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The world was a very big and frightening place for little Chongyun. He and his family had just moved to Liyue Harbor, which was much bigger and more populated than Qingce Village. Plus he had this “yang energy” thing that gave him hot flashes, and made him upset and angry and sick sometimes. Not to mention it made his parents very protective and watchful over him, much to his dismay. He’d rather be left alone most of the time.
He was also a bit behind on talking. He knew words, he just didn’t really like to say them. It was much more comfortable to just be quiet. His family often pressured him to talk though, which he really didn’t like.
Not talking very much, having a strange condition, and moving to a new place all added up to Chongyun having no friends. He didn’t mind horribly, being alone with his books and his toys was nice. However, he would see other kids playing together in the street, and wondered what it must be like. Other kids were scary, unfortunately. They often made fun of him, and he wasn’t very good at standing up for himself. Hopefully this new town would give him a fresh start?
Liyue Harbor was not nearly as calm and quiet as Qingce. Lots of strange people yelling and trying to sell stuff, guards with big spears walking around, and way more buildings with lots of lights and colors. The wharfs had boats bigger than Chongyun had ever seen before, with masts so tall he’d get dizzy looking up and trying to see the top. He had heard the adults talking about someone named “Rex Lapis” who lived there. He was supposed to be really important. Chongyun just hoped that he would be nice if he ever met him.
Chongyun’s family was a part of a clan called the Tianheng Thaumaturges. A family of exorcists. They always told Chongyun that he would be a great exorcist just like his family members someday. He wondered what that would be like. Maybe everyone would like him and listen to him! Or maybe he’d be able to face his fears.
He would have to face his fear of new people that morning, because his family was going to have a meeting with something called the “Feiyun Commerce Guild.” Chongyun didn’t know what that was, but it must have been important, because they made him look extra nice for the meeting. He wouldn’t have to do any grown-up things, but his parents wanted him to meet someone. A boy his age.
Chongyun wondered what this boy would be like. Would he be tall and intimidating? Well, he couldn’t be much taller than him, Chongyun thought, because they were the same age. Maybe he would be loud and energetic. That would be a bit stressful, Chongyun would have no way to keep up. Maybe, just maybe, he would be just like Chongyun! As shy as he was, Chongyun was determined to try to make friends with this boy, whoever he was. After all, exorcists must be brave if they want to banish evil spirits.
Clinging close to his mother’s robes, Chongyun arrived at the Feiyun Commerce Guild. It was massive, and right in the middle of the city. A tall, red building with two big lion statues sitting out front. What must this kid be like, living in such a place? Chongyun was starting to feel a little nervous.
HIs mother looked down and squeezed his hand as they stood in front of the big doors.
“Don’t be scared honey, I’m sure he’ll be very nice. He is from a very high class family after all.” She said.
A doorman let them in, and Chongyun blinked his eyes at the sudden change in lighting. It was certainly the fanciest place he had ever been. Beautiful paintings covered the walls, and the ceiling was lined with carved gilded edges. There were also lots of fancy vases and lamps and tapestries. Chongyun thought it looked more like a palace than a house. Could this be where Rex Lapis lived?
Some more adults came up to meet his parents. They were also dressed in very nice clothes. One was a tall man, and he came up to talk to Chongyun.
“Hello there little one, would you like to meet my son while we go talk about grown-up things?” He asked.
Chongyun was scared, and he hid behind his mother and said nothing. The adults all laughed, but Chongyun didn’t like being laughed at. He looked at the ground in embarrassment.
“It’s okay Yunyun.” Said his mother. “Why don’t you go upstairs, his room is up there.”
The tall man called for the doorman.
“Could you please lead this young gentleman to my son’s room?” He said.
The doorman was smaller than the tall man, and looked a little friendlier. Chongyun took his hand and waved a nervous goodbye to his parents. After he was led up to the boy’s room, the doorman let him in and shut the door. Chongyun was all alone with a brand new person.
Chongyun just stood by the door. The boy didn’t pay much attention to him at all. He was laying on his stomach on a particularly large bed, reading a book. In fact, there were books all over the place. He had a bookshelf, but books were strewn all over the floor. It seemed he had more books than toys.
Suddenly, the boy looked up and made eye contact with Chongyun. He had dark blue hair and brown eyes.
“Good morning.” He said, bowing his head with a polite smile.
Chongyun said nothing, he just fidgeted with his hands. The boy was confused, and he got up.
“You must be from the Tianheng Thaumaturges who are visiting today. My name is Xingqiu. What is your name?”
