hi guys! been a while, hasn't it? first off, I wanna say that I am sorry for the small break turned hiatus. That wasn't my intention in the slightest. But unfortunately, life seems to have a funny idea and made me busier. Writer's block didn't help the situation either. But now I am back! and hopefully, it stays that way for a long while.

some images, in-game screenshots, and music are not mine. FromSoftware owns Bloodborne and Genshin is owned by miHoYo. Please support the official release

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2 Week later

Ever since the events that transpired in the forest of Wolvendom, it's been quite peaceful, except the local creatures of course. But Jayce knew that it wasn't over. The fact that the creatures from the nightmare he thought had escaped, showed up was... concerning, to say the least. But he knew what to do in the end. And if they showed up once more, he will be ready.

"Mr. Colvex, sir... are you okay?" Jayce was ripped from his ocean of thoughts as someone called upon his name. As he blinked and looked around, he suddenly remembered that he was sitting at a table in the Angel Share Inn, his temporary home. With the realization that the waitress was waiting for him to order, he wastes no time in doing so. "Ahh...My apologies, Ashley. I was caught up in my thoughts. I'll have the usual please." The waitress wrote down what the hunter always ordered with her usual smile on her face and preferred drink. "Alrighty! It will be right out!" yelled the Waitress as she makes her way to the kitchen, Leaving him alone to his thoughts and the chatter of the other patrons once more. The hunter chuckles in amusement to himself as he hears the slight friendly banter in the kitchen with the other staff relating to mundane topics, but mostly Ashley forgetting to do some tasks from the night prior. Truth be told, it was a nice sound, for it was the sound of freedom and peace. It has been quite some time since Jayce ended up in this new land. During this time, he has experienced so much, and more: The existence of other gods, unrelated to his own, The people, the culture... It's still quite a shock; Almost feels like a dream in some instances. But even so, he relished all of it; this feeling of freedom, the combat, the smiles of the citizens, and the walls that keep them safe... He just wishes he can experience it with the others, they deserved that much at least... But that's just wishful thinking. 'Truth be told, Gehrman would have loved it here, and Arianna.' Jayce thinks to himself as he lets out a small, solemn sigh from the thoughts. Though they were gone, a part of him wished they weren't. All he has to remember them by was the memories made with each of them. Losefka, the Chapel Dweller, Valtr and many more. However, as he reaches out to these memories deep in his head, a specific memory always shows to the surface to torment him. 'Yes okay, thank you very much, mister hunter! I love you almost as much as mum and dad, and grandad!'

Jayce shakes his head slightly at the memory, mentally swatting it away like a fly, knowing that it will come back to pester him once more. Of course, he can never tell anyone of his past; these are demons he must face alone. Soon after, he glances around his area to find himself back at the tavern with a gentle atmosphere of folks minding their business and going about their lives without a care in the world. He preferred it that way. Knowing that his food will arrive shortly, he passes the little time he has by pulling out a small notebook with a pencil attached to the side that contained illustrations of various items that have interested him during his time here in Mondstadt. Shortly after the familiar sounding footsteps and smell floated through his ears and nose as he notices Ashley walking to his table with his much-awaited...and much-needed breakfast. "Here you go Mr. Colvex. Would that be all?" The hunter smiles at Ashley with a firm nod "Yes, much appreciated, Ashley. Before you go, however...How is your brother? Heard from the locals that he recently got in a chicken coop to only get pecked multiple times." Ashley giggled to herself, sporting a playful head shake at the mention of her troublesome brother, Luke. "Oh! You heard, eh? Heh, yea he's doing alright. He was playing a game called hide and seek. And well...he was hiding in the wrong place. That goofball, I swear..." Ashley grumbled the last sentence with a sigh "What am I going to do with him?" Jayce couldn't help but offer a small chuckle at the harmless situation "I wish I had some insight for you other than good luck." He said as he pulled down his mask to take a sip of his tankard of water. With a small pout from the waitress, she couldn't help but chuckle at the response "yea, well what are you going to do ya know? He's a good kid, like 80% of the time. Welp! I got to keep back to work before Chef Gallespi decides to toss a pan at me for standing around during working hours." As if right on Queue, a booming, deep voice of the head chef responded to the claim "I HEARD THAT! Get back to work LASS!" With record time, Ashley darts back to the kitchen to continue her duties with sweat dripping from her forehead "EEK! Sorry, Chef!" Jayce couldn't help but give out a chuckle at the banter between the 2 and the other employees. During his time in the inn, he has gotten to know most of the faculty of the establishment; their hobbies, likes, and dislikes, and became more comfortable around them, and them with him. Though most of the locals couldn't help but be nervous around his presence, they also know that he is a nice person inside...'I wonder what they will think of me if they know what I have done in the past...my true self...' As quickly as those thoughts came, Jayce swiped them away just as fast from his mind before finally enjoying his wonderful Eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns in peace.

