CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: GANYU'S TRIAL
Ganyu opened her eyes to nothing but a desolate plain blanketed by a transparent mist, the only sounds grazing her ears being the sound of her own breathing and heartbeat. She took a second to just look around, a slight bit of fear slithering down her spine at the scenery before her eyes.
She knew this place.
However, she didn't know why it felt so familiar to her, just knew that she'd been here before. Had it been in a dream or nightmare that she'd found herself in this mysterious landscape, or was it familiar to her from a memory she'd buried in the back of her mind to never resurface and fester again?
The more she stared at the blank and ambient surroundings all around her, the more things started to become more clear. Then, in a sudden moment, Ganyu came to full realization of where she was, and she didn't like it.
"This is where everything started…I'm in my mother's womb," she confirmed. "The reason it's familiar and not at the same time, is because most offspring don't have any recollection of their days as a growing being. Yet, I'm here and it looks like this? Is this some sort of hint to something that has yet to occur in my life, or do offspring simply manifest their own internal place of comfort prior to birth?"
Following her analogy, a light suddenly shone through the mist straight out from her, to which she knew was where she needed to go next. Not questioning anything, Ganyu followed the light, eventually coming to the next step of whatever test she was being given. However, upon meeting her next destination, she found herself in a very strange position.
She was on all fours, and the world towered above her as if she were no bigger than a mouse. Her surroundings were that of the Peaks of Serenity, but it was lively with hundreds of other qilin of all ages.
She was back in the past, back when she was nothing more than a naive child that didn't know anything about the world yet. A scent caught her attention almost instantly that made her lick her chops; the scent of the Firefly Berries she adored as a young child. Then she turned her head and saw that she was centimeters from a Firefly Berry bush, and was smothered in the juices of said delight after eating them with gluttonous glee.
She knew this memory.
This was when she had snuck out to gorge herself with the Berries, and had-
"Ganyu!"
A familiar motherly voice interrupted her feast; the voice of her mother.
A set of footsteps drew close to her, Regora having caught her stuffing her face with the sweet fruits.
"Oh no, Ganyu," Regora said, a slight giggle adorning her voice. "Sweetheart, look at you, you're all messy."
Ganyu couldn't speak for her young self, the answer to the clearly-stressed and worried Regora being only a giggle.
"Hehe, it is quite funny, isn't it," Regora stated with another giggle. "Who am I kidding, I can't get angry at you. However, that fruit isn't something that you should eat so much of Ganyu, it'll make you all chubby and make it hard for you to walk."
Young Ganyu just gave her mother a curious gaze, somewhat understanding what her guardian was saying.
"Alright, my child, let's get you back home and work on getting you all cleaned up. Your father is worried sick about you."
She pouted as a message of letting her mom know that she was sorry. Ganyu was impressed at how intelligent she was at such an age, enjoying the memory that she had adored from the day it had occurred.
Out of her nostalgic thoughts, the same light from before burst through the world around her as if some force able to bend the laws of the world had punched a hole through reality. Once again, Ganyu just followed it, knowing that she needed to keep going to finish the trial.
Through the second portal of blinding light, she came to another memory she recognized immediately. It had occurred a few years after the last memory, and was the practical rehab that had broken her unhealthy addiction to the Berries.
"Mommy, is dis wreally necessawry?" Young Ganyu had spoken, staring at the monolith of a mountain that was Mt. Hulao.
"My dear, I've warned you about eating too many of those berries, and you decided not to heed," Regora replied. "Therefore, I must punish you in a way that'll make you actually listen to me. This mountain will be your punishment, because we're going to get rid of that chubby belly by walking from the bottom of it to the very top peak and back down for an entire week.
Your grandmother and I used to take this trail and do the same thing everyday, and it broke my habit with those berries as well. So, I will do the same with you to make sure you never touch those things again, unless you are instructed to."
Young Ganyu pouted, but, strangely, didn't object to her mother's words. Again, Ganyu was surprised by just how mature she had been at such a young age.
"Come along, Ganyu," Regora directed. "We've got a long day ahead of us and need to get started if we want to be back by dinnertime."
Following that, mother and daughter began the long and egregious ascension up Mt. Hulao, having stopped to rest only two times before they had reached the highest point of the colossal mass. At the top, Ganyu and Regora had stopped to take in the sights of the view, young Ganyu feeling as if she were above the heavens.
"It's swo pretty up here! Wook at the cwouds, mommy! It's like wer abwove the sky!"
