Chapter Text
Everything hurts.
With a groan, you squeezed your eyes shut as another wave of pain washed over you. It felt like someone had just cracked your skull open with a sledgehammer. Was this how brain haemorrhages felt like?
You continued to writhe in pain for the next minute, taking in deep breaths as you awaited for the pain to fade away. When it finally did, you cracked an eye open. Your vision was bleary, mainly large blotches of green and an assortment of other colours. After a few blinks, the bleariness disappears.
You stared at the blades of grass that were merely millimetres from your eyes. The bright shade of green it carried from containing chlorophyll shone under the sunlight, the perfect example for a day in the summer. You tilted your head in confusion. Why were you even asleep while outside in the first place? Last you checked, you fell asleep in your bed; at home. You did not have a backyard.
Immediately sitting up, you winced at the wave of pain attacking your brain in that moment. As the pain slowly dissipated, you stared long and hard at your surroundings. Not only were you in a beautiful grass field, there were also small animals at a nearby distance. Squirrels turned and returned your stare, their large black and beady eyes brimming with equal parts of fear and curiosity.
The soft sound of sloshing caught your attention. You looked around, trying to find its source. As the sloshing gradually grew louder, you noticed a peculiar being staring at you. With wide white eyes, a blue blob bounced towards you. You watched as its shape changed smoothly from a round blob, to an odd oblong shape from launching itself into the air, then back to a round blob. It reminded you of a bouncy ball that children would play with. For some reason, the blob was a familiar sight.
The blue blob had finally become within arms’ reach. It stared at you with curiosity like the squirrels. However unlike those critters, the blob seemed to be devoid of any traces of fear. The small horns on its head contradicted its naturally cute look, making you second-guess your chances of petting it. There was always a chance that it could suddenly become aggressive. The blob leaned in towards you, eyes unashamedly staring deep into your own.
You gave a small smile and waved. “Hello..?” You greeted it softly. The blob made a high-pitched squeak; a pleased sound and inched closer. You held a hand out to it, allowing the blob to take a moment to decide whether to allow you to touch it. It squeaked again and thrusted its head under your hand, wiggling happy upon contact.
You grimaced, the blob just felt so.. Moist. Why did a blob even feel moist? It was wet, slippery and not to mention, oddly cold. Not too cold that it made you wince, but cold enough that it felt like a cooling pack.
When you pulled your hand away from the blob and grimaced at the clear fluid that was left on your hand that resembled the mucus a snail would produce, the blob made a low-pitched sound. Almost as if it whined. You raised an eyebrow in surprise at its response and tilted your head. The blob followed, moving its entire round body to tilt in the same direction your head did, a soft sloshing sound following suit. You tilted your head in the other direction. The blob followed once more, the sloshing sound still in effect. A small smile etched itself onto your face at the observation. It was an odd interaction, yet adorable at the same time. Who thought that an odd blob shaped thing that sounded like it was filled with water, would be the first being you would interact with here?
It was only then realisation had set in for you. No wonder the blob was a familiar sight - You have encountered it before! Where? You wondered.
This game you usually play once in a while with your friends! The answer hit you like a train-wreck, causing your head to start pounding once again.
Come on.. Think, think.. What game was it?
Kirby? No.. Animal Crossing? Not that either..
Genshin Impact.
You snapped your fingers at the game title, headache slowly fading away once more. You paused. If this blob was part of the game, how were you able to interact with it? Why was it in your world?
You took a second look at your surroundings again. It was only then you noticed the large statue a few meters away. The stone figure on the statue wore a hood, two braided locks of hair peaking out from under it, along with two hands that supported a seemingly glowing orb. Memories of you and your friends healing up at this very statue after a boss battle, resurfaced in your mind. Your mouth formed into an O-shape at your discovery.
The blob was not in your world.
You were in its world.
“Oh shit.” The words left your mouth before your mind could even process them, startling both you and the blob. The blob squeaked, shifting closer to you as it tried to comfort you.
“Hey! Get away! That slime is dangerous!” A voice called from behind you. You whipped your head around, a loud gasp emitting from you as an arrow whizzed past your head. It missed your body, just barely. The arrow struck the ground, a comical wobble sound coming from it as it swayed unsteadily from the impact. The blob squeaked with alarm, bouncing towards the intruder. It was ready to protect you. “Wha- Wait!” You called after it, scrambling to your feet. You grimaced as your body moved unsteadily at the first few steps, the sudden movement rendering you slightly dizzy. The blob stopped bouncing, turning back to look at you with a confused glance.
