Hours later, after the commotion over the Hydro Hypostasis had ended, I found myself sitting by the shoreline, listening to the ocean's waves as the stars twinkled in the night sky above.
This wasn't something I'd normally do. I'd normally be sitting around a campfire and jotting down today's experiences, or perhaps playing my lute to whoever wanted to listen. But today was different, and following me gaining my newest Talent from the Hydro Hypostasis, I decided there was no better time than now to test it.
[As Water Seeks Equilibrium 3★
A fragment of the power stolen from the Sovereign of Water. Though diluted by Time and shackled by Celestia, it has regained some of its lost luster.
Allows the User control over the Hydro element. Gives the User an innate connection to any body of Water. Increases all of User's Attributes by 200% when submerged in any form of Water]
I'd somewhat guessed that the Hydro Hypostasis was Celestia's creation—the blocky structure was sort-of their trademark—but reading my Talent's description cemented that fact. The fact that the construct was using the power stolen from a Sovereign, an existence mentioned in the book Orobashi had asked me about, was further evidence.
Whatever the case, this power was mine to hold now. And what a power it was! It was basically a lower-ranked version of my [Wind Breathing: Divine], giving me control over a second Element. The fact that it further increases my Attributes by 200% just by being submerged was also incredible.
But what truly caught my eye, and the reason I was out here by the shorelines in the first place, was that second line.
An 'innate connection to Water', was what my System said. I didn't quite understand what that meant, but I guessed it might be similar to the bond with the winds I got from [Wind Breathing] and [Freedom Song].
Now it was time to see if that was true.
I took off my shoes and stockings, and walked across the sands towards the water. I closed my eyes as I approached—called forth the new well of strength that had formed inside me. My new power came to life just in time for the first of the ocean's waves to soak my feet.
And when it did, my mind expanded across the waters, stretching across what felt like an eternity. Every current, every fish, every plant, every grain of sand and gravel that laid in the seabed or was carried by the waters. It should've been overwhelming, but it felt like coming home.
Overall, the sensation was…odd, but far from unpleasant. Whenever I used my Anemo, I felt like a bird, lightweight and free and unbound by gravity. But now with my control switched to Hydro, I felt more like a river, helping direct rushing waters towards some destination.
I then tried to call for my Anemo, and frowned slightly as I felt the two elements interact inside and outside my body. It took a bit of effort, but eventually I became able to control both Anemo and Hydro at the same time, creating a permanent Swirl reaction that spun around me as a typhoon.
I took a deep breath, and pulled my powers back. The typhoon abruptly ended, and the waters became calm once more.
Fuu. Wielding two Elements at the same time— what an odd feeling. Quite exhilarating and calming at the same time.
It reminded me of a waterfall. Or maybe a good, cold shower.
Hmm.
Shaking the strange image away, I returned back to where I sat earlier. I dried my feet using a quick burst of Anemo, put back on my stockings and shoes, and soon I began walking back towards the encampment.
On that note, I wonder if Saiguu and Orobashi had begun whatever plan they'd been building in secret for the past few days. I wasn't privy to much of it, but I knew that Saiguu was helping Orobashi regarding ways to increase the wellness of the people who worshipped him. Building houses, fortifying their defenses, building farms—the whole schtick.
All I knew was that Orobashi would soon create some temporary measure to stop seawater from constantly leaching into the island, which should allow the creation of spaces dedicated for farmland.
Soon enough, I made my way back to the encampment. It was late into the night by this point, and so hardly anyone was awake. The communal campfire had been doused, and most were sleeping in tents or the few makeshift houses the people had erected in the short time since they climbed onto this island.
It didn't take much to find Lumine. She slept just left from her sleeping mat, likely having moved during her sleep. Her arms were splayed wide as she snored away without a care in the world.
A fond smile found its way onto my lips. Compared to many, I'd only been with Lumine for a short time. A few weeks at best. But she was, without a doubt, a friend I deeply cherished. There was no one else I could imagine traveling Teyvat with. Perhaps we'd one day even travel beyond Teyvat, towards the cosmos that laid beyond the False Sky that hung across this world.
What an Adventure that would be.
"W-Wendy-san?"
I blinked, and turned to see Hanami approaching. She still held the [Windsail Beacon] in her hands, clutching onto it like a lifeline. "Hello, young one." I smiled. "It is good to see you, though I question why you are still awake at such a time."
"I-, um." Her cheeks went red. "I miss you. W-We haven't seen each other in a while."
My smile became just a little sad. It wasn't hard to see that the girl was lonely. Because unlike Kojirou, she didn't have any family to take comfort in. She was one of the many orphans that made up the group that had escaped from Enkanomiya's hold.
It was one of the reasons why Hanami had joined Kojirou's quest in the first place. After all, who would miss her if she was gone?
I closed my eyes and drove out those thoughts, before I forced my smile back up. "Indeed, it has been a while since we have been together, has it not?" I sat down on a nearby log and gestured for her to do the same. She nodded shyly before she sat down next to me.