But of course...peace never lasts.

A familiar presence entered the inn. Though the hunter never got a full look at the person, his aura was more than enough to figure out that this person was from a week prior to the battle in the forest that was on the cliff a little ways away. Though, Jayce wasn't worried in the slightest, however. This person was not stupid to attack him in public and in an inn for that matter. So, they most likely wanted to chat...But for what? The hunter has an idea but is just speculation at this point without any real evidence. All he can do is let them come, but that does not mean that he should lower his guard.

"That's a good hearty breakfast you got there!" The person voiced out as they headed to their table. Eventually, they grabbed a table and sat across from the silent hunter, ignoring them all the while trying to enjoy his breakfast. "I'm more of an apple person myself. A friend once said, "An apple a month keeps the doctors at bay!" ... or was it an apple keeps the doct-" "What do you want, stranger?" The hunter said with an unamused tone, cutting off the talkative person. "Oh! Right! I did pretty much ruin your breakfast. Sorry about that. I am Venti; A wandering, free-spirited bard, and wine taster extraordinaire, at your service." The bard stated proudly as he performed a small bow while sitting. "And I would like to write a song about you!" The hunter halted his eating motion to look up at Venti with slightly narrowed eyes. "...why?"

'Yeesh! This guy is intense!' Venti thought small traces of sweat formed on his head. Though he has heard the good deeds of this newcomer. He could not help but feel nervous in his heavy presence. Any other person might no one else can feel what he feels, but something is off about this man. And watching him fight...well... whatever hell that was a week prior means there's more to this man than meets the eye. The question is, will he be able to find out more? "w-well..." Venti lets out a slightly nervous chuckle. "I-I have heard about your deeds, and how you solved the wolf pandemic in Wolvendom. To simply say; I am inspired!" Venti hoped that he would get a response or a positive reaction. Most people do when they have an opportunity to have their heroic deeds shared through song form, and who wouldn't? But this person? Nothing. Not even a sound. He just...stared...like he is trying to burn a hole in his body with his eyes. How is this hulking man able to be so quiet? He'll never know.

"I do not know why you felt the need to ask me. It is your song, is it not?" "...eh?" Venti was taken out of his train of thoughts by those words and looked at the hunter's eyes with a nervous gaze. "w-well, yes. But I just th-" "Then there is your answer." Jayce responded, with a calm, albeit slightly annoyed tone. The bard isn't the most annoying person to date in Jayce's opinion. That spot is reserved for Patches and only Patches. But somehow, he felt that he would see more of him in the coming days. Whether in a good or bad circumstance... is to be determined. The hunter just hoped that it was the former of the 2 options. "I see. Well, I just thought to let you know, and to introduce myself to you." "hm," Jayce grunted in response as he was able to finally enjoy his now warm foo- "Before I leave, May I ask what your name is? I did introduce myself after all, so it's only fair you do the same." "... Jayce Colvex: Hunter." Venti gives the hunter a wide smile "A pleasure to meet you Jayce! Welp until next time! I see a friend that I must chat with!" Venti gets up and trots towards a certain red-haired Wine Manufacturer to bother that was behind the bar, but not before discreetly placing a small, folded note under the notebook of the hunter. This action did not go unnoticed by Jayce, as he noticed immediately and pulled the slip off under his notebook of his. He unfolded the paper to read its content. Thankfully he has been self-teaching himself the vocabulary of this world's language, as even though the vocal language was the same as his, the written language of the people of Mondstadt severely differed from his.

"I saw what you did in the forest the week prior. And I know that you are much more. To what extent? I do not know. Though, what I do know is that. Do not fret. As we agreed on that night, I will not tell a soul. I also know that you are not from this world. I wonder, was it by accident that you ended up here? I guess I will most likely never know, as you are not the first from beyond our realm You most likely have met them. Though, maybe not. I just hope that you do great things, Traveler."

- Venti, Bard

'Traveler? What does he mean by that? And there are more like me? From Yharnam perhaps? No. Fat chance. He said I may have met them...who are they? And where they...maybe or not Maybe, from another Realm...? Preposterous...' Jayce ponders as he finishes the letter with a few questions that he would like answered. But as he looked up to find Venti in his spot, he was gone, Alongside the red-haired Gentlemen. He glances around the inn but has no luck. With that, he glances down at the note again, before refolding it and placing it in his chest pocket to finally enjoy his slightly cold food. With a small grumble, Jayce decided to indulge himself in Gallespi's finest cooking.

