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You are a fallen god, now your soul being in a mortal body. Your name is Obreski, you were once the god of Smoke and Smolder. You helped provide over your country, Snezhnaya, for a millennia. That is… until the Cryo Archon, The Tarista, took you down during the Archon War…
You awaken in a storm, choking up water and struggling to swim upwards. You look around and notice that you're on a small island surrounded by sea. A large ship lies nearby, which seems to be drifting towards the island.
Before falling asleep, the last thing you remember was being struck down by the one who you loved.. The Tsaritsa... You put a hand to where her spikes of cold, burning ice stuck you. The wound on your neck seems as though it was never there. You blink water from your eyes and look around.
You couldn't be alive. It's impossible. And yet, here you are, proving your own point wrong. Perhaps you died that day, but the spark of life was too strong within. It begins to rebuild itself, and you feel your senses slowly return to you.
You see another island nearby.
You look behind you and see a broken home. The hay roof is caving in but that house may be a better start than nothing. You begin to swim to the island.
The waves continue to crash and the rain continues to pour but you do not care. This is survival, this is what you are.
You stand on the shore and shiver. Never in your life had you been this cold... You go inside the house with the caved in room and look around. There's nothing much left in here, the wind from the open window taking what little items remained and throwing them around.
You move about the room, the tattered curtains flapping in the wind.
You find a mirror and.. And you see a form you don't recognize as your own. A gaunt figure, with pale skin and black hair. The face seems emotionless save for the red eyes that peer out from it. This is no doubt a reflection of your soul.
You notice something else as well, you're much shorter. That might be an overstatement considering your form, your real form. You look down at yourself in the tattered, worn-out clothing that you're currently wearing. You're a lot shorter than you should be.
You look around but nothing else seems amiss.
You look in the mirror once again at your body.
"Am.. Am I a mortal?" You say aloud, breaking the silence. This is all so odd and confusing.
You go to the window and look out at the storm and the night sky.
The only thought that comes to your mind next is, 'I will kill the The Tsaritsa.' She has to pay for this. She has to die. You're nobody's puppet.
You put your hands to the side of your head and begin tearing at your hair.
Then something comes glowing from your neck. A red vision materializes just below your jugular, the pyro symbol of a flame lighting up the room in a warm hue. The vision clasps to your neck, generating a collar.
...
The Pyro Archon, whoever that may be, has granted you a vision immediately in your new life. You knew the old Pyro Archon but since you were taken down early in the Archon War.. You don't know who the newest one is. This is all very odd.
In any case, you know that you have a lot of enemies now. You look over at the beach wistfully and feel a rage bubble within you the longer you stare.
"How many other gods now lie at the bottom of the ocean as I was..?" You put the matter aside, forcing yourself to check around the house.
You look through the wreckage of the house, searching for any potential weapons that you can use or anything valuable.
Surprisingly in the bedroom you see the glint of a sword's blade under the bed. You grab it and hold it up and grin as you sheathe it at your side.
You search the entire house, finding nothing of interest as the rain continues to pour down on the house.
"I should just burn this place to the ground."
You leave the house and try to ignore it, going to explore whatever land you've come upon.
Whatever happens, you will make sure to survive it.
You end up finding a lush forest as the storm rages on... "Could this be Mondstadt?" You say aloud, looking at what appear to be hilichurls in the distance.
You begin heading in that direction.
Then you pause as one of the trees rumbles in the distance.
You stop, realizing something. "My powers." You think.
You re-realize that you're a mortal now, that you're not nearly as powerful as you once were. "To think the God of Smoke and Waste would have to lean on the help of a vision..."
You shake your head, coming out of your trance as you begin heading towards the rumbling.
You see a boy, maybe the age of 17, training with.. Wolves? He has fluffy black hair, bright red eyes, and scars all over. He seems to have an electro vision by the purple glint on his claymore.
"Excuse me!" You call out and move forward.
The boy looks up, almost like a spooked dog, the wolves run away immediately.
"You..! You not around here..!"
You gather that the boy doesn't speak much English.
"No, I'm not.. I seem to be a bit lost." You place a hand to your brow in a thinking position. "Hmm, I seem to be in some ruins.."
The boy looks around and then points to the distance. "Old ruins, far away from anywhere."
"What's your name?" You ask him, uncertain if he'll even stay to talk with you.
"I am Razor!"
You tell him your name, "I am Obreski." You respond in kind. "How long have you lived here?"
"Long time."
You ask if he can show you to the nearest city.
"Can do.... But need something."
"I can offer you something in exchange for showing me to the city."
"I need meat, do you know the way to hunt...?"
You nod, though it's more of a reflex. You've never actually hunted for food before, though you assume that it's pretty simple. You just sneak up on some animals and kill them right?
"I can do that."
"I go East! Meet back here soon?"
You think about it for a second. "Sure, why not? I'm not in any hurry to get back anyway."
"Great!" He grins widely and lopes off into the trees.
You try to hunt.
You begin heading East as the boy had asked. You find yourself in a dark forest that seems to go on forever. You're walking along a dirt path when you hear the rustle of leaves to your left.
You pull out your sword, unexpectedly you set ablaze with heat... A familiar feeling washes over you and the taste of ash in your mouth makes you smile. You charge at the bushes with speed that suits you much better, you slash down and stick your flaming sword into the bush. You twist it and a pained yelp is heard.
Something begins to move from the bushes.
You move the leaves aside to see a deer that was previously injured. You put it out of it's misery. This didn't count as hunting but you've more than fulfilled your side of the bargen for Razor. You grin from ear to ear thinking about all the delicious fresh meat that you'll be eating on the way back.
You begin heading East as the boy had asked.
