AWVW : CC : The Ronin

After traveling to another island, Kazuha then turned to Lumine.

"Now that we're alone, let me cut to the heart of the matter...You are skilled in manipulating the elements. And not just a single element, but multiple. Is that correct?"

"No wonder you didn't bring this up at the arena", Lumine mused.

Paimon nodded before adding, "You were hinting at something from the moment we met. You've known all along."

"That's right. If the other contenders were to catch wind of your elemental abilities, let's just say it would cause some unwanted misunderstandings. If I'm not mistaken, you share these considerations, given your reluctance to use elemental skills even in the heat of a match."

Lumine nodded.

"Then a little about myself. Since a young age, I have been attuned to the tidings of nature. I hear the breath of the wind and the whispers of the leaves. It is things of this nature that I also hear from within you, nothing more."

"As crazy as all that sounds, somehow Paimon still believes you."

"My humble abilities are negligible compared to your incredible feats. To think a human could wield the elements without a Vision… And not to mention your incredibly complex scent, like that of some mysterious being…"

"Hey wait. Can you stop evaluating us based on our smell? It's a little weird."

"Alright, my apologies. Could you perchance enlighten me as to how you managed to obtain your combined elemental abilities?"

"I'm afraid I'm not quite sure either."

"Paimon doesn't know either."

"I see. Then what about wielding it?"

"It sort of came…naturally? I'm unsure as to how it works.

"Then perhaps such unfathomable things are the essence of the gods and the Visions they grant. However, I still wish to have the honor of seeing how you wield the elements, perhaps it may reveal something to me. Of course, I too shall share with you all that I've learned. That will make it a fair exchange."

"Fair enough."

"Now then, let's test your skills, shall we?"

"So, are we fighting you or some monsters?"

"As much as I'd like to have a match with you, I won't be able to truly observer and analyze how you use elements. So instead, you'll be fighting some slimes."

"Alright."

*after the short battle*

"Your abilities truly are extraordinary. Alright then, my analysis. Your opponent is skilled at controlling his breathing and maintaining balance, which enables him to execute moves that many would find impossible. I have yet to see him utilize his spears, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him execute the same flow and ability that he has without them. One thing to note is that his technique is quite different from most of the styles I have already seen and he also smells of a faraway land, similar to yours albeit yours is of the stars while his is simply….something I cannot even place."

"That's because he doesn't belong here. Or that woman with him."

"You already know this?"

"We have a guess. We met some others who shared the same strange name before and they weren't from this world at all. As hard as it is to believe, after seeing their abilities and learning of their past, that was the only plausible explanation. Both Paimon and I believe that the Lancer and Rider from the tournament are from the same place as the others we met."

"I see. Then in that case, I wish you all the best of luck. The only other thing I can tell you is that he aims for weak points."

"Thank you, I will not underestimate him."

"Please, save your thanks. If anything, I should be thanking you for the opportunity to witness your command of the elements that defy all known principles. The world is a truly mysterious place, it seems, and one will always encounter that which is still unknown."

"Huh", Paimon frowned, confused, "You seem kinda obsessed with Visions... but don't you already have your own? Why are you so intent on exploring the connection between Visions and the elements?"

"I desire to know what meaning Visions have to the gods. And what influences the gods' decision to grant humans these Vision."

Kazuha turned to look out to sea, a faraway look in his eyes before scoffing lightly and turning back to face Lumine.

"My apologies, you must be completely in the dark regarding such matters. For allowing me the honor of witnessing your mystical ways, I am willing to answer any questions you may have regarding Inazuma."

"I am indeed in the dark, so please enlighten me. What's your take on Inazuma's current state?"

"So that's what you're curious about? Haha, then allow me to tell you more. As you well know, a Vision Hunt Decree is currently underway in Inazuma. Visions are a gift bestowed by the divine. People that have accepted this gift are now having their Visions confiscated inexplicably, sometimes in circumstances that leave their original recipients dead."

He paused, turning towards the vast ocean, his eyes growing wistful.

"In the outset, supposing each of the Seven Archons had their criteria for granting Visions to living beings — then, does the current Electro Archon now doubt these criteria, or even the act in and of itself? Not to mention, with no new Electro Visions having been granted for such a long time, it would seem that we can infer something of the Raiden Shogun's feelings on the matter...:"

"She sounds less like an archon and more like... a tyrant", Paimon worded carefully.

"As far as I know, she is an archon that pursues "eternity." She will relentlessly carry out her will with no regard to what others may think or feel. Liyue's "contracts" are meant to benefit all who reside within Liyue. But what does Inazuma's pursuit of "eternity" bring to its people?

...It goes without saying that the people locked within Inazuma do not fare well these days."

"Sounds a lot like something the god you encountered in the beginning would do", Paimon said to Lumine.

"Oh? Have you encountered the Electro Archon before?"

"It was already a long time ago now."

"With time, we will change. But the shogun will remain the same. If you wish to find her, she will forever be there. There will come a day when I too shall wish to understand the answers to "eternity" from her."

Kazuha then turned back towards Lumine.

"There is another thing that I have been feeling on the winds. I suspect that it happened after I left Inazuma."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember your competitor with the strange name? Lancer and his companion, Rider. Their scent…I recognized it as the same strange scent on Inazuma's wind the last time Beidou went close to that area. I do not know why, but from what I can discern, Lancer and Rider are not the only foreigners from that other world you know of."

"There's more of them? In Inazuma? What for?"

"I am unsure. The one thing I do know is that something about this world is….limiting them. Each of their scents, Lancer and Rider included, carry the feeling of barriers, cages, and locks as if something about this world or something around them is placing hard limits to their physical capabilities."

"...That's worrisome, but good for us in the upcoming match."

"And why is that?"

"Well, when we met the other foreigners before, they were really strong. So strong that Paimon thought that maybe they were like gods or archons or adepti! Lumine only managed to fight on equal footing with one of them when he partially sealed his abilities with runes."

"I see. Then having limits is indeed a good thing towards you winning this tournament if their power is that much…Ah! The time for your match is approaching."

"Oh, right! We got so distracted talking about Inazuma and those two that Paimon forgot all about the tournament."

"If you have no other matters to attend to, then we can return together."

"Alright."

With that, the trio made their way back to the arena.