If Not A God, Who Am I? - Genshin Impact x Reader (part 3)
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word count: 6911 we're getting into the all of the details in this! do read the Author's Note at the bottom too :)
legend: (Y/N) - your name (L/N) - last name
Gender-neutral reader, They/Them pronouns.
TW: soft yandere, obsessive, cult-like behaviour from practically everyone. short feeding scene with Aether (in case any readers have any triggers about eating/food), cursing, slight derealisation/existential crisis(?)
description: Never once in your lifetime did you ever expect to be thrown into the world of Genshin Impact, a game you only played once a week with your friends. Much less did you ever expect to suddenly be thrusted into the life many could only wish for, the role of a God. Not even an ordinary God - The residents of Teyvat saw you as The Creator of Teyvat.
There was only one problem: You are an atheist.
You do not believe in Gods.
previously on INAGWAI
"Amber!" Said outrider grins when she catches sight of the incoming party. "Just in time! The Sticky Honey Roast just arrived," Paimon gasps, eyeing the food with sparkles in her eyes. "Paimon is so hungry!"
The dish itself looked marvellous. The honey sauce caused the meat to shine like a medal, looking as if it was supposed to be admired instead of eaten. Would Gordon Ramsey be impressed with this? You thought to yourself with a chuckle. Ever the gentleman, Aether pulled out a seat and allows you to settle in first before sitting down himself. The slime sat at your feet, rubbing itself at your legs like an affectionate cat.
Just as you were going to take a slice of the meat, a voice caused you to freeze.
"Care to explain why any of you thought that it would be a good idea to bring a Hydro slime into the city?"
Part III - Freedom
★
Stormy grey-blue eyes met yours. Seeing her in person was something that you could have never prepared for. The aura that surrounded her demanded obedience, fear and most importantly, respect. "Jean!" Amber gasped, jumping out of her seat to salute her superior.
The acting grand master returned the salute. She crossed her arms afterwards, tapping her foot against the ground impatiently. "So? Any explanations?" Amber giggles nervously, already feeling sweat trickle down her neck.
You let go of your cutlery, standing up to face Jean directly. "To be honest, it just followed us here," Your companions nodded, backing up your statement. "Really! I met them in Windrise and I was going to shoot the slime, but it was defending them!" Amber said. Said Hydro slime whines at the mention of almost being shot, its white eyes looking at the outrider with annoyance. It bounced up, catching Jean's pointed stare. They stared at each other in silence, narrowed eyes meeting big innocent eyes.
Jean sighed and finally blinked. She facepalmed, "It looks friendly, I suppose.." Paimon laughs and floats downwards to the slime. "That's because IT IS friendly!" The pair share a figurative fist-bump, the slime using its head due to lacking hands.
Jean tilted her head in confusion. "A Hydro slime.. Defending a person?" You shrugged in response. "Look, I'm just as confused as you are.. It just came up to me," She ponders, searching for her next words and action. A slime, others of its kind known to cause havoc onto the people of Teyvat. Yet this one in particular was different, going as far to protect its known enemy for centuries.
What could Jean even do? Kill it? Train it? Despite the slime proving to be unique, it was still a safety hazard. Perhaps the head alchemist could figure something out. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, a giggle cut the tense atmosphere.
"Oh? Jean, I had no idea that you were going to see my cutie," Mischievous green eyes sparkled under her signature purple witch hat. Said acting grandmaster stutters, "N-no, it was not planned! I was told that there was a slime running loose around Good Hunter.." Lisa cups Jean's chin gently as she stepped closer, rubbing her jaw with a laugh. "Surely, you should be used to my teasing by now?"
Jean blushes and pushes Lisa's hand away. The witch hums amusedly before setting her eyes onto the Hydro slime, bending down to meet it at eye-level. "You're the slime, I presume?" The slime lets out a squeak in surprise, bouncing backwards to hide behind your legs. Lisa looked upwards, a gasp leaving her as she met your gaze. "Your Grace.." She muttered before kneeling at before you. Jean gave the librarian a weird look. "Their Grace?"
You stifled a groan before immediately bending down to pull Lisa up. "Please don't," You said with an embarrassed tone. You could feel heat flooding to the tips of your ears. Aether glanced at you, a small chuckle bubbling within him as he observed your body language. He found you adorable.
Lisa hums happily, relishing in the warmth your presence gave as you stood barely a centimetre away from her. Unabashedly, she wraps an arm around your shoulder to pull you into a hug. "It's so great to finally meet you, Your-" You pinched her flesh lightly, interrupting her. "Please don't call me that," You whispered in her ear. All the while, Jean watched in surprise.
