Chapter Text
The sun is particularly harsh during summers in Liyue, but it’s not something that stops the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing from doing her field-work. Keqing is busy making a rough sketch of the improvements that could be made in Qince Village that wouldn’t disturb the peace and quite of the people living here but still be a trading hub of sorts, when a familiar voice rings out.
“Aww, are you sure we have to go and fight that oceanid again? We could have loads of tasty dishes at Wangshuu Inn instead! Plus, Paimon doesn’t want to listen to those long boring rants of hers.” The floating companion of our well renowned traveler whines.
Keqing folds the scroll back up as she watches the traveler and Paimon approach.
“Do you always think with your stomach Paimon?” The traveler responds and Paimon pouts.
“You’re so mean to me --- wait is that Keqing?!” Paimon suddenly exclaims.
Keqing smirks, “Well, well, hello traveler and Paimon. I see your adventures are still going strong.”
The famous duo stops as Lumine crosses her arms, “Colour me surprised Keqing, I didn’t expect to bump into the Yuheng all the way out here. Forgive me, for if I had known, I would’ve brought some golden shrimp balls.” The traveler smirks back.
Keqing rolls her eyes, “Trying to win the Yuheng’s favour huh?”
Paimon giggles, “Yup, after all, who knows when we might get into trouble, it wouldn’t hurt to have the Yuheng on our side.”
Keqing scoffs, “Oh please, my integrity cannot be bought with a few golden shrimp balls.”
Lumine laughs, “What if I offer a year’s worth of golden shrimp balls?”
“I---” Keqing pauses as she considers the offer.
“Woah, is the Yuheng secretly a glutton.” Paimon whispers loudly to the traveler who snickers and Paimon is promptly smacked by a scroll that appears out of thin air.
“You know, I still don’t know how you summon those scrolls out of thin air.” Lumine ponders.
Keqing smirks, smug in a way that only she can pull off, “I’m afraid, you can’t know as a Yunlai never reveals their secrets.”
“Booo, you just stole that line!” Paimon pouts.
“Anyway.” Says Keqing as she makes the scroll vanish, “Do you mind if I tag along with you to fight the oceanid. Getting in some sword training wouldn’t hurt.”
Lumine shrugs, “Sure, I don’t mind.” She says with a smile and Paimon flips in the air in excitement, “Yay! This means the fight will be over pretty quickly!”
Keqing tuts, “Flattery will get you nowhere Paimon.”
“Aw shoot, worth a shot I guess.” Paimon sighs as the three of them make their way to the entrance of the Oceanid’s residence.
It’s only when they enter that Lumine instantly knows something’s wrong. From the looks of it, Keqing has noticed too as electro begins crackling over her body in response to the high elemental energy in the atmosphere.
Keqing feels a shiver run down her spine as her vision sparks to life in warning, “Watch out!” She yells, shoving the traveler in the water as an icy blade knicks a small part of her hair, before teleporting to the large platform in the middle. Lumine pops up from the water in time to see one of the worst things possible.
An Abyss Herald.
“What is that thing doing here?!” Paimon yells in a panic while Lumine swims towards the main platform. She needs to get Keqing out of here. There’s no way of knowing what that thing’s true motives are, but one thing is certain, it won’t hesitate to kill.
Keqing isn’t sure what she’s looking at but she knows it’s something powerful. The sinister energy flowing from the creature is making her vision go haywire.
“Well, well, well. I was hoping to just capture the traveler, but I seem to have struck the jackpot today. A free Yuheng to go!” The creature chuckles and Keqing feels the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
“Leave or I shall make you. This is not your place to be.” Keqing responds sternly.
The creature laughs out loud, “Make me? Ha! I may accept defeat in battle with the traveler but with a pathetic mortal such as you?” The creature lets out a derisive laugh, “Impossible.” It states and that’s all the warning Keqing gets before the thing teleports over to her and conjures a sharp ice shard to no doubt impale her on.
Keqing scoffs as she teleports away. The creature doesn’t let up and continues firing projectiles at her as she teleports to avoid them.
“Stop right now!” The Traveler commands with her sword in hand and the creature looks away from Keqing to look at their true target.
“Ah Traveler. What an honour it is today that I shall have the opportunity to test out a new experiment on you today! You should be grateful!” The creature chuckles.
Lumine scowls, “Shut up and die already you piece of shit.”
