The passenger ship from Fontaine sailed through the vast sea, cutting through the waves with the rhythmic pulse of the wind filling its sails. It wasn't as grand as the Astral Express, but it was a reliable way to reach Inazuma, and it offered a more grounded experience. As the ship made its way toward the port, the crew—Noah, Kiana, Elysia, and Lumine—stood at the bow, taking in the scenery as they approached their destination.
Kiana gazed ahead, her blue eyes scanning the horizon, though there was a subtle tension in the way she carried herself. It was as if something dark was looming, something she couldn't shake, and it stirred the ever-present feeling of the Abyss within her. Despite not being directly tied to it, she felt the creeping corruption that had begun to taint the lands around them.
Beside her, Lumine stood, contemplating the journey so far. Each step on this strange path seemed to lead them to darker and more unsettling places. The memories of her last time in Inazuma were still vivid in her mind. She had come to this land once before, but it was a different time. Now, the whispers of danger filled the air, and the thickening tension in the region was palpable. This time felt heavier—less like a visit and more like a reckoning.
Noah, ever the calm presence, stood next to them, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his lightsaber. His Force sensitivity had guided him here, and though he didn't know exactly what awaited them in Inazuma, he could already feel the presence of something dark, festering beneath the surface. It was a feeling he couldn't shake, but it was also one he was prepared to face.
"Looks like we're almost there," Noah said, his voice calm but carrying a quiet weight. "Keep your guard up, everyone. There's something unsettling about this place."
Elysia grinned widely, her playful spirit evident even in the face of danger. "No problem! We've got this! Besides, what's an adventure without a little chaos, right?" She flitted over to Kiana, looping her arm around her shoulders in her usual carefree way. "We'll take on anything, Kiana. Right?"
Kiana's blue eyes flickered momentarily as she gave Elysia a small, faint smile. She appreciated the optimism, but deep down, she couldn't shake the sense of unease. The air felt heavy, and she could sense the Abyssal corruption slowly creeping closer. A shiver trailed down her spine that had nothing to do with the wind.
Soon, the ship reached the dock, and the crew disembarked, greeted by the quiet hustle and bustle of Inazuma's port. The once-vibrant area now felt subdued. The sakura trees that once danced in the breeze stood still, their petals fallen and forgotten. There were fewer people around, and the energy that usually filled the streets had been replaced with a silence that clung to the skin. A stark contrast to the lively atmosphere Noah had heard of from old stories.
An older man stepped forward from the crowd, looking the group over carefully. His weathered face was tinged with suspicion but also a quiet curiosity. "You don't look like you're from here," he said, his voice raspy. "We don't see many travelers these days. Not since the rise of the Abyssal creatures. What brings you to Inazuma?"
Noah stepped forward with a respectful smile, carefully choosing his words. "We're adventurers from the Adventurers' Guild," he said, his tone measured but friendly. "Our group is traveling across Teyvat, hoping to see each of its nations and learn more about them. We've heard of the troubles Inazuma has been facing, and we thought it would be a good place to start."
The old man eyed them for a long moment, taking in their appearance and their words. "Adventurers, huh? The port used to be a lot busier, but lately, not so much. People are scared of the Abyssal creatures roaming the land. We don't get many visitors anymore."
"Don't worry," Elysia chimed in with her usual infectious smile. "We've dealt with dangerous creatures before. If you've got a problem, we're happy to help."
Kiana, though, looked less optimistic. As she looked around, she couldn't ignore the unsettling feeling that washed over her—the gnawing sensation of darkness that seemed to seep through the very land. It wasn't just the creatures that worried her; it was the spreading corruption itself.
The old man gave them a wary but resigned nod. "You'd better be careful. The creatures... they're not just beasts. Some of them have powers, strange powers. And there's something wrong with the land, like the very earth is turning against us."
Kiana's golden eye flickered for a moment—an involuntary flash, as if something deep within the land had reached out to her. She staggered for half a step, steadying herself quickly. That familiar presence—it was faint, but gnawing. Like something was watching. Waiting.
Her fingers trembled briefly before she reached into her coat, brushing against the cool surface of the crystal rose Elysia had given her back in Stormterror's Lair. Its surface glimmered faintly in the light, like a heartbeat trying to stay calm. She closed her hand around it, exhaling slowly.
