Y/n is an ordinary student at the akademiya. Nothing particularly interesting about them. They study History, not looking for any large break throughs in the field. They mostly stick to seeing what interesting factors happened in the past. Not looki...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"Cyno. I may have found something." Tighnari held a small scripture. The remaining group huddled near.
-----
"It's broken." Kaveh pointed out. Indeed it was, it's sides were chalked out and seemed it snapped in pieces.
"Great, what do we do now? The scripture is destroyed and from the looks of it none of the other pieces are here." Alhaitham sighed annoyed.
"I have a question." Y/n spoke up behind Cyno. The group listened attentively, desperate for suggestions.
"Why is it broken?" Y/n examined the slab.
"Erosion over time." Tighnari suggested.
"Unlikely. If it just eroded the other pieces would still be here. It very well could be that someone broke it." Y/n pointed out.
"Y/n has a point. We didn't see any other pieces. Unfortunately, this tablet is basically useless without the other pieces." Cyno shrugged as he put the slab in a bag he was carrying.
"We know that there are other ruins right? What if each relates to a certain god on this wall." Y/n pointed up at the painting that was chipped and withered.
"Logically, that would make sense. But who and why would someone spread the pieces throughout the desert after breaking it?" Tighnari crossed his arms.
"It could be some elaborate prank? Maybe a test of strength or logic." Kaveh suggested only to have Y/n shoot down his remark.
"...Or it could be that they have a secret to hide." Y/n looked at Cyno to see the next corse of actions expectantly.
"Y/n might be on to something. Let's travel to Aaru Village. I have some friends that might know a bit more than we do." Cyno picked up the bag containing the slab carefully.
"Let's go." Cyno led the way back to the entrance.
---------------------
Thoughts swirled around in Cyno's head as the group walked. Who was that goddess? In all of his years studying ruins, he's never came across something like this. It's strange. The akademiya has to have known about it for a while, otherwise it's likely that someone might have found the ruins already. Why now do they investigate it though?
The sudden interest in God's that the Akademiya has taken on is eerie. Even for Cyno. Maybe the Sages have superstitions after what happened in Liyue. Morax did just fall. Cyno decided to brush it off as that and nothing else. Though he knew there was much more to this truth.
---------------------
The walk to Aaru Village was long and tiring. By the end almost everyone was complaining. That being Tighnari, Kaveh, and Y/n.
"Cyno? What brings you here? I heard reports of your group approaching the Village." A blue haired woman with stricking gold and eyes that matched her hair. She held a staff and her outfit was adorned by gold.
"Candace, I apologize for intruding so crudely on Aaru Village's inhabitants, but I have an important assignment the Akademiya has assigned to me and my friends." Cyno explained cooly.
"Let's move somewhere more suitable for discussions, yes?" Candace gave a small smile as a gesture of welcome. Cyno simply nodded and motioned for the group to follow her to the Chief's house.
"So, the assignment. I am guessing I can ask the topic since you are going to question me." Candace sat down at the table after serving everyone tea and water.
"You would be correct yes. These are extremely pressing matters. The akademiya sent my group of researchers to investigate a certain God. The God of Riffs. Our investigations had lead us to a certain ruin with a strange tablet." Cyno explained as he reached into his bag and pulled the slab out.
"Hmm." candace paused after reviewing it. "Good news or bad news?"
"You decide." Cyno sat up attentively.
"The tablet is in relatively good conditions, other than a few cracks here and there. And I'm guessing you know the tablet is cracked. " Candace sighed sitting back, "The bad news is, that I have never seen anything like this before. It doesn't seem to be in the tongue of Deshret."
"I noticed that too." Cyno nodded.
"Do you possibly know any other ruins that seem out of the ordinary? Like strange paintings or scriptures?" Cyno sighed.
"I... I cannot say. It it far too dangerous if I tell you." Candace shook her head as her brows furrowed. "Countless people have gone missing in this ruin. Escaping is also extremely difficult."
"Candace, you know this group can handle it. Most of us anyway..." Cyno threw a glance over to Y/n, "But you should know that we've all taunted death more times than it's ever caught us."
Candace sat for a moment, looking as if she was having an eternal fight. She then sighed, "Cyno. Head my warning when this is an extremely difficult trip. And it proves indeed difficult to get there. You must collect five relics of he past. These relics are spread throughout Sumeru, Inazuma, and Fountaine. There is not much known about these and I doubt locals have heard much either. This journey will be arduous and will take not just the strength of your mind and body, but of your spirit as well. The Archon's might know a sliver of information, but I warn you this god you are searching of has been lost to time. And if the true conspiring events are as those in the story. I highly doubt Focalors will allow you to speak let alone enter her lands. It will also be hard for other Archons to help if Focalors turns her back to you. They will not want to severe the ties in trade and networking for a simple research mission." Cadance finished.
"Not to worry. I'm sure I will find my way." Cyno stood.
"Cyno, your group should rest here tonight. The Chief is out on business, I'm sure he won't mind if you reside here tonight." Candace stood and made her way to the door and left before Cyno could thank her.
-------------------
Y/n's POV--
Everyone worked out sleeping arrangements. It was Cyno's turn to sleep by himself. Alhaitham was busy reading as Kaveh was asleep next to him. Y/n was huddled next to Tighnari per usual as he read out of a herb remedy book. Y/n ended yawning and laying back resting on Tighnari's shoulder and he simply patted her head in return and set the book down.
Time felt surreal right now. Everything at peace. Almost stuck in time, like the rocks the sands of the desert eroded at smoothed out and instead was left with a clean, warm breeze.
But with a breeze comes rain. As they say There Is Calm Before A Storm.