“Hmph, I see mortals are as callous as ever.” The Abyss Herald responds before completely ignoring Keqing and engaging the traveler in a fight… which honestly was his biggest mistake.
As Lumine holds her sword over her head to block the Abyss Herald’s ice blades, she sees Keqing teleport right behind the creature on the right.
The Abyss Herald scoffs as it swings a blade right through Keqing’s neck. Lumine’s eyes widen in disbelief, almost losing her footing when the abyss creature speaks, “Foolish human, do you not get it? You are utterly usele –
But, it doesn’t get to complete the sentence when Keqing’s electro infused sword slams right into the Abyss Herald’s neck with enough force to knock it to the side, freeing Lumine. Electro dances over the Abyss Herald’s body as it twitches and let’s out an inhuman screech.
“You were saying?” Keqing says nonchalantly, a smirk on her face.
Lumine wants to laugh but instead she says, “What was that technique?”
Keqing twirls her sword as she points it directly towards the Abyss Herald’s throat, “A tweaked version of starward burst.”
The Abyss Herald sneers, “No amount of fancy techniques will save you.”
Lumine sighs and thus begins a fight that the traveler isn’t sure lasts how long… but judging from the way the sun has almost set, painting the sky in a beautiful mix of bluish pink, it’s definitely been quite a few hours. Even she’s feeling exhausted. Lumine’s side hurts from where a particularly sharp blade of ice had cut her, staining her dress red. A sharp pang of pain makes the traveler double over and that gives the Abyss Herald an opportunity to attack.
Alas for him, Keqing had continued being a thorn in his side as she teleports right in time to block his strike. The Abyss Herald lets out a frustrated roar before kicking Keqing in the side and she grunts in pain, skidding back a few paces.
Keqing growls, a mix of frustration and exhaustion weighing her down as she throws her hairpin in the air and teleports, but the Abyss Herald is prepared to play dirty. Ignoring the Yuheng, he still goes in for slashing the traveler who is in the middle of trying not to pass away.
Keqing knows she screwed up with teleporting in the air. She should’ve stayed near the traveler and protected her. There’s no use on dawdling on what has been done though, she needs to act and Keqing does so by throwing her hairpin in front of the traveler. There is just one flaw with this course of action… with the speed the Abyss Herald is advancing at, Keqing will only have time to teleport… and block its strike with her body.
‘Well, Archons hope, it doesn’t cause too much damage.’ thinks Keqing as she teleports in front of her friend.
“Keqing!” Lumine yells out as the Yuheng stupidly teleports in front of her. The ice blade connects with Keqing’s abdomen making her cough up blood and let out a pained grunt.
Lumine watches with wide eyes, mouth open as Paimon appears beside her. “Ke-Keqing!!!!” Paimon gasps, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. The Abyss Herald laughs cruelly, twisting the ice blade nestled into Keqing’s abdomen.
Keqing feels her eyes water from the overwhelming pain engulfing her neural pathways, she opens her mouth to scream but only manages to cough up more blood while her body trembles barely keeping herself upright.
Meanwhile, Lumine sees red, her body moving on auto-pilot as she lunges at the abyssal creature, trying to maul its face off with her sword. The Abyss Herald barely manages to dodge letting go of the ice blade stuck in Keqing before grabbing Lumine’s wrist, kicking her in the wound on her side.
Keqing crumples to the ground in a heap of blood and ice, panting and trembling while Lumine hisses in pain, landing on her knees, tears of pain and frustration falling from her eyes, the golden in them dulling slightly.
Paimon gasps and fusses over them both.
“This has gone on long enough. What say you Traveler, should we finish this useless charade and finally start the experiment?” The Abyss Herald sneers.
“How about you go to hell?” Lumine snaps. This Abyss Herald seems stronger than any they’ve encountered in the past. It feels different too… more sinister… more corrupted? Lumine thinks as she watches the beaten-up Abyss Herald chuckle as it staggered over to where she’s kneeling on her knees.
“Let’s hope you finally agree to our Prince’s view if you make it out alive after this experiment.” The Abyss Herald chuckles as it raises a hand with some sort of orange square thing embedded in it. A dark purple blob of energy collects in the creature’s hand. It pulses with something dark and corrupted that feels as if it’s soaking in all the elemental energy available to it. Lumine feels weaker and weaker as the blob of dark energy grows stronger. The traveler lets out a shaky breath, clutching her sword tightly as she musters up the strength to stand up and do something. She must do something, but her body has other plans as it refuses to cooperate when she hears the crackle of electro before she sees it.
