zèro ☆ (they/them)

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FNAF

But a certain type of pride swelled within him when he found out that you wanted to follow him. "You're my first friend here," You had said to him. It reminded him that no, he was not only an acolyte. He was something more. That was enough for him. For now.

Venti had taken the responsibility to create a distraction, in full support of your decision to explore Teyvat with Aether. While everyone at Dawn Winery was in a ruckus, You escaped with Kiki, meeting the traveller at the the small alleyway just before the outskirts of the Winery.

Aether held his hand out to you. "Let's get going then, (Y/N)." You smiled and took his hand, intertwining your fingers with his. Kiki bounced ahead, keeping in tune with Paimon's pace.

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"Amber!" Said outrider grins when she catches sight of the incoming party. "Just in time! The Sticky Honey Roast just arrived," Paimon gasps, eyeing the food with sparkles in her eyes. "Paimon is so hungry!"

The dish itself looked marvellous. The honey sauce caused the meat to shine like a medal, looking as if it was supposed to be admired instead of eaten. Would Gordon Ramsey be impressed with this? You thought to yourself with a chuckle. Ever the gentleman, Aether pulled out a seat and allows you to settle in first before sitting down himself. The slime sat at your feet, rubbing itself at your legs like an affectionate cat.

Just as you were going to take a slice of the meat, a voice caused you to freeze.

"Care to explain why any of you thought that it would be a good idea to bring a Hydro slime into the city?"

Part III - Freedom

★

Stormy grey-blue eyes met yours. Seeing her in person was something that you could have never prepared for. The aura that surrounded her demanded obedience, fear and most importantly, respect. "Jean!" Amber gasped, jumping out of her seat to salute her superior.

The acting grand master returned the salute. She crossed her arms afterwards, tapping her foot against the ground impatiently. "So? Any explanations?" Amber giggles nervously, already feeling sweat trickle down her neck.

You let go of your cutlery, standing up to face Jean directly. "To be honest, it just followed us here," Your companions nodded, backing up your statement. "Really! I met them in Windrise and I was going to shoot the slime, but it was defending them!" Amber said. Said Hydro slime whines at the mention of almost being shot, its white eyes looking at the outrider with annoyance. It bounced up, catching Jean's pointed stare. They stared at each other in silence, narrowed eyes meeting big innocent eyes.

Jean sighed and finally blinked. She facepalmed, "It looks friendly, I suppose.." Paimon laughs and floats downwards to the slime. "That's because IT IS friendly!" The pair share a figurative fist-bump, the slime using its head due to lacking hands.

Jean tilted her head in confusion. "A Hydro slime.. Defending a person?" You shrugged in response. "Look, I'm just as confused as you are.. It just came up to me," She ponders, searching for her next words and action. A slime, others of its kind known to cause havoc onto the people of Teyvat. Yet this one in particular was different, going as far to protect its known enemy for centuries.

What could Jean even do? Kill it? Train it? Despite the slime proving to be unique, it was still a safety hazard. Perhaps the head alchemist could figure something out. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, a giggle cut the tense atmosphere.

"Oh? Jean, I had no idea that you were going to see my cutie," Mischievous green eyes sparkled under her signature purple witch hat. Said acting grandmaster stutters, "N-no, it was not planned! I was told that there was a slime running loose around Good Hunter.." Lisa cups Jean's chin gently as she stepped closer, rubbing her jaw with a laugh. "Surely, you should be used to my teasing by now?"

Jean blushes and pushes Lisa's hand away. The witch hums amusedly before setting her eyes onto the Hydro slime, bending down to meet it at eye-level. "You're the slime, I presume?" The slime lets out a squeak in surprise, bouncing backwards to hide behind your legs. Lisa looked upwards, a gasp leaving her as she met your gaze. "Your Grace.." She muttered before kneeling at before you. Jean gave the librarian a weird look. "Their Grace?"

You stifled a groan before immediately bending down to pull Lisa up. "Please don't," You said with an embarrassed tone. You could feel heat flooding to the tips of your ears. Aether glanced at you, a small chuckle bubbling within him as he observed your body language. He found you adorable.

Lisa hums happily, relishing in the warmth your presence gave as you stood barely a centimetre away from her. Unabashedly, she wraps an arm around your shoulder to pull you into a hug. "It's so great to finally meet you, Your-" You pinched her flesh lightly, interrupting her. "Please don't call me that," You whispered in her ear. All the while, Jean watched in surprise.

Jean was quick to offer her respect next, only to be pulled up before her knees could even touch the ground. "No need for that," You told her with a smile. She stuttered out disagreements, about how it would be unjust of her to simply not kneel at your feet, especially given her social position.

Jean has been a loyal acolyte since her childhood, looking up to The Creator even before she could hold a sword properly. She looked up to you alongside Venessa. When word came that The Creator had awoken and already had not one, but four vessels, Jean found herself training harder than ever before. While she had no clue about how The Creator chose their vessels, she pushed herself to her limits. To better herself, to become the next vessel.

Here you stood before her very eyes, entirely in the flesh. Her insides churned with guilt and anger, how could she not recognise you? Had Lisa not called your rightful title, she would have never known that you were the deity that she had dedicated her life to. Who was she to question Lisa? The witch was an actual vessel, unlike her.

Tears welled up in her eyes, apologies beginning to stream from her mouth like a waterfall. Apologies about how she was incredibly regretful for not being able to recognise you sooner. Or to even know that you had arrived to Teyvat with a physical form. The others watched with wide eyes, stunned at the uncharacteristic actions of their superior. You felt horrible. Acting out of instinct, you held Jean's hand and rubbed it gently. "You're okay," You said. The soothing tone of your words made the Dandelion Knight's tears slowly come to a stop. Her heart felt lighter. Am I not in trouble? She thought.

You considered telling her and Lisa the very same words you had told Aether, Paimon and Amber, but decided against it. Seeing the usually calm and serious character break down in front of you, had ultimately forced you to keep quiet about your opinion on the entire situation. At least for now. You promised yourself that you will tell them later, preferably in a more private setting. It was getting embarrassing seeing the stares from the surrounding public.

"Do you mind if we find somewhere to talk?" Jean stared at you confusedly. She had expected you to scold her, in the very least. She blinked after a moment, realising that she had looked at you for too long. "Oh- Yes!" She exclaimed, the apples of her cheeks burning in embarrassment.

Jean had agreed to discuss matters regarding the slime and Their Grace in the privacy of her office, away from prying eyes. The dull throbbing from the back of her head slowly grew with every new thought that rushed into her head. The Hydro slime sat at her feet, big white eyes watching her curiously. The acting grand master groans quietly and stares back at the slime. "What?"

The slime squeaks and rubs itself on her legs like an affectionate cat. Exhausted, the blonde could not find the strength within her to push it off. Instead, she allows the slime to nuzzle her as she observed. As dangerous as its kin could be, Jean did find herself calling it adorable.