Regora merely smiled at her daughter's exclamations, having responded exactly the same way when she saw that breathtaking view for the first time as well.
"Yes. It's beautiful up here," Regora replied. "A perfect place for us to stop and rest for awhile."
She offered her daughter a seat under one of the trees, pulling out a basket and offering Ganyu one of the servings she'd prepared as a reward for her making it to the top.
"Are dose Vasca Weevs?" Ganyu questioned.
"Mhm. A reward for our efforts," Regora confirmed, handing her child her portion, to which Ganyu accepted. "Eat it slowly or I'll take it away. We need to get that appetite of yours under control as well."
"Okway mommie," Ganyu agreed. "I'm sorwee that I eat swo much fwood."
Regora patted her daughter lightly on the head, assuring her that it wasn't necessarily her fault.
"Ganyu, sweetheart, you don't need to be sorry," Regora assured. "Qilin naturally have rigorous appetites when they are still young, so it's not something I can really blame you for. It's an adult qilin's responsibility to stop the natural bad habits of our offspring, hence why we're here on Mt. Hulao enjoying a snack and admiring the gorgeous sights nature offers to those willing to reach the peak."
"Isn't dis hwike hard fwor you too thwough?" the young half-qilin questioned.
"Of course, but it's my duty as your mother to do what's right for you, even if it's hard on me to do so. It's something you'll have to do someday as well, Ganyu. One day, you'll have your own children and will have to guide them just as I am now. Only then, will you understand why, while this punishment may seem harsh, it's for your own good."
"Okway mommie, I pwromise to be the bwest mommie ever! I wannuh be jwust wike you when I'm owlder!"
Regora chuckled at her daughter's words, happy that she'd left a positive impression on Ganyu's view of her future aspirations. However, that wouldn't be for a long time in her daughter's life, likely centuries upon centuries from now.
"I'm glad to hear that, sweety. Now, let's eat these Vasca Leaves. We still have to make the hike back down, and home to your father."
Young Ganyu nodded her head with a giggle, following up with taking slow and easy bites of her earned reward.
The memory ended there, and the same mysterious light tore through the void. However, before moving forward, Ganyu stopped to ponder about all she had seen up to then. What did they all imply that was connected to her current trial?
"Let's see. The first memory was related to growth and mystery, the second was implied with happiness and naivety, and this one contained the one thing that everyone aims for in life; the responsibility of guiding their young to assure success in their future. Now, let's connect those factors to my current self."
Ganyu pondered deeply for a minute, trying to connect the dots. Eventually, it suddenly clicked and caused a sense of fear to wash over her at the possibility of what might be next.
"By connecting these keypoints to my current self, the answer is simply that one's fate isn't sealed on stone. I did achieve success, but not in the way my mom had set me up to accomplish. I lost everything, was taken in and raised by Cloud Retainer, faced even more loss and trauma, and, even now, I don't have the same aspirations that I had back then.
I don't wish to have any children right now, nor has that thought ever crossed my mind after I lost my original home to those thugs. To put it simply, these memories are setting a basis for what my life would've been if it had gone undisturbed, which means that what is about to come next is…when my destiny was altered by the course of fate."
Ganyu gripped her heart at the sudden realization that she knew what was beyond the light shimmering before her. She was about to relive the memories that she dreaded the most, and that immediately caused her to stop and possibly consider quitting the trial. However, she knew she couldn't and that this was all part of her test.
Life wasn't just full of childhood innocence and aspirations set in stone.
No. That was the basic script written by the hand of destiny that everyone wished was all there was to a lifetime. However, life had another cruel force that defined the course of wishes and dreams.
This had been the test of destiny.
Next, was the test of fate.
Ganyu took a deep breath to prepare herself for the next obstacle course in this mental trial, then, with as much bravery and strength as she could display, stepped forward through the lighted gateway.
Upon meeting the other side, she was greeted with exactly what she expected. Her home was raided by thugs, every inch of it was ablaze in flames, and the qilin were in a battle to defend their children. Ganyu was beside Regora crying in fear of what was happening, and gripping her morphed mother's front right leg as tight as possible.
It was chaos and just as vivid as Ganyu remembered it back then.
Her father was standing and guarding her Regora from the attacks, slowly starting to succumb to his wounds.
She wanted to fight back.
Wanted to alter the course that fate had paved for her.
But, just like before, Ganyu was just a child seeking comfort and safety from the madness. There was nothing she could do to alter what was happening again in front of her, and could only re-live the pain and sorrow currently swarming her entire being.
