Seven years had passed since Noel first awakened in the desert.
Liyue had changed dramatically.
What had once been a tiny oasis was now a growing city.
Stone roads crossed the settlement.
The fields stretched farther into the desert.
Merchants arrived regularly.
The population had grown beyond four hundred.
And among those people stood the young man who had received Liyue’s first Geo Vision.
Aran.
He was now nineteen years old.
His golden Geo Vision hung at his waist.
But Aran didn’t spend his days showing it off.
He spent most of his time working.
Today was no different.
The Broken Aqueduct
“Move!”
Aran shouted.
Several workers pulled on ropes.
A section of the stone aqueduct had cracked during the night.
Water was leaking into the sand.
“We’re losing too much!”
A farmer shouted.
Aran ran toward the damaged section.
“Everyone move back.”
He grabbed his Geo Vision.
Golden light flashed.
BOOM!
Stone rose from the ground.
Aran guided it into the damaged structure.
The pieces connected.
The crack disappeared.
The water continued flowing.
The workers cheered.
“Aran did it!”
Aran smiled.
“Don’t celebrate yet.”
He examined the structure.
“It’s holding, but we’ll need to reinforce the whole section.”
A voice came from behind him.
“That’s exactly what I was thinking.”
Aran turned.
Noel stood there.
He was wearing his Zhongli-like human form.
Aran bowed.
“Lord Noel.”
Noel waved his hand.
“Relax.”
He looked at the repaired aqueduct.
“You’ve gotten much better.”
Aran smiled.
“I’ve had seven years of practice.”
Noel laughed.
“Fair point.”
A New Responsibility
Noel looked across the farmland.
“Aran.”
“Yes?” New chapters come out on g.com first.
“I have a job for you.”
Aran immediately became serious.
“What kind?”
Noel pointed toward the eastern desert.
“Our territory is expanding.”
Aran followed his gaze.
“How far?”
“Farther than we can properly patrol.”
Aran understood.
“You want me to lead a team?”
“Exactly.”
Noel smiled.
“Not as a soldier.”
“As a guardian.”
Aran looked at his Geo Vision.
He remembered the day he had received it.
He had wanted to make the desert bloom.
Now thousands of plants were growing where there had once been nothing but sand.
His dream was already becoming reality.
“I’ll do it.”
Noel nodded.
“I knew you would.”
The Guardian’s First Journey
The following morning, Aran left Liyue with twelve guards and several workers.
Their mission was simple:
Establish a new settlement near an underground water source.
It was the first time Liyue was deliberately expanding beyond its original territory.
Aran looked back before leaving.
The city walls stood proudly against the desert.
The golden statue could be seen from the road.
He smiled.
“Let’s make the desert bloom.”
Then he turned toward the horizon.
Meanwhile…
Noel stood on the highest tower of Liyue.
The system appeared.
[Territorial expansion initiated.]
[First appointed Geo Guardian: Aran]
[Morax Template Synchronization: 7.3%]
Noel smiled.
“He’s growing up.”
The Tailed Beast connection suddenly activated.
Shukaku.
Noel recognized the voice.
Kurama.
Your human with the Geo Vision.
Noel raised an eyebrow.
What about him?
He’s strong.
Noel smiled.
He’s nineteen.
And already stronger than most humans we’ve encountered.
He’s using his power for construction instead of fighting.
Son Gokū chuckled.
Interesting human.
Noel crossed his arms.
He’s one of my people.
Kurama went quiet.
Then he asked:
Do you really intend to protect these humans for hundreds of years?
Noel looked down at Liyue.
Children were running through the streets.
Farmers were working.
Merchants were opening their shops.
The golden statue continued to glow.
Noel smiled.
Yes.
Even when they grow old?
Yes.
Even when they die?
Noel’s smile faded slightly.
He understood the question.
He was a Tailed Beast.
He could live for centuries.
Humans couldn’t.
Eventually, everyone currently living in Liyue would be gone.
But the nation could remain.
Noel looked at the city.
That’s why we’re building something that can outlive us.
There was silence.
Then Kurama quietly answered:
…I understand.
The connection faded.
A New Beginning
Hundreds of kilometers away, Aran reached the location of the underground water source.
He placed his hand against the ground.
His Geo Vision glowed.
BOOM!
Stone erupted from the desert.
A small spring emerged.
The workers stared.
One of them smiled.
“Another oasis.”
Aran looked toward the empty land.
Then toward the road leading back to Liyue.
He raised his Geo Vision.
“Let’s begin.”
The first stones of another settlement were placed.
And for the first time in history, Liyue wasn’t merely growing upward.
It was beginning to spread across the desert.
One oasis at a time.
One settlement at a time.
One contract at a time.
And centuries later, historians would look back at these humble beginnings and realize something important:
The Land of Wind had not been born in a single day.
It had begun with one Tailed Beast…
and a dream to make the desert bloom.
To be continued…