A Light To Call Home ☆Genshin Impact☆

Monoceros Caeli I

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1st POV

As we trudged through the open landscape of Liyue, I tried to focus on the beauty of it all—the sun-dappled grass swaying in the breeze, the mountains looking like they'd just rolled out of bed, and the occasional bird that probably had more direction in life than I did. 

Aether, Paimon, and I finally stopped in a quiet little clearing, tucked away like a secret that nature was trying to keep from the rest of the world.

"I think this area should be a nice place to talk," I said, letting out a sigh of contentment, which quickly turned into a half-yawn. The kind of yawn that made me wish I could just flop onto the grass and pretend this conversation didn't need to happen.

And then... nothing. Like, the most awkward silence in the history of awkward silences. The kind of silence where even the crickets decided to pack up and leave. Aether shifted uncomfortably, doing that thing where he looked like he was weighing his life choices, while Paimon was very studiously pretending I didn't exist.

I sighed again, this time with the energy of someone who just discovered their favourite snack was discontinued. "Okay... Clearly, I must've missed something here..." I said, throwing my hands up slightly, as if I were surrendering to whatever cosmic joke was being played on me.

Aether gave a nervous chuckle, looking like a kid who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Yeah..." he muttered, scratching the back of his neck like he was trying to dig for a better response back there.

He better find it soon or we'll have some problems.

The silence somehow got even more awkward. I didn't think it was possible, but here we were. Paimon still wouldn't meet my eyes, and I swear she was about two seconds away from inventing a very interesting bug on the ground to stare at.

But honestly...

"I don't even know where to start," I groaned, leaning against a tree like it was the only stable thing in my life at that moment. "I just needed some fresh air after being stuck on that boat for five hours. Five hours, Aether. Do you know what that does to a person?"

"Look, Akemi, I'm sorr-"

"Ah, ah, ah!" I cut him off, wagging my finger like some disappointed teacher. "No apologising! It's fine- I think," I said, giving him a lopsided smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "Ignoring the horrible timing of all this, at least this might actually lead to something useful... so thank you."

Besides, knowing this takes some stress of the fact that my face hurts... But I'm not gonna tell them that! After all they don't need to worry more than they already have, and the scar on my face isn't permanent and give me a.. temporary coolness!

Paimon finally decided to break her vow of silence. "You shouldn't thank us for that. We didn't really 'discover' anything. Paimon would say..." She trailed off, making it clear she wasn't buying my positivity act.

I shrugged dramatically. "Hm, you're right, I guess."

Paimon stared at me with an expression that could only be described as the pinnacle of deadpan. "Wow. Thanks for the comforting reassurance, Flamebrains."

"You're welcome!" I shot back with a grin, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "So, who spilled the beans on this little mystery?"

Paimon puffed her cheeks like an irritated squirrel. "Haha... I really don't like you sometimes, Akemi!"

"I love you too, Paimon!" I replied, waving her off with the kind of nonchalance.

Aether finally decided to take control of the circus that this conversation had become. "The child Akemi, she wrote a letter to us before you came back," he began.
"The letter described a few... concerning dreams she had. She then suggested that if we wanted somewhere to start, we should consider going to Liyue since that's where her... y-your uncle lives. She included his name and a description... which all matched Zhongli."