Genshin Impact: Transmigrated as Furina's Second Personality

"It has been a while, Lady Furina."

Amidst the boundless waters, the Oceanid bowed reverently to Felina.

"You knew I would come looking for you?"

Felina gazed calmly at the Oceanid before her.

When Fontaine's people are dissolved by Primordial Seawater, they transform into Oceanids and return to the eternal waters.

And the Oceanid standing before her now was none other than the former maid, Aishi.

Faced with Felina's question, Aishi shook her head.

"I did not know you would seek me out. I was merely gambling... and waiting."

"What do you mean?"

Felina regarded the Oceanid with composed curiosity.

"I have always wished to sincerely repent before you again," Aishi said, kneeling like a devout follower before Felina.

"My deepest apologies, Lady Furina."

She knelt and, without reservation, laid bare all her thoughts and feelings to Felina.

For those devoid of conscience, committing wrongs brings no guilt.

But for those with a conscience, doing wrong births an unimaginable torment within.

To Aishi, Lady Furina was her savior, her goddess, and a figure akin to an elder.

Her emotions toward Furina were a complex mix of gratitude, faith, respect, and adoration.

These layered emotions made her betrayal of Furina and subsequent forgiveness a source of immense inner torment.

When Felina recently granted new life to the victims of the serial abductions, turning them into loyal familiars, the news spread swiftly across Fontaine.

Upon hearing it, Aishi felt a surge of envy. She too had once served by Furina's side, but now, she was no longer worthy.

Regret for her past mistakes consumed her, yet she understood there was no returning to earn her Archon's attention once more.

She yearned to return to Furina's side, to atone with unwavering loyalty.

But deep down, she knew that as a betrayer, regaining the trust of a god was an almost unattainable dream.

So, upon learning of the blessings bestowed on the abducted girls, she considered following their example and dissolving herself with Primordial Seawater.

She managed to procure a vial of the water, but when the moment came to drink it, she realized that facing death was far from simple.

Wealth, power, desire, familial ties, dreams—there are countless things in this world that tether people to life, making death a daunting choice.

For Aishi, her two younger sisters were such tethers. She could not abandon them, even for the release she sought.

Thus, she hid the vial of Primordial Seawater in a cabinet, burying her thoughts alongside it.

However, her perceptive younger sisters discovered her secret.

They understood her intentions and felt the pain of it. Yet, like her, they were powerless to change the past.

Her single moment of weakness and error tormented not only her but her sisters as well.

Until yesterday, when assassins suddenly attacked and claimed the lives of her two sisters.

"Sister, go and freely choose what you wish to do,"

With those words, her sisters granted her freedom at the cost of their own lives.

That freedom led her to drink the Primordial Seawater.

"So, you gambled that I wouldn't ignore you, that I'd come looking for you, didn't you?"

Felina gazed at the Oceanid before her.

"Yes, my apologies, Lady Furina."

"Did you ever consider the possibility that your gamble could fail? That I might not come or, even if I did, might not choose to revive you?"

"It wouldn't matter."

Aishi responded calmly. "The moment I accepted the Fatui's help, my family and I were burdened with guilt because of me."

"Our current fate is no more than what I deserve. Even if you hadn't come for me, I would have no right to complain."

"Money, food, shelter, family, power—there are so many things in this world that push people into choices, stripping them of their freedom."

"Back then, I made the wrong choice for the sake of my family, and I lost my freedom because of it."

She prostrated herself deeply before Felina, sincere and devout.

"Aishi, burdened with grave sin, dares not ask for your forgiveness."

"Yet, I cannot betray the will of my sisters, nor can I shamelessly cling to the mercy you bestowed upon me and merely eke out an existence!"

"I have cast aside all worldly ties, including my own life, to prove my resolve!"

"I have nothing left to bind me, no weaknesses to exploit. This time, nothing will waver me!"

"I beg you, grant me one more chance. Let me offer you absolute loyalty and fight for you until my consciousness fades, as a way to atone!"

Her words spoken, she fell silent, kneeling motionlessly.

Felina observed the spirit before her with a serene gaze.

