Disclaimer: The following story will have spoilers for nearly all of Genshin Impact. Specific spoilers will be listed above here but I cannot recommend you continue this story until after you have completed at minimum Inazuma Act III.

I remember my first love…
From my room on the second story of our wood-carved house, I would stick my head out of the window and delicately tend to my flowers. Below my planter box, the children playing kickball upon the cobblestone road could be heard chanting and shouting playfully at one another. The wistful winds of Mondstadt's plains gently whistling through the city. The ubiquitous and droning churning of the Dandelion City's windmills filled my ever-waking moments, like a guardian of the wind and all it stood for.
I couldn't have been over nine at the time. All the parents would tell me how pretty I was and how lucky I was to have been blessed with my beautiful skin. I recall never having felt all that lucky. Compared to other kids my age, I had been sheltered all my life. I never knew my parents. I know only of those who were kind enough to take me in after having found me on the streets. To me, they are my parents. They are the parents to all the lost children of Mondstadt.

I hardly ever left my room for the first decade or so of my life. Not because of any pressure from my "parents" but simply because nothing kids my age were doing particularly interested me. I was always a book girl. Often burying myself in books from the orphanage library. They were enough to keep me company, but on the beautiful days when the birds are dancing upon the perches of roofs, I often found myself tending to my plants with deep shallowness in my heart.
That was until that day. The day I met my first try love.
"Fill up the barrels then store them away~!
Then wait, wait for a windier day~!"

I heard a voice. A beautifully cheery and carefree voice singing the tune to a song I had not yet heard before. I poked my head out the window to see who could be singing the joyous tune, and to my surprise, I found I wasn't the only one. I watched as all the eyes of everyone in Mondstadt turned to a young bard who, with harp in hand, sang and strummed from the edge of the fountain.

"Wax the bottles, seal them tight~!

For the South wind that soothes, for the North wind that bites~!"

I watched the young boy sing. And my eyes could not look away.

Never before had I heard such a beautiful melody. Later in life I found it was simply a drinking song, but the way this boy sang this song was… astounding. I waited on every word sung from his mouth. Held my breath as I tried to think of the line he would utter next. And felt my heart desperately cry out to know the lyrics so that I too may have such a beautiful melody fall from my own lips.

Music was my first love.

The thing that brought me joy. Peace. And happiness. Whenever I was depressed. Whenever I was uncontrollably happy. Or even when I just had spare time. I was singing. My voice became renowned all throughout Mondstadt and my beauty the envy of all.

Music was my first love. But I would not know what my first love would do to me…

I fall to my knees, gripping the pain in my chest as I try to catch my breath. The bamboo floor which I had scorched mere moments earlier now lays perfectly preserved. My vision blurs and focuses rapidly, my heart experiencing what could only be called a panic attack. My body aches and burns. The crown on my head suddenly feels like it weighs the equivalent of building as I try to regain my composure.

"So strong… But… But how…" I barely manage to make out before collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.
The fight has left me beaten and wounded, unable to continue the conflict. Whoever this boy is, he is unlike anything I've come across before. I can feel his cold gaze turn toward me as his floating companion confidently proclaims their victory with a gloating gasp.

That's when I hear her footsteps. Her heeled geta clapping against the floor as she descends from her eternal throne. Suddenly, adrenaline courses through me. Driven by the mad fear that I am about to die, I slowly lift myself off of the floor as the purple-haired god waltzes towards me with the grace and elegance of those chosen to rule by the detestable heavenly principles.

'Rostam, please… I haven't… Not yet…' I think to myself before I utter my next desperate line, fear and panic coursing through my voice.

"I am… A Snezhnayan diplomat…" The adrenaline pulsing through my blood causes me to rise and stand to face the threat head on. "You know what happens if you lay a finger on me…" Yes that's right. The Tsaritsa will protect me. She always has. "I swear… if you strike me… I will make sure…" The god's sword crackles with electricity as she continues to grow closer. I stagger, the remnants of my strength barely able to keep me standing while my death draws ever nearer. "The Fatui will make sure that your precious Inazuma…" I had seen her eyes glow like they are now many times before, as it was the duty of the Fatui to oversee the implementation of the Vision Hunt Decree. So too did that mean the punishments administered to those who were found guilty. A ring of pure electro forms behind her head. Desperation takes over. "Stop! I order you!"
Please no. Not like this. Someone. Please. Anyone. Save me.