You and Amber sat at the other table in the office, quietly chewing away on the Sticky Honey Roast. Paimon lets out a satisfied hum with every few bites. Sitting next to you, Aether kept to himself, his eyes only focused on you. You tilted your head after noticing him, "Are you not hungry?" Aether shook his head. "Not really.."

Paimon snickers, "As if! He hasn't eaten anything since last night!" You swore your eyes practically popped out of your sockets at her statement. It was already well into the afternoon, which meant that he had not eaten for over half a day! Your instincts took over once more, your hands moving on their own to cut a piece of the meat.

You held it to his mouth, "Why didn't you eat anything today? You know how important it is to eat, especially for someone as athletic as you," Aether's cheeks burned a bright pink as he tried to find for a response. Hesitantly, he bit the piece off the fork and chewed. He avoided eye-contact, still too flustered to even say anything.

As he looked away, he caught Amber's expression. Like usual, she had her bubbly smile. However, he could not help but feel that her smile meant something different this time; something more menacing. He inwardly shivered and shifted his gaze to look out the window. "Thank you.." He said softly. You smiled and held another piece to his mouth. "Here, have another,"

Taken aback at the fact that you were dead set on feeding him, he grabs the fork from your hands and stuffed the meat into his mouth, choosing to avoid eye-contact once more. How embarrassing! His God who he revered and adored, had given him the time of day and even fed him! The blonde puts a hand over his bottom half of his face, desperately trying to hide his burning cheeks. They must think of me as incapable of looking after myself now, He thought.

You chuckled awkwardly, reaching for the fork that he gripped incredibly tightly, that his hand had turned white. "That's uh-" His eyes drifted to you, a shiver running up his spine at the thought of you scolding him. "That's my fork.." His eyes snapped to the utensil, his hand letting go of it immediately. It clattered onto the table, the ringing sound repeating in his ears as he realisation dawned on him. He had shared a fork with you! "It was an indirect kiss.." He muttered to himself, turning to hide his face in his hands. "Sorry!" He had managed to squeak out after a moment of silence. You chuckled and patted his shoulder, "Just eat up, okay?"

Amber shoved another piece of the meat into her mouth, chewing harshly to distract herself. She winced when her teeth snapped down on her tongue from her silent rampage. Paimon guffawed, resorting to hide behind Aether when Amber had turned to glare at her.

Lisa watched the setting, a smile on her face as she took in the rather peculiar situation. After all, it was not everyday that one happens to run into their God during their lunch break. And it seemed that you were quite the unique God, your playful attitude being the complete opposite as what the ancient scrolls said. Perhaps it was part of being reborn into a new body?

Lisa had no doubt in her mind that you were indeed her God. The witch already had an inkling of your arrival to Teyvat the moment you had awoken in Windrise. She had felt it then, the sudden warmth overtaking her body. Every part of her had felt like it was on fire, yet it did not hurt her. It wrapped her up in a cocoon, safe and snug. Away from the rest of the world. The feeling had dissipated rather quickly, the emptiness in her soul telling her that she had to find you.

Luckily for her, her cutie had already done the job for her. She felt the warmth again the moment she left the Headquarters. It was like a tracking device, leading her straight to you. Though she was a little disappointed that Amber and Aether had gotten to you before her, she felt her heart stop the moment your eyes met hers. Her poor undeserving eyes settling on a God.

She knew that she should not had been selfish, especially when you had just met her in person. But, she could not help herself when she had pulled you in for a hug. Because in that moment, your warmth was the only thing she needed. Please forgive me, She thought to herself. A filthy sinner like her, seeking for comfort from the purest person all of Teyvat could offer.

Her heart rattled in its cage when she felt you return the hug. Her heart wanted to be free of its chains, to soar in the air and relish in the joy she felt in that moment.

The door to Jean's office swung open, its knob making a loud sound upon contact with the wall. Jean winced, shooting the entrant a glare. The entrant chuckles amusedly, waving a hand dismissively. "If the wall is damaged, I'll pay for the damages." He glanced at the wall. "See? No damage at all,"

Jean sighed, leaning her head in her palm. "Aren't you supposed to be on patrol?" He crossed his arms, grinning to himself. "I got a knight to fill in for me," He glanced at the larger table. A bright blue eye, shining like the first snowfall, met yours. "Kaeya.." You said his name. Oh, he swore that he had just ascended to Celestia with the way his name rolled of your tongue. He coughed, feeling the back of his neck burn lightly. He had rushed immediately to Headquarters after having caught wind that The Creator was there.

Similarly to Lisa, he felt your arrival the moment you had awoken in Windrise. But unlike her, he could not pinpoint where you were. Instead, he could hear you. It was his little secret ever since being chosen as a vessel. He could hear your little gasps of surprise whenever he had gotten injured while you brought him around Mondstadt. Sometimes, he even went out of his way to get an extra gash or bruise from fighting, just so that you would dote on him a little more than before. He enjoyed the warmth he felt from your presence, as well as your constant chattering.

However, his ability to hear you came at a price - He could not hear you clearly. Most often, he could hear you at an incredibly low volume. On the rare occasion that your voice was louder, he could only make out a few words.

To his luck, he was able to catch the gist of your earlier conversations before his arrival. While he was certainly not proud of eavesdropping, it did give him a heads up on what was going to occur next. He had already formulated a plan within the quick run he took to Headquarters.

Ever so gracefully, he knelt at your feet. Just like all of your companions beforehand. "Ah nonono," You chided him, immediately getting out of your seat to pull him up. He raised an eyebrow. Hiding his smirk with a chuckle, "I knew you were kind Your Grace, but-" You tutted. "Nope, none of that!" You accidentally raised your voice. You looked around, realising that everyone had their eyes on you.

It was now or never.

"I've said this earlier to them," You pointed at Amber, Paimon and Aether. "But, I will repeat it for your sake," You gave pointed looks to Jean, Lisa and Kaeya. "I understand that you are mistaking me for your God, but I can assure you that I'm not them." You started. Jean, similarly to Amber earlier that day, frowned and had a look of disbelief in her eyes. Lisa and Kaeya shared a look, already not believing your words.

"I promise that I'm just a regular human," Kaeya chuckled at your words. You paused and narrowed your eyes at him. "What's so funny?" He crossed his arms, a smug look on his face. "Prove it." He challenged.  He held out a hand and a snowflake projected out from it, flying into the air and landed on your hair. "Do that," He instructed. You gawked at him, "Are you fucking serious?" He nodded. "If you truly can prove that you're not Their Grace, we'll apologise for the inconvenienced caused. Then promptly bring you to the dungeon." The closed-eye smile on his face said it all. You used to not take Kaeya seriously for he was known as quite the carefree knight, but being on the receiving end of his threat was definitely terrifying.

