Genshin Impact: I'm not your Kallen!

(A/n: author note)

Yae spread her arms dramatically as they walked, her voice lilting with amusement. "And that's how Inazuma was made."

Kallen stopped in her tracks, her brow twitching with irritation. "…We just got down from the mountain. You didn't explain anything and just said that."

Yae chuckled, her tone teasing. "Ah, but isn't the brevity of my storytelling refreshing?"

Kallen sighed, deciding not to waste energy arguing. As they continued along the path, Kallen glanced at Yae, curiosity creeping into her mind. "Yae, is there any interesting news? Or something important I should know about happening here in Inazuma?"

Yae paused, placing a delicate finger on her chin as if deep in thought. "Hmm… oh yes, there's something worth noting. Inazuma will be going into lockdown next week."

Kallen's eyes widened. "L-Lockdown? What do you mean by that?"

Yae's expression was casual, as if the information was of no particular concern. "Well, our esteemed Archon has decided it's time to close Inazuma off from the outside world. A decree has been made—no one in or out. It's all very exciting."

Kallen's mind raced. "Oh… I see…" she murmured, though her thoughts were far from calm.

'So I'm still early—before the main plot starts. Wait… does that mean Kazuha's friend hasn't died yet? Tomo, right? His name was Tomo?'

Her steps slowed as the realization hit her, but she quickly masked her expression, glancing at Yae's ever-smiling face. 'If that's the case, maybe I can…'

Yae glanced at her sideways. "Is something on your mind, Kallen? You've gone awfully quiet."

Kallen shook her head quickly, forcing a small smile. "No, just… thinking about what you said. It's a lot to take in."

Yae's knowing smile didn't falter. "Ah, of course. Inazuma's fate is quite the tale to ponder, isn't it?"

Kallen nodded, her thoughts hidden behind a composed exterior as they continued walk.

Kallen walked in silence, her thoughts a whirlwind. "Just thinking about what will happen to Kazuha's friend later makes my heart feel so heavy... But fighting with an Archon? That's way out of my league. I don't want to do anything reckless..."

Her brow furrowed slightly, and she bit her lower lip. "If only there was someone else who could handle it for me… Someone stronger, someone who could make a difference."

Beside her, Yae glanced at Kallen, her sharp amethyst eyes catching the subtle signs of distress in her expression. Yet, Yae chose to say nothing, her usual playful replaced by a rare moment of quiet observation.

After a while, Yae's voice broke the silence. "Kallen, stay here for a moment. I'm going to buy a dessert for you."

Kallen, still lost in her thoughts, nodded absently, not registering a single word Yae had said.

Yae raised an eyebrow at Kallen's distracted state but said nothing further. With a soft chuckle, she turned and walked off toward a nearby vendor, leaving Kallen to her musings.

Kallen stood there, her gaze shifting to the children playing nearby, their laughter filling the air. It was a sound that normally would have brought her peace, but instead, it deepened her confusion.

"But why…?" she murmured to herself. "My thoughts feel so different now…"

She clenched her hands into fists, feeling an unfamiliar tug at her emotions. "Am I… getting influenced by Kallen's character?"

Her mind reeled at the idea. Kallen Kaslana—the girl of hope and justice, a symbol of selflessness, always willing to bear the heaviest burden for the sake of others. A true Kaslana, willing to pay the ultimate price to save even strangers.

"Or… is this really me?" Kallen wondered aloud, her voice trembling slightly. "Maybe my knowledge is incomplete… or maybe it's just my own thoughts trying to justify wanting to save someone I barely know…"

She crossed her arms, her gaze softening as she continued to observe the children. Their carefree joy, their innocence—it stirred something within her.

Kallen sighed deeply, her mind churning with questions. "Is it justice? Is it sympathy? Or is it something I can't fully understand yet?"

She shook her head, as if trying to clear the fog in her mind, but the sight of the children playing only deepened her resolve, even if she wasn't sure why.

As she continued looking at the children playing, a strange sensation washed over Kallen. Her vision blurred, and before she knew it, a memory surfaced in her mind, vivid and clear like a dream she couldn't escape.

---

The open field stretched endlessly before her. A white-haired girl with bright blue eyes ran through the meadow, her laughter echoing in the wind. She played alone, her small feet kicking up the soft grass beneath her.

Then something caught her attention—a flying wooden bird, gliding gracefully through the air. Her eyes sparkled with wonder as she chased after it, her heart pounding with excitement. The plane flew further and further, leading her to a distant spot.

But when she arrived, a tall wall stood in her way, blocking her path. The girl's enthusiasm didn't falter. She reached up, her small hands gripping the wall as she tried to climb over it.

Before she could make it, the wooden bird appeared again, this time on the other side of the wall—broken. Its once smooth wings were jagged, and its vibrant colors dulled.

She let go of the wall and bent down to pick up the shattered remains. Her small hands cradled the broken toy as if trying to piece it back together.

That's when she heard it—a soft crying sound, coming from beyond the wall.

She turned her head, straining to listen.

Then, an adult voice, sharp and cold, cut through the sobs.

"Building those useless toys again? Don't you ever grow up?"

The girl froze, her eyes wide as she tried to peer through the cracks in the wall.

she heard the sound of someone scrambling, as if trying to climb the wall but failing.

The adult's voice sneered once more, dripping with disdain.