I watched him die right before my eyes.

"Hey, would… would you do something for me?"

I haven't lost someone close to me in a very long time. You'd think after the countless worlds I have visited and all the people I've met, saying goodbye would get easier…

"When our uniforms are ready, grab mine for me… bring it back here, and we can change together…"

His hair had grown snow white. Wrinkles lined his face and his once vibrant eyes now only held melancholy. He clutched his sides as he leaned against the old wooden exterior of a home. I can't find words to express the emotions that swelled within me. Sadness. Anger. Frustration. Endless emotions flocked like a moth to a flame that was my beating heart. I stared at Teppei as he uttered his final words.
"What's that look for? Don't worry partner. As soon as I've rested up, I'll be right as rain… Right as rain, I tell ya… soon as I've… rested up…"

I watched as he died. His eyes closed slowly as he began his eternal rest. A life so young, taken forcefully from him. Tears well up in my eyes as Paimon desperately tries to get his attention. Sadness quickly turned to anger.

'This is the Fatui's fault. They're the ones behind the distribution of the Delusions.' I think to myself, rising to my feet in anger. 'The Delusion factory. The Fatui must be stopped. They will pay for what they have done.'

I fled from the scene, rushing towards the Delusion factory. Only those with a keen eye could see the tears flowing down my cheeks as I ran away from my emotions.

"I am… A Snezhnayan diplomat…" I can't help the feeling of happiness bubbling up as The Raiden Shogun sashays towards La Signora, eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers, with her sword extended. "You know what happens if you lay a finger on me…" Yes that's right. She is an evil being, with nothing but hatred in her heart. I have every right to be happy. To see Teppei's death finally avenged. "I swear… if you strike me… I will make sure…" She's… afraid… Death is a scary thing. But she should know that considering how many people she was willing to sacrifice to fulfill the Fatui's ambitions. She has no right to seek any sympathy from me. "The Fatui will make sure that your precious Inazuma…" Teppei always imagined a world where people wouldn't be at odds anymore. This is one step closer to that goal… Perhaps that is why he took up a Delusion in the first place… "Stop! I order you!" An eye for an eye… only makes the world go blind…

"And you!" Her gaze daggers towards me. I see fear and desperation within her orbs. The wicked witch's eyes burn with an intensity bright enough to rival the sun. But I catch a glimpse of something more. She's begging me to help. She looks almost on the verge of tears. "Filthy rats! All of you!" She says, lunging at the Shogun with all her might.

I don't know how or why, but my body moves faster than I can process.

Just as the Shogun's blade is about to come down and cleave Signora's body, my blade stops hers in its tracks.

Electric sparks fly all around us. The pure and unbridled power of a god is crashing down upon my blade as I desperately try to keep myself from becoming its new target. The Shogun's face twists mildly in surprise, but otherwise it remains the same. Stoic and Authoritative. Jolts of electricity flow through my arm. Sparks grace against the fabric of my clothing. Her blade does not relent. But neither do I.

I can see Paimon behind the Shogun, looking on in horror as I do something completely out of character. Her fists close in worry, her mouth open but refusing to say a word. Her worried expression gives me all I need for myself the final push.

With all of my might, I press back against the Shogun's Musou No Hitotachi and watch as he blade is violently sent flying backward.

"How about we settle this here." I say with a smirk, bouncing around fluidly to keep my stance loose.

I had consigned myself to oblivion. I have lived a life of pain and torture and evil. There is no redemption for me. But that does not mean I'm not afraid. In my final moments, the only thing I can think of is how much I would have liked to have seen this world brought to my knees. Maybe then, this pain in my heart would go away.

But that's when I'm saved.

A flash of lightning fills the air as the room glows purple. Faster than I could blink and he's there. The blonde-haired Traveler. The same one I've all too often stepped in the way of. Come to my rescue. I fall back to the ground. Heaving heavily as I start to hyperventilate. I hold myself up, looking up at my savior who is locked in a heated exchange with the god of electro. The sparks of their engagement land on the floor all around me. The aura of electricity causes the hairs on my neck to stand up at attention, as if preparing to be struck by lightning.

