Genshin Isekai With Homies [Ao3 Crosspost]

Chapter 6: Part XVI - Why me again?

"Felix? Addy! Where are you?"

James shouts into the hill. His voice drowns in the rows of trees. Where are they??

James groans. He looks up at the orange sky, the sun dangerously low on the horizon. There's not much time left before it's dark! He should shout for Gui— wait, will thinking call the other?

Suddenly, a buzzing rings inside his head.

"Hello? Traveler? Where are you?"

Paimon?? For once, he wants to kiss thank you to Rex Lap—Zhongli, and all the Archons for this lovely companion.

"Where are you?" James shouts into the emptiness in front of him. He must've looked like an idiot for jumping waving to literally no one but he doesn't care. "I'm right here!"

"Wait right there. If anything goes wrong, use Elemental Eyesight—Hmm, huh, what?" There's a horrid electric screech and the call stops.

"Hello? Hello??"

Silence.

–––

James looks side to side at the picture-perfect greenery and takes another bite from his Mint Jelly popsicle. The last one, too. He has been sitting under the same tree for some time now.

Archons, did they forget about me? Or worse, are they lost too??

The wind blows and a sinking feeling creeps over him as if someone is watching his every move. He gulps. Maybe calling another to stand by his side isn't a bad idea... No! James slaps his cheeks. If he calls, both of them would be stranded here.

James groans inside as he checks the time and the map a quadruple time, convincing himself that he misheard the hilichurl grunts behind the trees, or that mysterious bug clicking in the bushes... Why, Paimon, why are there no Player Markers? Even the map's missing titles! At least he recognizes the brown dots as some hilichurl camp to the south and a village to the north with a teleport waypoint, though he doesn't remember its name.

A rush of wind gushes behind him and James slams himself to the nearest tree. His heart pounds like crazy as he awaits something to approach him. Nothing. He waits and peeks back, empty. Empty, save for the suspicious fisho n the grass.

"Hello? Anyone here?!" Jame's voice echoes through the multitude of trees, their shadows looming over him. He inches closer to the dead herring when a gray flash bolts past him. He jumps back. A cat with wings? He rubs his eyes and blinks again. Both the fish and the cat are gone.

Aah, hallucinations? This place is getting on his nerves. What would Gui do if he was here?

He imagines the calm voice, telling him: Focus. Think through the situation.

Hmm. James notices he's surrounded by trees, and trees can be climbed. And since he's in the game now, he can climb! He climbs up a tree to survey where exactly he is. Poking his head up from the rooftop of branches, he is taken back by the blinding sunlight piercing his eyes. He inhales the warm, slightly green scent, and let his eyes adjust. He opens them, and gasps.

To call the view breathtaking is an understatement.

On his left through the endless sea of plains stands Venti's Mondstadt tree, gently swaying through the breeze. And t's huge , like bigger-than-the-tallest-apartment huge! He could fit the whole Liyue Harbor in those branches! And that behind him, twinkling in the sunset, is Mondstadt City! Its windmills looks so small compare to when they stood right in front of him. How far was he?

James sneezes and sniffs. There's a burning tint in the air... Is Bennett someby near? He quickly turns around, but sadly doesn't spot anyone. Then it's just camping smoke, but where? He spies a small trail of black in between the endless woods. There! And like Felix would probably say, Smoke means fire. Fire usually means people. People!