Chapter Text
If you had wings to lift you and the Second Star as your guide, you'd find a place where all seasons flourish side by side.
Yet past the Summer Meadow and beyond the Autumn Wood lies an icy land of secrets, a world misunderstood.
But if your mind is open and your heart just has to know, your wings can take you further than you ever thought you'd go.
Far far away from the prying eyes of the humans, there dwells a magical world called Teyvat Hollow, a place where the four seasons of autumn, summer, spring, and winter coexist.
At first, one might think the hollow was empty. But it isn't, not even close. Rather, this hollow is inhabited by magical Elemental pixies called Genshin.
These Genshin were tiny. Even the biggest one is no larger than a grown person's hand. They live among the environment of the hollow, with a very special relationship with nature despite having no contact with humans.
Each Genshin possesses a special magic called a Vision, the source of a Genshin's wings and magic powers. There are seven total types of Visions in Teyvat Hollow:
Genshin with Anemo Visions can command the winds.
Geo Genshin could control the earth and stone.
Electro Genshin commanded lightning and electricity.
Genshin with Dendro had powers over plants.
Hydro-bearing Genshin are capable of harnessing the power of water.
Pyro bearers in the Genshin could command and create fire.
Finally, Cryo Genshin could create and control ice and snow.
Thus, the different Genshin and their special talents maintained balance in the seasons and Elements. The problem was that they were separated in another way.
Dendro, Electro, Pyro, and Anemo Genshin were considered Warm Genshin, as they dwell in the warmer seasons of summer, autumn, and spring.
Cryo, Hydro, and Geo Genshin dwell in Winter, and were considered Winter Genshin. Because they could not handle the environment on the opposite sides, neither were allowed to cross over.
So for Warm Genshin, the world of the Winter Woods is considered mysterious, uncharted, and hazardous. The same was said for the Winter Genshin about the warm seasons.
But one particular Warm Genshin wasn't quite so timid like his fellow pixies. His name is Diluc, a Pyro Genshin who is brave and curious. This is the story of what he could find on the other side.
It all started on a usual warm day in Teyvat Hollow. As per the usual, a certain redheaded tinkerer appeared out of the plants to see two other Genshin passing by overhead.
“Morning, Diluc! You up?” Yanfei waved, carrying a basket of materials.
He waved at her. “Hey, Yanfei!”
A thumping sound and a “Whoooaaaa!” made both of them turn.
Diluc took a step forward on the leaf he stood on. “Bennett! You okay?”
“I think I broke a shoulder blade...” The younger Genshin said before popping back up. “No! It's okay!” He yanked his materials free with a grunt.
Yanfei sighed loudly, her punk pink hair shining in the sunlight. “Sigh, you never change, B. You're so predictable.”
Then a fourth Pyro Genshin, this one a brunette girl, fluttered to join them. “Come on guys, we gotta hurry before the owls get here!”
“Coming!” Bennett said.
As the others flew off, Diluc took a pinch of Vision Dust from a pouch and tossed it overhead, letting it fall on his wings. With a flutter, he took off after them.
Yae Miko fluttered to and fro as she monitored everyone's work. “Come now everyone! The snowy owls will soon be arriving to take the snowflake baskets to the Winter Woods! Sayu, stop noodling and start tinkering!”
“Sigh, yes Ma'am.” Sayu groaned, sitting up from her nap.
Kazuha was busy sorting the materials delivered by a nearby mouse. “Thanks, Cheese.”
Nearby, Beidou was busy finishing up her and Xinyan's work on a basket.
“Whew! That takes care of that basket.” Beidou sighed, fastening the weave into place. “This should be the last of them.”
Diluc flew in to join them. “Morning, Beidou. Morning, Xinyan!”
“Mornin'!” Xinyan greeted and attempted to raise her hand in a wave, before realizing her hands had gotten stuck in the weaves of the basket. “Uhhh...”
Beidou laughed in embarrassment. “Ahahaha, oops! Sorry! Thoma, could you lend us a wing please?”
“Coming!” Thoma, another Pyro Genshin, flew over to help get Xinyan unstuck.
Diluc finished helping to set up the pulley system and flew back down to join them, trying not to laugh at the situation.
“I still think it's annoying that we make the snowflake baskets but don't take them to the Winter Genshin.”
Beidou huffed. “Yeah yeah, it's not fair. But that's just the way it is.”
Rolling his eyes, Diluc continued. “Think about it. Wouldn't you want to go to the Winter Woods?”
All three of them jumped and gasped, instantly turning to him.
Thoma's wings twitched behind him. “We wouldn't last a day in that cold, remember?”
“Yeah! Besides, I'm terrified of glaciers.” Xinyan agreed.
Diluc frowned. “Glaciers?”
“Yeah! I hear they're known for their stealth!”
Beidou rolled her eyes. “She's never actually seen one.”
Xinyan shot a glare at Beidou. “You never do! That's the point!”
“You... Do realize that glaciers are just ice peaks, right?” Thoma frowned at her.
Before she could protest, a horn went off nearby. Miko knew what this meant.
“Ah! The snowy owls! Quickly now! Xinyan, Thoma, Beidou, get that basket up! Kazuha, start up the pulley!”
Diluc got Xinyan free and Beidou got the basket onto the pulley system.
She gestured to Kazuha. “Good to go!”
Nodding, Kazuha turned to the mice operating the pulley system. “Okay, guys! Go, go, go!”
The mice got started, and the baskets started moving upwards for each owl to take it. One owl was a little wobbly on the flight.
Yae Miko grinned. “Ah! A newcomer.”
As the last owl flew away with the basket, one owl, the leader, returned and dropped an icy snowflake message to them. Miko grabbed it to read it. “Let's see, the final shipment order.”
She was stunned. “Goodness! They need 20 more baskets for tomorrow's pickup!” Suddenly, the ice melted into water in her hands, making her drop it with a giggle.
Diluc shared a laugh before flying upwards a ways for a view of the snow-capped woods in the distance.
“There's a whole other world out there...”
Miko was already rallying the other Genshin. “Well done, everyone! The shipment is off to Winter! But we have lots to do for tomorrow's pickup, so chop chop! Sayu, get off your laurels and get to work!”
Suddenly, a voice shouted from nearby. “Look out! Runaway bunny!”
Everyone scattered as a young rabbit charged into the work area, knocking over and crushing various supplies.
Beidou and Xinyan barely managed to dive out of the way, and Kazuha and Amber had to lift the mice to safety before the pulley wheel was crushed.
Behind the bunny, the source of the voice was Jean, an Anemo Genshin trying to tame the wild bunny.
Acting quickly, Diluc grabbed the fishing rod he crafted out of lost things and harnessed the rabbit, slowing it to a stop. “Gotcha!”
Jean flew over, panting. “Hah... Hah... Thanks, Di.”
“No prob, Jean.”
She giggled at the bunny. “Come on little guy, we still have a long way to the Winter Woods.”
Diluc grew intrigued. “Oh? You're taking the animals today?”
“Trying to.” Jean corrected. “It's that time of year for them to cross the border, but this little guy's a handful.”
“I can lend you a wing if you want.” Diluc offered.
Jean reluctantly said, “Uhhh, sure? You can try.”