Okay, a disclaimer and heads-up: I don't own Hoyo, Genshin Impact, or any related properties. Also, please be aware that this story will explore serious and sensitive themes.
This work is inspired by SAGAU (Self-Aware Genshin Impact Alternative Universe), isekai tropes, various isekai settings, creation myths, and fanfiction in general. Consider this my standard warning.
Many thanks to @quietplace26 for allowing me to write a story inspired by their work, and to @arn9tails for creating the Genshin size difference AU. This story is part of the Inverse AU, meaning the people of Teyvat are one-third the size of Earthlings.
Terminology for reader
(MC) Main Character
(LC) Little Character
This may be crackpot fanfic. Sumeru is forever on in my brain.
Doll Size part one:
Currently in Sumeru:
It began at Lambad's Tavern. Kaveh, Tighnari, and Cyno were engrossed in a card game, drinks in hand, while they waited for Alhaitham. Their conversation centered on a debate: who possessed greater strength, Cyno or Alhaitham? Cyno, naturally, argued in favor of himself.
"Alhaitham? A feeble scholar? That's a blatant lie," Kaveh declared, taking a sip of wine.
"Told you," Cyno nodded towards Tighnari.
"So, his supposed modesty is just a mask to conceal his true power?" Tighnari's ears twitched.
"Precisely," Cyno affirmed. He, of course, had firsthand experience, having battled Alhaitham in the desert with the Traveler as a witness.
"He prefers to keep his strength hidden," Cyno elaborated.
"Frankly, regardless of how strong he may or may not be…" Kaveh gestured emphatically, oblivious to Alhaitham's arrival and seating himself at the table. "You really don't want to cross him."
"I'd hoped you'd have learned to think before speaking by now," Alhaitham remarked with a smirk, signaling for a drink.
"We were only saying positive things, actually," Kaveh groaned.
"Oh really? And you didn't drag me out here to play cards?" Alhaitham sighed.
"Heh, we hadn't gotten that far yet," Tighnari admitted, adding, "We were just discussing your potential in a fight."
"You play your cards close to your chest, then?" Cyno inquired.
"Not at all," Alhaitham replied.
"So, you don't fight often?" Tighnari pressed.
"Yeah, right, with his temper?" Kaveh scoffed.
"I don't fight of-" Alhaitham's words were cut short. The ground trembled.
Strangely, only the four of them seemed to notice the tremor, or perhaps, only they felt it. And then, a loud, feminine voice echoed within their minds.
"Curse you, stupid computer! Don't fail me during my summons… Noooooooo!"
In an instant, it occurred; none of the four could react in time. They dematerialized, only to rematerialized in a pile atop an enormous desk.
"Hey!" Kaveh protested, ever the dramatist. "You're on my cloak."
The entity before them was colossal. Cyno, instinctively assuming a defensive posture, launched an immediate assault. Without hesitation, he summoned his staff, leaped into the air, and struck the giant squarely in the face. The impact was decisive. Blood erupted, and the giant collapsed, unconscious, to the floor.
Tighnari sighed, mentally cataloging the lacks of his current pack for what was clearly a developing situation. He glanced at the fallen giant, courtesy of Cyno's swift action, then turned his attention to a peculiar, illuminated screen. It displayed an image of Alhaitham.
"You might want to take a look at this," Tighnari stated, his tone suggesting an observation of considerable importance.
"Huh?!" Kaveh exclaimed, ever easily surprised. Alhaitham, on the screen, appeared visibly disturbed.
With our (Reader/(MC) Main Character) moments earlier:
Everyone simply knew her as MC. She was, in most respects, an average young adult, living in a modest two-bedroom apartment. But MC's life was far from typical; she wasn't living alone. She was raising her little sister, LC, a responsibility thrust upon her by tragedy. Their parents had passed away during MC's final year of high school, a devastating blow that forced her to drop out and find a job. She worked tirelessly, juggling her responsibilities while studying for her GED on the side. LC, on the other hand, was a vibrant child with a personality that filled their small apartment with life.
"Dinner ready, LC?" MC called out from the kitchenette, the aroma of garlic and tomatoes filling the air.
"Is it chicken nuggets?!" the four-year-old's voice piped up, full of hopeful anticipation.
MC glanced at the pot on the stove. No, it wasn't chicken nuggets. Instead, a heaping bowl of spaghetti sat simmering, accompanied by golden-brown garlic bread.
"You said you wanted spaghetti with garlic bread," MC reminded her gently. She had spent the last hour carefully preparing the meal, trying to recreate the way their dad used to make it, hoping to bring a little bit of comfort and familiarity to their evening.
"I changed my mind! I want chicken nuggets..." LC declared, jumping up and down with unrestrained enthusiasm. How could MC deny such an adorable, albeit demanding, request?
"No, we're eating spaghetti. We don't even have chicken nuggets..." MC replied, trying her best to stand her ground.
"But I want chicken nuggets!!!" LC's voice escalated, a tiny storm brewing.
"Nooo," MC said firmly, but with a hint of playfulness. LC, clearly displeased, shot a glare at MC before retreating behind the sofa, a small, sulking figure.
"Come on, eat it. I will get chicken nuggets tomorrow..." MC promised, sweetening the deal. "And some ice cream, chocolate?"
