So...what I'm about to present is not actually a sample chapter of an upcoming work. Rather, it's more of a teaser trailer. I dabbled in the conceit years ago when I considered doing a crossover between RWBY and Hellsing, called RWBY: SINS. That didn't go anywhere, unfortunately, but I thought I'd reuse the concept here.

Genshin Impact has some pretty stylish trailers for showcasing its characters. So, I thought I'd write out a similar sort of trailer. As a sort of proof of concept for my story, like a pilot.

Now, for this story, I should emphasize that, while based partly on my 'Misery Loves Company' challenge, has no romance whatsoever between Harry and Nahida, with their relationship being that of honorary siblings. The tentative pairing is Harry/Lisa, but that may yet change. Those familiar with the forums I post challenges on may recognise this as an answer to my challenge 'Nahida's Wizard Sibling Saviour'.

As usual, there's no guarantee of this becoming a full fic, or even going to sample chapters in the Cauldron. But I hope you enjoy anyway...

SERAPSIS TEASER:

FIRES OF REBIRTH

Where does my story begin? That's a very difficult question to answer. After all, what came first? The bird or the egg?

A redhaired man walks across the sands of Sumeru's desert area, his long red and gold coat flapping in the hot wind. His crimson hair frames elegant, aristocratic features, even aquiline, and young…and yet his golden eyes showed age beyond his apparent years. He shades his eyes as he looks across the sands at King Deshret's mausoleum.

But perhaps my story began when I swore allegiance to my king, the greatest this land has ever known. I performed many services for him, purging dangers from these lands with fire, and he understood how life and death were more closely intertwined than people believe, to say nothing of understanding the true nature of the divine. Mortals place them on pedestals, but these are pedestals many should be toppled from.

The man begins walking towards the mausoleum, unheeding the vicious storm blowing up around the massive pyramid. He seems unwary of the various machines and Hilichurls roaming the area, who are starting to take an interest in him. In truth, he is very aware and alert, ready to spring into action, his hand holding a catalyst.

A drunkard who shirks responsibility allegedly governs the City of Freedom. A mooch obsessed with contracts reigns over his little harbour, not caring about his stained hands that will never be clean. And a warrior, ill-suited to governance, keeps her people free from change, for good or for ill, not caring that stasis will only harm her petty little archipelago.

His golden eyes glance up to the side. Half-hidden by the sandstorm is a floating island: Celestia. His lips curl into a sneer.

And don't get me started on those demiurges masquerading as gods, sitting pretty on their lofty throne, caring little for mortals unless they defy them or make a mess. I wonder if they had been the ones to send that knowledge to my king, to stymie his ambitions. Those monsters of Celestia certainly watched on, with gleeful smiles, no doubt, as our land was ravaged.

The man shakes his head, before moving onward. The Hilichurls begin moving in. But he is ready.

At least Khaenri'ah's rulers intended to conquer the world, though their citizenry didn't deserve their fate. But what sin did my king commit to deserve his fate? Celestia has done nothing to help its people. And few of the other gods have, or will.

The man blinks, before seeing a pointy-eared young woman briefly, with verdant green eyes and silver hair. His eyes widen in surprise, even as her image wavers and fades away. His hand reaches out, only realising too late it is a mirage.

Except for one. I swore to serve her after she saved us from the poison that ravaged our lands. And during the Cataclysm, I was torn from her service by those bastards in Celestia.

"Rukkhadevata…" Her name comes from his mouth in a whisper filled with yearning and sorrow. His golden eyes glisten, only to harden when he sees the Hilichurls getting closer. So he speaks, his expression hardening.

"You do not want this fight. I came here to pay my respects to my king. Back off, or burn."

Whether the Hilichurls understand him or not seems to be irrelevant. One of them charges, a burning club in hand. The man sighs. "You chose…poorly." And with that, he swings around to face the Hilichurl, and sends out a fiery blast that immolates the Hilichurl.

SERAPSIS:

Once a long-time ally to King Deshret and Rukkhadevata both, exiled to another world for centuries since the Cataclysm. A man of cool attitudes, warm heart, and burning flames.

With seemingly little effort, Serapsis immolates the various Hilichurls with pillars of flame that burst from the ground with each attack. He dances around their attacks before burning them. A Mitachurl charges at him with a massive wooden shield, only to be stopped dead by Serapsis' hand. The Mitachurl cocks its head in confusion and irritation, and Serapsis mirrors the movement before turning the shield into chunks of charcoal. As more Hilichurls try to rush him, he leaps into the air, before punching the ground. Columns of flame erupt all around him.

As he fights, flashbacks appear, to the devastation of Sumeru's desert kingdom, to the Cataclysm, a brief glimpse of Asmoday sneering coldly at him. But then, other scenes flash by. An elderly one with a broken nose and a long beard. A baby with a scarred forehead, with a liquid being dropped onto the scar. A bespectacled boy lying in a cupboard, dreaming of a silver-haired, pointy-eared girl in a glass sphere. A pair of wands, held by an older version of the bespectacled boy fighting a snake-faced man in robes.

I remember the day when she exiled me to another world. It took me centuries to regain even a fraction of my power and memories. But through a perverse jest of fate, my tears, given to a dying boy, linked him to Rukkhadevata's successor. I owe a debt to them both, which is why I united them once the boy's misadventures were over. And thus began a new adventure.

The Hilichurls are reduced to ashes blowing on the desert winds, but Serapsis' actions have drawn the attention of the robots guarding the ruins of the desert. The Primal Constructs are preparing to attack him. He glares at them, before spreading out his arms. A Phoenix, outlined in flame, forms around him.

"BE CLEANSED BY FIRE!" he roars, before the Phoenix of flame soars around, annihilating the Primal Constructs, leaving them half-melted wrecks on the sands. And then, after he emerges from the Phoenix-like image, Serapsis looks at them with regret, before moving into the mausoleum.

"Ashes to ashes…dust…to dust…"

Later, he is heading towards Aaru Village. His expression is pensive, even melancholy. Yet his stride is confident, as if he belongs here.

The glory of my king's land is long since gone, as is that of the previous Dendro Archon. But such is the way of the world. Death is not the end, but part of a cycle of renewal. Few understand that. The people of the desert cling to the hope that my king would one day be revived, while those so-called Sages in their treehouse cling to their precious Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and caged what should have been their hope and guiding light.

"Fawkes!"

At the name, Serapsis looks up, and sees a group of people gathered, waiting at the village's entrance. Cyno…Candace…Dehya…the Traveller…Paimon…Nahida…and Harry Potter, amongst others. It is Harry who called out that name. A wistful smile touches Serapsis' lips.

I brought them together, siblings in everything but blood…the Dendro Archon…and the Boy Who Lived. First, by linking their souls, and then, by bring them together. These two have been through too much…but while their road is long, they have hope again. A dream of happiness, and of family…

With that last thought, Serapsis strides towards Aaru Village. And towards an uncertain, but hopeful future…

COMING SOON…

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER, BUT DREAMS ARE GREATER STILL (working title)

ANNOTATIONS:

So, here you go. A teaser for what I hope to be my next attempt at a Potterverse/Genshin Impact story. It's framed as if it was a character trailer for Genshin Impact.

Serapsis is a name I chose for Fawkes' Teyvat self. As much of Sumeru is themed after Egypt (and not just the desert areas: for all the Indian and Middle-Eastern trappings, the Akademiya takes much from the Museion of Alexandria), I decided to name Fawkes after a deity of death and rebirth. Serapsis is a Greek corruption of Osiris.

Also, for the battle music, I reckon Battle Against a True Hero from Undertale works.

No numbered annotations.