Jean was quick to offer her respect next, only to be pulled up before her knees could even touch the ground. "No need for that," You told her with a smile. She stuttered out disagreements, about how it would be unjust of her to simply not kneel at your feet, especially given her social position.
Jean has been a loyal acolyte since her childhood, looking up to The Creator even before she could hold a sword properly. She looked up to you alongside Venessa. When word came that The Creator had awoken and already had not one, but four vessels, Jean found herself training harder than ever before. While she had no clue about how The Creator chose their vessels, she pushed herself to her limits. To better herself, to become the next vessel.
Here you stood before her very eyes, entirely in the flesh. Her insides churned with guilt and anger, how could she not recognise you? Had Lisa not called your rightful title, she would have never known that you were the deity that she had dedicated her life to. Who was she to question Lisa? The witch was an actual vessel, unlike her.
Tears welled up in her eyes, apologies beginning to stream from her mouth like a waterfall. Apologies about how she was incredibly regretful for not being able to recognise you sooner. Or to even know that you had arrived to Teyvat with a physical form. The others watched with wide eyes, stunned at the uncharacteristic actions of their superior. You felt horrible. Acting out of instinct, you held Jean's hand and rubbed it gently. "You're okay," You said. The soothing tone of your words made the Dandelion Knight's tears slowly come to a stop. Her heart felt lighter. Am I not in trouble? She thought.
You considered telling her and Lisa the very same words you had told Aether, Paimon and Amber, but decided against it. Seeing the usually calm and serious character break down in front of you, had ultimately forced you to keep quiet about your opinion on the entire situation. At least for now. You promised yourself that you will tell them later, preferably in a more private setting. It was getting embarrassing seeing the stares from the surrounding public.
"Do you mind if we find somewhere to talk?" Jean stared at you confusedly. She had expected you to scold her, in the very least. She blinked after a moment, realising that she had looked at you for too long. "Oh- Yes!" She exclaimed, the apples of her cheeks burning in embarrassment.
Jean had agreed to discuss matters regarding the slime and Their Grace in the privacy of her office, away from prying eyes. The dull throbbing from the back of her head slowly grew with every new thought that rushed into her head. The Hydro slime sat at her feet, big white eyes watching her curiously. The acting grand master groans quietly and stares back at the slime. "What?"
The slime squeaks and rubs itself on her legs like an affectionate cat. Exhausted, the blonde could not find the strength within her to push it off. Instead, she allows the slime to nuzzle her as she observed. As dangerous as its kin could be, Jean did find herself calling it adorable.
You and Amber sat at the other table in the office, quietly chewing away on the Sticky Honey Roast. Paimon lets out a satisfied hum with every few bites. Sitting next to you, Aether kept to himself, his eyes only focused on you. You tilted your head after noticing him, "Are you not hungry?" Aether shook his head. "Not really.."
Paimon snickers, "As if! He hasn't eaten anything since last night!" You swore your eyes practically popped out of your sockets at her statement. It was already well into the afternoon, which meant that he had not eaten for over half a day! Your instincts took over once more, your hands moving on their own to cut a piece of the meat.
You held it to his mouth, "Why didn't you eat anything today? You know how important it is to eat, especially for someone as athletic as you," Aether's cheeks burned a bright pink as he tried to find for a response. Hesitantly, he bit the piece off the fork and chewed. He avoided eye-contact, still too flustered to even say anything.
As he looked away, he caught Amber's expression. Like usual, she had her bubbly smile. However, he could not help but feel that her smile meant something different this time; something more menacing. He inwardly shivered and shifted his gaze to look out the window. "Thank you.." He said softly. You smiled and held another piece to his mouth. "Here, have another,"
Taken aback at the fact that you were dead set on feeding him, he grabs the fork from your hands and stuffed the meat into his mouth, choosing to avoid eye-contact once more. How embarrassing! His God who he revered and adored, had given him the time of day and even fed him! The blonde puts a hand over his bottom half of his face, desperately trying to hide his burning cheeks. They must think of me as incapable of looking after myself now, He thought.
You chuckled awkwardly, reaching for the fork that he gripped incredibly tightly, that his hand had turned white. "That's uh-" His eyes drifted to you, a shiver running up his spine at the thought of you scolding him. "That's my fork.." His eyes snapped to the utensil, his hand letting go of it immediately. It clattered onto the table, the ringing sound repeating in his ears as he realisation dawned on him. He had shared a fork with you! "It was an indirect kiss.." He muttered to himself, turning to hide his face in his hands. "Sorry!" He had managed to squeak out after a moment of silence. You chuckled and patted his shoulder, "Just eat up, okay?"