In psychology, there is a phenomenon known as the Zeal of the Convert—outsiders often work harder than locals to gain acceptance.

For instance, Japanese-American soldiers during wartime often displayed greater bravery than their American-born peers to earn recognition.

This former traitor could very well be useful.

The immense guilt she bore would drive her to extraordinary lengths to earn acceptance, manifesting in unparalleled dedication and loyalty.

Water, as an element, is unique. Among Oceanids, mutual assimilation allows their consciousnesses to intertwine, reaching a state of unity.

As the Hydro Archon, Felina could clearly perceive Aishi's thoughts and emotions.

Within Aishi's consciousness, there was only regret, guilt, determination—and an overwhelming loyalty that knew no bounds!

Her loyalty surpassed even that of the atoning Vigneire.

Felina held absolute authority over all her familiars. With but a thought, she could dissolve a Oceanid's consciousness, ensuring its true demise.

Felina stared at Aishi, her gaze pensive.

Elsewhere.

In Fontaine's neighboring nation of Liyue.

Today marked the annual Lantern Rite, a festival akin to the Lunar New Year—a time for family reunions.

In the region of Minlin stood a great tree, the Hidden Dragon Tree (Dragon-Queller).

Legend has it that millennia ago, the Ancient Geovishap Ancestor Azhdaha attacked The Chasm, causing untold havoc.

Geo Archon Morax appeared, engaging Azhdaha in a fierce battle before finally sealing him beneath the Hidden Dragon Tree.

To many in Liyue, Azhdaha is seen as a vile antagonist.

But in truth, Azhdaha was once Morax's close friend and battle comrade, one of the adepti who guarded Liyue.

His attack on The Chasm was an act of desperation.

Today, during the Lantern Rite, a time for reunion, Morax and several adepti visited the Hidden Dragon Tree with fine wine and delicacies to pay homage to their old friend.

However—

Not long after, a tremendous rumble erupted from the depths of the earth!

The entire region of Minlin quaked violently, birds and beasts fleeing in panic.

Azhdaha's aura surged forth from the underground, sweeping across the land with overpowering force, terrifying nearby creatures.

"Azhdaha!"

Sensing the familiar aura, Morax and the adepti's expressions turned grave.

For Azhdaha's aura to leak out could only mean one thing—

The seal was critically compromised!

In ancient times, the Earth Dragons lived underground in Liyue, and among them, their king was none other than the Dragon of Geo: Azhdaha.

Azhdaha resided deep beneath the surface, blind due to the absence of light.

Yet, he was unwilling to accept his condition and yearned to see the light.

But for any being, desiring something inherently unattainable often leads to an unfulfilled void and inevitable suffering.

Azhdaha, as an underground creature, could not evolve eyes. A sightless being longing for the light it was never meant to have could only suffer in its frustration.

Unable to witness the light, he could only lament deep beneath the surface, his cries eventually drawing the attention of Morax.

Morax, wielding a colossal stone spear, broke through the layers of rock to find Azhdaha.

In response to Azhdaha's plea, Morax brought him to the surface and personally gifted him the power of sight by opening his eyes.

As the God of Contracts, Morax also made a pact with Azhdaha:

He could walk upon the surface, but only if he adhered to the rules above. If those rules were broken, he would be sealed beneath the earth once more.

That day, Azhdaha opened his eyes for the first time, and the first sight he beheld was Morax hovering above the desolate ground.

Morax's divine power radiated brilliantly, casting a light akin to a rising star over the wasteland—a glow as dazzling as the sun.

From that moment onward, Azhdaha became Morax's closest companion and most trusted ally.

During the Archon War, Azhdaha fought alongside Morax, conquering foes and helping to establish the peace and prosperity that Liyue enjoys today.

However, when Liyue Harbor was first founded, its people faced countless hardships. For survival, the citizens had no choice but to mine the depths of The Chasm.

Azhdaha, being an elemental spirit born of the ley lines, suffered greatly from the tremors caused by mining activity.

But he sympathized with Liyue's people and endured this pain for centuries, only to eventually fall victim to erosion.

What is erosion?

