Genshin Impact : Sorry can't be there till the end

[Seino Fugin is dead.]

Seino Fugin is dead.

The voice of the Human Principles System was as light as the wind.

The rustling sound of the wind,

Lumine could also hear the sound of the wind.

The gentle spring breeze softly caressed the paulownia trees outside the window, the emerald branches and leaves rubbing against each other, making a rustling sound—the only sound in this world. Besides that, everything was silent.

Just like the quietness within Lumine's heart.

Blank.

"You are... not right..."

Lumine seemed to be stunned, as if she hadn't reacted yet, somewhat incoherent. She paused, seemingly savoring the words she heard by her ears, chewing over every syllable. After a while, she said:

"...What are you talking about?"

[Seino Fugin is dead.]

The Human Principles System calmly repeated it once more.

"You are lying," she said.

Lying.

A baffling guy, a baffling voice, a baffling dream, inexplicably saying that Drowned Corpse was dead—so baffling, so sudden and abrupt, utterly illogical. How could Lumine possibly believe it?

Lumine had only seen him yesterday. They went together to the shores of Cider Lake to pick windmill daisies. That Drowned Corpse was so spirited, the dyed orange sunlight melted into the lakeside, white petals were lifted and scattered by the gentle breeze, and the boy stood in the very center of the flowers, diligently picking them.

His taste was poor; he only picked some杂花 (miscellaneous flowers)—cocklebur, cattails... His picking technique was also terrible, most of the flower stems were broken, and the roots were snapped off—all these flowers couldn't be preserved for long.

He was stubborn, shamelessly saying, "There's a flower shop next door. I bought them and put them in my pocket, so it's as if I picked them myself."

A guy so stubborn, how could he leave the next day?

Cannot believe, or rather, unwilling to believe.

"You are lying."

Lumine said, her dazzling golden eyes like a majestic little lion, unwaveringly defending her territory, stubborn and obstinate: "…Who are you?"

"I don't believe you."

The wind moved the light blue curtains, tiny specks of light scattered on the window frame.

[You should go see for yourself.]

After saying this, the Human Principles System fell silent. The room became quiet, leaving only the soft sound of the wind.

Lumine got out of bed, her bare feet thudding on the wooden floorboards, her hairpin undone, her dazzling golden short hair flowing freely. She pushed open the bedroom door, where Paimon was lying on the dining table, snoring soundly.

Putting on her coat, slipping her slender feet into her boots, Lumine grabbed the one-handed sword hanging at the door and stepped outside.

Outside the door was bright sunlight.

"Grilled fish~"

"Fresh big apples, hundred Mora per kilogram."

"Candied hawthorns, from Liyue City!"

The inn they rented was right across Mondstadt's market, which was bustling at this time. People came and went, jostling and bumping into each other. Lumine hurriedly weaved through the crowds.

Vendors shouted loudly to attract customers. It was the New Year, and the lively atmosphere had already permeated the entire Mondstadt. The scent of firecrackers exploded, crackling and scattering like a sky full of red frost. Scattered fallen petals covered the ground, dyeing Mondstadt's streets with a ten-mile red bridal makeup.

Lumine didn't know where to go.

She had searched many places—the tavern Seino Fugin liked most, the fruit shop he often visited, and even the abandoned square... Lumine had searched everywhere.

The throbbing sensation in her heart grew stronger. Lumine lightly pressed her lips together, her mind still hazy and blurry. The heavy nightmare from last night hadn't faded, lingering deep in her brain.

Why did he suddenly leave?

What did he want to do?

Where was he?

"No matter where the wind comes from or where it goes, as long as it feels good, that's all that matters."

Lumine suddenly recalled Seino Fugin's words. At that time, they had climbed the perilous Vow Cape. The afterglow of the sunset settled into the tombs of the mountains. Seino Fugin blew the wind, smiling as he said to her:

"Lumine, you must always be happy. Don't worry about where the wind goes."

That smile seemed very sorrowful.

