(Revised)
Word of the Wind
Emptiness. Darkness. Loss. Then, a beacon of light. The sound of rushing waves. A voice, high pitched and worried. Just who was that? Why did my body ache? Who was I? My name. I must have a name, right? But why... Why couldn't I remember it? "Please!" the voice, it was getting louder. "Please, wake up! Ohhhh, Paimon doesn't know what to do, here! Please, just wake up!" My eyes opened, bleary and slow. The light of the sun was blinding at first, and I raised my arm, hoping to block some of the light. "Oh, thank goodness, you're ok! Mister, are you alright?" I groaned, slowly attempting to sit up. Before me was a white shape, floating in the air. Its form became clearer as my eyes adjusted. A... floating child(?) of some sort hovered before me, worry clear on her face. "Uhhh, uhhh, just be careful, ok, mister? Paimon isn't sure if Paimon can pick you up if you fall back!"
"Who are you?" my voice was higher pitched. Foreign. It was slow and raspy, obviously unused for some time. Or perhaps it was because of the unbearable thirst I felt. "Who am I?"
"Who are you? Don't you know?" the child asked. "Well, Paimon is Paimon! You saved Paimon when you jumped in the water after seeing Paimon drowning!" It was drowning? But how, she can float. What a strange creature. "Well, if you don't know your own name, then Paimon will give one to you for rescuing Paimon! Hmmm, let me think..." With that, the fairy was in her own world, looking around as if searching for inspiration. I, too, pondered my name. It was strange. How could I possibly know the meaning of a name, when I lacked one? Yet the overwhelming urge to have one filled my very being. I was meaningless without a name. I was nothing without one. As I pondered, a word made itself apparent in the vastness of my mind. Not a memory, yet something more.
"Hoshi," I spoke, getting the fairy's attention. "I will be Hoshi, star, of which I'll follow to find who I am." I looked up, and the fairy was smiling at me.
"Hoshi, then. That's a wonderful name!" Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite myself. "Well, Hoshi, it's nice to meet you! Paimon's name is Paimon!" She offered her tiny hand to me as if to shake in greeting. Gingerly, I took her hand in mine and shook it. The entirety of her hand fit in my palm, alone.
"A pleasure, Paimon," I greeted her in return, clearing my throat not long after. "How long have I been asleep here?"
"Ummm," Paimon gave it some thought. "Two days, I think? Paimon's been trying to wake you up, but nothing worked! Paimon has some fresh water and crabs that Paimon caught over there." She pointed over to a nearby cliffside where small cups sat out, along with an old crate where she must have been keeping said crabs. "You must be thirsty, so drink up! If you really can't remember who you are or where you're from, Paimon will be your guide!" I wandered over to the humble supplies, setting up a makeshift fire pit and cooking the crab over it. I didn't know how I did those things, but my body simply moved on its own as if driven by years of experience. Had I been a hunter of some sort, before?
As I ate and drank my fill, Paimon explained to me the basics of the world I found myself in. It was called Teyvat, and apparently this particular continent was made up of seven nations ruled over by gods, each one embodying a certain element and ideal for their nation. She was a bit vague on whether or not this continent was the only one in the world, or if there were more, so I let it lie for now. The nation we were currently in was called Mondstadt, known as the Nation of Freedom, the Anemo Nation, among various other monikers and names. The more she talked, the more questions I had and asked. Just where was the Anemo god? Who were they? Could they help me regain my memories? I guess it proved too much for the little fairy, as Paimon quickly shook her head, eyes spinning in confusion.
"W-Well, let's go see if we can find him!" Paimon suggested. "Paimon knows a place nearby we can see the City of Mondstadt, and we can make our way there!" A city? Well, if there was any place we could get more information, that would definitely be it. Now full and hydrated, it was as sound a plan as any.
"Let's go, then," I told her standing up and brushing off my pants. I was dressed in cargo pants, sandals, and a light white t-shirt that was easy to breathe in. My skin tone was a nice olive complexion, and my hair long, messy, and black. Looking into the clear waters of the beach, I could vaguely make out the reflection of rugged facial hair on my face. While I wasn't the tallest individual, I knew I must be above the legal drinking age in most places, at least, and was unlikely to be mistaken for a child.