"R-regora…I c-can't hold up m-much longer," spoke Ganyu's father. "P-please, run and t-take care of G-ganyu…
"I'm not leaving you to die, Fatorus!" she refused. "We can't abandon our home! Where will we go?!"
"R-regora! I-if you s-stay here w-we'll all d-die!" he countered. "P-please, d-do what is b-best for both of y-you…
He lost track of his words, the blood loss being the cause. There was little time left, and, even if she tried to run, Regora knew that she was likely to be injured. That lead to her making the decision that changed Ganyu's life forever.
"Ganyu, listen to me! I need you to run from here! Run until you can't run anymore! Mommy will come find you after this is over!"
"No! I can't!" the qilin quivering at her hoof desperately pleaded. "I wanna stay! I wanna be with you and daddy!"
"Sweetheart, you need to leave! I promise that I'll find you and bring you back! It's not safe here for you now, so please let go!"
"I can't! I'm scared mommy!"
Then Regora did what she needed to do to assure her daughter's safety and future. With enough force to avoid hurting her, Regora pried her child from her leg and tossed her far enough from her to send a clear message that she was serious. Ganyu had landed with a little yelp, but, upon meeting her mother's gaze, she knew that she needed to listen.
Run until she couldn't move her legs anymore.
"Go Ganyu!" Regora demanded, and, after finally realizing her mother wasn't playing, Ganyu turned and began to run as fast as she could.
Once her young self was out of sight, as if fate had been taunting her, Fatorus fell onto the ground, leaving Regora to defend herself. However, something strange happened instead, the thugs turning their focus away from Regora and looking in the direction she had run.
That had set ablaze a fire in Regora, having vowed to protect her daughter from the moment she gave birth to her. She worked quickly to stop the pursuit by jumping in their path and did all she could to fight back. Ganyu was no longer in any line of fire, so she had no restrictions as she tore the heads off of her enemies, crushed them with her hooves, and gave them the truest display of a mother's love for their child in the rawest form possible.
A display that ended up with her as the victor with the cost of a few wounds and her child being lost out in the Liyue wilderness. She had wanted to run out and find Ganyu, but her injuries were far too great for her to even try so. Therefore, she did what was best for her and Ganyu, and allowed herself to rest and heal.
"I'll come back for you, my little Ganyu. I promise."
It ended there, but Ganyu already knew what was next, so she took the plunge into the next memory upon the light piercing through the stage. Upon meeting the other side, she was met with another grim sight that she remembered so vividly that it stung her heart.
The day she had discovered the corpse of Yunhe.
A much older Ganyu was standing at the gateway to a now-tattered and scorned land of debris that once housed hundreds of innocent people. All she has is a look of confusion on her face, but it quickly dwindles to one of absolute horror at the realization of what the state of the village implied.
"No…Yunhe!" she shouts as she runs into the village and begins to look through the ruins.
She lifts countless boards, shouts her friend's name hundreds of times, prays that the worst case scenario hasn't come to pass, but all of those efforts and hopes dwindle to nothing upon lifting a large piece of debris and seeing the motionless corpse of the friend she had made accidentally years ago.
The torn half-qilin can't speak or think at all and just collapses to her knees in tears, her tears staining the bloody clothing that adorned Yunhe's body in absolute sorrow and disbelief. She falls onto her friend's husk and cries for hours, up until she exhausts herself and falls asleep.
When she finally awakens, her own clothes are stained with Yunhe's crimson life supply, and she's as silent as a mouse scouring a house at night. In other words, her will and soul are broken, and all that remained was rage. The adolescent gets to her feet and starts looking around for specific things, quickly finding what she needed.
The remains of a broken arrow that told of who had attacked and murdered her best friend.
"I won't let your death be pointless, Yunhe. These bastards are going to pay the price!"
From there, the memory shifted to Ganyu taking pursuit on her targets, having found them not far from the village. Rage engulfed her like a volcano on the verge of erupting as she approached and readied herself to exact all hell on those in her crosshairs.
"Who is the one that killed her!?" she demanded.
The thugs all jumped at the sudden intrusion, thinking that she was an unfortunate damsel that could be easily subdued.
"Well, well, and what do we have here?" spoke the member that was likely the leader. "A little lamb that's been separated from her herd, or a harlot looking for some action?"
The group chuckled at the mocking, but Ganyu wasn't even phased, gripping her bow as tightly as possible.
"Ah, I see, you're one of those quiet types," the leader continued to mock. "Well, unless you've got something to say, I'd say you get lost, little girl."