Lisa pinched his side lightly, "Don't get too cocky, this is Their Grace after all," She whispered. He smirked, tilting his head at her. "I know. But trust me on this." You spluttered. "The dungeon?! I haven't done anything wrong!" You protested. Kaeya hummed, "Oh, but isn't parading around the city as The Creator a crime in itself?"

"Now listen here you little-" You started, ready to throw hands at his accusation. You relaxed your stance, remembering that firstly, He was a knight. Secondly, that meant that he can and certainly will, overpower you in battle. You knew that first-hand, especially as the person who helped him get stronger.

The Hydro slime bounced away from Jean and stood in-between you and Kaeya's face off. It glared menacingly at him, low pitched sounds coming from it. As if it was growling. "It's protecting them again!" Amber exclaimed. Jean could finally see what Amber meant earlier. What an odd thing, an enemy of Teyvat since the beginning of time, protecting a human. Well, what claimed to be a human.

"Fine," You sighed. At this point, accepting the false title was starting to sound much more attractive than being thrown in the dungeon. But accepting the title did not meet your morals. Besides, you had already declared that you were not the God they had mistaken you for. You were already in too deep.

You copied Kaeya's action, holding your hand out towards him. Your eyes widened, immediately freezing in place as a gust of wind protruded out from your hand, gently blowing strands of hair out of your face. You whipped your head around. Yes, there was an open window behind you. Catching your glance, Aether instinctively reached out to close the window. You chuckled nervously, "False alarm. Let me do it again." Kaeya nodded, a knowing smirk on his face. "Go on then,"

You repeated it once more. However unlike the first attempt, the gust of wind was stronger. It blew both yours and Kaeya's hair upwards. The knight raised an eyebrow again, "So?" You stuttered, "I-I swear that I couldn't do that before.."

"How did you know that would happen?" Lisa whispered to him. He only chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "A little birdie told me," He lied.

He had actually read a myth from an ancient scroll that he had stumbled upon during an expedition. The myth was about The Creator having a familiar; a companion while they constructed Teyvat. The origins of slimes were not well known, but it was common knowledge that slimes were one of the oldest beings since the creation of Teyvat. He had guessed that if you were truly The Creator, you would have a slime, or at least a variation of it, as a familiar.

And it here was, a Hydro slime protecting you with its life. Was it your familiar? Kaeya did not know. But the slime's actions surely meant something.

Another scroll he had come across in his most recent expedition was a myth about the formation of the elements in Teyvat. It was said that The Creator had first created wind; Anemo. Just like the possibility of you having a familiar, he had figured that if you would be able to wield the first element you had ties with.

His hunches were right. He knew more than most people gave him credit for. He was not the Calvary Captain for nothing.

Still stunned over what had happened, it made things easier for your companions to move you to Dawn Winery, under the reasoning that you were to stay there until the completion of your new home. Just like the other God that lived in Mondstadt, your new home was to include a worship room, designed like The Favonius Cathedral.

You had gone into a daze, still repeating the scene in your head. How were you suddenly able to wield the element? You had not even touched the Archon's Statue in Windrise. So many questions, not enough answers.

Kaeya grinned when the servants of the winery bowed in greeting. "Welcome back, Master Kaeya. Master Diluc has already arrived and is awaiting for you in his study." Adelinde said. He nodded in understanding. He turned to you, "Your Grace, shall we?" You opened your mouth to chide him for using the title yet again, but decided against it due to the servants around. You nodded stiffly. He hummed, placing a hand on your back to gently push you forward. Aether followed behind silently. Paimon gasped, "Woah! The Winery is much more livelier than we last visited," The slime bounced after her, leaving a trail of wet patches on the carpeting. Adelinde grimaced at the sight of the wet carpet.

Kaeya chuckled at Paimon's remark. He knew of his brother's utmost dedication to The Creator. Ever since they were children and being raised by Crepus, the young Diluc Ragnvindr already admired the deity. Just like Jean, he put his upmost faith into them, allowing their stories and legends to guide them even to this day.

Unlike Kaeya, who was never as dedicated as his brother. Of course the knight respected and adored you just like any other acolyte, but he had never been on the same level of dedication as Diluc had been. Most of Kaeya's loyalty lies with his homeland.

Of which is why Diluc never understood why Kaeya was chosen as a vessel. What had Kaeya done to deserve it? Before being chosen as a vessel, Kaeya seldomly attended the many festivals and religious activities held to celebrate The Creator. Diluc attended each and every activity, going as far as to fully fund some of the events himself! He always made sure to leave an offering whenever he was nearby one of your many shrines scattered throughout Teyvat. Whether it be a flower that he thought was beautiful, or even just a simple prayer, Diluc made sure to show his dedication.

This was also why Diluc had been quick to offer his home in the event that The Creator had come to Teyvat. There had been a plan formulated ever since Mondstadt had realised The Creator had awoken - Where would Their Grace stay, if their home is not built yet? Who would guide them around the city for a tour? Who would be at their side at all times, unless they said otherwise? The city of Mondstadt was prepared.

What they were not prepared for however, was for their deity to be an atheist, quite literally giving those that they had encountered a small existential crisis. Namely, Jean, Amber and Paimon. Along with a Hydro slime for a companion.

"Your Grace," Diluc greeted you politely, bending down on one knee and kissing your hand in an effortless move. "Please, call me (Y/N)." You said with a small smile, tugging his hand to pull him up. The redhead looked at you surprised, "Pardon?"

"It's a long story, brother." Kaeya sighed jokingly. While Kaeya can be prim and proper, he was definitely not holding back his teasing side. At first you found it annoying, even more so after he had smugly proved that you were able to wield Anemo. But he was a refreshing breath of air. Especially when you have been surrounded by people constantly on edge around you, afraid of upsetting you.

Do not be mistaken though, Kaeya was certainly on edge as well. But as sad as it is, he has spent a large portion of his life feeling as such. He has only taught himself to not show others his true feelings.

"Use my name, Master Diluc." You reiterated for him. As Diluc fumbled over his words, trying to find reasoning within him for as to why you would allow a lowly acolyte like him, to call you without any titles, you elbowed Kaeya for his little joke. "Seriously?" You asked him. The knight only chuckled. "Please, call me Diluc then." The redhead finally had recovered, a twinge of embarrassment in his words for having taken so long to respond.

The Hydro slime bounced up, catching your eye. "Oh, Kiki!" You cooed, bending down to give it a pat. Diluc watched with a narrowed gaze, hands already in position to summon his claymore. Kaeya patted his brother's shoulder, "Ever heard of a slime being a God's familiar?" Diluc huffed, relaxing his stance. "I'm afraid not,"

"Well, better be nice to the slime if you'd like to be on Their Grace's good side." He summoned his own sword, pointing it at his brother in a mock offense. "And be gentle too, since a slime like that could just go," He tapped the tip of his sword on Diluc's coat, "Pop." The Ragnvindr growled, silently challenging him. Kaeya only whistled as he allowed his sword to dissipate into the air, back into storage.