Chongyun again said nothing. He knew his name of course, but he just couldn’t find his words. This boy was intimidating, like everyone else, but interesting. Unlike Chongyun, he carried himself with infinite confidence, and his eyes were full of expression. Chongyun felt like he could see a million thoughts at once running through his head. He was miles ahead of Chongyun.
“I said, what’s your name?” Xingqiu repeated.
Chongyun was getting nervous. He looked at the floor again.
“Why don’t you talk?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun looked up at him. He didn’t really know the answer himself.
“Don’t you like talking? I looove talking! I talk all the time!”
Chongyun said nothing. Xingqiu walked up and investigated him closely. He put his hand to his chin in thought.
“Hmm…ha! Well then, I’ll just call you Blue Head!” Xingqiu said laughing.
Blue Head. That made sense, Chongyun thought. He did have lots of scruffy blue hair on his head.
“Do you wanna play?” Xingqiu asked.
Playing, that sounded fun. Chongyun nodded excitedly.
“What do you wanna play?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun was silent, as usual. He wanted Xingqiu to decide.
“Goodness gracious, I have to do everything myself don’t I!” Xingqiu said with a laugh.
Chongyun frowned, it looked like he was just gonna be laughed at again.
“Come on, do you wanna see my toys?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun nodded. That sounded nice.
Xingqiu opened a chest in his room that was overstuffed with toys. He sure had a lot of them, and they were very nice indeed. Wooden animals with neatly painted markings, little carts on wheels, and stuffed dolls.
“I like my books better than toys, but you can play with them!”
This boy was turning out to be rather nice after all. Chongyun surveyed the toy chest. The wide array of choices was overwhelming. A little carved wooden tiger caught his eye. It was painted orange with black stripes, with a smiling red mouth. He picked it up.
“Do you like tigers?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun nodded and smiled. He then held his hands up like claws and gave a quiet “raaawr.”
Xingqiu laughed.
“I like my dolls!” He said.
He pulled out a little cloth doll with button eyes, strings for hair, and a little cloth dress. Chongyun was under the impression that dolls were for girls, but it seemed that Xingqiu didn’t mind. He was so fearless compared to Chongyun. Xingqiu could say what he wanted.
Xingqiu handed Chongyun the doll. Chongyun placed them next to each other, and put the doll’s hand on the tiger.
“Are they friends?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun nodded.
“Let me get some more.” Xingqiu said.
They played with dolls and animals for a while. Eventually, in their game, the first doll was being held hostage by some of the animals! They had her surrounded with no escape.
“We need a hero to save her, Blue Head!” Xingqiu exclaimed.
Chongyun was puzzled. What exactly was a hero?
“Do you know what a hero is?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun shook his head.
Xingqiu picked up the wooden tiger.
“A hero,” he began, “is someone who is brave and chivalrous and saves people! Heroes do what’s right no matter what! And they always help those in need.”
Xingqiu demonstrated by knocking away the wooden animals surrounding the doll with the tiger, and putting the doll’s hand back over it.
“That’s what I wanna be one day. I wanna be a brave hero! And fight bad guys! Like in my book!”
Xingqiu excitedly ran over to his book pile and dug around, and pulled out a picture book. It was titled “The Hero of Jueyun Karst,” and the front was decorated with a drawing of a swordsman and a dragon. He ran back to show it to Chongyun and pointed to the cover.
“See? Just like this. He rides a dragon and fights an evil beast called Azhdaha! And then he wins the favor of Rex Lapis himself!”
Chongyun looked at the book wide eyed. The idea of a brave hero was enthralling. Maybe that’s the kind of exorcist he wanted to be.
“Can you read?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun shook his hand to say “so-so.” He could read a little, but not very well.
“That’s okay! I’ll read it for you.”
Xingqiu was so…interesting. He wasn’t making fun of Chongyun or getting angry at him. He was…a lot… but he was being nice to Chongyun. Chongyun appreciated that very much. Xingqiu read the book to him out loud with lots of energy. He even added sound effects and voices. Chongyun found himself laughing and having lots of fun. He liked Xingqiu, because Xingqiu would talk and he could listen.
When the book was done, Xingqiu seemed to get an idea.
“Hold on, I have something really cool to show you!” He said.
Xingqiu got up and crawled under his bed, and started shuffling things around.
“These are my ultimate most favorite toys in the whole world!” He said from under the bed.
When he emerged, he pulled out two wooden swords, and displayed them with reverence.