Ganyu didn't even shift, anger leading her to her next action that was sure to show that she wasn't playing around.
"I won't ask again!" she demanded, drawing up her bow and arrow, and aiming it straight at the centerpoint of the leader's forehead. "Which of you killed the little girl with short black hair!?"
Now the group of thugs were in a state of defense, having jumped in surprise at their "easy prey" taking the offensive.
"Who the hell do you think you are, princess?!" the leader exclaimed. "Do you even know who we are? We're the Xioumei Clan, and we don't care about anything but the sweet sensation of collecting the rarest treasures this world has to offer! We don't back down from anything, not even prissy little spitfires like you!"
The armed Ganyu was nearing the end of her patience, growing tired of the thug treating her as if she was no more than a bug to a human. Therefore, she gave him a clear message that would prove that he had messed with the wrong person.
"You're disgusting," she stated coldly, following with releasing her arrow and inflicting her target with a shot to the shoulder.
The monster had no time to react, the sudden infliction of pain causing him to fall back onto the ground. By the time it had taken him to recover, Ganyu already had another shot prepared, eying her prey with pure rage and murderous intent.
"You dumb bitch! Kill her!" he commanded, directing his cohorts to her with the intention to end her life.
However, Ganyu had seen that move coming and was prepared.
She started to fire arrows at a rapid speed, each shot hitting and dropping every intended target. The thugs fell like flies, and their leader had come to full realization that this strange girl that had come to his camp in the dead of night was on the prowl for vengeance.
Blood stained the ground, and the sounds of his fellow thieves were all that filled the ambience of the night. He had tried to get up and run, but Ganyu had pinned him with more arrows. She had pierced his spine and severed his spinal cord, making him nothing more than a useless bag of bones anymore.
With all of his men dead, the thug had been met with his worst nightmare in the faint light that the campfire provided to his current position. He was done for, and, upon the sight of his predator's approach, he begged for her mercy.
"Please! I'm sorry for what I did! I'll give you anything you want if you spare me! I swear!"
Ganyu wasn't even phased by his pleads, having kneeled down to give him the last sight of anything he'd ever see.
"Shut your damn mouth!" she demanded. "You took my friend's life without any remorse or guilt, so why would I spare you of what you deserve!?"
He had no answer, only fear and terror. He had no way out of this.
"That little girl pleaded for your mercy in her last moments! She begged you for her life to not be taken, so you have no right to beg for mine! All you have the right for is me to give you exactly what you gave her before you killed her!"
Nothing came from the killer's mouth, only sweat from his pores, and tears from his eyes. Ganyu had him beyond scared straight, and was too petrified at her presence to mutter a single word.
Ganyu had had enough of playing with her prey, moving to finishing her vengeance for Yunhe in the best way she felt necessary. She picked him up from the ground and dragged him back to the outer edge of the campfire. She stopped to perform one last thing before finishing her work, forcing his gaze to meet her's as a grim farewell.
"Remember me, and remember me well as the one who gave you what you've earned. Never forget my face as you burn to nothing but ash into the pits of hell!"
She finished her exclamation by tossing him into the flames, listening with pure justice as the fire began to embrace and burn his flesh to charred ash. At first, his screams had made her feel satisfied and relieved, but those emotions quickly shifted to a feeling of distress and guilt. Her work had already done her prey in by the time the reality of what she'd just done hit her like the impact of an atomic bomb.
She had killed someone.
She was no better than the very thugs that had coldly taken Yunhe's life.
She was a murderer, and it was far too late to undo the damage she had done.
She felt sick to her stomach, falling to her knees and beginning to cry at the horrid realization of what she had just done out of the sole purpose of vengeance and anger. This wasn't who she was, but her hands were stained with the blood of the lifeless bodies surrounding her, her arrows having taken their lives.
It was painful for Ganyu to relive this moment of regret in her life, having clenched her chest in pain at the fact that this was something that she had done. She couldn't deny or run from it, only accept that she had taken all of those lives that night.
Then the scene changed, a tall and clearly-unique individual walking up to her. Ganyu knew exactly who he was and just how vital this very moment in her life had been to become who she was now.
"Dear child of mine, why are you crying?" they asked.
Young Ganyu had jumped at the sudden intrusion, having expected this to be the punishment for what she had committed.
"Please! I only wanted to do what I thought was right!" she begged desperately. "Please don't sentence me to damnation! I'm truly sorry for what I did!"
