Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [149]

"Nice to meet you!"

On the other end of the communication device, the soft voice sounded sincere, almost reverent.

"…Hello, Nahida," Ren replied, momentarily stunned.

He could sense the mysterious girl's joy through the connection.

If anything, she seemed a bit too happy.

Why is she answering this call?

Ren silently stood up, his gaze thoughtful.

Could she be connected to the Doctor somehow…?

If she was suspicious, it might be better to end the call now.

"Wait, please!"

As if sensing his intent, Nahida's voice took on a pleading note.

"Could you stay and talk with me for a little longer?" she asked earnestly.

Ren's finger paused mid-air, inches away from disconnecting the call.

Her voice carried a tinge of loneliness, almost like she was… desperate.

And her soft tone—it sounded like it belonged to a child who was still growing up.

"Nahida, right?"

"Yes! This is our first meeting, and I don't even know…"

Her voice grew brighter, full of excitement.

But before she could finish her sentence, Ren interjected:

"I'm Takahashi Ren."

"Mm! I'll remember it well!"

On the other end, Nahida let out a small laugh, her relief audible.

It was clear she was genuinely happy.

"…You…"

Ren raised a brow, puzzled.

It's just a name—why is she so thrilled?

Shaking his head, he sighed.

"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

"No, wait—"

"Where are your parents, little one? It's time for bed," Ren said, glancing at the moonlit sky with a hint of exasperation.

Come back when you're older before wandering around the internet.

"Actually… I've always been alone," Nahida murmured after a moment of silence.

"Alone?"

Ren froze, the weight of her words sinking in.

Guilt hit him like a wave.

Damn it, what did I just say to this poor girl?

"Sorry, little one—I didn't know…" Ren said apologetically, his tone softening.

"Hmm? Why are you apologizing?"

Nahida's voice carried a note of curiosity, as though she found his reaction intriguing.

So saying things like this can make him feel sympathy… What an unexpected discovery.

"Aren't you…"

"It's okay. I've always been alone," Nahida replied, her tone steady and calm.

"What do you mean? Don't you have any friends?"

Ren frowned slightly, the question slipping out before he could stop himself.

"Hmm… The place where I live is beautiful," Nahida said after a brief pause.

"But no one ever visits, and for certain reasons, I can't leave."

"I've always wanted to make friends, but no one seems to notice I exist," she whispered, as if speaking to herself.

For as long as she could remember, she had been helping people trapped in difficult situations.

But without fail, they would forget her after waking up, as though everything had been a dream.

Even so, she took joy in being able to help them.

After all, it was her duty—a responsibility she could not ignore.

As someone still relatively inexperienced, she felt she had to work harder.

She couldn't let her predecessors down.

"…"

Ren sighed softly, hearing the faint traces of sadness in her voice.

Kids are so easily hurt.

Just as he was about to offer her some words of comfort, her voice perked up again.

"But now, it's different!"

Her tone was cheerful, full of newfound hope.

"I've finally found someone I can talk to!"

Ren couldn't help but chuckle. As he picked up a seashell from the sand, he replied, "It's just a phone call—nothing that special."

He examined the shell's spiral pattern, speaking casually.

Still, it's kind of amazing that we ended up crossing paths like this. Must be fate.

"In your recent dreams, your mental energy resonated with someone else's, didn't it?" Nahida asked with certainty.

"That's how I was able to reach you."

"?"

Ren's expression darkened, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

His voice grew colder.

"How do you know about that?"

At first, he'd thought she was just an ordinary girl messing around online.

But now it was clear—Nahida was anything but ordinary.

Mental energy… Could this be tied to the Doctor?

"No, it's not like that! I mean no harm," Nahida said quickly, sensing the shift in his demeanor.

Had she said something wrong?

For a moment, the air between them grew tense and quiet.

Ren said nothing, preparing to end the call.

"Please, believe me!"

Just as his finger touched the device—

"This is…!"

Ren's expression changed.

A strange force flowed through his fingertips.

The next moment—

The world around him shifted once more.

Not again, Ren thought grimly before everything faded.

When he opened his eyes, vibrant greenery stretched out in every direction.

Ren realized he was standing in the middle of a lush forest.

This feeling… Am I resonating with someone's memories again?

He scanned his surroundings, his gaze drawn to a figure in the distance.

"You're…" Ren murmured.

The woman turned slowly, sensing his presence.

She was breathtaking.

Dressed in flowing white, her ethereal figure seemed to blend seamlessly with the misty water and verdant foliage around her.

Bathed in the morning sunlight, her delicate features radiated a beauty untouched by the mundane.

"… …"

She smiled faintly, her lips moving silently as if to speak.

A single green leaf drifted gently into Ren's hand.

"…The world… has forgotten me…"

---

T/N: GUYS BEFORE YOU CRUCIFY REN! REMEMEBR HE BARELY EVEN KNOWS INAZUMA STORYLINE THERE's NO WAY HE KNOWS ABOUT SUMERU AND BEYOND!

"..."

- Gardevoir

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