GENSHIN IMPACT!AU + WINDBREAKER
NOTE: It will be a long series of works! part1, it's a collab with @shintaru
TAGS: traveler!Reader, definitely a deviation from the canon
@zyart-jpg @dzvelinaskebiyars @sylith dividers @uzmacchiato
"Even the most beautiful flowers grow in rivers of blood for the sake of justice"
Constellation: Virgo — once a young beauty, the daughter of the deity himself, was given to the god of the underworld as a wife, but her mother could never accept the separation from her beloved daughter. It is said that the constellation appeared in the sky when her mother's despair was so great that nature itself began to decline.
PAST: from the moment of her birth, she was allowed to do anything. to enjoy the gifts of her clan, who stood guard over the islands of Inazuma, obeying the will of the Shogun. from generation to generation. to help those in need, to judge others fairly, and to turn a blind eye to the will of her Archon. and as the second child of the family, who was not burdened with the responsibilities of a future heir, she had freedom. until the righteous sword of the esteemed Archon cut through her older brother's chest. then something changed in Kaneshiro's heart, it seemed to stop beating in that moment, as if her own chest was torn apart. After that night, the Takeda clan lost its former respect, and rumors spread among the common people that Kazuma had died by betraying his clan, acting on his own will without the consent of others. However, everyone knew in silence that it was an attempt to rebel against the hunt for the Eyes of God. Kaneshiro may have been able to master her family's swordsmanship in a short time and join the esteemed army, but her heart has not forgotten. At that time, a secret correspondence was established with the opposition on the island of Watatsumi. Kaneshiro could no longer allow the common people to suffer at the hands of their god. She could no longer allow someone close to her family to die in front of her eyes. This was not just an attempt to avenge her blood and the greatness of her clan; it was a struggle for justice.
At the moment, she is the heir to the Takeda clan, having taken over after the death of her older brother, who was executed for treason against his homeland.
Her clan was one of the strongest pillars of Inazuma, with a unique art of swordsmanship, serving the will of the Archon for generations. They raised orphaned children, training them for the region's army, but after the death of their first heir, their reputation suffered, and the number of "newcomers" to the clan was suspended by the island commission.
she has secret correspondence with a priestess from Watatsumi Island, and is a secret member of the rebellion, using all her powers to try to stop the Eye of God Hunt, secretly copying important documents about the commission's future actions under the full authority of the Shogun using a newly created cipher for secret correspondence.
it is said in the clan that her blade was made from real dragon bone, and the steel was forged from a precious ore once given by the first Electro Archon. it is passed down in the family as a treasure, given only to the clan's geniuses.
Apart from the clan's individual swordsmanship techniques, she also mastered the powerful techniques taught by her older brother. full concentration of attention, incandescence of magical power allows her to inflict a large-scale electric incision.
Kaneshiro rarely uses her God's Eye, but she often creates a glittering shield around herself that prevents others from breaking through it.
As a child, Kaneshiro was quite sickly, unable to hold a spoon straight. As she grew older, her unknown illness subsided, but the pain in her hands occasionally resurfaced, forcing her to carry healing potions at all times.
Unlike others, her clothing is more revealing, providing more flexibility in her movements. However, the fabric itself is enchanted with mana for added protection.
She has developed a habit of smoking by accident. There isn't much space on Inazuma's islands to grow tobacco, but the illegal supplies from the pirate ship provide her with enough supplies for several months.
Kaneshiro always tries to avoid gathering with other clans, saying she can't stand their disgusting faces. However, every year on the same date, she can be found at the sacred Narukami Shrine, praying for hours under the cherry blossoms.
news in Inazuma only comes with the arrival of a pirate ship or the return of fugitives to their homeland, so she had heard something about you.
Kaneshiro was standing in the alleys of the marketplace, waiting for the pirates to bring her her "contraband." It was always the same person, a young man from the pirate ship who was the captain's errand boy. Therefore, your appearance was unexpected, and seeing a new face in this place felt like a miracle.
