"I'm in."
I raised an eyebrow, though I couldn't help the smile on my lips. "That fast?"
Lumine just smiled back. "A new region, rife with potential treasures and dangers?" She gave her chest a satisfied pat. "I've heard enough. I'm satisfied."
I have a cheeky grin. "Are you sure it has nothing to do with your growing fear of my dear friend Guizhong~?"
She glared. "Quit it."
I chuckled.
After learning all I could about Inazuma and its new Archon from Zhangming, I decided to wander down to the Harbor to see those Inazuman merchants myself. And as he spoke of, it didn't take much to find them. A series of temporary stalls set up next to a docked ship was markedly different than the usual vessels Liyue often utilized.
I mostly watched from afar, using my enhanced senses to listen to their conversations. And it was interesting. They seemed glad that Inazuma was no longer gated, but the aftereffects of the Archon War were not easily ignored. Inazuma was still reeling, and they needed both supplies and aid. It was why these merchants had come to Liyue in the first place, having heard of the city of commerce and arriving to trade.
Unfortunately, none of the merchants spoke of their new Archon, though I didn't blame them. If what Morax experienced was universal amongst other Archons, then Baal likely just experienced her ascension to Celestia. Even Morax had to take an entire year to rest and acquaint himself with the new Gnosis they'd stuck in his chest.
And once I'd learned all I could about Inazuma and its new Archon, I decided to return to my dojo and see if Lumine was willing to join me. And she was!
Of course, there was still something we needed to do before we even attempted on our new voyage.
"Aren't you going to be killed for doing this?" Lumine asked bluntly as she nibbled on her apple. "I mean, this Baal seems pretty strong to single-handedly unite all of Inazuma. Maybe even as strong as Morax. What happens if she sees you intruding and just decides to smite you?"
I snapped my fingers. "Good point." I smiled slightly as I leaned into my chair. "Obviously, I can't be entering Inazuma as I am right now. She'll probably see it as a hostile-takeover or something." I hummed. "But that just means I'll need to head in with a convincing story and disguise."
"You're a god." She said evenly.
I raised an eyebrow in return. "Do I feel like a god?"
Lumine stared for a good moment, before she sighed. "Yeah, good point. I have to really focus before I can feel something weird about you." She narrowed her eyes. "How're you doing that anyway?"
I shrugged. "Not sure." And by that I meant it was likely some black magic my Genshin System was doing.
She rubbed her chin. "Still, you probably shouldn't be using a bow at all then." She hummed. "Not sure how much about you is known over there, but better safe than sorry right?"
I raised a hand, and a sword of Anemo appeared. "It is regrettable, but it isn't as if I am defenseless without my bow." I smiled simply as I held the blade in front of me. "We may call this strength a secret in that regard."
She nodded. "A trump card, huh?" She gave me a thumbs up. "Good call."
"All that is left is a disguise." I smiled as I shoved the sword back into my Inventory. "We could likely call ourselves adventurers from distant regions. It wouldn't even be false." I gave a quick look. "Your clothes don't fit any existing aesthetic, so I believe there is little need for a change." I looked down at myself. "As for me…"
"Yeah, you need a change dude." She deadpanned as she took another bite from her apple. "You need a new name and new clothes."
I nodded. "Indeed. I cannot travel as I am now." I hummed as I thought it over for a good moment. I needed a new name, and one that didn't sound like I came from Liyue. Maybe I should borrow the naming scheme from Mondstadt? And if I combined it with my own name-
"How about Wendy?" I asked.
"That's-, just your name. Just spelled differently." She said. I laughed in slight embarrassment, but she then gave me a thumbs up. "Cool. I kinda like it."
"Oh, truly?" She nodded. I sighed in relief. "That's good to hear. Then all I need is to draft up some new clothes for me to-"
[Executing…]
"Venti?"
I blinked, and then looked down to find a piece of paper. And it was unlike any piece of paper I'd seen before. It was entirely white, and incredibly thin. Even the highest quality paper made by master artisans pale in comparison to this. "How did I…?"
"You pulled it from your Inventory." Lumine said, though she seemed confused as to why I asked in the first place.
I pursed my lips. "Did I?" She nodded, and I narrowed my eyes. "Curious."
Did…Was I thinking about something taboo while doing that? It seemed to be the only possible option, but it didn't feel quite right.
Ah, whatever. I'll ponder it over at a later time.
