The light, a blinding, all-consuming void of pure Darkness, had swallowed him whole. One moment, Kokushibo's blade, a grotesque bloom of eyes and steel, had torn through his small frame, the chill of death already creeping into his bones.
The next, a warmth, not of blood or life, but of something now drew him onward. He felt nothing, yet everything. No pain, no fear, only a profound, almost unsettling peace. His last conscious thought, a fleeting image of his brother, dissolved into the vast, shimmering expanse.
Then, the light fractured. Not into pieces, but into a kaleidoscope of colors he had never witnessed in his short, brutal life. Emeralds brighter than any forest canopy, sapphires deeper than the midnight sky, golds that shimmered with an inner fire. The air, once a sterile nothingness, now carried scents – unfamiliar, yet oddly comforting. A hint of salt from a distant sea, the earthy musk of damp soil, the sweet, cloying perfume of blossoms he couldn't name. His eyelids, heavy with an exhaustion that transcended physical weariness, fluttered open.
He lay on cool, smooth stone, a sensation so alien after years of sleeping on rough tatami mats or cold, unforgiving earth. Above him, a sky of impossible blue stretched endlessly, dotted with clouds like spun cotton. Two suns, or perhaps one sun reflecting off some unseen surface, cast long, dancing shadows across the unfamiliar landscape. He pushed himself up, his limbs feeling strangely light, unburdened by the constant ache of old wounds or the phantom weight of his Nichirin blade.
A city, unlike any he had ever seen, sprawled before him. Towers of gleaming white stone pierced the sky, their roofs tiled in vibrant blues and reds. Bridges arched gracefully over canals, where crystal-clear water reflected the towering architecture. People moved below, a vibrant tapestry of colors and forms, their chatter a low, constant hum. He looked down at his hands. Smaller, thinner than he remembered. His uniform, the Demon Slayer corps uniform he had worn with such grim determination, was gone. Instead, he wore simple, flowing white robes, soft against his skin, adorned with delicate patterns of mist.
A small, winged creature, zipped past his face , its wings a blur of iridescent light. It had a tiny, curious face, framed by white hair. It hovered, observing him with bright, inquisitive eyes.
"Oh! You're awake!" A high, cheerful voice, surprisingly loud for such a small being. "Paimon was worried you wouldn't wake up! You just appeared out of nowhere, like a shooting star that crashed without a sound!"
He simply stared at the creature, his eyes, usually so distant, now held a flicker of confusion. He had seen demons, grotesque and terrifying, but never anything quite like this... he could say it's cute
"Paimon?" he murmured, the word feeling strange on his tongue.
"That's me!" The creature puffed out its tiny chest. "And you are…?"
He paused, the name feeling heavy, ancient. "Muichiro."
"Muichiro! That's a nice name!" Paimon circled him once, her movements quick. "So, where are you from? Paimon has never seen anyone dressed like you before! And you just… materialized! Like a magic trick!"
He looked past the floating companion, his gaze drifting to the distant mountains, their peaks capped with snow even under the twin suns. "I don't know. I was… fighting."
"Fighting? Oh dear, you look like you've been through a lot!" Paimon's expression shifted to one of concern. "Are you hurt? Paimon can get you some food! Maybe some Sticky Honey Roast? Or a Fisherman's Toast?"
He shook his head slowly. The concept of food, of hunger, almost irrelevant. He felt... like you with that stabbed and hit with sack of rocks.... can't blame him
"I don't feel hungry," he stated, his voice flat, devoid of emotion.
Paimon tilted her head. "No? That's… unusual. Everyone feels After fighting! Paimon feels hungry all the time!" She zipped closer, her tiny hand reaching out to touch his cheek. Her touch was surprisingly warm "Are you… lost?"
[Author note: he is always lost]
He considered the question. Lost? Perhaps. He had no destination
"I don't know where I am," he finally admitted
"You're in Mondstadt!" Paimon announced proudly, gesturing with a sweep of her arm towards the city. "The City of Freedom! It's super nice here! Lots of good food, friendly people, and the Knights of Favonius keep everyone safe!"
[Author note:bullshit!!!]
Knights?..... what a weird name he thought
"Knights?" he repeated, the word tasting foreign.
"Yeah! They're like, super cool protectors! They fight monsters and keep the peace!"
Paimon explained, her enthusiasm infectious. "Paimon and her friend, the Traveler, help them sometimes! The Traveler is also from another world, just like you, Paimon thinks!"
Another world. How many worlds are?
"Another world," he echoed, a faint tremor in his voice.
"Yup! Paimon and the Traveler are looking for their lost sibling!" Paimon's tone grew a little softer.
"It's a long journey, but Paimon knows we'll find them! Maybe you can come with us! You don't seem to have anywhere to go, and Paimon doesn't like seeing people all alone."
He looked at the flying creature, then back at the sprawling city. The thought of companionship, is not bad
"What would I do?" he asked, his gaze still distant.
"Anything you want!" Paimon chirped. "Explore, fight monsters, eat delicious food, help people! Teyvat is huge, there's so much to see and do! And Paimon knows all the best spots!"
