Gwen wiped her hands on her apron as she flipped the "Closed" sign on the shop door. The little restaurant had been her dream since childhood—a cozy space where she could cook for others just like she used to for her family. But lately… dreams didn't pay the bills.
She has light blue short hair, golden eyes, light skin, average height, half sleeve shirt, brown apron and jeans.
Business had been slow. Too slow. Fewer customers came by these days, and the rent notice on her counter was a constant, heavy reminder. She still had a bit left to pay, but even after that, there were electricity, water, and supply costs stacking up like an unshakable mountain.
She locked the shop door, double-checked it, then took the narrow staircase up to her small apartment above. The smell of spices and fresh bread still lingered faintly from earlier, comforting in a bittersweet way.
In her little kitchen, she began preparing a small dinner for herself—just something simple. Knife tapping on the cutting board, sizzling from the pan, the familiar rhythm soothed her thoughts.
But then… something else reached her nose.
Gwen paused mid-stir, sniffing the air. It wasn't from her cooking—it was sharper, heavier… and definitely wrong.
Her brow furrowed. "What in the—?"
She followed the scent, each step making it stronger, until her eyes widened in horror.
The oven.
Smoke curled from its edges, and the metallic heat radiating off it made her heart lurch. "Oh no, no, no!"
She rushed toward it, reaching for the knob to shut it down—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion ripped through the small kitchen, the force knocking her back into the wall. The sound of shattering glass and clattering metal filled the air as heat washed over her, and the sharp tang of burnt wiring and scorched bread made her cough.
—————
The first thing Gwen noticed was the smell. Not the usual subway-and-traffic city smell she was used to, but clean, crisp ocean air mixed with a hint of something… floral? She squinted as sunlight reflected off the gentle waves.
"This… isn't my kitchen."
The last thing she remembered was trying to perfect a caramelized onion tart for her café's new menu. Now she was lying on warm sand, staring up at a cloud that looked suspiciously like a giant slime. She sat up quickly, brushing sand from her jeans. That's when she heard the voice.
"Hey, are you okay?!"
Her head snapped toward the sound — and her jaw nearly hit the sand. Floating right in front of her was a tiny, white-haired, fairy-like girl with a halo. And next to her stood a traveler in beige and gold. Gwen's breath caught.
"No way. No. No no no. This is impossible."
Paimon tilted her head. "Huh? Do we… know you?"
"Uh—" Gwen stammered, forcing a shaky smile. "Sorry I mistook you for...someone..."
The Traveler stepped forward, offering a hand. "I'm Aether, and this is Paimon. What's your name?"
"Gwen," she said, taking his hand.
Her brain was spinning. She knew them. She knew there would be hilichurls, abyss mages, and terrifying boss fights lurking somewhere out there. But most importantly—
Her stomach growled loudly.
Paimon's eyes widened. "Paimon thinks you're even hungrier than she is!"
Gwen laughed nervously. "Trust me, I can fix that. I'm a chef. Just… point me to the nearest cooking pot, and I'll make something that'll blow your little socks—uh, shoes—off."
The Traveler raised a brow. "Cooking? We were about to look for some ingredients…"
And just like that, Gwen found herself tagging along the shore, basket in hand [That Aether made himself with vines] looking for mushrooms, fishes, crab and anything edible — while quietly panicking that she was in a video game she'd never actually finished.
If her memory of the early story quests was right… she had very little time before things got dangerous.
But hey, at least she could make a killer crab omelette.
After that, Aether and Paimon lead her to the cook pot, Gwen used the knife she had with her and cleans the fish and crab. How did Aether and Paimon got the pot? Oh well, She cooked.
——————
The sun hung low over the horizon, its golden light spilling over the waves like melted honey. Salt clung to the air, brushing against Gwen's cheeks as she trudged along the sandy shoreline. Each step sank into the damp sand with a satisfying crunch. Ahead, Aether moved with a quiet, steady pace, eyes scanning the horizon as if he could spot something far beyond the human eye.
Aether and Paimon loved the food Gwen made, Paimon love the crab more than fish. Gwen wasn't expecting to find knife kit on her then again she was in middle of cooking when Oven exploded.
Floating just above him, Paimon bobbed in the air like a lantern on a string. She had been chattering non-stop since they started walking together, her voice carrying easily over the gentle sound of lapping waves.
"…and that's when Paimon knew she had to help him!" the little companion declared proudly, crossing her tiny arms. "Paimon was just minding her own business when—" she puffed her cheeks a little— "Aether fished Paimon out of the water. So obviously, now Paimon's his guide!"
Gwen smiled faintly, adjusting the strap of the small satchel Aether had given her for collecting ingredients. "Fished you out of the water, huh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Paimon nodded, her tiny legs kicking idly in the air. "Yup! Aether saved Paimon, and now we travel together looking for his twin sister."
That made Gwen glance at Aether, who hadn't spoken much since introducing himself. He walked with a quiet, thoughtful air, his golden eyes occasionally darting to the trees and cliffs they passed. There was something in his posture — a quiet urgency — that told Gwen this wasn't just a casual stroll.
Still, she had to ask. "Your twin sister… she's here in this world?"
Aether's lips pressed into a thin line. He didn't stop walking, but his gaze turned toward the far-off mountains, hazy in the distance. "…Somewhere," he said finally, his voice low but steady.
Paimon floated a little higher, spinning slowly in the air as if to fill the silence. "That's why we're looking for the Archons — the gods of each nation. If anyone knows where Aether's sister is, it's them!"
Gwen chewed on that for a moment. In the game — at least from what she'd played — that was true. But she had barely scratched the surface before life and work swallowed her free time. The last thing she remembered doing in Genshin was burning through her Mora buying too many cooking recipes from Mondstadt's tavern.
She sighed under her breath. Great. She knew just enough to know things could get dangerous, but not enough to predict when.
"So," Gwen asked, quickening her pace to walk closer to Paimon, "where exactly are we heading off to first?"
Paimon turned in the air to face her. "We're going to Mondstadt! It's the City of Freedom. Lots of windmills, lots of food — oh! And the people are really nice… mostly. Plus, there's a big festival coming up!"
Gwen's ears perked up at "lots of food." A city meant a kitchen. And a kitchen meant she might have a chance to cook something properly instead of just scavenging along the beach.
"That sounds… actually amazing," Gwen admitted.
Paimon's smile widened. "Paimon knew you'd like it! But before we get there, we'll have to pass through Windrise and… maybe deal with some hilichurls."
Gwen froze mid-step. "…Deal with?"
"You know," Paimon waved a hand casually, "Aether will fight them, and Paimon will cheer him on!"
Gwen blinked. "Right. And I'll… stand behind the very strong and capable magical traveler, yes?" Oh snap, Gwen can't fight! She doesn't even know ABC of combat!
Paimon snorted. "Don't worry, Paimon's sure you'll be fine! Besides, you can cook, right? That means you can make healing dishes! That's super important."
Healing dishes. Stat boosts. It was all so surreal — hearing game mechanics spoken like everyday facts. Gwen glanced up at the cliffs they were approaching. The warm orange glow of sunset painted the rocks, and somewhere in the distance, the faint cry of a falcon echoed.
Her heart thumped. Whether she liked it or not, she was in Teyvat now. And she had a feeling her cooking skills might be the only thing keeping her alive.
And she will polish her cooking skill in order to survive.