After a solid night spent scouring the surrounding area for every treasure chest it had, I returned to the camp just minutes before sunrise came. It was peaceful when I arrived, with Lumine and our two new charges sleeping soundly under the slowly brightening skies. Seeing that everyone was fine, I took the [Windsail Beacon] back into my Inventory and sat down on one of the logs.
Humming idly, I took half a dozen peaches and surgically cut them all into slices using my Anemo. Then I pulled out an ornate clay plate and arranged the slices into a beautiful little crown. Once I finished, I placed the plate next to me as I turned to look at my current companions.
Lumine was still asleep, sprawled out across the ground as she snored. She'd moved quite a bit during her slumber, and she'd accidentally kicked half of her blanket off. I smiled wryly as I saw that. I had a feeling that was a habit she wouldn't be breaking any time soon.
Kojirou and Hanami were peacefully sleeping, having huddled together as if to unconsciously preserve some warmth despite not needing to. I couldn't help but frown slightly as I watched them, disliking the implications of why they even did that.
I waited patiently for them to wake, all while watching as the skies were further painted bright red and orange as the sun crept up from beyond the horizon. Streaks of color soared across the black, and the stars quickly faded as the light of the sun overwhelmed their light.
To pass the time, I decided to take one of my favorite books from a year back, snacking on the peace slices as I began reading. It wasn't anything too special—a fantasy about a sword-wielding wanderer who roamed the world in search of his lost family—but I'd grown fond of it as I reread it over and over.
It also happened to align suspiciously well with Lumine's story.
…hmm.
After a while, I finally heard someone waking. I looked up and found that it was Hanami who began to stir, slowly opening her eyes as she looked around. She seemed confused for a few seconds, before she seemingly remembered what happened last night and quickly turned to me. "Wendy-san?" She whispered, her voice groggy from a good night's sleep.
I smiled gently. "Good morning, Hanami." I closed my book and discreetly stored it into my Inventory. "Would you like some peaches for this fair morning?"
She nodded quietly as she slipped out of the bedroll, taking a seat next to me and taking one of the slices. She took a small nibble, and jerked back in surprise as she had a taste. Her surprise lasted only a second before she took to the peach slice with a renewed gusto.
I suppressed a small smile at her reaction. It was no surprise—they were peaches grown from saplings I bought from the [Shop] and grown in the dense energies of my Personal World. Its quality far surpassed anything Teyvat had to offer, and it was one of the prime exports Sublime Spicewood had.
Of course, that wasn't to say they were the best. I had a few trees I planted on my own secret island, and as those were cultivated by my own hand, the [Hand of Creation] came into effect and practically turned those peaches into actual mystical treasures. Though I wouldn't be casually sharing those to anyone—it'd be a disservice to the hard work of my people.
"Wendy-san?"
"Yes?"
Hanami looked down for a moment, before she shyly glanced at the plate. "Can I…?"
I smiled as I handed the plate over. "Eat as much as you want, young one. I've already eaten enough."
The girl lit up as she began eating more slices. I stayed silent as Hanami had her breakfast, instead busying myself with my System as I took stock of what I had in my Inventory.
Right now, I had just about enough Primogems to do three 10-pulls from the [Gacha], and if I sold the rest of the catches I had from my Personal World, I could do another two 10-pulls.
Normally I'd be ecstatic about that, and I am! Somewhat. But one could only be excited for so long before they got disillusioned by the hell that was Gacha. And over the three years since I awoke from my slumber, I'd rolled enough 10-pulls that awarded only 3★ Items for me to become wary of the whole thing.
Sure, I now had a large storage of random Talent Scrolls, and I had enough 3★ weapons to supply an army, but that didn't really mean much. I'd even tried rolling the [Limited Banner] whenever it appeared, but I never got anything too special out of it.
Sighing lightly, I turned back to Hanami. By this point, she'd finished half of the peach slices I'd prepared, and it didn't seem like she'd stop anytime soon. Which was fine with me. I had more than enough peaches to share; my worshippers had made sure to nearly drown me with it once they heard me offhandedly mentioning that I liked eating them.
Eventually, another woke up. It was Kojirou this time, and he blinked as he saw Hanami eating from her plate of peach slices. "Where'd you get 'hat?" He mumbled as he rubbed his eyes. Hanami squeaked in surprise before she quickly turned to him, having completely forgotten him in her feasting.
