"Ugh—!" The unstoppable force sent Ganyu flying.
Fortunately, as an illuminated beast, her body was far more resilient than that of an ordinary Vision bearer. Anyone else would have been reduced to paste.
"Cough… cough…" Even so, the sheer power of the blow left Ganyu feeling as if her organs had been rearranged, pain radiating through her entire body.
The Golden Wolflord gave her no time to recover. It lunged forward, a malevolent golden energy gathering in its maw before erupting into a devastating beam aimed straight at her.
"Am I… going to die?" Ganyu murmured, watching the golden light rush toward her.
"…Well, with Rex Lapis gone, Liyue no longer needs me. Maybe… it doesn't matter if I die here." She sighed, closing her eyes as she awaited the end.
But the next moment, instead of oblivion, she felt herself caught in a warm embrace.
"???"
Ganyu's eyes flew open—only to see Akio's breathtakingly handsome profile.
He held her effortlessly in one arm while his other hand casually blocked the Golden Wolflord's annihilating beam.
The moment the beast laid eyes on Akio, it let out a terrified howl and tried to flee. Countless Riftwolf surged forward, seemingly trying to cover their master's retreat.
"Insignificant vermin, daring to overstep?"
Akio merely flicked a finger.
Space itself rippled, ensnaring the Golden Wolflord and its pack before violently tearing them apart—leaving nothing behind.
Ganyu stared blankly at the spot where the monsters had once been.
Akio hovered in the air, still holding her. Warm, revitalizing energy flowed into her body, mending all her injuries in an instant.
"Mmm…" Ganyu shivered as the searing pain vanished, replaced by soothing warmth.
Only then did she realize—she was still in his arms.
Her face burned crimson.
Akio descended to the peak of a nearby mountain, gently releasing her slender waist.
"Lord Akio…" Ganyu hastily took two steps back, bowing with flushed face. "W-Why are you here?"
"If I hadn't come, you'd have perished today," Akio sighed. "And what was that last thought of yours? Were you really planning to just… die?"
"I…" Ganyu lowered her head, silent.
"Enough silence." Akio took her hand and guided her to sit beside him, gazing at the distant scenery.
"Actually, Ningguang and Keqing sent me," he said softly.
"Eh?!" Ganyu, already flustered from his touch, widened her eyes. "Lady Ningguang and Lady Keqing asked you to come?"
"Mn. They noticed you weren't yourself and were worried. But since you wouldn't talk to them, they turned to me," Akio nodded. "Though, given today's close call, it's a good thing they did."
"So, Ganyu…" He turned to her, voice gentle. "Can you tell me why you've been so down lately? And why you were ready to give up just now?"
"I…" She hesitated, fingers tightening in her lap.
"I'm the god of Inazuma—not human. In a way, I'm like you. A being beyond mortal bounds," Akio said. "So if there's anything weighing on your heart, you can confide in me. I'll understand."
Ganyu's head snapped up at that. Her eyes, usually so composed, now shimmered with loneliness and vulnerability.
"Lord Akio… I've been so lonely," she whispered. "But this loneliness… isn't the kind that comes from being alone."
"When I walk through Liyue Harbor, surrounded by countless people… I still feel like I don't belong."
"The loneliness there is worse than the solitude of Jueyun Karst."
"In Jueyun Karst, I was alone—but at least it was just me."
"In Liyue Harbor… I'm alone in a world that isn't mine."
Ganyu's voice trembled slightly. "Once, a child pointed at my horns and asked what they were. I could only say… they were just a headpiece."
"I was afraid of how they'd look at me. Would the people of Liyue ever truly accept someone… not human?"
"So that's it." Akio nodded thoughtfully.
"Ganyu, you might not realize this, but humans are far more accepting than you think," he said with a smile. "They do accept you—especially since you've dedicated yourself to them."
"Before I became a god, I lived as a human for a time. I understand their nature."
"Humans have their faults, yes. Some are cruel, some selfish," Akio admitted. "But that doesn't diminish their greatness. Their resilience, their capacity for kindness—it's something to be admired."
"Think about it. Have the people who know you really ever rejected you?"
Ganyu paused, memories flickering through her mind.
"…No," she finally said. "They haven't."
"See?" Akio grinned. "Humans are adaptable. They've come to see you as family. After thousands of years of service, you're an irreplaceable part of Liyue."
"Tell you what—let's make a bet."
"Eh?"
"When you return to Liyue, let's see just how enthusiastically those overworked secretaries welcome you back."
"R-Really?" Ganyu's voice was small. Could Liyue Harbor truly embrace her?
"Hahaha, you're underestimating how much they care about you."
"Look at Yae Miko—a kitsune, yet revered by the people of Inazuma. Kujou Sara, a tengu, commands unwavering loyalty of her soldiers."
"You're a guardian who's devoted herself to the nation and its people. They'll only ever feel gratitude toward you."
"So, Ganyu—stop doubting yourself." Akio's smile was warm. "Learn to see how Liyue feels about you. That's what you should focus on now."
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