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[keyboard-mang0]

Prologue Part 2

Letters from Inazuma

Genshin x Fem! Reader

Notes: I've had this ready for like... two weeks and just forgot about it.

Words: 2,763

The Cavalry captain has not seen the letters Y/n had sent nearly as often as he heard his brother talk about them. A continuous tirade of the Ragnvindr picking apart every tiny detail till he was nearly going mad.

Not that Kaeya could blame him. After Diluc had first taken Y/n in, she somehow managed to force reconciliation between the two brothers. Due in no small part to Lisa telling her that Kaeya was actually her uncle. A scheme only pushed further forward by Y/n roping Jean and seemingly half of the Knights of Favonius with her into helping.

But here and now, Kaeya can only share in Diluc's worry for his niece. And lurk over every word her letters share with them. Sharing every bit of information he can gather with his brother, whether it be about Y/n's tasks as an adventurer, or about the people she's come to associate with.

So after an entire six months of waiting since the last letter. When the next arrives while the pair share their latest findings, both are eager to learn of Y/n's whereabouts.

←→

Dear Father.

Against all odds, I made it!

I signed on for Captain Beidou's fighting contest, apparently it was being held for just people without visions. And the Traveler apparently cheated badly enough to specifically not be allowed to join again. The fights were hard, and I saw many fighting styles I wasn't familiar with in that ring. It was incredible, and though I lost and left with more than a few cuts and bruises. I did manage to talk to the Captain about my journey, and she said I could work on her ship to get to Inazuma!

So now, I am in Inazuma, with some new scars and a new appreciation for people who can withstand sailing half as much as Captain Beidou's crew does!

What a fascinating land Inazuma has already proven itself to be. Luckily the restrictions on foreigners traveling outside of the port town of Ritou has become much more lax since the Traveler came and went. So while I did have to endure the pains of paper work on bureaucracy, I've been allowed to more or less wander freely.

I've not been here long, but there have already been so many adventurers guild commissions. So yet again, I find myself keeping quite busy in this new land, renting rooms from various inns as I travel. Even with their civil war ended, there's plenty of trouble for an adventurer to get asked to solve.

Though even outside of commissions, trouble still finds me anyway. Most significant is I somehow luckily managed to dodge arrest. Ok maybe that's not completely true, I got arrested, but wasn't actually charged with anything.

While between commissions, I quite literally bumped into a new friend. His name is Itto… or perhaps it's Arataki? I'm still learning the Inazuma customs for introducing oneself. Anyway, he is quite a character, talking up himself and his friends that he refers to as his gang. All while being rather impeccably friendly, if loud, very very loud.

Somehow what was just me bumping into him turned into him showing me some kind of beetle fighting game. Which somehow turned into him and his gang inviting me to get food with them. Which somehow turned into getting roped into helping them with the odd jobs they were hired for. I'm not completely sure how it turned into that, but it was a good time with good company, so how could I complain?

The trouble came during the odd jobs, I'm not entirely sure what we were doing, but in the middle of it a woman's voice started shouting. I didn't think much of it, but Itto and the gang all froze immediately. Apparently my ignoring the shouting woman was the wrong thing to do. As it then quickly escalated, and in my panic about the woman who Itto called Kujou Tengu, I tried to run. Didn't make it far.

And so we all ended up in jail. Which sucked, but strangely Itto didn't seem that bothered by it. The reason why came in the form of Shinobu, the deputy leader of the Arataki gang. Who somehow managed to talk to Kujou Tengu about releasing us, and was successful enough that we were let out with essentially no trouble. Though I'm still deciding whether or not I should have found it a surprise that many of the guards seemed to be more than a little familiar with Itto and the gang.

Shinobu and I ended up getting along quite well, even if we started off on me accidentally getting all of her friends arrested. When I told her and the others about my journey, she seemed to understand. It was rather nice to talk to someone who could understand the want to find your own path, and choose your life without being directed by anyone else.

If only you could have been so supportive.

Since that fiasco, I've found myself somewhat regularly spending time between commissions with the Arataki gang. Despite them calling themselves a gang, I don't think I've seen any of them commit any kind of crimes. They just sort of stick together, taking on each day as a group rather than leaving each other alone. It seems like a pretty nice way to live.

I hope that this friendship I've made with them all will last beyond my time here in Inazuma. I have no idea when or why I might come back, but if I ever do, there won't even be a question of whether or not I try to track them all down again.

It sort of makes me miss the adventures I went on with Amber and Noelle. I hope they're both still doing well. Please pass my regards to them both if you can. And everyone else while you're at it. Think of it as a new way I'm trying to continue dragging you away from work to go see and talk to people.

You shut yourself away too much, Father.

Sincerely,

Y/n Ragnvindr.

←→

Even if he had cared to hold back his laughter, Kaeya would have been unable. All too amused at his niece's run-ins with foreign law enforcement. Seeing no particular reason to worry since the situation had been resolved. 

His brother however was less enthused. Diluc glared down at the letter as if his glare could send his lecturing directly to his daughter. The slight frown tugging at his features only further shows his distaste. Whether it be in Y/n, her friends, or Inazuman law, is hard to tell.

An exasperated sigh escapes the cavalry captain, his steps bringing him to his brother's side to drop a comforting hand on the red head's shoulder. “Hey, this is all a good thing. She's living her life how she wants, making friends that sound like they have her back.”

“But think of the dangers-” Dliuc starts.

Kaeya covers Diluc's mouth with his hand, “that you, me, and Jean have all taught her how to handle. Even without a vision, that girl is skilled with a sword.”

Kaeya removes his hand to settle back into his seat, “she is doing well, be proud of her for that.”

And this time, Diluc tried to let go of his worry for just a moment, because his little Y/n is doing so well. Even without him to help her.

<>

Just over eight months pass before Y/n's next letter arrives. Delivered at the hands of Mondstadt's outrider guiding a feline woman through the city streets. A small package delicately clutched in the Inazuman's hands.

“So remind me who you're delivering to?” Amber chatters, all but skipping along the cobbled road.

“Ms Ragnvindr has paid for careful shipping to a Mr Diluc Ragnvindr. And we at the Komaniya Express guaranteed safe delivery!” matching Amber's pace and tone, Kirara's steady hold on the small parcel does not shift with her movements.

The brunette's eyes widen from excitement “oh, a package from Y/n!?”

“Do you know her?” The nekomata questions, her ears flicking as Amber suddenly pivots nearly entirely around to change which direction they move towards.

“Oh yea, Diluc is her dad. I think he had a shift at Angel's Share today, he'll be so happy to hear about how she's been!” Amber's cheerful tone only builds up more as she speaks. Before long the familiar sight of the tavern she's had to drag Kaeya and Eula away from greets her.

Without any hesitation the outrider swings the door open and pokes her head in, just to make immediate eye contact with Diluc. “Oh good, you are here.” She states simply before throwing wide the entry to allow Kirara room to pass.

Business first, Kirara marches up to the red headed man, eye contact unwavering, “are you Diluc Ragnvindr?”

A slightly bewildered nod from the man and the cat woman straightens her posture, “I work for Komaniya Express, a courier service in Inazuma! You may call me Kirara.” She delicately places the parcel on the bar top. “Ms Ragnvindr hired me to deliver this to you, sir.” She reaches into a side pouch hanging from her belt. “And this letter to go with it!”

“I see, thank you for this.” Diluc mutters, delicately holding the letter up to attempt to inspect under the lamp light.

“I will be in the city for a day or so before returning, if there is anything you would like for me to deliver back to her.” Kirara announces before promptly turning on her paws and leaving the bar.

Glittering eyes stare a hole into Diluc's head, “Well go on, and read it!” Amber goads, broad smile taking over her features.

Red eyes scan over the bar, this early in the day few patrons make an appearance. No one to disrupt him. A short hum and the soft sound of a tearing envelope, Diluc's gaze drifts over the hand writing he's come to be so painfully familiar with.

←→

Dear Father.

How do I express how much has happened in these months since my last letter? Inazuma is a beautiful nation, and every time I feel I've beheld the most amazing sight it has to offer, I find something even better waiting on another one of the islands.

Of course like anywhere else it has its own dangers. Just last week I chanced upon a group of bandits preying on an old man walking the road alone. I simply could not stand by, so I went to defend him, and these bandits were far more capable than I'd faced before in Mondstadt or Liyue. The way one of them coated his sword in electro energy was rather terrifying. Every day I find new reasons to wish I had a vision of my own.

