𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

34 - the y/n rememberers: trinity of truth!

As the dust of disorientation settled, Y/n found herself in a room lit by soft, golden light. The walls, crafted with delicate Liyuen architecture, whispered stories of a past she had intentionally kept at arm's length. She was back in her own timeline, in some corner of Liyue Harbor.

An unwelcome memory tugged at the edges of her consciousness, one of a fallen friend she had seen not too long ago in Phoenix's timeline. The weight of it clung to her like a wet blanket, making it harder for her to breathe. But she didn't let it consume her.

In the comforting familiarity of her own body, her limbs moved with an ease that was a balm to her battered psyche. She ran a hand through her hair, her senses reveling in the scent of her usual shampoo - not Phoenix's weird concoction. The urge to celebrate with something as mundane as a cartwheel was strong, but Y/n, ever the pragmatist, tempered her enthusiasm. Her journey, after all, was far from over.

She walked to the window, her gaze trailing down the lively streets of Liyue. With a determined set to her jaw, she picked up a small rock from the windowsill. Tossing it between her hands, she glanced at the hustle of the streets and the structures that have risen from the ashes. The sight was a painful reminder of the home that once was - the Assembly, and the friend she lost. The wounds were old but ran deep, and she had been avoiding this city like the plague to keep from reopening them.

"Guizhong, you ingenious wonder," she whispered to the wind. "This city, it's a continuation of your dream." She tossed the rock up and caught it, a faint smile curling her lips. "I guess I have some catching up to do with history."

Before the swap, Y/n had been on a tranquil boat ride with Venti, the fresh Inazuman air filling her lungs. Now, she was in this fancy hotel room. Phoenix had chosen to come here, to this place teeming with memories she'd rather forget. She clenched her fists, the question burning in her mind: why? With each beat of her heart, it echoed louder, spurring her to uncover the mystery wrapped in an enigma that was Phoenix. The cryptic alchemist had ignited a flame, and Y/n knew there was no turning back.

She stood up, her keen eyes scanning the room. Her gaze locked on a small parchment lying nonchalantly on an ornate wooden table. Was that... a note? Y/n was equal parts intrigued and wary. If it was a room service menu, she might just lose her mind.

She swooped over and picked up the note. Her eyes widened as she read it. Phoenix, the contact-lenses-hacking-mind-reading-alchemist with a penchant for time-travel and body-swapping, had left her a message. Classic.

"Well, Phoenix," she murmured, "what mess have you left for me this time?"

**********

Y/n,

Let's cut to the chase. The book - don't sprint after it like a hound on a scent. It'll cross your path, given time. The timeline is like the delicate mechanism of a clock. Tinker inappropriately, and it breaks. That's why I can't hand over the coordinates like candy.

While puppeteering your body, I used illusion magic to mirror my original appearance, ensuring your relationships remained undisturbed - except for Venti, an unavoidable encounter. However, rest assured that Jarvis has recorded my interaction with him, offering you insight into my actions and perhaps shedding light on your lineage.

Phoenix

**********

Y/n's eyebrows climbed higher with each line she read. "Well, well, Mister Phoenix," she muttered under her breath, "could you be any more enigmatic? It's like you're a human crossword puzzle."

She leaned back in the chair, rolling the note between her fingers, her eyes narrowing in contemplation. "'Don't sprint after it like a hound on a scent,'" she mimicked in an exaggerated solemn tone. "As if I'd go gallivanting through Liyue like I'm on some treasure hunt. Sheesh!"