Genshin: Emi's Journey

Chapter 1 Valley of Snow

"Emi.. Emi?" a woman's gentle voice rang through the child's mind, her tear-stained face burned with the bitter lashing winds, whipped by pinpricks of snowfall. Her trail of footsteps that showed her progress erased by the blizzard, the heat on her face an illusion, only remembering the bitter cold by the chattering of her teeth. Her frail fingers felt squeezed, the blood and oxygen fell short of her fingertips, "Silly girl.. It's cold out" That voice.. Why was it so familiar to her?

"There.. That's better, now come inside." Why did it hold such warmth.. "Emi? EMI!!!" a guttural scream.. Did.. she do something wrong? "Run!" Run? But she was so tired.. 'run', 'run'. Fatigue weighed her down, the snow in her boots left her feet numb and yet she did as told, a poor excuse for a faster pace, "Im running..." She spoke, the only answer was the hallowed winds that seemed to only wish to keep her in its frigid embrace, to make this snow covered valley her grave.

Her lone figure wandered, in circles? A directionless maze "I'm running.. So don't cry" Her voice soon to die out, a sharp dagger to her throat and lungs were delivered swiftly by the winds, nearly suffocating her. Yet with all that laid before her an untouched landscape a mirage somehow appeared, an illusion seen in formless heavy snowfall, a woman's face in inexplicable pain and agony, its reason unknown. "Please don't cry.." a tear laid frozen against her cheek, the sun did little to share its warmth, as did the gods remain silent as her legs threatened to give out.

Had this been far enough? Did she do it? Frost clung to coal colored locks, the strands brittle to snap against the winds. A dying light as dusk poured into the horizon, even the sun took shelter behind the mountains to rest, allowing the night to bear the deadly cold. Thoughts long fell as silent as the night, heavy lids lacked the strength to stay open, simply wanting to shield her burning eyes from the cruel weather. Her movement seemed all but automatic as she swayed side to side, had it not been for the wind which kept her back she would have fallen face first into her grave miles back.

A stone buried beneath feet of snow caught her boot, falling forward into blankets of snow, was it over now? Lifting her head as if waiting to be told she was done, praying that familiar hand would come to caress the top of her head just as it had before.. Only to be met with silence. Onyx eyes threatened to fade, "I'm sorry.." An apology slipped through blue lips, death loomed ever so closer to the child, not even able to close her eyes they remained open as seconds appeared to become hours.

Then, one by one, yellow warmth shined in the distance, its brilliance acted as a beacon of hope when all was lost. "No.." Bare hands clutched handfuls of snow, a stinging pain of sheer cold as she used all her might to bring herself to her feet. The lights twinkled beautifully against bleak white, beckoning her closer, and yet no matter how much she had threaded onwards, still they remained so far away, like a fleeting dream amidst the star filled night.

As the night continued on without her, the lights in the ever-far distance ceased in a matter of seconds as daylight broke into the horizon. Stopping in her tracks Emi once again felt the despair and crushing weight of death, threatening to take her last breath. Exhausted she fell to her knees, hopeless defeat, did she ever stand a chance? Why was she even here? Perhaps.. It really all was for nothing. Her body overworked, overtired, shocked from the elements was ready to succumb to an endless slumber long awaited. Falling over to the side she curled up in the snow bank, exhaustion quick to take her and carry her to a place far, far away.

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This is the first chapter, short yes but it was pre-written on google docs!! i will post another chapter once a week for 7 weeks!! (i know i said no more promised BUT I HAVE 7 CHAPTERS SO THERE'S NO REASON--- to not follow through... </3 This is a slow burn, and once romance tingles in the air AFTER a time skip to where she is *cof cof* in the fatui* cof cof* it will be up to you-- to decide in which bachelor does emi lean~ who knows, maybe your conglomeration of comments can lead Emi on a path she may have never go on if not for you...