In the end I did win with rather minimal injury, just some scraps and light burns, but my sword was broken by the electro wielding bandit. The blade shattered and it took me almost an hour crawling around in the grass to find all the shards of it. But as it turns out, the old man is a swordsmith, and he was so grateful for me protecting him that he offered to repair my sword for me.

He led me back to his workshop in Inazuma City, and after taking the shards of my sword told me to return in a few days. So with time to spare and no way to take on commissions, I found myself playing tourist even more than I had before. Wandering the streets and trying out various food carts and restaurants.

During this time I encountered someone who I might call even stranger to interact with then even the Arattaki gang. You see there was a food cart that sold the most delightful sweet treats called dango! So one of the evenings while waiting for my sword I returned to that cart. The man seemed eager to close up and go home, so when I arrived I bought the last two skewers of dango he had.

The problem arose just after I had given him the mora for the treats. As I was about to leave the man suddenly looked very afraid while looking at something behind me. When I turned I came face to face with a woman dressed in ornate purple clothes. She was eyeing the empty tray of dango on the cart as if it had insulted her. As I turned her glare turned to the skewers in my hand, but she didn't say anything, just continued to stare.

I didn't know what to do, so I panicked a bit and offered to share with her. Almost immediately she seemed to visibly perk up and brighten. Which led to me and the strange woman sitting on a bench by the side of the road and sharing dango skewers. Anyone who passed us by seemed to throw me strange looks, and she hardly said so much as a word to me. 

But all in all, it was a rather pleasant evening. By the time the dango was gone a second strange woman with pink hair and what appeared to be fox ears arrived. She looked at me in a similar way that Uncle Kaeya would when he thinks he's being funny. The first strange woman just quietly stood and left upon the pink woman's arrival, while the pink woman wished me a good night and left with her.

Inazuma is such a strange place, but perhaps that is just my own lacking knowledge of the nation's culture. I wish I had more time to learn about it all, but the Alcor will be returning soon, and when it does I'll be making my way on towards Sumeru.

I wonder if I'll meet any old schoolmates of Miss Lisa's.

Also, I'm going to send this with a handful of pressed flowers I've found while wandering. As well as a recipe for the dango, and ingredients for a few servings. I have no doubt that Adelinde will be more than capable of making it perfectly so everyone at home can try them. Think of it like a little treat we're sharing together, even if I'm far away.

Sincerely,

Y/n Ragnvindr.

←→

Diluc ended up leaving the Angel's Share soon after receiving the letter. Not even waiting for his shift replacement to arrive before he was strolling through the gates of Mondstadt. The package tucked under his arm, and mind racing at who the women described in the letter were to seem so strange.

Still lacking a conclusion as he enters his manor. No matter how many times he walks through that door, he cannot help but notice the lack of noise his child made.

“Adelinde.” Diluc calls out, the maid in question looking up from her task at her name being called.

“Yes, Master Diluc?” 

The package Y/n had sent is placed into her hands “There's a recipe and ingredients inside, please make two servings and meet me in my office.”

Turning and walking up the steps of his home, Diluc does not wait to see Adelinde move to the kitchen. Nor does he track how long he spends staring into his fireplace as he waits.

His information base in Inazuma is lacking, nor did he maintain contact with his old informants in the country after the nation was closed off. “Perhaps Kaeya will have a better chance at knowing who they are?” He mutters aloud.

“Ah, is Master Kaeya joining you?” Adelinde's voice calls out from the doorway.

Much to his own shame, Diluc flinches, too caught up in his thoughts to notice the maid walking in. “Ah, no, he won't be.” Diluc gestures a hand to the empty seat he pulls beside him in front of the fire. “I thought it would be nice for you to join me here.”

With a soft smile the woman takes her seat beside him, holding a plate out for Diluc to take, delicately holding small different colored doughy balls skewered on wood sticks.

Diluc pulls the new letter from his coat, holding it out for the woman that assisted him through raising Y/n, “Y/n sent another letter.”

The rest of the afternoon was spent there, the pair chatting about the letters, and sharing in the sweet treat.

Wondering how much more lively it would be if Y/n really were there to share in it with them.

[keyboard-mang0]

Prologue Part 1

Letters from Liyue

Genshin x Fem! Reader

Notes: I'm sure any of yall would likely be able to tell that my posting is in the nicest terms, inconsistent. So I'm trying but yeeaaa....

Words: 1,555 (maybe, I made some small edits at the last second.)

Two months. Two months since Y/n has been gone. Two months since Diluc got into a shouting match with his beloved daughter. Two months since she left for the journey she had planned since before she could lift a sword.

Diluc finds himself staving off exhaustion more and more as time goes on. Guilt for the harsh words he said, and his own pride preventing him from being there for her when she wanted him to be. Anger that she had refused to listen, frustrated that no matter how hard he pushed for her to understand, she simply did not.

Emotion bubbles deep in Diluc's chest, a painful stirring that nothing can soothe.

Nothing but the first letter you sent home to Adelinde. Who so graciously shared the parchment with him, and nearly all the rest of his staff as well.

←→

Dear Adelinde.

I'm sorry it took me so long to write after I had promised that I would. Though in my own defense, everything in Liyue feels so new to me.

The landscape is so different from Mondstadt! Many different flowers are growing here, the crystal flies look different, and even the hilichurls seem different from the ones in Mondstadt.

I finally made it to Liyue Harbor now, the city seems so much bigger than Mondstadt, and is definitely much busier. People are always coming and going, merchant's of all kinds from all the nations come and go, and talk and make deals. It can be rather overwhelming to just simply leave the small room I've been renting while I'm here.

An excellent example is my landlady. A very nice woman that I happened to bump into on the street. She's always coming and going at odd hours and never for the same stretch of time twice. She says she works for the Qixing Ministry of Civil Affairs, and for how little she's charging me for my room, I'm not going to question the truth of her words. She is very knowledgeable in many fields, and sometimes seems to have the sort of reflexes that would more than put the Knights of Favonius to shame!

We actually met not long after I'd first arrived at the harbor, in my gawking and wandering, I got wrapped up in some scam artist's scheme. He kept insisting that I must pay for a broken valuable that I hadn't even touched, and even called in some rather large men to surround me when I tried to ignore him and walk away. Which is when Miss Yelan appeared from seemingly nowhere, tore his argument apart and threatened to call the Milileth before he finally backed down and ran. I don't know why she decided to help me there, nor why she chose to offer me a spare room for my stay in Liyue. But I owe her quite a lot for her kindness.

Were it not for her rescue, I'd not have met some of the good people I've come to call friends here. Like Hu Tao, a very fun woman who apparently runs a funeral parlor, which seems a strange occupation for someone so invested in pranks. But with so many people here, the adventurers guild has all sorts of requests that need filling, so I'm being kept very busy. I was worried that I might not be able to make enough mora to keep my journey going, but it seems those worries were unfounded.

It's funny though, today I was just wandering the market after completing a commission from the adventurers guild. When I came across a small stall, the peddler didn't give me a second glance, but the jewelry he had on display were made in all kinds of styles. There was a brooch there that had a bright red jewel embedded in an almost floral framing, it reminded me quite a lot of Father home.

Has Father been well? I'm sure he threw himself into work for the winery before I had even departed. I owe him much more than I can fully repay. Perhaps while I travel I'll find something that will do. Some sort of treasure that could match the value of the life he gave me. If nothing else, I can try to pay him back the mora it cost to raise me.

I'm sure you heard his and my last conversation, I'd be willing to bet the whole estate heard from how loud we both were shouting. Not the picturesque send off I'd dreamed of. I'm sorry that I left the manor with a note of misery rather than joy.

I'll write again soon, I've yet to decide whether I wish to follow the Traveler's trail across the nations, or make up my own order. But either way I'll send another letter before I set off.

Take care of yourself, Adelinde. Be sure to give the others my well wishes. And tell Master Diluc to be well.

Sincerely,

Y/n Ragnvindr.

←→

The heartbreak of being referred to so formally and impersonally by her was one that stung at Diluc. A pain that nearly drives him to charge out to Liyue and track her down to demand she go back to using the silly nicknames she and Kaeya would make up while bored.

Even so his eyes would rake over the paper over and over. The parchment was carefully preserved to ensure that despite how often it found its way into his hands, it would not be damaged.

Four months after the first, when a second letter arrived, now bearing his own name across its seal, Diluc nearly tore the entire thing in half in his haste to gaze into new contents.

Now nearly half a year without hearing her voice. He would cling to the new letter as if his life depended on it.

←→

Dear Father.

Adelinde told me she gave you my first letter anyway. So knowing they'll end up with you anyway, it makes more sense to address them to you from the beginning.