At that time, she didn't understand yet. She just thought it was a simple and obvious statement, of course, being happy and joyful was the most important. He even educated her about mountain winds and valley winds, who knew about those things... Mountain winds, valley winds, she retorted: "…Who cares about that? I only care that it feels good."

The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ, 

Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit 

Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, 

Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

What exactly was the Favonius trying to convey to her?

What exactly did Seino Fugin want to say?

Lumine didn't know then.

The moving finger writes; and, having writ, 

moves on.

——

Morning light spread across the long steps.

Stained glass scattered sunlight, the magnificent dome swayed with the shadows of paulownia leaves, and the Knights' Hall was completely quiet.

Jean paused. Deep within her light blue eyes, there was unrest. She took a slow breath and then addressed the bard standing before her:

"I see. The Dvalin has calmed down."

The Dragon Disaster.

This was Mondstadt's most severe catastrophe, even concerning the survival of this city-state.

The last time Mondstadt suffered a Dragon Disaster was five hundred years ago with the demon dragon Durin.

The issue of the Dragon Disaster was a sword hanging over Deputy Leader Jean's heart. Now, this sword had been taken by someone. While feeling relieved, she couldn't help but start asking other questions:

"Is it Seino Fugin...? Where is Seino Fugin? He's a hero of Mondstadt... He deserves a reward!"

The bard didn't seem to hear Jean's words. The young girl slightly tiptoed, absentmindedly staring at the portrait on the wall. After a while, she seemed to snap out of her trance, turned her body, and her emerald eyes seemed to be smiling.

Venti smiled and said, "He's safe. After finishing the matters in Mondstadt, he went traveling."

"Oh, this guy is saying that—"

Venti coughed, imitating Seino Fugin's tone, placing her left hand on her chest, tiptoeing, and opening her right hand to embrace the sunlight. She looked like an idealistic young person setting their dreams free, using an operatic tone exaggeratedly saying:

"'Seino Fugin, comes and goes like the wind, once the matter is settled, disappear without leaving behind any merit or fame. Hahaha, I'm off!'"

"And then this guy swaggered off as the Favonius, just left like that."

The young girl's eyes were sincere and pure, containing not a trace of impurity. She was very serious, seemingly believing that Seino Fugin was really fine, that he didn't stay in Mondstadt, only didn't want fame and fortune, and he really swaggered off to travel.

The bard smiled as she looked at Jean.

That smile was also very serious.

She had always had a talent for deceiving people.

Obviously, she had succeeded.

Deputy Leader Jean sighed helplessly, "Really."

She smiled, seemingly amused by Venti's exaggerated tone.

"Little Bard, if you see him again, please tell him that the Knights of the Favonius will always remember his merits, and will always keep his place. Mondstadt will always welcome him."

Venti nodded, "Okay."

Venti had always been good at deceiving people, making them believe what she said, making them believe that Seino Fugin wasn't dead... making them believe themselves.... that Seino Fugin was still alive.

Mondstadt's story should be perfect, as perfect as an opera: the young knight appeased the evil dragon, finally retiring from the world, flawless.

Seino must have liked such stories.

Whether it was Seino Fugin, Seino Raimei, Rostam, or that young girl, they all must have loved this story.

He didn't want to be remembered after death, he wanted to leave quietly, leaving flawlessly.

Venti was a bard. From now on, she would tell this beautiful and romantic story to more people.

In her long, long remaining life.

To compose the prelude for your lifetime was the only thing she could do.

Venti didn't want Mondstadt to forget that young man.

She didn't want Mondstadt to forget that brief and brilliant wind.

She glanced one last time at the portrait on the wall.

Wolf Pup Rostam was quietly staying in the frame, his dazzling golden eyes like the most brilliant sunlight.

Goodbye.

Venti waved her hand, bidding farewell to Deputy Leader Jean.

Goodbye.

She was still smiling because she had to smile. When telling a comedy, she couldn't cry. Bards must always smile. Only by smiling could the audience be infected and believe in that romantic heroic comedy.

Cannot cry.

Leaving the Knights' Hall, it was bright outside, with a gentle and pleasant breeze.

The sky was as clean as if washed, clear and transparent.

