𝕍𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕦𝕕𝕖 ○ 𝕂𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕒𝕥𝕠 𝔸𝕪𝕒𝕥𝕠

IV. Settle for Silver

You've always known hubris would be your downfall, but you never thought you'd ever have to swallow it down so soon. Perhaps there are better uses for pride.

━━━

To the average passerby, you appear as one of them - an Inazuma citizen, working their job to make a living, ambling through the grid-ironed streets of Ritou. You pass as a courier, juggling your sealed empty crate with feigned difficulty and following that peculiar bird of yours. Enough to pass along, but still a pariah, and thus shall it be for a long time.

Inazuma here is arguably a change enough to make you still have your guard up, but the markets remind you faintly of Liyue - well, of course it does. Liyuen and Inazuman culture have crossed paths at some point in history. It is only natural that Inazuma is somewhat reminiscent of your hometown. But there is still enough to keep you guessing - no amount of research can prepare oneself to be immersed in a completely new region.

You've passed security checks; you're in the city of Ritou. Now what? You need to secure a permanent place to stay. You've more than enough Mora for the job, and if you run low, there are all sorts of things you'd be able to turn to. Whatever it takes for you to live comfortably and privately, away from the prying eyes of the Fatui. Then, you'd strike, once the moment finally arises.

But you are getting ahead of yourself. You traverse the town, taking mental note of whatever inns and hotels catch your fancy. You'd be willing to splurge if it means a little more comfort and security, but not now. Not that you have very much on you at all, save for your sword, gun, and money. As a secret agent - well, now former agent, you suppose with a heavy heart - you've learned to pack only what you absolutely need. The art of resourcefulness, to find use in everything and waste nothing, is a splendid life skill that you've been thankful time and time again for picking up.

Meals are no worry. You'll be sparing, but not neglectful. But getting a permanent residence in Inazuma may be more difficult than imagined, especially when working with forged documents sourced from potentially outdated intel. You doubt you could find any moderate housing without risk. But risk is what you live for, anyway. Wouldn't it be amusing for you to end up in an estate, working for the Tri-Commission, all as an outsider? You can see it happening - to the misfortune of those who do find themselves stationed among the highly-ranked officials.

Yes, that is what you will set your sights on. That will be your goal to achieve before returning to Liyue after some time. It might take months; it might take years until you may be able to return - as soon as the opportunity arises for you to take matters into your own hands and deal with the Fatui (Pantalone, really, but it wouldn't hurt to take a few other of his coworkers out), you will strike. Strike hard, strike fast, but most crucially - strike the heart.

The crow seems to be unimpressed by your mildly spacey attitude, for it caws and ruffles its own feathers from the letterbox it is perched upon. You adjust your expression, softening it so that you appear more amicable. Several people walk by you without paying much attention, too absorbed in their own lives to care, but you know some stare and titter as the bird lands on your head. You continue walking with it nestled in your hair, content to sit down.

Ritou is not particularly big, and you find that you map out the city mentally within two hours of simple, mindful wandering. Your walk whittles away the time quite peacefully, and soon you find it is high noon. A few restaurants have pulled up their shutters and opened for business. People have begun to gather around stalls, and sure enough, the pedestrianised streets grow busier. You catch snippets of conversation:

"We're open for business! Come inside!"

"Exchange from Mondstadt? I'll take a look..."

"Ah, Thoma, thank you for your help last time! Here, I'll treat you to this for free."