That and she asked me to write to you.

Anyway, since my last letter things have been going very well for me in Liyue. My commissions have taken me across the nation over and over, and every new venture I feel I reach greater heights. Often literally with the stone peaks.

As I've said before I have been staying with a Miss Yelan, renting out an extra room until the time comes that I move on in my journey. As it stands, I believe that that time will be coming very soon.

Not long ago I was invited to join in some sort of fighting contest, it was being hosted by a woman named Beidou. The men who told me about the contest also told me stories about her. Apparently she's a ship captain of significant repute! And the prize for winning the contest is to get a favor from her.

I don't think I'll be able to win, but maybe it will be a good opportunity to be able to try and get a ride to Inazuma anyway. Worth a shot, if nothing else. And even if it doesn't work, since the Traveler went there themself the borders have opened up. So there are more trade vessels going to and from Inazuma for me to try and catch a ride if Captain Beidou doesn't work out.

I've decided since my last letter that I wish to follow the Traveler's path. I can only hope I don't stumble into anything as cataclysmic as all of their adventures. But walking the lands, seeing the sights, and making adventures that are mine and mine alone. That is what I'm after. To see Teyvat for what it is, to smell the air of each nation and taste the foods of their peoples.

I wish you had come with me.

Soon I'll depart Liyue, travel the islands of Inazuma, then turn my eyes back towards Sumeru. Traveling, funded only by the mora I make by my sword and the commissions that will lead me all across the nations. Speaking of, this letter will be going along with a package to return the mora Adelinde attempted to give me. While I appreciate the gesture, doing this solely on my own is important. I will either succeed by my own will, or fail by it.

But no matter what it would have been my choice to do so.

I hope things are well at home. I'm sure even after only a few months things might be a little strange without me there. No more getting lectured by Adelinde, or getting dragged into Uncle Kaeya making a nuisance of us both.

I'm not there to make trouble for you.

I'll write again soon. Hopefully with news that I succeeded and the letter will be arriving from Inazuma. Take care.

Sincerely,

Y/n Ragnvindr.

←→

Countless times the Mondstadt bachelor read over the two letters. Countless nights spent pacing the floor of his office as increasingly horrific visions of what dangers Y/n might face alone. No small amount of pulling his own contacts to learn what he can of the space names the letters provide him.

Anything to know what she may be up to.

Anything to know that she's safe.

As he waits for the next letter.

[keyboard-mang0]

Ok, so fool that I am. Instead of working on any of the actual fics, or any other projects that pop up now and then. I have instead made what I can essentially call an extended prologue.

So for that reason soon I'll be deleting the current one, and it will be soon reposted alongside the rest in various pieces. Hopefully long enough to get my brain to focus on the actual fic it's progue to so that its not just set up leading to nowhere.

[keyboard-mang0]

I have no excuse for why I haven't brought anything here for a year. Like just genuinely, none. Lost and Found was a project I was quite attached to, and had plans for. But actually reaching thevpint for those plans proved to be far more difficult then I had hoped.

Perhaps it would be better to try shortening the chapters, or attempting to prevent my brain getting weirdly perfectionist about each one. I don't know.

I do know that I'm not satisfied leaving it untouched, and not writing is getting to me.

So I'm about to post a little snippet, not anything related to Lost and Found, but rather I had an idea for a fic, and in a vague haze wrote a sort of prologue. At this point, yall know my habits are.... really really bad, when it comes to consistent writing and posting, so I'll not make promises about it. But perhaps it might be something to look out for now and again.

[keyboard-mang0]

Ok, so I just read through what I have of the chapter... Ya know, instead of actually writing.

And I think maybe I will just leave how dark it gets, sure its a bit of an odd shift, but does lead into some fresh new fluff stuff to happen. So maybe it'll be worth it?

Just wanted to put that thought here so y'all know I'm not gone/the fic isn't abandoned!

Not like Runaway. One day I'll bring myself to go back to Runaway, maybe I should just change what the goal for its styling to be? Make it feel less tedious by well... making it less tedious.

[keyboard-mang0]

Ok, been a hot minute since I gave any form of indication of what's going on!

Ok

So I got a job. And that has taken up more of my time then I had expected, so writing has slowed down SIGNIFICANTLY.

Not helped by needing to rewrite the chapter because it came out too dark and now needs to be fluffed up again.

[keyboard-mang0]

Not me writing like half the chapter, taking a break, then reading back through it and realizing that it is so much darker then I had wanted this fic to be...

So I guess I'll be rewriting that... hmm, I have some ideas to put towards that.

[keyboard-mang0]

Dang, almost wishing I hadn't started Lost and Found to take place during the Inazuma archon quest. Actually playing the Sumeru content and spending time with its characters is making me want to be able to use them in it, but it just wouldn't make sense. Eh oh well.

[keyboard-mang0]

Okie so! Someone has pointed out to me that the masterlist doesn't work. And after testing it out a but myself, yea the links are totally broken.

I have no idea how to actually fix it, but I'll try and figure some kinda interim solution while I read up on how to potentially fix the issue.

Maybe just go through and tag each chapter of Lost and Found with the title so it should all be findable by those tags? I dunno yet.

Edit: OK they should all have that tag now, except for maybe not the fifth chapter, cause for some reason it just really doesn't want to let me edit the tags on it.

[keyboard-mang0]

Ok, I'm finally done with Elden Ring like all the way, got pulled back in so literally no writing has gotten done in..... a long time...

But I've got all the achievements, so now I find myself playing Genshin again, and will hopefully be back to writing soon!

Till that happens... I dunno, yall want me to make some ramblings of my random Elden Ring oc's that formed between the boss fights?

[keyboard-mang0]

A new chapter and finally making a name change I've been forgetting to do for a pretty long lil while now. Gotta love making progress!

[keyboard-mang0]

Lost and Found

Part 6!

Genshin Impact x Child! God! Fem! Reader

This has passed the point of impulsiveness with the amount of effort it took to make myself write! But it's a silly idea for a cult au with a dubious level of proper SAGAU, and no hint of Imposter in sight.

Reader is referred to with she/her, and is set to be around the same age as Klee and the other small child characters. Not proof read! If you see any typos, no the fuck you don't.

Notes: I’m really bad at keeping myself in a writing habit. You know what "Favored" and "Auxiliary" mean, and now you'll see who all belongs in the two teams. Doing some exposition, gotta give that sweet sweet Y/n lore!

Warnings: religious themes, likely out of character moments, not much really happens, some kidnapping I guess, recovery from drugging, and stress.

<~Part 5 

Word count: 4,748

Painful throbbing and continuous swaying. Those are the sensations that slam into Kokomi as consciousness returns to her. Vision blurry as she tries to take in her surroundings, groaning wood walls all around her, a hammock beneath her, rocking with the motions of her surroundings. 

"Oh, you're waking up now." A voice mutters, a combination of defeat and annoyance dripping from the woman's tone.

Kokomi's head throbs harder at the sound of the woman speaking, light shining through cracks in the wood ceiling assaulting her eyes. "What? Where?" Confusion drags her thoughts to a crawl, eyes slowly adjusting to the light enough to scan over the surroundings.

Leading her to find the amber gold gaze of the enemy general, glaring from where she lays on a hammock nearby. "We're stuck on that two-faced sailors ship."

"Ugh, right." Images of the mercenary captain she had hired returns to Kokomi, the way she had just walked into a trap and was dragged away by Kazuha and the Traveler.

The sound of wood scraping against wood pulls both women's attention to a head of blonde hair that comes barging in. Yoimiya freezing to stare at the pair, as if caught in the act of something unsavory.

"Oh uhh, you're both awake now?" The blonde mumbles, unsure when faced down with both warleaders now.

"Naganohara…" Sara sneers bitterly at the younger woman. 

"Heh, still not getting up yet, General?" Yoimya asks, taking slow steps towards the tengu with her hands firmly on a basket, in the other woman's line of sight.

A short scoff, the great General Kujou laying limp in a hammock, gently swaying with the movement of the vessel around her. "No."

"Did they injure you so you wouldn't be able to get up?" Kokomi could not help but let concern into her tone as she speaks to the potentially maimed General.

"Only her pride, Lady Sangonomiya." Yoimiya snorts, quickly cut off with a yelp as Sara swings a rough sack of a pillow at the blonde's head.

"Don't go making jokes now, you're still a traitor to the Shogunate!" Sara snarls, amber eyes glaring over the edge of her hammock

"Well who isn't?" Kokomi meets the General's glare unflinching.