Mondstadt was so beautiful.

——"Excuse me... Excuse me..."

Breathing sounds, as if she had run a very long way.

Venti looked at the young girl in front of her.

She slightly hunched her body, fine beads of sweat trickling down her delicate side face. The young girl lifted her head, her flowing golden hair fluttering in the air—she seemed very tired, having run a long way, her chest heaving violently.

Venti recognized her. The young girl's name was 'Lumine'.

"Excuse me..." She finally caught her breath, her dazzling golden eyes fixed on Venti's eyes, "Have you seen Seino Fugin?"

"...Ah."

"By chance, I happened to witness that fight."

Venti smiled again. She placed her left hand on her chest, coughed a few times, and said, "'Seino Fugin swiftly played his lyre, enchanting melodies entering the ears, the Wind Dragon couldn't withstand and retreated step by step....'"

"'Seino Fugin, comes and goes like the wind...'"

Her smile was still so clean, so serious, so infectious, telling a vivid and interesting story. The warm sunlight shone on the bard's side face, her smile blossoming like a flower, the days seemed to shimmer with light.

The young girl quietly watched Venti.

——"You're crying."

She said.

What.

Venti was taken aback. She said, "Why?"

"You're crying... that's just what I feel."

Lumine's dazzling golden eyes reflected Venti's appearance, her gaze gently trembling.

She shook her body, lowered her head, her lips moving slightly, "Why?"

"Why?" Venti asked back. "I'm clearly smiling."

"I don't know, I'm not sure, I just feel this way. No reason."

Lumine lowered her eyes, her heart slowly throbbing,

"You're telling a very happy story, but you're so sad. I... I'm clearly... listening to a very good story, Seino Fugin that guy, proudly accomplished great merits, Dvalin was also appeased, everyone was happy, clearly a very good story... but why, why, why..."

She clenched her chest, tightly gripping it, looked up, her dazzling golden eyes shimmering...

Crystal-clear teardrops.

——"Why is it so beautiful, yet I feel so sad."

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

"Why... I'm listening to such a beautiful story, yet I'm crying?"

"You tell me, tell me..."

Words spoken are joyful, but between the lines are sorrowful.

Beings can never hide their emotions. Empathy is a funny and cheerful riddle. To those outside the riddle, it reads as a humorous joke. Those within the riddle share the same sorrow, letting the outside world clamor and laugh, shout, and scold.

Venti watched the golden-haired young girl.

She was crying.

'You're crying,' she told herself.

Clearly...

She had already built an inner wall as strong as a copper and iron fortress.

Clearly, she was already smiling.

Clearly, she had already composed a very happy story.

Clearly, she was already perfect enough.

Clearly... she wouldn't be sad anymore.

So annoying... this feeling is so annoying... Venti lowered her head, her heart slowly spasming.

Cheers echoed in the hall, seemingly Jean announcing the cessation of the Dragon Disaster. The knights cheered and celebrated, while outside the hall, Mondstadters were preparing for the New Year. Lanterns hung all over the long streets and alleys, the morning market bustling with joyful voices.

After the wind passed, in this world, only they were in sorrow.

Lumine was still staring at herself, Venti lowered her head, avoiding that gaze. She felt the piercing pain in her heart.

After a while.

The wind rustled softly.

She looked up and softly said:

"Come with me."

——

The bard walked ahead, her light-colored long braids falling to her waist. She walked quickly, ascending the steps, passing through an alley, and continued forward.

Lumine followed behind Venti.

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

She was so eager to know Seino Fugin's whereabouts, but now that she was getting closer to the truth, she felt frightened and uneasy.

Or rather, terrified.

Leaving Mondstadt, there was Cider Lake.

That lake was so beautiful, so pure, shimmering with rippling spring light. The windmill daisies bloomed like fire.

Dragon.

Dvalin lay on the lakeside, hearing some sound, looked up, saw Lumine and Venti, let out a disappointed and desolate cry, then lowered his head again, his wings covering his dragon head.

Venti patted Dvalin's wing, and he lifted up.

There was a sword.

