Don’t expect anything and you won’t be disappointed, regardless of the outcome

'What am I supposed to do now?'

The fact that I am now the Balladeer, or at least I look like one, brings a lot of potential problems. Being seen by a Fatui member would probably be a bad idea, especially if they start asking questions (if they even dare to approach me at all, but I'm not risking it). I can't act to save my life, so it's better to hide my identity. I have no idea where I am in the original timeline, but I'll just have to assume the worst possible one.

Which means I can't go to Mondstadt just yet, especially if Signora is there for some 'diplomatic' mission right now. I'll need to find a mask, or make one depending on my luck. Even if my body is that of the Balladeer, I'll just have to trust that any mask would work, given that no one recognized the Traveler in their Fatui mask.

I don't like banking on knowledge that might not even apply here, given that there might be differences between this world and the game world, but I don't really have that many choices right now.

'So it's decided, a mask it is. But first….'

I inspected my body for the first time. The clothing I'm currently wearing is the same as that of the Wanderer: a black long-sleeved undershirt (why is it kinda see-through? And why are my shoulders exposed?) that goes all the way to my forearm guards, white short-sleeved jinbei, and a white-blue cape strapped to the vision on the left side of my chest.

'Anemo, with Sumeru's frame.'

A short hakama, with a smaller shimenawa compared to Yoimiya's tied around my waist, acting as a belt. A pair of traditional Japanese shoes (is it a Geta? Probably not) and black socks, if you can call it that, made out of the same material as my undershirt. It's also covered with… something. I assume it functions like a sock garter?

And last but not least…

'Where is that signature hat of his?'

I don't see it anywhere around me, which means, if memory serves me right, it's currently hidden away somewhere on my body, similar to when a character was sheathing their weapon.

'How do I even call it out? Do i just will it to happen? No way it's that easy right?'

Apparently it is.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After putting on my hat, I began to contemplate on how to proceed from now on.

'Despite not being good at swimming, I should at least be able to cross the lake just fine. The problem is getting my clothes wet, and considering how windy the surrounding of Mondstadt is right now because of Dvalin, that sounds like a fast track to getting sick, which I really don't want. Wait a minute, can I even get sick? Aren't I basically a puppet?'

I slid my hand towards my crotch.

'Okay, I have one, which means the probability of me being a puppet is significantly lower, but that also means the probability that there's another Balladeer out there rises significantly.'

Fuck.

'I should avoid getting wet just in case. Which means I have to use my vision to cross. Based on what I saw the Wanderer is capable of through leaks, I should be able to fly for a short duration. Given how I was able to materialize and dematerialize my hat through my wanting to do so, I can assume that intention and most likely, imagination, plays a big role in properly utilizing a vision.'

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and focused. I imagine myself dematerializing my hat, imagine them turning into a 'propeller' of sorts on my back, and try to ascend slowly into the air.

'Focus, try and form a connection with my vision, imagine what I want it to do, and–'

I opened my eyes.

'Holy mother of God, I really am flying right now.'

It works. It really works.

'Hoo boy, when was the last time I succeeded in anything? Somehow I'm feeling really emotional right now.'

I felt like a different person (quite literally in this case). For the first time in a long time, I don't feel like a failure. That suffocating feeling in my chest that haunted me for the past 4 years has disappeared just like that. Maybe this time I can really achieve something. Maybe Teyvat has something for the wandering me.

'Focus, save the emotional moment for later. Right now, focus on moving forward.'

Stretching both of my hands backwards, I willed my body to move, unconsciously leaning my body forward.

'Forward movement is a success. Leaning my body probably helped, in which case motion might make elemental manipulation easier. So maybe there is a reason for Kokomi to do a backflip in her normal attack animation.'

After successfully crossing the body of water, I gently lower myself towards the ground.

'Now then, a mask.'

I don't know how to even make one, so looting from the Hilichurls is my only option. There should be a couple of isolated Hilichurls near a sunsettia tree to the east of Starfell Lake, but given that this is now the 'real world' I wouldn't count on it. The best I can hope for is a Hilichurl camp without any Mitachurls or Samachurls. Even then…

'I have to kill them don't I?'

I've been trying my best to ignore this fact, but I can't run from it anymore. To survive in this world, sooner or later I have to learn how to kill. Me, an ordinary person who only ever killed mosquitos, and chickens that one time, have to kill a humanoid being. I want to say that I can dehumanize the Hilichurls to make it easier, but unfortunately it's not really that simple.

Especially knowing what the Hilichurls truly are.

But for the sake of my own survival, do I even have a choice?

…do I even want to have the freedom of choice?