Omniscius II [Genshin Impact]

74: The Forged Awakening

Soleil remembered how this place came to be. The existence of a hidden entrance in Seirai was never recorded in the past despite its structure resembling the ancient civilizations and technology.

The answer was simple: it was made recently but by someone whose knowledge on ancient technology was plenty. That someone was none other than Soleil. Or rather, her thirteen-year old self.

Soleil could easily recall the memories she had once lost. When the situation became dire, she knew she could not bring the diagram with her back to Zapolyarny Palace. Her time was limited, and she wouldn't live anyway.

Still, in order to commemorate and respect Scaramouche's token, she had established a pathway into a different dimension. Somewhere no one would visit and some place where energy converged eratically.

Seirai was the perfect spot. This was the place where the Thunderbird, Kanna Kapatcir, perished under the Raiden Shogun's blade. The god's death caused her energy to disrupt the whole island, rendering it to the condition it was in now.

Soleil took advantage of it and built the pathway, hiding it with spells she had mastered at the time. No matter how talented Yae Miko and Sangonomiya Kokomi were in mantras, they could not open the place without the owner's permission.

And the owner returned eight years later. Muscle memory took over, and the pathway easily opened to its creator.

This is where she would hide the diagram that Scaramouche made for her. Here, the promise made between the two was kept safe and hidden from prying eyes.

Soleil remembered what that little realm was made for. The diagram was hidden in a place where smithing facilities were readily established.

Eight years. This realm waited eight years and now, it was time to fulfill what was promised.

Soleil cast a hand forward. The furnace fire roared to life and machines, inspired by Fontainian smithies and technology, began churning. Engines grumbled and the fire lit the once gloomy platform.

Soleil adjusted her gloves and walked forward. Memories surged with each step and action she took, unconsciously guiding Soleil's hand.

"First, you must heat your material until it was hot and malleable enough. That way, it would be easier bringing it to shape. However, you should still be cautious! Without form and technique, the weapon in the making could be ruined with a single error."

That's what the bladesmiths would say. Heat up the material, guide it into shape, and allow it to cool down. Once cooled down, make finishes and sharpen as desired.

But Soleil was not making any simple weapon. The diagram served as her guide, and the first step to bring this strange weapon to life was to create a metal that will satisfy the conditions.

Said conditions were not difficult to fulfill: an alloy made from high quality ore smelted with a material with mystical properties that do not call upon the elements. There must also be a constant supply of energy fuelling the forging process. Mystical energy.

It wasn't difficult to find a material that satisfied this condition. Even as a child, Soleil had been a frequent visitor to the Abyss. And in the Abyss were certain crystals bearing otherworldly energy that can only be called upon by the worthy.

If memory serves, little me had already created an alloy and stocked it up somewhere, Soleil thought and searched through one of the storage cabinets.

There, she found a golden billet. If one were to look at a certain angle, waves of sky blue and rosy pink were inlaid on the surface. Its structure gave Soleil an idea on what materials she used in the past.