Code Teyvat: Rebellion of Zero

[StrifeHavoc]

A/N: First I want to thank Greatkingrat88 for his beta work, and writing lessons and suggestions for improving the chapter. And to Icysnowsage, and a few others whose name users I am unaware of beyond their discord names, which I don't think I should share without asking and one wanted to remain anonymous.

I hadn't wanted to post this story until I either completed one of my stories, and/or I had more then ten chapters completed, but a argument broke out on my personal discord channel when trying to refine ideas for the story, and I didn't feel comfortable talking about it without spoiling elements of the story. So after much deliberation I decided to post the story in the hopes of setting the argument since the story is still in early enough stages for changes to be made.

My whole month and much of last month has been very stressful which has impacted my writing, and I am not mentioning that to get sympathy for my story, just want people to understand where my writing and myself have been is all.

I'll explain everything at the end of chapter, since I do not like putting bit author notes at the beginning of the chapter.

You'll probably see what caused the argument in the chapter, but I ask kindly to read my explanation at the end of the chapter before leaving feedback on it.

Please enjoy.

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Chapter 1

Oaths of Protection​

Fear and anger filled the mind of the ten-year old boy where he sat in the back of a van with his crippled, blind younger sister. He could not read her; she was quiet with her eyes turned down, but he knew she was in the same pit of misery as him. He couldn't blame her.

In the shortest time, Lelouch vi Britannia and his sister Nunnally had endured more than almost anyone their age, been through what no child should ever be through. It was at least almost a year since their mother was killed, but instead of their father finding and bringing her killers to justice, he had done nothing. When Lelouch had confronted him, their father had banished him and Nunnally to a foreign land to be used as political bargaining chips. It was then Lelouch had learned an undeniable truth that had left him speechless that day, but filled him with fury now.

The Emperor of Britannia, their father, Charles zi Britannia, didn't see Nunnally and him as children to be cared for. They were simply tools, contenders for the throne. The loss of one wife meant little to him, having one hundred and eight wives to serve as breeding stock. The children of the Emperor were meant to compete for power and kill each other without being caught, to secure their chance to succeed the Emperor, but sometimes the mothers of these potential heirs and the aristocratic families who supported them would act for their supposed benefit was probably why their mother, Marianne vi Britannia, had been murdered: both out of jealousy, and to ensure the potential ascension of their children.

They didn't even try to rescue us during the month Britannia waged war with Japan. No, he meant for us to die here. After all, a foreign land killing a young prince and princess would make good propaganda to better justify the invasion, Lelouch thought, his stone-faced expression hiding the raw anger simmering below the surface.

"One day Suzaku, so help me god, I will obliterate Britannia!"

Those were the last words Lelouch had shared with his first friend Suzaku Kururugi, the son of Japan's last Prime Minister. When they first met, their initial relationship had not exactly been friendly. Still, over time, after Suzaku came to understand the circumstances behind their exile to Japan, their relationship started fresh with the two becoming friends. In fact, Suzaku had been very helpful in ensuring Nunnally survived the one-month period when Japan was at war, as he and Suzaku were left to fend for themselves.

Sadly, they would have to part ways at the end of the war, Suzaku's father was dead by suicide according to the news, and as the son of the late Prime Minister he had certain responsibilities. Lelouch and Nunnally's situation was much more complicated, as much of the Royalty of Britannia wanted them dead to ensure the successful ascension of the royal heir they supported.

The Ashford Family's situation must've deteriorated after my mother's death. But what do they expect to get out of sheltering us? Lelouch wondered.

The Ashford Family was the biggest of his mother's supporters, even having created a unique weapon: the Ganymede Knightmare Frame. His mother had piloted their prototype, earning her the cognomen Marianne the Flash for her skill. But the fallout of her death had meant a fall from grace for the Ashfords; Marianne's enemies had not looked kindly on her allies. Even before her demise the Ashford Family had been struggling financially, because the Gaymade was never developed from beyond the prototype stage. The costly research had failed to produce a working model for mass production before a major competitor beat them to it. To make it worse, the head of the Ashford Family at the time was notorious for throwing lavish parties that could last for days, the cost of which was entirely unsustainable. With Marianne gone, the Ashfords had noble blood- but none of the wealth and prestige that came with it.

Aware of their loss in prestige prior to his exile to Japan only made Lelouch question why they would shelter them.

They must be sheltering us to use as liability insurance against the uncertain future ahead of them. I told Suzaku I would make it work, but that is easier said than done, Lelouch thought, resenting his limited options. Declaring us legally dead and giving us new identities to hide would be useful, but that puts us in even greater danger if anyone else knew.

"Brother, are we going to be okay?" Nunnally asked timidly.

It would've been much easier to lie, but Lelouch found himself struggling with that. He wanted to be honest with Nunnally, to not to give her false hope, but after some internal deliberation he chose what he hoped would be an acceptable middle ground.

"I think we will be, as long as nothing unforeseen happens."

It had been a few hours since they parted ways with Suzaku, leaving the only friend they had behind near the coastline where a city ravaged by the invasion could be was a fitting backdrop to what could be the last time they saw each other.

The van carrying Nunnally and Lelouch was traveling through a fairly remote area, with large hills covered with trees, with mountains in the distance. The road was narrow and in poor condition, one of the few usable lanes left. Their driver had chosen this route to avoid the areas where skirmishes were still happening, like the coastline was where a lot of fighting had taken place. It made Lelouch uneasy, how remote it was. His unease only grew as the van began driving around one of the hills, turning a corner on the winding mountain road.

I don't like this. It might be safe from any lingering battles between the Britannian Army and any last holdouts from the Japanese military, but if we were attacked, there would be nobody to help us for miles.

As if acting on his paranoia, the universe decided to prove him right. At that moment, there was the ferocious roar of an engine as a black truck rushed out from hiding, through some bushes by the side of the road, ramming into the van. Lelouch and Nunnally were rocked, barely held in place by their seat belts as their van buckled and dented, knocked over to its side.

There was a high-pitched noise in his ears. Lelouch realized he'd blacked out, at least for a few seconds. As his blurred vision came into focus, he felt a wave of nausea wash over him. It had happened so fast. It had come out of nowhere, and-

Panic ran through him. Nunnally! He looked to his left; Nunnally hung limp there. His arm trembling he reached out to touch her, check she was alright. She was still breathing, and there was no blood- but she was very much unconscious. Relieved, Lelouch reached for his seatbelt. His entire body ached, some parts worse than others, but nothing seemed broken. Luckily the van had a sunroof, and the glass had shattered. Shaking all over and fighting the nausea, Lelouch checked the opening with a trembling hand. No sharp edges- the glass had broken fairly cleanly.

We have to get out of here. He turned his attention to Nunnally, removing her seatbelt and taking care to hold her. Slowly he first crawled out of the opening, then began pulling his sister out as well.

Then a gunshot rang through the air, killing the driver of the van as he tried to crawl out. Lelouch stiffened, working harder to get Nunnally out. This was no accident, it was murder! Three men approached the turned-over van. Lelouch felt desperation creep in; on his own he might have had a chance to run for cover, but he would rather die than leave Nunnally behind. There had to be a way out- think, damn it, think!

But he came up short. He was alone, unarmed and helpless. He did not stop trying, did not stop moving his sister free, but he felt panic rising and a darkness begin to overwhelm his mind. They would kill them both, and he had no way of stopping them-

But just as fate had thrown him a curve ball, a second one came in his favor.

"Ugh!"

"What's wrong- hey why are you floating in the air!"

""AAARGH!" A third voice cried out in pain, followed by the thump of a body landing on the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL?" The second voice cried out. What was going on?!

"Brother, what is happening," a terrified Nunnally cried, having woken up. She was shouting in panic, near hysteria. Crippled and blind, she was helpless and terrified.

"I don't know. Here, grab hold of my neck. We need to go," Lelouch said, slinging her arm over his shoulders. He was panicked, but he managed to remain calm just barely.

"O-okay," Nunnally replied, her voice shaky as she clung to her brother.

Lelouch managed to get Nunnally onto his shoulders before crawling out of the wrecked van, knowing this was their chance. Judging by the ongoing gunfire, it sounded like more assassins had arrived to fight their mysterious savior. Keeping silent and keeping low, Lelouch staggered away from the vehicle.

But before he could get anywhere, he was cut off. A man with a machine gun, dressed in all-black military gear, barred their way. Lelouch's eyes widened in fear and stubborn defiance as he steeled himself for whatever would come next, hoping he would live. But before the would-be assassin could make a move, a black ring appeared around his neck, lifting him into the air. He made gagging noises as it began strangling him.

"You… damn… monster!" He hissed, flailing wildly in the air.

"You plot to kill two children and call me a monster," a man said. His voice was calm, but there was an undertone of quiet anger to it, of contempt and great offense.

Looking to the side, Lelouch saw the man responsible. He looked young, with straw blond hair that stopped short of his shoulders. He wore all dark colors; a gray vest with a light black shirt and pants and dark blue sleeves hanging off his shoulders. Most strikingly, he wore an elaborate cape whose edges rose over his shoulders. The insides were like the midnight sky, dark blue with stars interspersed across the fabric.

What…what is he doing to him? Lelouch thought, crawling away from the scene with Nunnally in tow.

"Brother, what is happening?" Nunnally asked, but Lelouch had no idea how to respond to what he was seeing.

"Get behind me!" The blonde-haired man commanded, moving the man he was strangling before Lelouch, just in time. Another assassin opened fire, but the blond man held his captive up, using him as a human shield. He took a full clip of bullets, going limp in the blond man's grip. Before the gunman could aim again, a single gunshot rang out, and the assassin fell over dead.

More shots rang out as more of the attackers were being picked off. Sniper support!

"Come on kid," a white-haired man said, coming around from the other side of the van with a blooded great sword. "We need to get out of here before more of them show up, because I really doubt this is it!"

Lelouch looked up at the new arrival. He seemed to be in his late twenties with shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, with unique four-pointed star-shaped pupils, identical to the blonde-haired man. He wore black clothing: a sleeveless overcoat, pants, boots, and a dark blue shirt.

"C.C., are there more coming?" The blonde man asked. A third member of their group stepped out from behind the van, carrying a sniper rifle. She looked around seventeen, had long green hair, yellow eyes and a fair skin complexion, wearing a simple white shirt, black pants and boots.

"Knowing V.V., he likely has a second team along with a clean-up crew already moving in." C.C. replied, a sense of urgency in her voice.

"I'll take the siblings with me, you two can follow once we left them what we want them to find," The blonde-haired man suggested, tucking Lelouch under one arm and Nunnally under another. The pair briefly tried to struggle against him, he was surprisingly strong, and his grip left no wiggle room.

"Right," the white-haired man said while C.C. only nodded. "We'll see you on the other side when we're done."

