Though Inazuma only recently opened its borders back to the rest of Teyvat, the Archon War had ended far before then. A few months before, even. The decree to close Inazuma from the rest of Teyvat had been Baal's last order before her seclusion, and so the generals she worked with upheld that decree to the best of their strength.
But resources were stretched thin after the war, and many considerations had to be taken. And it wasn't long before they were forced to uplift the borders to allow merchant ships to trade with Liyue, hoping that they'd bring something to keep the newly united nation afloat.
Amidst all that was the Island of Watatsumi, on the very eastern corner of the Inazuman Archipelago. Too far from mainland to receive any aid from Narukami Island, but still having been brought into the same nation. It was only through Orobashi's wisdom that he did not engage the god of lightning, lest he leave his own people bereft of their protector.
Now, months later, and with the island bordering on destruction, the people were readying themselves for war against the rest of Inazuma. After all, if they so callously ignored their pleas for help, then what else could they do?
It was on those last days that a new variable arrived.
A ship, far too ornate and beautiful to be anything but a ship for Baal herself. A troupe of samurai had readied themselves on the shores, only to find out that the ship carried two children that had gone missing a month before, along with those that had brought those two back.
And what a surprise it was! The goddess of the Grand Narukami Shrine, and two travelers displaying abilities far outside the norm. The goddess went to speak with Lord Orobashi, while the two travelers went to aid the people and mend their wounds.
When the samurais gathered the people, they were understandably confused, but ultimately complied. And what they found astounded them.
A beautiful girl dressed in white had greeted them, and suddenly dozens of crates appeared from thin air, each filled to the brim with enough food to last the people months. Some people had gone to their knees and thanked the girl for her aid, and the girl had smiled in return as she introduced herself. "Lumine, a Traveler from the Stars." She said, and the people swore they could see stars twinkling in her eyes.
Another soon approached. This one a bard dressed in odd clothes, a harp in their hands and an easy smile on their lips. " I am Wendy, a bard from Mondstadt." They introduced themself. "For any who art injured or sick, gather yee, gather yee!" They called, their presence calming much like the breeze of an early spring. Some were naturally skeptical, but having seen Lumine perform miracles, they chose to believe.
Their belief was rewarded when the bard began to play his harp. Each string he strummed caused a pulse of gold to expand outwards, enveloping all who'd gathered around him. And they gasped at the freeing feeling they felt, followed by astoundment as they watched their wounds heal in a shower of golden light. Those who were too injured to walk suddenly stood, those too sick to think suddenly felt strong.
On that very day, Watatsumi Island was heaped with two miracles. Suddenly, the months of torment they endured felt more like a dream.
Though the truth was far more amazing. In actuality, three miracles were experienced, for while the people enjoyed Lumine and Wendy's presence, Kitsune Saiguu had gone to converse with Lord Orobashi. And understanding his stance on the island and his people, the kitsune vowed to aid Watatsumi, even if she had to do it behind Baal's back.
Little was known about what their conversation entailed, but whatever it was, it had to be good. For Lord Orobashi soon appeared in front of his people, and he told them that Watatsumi shall soon find salvation. Not through Baal, nor through Inazuma, but through their own hands.
That night the people rejoiced. They could celebrate for the first time in months, the night filled with food and drinks. The people danced merrily, with even the usually uptight samurai joining in the festivities.
That day would certainly be a day to be Remembered fondly.
-Excerpt from [Watatsumi's Rise: Vol. 1], as written by the Storyteller Weifeng, per the accounts of the Wandering Bard Wendy-
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I smiled joyfully as I rolled the scroll close. The night was far from young, and yet the celebrations had yet to end. Even from where I sat, I could still see the roaring fire they had lit for the event, accompanied by the joyful laughter of children and adults.
I closed my eyes fondly. Indeed, this joyful day was one to be Remembered. I still wasn't sure what the future held, but I would do all I could to bring the people of Watatsumi towards days when they no longer needed to struggle as they did in the long months after Inazuma's unification. Sickness, starvation, injury—we would all ensure they would turn into mere specters of the past.
"Wendy-san."
I blinked, and turned to see an unfamiliar man. He was beautiful, with his long white locks and those serpentine eyes. Yet, though I'd never seen him before, I was certain I'd been in his presence before.
It took me a moment to realize who he was.
"Ah, Lord Orobashi!" I stood from the log I sat on and performed a bow. "T'is good to meet you, good Sir!" I gave an apologetic smile. "Forgive me for not recognizing you. I had been too caught in documenting my experiences of this day, it seemed."
