Chapter 51: Chapter 51 What Will I Leave Behind?
"The Temples of the Four Winds."
Seino Fugin spoke.
[Main Quest: Investigate the Temples of the Four Winds]
[Reward: Memory Fragment Extraction]
This was the next task assigned by the Human Principles System.
Seino had almost unraveled the pattern behind these tasks. The system's assignments were all related to Rostam's unfinished missions from his past life.
Seino's duty was to gradually complete these unfulfilled deeds, awaken fragments of his past memories, inherit the legacy Seino Raimei had yet to fully claim, and, ultimately, achieve his final goal. When the last piece of memory fell into place, his body would break down entirely, leaving nothing behind but the echoes of buried cause and effect.
That was what it meant to truly "die."
But every time he saw the word "reward," Seino couldn't help but feel a pang of sarcasm. Reward? Really?
Was this "reward" just another step toward the degradation of his body?
"Indeed, it is the Temples of the Four Winds," said Jean, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.
The Dandelion Knight nodded at Seino. Dressed in a pristine white armor adorned with dandelion patterns and a royal blue cape, her neatly tied hair and solemn demeanor exuded an air of utmost seriousness.
Back in the founding days of Mondstadt, the East Wind's Dragon, the South Wind's Lion, the North Wind's Wolf, and the West Wind's Eagle were revered as the Four Winds' Guardians, with temples built to honor them.
Now, as time marched on, the roles of these guardians had shifted dramatically from those of the ancient era. The temples themselves had fallen into decay and abandonment.
"The temples are tainted. Stormterror has drawn power from this corruption, unleashing its dreadful wrath upon us."
Lisa, the librarian of the Knights of Favonius, added with a gentle laugh. Her cascading chestnut hair framed her languid eyes and languorous tone, resembling a cat basking in the midsummer sun.
Nearby, Lumine darted her gaze back and forth between the speakers. She found herself unable to contribute much to the discussion.
Due to her outstanding efforts during Mondstadt's crisis, she had been bestowed the title of "Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius." It was a source of pride for her—not to mention the generous stipend.
With hands on her hips, she puffed herself up, eager to make a profound statement to astonish everyone and showcase her worth as the Honorary Knight. Surely, she deserved that stipend for more than just eating the Knights' food.
After much mental strain, all she managed was a clumsy question:
"Do we need to purify all four temples?"
"No need~" Lisa replied with a chuckle, covering her mouth. "We only need to cleanse three of them."
"Why not all four?" Lumine asked.
"The temple of the Dvalin has already burned down." Jean brought the conversation to a close.
"There's no need to purify it."
Her golden eyes gleamed with determination as she concluded:
"We commence operations at noon tomorrow. I trust all of you."
The dragon's temple had burned to ashes…
As Seino wandered through Mondstadt's tranquil streets, Jean's words lingered in his mind.
Dvalin's self-immolation…
He recalled the tears shed by Stormterror that day.
Why did it weep?
Had he met Dvalin before?
Was it because the people of Mondstadt had forgotten its name? Or because its old friends had turned their backs on it?
To be forgotten is a terrifying thing.
It means to vanish completely from the world, leaving no trace behind.
With his own erosion worsening, Seino found himself contemplating such matters more frequently.
Would Seino Fugin be forgotten too?
He often mocked the short lives of those before him. But now, ironically, his life seemed the shortest of all.
Mondstadtの最速伝説.
Seino chuckled at his own self-deprecation. How melodramatic.
What, after all, would he leave behind?
"Hey, Drowned corpse."
Someone playfully tapped his shoulder.
Turning around, Seino found Lumine with her fair hands clasped behind her back, leaning to one side. Her short, golden hair swayed gently in the breeze. Seeing him turn, she grinned brightly and proudly raised her equipment.
"Wanna go fish bombing?"
Seino's first reaction was that he had misheard.
Did she say fishing or bombing?
Noticing his skeptical look, Lumine nodded and repeated, "Bombing fish!"
Just then, something small, short, and soft latched onto his leg. Looking down, Seino saw a cheerful girl dressed in a crimson dress, wearing a round hat and carrying a small backpack. She waved enthusiastically and announced:
"Spark Knight Klee of the Knights of Favonius, always appearing with flashes and explosions!"
Kids these days were terrifying.
