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You could see Liyue Harbor from a distance.
The soft yellowish grass tickled your ankles as you sat down near the cliff. Above you was the sky painted in the deepest shades of purple. For some reason, you liked what the heavens looked like during twilight. The violet hues of twilight fascinated you more than the warm colors of the sunset or even the ebony blanket of nightfall.
The sight of the harbor was just the cherry on top. Seeing the dark heavens illuminate beyond the town—it always fascinated you, no matter how many times you gazed at it already. You wish you could capture the scenery and keep it in your head (and maybe even in your heart) forever. Sometimes, you even wished you had the ability to draw it so you could preserve the view.
It wasn't that big of an issue, though. Because you knew another way to see twilight, even when the sky didn't want to show it.
A familiar voice called out your name.
“There you are,” It was your childhood friend. “I knew I'd find you here somewhere.”
You looked at the young boy as he sat down right next to you.
“It’s late and your parents are telling me to look for you.” He was hiding something behind his back. “They’re worried, but I think they can wait for a little longer. I want to show you something.”
You stared at how his eyes glimmered in the dark. Whenever he opened them, you made sure to never miss a second in admiring them. Twilight never disappeared whenever evening or morning came, it just moved into his eyes until it was time for it to take over the sky once again. That's what you ridiculously believed.
“I just wanted to admire the sky again…” You pouted, hugging your knees close to your chest. “It's part of my routine!”
“You can just admire it from home, though…” He replied.
“I want to see it in a better view!” You exclaimed. “Anyway, what do you even want to show me?”
He tilted his head as he smiled.
“This.”
He extended his arm and handed out something to you.
Your eyes widened. Lying at the palm of his hand was a bracelet crocheted into different shades of purple that reminded you of twilight. You gasped when you realized the similarity, so you immediately took it from his hand and lifted it to the sky to see it more clearly.
“O-oh my archons! It’s beautiful!” You shouted. “It's like the sky right now! This is amazing!”
The boy watched quietly as glitters started appearing in your eyes. He chuckled to himself as he propped his fist beneath his cheek.
His love language was gift-giving, and he always felt a tug at his heartstrings every time he saw you admire his little gifts.
“Did you make this yourself!?” You quickly slid it onto your wrist, excitement seeping through the tone of your voice.
“I found a bunch of yarn lying on the ground one day.” He explained. “I thought I could turn them into something nice and give it to you.”
You gasped. “I never knew you were skilled in crocheting!”
“I learn a lot from watching vendors at the market. Sometimes I see people making their products in real time.”
You gasped again. “Amazing!”
You traced the soft texture of the bracelet, not noticing the way your friend was looking at you. If you liked gazing at twilight, then he liked gazing at you. Much like how you wanted to preserve the sight of the sky, he wanted to preserve the brightness of your smile.
After a few moments, the silence in the atmosphere drew your attention back to him. He was still staring at you, but it seemed like he was thinking of something else.
Before you could ask what was wrong, he already spoke.
“I want to paint your wrists purple.”
You tilted your head. What did he mean by that?
“I don't think I understand.” You laughed awkwardly.
“When I grow up and get rich, I'll buy lots and lots of jewellery!” He stated in such an ambitious tone. “I'll buy you so many bracelets that it would look like you colored your wrists purple.”
You couldn't deny that you found the idea quite striking. “Really? You'll do that for me?”
“Of course!”
“T-then, if that's gonna happen, can the bracelets be made of electro crystals!? I mean, they're just so pretty!” You stood up, blood rushing in your veins due to excitement. “I don't like how numb they feel though. But, uhm, since rich people can do anything, maybe you can find a way to like… Not make them numb-y?”
The boy only laughed at your explanation. He found it a ridiculous idea, but he'd still do it. He’d be willing to do anything for you, after all.
“Sure.”
When you heard his response, you jumped around and pounced on him. His heart started beating fast as you wrapped your arms around him tightly.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you—” You kept repeating those words as you nuzzled your face into his shoulder.
It tickled him, but he didn't feel like pushing you away. He decided to hug you back.
“You're welcome.”
Years passed since that twilight on the cliff.
After all those years, you still kept the bracelet. Just like how gazing at the sky was part of your routine, so was wearing your beloved accessory. It had become second nature to wear it all the time, even if you weren't even going outside, even if the colors had long since faded, even if the threads had long since frayed, even if… your friend, who was now called ‘Pantalone,’ seemed to forget about you.
You started working for the Fatui just a few months ago. Imagine the surprise you felt when you found out that your dear friend was actually one of the harbingers now. He was no longer the boy you often played with in the mountains of Liyue.
No wonder he disappeared back then. He became The Regrator.
You let out a sigh as you reminisced about the past for the umpteenth time. You walked out of the bank, making sure you brought the keys with you before locking the doors. You were the last one to stay at the bank because of the amount of paperwork you had to do. You insisted to your co-workers that since you were going to work overtime, they might as well let you take charge of closing the bank at night.