What was important was this piece of paper, and the immaculate drawing on it.
It was certainly me, though I was dressed completely differently. A frilly white top enforced by a corset over my midsection, green shorts accompanied by long white stockings, and a billowing green cape that draped over my back, along with a green beret. Strangely enough, I was also holding what looked to be a hand-held harp, and I was winking.
How…strangely familiar.
"That's…really good." Lumine whispered as I handed the paper over, and she smiled cheekily. "You've been planning on a trip for a while, huh?"
"Was I?" I said in genuine confusion, before I masked it with a laugh. "It was likely something I thought of far in the past. Back before I had any ties to these very lands I now call home." I hummed. "A good thing they now come to use."
"Yep, yep." She handed the slip of paper back, and I placed it into my Inventory. "Well, all that's left is our story."
"Well, why don't we simply tell the truth?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
I smiled, and began retelling the rough draft I'd come up with during my walk back to my dojo.
…
A week later, an hour before sunrise, Lumine and I found ourselves at the harbor. Lumine was dressed as she normally was, while I wore the new clothes drawn on that draft, sewn together by a talented seamstress in absolute secret.
The air was still cold this early, and the usually bustling harbor was empty. But it was far from quiet.
"Wendy! Lumine!" The captain—a seasoned man with an impressive beard—grinned as he saw us approach his ship. "We worried you were both still asleep!"
Lumine rolled her eyes. "As if I could sleep with this dofus as my alarm clock."
I huffed. "I was simply excited, my dear madam. After all, who could ever resist the call to adventure?" I twirled, letting my cape swish behind me as I flicked one of my braids. "And as a good friend, is it not natural to share such joys with you?"
She glared. "Shut the hell up, you damn bard."
The captain laughed. "It's good to see you youngsters so lively." His joy dimmed for a moment, tinged with worry. "But are you two sure about this? Inazuma may be open to the outside world once more, but the grand war that ravaged our lands has only just ended. It is a tumultuous time for many of us."
My joking attitude fell back for a moment, and I smiled simply. "We understand that well, good sir. And we still choose to partake on this voyage." I hummed. "And if we can come to another's aid during our adventure, then all the better."
Lumine didn't say anything, but she nodded at what I said. There wasn't even a trace of hesitation in her eyes.
He sighed fondly. "Aah, how nostalgic." He smiled. "Alright, alright. If you're both sure." He pointed a thumb at a nearby rope ladder leading down to the harbor. "Climb on, both of you. We're just about ready to set sail."
We nodded, and we went over and climbed up onto the ship. Once we came onto the ship's deck, we came to see a dozen or so other people, either doing the last touch-ups they needed before they sailed, or storing the last of the goods they gained from their trading.
I whistled. "Quite busy even during such early times."
The captain nodded. "This was a great haul. We gained far more than we predicted." He smiled lightly. "Truly the city of commerce." He chuckled. "I'm a little envious, in truth."
"I'm sure Inazuma will get better." Lumine said, smiling gently at the captain. "It'll be rough, and maybe Inazuma will change so much it'll be completely different than how it was before." She clenched her fist. "But it will get better."
The captain smiled. "Like that enthusiasm."
I smiled silently. The captain might think that Lumine was just being kind, but I knew that she was being truthful. Lumine had journeyed across many different worlds, and her confidence was built from experience. Maybe she even intervened out from time to time and directly helped them out.
Just then, one of the other people approached the captain and gave a salute. "Sir! We're ready to sail."
The captain returned the salute. "Then let us go."
"Yes sir!" The sailor went off to inform the others, and the captain then turned to us. "Alright, you two." He grinned. "Let's get this girl out to the seas."
Lumine smiled. "Let's."
I grinned. "Of course~"
We then joined in with the rest of the sailors, working to get the ship ready. We helped raise the sails, pull up the anchor, and made sure there were no signs of any damage. Once we were done, the captain gathered us all on the deck for one last check. And when that was done,
"To the seas!" The captain shouted.
""Yes Sir!"" The sailors echoed, and they all moved as one.
The ship began moving away from the harbor. Slowly at first, but speeding up as the sails caught more wind. And then, we were sailing out to open waters, heading towards new lands.
I smiled slightly as I watched my home slowly shrink as we gained more distance. And before long, there was nothing but open oceans around us.
Heading towards a brand new adventure.
-Volume 1 End-