He considered it. His life had been dictated by the brutal realities of demon slaying. Now, the possibility of choice, of simply existing without the constant threat of death, is... weird to say the least there must be a catch
"I have no sword," he murmured, his hand instinctively reaching for a non-existent hilt. The absence of his blade, a part of him for so long, felt like a phantom limb.
"Oh, you like swords?" Paimon's eyes lit up. "The Traveler uses a sword! And sometimes they use… elemental powers! Do you have elemental powers?"
Elemental powers. He remembered the mist, how he had moved through it, how it had become an extension of his blade. Was that… elemental?
"Mist," he said, a faint memory stirring. "I used mist."
"Mist? Ooh, like Anemo! Or maybe Hydro!" Paimon bounced excitedly. "We should ask the Traveler! They're super smart about these things!"
Just then, a figure approached, They wore practical, weird clothes, and a sword hung at their hip. Their golden hair framed a determined face, and their eyes, the color of molten gold,..... He looked like a femboy.
"Paimon, who's your new friend?" The Traveler's voice was calm,
"Traveler! This is Muichiro!" Paimon flew towards them, practically vibrating with excitement. "He just appeared! And he's from another world, just like you! And he used mist powers!"
The Traveler's gaze, sharp and assessing, settled on Muichiro. A flicker of understanding, of shared experience, passed between them... they are both femboys
[Author note: muichiro definitely has more muscles than the traveler so you know who dominate in bed 😏]
"Another one, then," the Traveler said, a hint of weariness in their voice, yet also a spark of curiosity. "Welcome to Teyvat, Muichiro."
Muichiro simply nodded,
" I accidentally heard you say use mist," the Traveler continued, their voice gentle. "Can you show me?"
muichiro just looked at him Then he took The Traveler sword from him without asking.
then closed his eyes. He reached within, not for a memory, but for a sensation. The cool, damp embrace of fog, the way it swirled and concealed. He extended his sword , and slowly, a thin wisp of vapor curled from his sword, coalescing into a delicate tendril that danced in the air before dissipating.
The Traveler's eyes widened slightly. " awesome 😃. Not quite Anemo, not quite Hydro. Something… unique."
"See? Paimon told you!" Paimon beamed. "He's special!"
"Indeed," the Traveler agreed, "Perhaps you have a connection to the elements, even without a Vision."
"Vision?" Muichiro questioned, Question marks Flying around his head, the word unfamiliar.
"It's how people in Teyvat channel elemental power," the Traveler explained, tapping a small, glowing gem at their hip. "A gift from the Archons, the gods of this world."
[Author note:its unfair if you ask me]
Gods. Archons. More new concepts to absorb. His world had only had demons and demon slayers.
"I have no such gift," he stated, his voice flat.
" that will make us both," the Traveler He said, a small, encouraging smile gracing their lips.
"But your ability to manipulate mist without one is truly remarkable. It suggests an innate talent."
He felt nothing from the compliment, no pride, no joy. Only a distant observation.
"So, Muichiro," the Traveler continued, their tone shifting to a more practical one. "Paimon tells me you're lost, with no memories of how you arrived. Is that correct?"
"Yes," he confirmed. "I remember fighting. Then light. Then here."
"A common tale for those of us who cross worlds," the Traveler sighed, a wistful note in their voice. "Paimon and I are searching for my lost sibling. It will be a long journey,. We often help people along the way, hoping to find clues."
"You offered me to join you," he addressed Paimon, his gaze unwavering.
"Paimon did!" The tiny fairy nodded vigorously. "It'll be fun! And Paimon knows you'll be a great help!"
"We could certainly use your unique abilities," the Traveler added, their eyes thoughtful.
"Perhaps you could learn to channel your mist more effectively, or even discover a connection to an element. Teyvat is full of mysteries."
He looked from the Traveler to Paimon, then back to the city, thinking only one thing who are these people..... Bro forget about them mid conversation
"I will join you," he decided, his voice still devoid of strong emotion, yet holding a new, quiet resolve.
"Yay!" Paimon cheered, doing a little celebratory spin. "A new friend! This is going to be great!"
The Traveler offered another small smile. "Welcome to the team, Muichiro. We'll help you find your place in Teyvat."
he look at them " who are you again....?
*Time skip 2 days*
He learned about the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, the God of Freedom, who, Paimon explained, was a lazy bard. He saw statues of the Archon, a graceful figure with feathered wings, and felt a strange, almost imperceptible pull towards the wind.
"He's supposed to protect Mondstadt," Paimon grumbled one afternoon, as they sat by the fountain in the city square, watching children chase pigeons. "But he's almost never around! Paimon thinks he just wants to drink wine and sing songs!"
"Perhaps that is his way of protecting them," Muichiro offered, his gaze fixed on a distant cloud with only one single thought...'I wonder what it tastes like'
Paimon blinked, surprised by his observation. "Hmm, Paimon never thought of it that way! Maybe you're right!"
The Traveler, who had been listening silently, offered a small smile. "A different perspective. He has a point, Paimon. Freedom isn't always about active intervention."as he looked at muichiro 'please don't disappear suddenly again' he said that inside his mind