"Young one, I am no deliverer of damnation," the stranger clarified. "The case of vengeance is always the most difficult to discern as a proper reason to take one's life, and, while what you did was rightfully earned on his end, it also wasn't the proper way to exact vengeance. However, what I know prevents you from damnation is the fact that you have shown regret in doing so, something that he and his gang didn't show in their actions of savagery."
The words touched Ganyu in a way that gave her relief, having turned her gaze to her new company to see them properly. She still sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes, trying her best to get a hold of herself.
However, the stranger beat her to the punch.
"I've seen you and who you really are, Ganyu, and know very well that you are not someone who would kill without reason. Your soul is gentle and kind, but every being in this world has a dark side to them that they sometimes lose control of. It is a part of living, and you lost control over yourself because you are simply part-human."
Ganyu was dumbfounded.
He knew her name and the truth about her identity of being only half-human. Something she had never told anyone besides her adoptive mother once she was old enough to know.
"I'm sorry, sir, but how do you know me so well?" she questioned.
The figure reached out a hand to help her up from the ground, to which Ganyu hesitated to accept, but eventually took it. On her feet, she just eyed the man with curiosity and slight fear, his eyes glowing like golden embers from beneath the hood that adorned his head.
"Because I know all my children, Ganyu," he answered. "You were born in the Peaks of Serenity, and are the result of your mother, Regora, engaging with a human man out of nonconsensual means. I've watched you grow and train with Cloud Retainer on Mt. Aocang, and know that you've endured a great amount of tragedy and loss in your life. I also know that you are currently in a state of confusion in your life of who you really think you are, and I can assure you that there's nothing abnormal about that.
You are unique, and uniqueness comes with conflict and debation of one's identity. However, I can assure you that you are far from a cold-blooded killer and that your friend holds nothing against you for what you did. She'd still want to be your friend and look at you as the same person if she were here with us."
A calmness blanketed Ganyu's soul, feeling not so guilty anymore about her bloody act. This person made her feel less anxious or hesitant about the things she had questioned in the past, specifically her identity as a half-adeptus. However, she couldn't find it in her heart to forgive herself for her actions, seeing she had killed all of those thugs.
She had no excuses.
"I…appreciate your sympathy and advice, sir, but… I won't lie to myself that what I've done to avenge Yunhe wasn't an act of savagery with unnecessary choices made," she confessed. "I must live with what I've done as a reminder to never allow myself to go that far again, and hope that I can make up for it in some way throughout the remainder of my life."
The stranger nodded, surprising Ganyu that he actually was on the same page as her.
"You are a delicate one, Ganyu," they complimented. "You are wise and mature for such a young age, and, if that's the way you see as the only way to earn forgiveness from yourself, then you are already healing. In fact, I might have a way for you to find the answer you seek."
"Huh? W-what do you mean?" Ganyu questioned.
"As I said before, I am not a deliverer of damnation, but I am a dealer of contracts. Therefore, I have an offer for you, Ganyu; a contract that will help you not only overcome your act tonight, but will also allow you to become more confident in who you truly are in this world."
Ganyu hesitated at the offer. She was intrigued, but needed to know the full details of said contract before making any decisions she may not be able to take back.
"What would I need to do?" she questioned.
"It's quite simple, but there's something you must know first. A war is approaching between the gods of this world; one that will likely take a long time to conclude and will lead to the deaths of thousands. I'm asking you to fight by my side, and do all you possibly can to protect the people of Liyue. In return, your sins will be forgiven and you will find peace with yourself when the time comes."
Ganyu paused and thought hard about the proposition. It seemed like a fair deal, but the fact that thousands would die made her shiver.
Could she handle losing another friend to war?
"What you're asking of me may be something I cannot handle," she explained. "One death led me to this, so what if I lost another friend on the battlefield?"
The man nodded his head, solving the issue with the burning question of who he really was.
"As gentle is a qilin's soul, so is their heart. Therefore, I'm willing to teach you things you would need to survive in the years that this war will bring. They will leave scars and trauma, but, in the end, I will guide you to the peace you seek. You'd have my word and full wisdom as the God of Contracts."
Ganyu's eyes bulged instantly. She knew full well who this proposer of deals was, and knew that everything he was saying would be fulfilled if she agreed. She didn't say anything for a long minute, only thinking over everything she'd been offered, up until she finally made her choice.
"I will fight with you as the price of redemption for my sins, Rex Lapis."
