The First Element and About Version 1.0
Both of them then began descending the cliff, following the available path. The distance was exactly the same from the beach to the cliff where we took photos. But since the path was downhill, we both reached the edge of the lake in 20 minutes.
'Traveler, it looks like you can only get to that place by swimming.'
'How about you try carrying me and flying there, Paimon?'
'Hey, Paimon is very weak. There's no way Paimon could carry you there.'
'Haha, I was just kidding.'
'Hmm, it looks like the distance is about 100 meters.'
Aether then walked a bit further from the edge of the lake, preparing to jump as far as possible before swimming.
'Paimon, follow me, okay?'
'Okay, Traveler.'
Aether then started running and leaped as far as he could.
*Sploosh!*
Like a dolphin, Aether swam swiftly through the water and quickly reached the small island in the middle of the lake. While walking to the surface, he looked at Paimon, who was still flying toward the small island.
When Paimon arrived, Aether immediately said,
'Paimon, you fly so slowly.'
'Hey, that's not Paimon's fault! You just jumped too far and swam too fast, Traveler!'
'Hahaha.'
After laughing, Aether then looked at the statue of the Anemo Archon, which stood about 5 meters tall. The statue itself wasn't particularly high; it was the pedestal that made it tall.
The statue of the Anemo Archon depicted a man whose head was covered by a hood. He was making a praying gesture while holding a sphere, with a pair of wings on his back.
Paimon also flew to Aether's side.
'Come on, Traveler, try touching the statue. Maybe you'll be able to communicate with the Anemo Archon.'
'Yeah.'
Aether walked to the front of the statue. Before placing his palm on it, he glanced at the system screen, which displayed a quest window.
[Element]
[You have successfully learned the language of Teyvat. Now it's time to begin your journey in Teyvat. Obtain your first Element to strengthen yourself.]
[Reward: 10,000 Primogems]
After reading the quest, Aether placed his palm on the statue. A mysterious power began to enter his body.
This unknown power was the Anemo element—or wind. As it entered his body, he could feel the Anemo power strengthening him, and the seal that restrained his light power began to loosen slightly.
In addition, he began to sense the Anemo elements in the air. Not only that, but he also felt as if these elements wanted to communicate something to him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't understand what they were trying to convey because his mastery of the Anemo element was still too weak.
When Aether felt that the process of acquiring the Anemo power was complete, everything suddenly seemed to stop. At that moment, a voice he hadn't heard for about two months echoed.
[Congratulations on obtaining your First Element, Host.]
With this, your journey in Teyvat officially begins.]
'It's been a while, System. If you hadn't spoken up now, I might have forgotten that my system has intelligence.'
[If you did that, this system would be saddened, Host.]
'Huh…'
'So how long will you be online this time, System?'
[I will be online for only a short while. The purpose this time is to explain a few things to the Host. If the Host has any questions, please feel free to ask.]
'Then you go first, System.'
[Understood]
[First, the System will explain the time difference between the world of Teyvat and other worlds (Earth)]
[For version 1.0, the time difference with other worlds is 60 days.]
[This is done to give the Host sufficient time to complete version 1.0 first. This time difference will gradually decrease until it becomes 30 days.]
[Besides the Archon Quests, which are the main storyline, the Host is not obligated to complete World Quests. However, there are some mandatory World Quests that must be completed, just like Archon Quests.]
[Mandatory World Quests will be listed on the quest screen in the system. As for Players, even if the Host doesn't complete non-mandatory World Quests, Players can still complete those World Quests.]
[If the Host does not complete non-mandatory World Quests within 60 days, the System will take action and create a program based on the Host's likely decisions for those quests.]
[An example of non-mandatory World Quests would be quests from Mondstadt residents, which have no impact on the main storyline if left incomplete.]
[An example of mandatory World Quests would be exploring Dragonspine. This World Quest is closely related to the main storyline, as it contains many clues relevant to your journey.]
[To simplify further explanations, Hard Mode will be designated as your world and also within the game.]
[Items such as Anemoculus, Geoculus, and other 'culus' will not be present in Hard Mode. Additionally, the Statue of The Seven will not have the health restoration feature.]