Amber shoved another piece of the meat into her mouth, chewing harshly to distract herself. She winced when her teeth snapped down on her tongue from her silent rampage. Paimon guffawed, resorting to hide behind Aether when Amber had turned to glare at her.
Lisa watched the setting, a smile on her face as she took in the rather peculiar situation. After all, it was not everyday that one happens to run into their God during their lunch break. And it seemed that you were quite the unique God, your playful attitude being the complete opposite as what the ancient scrolls said. Perhaps it was part of being reborn into a new body?
Lisa had no doubt in her mind that you were indeed her God. The witch already had an inkling of your arrival to Teyvat the moment you had awoken in Windrise. She had felt it then, the sudden warmth overtaking her body. Every part of her had felt like it was on fire, yet it did not hurt her. It wrapped her up in a cocoon, safe and snug. Away from the rest of the world. The feeling had dissipated rather quickly, the emptiness in her soul telling her that she had to find you.
Luckily for her, her cutie had already done the job for her. She felt the warmth again the moment she left the Headquarters. It was like a tracking device, leading her straight to you. Though she was a little disappointed that Amber and Aether had gotten to you before her, she felt her heart stop the moment your eyes met hers. Her poor undeserving eyes settling on a God.
She knew that she should not had been selfish, especially when you had just met her in person. But, she could not help herself when she had pulled you in for a hug. Because in that moment, your warmth was the only thing she needed. Please forgive me, She thought to herself. A filthy sinner like her, seeking for comfort from the purest person all of Teyvat could offer.
Her heart rattled in its cage when she felt you return the hug. Her heart wanted to be free of its chains, to soar in the air and relish in the joy she felt in that moment.
The door to Jean's office swung open, its knob making a loud sound upon contact with the wall. Jean winced, shooting the entrant a glare. The entrant chuckles amusedly, waving a hand dismissively. "If the wall is damaged, I'll pay for the damages." He glanced at the wall. "See? No damage at all,"
Jean sighed, leaning her head in her palm. "Aren't you supposed to be on patrol?" He crossed his arms, grinning to himself. "I got a knight to fill in for me," He glanced at the larger table. A bright blue eye, shining like the first snowfall, met yours. "Kaeya.." You said his name. Oh, he swore that he had just ascended to Celestia with the way his name rolled of your tongue. He coughed, feeling the back of his neck burn lightly. He had rushed immediately to Headquarters after having caught wind that The Creator was there.
Similarly to Lisa, he felt your arrival the moment you had awoken in Windrise. But unlike her, he could not pinpoint where you were. Instead, he could hear you. It was his little secret ever since being chosen as a vessel. He could hear your little gasps of surprise whenever he had gotten injured while you brought him around Mondstadt. Sometimes, he even went out of his way to get an extra gash or bruise from fighting, just so that you would dote on him a little more than before. He enjoyed the warmth he felt from your presence, as well as your constant chattering.
However, his ability to hear you came at a price - He could not hear you clearly. Most often, he could hear you at an incredibly low volume. On the rare occasion that your voice was louder, he could only make out a few words.
To his luck, he was able to catch the gist of your earlier conversations before his arrival. While he was certainly not proud of eavesdropping, it did give him a heads up on what was going to occur next. He had already formulated a plan within the quick run he took to Headquarters.
Ever so gracefully, he knelt at your feet. Just like all of your companions beforehand. "Ah nonono," You chided him, immediately getting out of your seat to pull him up. He raised an eyebrow. Hiding his smirk with a chuckle, "I knew you were kind Your Grace, but-" You tutted. "Nope, none of that!" You accidentally raised your voice. You looked around, realising that everyone had their eyes on you.
It was now or never.
"I've said this earlier to them," You pointed at Amber, Paimon and Aether. "But, I will repeat it for your sake," You gave pointed looks to Jean, Lisa and Kaeya. "I understand that you are mistaking me for your God, but I can assure you that I'm not them." You started. Jean, similarly to Amber earlier that day, frowned and had a look of disbelief in her eyes. Lisa and Kaeya shared a look, already not believing your words.
"I promise that I'm just a regular human," Kaeya chuckled at your words. You paused and narrowed your eyes at him. "What's so funny?" He crossed his arms, a smug look on his face. "Prove it." He challenged. He held out a hand and a snowflake projected out from it, flying into the air and landed on your hair. "Do that," He instructed. You gawked at him, "Are you fucking serious?" He nodded. "If you truly can prove that you're not Their Grace, we'll apologise for the inconvenienced caused. Then promptly bring you to the dungeon." The closed-eye smile on his face said it all. You used to not take Kaeya seriously for he was known as quite the carefree knight, but being on the receiving end of his threat was definitely terrifying.
