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In the calm waters south of Guyun Stone Forest, one often spies on the horizon the silhouette of a peculiar pirate warship named the Alcor. The Alcor has three main sails that are attached to three crow's nests, and should one climb up to one of them, they may chance upon the Crux Fleet's newest member, Kaedehara Kazuha on one of them in his free time.
Today Xiao Yue has the responsibility of delivering a letter to Kazuha. Does it mean he would possibly have to climb all up a wrong one before he can check which crow's nest Kazuha is on? No, it is not necessary. Kazuha may be a solitary person, but he also is not one to trouble others. Xiao Yue knows not the crow's nest in the middle for sure, because Liushi would be there. So all there is left to do is to walk to the bow or stern of the ship and listen out for the melodic soft tune of a flute.
And this time, Kazuha is in the crow's nest nearer to the bow. So Xiao Yue knocks on the steel connector of the mast beam with a wrench borrowed from Muzhen.
Kling! Kling! Kling...! Came the sound of metal against metal.
Until the sound of the flute stops and a gust of wind descends, along with a youth in Inazuman-style samurai garb.
"Looking for me?"
Contrary to his habit of keeping away from the group onboard the Alcor, Kazuha is actually friendly and easy to get along with. When Xiao Yue is alone with him, Kazuha is even willing to teach him how to blow a leaf whistle.
"Yea! There's a letter for you. It was sent to the port in Liyue! But it's in Inazuman script? Are you in trouble?"
"A letter? I see... When the waves meet stone, paper carries with it fate... Would that work...?"
Xiao Yue does not answer Kazuha's rhetorical question. Kazuha is always going on saying very fancy words that no one else in The Crux is refined enough to understand anyway.
Kazuha opens the letter and scans its contents. Xiao Yue looks on curiously.
"... It would appear that I am no longer a wanted man in my country and have been invited to go home."
"A festival in Ritou?" Chief Mate Juza bellows as Kazuha informs him about the letter.
"If it is a festival, then stopping by to trade and hawk our wares would be a good venture!" comments the bookkeeper, Qianyan-er.
"Oh! Do you think I could visit the Amenoma Smithy?" interjects Suling, the ironworker.
"Since Inazuma is at peace now, then going there should be easier than before!" exclaims Huixing the navigator.
The crew of The Crux are excited at the prospect of returning to Inazuma, officially instead of as mercenary rebel army. Kazuha is fond of them, but the crowding around him can get overwhelming especially with the rowdiness of the pirates. It was often hard for him to make out what any of them are saying when they all speak at the same time and over each other.
"I think this is out of Kazuha's hands now... Let's ask Beidou, shall we?"
Kazuha is grateful when Yinxing, the ship doctor, notices his discomfort.
"Right! I'll call for a meeting and we'll bring this up with the Captain!" agrees Juza.
The crowd disperses and Kazuha heaves a sigh of relief. He heads near the bow at portside and looks out over seas, where he can make out the form of Narukami Island behind the clouds. Yinxing joins him quietly.
"They're just excited for you," she folds her arms as she rests them on the edge of the portside. "Are you all right?"
"Mm. Thank you, Yinxing."
"You've been with us for months already, I guess it is hard to get used to our rancour huh?"
"Four months? It is more than- ... oh, you mean for.
"It is not like that. I like everyone here. I just don't listen well when there are too many people around."
"Haha! I remember how you were always quiet with us, but Beidou insists that you're always chatty with her. For a while, Juza was wondering if you hated us, but that didn't seem right either."
"Chatty...? I suppose that is what I am." Kazuha chuckles.
"You're talking quite a bit now with me too..." Yinxing tilts her head contemplatively. "I'm guessing that's because we're alone? That makes sense, you're probably more talkative with Beidou because you only approach her when she is alone, don't you?"
He smiles in response. "As the noise makes my lips still, the quiet makes my heart sing."
"The others may not really appreciate your poetry, but I like your voice when you speak. I'll miss you when you go back."
Kazuha pauses for a moment to process her sentence.
"I am a wanderer, no home is more suitable for me then one that moves with the winds. My going to Inazuma is but a sojourn."
"Aww! So you'll be coming back with us on the Alcor!" Yinxing pats his shoulder cheerfully.
"Land ahoy!" shouts Liushi from the crow's nest.
The Alcor is bustling with activity. Hailong steering the ship carefully as Huixing guides him to a place to anchor, Muzhen sorting out the wares, Furong moving the goods, Qianyan-er checking through the stocks and ledgers.
Captain Beidou raps at the base of the crow's nest nearer to the stern with her claymore. Kazuha lands with a burst of Anemo energy.
"Yes, Captain?"
"The rest of us are gonna take some time to take stock of all our goods, so, why don't you take a small transfer boat and go ahead to Ritou first? Don't wanna miss your appointment with your guides, do we?"
"Don't you need my help with anything?"
Beidou thinks for a moment, then grins, "Sure I do! You can help with by carrying this box down to Suling and taking Qianyan-er with you, she needs to go ahead to Ritou to apply for some entry permits and verify our trading license. Then you're free to go off on your own! We'll mind the Crux's own business, you can come back when you're done!"
"That is doable," Kazuha acknowledges. "Thank you, Captain Beidou."
The bustle of moving and transferring of crates is as raucous to Kazuha as always, but thankfully, none of the crew expected him to join in their conversations, so he focuses on carrying the box of tools to Suling, shutting out all of the buzz around him. He found Qianyan-er easily, who thankfully, already knew what she has to do, so Kazuha does not have to explain to her anything.
They get on the transfer boat and its engine whirls gently, bring them to Ritou Docks.
Ritou is not how Kazuha remembers it. When he had departed, the only vessels on the water were small local fishing boats. But now, he sees ships in the distance, some cargo ships unloading, a passenger ship preparing to dock, a few smaller personal boats around the boat the bookkeeper and him are riding on. The sea breeze carries with it all of the sounds of the ongoing activities. Ritou had never been this lively.
The cacophony only continues when he disembarks onto the jetty. Qianyan-er bids him farewell. He hears calls from the shop owners hawking their products, orders shouted from the soldiers of the Tenryou Commission, chatter from visitors walking about. Inazuma has changed. Even if the noise assaults his mind, the sight gladdens his heart.
In his moment of processing his surroundings, Kazuha nearly misses faint vibration of light footsteps through the ground behind him. He swings around immediately, but found no one... save for a splash of water behind the pier.
By his feet, lays a strange piece of paper.