The light pierced through again, but, this time, Ganyu had no idea what would be next beyond the portal before her. The Archon War had brought many things in her time serving the Lord of Geo, so it could literally be anything. However, she could only go forward, so she did exactly that, preparing herself for the worst to come.
Passing the blinding rays, Ganyu was met with something unexpected; a blank space that was only occupied by one lone thing. A massive qilin that stood tall above her sat in patience as if it had been awaiting her arrival, and, upon eying the beast more, Ganyu realized exactly who she was in the presence of.
The spirit of the talisman that would be her judge in the trial.
The sacred beast peeked its eyes open and stared down at her. Its irises radiated a golden glow, and Ganyu could feel them reading her over like a book as a prelude to judgment. Then, in a sudden moment, the monolith spoke.
"Thou who has accepted the trial, please state your name," it spoke.
It's voice was like the tremors of an earthquake and the booming of thunder. She was intimidated, but knew that all she had to do was tell the truth.
"My name is Ganyu," she answered. "I am the daughter of Regora and the adopted-daughter of Fatorus of the Peaks of Serenity."
The beast didn't say anything at first, but after a moment of thought, it spoke again.
"Ganyu of Regora and Fatorus, you have accepted the Trial of Ascension and have now come to the final test. You have now faced both the Test of Destiny and Fate; the tests that defy one's existence as a whole to earn the right to earn my blessings. This is the Trial of Recollection and Acceptance, and, shall you answer correctly based on what you've just witnessed, you will earn the right to ascend beyond your current self. Do you accept and agree to answer with absolute truth?"
"I do," she answered.
The creature nodded its head, commencing the final obstacle that Ganyu needed to conquer.
"The trial will now begin, so please answer with only the truth, otherwise your soul will remain here in eternal limbo as punishment."
Ganyu gulped at the clear warning as the creature started with the first question.
"Ganyu of Regora and Fatorus, you arrived here in a much unfamiliar place that you've never seen in your life. Could you please state exactly where the starting point of your journey was?"
Ganyu decided not to jump the gun, taking a long moment to think over her original analysis. She'd guessed her starting point being related to her growth in her mother's womb, because all life starts as nothing but a seed being nourished to growth. However, there was one specific thing she looked over that she didn't specify, and that was the mist.
Her mind spiked upon suddenly realizing what it actually meant, having been grateful that she'd taken time to think it over.
"My starting point was the place all unborn life starts, at the crossroads of destiny and fate," she answered. "All life starts as nothing more than an idea or thought adrift in a sea or mist of dreams, until one aspires to create life and nourish it within their own self. Life is first conceived by whoever controls fate and destiny, because we all are given a path to take in life prior to existence by the one who paves it."
"An excellent answer. I'm impressed, young one."
Ganyu wanted to celebrate her accomplishment, but knew she was far from done. Therefore, she kept a sharp focus on the task at hand, continuing to listen.
"Next question. In your Test of Destiny, you saw many memories that pertained to the innocence of childhood and growth. Can you explain why these specific memories were critical to the trial itself?"
Once again, Ganyu took a moment to ponder. However, she was pretty confident that her initial analysis was correct, so she gave her response.
"Childhood is the time of our lives when we are the most ambitious and carefree, building the foundation that eventually leads us to following the path that was paved. It's critical to the trial, because without a base to build hopes and dreams we hope to achieve, we can't tread the path at all."
The qilin nodded its head again, confirming that she'd answered right.
"Very good. You are quite a perceptive subject, Ganyu of Regora and Fatorus. However, these next questions will be harder for you to answer."
Ganyu nodded her head, ready to take on the next challenge the beast had for her.
"Next question. In the Test of Fate you encountered a large amount of your greatest demons and deepest memories. The first was a moment in your life where you had to leave what you knew and loved behind, so, in doing so, what conclusion did you reach after witnessing it yet again, and how does it reflect as a positive outcome?"
That made Ganyu stop and go into deep thought, knowing she had to be careful with how she answered this. What conclusion had she met, and how had affected her life in a positive way? That was a really good question, and she went over everything again just to make sure she didn't miss anything important. It took a long while, but Ganyu came to an answer that she felt fit the bill.
"My conclusion…is that I have no regrets. My mother did what she did so I could continue to walk my path of destiny and achieve my aspirations. Fate may have changed my course, but I still carried dreams and hopes that I hoped to reach in my life. So, while I had to lose my home and all I knew to continue down my path, in the end, it never changed me.
