Original God, I am the only designated Red King God Envoy of Xumi

"...I never thought that our ancestors had such a past." Xinhai couldn't calm down for a long time after hearing Amber's story. These histories have been interrupted for a long time, and too many deeds can no longer be verified. Xinhai has always been curious about the origin of Haiji Island, and all these have been satisfied today.

"How's the hydroponics going?" Amber asked casually while savoring the tea in the cup. She had been in Yuanxia Palace for a long time and didn't know much about the current situation on Haiji Island.

"It went very smoothly." Xin Hai smiled heartily at the mention of this. "The soldiers and the Haiqi people finally received a basic supply of vegetables. Vegetables like broccoli, beans, and tomatoes can be used directly as food. Although they're not as good as rice, they've solved their urgent needs."

"As for the civilians who came here from Bayun Island, I've been keeping an eye on them. They've already integrated into Haigi Island. Because they've suffered so much from the war, they're unwilling to participate in the struggle. I don't intend to force them—this is partly our fault. It's better for them to focus on cultivating vegetables."

"The war on the front lines has apparently reached a point of ambiguity. The shogunate army is stationed at Kujo Town House, while the rebels are stationed near the Muming Fort. Frankly speaking, I think this is also an opportunity to rectify military discipline."

"I don't want to see another person like Takeshita, blinded by hatred and betraying the core of the resistance. In the past, the Shanghai Army was often inferior to the Shogunate Army in terms of military discipline. It's time to make some changes."

Xin Hai looked out the window. Amber nodded in agreement. "That's good. Only by establishing these things can the resistance army truly become a righteous army. Many people join the resistance army out of hatred. If we let it go like this, there's no guarantee that something bad won't happen."

"Right." Amber put down the teacup. "It's time for me to return to Xumi. I've achieved the purpose of this trip, and there are still many people waiting for me to return."

"...So fast." Xinhai was silent for a moment after hearing this. She looked at Amber, but Amber just smiled softly.

Chapter 20: Farewell

After all, Amber is not from Inazuma, nor is she from Kaigi, so she will definitely not stay here for long. However, the time they have spent together has made Xinhai accustomed to Amber's presence - having such a strong person in both mind and strength makes people feel extremely at ease.

Xinhai had never told her troubles to anyone like Amber did after she came here, and had never tried to rely on anyone. Xinhai officially became the present-day human goddess priestess of Haigi Island when she was very young. At that time, many Haigi people gathered in the Coral Palace.

Seeing such a young modern-day divine priestess, they had different expressions: amazement, suspicion, confusion, and secret joy... Some conspiracies began to brew, some doubts were heard, and some ambitious people were ready to make a move.

But soon after, these discordant voices fell silent. Xinhai demonstrated many of the qualities that a leader should possess and did well enough in many things. She gradually won the trust of the people of Haigi. Over time, "As long as Lord Coral Palace is here, nothing will happen" became a widely circulated saying on Haigi Island.

But just like the image Amber had in people's minds before, this trust is often also a pressure and a burden. People only see Xin Hai's confident appearance in front of others, as if everything is under control, but they fail to see the many efforts she has made behind the scenes. Every decision she makes needs to be carefully considered, and every move is made after long consideration.

Few people know that Xinhai’s original dream was not to stay in front of the stage like he is now, but to be a strategist behind the scenes. Few people also know that Xinhai’s hands would shake unconsciously every time he faced so many people during a speech.

While she is the leader of Kaigi Island, she is also a young girl in her prime. She would want to retreat when faced with many difficult things, and her favorite thing is to stay at home and read books that interest her.

Over the years, Xinhai has become accustomed to the days where he has to handle everything alone, until Amber arrived.

She has her own philosophy about everything and sticks to her principles; she has rich knowledge and strong strength; she can manage everything in an orderly manner. Many times, Xinhai wonders, if Amber is the current priestess of Kaigi Island, and she is content to be an assistant behind the scenes, will Kaigi Island become completely different from what it is now.

This is an indescribable feeling. Amber seems to have some magical power - she just stands there and does nothing, and people around her feel extremely at ease, as if all problems are no longer a problem with her around. And the most important thing is that Xinhai feels the feeling of relying on others again after many years.

Xinhai pursed her lips, her eyes full of reluctance. Frankly speaking, she really hoped that Amber could stay - but this was impossible. Amber had her own things to do, and it would be selfish to force her to stay.

"When do you plan to leave?" Xinhai asked softly. Amber thought for a moment and pushed the necklace with an amber gem in front of Xinhai.

