Chapter 4: Caspar
"Should I just… run away?"
Osha asked, his voice barely more than a defeated mumble as he leaned against the wooden fence of the stable. The only one around to hear him was the wise, omniscient horse he had, as always, named Roach. Every horse he met earned the title, and somehow this one felt a little wiser than the rest.
Roach, in all his silent equine wisdom, responded with a slow, deliberate bob of his head, a clear gesture of disagreement.
Osha sighed, rubbing his face with both hands.
"Figures."
He slumped down to sit in the hay beside Roach, staring up at the ceiling beams of the stable.
"Okay, okay… Should I stay then? Hope that eventually, the lady, whose name I still don't even know, might treat me better. Maybe not see me as just some… pet?"
At this, the wise and omniscient Roach gave another bob of his head, this time in agreement.
Osha let out a dry laugh, shaking his head.
"Oh, my Archons… I'm losing it. I'm having philosophical conversations with a horse. Is this my hidden transmigrator power? The miraculous ability to hold deep, life-altering debates with livestock?"
Roach snorted softly, as if amused, and nudged Osha's shoulder with his nose.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, pal."
Osha muttered though a small, genuine grin tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Even if I try running away…"
Osha muttered under his breath, leaning against Roach's stall.
"I probably wouldn't make it far. Tried it once with Hoshiguma, old man nearly cut off my pinkie as a warning."
He sighed heavily and straightened up, brushing hay off his clothes.
"I'm gonna go wash up. The lady's expecting me."
With a final pat on Roach's neck, Osha trudged out of the stable and toward the washing area where the horses were cleaned. It wasn't meant for people, but it was the only place he could think of. He figured no one would care if the 'half-breed' stable boy used it for a quick rinse.
As he began unfastening the butler clothes he'd worn the day before, the nicest thing he'd ever put on, even if it still felt like a chain around his neck, a voice called out behind him.
"Hey! You the new stable boy here?"
Osha flinched, quickly clutching his collar closed. He turned to see a tall, broad-shouldered man approaching, a sword hanging from his belt and a smug grin on his face as he dragged a reins-tied steed behind him.
"Huh? N-no, I-"
"Great!"
The knight cut him off, shoving the reins into Osha's hands.
"Would you mind washing my steed? Thanks, kid."
Before Osha could even register what just happened, another knight strolled up from the other side, leading his own mount.
"Oh, perfect timing. Mine too."
He added with a lazy smirk, tossing the reins at Osha like he was some kind of servant drone.
Osha stood there, reins in both hands, gawking at the two knights as they walked off, already deep in conversation about some duel or tavern brawl from the night before.
'These deadbeats! Leaving an eight-year-old to do their chores?!'
Osha fumed internally, his eye twitching. He could already imagine grabbing a rock and hurling it straight at their heads, screaming out every curse he'd ever learned from the ronins under Hoshiguma's watch.
But one glance at the swords swinging by their hips made his stomach drop.
'Yeah… and if I do that, my head will probably go flying before I even get to finish my first insult.'
Grinding his teeth, Osha let out a long sigh.
"Fine… come on, Roaches."
He grumbled to the horses as he led them toward the water trough.
"Guess it's bath time..."
---30 Minutes Later...
'Ah, she's going to kill me!'
Osha's thoughts spiraled in panic as he ran through the estate, hastily straightening his wrinkled clothes. His hair was still damp from the rushed bath he'd taken using the horse washing station, no time to dry it properly. A half-burnt piece of toast hung precariously from his mouth, the only thing he managed to snatch from the kitchen since he was terribly late. His tail drooped low with anxiety, swinging with every hurried step like a sorrowful pendulum.
"I made it..."
He muttered breathlessly, reaching the doors of the Lady's office. He placed a trembling hand on the doorframe to steady himself while still chewing the overly crunchy toast.
Then...
"Hmph!"
A sharp, disdainful sound echoed from inside.