That's why I am still able to have hope in the darkest hours and am able to continue to chase my dreams, because I stayed on the road that was paved for me by fate and destiny regardless of my obstacles. I've lived happily without having any regrets or hatred for anything in my life, even if they originally were cruel and tragic in nature."
It went silent for a minute, causing sweat to seep from her pores in anxiety of the verdict. However, upon the mythical beast bowing its head subtly, Ganyu let out a long breath of relief that she had passed her current roadblock.
"Very well done. You recognize life as something that is precious, but is also cruel at times. The path of life is treacherous and a double-edged sword; one day you can be living a normal and productive life, then, in a flash, it can change completely. Your strength has no limits, Ganyu of Regora and Fatorus, showing that you are ready for the next question."
Ganyu nodded confidently, ready for whatever this godly being would say next. She knew she was in the final stretch of the trial, but getting to the finish line was going to be a taxing feat to accomplish.
"Next question. In your Test of Fate, you were met with the memory of your greatest regret. Having grown and become more mature, do you still have any shred of regret for what you did that night?"
She had been correct. The questions were getting harder to answer and dealt with her own inner conflict that she still carried after hundreds of years. This was a personal question that she knew she couldn't lie about the answer to, and that was the point. This trial was a feat of confronting everything about herself, and she was now to the hardest parts that she questioned about herself.
She took a deep breath and began to spill the truth.
"I do," she answered softly. "My Lord made a deal with me that I hoped to erase all of my regret for what I did that night, but, in the end, I've come to realize that there's nothing in this world that can erase my sins. Doing so would be selfish and cold of me, and that's not who I am and never will be.
I killed that man and his entire gang that night, and that's the truth. Nothing, not even the might of the gods, can erase what I've done, and I'll accept my punishment when the day comes that I am judged for my actions in life. If eternal damnation is the price I must pay, then I will endure it."
Silence followed, but the qilin clearly showed that she had given the right response. It gently nodded its massive head and began to speak again.
"Accepting who you are and that what has been done cannot be undone is the greatest step of maturity. You have accepted your sins and the cost that may come in death, meaning you have cleansed your soul and will of any impurity."
The creature paused for a moment, to which she assumed meant that the next question was the last one.
This would be the hardest obstacle to pass, but she was ready to confront whatever came next, standing tall and proud before the gargantuan being that would declare her verdict.
"You have reached the last question of the trial, and this will be your determining factor if you are worthy of my blessing. So, as the last question, I ask you, Ganyu of Regora and Fatorus, do you know who you truly are and your purpose in walking the pathway of destiny and fate?"
This question was definitely the hardest, seeing it dealt with her greatest insecurity about herself; her identity.
Who was she to herself?
That was a question that everyone has to eventually face, seeing if you don't know yourself, how can you grow as a better and confident person towards your goals and dreams?
Ganyu paused to think hard, making sure to go over every aspect of the trial. She'd accepted the truth about her greatest regrets, made it clear that fate couldn't falter her course to her destiny, and had spoken truths from the deepest corners of her psyche. She'd practically confessed every part of herself and life to the qilin before her, all except for the one realization she had a hard time accepting.
Was she a human or a qilin?
What was her true identity to herself?
She gave her answer.
"The truth is that I'm a human and a qilin, and, just like with my sins, it's something no force can ever change," she confessed. "I'd always felt insecure around humans due to my past, but also didn't see that not all humans are judgemental. I realized that the day I met Yunhe, because she saw me as nothing but a friend and myself. The same goes for the day I encountered my beloved for the first time, because, while her views were different from mine about the gods, she accepted me for who I was.
It's thanks to the happiness and peace I had longed for that I no longer see myself as some kind of abnormality in this world. Yunhe befriended me for who I was, and Keqing loves me for who I am; both as a human and qilin, and that makes me confident that it doesn't matter who I am. I will always be a hybrid creation from a human and qilin, and I can accept that, because Yunhe, Keqing, and all of my comrades I fought with in the Archon War are the aspirations fate and destiny led me to.
That was my destined path, and, because I have made those dreams reality, that means that I have accepted everything about myself. Therefore, my answer is that I am simply Ganyu, the child of Regora and Fatorus, friend of many humans, defender of Liyue, and lover of human Keqing."
Ganyu felt a warmth building up inside of her, something that she had wanted to feel for centuries. It was the result of her acceptance of her true identity in the world of Teyvat, and she had no second thoughts about it.
She was herself.
A qilin.
A human.
A warrior.
A lover.
She was Ganyu, and only Ganyu.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
The monolith before her nodded it's head yet again, concluding the trial and confirming that Ganyu had earned its blessing.
