Chapter Text
The unpaved road stretched before him as he continued his walk, the path leading him back to Liyue Harbor. The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant had just completed a request he had taken in outside Liyue, albeit in a more dangerous part of the continent, and he should had been on his journey back to Liyue Harbor earlier had it not been for a few rogue Fatui agents he had the misfortune to come across. But it wasn’t in vain -- as expected, the former Geo Archon came out victorious in the battle and the enemies were swiftly dealt with.
He continued his walk, taking in the sights and sounds of his country. The warm, yellowish green hues of the field greeted his eyes as sounds of the birds chirping filled the air. Lush, rolling hills and rocky mountains towered around him, and numerous Sandbearer and Cuihua trees stood on them in a sprawling disarray. The scenery before him brought a small smile to his lips. This land, which he had built from the ground and watched over for thousands of years, was thriving, rich and full of life. The land and its people, whom he had protected and guarded for years. His fort, his own land. And yet, he pondered to himself, somehow never really felt so much as home.
Home , a concept that is elusive regarding what it truly meant. To some, it was a place -- for him, Liyue will always maintain a special place in his heart. For others, it was people. Even though he had met a lot of people, fought alongside fellow gods and made connections, he never truly felt a certain sense of belonging in them.
He had glided through centuries, existed time after time, but had never felt rooted nor settled. Not that he ever thought about it constantly, nor for very long periods of time. He did once feel like he belonged, not exactly in a place but to a person, but she was cruelly taken away from his life. After that, he just seemed to glide through time, building Liyue Harbor and diligently performing his responsibilities as the Geo Archon. But as mentioned, never really felt at home.
He had never really thought about his loneliness, but now he wondered, exactly how long had it been since someone made him feel at home? Most of his old friends were gone, and only a few of the immortals had remained. As for relations with mortals, he enjoyed them, but he knew they would be only for a short while. He knew that human relationships (and existence itself) were fleeting, and working at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor strengthened that knowledge. Not only that, being an immortal made him feel lonelier, and he knew a relationship between a god and a human being would just end on a tragic note. Seeing his friends grow old, die and wither away as he stayed immortal, unchanging and unblemished by time made him accept the natural consequences of that relationship. Even though he understood the meaning of bonds, this still made him a little hesitant and prudent in his relationships, avoiding the risk of becoming too endeared by someone.
“But what matters more is the bond and the memories that you’ll share with them, right?”
He smiled at the recollection of your words, and his thoughts then drifted to you. You always thought well of others, unassuming and never afraid of forging connections with people. You had your reservations, as well as a healthy dose of skepticism in you, but you never failed to give people the benefit of the doubt. And every time you look up at him with your imploring, innocent eyes, smiling at him and giving him the trust that was so natural in you, he couldn’t help but also share a little bit of that faith in people that you always imparted with him.
Those eyes. He thought about them as he walked along the unpaved road, reveling on their purity. There was beauty in your innocence, something which he found himself constantly drawn to. A mark of child-like wonder but not without maturity. He smiled as he recalled how your eyes would light up with enthusiasm as you offer him your assistance in his battles. How they would turn into small crescent moons when you smiled, or widen in curiosity and wonder as you listened to him tell you about customs and traditions of the past that people in the modern age didn’t seem to care about right now.
He fondly recalled a particular story he had told you, and he could still remember how still yet engrossed your face looked as you listened intently to his words. “Have you heard of the origins of the Lantern Rite? In a war, long ago, people of Liyue would release lanterns to remind their soldiers of the way home, and to never lose sight of themselves. Though in this day and age, I doubt there are any that remember.”
And as usual, your eyes would look up to him with child-like wonder as you ponder on the meaning of his words. He chuckled at the memory and smiled fondly to himself. Being with you, he couldn’t help but feel warm and welcome. You had this natural ability to make everyone feel welcomed and trusted, however undeserving some may be of your kindness. You always made him feel as if he somewhat belonged, not necessarily to anyone but that he just felt… rooted. He would always look forward to each day when you would drop by at the funeral parlor to visit him after your travels, bringing life and warmth to the place -- a contrast to the dreary and morbid atmosphere of his workplace. As he thought more of you, he found himself to be completely enamored by you and found himself longing to see your face again.
He had grown fond -- no, too fond of you. He couldn’t deny to himself the desire to know more about you, to grow closer to you… but he knew as well the implications of a god having a relationship with a mortal. He had known others before him had done it, and relationships ended disastrously, their lovers leaving this world as these gods and goddesses had lived on, closing themselves off to loneliness. No, even though he knew that perfectly well, he still couldn’t deny his desire to be with you, to wake up next to you each morning, holding you as he ( finally ) kisses your soft, warm and supple lips… but he didn’t know how he would handle the loneliness if he were to lose you to the natural laws of the world.
Closing his eyes, he chastised himself for his thoughts. What was he even thinking? He had found himself in too deep, at a point of no return. He had been secretly harboring feelings for you for quite some time now, and while he both revelled and agonized in that fact, he had no idea if you felt the same way for him, too. You were kind and thoughtful, giving him attention more than needed, and yet it could just be your natural strength (or flaw) with everyone. And yet, he still found himself confused by your actions as his thoughts traveled back to that fateful night in the cave. He could still remember how your hand had rested on his, your thumb grazing sensually on his skin. How you had that certain softness in your look as you gently -- oh so sweetly -- thanked him for taking care of you. Oh how his heart melted at your display of affection, which he wasn’t still sure if it was born out of something deeper than just a platonic sentiment. But there was something different in your eyes, and the way you caressed his skin with just a small portion of yours, made him hope that there might be something there that wasn’t there before.
As he drew nearer to the city and the view of Liyue Harbor finally greeted him, he suddenly noticed a small, lone bright orange sphere slowly floating against the clear, blue sky. He then realized it was a lantern, but his eyebrows furrowed in confusion as preparations were still being made, and the festival had not started yet. Who in their right mind would release a lantern this early, and not wait until a festival had started? As he stared at the bright orange sphere, your curious, innocent eyes suddenly flashed in his mind.
But, of course .
He shook his head and chuckled to himself. He started walking towards the harbor at a quicker pace, his eyes following the lantern every now and then with a smile plastered on his lips.
He couldn’t wait to get home .