Omniscius II [Genshin Impact]

78: Birds of Flight

The tea cup before Ayaka was untouched, the heat visibly escaping the cup as tendrils of smoke.

She'd force herself to drink out of respect for the Guuji, but Ayaka was not in the mood for tea. Or tea cakes. Or sweets.

Miko observed Ayaka. Seeing the tense look on the girl's face made Miko realize how much emotional burden was placed upon Ayaka.

She was nothing like Ayato. Perhaps in the eyes of this Kamisato girl, watching Soleil be prosecuted was a distressing sight was like taking away her found family away.

Yae Miko drank from her sake cup. Even though it was an invitation for tea, she, too, was in no mood for tea.

"You might be able to calm your nerves down with a sip if you tried," Miko said. Ayaka blinked out of her stupor and bowed her head.

"My apologies, Lady Guuji," she said and took the teacup, forcing herself to take a gulp.

But then she saw her dreary reflection in the cup, and she paused.

"The death penalty..." Ayaka muttered. "No one is foolish enough to enforce the death penalty as punishment for the girl," Miko said.

"Even so, I cannot help it," Ayaka sighed, "I'm sorry if I present myself to you in such a state..."

"Don't be. Your brother could learn a thing or two from you about being honest with himself," Miko mused, "You must really adore the scholar for you to worry so much about her. Even my heart breaks to see you in such a state."

Ayaka placed the cup on her lap, lost in the reflection in a nostalgic trance.

"I could see my mother in her sometimes," Ayaka whispered, "I lost her at a very young age. Though I could remember her smile, her face...is foggy in my memory."

Ayaka smiled. "The first time I met Soleil, she smiled at me. For a moment, I thought my mother had come back for us, but I realized it was just wishful thinking," she admitted, "Every time I saw Soleil as a child, her smile always filled me with sadness and longing. That's why I would cry."

Ayaka glanced at Tenshukaku in the distance.

"I once dreamed of visiting the outside world and see all those wonderful places Soleil would tell me about," Ayaka muttered, "But what use is it if she..."

She trailed off. Miko sighed and shook her head.

"How is it that your brother is so cruel to leave you so helpless and in this state? Does he not love you anymore? Tsk, tsk," she tutted.

"L-Lady Guuji?" Ayaka looked at her confusingly.

"Ah, it's nothing, child," Yae Miko answered and smiled calmly at her, "There was an interesting story I've read in a light novel once. Would you like to hear its story?"

"It doesn't matter whether Soleil Rheingold has not killed in the war. She was already affiliated with the Fatui by the time they attacked us in secrecy eight years ago. She knew yet she said nothing about it," Kujou Kamaji urged in the halls of Tenshukaku.

"We welcomed her with open arms and this is how she responds! This is an act of betrayal and cannot be forgiven!"

"Once, there was a swan that swam in a sea of stars. It was said to be the only one of its kind, as its feathers were carved from marble and gold. Some say it was carved by the hands of a god, but alas, a swan's simplistic mind could not comprehend how she came to be."

"But there were those who were blinded by greed. When they heard there exists a swan that had such valuable feathers, they stopped at nothing to hunt this swan down. But they could not take a step into the sea of stars, for those who walk the mundane land cannot bear to be touched by the pure essence of its waters."