"Off we go, Hoshi!" Paimon flew off ahead of me, eagerly awaiting our impending journey. I, on the other hand, took my time in walking. The long stretch of beach was relaxing, and I felt myself drawn to the water. It washed over my feet and through my sandals, the water cool, but not uncomfortably so. The temperature was nice as well, with a pleasant sea breeze washing over the shores just like the waters below it. If I had to describe it, the winds seemed playful, almost. It was hard to tell why I had that intuition, but it seemed right. "Hey, hurry up!" Yards ahead of me, Paimon waved and urged me forward.
"Patience," I shouted back, glancing around the beach and taking in the sights. "We'll make it there when we make it there. I doubt my memories will be going anywhere." Despite the distance, I could see as Paimon's pout extended to the rest of her body as she stomped her foot down in frustration. There was something endearing about it. I blinked, though, as I felt my foot bump against something. Glancing down, I spotted what appeared to be a handle of some wort. Gently digging it out from the sands, I pulled from them what appeared to be an iron sword of some sort, its edge dulled with time and erosion. Still, a weapon would be handy in one way or another. Good for defending myself, or I could even sell it off for money. Beside it, though, was another object half buried in the sand. Digging it out, I found a strange object. Jewelry, perhaps? It appeared to be a half-sphere of some sort, dull and grey, surrounded by a band of gold that tapered off at the bottom. At the top, the band held three equidistant circles, the one at the center the largest, with the other two at its sides just smaller. How strange.
"Oh, that's a Vision!" Paimon exclaimed, having since floated back over to my side. She looked at the Vision with awe, and I glanced at her with inquiry. Sensing my question before it could leave my lips, she explained, "A Vision is a gift from the gods, each one holding a single element! It allows special people to use that element for various things! Awww, but it looks like this one doesn't have an element. Paimon thought you would turn out to be a super cool Vision Bearer!" Her disappointment evident, I couldn't help but release a chuckle and shake my head.
"Well, maybe we can find out who this belonged to," I tell her. "I'm sure whoever it is must miss it; especially if it's a gift from a god. Maybe we can make a pretty penny off of it."
"Penny?" she asked, before shaking her head. "Well I don't know about any pennies, but we could definitely return it for a butt load of Mora!" Mora. Well, I guess that answered my question about the currency of this world. I hooked the Vision to a belt loop on my shorts and continued on. Discussing more about Mora and what Visions entailed, we continued along at a decent pace, finally reaching a few short cliffs I was able to climb. We'd also found a strange statue of sorts overlooking the beach, but it didn't seem to have any effect when I touched it. I could practically feel the energy radiating off of it, but it seemed like I wouldn't be able to utilize whatever power it held. Perhaps at a later date...
Continuing up the road, we finally reached the peak of the hill I'd been climbing. At this point, I was already feeling jealous of how Paimon could float in the air and avoid all the muscle work of climbing. My body was already in partial atrophy, and the climb itself was rather difficult for me. Not to mention, my body had only just started burning the food and calories I'd eaten earlier for energy. Still, the view... well, it was simply breathtaking.
Before me lay a verdant valley overlooking a great city that rested just on the horizon. Trees of lush green, small lakes of crystal blue waters, and noble jutting cliffs etched by long receded ice and tempered by strong winds framed this picturesque view. It was like a scene straight out of a fairy tale. "Wow," Paimon let out a breath of awe, which was strange to me; had she never seen this view before? Wasn't she a local? My attention was drawn as Paimon pointed to the center of a small lake, a single bridge of land leading across to it. "That's a statue of The Seven!" she exclaimed, pointing at the sole pillar visible from our view. "There are a few of those statues scattered across Teyvat to show The Seven's protection over the world. Among the seven gods, this god controls the wind!"
"Anemo, right?" I asked, hoping I'd remembered correctly. She nodded enthusiastically, hands resting on her hips with a smile of beaming pride on her face.
"That's it! Man, you sure remember well! Maybe Paimon's a great teacher!" She started to float down a path that led into the valley, urging me to follow her. "So, poetry and language all flow like the wind. Paimon definitely thinks someone in Mondstadt will know how to help you regain your memories!" I followed, of course, and kept an eye on the statue at the center of the lake before us. Even from here, I could sense its overwhelming energy. Paimon seemed to not even notice, though, making me wonder if it was something special about me. "Who knows, maybe if we go to the statue, the Anemo god will even answer you for us!"
