Genshin Impact: Following the Winds

Time went by quickly.

Spurred on by Lumine's victory over Lord Baal, the people gained a new fervor as they began building their village. With Lumine at the helm, they began construction. There would be no limits but effort and time, for the people were supplied with a near-infinite amount of materials, as provided by my Generators. Food and exhaustion were of no issue either; I was more than ready to cook up a feast or use [Sunlight Healing] to chase away any pain.

Orobashi and Saiguu weren't idle either. After days of brainstorming, they finally came up with a way of permanently warding Watatsumi Island from the seawater's bleaching. Using his connection to the island, Orobashi created new 'veins' that stretched all across the island, allowing Energy to flow across the earth unimpeded. Saiguu then planted hundreds of mystical sakura trees she imported from her shrine, using them as a catalyst to infuse the island with her authority.

And together, they purified the soil of any impurities. The abundant salt gained from the seawater was purged, and any other impurities carried by the seawater was absorbed by the sakura trees and converted into nutrients. 

In just a few weeks, all the island's Bleached Soil was gone, and the soil was now fertile enough to facilitate life.

Which was when I could finally play my part.

With an abundance of land to cultivate, I gifted the people dozens of different seeds and saplings to provide the people with a diverse selection of crops to grow. Most of them were fairly normal, having been seeds or saplings I brought from Liyue. But a few of them were actually special plants I bought from the [Shop], capable of producing crops with supernatural effects. I mostly gave them away just to see if they could even be cultivated by those without the Genshin System.

Of course, I wasn't just playing the part of a rich sponsor. I also taught the people how to tend to the land, to ensure that the earth would remain suitable as they harvested their yield. After all, I had to make sure that Watatsumi would remain self-sustainable long after Lumine and I had left.

During it all, the 'imprisoned' samurai could only watch in awe and barely-contained envy. Though they were unsure if the two foreigners were truly gods, it didn't change the results. Watatsumi Island was being cultivated by four divine figures, and in the short time since their capture, they'd seen the island transform from a barren wasteland to a thriving ecosystem. 

How unfair this all was!

Not that they complained much, for though they were prisoners of war, their treatment was far from unpleasant. If anything, the island's new abundance meant that they could provide the imprisoned samurai with far better amenities than even what they'd experienced back in the Shogunate. Some even contemplated staying, though they kept such traitorous thoughts to themselves.

And soon, months after Lumine and I first arrived in Inazuma, Gourou Village was officially finished, and Watatsumi Island entered its Golden Age.

-Excerpt from [Watatsumi's Rise: Vol. 1], as written by the Storyteller Weifeng, per the accounts of the Wandering Bard Wendy-

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I hummed as I rolled the scroll close, smiling slightly as I glanced out the window of this newly built building. Outside, I could see a group of children playing, using sticks as mock swords as they pretended to be samurai. And leading them was Kojirou, laughing loudly as he took victory over the other children due to his father's occasional teachings.

The room I was in was actually an inn, though I wasn't paying anything to stay. Trust me, I tried my hardest to pay, but the owners were adamant that I stayed, even going so far as to permanently offer this room to me. Thankfully, I managed to convince them otherwise.

"W-Wendy-sama? Are you finished?"

I blinked, and turned to see Hanami enter my room. She had a cup of green tea in her hands, brewed from locally harvested tea leaves. "Oh? Why, you've found me at quite the early morning, young one." 

She nodded shyly. "F-Finished planting earlier. And-, um," She quickly handed the cup of tea over, her cheeks turning red. "H-Here!"

I chuckled as I received her offering. "Thank you, dear." I gave her a pat on the head as a reward. I gave the tea a taste, and hummed as I felt a pleasant warmth course through my chest. "And this tea is wonderful as always. You're quite the teamaster, aren't you?"

She shyly smiled. "T-Thank you, Wendy-sama."

I smiled as I drank the rest of the tea. This green tea was brewed from [Mystical Evergreens], one of the few plants I'd bought from the [Shop]. It was one of the few special crops that the common people were able to grow on their own, and when the leaves are brewed into tea, it helps rejuvenate the consumer. It essentially acts as a weaker, Consumable version of my [Sunlight Healing].

I leaned back on my chair as I stored the finished scroll back into my Inventory. "And how've you been, Hanami? You time under Saiguu has been fruitful, I hope?"

She nodded enthusiastically. "Mm! I-I think I'm getting a hold of it." She held out her hands, and a small swirl of Anemo spun atop her palms. "Saiguu-sama said that I'm talented, b-but I-, I don't know." 

