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Once upon a time, when the world was younger and the archons had only just begun to rule, a group of children from the borderlands had taken to adventuring in the wilderness. Their parents, ever busy with their work, had been glad for the youths to be distracted- before they went however, they had given them a single warning.
“Do not enter the Land of the Wind,” they had told them, “Once you cross it, their god will take you as their own. And you will never return.” The children nodded, and eager to adventure and use the day’s good fortune, they went off.
With much fun and laugher, the children spent much time exploring and playing. Jumping over rocks and into streams, climbing trees and staring into the endless skies, time passed them by quickly. Before they had known it, eve had broken. But they had lost track of their way, and found themselves unsure of how to return to where they came from.
It was then, when they were most scarred and alone, that a gentle melody found their ears. The song was beautiful like nothing they had ever heard, enthralling them in their youthful wonder. As though beckoning to them to follow it played, and with no other idea where to go- the children followed the path it seemed to show them.
The melody led them through forests and grass, ever so softly yet ever so firmly. Until the grass begann to become greener and the air ever so crisp. The children, who had remembered what their parents told them, began to worry. Was this not too far? Should they not turn around? But the melody that led them did not go astray until they reached a beautiful clearing.
At its very center, encircled by flowers of windwheel aster, the wind sat idly. As though awaiting the group eagerly. “Hello there, my dear children,” he greeted, without even looking up from the lyre he held.
“Was that melody from you?” the children asked in reply. He laughed at their naivety and straightforwadness, but answered nonetheless. “Yes, did you like it much? I shall play you more, if your heart so desires”.
The children shook their head, “Your song was beautiful, but we do not have the time, our parents waiting for us. And we are already lost.”
“If you are lost, then why not stay with me?” The Wind asked in turn, “Come to me, and I shall keep you safe and entertained. Night is falling, and it is dangerous. I shall see to you in my lands, where the sweetest fruit and the best of wine awaits for you.”
The words were hypnotizing, and oh so very promising. As though the wind’s song beckoned them in. But the children still refused still. Dutifully remembering the words said to them, despite the temptation, “Your lands is the Land of the Wind.” They brought up instead. “We cannot enter it, no matter what you say.”
“And why is that, my dear children?”
“It is dangerous there,” they replied, “we promised to not cross the border, for we cannot return home.” But the Wind only smiled and blew gently through their hair. “But just look at these lands,” he encouraged, “with green fields and rolling streams, does it truly look dangerous to you? And who says that after you’ve taken your pleasures there, you cannot return to a home of yours?”
“Our parents told us so, they warned us of ever entering.”
The wind cooed, “Oh, but can’t parents be wrong too? You are such mature youths, surely- atleast paying a visit would be of no harm? Do you not wish for an adventure?”
The Wind looked then added, “I swear I will bring no harm, and I shall not break that. And is it not foolish, to listen to the words of your parents for no other virtue than them being your parents? My lands are beautiful, you’ll see after only a taste.”
Soothed by the promise and tricked by the Wind’s sweet words, their parents’ warning quickly faded from their minds. The children came to agree to the idea, but there was one last issue. They looked towards the wind, and asked “But we do not know the way to there! How can we go to your lands, if we do not know how?”
“My children,” the wind spoke in return, words as sticky as honey, “how good, and lovable you all are. I will show you the way, and carry you there myself. All you need is to agree, surely you will?” The children, flattered by the words, eagerly gave their consent. And with a howl, the wind had swept the youths up and carried them to his lands.
Back home the parents of the children had grown anxious. They searched and searched and searched, but with no success. The village was in uproar and had sent their men to comb the forests and streams for the youths. Yet no trace could be found of them, even their foodprints having been blown away by unrelenting winds of the eve. But the parents were inconsolable and unable to accept the loss of their dear children, they took to make the long journey to tell their god of their woes.
“We do not know what could have happened!” The tortured parents begged infront of his divine throne, “They were told to not cross the border, and they would have been so responsible either way. We looked through forests and even the rivers and lakes to see if they fell in. Yet they seem as though they vanished. Please, oh Rex Lapis, please return our children to us. We promise, we will never let them go like this again!”
Rex Lapis, wise and benevolent as he was, heard the pleas of his people. And he knew immediately what must have happened. Afterall, this was not the first time the Wind had taken people through trickery. But it was to be the last, as the god stood up enraged from his throne. “Remain here,” he told the grieving parents, “I shall see your children returned safely, and ensure that such may not happen again.”
He took off, and reached the neighboring Land of the Wind quickly. It did not take long for the Wind to arrive. Rex Lapis roared with rage, but as enraged as he was- he too was smart. In his wisdom he knew that simply demanding the freedom of the children would not bring him to anything. For the Wind did not budge, and he would find a way even around a steadfast stone. But he did not wish to fight another battle, so close after the devastating Archon War. So instead of with an order, he approached the Wind with an agreement.
“Let’s make a contract,” Rex Lapis offered, calm and collected. “Return the children you have taken unrightfully, and refrain from taking more, in return, I shall give to you back.”
The Wind however did not seem to agree much, “They were unsafe alone out.” He countered. “I am the god of Refuge, and is lies within my nature to protect. You and the other gods are so quick to interfere, so can you blame me for taking that chance? And what more could you offer to me in return anyway? My lands are fertile, and my people are happy.”
Rex Lapis pondered for a second, “You speak of Refuge, yet these children surely have not agreed to it for that. My people are worried and scared for them- and their parents are inconsolable at the loss. Would you not prefer it more, for people to come to you willingly? Instead of having to lure them to you?”
The god continued steadily, “So let us have a trade. Swear to me that you shall take no longer against the will of those you seek and return the children you have taken. If you do that, I shall ensure to you that no other archon will interfere ever again if you do.”
Such an offer piqued the Wins’s interest greatly, but he still had to ask, “My nation stands isolated, many have forbidden travel to my lands. How should I know when someone comes to seek me out, if no one can come to me in the first place?” Rex Lapis nodded, gingerly listening to the other.
“Then I shall talk to the rules of those other nations.” He concluded, “Allow me to create a ward, a few words that when spoken to you upon the first meeting when they set foot into your lands, will protect them. That way, people can be visitors and see the fortunes of your land- I am sure that many would appreciate the safety you provide too. In return, you shall no longer take those outside of your borders. All those who do not speak the ward, and those who are there to stay, shall belong to you.”
For a second, the Wind stilled, “I do not wish to fight. Are those terms not perfectly agreeable to you?” Rex Lapis questioned.
In the understanding that this would probably be the agreement he could get, and keenly aware of the fact that even if a win were possible, the costs of a battle were not worth it, the Wind saw himself forced to agree. “If I return the children to you ontop of this deal,” he began however, “I wish to be the one to decide when a visitor has stayed long enough to no longer be one.”
“If you agree to the rest of the terms, I shall accept that.” Rex Lapis inclined and reached out his hand to seal the contract with the Wind.
And so it was decided and would be decided for all eternity to come. Rex Lapis returned home victoriously, the children who had been taken in tow. The parents, grateful for what their god had done for them, praised their lord with utmost admiration, and he in return taught them the words they were to spread- the ones that would protect one from the Wind seeking you.
“I am not of Mondstadt, and not of the Wind. I have come to this place not to seek your refuge, Lord of Anemo, nor am I yours to protect. I am a mere visitor.”
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