The cobbled streets of Inazuma shimmered under the soft light of the morning sun. The city had just begun to stir, merchants raising their stalls, the scent of rice cakes and sakura wafting through the air.
Yae suddenly slipped her hand into Kallen's and tugged her forward with a playful grin.
"Yae, where are we going now?" Kallen asked, glancing sideways at the ever-mischievous shrine maiden. Her silver-blue hair caught the sun as she quickened her pace to match.
Yae looked over her shoulder, the curl of her lips both teasing and mysterious. "We're going to visit someone I know. She's very talented—especially when it comes to... calming the mind." Her voice carried a smooth confidence that only made Kallen more suspicious.
"Hmmm," Kallen murmured, narrowing her eyes.
After several minutes, they arrived at a quiet establishment tucked between a pottery shop and a winding alleyway. A modest sign hung from the wooden beam above the door, carved in elegant script: Aisa Bathhouse.
Kallen blinked. "A bathhouse? So, you brought me here to take another bath?" she asked, folding her arms as she turned toward Yae with visible skepticism.
"Yes and no," Yae said, the corners of her eyes creasing with amusement. "We're not here for a soak—this time it's something a little different."
Kallen sighed, running a hand through her hair before shrugging. "Fine. Lead the way."
The wooden door slid open with a soft shhk, and Yae stepped inside, the faint scent of herbal steam and fresh tatami immediately washing over them. Kallen followed, her boots soft against the polished floorboards. The interior was simple, clean—perhaps a bit too quiet.
Kallen glanced around. "It's... empty?" she muttered under her breath.
A new voice answered her—soft, melodic, but with a hint of mirth. "It's still early. Most guests come by after midday."
Kallen turned toward the source. A young woman stood near a partitioned screen, her presence serene yet unmistakably otherworldly. Her fair skin shimmered faintly in the filtered light, and her long, cascading hair flowed in delicate gradients of oceanic blue, styled with intricate curls and twin buns adorned with fan-shaped ornaments. Her violet eyes, lined with spiral pupils, held a dreamy allure.
Who… is she? Kallen blinked, caught off guard. I don't remember seeing her in Genshin Impact... She's too detailed to be just an NPC. Don't tell me... is this a future character Mihoyo hasn't released yet?
Her thoughts spiraled for a moment. Wait, does this mean I'm a leaker now? She gave her head a tiny shake to dispel the ridiculous idea.
"Ara~ Mizuki, I was just about to find you," Yae said with her signature sly tone, covering her mouth with a dainty hand.
"Ah, Yae~ Long time no see," the woman—Mizuki—replied with the same graceful gesture.
They shared a soft giggle, their gazes meeting warmly, as if the world briefly faded away around them.
Kallen, standing off to the side, watched them closely. The familiarity between them, the gentle laughter, the way their eyes softened when they looked at each other—it stirred something strange in her chest.
She couldn't explain why… but for some reason, she felt uncomfortable.
A vague tension crept into her posture..
She found herself frowning ever so slightly, her lips forming an unconscious pout.
Yae turned with a flourish, her hand lightly resting on Kallen's shoulder. "Kallen, this is my dear friend, Mizuki. Mizuki—meet Kallen."
The elegant young woman gave a serene smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kallen. I'm Yumemizuki Mizuki, but you can simply call me Mizuki."
Kallen returned the smile politely. "Nice to meet you too, Mizuki. I'm Kallen." Her voice held a slight reserve, her eyes flicking between Mizuki and Yae with a tinge of curiosity.
Yae clapped her hands together with enthusiasm. "Wonderful! Now that introductions are done, Mizuki, I need your help with something... for Kallen."
Mizuki's expression shifted subtly. "A dream?" she asked calmly.
Yae nodded. "Yes. That kind."
Kallen furrowed her brows. Dream? The exchange felt coded, like she was watching two people speak in riddles. Her voice cut in. "Wait—what dream? What are you two talking about?"
Mizuki turned to her gently. "It's a form of therapy. But before we begin, I need your consent. I can't proceed otherwise."
Yae leaned in, her smile sweet and mischievous. "It's nothing to worry about. Just something to help you relax... like I said earlier."
"A mental therapy," Mizuki added matter-of-factly.
"Ah, Mizuki!" Yae playfully pouted. "You're not supposed to scare her off by saying it so bluntly."
Kallen blinked, still processing. "I see... wait—hold on. Do you think I'm mentally unstable or something?"
"Of course not," Yae assured her. "But I have noticed you're burdened by something. This isn't your typical therapy. You don't have to talk, or relive anything painful. All you have to do... is sleep."
"Just sleep?" Kallen asked skeptically.
"Yes," both Mizuki and Yae said in perfect unison.
Kallen hesitated. The idea of rest was tempting but she remembered the nightmares that often clawed their way into her sleep. Still, if Yae trusted this woman… maybe it was worth a try.
After a long pause, she gave a slow nod. "I... sure. I'll do it."
"Excellent," Mizuki said with a small nod, already gesturing for them to follow her.
She led them to a tranquil back room. The soft aroma of lavender and faintly glowing lanterns set a peaceful mood. Tatami mats covered the floor, and delicate scrolls lined the walls, depicting scenes of flowing rivers and clouds drifting across open skies.
Mizuki slid open a wardrobe and pulled out a soft futon, spreading it with practiced ease.
"You can lie down here, Kallen," she said gently.
Kallen stepped forward and eased herself onto the futon, the plush fabric sinking slightly under her weight. The warmth of the room, combined with the subtle scent in the air, already made her eyelids heavier than usual.
Mizuki moved gracefully about the room, lighting small incense sticks and preparing what looked like ritual materials—simple, elegant, and quiet.
