Ok. This is my first story that I'm writing seriously. Don't hesitate to criticize it as long as it is constructive.
Disclaimer: Genshin Impact belongs to Mihoyo. I only own characters of my own creation.
Prologue: Paradigm Shift
Cold.
Everything feels cold.
What happened?
Oh yeah, Yanfei was helping me pick flowers for the funeral rights.
What happened after?
It hurt. So much. Everything hurt.
Oh.
That's right.
Abyss mages and hilichurls. Hundreds of them. Why were there so many near Liyue?
They came so fast. Yanfei, my best friend, was knocked out immediately in the ambush. She was one of the few people that accepted me. I did all I could to protect her.
I remember.
I remember tearing through them, dozens at a time, the Staff of Homa in my hands, burning myself and everything around me.
I remember the flickering of the flames, the cracks of their masks, the blood raining down as they desperately shot every arrow and spell they could.
I failed.
My legs refused to carry me, my arms too battered to defend myself, my hands too scorched to hold my weapon.
Yanfei...
Did she manage to get away? If she did, then at least my soul can rest peacefully.
I wish...
I wish I had the power to save her. I wish I had the strength to protect her, I wish I could just do something, anything more!
...
"So, you wish for power?"
A feminine voice echoed through my head
What?!
Who are you?
"My name is irrelevant, one lost to the sands of time. However, for convenience, you can call me, Paradox."
...Why are you here?
"You wished for power did you not?"
Yes?
"Tell me, why do you seek this power, hmm? For what purpose would you use it?"
...
To protect her, to protect everyone, to protect the land and people I love!
"...Hehe... Hehehahahaha!"
What's so funny!?
"Sorry, sorry! You sound just like someone I once knew. They wanted to save everyone, no matter what, even at the cost of themselves."
Oh, um-
"Don't worry, it brings back good memories. You know, you amuse me. However, for you to die... Hmm..."
What? Thinking of how ironic it is for a funeral director to die? That I need one of my coupons for a coffin?
"Hahaha! I like your sense of humor! But no. You died so young, so willful, and with inspiring determination. You fought till every bone in your body was broken, till every organ was punctured. Until your body simply couldn't move, and until your mind was blank in agony. Even still you live."
I'm still alive!
"By a thread, yes. I'm the only thing keeping your heart pumping, and your soul attached to your body."
Why...
"Because I have decided to bring you back, and give you the power you desire."
Really!? Far be it from me to decline, but, why?
"Your actions. They tell me all I need to know to see the potential you have. Although, I won't deny that it is mostly for my own amusement."
Figures.
"Well, I feel this conversation has gone on long enough."
"May the flames be yours to command, as The New Pyro Archon!"
Archon?! Wait what?!
"It's time for you to return to life."
"[May the impossible become possible...]"
A massive amount of magical energy is building
"[May all of reality bow to my will...]"
The energy reached critical mass
"Hehe, good luck, Hu Tao."
Wait!
A wave of energy is released, and all goes blank
"[Paradigm Shift]"
Soooo... I think I did well. Please, if anyone reads this, let me know what you think. I feel like it was really short, especially since I've seen chapters with 10,000 words. But I suppose this is good for a prologue.
Thank you to the beta readers who helped me improve upon it!
Betas: TrapMaster20 on Wattpad and ShyWriter1002 on fan fiction