Startled, Osha choked on the dry bread. His eyes widened in alarm as he thumped his chest to dislodge it, coughing and spluttering.
"Mmpf-!"
In the midst of his panic, his hand accidentally twisted the doorknob, and the door creaked open under his weight. He stumbled forward with no grace whatsoever and crashed to the floor, landing face-first with a dull thud. The piece of toast flew out of his mouth like a catapulted relic, landing pathetically somewhere near the fireplace.
Inside the room were three figures: the elegant Lady seated in her chair, as poised and unreadable as ever, a stern, broad-shouldered blonde man with a thick mustache and a black eyepatch, and beside him, a young girl, no older than nine, with golden locks that matched his and bright, curious eyes.
Osha, clutching his chest, lay frozen on the cold marble floor, his embarrassment boiling hotter than any tea he'd ever brewed.
"Are you alright?"
The young girl suddenly asked, rushing over to him with genuine concern in her voice.
"Daddy! He needs water!"
She cried, glancing back at the man with urgency.
Before Osha could even process what was happening, the girl was offering him a cup of water with both hands. He sat up slightly, dazed and grateful and took the cup.
"T-Thank you..."
He wheezed, gulping the water down.
Then, as he lowered the cup and looked at her more clearly, he froze.
'H-Huh?! Wait a minute... That hair... those eyes... that voice...'
His mind reeled.
'Navia?! That's Navia! But... she looks like a little kid!'
His ears twitched, tail stiff with disbelief as he stared at the young girl.
'What in the Archons' name is going on?!'
"Ahem!"
The sharp sound of a throat being cleared snapped Osha's attention away from the girl and directly to the Lady. His ears perked up, tail instantly tucking close to his leg. She was smiling, but not the kind of smile that brought warmth, no, it was the kind that made your stomach drop and your instincts scream danger. There was a glint of irritation behind her eyes, just barely masked by her aristocratic composure.
"Boy."
She said, her voice deceptively gentle.
"Why don't you take some time to play with Navia for a bit, yes?"
There was no mistaking the tone. It was not a request. The unspoken warning was loud and clear.
'Fail to entertain her, and I'll find someone else who can.'
Osha swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded vigorously, silently begging every Archon for strength.
"Can I really, Aunt Shuri?"
Navia asked excitedly, turning toward the woman with wide, gleaming eyes.
'Shuri… So that's her name.'
Osha noted mentally, finally putting a name to the elegant tyrant he was now indentured to.
"Yes, of course, darling."
Lady Shuri replied with a graceful tilt of her head, her gaze sliding back to Osha like a needle.
"Boy, do make sure to entertain your new friend. I'd hate for her to get bored."
Osha nodded again, more like a bobblehead now, fighting the urge to break into a nervous sweat.
"Yay!"
Navia beamed, turning back to the man with the eyepatch.
"Daddy, we'll be back!"
"Stay close."
Her father said calmly, though his voice held the weight of a warning. His one visible eye landed on Osha for a moment, a piercing look that made Osha straighten up involuntarily.
Before he could even react, Navia had already grabbed his hand and was dragging him toward the door with surprising strength for someone her size.
"W-Wait, slow down!"
Osha stammered, nearly tripping over his own feet as he was pulled along like a reluctant kite in the wind.
And just like that, the grand doors shut behind them, leaving behind Lady Shuri and the one-eyed nobleman.
"Nav- Young Miss! Please slow down!"
Osha called out, trying to catch his breath as he stumbled after her, remembering at the last second that he wasn't in a game anymore, and manners mattered. The noble tongue rolled off his lips awkwardly, but it seemed like the safest choice.
Navia finally came to a stop and turned around, tilting her head. She let go of his hand and peered at him curiously, her golden blonde hair bouncing slightly with the motion.
"Why do you have a collar around your neck?"
She asked innocently, her finger pointing toward the collar on Osha's neck as if it were the most natural question in the world.
"I… uh…"
Osha's tail twitched.