This is a fragment of primordial rock made by Amber using some materials from the Abyss Palace. It can bring the wearer the protection of the rock element, as if wearing a heavy suit of armor. Xinhai held up the necklace with both hands. Amber looked at Xinhai and slowly uttered two words.

"Now."

A moment later, Amber walked out of the Coral Palace. She didn't bring much with her when she came, so naturally she didn't need to take much with her when she left. Xinhai gave her a few paintings, one of which was a Ukiyo-e depicting the huge waves on Umigi Island.

Amber also thought about whether it would be better to stay here for a while and have a meal before leaving, but in the end she chose to go back early. She had been away from Xumi for a long time and was really worried about how Ah Ji was doing there.

Xinhai stood in front of the gate of Coral Palace. Amber turned around and waved to her, and Xinhai responded. Neither of them said anything else, and everything was implied.

The eagle flapped its wings and flew away from the Coral Palace and away from the Sea Island. Xinhai watched the agile eagle fly away quickly, becoming smaller and smaller in his sight until it was completely out of sight.

Those days were like a gust of wind, so light and unreal. Amber was also like the wind, suddenly coming to Umi Island and just as suddenly leaving.

Xinhai stayed in front of the door for a while. After a deep sigh, she waved her sleeves, turned around and walked back to the Coral Palace. In a blink of an eye, she turned from a young girl back into the living goddess priestess of Haigi Island.

"I really hope that we can meet again someday."

……

Sumeru City.

Compared to the turbulent Inazuma, Xumi was much more peaceful. It took Amber some time to rush back to Osmo Port from Inazuma, and another time to rush back to Xumi City.

Amber hadn't returned to Xumi City for half a year, and nothing had changed in Xumi City. When she returned home and opened the door, she heard a noisy sound coming from inside.

This place used to be quite quiet, after all, only Amber and Aji lived here. The noise made Amber curious. She gently closed the door and went to the living room, where she saw Aji sitting on the sofa and the green-haired girl sitting next to Aji and reading a book with him.

That was Kelai. She and Aji were shoulder to shoulder, looking very intimate.

"What are you looking at?" Amber curled her lips slightly, breaking the atmosphere between the two. Hearing the familiar voice that she hadn't heard for a long time, Aji stood up suddenly. She turned to look at Amber, blinked, and finally confirmed that it was really Amber. She ran over quickly and threw herself into Amber's arms.

"Are you so enthusiastic?" Amber smiled from the bottom of her heart. She rubbed Aji's head. The house was very clean. It seemed that Aji cared about this place very much. When Aji threw himself into Amber's arms, Cole also stood up from the sofa. She saluted and greeted Amber.

"Master heard that you, Sister Nafi, had left Xumi, and that Naila was the only one here. He was worried that Naila would feel lonely and that she would encounter danger alone, so he brought me here. He hopes you don't mind." When mentioning this, Cole was a little shy and seemed a little embarrassed.

"Of course not. I originally informed my friends in Xumi City—like the guys in the Thirty-Man Group, who had learned something under me, and some disciplinary officers I know. But it would be better if you, Kelai, came here directly."

Amber brought Ah Ji to the sofa and sat down. Seeing that Amber was already seated, Cole also sat back down. At that time, Tinari also had the idea of ​​letting her come here to learn to read from Ah Ji, and live in Xumi City for a while to see the world. So Cole lived in Xumi City for several months.

"Speaking of which, Mr. Tinari saw that Cole was doing well here, so he asked Cole if he wanted to study at the Order Academy—it just so happened that he had already completed basic education." Aji looked at Cole, "What do you think, Cole?"

"Hmm..." Cole hesitated. "To be honest, I kind of want to stay, but I also want to be a ranger like Master, doing my part for the people who come and go. I've been helped selflessly before, and I want to help others in the same way."

"That's easy enough." Amber smiled. "Does Cole think that studying at the Order Academy will hinder your path to becoming a Forest Ranger? There's no need to think that way."

"In the past, the Rangers were a purely spontaneous organization formed by dedicated individuals. They had a passionate heart, but lacked theoretical knowledge and guiding opinions. Much of their current experience is the result of repeated trial and error by their predecessors. I don't know if Tinari mentioned this to you, but the reason he's admired by so many is not only because he's so easy to get along with and responsible, but also because his knowledge has brought many benefits to the Rangers."

"Hmm... Indeed, senior rangers have told me about Master. He has greatly improved the ranger's work process, making it safer and more efficient."