"You too, but be quick about it!" As he spoke, the man begun to glow blue. .

"Hey who are-" Lelouch struggled to say before the trio vanished, teleported away.

"Right Siegfried, let's get this over with before V.V.'s men arrive!" C.C. said.

Together they began to scrub the site clean of their presence, before planting misleading pieces of evidence. With any luck, they'd leave only a false trail of confusion for V.V. to follow.

Moments later, Lelouch reappeared in what appeared to be some kind of darkened chamber. There was a light blue glow behind him, enough for Lelouch to make out some kind of stone architecture that made up much of the room they were in. It didn't appear to be Japanese, and judging by the state of the room they were in, it was obvious this place was old.

"Can you walk?" The blonde-haired man asked.

"I can, but who are you?!" Lelouch demanded. He was angry and afraid; he and Nunnally both had only narrowly avoided death, and although this man had saved them, Lelouch knew better than to trust strangers.

The blond man let Lelouch down. The boy got to his feet, but a wave of nausea and dizziness came over him immediately, and he had to lean against a wall for support.

"You should take it easy. You don't seem badly hurt, but that was quite the crash you endured."

"But- Nunnally?"

"Brother, I don't think he's going to hurt us," Nunnally said hesitantly.

"Rest assured, I have no intention of harming you. But given your condition, I better take you to our camp. I have something that could help ease your sister's nerves and tend to any injuries she might with me here. Remember, me and my associates did just save your lives."

"That may be, but I can't just trust some stranger. I don't know you, or your intentions," Lelouch replied.

"You're a smart kid. Yes, you shouldn't trust strangers so easily," The blonde-haired nodded, putting Nunnally in a bridal carry. "But you don't have much in the way of options. Just relax, you're in safe hands now."

"Uh, who are you?" Nunnally asked. She was shaking, still not recovered from the shock.

"I am Dainsleif. And I know who you are, Lelouch vi Britannia and Nunnally vi Britannia."

"Why did you save us?"

"Both as a favor to a friend and fulfilling an old duty, nothing more or less than that."

"Really?" Lelouch questioned. He looked back at the blue light and saw some kind of statue that looked like an oversized chalice with a blue gem built into it.

"Siegfried could tell you more. I don't know if you knew, but he was once a member of the Knights of the Round, formerly its oldest living member." Dainsleif explained as Lelouch followed him through the darkened stone chamber.

"A Knight of the Round…" Lelouch said. He thought back, wracking his memory. Had his mother ever mentioned anyone by that name? The Knights of the Round were an elite group, the best of the best soldiers in Britannia. Only twelve existed at any given time, each named personally by the Emperor. Each of them served as both a bodyguard to the Emperor and his emissary, enforcers of his will answerable only to the Emperor himself. They could act with his authority, giving them overriding command in military and sometimes political affairs. Their power was near absolute, trumped only by the monarch himself.

Siegfried… I think mother mentioned him a few times, Lelouch thought.

"Did he know our mother then?" Nunnally asked. Her tone had shifted, calm and curious, and she was seemingly becoming more relaxed in Dainsleif's presence.

"He and your mother were good friends. He even trained her for her role as Knight of Six as her deeds became more recognized," Dainsleif said, walking forward, gesturing for Lelouch to follow while he carried Nunnally.

"So he rescued me because he was my mother's friend, and you helped him because you two were friends?" Lelouch asked. For the moment, he'd forgotten all the other pressing questions- who were these people, what did they want, what were their intentions, could they be trusted, what was going to happen to him, who attacked us- because there was so much he did not know about his mother, about her old life.

"That is correct," Dainsleif replied, as the three of them reached a large circular room. "I understand that can make it difficult to trust us, but I assure you, we mean you no harm. If we did, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Wait a second. I am grateful you saved us, but do you expect me to go along with you to some strange, unknown place?"

"Brother…" Nunnally said, worried.

"Do you want to try your luck surviving in a freshly conquered Japan with assassins on your trail, while taking care of your sister?" Dainsleif said bluntly.

Lelouch grunted with repressed anger. The warrior had a point, though. He had no allies, nobody to depend on. Even seeking refuge with the Ashford Family was no longer a safe option. They might end up killed, or starve. He might have given it a shot on his own, but Nunnally…

Anger washed over him. He was helpless. He had no control over his own fate, again. Now he was being taken to a destination and a future unknown, and no matter how he thought about it, there was no way forward without putting himself in the hands of these… strangers. He hated it, hated feeling powerless. But what was he to do? He had no choice left. He closed his eyes for a second and opened them again, startled. In his mind's eye he saw the shock of the accident, of a car ramming them, of being shot at, Nunnally being put in danger, them almost dying… a fresh wave of nausea came over him. It was all so overwhelming.

"You know I'm right, kid," Dainsleif insisted, after giving Lelouch a moment to collect himself.

"Brother, I am okay as long as I am with you," Nunnally reassured him.

"But… how can we trust these people? Even if they saved us," Lelouch said. He had been burned too many times to trust easily.

"You are wise to be distrustful of me. One shouldn't be so easily trusting of others," Dainsleif complimented. "But if I wished you dead, it would already have happened. I will uphold my promise to my friend Siegfried."

"Hm. That remains to be seen," Lelouch replied.

He looked around. The chamber was dimly lit, but the torches hanging on the walls providing enough light to see the room was enormous. He could spot other tunnels and passageways that appeared to have collapsed a long time ago, except for two tunnels- the one they came out of, and one Dainsleif was walking towards. It was much larger, clearly designed for something bigger than a human to walk through.

"What did you mean by duty?"

"Siegfried and I have known each for a very long time. Before he joined Britannia as a Knight of the Round, he was my second-in-command of the Black Serpent Knights of our homeland. We were the royal guard. We only met recently by chance. He suspected an assassination, so we were prepared to intercept."

"Black Serpent Knights, homeland?" Lelouch asked curiously.

"I don't think I've heard of Knights like that in Britannia," Nunnally said.

Somehow I don't think that group exists in Britannia, Lelouch thought.

"That might be a discussion best saved for later. We need to take care of your sister, and there is something you should see first," Dainsleif replied.

Lelouch continued to follow him until they reached another large chamber, but this time, it was brightly lit by a blue light. The room was large like other chambers before it, but it had a dozen six-foot wide stone pillars supporting the chamber, but at the opposite end was a large doorway of a glowing portal-like gateway with a liquid-like surface.

"What is that?"

"The portal that leads to your- or should I say, our- ancestral homeland," Dainsleif answered, boldly walking through the portal, taking Nunnally with him before Lelouch could protest. Lelouch hesitated at first, but with a cry of frustration he ran through the portal. The next instant, he reappeared on the other side where Dainsleif was waiting for him.

"Welcome to Teyvat."

"Teyvat?"

Dainsleif nodded before he began walking, gesturing for Lelouch to follow him.

"It is another world, with some very notable differences," Dáinsleif said, as Lelouch followed him.

"How different exactly?" Nunnally asked.

"This world is not as technologically advanced or widely populated by humans as Earth is. However, depending on the place and object, you might find some places and objects to be close or more advanced in other ways. The rest…we would need a long time to talk about the other differences."

"...okay," Lelouch said, following Dainsleif through the ruins until they reached an old set of stairs leading upwards, in a spiraling staircase.

Ascending the steps, the pair walked through the complex, talking as they went until they exited the ruins. The sun was bright, almost blinding him, but his eyes adapted quickly. Ruins surrounded them; there were no intact buildings around. Around them were toppled stone columns and broken walls, the former structures lost to time.

Did nature do this, a conflict, or something else? Lelouch wondered.

Beyond the ruins, Lelouch saw that they were within a large, wide crater with a tall mountain on one side of the island overlooking it, and a smaller mountain opposite it. Walking through the ruins, he was struck by how much nature had reclaimed them. Vines, trees and bushes almost covered the ruins; from a distance you might not even have seen the stonework. Whatever this place was, it was ancient.

Soon they came upon a camp set up at the edge of a large lagoon inside a cenote, taking up most of the crater they were in.

"Have a seat while I tend to your sister," Dainsleif said, laying Nunnally down on a bedroll in one of the tents. Lelouch found a fallen stone pillar to sit on, the remains of a campfire before him.

Opening a box within the tent, which Lelouch assumed contained medical supplies. Lelouch watched Dainsleif tended to Nunnally's head injury, wrapping a bandage around her head.

"The medicine should help her recover; you just need rest now." He said as he finished up.

"Thank you," Nunnally replied.

"Just take it easy. You are far from anyone who would harm you," Dainsleif said, leaving Nunnally in the tent to rest.

Lelouch was silent, still wary of the man.

"You still don't trust me, eh?" He asked.

"Hardly," Lelouch replied dryly. "Taking us away from Japan was one thing, but a whole another world? That's hard to believe."

"I can't say I blame you. In a better world, we would have approached you peacefully and broken the news in a less… abrupt way. Circumstance forced our hand. We didn't have time to warn you or even prepare you for coming here. If you stay in Japan, who knows when the next assassination attempt will come?"

Lelouch's annoyance and anger at the situation was clear on his face, but he could not deny Danisleif's point. Here he was at least safe, if only for now. But being taken to an unfamiliar and foreign world was more than he was willing to accept, leaving everything on Earth behind without knowing if he could return. Return to claim vengeance against Britannia, as he promised Suzaku he would some day.

"In that case, why did you save Nunnally and I? Siegfried saved me because he was friends with my mother, but you mentioned duty? Care to elaborate now?"

Dainsleif looked towards where they had emerged from earlier. Seeing no sign of C.C. and Siegfried, he took a deep breath before speaking.

"Now that you are here in the world on the other side of that gate, I can tell you. You might not believe me, but I won't hold it against you if you are skeptical."

"Go on," Lelouch said, gesturing for Dainsleif to begin.

"Almost five hundred years ago there was a nation called Khaenri'ah. They were the most advanced nation of the world, having achieved great wonders in both magic and science, creating great war machines and much more," Dainsleif began, folding his arms across his chest as he sat across from Lelouch on a fallen piece of rubble. "However, what truly set us apart from the seven nations of Teyvat was the fact that no god ruled over us."

"God?"

"Right, your world is free of any gods, with no divine beings rule over you," Dainsleif said, smiling at the thought. "At one time Teyvat had many gods, all of whom fought in the Archon Wars until only seven remained. It was a war encouraged by Celestia and the Heavenly Principles who gave symbols of authority and power to them in exchange for their loyalty in following its laws and mandate to rule over humans. Most accepted out of fear rather than actual loyalty, but our nation was the only one not to have an Archon rule over us."

"Our nation?"

"I am getting to that. Lelouch, you and your sister, along with most of Britannia's nobility and especially the Royal Family, are descendants of those who fled Khaenri'ah for Earth to escape the coming cataclysm," Dainsleif said.

