Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

"Excuse me, please move aside!"

In the bustling port, Keqing held Nahida tightly in her arms, weaving urgently through the crowd.

The girl's body was burning hot, making Keqing even more anxious.

"Just hold on a little longer, okay?"

She looked down at Nahida with deep concern.

Ren had only been gone for a short while, and yet her little sister was already in this state!

"Ren…"

Amidst the jostling, Nahida's eyelids fluttered open slightly. In her dazed state, she reached out with a small hand—

As if searching for someone familiar.

The one who had created this body, the one who had given her freedom…

Her sun—Ren.

"Where… are you…?"

A newly sprouted bud longs desperately for sunlight.

But unfortunately, the boy with the warm smile was not by her side.

Nahida's gaze dimmed slightly.

Of course. She had willingly cut herself off from her mental world.

Ren wouldn't even notice the change in her.

Right now, he must be happy.

Had he met someone dear to him?

"…"

A gentle smile appeared on Nahida's small face.

That's fine.

She could endure this on her own.

Hadn't she done so for hundreds of years?

Ren had only left temporarily—it was nothing.

Nothing at all…

Nahida tried to convince herself.

But—

Now that she had embraced the sun, how could she willingly return to the darkness?

Her large eyes widened, glistening with quiet tears.

So strange.

Her nose felt sore, her vision blurred.

And this feeling of unwillingness… it was unbearable.

What… was happening to her?

"Think about your brother Ren."

"If he saw you like this, he'd be so worried!"

Keqing's voice suddenly cut through the haze.

"Ren… gege…"

Nahida murmured, her foggy consciousness sharpening slightly.

That's right, she couldn't stay weak like this.

She was no longer alone.

She had responsibilities to shoulder.

And she was fortunate enough to have found—her precious sun.

Boom!

Suddenly, a sound like thunder roared in her ears.

Nahida's lips parted slightly.

"This is…?"

A brilliant light ignited in her emerald eyes.

Ren's power—

It was responding to her!

Nahida clenched her small hands into fists.

"I still have to help Ren gege."

If she couldn't even control the power left by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—

How could she ever hope to keep the sun by her side?

"Nahida?"

Keqing instinctively halted in her tracks.

She suddenly realized—Nahida's fever had vanished.

What on earth…?

"Sister Keqing, I… I'm fine now."

Nahida took a deep breath, her small lips slightly parted as she panted softly.

A faint blush still lingered on her delicate face, but—

The life force left by Rukkhadevata… she had gained initial control over it.

With Ren's power assisting her, lightning, nature, and dreams had once again found balance.

Her sun had protected her once more.

Without thinking, she reached up and touched the strands of hair by her ear.

There, two small green leaves had fully unfurled—

And the third leaf had begun to sprout.

"No way, I'm taking you to see a doctor."

Keqing frowned and continued carrying her toward the city.

The sight from earlier had truly frightened her.

With her protective instincts flaring, this motherly cat was determined to prevent any more accidents.

"That's not necessary, Sister Keqing."

Nahida wriggled slightly, wanting to go back.

"Ren left a message for me. I know where to find him."

Keqing smiled slightly and explained.

She could already guess—Nahida wanted to stay at the port and wait for Ren to return.

This child… she was really attached to him.

And Keqing's intuition was always spot-on.

Once Nahida grew a little older, she probably wouldn't cling to Ren so much.

As expected, the little white-haired girl in her arms stopped struggling and became obedient.

"Really?"

Nahida's eyes brightened, her small face full of anticipation.

Even though it hadn't been that long—

The longing in her heart was growing clearer and clearer.

"Mhmm. I'll take you to the meeting spot to wait for him."

Keqing smiled, carrying her away from the port.

---

Not long after the two had left—

A sneaky figure peeked out from the bushes.

A blonde girl, wrapped in a white cloak, her golden hair peeking through.

She blinked her clear eyes cautiously.

After all, there were still patrolling samurai in the distance.

"I heard a god appeared just now… where?"

The blonde girl pondered in secret.

"Lumine, I'm so hungry…"

A floating white companion lay weakly against her chest.

She was too hungry to even float properly.

"Paimon, I'm hungry too."

Lumine muttered, suddenly lifting Paimon up.

You know what I mean, right?

Her glowing eyes made Paimon shudder.

"You, you, you—you wait a minute!"

Paimon struggled frantically.

She didn't want to be eaten by this big idiot!

"Shhh—"

Lumine quickly covered Paimon's mouth, signaling for silence.

They had almost been discovered by the samurai!

"Mmmph…"

A pitifully muffled sound came from Paimon, who nodded in grievance.

"I think I saw Keqing just now."

Lumine whispered, her eyes flashing with interest.

Those cat ears, those black stockings… No, no, no—

Shaking off strange thoughts, her gaze became serious again.

Most importantly—Keqing was rich!

And Lumine was completely broke.

Ever since that shipwreck, she had nothing.

So…

Rich lady, hungry, food.

"Lumine, stop daydreaming!"

Paimon pouted and gave her a little punch.

And to think they had just been saved by someone.

"Right, that gentle young lady was really kind too."

Lumine instantly swapped to a new target—

Another rich lady.

Though… that one had a fiancé.

Thinking about it like that, Keqing was still the better option.

After all, she wasn't dating anyone yet.

"Lumine! Enough already!"

"Fine, fine. Guess we'll just eat a Sunsietta then."

Lumine handed over the only fruit she had—freshly picked.

"Lumine, you're not eating?"

"Go ahead, I'm not that hungry."

Paimon took it, her face filled with satisfaction.

Lumine really was the best partner!

"Lumine, what's the plan? Are we going to get jobs?"

"Working? That's impossible."

Lumine crossed her arms, already thinking of a solution.

"Taking commissions?" Paimon asked hopefully.

Was the legendary adventurer finally going to make a name for herself in Inazuma?

Lumine nodded.

"I'm best at rob—ahem—capturing Treasure Hoarders!"

---

Inazuma City, Street Corner Teahouse

"Sigh, how shameful."

A wandering swordsman let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head.

Beside him, a [Toukabou Shigure] rested on the table.

It was Kaedehara Kazuha—Ren's good friend.

"Ren, I've let you down."

Kazuha sighed, feeling heavy-hearted.

Recalling that day—when Kamisato Ayaka and that elegant young lady looked at him with disappointment—

He knew he had said something he shouldn't have.

"If I had another chance, I wouldn't make the same mistake."

Kazuha murmured softly.

At that moment—

"Excuse me, could you tell me where the Tenryou Commission is?"

A young woman carrying a small white-haired girl passed by, asking politely.

"…?"

Kazuha looked up at Keqing, slightly taken aback.

A Liyue person?

His gaze then shifted to the white-haired girl—

The wind was noisy today.

Yet within it, he heard a familiar presence.

"This child…"

Kazuha slowly stood up, his heart shaken.

It was Ren's presence—

She was Ren's daughter!

"…?"

Nahida blinked her innocent eyes in confusion.

Kazuha turned to Keqing, his expression solemn.

"Sister-in-law."