𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

49 - y/n's crash course in khaenri'ahn karaoke

The desert of Sumeru stretched infinitely, its golden sands dancing in mesmerizing patterns under the influence of the warm winds. For most, the vast desert was a deterrent, its seemingly endless expanse a test of patience and endurance. But for Y/n, it was a pathway leading to the mysteries of the underground nation, Khaenri'ah.

As Y/n wound her way through the labyrinthine tunnels, the muffled echoes of her footsteps sounded like whispers from the past. The entrance to Khaenri'ah was one of Teyvat's best-kept secrets, nestled deep underground, away from prying eyes. The uncharted maze was intricate, designed to ward off unwelcome guests, and Y/n had to admit that without Alice's guidance, she might've ended up hopelessly lost, or worse, trapped forever.

She mused over the fact that Alice, Albedo, Jarvis, and Rubedo were currently exploring her teapot realm. A cyperpunk metropolis complete with neon lights and flying cars was not a setting you'd typically find in a teapot, but then, Y/n was anything but typical. And with Jarvis, the all-knowing, all-seeing AI-turned-human, leading the tour, she felt pretty secure. Besides, with his tight control over the realm's security protocols, he could, in theory, kick Alice out the moment she so much as thought about causing an explosion.

Navigating the wild rollercoaster of her own history, Y/n stopped for a moment to ponder the revelation a few weeks ago. I mean, sure, she's been around for 1500 years, which is slightly more than your average lifespan. Being confronted with the news of her synthetic nature was more of an "Oh, another plot twist?" moment than an existential crisis.

"I've seen weirder things," she thought to herself.

But something was bugging her.

She had dabbled in a bit of amateur synthetic human research back during the Archon War days (you know, just a bit of light reading to pass the millennia). At the time, both Rukkhadevata and Guizhong, two goddesses that were basically the Albert Einstein and Marie Curie of Teyvat, had clearly stamped the verdict: "You? Synthetic? Honey, please!" So now, Y/n was a bit stumped.

She turned to Albedo and Rubedo, hoping for some clarity. Maybe a hint about Rhinedottir's mysterious backstory? A clue she missed? But no, the two of them were as much in the dark as she was. They were more like the kids who showed up to a history test without studying and just copied from the person next to them.

"She never really talks about the past," Albedo offered, which was just as helpful as saying water was wet.

Rubedo added, "The whole Earth thing? Total news to us until you popped in."

Well, wasn't this a fine, multi-dimensional pickle she'd found herself in.

The tunnel ahead gradually illuminated, revealing the majestic Gate of Zulqarnain. Though buried deep beneath the sands of Sumeru, its magnificence was undiminished. Grand archways stood tall, adorned with intricate carvings, each narrating tales of a people who dared to defy gods.

However, just as Y/n was admiring the view, she was halted by a human-shaped obstacle. The tall, imposing guard, clad in armor that seemed to have seen many battles, stood in her path. Though his visage was stern, the twinkle in his eyes hinted at a sense of humor beneath the serious façade.

Y/n raised an eyebrow, her smirk devilish. "Well, isn't this a delightful inconvenience? Travel all the way here, sneak past traps and mazes, only to be stopped by what? A bureaucracy? Typical."

He held up a hand in a pacifying gesture. "I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience, but rules are rules. We've tightened our security, you see."

She leaned in, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "What if I told you I'm the shadowy figure from Teyvat's legends? The one with the black cloak? Would that score me an invite?"