Chapter Text
Ningguang stares blankly at the paper before her. A report of a newcomer to the land of Teyvat. From her records, it is a traveler that goes by the name Aether and he is traveling with a flying girl called Paimon. They helped Mondstadt and Ningguang went as far as to contact Jean to hear more about this traveler.
Especially, since the traveler is due to be here any second in the land of Liyue. They will get to witness the beautiful sight of the Rite of Descension performed by the great Rex Lapis. Ningguang is excited to see the traveler with her own eyes. From what Jean had said… This traveler might be able to help with an urgent personal problem she is having. One that she can’t entrust to others other than Ganyu, especially as they are preparing for the Rite of Descension – Right now, she needs to be thinking about that.
With a heavy sigh, the elegant woman turns her gaze from the report and decides to get ready for the ceremony. Her heart is rather heavy as she passes a room inside the Jade Chamber. The room only a few are allowed inside for… She ignores it right now – Focused on the path she must settle for today.
(Name) will be fine…
~*~
“Paimon thinks they can’t really blame us! Can they?” Paimon whisper-shouts.
Aether says nothing as he glances around cautiously. They can’t get caught. There is just no way he is going down for the murder of a Geo archon. That is insane. They almost make it out without a sound towards the stairs when Aether accidentally steps on a stick. A stick! He is so angry from the simple mistake that causes guards to look his way. Immediately, he has his sword out, ready to defend himself.
“Hey Buddy – Hold still!” A new voice shouts causing Aether and Paimon to freeze.
A man appears behind them and knocks out the guards, but… It is odd to Aether how close he was – As if he was watching them prior to this. Either way, Aether is thankful for the help especially since more guards come by.
“Come with me!” The stranger says.
They all run off to safety. And once to safety, they hear out Childe – about clearing their name. Of course, after being wary that he is a harbinger like Signora back from Mondstadt. An odd thing to them is that he is helping out, but Aether says nothing – Wanting his name to be cleared of what just happened.
So, Aether and Paimon take the Sigil of Permission with gratitude and go on their merry way to Jueyun Karst. It feels all too easy for Childe as he slides back into the shadows of Liyue. It makes him wonder why Signora was so wary of the traveler, but of course, Childe knows that looks can be deceiving. He is fully planning on using Aether and his pet for all they are worth.
“Still no signs of her?” Childe stops his thinking immediately upon hearing the hushed voices behind the building he is currently on the side of.
It is two higher guards for the Liyue Qixing. Specifically, one under Ningguang and the other under Keqing. What are they talking about?
“Unfortunately not. Lady Ningguang said to speak no more of it. After the incident, she can’t wait. She sent Ganyu to look for her.”
They part ways fast. Childe jumps onto the roof silently as one passes him. He raises an eyebrow as he wonders who “her” is. The Lady Ningguang is looking for someone and from how under wraps this is… It could be a valuable someone. Well… He has nothing to do besides waiting for the traveler to return which could take days or weeks depending on their skill.
He can help find “her” – Whoever she is.
Childe smirks as it seems he found a little bit of entertainment to keep him going on his mission here.
~*~
Today… Is the day. Now Zhongli just has to make sure the rest goes smoothly with the funeral for himself and then he is… Free. He will be free from his duties – He can live the rest of his life as a mortal(s). Morax certainly likes his current body right now. It suits him the best out of all his human disguises. Working as a consultant at the Wangshu Funeral Parlor… It was definitely interesting and so was this “Childe” character he met a few days ago.
Of course, the deal Zhongli made with Tsaritsa leaves him feeling a bit… Anxious – It is all to better himself and Liyue before he separates entirely. It is even more entertaining for himself to be in contact with a Fatui Harbinger who only knows Zhongli as a contact and nothing more. It is fun since he can sense how powerful the man is in human standards – And the money he is freely allowed to use from him is a plus.
He just has to wait. Wait for whatever this Childe is planning to do and then fulfill his last contract. For now, he is waiting to prepare the fake body. He has to wait for someone from the Liyue Qixing.
“Tea sounds good,” He ends up mumbling to himself.
Ah… But now it is getting a bit too late for tea, isn’t it? He can head to his recently purchased small home then. That will work out just fine. As he leaves the funeral parlor – he begins his walk to the home on the outskirts of town…
Only for someone to run right into him. He remains standing strong but now sees that a… weak but cloaked woman is on the ground and rubbing at her wrist. A scowl forms on his face as he offers her a hand to help her up. He can sense the weakness and it is rather abnormal to him. What is wrong with her?
“Sorry. I should watch where I am going,” She says with a small laugh as she takes his hand.
He feels the warmth through his glove and for a moment… Feels something flood through his body as he sees her face for a brief moment when she glances up at him. She quickly looks down to hide her face once more and Zhongli can’t place it, but she looks familiar.
She is very pretty and that is a compliment he has not given out in… What feels like a lifetime. Especially for a mere mortal.
“Are you okay?” He asks.
She jumps – From the looks of it from the tone he used. Guilt pulls in his gut for sounding too harsh, but he can’t help it. He brings her wrist up to his face and can see a slight bump beginning to form.
“It is swollen. Let me get you ice. My home is not too far from here,” Zhongli states.
Hearing this the woman freezes once more. “Ah… I appreciate the concern sir, but it would not be wise for me to follow a man home.”
Those words… Zhongli could hit his face. Of course, mortals are cautious like this and his offer is borderline creepy.
“Apologies. Then let us head back to town to the funeral parlor. There is ice there."
“Oh – You work there? Then I suppose if your home is closer that is fine. I can’t go back into the city,” She mumbles a bit embarrassed.
Zhongli only nods and continues the way to his home then. She can be secretive all she wants as it is none of his business. Though… He would not mind getting another peek at her face. Her nature hints at her being in trouble and since it is his large frame at fault for her getting hurt, he can at least offer her a place to sleep for the night.
~*~
“Lady Ningguang?” Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao all ask in a soft manner.
Ningguang glances up and offers them a small smile. “Forgive me. I am just worried. Zhenhai said he has not seen her since this morning when she was supposed to take her medicine so that means… Will she be alright? She left willingly and avoided all the guard posts but…”
They can hear the concern in her voice. The worry for her younger sister just by two years. She is a woman, an adult, but Ningguang has always taken care of her. It is only natural for the elder sister to be worried like this. Especially since (Name) is sickly.
“Ganyu will find something…” Ningguang says to reassure herself.
Only then… Her eyes widen as she stares at the open window. She gets up quickly and uses her power to push a gust of wind out… Only for the presence that was just there, listening in, to disappear. This is not good in the slightest. Who in their right mind just made it to the Jade Chamber without an escort or permission? And what power do they have to flee just like that?
Ningguang says nothing else as she sits back down. The guards already searching the premises for any intruder that just disappeared. Ningguang can’t focus on her dear sister (Name). She has a duty to figure out what is going on with the Fatui and what the hell happened to Rex Lapis.