𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

3 - why am i even here?

(y/n's pov)

I emerged from the abyss of unconsciousness, but the world around me was enveloped in darkness. There was a deafening silence around me, and I reached out to touch something, anything, but my hands found only emptiness. It was as if I was floating in a void that stretched out to infinity. Panic set in. I tried to move, but my body felt weightless, unmoored from the physical world.

It was impossible to tell how long I had been there.

A wave of terror washed over me as I flailed my limbs, but I found myself stuck in place. How did I even get here?

"OH MY GOD, I DIDN'T WALK THROUGH THE PORTAL RIGHT?"

And now, here I was, adrift in this desolate space. But then, a sound broke through the silence, a soft voice echoing all around me. It was as if the darkness itself was speaking to me, and I strained to hear what it was saying.

"Oh...a descender from another world?"

"What the- who are you?"

"Hmm...I go by many names, but I am usually known as the God of Time and Wind."

"Why does this sound so familiar - wait, god of time and wind...Istaroth? HAVE I JUST BEEN ISAKAI'D?!"

"Presumably so, yes. How did you know who I am?"

"Uh...It's...complicated...A-anyways, so you're not the one who sent me here?"

"Nope. I suppose you came here purely by accident?"

"Yea...do you know how I can go back?"

"I do usually know of a way, yes. Unfortunately, your circumstances are a bit...let's say...abnormal. I've never seen one like this before."

"Why is that?"

"As you might know, I do not hail from Teyvat. So naturally, for other descenders like... hmm... let's say Aether and Lumine...I do have knowledge of their worlds. Your world, however, Earth, isn't it? It is a world that I have never heard of."

"Interesting...I might have a reason why."

"Oh? As much as I am interested to know more, I am not going to pry. We are running out of time. You are about to land in Teyvat, and according to the directions the meteorite is heading, you are going to land nearby Guili Assembly. I wish you good luck, descender, I hope we can have the chance to talk more in the future, you're good company."

"Guili Assembly?! Hold on-"

*C R A S H*

**************

I emerged from my slumber and slowly opened my eyes, my surroundings a blur at first. But as my vision cleared, I realized where I was: atop a familiar mountain. The chirping of birds and the scent of fresh grass filled my senses, and I basked in the warmth of the sun on my skin as I sat up. A few crystalflies danced in the air around me, but they scattered as I jolted awake.

How long had I been asleep?

I knew exactly where I was. This was the mountain near where I reached AR60 in the game. But something was amiss.

This was the very spot where I first laid eyes on Liyue Harbor. I remembered it vividly. I hadn't followed the usual path like most people do. Instead, I had foolishly climbed the entire mountain, struggling to maintain my stamina.

And that was when I saw it.

Or rather, the lack of it. The harbor was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a desolate grassland leading to a beach, surrounded by towering mountains. Despite the absence of the bustling city, the view was breathtaking. Young children played on the beach, their parents watching them from a distance.

The second thing I noticed was the ocean, dotted with small islands collectively known as Inazuma. But where was the Guyun stone forest?

Ah, of course. Osial and Beisht, along with the other gods, had not yet been sealed away. The war had not yet begun.

The third thing I saw was the vast desert. I didn't know much about Sumeru's lore, but I guessed that King Deshret and the supposed Goddess of Flowers were still alive. And what about Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?

And Makoto. And Guizhong.

But wait. Was Decarabian still ruling Mondatadt?

I felt a sense of panic rising within me.

Oh no, do I have to live through the entire ARCHON WAR?!

What was I even doing here, in the past, so far away from home?

As I questioned my existence, I felt something in my pocket. It was my phone! I was still wearing the same black hoodie I had on before, and I had never expected my phone to be there.

Perhaps this was a sign. Maybe everything wasn't lost after all.

I unlocked my phone, and to my surprise, all the apps were different. It was as if the phone had been completely refurbished.

I checked the battery life, and to my amazement, it was still at 100%. I found it strange because I distinctly remembered forgetting to charge it the night before.

Here are some of the apps I found, along with my initial thoughts:

The usual ones:
Messages - Who could I possibly text? Was there even internet in Teyvat?
Photos - Imagine the characters seeing the memes I've saved.
Camera - Why use a camera when you have a phone?
Spotify - YASSSSSSSS! LET'S GOOOOO!
Genshin Impact - Would the world still be the same as the one I've played? Would it be up to date?
Map - For the map of Earth or the map of Teyvat?

The unusual ones:
Inventory - Would it be nearly infinite, like in Genshin?
Profile - I'm probably just a level one character now. I suddenly regret not taking self-defense classes when I had the chance.
Talents - Hah! Imagine if it says "none."
Tutorial - Thank goodness there's one.
Archive - Could I put all the books I've read in here? Would it make searching for them easier?
Shop - What could I buy? Skills? Weapons? Please, no gacha...

A sense of realization washed over me like a cold wave. My entire reality had been turned on its head - I was no longer in the world I knew, but rather in Teyvat — where the rules of life seemed to mimic those of a video game.

As I scrolled through the apps, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. Everything was different, and I had no idea what to expect.

But then, a glimmer of hope. The name 'Cleo' stood out on my contacts list like a beacon in the darkness.

At least I can still text one person in my life who actually gives a shit about me.