Genshin Impact, I, a mere mortal, cannot accompany you to the very end.

Page 82

Glistening teardrops.

"Why am I so sad when everything is so beautiful?"

"...Why?" She bit her lip, her nails digging deep into her palms.

"Why... do I cry when I hear such a beautiful story?"

"Tell me, tell me..."

His words were joyful, but his writing was filled with sorrow.

Living beings can never hide their emotions. Empathy is a funny and cheerful riddle. To those outside the riddle, it is a humorous joke, but to those inside the riddle, it is a shared sorrow, regardless of the noise, laughter, anger, and curses from the outside world.

Wendy stared at the blonde girl.

She was crying.

'You're crying,' she told herself.

Obviously...

I have already built an impenetrable inner fortress.

She was already smiling.

They had already crafted a very beautiful story.

It was already perfect enough.

Even though... I'm no longer sad.

Ugh... This feeling is awful... Wendy lowered her head, her heart slowly spasming.

Cheers erupted from the hall, seemingly from Jean's announcement that the dragon scourge had been quelled. The knights cheered in celebration, while outside the hall, the people of Mondstadt were preparing for the New Year. Lanterns adorned the streets and alleys, and the morning market was bustling with joy and laughter.

After the wind has passed, only they remain in this world, grieving.

Ying was still staring at her. Wendy lowered her head, avoiding that gaze, feeling the sting in her heart.

half an hour.

The wind and sand are blowing.

She raised her head and said softly:

"Come with me."

The poet walked ahead, her light-colored braid hanging down to her waist. She walked quickly, climbing the steps, passing through an alley, and continuing forward.

Ying followed behind Wendy.

The further she walked, the more her heart pounded and the more uneasy she felt.

She had been so eager to know Kiyono Fuuin's whereabouts, but now that she was getting closer to the truth, she felt fearful and uneasy.

Or rather, it's fear.

Beyond Mondstadt lies Cider Lake.

That lake was so beautiful, so pure, its surface shimmering in the warm spring sunshine, and the chrysanthemums bloomed like fire.

Dragon.

Dvalin lay on the lakeside, heard a sound, raised his head, saw Ying and Wendy, let out a disappointed and lonely cry, then lowered his head again, covering his dragon head with his wings.

Wendy patted Dvalin's wing, and the latter lifted it.

It was a sword.

Ying knew the name of the sword; it was Kiyono Fuue's sword, called 'Kamikiri'.

But it was somewhat different from the sword I had seen before.

The snake-like patterns are still etched on the sword, with lightning entwined around the snake... Between the lightning and the snake are patterns of wind.

blank.

Ying's heart was blank again.

Even though she had been mentally prepared for this long ago, her heart felt empty again the moment she saw that sword.

不 ...

"I originally planned to bury this sword."

Wendy gently stroked the sword, which rustled in the wind. She lowered her eyes and said softly, "Besides a heart, Qingye Fengyin also left behind this sword."

"Now, on behalf of Kiyono Kazein, I present this sword to you."

"Why...give it to me?" Ying asked. "And you?"

Aren't you going to keep it?

She saw the bard smile gently, a smile both bright and sorrowful. She turned her head and whispered:

"Because he also left me a letter. Although it was scattered in the wind, for a guy like me, one letter is enough."

The letter was scattered in the wind.

Like Rustan's letter to Rosalind, it was burned in the fire.

But for the poet, for the journey, it was enough that she read that letter and that memory remained.

When Wendy handed over the sword, her brows were lowered, her braids swayed slightly in the wind, and her heart fluttered gently.

That sword...

The sword of Qingye Fengyin.

This is all that's left of his life.

Ying took the sword.

When touched, it felt warm yet cold, and the sword vibrated slightly.

You can hear the gentle sound of the wind, the sound of the sea breeze lapping against the beach, and the warm sunlight pours down, so peaceful... and gentle.

Just as the Serpent Cutter recorded the life of the great serpent, this sword also recorded the life of Kiyono Fuukin.

Those three months of life.

The wind is gentle.

It sounded like the boy was speaking.

It tells the story of that short journey, of those days spent traveling with the wind.

So, you're trying to take my things?

'Sorry, we've already taken it... cough cough, we shouldn't have taken your things.'

Ying gripped the sword hilt, her head bowed, her shoulders trembling. Her face was reflected in the mirror, her silver teeth biting her lip as if to draw blood.

"Damn it... you old zombie, hurry up and come back to life! If you don't, I'm going to take your sword, and then I really will..."

She paused, her eyes dimming, and after a long while, she said:

"...I'm returning it, I don't want it anymore...I'm returning it, I don't want your sword anymore..."

The rustling wind rippled across the lake's spring waters.

...

Why are you giving this to me?

"Here's the fish, just take it and eat it. There's no need to feel guilty. We're all pretty much the same, and I won't go hungry. I'm giving you the fish simply because I wanted to."

Ying said softly:

"Silly girl, I can grill fish now! I'm really good at it, so amazing... Paimon and I have been waiting for you to come home so we can eat grilled fish... Hey, the fish's cold! Hey, grilled fish doesn't taste good when it's cold..."

"Come back soon, come back soon."

Her voice trembled, trembled, and trembled all the time.

The wind still rustles, singing its own story.

...

"Whoa, you old zombie, have you risen from the dead?"

'This is what I call getting up.'

...

"Tvalin is eyeing us covetously, and the Fools harbor ill intentions. At such a critical juncture, you're still thinking of playing around?"

"Yes, you have to come with me to play."

...

"Why should I?"

"Because I make you flower wreaths every day! Qingye Fengyin Flower Girl, come with me, yoshi yoshi!"