So, this was the so-called "power-enhancing accessory"? It looked like some kind of owl trinket or something made from legendary animal parts. The only difference was the material.
"Wow, this looks pretty neat," Shao Yun muttered, examining the Vision in his hand. It was undeniably intricate, but it also gave off the vibe of a glass marble.
[Item Acquired: Pyro Vision.]
[Effect: Bullets gain Pyro elemental infusion. Health, Stamina, and Dead Eye core consumption permanently reduced by 50%.]
[Note: Cannot deal damage to pure Pyro elemental creatures or enemies with Pyro shields.]
Ah, classic Teyvat elemental mechanics. Very beginner-friendly.
Paimon floated over, eager to explain. "Visions are how people in this world gain elemental powers. Those who possess a Vision can wield elemental energy."
"But no one really knows how Visions are granted. They say when a mortal's desire reaches its peak, the gaze of the gods will fall upon them, and those who earn the gods' recognition will receive a Vision."
"The gods' recognition?" Shao Yun stroked his chin, pondering the meaning behind those words.
"Ah! Paimon gets it now!" Paimon's eyes widened as if she'd just uncovered a profound secret. Her mouth hung slightly open, her expression a mix of surprise and revelation. Her eyes sparkled with newfound understanding.
"Get what?" Shao Yun scratched his head, while Lumine looked equally confused.
"You just drove off that dragon, didn't you?" Paimon pointed to the spot where Venti had attempted to purify Dvalin.
"Oh, you mean…" Shao Yun began to piece it together, and Paimon's next words confirmed his thoughts.
"Shao Yun, you stood up to that dragon, faced it head-on, and even managed to drive it away. So…"
"So, you're saying my desire to defeat the dragon caught the attention of the gods?" Shao Yun's lips twitched. So, the system's goal was to get him a Vision, huh? Hilarious. As if he couldn't protect himself without it.
Paimon scrutinized Shao Yun's Vision, her eyes flickering with curiosity. She glanced at him, mustering the courage to ask, "Are you really from another world?"
"Haha, what makes you say that?" Shao Yun chuckled. He definitely wasn't a native of Teyvat, that much was certain.
Paimon tilted her head, puzzled. "Well, only people from this world receive Visions, but you…"
"Maybe it's because Lumine's stronger than me. She can wield elemental powers without a Vision, while I need one," Shao Yun shrugged. The criteria for receiving a Vision were beyond him, but having one couldn't hurt.
With the Vision matter settled, the group turned their attention to a floating droplet of dragon's blood. Lumine eventually pocketed it, citing the same reason as in the game—leaving something so strange lying around could have bad consequences.
Even though he knew the story, Shao Yun still felt the need to remind her, "If holding onto that makes you feel weird, let me or Paimon know right away."
"Thanks for the concern," Lumine replied with a soft smile, tucking the cursed dragon's blood away.
The trio continued their journey toward Mondstadt. Shao Yun took the lead, with Lumine and Paimon following close behind. As they neared the city, the path through Whispering Woods became easier to navigate, and the dense underbrush gave way to clearer trails.
Shao Yun relaxed, humming a tune as he took in the lush greenery around him. "Feels like we're about to run into Amber…" he thought, mentally preparing himself for the encounter.
"Hey—you! Wait up!" A lively voice called out from behind.
Shao Yun nodded. Yep, right on cue.
A red figure dashed toward them, leaping onto a nearby ledge to block their path. Respecting the story's progression, Shao Yun stopped and turned to watch as Amber jumped down from above.
Except… her landing spot was a bit off.
Shao Yun was walking ahead, with Lumine and Paimon about five meters behind him. Amber, coming from behind, only saw Lumine and Paimon and didn't notice Shao Yun in front. As a result, her landing trajectory was headed straight for him.
Sure enough, as Amber leaped down, she spotted Shao Yun too late. With no way to adjust her trajectory mid-air, she panicked.
"Look out!" she shouted, her voice tinged with alarm.
Shao Yun spread his arms, bracing himself for impact. He caught Amber as she fell, her head colliding with his chest. He'd expected to be knocked back, but instead, it felt like catching a soft bundle of cotton. He didn't budge an inch.
Amber, on the other hand, felt like she'd slammed into a stone wall. Stars danced in her vision as she groaned, "Oww, that hurt…"
Shao Yun set her down gently, steadying her and adjusting the bunny-shaped hairpiece that had gone askew. "You okay? Not hurt, are you?"
Amber rubbed her head, wincing. "I'm fine, sir. Are… are you hurt?"
"Looks like you took the brunt of it. Sit down and rest for a bit," Shao Yun said, guiding her to a nearby rock. Lumine and Paimon hurried over to check on her.
Paimon leaned in to whisper to Lumine, "Wow, Shao Yun's so tough. That girl fell right on him, and he didn't even flinch."
"I can hear you, Paimon…" Shao Yun sighed, shooting her an amused look.
Caught red-handed, Paimon squeaked and hid behind Lumine. "Ah, sorry! Paimon didn't mean to, hehe…"
Since it was a compliment, Shao Yun let it slide. Amber sat for a while, sipping water from Paimon's flask until she recovered.
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to crash into you," Amber apologized, her cheeks tinged with embarrassment.
"No worries. I'm Shao Yun. This is Lumine, and that's Paimon. We're traveling together," Shao Yun introduced them with a friendly smile.
Amber stood up and gave a proper knight's salute. "I'm Amber, Outrider of the Knights of Favonius."
Thanks to their kindness and the fact that she'd accidentally bowled into them, Amber skipped the usual interrogation. "There's been a dragon sighted around Mondstadt recently. For your safety, it's best if you head into the city as soon as possible. As a knight, I'll escort you."
"Thanks. We were actually heading to Mondstadt," Lumine replied.
Paimon, however, raised a concern. "But aren't you busy with knightly duties?"
"Helping travelers is part of my duties too," Amber said with a cheerful wave.
Whether she was also keeping an eye out for suspicious individuals was another matter, but the trio had nothing to hide. Besides, Amber's approach was far friendlier than Shao Yun's hypothetical "tie them up and interrogate them" method.
As they walked, Amber gave a brief overview of Mondstadt. Shao Yun, having memorized the city's layout from the game, knew more than she was sharing. Still, he listened politely.
After finishing her spiel, Amber turned to Shao Yun with a curious look. "Your name is Shao Yun, right?"
"Yeah, why do you ask?" Shao Yun raised an eyebrow.
Amber tilted her head, muttering to herself, "Your name sounds Liyuean, but your attire and everything else feels more… Fontaine-like."
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Shao Yun was taken aback. Had his appearance change after Transmigration?
"Oh, sorry! That was rude of me," Amber quickly apologized, realizing she might have overstepped.
"No worries. The world's full of surprises. I don't think I look bad enough to make someone lose their breakfast," Shao Yun joked, lightening the mood.
Amber chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Shao Yun. You're quite handsome."
"Thanks for the compliment," Shao Yun replied, brushing it off as polite small talk.
Still, Amber's comment about him seeming Fontaine-like stuck with him. Maybe it was the revolvers at his side. After all, Fontaine was known for its firearms. Being mistaken for a Fontaine native wasn't entirely unreasonable.