"W-what?" Lelouch said, taken aback. First other worlds, now this? "How, that… can't… be true," Lelouch said, his mind desperately trying to make sense of it all.

"You see, the people of Khaenri'ah held a distrust of the gods, something that grew over time until many considered attempting to overthrow their rule driving them to dabble in dangerous and highly questionable methods to gain an edge over the divine. However, there was a small group who opposed this. They resented the tyrannical rule of the Heavenly Principles who reside on Celestia, the divine landmass in the sky, the divine and the Archons, but they were wiser in not seeking conflict. Fearing the path many in their homeland they had taken would lead to their self-destruction."

"Celestia… so it's some kind of floating island? Like a home of the gods, like Mount Olympus or something?" Lelouch said.

"Something like that. Information about the gods was vague. We only know that the one who ruled over them and all of Teyvat were the Heavenly Principles, who created humanity."

"Sounds like information control to prevent anyone from understanding enough of them to threaten their rule," Lelouch said suspiciously.

"You may be right. Every nation has different views and interpretations of the legends surrounding the home of the gods. Some are similar, others are different," Dainsleif explained. "However, one shared legend is that those who obtain a Vision and perform heroic deeds may ascend to godhood and be ascended to Celestia to watch over their loved ones."

"A Vision?" Nunnally inquired.

"A gem granted those who gain the attention and favor of the divine. The exact conditions are unknown, but having a certain drive and ambition are qualifications. Once granted, the user will be able to command one of the seven elements: Anemo, Geo, Hydro, Electro, Cryo, Pyro, and Dendro."

"So I assume Hydro for water, Geo for Earth, Electro for lightning, Cryo for Ice and Pyro for fire. But what are Anemo and Dendro exactly?" Lelouch asked.

"Anemo is for wind, while Dendro is connected to the wood and dreams," Dainsleif replied.

"Why does Celestia grant such powers to humans?"

"A good question, but I don't know why. There are many theories, but none of them have any credible evidence behind it. I will say, once you gain a Vision you will be capable of many things, depending on how skilled and creative you can be with your element. People believe the Archon behind their element is responsible through prayer, but they are only part of the process. Those in the know are aware they come from Celestia," Dainsleif explained.

"There is a cost, isn't there? There always is with power," Lelouch wondered out loud.

"Maybe, but your guess is as good as mine right now. Siegfried has one. He could demonstrate what a Vision is capable of," Dainsleif offered, which did intrigue Lelouch.

"The descendants who make up Britannia's nobility and royal family, do any of them have a Vision?"If such power existed and if Britannia had access to it, it could complicate his efforts.

"None of them do, as far as we know. Many of them outside of those watching the gate on this side don't come to Teyvat often. For now, none that we know of have one," Dainsleif offered reassuringly. Lelouch's concerns didn't fade; it would be something to keep in mind.

"Very well. These descendants are made up of those who fled Khaenri'ah, right? Those who would make up much of Britannia?" Lelouch asked. Dain nodded in confirmation.

"Yes. Led by Princess Genevieve, the only daughter of King Irmin. They gathered the nation's best alchemists who, by studying the worlds of a more famed and skilled alchemist known as Gold, were able to create a gateway to another world. They built the first gate in secret, with other gateways being made at colonies established beyond our nation's borders, and others at hidden locations. They were aided by those who shared the princess's worries about the path the nation had taken," Dainsleif said, finishing one part of the story.

"Did her father support her?"

"Yes. He saw it as both a reasonable idea to protect our people from the coming war and to calm those among our people who were unsure if we were ready for a war against the gods," Dainsleif replied. "Siegfried, one of my best men in the Black Serpent Knights, was assigned to protect her. He followed her through one of the completed portals as she led an exodus of those seeking safety. Many, however, saw this as an act of cowardice, and there was some conflict over it."

"How did it end up?"

"Princess Genevieve's fears were proven correct. Everything went terribly wrong and the powers we had tried to dabble in proved beyond our control, which they lost control unleashing the dangerous powers of the Abyss upon the world. Monsters from the Abyss and horrors from the resulting calamity that spread across the world. Blamed for the calamity, the wrath of the Heavenly Principles came down upon us. Six of the seven Archons were dispatched to Khaenri'ah to quell the chaos that had been unleashed, before the Heavenly Principles joined them. She didn't stop at simply destroying Khaenri'ah. She made sure the survivors would suffer for their defiance," Dainsleif said bitterly, anger creeping into his voice.

"What happened?" Lelouch wanted more information, but while a part of him might've been skeptical another part was alarmed and troubled by beings of such power existing.

He even wondered what the magnitude of the disaster was to demand the involvement of basically seven god-like beings?

"We were cursed by the Heavenly Principles, forced to endure immorality, being denied the release of death with our minds and bodies doomed to erode overtime, destined to lose ourselves completely to a fate worse than death. That is how I am still alive after five hundred years."

"What about Siegfried?" Lelouch demanded. This all sounded completely insane, utterly fantastical- gods, other worlds, wars between supernatural forces? It was like the fanciful tales of ancient mythology.

"He gained immortality differently from I did, but I'll let him explain that, and what the Princess and those who fled to Earth did. He can explain that in better detail than me."

"I see… so I am a descendant of Princess Genevieve?"

"You and the rest of the Royal Family of Britannia, yes. I was surprised to see them flourish into such an enormous Empire, one that dwarfs the seven nations altogether. But I am very disappointed in them overall."

"Disappointed?"

"I think you can guess why. Their belief the strong should rule over the weak and their aggressive expansion, their tyranny." Dainsleif said, shaking his head.

"I am glad we agree on that point. But still, I… I want to know more. This is a lot to take in. What about-"

" Siegfried can explain the rest better than me when he gets back. We have a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow, or rather, you do."

"What do you mean?" Lelouch asked, as Dainsleif got up to fetch firewood from a nearby wood pile.

"Teyvat is a world that is much harsher, and has more than gods who roam and rule over humanity. As you are now, you are woefully unprepared to survive this world. I must train you, and teach you how to read and write in Teyvat. Once you have at least mastered the language enough to speak in casual conversations, we'll move to some place more hospitable for you and your sister to continue your training," Dainsleif explained as he prepared a new fire in the fire pit.

"You are asking us to give up our world."

"Yes," Dainsleif replied flatly. "I know Earth is safer in general, but you know as I do should anyone discover you two, you may not survive another assassination attempt. At least here you can be better protected and prepared to fend off such danger on your own."

Lelouch scowled, composing himself to hold back his annoyance and anger. Dainsleif wasn't wrong. Even if Earth was safer, there was the chance those who tried to assassinate him would do so again. He didn't trust Dainsleif, at least not fully, but… this had to be the way. For now.

Still…

"Nunnally, are you okay with this?"

"As long as I am with you, I don't care where we are."

"I…" Lelouch was skeptical. Why did it always have to be like this? Why did he have to be thrown from one place to another without any say in the matter? Neither Earth or Teyvat was appealing, but the latter was his only option. He balled his fists, struggling to keep his emotions in check, his fear and anger clashing with one another.

"What kind of training would we be talking about?"

"I'll be working on making your body stronger, then I'll teach you combat. If conditions allow, I can teach you the elements too," Dainsleif said.

"Elements?" Nunnally inquired.

"The people of Teyvat can wield the power of the elements. It might be possible for one of you, or both of you, to obtain that power," Dainsleif explained.

"Really," That intrigued Lelouch.

"Yes. Once you are ready I'll conduct a test, but for now the details shall be a discussion for another time."

"...very well. Training it is," Lelouch said irritably.

"Very good. Take tonight to recover from today's ordeal, and we'll begin tomorrow."

Lelouch said nothing. What could he say?

This is all surreal to me. But if what he says is true we should be safe from Britannia for a while. But there was much yet he needed to know, even if there wasn't much Lelouch could do until Siegfried returned.

"How much do you know that you can share?"

"It's limited. The curse that has kept me alive for five hundred years doesn't just affect my body, but my mind as well. Many old memories have been clouded over time, but there are details I can still remember," Dainsleif replied. He closed his eyes for a moment in quiet contemplation.

"I can tell you of those I deem most responsible and ones you should avoid. They are called the five sinners of Khaenri'ahn. Once the greatest of our nation, they were Hroptatyr, Vedrfolnir, Rhinedottir, Surtalogi and Rerir."

"What did they do?"

"That's the problem- they did nothing as our nation was destroyed. Each of them gained powers that made them all into powerful transcendent beings. Some of their actions did contribute to the cataclysm that would consume our nation, leading to its destruction. Rhinedottir's creations especially were a contributing factor to events that led to our nation's destruction," Bitterness crept into his voice; he was clearly restraining his anger. "No matter how eroded my memories become, I'll never forget their abandonment of our nation in its time of need."

"So I should avoid them if I encounter them?"

"Yes. As much as I would like to punish them, I haven't found any trace of them for the past five hundred years. Their power is great and terrible, and I pray you never have to face them."

"As if I would go picking a fight with such beings," Lelouch said in annoyance. It was already bad enough he was being made to accept being in this world. "If they are that powerful, I wouldn't go looking for a fight with them."

"Good," Dainsleif said before getting up to look through their supplies. "I'll prepare a meal for you. After that we can talk about a lesson plan. Not just for training your body, but you are going to need to learn the language of Teyvat if you and your sister will be staying here, C.C. included. Although she is a little further along on her own learning."

"Lanaunge?!"

"Surely you didn't think the language of another world would be the same as yours?"

Lelouch couldn't argue with that. But learning a whole new language?

As he pondered that question, he watched Danisleif skilfully get to work preparing what looked like a stew. Despite having only a campfire and a crude cooking pot, he was doing rather good work, slicing up some kind of purple fruit Lelouch had never seen before along with diced mushrooms, the stems of a flower used for seasoning, and chopped meat. As the main dish was cooking, the warrior also prepared what seemed to be an Egg roll, but it was different compared to those he had seen in Japan.

Not sure how it works, but I guess mushrooms are probably something common between worlds. I wonder if other people from Teyvat went through the portal after their creation upon finding them, maybe bringing something with them that got passed along, Lelouch wondered, but the matter of language might've been an issue to fully adapt.

"Here, this is called Konda Cuisine," Dainsleif said, handing Lelouch a bowl of the main course he had observed being made. "And an egg roll to go with it, there is some water and fruit drinks in that crate over there if you want."

"Thank you," Lelouch replied. He realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast, and hunger was setting in. Lelouch began eating, pushing aside any doubts he had about these unknown ingredients. And after a few bites, he found that the dish was delicious and filling. Within minutes Lelouch had consumed his serving along with the equally delicious egg roll, leaving him full and satisfied. Shortly after finishing, Lelouch noticed Nunnally was beginning to wake up.