Starward Burst.
The Abyss Herald snarls as electro continually attacks him, “Impossible… you shouldn’t even be able to move!” It yells as Keqing backflips into the air, her amethyst eyes glowing, her electro sparkling just as the blob of energy grows larger, darker and more sinister. The ice blade is still embedded in Keqing’s abdomen, blood leaking out from the wound and mouth. Lumine sees Keqing wince as the blob pulls more elemental energy from her and the traveler yells at her to run away but of course the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing is just as stubborn as everyone believes her to be.
The Abyss Herald laughs manically, “There’s nothing you can do! The preparation is complete! All your effort was for nothing at all!”
A splatter of blood from Keqing’s wound, her blood glistening as it flies onto Lumine’s face is the only way the traveler realizes that Keqing has teleported in between her and the Abyss Herald.
“There is always something that can be done, you just need to have the courage to do it!” Keqing rasps out, broken and pained as the blob of dark energy expands exponentially, enveloping Keqing in it at the exact moment her sword overflowing with electro energy pierces through the Herald’s neck and it screeches long and hard.
The blob of energy pulses once, twice, thrice, four times in total before blinking out of existence while the Abyss Herald disintegrates at the same time.
Lumine feels her blood run cold as something clinks on to the ground, a diamond shaped vision which no longer glows and has a deep crack running through it.
“Is that…?” Paimon asks meekly.
Keqing’s vision.
O.o
It’s dark.
Inky blackness everywhere one looks.
Keqing feels like she’s floating in complete nothingness, away from reality, away from her duties and it’s a thought that makes her feel sick but right now, this warm embrace of nothingness… doesn’t seem so ba –
An icy cold sensation snaps her awake and Keqing gasps, half surprised and half annoyed.
Keqing splutters, “Wh-what?!” She manages to say while coughing as some of the water gets into the wrong pipe. It’s at that moment that Keqing realizes the predicament she’s in. Ropes have been tightly tied around her, binding her arms behind her back while she is in a kneeling position on the grassy ground. Her clothes have been stained red from the blood that had flowed from her wound, even the grass shines red. She realizes that even if the wound has been patched up haphazardly with leaves and rope, it’s still extremely painful.
Something cold touches Keqing’s chin and she finds her head being uplifted by said cold thing. It’s then that Keqing notices the person towering above her. A tall woman with long navy hair with green highlights and a pair of red glasses adorning her face.
‘Oh wow.’ Keqing thinks to herself, gulping inwardly.
“State your name and purpose human!” The woman demands in a voice that almost instantly pisses Keqing off.
“I shall do so, when you remove your weapon.” Keqing states calmly, reigning in her anger, she’s been working on her manner of speech after all.
It appears to be the wrong thing to say apparently since the woman seems to get annoyed, “One dares to be this insolent?! The disrespect is appalling!” The woman exclaims.
Now Keqing’s getting mad too, “And your treatment of me isn’t?” She snaps.
“One does NOT like dealing with humans, specially brats such as one!” The tall woman grumbles.
This speech pattern…
“Then let me go and you’ll never have to see me again.” Keqing says as she finally begins to wonder just where the heck she is, because the forest they’re currently in seems unfamiliar yet familiar to her. How strange. It’s probable that she’s not in Liyue anymore… but the woman in front of her is dressed in a Liyuen fashion.
Hm? What’s this? It seems to be getting harder and harder to think straight… Black spots are appearing in her vision as the woman is seemingly blabbing on and on. It’s probably the blood loss that’s causing her to feel so faint, plus her head is throbbing as well. It’s as if her body is finally realizing its own condition and reacting accordingly, which is – completely passing out.
The last thing Keqing sees is the woman glaring at her.
O.o
When Keqing wakes up for the second time, she feels much better and more like herself, although it does feel like as if something’s missing, but she can’t put her finger on it.
Keqing finds herself lying on something that can barely qualify as a mattress if the stiffness of the ground is something to go by… oh well her back is going to suffer now. Keqing groans as she pushes herself up in a sitting position, everything in her body screams at her and protests against even the slightest movement with a vengeance. It’s a struggle, a mighty struggle indeed but Keqing manages to sit up and instantly regrets all her life choices till this point. Surely, she’s pulled an incredibly reckless stunt that’s sure to get a disapproving look from a certain general secretary. Keqing manages to smile through her pain at the thought when something falls in her lap – a damp washcloth.