"Sorry.." you place the wooden box on the wet asphalt of the alleyways after the rain, removing the hood showing your face, scratching the back of your head "I was told that here I can find a girl who needs to deliver this package"
Kaneshiro carefully studies your face, slightly bowing his head down, being on the high heels of his shoes, "Yes, it's me, but who are you? Newcomer?"
her voice is soft, so sweet that you don't even notice the scabbard of her katana hanging from her belt, which she hides behind her hand. unintentionally, more out of habit. it seemed like there was no danger behind her. you wave your hands in the air, dismissing her, "Oh, no, not at all, it's just a payment for bringing me here."
"Oh, so you're an illegal passenger," Kaneshiro's soft smile spreads across her face, her eyes narrowing slightly, as soft raindrops fall from the rooftops, hitting the asphalt with a loud thud. "Should I arrest you?"
"what?" you take a step back, with a nervous smile, now finally accepting her appearance fully. how her delicate hands are rough from old calluses, how her sword sticks out from the side attached to her belt. and how her shadow looms over your figure, cornering you in the alley. it seems that her attention is now more focused on your presence than on the delivered goods, "I have the authority to throw you in prison without any trial."
her fingers slide to your face, twisting a lock of hair around her finger. you have nowhere to run when you're cornered. you move to draw your sword for protection, but she steps away from you, humming softly, her eyes half-lidded. "I'm just teasing you, you're so tense."
her eyelashes flutter as she turns her attention to the box on the damp pavement, the package she's been waiting for has finally arrived, and she takes her first steps towards it, eager to finally receive what she's been longing for, but you can feel it. It's as if she's still observing you from a distance, sensing your presence very well. "I'm here to meet with the Archon, and I won't cause any trouble. I'll leave Inazuma immediately afterward."
you grab your sword, frowning to step back behind her, not getting closer, quickly making excuses. the first cute impression of her was deceptive, now you felt it like danger looming over your head.
she turns her head slowly, the sound of thunder in the sky so sharp and deafening makes you twitch as she stands still. she doesn't say anything, just waits, looking at you, when she finally says, "it's going to rain heavily, I think you should go before you get wet."
the sound of her heels is so loud in this quiet and dirty alleyway as the small raindrops really start to fall on your shoulders. you put your hood back on to get away from here.
"My name is Kaneshiro, find me before you meet our goddess" her words are slow, almost mocking at the end, and when you turn your head back, you don't see her as she left so quickly, leaving you in the growing rain.
"To find you..." you repeat quietly, barely opening your lips, as the cold seeps into your back. You need to find shelter from the rain, to find the place where you can stay.
As you walk through the quiet streets of the main square, a stranger's gaze watches you, surrounded by tobacco smoke. "What does a princess like you want from our Archon?" Kaneshiro exhales, his words directed at the void.
hoping that you will come into her hands before anyone else.
"The one in whose veins primeval fire flows, terrifying others"
constellation: Hounds — according to the myth, the son is doomed to forever guard his mother, who was turned into a constellation in the sky. Therefore, he holds the leashes of the Hounds tightly, ready to attack and tear her apart.
PAST: a small house. a cold bed. too little sunlight, which barely penetrated the windows of the house because it was too low. and the moneylenders. always noisy, nasal, and rude, always demanding a huge percentage of the debt that his father had once taken to buy himself a drink. and his mother's gentle hands covering his head. that was all he remembered from his childhood. it seemed impossible to escape the endless cycle of poverty and debt, with his mother's tears. especially in the contract region, where your entire life is a struggle for money. beautiful buildings, expensive clothes, and luxurious souvenirs that tourists see, but no one ever notices those who live below and worse. Liyue held many secrets, but even deeper was the secret of its residents' inequality. and Vinny was right there until his chains broke when the lifeless body of an adult man was found in the sea harbor. the newspapers reported "an accident" or "a drunken man lost consciousness and drowned in the sea." After that, Vinny's life improved, with his bloody hands hidden beneath his cloak. there were no more moneylenders, no more debts, and no more nights of his mother crying quietly in the night. he was there, going out to sea with the other sea traders on the ship, trying to make money and breathe more freely. he remembers his mother standing at the port, seeing him off on his next trip. there was a strong storm, and Vinny's hands burned as he pulled on the sea ropes to lower the sails, and he heard the other people screaming as they tried to escape the water, and he saw the flames that spread across the deck to repel the sea invasion. it was dark. It seems that he regained consciousness on a wet wooden floor in a quiet sea, as others called him a hero, and someone silently bandaged his new wounds. and the Eye of God in his clenched palm, which burned his skin. After the maritime incident on the merchant ship, Vinny returned home as a hero. He immediately received numerous offers to join the military as a guardsman. and only one word, from a complete stranger surrounded by two other men in the shadows, left a mark on his heart: "Do you really want to die for the people of this city, drowning in their corruption?" and that was enough to leave his past behind. Of course not, how could he do that when he had been in their shadow for years? There was no need for long arguments with his mother to take her to another nearby region of Mondstadt, where she could breathe freely.
