Genshin Impact: Horizon Blue

Chapter 1

"Listen to me, Aether." Lumine spoke, "I have already traveled through this world once. Once you reach the end of your journey as I did, you will see for yourself the true nature of this world."

The Abyss Herald behind her had begun conjuring another portal as she finished speaking, ready to leave. Aether, the Traveler, Honourary Knight of Mondstadt and Saviour of Liyue, couldn't bring himself to move after his sister.

"So we'll meet again." She said, the portal behind her growing larger, "Though we need not rush, brother. I have more than enough time to wait for you."

At these words, with all the confusion and frustration brewing up inside of him, Aether ran to his sister. Why is she so invested in this world and her battle against 'Destiny'? Why join with the Abyss? How did Dain fit into all this? He needed answers now.

Lumine stepped towards the portal, "We have always had enough time." Aether hastened in his sprint, meanwhile Dainslef used his own powers to rush past him, catching the portal.

Aether as well seemed to be able to catch the portal before it closed off, but as he leapt into it, it became very clear that something went wrong.

~~~~~

2nd of May, 1916

11:43 CEST

Paris, France

Pierre Roques, War Minister of France, sat in his office in Paris. The Germans seemed intent on bleeding their forces at Verdun, and the timing couldn't have been any worse. They had been preparing for an offensive at the Somme, where French and British lines intersected so as to make one united push against the Invaders together. That blasted Falkenhayn's attack put that plan on hold. He and many others had been urging the British to go forth with the plan to attack at the Somme. Perhaps a British attack would relieve France's forces at Verdun and force the Germans to focus on both sectors. Every time however the British kept delaying, saying they needed time to prepare for it as they couldn't rely on the French forces as originally planned, and that they were waiting for a new weapon that wouldn't arrive until August.

Roques didn't know if they could hold out until August. Generals Pétain and Nivelle had taken over commands of Army Group Centre and the Second Army respectively. Roques could only hope and pray that they would be able to regroup and hold the line. Caught in his own thoughts, he was brought back to the real world when he heard harsh knocks against his door.

"Come in." He said. The door was roughly opened, revealing a young officer, "What is it?"

The Officer seemed out of breath, taking a few seconds to breathe, "S-Sir! There's a crisis on the West side of the city, near the Arc de Triomphe!"

"What kind of crisis?" Roques asked. Had the Germans resumed their bombardment? Has the Arc been struck?

The Officer seemed to hesitate, unsure of what to say. An urging from Roques brought his words out.

"M-Monsters! Monsters are attacking Paris, sir!"

Monsters?

"Monsters? What do you mean? How?"

"A portal- a portal has appeared within the Arc de Triomphe." The Officer said, "The... monsters are coming from it, sir." The Officer went on to explain the details of what was currently occurring. The portal had opened not even 10 minutes ago. The first to cross it and enter Paris was a blond boy and a small fairy, the both of whom seemed confused and lost. They apparently spoke English, yet didn't know what the language was called, nor anything else about the world. Police were in the middle of handling the blond and the fairy when the first of the monsters, a barbaric looking humanoid wearing a mask and wielding a club came through. From what the Officer described, there was already a small horde of these monsters within Paris, and it was growing.