Did she fall sick? Keqing wonders to herself as she looks around the unfamiliar and battered old tent she’s currently in.
A gust of wind rushes in, ruffling her already unkempt hair, her hair buns were probably looking all manners of crooked right now when the flap entrance to the tent is raised and someone steps in.
A tall woman and a shorter young woman who looks like she’s barely twenty.
Wait… THE TALL WOMAN.
Memories rush through her disoriented mind and it sends her reeling. The survey of Qince Village, bumping into the traveler, fighting a weird creature and a huge blob of energy glomping on her and then – nothing until she met the tall woman.
The shorter woman looks over at her and gasps, “Why are you sitting up?!” She screeches.
“Lay back down right this instant.” The woman commands and Keqing scoffs, “I’m fine.” She says, making a move to get up but of course her body, the traitor that it is betrays her and she groans in pain, her head feels like it’s going to burst and Keqing decides to shove her pride under the mat and just listen to the woman who’s probably her doctor.
The younger woman tuts and Keqing feels her eye twitch, why is everyone so insistent on pissing her off?
Keqing doesn’t dwell on the young woman checking her wounds, instead she looks at the taller woman and finds the woman observing her. Keqing sighs, it’s probably the tall woman who brought her here for treatment and Keqing probably owes her life to this unknown person, if the pile of bloody bandages and light throbbing in her head is anything to go by.
Keqing looks directly at the tall woman and they make eye-contact. The taller woman huffs and Keqing grits her teeth in annoyance but holds her tongue and says, “Thank-you. I owe you – my life.”
The tall woman looks a bit surprised as her eyes widen before she smirks, “Well, if one isn’t careful, one might be losing one’s life soon enough.”
Huh?
“WHAT?!” Keqing all but yells out indignantly but the tall woman just chuckles and leaves.
Keqing looks at the young woman in shock and the woman looks sheepish.
“Do you know what she meant by that?” Keqing asks, a bit unnerved by the tall woman’s parting words.
The shorter woman chuckles nervously, “Um… she said that because you’re going to be put on trial… in front of our god.”
Keqing looks up at the woman in confusion, “Trial? God? What are you saying?”
The woman shakes her head as in disbelief at her sheer ignorance and Keqing feels the familiar sting of annoyance creep up again, “You are suspected to be a spy planted in by an enemy and our God, Rex Lapis shall test your integrity through a trial.”
Spy? Enemy kingdom? What? Rex Lapis? Didn’t he step down as the Archon? Just what is going on? Where is she?
Keqing has only questions and no answers…
It’s now that Keqing notices the cold gaze of the young woman as she replaces her dressings, the frigid aura of distrust is unmistakable. To think that one of her own people would treat her as a traitor to the nation Keqing has devoted her whole life to until now and will continue to do so till the day she dies. It’s… almost laughable. It’s as if these people have no idea who she is. They’re treating her like a stranger in addition to the land looking so unfamiliar…
“Say…” Keqing begins and the woman looks up from her work, impatience written on her features, “Do you know the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing?”
The woman stops working to give Keqing a bewildered look, “What?” She asked, utterly flabbergasted.
“The Tianquan?” Keqing questions, a fearful sensation gnawing at the back of her mind.
“I have no idea what nonsense you’re spouting, I have never heard of these terms.” The woman snaps impatiently as she roughly pulls off a bandage from her left arm and Keqing winces.
“You don’t know what the Liyue Qixing is?” Keqing asks, fear steadily mounting inwardly.
The woman looks at her solemnly, “There’s no such thing as the Liyue Qixing…” The woman says nonchalantly, “Hmm do you perhaps have a concussion as well?” The woman ponders to herself.
Keqing looks up at the tent ceiling, a pensive expression on her face. A place where no one knows her and treats her as a hostile being and a person who hasn’t heard of the Liyue Qixing or the Tianquan which is nigh impossible. The unfamiliar geography. Rex Lapis being a god again…
Keqing swallows… could it be…? That she might not be in her own time?
“Hey… uh.” Keqing speaks again. The woman hums not sparing her a glance.
“Where are we?” Keqing asks, somewhat dreading the answer.