"Kiki?" Paimon repeated, giggling when the Hydro slime made a wobbling sound at the mention of its name. You shrugged, "The name just came out. It's fitting, no?" Kiki chirps, rubbing itself at Aether's legs. The traveller patted it affectionately.

"Your-" Diluc shivered at the utter speed of your soft expression changing into a glare, challenging him to finish saying the title. He coughed. "(Y/N)," Your glare melted away, returning to the small smile you had. "Would you like to rest first? Dinner should be served in," He glanced at the large grandfather clock that stood in the corner, "About half an hour."

You nodded almost immediately. The atmosphere caused by the brothers almost felt suffocating. While you often laughed at their interactions as a player, being there in person was entirely a different experience. They were always constantly on edge with each other, just barely a step away from attacking each other. If only they could just let down their guards for once and talk out their feelings.

"Please," You said. Diluc stepped forward, offering you his arm. "Come along then, (Y/N). I know first-hand that Alberich can be quite the energy-sucker." Kaeya snickered at what was supposed to be a jab at his ego. "I'll see you soon, (Y/N)." He waved at you with a smirk before showing himself out. Aether and Paimon followed suit, telling you that they will return to show you around Mondstadt.

As Diluc made small talk, Kiki made excited chirps in response, wanting to also be included in the conversation. It was surprising to say in the least, because you knew that Diluc was not interested in any idle chit-chat. But the Ragnvindr was willing to bypass any of his personal let peeves in order to spend more time with you. He wanted to learn more about his God that he revered in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To know your likes and dislikes so that he could perhaps, if his luck did allow it, become your favourite acolyte. Maybe then, he would be chosen as a vessel. Just like his brother.

To put things simply, you hated staying at Dawn Winery.

Everyone was always walking on eggshells when around you. Almost all of the servants did not dare to look you in the eye, muttering about how they are not 'worthy' to do so. You have tried getting them to address you by your name, but they all flatly refused. They either addressed you as Your Grace or Your Holiness. The latter felt even more wrong than the former, considering you were not even Jesus. And that you did not even believe in Jesus, for that matter.

While having free shelter and food in the luxurious Dawn Winery seemed like a dream come true for many, you thought the complete opposite. You were lonely. Aether and Kaeya were yet to visit you, both having been pre-occupied with commissions and duties respectively. Diluc was busy with the tavern, always apologising that he could not keep you company past breakfast. Yes, Adelinde was there to answer any questions you had and to fulfil your requests, but it never went past that. Your companion Kiki could only chirp and squeak along to your words.

You had tried asking to leave the Winery, to at least go for a walk around the outskirts of the compound, but was ultimately denied. Diluc said it was for your safety, and should the rest of Teyvat accidentally find out of your whereabouts, it would cause a huge uproar. Which in turn, also risked your safety.

Your hands were also itching to move, to do something new! Finding out that you could wield Anemo still was a shock to you - You did not even have a vision! Over your loneliness in the Winery, you taught yourself to manipulate the element. You could now support Kiki in the air for a solid five minutes. It may not seem like much to the experienced Vision holder, but it was something. And it still counts.

But alas, you were sick of it of your confinement. You were determined to get out of the Winery today, even for a little while.

Challenging yourself, you had gotten onto the iconic statue of Barbatos from manipulating Anemo. You sat on its hands, your heart pounding a mile a minute from pure adrenaline. You had left Kiki behind in the winery. Hopefully it had not caused a mess due to your absence.

Mondstadt looked so beautiful from above. You have admired its scenery countless times as a player, but seeing it in person is truly a sight to behold. As you took in the scenery, you began to ponder.

You were homesick. While experiencing mundane things such as trying out Sticky Honey Roast for the first time was fun, you were missing the sense of stability you had in your old routine from your world. You missed your friends and family - Did they even notice your disappearance? If they did, are they missing you, like how you are missing them? And as odd as it sounded, you also missed attending college. Even though you would zone out at times, at least you always knew what came next.

Unlike here in Teyvat, where there was almost never a settled cycle. You could be in the city of Mondstadt for a day, then suddenly taking out a hilichurl camp next. The only constant you had was Kiki. While its curious and kind nature was enough to entertain you for a bit, it was not a human. You needed real, human interaction.

A gust of wind from behind you pulls you away from your train of thought. "Thought I'd find you here," Your visitor said. Speak of the devil. You turned around, meeting bright green eyes. Their eyes sparkled under the sunlight, appearing as a shade of aquamarine. Nevermind, this was not the devil. Quite the opposite.

"Venti," You said his name. He giggled, "Ehe~! I'm glad you know me, Your Grace." There it was again, the pesky title. He walked closer. Instinctively, you shifted to the side to allow him space to sit. How could you not know him? The entire Archon quest that you were in the midst of doing (before getting sucked into Teyvat), revolved around him. You were aware that he was the Anemo Archon.

"You know, the Winery is in a panic since you sneakily slipped away." He chuckled. You sighed in response. "I know. But I just had to get away for a bit," He hummed and swung his legs, "The duties of a God getting too much to bear?"

You shook your head. "I'm not a God, Venti. I'm far from it," Gently, he reached out to twirl a lock of your hair between his finger. "Of course you are, Your Grace. How could you not see that you are the purest thing our world has to offer? The world that you carefully created, might I add."

"How could I be the very thing that I don't believe in, Venti? Gods don't exist."

"They do, Your Grace. You're talking to one right now," He pointed to himself with a cheeky smile. He shrugged carelessly. "Perhaps you're just missing memories prior to your awakening." You disagreed with him. All the memories you knew were of life before Teyvat. Your past, your friends and family, your likes and dislikes were all you knew. Nothing else before that.

"Are you sad?" He asked. You stayed silent. Were you? You were not sure.

"As your faithful servant, I'd be glad to sing you a few tunes to improve your mood." He suggested, pulling out his lyre and strummed a few chords. You frowned. "I don't need a servant, Venti. I need a friend." He only smiled, taking your hand gently.

"Then a friend I shall be."

The Anemo Archon kidnapped had taken you with him, claiming that he knew of a place that you would love. He rode the wind with you in his arms, his giggles sounding as magical as the scenery he brought you to.

He had brought you to a large field of dandelions. The never-ending patch expanded out into the horizon, where you could see the sun starting to set. It looked like it was grabbed out of a vintage painting and simply dropped before your eyes. The ground teemed of the small flowers. You bent down to blow on one. As you watches the seeds float away in the wind, a smile settled on your face before you could even realise.

He was right. You adored this place.