Any retort is cut off by the heavy door being pushed open again, and a red streaked head poking in. "Ah, thought I heard your voices." Kazuha muses, stepping further into the room as he looks over the two war leaders.

"Ah, well if it isn't the original traitor." Sara groans, flopping back into her hammock to ignore the man.

"Kazuha, what is the meaning of my abduction? What are we both doing here? Where are we going?" Kokomi asks, pushing herself up in her hammock.

The man hums for a moment, eyes scanning over the three women for a moment, "it would be better for the captain to answer that first question, my Lady. You're both here, because you're both needed. And we are on course to Liyue."

A beat of silence hangs heavy, the two women still in their hammocks stare down at the man in stunned silence. Realization of their predicaments hammering into their chests in an unspoken moment, with only the noise of the sea and howling wind.

The silence breaks over a cheery blonde's voice, "the Captain is up on the deck if you want to go ask her! I'm sure she'll be happy to see you both up and about as well!"

Hardly a beat of the waves goes by before the two Inazuman's are racing up to the top deck. Both struggle for only a moment to climb from their hammocks before stomping away to find the Captain, with renewed fury and indignation.

If Beidou is surprised at all by the sound of stomping feet echoing out from the hull, she does not show it. Instead standing relaxed as two angered Inazumans step out onto the deck for the first time since they had set out. Both wear expressions of fury as their gazes whirl to take in the surrounding horizon of empty sea.

"Where are we?" Sara seeths, her amber eyes burning hatefully into the captain before her.

A curt shrug is her first answer, "we passed through your Archon's storm yesterday, so we are well on our way to Liyue."

A second voice interrupts the General's retort "Please, Captain, you must turn this ship around and take me back to Watatsumi!" The shorter woman attempts to hide the bubbling anger, schooling her expression against the surrounding stares of her captor's crew.

"So, Miss Kokomi, you're a priest, right?" Beidou leans back against the mast of her ship, ignoring the glare both Inazuman women level at her for ignoring what had been said to her.

"I do not appreciate how casually you address me as my kidnapper," Kokomi huffs.

"She is the Divine Priestess of the Watatsumi Shrine, so yes in a way." Kazuha answers for her, having found a perch on a barrel near Beidou.

"My title doesn't matter right now. Turn this ship around and bring us back to Inazuma!" Kokomi lashes out, brows furrowed tightly together.

"Your war can wait, and with major leaders from both sides here on my ship, it likely will do just that." Beidou waves off her tone.

"People's lives are at stake!"

"We found the Creator." Beidou states plainly, throwing both the angered priestess and annoyed general off their trains of thought. "And as members of the Favored Auxiliary, you have an obligation to attend any related matters of importance."

The pair stand and stare, minds reeling at the news.

"Why wasn't a proper announcement made?" Sara asks, voice low and prodding.

Shrugging her shoulders, Beidou pulls a flask into her grip, "We're trying to keep it on the down low, limit the number of people aware, and avoid letting any of the Archons in on the news."

"You want to hide the Creator from the Archons?" Kokomi voices incredulously.

"What possible reason could you-" Sara starts.

"Her name is Y/n. If I had to guess she couldn't be any older than seven years old." Beidou drinks from her flask.

Sara lets out a small gasp, quickly covering her ears, "oh you did not just say the divine one's true name!" She glares, years of dedicated faith to the Shogun, and by extent the Creator, still coloring her thoughts.

"They're… she's only a child?" Kokomi whispers to herself, eyes moving to where Kazuha nods in additional confirmation.

"It's a little hard to believe isn't it?" Yoimiya pipes up from where she steps up onto the deck, her cheery tone unwavering in the pair's shocked reactions, "but the Captain wouldn't lie about something like this! After a whole year, the Creator finally reveals herself in the form of a child."

"That… isn't actually quite accurate, she didn't really reveal herself at all." Lumine cuts in, her words pulling the three Inazumans' attention. "According to Beidou, they actually found out Y/n was the Creator after mobilizing a small army to arrest her."

"You arrested the Creator?!" Sara looks like she had witnessed a horror, eyes wide with shock and voice wavering just enough to reveal the cracks in her facade.

Kokomi and Yoimiya look almost ready to faint at the additional news, Beidou takes the silence to fill in.

"She had the gold tears, and all. Appearing perfectly human except for that one little detail." Beidou traces down the side of her face like tear tracks for emphasis.

That catches the priestess' attention, "the Creator wasn't a human though… gold tears are an undeniable sign, but she lacked wings? Were her eyes not gold orbs? What about her tokens of oath?"

"Her tokens of what?" Beidou's eyebrow arcs up, confused at the last question.

Kokomi shakes her head exasperatedly, "honestly a Favored should know this." She takes a moment to draw a deep breath before continuing, "the Divine Creator is only the most common title of thei- hers. She was also once known as the God of Oaths, and to be granted a token of oath would mean that our reality in itself will become malleable, that it could be bent and reshaped in order for the oath taken to come to fruition. Normally these tokens take the form of white and gold feathers, some texts saying that they were plucked off her own wings."

Beidou nods along, tucking the new information away for 'just in case', "well, when we left Liyue I can say with certainty she didn't have any feathers on her."

<~~~~>

"Do I have to wear this?" Y/n whines, squirming uncomfortably in the heavy cloak that had been draped around her shoulders.

Ningguang gives an apologetic smile, "only when you leave the chamber. It may not be safe for you to have those wings out in public."

Ganyu kneels beside Y/n, helping the girl to find a more comfortable way to let the cloak rest. "Miss Beidou will be back today, don't you want to see her at the docks?"

The small girl's attitude flips completely, excitement pushing her to hop on the balls of her feet, "yes!"

Ningguang can't help but consider how Ganyu looks at Y/n the way an older sister would look at her younger. The Adeptus moves from the cloak to instead wrap a small cloth eyepatch around the girl's head, "then you need to wear these until we get back to the chamber. Can you handle that?"

Y/n stills in her hopping long enough for Ganyu to tie the cloth around her head, "uh huh! I can do it!"

The door to Y/n's room opens with a secretary poking her head in, "Master Jean and Miss Eula are waiting outside, Ma'am."

<~~~~>

Cool and sunny, a pleasant breeze blowing over the water, the perfect weather to make port. Beidou muses, eyes scanning over the sky line of Liyue harbor from where she lounges on her row boat. Crew members rowing from where the Alor is anchored in Guyun Stone Forest, all the way to the harbor docks.

"Ok, how about some last minute warnings?" Beidou's voice carries over the sound of lapping waves.

"For Liyue or for the Creator?" Sara groans, eyes piercing through the captain. The other Inazumans admire the distant view of the harbor.

"Both, I suppose," Beidou seats herself across from the group of other vision holders, "first of all, no matter what, don't ever call Y/n the Creator, just don't, doubly so if she's in ear shot as well."

"Why not? Is she not aware that she is the Creator?" Kokomi asks, her gaze sliding from rolling waves to Beidou.

"No, actually, she isn't." Lumine answers before the captain.

"Y/n is just a little kid! She doesn't need that kind of pressure on her!" Paimon adds on to explain.

"So the Creator herself is not aware that she is the Creator?" Yoimiya attempts to be clear.

"As far as I'm aware? Yea, pretty much." Beidou rambles, her gaze rolling between each person that sits in the boat with her.

"That's a rather vague answer," Sara pokes, no longer visibly seething at her surroundings, but still seeming annoyed with the entire situation.

"Y/n hasn't breathed a word about gods at all, far as I'm concerned. She never asked, we never told." Beidou shrugs, laying back as she turns in her seat to check the distance to the harbor.

"So you don't really know if she's aware." Kokomi states flatly.

"No, but I don't think that part really matters." Lumine defends, reaching a hand down to brush over the water's surface.

"If Y/n knows, then it might mean she's choosing to keep it to herself! Which makes our secret even more important!" Paimon chimes, somehow her floating managing to perfectly keep pace with the rowboat.

"I suppose I can see that logic. If she's aware then that means she's actively choosing to remain hidden. And if she isn't aware, then she's blissfully ignorant to her own power." Sara groans, frustration and annoyance clinging to her tone.

"Well, I for one am looking forward to learning what kind of kid she is, dang, I should have grabbed some sweets before we left!" Yoimiya's excitement spreads infectiously, even causing the high priestess to crack a smile at the thought.

<~~~~>

The bustle of the Liyue docks was a constant, something one could always count on. No matter the time of year, how many boats actually moor in the harbor, or if business trends move in odd directions. The docks remain crowded.