You meet back up with Razor who is standing next to a pile of three boar... 'How did he take those down so easily..?" You think to yourself as you drop the Deer on the ground in front of him.
"Yes! Good meat!" He says with a smile.
"The City is that way." He points in a different direction from where you came from. "Many people, highly populated! I don't like it there."
You say, "Thank you Razor." He nods with a small smile on his slightly sunburnt face.
You wave goodbye to the boy and head to the city. You find it's easy to get there once you find the dirt road. Eventually you reach the bridge that leads across Cider Lake. You remember Mondstadt being... Elsewhere. But that's what the sign says the city is.. 'Had they relocated since I was alive?'
"Ah, good morning!" A guard by the front gate greets you, waving. "May I inquire your reason to enter The City Of Freedom?"
"Oh I'm just a bit lost, I'm passing through."
"I see! Well, Mondstadt welcomes you stranger." The guard chuckles. "Don't be scared, it's a friendly city!"
"Thanks for your advice." You sarcastically say and enter the City of Mondstadt.
You wonder if Barbatos made it through the Archon War. He was the original Animo of the Seven so it was unlikely but... Mondstadt seems to have still held it's ideals. Was Barbatos here and just eliminated?
You shake your head. 'It doesn't matter. I have a nation to turn.'
You begin wandering the city, taking in the sights. You try to imagine what it would be like to live here, with all of these wonderful people and...
"Ah! Hello! It's been a while since we've seen a fresh face." You turn to see a dark skinned man with blue hair and a cryo vision approach you. He.. He seems oddly out of place here.
"Good morning." You nod your head to him.
"Well, are you going to tell me your name or will you make me beg for it?"
"I'm sorry, but I don't like to be bullied in such a manner." You say in an attempt to be serious, as the man begins to laugh.
"Come on it's a joke!" He holds out a gloved hand, "Kaeya, Knight of Favonius. Pleased to meet your acquaintance."
"... I'm not actually here to make friends."
"Ooohhh! So you are a little scary."
"I wouldn't go that far."
Kaeya laughs and begins to speak, "Well anyway, I was just passing through and saw you hunched over a deer carcass, so I thought I should say hey."
"You were watching me?"
"Why wouldn't I? A once powerful person washes up as a mortal on our shores..." You shiver and stare at him with a furious look, "Why wouldn't I be interested?" You back away and glare at him.
"How do you know that-"
"I know this, someone once saved my life. From an evil man enslaved by the shadows." You look away and Kaeya stops, closing his mouth.
"Try to enjoy your exploration of what you left behind-"
"I didn't leave anyone behind!" You say, feeling heat rise in your throat.
"Ah... I understand." Kaeya smiles, but you can see his eyes darting around, looking for an escape.
"... What do you want Kaeya, cavalry captain of the Knights of Favonius...?"
"Well, that's a very.... Specific title. I just said what I wanted, didn't I?" Kaeya rubs the back of his neck.
"I want you to see the world as we below you do."
You stare as the man walks away and behind a door into a bar. You sigh and move on. You reach a great statue, looking up at the face of the familiar Barbatos.
"... Good. At least they still worship him to some extent." You mutter and move on.
You reach a building that looks like a church and you slow down.
"The church of freedom.." You ponder aloud, opening the heavy brass doors. You walk inside and find a simple building, with a small congregation. They all turn to stare at you as you walk down the center aisle towards the altar.
You wonder if Barbatos even remembers you... It's not as though you were important, in fact it was likely he does not like you considering which Archon you were once so close to.
You reach the altar at the front of the church.
"Who dares disturb me, God of freedom?" A deep voice says from behind it.
You jump back only to see another familiar face pop out from behind a pillar. He winks and walks over to you.
"What brings you to the City of Freedom?"
You look across at the humble form Barbatos has taken. He's nothing like the massive warrior you last saw.
"I came to see the City of Freedom." You say, only making him chuckle.
"... I have questions, if we could go somewhere private." You say, suddenly getting serious.
"Of course, follow me." He walks through a side door and you hurry after him, through the back of the church. "Take my hand."
The Animo God hold out a delicate hand and you grab it. You hear a lyre strum and you're lifted up into the air. He grabs you and flies to the roof of the church, landing gently. You sit down beside him. "So, what would you like to know?" He says, playing idly with his hair.
"How long has it been since the Archons went to war..?" You ask, as he continues to look at you.
"Six hundred and fifty eight years, three months and thirteen days."
"And how did it end?"
Barbatos stops playing and smiles, "We won."
"Which other Archons are left?"
"Of the original? Just myself and Morax."
You feel your face pale as you stare at Barbatos.
"Oh and.. I go by Venti when we're around mortals okay?" He says, grinning.
"I... see." You say, looking away from his piercing gaze.
"So why did you come to see me?"
"Barbatos- I mean.. Venti, I'm..." You look at your hands, struggling to say the words aloud, "I'm not an Archon anymore."
"You're not?" He asks, clearly surprised.
"When the war started I pledged my loyalties to the Cryo Archon... My Tarista... She struck me down without a second thought. I was one of the first to go I'm sure." You look wistfully at Cider Lake, somehow it seemed so dull even as the sun was setting.
"... When I woke again I was in the ocean, choking on the salt. I reached the shore and declared I would strike down my.. The Tarista, when I did a Pyro Vision appeared around my neck." You show it to him.
"To think, The God of Smoke and Waste would have to rely on a vision.. Though I suppose that title is no longer my own."
Barbatos tilts his head to the side, "You look tired. Would you like to rest?"
You nod and lean back on the roof, closing your eyes.
"The God of Waste, being left to waste away. A sad fate..." Is the last thing you hear Barbatos say before falling asleep.