3 weeks prior
Liyue Harbor, Wangshen Funeral Parlor

It has been a busy day today. Not in the sense that you think, but busy in terms of paperwork, consulting clients, and casually checking on the citizens of Liyue. Zhongli took his job seriously, as he was the current vessel of Archon god, Morax, and the consultant of the Hu Family which owns the Wangshen Funeral Parlor. 'Hm...Today's cases are...interesting.' Zhongli Concluded in his mind as he was glancing at the paperwork for today's unfortunate victims. From what Ladyferry reported in her autopsy; The victims were a 27-year-old Huang xi Lou, 26-Year-old Fey Xi Lou, and a 13-year-old Wu Xi Lou. They were a normal family living in the Bishui Plains Province in Qingce village. The 3 were sadly deceased from Deep Lacerations from the neck and heart. But what Zhongli couldn't wrap his head around is how clean the cuts were.

Usually, a victim would put up a struggle when fighting an assailant, unless the action was done in their sleep. But even then, the cutting of the weapon would be enough for them to wake from the pain... unless they were drugged prior to the incident. "What did they have done to warrant such a death?" Muttered Zhongli as he kept his hands on the report. From what Zhongli knew, everyone in Qingce village are honest, hard-working people. He even met them all at one point during his travels around Liyue some time ago. Regardless, he would have to report this to the authorities for them to launch a proper investigation. There is only so much he can do in this form without causing suspicion. But he knew justice would be served, and it would be swift and brutal. Some time passes as Zhongli focuses on other tasks at hand until a knock can be heard on his door. "come in." spoke Zhongli in an authoritative tone. A second later, the undertaker of the funeral parlor peeks her head in before fully entering the office and closing the door behind her. "Ah, right on time. Have you finished with the preparation, Yuna?" "I have. A letter has been sent to the relatives of the family from both sides which will arrive to them in a few hours." Zhongli hummed in approval "Good. Thank you for the update. Is there anything else you would like to report?"

Yuna gave the Consultant a respectful bow "Yes. As per requested by a survey a few years prior in the event of their untimely passing, they would be set for burial and the cost will be covered with the funds from the checking in the Liyue Harbor Bank." "I see...thank you for the information. You and Meng can take your breaks once you have finished your tasks." Yuna let out a small smile of appreciation, followed by a bow of respect. "Thank you, Zhongli." With that being said, the undertaker made her leave as she closed the door behind her, leaving the Consultant in his room by his lonesome once more. With a small sigh of calmness, he stood from his chair to look out the circular window behind him, enjoying the view of the harbor and its citizens going about their daily tasks without a care in the world. All his hard work, no matter how much he has looked at it, was worth the prior struggles and hardships. With a small smile tug at his lips, he went to sit back down... until a dreadful sensation hit him like a train, causing him to stumble where he stood. Luckily, he caught himself with his desk, which at this moment, was the only thing from coming in contact with the floorboards at full force. His breathing became more labored by the minute of this strange feeling. This... energy.

The wave of inertia has happened before when the Traveler arrived in this world. The energy radiating off the Traveler was calm, peaceful, tranquil, and powerful. But this one...Old, Vile, suffocating... Dangerous. 'There is another person like the traveler. But he feels...dangerous.' Zhongli Muttered in his momentarily scrambled thoughts. After a good few moments, that awful feeling passed, leaving the anemo god standing in disbelief and shock, and mild fatigue. 'How strong is this person to create such a ripple?' After a little more time has passed as he regained his bearing he stood up to his full height with slow, rhythmic breathing. Never in his life has he ever thought he would feel anything that intense again... but that will not stop him from what he must do. He quickly sat down in his office chair and began writing a letter.

?

? ?

"Madam! Are you okay?!" The maiden yells in panic as she runs to the Person in question. Never have they seen their overseer in such a state, it was frightful. But after a few minutes, the madam in question regains her bearings, but not without becoming utterly exhausted by the event that just occurred "You need not worry about me...I am okay now." The madam stated as if it was a fact. But every other maiden in the room can see that it is not the case. She didn't budge, as she stood by the madam a little longer. Within a few moments, the madam looked at the maiden's eyes with her purple ones, giving her a stern, but gentle glance, before speaking "You may go on about your duties, Inagi. I am okay." The maiden known as Inagi Pursed her lips in hesitance. She knew that the madam was not okay. But bowed regardless as she made her exit to continue her routine tasks, leaving the woman in her chambers. With no one in the room present any longer, the shogun Let out a labored sigh. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. And she knew for a fact that she was not the one to feel such an evil entity enter their realm, she is sure that even her creator felt the shift of energy in the air. She wasn't sure if the wielder of such vile energy was a friend...or foe. But for the safety of her people and Inazuma, she will find said person, and what better place to start than in Liyue? She will first meet Geo Archon first, as he might have a lead in this predicament. With her determination set, and her mental approval from the God of Eternity, she will depart once she gathers her strength.