Sailors and merchants roam back and forth as the small boat pulls closer to the pier, one crewman jumping up to quickly tie the boat in place, Beidou climbing out behind him and holding a hand out to help the rest up.

"Alright, here we are! I'm sure Ningguang sent someone to make sure we go straight to the Jade Chamber." She speaks, grunting between her words as she pulls person after person up onto the more solid ground.

Yoimiya quickly hops to scan the crowd, eyes gazing over the various travelers that wander seemingly aimlessly. "What would they look like?"

"If she sends Ganyu, look for blue hair and red horns, that's easiest way to spot her in a crowd." Beidou growls slightly as she pulls Sara up out of the boat.

"And if it isn't this, Ganyu?" Sara asks, joining Yoimiya in searching the crowd.

"Then they'll come to us, no reason to worry." Beidou pulls Kokomi out last, both Lumine and Kazuha climbing out with almost as little effort as Beidou had.

"I don't see her…" Kokomi mumbles, searching for any clue to what the captain had mentioned.

Beidou steps away from the edge of the dock, striding towards the crowd as the people split before her. "I told you, if she isn't here, then they'll find us-" her words are quickly cut off by movement in the corner of her eye.

A blur of cloth zips across the pier. Small and topped by a head of h/c hair.

"Beidou!" Y/n's voice cries out as the blur slams into the captain's legs.

"Ah! There you are, little rat!" Beidou laughs, bending down to quickly pull the girl up off the pier, tossing Y/n up into the air before catching and holding her on her hip.

"Oh! So who's this little bundle, Captain?" Yoimiya hops to Beidou's side, smiling wide at Y/n, who peers curiously back at the woman from her safe place in Beidou's hold.

Yoimiya can't help but freeze as her eyes meet the child's one exposed eye. Crushing pressure overtaking her chest as the warm and glittering connection she held dearly with the Creator suddenly feels as though a chain is being wrenched tight around her heart.

"Ah, right." Beidou cringes at the location, turning to face the three Inazuman's who she dragged to the harbor. "This is Y/n. Y/n, these are the new friends I told you I'd be bringing back." Beidou speaks gently to the girl, her soft expression going unnoticed by the three, who instead stare dumb founded at the shy little girl before them.

A small hand reaches out from the thick cloth in a small wave, the girl curling in on herself at being faced with the three staring strangers. Y/n lets out a small noise before growing shy again, turning away from the group to instead plant her face against Beidou's shoulder. The older woman laughs as she pats the small girl's back.

"She didn't run away at least, it must be getting easier for her to meet new people." Beidou explains, unwilling to try and force Y/n to talk more.

"Captain! Glad to see you made the journey safely." Jean's voice pierces the crowd as she takes long strides towards the newly arrived Favored.

"Jean!" Yoimiya calls out, quickly throwing her arms around the taller blonde.

"Woah! Easy there, Yoimiya." Jean lets a small chuckle slip through as she returns the embrace, quickly taking a step back and turning her attention to the others. "As I'm sure you can guess, Lady Ningguang is quite anxious to have you all in her office as soon as possible."

"But, can't we look around a little first?" Yoimiya pushes, using pleading eyes she learned from the kids she plays with.

Sara swoops in to save Jean, "there will be time for sightseeing after business is handled."

Slow steps echoe on the dock, a red horned head poking out from the crowd. Beidou walks out, offering a smile to the new guests, and stopping to let her gaze memorize the sight of Y/n wrapped up in Beidou's hold again. "If you would all please follow me, we can get this meeting started as soon as possible."

<~~~~>

Ningguang sits at her desk, the picture of power. On her right side, Ganyu stands attentively, a clipboard and one at the ready if notes are needed. To her left, the Traveler Lumine waits patiently with Paimon floating beside her. And sitting in Ningguang's lap, Y/n is focused solely on her drawing, wings flapping slightly in their freedom from the confines of the heavy cloak.

"Acting Grandmaster Jean Gunnhildr, Captain Beidou, Miss Shenhe, Naganohara Yoimiya. Our four Favored of the Divine." Ningguang lists off, eyes moving between each person as she states their name, "General Kujou Sara, Yuheng Keqing, Lady Sangonomiya Kokomi, Reconnaissance Captain Eula Lawrence. Our four Auxiliary Favored of the Divine."

Each person standing in that office wears expressions of utter sincerity, each with their eyes trained on the child with white wings and a golden eye. On Y/n, sitting in Ningguang's lap, enamored by the doodles she's creating at the Tianquan's desk.

Ningguang nods down to the girl with her, "this is Y/n."

Hearing her name, the girl looks up from the paper that held her enthrallment, shrinking back upon seeing all the staring eyes pointed towards her. A brief flash of fear before quickly relaxing under one of Ningguang's hands resting on her head.

"Y/n, why don't you go outside with Qiqi and Klee?" Ningguang asks, pushing herself away from the desk.

"Okay!" Y/n chimes happily, hopping down with a small flutter of her wings. Starting to run towards the office door.

"And don't go bothering the maids for snacks, I asked Miss Xiangling to come and make dinner for our guests tonight, so don't spoil it." Ningguang calls out gently, earning a small noise of combined compliance and excitement before the door closes behind the small girl.

Beidou fails to keep a smirk off her features, "I see you've gotten better at handling her."

"Ganyu and I have been slowly learning how best to speak to her." Ningguang shrugs, her gaze shifting to the eight powerful vision holders. "As I'm sure you've all realized, Y/n is the Creator."

"I honestly didn't believe you had really found the Creator when Beidou said it on the ship." Sara speaks, rigid posture remaining unchanged.

"More surprising to me is that she's so young." Kokomi adds, relaxing slightly after Y/n disappeared past the door.

"She's young, but that does not change who she is." Eula sighs.

"And who she is, is why I wanted you all here to talk." Ningguang takes attention back. "Y/n is the Creator, who by every tale and history we have, is the Supreme ruler of Teyvat and Celestia both. A kind hearted god who shaped the world and breathed life into every race and species that walks on it. And by every right, is the sole heir to rule over every nation and beyond." Ningguang pushes papers around on her desk, pulling a small picture from the piles, and sliding it towards the Favored.

The picture shows a small h/c girl laying asleep, and wrapped in the protective hold of Beidou.

"And she is also a child, one who has lived hardship in our world since she was torn from the home she was born to, but does not let that fetter her joy." Ningguang continues, "she likes to draw, gets excited to have sweets, hops on the balls of her feet when she is happy, and has developed some kleptomania. That we are working on."

"And that's why you're keeping her a secret?" Kokomi asks, eyes locked on the small photo beside the stoic stare of Sara and the quiet cooing of Yoimiya.

"Exactly. If the Archons knew about her, they would likely demand she be placed on her throne to rule all of Teyvat. But we have already stolen her childhood once, she should be allowed a second chance at it now." Beidou cuts in, her arms crossed as she attempts to stop a smirk from spreading at the picture.

Jean's voice takes over, "however, secrecy is no longer an option. The people of Mondstadt already suspect that she is in Liyue, and that rumor will spread out from Mondstadt quickly."

"Not exactly." Eula interrupts, "Miss Mona predicted that this meeting would entail the whereabouts of the Creator, not that she would be here."

"Which limits our options, but does not leave us without any." Keqing muses, humming with thought.

"Not to mention that when it becomes known to all the nations that the Creator has been here in Liyue the whole time, this could come at odds to those who would suspect Liyue of hoarding the blessings of the Creator." Yoimiya thinks aloud, swaying slightly where she stands.

"And that could easily catalyst a war." Jean adds. Silence follows after her words in the room.

"We could send her away." Shenhe adds, earning rejecting stares for her idea.

Eula hums loudly before speaking, "that may not be a bad idea."

"You can't be serious!-" Beidou turns in outrage to the blue haired knight.

Ignoring Beidou's outburst, Eula continues, "Kokomi, Sara, if I'm not mistaken, Inazuma is in the midst of a Civil War, correct?"

"We're fighting for people's freedom!"

"Nothing more than stamping out a rebellion!"

The pair speak over each other, both turning to shoot glares at the other.

"So yes." Eula faces Ningguang, "send Y/n to Inazuma with them, we can find a place for her to hide there temporarily, and then make the announcement that we know where the Creator is. Inazuma's borders are closed, and there are very few willing to brave the storm that guards it, so the only people who would be available for a renewed search are those already busy with a war."

"So hide her away where it would be hard for anyone to reach her?" Ningguang asks, leaning back in her seat as she considers the option.