"Uh…brother, are you here?"

"Nunnally, are you alright?" Lelouch said, hurrying to her sister's side as she tried to sit up.

"Where are we?"

"It's a bit of a story," Lelouch said, quickly summarizing the events of the last couple hours and what he'd learned since. It was a bit much for Nunnally to take in, causing him some worry.

"So…we're in a different world?" She said at last, disbelief written in her tone.

"Yes Nunnally," Lelouch replied, understandingly. "I promise it's all true, but I don't blame you for being skeptical."

"But… we're safe now, right?"

"Yes we are."

"And Suzaku?"

"He wasn't with us when that happened. Given his status as the son of Japan's last Prime Minister they won't kill him, and he still has Mr. Kirihara to help him," Lelouch offered. He hoped he was right.

"Okay. I just hope he'll be fine."

"I do too. And I am sure he will be. Even if things won't be easy for him, I am sure," Lelouch said, knowing it was best not to lie. Nunnally knew as just as he did what Japan- now likely Area 11- would be going through. All they could do was hope for the best for Suzaku.

"If necessary, I still have some contacts on could provide supplies and tools if needed," Siegfried said, stepping out of the shadows followed by C.C. They both looked exhausted.

"I guess it's safe to assume everything is taken care of?" Dainsleif asked, and Siegfried nodded.

"Yes. As far as anyone will be concerned, Marianne's children were killed in that ambush. Even if V.V. doesn't believe it, that will be the narrative they'll have to go with. We could've left stand-in corpses for you, but that wouldn't be enough to fool him. So we made sure we left evidence that would point to the involvement of other parties to provide a false trail. We prepared well in advance to keep him from finding out where you are now, and that we were involved in leaving him on what would be a wild goose chase," Siegfried said, reassuringly.

"Clearly you've been planning my rescue for sometime," Lelouch deduced. "Your sudden arrival couldn't have happened if you weren't keeping tabs on Nunnally and I."

"Yes we were," C.C. replied. "I don't know if Dainsleif mentioned it, but the assassination on you two forced us to step in sooner."

"Who are you people then?" Lelouch demanded.

"I am C.C., an old friend of your mother. Don't let my appearance fool you, I've known her long before she made the mistake of marrying Charles," C.C. said. "I know she would've wanted me to take care of you two, so I collaborated with Siegfried who brought in Dainsleif to help. I too needed a better place to hide."

"And that makes me Siegfried, a former long serving Knight of the Round and perhaps one of the handful of pure-blooded Khaenri'ahns left due to certain conditions that keep me from aging," said the knight.

"You can't age?" Lelouch said, still skeptical.

"I promise to explain and convince you in time. But you've been through a lot. I don't want to overwhelm you with too much at once," Siegfried offered.

Lelouch was still skeptical, but he wondered if Siegfried had been a Knight of the Round for so long and given his experiences couldn't he had stopped what led to Britannia being what it is? It was one of many questions he had including the exact nature of his relationship with his mother, but he felt it might be best for now, not to push the issue.

"Did you know war between Japan and Britannia was going to happen?" Nunnally asked.

"We suspected, correctly, that war between Japan and Britannia was a foregone conclusion," Siegfried said, finding a place by the fire to sit. "We built our plan upon the expectation that you and your sister would be abandoned in Japan, allowing us to fake your deaths without anyone the wiser."

"V.V. sending assassins after you is what we didn't expect, but lucky for you we managed to catch wind of it," C.C. said, joining the conversation while sitting on a fallen stone pillar.

"Who is V.V.?" Nunnally asked.

"Victor zi Britannia, the Emperor's brother and your uncle," Siegfried answered, a scowl appearing on his face.

"But it was said his brother was killed during the end of the Emblem of Blood," Lelouch said. Out of that bloody history, only Charles had survived. The Emblem of Blood had been a succession crisis, which triggered a violent internal feud among the royal family. Most of the royal family had died in the process.

"No, Charles and Victor survived. However, Victor obtained a Code of Immortality causing him to stop aging, remaining an immortal child. You can imagine how that would raise a lot of questions. Victor's death was faked, allowing Charles to become the Emperor. Victor- or V.V.- began overseeing the Office of Secret Intelligence and other black operations of the Empire, acting as a power behind the throne, supporting Charles," Siegfried explained.

"Code of Immortality, really?" Lelouch asked skeptically.

Siegfried said nothing, quietly removing his coat and shirt until only his upper torso was exposed. Without hesitation, he drew a sword, impaling himself on his own blade. He gasped and gagged, slumping over seemingly dead. Lelouch gaped in shock and horror, grateful that Nunnally couldn't see it.

"What just happened?" Nunnally asked, leaving Lelouch in the uncomfortable position of having to explain. Thankfully, he was spared from that.

"I happen to have a Code of Immortality myself," Siegfried said, coming back to life with the sword in his chest, which Danisleif pulled free. Lelouch watched in stunned silence as the wound on Siegfried's chest healed; it looked like time was reversing itself on his body as the flesh closed itself together, not even leaving a scar.

"Brother, what happened?" Nunnally had asked again, having gotten no answer.

"Uh, he- he demonstrated the Code of Immorality is real," Lelouch said, deciding to avoid mention of Siegfried stabbing himself.

"Yes. I've lived for five hundred years. I've been guarding the descendants of my children," Siegfried said with a sad expression.

"Your children?" Lelouch said. Does he mean…

"Yes, you and the rest of the Royal Family are my descendants. I chose to save you and Nunnally because I believe you two are worth saving. You are not yet the kind of monsters Charles raised up," Siegfried said bitterly.

"How?"

"We'll tell you, but we'll use the answers you want as a way to motivate you," C.C. said, grinning.

"Motivate me, for what?"

"Teyvat is a much more dangerous world than Earth, which is a key reason why Britannia won't actively look for you here. However, to survive you'll need to be in better shape, including learning how to fight."

"Using Miss C.C. and Dain as test subjects, we have a lesson plan worked out for the two of you," Siegfried replied. "C.C. and I will work with you on learning the language, and other information you'll need."

"Physical training will be handled by me," Dainsleif replied, and Lelouch felt a pit in his stomach. He had a bad feeling he was in for a hard time ahead.

---

A/N: And so begins Lelouch's torture, I mean training, and learning to survive on Teyvat which will include learning the language of course.

Now for the elephant in the room, Lelouch and Nunnally as well as Britannia's royal family are descended from a Princess of Khaenri'ah's Eclipse Dynasty, and no I don't mean Lumine to clarify.

So far some of Britannia's oldest noble families and some wealthy families, were descendants of those she led on an exodus to escape Teyvat for Earth, using gateways they created by studying the Rifthounds's ability to tear open passages in space and how the Traveler and her siblings arrived.

Now to clarify a few things, the Princess, Siegfried and their followers fled for Earth before the cataclysm happened, thereby they avoided being cursed and they didn't return for a couple hundred years, for reasons I think you guys can easily guess so they remained in the dark on what happened until someone was brave enough to go back and check.

And this will be addressed in coming chapters, but the resources and limited numbers they had weren't enough for them to conquer anything, and the fact that materials and such on Earth were different from Teyvat meaning they had to make due with what they had and start from scratch. This would indirectly lead to events that led to Britannia being born, the descendants of those who followed them had gained sufficient power and influence within the British Empire while the Princess's descendants would become the Dukedom of Britannia and later the Britannian Royal Family.

How this happened will be explained in the next chapter, since that was another point of contention.

But the biggest issue was would the curse still affect Lelouch and Nunnally, including any other Britannians with Khaenri'ah ancestry?

When I discussed this with a few people, no one thought it would be an issue since while I know the curse turned half-blooded and non-Khaenri'ah into monsters, there were many generations since then with their descendants no longer even having signature pupils that most have due to having had children with the humans of Earth, and so forth and so forth.

And this is something the other guy wouldn't let it go on no matter what I offered or said. Of course if Geass and Codes could still work, but we don't know if they are limited to Earth or not. Yes, but there isn't enough information to confirm otherwise or not.

I do have ideas in place as contingencies to make Lelouch and Nunnally the "lucky ones" who avoid it, while any other Britannians with Khaenri'ah ancestry could be hit by it, despite a lot of generations of children with Earth based humans since we don't know if that could still impact them or not.

Otherwise I might just make it a slight AU just to continue with what I got so far and I hate rewriting stories, especially after paying to commission the beta work on the chapters, who even gives me writing lessons and points out issues and suggestions for me on improvements.

So you see the problem.

The other problem was that I didn't really have anyone else who knew both Genshin Impact and Code Geass outside of two people, since there are a few other details that need to be worked out, but I won't list them all in the story.

What I will confirm that this story will have Lelouch in a polygamous relationship with Sangonomiya Kokomi, Kamisato Ayaka, Furina de Fontaine and Keqing.

Kuki Shinobu I wanted to include, but her choice of lifestyle I worry she wouldn't be open to relationships in general. But Eula Lawrence and Navia Casper are also likely contenders, and in strong positions.

As for the harem size I am looking at lucky number seven, ten or twelve if I can pull it off, but I need to figure out how polygamy would work in Teyvat, which was another problem I was trying to address but despite my efforts I got no feedback outside of Icysnowsage's suggestion of using the culture that the nations are based off for ideas.

And there was figuring out which Genshin character would be fine in a polygamous relationship, and who else could mesh with Lelouch.

I wanted to have it worked out before posting, but me and Icysnowsage have reached an impasse on some choices we were in debate on and were seeking a way to break the deadlock. Cause once Lelouch was figured out I could begin working out pairings for other characters like Aether, etc.

Now I do have a poll on my profile page with the "problem candidates" of characters I am open too, which the top seven who wins will have a fair chance at Lelouch, this DOES NOT mean they are in the harem by default.

For those who know the characters I think they can easily deduce what the issues are with them.

But yeah those are the big issues while the other issues I'll mention as the story goes along so I don't make a whole another chapter listing the few uncertain issues and details needing to be worked out.

And also if Nunnally and Siegfried should have Visions, or should Nunnally be a descender like her brother, which I got ideas to hopefully justify, but Lelouch won't be in the same weight class as the Siblings beyond having the same power of using all of the elements.

Also the teleporters while a fixture in the game I am included in a limited capacity that will be touched upon in story, but also a precaution in case my other ideas don't pan out well.

But still tell me what you think on the whole curse problem see if I can proceed with the story as it, and as for the canon of Code Geass I think its gone out the window with C.C. on Teyvat.

But there is an ongoing debate on when and how other CG characters could join the story, which also means another reason to work out the issue with the curse.

Ok that is enough out of me, thank you for reading and thank you again for enduring my rant. I'll be posting this on Archive of Our Own and Questionable Questing. I won't do Spacebattles due to a lack of interest in the story from that place.