Yae leaned close, crouching beside her. Her voice was soft, almost tender. "I hope you'll have a sweet dream."
Kallen glanced at her, the edge of her lip twitching faintly into a smile. "Thanks..."
Yae tilted her head. "What is it?"
"Nothing," Kallen murmured, closing her eyes.
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A few hours later, Kallen stirred from her slumber, rubbing her eyes slowly as the soft light filtered into the quiet room.
"Where is everyone...?" she murmured, glancing around and finding no trace of either Yae or Mizuki.
She stretched her arms above her head, a yawn slipping out as her muscles relaxed. Her body felt lighter—more refreshed than it had in days. Mizuki's therapy really worked, she thought. I thought I'd have another nightmare... but it was just silence. Peace.
A rare thing for her.
With a soft smile, Kallen folded the futon neatly and tucked it back into the wardrobe. Dusting off her hands, she stepped outside the tranquil room and made her way through the halls of the bathhouse, scanning for any sign of Yae or Mizuki.
Still nothing.
Where could they be? she thought, scratching her head as she made her way to the front counter.
A man stood there, adjusting the round eyeglasses perched on the bridge of his nose. He offered her a polite nod as she approached.
"Excuse me," Kallen asked, "do you know where Yae is?"
"Ah, you must be Guuji-sama's guest," the man replied with a respectful tone. "She's currently with Yumemizuki-sama. They mentioned that if you woke up, you're free to enjoy any of the amenities—spa, rest lounge, anything you wish—until they come find you, Lady Kallen."
Kallen blinked. "I see. Do you know how long they'll be?"
The man shook his head. "I'm afraid not. But rest assured, they will come for you once they're finished."
"Alright. Thank you." She offered a slight bow and stepped out of the Aisa Bathhouse.
The sun had shifted in the sky, casting warm hues across Inazuma's winding streets. Kallen wandered aimlessly, taking in the peaceful rhythm of the town. The breeze was soft, rustling cherry blossom petals along the stone paths. Children laughed nearby as they chased each other around a vendor's stand.
Kallen's eyes softened as she watched them. Something stirred in her chest—an echo of something familiar. A memory?
She shook her head gently.
Turning her gaze to the sea glimmering in the distance, she felt the pull of the ocean's quiet calm.
A few minutes later, her boots met warm sand as she stepped off the path and onto the beach. The sea breeze caressed her face, tousling strands of her hair. She inhaled deeply, letting the salt-laced air fill her lungs.
Her steps took her slowly toward the water's edge, where the waves gently lapped at the shore. The horizon stretched endlessly ahead, painted in soft blues and whites.
She closed her eyes.
This peace… it wouldn't last. She knew it.
Only a days left... before this calm is swallowed by a storm. Not nature's storm, but the kind shaped by power, The Electro Archon itself.
Kallen sighed and tilted her head back, gazing into the endless sky above.
Let me remember this moment, she thought. This one moment of peace... before it's gone.
As Kallen gazed up into the open sky, something caught her eye a faint glimmer tracing a golden arc across the blue canvas.
A yellow comet? she blinked. It wasn't night yet, but there it was, streaking defiantly across the daylight.
Does that mean… if I wish now, it might actually work? The thought was childish. She knew that. But this wasn't Earth. This was Teyvat—a land where stars held power and gods walked among mortals.
She clasped her hands together, her fingers tightening with a faint sense of hope.
"I wish... I wish that blond traveler boy or girl, I don't care, would come and save the day," she whispered with closed eyes. "Let them come now... before everything falls apart."
She exhaled slowly and opened her eyes again.
The golden streak hadn't vanished. In fact... it was growing larger.
Wait.
It was getting closer.
Her brow furrowed. Shouldn't comets stay in the sky? She stepped back, unease blooming in her chest. This isn't a comet... it's coming down!
"Eek!" she yelped, diving aside just as the object crashed into the beach with a violent tremor. A blast of sand erupted outward, pelting her face and hair. Coughing, she tried to clear her throat, waving dust from her eyes.
What in the world just happened?
Still coughing, Kallen stepped closer to the crash site. Smoke and sand hung in the air like a veil, swirling around the shallow crater. She squinted, heart pounding. Maybe it's something valuable. Like a relic... or treasure. Or—
The smoke swirled like a curtain in the wind. Something moved inside the haze. She heard a rough, steady cough. A silhouette emerged, tall and lean, framed in soft golden light.
A person? she squinted. Not an object... not a monster...
Then she heard the footsteps. Sand shifting under measured steps.
Blonde hair!
Her mind raced. Could it be...? Did the Traveler actually arrive?!
Her breath caught. It worked? It really worked?!
Her eyes darted across the smoke.
Aether?! Did the male twin show up?! That means—Kazuha's friend, the Vision Hunt Decree, all of it—there's still a chance!
A flutter of excitement shot through her chest.
But then she saw him.
The smoke cleared fully.
And the figure wasn't Aether.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. His long blond hair was tied back, though strands clung to his battle-worn face. His white uniform ornate with black, red, and gold was torn in places, marked by smoke and ash. He dusted himself off calmly, unfazed by the dramatic entrance.
Then, as though sensing her gaze, he turned toward her.
Their eyes met.
Kallen froze.
Her breath stopped.
He looked at her the same way wide-eyed, disbelief freezing him in place.
His emerald-green eyes flickered with unspoken recognition.
Kallen blood turned cold.
No... It couldn't be.
A whisper of a name echoed inside her head.
Otto...
Her body trembled. Her lips parted, but no words came.
Otto...? Her breath hitched in her throat. Why are you here? How are you here?
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(A/n: You thought he was Aether but no it was him Otto!!!)