The Dandelion Sea, he called this place. "It was once an area the people of Mondstadt could visit." You tilted your head at his words. "Why not anymore?" You asked.

Just as he was about to answer you, a herd of floating white blobs engulfed him. He fell onto the ground, a puff of dandelion seeds floating into the sky from impact. You leaned closer, taking a closer look at what had attacked him.

They appeared just like the many dandelion flowers that surrounded you. Just that it had antennae and big eyes in the same colour as the Archon's. Venti laughed, "Okay little ones, that's enough!" Listening to his command, the tiny yet mystical beings flew off him. A small group of five had spotted you immediately after, floating upwards to be at eye-level with you.

"Venti, what are these..?" You asked. You tilted your head. The group of five followed, turning their entire body horizontally. "They're wind spirits, children of Anemo." Venti answered. He sat onto the ground, patting the vacant area next to him. You followed, still entranced with the cuteness of the wind wisps. "As you know, Mondstadt is the city of freedom. These wind spirits are the epitome of what I stand for; Freedom. They are free from the burden of consciousness. All they have to do is live and be happy," He said with a smile.

"Did you make them?" Venti laughs at your question. "Dear Celestia, no! They appeared randomly to me before the modernisation of the city of Mondstadt you know today," He answered after recovering from his giggles. "I closed The Dandelion Sea because this is their home. I would hate for their home to be ruined by the people of Teyvat."

"Ruined?" You asked. He sighed and drew a sad face into the ground. "As time goes on, so do people. The population will continue to grow,"

"And when it does, deforestation is required to make land for housing and buildings." He nodded solemnly at your response. "While I do love the people of Mondstadt, these wind spirits deserve for their home to be protected. What would happen to them if it was gone?" He gave you a sad smile as the answer to his question came to your mind.

"Do you see yourself as a God?" You asked him.

He shrugged. "Sometimes. It's only because that's what people call me, aside from the title of Anemo Archon." You raised an eyebrow. "But personally?"

"Personally?" He repeated. He hummed, "I used to believe in it when I was freshly given power, but with all I've seen.." He trailed off. You rubbed his shoulder comfortingly, pulling him back from his thoughts. His clouded eyes cleared again. He smiled sheepishly, muttering his appreciation.

The herd of wind spirits covered him again. They squeaked simultaneously, trying to comfort him. A stray wind spirit floated over to you, landing on your finger. "Hello," You said with a smile. It squeaked happily, floating upward to nuzzle you on the tip of your nose. It was so soft, almost like a cotton ball. With a herd of them, they must have felt like a cloud. The wind spirit flew away afterwards, joining its siblings in comforting the bard.

You apologised to him after the wind spirits had moved to give him space. You did not intend to ruin the conversation nor hurt Venti's feelings. He smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "It's alright, Your Grace. I promised that I'd be your friend!"

"My name," You reminded him. He said your name, correcting himself. "As they wish!" He giggled. "Why do you deny the titles?" He questioned curiously. "I don't want to be a God." You said after a moment of silence. "Because you do not believe in them?" Venti asked. You shook your head. "Even if I did, I still would not want to be one,"

"Why not?" He asked.

"I can barely take care of myself, Venti. How could I look after others?" You said quietly. He intertwines his hand with yours, pulling it upwards to give your hand a peck. Like Aether, he rubbed his thumb on your ring. "If not a God, who are you?" He then asked.

"Are you sure that you want to do this?" Paimon asked. It was the day of Aether and Paimon leaving Mondstadt for the first time, setting out towards Liyue. You nodded. "I started this journey to find your sister with you, Aether. It is only right that I finish it with you." His heartbeat threatened to jump out of his chest at your words. Ever the kind God, you still wanted to stay with him. Even after meeting the others, who he had feared would take you away from him.

What was he to do, if you wanted to stay behind in Mondstadt? He knew of his position. He was only a lowly acolyte in comparison to you. He could only respect your wishes.

But a certain type of pride swelled within him when he found out that you wanted to follow him. "You're my first friend here," You had said to him. It reminded him that no, he was not only an acolyte. He was something more. That was enough for him. For now.

You had created a distraction, allowing you a small window for your escape. What was the distraction? Oh nothing new, you just messed with a few of Diluc's grapevines, using your newfound abilities. Though you regretted treating your host in such a way, it was the only distraction you could think of.

While everyone at Dawn Winery was in a ruckus, You escaped with Kiki, meeting the traveller at the the small alleyway just before the outskirts of the Winery. Aether held his hand out to you. "Let's get going then, (Y/N)." You smiled and took his hand, intertwining your fingers with his. Kiki bounced ahead, keeping in tune with Paimon's pace.

Back at the Headquarters of Favonius, Jean opened a letter that you had written the night before. Venti's question from the night before had sent you into a small crisis. You were just a normal person on Earth, but you certainly were not on Teyvat. People saw you as a God, the very thing you did not believe in. They credited The Creator's efforts to you, of which you did not feel deserving of.

Who were you truly then? After pondering, you had decided your next course of action.

Dear friends of Mondstadt,

After much deliberation, I have decided that I will be following the traveller for the rest of his journey in Teyvat. While I am forever indebted to you all for the love and hospitality you have shown me over the past few days, I will be taking this time away to find myself. I want to explore Teyvat and experience all it has to offer.

By now, most of you are aware that I deny the title of The Creator and its affiliated titles. Due to that, Venti had asked me, "If not a God, who am I?" last night.

I am simply, just me - (Y/N) (L/N).

Venti backed off awkwardly after seeing the pointed stares at him. "I didn't suggest for them to just leave Mondstadt!" He exclaimed. Diluc rolled up the sleeves of his coat, preparing to take a swing at the bard. Venti slipped out the window, escaping in the nick of time.

BONUS SCENE:

"(Y/N), look!" Paimon exclaimed as she pointed in the air. You followed, catching a glimpse of a folded piece of paper floating in the sky. Gracefully, it landed in your outstretched hand. "A letter?" Aether mused. You shrugged, opening the folded piece.

Dearest (Y/N),

I would like to apologise for causing your abrupt departure from Mondstadt. While I am eternally grateful that I have had the chance to meet you in person (and to even share a conversation with!), I will miss you.

I have waited for your arrival for over a thousand years. I will gladly wait for another thousand years and more, for your return.

Wishing you safe travels,

Your friend ♡

How cute, he even drew a small heart at his signature! The moment you finished reading his letter, you could hear his laughter as a wind current passed you by. It sounded as magical as it did the day before.

End.

★

author's note:

thank you for coming along with me for the journey of INAGWAI! this series was originally planned as a one-shot, but i decided that a 12.7k one-shot would be better posted as a multi-chapter series.

now, to answer some questions that some of you may have:

1. will there be a sequel?

maybe! no certain plans as of now, but i am open to the idea. should it happen, it will feature Liyue onwards. however, updates will probably be only twice a month as i am pre-occupied with school.

