When he opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was wind.
Not the sharp, cold wind he remembered from his old world's winters, nor the stale air of crowded streets. This wind was alive. It carried the scent of grass, damp earth, and distant flowers. It brushed against his skin gently, like it was testing whether he truly existed.
He groaned and pushed himself up from the ground.
Soft moss clung to his hands. Towering trees surrounded him, their leaves whispering as sunlight filtered through the branches. Somewhere far away, birds called to one another in cheerful tones. Everything felt too vivid. Too real.
"This isn't… a dream," he muttered.
The memories came slowly. His old life, blurry and distant, like a book he had read long ago. And then something else layered on top of it. A world he recognized instantly, even if he struggled to believe it.
Mondstadt.
The realization made his heart pound. He had spent countless hours exploring this world on a screen, gliding over cliffs, running through these very forests. But standing here now, feeling the soil beneath him, hearing the leaves move above him, was completely different.
Before he could process more, a sudden pressure swelled deep inside his body.
It wasn't pain at first. It was heat. Thick, heavy, and violent, like a storm trapped in his chest.
His breath hitched.
No… don't tell me…
A voice echoed in the back of his mind. Low. Ancient. Amused.
"So… you're awake."
His body froze.
The presence was overwhelming. Vast and feral, coiled tightly within him like a caged sun. Images flashed in his mind. Nine massive tails. Burning red eyes. A grin filled with sharp teeth.
Kurama.
The Nine-Tailed Fox.
His legs gave out and he collapsed to his knees, gasping for air as crimson chakra leaked from his skin like smoke. The grass beneath him withered slightly, pressed flat by an invisible force.
"I didn't agree to this," he whispered through clenched teeth.
Kurama laughed, the sound rumbling through his bones. "You didn't have to. Fate is amusing like that."
The chakra surged again, stronger this time. His vision blurred red at the edges. Instinct screamed at him to let it out. To stop holding back. Power like this didn't want restraint.
He dug his fingers into the earth, grounding himself. "Not… losing control… not here…"
Slowly, painfully, the chakra receded. The pressure didn't vanish, but it settled, like a beast lying down without fully sleeping.
Kurama clicked his tongue. "Hmph. You're different from the brat. Cautious. That might keep you alive."
The forest returned to normal. The wind flowed again. Birds resumed their songs, unaware of how close the calm had come to breaking.
He stayed there for several minutes, breathing, listening, feeling his heartbeat slow.
"So this is my life now," he said quietly. "Genshin Impact… with you inside me."
Kurama didn't answer. Or maybe he simply didn't care to.
After standing up, he took his time exploring the area. He didn't rush forward like an adventurer on a quest. He walked. He touched the bark of trees, felt the texture of leaves, followed a narrow dirt path winding through the forest.
Every step made it more real.
Occasionally, he felt something else. A faint pull in the air. Energy different from chakra. Lighter. Freer. It brushed against his senses like a playful breeze.
Anemo.
"I can feel it," he murmured. "The elements…"
He tried reaching for it the same way he would chakra. The result was immediate and unpleasant. A sudden clash inside his body sent a sharp pain through his arm, forcing him to stumble back.
Kurama laughed again. "Careful, boy. This world plays by different rules."
"Yeah," he hissed, rubbing his arm. "I noticed."
He didn't try again right away.
The forest slowly opened up as he walked, the trees thinning until he reached a small clearing. Wildflowers swayed gently, and sunlight bathed the area in gold.
That was when he heard footsteps.
He turned sharply, instincts flaring.
A blonde girl stepped into the clearing, sword at her side. Her amber eyes widened slightly when she saw him, clearly surprised to find someone else out here.
Lumine.
The protagonist of this world.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind passed between them, lifting strands of her hair.
"You're not a hilichurl," she said finally, her tone cautious but calm.
He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Good. I was worried I might look like one."
She blinked, then relaxed just a little. "You're not from Mondstadt, are you?"
"No," he answered honestly. "I… woke up here. In the forest."
Lumine studied him closely. He could tell she was used to sizing people up, deciding whether they were a threat. Her gaze lingered for a second too long, as if she sensed something off about him.
Kurama stirred.
"Interesting," the fox murmured. "She carries power too."
"I'm not looking for trouble," he added quickly. "Just trying to understand where I am."
She nodded slowly. "Then you're lucky. You're not far from the city. I can guide you, if you want."
Relief washed over him, warm and genuine. "I'd appreciate that."
They walked together at an easy pace. No sudden jumps, no dramatic fights. Just two travelers moving beneath the open sky.
As they passed through the forest paths, he paid attention to everything. The way the wind curved around rocks. The distant outline of Mondstadt's walls appearing between the trees. The subtle hum of elemental energy in the air.
Inside him, Kurama watched silently.
"You're planning something," the fox said at last.
"Yeah," he replied in his thoughts. "I'm going to survive here. And I'm going to learn how to use this power. Both of them."
Kurama's grin was audible in his voice. "Hah. Then don't bore me."
The city gates came into view, sunlight reflecting off stone and banners fluttering in the breeze. Mondstadt, City of Freedom.
As he stepped forward alongside Lumine, he knew this was only the beginning.
A slow beginning. But a real one.