Lisa pinched his side lightly, "Don't get too cocky, this is Their Grace after all," She whispered. He smirked, tilting his head at her. "I know. But trust me on this." You spluttered. "The dungeon?! I haven't done anything wrong!" You protested. Kaeya hummed, "Oh, but isn't parading around the city as The Creator a crime in itself?"
"Now listen here you little-" You started, ready to throw hands at his accusation. You relaxed your stance, remembering that firstly, He was a knight. Secondly, that meant that he can and certainly will, overpower you in battle. You knew that first-hand, especially as the person who helped him get stronger.
The Hydro slime bounced away from Jean and stood in-between you and Kaeya's face off. It glared menacingly at him, low pitched sounds coming from it. As if it was growling. "It's protecting them again!" Amber exclaimed. Jean could finally see what Amber meant earlier. What an odd thing, an enemy of Teyvat since the beginning of time, protecting a human. Well, what claimed to be a human.
"Fine," You sighed. At this point, accepting the false title was starting to sound much more attractive than being thrown in the dungeon. But accepting the title did not meet your morals. Besides, you had already declared that you were not the God they had mistaken you for. You were already in too deep.
You copied Kaeya's action, holding your hand out towards him. Your eyes widened, immediately freezing in place as a gust of wind protruded out from your hand, gently blowing strands of hair out of your face. You whipped your head around. Yes, there was an open window behind you. Catching your glance, Aether instinctively reached out to close the window. You chuckled nervously, "False alarm. Let me do it again." Kaeya nodded, a knowing smirk on his face. "Go on then,"
You repeated it once more. However unlike the first attempt, the gust of wind was stronger. It blew both yours and Kaeya's hair upwards. The knight raised an eyebrow again, "So?" You stuttered, "I-I swear that I couldn't do that before.."
"How did you know that would happen?" Lisa whispered to him. He only chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "A little birdie told me," He lied.
He had actually read a myth from an ancient scroll that he had stumbled upon during an expedition. The myth was about The Creator having a familiar; a companion while they constructed Teyvat. The origins of slimes were not well known, but it was common knowledge that slimes were one of the oldest beings since the creation of Teyvat. He had guessed that if you were truly The Creator, you would have a slime, or at least a variation of it, as a familiar.
And it here was, a Hydro slime protecting you with its life. Was it your familiar? Kaeya did not know. But the slime's actions surely meant something.
Another scroll he had come across in his most recent expedition was a myth about the formation of the elements in Teyvat. It was said that The Creator had first created wind; Anemo. Just like the possibility of you having a familiar, he had figured that if you would be able to wield the first element you had ties with.
His hunches were right. He knew more than most people gave him credit for. He was not the Calvary Captain for nothing.
Still stunned over what had happened, it made things easier for your companions to move you to Dawn Winery, under the reasoning that you were to stay there until the completion of your new home. Just like the other God that lived in Mondstadt, your new home was to include a worship room, designed like The Favonius Cathedral.
You had gone into a daze, still repeating the scene in your head. How were you suddenly able to wield the element? You had not even touched the Archon's Statue in Windrise. So many questions, not enough answers.
Kaeya grinned when the servants of the winery bowed in greeting. "Welcome back, Master Kaeya. Master Diluc has already arrived and is awaiting for you in his study." Adelinde said. He nodded in understanding. He turned to you, "Your Grace, shall we?" You opened your mouth to chide him for using the title yet again, but decided against it due to the servants around. You nodded stiffly. He hummed, placing a hand on your back to gently push you forward. Aether followed behind silently. Paimon gasped, "Woah! The Winery is much more livelier than we last visited," The slime bounced after her, leaving a trail of wet patches on the carpeting. Adelinde grimaced at the sight of the wet carpet.
Kaeya chuckled at Paimon's remark. He knew of his brother's utmost dedication to The Creator. Ever since they were children and being raised by Crepus, the young Diluc Ragnvindr already admired the deity. Just like Jean, he put his upmost faith into them, allowing their stories and legends to guide them even to this day.
Unlike Kaeya, who was never as dedicated as his brother. Of course the knight respected and adored you just like any other acolyte, but he had never been on the same level of dedication as Diluc had been. Most of Kaeya's loyalty lies with his homeland.
Of which is why Diluc never understood why Kaeya was chosen as a vessel. What had Kaeya done to deserve it? Before being chosen as a vessel, Kaeya seldomly attended the many festivals and religious activities held to celebrate The Creator. Diluc attended each and every activity, going as far as to fully fund some of the events himself! He always made sure to leave an offering whenever he was nearby one of your many shrines scattered throughout Teyvat. Whether it be a flower that he thought was beautiful, or even just a simple prayer, Diluc made sure to show his dedication.