Orobashi smiled. "There is no harm, Wendy-san."
I placed the written scroll back into my Inventory as I sat back down. "So, for what reason have you sought little ol' me out, goor Sir?"
"Mere curiosity, I assure." He gestured at the spot next to me, and I nodded. He hummed as he sat down on the fallen log. "And I do have a request regarding an item I possess at the moment."
I smiled. "Ask away then!"
He nodded. "Your companion, Lumine, told me that you understood this world far better than many would." He then took out an odd book, its cover seemingly carved from seastone. "If I may be so bold, do you perhaps know of this book I hold?"
I frowned slightly as I took the book. My fingers tingled slightly as I held it, though the feeling wasn't that strong. It took me a moment to think through, and to wade through my building headache, but I eventually felt a name fall from my tongue. "This…is 'Before Sun and Moon', is it not?"
His eyes widened slightly. "You know of this?"
I nodded, my focus sharpening as new knowledge resurfaced in my mind. "I believe so." I glanced at the book atop my lap. "T'is a gathering of tales about Teyvat's creation, is it not? Of how the Heavenly Principles descended from the Stars and created Teyvat to uphold their Order over Destiny."
He narrowed his eyes. "The Heavenly Principles?"
I nodded. "Also known as the Primordial One," I pointed a finger at the floating island far in the sky. "Or simply Celestia."
I then hummed. "It is important to note that it is an envoy of Celestia who'd written this tale." I told him, unsure how I knew but certain of the information. "Much of the information here is likely viewed through a biased lens. Things will certainly be obscured or falsified."
"...I see." He went silent. He nodded as I handed the book back, but the god said little else as he sat there, continuing to ponder over what he'd learnt.
Just then,
[Detected a significant shift in Destiny of the character -Orobashi no Mikoto-. Achievement -Fate Defiance- has taken effect. Rewards have been moved to the Inventory]
I raised an eyebrow. Another change in Destiny? First it was Saiguu, and now Orobashi. All I'd done with Saiguu was meet her, and for Orobashi I'd just explained the contents of a book. That was practically nothing compared to what I had to do to avert Guizhong's Fate.
Was changing Destiny really this easy?
Whatever the case, with Orobashi still caught up in his thoughts, I decided to check out the Rewards I got from doing so.
I blinked as I saw Saiguu's Reward. To be exact, it was a Talent Scroll that would grant me the [Foxtail Shift] Talent. It'd be 2★ when I received it, but it didn't change how dramatic the Talent could be. I thought it over for a good moment, before I decided to use the Talent Scroll.
An odd warmth surged through my being when I did so, but it faded just as quickly as it came. And once that was over, I gave my newest Talent a quick look.
[Foxtail Shift 2★
A blessing from the divine fox goddess, allowing her children to take the forms of any they choose.
Allows the User to change their physical form as they choose. A cooldown of 2 hours is placed after each transformation. Maximum number of transformations increases with higher ★. Current maximum: 4 Transformations
Forms: >Male Human<, Female Human, Wind Sprite, Fox]
I raised an eyebrow. Three of the forms I had access to made sense; I was already a human, and the Fox transformation likely came from the Talent itself. But that other one—a Wind Sprite—where did that come from? Did I get that because of my control over Anemo? Or was it something else?
Urgh, my head was starting to hurt. Alright, alright. I get the damned message.
Putting that aside, I decided to check Orobashi's Reward next.
It took all my effort to keep my jaw from falling.
[Mirror of Memories 5★
In a grand hall of mirrors, with each filled with the stored memories of worlds unfulfilled, there exists a mirror left empty. It is left adrift across the void of silence, waiting for the moment when it would reunite with its true owner. And now, it has found You.
After defeating a Boss, the User can instead choose to extract a random Talent from the Boss. Doing this will sacrifice the possible Reward, and will put the item into cooldown for 3 days]
Huh? What was with the disparity in Rewards!? Saiguu gave me a 2★, while Orobashi's was a 5★! Not that I was complaining—far from it even! But I was just a little confused on why the two were so different.
…yeah, who knows. My Genshin System wasn't saying anything, so maybe it was just random chance.
Shrugging, I turned back to the still silent Orobashi and asked, "Is there anything else you wish to ask of me?"
He blinked, and then smiled. "Ah, yes. My apologies, I was thinking of something inconsequential." He nodded. "And I do, if I may."
I winked. "Go ahead! The night's still young, after all~"
He chuckled in return.
…
Unseen by all, a strange, diamond-shaped star in the sky discreetly vanished.