Well, it was worth hoping. As we wandered down the side of the hill, I spotted a few strange creatures scampering away from us. They had rust colored fur, and large ears with a bushy tail; something like a mix of a fox and a squirrel. "Paimon," I spoke up, getting her attention as she continued to lead me towards the statue. "What are those things?"
"Oh, those? Uhhh, well, Paimon remembers that they're called crimson foxes," she told me. "They're really popular in folk tales, and Paimon thinks they're just super cute!" Heh, well, seems like she really is just a child in a lot of ways. "Now c'mon, Paimon wants to get to the city before it gets dark, but first we gotta go see if you can pray to the statue!" Pray? Well, that seemed a bit wrong... Even though they were supposed to be gods, and I couldn't think of any others, it still just felt... like praying to them would be wrong. Still, I approached it as per Paimon's request. Intense feelings flowed through me as I got closer, making my stomach clench in anticipation. How could Paimon not feel this... this tempest of power?
Still, far be it from me to disappoint my new floating friend. I walked up to the statue of The Seven, gazing upon its tall and slender form. It was elegant, if a bit worn. Still, standing atop the pillar of stone was a carved figure dressed in monastic robes, angelic wings spreading out from their back. Its form was slender and feminine. If this was supposed to be the Archon, why did it appear female when I was told that it was a 'he'? Held within its hands, lastly, appeared to be some sort of sphere. It would have been a relaxing view if the turbulent power wasn't so distracting. Still, I reached forward and touched the golden plate at the statue's base, focusing and just... honestly just trying to get a reaction. Who am I? Do you know? Do you know me?
As I touched the statue, I heard whispers. Words. voices, clamoring in my head. I shut my eyes and grit my teeth, the ensuing headache pounding at my skull as if massive hands were beating on it like a drum. No, as if storms were battering at the shore of a beach. I heard Paimon shout for me, but I couldn't focus on her. I just had to focus on not falling down to my knees. It hurt! God, it hurt! I heard a yell, and I wasn't sure if it was Paimon, one of the voices in my head, or my own. "The Musou no Hitotachi!" One voice shouted, roaring above all the others. "I will see the lightning's glow!" All at once, moments later, the pounding and rumbling stopped. I no longer felt the ungodly power radiating from the statue. I stood, trying to catch my balance, before looking around me. The lake churned with the aftermath of ferocious waves, and the grass around me laid flat, as if blown away from me by a great tempest. Paimon flew over to me from across the lake.
"What was that!?" she exclaimed. "Paimon saw you touch the statue, and a huge storm kicked up around you! You sent Paimon flying!" Did I? But how? "Did you do something to anger the god of Anemo?"
"I... don't think so," I told her honestly. "I don't feel different. Well, not exactly. I feel... more free. Like I could run a mile and not stop." I glanced around, noticing the clouds overhead seemed to dissipate after that surge of... something.
"Whoa, look at your Vision!" Paimon exclaimed. I glanced down, and sure enough, the Vision had changed. While the gem at the center had once been a dull and empty gray, it now shone with a teal or indigo or some kind of light green color. A proud symbol rested at the center, resembling a diamond of sorts with wings sprouting out and up top of it. "It's an Anemo Vision! Did that happen because you touched the statue?" The statue did this? I shook my head. What a strange way to give someone power... I glanced down at my hand, feeling this new energy course through me. Instinctively, I tried to channel it into the palm of my hand. A gentle breeze wafted from it. I knew innately that this wasn't the full extent of what I could do. I could weaponize this if I wished. I just... probably wouldn't want to do that with my hand right by my face.
"How strange," I murmured, shaking my head in disbelief.
"As much as people might want it, most people in this world can't get power as easily as you did," Paimon told me, still looking shocked at what had just happened. "Paimon wishes she could get cool powers like that!"
"Maybe some other way," I suggested, not wanting to ruin her mood. "Someday you can join me in battle. If we actually get into any fights, that is."