"It's… complicated. But it's nothing you need to worry about!"
Navia blinked, considering this answer for a moment before shrugging.
"Mmm, okay then! I'm Navia! What's your name?"
"Osha… Miss Navia."
He replied quickly, adding the 'Miss' out of habit, playing it safe with noble kids.
'Alright… maybe if I'm nice enough, I can convince her to get me outta here. Just gotta entertain her for a little while…'
Osha thought, already running through a mental list of any stories or games he could remember from his past life.
But Navia pouted, placing her hands on her hips.
"Don't call me 'Miss!' It makes me feel old! Only Melus and the others call me that. You're my new friend now, so just 'Navia' is fine!"
Osha blinked, momentarily stunned, before nodding quickly.
"R-Right! Just Navia then. Got it."
She giggled.
"Good! You're funny."
'Alright, progress. Let's not screw this up.'
As the two of them strolled through the grand halls of the mansion, Osha's mind buzzed with questions and half-formed theories, piecing together the strange situation he'd found himself in ever since recognizing Navia.
'If Navia's still a kid… then the timeline's all wrong. I did find it strange back when I was still stuck with the ronins that there was no Vision Hunt Decree yet. The borders of Inazuma hadn't closed either. That means Ei's probably still locked up in the Plane of Euthymia, letting that puppet of hers rule everything on her behalf…'
His gaze briefly flicked toward Navia, her golden curls bouncing as she walked, before returning to the floor, lost in thought.
'The Traveler… they probably haven't even fished out Paimon from that lake yet. Heck, they're probably still asleep somewhere. And as for the Abyss Prince or Princess… well, canonically it was Lumine leading the Abyss, but in this world, who knows? Maybe it's Aether… or someone else entirely.'
Osha sighed, his tail lazily swaying behind him as his thoughts grew heavier.
And then...
"Nyahh!"
A sharp tug on his tail yanked him violently out of his mental rambling. He let out a startled yelp as his ears twitched and he spun around to see Navia grinning mischievously, still holding onto his tail.
"N-Navia?!"
Osha squeaked, his face flushing in both surprise and indignation.
"I was calling your name, but you weren't listening!"
She huffed playfully, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Your tail's super soft, you know!"
Osha instinctively grabbed his tail and clutched it to his chest, ears flattening.
"Y-You can't just go pulling people's tails like that!"
"Well, you weren't listening to me in the first place, hmph!"
Navia pouted, crossing her arms in exaggerated frustration.
"I know, sorry… but still, you shouldn't-"
Before Osha could finish his scolding, his stomach let out a loud, traitorous growl that echoed through the hallway.
'Damn it…! Of course, it had to betray me now. That one lousy piece of toast flew out of my mouth when I tripped… and I skipped breakfast after those deadbeat knights dumped their horses on me…'
He thought bitterly, his ears drooping slightly in shame.
Navia blinked, then smiled.
"You haven't eaten yet?"
She asked, tilting her head curiously.
"I-It's fine! I was just… uh, late to breakfast, that's all."
Osha replied quickly, trying to wave it off, though the second rumble from his stomach made it clear he was lying through his teeth.
Navia grinned wider.
"You're a terrible liar, Osha."
Navia suddenly grabbed his hand again, tugging him forward with surprising strength.
"Come on! We're going to the kitchen! Aunt Shuri told the staff not to give me too many sweets, but she didn't say anything about feeding stray kittens!"
"Stray ki-?! I'm not a stray!"
Osha protested, stumbling along behind her.
Navia giggled.
"You are today!"
As Navia excitedly dragged Osha into the kitchen, one far more lavish than any he had ever seen, he immediately noticed that this wasn't just any ordinary place where food was prepared. The aroma of freshly baked bread, sizzling meats, and fragrant herbs filled the air, but what truly caught his attention wasn't the food.
It was the chef.
At the center of the bustling kitchen stood a small, furry creature wearing a comically oversized chef's hat. The little being was darting between counters, barking out orders with the authority of a seasoned commander. The kitchen staff moved with precision, clearly accustomed to her leadership.
