Night had fallen across the seas, and I remained the sole passenger still awake. Kojirou and Hanami had retired to rest a few hours prior, while Saiguu and Lumine had decided to rest just several minutes before after they were both thoroughly defeated by me in a competition of fishing. After all, whatever catches they could reel could never compare to the fish youkai I'd reeled up with my fishing rod.
I leaned on the ship's guard, running a finger across the strings of my harp, playing a melody along with the crashing waves. Everyone had suggested that I sleep, but I couldn't find the will to do so. I had too many thoughts in my mind to soundly rest.
Despite the confidence I'd displayed to the children, in truth, I find myself questioning whether this was the correct course of action. After all, what I was essentially trying to do was teach the people of Watatsumi Island independence from Inazuma. And doing so right after Baal had just united the region of Inazuma through force—what else could that be but planting the seed of rEbeLliON?
I winced as I nursed my forehead. It was-, the situation was just a pot waiting to boil over. I didn't know why Baal used overwhelming force to unite Inazuma, but it didn't matter. The effects were clear to see, and if nothing was done, this place was going to boil over.
Hah. Maybe I was just spoiled by Morax and Guizhong. For as weird as my friends could be, they treated mortals with respect—ruled them with guidance instead of an iron fist.
"Now that's an expression I haven't seen."
I blinked, and then turned as Lumine came next to me, leaning her arms on the ship's guard. "I believed you'd gone to sleep." I told her, stowing my harp back onto my belt for the time being.
She shrugged. "Didn't feel like it." She glanced at me for a moment, before she turned to the ocean. "So, what's got your panties all twisted up?"
I smiled wryly at the language she used, before it fell away. "Just some mindless worry." I told her. She kept staring at me however, and eventually I relented with a sigh. "I simply wonder if our actions would be the catalyst for another war. If my whims would lead to a war between Liyue and Inazuma." I shivered as I hugged myself. "And why such a thing feels so terribly, horrifyingly familiar."
Lumine stared back. This-, she wasn't really built for this. Helping others, listening to them—that was Aether's whole schtick. Silent but loving, powerful yet gentle. Monos, the 'Guiding Star'. In comparison, she was just some gremlin that liked getting into trouble before needing to be helped by Aether.
But, right now, she could see Venti struggling with something. Strapped by some mysterious past he couldn't remember, cursed to forget yet feel.
For the first time in a while, Lumine forced herself to think. To ground her wandering mind to this moment in the present. "It's not your fault." She said, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I know you like being polite and all, but we can't hide from it. Baal's way of uniting this nation is fragile. A rule through fear can work, but I've seen too many nations crumble because of that."
She smiled, shrugging slightly. "Venti, you're trying to do good. You're trying to help. And if Baal feels so taken by this that she decides to incite another war?" She let her expression morph into something darker. Almost cruel. "Then maybe it's time for Teyvat to have one less Archon."
I laughed lightly. "You are terrible at comforting another." I told her truthfully.
Lumine snickered. "But it works, doesn't it?"
I smiled. "I suppose." I took a deep breath of the night air. "It is terrifying." I admitted softly. She glanced at me, and I elaborated. "Playing god, I mean." I gazed at the rolling oceans. "To have strength and influence that stretched far beyond the mortal man, the ability to dictate their lives with but a single action."
Lumine's smile turned tired. "It's heavy, innit?" She brought out an apple from her Space and took a bite. "That's why I usually leave these things to Aether. He practically thrives in situations like this." She went silent, before a sardonic smile came to her lips. "Would've been more convenient if he was the one you found, huh?"
"Perhaps." I didn't disagree. "But you are the one I befriended, and that I will never regret."
"Flatterer." I chuckled as she slapped my shoulder. And shyly she whispered, "But thanks."
I smiled and said nothing more.
We spent the rest of the night on the ship's deck, watching the stars blink in the skies as we sailed towards Watatsumi Island.
…
When we arrived at the shores of Watatsumi Island, it was to be greeted by a band of samurai, their armor dirty and drab—clearly left unclean.
Though I suppose the word 'greeting' was a misnomer.
"Show yourself, foreigners!" One of them shouted as we approached. "Or else we will use force!"
When Lumine heard that, she grumbled as she brought out her sword. "Are we really gonna do this again?" She whispered in discontent, still dreary from all the sailing they did. Kitsune Saiguu giggled by her side, though even she seemed somewhat unsettled by the open hostility these men showed.
