Chapter Text
A scarlet red leaf. Drifting to the ground gently as if it was a child of the wind itself. Underneath a stone path, worn down by centuries of travel and carrying secrets shared between stolen shared breaths or said breath leaving for the heavens up above.
The crimson leaf, love and it's longing oh so similar yet different to the continously cultivated hatred between souls in both heart and mind. All of them, despite their differences shared a common simple thing never obvious to the accustomed eye.
All of them were red. Still, while Xiangling knew that red was the colour connected to the land of fire, it's archon and it's vision bearers, she also couldn't help but feel as if inazuma purples and blues were bowing in respect to the magnificence that was red.
Red like the sundown that she oh so adored.
Red like the chilli peppers that transformed a simple dish into a reminder of home.
Red like her fire, unbound joy and raging passion fueling her like coal to the flame.
A foot, sandals brushing against peach skin, stepped upon the innocent leave that had fallen from the tree.
A human without a name carrying themselves with little energy and even less ambition had appeared, stepped onto the leaf and as a result ripped feathers from skin and left akin to a gentle afternoon breeze.
Looking back at the pier, the ship upon which she had arrived at high noon still dancing lightly upon the waves while the sun is slowly bidding farwell to the world below, did Xiangling consider the purpose of her visit.
Of course, her friends home in Liyue celebrated this opportunity given to her and she herself was greatly overjoyed. Still, she couldn't help but feel uncertain about what was to eventually come all alone without familiar faces in a country so far away from home.
Why she took the trip to inazuma you might ask, a question she herself would have never considered before had she not known of the offer that was extended to her.
As a well known chef all around the world of teyvat it would be her responsibility to present the beauty of liyue cuisine to the inazuman tongue in an event organized by the yashiro commission. Similar to her, other famous chefs from a variety of nations would arrive as well later on.
As an adventurous spirit and a student to an adeptus, equipped with a god given eye to perceive the world like most do not, being able to roam the nations was, under exceptions of course, a great gift. And Xiangling would make sure she experienced all that was to with it's help.
Being a chef, improvement requires experience and while she herself would consider her pallette adapt in the Liyuean and Mondstadtian ways, especially in inazumas way of cooking she was not as accustomed. Now remember, growth requires courage to the new and Xiangling decided, to improve on her skills and mind, to indulge in the flavors that would be offered up by the nearby street vendors. Although this would have to wait until tomorrow as the light of the sun began to slowly fade and lanterns were lit to illuminate the streets and she, after all, had grown tired after the long journey.
The sun had risen gently, bathed in soft purples merging in to rosé, changing into a beautiful soft orange that served as a backdrop to it's sunrays creating halo upon halo for each crimson leaf that it was able to reach. A liyuean sunrise, similar in it's oranges and yellows yet still lacking the hues of purple, and the mondstadtian that was it's opal glittering blues were a familiar sight.
After a short wash, dressing herself in the clothes that she brought with her and taking the time to play and cuddle with her favorite loyal little companion, guoba, who seemingly enjoyed every little second of attention, she was ready to experience this culture to the fullest. Jumping up and down together always seemed like a great way to start a day full of positve energy and smiles. Sometimes even, dancing around while cooking a pot of delicious *food* was even more energizing.
Getting her to laugh was as easy as lighting a candle. Still, she couldn't help but feel a little lonely. Sure she had guoba with her but she couldn't help but miss all those that she left behind in liyue, be it only for a short amount of time. Pushing these thoughts away was probably for the best. Her friends at home were rooting for her after all.
Xingqui had been the most obvious supportive after she had received the invitation (that being due to his more social nature in contrast to chongyuns more reclusive approach). She remembered how he had grabbed her shoulders with his hands on either side, eyes looking deep into hers while shining proudly and his lips forming a soft smile. A moment passed and he reverted back into his usual polite yet subliminally sly personality.
"You know Xiangling, Inazuma is simply beautiful and you truly deserve to be recognized for your achievements." He had said to her, dramatically moving one of his hands above his heart. "it is a true shame I've never been given the opportunity to travel there even after the sakoku degree was abolished." Of course she had been very grateful after being given such words of encouragement and praise, yet something in the back of her head seemingly did not add up although she decided that it was not her place to inquire about it.
(While this exchange occurred, the seemingly gentle breeze that usually just made the golden leafs of the trees in liyue harbor flutter like tiny bird wings blew a tiny bit stronger and the golden leafs changed into pale pink petals of a Sakura. The scent of sea in it's body of air was suddenly more reminescent of the smell of dango and ink and the ordinary was, briefly and only for a second, exchanged for mystery)
Xiangling and Xingqui, chatty as they are, were deeply invested into whatever obscure topic they were now conversing about but Chongyun, sensitive to the world of the spiritual, of that that could or would not be bound, felt a shiver moving like frost and lightning down his spine, yet whatever it was instantly disappeared just like a morning breeze.
Strolling through the city, it's people still covered in a curtain of blues and blacks by the last remnants of the night, and losing herself within the unreal atmosphere of a dawn to come was something Xiangling always considered fascinating in itself. In these rare hours of tranquility, before the sun dared to show her colours admids the azure background that was the sky, where both mind and body were granted permissions by the universe itself to remain dreaming.