2. how did you come up with the idea of an Atheist!AU of SAGAU?

i'm an atheist myself! while i'm an agnostic atheist, i thought that an Atheist! Reader who fully does not believe in deities, would be quite a fun project to take up, especially because of how GI and SAGAU is centred around deities. i actually had another comedic scene related to this, but it was ultimately scrapped due to plot purposes.

3. are there any scrapped Venti scenes?

yes, actually! you can read two bonus Venti scenes here. it was scrapped because it did not fit with the plot, but i thought it was too adorable to fully delete.

4. it was mentioned that Reader did not finish the Mondstadt Archon quest. how were they able to move onto Liyue with Aether?

it's my fanfic, hence it's my lore now. as mentioned in part II, INAGWAI is not fully accurate to the actual GI lore. also because i felt that writing another 5k words dedicating about how Reader and Aether saved Dvalin with Venti would be redundant to the plot of INAGWAI.

5. could we post any fan-art etc. of INAGWAI?

yes, of course! just make sure to link INAGWAI in the caption, as well as tag me so that i can reblog it! you can also use the tags #INAGWAI and #☆if not a god who am i? too!

6. who named the Hydro slime?

my best friend did! he had suggested Kiki and i had responded that Kiki meant p*ssy in tagalog. the moment was so funny that i decided to keep the name! dav, thank you for always letting me bounce my ideas for INAGWAI on you and giving me on-site feedback - i adore you <3

7. the wind spirits in Venti's scene(s) were so cute! did you create them?

the adorable wind spirits/sprites featured in Venti's scenes are from @anemoarchonhoe 's Thousand Winds AU! where God!Reader and husband Venti basically have a thousand (and more) wind sprites as their children. it's incredibly creative and adorable, do check Ventus's blog out!

to Ventus, a huge thank you once more for allowing me to feature the little darlings in this chapter. i can only hope that i did them enough justice in this. i appreciate you so much <3

if you enjoyed INAGWAI, perhaps you could check out my other works! more GI-related works to be published soon, especially for Zhongli and Childe <3

thank you for reading! xx

taglist:

previously on INAGWAI:

You grimaced. Aether frowns, quickly taking note of the change in your mood. "Your Grace, if I may ask, is there a problem?" You pursed your lips, shyly rocking back-and-forth on the balls of your feet. "Actually yes,"

"Is there something we could do? The chance to serve you in-person is so exciting!" Amber's brown eyes sparkled brightly under the sunlight, appearing like melted honey. Truth be told, you felt a little bad for ruining her sprit with your next response. "How do I say this.." You muttered. "You can be honest with us, promise!" Paimon encourages.

"Gods don't exist."

Your three companions froze, all staring at you with pure shock. The little fairy was the first to recover, floating nearer to your face to stare into your eyes. "You're joking.. Right?" She asked with a quiet voice.

Part II - Information

★

"What do you mean, 'Gods don't exist'?" Paimon parroted your own words back at you, an incredulous look on her face. You raised an eyebrow in question. "They literally.. Do not?" You chuckled. "I mean, have you even met one?"

Paimon splutters. You could practically see the light fade from her eyes as shock envelops her being. The little companion still ever so gracefully, sunk downwards. The Hydro slime catches her with ease, with no reservations to be used as a temporary cushion. "She sunk.." Amber gasped. Aether simply stared. He was deep in his mind, searching for answers for questions he never thought possible. He almost chuckles at the ironic situation - How could you not believe in the exact being you were?

Never once did any of you bear the thought of Paimon.. Not floating. It felt odd, illegal even.

The gloomy atmosphere that had taken over your companions had made you feel guilty. While it was true that you did not believe in the existence of any divine being such as Gods, you certainly did not want your views on religion to influence others. You knew that people should be free to believe in whoever they place their trust to, as well as the freedom to change beliefs at their own will. You also thought that whoever others were religiously faithful to, was none of your business.

You waved your hands in a panic, "No, no! Bad choice of words," You chuckled awkwardly, heaving a small sigh of relief when you noticed Paimon had perked up - just the tiniest bit - at your words. Great, you were now reassured that you had not killed the fairy. At least the tough part of the job was done.

"I do not believe in the existence of Gods." You started, watching carefully at your audience to gauge their reactions. Paimon visibly deflated once more, slumping forward. She appeared almost as if a robot had powered-off due to low battery. Amber had a crestfallen look on her face. It felt foreign to see the outrider like that, given her usual cheerful and bubbly personality. Yet Aether, perhaps your most loyal acolyte of them all, stared at you with a blank expression.

While you were used to seeing him with such an expression during your short time as a Genshin Impact player, especially before suddenly being dumped into Teyvat, being on the receiving end of it was an odd experience. His stare was not penetrating enough to make you scared, Archons no! The traveller would rather sacrifice himself before even accidentally making you scared of him. Should that happen, his poor heart would never be able to accept it.

His blank stare was just enough to make you feel unsettled. You felt almost as if you had wronged him in some capacity. Almost as if you felt compelled to make amends, despite knowing you had not done any misdeeds. Was this feeling natural? Did he have some sort of powers to manipulate your emotions? You were not sure.

Though on his end, he was only devoid of any thoughts because he wanted to listen to your words. He wanted to listen, to understand them; to worship them until his very last days. He will gladly grovel at your feet, repeating your words to himself like a broken record. He wanted to absorb any essence of you that he could, even if it were just words. Loyal to a fault, he was willing to let you say anything, even if your words contradict your very existence. Just as long as you allow him to stay by your side.

You cleared your throat and looked away from him, a nervous chuckle escaping your lips. "Just because I do not believe Gods, does not mean you should as well," Like a plant reaching for the sun, Paimon slowly sits up straight. You could see the light returning to her eyes. She listened attentively, eager to hear the rest of your speech. "If you believe in Gods, that's alright! You are free to believe in whoever you please." You added on. With a deep sigh, you rolled back your shoulders. The relief you felt from expressing your true feelings was immense, as if a figurative weight was pushed off from your back.

Paimon springs up, floating around your figure as she giggles excitedly. "But Paimon believes in you! It's okay if Paimon does that, right?" You sighed. "I would rather not," She visibly deflated again. You immediately retracted your words, not wanting the little companion to fall further into any more confusion than necessary. In your eyes, she was too young for that. "Even if there were a religion after me, what would it even be called?" You asked her, an amused smile playing at your lips. You thought that you had gotten her stumped. A question that probably need a moment or two for her to ponder, just enough time for you to distract her. Just before she brings up the religion card agai-

"The Creator's Love."

Aether's answer caught you off guard. Paimon and Amber nodded enthusiastically, "Right!" You paused. How was one even supposed to react in a situation like this? It was such a specific yet complex situation. Was there even a way to get out of it?