The children's response was completely different. Hanami'y eyes lit up when she heard that man's voice, while Kojirou,
The boy ran up to the ship's bow, and a huge smile stretched across his face as he saw the man who'd spoken. "Otou-san!" He shouted joyfully, waving his arms and grinning as the ship continued to approach.
The man, seeing his own son approach on a boat far more expensive than any Watatsumi had ever seen, went still as his jaw fell agape. The other samurai—men under his command—were similarly surprised. After all, they too had learnt of Kojirou, the leader's son who had vanished a month prior.
I just snickered, finally realizing where Kojirou's habit of using 'foreigner' finally came from.
After we docked, we finally descended from the ship. Kojirou wasted no time and leapt into his father's arms, while the rest of us stepped onto the island at a much slower pace. The man practically squeezed his son with all his might, fearing that today was simply a bad dream he was having. And when he soon came to realize it wasn't, the usually tough man finally broke into tears as he held his son close.
Watching all that, I smiled tightly. "Hanami." The girl turned to me, and I leveled the best lecturing stare I could at her. "I understand that you'd sailed to Narukami to seek aid for your people, but please never do that again, you hear?"
The girl looked down, clutching the [Windsail Beacon]. "Sorry…"
I nodded before I patted her head. "As long as you understand, young one."
Once the father-son reunion ended, Kojirou's father finally approached us. His eyes widened slightly as he saw Kitsune Saiguu, before he calmed himself. "Hail, travelers." He began. "Apologies for our first meeting. I understand that we have been less than accommodating after your long sail."
I stepped forward, letting my [Mystical Storyteller] guide me. "There is no worry, good sir. We understand full well the worries this island-, nay, this nation now faces. It is your right to be skeptical of a ship like ours." I placed a tired smile onto my lips. "Alas, as you can see, we have failed in bringing Baal's aid for your people."
He sighed. "It was a worthless whim in the first place." He restrained a growl. "To think my son would hear my nightly woes and leave on his own…" Kojirou eeped behind the man, clearly trying to shrink as much as possible. The other samurai laughed.
Then, my smile became confident. "But at the least, his quest brought him to our attention."
He blinked. "You mean…?"
I gazed at Lumine. She nodded, stepped forward, and with a wave of her hand she brought out an entire box filled with bright red apples. The samurai visibly recoiled as they saw the massive amount of food the girl had pulled out of seemingly nowhere.
Not long after, I brought out a Sublime Peach and handed it to him. The man stared in shock as he received the peach. He'd clearly seen these two bring them out in a flourish of light, and yet they weighed. They were real. "Who…are you?"
I winked. "Wendy, a bard from Mondstadt~"
"Lumine, a traveler from the stars."
Saiguu then stepped forward. "And I believe you already know who I am, but I am Kitsune Saiguu, Lord of Narukami Shrine."
"By the gods…" The man whispered, in awe that his son's misadventures had brought back these three incredible figures. His eyes then traveled to the girl—Hanami, if he remembered correctly—and to the magical staff she clutched in her hands.
And for the first time, he felt hope blossom in his chest.
"I am Hideyoshi Kensai, 3rd Acting General of Watatsumi under Orobashi-sama." The man gave these great figures a great bow. "I humbly ask for aid from you. Please, please, help us."
No more words needed to be shared between us three.
"I can provide food for now." Lumine began, before turning to me. "Wendy also has some in his Inventory."
"But that shall be saved for a later time." I smiled. "Bring the injured and the sick to me. Though I am by no means a master, I know a thing or two about mending wounds."
Saiguu hummed, a small smile on her lips. "I shall come and convene with your Lord to learn better of this island's circumstance. Perhaps then we could begin to solve the great issues that plague this nation."
Kensai took a shaky breath. "I thank you all." He quickly turned to his men. "All of you, return and gather the sick and injured!" A chorus of 'Yes Sir!' followed from the men. Lumine and I nodded to one another, before we bid Saiguu farewell as we followed the men.
Hanami stared in longing as she watched us leave, before Saiguu placed a hand on her shoulder. "Follow them if you want, little girl." She smiled. "We can meet again at a later time."
Her eyes lit up. She then gave Kojirou one last hug before she turned and followed Lumine and I.
"I will lead you to our Lord, Kitsune-sama."
She nodded. "Let us go."
And so, along with Kojirou and Kensai, Kitsune Saiguu split off from us to introduce herself to this island's ruling lord.