FOREWORD

Genshin Impact, I had to admit, took some time for me to get into in earnest. It felt like a ripoff of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in many regards, and it took quite a while for the story to endear itself to me, and yet I couldn't deny how enjoyable the gameplay and exploration was. And after a certain point, I warmed to the story.

Of course, if there was a part of the story better than any other in the game so far (and who knows, the upcoming Fontaine arc may yet surprise me), it has to be the Sumeru arc. More of the characters were likeable from the get-go (save for Alhaitham and Dori), the gameplay was enjoyable, and Il Dottore was a villain you loved to hate.

And yet, perhaps one of the greatest parts of that arc was Nahida, the Dendro Archon of Sumeru. Her story is a sad one, and you really wish that she had been freed from the Sages' grasp sooner. She, more than most characters in the game, needs all the hugs, something her character trailers ram home, especially her heartbreaking teaser trailer, Happy Birthday, Nahida.

Inspired by Unleashed by Naughty Tome, my first foray into Genshin Impact fanfic was a oneshot crossover with The Sandman, Of Cages, Hubris, Dreams and Nightmares, where Dream of the Endless punishes the Sages in one of his best punishments. I always intended to do a longer story as a Potterverse crossover, and while I alluded to Nahida being freed in my Potterverse crossover oneshot What My Brother and I Did On Our Holidays, I wanted to do a longer story. After all, there's a rather galling lack of Potterverse crossovers with this lore-rich game, or indeed, good crossovers in general.

When I do soulbond stories, it's usually as an easy means of setting up the foundation for a romantic pairing. But I actually felt that, this time around, I could do a soulbond between siblings (and anyone wanting a romantic pairing with Nahida ought to have their head examined: she's a loli for Christ's sake!), and one that I actually had an idea for a justification. The actual pairing will be with Dunyarzad and, I hope, Dehya.

But much of the story will be around the dynamic between Nahida and Harry, about their sibling bond, and the feels that ensue from that bond. Nahida has got a very determined young wizard in her corner with a hell of a saving people thing. The Sages had better watch out.

I should really take a moment to acknowledge and thank Dis Lexic for their help with this fic. Aside from being a sounding board, Dis Lexic also was the one to suggest I play Genshin Impact in the first place.

Anyway, time for the usual disclaimers. Firstly, there will be spoilers for both Genshin Impact, and the Potterverse.

Secondly, there will be annotations, heavy annotations, and bellyachers will be treated with all due contempt.

Thirdly, for language, violence, and sexual references, this is an M-rated work.

Finally, the following is a fan-written work. Harry Potter and Genshin impact are the properties of their respective owners. Please support the official release. Otherwise, Il Dottore will use you in his experiments…