“These are my swords. Me and my big brother used to play heroes with them, but…he doesn’t play with me anymore. He says he has to do ‘adult things’ and ‘learn business.’ Isn’t that ridiculous?”
Chongyun thought, and then nodded in agreement. Xingqiu shyly held one of the swords out to him by the hilt.
“Do you wanna go outside and play heroes?” He asked.
Chongyun gave him a big nod. Xingqiu laughed with excitement.
“Let’s go!”
They grabbed some toys, and their swords, and ran out to the courtyard to play. It was a finely kept garden, with a pond and trees and benches. Xingqiu put his sword over his shoulder.
“So, when we play heroes, one person is the hero and one person is the bad guy. I CALL HERO!!” Xingqiu yelled.
Chongyun, therefore, was the bad guy by default. He raised his shoulders and tried to look mean and intimidating. Xingqiu just began to laugh.
“Ha! You don’t look scary at all! You look silly!” He yelled before falling back and rolling in the grass.
Chongyun was embarrassed. But he had an idea. He dropped his sword, crouched down and let out a fierce growl.
“Oh! Are you a tiger?” Xingqiu asked.
Chongyun slashed the air with his ‘claws’ and let out the best roar he could muster.
“Ha! You can’t get me, tiger! I’m a strong swordsman and a hero!!” Xingqiu yelled while laughing.
They chased each other around for a while. Sometimes the brave swordsman would chase the tiger, and then the tiger would get the upper hand and chase him back. Before long, the swordsman climbed up a tree and sat on a branch.
“Haha! You can’t get me! Tigers can’t climb trees!” Xingqiu yelled dramatically.
He didn’t really know if tigers could climb trees or not, but his bluff worked, because Chongyun just stood beneath the tree. Chongyun was also afraid of heights, and climbing trees wasn’t in his best interest. He felt really frustrated, he couldn’t keep up with Xingqiu after all. Xingqiu sat up there, laughing over his victory. Chongyun felt his face flush red hot, and tears started welling up in his eyes. He sat in the grass and began to cry. Xingqiu stopped laughing.
“Hey! Don’t be such a crybaby!” Xingqiu said.
That only made Chongyun cry harder. He was no match for Xingqiu after all. After a moment, he heard Xingqiu jump down from the tree.
“Hey, I’m sorry Blue Head, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Chongyun sniffled and wiped his nose. Xingqiu thought for a moment, and he walked over to the pile of toys that they had brought out with them. He picked up the little wooden tiger.
“Here.” Xingqiu said. “You can have this.”
Chongyun looked up at the tiger. He was in disbelief that Xingqiu actually wanted to give it to him.
“I’ve got a lot of toys. And you like tigers…so…here.” Xingqiu said.
Chongyun hesitantly grabbed the tiger, and held it close to him. He must not be so bad, if someone like Xingqiu gave him something like that. Chongyun wiped his eyes.
“You’re welcome.” Xingqiu said. “I think…we could be friends…if you want. I don’t really have any.”
Chongyun was shocked. Someone like Xingqiu, not having friends? He could barely fathom it. Xingqiu held out a hand and helped Chongyun up. Chongyun nodded again with excitement. He finally had a friend! A strange and loud and intimidating friend, but a friend nonetheless.
Suddenly, a voice rang out in the courtyard.
“Boys! It’s time to go!”
It was Chongyun’s mother. Chongyun was very excited to see her, he ran up and gave her a tight hug. Xingqiu’s father walked out too.
“Now Xingqiu, did you get along well with Chongyun?” He asked.
“Ohhhh! So that’s his name! Yeah I think so.” Xingqiu said.
“Oh did he not talk the whole time? I’m sorry, he’s shy.” Said Chongyun’s mother.
“No it’s okay!” Xingqiu said with a smile. “We had fun anyway.”
Chongyun’s mother patted Chongyun on the head. They waved goodbye, and Chongyun went home having made a new friend…
It was morning again in Liyue Harbor. Rex Lapis was no more, but the city was full of life as usual.
“Chongyun!!” Yelled Xingqiu.
He was trying to get him out the door, they were going on another spirit hunt, and Xingqiu was excited to get out of the city.
“Coming!” Chongyun yelled back.
He threw on his crop hoodie and reached for his pack on his desk. He stopped a moment, and picked up something else instead. A small wooden tiger. He smiled.
“CHONGYUN!!!”
“Okay okay I’m coming!!!”
He grabbed his pack and ran out the door.