Chapter Text
The view of the soft warm glow of lanterns flooding Liyue harbour was more comforting than you could’ve ever imagined. Rather than the breathtaking, bigger than self moment most fellow foreigners describe having invoked at the sight, you felt soothed. Comforted by the bustling, yet quite respectful crowd, as if someone had draped a warm blanket of ambience and soft lighting around your shoulders. However, your enlightened state was interrupted, not by the pleasant breeze embracing your skin. But by a deep voice reverberating through your ear.
“It’s beautiful, is it not?” The heavy voice murmured, facing the seemingly golden sea. Caught slightly off guard, you lazily turned to face the voice, hesitant to break your line of sight from the entrancing scenery.
“It’s stunni-“ your breath hitched, shocked by the sudden amber eyes boring into your soul. For a brief moment, all that could be felt was the abrupt tension, and the stinging embedded on the surface of your throat. You could feel the intricate geo symbol branded below your chin pulsing, clawing itself towards the tall figure like a forceful magnet.
“You- we… oh my archons..” you sputtered, speechless at the life changing moment so unexpectedly ambushing you. The bliss you had been experiencing prior melted away almost instantaneously. Unsure whether you should squeal in excitement, or scream in fear. The moment some wait decades for, most not even able to experience due to not living in the same lifetime as the person they share a soul with, presented to you. Here, now. It may seem perfect to most, something straight out of a fairytale or ancient myth. But to you, it felt strangling.
“I apologise if this is sudden, but I couldn’t help approaching you when I noticed.” The man’s sincerity put a priest to shame. Although, you couldn’t help but wonder why he was apologising. Was your shock and discomfort that obvious? And why is he being so formal? Sure, socially you may be nothing but strangers, but spiritually you were interlinked, tethered by some imperceptible force. It was only in that moment you started properly observing him. He was tall, with eyes that reflected the veins of cor lapis, and dressed in fine clothing.
You were brought back to reality by what you could only imagine to be some sort of low chuckle.
“I’m so sorry!” You frantically apologised, realising just how harshly you’ve been staring at him. Gods, you were a silent mess. Having a full existential meltdown over what most consider the greatest blessing to the mortal life. But to you it was a prison. You had long ago accepted that you may never find your soulmate because of the sheer population of Tevyat, not to mention how many souls are bonded in completely different lifetimes. If you were being completely honest, you’ve been praying that were the case for you ever since you understood the concept of soulmates. Being shackled to one person with seemingly no other options, simply because you shared what is essentially a bruise inflicted by Celestia. The pressure to be with your soulmate if you are ‘lucky’ enough to find them isn’t replicable. But even then, you’ve never even heard of anyone rejecting their soulmate.