"Even if it's temporary, that doesn't sit right with me." Beidou speaks up, eyebrows pinched in thought, "we were trying to help her settle into one place where she can feel safe. Bouncing her around Teyvat to evade the Archons goes against that."

Shenhe's voice again picks up, "we could only tell one Archon, as a test."

Thoughtful hums fill the room, each person considering the idea carefully.

"The Raiden Shogun would be a poor choice, she would surely insist in the tradition of the Creator's rulership, and would be more than willing to get violent to force the matter." Kokomi states, earning a sharp glare, but not disagreement from Sara.

"Rex Lapis is dead, so we cannot well expect a dead god to listen to our thoughts of the matter." Keqing adds, the stares of Ningguang and Lumine both lingering at her statement.

"Perhaps Barbatos would be a good choice then. If any of them would understand what we want for her, it would be the God of Freedom, right?" Eula asks, earning an agreeing nod from Jean.

"Well I've been trying to meet all the gods since I arrived in this world, so perhaps I might be able to help get whichever one you choose to agree to at least meet." Lumine states, eyes wandering towards the door Y/n had left through.

"But it was those three who summoned her, should they not at least be aware of what has happened?" Sara asks, face twisted in deep thought.

"No, even if we just sent vague letters, at best, it would spur a new more desperate search to find her. At worst, it could be taken as a threat to the Creator, which would make that new surge of searchers all the more violent." Ningguang rambles, eyes scanning over various papers that scatter over her large desk.

"Perhaps her Familiar then? Guuji Yae could be perfectly understanding." Sara insists, stepping closer to the desk, only to have a hand held out to stop her by Kokomi.

"The Lady Guuji is loyal to the Shogun, if she learned news of the Creator, it would be a very short time before the knowledge spreads where we don't want it to." She states, her eyes boring into the taller woman.

"Speaking of loyal to the Shogun, would it really be safe to send Y/n to Inazuma with one of those two?" Keqing asks, gesturing to the still bickering pair.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"How dare you!"

The pair whirl on the purple haired woman as the perceived dig at their capability to protect the Creator.

"No, she has a point." Jean interrupts, "that plan works off the war in Inazuma continuing exactly as it has been. So hiding with either of the two leaders of the war would be very unsafe for her to remain."

"See?! So then we shouldn't send her anywhere!" Beidou barks, jumping at the chance to sway the decision her way.

A short cough draws eyes, Lumine looking to see she'd gathered attention, "I actually have someone I can call a favor with that would make an incredibly safe place for her."

"How safe?" Ningguang asks, the look in her eyes holding clear hesitation at the idea.

"Anything short of the Shogun herself approaching the door wouldn't be able to get close to her. So as long as we don't draw her attention, there's no way at all that anyone would ever think to look there." The young blonde continues, her arms crossed over her chest as she speaks.

"Yea! Super duper safe!" Paimon shouts proudly, drifting down to, far too loudly whisper into Lumine's ear, "where is it?"

"I would prefer knowing who the Traveler herself would trust with the Creator." Keqing adds, earning agreeing nods from the other Favored.

A small shrug, almost nonchalant. "Simple. The Kamisato's"

<~~~~>

Childe groans in frustration, another report of a dead-end lead.

Every informant closed their doors, no common citizens stepped forward to take the reward for information, and even bribing the local Treasure Hoarders amounted to nothing. Someone or something is cutting off the Fatui's access to information. Anything related to the Creator leads back only to ancient prayers and books older than any wooden structure.

A knock at the door of his office cuts into his thoughts, the obstruction slamming open as a woman wrapped in the heavy coat of a Harbinger, X shaped red pupils bore into Childe as her steps echo in the quiet room.

"Arlecchino! To what do I owe this interruption?" Childe rises from his desk, annoyance at the woman barging in evident in his voice.

"Her Majesty does not have the patience to wait for your investigation." She states plainly, distracted for a moment by judging the man's work space.

"Nor do I." The deep rumble of Capitano calls out from beyond the doorway, the signature helmet of the man bowing down to step through the comparatively small doorway. A woman being dragged along behind him.

"I have things under control, while I appreciate the offer for help, it is not needed." Childe's voice is tight, exhaustion tugging into his speech.

"This is not an offer. We brought reinforcements for if the situation gets out of hand." Arlecchino states, throwing a clipboard with a list of the arrived soldiers and agents, onto his desk.

"And an informant." Capitano adds, pushing the woman to stand between the three Harbingers. The distinct uniform of the Jade Chambers secretary's still on, ropes restrict the woman from attempting escape.

"I see." The ginger haired man stops to take a deep breath, a serious glint coming to his eyes.

"Her Majesty will have what she wants."

taglist:

@twstfan-san @saltysugarysembei @universal-rose @qluvrv @jaynahh @heavenlyfloof @thetwinkims @victoria1676 @beemarkie @definitely-a-keqing-simp @inlovewithwaffels @qinxin02 @aminormistakewasmade @namine123 @nomorefstogive @my-white-canvas @kiraisastay @sarahyumiko2 @sparklyphantom @esthelily @papsboo @thissoulisnotok

[keyboard-mang0]

Finally editing time! Ugh, this took too long..... I've said that for every chapter so far.... eh oh well!

[keyboard-mang0]

I mean... you're not... not wrong.... but like... hmm.

I really really need to stop watching shows and playing games and having my brain just go "wow this seems like it would be a ton of fun to write for!"

NO BAD ME, STOP!

I already have taken so long to work on Lost and Found, without adding Arknights, Wednesday, Skyrim, Elden Ring, and Fire Emblem Three Houses to the nightmare realm that has become my WIPs backlog.

[keyboard-mang0]

I really really need to stop watching shows and playing games and having my brain just go "wow this seems like it would be a ton of fun to write for!"

NO BAD ME, STOP!

I already have taken so long to work on Lost and Found, without adding Arknights, Wednesday, Skyrim, Elden Ring, and Fire Emblem Three Houses to the nightmare realm that has become my WIPs backlog.

[keyboard-mang0]

Ok, I'm like 2 hours late saying it, but happy new year everybody!

Hopefully I'll be able to get something done to post soon so that chaos children will continue to reign.

[keyboard-mang0]

Lost and Found

Part 5!

Genshin Impact x Child! God! Fem! Reader

This has passed the point of impulsiveness with the amount of effort it took to make myself write! But it's a silly idea for a cult au with a dubious level of proper SAGAU, and no hint of Imposter in sight.

Reader is referred to with she/her, and is set to be around the same age as Klee and the other small child characters. Not proof read! If you see any typos, no the fuck you don't.

Notes: Just barely not a month since the last part! Actually managed to yank myself away from Elden Ring long enough to finish this. You know what "Favored" and "Auxiliary" mean, and now you'll see who all belongs in the two teams. Also establishing where in the game story this takes place!

Warnings: religious themes, likely out of character moments, mentions of blood/bleeding, honestly some very slight body horror stuff, a war scene! Mentions of death/dying, kidnapping, drugging, and stress.

<~Part 4   Part 6~>

Word count: 3,774

Gentle waves lap at the pier, the imposing shadow of the Alcor casting away from where it sat docked. Earning the glances of shogunate guards that found themselves disinclined to actually approach the waiting crew.

Beidou leans over the rail, glaring down at Ritou as annoyance growled from her throat. Whirling to face her Inazuman companion, "Where the hell are they?"

Kazuha shrugs quietly as the sound of hurried steps pull both people's attention to a head of blonde hair. A young woman sprints down the pier, the large bow of rope tied at her back bouncing behind her. "Wait! I'm sorry for being late!"

"Firecracker!" Beidou shouts, jumping off the side of the Alcor, landing on the pier hard enough to shake the wood boards.

"Captain Beidou!" Yoimiya shouts excitedly as she dives into a hug with the taller woman. The pair laughing through the embrace, "it's good to see you! How have you been? Have you seen Miss Jean and Shenhe? How are they?"

Setting the girl down Beidou smiles brightly, "whoa whoa, slow down there. Good to see you too. I've been good, and had a really eventful time lately. I, sadly, just missed Ms. Serious. And Shenhe is… Shenhe, she's fine… I think."

Yoimiya nods in understanding, "well I'm really looking forward to hearing what this little meeting of the Favored is for!"

"Well we're still waiting on the two Auxiliaries we came for as well." Beidou groans, rubbing at the back of her head as she spares a glance in the direction of Ritou.

"What? I thought I was late enough that you might leave without me. Are they not here yet?"

"Nope," Beidou pops the P as she speaks, turning her eye back to the blonde, "but the Traveler left to look for them already, so let's hope she brings back news."