"W-Well, Paimon is happy being moral support for now!" she backtracked pretty quickly after I said those words to her. I rolled my eyes, heading back the way we came to continue on to the city. "Let's head to Mondstadt! It's known as the City of Freedom, because the people there all worship the Anemo Archon!" The walk was pleasant, and I took some time to experiment with these new powers I'd been given. I learned that not only could I channel it into my hands and the rest of my body, but I could also channel it through the sword I'd picked up on the beach. Said blade was strapped to my side, opposite of the belt loop that held my Vision. I still intended to return the Vision to its rightful owner, eventually, but there's no reason why I couldn't make use of it until then. As we neared the edge of a forest, I heard thunder roaring from behind us. Turning to get a look at the storm and see its distance from us, I instead saw a massive, cerulean flying beast pass overhead of us. It held six wings like a bird, and a long, slender body that was both elegant and terrifying all the same. Paimon screamed in terror, hiding behind my back as it passed us.
"Good God," I mumbled, in awe of the massive beast. Creatures like that existed in Teyvat? How terrifying! "God, I hope we don't have to fight that thing." Unfortunately, it seemed to fly into the forest separating us from the city of Monstadt. Damn, looks like we're just looking for trouble, now. "Stay close to me, Paimon," I told her, advancing with a whole lot of caution and trepidation.
"Oh, Paimon has no intention of leaving your side, Hoshi," she replied, her voice quivering with fear. We made our way into the forest. It was silent. No animals called. No insects chirped. No birds sung. No, they were quiet; as a predator was lurking about. It didn't take us long as we walked the cleared path to spot the massive beast.
Strangely, though it wasn't along. Before the dragon stood a girl, hands outstretched as if in offering. She was dressed in green and gaudy clothing, befitting some kind of noble or entertainer. Her hair was raven colored, braided with light blue tips at the side. She was a lithe girl, standing just shorter than me which, were I not absolutely fucking terrified of the fuck off dragon nearby, would put a dent in my self esteem. This was it. She was dragon chow.
"Don't be afraid," she told it. "It's alright. I'm back now," her voice was a bit raspy, as if it hadn't spoken in some time. Was she like me, in that regard? Being back... was she gone for some reason?
"Is he talking... to the dragon?" Paimon asked. What?
"Wait, that's a guy?" I asked. I must have been too loud, though. I heard the dragon roar, and looked back just in time to see it swipe at the girl- guy, who narrowly dodged out of the way. He glared in our direction.
"Who's there!?" He demanded, slowly backing away as the dragon became more frenzied. I had to shield my face as the winds buffeted me, another hand grabbing Paimon's arm so she wouldn't go flying back. I heard a tinkling sound, and the sound of the dragon flying off. As things calmed down, I looked around to see if the guy was still around, but he'd seemed to have vanished along with the dragon.
"What the hell...?" I asked, still not sure how to process all of this.
"That was close!" Paimon exclaimed. "Thanks for grabbing Paimon before she could be blown away!"
"Well, we're just lucky that thing didn't notice us," I told her. "Still, that person... who was he?" I let out a sigh. Well, no sense in asking that question right now. Maybe if we ever see him again, we can ask what he was doing talking to a dangerous dragon.
"Hey, there's something up there where the dragon was!" Paimon pointed at a glowing red object floating just above the ground. "Should we take a look?"
"Well, as good an idea as any," I told her, slowly approaching the object. It was tear shaped, and had a crystalline structure to it. I gently picked it up, feeling no ill effects from it. "What a strange object." I hummed and looked it over before sticking it in my pocket. "No sense dawdling for now. Let's get to the city where it's safe, Paimon."
"Yeah! Paimon has had enough excitement for today!"
(XXX)
Been contemplating this for a while ever since Genshin came out a few years ago. Yes, it's basically an S/I fanfic, but the twist being that this character has no memories. I've waited some time for more info from the game to come out, and am now fairly confident I know just enough to start writing a comprehensive story. This will be a harem-esque story, though I think I'll play it more as Hoshi occasionally having dates and adult fun with those he meets and gets along with in one way or another rather than dedicated relationships. I'm actually still on the fence about him settling down with anyone, so I guess we'll see where this ends up.