Erosion refers to the gradual changes in a person's temperament and mindset due to aging and life experiences.

For instance, Felina was once a cheerful and carefree girl. However, after her parents' death, she became withdrawn.

She used to trust others, but as relatives deceived her, as she endured discrimination and suppression, she grew cautious and guarded.

Erosion, in essence, is the cumulative effect of life's trials that reshape a person's character.

Human lifespans, being finite, limit the number of events they can endure.

But for beings like Azhdaha, with lifespans bordering on eternity, the countless hardships and setbacks they experience inevitably generate overwhelming negative emotions that can erode their minds.

For over a thousand years, Azhdaha bore the torment of ley line tremors caused by excessive mining, all for the sake of Liyue's people's livelihood.

The immense negative emotions born from these thousand years of suffering consumed him, driving him to madness.

To simplify: Liyue's excessive mining caused ley line tremors that gave Azhdaha constant headaches. He endured this pain for over a millennium until he finally broke down mentally and went insane.

In his madness, seeking relief from his agony, Azhdaha instinctively attacked the source of his suffering—The Chasm.

By assaulting The Chasm, he broke the established order and violated the contract he had made with Morax.

Although Morax grieved for his dear friend, he was also the protector of humanity. Bound by his duties, Morax was forced to confront Azhdaha in battle.

Yet, the Dragon King's power was unparalleled. Despite a prolonged struggle, Morax could not defeat him.

In the end, Azhdaha momentarily regained his sanity. Remembering his bond with Morax and his love for Liyue, he chose not to make things harder for Morax.

Suppressing his madness, he allowed Morax to seal him away.

Thus, the conflict came to a temporary resolution.

However, a thousand years later, the seal binding Azhdaha has begun to deteriorate!

Elemental Dragon Kings

Each Elemental Dragon King represents the pinnacle of their respective elements.

For instance, when Neuvillette inherited the full authority of the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, he exhibited an extraordinary mastery over the laws of water.

Similarly, Azhdaha is the Dragon King of Geo.

Though he never attained complete authority over Geo, his power remains formidable.

Thus, the tremors emanating from beneath the earth alerted Morax and the adepti present.

The intense aura escaping from the seal could only mean one thing—the barrier containing Azhdaha had been critically damaged.

Dragonspine.

In the wilderness, Morax stood alongside Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper, their gazes fixed intently on the base of the Hidden Dragon Tree.

Their expressions were somber and heavy.

But as Morax and the two adepti braced themselves for the worst, something unexpected occurred.

The faint remnants of Azhdaha's power that had leaked from the seal coalesced into a swirling white mist.

This mist churned and twisted before finally taking the form of a middle-aged man clad in white, right before Morax and the adepti's eyes.

Beneath the Hidden Dragon Tree.

The man, dressed in white, radiated an air of scholarly elegance. When he first appeared, his face bore an anxious expression as though he was urgently searching for someone.

But the moment his gaze fell upon Morax and the two adepti, he paused, stunned.

In the next instant, his tension melted away, replaced by a wry smile tinged with relief and faint joy.

"It has been a long time, Morax, and my dear old friends."

True friends share an unspoken bond.

Though a millennium had passed since they last met, Morax and the others needed only a glance at the man's demeanor to recognize him.

Standing before them was the true Azhdaha—not the maddened Dragon King who attacked The Chasm, but the gentle and refined Azhdaha of old.

A thousand years may have passed, but the memories of that time remained vivid.

Morax and the adepti felt an indescribable surge of emotion, a mix of sorrow and nostalgia, that seemed to lodge in their throats.

They had so much to say, yet all that escaped their lips was:

"It has been a long time, Azhdaha!"

Azhdaha noticed the emotions welling in his old friends but appeared far more at peace than they did.

Sensing the heavy atmosphere, he smiled lightly and broke the silence himself.

"I was worried I might not find you. But seeing you here spares me the trouble. Perhaps this is my good fortune."

Looking at his companions, he teased with a chuckle, "It was no easy task for me to show up like this. What say you? Will you not offer me a drink?"

At his words, Morax chuckled wryly in response, "Of course, my old friend!"

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