"Promise?!" LC crawled out from behind the sofa, her eyes wide with renewed hope. "Okay!"
With dinner finished, MC found herself with a precious pocket of free time. Her sister, LC, was happily engrossed in her toys in the living area, their usual play space and the home of the family's aging computer.
"Can I play outside?" LC piped up, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Their apartment boasted a small balcony, a space MC had lovingly transformed with potted plants, a safety net, and a collection of LC's favorite outdoor toys.
"Sure, sweetie," MC replied, already turning her attention to the computer. As LC skipped onto the balcony, MC logged into Genshin Impact. From her vantage point, she could easily keep an eye on her sister. A smile touched her lips as the familiar game loaded; the Alhaitham banner was finally rerunning. She had diligently saved enough Primogems and felt a thrill of anticipation as she initiated her wish. But, as fate would have it, the ancient computer chose that exact moment to flicker ominously. "Not now!" MC instinctively smacked the side of the machine.
"Curse you, stupid computer! Don't fail me during my summons… Noooooooo!" she cried out, her voice louder than intended, laced with a mix of frustration and desperation. Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from the screen, blindingly bright. As her vision cleared, she saw four small figures, each no bigger than a Barbie doll, materialize before her very eyes. Before she could even process the impossible scene, a pint-sized Cyno launched himself forward and WHACK! He struck her squarely in the face. Her eyes rolled back, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
Reality swam into focus, a dizzying mix of indistinct forms and muted noises. Panic surged as MC realized she was gagged and her limbs were tied. Through the window, a poignant scene played out: her younger sister, blissfully absorbed in her games on the balcony, completely oblivious to the peril within.
The faint sound of familiar voices drifted from somewhere close by.
"Since the giant brought us here, it stands to reason that they also possess the ability to return us," Cyno stated, his voice cutting through her fear with its usual logical precision.
A contemplative hum followed. "Hm," Alhaitham acknowledged.
"Furthermore, judging by what this interface appears to be, it sometimes resembles the Akasha Terminal, but for Teyvat... what implications might this have?" Tighnari inquired, his voice marked by scholarly curiosity.
Then Kaveh spoke, his tone bordering on dramatic despair. "I am an architect! My purpose is to build and design! To see this home assembled so haphazardly, without any planning, fills me with profound sorrow. Couldn't they have made an effort, even a small one? Such a magnificent space shouldn't be squandered." His words, an unintentional critique of her apartment's disorganized decor, struck her like a physical blow. She had furnished it on a tight budget, cobbling together items from flea markets and the streets. Yet, Kaveh's offhand contempt stung more sharply than any physical constraint.
MC's head tilted ever so slightly, her gaze settling upon an odd sight. There, on the computer desk, stood four familiar figures: Alhaitham, Kaveh, Tighnari, and Cyno. But these weren't the scholars and general she knew; they were doll-sized, miniature versions of themselves, all fixated on the Genshin Impact character screen.
Taking advantage of their distraction, MC began a slow, deliberate wiggle, her goal the distant kitchenette. Caution was paramount. She remembered all too well the last time, when one of them – she couldn't recall who – had managed to take her out, despite her considerable size advantage. She needed a plan, a strategy. Most importantly, she needed to keep her little sister, LC, safe from harm.
MC, desperate to escape, tried to wiggle towards the kitchenette, but a tiny weight landed on her head. A voice, sharp and commanding, echoed, "Where do you think you are going?" Blocking her path was a Barbie-sized version of Cyno, the General Mahamatra himself. She was still bound and gagged, a prisoner of these miniature Genshin characters. With a flick of his wrist, Cyno summoned his staff, transforming into his formidable Pathsworn Pathclearer form.
"Cyno," Tighnari sighed, jumping down with an air of utter exasperation. "I don't think she's going to hurt us..."
MC shook her head vehemently, trying to convey a silent "no."
"Then she should be able to answer some questions..." Alhaitham stated, joining the peculiar gathering. He emanated an aura that made him the most intimidating of them all.
The interrogation had been relentless. Barbie-sized Cyno and Alhaitham had pried every secret from her, forcing her to reveal everything about the game, about the world of Genshin Impact. Finally, she was free, but the weight of her confession hung heavy. The four miniature men from Sumeru were masters of composure, their faces betraying little. Except for Kaveh. He looked perpetually on the edge, a single push away from a complete mental collapse.
Just as the tension reached its peak, the door swung open, and her little sister, LC, bounded into the room. Panic flared. Acting on instinct, MC swiftly concealed the miniature Sumeru quartet behind her back, hoping against hope that LC wouldn't notice.
"Are those dolls?" LC's eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity.
"Nope," MC stammered, her voice wavering. "No dolls here, none..." She could feel the tiny Genshin characters kicking and squirming in her grip, their protests muffled against her back.
"They are!! I wanna play with them!!" LC jumped excitedly, reaching for the hidden figures.
"I said there are no dolls...run along..." MC made a desperate dash for her room, her mind racing. Her life had taken a bizarre, unexpected turn. Now, she was harboring four Genshin characters, shrunk to the size of Barbies, and desperately trying to hide them from her kid sister.
To be continued
