Fish, commerce, and contracts. The Liyue harbor faces open ocean towards the east, so by the time I reach the docks, the brilliant sunset over the westerly mountains has faded to the burnt turquoise of dusk. Fisherman haul their nets in, returning to land after long summer days at sea, and the salt breeze smells of cooler days to come.

"There you are!" comes a booming voice from one of the piers. "You must be the traveler that Captain Beidou spoke of."

Paimon and I swivel around to see a large man, head wrapped in red silk and dressed in the garb of a sailor. He waves gregariously as he runs towards us with wide strides.

"We've been waiting for you all day," I say as he approaches. "You must be of the Crux fleet."

"Sea Drake, helmsman of the Alcor, at your service," he says, thumping one fist onto his chest. "The fleet is almost done re-provisioning. Once we take our headcount, we will be underway to Inazuma."

"Lumine and Paimon," I say, "pleased to make your acquaintance."

"The honor is mine," he says. "Captain Beidou sent me to fetch you. We'll weigh anchor as soon as you're aboard."

"Seems that Beidou is a captain of her word," comments Paimon.

"Of course!" booms Sea Drake. "There is much that the captain insists upon. You'll see for yourself once you're on board."

I look over my shoulder at Liyue Harbor above. I'm going to miss this lively city, from the merchants shouting over one another to hawk their wares from all over the seven lands, to the warm glow of a thousand red lanterns, burning bright for the new year.

Sea Drake catches my gaze. "Time to bid farewell to Liyue." A slight pause. "Now that I've delivered my message, I'll be heading back. The ship is currently anchored off of Guyun Stone Forest."

"Thanks for coming all this way," I say. "I'll be there soon."

"Just following orders. I'll see you two aboard the Alcor," he waves once, then turns away towards his skiff by the piers.

"What are we waiting for?" asks Paimon. "Let's go!"

"We can take the Liyue Harbor waypoint over to Guyun Stone Forest," I say. "Since we're going back up to the city, why not bid farewell to Katheryne? It might be a while before we can see her again."

A short walk later, we're back at the Adventurer's Guild.

"Heading off?" asks Katheryne. "I suppose congratulations are in order."

"Thank you," I reply. "Before we leave, is there anything we should know about Inazuma?"

Katheryne shakes her head. "It's been quite some time since I last visited those lands. Unfortunately, I don't have any current intel that would be worth sharing with you."

I nod. I guess we'll be on our own then. "We'll miss you," I say.

"I can't bear to say goodbye!" agrees Paimon. "We practically see each other every day."

Katheryne smiles at us warmly. "Whether the journey ahead leads to the heights of the heavens or the depths of the abyss, each step you take is another achievement," she says, with grandiose gestures. "Until we meet again, ad astra abyssosque!"

"Ad astra abyssosque, Katheryne," I say. After seeing her for daily commissions for so long, I cannot help feeling wistful for this routine we've established.

"Anyway, come and find me when you arrive," she says in a normal tone. "I'll be waiting for you on Narukami Island."

I stare at her with narrow eyes. Well, there goes my nostalgia.

"I knew it!" says Paimon.

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The Guyun Stone Forest is a rocky outcrop of islands and sheer cliffs, dropping straight into the sea. In other words, it is the ideal deep-water port, not far from Liyue Harbor, yet away from the bustle of merchant fleets. Standing on the beach of the easternmost island, we could see the Crux Fleet in its full regalia, crimson sails hoisted against a reddening sky. Adorned with a dragon figurehead at its bow, the Alcor is the most magnificent of all.

"You finally made it!" says a familiar voice.

"Sea Dragon!" Paimon exclaims. I nod in greeting.

"Come quickly now," he says, gesturing towards a small dinghy. "We're almost ready to leave."

Sea Dragon rolls up his pant legs and steps through the shallow tide pools. I follow suit. Once we are aboard, he rows with broad strokes, delivering us swiftly towards the main ship. The salt wind blows my hair back, carrying the undiluted smell of the vast unknown. Before long, our rowboat is floating alongside the Alcor, and a ladder is dropped down for us.

"After you," says Sea Dragon.

I look at Paimon, who smiles smugly and flutters up by herself. With a sigh, I carefully stand on the wobbly boat and pull myself up the ladder. One rung after the next. After about several stories worth of steps later, my head finally peeks over the side of the ship.