Luckily, when you were given the offer to work for the Fatui, you didn't have to be stationed in Snezhnaya or any other regions out there. You managed to get a position in the Liyue branch of Northland Bank.
You had a basic job at the bank. Everyday felt mundane, but at least you were getting paid, right?
It was common for your ears to hear the same tune everyday; the jingling of coins, the shuffling of papers, and the voices of your co-workers and clients discussing money. Your passion never had an interconnected relationship with computing cash or dealing with debts. Your heart yearned for something else, and it was the skies above. Originally, your dream was to study in Sumeru Akademiya. You wanted to be part of the Rtawahist, where you could study astronomy and things alike. You dreamed of researching the cosmos, constellations, and other planets.
Your love for twilight never faded away; in fact, it only grew stronger. When you first found out about the boundlessness of the sky, you wanted to look into it even more—like curiously prying a frog open just to see how small its organs really were.
But alas, you knew that pursuing your passion was never possible. Dreams like yours often demanded fortune, and fortune wasn't something you were good at making. After all, you never had a proper upbringing, hence you had a slim chance of picking passion over practicality.
As disheartening as it sounded, you eventually learned how to deal with it. But you couldn't deny that there was still a fiery part inside of you that desired a bigger goal in life. You disliked being mundane. You disliked being stagnant. You wanted to grow.
Eventually, you found yourself thinking about Pantalone again. He should've brought you with him when he was planning to leave the region, maybe you could've actually encountered bigger opportunities in Snezhnaya.
Pantalone…
Speaking of the harbinger, in his occasional visits, you only saw him make rounds and conduct meetings with the higher-ups of the bank. He was never one to interact with common staff members like you. You were just a mere assistant, so as long as you were doing your job correctly, there was no point in talking to you. Also, he never seemed to notice you, even if you were in the corner of his eye. You were so sure that he forgot about your existence because of it.
Even if you wanted to approach him, you couldn't. He was now a busy harbinger! Who were you to just casually start a conversation with him? You weren't even an important person, you were just a humble employee of the Northland Bank!
You were extremely appalled to see how much Pantalone had changed. He began to speak with elegance, and his appearance was that of a typical aristocrat. You couldn't tell if he still possessed any trait he had back in childhood. Did he still have a short temper?
As you shook your head to calm your racing thoughts, you lifted your chin to look up at the sky. Lately, you could rarely watch the sunset descend into twilight since you were so busy with work.
“You never stop staring at the sky, do you?”
You flinched when you heard a voice behind you. You slowly turned around, seeing the man you were just thinking about moments ago.
What was he doing here? Why was he suddenly in Liyue? Did anyone else know about this?
You tried recalling everything that happened today. No one ever mentioned that the ninth harbinger was coming to visit the bank—and at such a late time too!
“L-lord Harbinger!” You flinched and suddenly hit your back against the railing of the red balcony.
Even when you were still experiencing pain from the impact, you managed to instinctively bow your head to him.
“I-I was not informed that you were going to visit the bank tonight, I'll unlock it right away if you need to make rounds!” You tried keeping your composure since this was your first time interacting with him for a while.
Before you could head back to the bank, he stopped you. “Oh my, you’ve misunderstood,” He shook his head. “I’m not here because of professional matters.”
You blinked. Then why is he…?
“I'm here to see an old friend.” His eyes closed and the corners of his mouth turned upwards. “It’s definitely a pleasure to see you again.”
When you heard your name roll off his tongue, you could've sworn you were going to faint right then and there.
So he did remember you, after all.
Your eyes traveled from head to toe and you noticed more details on his outfit. You never bothered to observe it before since you were wary of being called disrespectful for looking at him for too long.
He looked completely different. Unlike before, he now wore a pair of glasses. His curly black hair had grown long enough to reach his shoulders. In the photographs you’ve seen before, he constantly wore a white Fatui coat, but it appears that he left it behind today. It might be because of Liyue’s hot weather that tarried even at nightfall.
You noticed how he was also adorned with a lot of jewellery. Silver gems sparkled on the fabric of his black turtleneck, small diamonds dangled below the end pieces of his silver glasses, and multiple rings twinkled on his fingers every time he moved his hands. Most of the gems had different shades of purple, which was your favorite color.
Pantalone’s footsteps became louder as he approached you closer. You shifted and stood next to the railing, still feeling awkward about the thought of talking to him again. You quickly averted your gaze when his eyes locked onto yours. You no longer had the right to stare into his twilight sky. He was your superior now, after all.
“You know, I've heard rumors that the sky is actually fake.” He continued speaking.
You looked back at him, startled by the words he just dropped. After all these years, he still recalled that precious hobby of yours.
But… A false sky, huh? That was new. It was a strange claim, but somehow, it still made you curious.
