Wanderer's Collection

Chapter 1 - Back where it all started

After a long while, he couldn't believe he was back. Back where everything started. Back where he started. Back where his existence came to be as a creation of a god. Back where no happy memories resided, but where pain and suffering slumbered. Back into the land of eternity. Back to Inazuma.
He contemplated whether he was crazy. To come back to the place he hated the most? The place that he would burn to the ground if he could? Perhaps he was. But perhaps he was just looking to heal by confronting his darkest memories from his past incarnation. And so he got on a ship from the land of wisdom that was heading to the nation of electro to deliver some of its scholars that wish to learn more about the once closed region. Or perhaps to write their paper about the Vision Hunt Decree that once took place there. "Fools..." would think the wandering man, although he was heading into the same direction, however with no purpose. Still, he would rather judge those petty scholars that think poking their nose into every bit of information would bring them satisfaction and a good life. Nonsense.
And yet here he was, his mind full not of what to write in a paper, but full of his memories that he recalled upon thinking of the lightning country, the people that were there, the death of the fair lady that was once his colleague in the Fatui, the sly kitsune, the electro archon...his mother. The Wanderer clenched his fist at the image of herself in his mind. How she abandoned him. How she never truly knew who or how she was aside from the fact that she was his creator and then tossed him like garbage to be taken in by whoever. It made him furious. And yet, there was emptiness alongside that fury. Regret. As if he wanted to reconcile with his mother. As if he wanted to actually make up and have a proper mother-son relationship. "DON'T BE FOOLISH!!" he roared loudly, an outburst that caused the other Sumeru civilians to look weirdly towards his figure. Upon realizing that he's been vocal about his distaste to the intrusive thoughts regarding his mother, he cleared his throat and looked somewhat apologetic towards the civilians - although it came out as more of a glare that would tell them to shut up and forget what they saw - and sat back down where he was previously seated at.
Not so long after, the ship arrived to its destination: Ritou, the once isolated place for travelers from afar that wanted to set foot on Inazuma's land, but were not allowed to go any further than the island reserved for them. Although strangers are still stationed on this piece of land, as the country of lightning is now no longer a closed nation, everyone is free to visit and bask in the view of the numerous sakura trees and other local specialties that exist outside Ritou's borders. And yet, he thinks it's foolish. How humans from other regions were fine to being isolated on this tiny and insignificant island. How they weren't allowed to step foot outside its borders unless they had a pass. Stupid.
      Even so, there he was. Although he had a negative opinion of this island, of the entire nation and its archon, he was still mesmerized by the vibrant red color of the maple trees. Ritou was a beautiful island with a wicked use. He could stay for a while. But why would he? His purpose wasn't here. Even though he himself didn't know where his purpose lain or what his purpose truly is, he had a feeling that Riout island was only a sight for sore eyes and no use to him whatsoever.
      Adjusting his hat to cover his face as much as he could do, he walked towards the end of the small city of Ritou and into the mini beach that connected the island to its neighbor, the larger part of the Narukami Island. The way forward was clear, at least for the most part when it came to enemies; only a few hilichurls that he needn't waste time with. Animals were all over the sides of the road. Birds that would flee as soon as he approached and although it is logical they would do the same no matter who would pass by them, he couldn't help but feel melancholic as his self-hatred came to the surface for a brief second. Nevertheless, he continued on.
      Foxes and statued of them came into view and soon enough a gate could be seen from afar: he arrived at a village. Konda Village. A rather small community that looked cozy and welcoming from outside. Although the homes of the people looked poor, their crops and harvests were all the more rich. Children running around would bump into him and even if he got annoyed for a split second, he would forget about it and continue walking.
      Not long after leaving the small village, more foxes met him with small black eyes as he was making his way towards his destination: Inazuma City. Without realizing it, he already made it to the outskirts of the city. A more rural looking part of it compared to where the main shops and buildings filled with organizations meant to aid the Shogun.
      He stayed still for a while, drowning in his own thoughts: now what? What could he possibly do now and what was the reason he came all the way to this place? He couldn't answer his own question. He raised his head and his glancing eyes from the ground to look at the big and majestic sakura tree in all its glory. And that's how he stayed for a while, not thinking of anything. Just zoning out with the view of the tree in front of him.
      "...Can I..help you?" a way too familiar voice was heard from behind. That was when his mechanical body froze and his eyes that were focusing on the tree went wide as the moon itself. "?!" he couldn't speak. The one person that he was praying not to meet. The one person that he hoped he could never get to see again after all these years. The person he hated the most.
      His mother.