Lumine knew the name of this sword. It was Seino Fugin's sword, called the 'God Cutter'.

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

The snake-like patterns were still engraved on the blade, lightning entangled with the snake... Between the lightning and the snake were the patterns of the wind.

Blank.

Lumine's heart was blank again.

Clearly, she had been prepared deep in her heart, had built up her mental fortitude long ago, but from the moment she saw that sword, her soul felt empty again.

No...

"I originally planned to bury this sword."

Venti gently stroked the sword, the blade making a rustling sound with the wind. She lowered her eyes and softly said, "Besides a heart, Seino Fugin also left behind this sword."

"Now, I'm giving you this sword on behalf of Seino Fugin."

"Why... give it to me?" Lumine asked. "What about you?"

"Are you not keeping it?"

She saw the bard smile gently, her bright yet sorrowful smile. She turned her face and softly said:

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

That letter was scattered in the wind.

Just like Rostam's letter to Rosalyne, burned in the great fire.

But for the bard, for the journey, she read that letter. This memory remained, and that was already enough.

When Venti handed over the sword, she lowered her eyebrows, her braid gently swaying with the wind, her heart gently throbbing.

That sword...

Seino Fugin's sword.

This was all he had left in this life.

Lumine took the sword.

When she touched it, it felt warm yet cold, the sword gently vibrating.

She could hear the soft sound of the wind, the sea breeze pattering against the beach, the warm sunlight pouring down, so peaceful... and gentle.

Just like the Snake Cutter documented the life of the great serpent, this sword also documented Seino Fugin's life.

Those three months of life.

The wind was gentle.

Like that boy was speaking.

Telling the story of that brief journey, telling the days traveling with the wind.

"So, you were trying to take my stuff?"

"Sorry, we made our move too early... Ahem, we shouldn't have taken your things."

Lumine gripped the hilt of the sword, her head bowed, her shoulders trembling. God Cutter reflected her appearance, her silver teeth biting her lip, seemingly about to bite out blood:

"Bastard... Drowned Corpse, you better resurrect, if you don't, I'll take your sword away, I really..."

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

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

..

The rustling wind rippled the spring waters of the lake.

...

"Why do you want to give it to me?"

"The fish is yours. Take it and eat. No need for any inexplicable feelings of guilt. None of us are saints. And I won't starve. I'm giving you the fish simply because I want to."

..

Lumine softly said:

"Idiot, I can grill fish now, my skills are really good, so amazing... Paimon and I have been waiting for you to come home and eat grilled fish... Hey, the grilled fish is already cold, hey, cold grilled fish doesn't taste good..."

"You come back quickly, you come back quickly."

Her voice trembled, trembling and trembling continuously.

The wind still rustled, singing the story of the wind.

...

'Wowaaa, Drowned Corpse, have you resurrected yet?'

'I'm just getting up.'

....

"Dvalin is watching intently, Fatui has ill intentions. At such a critical moment, you're still thinking about playing?"

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

"Why?"

"Because I make you a flower crown every day! Seino Fugin はなむすめ, come play with this great Lumine-sama!"

...

"Lumine, you must always be happy. Don't worry about where the wind goes."

...

"Jerk, I care!"

"You might not care if you live, but I do."

...

"Thank you for caring."

"Thank you for caring—since remembering some things, my life has been quite a mess and laughable, but now suddenly I feel, actually, it's not that bad."

...

"Traveler, wish you a pleasant journey and a safe trip."

...

The wind's story ended.

The flower crown was clearly still being woven. The Teyvat Travel Guide still had many places left to visit. You clearly said you could remain strong for a few hundred more years, the grilled fish wasn't eaten yet, why, why, why...

You don't keep your word.

You said not to care where the wind goes, but how can you forget that wind?

You said, "Wish you a pleasant journey and a safe trip," but without your journey, does it still count as 'a pleasant journey'?

You answer me...

You answer me.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, like the wind sweeping over the lake. When Lumine looked up again, she was already in tears.

"Who killed him."

——Under the bright spring sunlight, Lumine asked softly.

"Who killed Seino Fugin."