Disclaimer: I do not own the copyright for these two franchises.They belong to Square Enix and HoyoVerse respectively.
Kingdoms Hearts III.5: A Journey on Teyvat
Chapter 01: Awakening in a New World
Teyvat, 500 years ago, was a world engulfed in indescribable chaos. The Archon War raged on, with a torn sky and the ground trembling at every moment. The gods of this world fought for supremacy, each seeking to impose their will on this ruined land. However, amidst this tumult, a figure stood out on a hill overlooking the scene of destruction. It was a man, dressed in a black cloak, his face entirely hidden beneath a hood. In his hands, he held a Keyblade with a unique design. With an extremely sharp appearance, it featured a goat's head and bat wings on its hilt, and its blade was composed of a blue eye, seemingly fixated on the unfolding war, as if to observe the events that would follow.
He watched the battles, his hidden eyes tracking each movement of the Archons and their supporters. He was strangely calm, as if this chaos was nothing more than a spectacle to him. In a soft voice, he murmured.
? ? ? : This world... has been connected
The words he spoke seemed to merge with the sounds of war. The man continued to observe. He was not there to participate but to witness. For him, this war was merely a prelude, a necessary step toward a greater goal.
The world of Teyvat was changing. The elements were unleashed, civilizations were falling, and amidst it all, a man in black watched, waiting for the right moment to act. The Archon War was only the beginning, and in his heart, the man knew that the true darkness was just beginning.
The roar of the waves and the distant cry of seagulls made up the only melody on this small sandy shore. The sun shone high in the sky, casting a soft, golden light on the azure water that stretched as far as the eye could see. On this tranquil beach, the remnants of the Archon War were distant memories, buried beneath centuries of relative peace and regeneration.
However, the peace of this day was about to be disrupted. At the water's edge, where the waves licked the sand, an inert figure lay sprawled.
It was Sora, unconscious after using the star shard to travel to Teyvat. His arrival had been marked by a dazzling light, a glow that had vanished as quickly as it had appeared, leaving him alone on this foreign shore.
Sora lay on the sand, his clothes soaked and covered in grains of sand. Still lost in the depths of unconsciousness, Sora slowly began to emerge. A sensation of warmth and light surrounded him, making his awakening difficult. He tried to open his eyes, but the intense sunlight blinded him, making every attempt painful. Everything seemed blurry, indistinct, and a constant buzzing resonated in his head.
As his mind struggled to rise from the fog, a figure appeared above him. Despite the confusion, something about this presence felt strangely familiar. A soft feminine voice pierced the veil of his unconsciousness:
? ? ? : Come on, lazy bum. Wake up.
These words resonated within him like an echo from the past, a phrase that was dear to him.
? ? ? : Are you okay?
Sora instinctively reacted, his heart leaping with hope. He tried to sit up, his eyes finally opening to glimpse the figure.
Sora : Kairi!
His exclamation was filled with hope and emotion, but as he focused, he realized that it wasn't Kairi. The young girl in front of him was taken aback by Sora's sudden exclamation.
? ? ? : Wow! Take it easy!
Standing in front of him was a young girl with long brown hair adorned with a red ribbon tied in a bow. Her outfit consisted of a white top with long red sleeves, dark brown shorts, and tall white boots. She looked worried about Sora's condition and asked him:
? ? ?: I don't know what happened here, but you don't seem to be in great shape if you mistook me for this Kairi.
Sora, still a bit dazed from his awakening, realized his mistake and quickly apologized.
Sora: Oh, sorry! I thought you were someone else.
The young girl smiled kindly, understanding Sora's confusion.
? ? ?: No worries. But if I were you, I'd try to take it easy for a bit so you can wake up properly. By the way, what's your name?
Sora: My name is Sora. And you, who are you?
(Genshin Impact OST - Mondstadt Starlit)
Amber: Me? My name is Amber! An Outrider of the Knights of Favonius
Sora, gradually regaining his senses, slowly sat up. He looked around, realizing he was on a sandy shore, with the ocean sparkling under the sun. With a smile, Sora thanked Amber.
Sora: Amber... Thank you for waking me up.
Amber returned Sora's smile with her own.
Amber: No problem, Sora. It's only natural for a member of the Knights of Favonius to help those in need.
Taking stock of his situation, Sora asked Amber a question.
Sora: Tell me, Amber, do you know where I am?
Amber: You are in Mondstadt. One of the seven regions that make up our world, Teyvat. Right now, you're in Starfell Valley, on a small beach located between "Stormbearer Point" and "Starsnatch Cliff".
Sora: Teyvat, you said?
Upon hearing this word, Sora felt a wave of relief. He had arrived at his destination safely. He was in the same world as Kairi. All he had to do now was to go look for her.
Sora: That's great!
