Omniscius II [Genshin Impact]

1: Behind the Scenes

"You will be remembered, Soleil Rheingold. May your memory be as everlasting as the reign of the Almighty Shogun."

The memorial service for the fallen scholar was solemn and wordless. When the last prayers were muttered, the remaining shrine maidens blew out the candles and lanterns, putting the estate in a shroud of darkness slowly but surely.

Long strands of silver white hair fluttered to the night winds. Luna sat on a tree branch hidden deftly behind the foliage, waiting for an opportunity.

There was much to do in a very small time frame. While the news of Soleil's death spread, it was important to take advantage of the chaos.

Luna has been into the Kamisato Estate many times before. But tonight might be the easiest time she'll have to look around. With the lord and lady mourning in their own ways, not a single servant would dare to linger a second longer after the funeral ended.

Luna disappeared the moment the last lantern in the Kamisato Estate was blown out. The shadows of the passing people stretched out, shrine maidens and estate guards unaware as a flash of silver took advantage of their shadows to cross without stepping into the light.

Luna went over the list of objectives in her mind, each item popping up with each soundless step she took.

Tie loose ends in Inazuma. Head to Liyue. Rendezvous at Mondstadt. Get the paycheck. But of course, first and foremost: Don't get caught. Fail that, everything else will be for nothing.

Luckily, that was no problem in the estate. Not a single soul lurked in the halls. The courtyard was its most silent, and not a single room remained lit for the night. It was the last act of grieving, or so Luna guessed.

If I were to take a guess, it should be in the reception hall. It wasn't a grand funeral but it will surely make a statement for visitors, Luna thought.

Guided by her intuition and memory, Luna slipped through a window screen, entering a storage room and making her way to the reception hall.

The golden curtains draped over the windows, ribbons with the same shade hung from the ceilings. The memorial service was held in the center, small tables full of offerings and porcelain vases of red dendrobiums, glaze lilies, and cecilias adorning the magnificent portrait.

Luna stepped forward, a tentative gaze on the framed portrait nearly half her size. Soleil was painted with her usual knowing smile, one that acquaintances knew to associate with her ambitious moments.

Still, there was no semblance to the real deal. The portrait was carefully handled. It was clear that the commissioner wanted to paint Soleil in the best light possible.

Luna couldn't help but find the situation a little funny. Hosting a funeral without a body was like building a house for no owner. Save for this portrait, there was nothing else the funeral had to honor. Except perhaps for one thing...

Luna's gaze fell on the glass case placed in front of the portrait. She took her first steps into the moonlight just to get a closer look inside of the case.

There was the blade, nestled peacefully but also unsettlingly. Its handguard was a piece of elegant craftsmanship, a perfect blend of golden alloy molded to resemble the curving rays of the sun.

However, it was the blade that separated the weapon from the traditional Inazuman weapons. The blade was an unconventional Damascus steel, cerulean and carnation streaks weaving through the silver surface.

The streaks of the Damascus steel caught Luna by mild surprise. Those colors... Soleil must have used those as materials.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"