“If anything, that interests me even more.” You replied casually.
A chuckle escaped his lips. “You remind me of The Doctor.”
You weren't sure if you wanted to take that as a compliment, knowing what the second harbinger had done long before you even joined the Fatui.
By then, Pantalone shortened the distance between the two of you. You stood side by side by the railing, letting the warm breeze envelope the both of you.
“I was worried I wouldn't be able to see you since it is indeed late, but I'm glad that's not the case.” You felt something warm wrapped around your hands. “I've always wanted to talk to you ever since I first saw you here, but I didn't want to draw attention from any fatuus out there.”
You realized that he had clasped both of your hands. You could feel the leathery texture of his gloves and the cold sensation of his rings.
“How have you been?” He gently opened his eyes.
You tried your best not to stare at them too much. “D-Depends on how you ask it.”
“Why, in general of course.”
You hesitated. Did he truly want to know? Should you answer him? You let silence engulf you before you could finally spill everything.
You told him about it all. About how your fascination with twilight had grown into something far bigger than just skygazing, about how astronomy had become your greatest obsession, and about how you stayed awake reading books about it during midnight. You even told him about how you wished to enter the Akademiya and pursue your dreams of becoming a researcher.
Of course, he listened sincerely, his eyes never leaving yours. Slowly, you finally allowed yourself stare into them for a prolonged time as you kept on rambling. Oh, how you missed those eyes. You remembered how you ridiculously used to believe they stored the twilight sky within them, and it almost made you laugh.
“I would love to help you achieve your dream.” He spoke as if it was a wedding vow. “You can quit your job and come with me. I'll give you all the funds you need to study at the Akademiya.”
Although the offer seemed tempting, it still felt like it was cheating. You didn't want to get into the Akademiya just because of connections—you wanted to be recognized by your knowledge and passion to get in. You believed in hard work. Moreover, you didn't want to use Pantalone as a tool to achieve your desires… Just thinking about it already made you feel guilty.
Maybe you should change the topic and dismiss the offer for now.
“How about you? How have you been, Lord Harbinger?”
“You know there's no need to call me that when we're alone.” He realized how you wanted to change the topic but he decided to just let it go. “You can call me by my real name. I missed hearing it from your lips.”
“How have you been, then?” His real name felt foreign in your tongue; you haven't uttered it in years. “You left without a trace. I want to know everything that’s happened after you left Liyue.”
“Hm…” He gave you another close-eyed smile. “That, my dear, is a story for another time.”
You pouted. “I’ve told you my story, and you won't tell me yours? That's kind of unfair, isn't it?”
“I suppose it is.” He put his fist under his chin as if he was pondering about a problem he already knew the answer to. “Perhaps… If I invite you for dinner and you come along, I can tell you everything.”
You let out a laugh. “Is that your way of charming me? It’s so weird to hear you talk like that!”
“It's a skill businessmen use to attract clients.” He put a finger on his lips.
Pantalone lowered his head as he stared at your hands. His fingers traveled down to your wrists, pausing when he noticed the familiar accessory wrapped around your skin. He soon realized that you were still wearing the same old bracelet he gave to you back then.
You caught his reaction. His eyes widened and his lips parted slightly as if the shabby little item had struck something deep within his heart. To be fair, you understood why. It had been more than a decade since he gifted it to you, and for some reason, you managed to keep it safe all this time. How was that possible?
He brushed his fingertips over the texture, recalling how he crocheted it step by step.
“You kept it.” He muttered.
“I did...” You replied. “It was the last gift you gave me before you left. I’d say it's the most precious one too.”
He then released your wrists, bringing his hand to his glasses to readjust their position. “Do you remember the promise I gave you?”
“What promise?” You felt somewhat guilty when you asked. You had always thought he forgot everything about you, but as it turns out, you were the one who forgot something about him.
“That I’ll adorn your wrists with purple bracelets.” He moved his face closer to yours. His scent was akin to the expensive perfumes Fontainian merchants would sell. “I can finally replace this ugly little thing with bracelets made out of electro crystals instead.”
You blinked. So that was what he meant. “Wait—”
“You specifically said you wanted electro crystals. Perhaps I can ask The Doctor for help in turning them into bracelets.”
“Pantalone—”
“He's not a jeweller, but he never refuses an experiment he’s never tried before. I can—”
“Hold on a moment!”
As you raised your voice, Pantalone immediately closed his mouth and returned to look at you, shutting down the excitement he was feeling in his bones.
Before he could ask what was wrong, you already spoke.
“I don't… I dont want electro crystals.”
“You don’t?” He tilted his head.
“I like this bracelet… Just the way it is.” You confessed. “It holds sentimental value to me, you see. So I don't think I want to replace it anytime soon. I’m sorry.”
Silence enveloped the both of you.
At that moment, as his gaze turned gentle, Pantalone remembered (perhaps even more clearly than before) just how much he loved you.