Thank you all for reading and happy holidays.

I got chapter two ready to go, but I'll probably wait until chapter three is finished with its touch ups, all of which will depend on your thoughts on the issue regarding the curse and if Nunnally should get a vision or be a descender like Lelouch, while he won't be as powerful as the Traveler Siblings, he'll make up for it by being Lelouch and eventually Zero.

 

[StrifeHavoc]

A/N: Thanks to Icysnowsage helping me with ideas and Greatkingrat88 for his beta work on the chapter. I could've posted this much sooner, but I had some serious stuff going on in real life which played havoc with my drive to write and post chapters. But chapter three's beta work is underway now and beta work for my other story War of the Seven Kings is back on track, which I hope I can post soon.

Anyway much of this chapter had been rewritten from the original due to a shift of original ideas and changings done to the first chapter that affected this one and other chapters after it, which was another cause for delaying its posting. And the feedback for something else I'll explain at the end of the chapter to avoid spoilers.

So let us move on to the chapter itself.

---

Chapter 2

Adapting to the new world​

The following morning before the sun rose over the lagoon, the training began. Dainsleif nudged Lelouch awake, and began with a light run around the lagoon. It did not take long for the boy's feeble physique to catch up with him, and a run became a jog, which almost immediately became a stumbling walk. It took over an hour before they came back to camp, where Siegfried was creating fire from one hand, using another to add wood to get a fire going to cook breakfast.

That must be the result of the powers that Dainsleif told me about, Lelouch said, curious about the nature of it.

"I see Dain mentioned Visions to you," Siegfried said, standing up. He opened his coat to reveal a red gem attached to his belt. It was encrusted in a gold double helix frame, with the emblem of flame upon the gem. "This is mine, a Pyro Vision. As the name suggests, it lets me manipulate fire in various ways."

"So- so you can shoot fire from- from your hands?" Lelouch wheezed, still short of breath.

"More than that," Siegfried said with a smile. "With time and practice, you can do much more than simple flame conjuration. For example, I can create a shield for myself, using my flames to empower my friends in battle and even infuse the flames into my blade. There is almost no end to the level of versatility an element can offer. It's a matter of skill and creativity."

"Interesting," Lelouch said, pondering on the implications. The idea of magic was still new to him, still hard to believe even when he could see it with his own eyes. But at the same time, that kind of power… if he could get his hands on it, what couldn't he do with it? The possibilities were enormous.

"Uh, I assume this one doesn't belong to anyone?" C.C. asked, holding up a Vision. Unlike the one Siegfried had, the gem was yellow with a different emblem. The frame was different, with three prongs above it.

"It's not mine," Dainsleif said, looking at Lelouch who shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head.

"I woke up with it this morning," Nunnally said. Everyone looked surprised, except C.C.

"That is a Geo Vision," Dain said, leaning in closer to inspect it.

"How did Nunnally get one? We have been in Teyvat for what, forty-eight hours?" Lelouch said in disbelief.

"Remember what I said was a requirement?" Dainsleif replied, "A certain drive or ambition are factors, but a strong wish still counts."

"I see," Lelouch said, deducing what was likely the wish Nunnally had.

Considering what happened yesterday… Lelouch wondered if that was the cause, or at least a factor.

"I… I… hated how I was a burden to my brother yesterday. If I wasn't blind, we could have escaped together. I am blind and crippled, and I couldn't do anything," Nunnally said. Her voice was steady and quiet, but it sounded like she was holding back tears.

"N-Nunnally, you are not a burden," Lelouch tried to offer reassuringly, but both siblings knew the harsh truth.

"Brother, don't lie. I know you care for me, but because of me, you had no chance of escaping if you had to worry about me." Nunnally's voice was a mix of different emotions, sadness and frustration. "I can't take care of myself. I am a burden, even if I know you're happy to help me."

Lelouch paused. What could he say? He couldn't deny it. She had a right to think for herself, didn't she? To live with that, knowing you couldn't care for yourself… how frustrating would that be?

"I… know. But I'll never abandon you as they did," he said.

She had depended on him for so long. She had been through so much. If she had a power of her own… it would be dangerous, but could he really deny her that? If there was a way for her to have just a little bit of independence?

"I know, but I wished more than anything to not be helpless anymore. And… I guess this power just came to me."

"I understand," Lelouch said, although he still had reservations. What worried him was how it seemed too sudden. Although part of him was glad Nunnally could have some means of defending herself, the other part was skeptical. It seemed wrong to gain such power so quickly, and he had to wonder if it would come at a cost. Dainsleif's explanation about Visions echoed in Lelouch's mind.

"I can probably help you learn how to use it. But I must warn you, your disability could make it difficult," Siegfried warned her.

"Okay," Nunnally replied, blind to her brother's concerns.

Later that night, once Nunnally was asleep, Lelouch approached Siegfried and C.C. where they sat by the fire. Dainsleif remained nearby, listening in. There was an uneasy silence at first until Siegfried coughed, a tactic to break the silence.

"No doubt you have many questions, Lelouch," he said.

"That is putting it lightly. Dainsleif told me about the Princess and you, and where you all hail from? So what happened after you came to Earth, and how did Britannia come to be?" Lelouch asked, sitting down on a broken piece of stone as a makeshift chair.

"I'll start there, then." Siegfried replied. "Following our exodus to Earth, we had difficulty trying to settle. Not only did we have limited supplies and resources, but we found that the world we came to was inhabited by humans, perfectly identical to the people of Teyvat as far as we could tell. We had the means to defend ourselves easily, but not the means for conquest. Not to mention the language barrier…"

"But somehow things worked out?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes. We landed in England, by chance. We were met by villagers and a woman who aided us in understanding the language, and after a few months we could speak their language passably. In return we protected them from harm. At this time England was at war with France, leaving their homes undefended. The people of the village faced attacks from bandits trying to raid them, taking advantage of the country's focus directed to the war with France," He smiled."Despite our limited numbers, our battle-hardened veterans had fought the Abyss, and a few brigands were nothing to them."

"The Abyss?"

"Ah," Siegfried said. "Dain didn't mention it? Leading up to the cataclysm that destroyed our homeland, monsters from the abyss terrorized the land. We sent many of our soldiers and machines to war to combat them, but the enemy was fearsome. Those who faced them and survived were among those who came with us and their families. Compared to the Abyss monsters, handling human bandits was nothing."

"I see…when did you arrive? 'England at war with France' doesn't exactly narrow things down all that much," Lelouch said, recalling his world history.

"We came in the reign of Henry VIII," Siegfried said. "Around 1544, I believe."

It was a little bit mind boggling for Lelouch to think he was face to face with somebody who had seen such history, over five hundred years back. Curiously, he tried remembering his history. King Henry was known for the English Reformation, leading to the separation of the Church of England from papal authority, leading to the rise of the Protestant religion overshadowing Catholicism as the dominant religion in England. Of course, he was also infamous for the latter half of his reign where he became paranoid and tyrannical, having multiple of his own wives executed.

"Were you and the others were involved in the wars that followed?"

"We were. We repelled a raiding party sent from Scotland, during the time when Scotland invaded England at the request of King Louis XII of France."

"Your people intervened in the battle?"

"That's right. In fact, Queen Catherine visited us personally. She had heard the reports of how formidable our forces were, and proposed an alliance between the soldiers she had and ours. So, we joined the side of England for the Battle of Flodden, killing the Scottish King. We then pushed into Scottish lands. As people in Teyvat call them, the Ruin Guards eliminated all opposition, allowing England to seize all of Scotland."

"What happened when King Henry returned?"

"The war failed for England. King Henry had supported Ferdinand II of Aragon and Emperor Maximillian of the Holy Roman Empire out of his own pocket, yet received nothing in return. He was forced to abandon his campaign and ultimately make a treaty with King Louis. Hearing all of Scotland now belonged to England was a welcomed consolation prize, so in return for our contributions myself, and my properly married wife Princess Genevieve and others were granted lands and nobility, we were put in charge of Scotland more or less with the full support of the king," Siegfried explained.

"And your people flourished in Scotland," Lelouch asked. Siegfried nodded, replying,

"There were some troubles down the road, but in time our descendants would be known as the Dukes of Britannia. To ensure our continued survival in the future, we aided England as much as we could to secure our place throughout history. And choosing political alliances wisely, such as supporting Queen Elizabeth further cemented us powerful allies of the crown."

"I didn't expect you and the princess would get married, but I shouldn't be surprised," Dainsleif mused.

"Well…" Siegfried replied with a nervous laugh. "What can I say, disaster and loss can bring people together."

"So how did you become immortal then? It doesn't sound like any of you were cursed by being sent to another world," Lelouch asked.

"Well, after we had mastered the language of this world, we met a woman who offered a power to aid us in return for making her wish come true. Given the uncertainty we were facing, with no way to return home without risking falling victim to the curse of those who stayed behind, we accepted. I chose to accept this power that granted me advance foresight, which was useful in ensuring our survival, especially in the times that came after King Henry died."

"And what she wanted in turn resulted in you becoming immortal?"

"Indeed," Siegfried said, his expression saddened. "Once my power encompassed both of my eyes, the woman who gave me my power said it was time to make her wish come true, to grant her death. With my power having reached its full potential, a power she called Geass, I alone had the power to kill her, but doing so would make me inherit her Code of Immorality. She begged for release, and I hesitated until Genevieve urged me to honor the bargain, and use my immorality to watch over our children and their descendants as well as our people."

"You fulfilled your end of the bargain, then, but you would outlive your wife and children."

"Yes, but I kept true to the promise I made to Princess Genevieve, even now as you are one of my descendants."

"But aren't the rest of the Royal Family your descendants?" Lelouch pointed out.

From sadness, Siegfried's expression showed signs of disappointments and flashes of anger in his eyes.

"Yes, but it's hard to consider them as such. The Age of Revolution changed everything, especially when Britannia was created. They were dominated by the descendants of those who fled Khaenri'ah, who held the highest of noble titles and wealth. Even now, most of Britannia's population has some degree of blood or connection to Khaenri'ah. Their ideals of social Darwinism and the strong ruling over the weak is something I opposed, but sadly they became embedded into Britannian Culture as the nation rebuilt itself from the American Colonies they fled to. It just got worse, until the Emblem of Blood incident and later Charles zi Britannia overthrowing his own father, finally proving just how far we had fallen. From a certain point of view, Britannia has become no better than the gods we hated," Siegfried said. Although his voice was even, there were echoes of emotion in there, reverberating through Lelouch's mind.

"But why me and Nunnally? Why save us?"

"Because your mother was a dear friend, who I recommended be inducted into the Knights of the Round. I was disappointed when she became Charles' consort, but I saw how Charles acted around her and I had prayed that maybe she could change him for the better. It was a foolish hope that came to nothing after she was killed. But you were different from Charles' other children. Your time in Japan changed you. So I chose to save you and Nunnally, to uphold my promise to my beloved princess. The rest of the family is a lost cause."

