Shade of Teyvat: The Rapture of Shadows

5. Green Thunder

The next morning, Viz awoke with a feeling of determination. To find more clue about the legendary *???* as he had read in Lyra's Grandfather encyclopedia, it remained etched on his mind. After a quick breakfast, he shouldered his pack and headed into the forest, moving with a quiet intensity.

The morning was cool, mist swirling around his legs as he stepped into the deeper parts of the woods. Viz always found peace here, where towering trees cast soft shadows and the sounds of the village faded away, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird. But today, that peace felt different—tense, as though something were shifting in the balance of nature itself.

After an hour or so, Viz heard a low, unnatural hum. His steps slowed, and he scanned the area, feeling a prickling at the back of his neck. He followed the sound, his instincts sharp, until he stepped into a small clearing—and froze.

Scattered across the ground were the lifeless bodies of small forest boar. They were charred, thin wisps of smoke curling from their bodies, and faint tendrils of green electricity shimmered over their forms. Crouching down, Viz examined them closely, noting the strange burns, the twisted expressions of fear frozen on their faces. The green-tinged electricity is something he hasn't seen before, and he felt a strange chill as he leaned closer.

Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder cracked through the air, echoing through the forest with a force that sent a shiver down his spine. He looked up, but the sky was clear, and there hadn't been any signs of an upcoming storm. Viz's pulse get faster, and he took a step back, his grip tightening on his weapon.

He followed the direction of the thunder, making his way deeper into the forest, where shadows pooled around the trunks of ancient trees. The sound led him to a small glade bathed in morning light, where a girl with green hair knelt beside a patch of flowers. She wore an outfit  Viz recognized as Sumeru's traditional attire, and her fingers delicately traced the petals of a blooming Cecilia flower, her expression filled with quiet wonder.

Viz's curiosity got the best of him, and he approached slowly. "Excuse me," he called out, his voice soft so as not to startle her. "What are you doing out here?"

The girl looked up, surprise flaring in her bright green eyes. She seemed young, yet her gaze held a wisdom and curiosity that intrigued him.

"Oh! I didn't see you there," she said, recovering from her surprise with a shy smile. "I'm observing these flowers. They're fascinating—did you know the Cecelias here only bloom under certain conditions? They capture something about this land's spirit, don't you think?"

Viz relaxed slightly, her enthusiasm putting him at ease. "They're beautiful," he agreed, admiring the flowers himself. "I'm Viz. And are you from Sumeru?"

"Yes, I am," she replied, standing and dusting off her hands. "My name is Aranyani. I came to Mondstadt to study its unique flora and fauna. There's so much life here that's different from home. Sumeru has lush forests, but Mondstadt has a wild, untamed beauty to it."

Viz smiled, intrigued. "I didn't expect to meet a botanist out here. Most people avoid the forest these days because of... well, some of the creatures roaming around."

"Oh, I'm not afraid of creatures," Aranyani said, her eyes sparkling. "I know how to handle myself around them. And besides, I've read a lot about the local wildlife in Mondstadt?"

Before he could  answer her, a loud buzzing sound filled the air, like the rapid flapping of wings. Viz turned sharply, scanning the tree line for the source. The noise grew louder until, in a flash of green lightning, a massive winged creature landed heavily a few meters away. It looked like a dragonfly but much larger, with shimmering wings and electric-green veins that crackled with energy.