Cold Clouds 9 - (Genshin Impact, Ganyu!SI)
The first thing I did as I return to Guili was to first check my father's tomb.
It had been left mostly unscathed if not for the green that had grown over the stone. Part of me wanted to utterly clean it, but I just focused on keeping the engraving visible while allowing for nature to cement itself over the result of 'death'. He would have wanted to know that, even beyond his last days, something good could come out of him to help others. In this case, nature itself.
Chiyo sat somewhere nearby, looking around as she silently took in the fresh air and the strangely soothing peace of this specific area. The oni would usually be quick to bore within those instances, but I was glad the wonderful sense of quiet had claimed her over in preserving such a wonderful status quo.
Xiao was mostly quiet through this early bit, but perhaps his silence was dictated by the awareness I had taken care of both Osial and his wife before returning home.
I was even expecting the Assembly to know I had something to do with the sudden disappearance of Osial, mostly due to the sudden lack of 'manipulation' within the turbulent water that made fishing within the nearby seas once dangerous and extremely difficult.
As I was done paying respects to the grave, I wandered northward to where the settlement of Guili persisted. It had barely expanded in those few years, mostly due to its precarious 'open-fielded' position that rendered any extensive effort to widen the perimeter of the Assembly worthy of a potential aggressive attack from other deities in the area.
Once passing through the gates, I could feel eyes upon me. Some striking me with familiar glances, others that didn't know of me mesmerized by the inhuman beauty that I carried through my womanly frame and my white dress purposely meant to exhalt those traits. It was revealing alright, but I saw fit to use some of my Adeptus' magic to drench the cloth with enough resistance to make it as tough as an armor and as resilient to potential wardrobe malfunctions due to its 'openness'.
Chiyo was not spared from some glances, but she didn't seem to mind as she was more interested over the unusual yet somewhat familiar architecture of the settlement.
"I thought it would have been more different. Like, a lot different," She commented flatly, and I slowly nodded.
"It's very possible that some of the early inhabitants of Inazuma came from this region," I theorized, thinking that something akin to how Japan got first occupied by its natives was behind the current disposition of humans. "Hence why so many traditions are so similar. Same for the alphabet."
The oni nodded along my words, switching into 'student mode' as she earnestly digested what I had to throw at her brain. And as we were chatting over things, I decided to bring her to visit an old friend. Marchosius was busy with the kitchen when we stepped into his restaurant, but he paused as he noticed my presence there.
The large bear smiled at us and he was instantly focusing on the two of us.
"Ganyu, long time no see."
"Marchosius. We will not take much of your time, we would like to partake with some of your cuisine."
The God of the Stove nodded, taking our orders and appearing bemused when Chiyo asked quite the silly question.
"How big are you?!"
Usually this would appear a bit rude, but Chiyo delivered it with a hint of childish delight that it made the big Bear snort and chuckle.
"Big enough to give the best of hugs!"
I held back a smirk as I remembered he once said something like this before giving me a big hug. I think that was around the time dad got very sick a few weeks before his death. Still, no hugs were given at that point as we took our seats in one of the available tables and waited to be served, with Xiao happily standing by the table as the birdo enjoyed some fries through the session.
We waited roughly two hours between eating, drinking (Chiyo was surprisingly weak to the extra spicy dishes and thus drank a lot of water) and then discussing on what was going to happen next - then, as Marchosius finished his shift for the special day, we were able to talk with the God of the Stove.
"Morax is already aware that you... took care of Osial. Our plan was to defend rather than attack but... your move has left many confused and uneasy."
"I am not part of the Assembly. I see no reason for anyone to make a fuss about it beyond the feat itself being testament of my power," I argued calmly, not trying to brag but also not shying away from the fact that some may be unnerved by the news that a non-God entity just killed two God-tier entities with a single attack. "Alas, I don't plan to stay for long. I have duties in Inazuma."
"Which is why Morax seeks only to have a private conversation with you on the matter," Marchosius confirmed, nodding at my words. "As far as he and Guizhong care, your words will settle what will be needed to be done. You are sure you don't... you know."
"I still think you as a friend and don't have any ill intent with Guili, Marchosius. But I believe that being unaligned is best since..." I paused, sighing as I glanced to Chiyo, the Oni appearing perplexed by my strained look. "I am going to say that I am not certain of this but... a war is coming. A big one."
"...How big?"
"Only seven will survive. One for each region. One for each Element. Cryo, Anemo, Pyro, Geo, Electro, Hydro, and Dendro."