I've been saved… by my enemy…

The blonde-haired Traveler deflects the god's strike, eliciting a small gasp out of his flying companion. Just who is this person? He who has the strength to defy not only myself but the gods as well. I grasp at my chest. A searing pain tears through it. I haven't gone that overboard in a fight since… well since ever. An all too familiar burning sensation rips through my heart, hot like lava and rough as rocks. With what little remaining strength I have left, I whisper under my breath,
"My cyro delusion…"

Across the floor and in between where my enemies combat each other, a shattered cryo delusion sits. Split apart by powers of flame surging through my blood. A gift from the Tsaritsa now decimated. Unfortunately for me and everyone around, the cryo delusion was the only thing sealing my powers away.

'But I should have transformed by now. My hatred for this god should have pushed me over the edge. Why am I still me?'

"How about we settle this here." The Traveler says to a surprised Raiden, his stance poised and ready to strike almost as if saying 'Come at me!'.

Just as the words escape his mouth, a sudden feeling of dread fills the room as an all-encompassing wave of black swallows the three of us whole. I feel helpless as all I can do is watch while we're transported to an ethereal plane of existence. I squint my eyes, thinking that my end has come. Only to open them once again to an extraordinary sight. The rush of midnight wind echoes all around us while slanted torii gates seem to appear out of nowhere. The ground almost feels like sand, a beautiful carving etched into its surface. Some kind of red moon sets high on the horizon, spewing forth some form of energy to the surrounding darkness.

"So, we meet again." The electro archon says, coming out of a state of pure zen. The statement clearly pointed towards the Traveler. "How curious, that you should enter into here once again. And with a guest no doubt?"

The Traveler looks back at me, realization in his eyes. We lock eyes for a long moment, sharing an unspoken gaze. I try to open my mouth to speak even a singular word, but my body refuses. It's taking everything my body has to stay awake at this point. He seems to notice this fact as he turns back towards the shogun.

"Indulge my curiosity. What is the reason that I find you standing here before me once again?" There's something different about the electro archon. She seems… milder. Well mannered. As much as an archon can be. I detest the sound of their title upon my tongue. "Do you hope your foolhardiness will shelter her? Or… was it simply a means of seeking an audience with me?"

The Traveler clenches his gloved fist. I can feel the conflict within his mind growing as he stares down the electro archon.

"The Fatui have deceived the Raiden Shogun." He states, small strings of malice lacing his voice. He glances back at me for a fraction of a second. I wonder what face I'm making right now. Surely it would not be fitting of my beauty.

I wince in pain as the fire surging within me attempts to claim my blood as its own.

The Raiden Shogun almost seems to laugh at his statement. "Oh? Surely you didn't rouse me from my state of eternal meditation only to tell me this?" Eternal meditation? What is she talking about? Seconds ago she was about to strike me down. Surely she couldn't forget something as big as that. "If so, then you underestimate me. I am quite well-informed about the Vision Hunt Decree."

I can feel my life force draining. My eyes begin drooping as rest attempts to take over my body. Their words become a jumbled mess as my focus wanes, the world around me shifting into a blur. I can feel my head hit the ground as my last shred of consciousness begins to slowly dissipate and my world becomes dark once again.

…

I wake again. Though I don't remember having fallen asleep. It was the kind of sleep you'd get if you were sick. And in all honesty, my body does feel sick. My blood burns red hot and the familiar sensation of flaming rage returns. The emotion is enough to enflame my illness.

The blonde-haired Traveler is locked in bloody conflict with the Raiden Shogun, the clashing of their swords spreading sparks across the entire arena. I slowly try and pick myself up off the ground but find my strength still insufficient enough even after my respite. My arms hold my torso above the ground while I try to view the spectacle of their fighting. This Traveler moves with speed equal to hers, a feat no mortal could achieve, no matter how much training they underwent.