[If Players want to heal their injuries, they must visit a doctor or rely on Vision users with healing abilities. This rule also applies to the Host, so be cautious, Host.]
[Constellations and character skills will be determined by the techniques developed by the Host within these 60 days.]
[In Hard Mode, Vision users will be more prevalent compared to Easy Mode, which only focuses on Vision users as playable characters.]
[In Hard Mode, every playable character will always be visible in the game. Additionally, all living creatures that have reached level 36 will be aware of their level.]
[In Hard Mode, playable characters will have a favorable impression of you. This impression will never decrease unless you do something extreme to them.]
[For example, betrayal or engaging in inappropriate acts without forming a sufficiently close relationship.]
[Example: If you just met Eula and immediately asked her to engage in a sexual relationship, this would completely ruin her favorable impression of the Host.]
[Food cooked by ordinary people in Hard Mode will have no buff effects. Only food prepared by Vision users will provide buffs, which will be based on the Vision user's specialization.]
[Example: If the food is made by Barbara, it will only have healing effects. If the food is made by Bennett, it will have both healing effects and attack boosts.]
[This effect applies to all types of food, regardless of what is cooked by the Vision user—it will always produce buffs according to their specialization.]
[Example: Barbara and Bennett cook the exact same dish, but the buffs will still be different.]
[In Hard Mode, randomly selling materials that can enhance elemental power will increase certain risks.]
[Example: If sold to a merchant who turns out to be connected to the Fatui, and the material reaches them, this will make Fatui agents stronger.]
[This warning is only provided to the Host, while Players will only receive vague hints from playable characters.]
[hat concludes the system explanation.]
[Now the System will reward the Host for obtaining their first Element.]
[The first reward is an increase in your storage bracelet's capacity, and the time on your storage bracelet has stopped.]
[The second reward is that the Host will receive a 10x multiplication buff for every item you obtain, whether from monster drops or gifts from others. Use it wisely, Host.]
[The third reward is the ability to check other people's statuses. This can be used on all living beings but has limitations — it will not display the status of those who are more than 10 levels higher than the Host.]
'That's a lot of information. Hey, this information won't disappear, right?'
[Don't worry, Host. This information will be stored in the Update Archive.]
'Good, I'll look at it later.'
'Now it's my turn to ask questions.'
[Go ahead, Host.]
'My name — I clearly told Paimon my name. So why does she keep calling me Traveler?'
[This question is related to a story that is supposed to unfold in the future, so the system will not answer it.]
'Then, do you have a "Store" like in system-based stories?'
[Of course, but when the "Store" will appear depends entirely on the Host.]
'If I want to go to Sumeru right away without completing the Inazuma Archon Quest first, is that possible?'
[That won't be possible because this system has placed restrictions on you. If you want to remove these restrictions, you must reach Level 100 before your story concludes.]
[If your story ends before you reach Level 100, the restriction will automatically be lifted.]
'Damn it, you powerful beings sure love imposing restrictions on others.'
The system pretended not to hear the Host's complaint.
[If the Host has no further questions, this system will now go offline.]
'Yeah, I don't have any more questions for now.'
[Alright then, Host. See you in two months.]
Then everything that had previously seemed to stop began to move again, and Aether withdrew his palm from the Statue of The Seven.
'So, Traveler?'
'Did you manage to obtain the Anemo element?'
'Yes,' Aether answered while beginning to channel the Anemo element in his palm. Slowly, the Anemo element formed like a vortex in his hand. But then Aether clenched his fist, and the Anemo element immediately disappeared.
'Wow!'
'It seems that by touching the Statue of The Seven, you'll immediately gain the elemental power corresponding to the statue.'
'Yes, and that's not all, Paimon.'
A light, comparable to a flashlight, appeared on Aether's index finger.
'Is this the Light Element, Traveler?'
'Why does it feel less impressive than Paimon expected?'
'Because only a small seal has been unlocked. This is the extent of my ability for now. At least with this, we can illuminate dark places.'
'If you say so... Hmm?'
'Ah, Traveler, Slimes have appeared!'
'It seems they're attracted by the elemental reaction when you used that power earlier.'