Osha's eyes widened in disbelief.
'No way... it can't be…'
It was a Melusine. A real, living, breathing Melusine. And not just any Melusine, she was the head chef of Lady Shuri's kitchen, her presence commanding both respect and obedience.
"Hi, Oval!"
Navia called out cheerfully, waving.
The Melusine, Oval, turned around at the sound of her name. Upon seeing Navia, she brightened instantly, her small paw lifting to return the wave. Her tiny eyes sparkled with recognition and warmth.
Osha stood frozen, still trying to process what he was seeing.
'Oh my Archons… it really is a Melusine. Back then, I had doubts, serious doubts. I mean, sure, I noticed a few strange things, but I never saw any Hilichurls, and none of the characters I recognized from the game had appeared. It all felt like some kind of weird dream… but this and seeing kid Navia? This seals it.'
He stared at Oval, his tail twitching slightly behind him.
'There's no way something like this exists outside of Genshin Impact. Yup... I really was reborn into Teyvat.'
"Here!"
Navia beamed as she held out a small cupcake toward Osha, its frosting swirled perfectly on top with a tiny sugar flower nestled in the center. The rich, sweet scent made his stomach growl involuntarily.
"C-Can I really?"
Osha asked, almost not believing his luck.
Navia raised a brow and smirked.
"If you're not gonna take it, I'll eat both of these cupcakes myself!"
She teased, holding up a second one with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"I-I'll take it! I'll take it!"
Osha quickly accepted the cupcake, cradling it carefully in his hands like it was some kind of priceless treasure. He stared at it for a moment, taking in the perfectly smooth frosting and the delicate decoration on top. His gaze shifted to Navia, who had already taken a big bite out of hers, happily munching away like this was just another ordinary day in her life.
But for Osha, it wasn't.
'Eight years… Eight years of being reincarnated in this world, and the closest thing I've had to sweets was half-burnt grilled fish on a stick. Sometimes, when Hoshiguma wasn't feeling like a complete bastard, I'd get a scrap of jerky or a bowl of soup… but this… this is an actual cupcake.'
Slowly, he brought it to his mouth and took a small, cautious bite.
The soft sponge cake melted on his tongue, the sweetness hitting him like a wave. The creamy frosting was light, airy, and just the right amount of rich. It was perfect.
His eyes stung.
'Oh my Archons…'
"Osha?"
Navia tilted her head, noticing his expression.
"Are you… crying?"
"H-Huh? N-No! I'm fine!"
Osha quickly turned away, hastily wiping his eyes with the back of his sleeve while stuffing another bite into his mouth to cover it up.
Navia giggled.
"You're weird."
Osha sniffed, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips despite himself.
'Damn it… this is so good.'
For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt a small, fragile piece of happiness bloom in his chest.
For the next couple of minutes, it was just Navia happily dragging Osha all around the sprawling mansion, showing him every corner she could think of. It seemed like everyone in the estate knew her. The knights they passed bowed respectfully and greeted her with a polite.
"Good day, Miss Navia."
The maids and butlers offered her fond smiles and small waves as she dashed by, and even a few of the Mekas stationed around the estate saluted her as she passed, one of them even presenting her with a bright, freshly picked poppy flower.
The sudden appearance of the Mekas made Osha flinch at first, his instincts still not quite used to seeing those mechanical constructs in person. But then he remembered, of course, this was Fontaine. In the game, Mekas were as common here as hilichurls were in Mondstadt's outskirts or treasure hoarders on the Liyue cliffs.
After what felt like an eternity of running around after her, Navia finally tired herself out and flopped down onto the soft grass of the mansion's wide courtyard, sighing in contentment as she stared up at the open blue sky. Osha, panting softly and still a little flushed from trying to keep up, sat down beside her, arms resting on his knees.
For a moment, there was peace.