"You have passed, Ganyu of Regora and Fatorus. You have come to terms with yourself, your demons, and your past. Your soul is pure and clean, and your heart is golden and strong. You are ready to grow into a stronger and whole person."
Ganyu smiled in relief, watching as the beast approached her and lied down.
"You will now receive the Blessing of the Talisman. Please bow your head, close your eyes, and think of the things that give you strength. They will guide the power to your soul and ascend you to greatness."
Ganyu listened, lowering her head and closing her sight off to the world around her. She then began to reminisce about her life, but, this time, nothing but the memories that gave her happiness and internal peace.
Her days as a gluttonous qilin.
The hike with her mother.
Her first encounter with Yunhe.
The days she spent with her first human friend.
The day she met Keqing.
The times she was out on operations with her beloved.
The night she took her to dinner in Mondstadt.
The evening she made supper for her beloved.
Their first time confessing their feelings and making love together.
The bath before they left for Inazuma.
Fighting together to defend Inazuma.
Their reunion in the cathedral.
They all built the warmth in her heart to a blazing inferno, causing her to smile.
She finally had made peace with herself, and that was the best feeling to her.
A sensation she hadn't realized had ended until she opened her eyes again, her mother and Regora before her with curious expressions.
She had passed the trial and was now powerful enough to stand against the Tsaritsa's forces. One of her tasks that she had needed to accomplish to save the world alongside her beloved.
"Ganyu?" Keqing questioned with a hint of worry.
To relieve her partner of any potential fears, she stood up from the statue's throne and addressed her love.
"I'm okay, my love," she assured. "I passed the trial and now have achieved what I came here to do."
"It's not that, but your horns," Keqing confirmed. "They've grown!"
"Huh?" Ganyu gasped, reaching to the top of her head, finding that her horns had indeed grown longer.
However, she didn't panic, assuming it as part of the blessing she'd received.
"It's probably just a part of the ascension process," Ganyu assured. "Nothing to be scared of."
Keqing smiled in relief, addressing something else that caught Ganyu by surprise.
"I suppose that explains the eye color change too. They're golden now."
Again, Ganyu gasped, but wasn't worried about it being anything drastic.
"Common results of the trial," Regora chimed in. "You have indeed ascended, sweety, but, tell me, do you feel any different?"
"Honestly, not at all," Ganyu answered. "However, while I don't feel different, I can feel that I am stronger. It's similar to that of a sixth sense."
"Well, I think you look absolutely beautiful," Keqing complimented, causing Ganyu to blush.
"M-my love…you're embarrassing me…"
"Hehe, I just wanted to assure you that, while you have changed, you're still the same Ganyu to me."
Ganyu smiled, relieved that her transformation hadn't affected Keqing's feelings for her.
"I'm beyond happy that my daughter chose you as her partner," Regora stated. "You have my respect and trust, my beloved daughter-in-law."
"I-I appreciate that," Keqing responded. "To be honest, I was surprised how open you were to us being lovers."
Regora shook her head at the thought that she'd be one to judge their relationship.
"I just want my Ganyu to be happy, and if you're the person that she is happy with, along with the fact that you clearly love and accept her for who she is, then I am willing to welcome you with open arms."
Keqing smiled and nodded her head.
"Then I promise to be the best partner to your daughter as much as possible."
Regora returned the sentiment, reverting back to the task at hand.
"Now, while you now possess this power, you will need help to control it," she addressed Ganyu. "I know how to do it, but it will likely take weeks for you to control. Given that you need this power to save our world, are you willing to stay here and take the time to master it?"
Ganyu averted her gaze to Keqing, having already made her decision in her mind. As if they could read each other's minds, Keqing immediately caught onto the message her beloved was paging to her.
"Stay. Me and the others will be fine. Not to mention that you two haven't seen each other in centuries, so please, take time to reminisce as mother and daughter."
Ganyu nodded with a warm smile, relieved that Keqing had caught her message. With the two lovers having agreed to what needed to be done, Regora cut back in.
"Thank you for understanding, dear," Regora stated. "However, it has gotten quite late, so, please, stay for tonight. You can venture out in the morning."
Keqing agreed with a bow of her head, following with the three departing the underground chamber and labyrinth. After that, they returned back to Regora's residence and took time to just talk and indulge in qilin cuisine. A paradise that Ganyu had taken time to soak in before retiring for the night in her original home that she'd longed to find for what seemed like an eternity.