This was also why Diluc had been quick to offer his home in the event that The Creator had come to Teyvat. There had been a plan formulated ever since Mondstadt had realised The Creator had awoken - Where would Their Grace stay, if their home is not built yet? Who would guide them around the city for a tour? Who would be at their side at all times, unless they said otherwise? The city of Mondstadt was prepared.
What they were not prepared for however, was for their deity to be an atheist, quite literally giving those that they had encountered a small existential crisis. Namely, Jean, Amber and Paimon. Along with a Hydro slime for a companion.
"Your Grace," Diluc greeted you politely, bending down on one knee and kissing your hand in an effortless move. "Please, call me (Y/N)." You said with a small smile, tugging his hand to pull him up. The redhead looked at you surprised, "Pardon?"
"It's a long story, brother." Kaeya sighed jokingly. While Kaeya can be prim and proper, he was definitely not holding back his teasing side. At first you found it annoying, even more so after he had smugly proved that you were able to wield Anemo. But he was a refreshing breath of air. Especially when you have been surrounded by people constantly on edge around you, afraid of upsetting you.
Do not be mistaken though, Kaeya was certainly on edge as well. But as sad as it is, he has spent a large portion of his life feeling as such. He has only taught himself to not show others his true feelings.
"Use my name, Master Diluc." You reiterated for him. As Diluc fumbled over his words, trying to find reasoning within him for as to why you would allow a lowly acolyte like him, to call you without any titles, you elbowed Kaeya for his little joke. "Seriously?" You asked him. The knight only chuckled. "Please, call me Diluc then." The redhead finally had recovered, a twinge of embarrassment in his words for having taken so long to respond.
The Hydro slime bounced up, catching your eye. "Oh, Kiki!" You cooed, bending down to give it a pat. Diluc watched with a narrowed gaze, hands already in position to summon his claymore. Kaeya patted his brother's shoulder, "Ever heard of a slime being a God's familiar?" Diluc huffed, relaxing his stance. "I'm afraid not,"
"Well, better be nice to the slime if you'd like to be on Their Grace's good side." He summoned his own sword, pointing it at his brother in a mock offense. "And be gentle too, since a slime like that could just go," He tapped the tip of his sword on Diluc's coat, "Pop." The Ragnvindr growled, silently challenging him. Kaeya only whistled as he allowed his sword to dissipate into the air, back into storage.
"Kiki?" Paimon repeated, giggling when the Hydro slime made a wobbling sound at the mention of its name. You shrugged, "The name just came out. It's fitting, no?" Kiki chirps, rubbing itself at Aether's legs. The traveller patted it affectionately.
"Your-" Diluc shivered at the utter speed of your soft expression changing into a glare, challenging him to finish saying the title. He coughed. "(Y/N)," Your glare melted away, returning to the small smile you had. "Would you like to rest first? Dinner should be served in," He glanced at the large grandfather clock that stood in the corner, "About half an hour."
You nodded almost immediately. The atmosphere caused by the brothers almost felt suffocating. While you often laughed at their interactions as a player, being there in person was entirely a different experience. They were always constantly on edge with each other, just barely a step away from attacking each other. If only they could just let down their guards for once and talk out their feelings.
"Please," You said. Diluc stepped forward, offering you his arm. "Come along then, (Y/N). I know first-hand that Alberich can be quite the energy-sucker." Kaeya snickered at what was supposed to be a jab at his ego. "I'll see you soon, (Y/N)." He waved at you with a smirk before showing himself out. Aether and Paimon followed suit, telling you that they will return to show you around Mondstadt.
As Diluc made small talk, Kiki made excited chirps in response, wanting to also be included in the conversation. It was surprising to say in the least, because you knew that Diluc was not interested in any idle chit-chat. But the Ragnvindr was willing to bypass any of his personal let peeves in order to spend more time with you. He wanted to learn more about his God that he revered in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To know your likes and dislikes so that he could perhaps, if his luck did allow it, become your favourite acolyte. Maybe then, he would be chosen as a vessel. Just like his brother.
To put things simply, you hated staying at Dawn Winery.
Everyone was always walking on eggshells when around you. Almost all of the servants did not dare to look you in the eye, muttering about how they are not 'worthy' to do so. You have tried getting them to address you by your name, but they all flatly refused. They either addressed you as Your Grace or Your Holiness. The latter felt even more wrong than the former, considering you were not even Jesus. And that you did not even believe in Jesus, for that matter.