Osha let his gaze wander to the horizon, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
'If the main storyline events haven't started yet… that means Nahida is still imprisoned inside the Sanctuary of Surasthana.'
The thought weighed heavily in his chest. It was a harsh truth, one that made him clench his fists slightly in frustration. But no matter how much he hated it, there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.
Sumeru was impossibly far away. Even if he somehow found a way to travel there, what could he even do? He was nobody. He didn't have a Vision, didn't have an army, didn't have the strength of the Traveler or the resources of the Fatui.
'I can't save her. Not yet.'
The thought stung, but it was the reality he had to live with for now.
'But right now… what I need to do is convince Navia to take me with her!'
Osha thought, steeling himself as he turned to face the blonde girl lying beside him on the grass.
"Um… Navia?"
He called out, a little hesitant.
"Mm?"
Navia perked up, lifting her head slightly.
"Did you... Had fun with me today?"
Osha nervously asks.
"Mm, yeah! Though you were a bit slow but, your reactions were funny!"
Navia replied with a beaming smile.
"That's good to know... Um... Navia, I was wondering if you could tak-"
"Navia!"
A deep, burly voice called out warmly from across the courtyard, cutting Osha off mid-sentence. The moment Navia heard it, her eyes lit up like stars, and she sprang to her feet.
"Daddy!"
Without a second thought, she bolted toward the man approaching them. Osha sighed internally, watching the last shred of his hastily formed escape plan vanish into thin air.
'And there goes my chance…'
He groaned inwardly but quickly stood up, brushing off his clothes as the towering figure came into view. Osha recognized him immediately, not from his current life, but from the game lore he used to devour in his past one. Callas Caspar. The Head of the Spina di Rosula.
"Thank you for keeping my daughter company."
Caspar said with a kind but firm tone, giving Osha a nod.
Osha quickly lowered his head into a polite bow.
"It was my honor, sir."
Before he could straighten up, Navia's cheerful voice called out again.
"Osha, look!"
"Hmm?"
He turned his head, curious what she was pointing at, and immediately regretted it.
"Nyahhh!"
Without warning, Navia pounced behind him and grabbed hold of his tail once more, giving it a playful tug. Osha let out a startled yelp as she laughed gleefully.
"Haha! Bye-bye, Osha!"
With that, she skipped off toward her father, leaving Osha standing there in the courtyard, red-faced and tail twitching in irritation.
'Why is this my life…?'
He sighed, watching them go.
"There goes my chance of getting out of here…"
Osha mumbled to himself, his shoulders slumping in defeat as he watched Navia enter a carriage alongside her towering father.
'So close… yet so far…'
He sighed, but before he could wallow in his frustration any longer, a cold, familiar voice spoke from behind him.
"Getting out of here? Do you hate this place already?"
A shiver ran down Osha's spine like ice water. His ears twitched, and his tail stiffened as he turned his head ever so slowly to find Lady Shuri standing a few paces behind him, an umbrella resting on her shoulder to shield her from the sun. Her expression was unreadable, but the faint, knowing smirk on her lips sent every alarm bell in Osha's head ringing.
"N-N-Nothing, My Lady…!"
Osha stammered, his throat suddenly dry as he tried and failed to sound casual. A bead of sweat slid down his temple.
'Archons have mercy… I'm so cooked.'
He thought, forcing a shaky smile.
Lady Shuri studied him for a moment longer, clearly savoring his discomfort, before letting out a soft chuckle.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
She said coolly.
"Since you managed to entertain Navia quite well today, I suppose I'll forgive you for your little… incident this morning."
Osha didn't dare say a word.
"Now come along. I'm rather parched."
She turned on her heel gracefully, her umbrella tilting as she headed back toward the mansion.
"Prepare some of that iced tea of yours again."
Osha hurried after her, bowing his head.
"Y-Yes, My Lady…"
His tail drooped slightly as he followed her inside, already mentally bracing himself for whatever fresh humiliation awaited him next.