Meeting the Traveler

After watching Ei sleep peacefully for a while, I left to find my disguise. It's nothing that fancy, just a normal black kimono and some glasses to go along with it. With my destination in mind, I used my Sage arts, drawing a red magic circle with intricate designs and immediately activating it.

In a blink of an eye, I arrived at Nazuchi Beach in Kannazuka. I looked around for a bit in nostalgia before remembering what I'm here for. I searched for my target and found them in no time. A blonde girl, accompanied by a flying thing, and a soldier from the Sangonomiya resistance. Without any hesitation, I approached them with my usual smile.

"Hey there, are you perhaps a foreigner like me? I'm a merchant that came here from Liyue. The name is Jiang Ziya, nice to meet you. Do you mind if I follow you? I can't come back to Inazuma City for some reason." I introduced myself, and quickly stated the reason I approached them with my usual smile.

"What do you think Lumine?! I think this guy is too shady, suddenly popping from out of nowhere! He can even talk as fast as me!" said the little creature flying next to her, wary of something I was not quite sure of.

"It should be fine Paimon, I see no problem about it. Him talking as fast as you definitely isn't one." answered the blonde girl named Lumine with a blank expression. I already knew about them, of course, but it would only add more suspicion if I said it.

"How can you agree so easily?! And if this guy is a merchant, then where is his goods?!" exclaimed the thing called Paimon with frustration.

"I lost them while on the run, all I have left is these few things I saved." I said as I showed them some beautiful gems, just a few things I made before going here. I tested some things out, using the stuff Ei gave me. Being able to craft your own jewels really is a great ability, and it looked like Paimon agrees with it.

"See Paimon, he really is a merchant so it should be fine. And I don't sense any hostility from him, I've been sharper ever since that time you know." said the traveler, trying to convince her partner.

"Yes, I am nothing but a normal merchant with a slightly handsome face. If ur still unconvinced, you can think of it as an escort commission and I'll pay with a few of my gems." I added with a smirk, towards the hesitating creature.

"Okay fine! But those gems better be real! Hmph!" Paimon finally relented, after a few convincing from both of us.

"So? Where are you currently going?" I questioned Lumine, the one I assume is the leader of this crew.

"We are currently heading to the Sangonomiya camp near here. My name is Teppei by the way, and I'm a proud soldier of the Resistance!" said the man named Teppei, after getting neglected for a while.

"Good energy, Keep it up! Now, Let's Go!" I shouted with my aura as a commander, and they cheered in response.

It looks like it won't be an easy journey though, as some monsters appear in the distance. The two seemed to be used to it already, as they charged in without hesitation.

"Why don't you help them too with those small hands of yours, Paimon?" I asked the flying thing beside me with a smirk.

"My hands aren't small, you guys are just too big! And Paimon is a guide, so its natural that I can't fight. Why don't y.o.u help them? You shameless merchant!" The little creature answered with a smug face, something I just ignored.

'Well, at this rate they won't last until we reach our destination. I'd rather not stay here, and leave Ei alone for too long. I don't know what that crazy girl might do.' I thought, before reaching a decision.

"Let me help for the next ones so we can arrive early. I know a few things about fighting, and I feel like I need to move my body more." I suggested, to the two who came back after clearing the monsters.

After convincing them, I joined in to help for the next ones on our way. It definitely is a good way to get used to this new body. Sparring with Ei in my current state without using any of my magecraft will only result is a disaster after all.

"How can you fend them off easily like that?!" asked Teppei curiously, while Lumine was just staring at me with intrigue.

"Its a technique called Bajiquan I learned from an old man, It's a good technique for fast paced fights." I replied with my usual smirk.

'This new body is definitely capable of handling it. All I can do in my old one is to focus everything I have in one part of the body to lessen the burden of my attacks.' I thought with nostalgia, though not a fun one since its a memory full of pain.

"I knew a few things, my ass! Just a normal merchant, my ass! Paimon is such an idiot for worrying about you!" The flying thing shouted angrily.

"Awwww... You're worried about me, how adorable you are Paimon." I replied to the little creature, before winking at Lumine.

"Yes! My companion Paimon is definitely very adorable!" Lumine said, understanding my signal.

"Ehehe... No! You can't fool Paimon! I will be watching you all the way there!" The flying object said in a strict tone.

"But we're already here." I replied, after we arrived at the entrance of the Resistance camp.

"Then, we will separate from here. I won't forget the payment of course. Don't even try to refuse, you can just think of it as a gift for giving me a fun journey. And as I said, I will only give a few. To be exact, one to each of you, so pick what you like." I quickly said, not letting them refuse my offer.

After letting them pick the gems, I left and walked far from them before using my Sage arts to arrive in Tenshukaku.

'What they got is definitely not comparable to what I discovered. I observed Lumine and saw that she wielded the elements like the others. The difference for the vision bearers, is that it goes through their visions first. With this, my theory should be correct, and it will help my mission to heal those who lost their visions during The Vision Hunt Decree.' 

'The visions used by Ei to bring me back got destroyed in the process. But with this information, I only need one last thing to find a solution.' With those in mind, I went back to Ei to spend my time here for a while. Since joining Lumine and the others might change the future, I decided to just wait for the time I need to move.