As if the mention of her summoned her, a flash of blue pours from a teleportation waypoint and from the glare Lumine steps out, Paimon drifting ahead of her as she walks towards where Beidou and Kazuha flanked Yoimiya.

"Please tell me you're here to say our wayward Auxiliaries are on their way here now." Beidou groans in frustration.

The blonde shakes her head, "no, but I have different news and possibly a plan."

<~~~~>

The rain gently falls down over Nazuchi Beach, gray clouds rolling slowly as if they could understand the tension that lay beneath them.

Two armies face one another down. With armor purple like the lightning they serve, the Shogunate army cast an intimidating shadow. Sheer number and quality of equipment cast doubt into the comparatively few Watatsumi warriors.

At their center the famed tengu General, Kujou Sara levels an indifferent glare to the red dyed army. Eyes landing on the canine commander standing beside them. 

The pair stare, quiet, measured, studying. Both leaders daring the other to call the first command. To announce the battles beginning.

And when blades cross, whoever did call the first order to charge means little. When blood spills, and life is threatened, only one thing holds meaning. Survival.

The battle does not go for long before it turns in one side's favor. The resistance had always known they faced poor odds. But to watch as comrades are cut down in the sand, the skill of a single shogunate samurai proves to be too great for two foot soldiers to handle. They found themselves to be outnumbered by only a small margin. But they were outmatched by a far greater level.

Gorou launches arrow after arrow, dodging above and beneath swords and spears, all the careful precision that has come to be expected of him. Across the battlefield, Sara stands firm, shooting at a slower pace, taking carefully aimed shots that down men with each arrow she lets go of.

Lumine searches the field, eyes scanning over the chaos of soldiers, sword drawn and swinging crushing blows to any who dare get close to her, mind too preoccupied to care which side those left in her wake belonged to. Watching, waiting, looking for the signal they had agreed on. Inching closer and closer to where the General stands without drawing her attention.

Rainfall grows heavier, in the noise of the desperate and dying, who would notice the slow steps of a single woman?

Rain soaked sand began to take a blue glow, bubbles of water rising from the grit, drifting upward, growing in number, peacefully bobbing.

Gorou's eyes are pulled from the battle, widening at the sight of his leaders arrival, "her excellency!"

Kokomi stands proud, arms raised as rain water rises from the sand, drifting bubbles taking to the air, pulling eyes just long enough for the Shogunate soldiers to miss the trampling feet of new enemies.

"The wait is over, my comrades, now is our moment!" She calls out, giving her signal to the reinforcements that follow her.

A second brigade charges from behind the shipwreck, quickly running at their heels a crowd of sell swords. Headed at their front a tall woman garbed in red, dragging a metal slab of a sword behind her.

"I just hope you can afford all these mercs you've gathered!" Beidou's cheerful voice calls through the noise of the battle. The monstrous size of her Creator-given claymore throwing soldiers off their feet several at a time.

Quickly the tide is turned. The ambush pinched the shogunate army in between blades. And the addition of vision holders made individual samurai's skills all but worthless comparatively.

The general lets out a sound of annoyance before waving her hand, "all forces, retreat!" She shouts angrily, turning to make a run for it with her soldiers.

"Here's our chance, Traveler!" Beidou shouts as she sees the retreating Auxiliary member.

Lumine wastes no time, launching herself forward at an almost impossible speed, dashing to catch up with the tengu, diving headlong into the woman. Pinning Sara down into the wet sand as anemo, geo, and electro rage around them both, Kazuha quickly moves to follow, striking down the few Shogunate soldiers that stop to assist their pinned General. The pair rush to retreat back with the tengu in tow.

Kokomi can't help but gawk at the unexpected rush to capture Sara, but how could she complain? A won battle and an extraordinarily strategic prisoner, truly Beidou and her crew prove to be mora well spent.

Stepping down from her position atop the ruined ship, Kokomi finds her way to where her commander stands with Beidou, Kazuha, the now tied up Sara, and the Traveler that she's heard so much about while away. Kokomi gives a small smile, "I must say, Captain, I must commend you. I expected your help would be of great use, but to have taken General Kujou as well? Impressive."

Beidou's boisterous voice echoes in the quiet battlefield as laughter bubbles from her, "well I can't take all the credit. And I can't say her getting captured is for you or our deal."

Kokomi sees Lumine and Kazuha move to take places on either side of Beidou, Lumine pulling Sara behind them with her movement. The Hydro user raises an eyebrow in surprise, "then why, may I ask, did you take her?"

"Nevermind that now. I do have something else to discuss with you, however." Beidou's eye's flash over to Gorou then back to Kokomi, "maybe we should go back to our little hiding spot, get some more privacy." 

Suspicion building, Kokomi turns to Gorou, "tend to the wounded and regroup at the fort, I will meet you there." Turning back to the mercenary group, and giving a curt nod as the group move towards the wrecked ship.

Kazuha slings the tengu's bow over his shoulder, while the Traveler passes her vision back and forth between her hands, both earning the fierce glare of Sara.

Beidou pulls a flask free from her belt before turning her eye to the much shorter woman. A broad smile stretching across her features, "well before anything else, it's a little tradition of the Crux to share a toast after such a battle!" Holding the flask out to Kokomi. "This victory is yours, so you take the first drink!" Her smile unwavering as the heavy flask drops into the smaller woman's hands.

Kokomi eye's the flask uneasily, the powerful scent of alcohol assaulting her senses, taking a deep breath, holding it in, and tipping the flask to her lips. The burn is immediate, feeling like a Pyro slime had been forced down her throat.

The intense burn held her attention just long enough to not notice the way Beidou dumped the rest of the flask's contents into the sand after taking it back from her. The floaty feeling in her head takes over, and one moment she's standing proud after her victory, the next the Traveler's arms are wrapped around her torso as her legs no longer hold her. Beidou's voice calls commands, but despite the priestess still seeing the captain stand directly in front of her, she can't clearly hear her voice. Darkness taking over the edges of her vision, the final sight before the dark dominates her senses being Kazuha pulling a visibly confused Sara to her feet while the Alcor crew gather around the group, all following Beidou's direction.

<~~~~>

With her pacing back and forth, Eula was worried Jean might ignite the ground beneath her. The pair of knights waiting outside of Bubu Pharmacy where Ningguang had said in a note she was bringing Y/n, for reasons not well conveyed.

"Acting Grandmaster, this isn't going to help." Eula speaks gently, trying to help the blonde woman to calm down.

"But what if something is wrong with Y/n? What if she's sick? Can gods even get sick? Or what if she got hurt? Who would do such a thing as to hurt a child like her? Much less the Creator herself!" Jean rambles, venting her stresses only a little. But enough to have Eula take long strides and quickly cover Jean's mouth before glancing towards the door.

"Remember what Lady Ningguang said. Don't say that where Y/n might hear it." Eula whispers, eyes locked on the entryway to the pharmacy.

Pushing the other woman's hand away Jean sighs, pinching at her temple, "and then there's that… What are we supposed to tell people? They already know."

The blue haired woman shakes her head, "that doesn't matter right now, when it comes to it, maybe we can make something up, but for now, it's no use to dwell on it."

"You think we should lie to the people of Mondstadt? You know how important just the idea of news about Y/n was to all of them!" Jean whispers incredulously.

"Well, what if it isn't a lie? We just bend the truth and give them something to look towards?" Eula scans the pair's surroundings again, taking note of the distance to the nearest passers-by.

"That still doesn't sit right with me though…" Jean crosses her arms, face scrunched in thought.

Eula shakes her head, "like I already said, right now it does not matter. Lady Ningguang is talking to the doctor here, and said she would tell us what is the matter with Y/n once she had finished with that conversation." Eula steps to the side of the doorway, leaning back as she stares out towards the stairs leading up to the pharmacy. "All we can do is wait, and hope that vengeance will not be necessary."

<~~~~>

"You have some explaining to do, Lady Tianquan!" Baizhu whispers in a harsh tone, normally soft eyes taking a serious glint.

Ignoring his tone, Ningguang simply hums for a moment, "How is she doing?"

The doctor pinches at the bridge of his nose, exasperation pouring from him, "I gave her some medicine for the pain, which seems to be working. But vision healing had no effect at all. It seems all we can do is keep the numbing up until her wings are fully grown in."

"Her wings?" Ganyu asks, yawning into her palm.

"Do you two take me for a fool? You come in here at this ungodly hour with a child crying gold and bleeding traces of all seven elements, and did you expect me to not recognize the Creator?"