"So, how about following in Tinari's footsteps? Study botany at the Order College. After graduation, you'll have the theoretical knowledge to become a better ranger. Plus, school time is one of the most rewarding times in life—you'll meet many new friends and learn a lot."

"As for accommodation, you can stay here. This way, if I need to leave Xumi Aji for any urgent matters, there will be someone to take care of me. This place is very close to the Ordinance Hall, which is convenient for you to travel back and forth. If you encounter any problems while I am here, you can ask me directly."

"Hmm..." After hearing this, Cole fell into a long thought. What Amber said made sense. Although Cole was a little worried about whether she could cope with the life in the Order Academy, what Amber said about meeting many new friends and learning many new things really touched Cole deeply, and she finally nodded.

"Great!" Seeing that Cole agreed, it was Aji who was the most excited. Seeing Aji like this, Amber thought for a moment and spoke again.

"In that case, why don't Nayla go to study at the Order Academy with Cole? It'll be great for keeping her company."

"...That's bad." Aji suddenly fell silent. When Cole heard Amber's suggestion, her eyes lit up - she had lived with Aji for a while and they were very familiar with each other. If she had Aji as her classmate, she would probably feel more relaxed.

Finally, under Cole's expectant gaze, Aji couldn't refuse Amber's proposal. Amber once again gave the space to Aji and Cole and walked into the kitchen to prepare meals. It was almost dusk and time to eat.

After dinner, the three of them talked for a while, mostly Amber telling stories about her time in Inazuma. When it was time to go to bed, Cole and Aji walked into Aji's room together. They were so familiar with each other that they slept in the same bed.

Amber was not worried that Aji would do anything excessive to Cole. Aji was very sensible - although she would often make others shy on purpose out of fun, she always had a bottom line. When facing Cole, she probably just regarded Cole as a friend.

Amber pushed open the door and walked into the bedroom she had not seen for a long time. She pulled out a chair and sat in front of the desk, starting to prepare to decorate the album with the latest photos she had taken. But when she opened the drawer, she found an envelope with gorgeous rose vine patterns lying quietly inside, and the place where the sealing wax should have been covered was replaced by a bright rose.

There is an eight-pointed star-shaped logo on the back of the envelope, like a morning star shining brightly in the night sky. There is a signature on the corner of the envelope, which is: Alice.

Chapter 21: Witches' Society

"Dearestly, Ms. Amber. Your alchemical paper published in the Steambird newspaper is truly interesting. Out of curiosity, I took a closer look at you, but I didn't expect you to be much more interesting than you appear."

"I don't know if you've heard of the Witches' Club—it doesn't matter if you haven't. After all, it's just a small place where girls can hold tea parties, explore ancient silver trees, and communicate with each other. It's not a well-known organization."

"To be honest, when I first learned about you, I was reminded of a genius who also came from the Sulun School. She was also your senior. It's a pity that she declined my invitation. Well, everyone has their own aspirations, and it's hard to force anything."

"But after getting to know you better, I was able to distinguish you from your senior. I never imagined that someone like you, who came from beyond the stars, existed in this world. I only knew that a new Adventer had descended upon Teyvat, but I never imagined that that Adventer was you."

"N told me some time ago that you'd come into contact with some power related to the essence of the world. I think the fact that you were able to discover this power is sufficient proof of your excellence—oh, speaking like this always makes me feel like I'm condescending to you, but that's not my intention. Please forgive me for that."

"Anyway, I'd like to invite you to join the Witch Club. You're really interesting, and your arrival might liven up the atmosphere again."

"..." Amber looked at the letter in her hand. After she finished reading, the letter seemed to have sensed something and spontaneously combusted, eventually leaving a four-leaf clover pattern made of flames in the air. After the pattern dissipated, a coat of arms fell.

There was an eight-pointed star symbol on the coat of arms, which represented "revelation". In Amber's current memory, there was information about Alice, who was considered a strange person, but the memory of the Witch Society - it couldn't be said that there was none at all, but only a very small part, so little that Amber thought it was a rumor.

But it seems that this may not be the case now. The legendary adventurer Alice is a member of the organization. In addition, the "N" she mentioned also knows that Amber only mentioned to Albedo that she has mastered the imaginary energy. So it seems that this organization is not as easy as the letter said.

Joining this organization would probably be beneficial to Amber's current purpose of exploring the lost history, but we must know that everything has a price, so what will be the consequences of joining it now?

"...Huh? There's a signal coming in? Hello - can you hear me?" While Amber was stunned, the emblem in her hand emitted a faint light, and a very lively voice came from it. Amber didn't rush to respond after hearing the voice. She was weighing something.