"You'll never get over that wall. You're hardly strong enough to stay alive."

There was a cruel chuckle, followed by more mocking words.

"Pathetic. Why did we end up with a baby brother like this one? The shame of the family."

The girl gripped the broken toy tighter, her heart aching as she stood frozen, unable to move or speak.

Kallen couldn't bear hearing the cruel words any longer. With determination in her eyes, she climbed the wall, her small hands gripping firmly as she hoisted herself up and over.

The first thing she saw was a man, much older than her, with blonde hair. He stood tall, an air of arrogance around him as he sneered down at another child.

On the ground sat a younger boy, about her age, with tear-streaked cheeks and trembling hands.

Kallen glared at the older man for a moment, her blue eyes sharp. Then, she turned her attention to the boy on the ground, her expression softening into a warm smile.

"Is this your thing?" she asked, holding up the broken thing. "Amazing! It flew like a bird!" She jumped down from the wall and landed gracefully in front of him.

The blonde boy froze, stunned by her sudden appearance. He stared at her, unable to form any words.

Kallen chuckled, brushing some dirt off her dress. "Ahem, sorry about this. When I climbed over the wall, it broke even more."

The younger boy blinked, still startled, but managed to nod. "Y-yes, I made it myself," he stammered.

Kallen's eyes widened in admiration. "Woah, you're so smart! You're definitely going to become a great inventor one day!"

The boy's face turned red as he stared at her, a mixture of surprise and awe in his expression.

Kallen looked at the wooden toy in her hands, examining its fragile, broken structure. "Hmm... I don't think this wooden bird can fly again," she said softly, her voice filled with genuine regret.

The boy gave a small, hesitant smile, brushing away his tears. "It's alright. I can make another one. If you want, I can even make one for you to play with."

Kallen's eyes sparkled with excitement at his words, her enthusiasm shining like a bright flame. Without hesitation, she stepped closer to him, her expression full of determination.

"Hey, master inventor..." Kallen said, tilting her head playfully. "Do you want to join me on a quest?"

The boy blinked, caught off guard by her sudden proposition.

Kallen clasped her hands behind her back, her blue eyes brimming with hope and kindness as she smiled warmly at him. "Let's go save the world and make it a better place!"

The boy stood frozen, utterly mesmerized by the radiant girl in front of him. Her words echoed in his mind, and for the first time, the weight of loneliness and failure seemed to lift ever so slightly.

Kallen extended her hand toward the boy with a beaming smile. "By the way, master inventor, my name is Kallen. Kallen Kaslana! How about you?"

The boy hesitated for a moment before taking her hand gently, his voice soft but steady. "Otto... Otto Apocalypse."

Kallen shook his hand enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you, Otto!"

Otto stared at her, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks as he felt the warmth of her hand and the sincerity in her voice. For the first time in what felt like forever, someone had looked at him with kindness instead of judgment.

Kallen let go of his hand and grinned. "Now that we've introduced ourselves, let's get started on our quest, master inventor!"

Otto blinked, still processing her energy, and managed a small nod. "O-Okay…"

Back to reality...

Kallen was still deep in thought, the vivid memory lingering in her mind like a distant echo. A small tap on her shoulder snapped her back to the present.

She turned her head to see Yae smiling mischievously. "Kallen, you even make that kind of face when you're lost in thought," Yae teased, tilting her head slightly.

Kallen blinked, startled. "I…" she began, but the lingering memory left her at a loss for words.

Yae chuckled lightly, brushing it off. "It's fine. You don't have to explain yourself. You can rest here for a moment."

With a graceful motion, Yae extended her hand, holding a small skewer of dango. The sweet aroma wafted through the air, reaching Kallen's nose.

"Here," Yae said, her tone light but sincere. "Take it. This is the dessert I mentioned earlier—the one I went to buy for you."

Kallen glanced down at the dango, the round dumplings glistening invitingly. She hesitated for a moment before slowly taking it from Yae's hand.

Kallen stared down at the dango in her hand, her fingers subconsciously tightening around the skewer as she lost herself in thought.

She glanced at Yae, the weight of her own uncertainty pressing against her chest. "Yae," she began, her voice quieter than usual. "If you knew something about what will happen to a certain person... would you help them?"

Yae raised an eyebrow, her expression thoughtful as she took a seat next to Kallen. "What kind of question is that?" she replied with a small chuckle. "Of course, I would help them. That's the responsibility already placed upon me. Even if it's just a small bit of help, I'd still want to do what I can."

Kallen looked away, her thoughts clouded.

Yae's smile softened as she leaned slightly toward her, noticing the internal struggle Kallen was clearly facing. "How about you, Kallen? Would you help them?"

Kallen's eyes flickered, her heart heavy with the weight of the question. Her voice came out quieter, more uncertain than she intended. "I... I will... not..."

But before she could finish, Yae interrupted, her gaze steady and reassuring. "Kallen, even though I've only known you for less than a day, I can feel that the Kallen I know would help those people. So don't think so little of yourself."

Kallen's breath caught in her throat, her heart racing. Yae's words echoed in her mind, but it was the promise that really struck her.

"Let's go save the world and make it a better place."

The words she had said so long ago, the promise she had made to Otto?, resurfaced in her mind like a spark in the darkness. It was as if she had forgotten her own resolve for a moment—her deep sense of responsibility, her innate desire to help.

(A/n: the author is updating)