𝘼 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙪 [ᵍᵉⁿˢʰⁱⁿ ⁱᵐᵖᵃᶜᵗ]

𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙏𝙬𝙤: 𝙒𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚

Sahil stood at the edge of the sandy beach, his zori sandals filling with the grainy land.

He had been on the Crux ship for at most a week, and enjoyed his stay, but was excited to finally get his feet onto solid ground.

Mondstadt, the city of Freedom, where his adventure would begin.

His long ears were perked up, facing forward.

"You have to send letters. Please, do not forget." Kazuha reminded him, his arms crossed and a stern expression across his face.

"I know, I know. I'm an adult, Kazu. I can handle myself!" Sahil proudly held a hand to his chest, raising his legs to have a better and more impressive posture.

Beidou approached with a laugh, lugging a large bag over her shoulder. "Carrot is right, Kazuha. You're acting like a parent! Here ya' go. We arranged a travel bag for ya'."

Sahil accepted the bag, strapping it on his back securely. Double checking that Tomo's blade wouldn't be affected by it.

"There's a map, first aid, some mora, and other necessities." Beidou put a hand on her hip. "We have one more gift for you before you set off on your merry way."

The yokai tilted his head, an ear dropping to the side while one remained up. "The trip and bag were enough, Captain Beidou."

Kazuha sighed, wrapping his arms around his hybrid friend. "Take care, Sahil. Let the wind guide you on the unpredictable paths, and through the caverns of the domains you venture through."

He patted his back, pulling away from the hug. "I suggest you two get going before you are late to Liyue."

Kazuha stared at his friend, hesitant to let them go. "Enjoy your journey."

"And yours too!" Sahil took off, waving back to them. Before they knew it, he was already out of their sight.

"Fast little bugger, ain't he?" Beidou chuckled to herself, boarding her ship. Kazuha following behind her with a slow step.

Sahil was already enjoying the first few minutes he was in Mondstadt. The air was so clean, and not a single dark cloud in sight. A big difference from Inazuma and it's variety of islands.

Way off in the distance, he spotted the infamous city. "Looks like a kingdom... woah."

He was impressed, to say the least. Inazuma was known to be secluded, no way in or out unless you can survive one of the harshest storms that spread past the coastal areas.

There was very little books and paintings that spoke about the nations outside Inazuma. It was a miracle to even be seeing it at this moment.

Upon setting his eyes upon the large tree at Windrise, he took a prideful march towards it.

It had merely been just a few hours across the plains and hills of Mondstadt. Admiring the peaks of the cliffs way off in the distant as he approached his destination, but it was exhausting.

Inazuma has several cliffs, mountains, and even large ravines. One would think it would be more tiring and harder to walk around the islands, however, the wolfhounds and hilichurls would leave you alone unless you got close to their camp.

It was very different from Mondstadt. Hilichurls and slimes would see you from across the plain, and began to hurl towards you. Sticks and bows ready to fight. Aggression radiating off of their small stature.

Considering Sahil was not experienced with nothing but a dagger, he did his best to avoid fighting. Which involved always being at a high stance, ears perked up to pick up even the slightest sounds.

'So much running.' Sahil thought to himself, letting himself slump against the Windrise Tree. His muscles ached, his paws twitching as the muscles spasmed from being strained.

He had to fend for himself. Tomo was no longer here to help him. Sahil heaved a heavy sigh, pushing himself up onto his paws.

The vision that rested within the chest pocket of his clothes hummed with energy. Sahil took it out, rubbing the glass. "I'm fine."

The yokai's words were quickly contradicted, taking a step forward, he felt himself becoming light headed.

Grasping the vision tighter, he collapse into the dirt, sight becoming darkened.

"Come on, Sahil!" The familiar chuckle of his fiancé beckoned him forward. He held a wooden, practice blade in his hands. "We have to teach you. What if you run into trouble some day?"

"Tomo, I'm so tired!" Sahil wipes the sweat off of his forehead. "Can't we take a break? I can defend myself if necessary. Shinobu has been helping me learn how to use daggers."

Tomo frowned, lowering the fake sword. "Fine, fine, but we're trying again tomorrow."

Sahil nodded quickly, tossing his own fake katana aside as he ran over to the shade beneath a tree.

His fiancé joined him, slipping his arm around his waist as the couple looked across the ocean. "I heard Mondstadt is very pretty. I saw pictures of Windrise in a book!"

"You read?" Sahil looked up at him. "Since when?"

Tomo laughed, nudging him. "I read a little, no need to be so mean."

A small moment of silence consumed the two. They basked in each other's presence, eyes not leaving the ocean as the sun began to set.

"Do you think we should get married there?" Tomo gazed down at Sahil, a fond, love-sick look in his eyes.

"You want to get married in another nation?" The yokai questioned, his nose twitching with confusion.

"Well, what choice do we have? We can't walk up to Lady Guuji and ask her to be the priestess for our wedding, afterall, we are wanted."

"Can you tell me about Windrise?" Sahil looked back over the vast ocean, seeing the waves crash into one another. The storms in the distance barricading the land.

Tomo nodded, almost as excited as a kid in a candy store. "The tree there is the biggest tree they have! The grass is green, and there's flowers blooming all around. There was even a photo of weddings in Mondstadt, they support same sex couples a lot more than here. They have firefly lanterns, dandelions, but you can't forget the wine. I heard they're very known for their wine."

Sahil smiled as he ranted on and on about the anemo archons' land. The dreams of their wedding, and how he wants everything planned. It was endearing how excited he was, along with how much he already has in mind.

His cat crawled out of his haori, curling up between their laps and purring loudly. It seemed as if the feline was enjoying the moment as well. Sahil would give anything for things to stay this way.