While having free shelter and food in the luxurious Dawn Winery seemed like a dream come true for many, you thought the complete opposite. You were lonely. Aether and Kaeya were yet to visit you, both having been pre-occupied with commissions and duties respectively. Diluc was busy with the tavern, always apologising that he could not keep you company past breakfast. Yes, Adelinde was there to answer any questions you had and to fulfil your requests, but it never went past that. Your companion Kiki could only chirp and squeak along to your words.
You had tried asking to leave the Winery, to at least go for a walk around the outskirts of the compound, but was ultimately denied. Diluc said it was for your safety, and should the rest of Teyvat accidentally find out of your whereabouts, it would cause a huge uproar. Which in turn, also risked your safety.
Your hands were also itching to move, to do something new! Finding out that you could wield Anemo still was a shock to you - You did not even have a vision! Over your loneliness in the Winery, you taught yourself to manipulate the element. You could now support Kiki in the air for a solid five minutes. It may not seem like much to the experienced Vision holder, but it was something. And it still counts.
But alas, you were sick of it of your confinement. You were determined to get out of the Winery today, even for a little while.
Challenging yourself, you had gotten onto the iconic statue of Barbatos from manipulating Anemo. You sat on its hands, your heart pounding a mile a minute from pure adrenaline. You had left Kiki behind in the winery. Hopefully it had not caused a mess due to your absence.
Mondstadt looked so beautiful from above. You have admired its scenery countless times as a player, but seeing it in person is truly a sight to behold. As you took in the scenery, you began to ponder.
You were homesick. While experiencing mundane things such as trying out Sticky Honey Roast for the first time was fun, you were missing the sense of stability you had in your old routine from your world. You missed your friends and family - Did they even notice your disappearance? If they did, are they missing you, like how you are missing them? And as odd as it sounded, you also missed attending college. Even though you would zone out at times, at least you always knew what came next.
Unlike here in Teyvat, where there was almost never a settled cycle. You could be in the city of Mondstadt for a day, then suddenly taking out a hilichurl camp next. The only constant you had was Kiki. While its curious and kind nature was enough to entertain you for a bit, it was not a human. You needed real, human interaction.
A gust of wind from behind you pulls you away from your train of thought. "Thought I'd find you here," Your visitor said. Speak of the devil. You turned around, meeting bright green eyes. Their eyes sparkled under the sunlight, appearing as a shade of aquamarine. Nevermind, this was not the devil. Quite the opposite.
"Venti," You said his name. He giggled, "Ehe~! I'm glad you know me, Your Grace." There it was again, the pesky title. He walked closer. Instinctively, you shifted to the side to allow him space to sit. How could you not know him? The entire Archon quest that you were in the midst of doing (before getting sucked into Teyvat), revolved around him. You were aware that he was the Anemo Archon.
"You know, the Winery is in a panic since you sneakily slipped away." He chuckled. You sighed in response. "I know. But I just had to get away for a bit," He hummed and swung his legs, "The duties of a God getting too much to bear?"
You shook your head. "I'm not a God, Venti. I'm far from it," Gently, he reached out to twirl a lock of your hair between his finger. "Of course you are, Your Grace. How could you not see that you are the purest thing our world has to offer? The world that you carefully created, might I add."
"How could I be the very thing that I don't believe in, Venti? Gods don't exist."
"They do, Your Grace. You're talking to one right now," He pointed to himself with a cheeky smile. He shrugged carelessly. "Perhaps you're just missing memories prior to your awakening." You disagreed with him. All the memories you knew were of life before Teyvat. Your past, your friends and family, your likes and dislikes were all you knew. Nothing else before that.
"Are you sad?" He asked. You stayed silent. Were you? You were not sure.
"As your faithful servant, I'd be glad to sing you a few tunes to improve your mood." He suggested, pulling out his lyre and strummed a few chords. You frowned. "I don't need a servant, Venti. I need a friend." He only smiled, taking your hand gently.
"Then a friend I shall be."
The Anemo Archon kidnapped had taken you with him, claiming that he knew of a place that you would love. He rode the wind with you in his arms, his giggles sounding as magical as the scenery he brought you to.
He had brought you to a large field of dandelions. The never-ending patch expanded out into the horizon, where you could see the sun starting to set. It looked like it was grabbed out of a vintage painting and simply dropped before your eyes. The ground teemed of the small flowers. You bent down to blow on one. As you watches the seeds float away in the wind, a smile settled on your face before you could even realise.
He was right. You adored this place.
The Dandelion Sea, he called this place. "It was once an area the people of Mondstadt could visit." You tilted your head at his words. "Why not anymore?" You asked.