I smiled as I held another plate of sliced peaches, one I prepared while Hanami was distracted. "From me. It is morning after all, and breakfast is one of the most important meals one must have." I held the plate out towards him. "That said, there is no need to worry. I have another plate just for you."
The boy stared at the peaches with distrust, but Hanami quickly backed me up. "It tastes really, really good!" She said, before she bit down on an entire slice to show him.
Kojirou frowned as he took the plate, before he finally decided to take a bite. His eyes widened comically, and without saying anything else, he began devouring the peach slices even faster than Hanami did.
And hearing all the commotion, Lumine finally awoke. "Wuh?" She whispered, slowly pushing herself up as she looked around. "It's morning already?"
"It is, yes." I smiled wryly. "Good morning, sleepy-head." I handed her the other plate of peaches I prepared. "Ready for some breakfast?" She nodded as she took it. "A good sleep, I hope?"
She gave me a thumbs up as she ate. "Good bed. Good fruits. 5 out of 5 experience, would try again." She said cheekily before she continued eating. She then paused as she finally noticed the two new children that were next to me. "Wait, who're they?" The two tensed when she asked that, and she returned a confused stare.
I quickly retold our meeting from the night before, and Lumine nodded. "Right." She smiled brightly at the two kids. "It's good to meet you two." She placed a hand on her chest. "I'm Lumine."
The kids immediately softened when they heard that, and I subtly shook my head. Once again, I found myself surprised by how angelic my companion could look. Though it wouldn't ever work on me; the effect wore off quickly after you saw her dive into the fifth lake after someone randomly mentioned that treasure might be lying at the bottom.
Then again, considering I'd likely do the same, I couldn't say much in return.
While everyone was busy with their breakfast, I turned back to my System. The [Gacha] was right there, and I stared at it for a good while before I sighed.
I mean, I was now in an entirely new region, with a new adventure waiting to be taken. A new tale to be spun, a new Story to be written down. What better moment could there be for me to attempt another [Gacha] pull?
I ran it through my head a few times, before I decided to just give it a go. After all, I had the Primogems to spare, and I could always get more by returning to my Personal World to fish. The [Limited Banner] wasn't available to me at the moment, so I decided to roll on the [Standard Banner] instead.
I winced slightly as 1600 Primogems vanished from my Inventory in a flash, and I clasped my hands together in prayer as I waited for the results to roll in.
Then, to my surprise, I actually got something.
The first 8 items weren't anything interesting. A few weapons and a number of Talents that got turned into Scrolls due to being inferior versions of ones I had or incompatible with who I am now. But it was the last two things I got from the 10-pull that really caught my attention.
[Fated Meeting: Kitsune Saiguu 4★]
[Fated Meeting: Raiden Makoto 5★]
My eyes widened. I hadn't seen a [Fated Meeting] since the first one I got that brought me to Guizhong, and now I'd gotten two in a single 10-pull? Was this just something that happened whenever I arrived in a new region or something? Maybe I should try rolling the Gacha once every time I entered a new-
Just then, I felt something shift. The feeling was quiet, almost imperceptible. Had my attunement to the stars not increased due to my connection with the Aeon Lan, I was sure I wouldn't have noticed it.
I looked up, and using [Hawk Eyes], I could see the stars above begin to shift, followed by what looked up to be bright purple cracks that spread across the skies. My eyes widened, but I made sure not to say anything. It didn't seem like anyone noticed it, since they were still happily eating the peach slices I prepared.
I took a small breath to calm myself. For as terrifying as it looked, my instincts told me that it was a good thing. That more chains that'd shackled fate had just fallen away. And since my existence itself seemed to be a deterrent to whatever it was Celestia was trying to do with Teyvat, this was a good thing.
Probably.
Hopefully.
I blinked when I felt someone poke my shoulder, and I looked down and saw Lumine extending her plate of peaches to me, half the slices already eaten. "Want some?"
I smiled. "Thank you." I took one of the slices and ate it, closing my eyes as I savored the perfect blend of sweet and tart.
.
.
.
East from the port town, at the center of Narukami Island was the striking Mount Yougou. A pair of mountains, their peaks adorned with sakura trees. And at the peak of the mountain lay a sacred shrine, dedicated to the Archon Baal.
There, within one of the shrine's rooms, a kitsune slowly awoke. Her long white hair cascaded down her back as she rose from her futon, and her eyes glowed amber as she looked to the West.
"Interesting." She whispered, a smile growing on her lips.