"I see," Lelouch said, processing this information for a few moments. He'd known about his family's ties to England, but this secret history was a new layer to it- raw and unfiltered. Believable.

"Do you know who killed my mother?"

"Yes, but I won't tell you yet. Even if I did, what would change?There is more you must know first before I can reveal the truth," Siegfried replied sternly.

"What?!" Lelouch snapped.

"Even if I told you, you wouldn't be able to much with the information. Succeed at Dainsleif's training, and I'll tell you once you are ready to handle the truth," Siegfried said.

Lelouch balled his fists. How dared he…

Keep calm. If you push him now, he won't give it up. Wait a second… realization struck.

"V.V.. The one she was trying to get away from and sent the assassins after us, was it him?"

Siegfried sighed, "Yes, I'll confirm that much V.V. was responsible. But the rest, I'll reveal when you are ready."

"Very well then. So how does she fit into this?" Lelouch asked, pointing at C.C.

"She was your mother's friend and companion. She gave her a Geass power which apparently didn't manifest, which was odd," Siegfried revealed. C.C. glared at him in annoyance.

"I could've answered that."

"No. You would've danced around the answer, and given an indirect one. You do that," Siegfried replied, staring right back at her.

"So she's an immortal too?" Lelouch said.

"I am," C.C. said, folding her arms around her chest.

"So why is V.V. after you, then?" Lelouch inquired, but C.C. shrugged her shoulders.

"That is, like Siegfried explained before, a need-to-know kind of question."

"He's right. You are evasive," he muttered, frustrated. There was so much to know- she was a friend of his mother's? But he couldn't press them too much…

"Alright, I think that is enough for tonight. Lelouch needs his rest for training tomorrow," Dainsleif said, his tone making it clear the discussion was over.

In the days following Nunnally would be told the same story as Lelouch, except the details regarding Marianne's death was kept out of the conversation. Lelouch would keep the details of that night in his mind, though. He now knew who killed his mother. That was a prize worth sticking around for, to know the full truth of his family, of his past…

---

Three Months Later

---

"Foot work, foot work!" Siegfried insisted, pushing forward with his wooden sword, keeping Lelouch on the defensive in the spar. The boy continued to give ground, barely keeping up.

Lelouch was covered in sweat, breathing heavily. He no longer wore the clothes he'd had when he left Earth, having been given rough, simple clothing for training; a tattered shirt, black pants and boots.

"You can do it, brother," Nunnally cheered.

I am trying, Lelouch wanted to cry out, but Siegfried was relentless, and it took every ounce of his focus to keep his guard up.

It had been three months since Lelouch and Nunnally had been brought to Teyvat, and the group was planning to leave. Lelouch had been forced to push himself to his limits in the meantime; Danisleif's swordplay had come on top of a brutally punishing physical regimen aimed at building up his stamina. There had been runs before breakfast, runs after breakfast, physical exercises- an absolute hell on the frail young man, his mentors giving him only as much rest as he absolutely needed.

He'd been made to run around the lagoon more times than he cared to count; each time had taken hours because of how quickly he'd exhaust himself and need rest. He'd been made to lift and carry stones to improve his strength. He'd collapse onto his simple bed every night, completely exhausted, sore and aching, only to be made to do it all over again the next day. And as soon as he'd started to build his endurance, he'd been handed a sword. A sword! He came from a world where the gun was supreme, but this world would be different.

But the training was already yielding results. The first month had been the most hellish, Lelouch fainting several times from the exertion. But after that month had passed, he found that the runs were no longer quite as exhausting, nor the stones as heavy. Once slim as a noodle, Lelouch had begun to fill out a little. He was still scrawny, and still had a long way to go, but three months of dedicated training had transformed him beyond heights he had previously thought impossible.

Even as his body screamed for rest, Lelouch's stubborn pride made him stand, pushing him to evade Danisleif's attacks. It was late afternoon, and he was already tired from his daily run, but he had no choice- there would be no rest until he'd gotten himself knocked around by the swordsman. He knew his mentor was holding back, he knew there was an ocean between them, but still he had to try.

But no amount of stubborn pride could keep his worn-down body moving. As Danisleif noticed him moving sluggishly and slowly he lashed out with his sword, slapping the training weapon out of Lelouch's grasp with a strike to the wrist.

"That's enough. You might be willing, but your body isn't fit for much more today. Rest, and we'll do this again tomorrow." Dainsleif said, picking up Lelouch's wooden sword and moving to put them away.

"Dáinsleif, did you forget we'll be heading to Watatsumi Island tomorrow? Lelouch will have at least a little break," Siegfried pointed out. He had been sitting next to Nunnally, watching.

Lelouch was thankful to hear that, but he was curious about their destination. Right now, though, he was too busy panting and trying not to fall over. Nunnally asked what he was wondering, though.

"Watatsumi Island? What kind of place is that?"

"It's the westernmost island of the archipelagic region of the nation of Inazuma. Inazuma consists of a series of islands, with the capital on Narukami Island. Watatsumi Island is the furthest from Narukami, but it is also the closest island to our location; that will take several days to reach by boat," Dainsleif said.

"But we won't be going by boat," Dainsleif added. "Inazuma and its islands are surrounded by an unending thunderstorm. It's not impossible to navigate through it, but it is quite dangerous. Thankfully there is another way."

"Those beacons you showed me the day after we arrived here?" Lelouch managed, still short of breath.

At the start of his training regime, Dainsleif had shown Lelouch an old stone beacon with a blue gem encased on its top. The stone object hung over a stone platform, as if by magic. Dainsleif had told him that despite its mundane appearance, one could use them to teleport to different places across Teyvat as long as you touched one to connect to it. Lelouch didn't fully understand how the concept behind it worked, but it seemed simple enough to use. Apparently, one could teleport to any of the beacons from anywhere as long as you connected to a beacon by touching it first.

"Thankfully, Siegfried and I can teleport another with us. One of us will simply have to come back for you, C.C."

"So I am the one being left behind?" C.C. said, raising an eyebrow.

"For no more than a minute at most. One of us will just stay with the children while the other gets you," Siegfried said.

"Alright," C.C. said, protesting no further.

"So why this island?" Lelouch asked, grunting as he sat down on the ground to rest.

"Watatsumi Island isn't visited very often by outsiders, but I know one of the leading priestesses there. She has agreed to help shelter you all for the time being. It isn't the best, but it should suit our purposes until I can make the necessary arrangements to help you further," Dainsleif explained.

"How?" Nunnally asked, but Lelouch deduced a likely reason.

"To provide documents for our identities so we can move around this world?"

"That's right," Dainsleif said before elaborating further. "This world might not be as developed as Earth in some regards, but it still has a bureaucracy. To avoid unwanted attention, records will be forged as a necessity for travel and to confirm your background to match your cover story."

"Cover story?"

"As far as anyone will know, both you and Nunnally will be the children of miners who migrated from Fontaine to Yashiori Island, but tragically lost their lives to raiding Hilichurls," Dainsleif replied.

"Hilichurls?" Nunnally asked.

"That's right. Hilichurls are humanoid monsters who wear tribal masks, using crude weapons. They assault anyone who gets too close, occasionally attacking traders and their caravans, and sometimes a village or a city if they have the numbers."

"We're going to need time to get you two up to speed on the need-to-know facts that are common knowledge for everyone," Siegfried added.

Even as exhausted as he was, Lelouch noticed Siegfried and Dainsleif exchanging glances with one another. It made him wonder if there was something more to these Hilichurls than they mentioned.

"Makes sense. Since Hilichurls sound like a common problem, is there anything or anyone else we should be cautious of?" Lelouch asked.

"Aside from dangerous creatures and monsters, you need to avoid two groups. The first would be the Abyss Order, an organization of humans corrupted by the Abyss who seek vengeance against the divine for the destruction of their homeland," Dainsleif answered.

Lelouch got up from the ground, curiosity overtaking his weariness.

"You mean the people of Khaenri'ah?"

"Correct. I told you how the curse granted the survivors with undying bodies, doomed to erode over time. However, some gained inhuman power by being corrupted by the Abyss, turning them into inhuman beings. Unable to die and with no way to lift their curse, they've dedicated themselves to overthrowing the divine for the sake of vengeance." Dainsleif answered.

"That's such a terrible fate," Nunnally said sympathetically.

"Yes, indeed it is. Some of them managed to retain their humanity, but to stay human is usually a struggle," Siegfried continued. "They go through an erosion of both the mind and body. I've managed to stave off the worst effects, but some are not so lucky."

"To bring down the divine…" Lelouch muttered. What an idea…

"Yes, but they've directed their rage at everyone else- or rather those who worship the divine, which are most people on Teyvat," Dainsleif answered.

"So, a bunch of vengeful extremists then?" Lelouch said, earning a nod from Dainsleif.

"That is about right. They're delusional, of course. The Heavenly Principles destroyed our nation in a single night with the aid of six Archons. Their power is absolute."

"I am guessing that's why you brought us here?" Lelouch suggested finding a fallen pillar to sit on. "If such a powerful being existed, I cannot imagine Britannia would be foolish enough to declare war on her."

"Yes. Britannia doesn't have a presence on Teyvat, beyond keeping a military force to guard and protect the gate in the Britannian Homeland on both sides. Beyond certain members of the Royal Family who are told of their heritage and the existence of the gates upon reaching adulthood, none even know it the oldest houses of its aristocratic class know the truth; their children naturally aren't told anything until they come of age. Thus they help fund an armed guard, and those of lesser families descended from those who came from Teyvat are a part of this special military division tasked with protecting and guarding the gate," Siegfried explained.

"If V.V. wants C.C.'s code that badly, wouldn't that change?" Lelouch questioned, having learned that aside from Siegfried, C.C. has a code of immortality.

"Perhaps, but he wouldn't risk the wrath of the divine with a large-scale military response. I doubt we fooled him, but he can't be sure if you live or not. I am sure he'll try to send agents, but finding us won't be easy," Dainsleif said reassuringly. "All the more reason you'll need a false background; it will make it easier to hide from their attempts to find you, even if C.C. is the more likely target."

"V.V. will likely send agents from the Geass Order who have Geass powers," C.C. spoke up, "but Siegfried and I are immune to them thanks to our Codes of Immorality. Since he does not know Siegfried has a code himself, that gives us another edge and an element of surprise on any agents he sends."

"I wouldn't call that comforting. So that is the second group, the Geass order?"

"Yes, which is all the more reason you need to be stronger to survive," Dainsleif said, seriously looking at Lelouch.

"I know," Lelouch sighed, knowing there would be no end to his training.

