability as well as the change in the plans due to that. He would just have to find out later from an eyewitness.
They parted once Thoma gave them directions as well as informing them where they would meet up after an hour. As soon as he rounded the corner, out of sight from the fairy, Thoma rushed off to the post office to deliver his message. The new orders would not come anytime soon so he would have to wing it for the next part and Thoma was not looking forward to it. He could do it, that did not mean that he liked doing it.
When the Traveller arrived at the meeting point with Paimon, Thoma had to do a double take.
"Was your earring always glowing purple?" Thoma asked as he stared at the Traveller.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" the Traveller responded, his voice laced in honest confusion.
"Nevermind, I must have been seeing things. Come on, let's go get lunch, my treat!"
Maybe Lady Ayaka was right, he needed a break.
As they ate lunch, Thoma took the opportunity to gather more information about the Traveller. And what better way than to get the information straight from the target themself. If he played his cards right, he could convince the Traveller to play a part in the original plan, (which was) to overturn the Vision Hunt Decree.
"So why did you come to Inazuma? Now's not exactly a good time for sightseeing."
"I need to meet the Electro Archon. I have questions that only an Archon can answer," the Traveller answered while Thoma frowned at the answer.
"What sort of questions?"
"Ones that the Anemo Archon and Geo Archon can't answer. I don't have much hope that the Electro Archon knows the answer, but I have to at least try."
(Or maybe he should scrap the plan. Is it really for the greater good to throw a blind kid to fight against an Archon by himself?)
Thoma led the Traveller to the Kamisato Estate, having managed to successfully convince him to meet the Lady at the very least. After all, if the Traveller's goal was to meet with the Electro Archon, the Kamisato Clan does have the power to request an audience with the Raiden Shogun. It would also require more preparation on his part to pull a few favours from within the higher ranks of the Tri-Commission. Hopefully, the Lord would not be too troubled when the Tenryou Commission inevitably comes knocking at his front door. They were still displeased when the Kamisato Clan tried to challenge the Vision Hunt Decree.
(One of Thoma's regrets was failing to notice how corrupted the Tenryou Commission had become and how much they despised the Kamisato Clan for challenging their authority.)
"If only I had noticed! If only I had noticed what their plans were, you wouldn't have had to step in, you wouldn't have gotten hurt."
"Not your fault," the Traveller said, his body leaning heavily against the pillows holding his body up. The upper layer of his clothes were discarded and his chest was swathed with bandages. Paimon sat on his lap, her face laced with both worry and relief. "It's not your fault, so stop blaming yourself."
On the way to the Kamisato Estate, Thoma was given a front-row seat to the Traveller's combat capabilities. The first thing he noticed was that the Traveller was very skilled with a sword, proving that the rumours of his capabilities to fight gods and win might not be so unfounded. The next thing he noticed was that if Captain Beidou had not told him of the Traveller's disability, he would never have noticed as he watched the Traveller dispatched enemy after enemy with insane speed. The other thing he noticed was that the Traveller's companion, Paimon, played an active role despite her non-combatant status. She would shout enemy locations and warnings of any attacks to the Traveller. The last thing he noticed was that the Traveller was not without mercy. The bandits who ambushed them ran away, their lives spared while the Traveller stowed his sword with a sigh.
The rest of the journey was uneventful but it gave time for Thoma to compile the information he had on the Traveller. He knew that the Traveller was skilled with a one-handed sword but was he also skilled in other weapons? He also knew that the Traveller has an Electro Vision despite not being able to confirm the Vision on the person. That by itself was not unusual, most people in Inazuma, after the Vision Hunt Decree was enacted, hid their Visions should they choose to defy the decree. What was unusual was why would the Traveller hide his Vision if he is not from Inazuma? Despite the scarce information from beyond Inazuma's borders, Thoma was sure that there was nothing similar to the Vision Hunt Decree outside of the country.
By the time the Kamisato Estate came into sight, Thoma had a full report ready for the Lord. The only thing he had to do was to convince the Traveller to assist in their cause and to set up a meeting between the Traveller and the Raiden Shogun. After the Traveller left, off to fulfil the wishes of Lady Ayaka, Thoma left to meet Lord Ayato to submit his report.
"Thoma, be careful, there is something nasty afoot in the Shogun's castle."
He left the Kamisato Estate with new orders and plans, his only objective for the moment being to request an audience with the almighty Shogun. He had not been surprised when he arrived in the city, the atmosphere was desolate and oppressed. He had not been surprised when he was surrounded by soldiers under the Tenryou Commission. He had not been surprised when he was brought before the Statue of the Omnipresent God. He had not been surprised when the Raiden Shogun stood before him, declaring his Vision to be the hundredth Vision to be taken under the Vision Hunt Decree. He was surprised when the Traveller leaped out and snatched his Vision before the Raiden Shogun could retrieve it.
When the Traveller disappeared, his companion started to panic but was able to help Thoma escape from his binds once he snapped her out of her senses. The soldiers tried to attack them but Thoma was able to defend himself. However, he knew that as long as they held the number advantage, he would not be able to keep up the defences. He had to escape but could he bear to do that without the Traveller?
His decision was decided for him when the space where the Traveller had disappeared was ripped open and the man was thrown out of the domain. The force of the opened rift blew away the soldiers and Thoma was forced to brace himself to catch the unconscious Traveller. Reacting quickly, Thoma lifted the Traveller onto his shoulder and shouted at Paimon to follow him. Using his Vision, Thoma kicked a blaze of fire behind him before leaping off the platform and onto the ground below. The grass beneath his feet was set ablaze and Thoma ran with the Traveller in his hands, Paimon keeping up behind him, while the soldiers hurried to contain the wildfire.
"Come on, we're almost there. Don't die on me now Traveller!"
They managed to escape to the Komore Teahouse and Thoma hid himself in one of the rooms. No doubt the Tenryou Commission would be attempting to search this place and the Lord could only stall them for so long. He was tempted to hide in the safe room located in the basement, however, his gut feeling was telling him to check on the Traveller. He lowered the Traveller onto the straw mat and hissed at the sight. There was a large electric burn spanning from his shoulder down to his midsection, his otherworldly armour cracked and broken. His face was scrunched up in pain, his breath shallow and sweat was dripping down from his temple.
Thoma quickly ran out to grab the emergency medical kit before rushing back to the Traveller's side. Paimon was crying and trying to wake the Traveller up to no avail. It was only once the wounds had been treated that Thoma let himself fall. He collapsed onto his knee, loosely sitting in a kneeling position. The Traveller would be fine, he would live.
But that was wrong was it not?
The Traveller would live but now he has to live with a scar permanently etched upon his body. He would be fine but he would always remember his near brush with death. And all because he tried to save him.
Why? No one in Inazuma cared for him except for the Kamisato Clan. Why did the Traveller care enough to save him?
"Traveller, please wake up soon. I need to know why."
He needed to know why, because he cared for the Traveller too.