Chapter Text
All research starts by asking a question.
“How do plants grow?”
“Why does the sun shine?”
“What causes the waves and the winds?”
In many respects, the ability to question far outshines a natural affinity for academics. This nature is most often called curiosity, which exists upon a spectrum that is as vast in its intensity as the Red Sands. For most, curiosity may cause distress and growth in equal measures, but for others it is the source of stagnation and even insanity. Simple questions grow into larger and more complex issues that are not so easily answered.
In a world of gods and monsters—in the shade of the divine, one may begin to ponder the rules by which the world is governed. A pity then that the institutions that provide the most suitable environment for academic research are tied down by the gaze cast by the God of Wisdom.
Rules which consist of virtues and sins ultimately cause the more eccentric of scholars to seek other avenues in which to pursue their curiosities. Very few among these scholars are worth any weight in gold, often having insatiable curiosity but lacking any degree of competence.
It does not matter in any case.
All will serve their purpose eventually, in whatever way that is suitable. After all, once you stray from the path of the divine, there’s no telling what may happen. Too many scholars vanish within the rainforest and desert already; one more is no great tragedy.
To save oneself from a most unfortunate fate, the currency exchanged is in ideas and competence. It is certainly not a one-and-done deal either. When one strays from the light that wisdom promises, they hand themselves over to those who have long strode into the shadows. Those who seek knowledge at whatever cost, and those without the convictions of normal individuals. Where the Lesser Lord cares for all under her purview…the same cannot be said for those who commit folly against the god and ultimately commit cardinal sins.
Utility is the only measure of worth for such a…for such people. Any other notion of value has long been discarded.
A question that was once exchanged in such a way was this:
“How is the element of a Vision Bearer decided?”
Is it a natural affinity that an individual has? Or maybe it is due entirely to circumstance? Are the land of origin and the land it was acquired variables? Is it due to exposure to a particular element prior to acquiring it? Are the ideals of the god governing the element of any relevance? Furthermore, do the gods have any control over who receives Visions and who does not?
These questions are all variables that contribute to the controls and parameters of the research. Dictating the course of exploration into the topic.
Some of these questions were answered over the course of many decades, perhaps even longer. The slow crawl of time progressed as researchers were dedicated to studying and observing current vision users. Due to this extended investigation over the years, it has been ascertained that the nature of the ambition seems to have some form of influence over the element the Vision manifests as, as well as the circumstances the Vision was gained.
After all, what use would granting a dendro Vision be as the bearer lay dying in a blizzard in Snezhnaya? The bearer would still be dead, their ambition left unfulfilled. At that point, what was even the point of gifting the Vision upon them in the first place?
So logically, the circumstances when obtaining a Vision are a significant variable, especially for the cases when the Vision Bearer was either in mortal danger or a specific element was needed.
When the interest in the topic had been more at the forefront of the mind of a particular individual, the variables had eventually been reduced through countless experiments. This individual had both the resources and time to experiment on specific variables, as well as a disposition that allowed for such experiments to be conducted with…certain demographics.
No connection to the nation of origin, nor the nation in which the Vision was acquired, could be drawn to the element of the Vision. Other than that, the values of a nation and its culture could affect the nature of the ambition a Vision Bearer has, but it is not always the case.
For some time until this recent flit of interest, the research had once again slowed to a halt. As it had in the past. It is a wonder that any semblance of curiosity remains. Perhaps it is because of a recent development within the inner workings of the Fatui? If that is the case, then it is only natural—
“You know I find your incessant writing most trying.” The researcher startles from her thoughts as she jerks her head up to where she should find her superior and finds an evidently empty seat. The coldness of the laboratory chills her uncovered skin; goosebumps crawl up the back of her neck as she feels the weight of a gaze she’d rather avoid. The temperature had always been cold, the laboratory being made of stone and metal and also being north of Nod-Krai. The cold is expected.
Swallowing thickly, she attempts to close the journal and put it away, but a hand plucks it from her hands. Without much fanfare, she hears the man behind her flip through its pages. The room is silent except for her controlled breathing. She does not dare turn around and face him.
“There is nothing incriminating or notable written in there.” She breathes out, keeping her tone monotone and purposefully disinterested. The sterile environment around them seems only to get colder by the second. The researcher should not have dared to indulge in her personal writings with her superior present. No, he usually wouldn’t be interested. She had simply caught him in a strange mood.
That is all.
With a flip of paper, the man, skimming her thoughts, pauses, “Questioning my motivations, are you? How presumptuous.” He tosses the journal to the wooden desk she is sitting at. “To think it appropriate to record your personal thoughts instead of working on your assigned work is bold. Do not let it happen again.” She hears the sound of his retreating footsteps, but before he leaves, he chuckles. The sound is bone-chilling and fills the empty room with a stifling energy. “Next time…I might rethink your utility.”
The door shuts, and the tension leaves her body with a shaky exhale, closing her eyes briefly. “Oh Zakiya, what have you gotten yourself into…”
When one has strayed from the path set forth by the divine, they cannot complain of injustice or unfairness. Abandoning the path gifted to humanity by the gods is also to forsake any sense of justice. So Zakiya has no right to complain about the methods of her superiors. Having rejected the restrictions placed on her by the Akademiya, she has dirtied her hands by pursuing forbidden topics.
In truth, she misses her homeland and wishes for little else than to leave this foreign land and return to her ignorance. Yet despite this longing, she knows this is not an organization one can simply leave.
Not when she has proven her utility.
The Fatui is large, and because of its size the conditions any particular individual experiences vary greatly. Had she been lucky, she would have been able to resign, and that would have been that. The truth of the matter is that the result of resignation in her case…is akin to handing a loaded rifle to her executioner. Unadvisable to say the least.
Due to her previous mistake with her journal, she had been assigned to a project completely outside of her interests and specialty. This latest assignment would span roughly half a decade, slightly more depending on several variables. It is a very clear warning that her life can be wasted away by menial tasks instead of the research she had given up everything for.
The only positive is that she will be heading south, far south to Liyue. The warmer weather is a blessing. She was not made to handle the cold, and the climate there is more similar to her homeland
The briefing states that most of the subjects have been acquired from the Knave in the last month and have been assigned personnel to supervise them. The list consists of identifying number, age, and gender. It seems that any other information is considered insignificant, how nice.
Not that it even matters. Her opinion is irrelevant, and she would never dare to voice her thoughts. She skims the rest of the file, her eye catching on something.
Hm…? Interesting.
A scrawled note at the bottom suggests that acquiring more subjects may become harder within the next year due to a potential change in leadership. The only one who could interfere with his orders would be—but even so, that would mean…ugh. This line of thinking is useless. Zakiya is in no position to make any connections or think beyond her current task.
The meaning of the warning is obvious: “Don’t squander this opportunity. You won’t get another chance.” Whether for lack of resources or the fact that this is the last chance they are giving her to prove her utility.
Hah.
Fine. If this is what is asked of her, then she will deliver regardless of the cost. The researcher shifts her attention to the list of numbers. Her expression does not twitch from its apathy, but still…she is still capable of some sympathy.
However limited.