“This is a remote part of the Guili Assembly. The main part is further south, where all the adepti, Rex Lapis and Miss Guizhong conduct meetings.” The woman rattles on.
Oh no.
It’s worse than Keqing thought. Not only is she in a time that’s not her own but she’s in a time where the Archon war has begun and the tragedies have yet to strike.
Well… isn’t that just peachy.
Keqing has gone back more than 3700 years in time. This is going to be a wild experience, she has a feeling.
The woman finishes up with her dressings, “Well, that’s done. Now don’t move again….” She says hastily, beginning to tidy up.
Keqing clears her throat and the woman looks up with an annoyed look, “What is your name?” Keqing asks, not paying any mind to the woman’s attitude.
The woman raises an eyebrow as she replies, “I don’t see why you want to learn my name. There’s no reason to.”
Keqing looks up at her with a sharp gaze, “Of course there is. That other woman may have brought me here for treatment but you’re the one who treated me. I would have probably bled to death if not for you.” She says sincerely.
The woman looks taken aback as she opens her mouth then closes it as if confused about a potential criminal being so sincere.
“I’m Mei Liang.” The woman answers as she runs a hand through her light brown hair.
“I’m Ke –
“No, I don’t want to know your name.” Mei states sternly, getting up and turning away to face the tent entrance.
Keqing sighs, “Very well…”
Mei Liang walks out of the tent without saying anything else and Keqing doesn’t see anyone else that day. She can’t do anything except stare at the ceiling as her body regains its strength.
Despite having lived on her own for a few years now without spending a lot of time with people and instead devoting herself to countless piles of paperwork… Right now, in this exact moment, Keqing has never felt more alone.
O.o
Over the course of next few days, Mei Liang pops in periodically to check her injuries and replace her bandages. Keqing doesn’t see the tall woman again. Her injuries are healing spectacularly. In just over a week, Keqing feels energized enough to finally walk out of the tent and have a look around.
Old Liyue is quite different from present day Liyue, Keqing thinks to herself. People have set up a small village with trained guards protecting the perimeters. Keqing observes as a pair of children runs past her, carrying a leaf-boat.
So, this is the Liyue during the Archon war. It’s a time where the seven haven’t yet ascended to Celestia – meaning common people in this time fight without the aid of a vision. The empty feeling inside her was the absence of her vision, Keqing had realized on her second day of lying in bed, completely bored without even her electro to fiddle with. She’s heard of the effect taking a vision away from a person has on them… Luckily Keqing doesn’t feel like her memory has been affected, nor have her goals been forgotten. She feels like herself except the odd emptiness and the absence of the energizing crackle of electro Keqing was so accustomed to sparking off her body. Though, not having her vision isn’t a setback, she is a highly trained swords-woman. Keqing has mastered her clan’s technique, even developing a few of her own tricks, she isn’t going to become helpless just because a God’s trinket has been taken away from her.
Keqing’s lost in thought when she notices an old woman struggling to draw water from the well. The old lady is trembling with the effort of pulling a bucket full of water with muscles that are withering away due to age. Keqing rushes forward, hand moving towards her hairpin before she catches herself and remembers that she no longer has her vision to help. Keqing curses herself, just how lax has she gotten with a God’s measly blessing?
“Let me help you miss.” Keqing says as she grabs the rope and pulls, easily drawing a full bucket of water.
The old woman looks at her in surprise, before narrowing her eyes at Keqing. “Who are you? I have never seen you around the village?” The old lady inquires curiously.
Well now… she’s a time-traveler… but Keqing can’t say that.
“I’m just a passerby.” Keqing chuckles.
The old lady smiles, “Thankyou dearie. Please excuse my rudeness. I’m not good at remembering faces. It must be my age.” She laughs loudly.
Keqing returns her smile, “No need to thank me miss –
“What. Are. You. Doing. Outside!” A familiar voice yells out and Keqing almost flinches. The old lady on the other hand lights up, “Mei – Mei!”
“Granny Huqing! How many times have I told you not to go out and do straining activities… It’s bad for your back. Please take better care of yourself.” Mei Liang scolds the old woman and Keqing wonders if this young woman could be a doctor for the whole village… It wouldn’t be uncommon for healthcare to be bad in such times.
Before Keqing can escape, Mei Liang speaks up, “Don’t think I forgot about you! Go back to bed, you need to rest!”