Just as he was about to answer you, a herd of floating white blobs engulfed him. He fell onto the ground, a puff of dandelion seeds floating into the sky from impact. You leaned closer, taking a closer look at what had attacked him.
They appeared just like the many dandelion flowers that surrounded you. Just that it had antennae and big eyes in the same colour as the Archon's. Venti laughed, "Okay little ones, that's enough!" Listening to his command, the tiny yet mystical beings flew off him. A small group of five had spotted you immediately after, floating upwards to be at eye-level with you.
"Venti, what are these..?" You asked. You tilted your head. The group of five followed, turning their entire body horizontally. "They're wind spirits, children of Anemo." Venti answered. He sat onto the ground, patting the vacant area next to him. You followed, still entranced with the cuteness of the wind wisps. "As you know, Mondstadt is the city of freedom. These wind spirits are the epitome of what I stand for; Freedom. They are free from the burden of consciousness. All they have to do is live and be happy," He said with a smile.
"Did you make them?" Venti laughs at your question. "Dear Celestia, no! They appeared randomly to me before the modernisation of the city of Mondstadt you know today," He answered after recovering from his giggles. "I closed The Dandelion Sea because this is their home. I would hate for their home to be ruined by the people of Teyvat."
"Ruined?" You asked. He sighed and drew a sad face into the ground. "As time goes on, so do people. The population will continue to grow,"
"And when it does, deforestation is required to make land for housing and buildings." He nodded solemnly at your response. "While I do love the people of Mondstadt, these wind spirits deserve for their home to be protected. What would happen to them if it was gone?" He gave you a sad smile as the answer to his question came to your mind.
"Do you see yourself as a God?" You asked him.
He shrugged. "Sometimes. It's only because that's what people call me, aside from the title of Anemo Archon." You raised an eyebrow. "But personally?"
"Personally?" He repeated. He hummed, "I used to believe in it when I was freshly given power, but with all I've seen.." He trailed off. You rubbed his shoulder comfortingly, pulling him back from his thoughts. His clouded eyes cleared again. He smiled sheepishly, muttering his appreciation.
The herd of wind spirits covered him again. They squeaked simultaneously, trying to comfort him. A stray wind spirit floated over to you, landing on your finger. "Hello," You said with a smile. It squeaked happily, floating upward to nuzzle you on the tip of your nose. It was so soft, almost like a cotton ball. With a herd of them, they must have felt like a cloud. The wind spirit flew away afterwards, joining its siblings in comforting the bard.
You apologised to him after the wind spirits had moved to give him space. You did not intend to ruin the conversation nor hurt Venti's feelings. He smiled and waved his hand dismissively. "It's alright, Your Grace. I promised that I'd be your friend!"
"My name," You reminded him. He said your name, correcting himself. "As they wish!" He giggled. "Why do you deny the titles?" He questioned curiously. "I don't want to be a God." You said after a moment of silence. "Because you do not believe in them?" Venti asked. You shook your head. "Even if I did, I still would not want to be one,"
"Why not?" He asked.
"I can barely take care of myself, Venti. How could I look after others?" You said quietly. He intertwines his hand with yours, pulling it upwards to give your hand a peck. Like Aether, he rubbed his thumb on your ring. "If not a God, who are you?" He then asked.
"Are you sure that you want to do this?" Paimon asked. It was the day of Aether and Paimon leaving Mondstadt for the first time, setting out towards Liyue. You nodded. "I started this journey to find your sister with you, Aether. It is only right that I finish it with you." His heartbeat threatened to jump out of his chest at your words. Ever the kind God, you still wanted to stay with him. Even after meeting the others, who he had feared would take you away from him.
What was he to do, if you wanted to stay behind in Mondstadt? He knew of his position. He was only a lowly acolyte in comparison to you. He could only respect your wishes.
But a certain type of pride swelled within him when he found out that you wanted to follow him. "You're my first friend here," You had said to him. It reminded him that no, he was not only an acolyte. He was something more. That was enough for him. For now.
You had created a distraction, allowing you a small window for your escape. What was the distraction? Oh nothing new, you just messed with a few of Diluc's grapevines, using your newfound abilities. Though you regretted treating your host in such a way, it was the only distraction you could think of.
While everyone at Dawn Winery was in a ruckus, You escaped with Kiki, meeting the traveller at the the small alleyway just before the outskirts of the Winery. Aether held his hand out to you. "Let's get going then, (Y/N)." You smiled and took his hand, intertwining your fingers with his. Kiki bounced ahead, keeping in tune with Paimon's pace.
