#my tired scholarly vibes are kicking in yall

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

the vibes are Dendro and Sumeru today... hear me out

you've been a student at the Akademiya for a few years now, joining the Rtawahist Darshan to pursue your dream of studying the stars and everything above Teyvat. most people commended you for your study habits- others called you "too enthusiastic" or "nosy" due to your habit of covering all bases. you simply would respond that it wasn't exactly your fault that so many mysteries of the sky were rooted in structures and ruins on Teyvat- you'd go to the darkest depths if it meant unveiling even one well-kept secret.

so it really shouldn't have been a surprise when you eventually did end up uncovering a secret- a big fluffy purple secret.

to be honest, you're not even sure how it happened. one minute you were exploring some ruins, solving puzzles, and deciphering scrambled text on the walls, and the next moment there's a huge monster looming over you, mask-like face gleaming crimson even in the dim light. except it doesn't seem to want to attack or harm you at all, merely shaking the dust from its fur and kneeling to your height to get a closer look. apparently the creature likes what it sees, too, because its singular crystalline eye shines in delight as it lets out what sounds like a purr, and tentatively you crack a smile to be met with a joyful chitter.

this odd beast- Foul Legacy, you soon learn- follows you into the daylight, despite how the sun hurts his eye from so long spent in the dark. he's curious about everything, nudging at the books in your hands and watching as you scribble down key phrases and sketches and most of all, never leaving your side. and you, in all your tired scholarly glory, hesitantly pat his head and allow him to stay- he's not hurting anyone, although you're not sure how in the world you're going to get him into the Akademiya, since neither of you seem to want to leave the other behind.

seems that you did unearth a mystery, although not from the stars as you hoped to- no, from the Abyss at the very bottom of Teyvat.