Keqing groans. This woman is kind of annoying… and loud. Like a certain captain.
It’s like this for another week, Keqing gets bored, walks around the village, helps with errands or plays with the children until Mei Liang catches upto her and dumps her back into the old medical tent. By now, everyone knows her by the name of nameless cat lady since she hasn’t disclosed her name after Mei Liang refused to listen… they probably would refuse to hear her name as well if they knew that she wasn’t just a traveler.
The third week is almost halfway over when something different finally happens. Keqing is fully recovered by now and reluctantly admits that she misses her vision. She misses the energetic crackle of electro in her veins. Keqing is lamenting over the loss of her vision whilst simultaneously cursing herself for becoming overly reliant on a God’s blessing when something jumps in front of her.
It’s that tall woman who surprisingly Keqing thinks is most probably Cloud Retainer? Nobody else has such an obnoxious way of speaking except for that bird. Keqing had always thought Cloud Retainer hadn’t liked her… since their first meeting wasn’t the very best and the fact that she was a heretic. Keqing and Ganyu were still not on the best of terms at that time as it was still before the time Rex Lapis decided to step down.
They had had an argument in the morning about a certain plan of hers that Ganyu readily disagreed with but Keqing thought was necessary for the development of Liyue. Unfortunately for both of them, they met again in the afternoon at Wangshu Inn with Keqing being on an expedition for the very same plan of hers and Ganyu being there for… who knows what. Keqing had later learnt that Ganyu had been there to just calm herself down and unexpectedly ran into Cloud Retainer.
That was the first time Keqing had met Cloud Retainer in person… and not under the best circumstances since their argument had flared up the moment they saw each other.
“Ah, still continuing your ‘ambitious’ plan I see.” Ganyu commented, her eyes as cold as the cryo she wields yet her glare burned hotter than a thousand suns.
Keqing has never been more impressed. So, even the cool, level-headed and experienced general secretary was capable of such expressions. How intriguing.
“Yes Ganyu. It never hurts to be ambitious, it’s leagues better than just sitting on my ass, going through the same old boring proposals, ruminating in my comfort zone just blindly following Rex Lapis’s guidance.” Keqing responds sharply.
“Oh? I was under the impression your comfort zone included only being the most dissident Yuheng in the history of Liyue Qixing.” Ganyu says with a cold smile.
Keqing rolled her eyes, “If by dissident you mean willing to think for myself and not be afraid to try new things if it means a better future for Liyue then sure I agree.” She shrugged.
That was the only time their argument had escalated enough for Ganyu to get so angry that she threw a goblet Keqing’s head. Keqing had a bruise on her forehead due to that for two weeks. Ningguang had taken a photo just for entertainment’s sake and pinned it on her office wall. Keqing and Ganyu had not spoken a word to each other for 3 months until Ningguang forced them to go on an expedition together --- a story for another time
Keqing’s sure Cloud Retainer is standing before her. The only thing that confuses Keqing is… if that bird had such an appealing human form why she still chose to stay in bird form? Keqing wants to be honest, this woman is – ahem well something. Cloud Retainer’s ramblings would become a lot more tolerable if she chose this form in the present, at least Keqing could look at something pretty to pass the time… since Ganyu’s not always around.
“Well human, look’s like it is time for one’s judgement. Come along now.” Cloud Retainer smirks and Keqing senses the movement behind her. Before she realizes what she’s doing Keqing has already moved, elbowing her assailant and flipping them on their back.
It’s Mei Liang holding a cloth, most probably dipped in something to knock her out. The young woman is out cold and Keqing instantly feels bad.
“Hmm, one should have expected such skills from an enemy spy. Well, still one had to try… now come on, time is not on our side mortal.” Cloud Retainer ponders as she begins walking away.
“At least help me carry Mei Liang back to the medical tent.” Keqing replies a bit annoyed with Cloud Retainer’s lax attitude about the girl’s condition.
The adeptus looks at her for a few seconds before sighing and coming over to help her. With little effort they bring Mei Liang to the medical tent and lay her down.
“Well now, let’s go. Time has been wasted enough.” Cloud Retainer huffs as she pulls Keqing out of the tent and into the surrounding forest.
“No time would have been wasted if you hadn’t –
Keqing stops mid-sentence when Cloud Retainer brings out a rope and ties it around her, “What are you doing?” Keqing questions in irritation.