Silence hangs heavy as a small white head peeks out from the coils hanging like a scarf. "The little one is without a doubt our Creator, and our Creator bares wings."

"So then what is happening is that she is growing into herself?" Ningguang questions, eyes snapping between the doctor and the snake.

Ganyu stares at the floor, eyes wide at her own silent revelation. "The Creator was not a human, but we summoned a human child. Tore her right from where she once lived, and she was dropped here, alone for so long, and now that she's lived around people again, the child is changing to match."

The trio stand in the quiet, only the muffled sound of the three children talking amongst themselves echoing in the pharmacy.

The doctor coughs into his fist, adjusting his shirt collar before speaking, "Whatever the implications of that, Y/n should stay here for the rest of the night, with luck the growth will be done by morning."

<~~~~>

Y/n lay face down on the table Baizhu had placed her on. The tears in her back have stopped growing, but feathers continue to sprout. All near shining in pure white, unmarred even by the multi-colored blood they grow from.

Klee sits on her knees beside Y/n, tightly clinging onto the other girl's hand. Wide eyes moving back and forth between focusing on patting her friend's head comfortingly and staring as another feather sprouts.

"Is the medicine working?" A small voice suddenly sounds to the opposite side of the bed from Klee. Lavender hair poking up over the top of the simple sheets.

"It doesn't hurt as bad now." Y/n mumbles into the pillow. Turning her head to face the new voice. 

A pair of small hands push a glass of water up onto a bedside table, quickly turning from the task in favor of grasping at the edge of the bed to pull herself up onto the surface. "Dr. Baizhu said, you should have some water."

Y/n gives a small nod before moving to sit up, Klee gently helps support the other girl as Qiqi moves to grab the glass again. Soon the two vision holding children watch as the h/c girl gulps down water, silence hanging until the cup is empty.

"Did that help?" Qiqi whispers, pushing the glass back onto the side table.

The girl hums, nodding "I think so." Y/n smiles, turning to face Qiqi, holding out her hand. "I'm Y/n, by the way."

"I'm Qiqi, I am a zombie," giving an awkward handshake, Qiqi's eyes move to a slightly bouncing Klee.

"And I'm Klee!" The blonde girl says excitedly, smiling wide at seeing Y/n so calm again. "Do you wanna be our friend too?"

Y/n matches Klee's smile as she turns to Qiqi as well, both girls waiting patiently towards the silent stare of the other girl.

Qiqi stares back at the pair, unemotive confusion swimming in her head before speaking "I'm sorry, I don't remember how."

"You don't remember how to be friends?" Klee asks, her excitement melting into matching confusion.

Y/n smiles, "well when I stop hurting, we can teach you! And we can all steal whatever tasty things you want!" Y/n giggles, reigniting Klee's excitement as Qiqi stares at the pair.

The zombie's eyes open just a hair wider "even coconut milk?" Her monotonous tone takes the tiniest hint of excitement.

"Yea! Y/n's super good at stealing! That'll be no problem!" Klee cheers, causing Y/n to puff up at the praise.

Sitting back for a moment Qiqi thinks, before reaching behind her and pulling a large book into her lap. "Ok, I'll write orders in my diary so I won't forget."

Klee's bouncing grows more eager, "Yea! We're going to go steal more stuff! And we'll blow something up! And um… Qiqi, what's something you like to do?"

Qiqi stops her writing, staring quietly, "I like to watch the finches."

"Then we'll watch the finches too!"

Qiqi nods before turning her attention back to the diary, pausing to read before facing Y/n again. "But you should lay back down now. Dr Baizhu said you need to rest." Qiqi chides, gently pushing Y/n back into laying on her stomach.

"Ok, but will you stay here with us?" Y/n asks, relenting as Klee joins Qiqi in laying her down.

There is hardly a pause before Qiqi has her answer, "yes," she says simply, grasping onto the girl's  free hand shortly after Klee takes hold of Y/n's other.

A small sigh falls from Y/n, both her hands occupied by the other girl's. One unnaturally hot to the touch, the other incredibly cold. But both holding nothing but silent soothing communication.

The feeling of calm washing over the trio. A foreign feeling Y/n has been resisting growing used to. Being at peace, no need to seek out her next meal, no fear of being seen by other people, and no crippling loneliness in the shelter of her hideaway. Just these two friends she's found, that she was able to meet because Beidou and Ningguang had taken her in, off the streets.

Y/n lets out a sharp gasp, the moment of calm abruptly interrupted. Where pained screams would have arisen, only discomforted groaning starts. Hands clenching tight on their hold to the two other girls.

Feathers sprout rapidly, each popping out in the blink of an eye, several at a time. That's when the sitting pair see it, bones and muscles writhe beneath Y/n's skin. Limbs not naturally born forming from the bleeding sea of feathers. Formless masses of sticky wet flesh rise, dragging feathers up along with them. Four almost tendrils sprouting and rapidly forming skin, the bleeding slows to a stop, but the new limbs still wriggle unnaturally.

The door slams open, none of the three girls having noticed the alarmed scream Klee had released. Not until a pair of knights barge in with swords drawn, followed quickly by an annoyed doctor and a concerned Tianquan.

The newly arrived group stop in their tracks. All eyes on the quartet of tendrils as they writhe, muscles finding their place along settling bones, feathers sprouting faster and fuller. Bending and taking the shape of proper wings, the pair higher on Y/n's shoulders appear far larger than the pair lower on her back.

Four wings, pure white in color, and fluffier than clouds on a clear morning. Down feathers of a baby bird twitch with a new feeling. Sinewy muscles settling in place, stretching out like one would stretch their arms upon waking. And much like a baby bird, they fold and twitch, unusable for flight, but a feeling part of the child.

A head of h/c hair pokes up, shaking arms pushing herself up into a sitting position. Qiqi quickly grasps at her shoulder to hold Y/n steady. Klee slowly reaches a hand out to pat the white feathers.

Y/n turns around with a confused smile at the adults in the room, one eye maintaining her natural e/c, the other an orb of solid gold.

"Did something happen?" Y/n squeaks, unsure at the staring eyes.

<~~~~>

A man flops down on the bench beside the contemplative archon, his arms laying over the back rests as he crosses his legs casually. 

"Good to see you again, comrade!" Childe chimes cheerfully, a broad smile stretched across his features as he attempts to pull Zhongli into conversation.

"Childe. I thought you'd returned to Snezhnaya." Zhongli states, his eyes dragging to look at the harbinger lounging beside him.

“I did. But her majesty sent me back after receiving some very interesting news.” His face split in a smile hardly covers the air of menace he pushes forward, “I thought perhaps my old buddy the Geo Archon might have some answers for me.” His voice is low enough to prevent passersby from overhearing.

A sigh of annoyance slips from the composed Archon, “and what questions would you like these answers to?” 

“I’m here to ask about our Divine Creator.”

Zhongli stills at that statement. Eyes taking a dangerous glow as almost reptilian pupils bore into the Snezhnyan. “And what would you ask me that your Tsaritsa could not answer?”

"Straight to the point then, the Tsaritsa is all too aware of that summoning ritual you held with the gods of Anemo and Electro, so don't try and lie about that." Smirking at the ease of which he was able to start the discussion, Childe ignores the dragon’s glare in favor of taking on a more casual posture. “Well little birdy says that the Divine Creator has been living in Liyue."

The retired archon's posture runs rigid at those words, scale patterns making themselves known around already distinctly inhuman eyes. "Were that the case, I would be by their side."

"I suppose so… but her majesty's tip off is very reliable." Childe leans in closer to the Geo archon, whispered words for no other to hear "and I don't think I need to tell you that an act such as hiding our beloved divine Creator is something many would consider starting a war over."

Zhongli grips at his coat harsh enough to nearly rip the fabric, threatening glare oozing with malice. Jaw tight, wordlessly daring the harbinger to keep threatening Liyue.

Childe lets out a convincingly bright laugh as he creates more distance, again taking the time to appear casual. "Well if you don't know anything, it can't be helped! I just hope I can find some proper news for her majesty, and fast. Wouldn't want my colleagues to be coming here and wreaking havoc, now would we?"

The harbinger hops to his feet, taking a moment to stretch his limbs and half turning back to face the archon. "I guess since you weren't as helpful as I would have liked, I'll have to call on other contacts. The Qixing is quite good at hiding things, but the Fatui won't rest until the Tsaritsa has the answers she wants."

And with the final remark Childe disappeared into the Liyue crowd. His words, still echoing in Zhongli's head.

Could the Creator he had been searching for been right under his nose the whole time?

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