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

The morning sunlight filtered through the lattice window, warm rays, fragmented by stained glass, painted the room in multiple hues.

Seino Fugin squinted slightly, uncomfortable with the dazzling light, and turned his gaze away.

His body felt exhausted, with heavy limbs.

Sore and weak.

He struggled to open his eyes and realized he was lying on a pinewood bed. His legs were slightly numb.

Tracing the source of the numbness, he found a fluffy golden furball sprawled over his calf, snoring softly.

The girl's sleeping posture was restless. She had initially been sitting on a small stool by the bed but had dozed off somehow. Her little head drooped, resembling the golden furball. Occasionally, she shifted her position, turning her face and pressing against her own hair.

"Wow, you're awake!"

Lumine rubbed her still-drowsy eyes and accused with mock indignation, "You're such a lazybone."

The claim was completely unreasonable.

"How am I a lazybone?"

Seino Fugin couldn't believe his ears.

"Lazybone, end of story!" Lumine growled, flashing her small tiger teeth as if they could enhance her combat power—or at least her intimidation factor.

"Here, はなむすめ."

Lumine handed over a white flower crown.

Seino Fugin realized that he hadn't achieved much in this life, nor had he left anything behind, except for an unusually large number of nicknames.

In his past life, Rostam had the nickname "Wolf Pup." How cool! Youthful and trendy.

In his other past life, Seino Raimei bore the title "Pillar General"—a symbol of reassurance and reliability.

But now, as Seino Fugin, his nicknames were... はなむすめ and Drowned Corpse.

What a downgrade!

If his future self were to look back on this lifetime, all that might remain would be:

"The great はなむすめ and Drowned Corpse Seino Fugin perished in Mondstadt at the age of three months..."

Ugh! The more he thought about it, the more embarrassing it became.

"What is this...?"

Seino Fugin took the flower crown from Lumine's hands, finding it light in texture. Unlike the previous one, this was made with violet vines and adorned with a few carnations.

It looked freshly gathered, with dewdrops still clinging to the petals.

The weaving was intricate.

"Today's flower crown!"

Lumine stood with her hands on her hips, radiating a "Praise me, I'm awesome" expression. It was clear that the little girl had taken crown weaving as a serious endeavor.

"A promise is a promise."

"I'll make you a flower crown every day, and you have to play with me."

Seino had thought it was a joke, but this little girl had taken it quite seriously.

It was still early morning, just at dawn. She must have woken up even earlier.

The morning mist lingered, the first rays of sunlight had yet to fully break, and Mondstadt lay in tranquil silence. The girl in the white dress walked softly through the flower fields.

She picked petals and wove them into a crown. This one was made with even greater care than yesterday's, as evidenced by the creases on the vines that hinted at her undoing and restarting.

She sat quietly by his bedside, waiting patiently until she fell asleep in the gentle morning light.

No wonder she called him a "lazybone."

She had every right to say so...

"Wow."

Seino Fugin scratched his head and said helplessly, "But that was entirely your decision, okay..."

"Besides, we still have to purify the Lion's Temple today."

He sighed.

"Dummy." Lumine tilted her head slightly, wearing the triumphant expression of a little hen boasting about her victory. She pulled out her ever-present Teyvat Travel Guide.

"I checked the map. The South Lion's location is near Eagles' Gate Beach. If we head further down, we'll reach Cape Oath—two sightseeing spots in one."

When it came to play, Lumine's brain worked astonishingly fast.

"We'll go together, start now, and reach the temple in half an hour. Three hours to handle the temple, and two full hours before sunset to play."

This girl was always so lively and noisy, brimming with energy and unmatched determination.

Fishing, grilling fish, weaving flower crowns, traveling... all mundane little things in daily life. Yet Lumine poured her enthusiasm into them as if they were the grandest adventures.

She was a bit silly, though.

Daily life, huh...

Seino Fugin felt increasingly distanced from such an existence.

