Watching Lin Feng devour the meal, Tighnari couldn't help smiling.
"Actually, I've felt a strange sense of familiarity with you from the start. You might not have noticed, but the elemental activity around you is always higher than normal. Are you a Vision holder?"
Feeling the elements stirring within himself, Tighnari asked curiously.
"No, I'm not." Lin Feng shook his head.
"I've always been able to sense the elements, but I can't control any of them. Not a single type."
He showed a faint expression of regret.
"You can sense elements? All types?"
Tighnari's ears perked instantly — literally — as his eyes lit up.
"Most ordinary people know the elements exist, but can't perceive them at all. Even many Vision holders can only sense the element matching their Vision. But someone who can sense every element, even form elemental sight without a Vision? This is my first time seeing such a case."
Tighnari's curiosity and excitement were completely transparent.
Hearing this, Lin Feng realized he had fallen into a huge misconception.
In the game, players always perceived the world through the Traveler's perspective, so elemental sight felt like something anyone could activate by pressing the middle mouse button.
But lorewise, even among Vision holders, clear, full-spectrum elemental sight is extremely rare.
"You're saying… people like me are uncommon?" Lin Feng asked.
"Of course! Someone who can sense elemental power without a Vision? I've never personally encountered such a person — only heard rumors that Liyue's adepti are unusually fond of this kind of constitution. But that's all hearsay."
Tighnari's academic interest was practically blazing.
The look in his eyes made Lin Feng swallow nervously.
Thank goodness this wasn't Europe and Tighnari wasn't a priest — otherwise he'd have to think carefully about what… posture to sleep in tonight.
"So… what are your plans after this? I mean, once you leave here."
Tighnari finally reined in his research instincts and asked.
"Honestly… none. I don't have a home anymore, and I don't have a destination." Lin Feng answered truthfully.
"A journey needs a beginning and an end. Wandering without purpose… I guess that's all I'm doing."
A sadness far beyond his apparent age crossed his young face.
"Then do you want to stay and become a forest ranger?"
Tighnari clearly had thought this through — he offered the suggestion immediately.
"When I first met you, I could see it — you always carried confusion and fatigue. I can't in good conscience leave someone so young roaming the continent alone."
Looking at Lin Feng's face, barely thirteen or fourteen at most, Tighnari recalled the children he'd seen at orphanages during his time as a scholar.
"I can teach you to read, give you a salary enough for daily needs, and in your free time I can help analyze your constitution. How about it? Would you consider it?"
His tail wagged unconsciously.
And indeed—Lin Feng could understand the spoken language, but when looking at Teyvat's written characters, completely different from any Earth script, he had to admit he was utterly illiterate.
"…Just to be clear, I still plan to leave eventually," Lin Feng said, struggling with Tighnari's warmth.
"My dream is to one day travel all seven nations and, along the way, find the meaning behind why I ended up here."
For the first time, he spoke his true intentions to someone other than Little White.
"So I might leave sooner or later. Are you sure that's okay?"
"Of course. The trainee ranger position was originally created for passersby and temporary helpers."
Tighnari nodded.
"When I believe you're ready to travel on your own, I'll prepare a farewell gift for you."
"After all—stars born for the high sky aren't meant to be caged, right?"
Tighnari smiled.
Lin Feng was suddenly genuinely moved.
He didn't understand why Tighnari was willing to invest so much energy into someone with an ambiguous identity like himself.
He had always felt that no matter how beautiful a game world looked, once real, it would be harsh and unforgiving.
But Tighnari's actions let him truly feel the man's selflessness and sincerity.
"…Alright," Lin Feng exhaled softly. "You've said all that — how can I refuse?"
He met Tighnari's earnest gaze and agreed.
"But please arrange work I can actually handle. You've already helped me so much. I want to contribute to the people here as well."
"Of course. But we have to start with literacy. Otherwise, I can't assign you tasks."
Tighnari nodded, fully slipping into teacher mode.
"For today, rest. You can keep living here — this hut has always been an extra space I lend out anyway. From now on, it's yours."
Seeing Lin Feng agree, Tighnari immediately became efficient.
"And here — this is 'Teyvat Literacy Compendium'. The one I used when I was a child. It's mostly illustrations; you can preview some characters first."
He took a thick book from his pack and handed it over.
Seeing how prepared — even premeditated — Tighnari obviously was, Lin Feng could only silently accept the kindness.
"Alright, I won't disturb your rest. Tomorrow I'll introduce you to the others. Don't worry — the rangers are easy to get along with. They'll definitely be happy to welcome you."
Tighnari stood, waved off Lin Feng's attempt to see him out, and headed toward the door.
"Rest well. See you tomorrow, trainee ranger Lin Feng."
Watching Tighnari walk away, Lin Feng hugged the Teyvat Literacy Compendium and returned to his first real home in this world.
After reviewing the material, he lay back on the bed, running his fingers through Little White's fluffy fur.
"A forest ranger… huh? Not bad. I just wonder where Collei is right now."
He murmured to himself.
A year before the game's storyline, Collei had been brought to Sumeru by Cyno from Mondstadt and entrusted to Tighnari. Since Lin Feng hadn't seen the green-haired girl yet, that meant he still had time.
Thinking about the future catastrophe that would befall this land, worry tugged at Lin Feng's heart as he hugged Little White and slowly drifted into sleep.
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