[EARLY ACCESS] GENSHIN IMPACT | SHRINK IMPACT - CHAPTER 32

By midday, the haze of their failed ritual had faded into a sharper, deeper resolve. 

You could still feel traces of Mona and Ganyu on your skin—the sweet tang of sweat, the cool wash of qi, the tremble of their desire echoing in your bones. But that longing was laced with urgency now. You were smaller than ever, smaller than a blossom, and even more fragile, a secret the two women held between their bodies as they moved through Liyue.

So much for trying it, things had only ended up getting scarier. If trying to intervene had just made you tinier, more vulnerable, was there even any hope? 

At least it had been hot…but still…

As Mona and Ganyu made their way through the winding mountain streets toward Madame Ping’s secluded garden, you found yourself nestled precariously in the soft hollow just above Mona’s cleavage, her free hand cupped protectively over you. At your new, tinier size, what had once been a cozy, plush nook now yawned beneath you like an endless chasm. The rise and fall of Mona’s chest with each breath felt seismic, and the warm skin below radiated both comfort and danger.

You clung to her thumb, your entire body able to wrap around it now, knuckles white with effort. Mona’s cloak and blouse framed your world in deep blue and black velvet, but any slip—a careless jostle, an unexpected step—might send you tumbling into the shadowy valley below, lost between her breasts, smothered by her heat and the subtle scent of her perfume, which would become choking at this size.

Every movement she made, even the slightest tilt, made your stomach drop. Because at any moment, any moment at all, you might tumble out of her hand if you weren’t careful. And you’d fall straight down there, into that abyss. 

Mona must have been able to sense it. She must have felt your anxiety, because she glanced down with concern, her fingers curling a little more firmly around you, her thumb stroking your back like she silently wanted you to know you were still safe.

She probably still felt bad even now. After how she had acted before. Wanting to make it up to you, wanting to actually help you this time. 

After Ganyu spoke with Madame Ping’s messenger, hope flickered to life:

A spring—ancient, secluded, hidden in the high mountains, where ley line magic pooled and the adepti’s wishes were known to come true. The Cloud Retainer’s Spring. Ganyu’s face lit with wonder and worry. Mona’s mouth set in a thin line. 

Packing for the journey was an ordeal in itself. You watched from the rim of a silk-lined teacup as Mona carefully measured out elixirs, sealing each one with shaking hands. Ganyu knelt at the low table, rolling up scrolls and folding cloth for the climb, her long fingers brushing you gently each time she checked your pulse, your warmth, your smile.

“I promise we’ll fix this, Traveler,” Mona whispered, her breath fluttering across your skin as she brushed her fingertip back and forth on the top of your head, “We just…we have to be careful now. We won’t let you be stuck like this forever.”

…

Ganyu was also very gentle with you. She let you ride in the hollow of her palm as they initially set out from Yujing Terrace. 

The city’s golden spires and bustling crowds fell away quickly, replaced by stone steps winding up the mountainside, flanked by fluttering prayer flags and white plum blossoms. 

The world was so much bigger than before, every sound magnified—a child’s laughter was a thunderclap, the wind a rushing tide, the creak of a cartwheel piercing. You felt a little relieved to be getting out of civilization for a bit.

From your perch, you saw everything though, and it was more grand than before. The sheer scale of it was all the more impressive, the lanterns swaying overhead, birds flying like gargantuan white-feathered dragons. 

Ganyu held you against her collarbone, beneath a scarf scented with lotus and mountain snow. Mona, when she took you, tucked you gently into the curve of her neck, or pressed you into her cleavage, your world becoming the steady thump of her heart and the silk of her skin.

Each time they passed you back and forth, they were so careful about it, like they were paranoid. That inch off you had become quite a burden. 

You could sense their fear: that one wrong step, one slip, could mean disaster. Ganyu’s fingers trembled like she was scared to hold you too tight. Mona would gasp every time the wind picked up, her body curling protectively around you. Like she worried you would simply be blown away.

Not only that, but they had to be careful of any wild monster encounters too. Moreso than usual. 

They checked on you constantly:

“Are you alright, Traveler? Can you breathe?”

“Not too cold? Not too tight?”

“Do you need a rest?”

But there were moments that reminded you just how real the danger was.

A flock of birds burst from the undergrowth as they wandered through a forest, startling Mona so much she nearly dropped you—but caught you just in time. If she hadn’t, you’d have been a pancake on the dirt path. 

Once, as they crossed a narrow wooden bridge over a deep ravine, Mona’s sandal slipped on the damp planks. She froze, hugging you to her lips, her face ashen.

“Traveler, I’m so sorry…” Her voice broke, and you could see her tears threatening. Ganyu rested a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently.

“We’re almost there,” she murmured. “Just a little further.”

The climb grew steeper as the sun reached its peak. The air turned thin, sharp, full of drifting mist and tiny motes of light—ley energy, Ganyu explained, flickering along the path like ghostly lanterns. With each step, the magic became more palpable. You could feel it tingling across your skin, crackling in the air. In a place like this, surely you’d find the power you needed.

They had to stop when it got too dark, making camp for the night. But Mona and Ganyu made a cradle of their hands, sheltering you between them, sharing their warmth and qi, and took turns keeping watch. 

The bond between you all deepened in the climb. Mona and Ganyu, once shy and awkward around each other, now worked in perfect sync. They shared sips of water from the same flask, pressed close for warmth on wind-swept ledges, and never let you out of their touch. 

Their fingers tangled when they held you together, and sometimes—when they thought you were dozing—they would exchange shy, hopeful glances or let their lips meet in a fleeting, grateful kiss.

At one point, as a cloud passed and the temperature dropped, Mona bundled you into the hollow of Ganyu’s cleavage, tucking you beneath the fur collar of her robe.

“Stay here,” Mona whispered, voice low and shaky. “It’s safest. You must really feel the cold at this size after all…”

You were squeezed between soft, cool flesh, Ganyu’s pulse pounding in your ears, her breath cool and steady above you. She cupped her hand protectively over her chest, sheltering you from the breeze.

There were moments of accidental intimacy, too. Mona, flustered and focused, would sometimes slip you under the hem of her skirt to hide you from passing Qixing patrols. And you could tell from the little twitches she made, that she was holding back some particular feelings when she did so…

Luckily, you made it.  At last, you crested a final ridge and saw it:

A hidden valley, rimmed with ancient pines and stone lanterns, a waterfall tumbling down from dizzying heights into a pool that glowed with ghostly blue light. The Cloud Retainer’s Spring was more beautiful—and more mystical—than any legend had promised. The air thrummed with power, ancient runes swirling just beneath the water’s glassy surface.

Ganyu gasped, awe and longing mingling in her voice.

“We’re here, Traveler. This place is older than Liyue itself. If there’s hope anywhere…it’s here.”

Mona drew close, one arm around Ganyu’s waist, the other cupping you between her breasts. Together, the three of you stood at the edge of the water, mist swirling around your faces, hearts pounding as one.

“We’ll do whatever it takes,” Mona whispered, her voice fierce and trembling. “We won’t lose you. Not to magic, not to fear, not to anything.”

Ganyu nodded, pressing a gentle kiss to your tiny form, then to Mona’s temple. “Let’s rest a moment. Then…we’ll begin.”