---

It was evening, and Lelouch was struggling to read a line in the Teyvat language. He was slowly making progress, but for Nunnally her blindness added an extra layer of difficulty. Siegfried had found a way to better instruct her; the Vision she had been given allowed her a strange new ability: Elemental Sight. It was the ability to perceive and sense elemental energy or traces. Using his ability to manipulate flame he would mark slabs of stone with words for Nunnally to read, allowing her to perceive them in red against a colorless world.

According to Siegfried, Nunnally's elemental sensitivity was impressively high. Inspired, and after much experimentation, Siegfried found a way to use it to both teach Nunnally the language of Tevat, but also to better refine her elemental sight. It was no true replacement for her eyes, but with enough training Siegfried was confident she could perceive her surroundings better

Dainsleif noticed he was distracted, observing Siegfried with Nunnally.

"Don't worry. When we move to our temporary home, you two will be ready to mingle more with the people. Come, there is something I want to try with you."

"What do you mean by that?" Lelouch asked, on guard.

"It's a simple test to determine if you are a Descender or not."

"A Descender?"

"A being capable of transcending this world's laws. There was one I knew who could use all seven elements. Her method involved making contact with statues of the seven Archons, each granting her access to the seven elements in various ways," Dainsleif answered. "Other specifics have been the subject of much debate."

"So touching one of these statues could be a way to determine if I am or not?"

"Yes, but there could be a chance you are not. Descenders are usually attributed to those who come from outside Teyvat. This is true for those known, but not all outlanders are Descenders, as Nunnally has proven by receiving a Vision."

"Meaning at least I shouldn't have to worry about anyone from Britannia becoming one," Lelouch said, but noticed the silence and uneasy expression on Dainsleif's face. "There is one, isn't there?"

Dainsleif nodded, "Your uncle V.V. became one, likely due to his possession of a Code of Immortality, which in some sense removes you from the binding of the world."

Lelouch turned to C.C. who merely smiled. She raised both hands, and in her left palm lighting could be seen, while a small whirlwind formed in her right.

"I am not that experienced yet, but give me time," C.C. replied. She was perhaps a beginner, but Lelouch was impressed, intrigued to see the use of the elements in action- but he did not let it show. Among them all, she was the most inscrutable, and the one Lelouch was the most cautious of.

"I just need to touch a statue to see if I could use more than one element?"

"Yes. I'll accompany you when that day comes."

The following morning, Lelouch, Nunnally, Siegfried, Dainsleif, and C.C. gathered near the teleporter after cleaning up their camp and preparing to leave. Nunnally and Siegfried went first. They touched the artefact, and a blue glow enveloped them. Then they were gone, vanished in an instant. Even though it was supposed to be safe, Lelouch could not hel but worry about Nunnally. The first time could be disorientating, they had explained- and Lelouch did not quite trust magic… but what choice did he have? None, these days.

"Our turn," Dainsleif said, gesturing for Lelouch to take his hand.

"Don't take too long," C.C. said, folding her arms.

"Siegfried will be back in a few moments after we arrive," Dainsleif said. Lelouch took a deep breath and offered his hand. The knight's grip was gentle but strong, firm. He reached out to touch the artefact, and Lelouch felt the hairs on his body stand on end as a prickling sensation quickly enveloped him. The blue glow encased them, filling up his vision until only whiteness remained in his vision. There was a sudden sensation of being pulled in some direction- although he could not tell which- almost like a falling sensation before sleep.

Then, a second later, they stood on the other side. Lelouch's knees gave way, and had Dainsleif not supported him, he'd have collapsed. His head was spinning a little.

"Easy there," Dainsleif said with a wry smile.

"I'm fine," Lelouch muttered, steadying himself, blinking to adjust to the light. He was standing in a grassy little glade. It was a very different scene from the ruins that nature had reclaimed. A grand landscape was before him.

"Welcome to Watatsumi Island," Dainsleif said. A newly arrived Siegfried and Nunnally joined them.

"What is it like, brother?" Nunnally asked, as Siegfried carried her and her wheelchair over to where Lelouch and Dainsleif were standing.

"It's beautiful, Nunnally," Lelouch said sincerely. "It's all rocks- huge, flat square rock plateaus stacked on top of each other, surrounding this whole valley. You could fit whole houses on them, maybe even a village. They're covered in green, grass and a few trees. We're standing far up, but from the ground I can see bubbles coming, sailing through the air. There's water down there- little ponds, I think. And there's a fine mist covering the whole thing."

"I guess this island is special because we have bubbles everywhere," C.C. said, appearing in a flash. Siegfried laughed.

"An oversimplification," Dainsleif scoffed. "Besides its distinct plants and colors, this island is unique with its bubbles coming from the ground and exotic plants and pearls. The people of Watatsumi Island are descended from the people of Enkanomiya, a land that existed deep underground until the god Orobashi no Mikoto fled to their land, unaware of their existence."

"Fled?" Nunnally asked.

"During the Archon War, Orobashi no Mikoto was among the gods who battled for supremacy. According to legend, he was defeated and fled to the underground realm, hoping to escape and recover from the war. A child found Orobashi no Mikoto in a cave; taking pity on them, he overthrew Enkanomiya's corrupt rulers before using the corals growing on his giant body to create a way back to the surface, leading to the founding of this island," Dainsleif explained.

The Archon War was a war between gods.

Lelouch recalled Dainsleif telling him of the Archon War, during the times he had to rest during his training regime. It was a time when many different gods and supernatural beings walked Teyvat, and while Khaenri'ah had no god, the lands beyond their own did. The war ended over two thousand years ago, although how the war began wasn't clear. Dainsleif was among a select few who believed the war was caused by Celestia as gods fought to claim one of the seven divine seats available who would be chosen to administer Teyvat and direct the development of humanity. Khaenri'ah had managed to keep out of war even as it raged between the gods devastated the land, causing an untold amount of casualties and leaving scars upon the land that could still be seen today. By the end of it, seven gods stood victorious, and each founded their own nations based on their own element and belief. Inazuma was one of these nations, ruled by the Electro Archon, the Goddess of Eternity.

I guess the war with the gods fueled Khaenri'ah's distrust towards the divine, Lelouch thought, suspecting the war and its aftermath probably affected their view of the divine. He was intrigued, wanting to see some of these scars left behind by such a war, hoping an opportunity would come one day.

"If this land is ruled by the Electro Archon, then…" Lelouch inquired.

"For a time, they co-existed peacefully, but rumor has it that Orobashi no Mikoto had come to learn knowledge deemed forbidden in Teyvat. Once Celestia became aware of this, they called for his demise and the destruction of Watatsumi Island. Still, Orobashi no Mikoto chose to sacrifice himself for his people. He attacked Inazuma, forcing the Electro Archon to slay him. This caused a rift between Inazuma and Watatsumi Island that has persisted through generations. Fearing Celestia could destroy Watatsumi Island, he had to hide the true reason behind his actions," Dainsleif explained.

"So Watatsumi Island and Inazuma went to war, then?" Nunnally asked while Lelouch seemed in deep thought.

"Yes and no. Watatsumi Island was outnumbered by the forces commanded by Electro Archon, but they made up for it by having capable commanders and soldiers. They succeeded in capturing one of the islands, but once the Shogun and her army got involved it wasn't long before the tides of the war turned against them. With the loss of their most capable commanders, followed by the demise of their god, it led to the war ending."

"I take it Watatsumi Island is under the Shogun's rule having lost against them?"

"Yes, but they were allowed to continue their worship of their fallen god and the island has a degree of autonomy. Despite that, however, relations between the two islands have been tense ever since." Dainsleif answered. "I suppose that concludes today's history lesson, but I don't think I need to tell you that you should keep quiet about what I've told you. The people of Watatsumi Island revere Orobashi no Mikoto quite highly."

"I understand," Lelouch said.

"For now, let's head into the village; someone has set up living quarters for all of us," Dainsleif said, gesturing for everyone to follow. Siegfried carried Nunnally, while C.C. took care of her wheelchair.

After a walk through the vast canyon, the group found a path leading down to Bourou Village. The village looked a bit like those old fashioned Japanese villages Lelouch had seen in books. The people there mainly wore kimono-style robes, too. A few people they saw on the way in wore simple pants and a shirt, likely for working in the fields.

Most people went about their daily business, one or two people casting a curious glance at them. Soon they reached a house near the edge of the canyon. They were greeted by a woman with brown hair and blue eyes.

"Welcome back, Dainsleif," she said, approaching him before noticing the rest of his group. "I take it these are your companions?"

"Yes. This is Lelouch, Nunnally, C.C., and my old friend Siegfried who is looking after these three," Dainsleif replied.

"Nice to meet you," Nunnally said, smiling.

"Likewise, ma'am," Lelouch said politely.

"Thank you for having us," Siegfried said with a nod while C.C. simply waved.

"Not at all; Dainsleif has done more than his fair share for our village whenever he is in the area. I am happy to help him when he needs it."

"You are too kind. Everyone, let me introduce Izumi Aina. She is a priestess of the Sangonomiya Shrine," Dainsleif said.

"Thank you. Now, if everyone would like to come inside, there is plenty of food. Dain has collected the necessary supplies well in advance," Aina said, gesturing for them all to come inside.

As the day turned into evening, Lelouch helped Siegfried and Aina prepare dinner for everyone as best as he could. They didn't need a cook, so he set the table. Dainsleif had left after they had settled in, with C.C. also missing until Lelouch found her just lazily lounging in her room, helping Nunnally as the siblings settled into their temporary rooms.

Once he was done, he joined Nunnally in the dining room. It too was traditionally Japanese with its seating style. Thankfully, Lelouch was familiar with such things thanks to his time in Japan. He was intrigued by the similarities between Inazuma and Japan, wondering if some who had created the gate in Japan might've returned to settle in Inazuma. Maybe the reverse had happened, although it didn't seem likely.

"So what do you think dinner will be like, brother?" Nunnally asked, sitting on a cushion next to him at the table.

"I am not sure, but likely different from the food we've been having so far," Lelouch said, shrugging his shoulders. No matter what, he would at least get to sleep in a normal bed tonight.

My back has felt so stiff since we came to Teyvat, and I am sure a proper bed would be good for Nunnally, too.

Dinner was laid out, consisting of Tri-Flavored Skewers, individual dishes with three pieces of cooked meat on a skewer, while the other two had fried meats with dipping sauce on the plate. Next was a Sashimi Platter, a dish with various fish meat and shrimp on it. Lastly for dessert, a full plate of Taiyaki, which Lelouch recognized from his time in Japan. For drinks, the adults got wine, Lelouch and Nunnally were given milk to drink. Just as the table was set, Dainsleif returned.

"You've returned just in time," Aina said with a smile.

