"What?" Kazuha asked, puzzled.
Elliot glanced toward the seagulls nearby, smiling faintly. "We should be free like seagulls."
"Seagulls...?" Kazuha turned to look at the few birds drawn in by Elliot's music, still visibly confused. "Why?"
"They soar freely across the vast sky, and there's always a few companions flying by their side."
Kazuha paused, unsure how that related to him.
After all, he usually traveled alone. When he did meet fellow travelers, it was only for a short while before parting ways. He never stayed in one place for long.
"Seagulls rarely have fixed partners," Elliot continued. "But they always travel in flocks. Every time they take off, every time they journey, they're surrounded by like-minded companions."
"And every landing is followed by another parting. Maybe one day, they'll meet again and fly together once more."
"A seagull separated from its flock... is a lonely one."
Seeing the confusion on Kazuha's face, Elliot explained unhurriedly.
And once he did, Kazuha finally understood what he meant.
Now that he thought about it... he really wasn't that different from a seagull.
"That's your request?" Kazuha asked.
"Yeah."
"Well, that's easy—because that's exactly who I am now."
"Then it's perfect."
This time, Elliot smiled with rare sincerity.
...
A week later, Kazuha had fully mastered the leaf-blowing technique.
Meanwhile, Elliot's progress far exceeded expectations. Four days ago, during a sparring match, he and Kazuha had fought to a draw.
And now, Elliot's swordsmanship likely surpassed Kazuha's altogether.
Notably, since his near-loss of control after battling the Kairagi, Elliot had completely stopped fighting monsters himself. Whenever trouble showed up, he'd just call for Kazuha instead.
"Hey, hey! Got your wine!"
At that moment, Elliot strode over happily, holding a big bottle of alcohol.
Kazuha's eyes lit up. He sprang to his feet and rushed forward. "Let me see!"
"As if I'd lie to you." Elliot handed him the bottle.
Kazuha popped the cap and took a whiff. The rich aroma instantly filled him with bliss.
"You really got it?!" he exclaimed in delight.
"Of course I did. Who do you think I am?" Elliot replied proudly.
But Kazuha suddenly froze mid-sip, giving Elliot a suspicious look. "You... didn't con someone for this, did you?"
"Why do you make me sound like some swindler?"
"Because you are?"
"Alright, if you're not drinking it, I'll take it back." Elliot pretended to snatch the bottle.
Kazuha quickly stepped back with a grin. "I'm just messing with you."
He was about to taste the wine—only to realize he didn't have a cup.
And chugging straight from the bottle? Too crude. It didn't suit his refined style.
"Here, use this." Elliot handed him a teacup.
"You're a lifesaver!" Kazuha poured himself a drink, but before he could sip, Elliot held out another cup.
"Pour me one too."
"I thought you didn't like drinking?"
"The issue is, there's no tea. Otherwise, who would drink this stuff?"
Elliot shrugged helplessly.
Kazuha chuckled and filled a cup for him.
Clink.
A crisp sound echoed as they toasted in perfect sync, then downed their drinks in one gulp.
"Ahh... haven't had good wine like this in ages. That hits the spot."
Kazuha reached to pour another for Elliot, but Elliot gently stopped him.
"You're not done already, are you?"
"It just doesn't taste good," Elliot said bluntly.
"You have no appreciation."
Since Elliot clearly wasn't into it, Kazuha didn't press—he just refilled his own cup.
Then Elliot slowly stood up. "It's about time to part ways."
"Oh? Off to challenge the Raiden Shogun?" Kazuha joked.
"Maybe." Elliot smiled faintly.
After draining his cup, Kazuha stood as well. "Need me to walk you out?"
"No need."
Hearing that, Kazuha handed him the teacup he'd been using.
"Keep it. Return it next time we meet."
"Fair enough. Not that I know when 'next time' will be."
"Just don't lose it. Someone important gave that to me."
Elliot turned and began to walk away, but after a few steps, he looked back.
"Next time, we drink tea."
"I'll bring the tea," Kazuha said with a smile.
"Take care." With that, Elliot headed toward the city center.
He carefully concealed his Vision.
The Vision Hunt Decree had officially begun.
Since he and Kazuha had been wandering off-grid, they likely hadn't been registered yet.
Elliot wanted to try following the Traveler's route from the game—gather some intel first, then plan the next step.
He'd only learned of the decree because he happened to be in town buying wine and witnessed someone being arrested firsthand.
As for how he got the wine? His classic hustle.
He'd pawned his teaware to get startup funds, then used snacks to bribe kids into giving him useful info, flipped it for a tidy profit, and bought Kazuha his wine with the Mora.
Visions are born from mortals with powerful desires. The gods cast their gaze, bestowing the ability to command elements through a Vision.
When a Vision's owner dies, the Vision becomes a hollow shell. Only someone who inherits the original will can reawaken it through resonance.
Throughout Teyvat, very few people can achieve that resonance. Most Visions are simply granted outright.
In Inazuma, the Vision Hunt Decree is a campaign to seize Visions from mortals.
Those who lose theirs become listless, disconnected. In severe cases, memory loss or disorientation follows.
It's like tearing away a man's burning ambition and leaving behind a hollow shell—of course it leads to madness.
The one who initiated the Vision Hunt Decree, the Electro Archon, seeks to bring "eternity" to Inazuma.
Zhongli once said: "Of all the countless wishes in the world, only 'eternity' comes closest to the Heavenly Principles."
Looking at Teyvat's history, the Heavenly Principles have destroyed two nations with their own hand.
The Dragonspine Mountains were once the verdant kingdom of Sal Vindagnir.
And Khaenri'ah was the homeland of Albedo.
The former had grafted a Ley Line Tree onto the mountain, turning the region lush and springlike year-round—an ideal place for human development.
Their progress was rapid, but it drew the wrath of the Heavenly Principles. A Skyfrost Nail was dropped, piercing the Ley Line Tree and sealing the entire region in eternal ice.
A thriving kingdom was reduced to a frozen grave—Dragonspine.
Khaenri'ah, on the other hand, was the only godless nation in history.
A country built entirely by humans, with unparalleled mastery of alchemy. Albedo, the synthetic human, was a product of Khaenri'ah. Even now, if he were to turn dark, he could destroy Mondstadt.
Their technology had advanced too far. They created powerful mechanical beings, and in the end, the Seven Archons and the Heavenly Principles destroyed them together.
Raiden Shogun once said, "But I witnessed a nation running at full speed... lose everything before the Heavenly Principles."
She was speaking of Khaenri'ah.