Fish bombing… What kind of violent activity was this?
Surely this bordered on criminal behavior.
As an honest and upright gentleman—and a recent recruit to the Knights of Favonius—how could he stoop to such misdeeds?
What he should be doing now was conserving energy for tomorrow's operation.
An hour later.
At Starfell Lake.
"Mr Seino, is this really going to work?"
Klee tilted her head, her scarlet eyes brimming with curiosity. Standing on tiptoes, her little shoes trembled slightly, barely keeping her balance. Instinctively, she grabbed Seino's sleeve for support.
She peered toward the center of the lake.
"Sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal."
Seino nodded. "Your bombs earlier were too violent. For fish bombing, black powder is sufficient."
This little girl named Klee was truly fearsome. If Seino hadn't come to supervise, she might have blown up the entire lake.
Black powder was easy to make. The materials could be bought at the blacksmith's shop.
The lake's surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the clear, washed skies. A faint pop echoed from the center, followed by a flicker of firelight. The ripples spread out, and soon, several bass floated to the surface.
"It worked! Wow, how did you do that? Even Klee didn't think of it!"
This energetic child had an incredible knack for execution and a lively personality. She must be quite the headache for Jean.
"I'll give you the recipe… Use this for fish bombing from now on. And try to hold back a little," Seino said, pausing before adding, "Though it's best not to bomb fish at all. We should strive to be lawful knights…"
Klee kicked off her little shoes, waded barefoot toward the shore to gather the fish, then, after a moment's thought, ran back and hugged Seino's knee.
"Mr. Seino, you're the best! From now on, we're friends!"
She smiled innocently, her bright eyes reflecting the shimmering lake.
Children's friendships are simple. Share a gift or play together, and in their eyes, you're a good friend. Even if you've only just met, even if you've spent less than two hours together.
Sigh.
Why make friends with a short-lived guy like me?
Seino Fugin gently patted Klee's little head. "From now on, be a lawful knight. No using Jumpy Dumpty bombs to fish anymore."
"Klee is very lawful!" she protested, nodding furiously. Then, in a soft mumble, she added, "I'll just bomb them in secret…"
"Hey, this is a 'promise between friends,'" Seino scolded, flicking her forehead with a slender finger. "A promise between friends!"
"A promise between friends…"
These words seemed to hold magical power. To a child, the concept of 'friend' was sacred and inviolable. If paired with the word 'promise,' it became an obligation that carried the weight of crossing mountains or enduring flames.
For someone as young as Klee, the members of the Knights of Favonius were always kind, treating her with a doting yet disciplinary attitude. But this was the first time an adult spoke to her as an equal, seriously emphasizing a 'promise between friends.'
Klee blinked her large eyes, nodded solemnly, and said with great earnestness, "A promise between friends!"
"Good. Pinky swear."
"Then you'll have to play with me next time!" Klee declared, placing her hands on her hips.
"Mm…" Seino hesitated briefly before smiling. "Alright, we'll definitely play together next time."
[Do you feel guilty lying to children?]
For once, the Human Principles System whispered in his ear.
'I'll just say I went traveling,' Seino replied in his mind.
And so, Klee happily hopped off to collect the fish.
"We're having grilled fish tonight!" she exclaimed.
Standing beside him, Lumine straightened her posture. Her golden short hair fluttered in the breeze, as did the hem of her skirt. Her radiant golden eyes sparkled with joy, as though she was perpetually cheerful. She brushed back a stray lock of hair that the wind had blown across her face, revealing her delicate neck.
"Hey, Drowned corpse, here's a gift for you," she said.
She placed a handmade wreath of woven vines on Seino's head. It was adorned with white flowers like carnations and dandelions. The soft petals still carried a faint fragrance.
Her craftsmanship was surprisingly good.
Seino, already a strikingly handsome youth with silver hair cascading down to his waist, looked even more ethereal with the flower crown. If one were to ignore his lack of curves, he could easily pass for a beautiful girl.
Lumine was clearly pleased with her handiwork. She clapped her hands and proudly proclaimed:
"A resounding success!"
Who knows where she picked up these odd phrases.
Even Paimon joined in the teasing, chiming, "はなむすめ! はなむすめ!"
Seino removed the flower crown from his head. "It's impractical. It'll wilt soon. Make me a straw hat instead; that'd be more useful."