He launches himself at her, jumping with all of his might before using that momentum and putting it into his blade. The shogun stares, eyes glowing with pure power as she throws the Traveler back using his momentum. A string of electricity follows him. I am unable to move before I realize that the Shogun had thrown him directly towards me. I open my mouth to warn him, but it was too late. The Traveler crashes into me. I make a yelping sound as the force of the impact sends both of us out of the arena. I watch as the arena they were fighting on grows distant, the traveler falling beside me. Eventually, the world turns black and then shatters like a pane of glass as we fall through back into the real world.

I recall the feeling of falling to my knees on the bamboo floor. The beautifully ornate architecture of the center building in Inazuma. The impressive symbols of power stare at you from everywhere you look. The Raiden Shogun seems shocked as we reappear before her. "What in the name of eternity…" she gasps out in surprise.

Both the traveler and I emerge on our backs, the Raiden Shogun standing above us with her sword drawn, ready to execute.

"Can you run?" The Traveler whispers underneath his breath towards me.

My legs had long since given out. Try as I might, even with my life on the line, I cannot move a single muscle. I shake my head no, refusing to give him a verbal answer.

The touch of another being.
I have never forgotten how good it felt to embrace another and to be embraced in return.

I look over to Signora, her body paralyzed from exhaustion.

I remember in the Plane of Euthymia seeing her fast asleep in the middle of the battle. She appeared so innocent, sleeping soundly. A direct contradiction to the villainess she is when conscious. I wonder what happened to her that made her this way…

"What in the name of eternity…" The Shogun gasps out in surprise.

My body aches from fighting Ei in Euthymia. She certainly did not go easy on me. I am no match for her. Peering again at Signora, I recall the conversation I had with Ei while she was unconscious. It doesn't seem like I can change her mind after all…

If I had my original powers, she would be no match for me. But as it is now, I cannot get through to her. Across my thousands of journeys, never once have I found someone who had bested me. But then again, I always had my sister with me…

Oh, my sister… What would she say if she could see me now…

"Can you run?" I whisper beneath my breath.

I can see the gears turning in her exhausted head, trying to weigh her options. She's crooked, but she is smart. I fear I may not get an answer by the time the shogun swipes her sword. The air crackling with a wave of electricity as her sword plunges towards us.

At that moment, Signora shakes her head. The flash of the Shogun's purple sword reflecting in her eyes.

I don't think. Electricity courses through my body as I scoop Signora off of the ground with a flash of purple. A large hole is left where we once had been as the Shogun releases her sacred art. She looks up in surprise to see me running for the exit.

Paimon calls out to me, "Hey wait up! Don't leave me heeeerreee!" The little guide floats quickly away from the stoic shogun.

It takes a moment for Signora to process what is happening as I carry her bridal style out of Tenshukaku. But once she does, she is furious.
"H-HEY! W-WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?" She roars out at me, her face turning red from the rage. Or embarrassment. Probably a mixture of both.

"Saving your life! Against my better judgment. Now stop squirming and deal with it for a moment." I command her, venting my frustrations out on the villainess.

Signora grits her teeth before speaking again, "I swear to the Tsaritsa that the moment you set me down, I will… I wiill freeze your tongue off for speaking to me that way. And while we're at it, your hands as well." She seethes through her teeth.

My hands grip her tightly, adrenaline taking over my strength. But also using this chance as a little form of revenge against her.

"Shut up. You have screwed with me for the last time. You and your Fatui have caused countless headaches for me and my journey. You manipulate, cheat, and execute all for the name of your cause. And now you're the reason a good friend of mine has died so trust me when I say I am begging for a reason to drop you this instant." I yell at her as I rush across the streets of Inazuma, causing many heads to turn toward us as we pass by.

Signora looks like she wants to talk back but cannot find the energy to do so. She turns over in my hands so that she doesn't have to look directly at my face.

The Kojou clan is tailing right behind us. I haven't been able to fight them off as my hands are kind of full with a Harbinger in my arms. Paimon squeals as she races ahead of us.

"Well, you couldn't have at least made this more comfortable? Your sweat is invading my nose and ruining my complexion." She says sarcastically.

"Well sorry for saving your life! Twice! Argh! I'm such an idiot." I yell back at her.