"Eh... Is there no one here? That's really weird. Wait, is this the signal from the emblem I gave to Amber? Is it Amber - why did it take you so long to reply?" The voice on the other end muttered to itself for a short while before sorting out the cause and effect. She tried to call Amber, and Amber no longer intended to remain silent after hearing that, so she responded.

"Ms. Alice, please speak more softly." Amber's voice maintained her usual humble yet gentle style. After Amber responded, Alice's sigh was also heard from the emblem. She sounded as if she was talking about some family matters, and her words were very relaxed.

"Oh, aren't you here? Why didn't you reply to me just now? I almost thought there was something wrong with this thing."

"It's hard not to be shocked when I'm suddenly invited by someone like you. I thought I was the only one who knew those things, but now it seems like everyone knows them. It feels quite strange." Amber responded with a little complaint. It wasn't surprising that many people knew about her being an Adventer, but the fact that she mastered imaginary numbers...how come people who had never met her knew about it now?

"N has some connection with the sky. If there are any changes in this world, she will naturally be able to sense it - like when you descended to Teyvat a few years ago, it was N who told me that there was a new descender." Alice's voice was full of vitality, and she didn't sound like an old woman who had already become a mother. Amber felt for a moment that her mentality might be even older than Alice's.

"I see. Then let's get down to business. Ms. Alice, I want to ask you: What kind of organization is this Witch Club, and why did you choose to invite me?" Amber asked the question that concerned her most, and Alice gave the answer quickly as if she had expected it.

"The Witch Club isn't as powerful as you think. Like I said, it's just a place where a group of girls get together for tea parties. They do the same things you would do at a regular tea party, like drinking tea, eating snacks, chatting, and so on. At most, the members are a lot more powerful than ordinary people."

Alice's voice tinged with joy as she spoke of these past events. "At least, in my opinion, the Witch Club is just like that. As for why I invited you, it's because you're quite interesting. That's enough."

"Is that so..." Amber smiled and shook her head, with a hint of helplessness in her words. Some of Alice's words seemed to be spoken but not said. After thinking for a moment, she asked Alice many questions about the details. Alice was very patient and answered Amber.

She told Amber that they, the witches, had been bold enough to challenge the wind god, but Barbatos had responded to their challenge by not resorting to violence but by ending the dispute with poetry.

She told Amber that the members of the Witch Society did not all hold consistent positions, and in many cases were completely opposite, but they followed the teachings of the Wind God and raised questions and resolved conflicts at the tea party - as Alice said, witches do not fight with each other, and this is the most important oath.

She told Amber that there was a prophecy that predicted that the witches would eventually split up. Alice didn't care about it, but judging from the current situation of the Witch's Guild, the communication between the witches has indeed decreased a lot, and some witches have died. The ones currently in the Witch's Guild are their successors.

During the conversation, Amber also roughly understood what kind of existence the Witch Society was - apart from those miscellaneous things, in short, the Witch Society was an organization established by a group of people who had the ability to stir up turmoil, or they knew each other when they were little girls, and later went in different directions because of their different positions. Everyone has different achievements and abilities.

——It is quite interesting to think about it this way. Perhaps if you think more deeply, the reason why Amber was invited is not entirely simple. She is the messenger of the Red King, the former leader of the desert, a genius scholar in the House of Commandments, and a being with a close relationship with the God of Wisdom.

From a rational point of view, perhaps one of the reasons why she was invited is because of her current achievements and status.

"So you want to join? I'm really looking forward to it." Alice's voice was heard again. It was already late at night. The moonlight shone through the window onto the desk, coating it with a layer of cool white. Amber stared at the light. She had been thinking for a while.

"If I join, will I be assigned any tasks or be required to do anything? Frankly speaking, I'm quite worried about this." Amber asked her question directly. It was probably not a good idea to be secretive with someone like Alice. It was better to be straightforward.

"There's nothing to worry about. Like I said, the witch club is just a place where a group of girls hold tea parties and talk about whatever they want. The only rule they need to follow is 'no fighting'. Other than that, just follow your own pace."

"I think I understand." Amber took a deep breath and made a decision. "Ms. Alice's invitation is very tempting to me. I am seeking the truth of the world, and such a mysterious society that knows so many secrets is extremely attractive to me."

"Just like the difference between a tea party held by ordinary people and a tea party held by politicians - admittedly, they might talk about family matters, but the other party might discuss some very important news."

"Oh, this is really..." There was a hint of helplessness in Alice's words, but there was also a hint of recognition hidden under the helplessness. It seemed that Amber understood her subtext.