"Idiot," Lumine scoffed, mocking his lack of creativity and sense of romance. She patted her chest and said with a radiant smile, "When the flowers wilt, I'll just make you a new one."
As she spoke, she lifted her head slightly, standing on tiptoe. Her golden eyes reflected Seino's face. A gentle breeze blew between them, carrying the sound of rustling dandelions.
"With your dexterity, make me a funeral wreath someday," Seino joked half-seriously. "Use white flowers, carnations, and make it big. It'll give me some dignity."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Paimon stomped her tiny feet. "Don't say such unlucky things!"
Lumine nodded in agreement, playfully sticking out her tongue. "If you dare die, I'll skip the wreath and rob your grave instead. I'll loot your corpse and spread your ashes. You won't rest in peace!"
"…You win," Seino sighed. What kind of eccentric companions had he ended up with? He couldn't even die in peace.
As they bantered, Klee called out to them from across the shore:
"Mr. Seino! I've caught all the fish! Let's grill them!"
She raised both arms enthusiastically, holding four bass in each hand.
Grilled fish.
Seino had eaten more grilled bass in this life than anything else. Aside from the hardtack from his days drifting at sea, grilled fish had been his staple from the beach to Mondstadt.
Having prepared it countless times, he had honed his cooking skills and even developed a methodical approach to grilling fish. First, remove the scales and gut the fish. Place it over the fire, adding wood to maintain the flames. As the wood crackled, golden oil oozed from the fish's surface. Sprinkle a pinch of fine salt and make shallow cross-hatches on the skin to enhance the flavor.
Once the skin turned crispy and the tender white meat was exposed, it was ready to serve.
The Human Principles System once remarked that taste is a deeply ingrained memory, one that's hard to erase. In his past life, he left behind two dishes: Kitsune Udon and Milk Dango. If he could remember the taste of grilled fish after his death, perhaps his life wouldn't have been in vain.
Golden oil, tender fish meat, a faint briny aroma—eating fish brought to mind the sea breeze of Mondstadt.
In this way, his life wouldn't feel wasted.
"Wow, it smells amazing," Lumine said, her eyes sparkling as she watched the fish roast. When Seino gestured that it was ready, she eagerly grabbed one and took a big bite. But the fish was scalding hot. The moment it touched her tongue, tears welled up in her eyes.
Ha! This girl, no matter how you looked at her, she was a lovable fool.
Seino couldn't help but laugh.
"Ow, it's so hot!" Lumine flailed her arms.
"Blow on it," Seino advised. "It'll cool down."
"You blow on it for me," she demanded, behaving like a spoiled cat throwing a tantrum.
"Why?"
"Because you laughed at me just now."
"…" Seino sighed. He could never win against this type of person. He shrugged in defeat.
The fish were soon devoured, leaving only a pile of clean bones on the fire. The four of them—including Paimon—ate to their hearts' content.
As night fell, Klee—a good child—knew it was time to head home. She politely bid farewell to her Mr. Seino and Miss Honorary Knight, repeatedly asking them to play with her again next time, before hopping off into the distance.
Under the star-studded sky, the tranquil waters of Starfell Lake mirrored the sparkling heavens.
Lumine pulled out a small notebook and crossed off an entry.
"What's that?" Seino asked.
"It's my Teyvat Travel Guide," Lumine replied. "Fishing at Starfell Lake, task complete!"
"With Dvalin prowling the skies and the Fatui scheming in the shadows, how can you think about playing?" Seino criticized strongly.
"Of course I can," Lumine said nonchalantly, flipping through her guide. Seino glanced over and saw it was filled with entries: eating skewers at the Good Hunter, collecting Wolfhook berries in Wolvendom, watching the snow at Dragonspine…
"So many," Seino remarked.
"That's right. You'll have to join me for all of them," Lumine said.
"Why should I?"
"Because I make you a flower crown every day! Seino Fugin はなむすめ, come play with this great Lumine-sama!"
Lumine laughed, her golden eyes twinkling mischievously. Clearly, she hadn't forgotten the joke. Her laughter was as bright and carefree as the warm spring breeze.
"バカ," Seino muttered, his voice tinged with playful exasperation.
The night passed quietly.
By noon the next day, it was time to head out for the temple-cleansing operation.
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