From the moment he set foot on Mondstadt's soil, entered a temple for the first time, or perhaps from the moment he was born, his past memories had been propelling him forward.

Rostam's purpose was to protect Mondstadt.

Seino Raimei's was to guard Inazuma.

But Seino Fugin's sole purpose was to die.

To bury the entanglements of past fates.

His birth was solely for death. Therefore, being remembered as the "Drowned Corpse はなむすめ" might seem reasonable.

Heh. Getting sentimental again.

If I die, let it be a spectacular death!

"Let's go." Seino Fugin got out of bed, fastening God Cutter to his waist and placing the flower crown gently by the bedside. "Let's make it quick. What else does your travel guide say?"

"Yay!" Lumine clapped her hands excitedly.

[You have defeated Hilichurl Berserker, Lv30.]

God Cutter slashed through the Hilichurl's body with ease. Seino Fugin grew more proficient with each battle. His bond with the sword deepened as he matured.

The godly blood that once flowed over God Cutter had scarred even the Heavenly Principles. Golden ichor seeped into the sword's grooves, permanently embedding itself in its blade.

Ordinary monsters could not stand a single blow. To be struck meant death; to touch it was injury.

His mind was clear, empty of emotion.

A horde of monsters swarmed toward him, filling the air with their foul stench.

Seino Fugin stood still, his presence serene. The wind whistled faintly. In the blink of an eye, the approaching monsters were dismembered, their bodies flying past him and crashing against the temple walls.

[You have defeated Hilichurl King, Lv37.]

[You have defeated Hilichurl Mage, Lv32.]

[Character Level: 46]

His proficiency in Favonius Bladework grew ever more refined. Due to an untimely death, Rostam's legacy had not passed to Seino Raimei but had instead fallen to Seino Fugin.

A deadly inheritance.

Seino paused, breathing heavily, a metallic taste lingering in his throat. He exhaled deeply, straightened up, and asked, "Did you handle your side?"

"All done." Lumine wiped the sweat from her brow. She pulled her sword free, and two Hilichurls collapsed instantly. Lumine retrieved a teardrop-shaped crystal, the corruption of the Abyss slowly dissipating.

This crystal, a tear once shed by Dvalin, had the power to purify corruption.

[Main Quest Updated]

[Main Quest: Investigate Four Winds Temples (1 remaining)]

[Reward: Memory Fragment Access]

"Let's go." Lumine clasped her hands behind her back, tilting her head as she smiled cheerfully.

Lumine had changed her clothes. Her previous white dress had been stained with blood during the battle. Girls could be so fussy, dwelling on such trivial matters.

Today, she wore a pale skirt paired with deerskin boots, her inner shirt adorned with a bow. A small bouquet of hyssop flowers was tucked behind her golden hair.

Their timing was perfect. It was now mid-winter afternoon, with about two hours left before sunset.

Eagles' Gate Beach was a famous scenic spot near Mondstadt, adjacent to a small fishing village. The streets of the village were clean and well-kept, with dandelions swaying gently in the sea breeze.

As a fishing village, it naturally boasted many fishing gear shops.

Unwilling to back down, Lumine insisted on renting two fishing rods to showcase her "superior" fishing skills. However, after half an hour of futile effort, she sulkily tossed three handmade bombs into the sea.

When the stunned fish floated to the surface, she triumphantly strung them onto her fishing rod and claimed, "See? I caught them all."

When did she learn to make bombs?

Seino Fugin decided it might be time to start charging her royalties for his inventions.

After grilling and eating their fill of fish, they cleaned up the remnants and resumed their journey.

They climbed the hills. Mondstadt, ever verdant, enveloped them in lush greenery. The vibrant foliage seemed to drip with life. Lumine scratched an item off her notebook: "Climb hills at Eagles' Gate Beach."

Climbing hills at the beach—only she could come up with that.

As the sun dipped lower, they ascended further, leaving behind the verdant hills for the grandeur of Cape Oath.