“Please stand back!” The intruder yelled, now a mere metre away from you. They had their bow ready, their arms already locked in position as they aimed at the blob. Without thinking, you ran in front of the blob and defended it. “Hey! Who the hell are you? Do you just randomly go shooting blobs?” You yelled back.
“Blobs? With all due respect, that slime is dangerous! It can seriously injure you!” They responded. They did not falter in their stance, arms still pulled taut to aim at the water slime hidden behind you. You squinted your eyes at them, only to realise who they were.
“Wait- I know you!” You said and snapped your fingers, wracking through your mind to find their name.
“Apple? No.. Ally? No-”
“It’s Amber-”
“AMBER! Yes, the one with the fire powers right?” You exclaimed, accidentally cutting her off. Amber nodded, a reluctant look in her eyes. “It’s actually a Pyro vision,” She rebuts. You waved a hand dismissively, “Same thing!”
Amber finally relaxes her stance and lowers her bow. With furrowed brows, she glances at the shivering slime behind you. “Why.. Do you have a Hydro slime protecting you?” She asks reluctantly. Despite her curiosity, the defense that has been drilled into her from her training as a Knight of Favonius takes priority in her head. You shrugged and gave her an awkward grin. “It’s a funny story actually,”
Amber narrows her gaze. With a quick glance around your figure, her curiosity sparks once more. “What attire at you sporting? Is it Liyuean? Or even Inazuman?” You shook your head, a small frown forming on your face. “About that-”
“Amber!”
Both your head and hers whip around in the direction of the voice. In the near distance was a person with blonde hair. They were accompanied by a floating thing of sorts, its white hair sticking out like a sore thumb in the greenery of your surroundings. As they came closer, you said their names instinctively.
“Aether! Paimon!”
Aether gasps upon hearing your voice, his steps transforming into a light jog to reach you quicker. Paimon floats by him effortlessly, an excited squeal leaving her as she saw your features clearly. “It’s you!” She screams happily, whizzing towards you and wrapping her small arms around your neck. You giggled her childlike personality, patting her head just like how a parent would. Finally, someone you had recognised without any prior help.
Aether knelt before you, his golden eyes shining with earnest. He grasps your free hand with both of his, leaning forward to give it a gentle kiss. “Welcome home, Your Grace.”
His voice takes you by surprise. It was the first time you heard him speak a full sentence. His voice was smooth and gentle, a surprising contrast to his battle cries and grunts that you have grown accustomed to beforehand. As lovely as his words were, they only fueled your confusion. “I’m sorry- Your Grace? You know my name, Aether.” You replied with a befuddled expression. Likewise, Amber sounded equally as confused, if not more, than you. “Traveller? What do you mean that they’re-?”
“Amber, do you not recognise them? It’s truly Their Grace. They have finally returned home,”
You chuckled awkwardly, waving a hand in front of Aether’s face. “You okay, buddy? Are you sick?” He grasps your hand, holding it as gently as one would with handling a child. Running his thumb over your index finger, the ridges of the ring you wore pressed into the pad of his thumb. He held your hand out to it show to Amber. “Would this suffice?”
With a shocked gasp, Amber falls to her knees. She bows at your feet, “Your Grace! Forgive me for not recognising you earlier; of course you would be the only one able to tame a slime effortlessly!”
“Did you say a slime?” Paimon gasps, looking over your shoulder. She squeals excitedly and floats down to be at eye-level with it. “You’re really cute when you’re not trying to kill us..” The slime squeaks curiously, stretching itself vertically to peer back at Paimon.
Unfortunately, you could not notice the interaction behind you, as you stared down at Aether and Amber in horror. You could feel embarrassment seeping through your bones as you bent down to pull Amber up. “Don’t kneel, please! You too, Aether.” You chided them lightly and pulled Aether to stand as well. You scratched your head sheepishly, “Besides, I have no idea who this ‘Grace’ you’re addressing me as.. You must have the wrong person.”
“That’s your rightful title!” Paimon answers for you cheerfully. You raised an eyebrow, “Isn’t that a title for nobles? I can assure you that I’m not one,” Amber shakes her head, her eyes wide in surprise. “Your title is higher than a mere noble, Your Grace!”
Aether nods reassuringly, affirming Amber’s words. “You’re more than a noble. You’re our Creator, a God of this world.” You laughed lightly and patted his shoulders. “Very good joke, Aether! I can tell that we’re going to get along just fine-”
“With all due respect Your Grace, Aether was not joking.” Amber interrupts with a nervous smile. Your smile fell, a blank expression settling on your face. “Are you being serious?” You asked. All three nodded in unison, the determined look in their eyes showing the honesty they held.
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.