"I will join, but I probably won't be able to attend the tea party all the time. Please understand that." Amber confided her thoughts. Alice said it was okay. She said that there were many witches like Amber who were busy with something, even herself. Although they could no longer hold tea parties like before, they could still talk to each other.

This relied on some abilities that Alice possessed. She used this ability to build a "channel" for remote communication among the members of the Witch Society. After that, Amber could join the discussion at the appropriate time if she was free.

"Although I don't really want to discourage you, I still have to remind you that although you can ask other witches some questions, they may not choose to answer you. They often exchange information for information."

"I understand your desire to explore the truth of the world, and I'm willing to act as a matchmaker for you - but witches are used to being lax, and even if I'm the organizer of the tea party, they won't all listen to me." Alice's implication was very clear, that is, she was willing to help Amber, but she could do nothing.

"I can only tell you that I'm currently maintaining Teyvat's 'border,' but it's becoming increasingly fragile. If this continues, something bad will get in." Alice paused for a moment before adding, "You'll likely have to rely on yourself more often on this journey."

"I can understand." Amber sighed slightly. It was not that easy after all. The witches had different positions. Although they were not fighting, it did not mean that they were harmonious enough and had a good relationship to talk about anything. So, for the time being, she should just treat it as a secondary source of information.

"Every member of the Witch Society has a code name. For example, my code name is A, and so is the previously mentioned N. If we were to address each other by code names from now on, what would you like to be called?"

"Well, I don't care about this. Just be casual." Amber replied. With some unnecessary announcements deliberately added by Alice, she officially joined the Witch Society.

Chapter 22: Insomnia

"You've been away for a long time this time. How do you feel about Inazuma?" On the road outside Xumi City, Amber and Nashida, who was borrowing Catherine's body, walked side by side. After resting for a night, Amber came to Nashida to report her safety.

Nashida is worried about Amber, not only because they have a good relationship, but also because Nashida is very kind, so kind that Amber feels that she is not suitable to be a leader - but it is a blessing to have such a kind and caring god.

"It doesn't feel very good. Inazuma is close to the ocean, especially Umijima, which is a ring of land surrounded by a ring of water. The humidity is too heavy. And you know I don't like too humid environments, but I have important things to do, so I can only stay like this."

Amber sighed, and she looked at the very good ecological environment around her. This was the most outstanding feature of Xumi among the seven countries. The rainforest part of it had unique ecological advantages. On the other hand, Inazuma was not only in turmoil, but also had its people living in dire straits.

"The situation in Inazuma can be said to be very serious. General Lei Dian chose to close the country to the outside world. This policy directly led to the shortage of supplies in Inazuma." Amber told Nashida about the situation in Inazuma, and Nashida walked slowly with her.

The two of them didn't want to go anywhere, so they just wandered around aimlessly. Amber analyzed the current situation of Inazuma to Nashida bit by bit. She talked about General Raiden who was locked up in the castle tower, the resistance army on Umi Island, and the Three Bugyo.

Nashida was surprised by the current situation of Inazuma. She knew that Inazuma had chosen to close the country to the outside world, but she had no idea that it would become so chaotic. Hearing about the current experiences of the Inazuma people, she showed an expression of pity.

"Why is this happening? Aren't gods supposed to protect their country? She's locked up in the castle tower, unable to let out the people's cries or prayers. Why on earth would she do this?"

"To create eternity," Amber responded, "she hopes to use the wishes within the Eye of God to shape Inazuma into an eternal kingdom. From now on, there will be no more illness, no more separation, and no more death in Inazuma."

"Hmm..." Nashida's eyes widened. She stood still, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"That sounds wonderful at first, doesn't it? But it also means you lose your future. It's like having the top section of a young tree plucked off before it's fully grown. From that point on, the tree is doomed to never reach for the sky again. The same goes for General Lei Dian's eternity."

"More importantly, this eternity is built on the sacrifices of a small number of people. To gather enough wish power, General Lei Dian issued the Eye Hunt Order, confiscating the Eye of God from those who possess it. The Eye of God is the crystallization of wishes, and its confiscation means the loss of dreams as well."

"This... I really can't agree with it." Nashida shook her head and sighed deeply. She has been wandering in the dreams of the Xumi people for many years. She knows better than anyone how heavy dreams are. It is too cruel to deprive them of their power.

"I also disagree. Speaking of which, I have a question for you, Nashida." Amber pushed her glasses and slowly asked, "If killing someone could bring great benefits to the entire Xumi, but that person has done nothing wrong, what would Nashida choose?"