You coughed into your hand. The utter speed of his answer alone made you feel almost dizzy. "That's uh.. Creative, simply put." You muttered. It sounds like a cult, you thought instinctively. "But even still, I can promise you that I'm not this 'Creator' you speak of," Aether shook his head. He appeared as crestfallen as Amber was moments ago. "It is you.. I know it is."

Your curious nature wanted you to probe at him a little more, to ask for more information about what he meant. How did he know if you were truly the 'Creator'? What if he was just mistaken? How would the 'real Creator' feel, seeing a follower of theirs blindly tell someone else that they were the deity?

You paused. Those were questions for another day. Even if you could ask him those questions, there were other questions. Some of which were much more important. Questions such as - Even if Aether and Paimon recognised you from the get-go (and even called you that unsettling title, Your Grace), were they aware of their positions in Teyvat? Were they aware that this entire world was nothing more than coding, numbers and design? Was everyone in Teyvat aware?

Just as you opened your mouth to respond, Paimon flew in-between you and Aether, effectively blocking each other from the other's view. "All of this talking is making Paimon veeery hungry!" She stretches her body whilst in the air, even adding in a yawn for a little flair. She smoothly slides up to Aether, a knowing smirk on her face. "Why don't we treat Their Grace to some food? Paimon thinks that they would love Sticky Honey Roast!"

"Please don't call me that," You said immediately after Paimon with a shake of your head. "Call you what, Your Grace?" Amber responds, only to be cut off by you. "-That. Just use my name, please." Your three companions gasp once again, both Paimon and Amber stuttering out excuses about how they could never do that.

You pointed a hand in their direction. Almost immediately, the two stopped talking. An effective tactic to get an audience to quieten down, something you learnt in your younger years as a school councillor. Your head was starting to pound again. All of this talk about believing or not believing in a faith had taken a number on your social battery. Before it depleted completely, you wanted to at least finish two tasks.

Task one: Get these three to address you by your name, not by that odd title. It felt unnatural and wrong.

You shifted your pointed hand into an open palm. Warm and inviting, it awaited to greet hands of others. You smiled for the second time ever since meeting them. "My name is (Y/N), it's a pleasure to meet you." The slime squeaks, almost as if attempting to pronounce your name as well. You smiled, bending down to give it a pat. What an adorable thing.

Amber squeaks and takes a small step backwards. "The Creator's real name.. To shake hands with Their Grace..." She mutters in a cycle. You could metaphorically see swirls in her eyes, going around and around. You grasped her by the shoulders, "Amber!"

She shook her head furiously, forcing herself out of her daze. "I'll go uh-" Her eyes darted around the surroundings with a panic, frantically searching for a way to leave the scene. She wanted to save herself from any more embarrassment. "I'll go ahead first! I'll make sure that there are no monsters in the area," She turned to run off, temporarily freezing in place when you said her name. "Please be safe." A light dusting of pink colours her cheeks. With a desperate attempt to save what was left of her dignity, she rushes down the path to the gates of Monstadt.

Paimon whistles, "Look at her go! This is the first time Paimon has seen her go that fast," She faced you with a cheeky smile. "Best not to keep Amber waiting for too long, let's go!" With a tug on your sleeve, you started your walk towards Good Hunter. Your gaze shifted over to the traveller, his quietness now a reminder of his empty stare.

"Aether.. You okay over there?" You called. Almost as easy as snapping a finger, the emptiness clears. He looks at you attentively, his curious expression making him look innocent. Almost as if he did not act like an empty shell moments ago. He nods, big golden eyes shining with earnest. "Yes, Your Grace. Thank you for being concerned about me-"

You held up a hand, "No, no. You know my name, Aether. Please use it." He freezes, startled at the reminder. He shook his head, disagreeing. "Your Grace, I simply could not. I am not worthy.." You frowned at his hesitancy. "Please, you're my first friend here. You deserve to use it." You whispered as you took his hand with your own to convince him.

He stares at his hand, his unworthy hand being touched by you. You, who he viewed with the utmost respect and admiration. You, who he never thought would ever physically be here, with him. With a reluctant nod, he finally utters your name. It was quiet, nothing above the volume of a mumble. Still, you heard it.

Task one: accomplished. Sort of.

Aether felt like the gates of Heaven had opened for him when he saw the smile that graced your features when he said your name. If this was truly how Heaven felt like, I would be okay with this being my final sight, He thought. Elated that he was the reason for your smile, he finds the courage to intertwine your fingers with his.

He notices the surprised look in your eyes at his move. He could hear the erratic thumping of his heart as he awaited for you to do something, anything! He awaited for you to turn upset. How disgusting of him to do; a lowly acolyte taking the hand of a God.

Yet, you did nothing. You let out a sigh of relief and moved forward, tugging him along with you to catch up to the floating companion and your slime. The pair got along easily, seeing that the slime even bounced up to give Paimon a figurative high-five.

Aether allowed himself to be guided and instead stared at the sight of both of your intertwined fingers. The sight of it alone was enough for adrenaline to start coursing through his body. He could feel your warmth seeping through his body, encasing his entire being in comfort. A type of comfort you could only receive from a special person.

That was what you were in Aether's eyes. You were special, God or not.

Task two: Find out how this entire 'Creator' dynamic had fit into your current circumstance.

"Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Aether tilted his head curiously at your question. "Go ahead, Your-" He paused upon seeing your narrowed stare. His heart begins to hammer in panic, would this be the reason for his death? That he had disgraced The Creator, by simply not following their wishes? He gulped, forcing himself to fix his mistake. "-(Y/N)." You smiled once more. He lets out a sigh of relief.

"You mentioned earlier that you were sure that 'it' was me," You started. He nods. "How are you so sure?" He pressed his lips in a thin line. He hummed, "I don't really know how to explain it.. But, I felt this presence with me ever since I had accidentally fished Paimon out from the sea," You felt the corners of your lips upturn at the mention of how the duo met.

"This presence.. It was warm and comforting, almost like a hug. Then, I realised that I was not entirely in control of my body. Conscious yes, but my hands would move forward to attack or dodge, even when I was not trying to do so. I figured it was the doing of this presence,"

You bit your lip as you listened to him, connecting the dots yourself. It seemed that Aether was not aware that he was in a game. At least that was what it was, in your world. A world that you may never return to. Yet he was aware of you. He knew you were pushing and pulling him around Mondstadt.

"I wanted to be upset at first, how could someone play with my body like a toy? Constantly running headfirst into danger, facing those Hilichurls even when all I had was a measly Dull Blade," He summoned his current sword, a Prototype Rancour. You internally grimaced, suddenly feeling guilt for not giving him a better weapon. You only had that sword crafted due to a quest and gave it to him only because you thought it suited his colour scheme. If only I was not dumped into a game, I would have switched the sword, You thought bitterly.