"All these years," says a dark-haired woman, "come rain or storm, the Crux Fleet has never suffered a delay. If it were anyone else, I might have set sail already." She's blocking way, arms crossed. She's dressed more finely than the rest of the sailors, but her red tunic is still designed for practicality and comfort, over the high fashion of Liyue elites. This must be Captain Beidou.

My mouth opens to deliver some excuse, or to apologize, but no words come out. Then after a moment of silence, Beidou bursts out laughing. "Don't look too serious! I'm only joking," she says. "You're right on time." She takes a swig from her hip flask and holds out a hand.

"It's an honor to be aboard, Captain Beidou," I say finally. I extend my hand and she grips me firmly, pulling me over effortlessly.

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"Now that everyone is here, we set sail for the land engulfed by storm and tempest," she declares, "the nation of eternity!" The crew claps and cheers raucously.

"Anchors aweigh!" Beidou shouts. We hear the clang of bells, relaying the message to all other ships, followed by the deep thrum of iron chains as the anchors are drawn up, dripping with saltwater. The crew members scurry back and forth on deck making final preparations, and I think I see a dash of maple red among the seamen – Kaedehara Kazuha. I catch the former samurai's eye, and he waves cheerfully.

Once the preparations have died down around us, Beidou, now standing on the bridge, announces: "to Inazuma!" A sailor strikes a gong somewhere on our ship, and a deep rhythmic drumming ensues. We have set sail at last.

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The first five days at sea go by without a hitch. Captain Beidou's expert reading of the skies ensured us swift winds and calm waters. This morning, however, the crew seems ill at ease. Men are hurrying around back and forth, securing anything that cannot be moved below deck. The waves are still low, but storm clouds are brewing on the horizon.

"We are fast approaching the Raiden Shogun's ring of lightning," says a cool voice.

I jump around in surprise. "Didn't see you there, Kaedehara."

He walks up beside me and leans over the side of the ship, into the wind. "Clear weather all around brightens the heart, yet the sounds of the ocean turn into a clamor of noise during stormy weather. The Raiden Shogun's barrier brings no joy to sailors."

"Is it really as bad as they say?" I ask.

Still staring off into the distance, Kaedehara shrugs. "I would not sail these waters on any other ship, but Captain Beidou and her crew have never failed us. In them, I place my entire trust."

I nod. "It seems that the crew would follow her to the underworld and back."

"Beidou is a captain without equal," he says, "and an honest friend. She's lifted the lives of many aboard."

"Like that cabin boy Little Yue," I say. "The orphan."

"The captain sure saved me too," cuts in a broad-shouldered man. I recognize him as Juza, chief mate of the Alcor. Beyond the introduction that first night, however, we have not spoken much. "I used to be a dockworker," he continues, "just muddling along without a purpose in life. If it weren't for Captain Beidou's invitation, I'd still be tightening screws in some miserable corner!"

"Me too," another man chimes in. "I don't think we've met," he says to me, offering a slight bow. "Xu Liushi, ship's lookout. I spend a lot of time up there," he says, pointing up to the crow's nest.

"What's your story?" I say.

Juza guffaws and Xu smacks him on the back. After gulping down a few more breathes, Juza asks, "ever been to Third-Round Knockout in Liyue Harbor?"

"Once or twice," I say. "Why?"

"That establishment is quite indebted to our very own Xu Liushi for its prominence!" Juza says loudly. At this, nearby sailors look up from their busy tasks and start grinning at us. "Want to tell the story yourself, Xu?"

Xu sighs and smiles weakly. "That place used to be some no-name watering hole. Their specialty was wine-fermented sweet rice balls, but their texture was always off – waxy and soft, not at all chewy. As for the soup, it had none of that pleasant osmanthus aroma. It was practically all wine."

Though they had probably heard the story a dozen times all the other sailors were listening in eagerly by now. Anything to take their minds off the clouds ahead, I guess.

"I was young then, and I lost a bet with some folks. I downed three bowls in a row and got so plastered that I fell off the ship and into the sea, right as we were weighing anchor." Xu sighs. "That incident gave the pub its name, Third-Round Knockout. It also lost me my job."

"How come?" I ask. "Don't all sailors love to drink?"