The run from Tenshukaku to Ritou is long and filled with back-and-forth spiteful banter between the two of us. Even Paimon (Who never shuts up) seems to have had enough of our feud as she floats up ahead. With the Kojou clan still hot on our tails, we'd need a miracle to get off this island alive.

I run up to the docks, hoping to find any kind of vessel to borrow. This time, I am not so lucky. Not a single boat in sight.

"Great going. Clearly you did not attend the Academia." She muses. I drop her to the ground where she lands with a thud. "Ow!" She exclaims, looking up at me with spite filling her eyes. "Insolent Traveler…"

"Witch." I respond.

She spits on the ground before me, afterward turning her attention to the approaching Kojou clan.

"Nowhere left to run you three…" They taunt as they approach the three of us with their spears drawn.

I can hear Paimon panicking behind me. "Ooooh, Traveler! What do we do?!" She asks.

I stare down the Kojou clan guards, drawing my sword from the pocket dimension it resides in. They push in from all sides, enclosing us around the port. My feet shuffle backward, growing closer and closer to the edge of the docks. Signora watches helplessly as I hold back the entire Kojou clan from killing her. I look to the water and debate jumping in. It would mean I get away, but Signora… Dammit. Dammit! DAMMIT!

"Ooooiiiiii~! Is someone in need of a rescue? Haha!"

I recognize that voice.

I turn around to look up at the massive masts of a sea-faring vessel passing by just offshore with a small platoon of pirates crossing the gap with a paddle boat.
"Beidou! I am so glad to see you!" I say with a sigh of relief.

She smiles confidently as she nears the port, "Well I certainly figured you would need my help sooner or later, but you could have just begged if that would have made it easier." She jests.

"Oh please Captain Beidou! Save us from these ill-mannered rufians~!" I tease her, lowering Signora into the boat as Beidou arrives.
"Oh my. What happened to her?" Beidou says worriedly, reaching towards her arm to check her pulse. Beidou's fingers graze Signora's skin which causes Beidou to yelp in pain, dancing and rocking the boat around while blowing on her steaming fingers. "WHY DOES SHE BURN LIKE THE SUN!?" She screams.

"But she didn't burn the Traveler..?" Paimon says more as a question than a statement.

Paimon is right. I had been holding her the entire run but never once did I feel the heat of her skin. At least it was certainly not hot enough to burn me. I carefully touch her skin once more, trying not to make a big show of it. Almost cold as ice. Signora's pained face visibly relaxes when I touch her. Signora herself has seemed to have passed out once again. The exhaustion must have gotten to her.

"Hey! Stop right there!" The Kojou clan demands, sprinting towards the dingy.

Beidou grabs the oars and starts paddling away. "We'll talk about it later! For now! Let us away!" I am once again remind of Beidou's strength. She doesn't look like she can, but she easily paddles us away from the coast and towards The Crux. As we're rowing, Signora comes around once again.

"Ugh… My head…" She mutters. Her one blue eye looking around at the people around her, seemingly recalling the events of the past few hours. Her eye lands on me, staring deeply into my own golden orbs.

She lets out a deep sigh. "And now we have another player in this story." Directing her attention to Beidou.

"Beidou. Captain of The Crux. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm sure it is." Signora scoffs at her. "Now, The Crux is a boat yes? You will take me to Snezhnaya and for your time and efforts I will see the Tsaritsa has you rewarded."

"She's a… interesting friend of yours Traveler…" Beidou comments.

This elicits my own scoff, "Friends? Hardly. Forced Aquintances or Enemies is a better term for it."

"Oh?" Beidou says with the tilt of her head. "You can tell me all about it once we're back on board The Crux."

I remember the day like it was yesterday. The memory, seared into my heart. Thus is my burden.

The war had waged on for far far too long. News from Khaenri'ah was seldom and far between, but the ones we did receive were terrifying. The once great city fallen to Teyvat. Not that I had time to worry about the fall of the nation. Rostam had finally managed to get enough money to send me away to study at the Academia for the time being. He always told me I was too smart for Mondstadt. I agreed to go, only because I made him promise to come visit me.

