[In the Year of Smoldering Ruin, heaven and earth changed. The land collapsed.]
[The Primordial One, Phanes, reversed the destruction of the world.]
Long ago, a legend circulated across Teyvat about Visions.
Those who were truly gazed upon by the gods would one day vanish from the world.
Some said they had ascended to godhood and stepped onto Celestia.
Others believed sudden disappearance itself was a terrifying thing.
Now, the truth was laid bare.
Those who vanished had indeed become the so-called "Genshin", ascending to the realm of the gods.
But the price—
They sacrificed themselves, offering their powerful will and spirit to repair a world on the brink of collapse.
The revelation sent chills through every Vision bearer.
They had believed becoming a "Genshin" meant becoming a god.
Instead, it meant becoming fuel.
Like livestock raised carefully until the day of slaughter.
[Hu Tao]: "Is… is this legend really true?"
[Yoimiya]: "I've never heard anything this terrifying."
[Navia]: "Perhaps we mortals simply aren't qualified to know Celestia's secrets. Lady Furina should know something."
[Furina]: "M-Me?"
[Furina]: "O-Of course I know! I'm the Hydro Archon of Fontaine!"
[Hu Tao]: "Then could you explain it? Why are the other gods silent?"
[Furina]: "T-These are Celestia-level secrets! How could I casually reveal them? The others surely won't either!"
[Mona]: "So someone once broke fate through sheer willpower? But isn't fate unbreakable?"
[Kamisato Ayaka]: "That's why they became the original 'Genshin.'"
[Tartaglia]: "I never imagined human will could be strong enough to repair a broken world."
[Arlecchino]: "So no one can break fate now because our will is insufficient… No wonder he wants humanity to evolve."
"So that's how the Primordial One repaired the world…"
Liyue — Wangshu Inn
Zhongli declined all visits that day.
He wanted to be alone.
As the oldest surviving god of Teyvat, he had heard fragments of this truth before.
Once, he could not understand the Primordial One's choices.
She loved humanity.
The gods born from her fragments inherited that love.
And yet—
Why wage a millennia-long Archon War, plunging a fractured world into further bloodshed?
Now he understood.
The Archon War was meant to forge humanity's will, strengthening it to continuously repair the wounds left by the Year of Smoldering Ruin.
"…Is the Fifth Descender attempting to recreate such a process?" Zhongli murmured.
"At the very least, he is dissatisfied with the current state of humanity."
Mondstadt
Rumors exploded across the city like thunder.
[The Acting Grand Master, Jean Gunnhildr, surrendered to the invader to save her own life.]
[She traded her freedom for survival, becoming Aerin's slave.]
[She discarded her knightly armor and donned a maid's uniform to curry favor.]
[The suppression collar—once a symbol of shame—became her daily ornament of submission.]
[Jean Gunnhildr chose to live.]
[She abandoned a knight's honor and became a slave to the invader.]
"This is nonsense! Who started this rumor?!"
"It's true! Her slave contract is posted on the Anemo Archon statue!"
"What?!"
"I don't believe it—she led the Knights against the monsters!"
"I… I don't know anymore. But the signature is hers."
"She must've been forced!"
"Maybe. But would you choose death in that situation?"
"Exactly. No one wants to die."
Mondstadt descended into chaos.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters
Pfft—
Jean spat out her water.
"That bastard, Aerin!"
Her fist clenched in fury—but her voice stayed low.
What if he could hear from afar?
"I thought the 'execution' was just the test itself…"
"He's poisoning public judgment before it even begins."
Her face burned red.
"Maid outfit? Flattery? This is absurd!"
"…Does he really want to kill Mondstadt's people that badly?"
Jean still believed—
In a life-or-death situation, people would abandon judgment and follow fear.
She didn't understand Aerin's insistence on tormenting civilians.
Until she remembered the story of the Genshin, and of Vanessa.
Maybe—
Maybe the world truly did require stronger human will.
But when she heard people call her a coward—
The bitterness was unbearable.
The Day of Judgment
[Mondstadt faced its greatest terror.]
Mutated Hilichurl Kings went door to door.
Those who refused to open were met with shattered doors and forced entry.
Each household received a notice:
At noon, all adults must gather at Windrise Plaza.
Children excluded.
Failure to appear = death.
Soon, an eerie procession formed.
Citizens were escorted like criminals to the plaza.
The Hilichurl Kings lined up, sealing every exit.
No one dared raise their head.
Then—
A child's voice rang out.
"Bad guy! Why did you tie up Grand Master Jean?!"
The crowd shuddered.
A child?!
Heads slowly lifted.
On the elevated platform, Aerin lounged calmly on a sofa.
Behind him stood Eula Lawrence, clad as a Valkyrie.
Rage surged—quiet, powerless rage.
Eula had betrayed Mondstadt.
Even the Lawrence Clan.
Then—
They saw the cross.
Bound upon it—
Jean Gunnhildr.
She wore no knight's armor.
Her clothing—though bundled tightly—was unmistakably a maid's uniform, identical in style to Noelle's.
Her mouth was gagged.
Was the rumor… true?
Had Jean abandoned her honor to live?
Then why was she here?
"Waaah! Bad guy! Let go of Grand Master Jean!"
The child cried again.
Aerin looked toward the crowd—
His gaze met Alice's fury.
Eula hurriedly explained:
"Master, you ordered that children not be harmed."
"So I didn't place a collar on Klee."
"But I feared she might disrupt the execution, so I had Alice bring her."
Aerin nodded calmly.
"I overlooked that. Alice's little elf can already use elemental power."
He gestured.
Eula stepped forward.
"What are you doing?!" Alice pulled Klee close.
"Miss Alice, Master means no harm," Eula said softly.
"This is not a place for children. I'll take her somewhere safe."
"If you survive… you'll see her again."
She forcibly took Klee and left.
"Waaah! Eula's a bad guy! You're all bad!"
"Klee!" Alice lunged—
Lightning surged from her collar.
"AAAH—!"
She collapsed instantly.
Lisa rushed to her side, then looked up—
Jean was shaking her head desperately.
Don't act.
Aerin observed her in silence.
So obedient.
So restrained.
He clapped.
The sound echoed.
He stood and addressed the plaza.
"I believe you've all heard the rumors."
He pointed at Jean.
"This woman—Jean Gunnhildr—chose survival and became my slave."
"She performed well."
"But I despise traitors."
"So today, before you all, I will execute her."
"Those who agree—stand to the left."
"Those who don't… do as you wish."
"I cannot guarantee your survival."
The crowd erupted.
Alice shouted in rage—
"Lies! Jean would never betray Mondstadt!"
Aerin ignored her.
"You have ten minutes."
He placed an hourglass on display.
Sand fell like a death sentence.
People forgot Jean's sacrifices.
One by one—
They stepped left.
Lisa and Barbara stared in disbelief.
"Have you forgotten everything she did for you?!"
Jean struggled, muffled cries escaping her gag.
She panicked.
In her heart—
Everyone standing left was the only way to save them.
But then—
Someone spoke.
"She's begging for mercy, isn't she?"
"She's afraid to die."
"Look—she's crying."
"Her flattery didn't save her."
"How disappointing."
"Bullshit!"
Even Lisa broke.
"You're falling into his trap, you idiots!"
Jean struggled harder—
But to them—
It only confirmed their belief.
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