Back at the Headquarters of Favonius, Jean opened a letter that you had written the night before. Venti's question from the night before had sent you into a small crisis. You were just a normal person on Earth, but you certainly were not on Teyvat. People saw you as a God, the very thing you did not believe in. They credited The Creator's efforts to you, of which you did not feel deserving of.
Who were you truly then? After pondering, you had decided your next course of action.
Dear friends of Mondstadt,
After much deliberation, I have decided that I will be following the traveller for the rest of his journey in Teyvat. While I am forever indebted to you all for the love and hospitality you have shown me over the past few days, I will be taking this time away to find myself. I want to explore Teyvat and experience all it has to offer.
By now, most of you are aware that I deny the title of The Creator and its affiliated titles. Due to that, Venti had asked me, "If not a God, who am I?" last night.
I am simply, just me - (Y/N) (L/N).
Venti backed off awkwardly after seeing the pointed stares at him. "I didn't suggest for them to just leave Mondstadt!" He exclaimed. Diluc rolled up the sleeves of his coat, preparing to take a swing at the bard. Venti slipped out the window, escaping in the nick of time.
BONUS SCENE:
"(Y/N), look!" Paimon exclaimed as she pointed in the air. You followed, catching a glimpse of a folded piece of paper floating in the sky. Gracefully, it landed in your outstretched hand. "A letter?" Aether mused. You shrugged, opening the folded piece.
Dearest (Y/N),
I would like to apologise for causing your abrupt departure from Mondstadt. While I am eternally grateful that I have had the chance to meet you in person (and to even share a conversation with!), I will miss you.
I have waited for your arrival for over a thousand years. I will gladly wait for another thousand years and more, for your return.
Wishing you safe travels,
Your friend ♡
How cute, he even drew a small heart at his signature! The moment you finished reading his letter, you could hear his laughter as a wind current passed you by. It sounded as magical as it did the day before.
End.
★
author's note:
thank you for coming along with me for the journey of INAGWAI! this series was originally planned as a one-shot, but i decided that a 12.7k one-shot would be better posted as a multi-chapter series.
now, to answer some questions that some of you may have:
1. will there be a sequel?
maybe! no certain plans as of now, but i am open to the idea. should it happen, it will feature Liyue onwards. however, updates will probably be only twice a month as i am pre-occupied with school.
2. how did you come up with the idea of an Atheist!AU of SAGAU?
i'm an atheist myself! while i'm an agnostic atheist, i thought that an Atheist! Reader who fully does not believe in deities, would be quite a fun project to take up, especially because of how GI and SAGAU is centred around deities. i actually had another comedic scene related to this, but it was ultimately scrapped due to plot purposes.
3. are there any scrapped Venti scenes?
yes, actually! you can read two bonus Venti scenes here. it was scrapped because it did not fit with the plot, but i thought it was too adorable to fully delete.
4. it was mentioned that Reader did not finish the Mondstadt Archon quest. how were they able to move onto Liyue with Aether?
it's my fanfic, hence it's my lore now. as mentioned in part II, INAGWAI is not fully accurate to the actual GI lore. also because i felt that writing another 5k words dedicating about how Reader and Aether saved Dvalin with Venti would be redundant to the plot of INAGWAI.
5. could we post any fan-art etc. of INAGWAI?
yes, of course! just make sure to link INAGWAI in the caption, as well as tag me so that i can reblog it! you can also use the tags #INAGWAI and #☆if not a god who am i? too!
6. who named the Hydro slime?
my best friend did! he had suggested Kiki and i had responded that Kiki meant p*ssy in tagalog. the moment was so funny that i decided to keep the name! dav, thank you for always letting me bounce my ideas for INAGWAI on you and giving me on-site feedback - i adore you <3
7. the wind spirits in Venti's scene(s) were so cute! did you create them?
the adorable wind spirits/sprites featured in Venti's scenes are from @anemoarchonhoe 's Thousand Winds AU! where God!Reader and husband Venti basically have a thousand (and more) wind sprites as their children. it's incredibly creative and adorable, do check Ventus's blog out!
to Ventus, a huge thank you once more for allowing me to feature the little darlings in this chapter. i can only hope that i did them enough justice in this. i appreciate you so much <3
if you enjoyed INAGWAI, perhaps you could check out my other works! more GI-related works to be published soon, especially for Zhongli and Childe <3
thank you for reading! xx
taglist:
@iloveflowersandclouds @shiroyuki0128 @lunalily19 @crowbird @earthernal @justarandomweeblol @xinhs @abvolat @immahuman @toiveesi @karmawonders @hystriahaze @wonderlace19 @blankfornow @ellie3467