𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

26 - the past is a bitch

a.n.

oops, a filler chapter snuck in!

now, you might be thinking, "why tf is this chapter even here?" trust me, i asked myself the same thing. the first act of the story (especially the 70-year timeskip between chapters 19-20) were moving faster than the speed of light, and i barely had time to scratch the surface of y/n's character development and give carmen the screen time he deserved. so, to remedy that, i've added some more flashbacks in the second act. consider it a chance to catch your breath and get to know these characters on a deeper level. ur welcome.

**********

Y/n lay in her bed, barely blinking, eyes fixed on the white ceiling. Her thoughts swirled around her head like a hurricane, and her breaths came in shallow gasps. She had been like this for weeks, lost in the abyss of her own mind, unmoving and unfeeling.

Physically and emotionally drained, Y/n couldn't muster the energy to do anything. The thought of facing the outside world filled her with panic, and every attempt by Jarvis to coax her out of her room only made things worse.

Despite being alone in her room, Y/n couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling of being constantly watched. Every move she made, every breath she took, felt as if it was being scrutinized by an unknown presence.

Y/n had always cherished her unfading recollection, but in moments like these, it felt like a curse. The bad memories, the painful experiences, played over and over in her mind, pushing her to the brink of insanity. Even cracking jokes to herself couldn't lift her from her daze.

A soft knock on her door interrupted Y/n's thoughts, and she knew it was Jarvis. She didn't respond, and he didn't push. When he materialized beside her, Y/n barely acknowledged him. She could sense his presence, but it was as if she was seeing him through a thick fog. His words washed over her, meaningless and distant.

Finally, Y/n snapped, her voice low and dangerous. "What do you want?"

"I know it's tough," Jarvis said. "But you can't stay locked up in here forever. You have a whole realm to explore, remember?"

Y/n didn't respond.

"You have dojos to train in, VR rooms to play in, and even a shooting range and a rage room if you want to blow off some steam," Jarvis continued.

Y/n still didn't respond.

"Look, Y/n," Jarvis said, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. She flinched at the contact. "I know you're struggling right now. And that's okay. But you can't give up on yourself. You're too strong for that."

Y/n looked up at him, confusion in her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about your hyperthymesia, Y/n," Jarvis replied. "You have the ability to remember every single detail of your past, and you've been using it as an excuse to avoid dealing with your feelings. You need to meditate and confront your memories properly. It can give you clarity, peace, and control over your thoughts."

Y/n scoffed. "Control over my thoughts? You think I'm in control of anything right now?"

"You can be," Jarvis said.

Y/n rolled her eyes. "Great, now even my AI is telling me to see a therapist."

Jarvis paid no attention to her snark. "I'll guide you through the meditation. We'll start with the memories of your time in Mondstadt, and then work our way up to the more challenging ones."