Shamisen and koto cutting through silence like a blade drawn slowly from its sheath. Genshin Impact's Realm of Tranquil Eternity is the main Inazuma soundtrack and it goes hard on the Japanese classical instrumentation. "Separated Dream" layers shakuhachi over strings in a way that sounds like grief given a melody.
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"Kitsune's Mask" has this playful but sad energy, like a festival where everyone is smiling but something is clearly wrong. "The Land of Her Serenity" might be the standout, a slow burn that captures an immortal ruler's loneliness without a single word.
The contrast between "Preparation of Matsuri" and "Flickering Sakura" gives you whiplash in the best way. Celebration and decay right next to each other. Play this when you want to stare out a window dramatically and feel completely justified.