"I was dealing with the Hilichurls that the Tenryou Commission hasn't been bothered to deal with," Dainsleif replied.

"Thank you. We've been having more trouble than normal. Aside from an attempted raid or two, they've harassed our merchants trying to travel to the other islands."

"Not at all," Dainsleif said. This must've been one of the conditions of a deal to allow him and Nunnally to stay on Watatsumi Island, Lelouch figured.

"You always make it sound so easy," Aina mused as she and Siegfried joined everyone at the table. "If only we had capable warriors like you protecting our island, instead of the Shogunate's men. They barely have a presence on the island. You have to wonder if they care about us at all."

I guess the tensions between the two islands apply to the Shogunate too. I imagine they can't be happy that the people of Watatsumi Island worship a different god, one that was even killed by the god the people of the Shogunate worship, Lelouch thought. Nunnally was quiet, and Lelouch figured she suspected the same thing as him. Perhaps she didn't want to accidentally offend Aina by speaking carelessly.

"Just the same, I'll be happy to host you and your friends while you are here as long as the Hilichurls are kept in check," Izumi said reassuringly, confirming Lelouch's assumption.

"Thank you. On my honor, this island will know some peace as long as I am here," Dainsleif said confidently.

"Could the Hilichurls be removed completely?" Lelouch inquired.

"Sadly no. Even in the past when we've completely wiped them out and their camps, some days or weeks later they manage to reappear, no matter how thorough we are in eliminating them," Aina replied. "Even the Tenryou Commission run into the same issue, when they actually do their jobs."

"I see. They must be quite tenacious."

"You have no idea," Dainsleif muttered.

"Anyway," Aina said, "I do apologize that my daughter couldn't join us tonight. But my Naki does take her studies up at the shrine very seriously. I am sure you will all meet her tomorrow." She sounded proud of her child.

"I am sure we'll meet her when she has time. You told me how serious the training to become a shrine maiden for the Sangonomiya Shrine is," Dainsleif said.

"Yes, if not tomorrow at the very least."

"We thank you for your hospitality, Aina," Siegfried offered kindly.

"Of course. Dainsleif's friends are my friends, and I am glad to honor my duty of hospitality."

After Aina gave a prayer, everyone gathered at the dinner table to eat.

The following morning, after breakfast, Lelouch was brought to the hills behind the Sangonomiya Shrine. The path leading to them was difficult for Lelouch. There was no clear path to be taken by foot. They had to traverse rough terrain, climbing up hills, rocks and little cliffs to get anywhere. Without Dainsleif, Lelouch knew he could never have made it. After an hour, Lelouch found himself wishing he was back at the lagoon doing laps…

He couldn't believe he was even thinking that, but still his body was already sore and aching by the time they reached the hills.

"Here it is," Dainsleif said, a barely hidden disdain in his tone as he spoke. Before them was a statue upon a pillar that was worn and weathered, seeming like it had been left to the mercy of the elements. It was a woman wearing a robe and a hood, holding a mirror in her arms upon her chest.

"Is this a statue of the Electro Archon?" Lelouch asked, suspecting what this was based on the tone of Dainsleif's voice.

"Yes. Raiden Shogun, the God of Eternity."

"Given all you've told me about the people of Watatsumi Island, I thought they would've destroyed this," Lelouch said. Other than being worn down by time and nature, the stature was mostly intact.

"Some felt that way, but these statues are harder to destroy than you think. Doing so can bring down the wrath of the owner. For their hostility towards the Shogun, even they knew they would stand no chance against her in a direct confrontation, so they left the statue to the mercy of nature and time instead," Dainsleif said, folding both arms across his chest.

"So why are we here? Another history lesson? Or…" Lelouch asked, realization striking him. "You want to test me?"

"I am glad you remember. I want you to touch the statue; it is time to see if you are a Descender or not," Dainsleif said, motioning toward the statue. "Do it the same way I told you about forming a connection with the teleporter beacons."

Lelouch hesitated. Magic… it could not be trusted. For a moment, a vision flashed before his eyes; what if he was consumed by the power, or cursed by it? But his resolve hardened. His old life had ended long before this day, and he would need power if he ever wanted safety and security. He closed his eyes and approached, touching the stone.

Suddenly Lelouch felt something. He didn't know how to describe it, but he felt some kind of connection or power connect within him. The feeling wasn't unpleasant, strange yet somehow comforting, stirring something within him.

"Something happened, didn't it?"

"Yes," Lelouch said, withdrawing his hand. In that instance, sparks of electricity formed upon his fingers. He leaped back from the statue in a panic, yelping.

"As I thought. Coming from a world different from Teyvat, the same rules don't apply to you as it did to her."

"Her?"

"Someone I once considered a friend long ago. She came from another world, but like her it seems you can wield their respective element by touching the statues owned by Archons. I don't know how much you can truly compare to her in terms of raw power. However, in terms of potential you will be able to command all of the seven elements as she did. How you use them exactly will be up to you." Dainsleif said, sounding intrigued.

"What do you mean? You mean like Siegfried used his power over flames to carve words for Nunnally to learn?"

"Yes. It will take time and training, but should you master the use of the elements. You'll find very creative ways to use them, I'm sure. The girl I knew can provide a good example of what you are capable of, so I can help you based on my past experiences with her."

"I see, but in that case what else can you tell me about her? Anything that could be helpful for my training then?"

Dainsleif became quiet before closing his eyes in contemplation. Clearly, it was something just a bit too personal.

"I'll tell you once you are ready to survive on your own, but let that motivate you for now. We have a lot of work ahead, or rather you do. From this day on, I'll teach you how to wield the elemental power you've just gained."

"So I can't extend my arm or wave my hand or something?"

"No. It takes more control than that, otherwise you might accidentally hurt yourself or someone else," Dainsleif warned.

But how is Lelouch a Descender? Having the blood of my people and living in another world shouldn't be enough.. It was doubtful Lelouch could gain elemental power from the statue, but curiosity had compelled him to find out.

"I see," Lelouch said. Despite the sparks just now, he felt normal again, the same as before. "But your friend, that woman you mentioned, she was the Descender you mentioned back then?"

"Yes," Dainsleif replied.

Lelouch wanted to ask more questions, but thought better of it. Who was she?

"Come there is more to see," Dainsleif said, leading Lelouch up the stairs to the very top of the mountain overlooking the shrine at the center of the island.

At the summit, Lelouch and Dainsleif came across the remains of an old shrine, the moss and plants growing from it suggested it had fallen into ruin many years ago. Maybe decades or even longer, Lelouch couldn't tell, but he knew Dainsleif would explain.

"This is the Mouun Shrine. It's the original shrine dedicated to worshiping Orobashi no Mikoto, the god who uplifted the people of Watatsumi from the depths, until the war with Inazuma," Dainsleif replied. "When the war ended in Inazuma's victory with the Raiden Shogun, killing the giant serpent god, the shrine was abandoned with the new one you see at the heart of the island."

"It looks like it crumbled from neglect…"

"Come, I think you should see what remains of Orobashi no Mikoto, to truly understand how dangerous the Archons are," Dainsleif said, taking Lelouch's hand before the pair teleported. "Welcome to Yashiori Island, where the war was decided and where a god fell. From here, you should be able to see the god's remains."

Looking around Lelouch saw they were on a very tall mountain, one that provided a breathtaking view of the whole island. Looking in the direction Dainsleif pointed, he saw a large serpent's skull. Lelouch's jaw dropped. The skull was massive, more than twice again as tall as any of the trees nearby it; he could only imagine how enormous the creature must've been when it was alive. He had also seen its scales, which made up the heart of the island itself too. It had to have been an absolute titan… he shuddered to think what kind of creature was capable of killing it.

Scanning the rest of the island, Lelouch saw parts of the great snake's spine poking up from the ground of the island, much of its remains buried and now literally part of the island. Even the mountain they stood on covered a part of its neck leading to its head.

"Consider for a moment that the Raiden Shogun, at least in size, is no different from you or me," Dainsleif said ominously.

"To think she won and defeated something so colossal," Lelouch remarked, trying to envision that ancient battle.

"The Musoujin Gorge was created when the Raiden Shogun struck the final blow, cleaving both the island and the Orobashi in half. The gorge that runs through the island is the result," Dainsleif said.

"She did that all on her own, in a single strike?" It seemed unbelievable.

"Yes and there are other Archons who are just as capable and destructive as her in combat," Dainsleif cautioned. "I have no love for many of them to put it kindly, but even I am not foolish enough to underestimate their combat prowess."

"And these gods were veterans of the Archon Wars?"

"Correct. They slew other gods and other threats to win their positions as one of the seven."

Just seeing the gorge and understanding what created it, Lelouch began to understand how destructive the Archon War must have been. The scale of it boggled the mind.

"I think I understand why Britannia wouldn't attempt a full scale invasion of this world."

"The only god they wouldn't have trouble with would be the patron god of Mondstadt, the Land of Freedom and Wind overseen by the God of Amemo, Barbatos. He is the weakest of the seven Archons, but even he is mighty. He has a hands off approach to governing his nation, with no central government. The Knights of Favonius is the only thing they have that even resembles law enforcement."

"I take it that is the reason you didn't pick Mondstadt for us to stay in?"

"No. It's the weakest of the seven nations. The Amemo Archon is unwilling to manage his nation, spending his days getting drunk. Why people still worship that Archon is beyond me."

"Is he dead or alive?"

"He's alive last I checked. But while he might be the weakest of the Archon I do urge you not to relax your guard around him. His lack of interest in governing his own nation, has allowed him to blend in among his own people, playing the role of a bard."

"So he could get the jump on anyone who could be hostile then?"

"Yes, but always remember being the weakest of the gods doesn't mean he is powerless. I just don't want you risking your life by ever picking a fight with such beings," Dainsleif warned.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Lelouch stared into the distance, feeling a little overwhelmed. Gods, dead. Teleportation magic. Powers that could rearrange whole landscapes in a single blow. Everything he thought he knew was being called into question, and… this was only the beginning.

He had a long road ahead of him. But this power of his? It would be a start.

---

A/N: Nunnally got a Vision, which was a point of contention for some people much to my surprise, but since I am the kind of person who hates redoing chapter scenes after the beta work gets done. So to resolve it I ran polls on both Spacebattles and Questionable Questing, and after a couple weeks, the "Nunnally gets a Vision" won after combining the results.

The idea was that she should've been a Descender like her brother, but the reason I didn't go for it was because it was something I was worried might be a bad idea, if there were more descenders. But I have ideas to ensure and justify Lelouch becoming one without anyone having to worry like something as silly as all CG characters being descenders.

Moving on, Lelouch got to see some of Ei's handiwork, something he'll be sure to remember, especially later.

But next chapter, Lelouch will be getting a new friend. It will go up as soon as the beta work is done on it.

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any feedback.