I smiled wryly. No, Saiguu was right. The fact that Hanami had grasped the basics of manipulating Elemental Energy without relying on a Vision in just a month spoke of her great talent. The fact that she could control Anemo was a surprise, but a pleasant one. It meant that Hanami would occasionally come to me whenever she needed advice.

The whole thing began a month ago, when Saiguu noticed Hanami's great affinity with Elemental Energy, and asked if she wanted to become her apprentice. Hanami easily agreed, and soon she began training under the fox goddess, learning to both control Elemental Energy and to become a shrine maiden. It was a spur of the moment, but Hanami's talent was so great that it even spurred the usually-lazy Saiguu.

What neither Saiguu or I knew however was that Hanami's reasons for becoming a shrine maiden was a little special. For though Lord Orobashi was her people's savior, he wasn't hers. Instead, her heart was dedicated to another—to a traveler who was as swift as the wind and carried with him the scent of incoming Spring. To the one who had brought her hope at her lowest point.

Spurred by her dedication and her constant close proximity with the [Windsail Beacon], a new Destiny was forged, and Hanami would grow to become my first true Shrine Maiden. The winds would bow to her like it did to me.

But that was a story for another time.

"There is no need to downplay your achievements, young one." I smiled kindly as I created my own swirl of Anemo, letting both swirls join together in a quiet symphony. "Your winds are young, but your control is undeniable. It speaks of your talent, and your dedication." I patted her head. "Be proud."

Hanami said nothing, but her reddening cheeks were enough. I giggled as I infused a tiny speck of Hydro into the swirling Anemo, causing it to turn a glittering blue before I dispersed it into the air, causing it to separate as tiny sparks. Her eyes went wide in awe as she watched the sparks descend like glittering snowflakes.

After that, I then took out a few Sublime Peaches, and we enjoyed some breakfast. We talked of mundane things as we ate, enjoying the fruits as lively chatter sounded from the streets outside. It was an atmosphere unthinkable for the island just months ago, but now it'd become the new norm.

In the midst of our breakfast, Hanami asked me a surprising question.

"W-When will you leave?" I blinked, rather surprised at the sudden turn. She smiled slightly as she saw my surprise, before she looked back down at her feet. "It's-, um, you and Lumine-sama are adventurers, right? T-That means you'll both leave eventually."

I was silent for a moment, before I slowly nodded. "Indeed." I said, voice low. "We are not ones to remain at one place for too long. It is undeniable that we shall eventually leave, to continue our ventures across Teyvat."

"Mm." Hanami's smile was sad, but determined. "It's okay?"

"Oh?"

"I-, we already knew." She said. "Everyone knew that this was temporary. And that you'll leave. And-" Her eyes began glistening, but she continued. "We knew. T-That's why we have to enjoy every moment, right? I-, we know that. And-, and-!"

The rest of her words were silenced as I swept her into a hug. "Yes, you are correct, young one." She choked back her tears as I gently ran a hand through her hair. "All things are temporary. Nothing is eternal; not even gods." I smiled. "But it is that ephemerality that gives us purpose, does it not?"

She nodded silently.

I took a slow breath. "Eight months."

She blinked at me. "E-Eh?"

I smiled. "Eight more months. That is how long Lumine and I have agreed to stay here. There is still much we have to share, and it would be a dear shame to leave you so quickly, would it not?" I chuckled. "And besides, I do believe Lumine and I are wanted by this point, so it is better to let things remain peaceful for a little longer."

That wasn't the only thing, of course. Eight months was how long remained of my [Astral Token]'s cooldown. And during the next eight months, I'll do all I can to increase my base Attributes, so that I wouldn't be caught off guard even if I couldn't rely on my current two strongest Talents.

Her eyes lit up, and a bright smile came onto her lips. "P-Promise?"

My smile became fond as I crossed my fingers over my chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

She giggled and copied the gesture. 

…

Later, after Hanami had left, I sighed as I laid down on the bed.

Of course, faced with Hanami's clear sadness over my leave, an option immediately came to mind. Such separation would mean little if I opened another portal to Sublime Spicewood here using my [Serenitea Pot], allowing the people of Gourou Village to visit Liyue Harbor at their own leisure. Which would also mean that I could visit Hanami whenever I wanted to.

But should I do so? Watatsumi was still technically part of Inazuma, and I was already skirting the line. The people here hold little love for the Electro Archon, it was only because the Shogunate hadn't retaliated that the island hadn't outright began a rebellion against the mainland.

…I could only hope that Ei successfully delivered my message to Raiden Makoto. If I could get both goddesses to peacefully negotiate with Orobashi, maybe I could feel a little better when Lumine and I eventually leave for our next venture.

I could only hope and pray.