Vinny is a member of the Shabbat group. He doesn't often take on any tasks, but when it comes to punishing moneylenders or helping other poor people, he really does it.
After receiving the Eye of God, it took him a long time to get used to his power, as he would accidentally set fire to his clothes or objects around him.
It took him a long time to figure out which weapons would be suitable for him, and he eventually chose two short blades. However, this was not enough for him, so after much discussion with the blacksmith, they made chains for him to attack from a distance.
his fighting style is incredibly chaotic. Vinny always attacks enemies from a distance, summoning his fire. After months of discipline and training, he was able to create a fiery field around himself. This field does not affect his allies, but it burns his opponents, preventing them from approaching him and attacking them from a distance.
When he accumulates a large amount of magical power, he concentrates it into two flaming hounds that attack his enemies. This has earned him the nickname "the Mad Cerberus."
It is difficult for him to work with Hyuk in the team, as they both occupy the position of attackers, but if they do so together, their teamwork becomes too explosive.
Despite his irritable and rude behavior, he works best with the remaining two team members.
Vinny has a wide range of clothing options, as he often burns it, but he always wears gloves and a jacket on top. These are the most expensive items in his arsenal, as they are fire-resistant.
his skin sometimes really burns others, even if he doesn't mean to.
the black cat from the tavern haunts him to the point where he once found it sleeping in his backpack after eating half of Vinny's supplies.
there were rumors that he could breathe fire, but he had never done so himself (although he had tried a couple of times, it didn't go well).
find yourself in a desolate field, surrounded by snow, as frosty Hilichurls point their guns at you, and you see an arrow flying towards your figure. You could have repelled it yourself, but there was a catch. The arrow simply burned in the air and turned to ash.
you felt the heat searing your back, covered in a fur jacket, as the fire chased your enemies, forcing them to flee, as the years-old snow melted under the intense heat of the flames, "Dragonspine is not the safest place for a girl to roam alone."
You turned your head to look at your rescuer. He wasn't dressed as warmly as he should have been, and he didn't seem to care about the cold. You see him take a few steps towards you, examining your face, leaning forward slightly. "I thought the snow didn't melt on Dragonspine."
his eyes widen at your response, just for a moment, as a frown appears on his face, "you're traveling, aren't you? usually, everyone avoids this place."
you chuckle, taking a closer look at his appearance, when you see the weapons on the sides of his thighs, hidden in the sheaths for the blades, with chains around them, "I've never seen anything like this here.. how do you use them?"
the stranger frowns even more when you run away from the topic of conversation, "they are individual," the answer is short, quick, and dry, and it seems that he won't give you answers so easily.
you raise your head, looking into his eyes, too caught up in their difference in color, even for an indecently long time, you don't notice how your interlocutor swallows under your gaze, "what?"
"they're so beautiful, your eyes. like a precious gem," it seems that a slight frost begins to press on his body, heating his red cheeks, making his figure numb. you’re watching you carefully as you take a few steps back, sliding on the frozen ground beneath your feet. "I was on my way to Liyue, and others told me that this was a quick route, but..."
you shake your head, tucking your cold hands into your pockets, "no one told me it was this cold. now have I answered your question?"
he only nods curtly, his eyes gliding over the snow around you. the mere mention of Liyue makes his frown deepen, his heart freeze. the sunlight glinting off the snowflakes stings his eyes as he returns his gaze to your figure. he has missed your question, standing in silence until you repeat it, "I asked what your name is?"