We sat in silence for some time. There seemed to be something Hanami desperately wanted to ask, but seemed hesitant to do so. I patiently waited for her, smiling gently as I watched her slowly build up her confidence.
And soon, she spoke. "U-Um, c-can I ask something?"
I smiled. "Why, of course. There's no need to be shy!"
She fell silent again, her knuckles trembling slightly. "Ah, um," she looked down at her lap and clutched tighter onto the [Windsail Beacon], pulling comfort from the protective staff. "It's-, um," She stammered for a few more seconds, before she shut her eyes. "Areyouagod?" She blurted out, too fast for most to hear.
I, of course, heard. And a wry smile came onto my lips. "Can you repeat that, young one?" I asked.
"A-Are you, um," She gulped. "Are you a g-god?"
I held back a sigh. There it was. Even without displaying most of my abilities, I was already suspected of being a god. I mean, I knew a god's strength varied greatly depending on many factors, but did being just a little out of the norm immediately imply that someone was an immortal?
Haiyah.
I placed a finger on my lips and winked. I didn't say anything, but the girl seemed to understand what I seemed to be implying. Her breath hitched as she hugged the staff closer to her chest, before she whispered in a frail voice. "...why?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"
"Y-You're hiding because you don't want to fight Baal-sama, right?" She asked. I nodded slowly, and her lips trembled. "T-That means you're in danger, right? So, um, it's-, ah." She closed her eyes as she looked away. "It's better i-if you leave us."
I smiled as I patted her head. "Do you want me to leave?"
Her silence was enough.
I hummed. "My people carried the same worries when I told them of my plans to journey here." I smiled slightly as I remembered Guizhong's exasperated look when I first told her about my plan. "But knowing what I know now, of the suffering the common people experience, I will never regret my decision."
"Really?"
I nodded, and smiled as I crossed my fingers over my chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die." I said, not quite knowing where those words came from.
She smiled shyly. "O-Okay. I, um," She made a cross over her own chest. "I-I hope to die too?"
I grimaced. Yikes, that came out wrong. "Ah, there is no need to copy those words, young one. It was merely a figure of speech." Or at least I hoped it was. It'd be quite ironic if they were literal.
"O-Oh." She quickly looked down, her cheeks bright red.
I huffed as I patted her head. "That aside, was that the only question you had for me?"
She blinked, and then quickly shook her head. "I-, um, I have more!" She said, her enthusiasm quickly growing as she held tightly onto the [Windsail Beacon]. "I a-also saw how you and Lumine-sama took down that weird monster, and I wanted to ask if, um, if it's possible for normal people t-to, well-"
I chuckled. "Calm, Hanami. But yes, it is possible. I believe as time goes on and more Archons sit upon their thrones, more people would get the chance to control these Elements." I smiled. "Why, from the lands I come from, I've met a few people who have been blessed by Morax, the Archon of Geo, allowing them to control the very same Element he wields."
"D-Does that mean we'll also see people using Electro?"
I nodded. "Indeed! Though I remain unsure how it works, I believe these 'Visions' are granted to those who have earned an Archon's favor." I frowned for a moment. That was what Morax told me at least, but I couldn't help but feel like that wasn't the complete truth. "I've witnessed these Visions myself, and they grant quite the substantial boost in strength for any who wield them."
"W-Wow…"
From there, Hanami asked more and more questions. About the world, about other regions, about the Elements and those who govern them, and much more. Her shyness was soon eclipsed by her growing enthusiasm, and I could only smile as I watched the girl smile brightly whenever she learnt something.
We would talk deep into the night.
.
.
.
Far away, deep within the Shogunate district on Narukami Island,
"How does it feel?" Raiden Makoto asked, smiling worriedly as she watched her younger sister clench her fist.
"Good." Raiden Ei said curtly, her voice almost toneless.
Makoto sighed. "A little more description? I am new to this, after all."
Ei stared at her for a moment, before she looked away. "Foreign. Unused." She shook her head. "I'll get used to it eventually."
Hmm. Indeed, that wasn't something Makoto could fix at the moment. She'd just recently gained some control over the new Authorities she received from Celestia, and she'd immediately jumped to creating a new vessel for her dear sister after she sacrificed herself to allow for Makoto's ascension.
Before she could speak further, she heard someone knock on the door. Ei nodded as she quickly used her powers to hide, while Makoto quickly schooled her expression as she spoke. "Enter."
The door slid open, and in came one of her personal guards. "Baal-sama." He knelt down. "I bring news."
She frowned. "Speak."
"Hours earlier, one of our own saw a massive typhoon in the far East. One unlike anything we'd seen in years. We believe it originated from Watatsumi Island. However, before we could investigate further, the typhoon vanished, seemingly blown apart by a similarly powerful storm of wind."
Her frown grew. "Bring me the one who had witnessed the event with their eyes."
The samurai bowed deeply. "Yes, Baal-sama!"
Once the samurai left, Ei reappeared next to her, a slight frown pulling her lips. "Trouble?"
She sighed. "I don't know yet. It could be anything." She narrowed her eyes. "We can only hope."
Ei simply hummed.