I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

"Five hundred years ago, an unprecedented calamity descended upon the continent of Teyvat. The seven Archons led their nations into desperate resistance, yet the toll was devastating. Ordinary people, warriors, those blessed with Visions, Adepti, yokai, and even gods... corpses piled high, and rivers of blood flowed. Against the endless monsters crawling out of the abyssal darkness, everyone was equal, everyone was powerless."

"In this land, there was a remote village where a genius onmyoji resided. Single-handedly, he created a barrier that enveloped the entire village, shielding it from the invading monsters and turning it into a rare haven of peace within the chaos."

"But he knew this fragile peace was only temporary, an illusion. His barrier could not protect the village forever. As long as the tide of monsters raged on and the nation remained in turmoil, true peace would never come."

"He placed his faith in the nation's Archon, as did the rest of the people. They believed their deity had not abandoned them and was surely fighting in the most perilous places for the future of their land. Thus, what they had to do was hold the monsters at bay for as long as possible until their god returned."

"The onmyoji trusted the Archon, and the villagers trusted both the Archon and him. And so, the story began."

"Carrying the trust of many, and with unshakable faith in his nation and its deity, the onmyoji modified the protective barrier around the village. Using the principle that monsters are drawn to the essence of living beings, he transformed the village into bait, luring as many monsters as possible, including the Rifthound King who commanded them—a creature he had made his primary target."

"This onmyoji was truly a genius. His plan worked as the Rifthound King and an unimaginably large horde of monsters were drawn in."

"With a triple-layered sealing formation, the onmyoji trapped all the monsters. The first layer was the stone gate outside, the second was the mist-shrouded village, and the third was a black sun in the sky. The Rifthound King was sealed within the black sun, falling into a slumber that lasted five centuries."

"But the price was steep. The villagers lost their physical forms and were bound within the sealing space as spirits, becoming memories with no future. For five hundred years, they continuously supplied energy to the seal. As long as the villagers didn't all vanish, the seal would hold, and the Rifthound King would remain asleep."

"In this world, nothing lasts forever. Even the hardest rock, impervious to whirlpools, erodes under the passage of time. The villagers' time hadn't stopped; rather, they were trapped in the limbo between life and death, neither truly alive nor allowed to pass on."

"The Anemo Archon of Mondstadt chose to sleep, avoiding erosion, waking only when Mondstadt faced crises. The Geo Archon of Liyue bore erosion willingly. As for the Electro Archon of Inazuma... well, that's a tale for another time."

"Even deities with unparalleled power dread erosion. How much more vulnerable are ordinary villagers whose thoughts and souls remain bound?"

"To minimize erosion and preserve their sense of self, the villagers rejected change, curiosity, and anything new. They lived monotonous, almost mechanical lives, doing only what they used to do, could do, or were supposed to do."

"They were afraid. Afraid that erosion would strip them of their selves. Afraid that their disappearance would disrupt the seal, releasing the monsters back into the world."

"But these measures were merely temporary. They could delay erosion but never stop it. Gradually, villagers began disappearing, losing themselves completely and becoming entities called 'Defilements.' These remnants retained their original skills and abilities but turned feral, attacking everything in sight."

"The purer and more resolute the soul, the less erosion could affect it. For example, there was a villager known as the Blind Swordsman. Having sacrificed his sight and abandoned his name, he devoted himself wholly to the sword, making him more resilient than most."

"As time passed, nearly all the villagers succumbed to erosion, becoming 'Defilements.' Only the onmyoji's daughter remained, her presence maintaining the seal's integrity."

"To shield his daughter from erosion as much as possible, the onmyoji created two paper shikigami. After he and his wife fell to erosion and became Defilements, these shikigami were left to care for their daughter, cooking, cleaning, and reminding her of the passage of time."

"For centuries, the girl waited, fulfilling her duty until the day someone came to destroy all the monsters within the seal. When the seal was broken and the monsters eradicated, she was finally released from her five-hundred-year responsibility."

"In reality, the villagers had all died five centuries ago. What remained in the sealing space were only memories, echoes of their former selves. When the space collapsed, the girl, at last, found long-awaited peace."

---

Under the serene and beautiful starry sky, Kiichi Hougen let the evening breeze sweep through her silky silver hair as she held Sara's hand.

"This... this is truly..." Sara struggled to find the words.

One cannot imagine experiences they've never lived through. True empathy is self-deception at best.

Yet merely hearing Kiichi's recounting made Sara feel suffocated, as though submerged in dark, murky waters. Struggling was futile, and even screaming through the black water wouldn't carry her voice beyond the abyss.

It was utterly cruel, unbearably lonely, beyond the grasp of her understanding or imagination.

And so she felt afraid—terrified of something so indescribably cruel.

What kind of resolve could sustain a person for five centuries while still holding hope for the world?

Though she had only spent two days with Chika, the girl had left an indelible mark on Sara's life.

Not only was Chika Sara's first friend, but she was also a radiant presence—like the sun.

Spending time with her could be overwhelming, much like the sun's rays could sometimes burn. Yet, when the sun set, leaving behind only darkness and cold, one couldn't help but yearn for its warmth and light.

"Chika... it's wonderful that she finally reunited with her family. She doesn't have to push herself anymore."

Sara tightly embraced a battered wooden box adorned with cherry blossom engravings and containing feathered shuttlecocks, their quills worn and frayed.

She gazed silently at its contents, a faintly sorrowful smile on her face.

Watching her, Kiichi Hougen frowned deeply.

"This is why I dislike mature people. They're so good at deceiving themselves, forcing themselves."

Abruptly, Sara found herself in an embrace.

"Master?"

"You still remember I'm your master, huh?" Kiichi ruffled Sara's hair vigorously, grinning. "I'm your mentor and elder. As long as I'm here, why must you pretend to be so mature and strong?"

"Little brat, you've only lived a few years and experienced a handful of farewells. Acting like this is insulting to me! Stop being so smug! You're thousands of miles away from true maturity. Come back in five hundred years before you try it again!"

Sara was speechless. Her master... even when scolding, was so gentle.

But... pretending really was exhausting.

"Master, could you... kneel down a little?"

"Alright, alright. Since it's my obedient apprentice asking, I'll oblige. Want me to hold that box for you too?"

"Yes, please, Master."

"Now then... come here and lean on me for a bit."

With her hands now free, Sara wrapped her arms around Kiichi's neck, burying her face close enough to catch the fragrance of her hair. The soft strands tickled her cheeks.

In this position, Kiichi couldn't see Sara's expression, but she felt the dampness against her shoulder and neck.

While gently stroking Sara's back, Kiichi tilted her head to gaze at the starry sky.

She recalled an old saying: "The skies of Teyvat always leave a place for you among the stars."

Perhaps among the countless stars above, one belonged to Chika.

At this moment, and in the days to come, would Chika's star guide Sara's path forward?

---

A sea of cherry blossoms in full bloom is breathtakingly beautiful.

But perhaps even more stunning is the rain of petals that cascades as they fall.

For those blossoms, this mesmerizing spectacle marks the end of their lives.

Yet, in that final moment, they are free—liberated from the branches that bound them, finally able to reach the sky they had gazed upon their entire existence.

---

Greetings, esteemed reader.

Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.

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Zhongli