"Vinny. That's my name," you smile softly at him, tapping the toe of your boot against the cold ground. The warmth that seemed to emanate from his fire begins to fade, causing a familiar chill to spread across your skin, making you fidget uncomfortably.
Vinny reaches into his jacket pocket, handing you a few red stones, "They keep you warm, take them with you on your journey," as he passes by without turning back, leaving you staring at his retreating back.
it seems that the magic stones glow a little in your hands, causing warmth to surround you, and as your new acquaintance almost disappears from your view, you shout to him, promise to return it to him when you meet again.
Vinny only waves at you from behind, not turning around, and he shoves his hands into the pockets of his jacket, feeling the cold seeping through his clothes.
Yes, these stones cost him enough to go on a mission without "extra clothes" to restrict his movements, knowing how dangerous the place is.
but for some reason, even so, he gave you every single one.
and now he's hiding his nose in his not-so-warm jacket, hoping for another encounter.
"there is no place for empty hopes in his heart, only freedom moves them"
constellation: Pegasus — according to ancient myths, one of the gods' sons rode a winged horse, defeating his sworn enemy. In honor of this, he was elevated to the celestial realm, granting him eternal freedom.
PAST: the first memory of his family is engulfed in flames, the smell of burning, and the hot wind that beats against his skin. He doesn't remember how the Fontaine guards allowed the Abyss Order to enter the residential streets. All he remembers is his mother's arms wrapped around him as they fled from the chaos. The loss of countless lives that night, the destruction of homes, and most importantly, the fear of the future that lingered in people's hearts after the tragedy. The Abyss Order's attacks were constant throughout Teyvat, causing suffering to ordinary people, but for Owen, who was orphaned after that night, it marked the beginning of his cycle of suffering. After years of rigorous training, fighting, and expeditions, he was determined to end it. Until one day, he stumbled upon a small village. The story of an elderly woman who had experienced a similar tragedy long ago left him in awe. "we all hate them, they took too much from us, but hatred alone cannot live in this world, so continuing to live and opening my eyes in the morning, I feel free." after that, something in him changed. Did he feel happy fighting over and over again when he smiled for the last time in a few years?
A member of an aristocratic family who once joined the Fontaine Guard, but after several months on a crime-fighting expedition, he left his post to explore Teyvat.
his swordsmanship is flawless, every move is graceful, he uses the sword as if it were an extension of his hand, creating a powerful wind flow around the blade, pushing enemies away from him. He can also pull them towards him, usually around 1 or 2 opponents at a time, making him invincible. This allows him to attack in the order he wants, eliminating others who have not reached that order.
with a large amount of magical energy, he can create a whirlwind that sweeps his opponents out of the way, or he can cover a large area with a wind barrier, preventing others from escaping.
Owen moves quickly, and it's unclear whether this skill has developed over the years or if it's a result of using small gusts of wind to accelerate his movements.
He has also been trying to use a bow to strike opponents from a distance. It seems that no matter what weapon he picks up, he gets it perfect on the first try.
if he were to use a bow, the arrows would definitely spin in the air with the help of the wind, and their range would be much longer than that of a regular archer.
Despite his full concentration on the battle, he can never be completely serious, making silly comments like "Your hairstyle looks terrible, let me fix it if your hairdresser couldn't" or "I think there's too much dust on your clothes. It's not my fault that you got so dirty during our fight."
Owen hates absolutely all spicy food. When his partner Noah added too much spice to their soup, his face just burned. Witnesses say that steam even came out of his ears from the excess of spice.
He loves dungeons, and he seems to be eager to explore every inch of them as he descends through the old ruins. Despite this, he remains unaffected by any traps that may be activated by accident.
He seems to be overly active and never gets tired. When his squad is completely exhausted, he still has plenty of energy to drag them into the dungeon.
cried once when he was denied and tied up so that he could not slip into the dungeon late at night alone.
exploring the ruins of an old abandoned city, Owen hoped that he could find a hidden entrance to the dungeon, as several villagers who lived nearby had promised him. therefore, when he found the entrance, he did not expect that the doors would be open, had it ever happened?
The former disappointment that his teammates didn't share his joy at the random news and remained asleep in the warm beds they had kindly offered him was replaced by curiosity as Owen descended.