He laughed. His laugh was the most beautiful music I could dream of. I knew when I heard that laugh that everything was going to be alright. We were going to make it through this.

I was wrong. So so very wrong.

I remember fire. The screams and wails of the dying. Those begging me to run and those begging me to stay. I did what I could, saving everyone I ran into. I'd ask each of them if they'd seen Rostam. The answer looked hopeful.

"He's alright!" They'd say. "Saved my life!" They'd say.

I followed their words for what seemed like forever. The roar of a dragon raged in the background.

I was led to the inner city by the clashing of metal, desperate to find Rostam. But suddenly the battlefield fell silent. I picked up a flower from a pot nearby, I was going to present it to Rostam as a returning gift.

Fire. The great reset. None are resistant to its rage.

None.

"Ugh… My head…" I mutter, rousing from my slumber.

The side effects of using my power are tremendous. Especially without an Ice delusion to cool me off. How I am managing to wake up each time, I am truly clueless about. My vision and hearing return much quicker to me this time around.

I gently brush over the elaborate veil covering my right eye.

I look around at my current situation. The floating fairy. A newcomer. And… I stare at him. Thousands of thoughts race through my mind at once. Who is this man? What does he want? Why did he save me? What did I do to deserve the kindness of anyone?

'Should I say thank you?'

I purse my lips briefly, debating in my mind if I should. I sigh and look away.

"And now we have another player in this story." I say towards the newcomer. 'She is certainly pretty.' I say to myself. I notice her eyepatch covering her left eye and almost chuckle at the irony. I think I have seen this lady in passing. I do often frequent Liyue Harbor and she is obviously of Liyuan descent.

"Beidou. Captain of The Crux. It's a pleasure to meet you." She says, a little too haughty for my taste.

Oh she's the pirate. That figures. She definitely dresses like one. You wouldn't catch me dead in something that tacky. Hmm. You know what? It's actually not bad. I shall ask Chiori to make me something similar sometime.

"I'm sure it is." I scoff at her. Pirates are the enemy of order and therefore, against the Tsaritsa. The Tsaritsa. She can help me get a new delusion. Yes, Snezhnaya. I need to report all that has happened so that we take vengeance on Inazuma. They will pay for attempting to murder a diplomat. "Now, The Crux is a boat yes? You will take me to Snezhnaya and for your time and efforts I will see the Tsaritsa has you rewarded."

There is a brief period of silence.

"She's a… interesting friend of yours Traveler…" Beidou comments.

'Wha-! Did they just ignore me?! Me!?' I shout in my mind. Though on the outside I couldn't be less bothered.

The Traveler scoffs, likely to mimic my own. "Friends? Hardly. Forced Aquintances or Enemies is a better term for it."

He's right, other than the fact he saved my life I don't know anything about him other than we see things differently. He did… save my life though…

"Oh?" Beidou says with the tilt of her head. "You can tell me all about it once we're back on board The Crux."

…

The Crux is a massive ship, dwarfing any others I've seen. "To be expected of Liyue… they know how to make ships…" I say to myself, standing upon her decks. My body has finally recovered to the point where I can move around a small amount. Though I will admit that, when it comes to times like these, this flowing and extravagant attire I don is certainly a hindrance.

As a diplomat, my sea legs are some of the best you will ever see. It also just happens to come naturally when you live for over five centuries. Though Snezhnaya will forever be my home, the sea is like a symphony for the senses.

The Crux raised anchor and left Inazuma the moment we stepped on board. The Traveler left with his pixie friend to talk to their friend about the current situation. I gladly forced the subject onto them. I am not feeling well enough to begin repeating events. Nor do I have the desire to. I stand on the Port side of the ship, letting the wind whip through my hair. The cool air feels like icicles dancing upon my burning skin, the perfect way to lower my temperature.

The feeling of the wind grabbing my hair and ripping it feels almost akin to someone brushing through it. A sensation I will never be able to have enough of.

"Oi. Pfft. Signora you- Pfft. Your hair. Pfft." The familiar voice of my enemy appears to my left.