Not understanding Sora's sudden optimism, Amber asked him:
Amber: Uh... what do you find so great about that, Sora?
Realizing his excessive enthusiasm, Sora quickly tried to correct himself.
Sora: Ah! Uh... sorry, it's nothing... don't pay too much attention to it. I just had a moment of excitement.
Amber: Okay...
Curious to know more, Amber decided to ask Sora a few questions.
Amber: So, Sora, what were you doing here, unconscious on this beach?
Sora hesitated for a moment before answering, searching for the right words.
Sora: Well... it's a bit complicated. I'm not really sure how to explain how I ended up here. By the way, you said you found me unconscious? Do you know how long I was out?
It was clear that Sora didn't know much more than Amber. Perhaps explaining the recent events to him would help him piece together his situation.
Amber: Well, I was patrolling around the nearby forest. My job as an outrider requires me to stay alert at all times, spotting any strange occurrences to better protect Mondstadt. Everything seemed normal until I saw a blue light descending from the sky to this spot, like a shooting star crashing to the ground. Intrigued, I rushed over here. When I arrived, all I found was you, unconscious and lying on the beach.
Sora: Really?
Now, things were becoming clearer for Sora. Apparently, his arrival hadn't gone unnoticed. Was it lucky for him to have met someone who could help? Or did this make his arrival even more complicated, especially when it came to explaining it? After all, if there was one thing he still had to worry about, even after all his time traveling, it was respecting the order that kept the worlds separate. That meant making sure the inhabitants of other worlds never found out about the existence of other realms beyond their own.
Lost in his thoughts, Amber decided to share with Sora a conclusion she had drawn from the recent events.
Amber: Hmm, if I had to guess, I'd say… you were inside that light, and it transported you here. Does that mean you're not from this world, but from somewhere else?
There it was. That was the phrase Sora dreaded the most. Amber's conclusion that Sora might not be from Teyvat but from another world made him uneasy. He knew it was important to keep the existence of other worlds a secret. As he was thinking of how to clear up the misunderstanding, Amber surprised him with her own perspective.
Amber: That's amazing. That makes you the second person I've met who also came from another world.
That last sentence caught Sora off guard. Knowing he wasn't the only one from another world left him stunned. But after processing the information, Sora asked Amber, with a glimmer of hope, who this other person was. After all, maybe it was her?
Sora: Tell me, Amber! What did this person look like?
Unfortunately for Sora, the answer Amber gave wasn't the one he was hoping for.
Amber: Well... the other person I met was a young man with short blond hair and pretty unique clothing, I'd say. He was accompanied by a little girl dressed in white, who floated in the air beside him. Actually, those two helped us a lot during a recent crisis here in Mondstadt.
After hearing Amber's answer, Sora let out a small sigh. It clearly wasn't Kairi.
Sora: I see...
Hearing the slight drop in Sora's tone, Amber wondered if she had said something wrong.
Amber: Uh... did I say something I shouldn't have?
Regaining his composure, Sora replied.
Sora: Oh no, don't worry about it, Amber. It's just that...
Seeing no way to avoid the topic, Sora decided to be honest with Amber.
Sora: It's like you said, Amber. I'm not from here, but from another world. If I came to Teyvat, it's in the hope of finding someone who is really important to me.
As she listened to Sora's reason for being here, Amber began to understand his goal. She guessed who this person he was searching for might be.
Amber: And I imagine the person you're referring to... is this Kairi?
Sora: You're right.
His face revealed a certain worry, his eyes reflecting the urgency and importance of his quest. Amber, attentive to his words, began to understand the depth of his feelings.
Amber: I see...
As she observed him, Amber couldn't help but notice that Sora and the traveler she had recently met were more alike than she initially thought. Both of them were willing to embark on a journey to find the ones they cared about. Feeling compassion for Sora's situation, she said to him.
Amber: Listen, Sora. If you need help finding Kairi, I'm here for you. I'm a member of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt, and I'm sure we have resources that could be useful to you. Come with me there, and I'll introduce you to my comrades. Together, we'll find a way to help you.
Sora: Really?
Amber: Absolutely! I'd be more than happy to take you there and even give you a tour of the place.
Sora looked at Amber with gratitude, moved by her sincere offer of help.
Sora: Thank you, Amber. I don't know how I can repay you for your support.
Amber: It's nothing, Sora. Come on, let's head to Mondstadt. You'll see, it's a beautiful city.
Sora: Alright, I'm following you.
Staying close behind Amber, Sora began to envision the start of his journey, with his first destination being Mondstadt. He knew that finding Kairi wouldn't be easy, but with Amber by his side, he felt that nothing was impossible. Deep in his heart, he sensed that Amber probably wouldn't be the last person to offer her help; others might assist him as well. Strengthened by this new resolve, he promised himself to do whatever it took to find her, no matter what challenges lay ahead.