Marchosius leaned back, eyes closed as he gave me one of the rarest tense expressions a bear of that size could give.
"Morax predicted as much. If you think so then... then things will get difficult."
"Very difficult," I confirmed. "But it's not our business to discuss. I think it's time for us to get going to Mt. Aocang."
The large bear nodded, and he pretty much acted as our guide to our meeting's location. As expected, Chiyo was onto me over this piece of news.
"A war? Only seven gods?!" The oni asked, eyes wide open. "Do Ei and Makoto know-"
"Yes," I interrupted. "Makoto will take over as the God of Inazuma once things are calmer there, while Ei will act as her 'second-in-command'."
"This is still... why?"
"There are higher beings we can just assume without questioning. To put it bluntly? Something akin to Celestia 'having a good idea' in their mind," I remarked dryly. "But enough of that. We will discuss this more once we're back in Ritou."
Chiyo didn't seem pleased on her questions being cut away like this, but she conceded that it was a big enough topic that it was best to not speak of it in a public location.
Hours later, and distracting Chiyo with a few tales of these high places, I was relieved that we reached Mt. Aocang without having to deal with any surprises. At this point in time, this place was quite devoid of threats like Hilichurls or any of the destructive beasts that would lurk this domain within the next few thousands years from now.
Marchosius and Chiyo stood behind at the entry of the peak, while I took care of this business. The real issue soon presented through someone I didn't want to meet anytime and anywhere in my fucking life.
She looked like a 'younger' version of me since she was shorter and flatter than me. Her hair was a paler shade of blue and her eyes were redder than mine. The young woman paused as she caught sight of me, finishing to talk with Morax and Guizhong as we were approaching.
I gave her a flat look, already knowing who it was. I saw numerous feelings play within my 'mother's eyes, and while she expected a reaction out of me, either a good one or a bad one, I merely gave her a dry look. I really didn't have anything to say or do about her.
The woman was a Qilin, someone like me, but that was all I could say. Hence why I calmly turned my gaze to Morax and she lowered hers in a hint of shame and quite a lot of despair. Without saying a word, she left and, in a way, I felt happy for that.
There was nothing to say about what happened- it's been two decades and maybe more since I last saw her and... with all due respect to my father's wish to not be too harsh on my mother, I preferred to keep her out of my life altogether.
"Ganyu, you have grown well."
I nodded at Guizhong's compliment. "Lady Guizhong, your words are kind but I can sense truth."
"Then you are well-prepared to also claim some unsavory subjects over your own behavior with Osial," Morax pointed out, which I replied with a nod. "You decided to outright destroy him, something a non-divine being should not be able to accomplish."
"By mere power alone? No. It would be impossible. But that's why I relied on a matter of 'type advantage'. Osial relies on Water, so I used Ice and Electricity combined to hit him with a powerful attack. His body may be effective against solid attacks, but a pure combination of those into an explosive beam enough was just enough to do the trick."
"It was a clever plan, but the most concerning bit, Ganyu, is about your decision on either lingering in Guili or being aligned to other regions."
That was another gripe and Guizhong was right. I could tell I am not aligned to Gods, but my presence in some regions did mean I was aligned to somewhere and not elsewhere. Still, I tried to give my best take at the neutrality bid.
"I am currently operating in Inazuma. But I expect to eventually resume my journey around the world of Teyvat once my girlfriends are done claiming the rest of the region."
"That's... wait, 'girlfriends'?" Guizhong appeared surprised at the news, while Morax merely offered an intrigued look. "You- You have-"
"I have two lovers that are girls. What about it?"
"N-Nothing, it's just..." Guizhong sounded nervous and shy so suddenly.
"What I think Guizhong is trying to say is that she didn't expect you to prefer females to males," Morax interjected, causing the God of Dust to huff. "Alas, it is not our duty to impose your preferences. Are you happy with them?"
"Quite."
"Then I hope that your bond with them will blossom properly."
I smiled and nodded. "And I hope the same goes for your bond with Lady Guizhong, Lord Morax."
And with that, I concluced the meeting with a much needed push into the MoraxXGuizhong ship. The two blushed and I successfully was done with this visit back home for the time being. I would linger for another day and then leave for Inazuma.
The most urgent bit was over, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I would have to deal with quite the annoying return from my mother. I had just this gut feeling and, with that in mind, I prepared a few contingency plans to face that sort of shit.
Like hell I am getting blindsided by a mother that suddenly felt the need to act like one.
AN
This can go in so many directions. Any way, praise Ganyu-sama, the legendary Cocogoat.