I glance over at the origin of the voice and find The Traveler currently standing inside my hair as the wind throws it into his face. He's trying to keep my hair from entering his mouth and eyes as it blows ferociously into his face.
"Oh." I say nonchalantly. I grab my flowing hair and tuck it behind me, grabbing a few loose strands before the Traveler's face is finally revealed.

A thought enters my mind. 'The Traveler isn't bad looking himself now that I see him up close.' I quickly shove that thought down deep inside of me.

"Thank you." He says warmly.

'Thank you.' He said it so easily to his enemy. It kinda makes me mad.

"So…" I say, letting a long and awkward silence stand between us. "What do you need?" I ask him, trying to remain nonchalant.

He leans over the railing, taking in a deep breath of ocean air. "It's beautiful isn't it." He says, sighing over the deep blue ocean view.

I look out towards the horizon and the setting sun. A shadow cascading across my face. "Yes, I suppose it is." I say coldly.

The Traveler nods before turning his gaze towards me. "Beidou says she is willing to take you to Snezhnaya." He says, his voice trailing at the end.

"And…?" I ask, hoping to divulge more information.

"And nothing. She was enticed by your offer. Though if there isn't a reward like you promised at the end for her sacrifices, I'm sure all of Liyue Harbor will take up arms to defend her." He chuckles.

I do not find this as funny. "Even if they did, they would not stand a chance against Snezhnaya." I say, my devotion to the Tsaritsa taking priority over whether or not I believe it to be true.

"Regardless, the journey is not short. I know you know that, but she expects some payment up front." He says to me.

"When we stop in Liyue I will make a withdrawal from the bank. Tell her she'll have her money then." I respond.

A long and deep silence falls over the two of us. Unsure as for what to say or how to say it. I remember something he told me in the heat of our escape from Inazauma.

"How about… your friend. Was it a delusion?" I ask him, already knowing the answer. To be honest I'm not sure why I asked it. The answer is only likely to start a conflict and any conflict will only have one way of being resolved. The same way as last time.

The Traveler looks down towards the rushing waves crashing against the hull of the ship. He stares pensively at the line splitting the hull and the water.

"Yes… It was a delusion…" Is all he says.

"If-" Don't say it, Rosalyne. "If it makes you feel any better…" Rosalyne don't say it. "His death was not in vain."

The Traveler remains focused on the water. "He… always wanted to see the world as a better place. I hope that whatever you Fatui are doing… that it will fulfill that wish. But at the cost of all of these lives… certainly there's a point where you have to stop and think to yourself that the cost is too steep."

Maybe the cost is steep. But the cost has already cost me everything. "Life… is cruel. There is no greater truth." I grip the handrail of the ship. "The weak die. The strong survive. The circle goes round and round and round. And there is nothing we can do about it."

Death is vanity.

"But we know a way to change that."

All your life's works

"I know it doesn't make sense now…"

Memories

"But what we are doing is not only good for the people of Snezhnaya…"

Happiness

"But for the good of all Teyvat…"

Relationships

"So I know our methods are cruel…"

Are futile.

"But I promise you. This is far better than the alternative."

One day, you will return to dust. And all you have worked for, all you have loved… those you have loved… will disappear. And no one will remember them. At least… that is what I believe…

I close my eyes and silently shed a tear behind my veil.

"I think there are somethings we'll never agree upon…" He says, turning back over to me. "But I've seen a far more human side to you today than I ever thought I would."

I nearly crack a smile. "This never escapes the two of us, okay?"

He zips his lips closed and laughs politely. "Signora is actually a scaredy cat. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

"H-hey!" I stammer, a blush of embarrassment at the thought of me begging for my life.

The Traveler simply returns back to looking at the ocean. "Between you and me. What is the alternative?"

I stare out into the ocean, remembering a long-lost war. And the lives that fought and died.

"All the world's Khaenri'ah…"

I am dipping my pen into the Genshin Impact scene after having played through the entire thing. I plan on covering some serious topics relating to death and survivor guilt so if that is out of bounds please do not carry on with reading this series. This one is gonna focus on La Signora because I am a La Signora main until I die. Please Mihoyo. I will empty my wallet to c6 r5 her.

Anyways, I'm excited to see where this goes and hope you are too. Until we meet again.