Her question is answered a few minutes later as they are soaring through the sky with Cloud Retainer in her bird form carrying Keqing with a rope tide around her with her claws.
Well, this is certainly a new way of travelling she’s discovered. Even the traveler wouldn’t have this achievement.
The crowd is enormous.
Keqing is astounded. The amount of people that have come to watch her trial is seriously questionable. She stands in the middle with the crowd surrounding her in a circle. Keqing faces the high and mighty Morax perched on his throne with Cloud Retainer on one side and a person she has never met in the present on the other side.
Keqing has known and heard about Rex Lapis since she was a child. She has faced Rex Lapis in her own time at her inauguration in the Qixing. Keqing has told that same god that she challenges him and will surpass him. The Rex Lapis of her time… is nothing like the Rex Lapis in front of her.
Perched on his throne, wearing a regal outfit and a calm expression but Keqing can see coldness in his eyes, the distrust. The trial is already half decided! They already think she’s a spy from an enemy nation. She can feel this trial isn’t going to be easy.
No worries, Keqing has prepared at least 865 arguments justifying her innocence that do not give away the fact that she’s a time-traveler, 541 arguments that involve her giving the fact away she is a time traveler, 343 arguments why this trial is a complete waste of time and what they should be doing instead of it, 273 proposals on improving their healthcare, village maintenance, defenses, agriculture and guards training and 1 plan if it all fails. Keqing calls it plan R. She is completely ready for whatever accusations they throw her way, after all being in close contact with Yanfei all these years had to pay off somehow!
Rex Lapis stands up and silence falls upon the previously noisy crowd.
“Today, we are here because an unusual guest has made their appearance in our numbers. In this trying time, we have to be careful of who we are welcoming amongst our ranks. This is a tedious task but a necessary one nonetheless.” Rex Lapis speaks to the people before turning to look at Keqing straight in the eyes.
Keqing does not falter and returns his gaze in full. She’s never backed down whilst facing a god and she’s not going to start now.
Rex Lapis speaks again, now addressing Keqing, “We welcome people with open arms, however, for those who seek to harm us, there is no place for them here. We shall give a fair chance to all and so it has been decided that you will be put on trial. Let us test your integrity!”
The crowd cheers as if an entertaining show was about to begin.
“Please bring forth the trial.” Rex Lapis tells Cloud Retainer as she nods and walks off.
Bring forth the trial? What does that mean? Are they not supposed to go through a judicial process in a court of law where they fight with factual arguments and she proves her innocence?
The cheering grows louder and Keqing is snapped out of her thoughts as she sees Cloud Retainer walking towards her with someone else in tow, when Rex Lapis speaks up, “Today you are to show your integrity in battle against one who is most loyal to our nation. Defeat her and you are free to go. Lose and you shall be killed without mercy.
WHAT.
It’s not a court fight?! A BATTLE?!
Cloud Retainer chuckles, “One did warn one, didn’t one?”
Keqing gulps inwardly as Cloud Retainer turns away from her to smile at whoever is behind her before walking off… and Keqing has never wanted Cloud Retainer to come back again more at that moment… because the person she’s meant to fight in a battle to the death is none other than GANYU?!???
Well, that’s just great. They had finally started getting along so well in her own time. The Ganyu who faces her does not have the mischievous sparkle in her eyes when they banter playfully, this Ganyu is radiating a cold fury from her eyes that Keqing has not experienced before even if she had been on her bad side for a few years. This level of hatred is completely new to Keqing and honestly… it hurts… it hurts so bad to see Ganyu look at her like that. Of course, it hurts, after all, Keqing has seen how beautiful Ganyu looks when she laughs at one of her jokes or how concerned Ganyu gets when she’s too reckless.
This Ganyu looks like she’s getting ready to kill Keqing. Although, in this moment, Keqing can’t help but notice how this Ganyu looks a bit different, with her horns being just nubs on her head, a rounder face and an overall chubbier physique and a very different outfit
‘Oh My Archons. She’s too CUTE.’ Keqing thinks, screaming inwardly.
Sadly, it seems like Plan R is the only option because if she doesn’t RUN AWAY, Keqing is either going to die of a stroke from Ganyu’s cuteness or just plain die when Ganyu kills her.
It takes Rex Lapis only one word to seal Keqing’s fate, “Begin.”