"Aye, but no one wants a sailor too deep into his bottle," Xu replies. "Only Captain Beidou was willing to give a chance to turn over a new leaf."

We sit in silence for several moments, until Juza stands up. "All right lads," he says. "We've got a storm to prepare for."

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I am still sitting on the deck, hours later, when the first drops of rain fall. The winds have picked up in speed, and the air is cool.

"Lumine," calls Kaedehara over the wind, "it's safer below."

I look up at the storm clouds, then at the trap door leading down, towards safety. If I am going to meet the Raiden Shogun, I would rather face her power head on. "I'll stay on deck," I say. "Don't worry. I'll stay out of the way."

Paimon zips around me and gives out a little huff. "Paimon will take shelter," she says. Then she flies in and out of sight.

Kaedehara closes the hatch after her. "Very well." He rushes to join the other sailors and leaves me alone on deck. I grab a spare rope and tie myself to a rail, close to the bow.

Pitter patter. The raindrops are as fat as hailstones now, and the sky is a purple gray, like an ugly bruise that stretches from horizon to horizon. A streak of lightning lights up the heavens, followed by the crash of thunder, a mere second after. The storm is fast upon us. This infamous ring of lightning deters most sailors from entering or leaving Inazuma. Captain Beidou's Crux Fleet is a rarity, the only Liyuen vessels that will brave these storms. As an outsider, I am about to learn why.

"Reef the main sail!" calls Beidou, an order to minimize the surface area of our sails in preparation for strong winds. A scurry of steps and shouting ensue. Though the ship's hold is full of trade goods from Liyue, the deck is already lifting up and down. Captain Beidou stands tall against the winds with her spyglass. "Port to 20," she calls to Sea Drake. "We're aiming for that crack between the waves," she points.

I lean against the ship and look in the direction of her gaze. In the distance, a dance of lightning strikes down upon swirling eddies. Captain Beidou must be heading towards one of the lines where two whirlpools meet, but the crossing would be extremely narrow and perilous. Any mistake in either direction, and we would be tumbling down into the depths of the Inazuman sea.

Suddenly, a strong wind picks up to the starboard side, and a heavy wave crashes onto the deck. Our ship is turning too fast. "Ease to 5!" Beidou shouts. Sea Drake complies and the entire ship creaks, but we seem to have stabilized on our course. "Midships," says Beidou. We are hurtling straight towards the whirlpools now.

Down in the galley, the sailors are rowing furiously, following the drums' deep heartbeat, steady and fast. To both sides, the whirlpools are roaring, but Beidou continues to give out orders calmly, her voice raising above the noise.

Lightning lights up the sky, a second of brilliant purple-white, followed by an empty return to darkness. A peal of thunder follows almost immediately, rattling me to my bones. Light then dark, crash after crash. In the face of these all-consuming waters and gut-tearing winds, I am grateful for the Alcor's steadfast crew. Clinging to my post, I watch Beidou issue command after command, coaxing the ships along their designated path. She seems to anticipate every gust of wind, an experienced captain at one with the sea.

Finally, when I feel that the hull cannot withstand the battering of another wave, the rain stops. The air becomes still. The waves collapse into all but ripples on the surface. Behind us, the lightning still strikes, but there is not a whisper of that violence. It is as if we imagined the entire ordeal. The whole ship takes a minute to breathe. Then Captain Beidou breaks out into a celebratory whoop, and the crew erupts into cheer. We made it out through alive.

A sea of maple leaves opens up to a cloudless sky. In the distance, I see a mountainous land, covered in crimson reds, golden ochres, and all shades in between. Reaching out towards our ship are numerous small islands, each adorned with its own autumn branches. The air is quiet, save for the gulls, announcing our return to land.

“Welcome to Inazuma," says Kaedehara. He pulls up beside me and gazes wistfully towards the land of his birth.

"Welcome home." I reply. "It's been some time, hasn't it?"

Kaedehara does not immediately reply. After a long minute of contemplation, he says, "when my days of peaceful wanderings were over, I thought my life would become unending series of battles. Instead, the Crux Fleet became my new home, and I drifted on the ocean wherever it took me. I never expected to set foot here so soon."

"Perhaps the Inazuma today is not the same Inazuma that drove you away," I offer, but Kaedehara shakes his head. "The Raiden Shogun pursues eternity above all else. You will soon see for yourself."