"I realised the presence was trying to help me, not harm me. This sword was the first gift they had given me," Aether held the sword gently, his eyes shining in adoration. "They healed my scratches and cuts from fighting, and led me to meet many great people. Then they started helping me get stronger; I was eventually able to take out entire Hilichurl camps." You smiled lightly at his words. You remembered the day that you had defeated not one, but three full Hilichurl camps without even getting a single scratch on him. It was notably, one of your favourite moments as a player.

"Occasionally, the presence would play pranks on me. I still remember the confusion I felt when I saw another person that looked exactly like me. Sometimes there would even be four of me in total, then they would switch into people I had never met before.." He said grimly. You had to stifle a laugh at the mention of more Aethers. There was once a session where you and your three friends ran around Mondstadt, all playing as him. Ah, so this was what the in-use acolyte saw when you were in Co-Op mode.

He frowned. "Sometimes, the presence would disappear. I had grown used to their presence, even going so far to say that I felt.. Empty, without them around." He stopped in his tracks, prompting you follow suit. His sword disappears from view, presumably back into storage. Would it be bad to feel guilt over this? You had never been an avid player from the very beginning. To find out that your characters knew when you were not active and that they were upset over your absence, broke your heart. It was not like you had intended to leave them like that. Finding time to play was hard enough as it is, especially since you were just a mere college student.

Were. Not anymore, considering you are stuck in another world.

Holding both of your hands as gently as he could, a thumb running over the ring that sat on your index finger again. "When I heard you call my name for the first time, that sensation came back. It was stronger than ever, engulfing all of my sensations in warmth. All I knew in that moment, was warmth."

"That's how I knew it was you; You were the presence the entire time. I never thought that I would be given the opportunity to ever meet you." You could finally see it now, all the adoration and respect he held for you as he uttered his words. "And so I thank you, for being there. I would have never gotten as far as I have without you," Please forgive me for being selfish; allow me to indulge myself just this once, He thought before leaning down to press his lips to your knuckles.

"You don't have to thank me, you know." You said sheepishly, evidently flustered. Who knew that the traveller could be so smooth with words? Had Kaeya taught him? Aether shook his head, a light chuckle leaving him. "It was not only me that wanted to thank you," He released one of your hands, still keeping the other intertwined with his. He began walking again, gently pulling you with him to move forward.

"When I found out that Amber, Kaeya and Lisa also felt your presence, I had realised that you must have been a sort of deity. What type of deity would be able to make people stronger as easily as lifting a finger?" You furrowed your eyebrows, confusion setting in. His story was starting to deviate from the story you knew. Was this where 'The Creator' aspect came in?

"Lisa showed me an ancient scroll. It was extremely detailed; explaining about the legend of The Creator and how they created Teyvat with their bare hands. But thousands of years ago, they had fallen into a slumber. Still, their people had never forgotten them." You raised an eyebrow at the story. While you were aware that Teyvat had its many myths and legends, you had never heard one regarding the roots of the world itself. It was intriguing, to say the least. The game's lore had never been a priority for you; You had not even finished the Archon quest for Mondstadt! You had only downloaded the game to play with your friends.

"The prophecy said that when The Creator awakens, they will be nothing but a spirit, their physical body was long gone. It was said that a selected few people will be chosen as vessels - That the vessels will be taken care of by The Creator, and that they will be given strength to protect and lead Teyvat for the years to come."

As charming as the story was, the prospect of you being a God, the very thing you did not believe in, had messed with your head. Especially since this was a fictional world. How could you be a God to a fictional world? You felt that you did not deserve all this praise, all this credit that Aether was giving you for. You were simply following instructions from the game, for Archons' sake!

"So.. You started a cult?" You asked. Aether gasped and shook his head rapidly. "A cult?! No! There were already many organisations worshipping The Creator beforehand. They simply joined forces and with the support of the chosen vessels like myself, the word had spread that The Creator had awoken."

"And how are you so sure that this 'Creator'.. Is me?"

He runs his thumb over the ring you wore. "The legend said that The Creator only wore a single piece of jewellery - A simple line of silver, wrapped around their finger. The two ends of the silver would just barely touch, to signify that Teyvat was ever-growing."

You fought the urge to roll your eyes. It was starting to get ridiculous. Yes, it was true that you wore only that silver ring. But unlike the legend, you only bought it because it an adjustable ring, as well as that it was on sale. You just wanted to treat yourself due to having a particularly hard week beforehand. How was a game even able to twist a part of your life into an entire legend that people worshipped?

Hand still intertwined with his, you and Aether fell into silence.

Task two: Also somewhat accomplished, but it left you with more questions than you had begun with.

"Here we are!" Paimon exclaimed excitedly, whizzing forward to the gates of Mondstadt. The rest of your walk to the gates was a smooth one, albeit a little awkward from your conversation with Aether. Amber had done her job well, considering you did notice a stray Hilichurl mask on the ground, laid in the centre of some burnt grass during your walk. If you had stared at it longer, you would have realised that it appeared like an offering of sorts. You guessed that she had even gone as far to clear out an entire Hilichurl camp.

The guards greeted your companions and barely gave you a second glance. However, they eyed the Hydro slime with a wary look, their hands already at the hilt of their sword. Paimon yelped, defending the slime. "No, no! Paimon promises that it is a friend," The slime chirps, jumping in place to reaffirm her words. Aether showed the guards his sword, a silent announcement that he would be the one to take care of the slime, should it cause hurt to the people of Mondstadt.

Cheerfully, Paimon glides over to Good Hunter after the guards had retreated. The Hydro slime follows after her once more, bouncing happily up the steps. It caught the stares of the many residents of Mondstadt, whispers ensuing. Yet the slime remained unaware, its only priority was to follow the travelling companion around.

"Amber!" Said outrider grins when she catches sight of the incoming party. "Just in time! The Sticky Honey Roast just arrived," Paimon gasps, eyeing the food with sparkles in her eyes. "Paimon is so hungry!"

The dish itself looked marvellous. The honey sauce caused the meat to shine like a medal, looking as if it was supposed to be admired instead of eaten. Would Gordon Ramsey be impressed with this? You thought to yourself with a chuckle. Ever the gentleman, Aether pulled out a seat and allows you to settle in first before sitting down himself. The slime sat at your feet, rubbing itself at your legs like an affectionate cat.

Just as you were going to take a slice of the meat, a voice caused you to freeze.

"Care to explain why any of you thought that it would be a good idea to bring a Hydro slime into the city?"

★

A/N:

welcome back for INAGWAI part 2! i hope everyone is enjoying the story so far~ i was not planning to make INAGWAI (somewhat) Aether-centric but it just happened. however, it kind of makes sense because he is the first person we meet in GI! and also because i'll forever be an Aether simp (i love you, my yellow haired bastard <3)

do suggest names for the Hydro slime, it will be given an official name in part 3!