One breath in. One breath out.
Just like the adepti taught her atop the still peaks of Liyue. She centered herself in that memory, grounding the chaos within. Not fighting it—acknowledging it, understanding it, then letting it go.
Elysia noticed the shift immediately. Her hand subtly brushed against Kiana's, grounding without making a scene. Beside them, Noah's eyes flicked toward her, saying nothing, but his posture changed—closer, steadier, protective. Lumine, walking just behind, slowed her pace enough that her presence pressed gently at Kiana's back.
No words were exchanged, but in that quiet second, the bond they had built showed its strength. They had seen this before. Felt this before. And without fanfare or alarm, they anchored her—not because she was breaking, but because they refused to let her stand alone.
"We'll be careful," Noah assured him, drawing his lightsaber from his side, the familiar hum of the blade calming him as he tested its weight. "It's what we do. But we'd appreciate any guidance on where we can start."
The old man gave them a cryptic look but pointed toward the faint silhouette of the Sacred Sakura tree in the far distance. "Start there—at the Sacred Sakura. The Grand Narukami Shrine rests at its peak, and even from here, you can feel its roots have begun to ache. It's where the corruption stirs the most—where the land still remembers what it means to suffer."
Noah nodded. "Thanks for the tip."
The crew made their way through the quiet streets, the silence gnawing at the edges of their senses. The oppressive atmosphere grew heavier with each step, like walking through a town half-asleep and half-afraid. The people they passed were cautious, shoulders hunched, eyes weary. Some offered half-hearted waves, but none smiled—not truly. There was no warmth, only the heaviness of waiting for something worse.
Lumine's gaze swept the streets, her heart tightening. This wasn't the proud, storm-forged nation she had once walked through. It felt hollow now. Broken. The kind of tired that lingered in bones and history, in stories passed down with sighs instead of pride. Her hand drifted to her side, where the wind once answered her freely—but here, the wind held its breath.
She glanced up at the Grand Narukami Shrine in the distance, its silhouette veiled in storm-gray mist. That pull she remembered still stirred—but it no longer felt like a call home. It felt like a warning. Cold and solemn. Her fingers curled unconsciously.
Noah felt it too. His expression didn't change, but his stride did—slightly slower, more deliberate. His eyes swept the rooftops and alleyways like a guardian weighing unseen threats.
Kiana walked a little closer to the center of the group now, her previous levity gone. She didn't say anything, but Lumine saw the way her hand drifted to the rose inside her coat again, thumb brushing the edge of the crystal. Not out of panic—but preparation. Behind her, Elysia's hum had quieted. Even she felt it. The calm before the storm.
"Let's get to the shrine," Noah said at last, his voice steady, but softer than before. "Eventually. But for now, we rest. We'll gather more information from the Adventurers' Guild in Inazuma City before heading up the mountain. No point rushing in blind."
He turned to look at each of them, noting their weary expressions. "Let's take the night here at the port town. Regroup. Breathe. Then we move."
With that, the crew moved not toward danger, but toward rest—just for a while. The shrine still waited on the horizon, its sacred branches curling in the mist. But they would meet it on their own terms.
As they walked back toward the inn, Elysia tilted her head toward Noah with a teasing smile. "That was very captain-like of you," she said lightly, but her gaze flicked meaningfully toward Kiana.
Noah offered no protest. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder at Kiana, who walked a step behind, her fingers still occasionally brushing the hidden rose inside her coat. She hadn't said much since the flicker in her eye. He had noticed how her breathing had evened out—but it came with effort. And she looked tired, the kind of tired that sleep alone wouldn't fix.
"I saw it too," Lumine murmured, falling into step beside him. "She handled it well. But…"
"She shouldn't have to handle it alone," Noah replied quietly. "None of us should."
Kiana caught the words, and though she didn't look up right away, a soft smile curved at the corner of her mouth. They weren't trying to coddle her. They were just… there. And that was enough.
By the time they reached the inn, the tension had lessened, if only slightly. Their footsteps, once heavy with dread, now moved with a quiet sense of shared resolve. They didn't know what waited in the shadows of the shrine—but whatever it was, they would face it.
Together.