"Strange, it seems like all the traps have already been activated." Owen's hand glides over the dusty walls of the dungeon as he ventures deeper. The scattered arrows and broken boxes around him indicate that someone had definitely been here before him.
and only the clanging of steel forced him to continue walking forward. after all, he hadn't imagined it. there was indeed someone in the dungeon, and they were still there, most likely fighting someone. following the sound that flowed through the stone corridors, he finally entered a vast hall. the concept of space and time didn't exist within the ruined structures.
a clear sky above his head, the light of which stings his eyes, making Owen squint for just a moment before something destroys his brief moment of peace, "Beware!"
a woman's scream echoes through the vast expanse as he opens his eyes to see a pair of men's bodies flying towards him. A brief moment, a gust of wind that appears out of nowhere. Owen doesn't even need to draw his sword, and he doesn't even move to deflect the bodies that are flying towards him.
His gaze drifts towards the people lying on the ground, moaning in pain from the impact with the stone, and then. You. standing in the center, holding your sword in your hands, carefully observing it. and around several positively unconscious treasures, "wow"
a short exclamation escapes his mouth as his legs move closer to you. Owen sees, feels, how you're assessing his searcher, considering the arrival of a new person on your personal battlefield, whether they're an adversary or a casual visitor to your little chaos. You point your blade in his direction, moving swiftly and smoothly.
"Hey, hey, I'm not your enemy," Owen frowns, almost pouting, as if he were personally offended by this, touching the tip of the blade with his index finger and lowering it, "Do you really think I would be with them? with those tacky-dressed clowns?"
he points his hand behind him, showing the bodies of the people lying on the ground. you inhale, lowering your sword, but you don't put it back in its sheath. you've seen how easily he removed several people from his path, and you know that people like him can be dangerous, despite their friendly appearance. "Then what are you doing here?"
Owen chuckles, smirking, putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers, "I came here for the awards, but I guess I came too late." You just nod at him, taking a few steps back to turn around and walk away with your award. You catch a glimpse of him following you, keeping a few paces behind, "This is my award, and I'm not sharing it with you."
"Oh, don't worry, I won't claim your belongings, especially the girls." His smile stretches, and laughter echoes through the vast expanse of the dungeon as he stands behind you. You crouch down to open your precious chest. What might you find this time? Old scrolls or perhaps pieces of ancient armor?
Owen rests his hands on his knees, leaning over to look over your shoulder, his gaze darting across your face. How strong could you be that a crowd of Treasure Hunters didn't even make you sweat? Then, "Oh, it's just some cabbage and a few stamina-boosting potions."
You look at the box in front of you. Was your trip here worth just a few cabbages and a couple of bottles of potions? "So, you said you came here for a reward, right?" you turn your head towards him, looking up, smiling softly
"Yes, but I don't think it's proper to steal your treasures from you." Owen snorts softly, trying not to laugh as you try to give him the worthless jewels. "Then I'm giving them to you."
You shrug, standing up from your seat, leaving him behind as you make your way to the exit. The villagers in the neighboring village didn't just tell you about the nearby dungeon; they also promised a good reward waiting inside. Apparently, you weren't the first to come here, or at least the villagers didn't know what they were talking about.
Owen looks at your retreating back as you walk past several unconscious bodies, still holding your sword in your hands, ready to fight back at any moment, "hey, you!"
he shouts with a smile on his lips as you finally stop to look at him, "my name is Owen, come find me and I'll show you a truly good dungeon!"
You shake your head, waving at him to continue on your way to the entrance, disappearing behind the walls of the dungeon. Owen looks down as a man's hand grabs his ankle, indicating that someone has regained consciousness. He crouches down, resting his head on his hand, "Can you believe that she beat you just to get some cabbage? Isn't it funny?"
He watches as the man groans, lowering his head to the cold stone floor, emitting a long sigh of frustration.
Owen glances at the passage you came out of, "she must be a complete novice if she doesn't know about the hidden treasure behind the magical tree in the dungeon." He laughs softly, removing the man's hand from his leg, and goes to retrieve what you left behind.
He channels his magical power into the tree's veins, causing a bright glow to appear in his hands. A small artifact in the form of a headpiece emerges, containing protective magic.
"I hope we meet soon enough for me to return this to you."