Cape Oath had its own tale of romance, a story Lumine enthusiastically recited from her Teyvat Travel Guide. Seino Fugin dismissed it as tourist bait.

But the cape was undeniably breathtaking.

The crimson sun bathed the cliff in its glow, standing atop the tallest peak overlooking Eagles' Gate Beach. The vast expanse of the sea stretched endlessly, the wind gently caressing the cliffs.

Lumine's deerskin boots clattered against the stone steps. At the end of the path, they had to climb. She scaled the jagged rocks, one step at a time. As they climbed, the sun sank lower. By the time they reached its level, the sky was ablaze with hues of gold and crimson.

"Look back."

"It's beautiful," Lumine murmured.

Seino clung to the cliffside, turning his head. The sunlight felt so close, as if within reach. They climbed toward the summit of Mondstadt's highest peak. Golden rays illuminated their path. A few hawks circled above the setting sun, free and unrestrained.

An inexplicable sense of déjà vu swept over him.

It felt as though he had been here long ago—far earlier than Rostam, perhaps millennia ago.

"Phew."

Seino exhaled deeply. Disjointed images flitted through his mind. He felt dizzy. The sun bore down on his vision, and he seemed to be falling alongside it, plunging into the crashing waves below.

"Hey, you idiot," Lumine grabbed his hand, preventing him from falling further. Clinging to the cliff with her other hand, she scolded him, "Don't zone out while climbing!"

Finally, they reached the summit.

The sun had melted entirely into the horizon. Standing atop the peak, they felt as if they could touch the sky.

From this height, they could see everything below. Smoke rose lazily from the fishing village, Mondstadt's windmills turned slowly, and the ocean sparkled with returning fishing boats dotting the waves.

Lumine held Seino's hand. She didn't let go, perhaps fearing he might slip again. Her soft fingertips brushed lightly against his palm, tickling him.

It was beautiful.

The amber glow highlighted Lumine's face, her cheeks radiant like the sunset. Seino glanced down and noticed the red tint on her earlobes.

She pulled out her guidebook and crossed off "Climb Cape Oath."

Seino Fugin's consciousness wavered, his head heavy and fragmented. Visions emerged from deep within his mind.

His lung injury had worsened.

Lumine likely had many more travel plans, countless adventures she wished to embark on.

She was so young, full of vitality and determination. The world was hers.

But he couldn't stay with her.

Tomorrow, he would purify the final temple, fulfill the mission of the Human Principles, and inherit Rostam's skills and memories—along with the wear they brought.

Fishing, flower crowns, grilled fish, traveling, beaches, cliffs.

These were the small, beautiful moments of daily life, and Seino Fugin was about to leave them behind.

He felt no regret, no sorrow. He didn't want to be a sentimental fool wallowing in emotions. If he were to die, he would do so with flair and dignity.

Like the wind blowing through these mountains—lighter and more fleeting than thunder, but no less meaningful.

"Drowned Corpse," Lumine's eyes sparkled. "It's beautiful! This breeze feels amazing."

She closed her eyes slightly, enjoying the mountain wind.

"It truly is beautiful," Seino Fugin said with a smile. He gently let go of her hand.

"The wind blowing now is mountain wind."

"Mountain wind?"

"In the daytime, valleys blow valley wind; at night, valleys blow mountain wind. Mountain wind comes from the top. At night, the valley cools slower, and the mountain top cools faster. Thus, the valley has higher pressure, causing mountain wind."

"...Who cares about that? I only care that it feels good." Lumine scratched her head. "Why does it matter where the wind comes from?"

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

I have no past, nor do I know the future. My life is as brief as the evening mountain wind, dying at sunset in the valley. Yet, if I can bring comfort and joy to others, that's enough.

As the sun's afterglow faded entirely, standing atop Cape Oath, Seino Fugin said earnestly:

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

Lumine found his words strange. What does that even mean?