Slimes, as often depicted in fantasy stories, are slimy creatures with blue, green, and sometimes black colors.
In fantasy tales, the origin of Slimes is unclear — some are created from hazardous chemicals, some from experiments, and so on.
But in Teyvat, Slimes have a clear origin. They are formed from elemental energy fused in nature and subsequently become different types of Slimes.
Since there are seven different elements in Teyvat, these Slimes also come in seven types:
Anemo Slime, has mint green and white colors
Geo Slime, has dark brown and black colors
Electro Slime, has a purple color and sometimes you can also find yellow ones
Dendro Slime, has a grass green color
Hydro Slime, has a blue color
Pyro Slime, has a red color
Cyro Slime has a light blue color
These seven Slimes come in two sizes: Small Slimes and Large Slimes. It's said that Slimes have certain similarities with Archons of the same element.
The Slime that approached them was blue, indicating it was a Hydro Slime.
'Perfect timing. I'll try using this new power.'
[Name: Aether]
[Level: 40 (Actual: 96)]
[HP: 11,245 (Actual: 372,984)]
[Attack: 972 (Actual: 14,390)]
[Defense: 211 (Actual: 7,360)]
[Dexterity: 258 (Actual: 9,351)]
[Elemental Mastery: 0 (Actual: 2000)]
[Stamina: 230 (Actual: 10,540)]
That was his status after training for the past two months. This is his status after acquiring the Anemo element:
[Name: Aether]
[Level: 45 (Actual: 96)]
[HP: 17,465 (Actual: 372,984)]
[Attack: 1,342 (Actual: 14,390)]
[Defense: 291 (Actual: 7,360)]
[Dexterity: 448 (Actual: 9,351)]
[Elemental Mastery: 200 (Actual: 2000)]
[Stamina: 230 (Actual: 10,540)]
Compared to his status from two months ago, his current status had improved significantly. And his stats would undoubtedly rise further as Aether enhanced his Anemo powers.
Aether drew one of his weapons, a spear with a yellow handle and a sharp blade at the tip.
He spun the spear several times, channeling Anemo energy into it before swinging it horizontally toward the approaching Hydro Slimes.
The Anemo energy shot out from his spear, instantly slicing through all the Hydro Slimes in front of him before dissipating.
'Wooow!'
'Those Slimes vanished in a single attack. Ugh, so jealous! If only Paimon had powers like that too!'
'You'd need a strong body first, Paimon. But if you're interested in becoming stronger, I'll help you train, of course.'
'Does that mean I have to undergo intense training like you do every day, Traveler?'
'No, thank you! Paimon is content being your guide. I'll leave fighting monsters to you, Traveler.'
Aether smiled and said no more. He walked toward the spot where the Slimes had died. There, he found several round blue objects left behind by the Slimes after their defeat.
Despite their small size, these objects contained elemental energy. They were called Slime Condensates, with their color indicating the type of energy inside.
If these Slime Condensates were left unattended in the wild, they would once again absorb elemental energy from the air and transform back into Slimes, potentially growing into larger ones.
Aether crouched down and picked up one of the Slime Condensates with his hand. Since it came from a Hydro Slime, it naturally contained Hydro elemental energy.
Aether attempted to extract the Hydro elemental energy from the Slime Condensate and channel it into his body.
However, no matter how hard he tried, the Hydro energy wouldn't enter his body. Instead, the Slime Condensate crumbled in his hand. He tried several more times with other Slime Condensates, but his efforts were futile.
'It seems it's not possible, huh?'
'Were you trying to absorb Hydro elemental energy, Traveler?'
'Yes, but it didn't work. So the only way is through the Statue of The Seven.'
'That's a pity. If you could do that, you would become stronger quickly, Traveler. Our journey would also be much safer and easier.'
'Yeah, you're right, Paimon.'
'Oh, and Paimon, don't casually talk about how I can gain elemental powers just by touching the Statue of The Seven.'
'At least not until I become really strong.'
'Got it, Traveler. Paimon will remember that.'
'Now then, my guide, it's time for you to show the way to Mondstadt.'
'Alright, follow Paimon, Traveler. Onward to the City of Freedom, Mondstadt!'