#Kaeya x Lumine

[cparas-art]

kaelumi hug

[written-with-blue-ink]

How about some headcannons for Kaeya and his Traveller!S/O? (Featuring a Paimon cameo ofc)

I just like the idea that traveller (and those close) can use waypoints to be in multiple nations within a day. Just finished Sumeru commissions? Let's go to Good Hunter for lunch!

And that's exactly how Kaeya can get his knightly duties done and accompany his S/O. I'd also imagine he makes up some excuse that he's acting a diplomat for Mondstat..

Regardless I personally have dragged Kaeya around Teyvat like a child drags around their favorite blanket. The man has been EVERYWHERE. From Enkanoimiya to the Jade Chamber he's starting to rival Diluc's own travels.

As a fellow Kaeya main, agreed. This man has never left my team and I have gone to every nation in Teyvat with him. Kaeya Mains/Simps unite. I didn’t come up with a lot, but here are some ideas I did have (: 

Kaeya traveled with you to Liyue but he had to return once you had to go to Inazuma. He has responsibilities in Mondstadt, he can’t be gone forever when his army is already absentee. 

He doesn’t understand how the hell you managed to get the monuments around the map to work as teleporters

All he does know, teleporting makes his stomach flip and he hates it (but he’ll never tell you that)

The good thing about it though is being able to hold you close to his chest for the teleportation to work.

He does love the opportunity to take you to nice places though, he’s gone to several of the nations on business trips and negotiations so when you bring him to say, Fontaine, expect nice crepe shops or fancy French restaurants treated by him. 

Kaeya is also 1000000% a shopper, has an eye for fashion, and gift giving is his language so both of you can spend an afternoon in different nation’s shops trying on outfits (and Kaeya will buy them for you as gifts for a later date)

He also buys gifts for friends in Mondstadt if he’s spending the day for you (which you don’t mind, they’re your friends too after all)

Diluc at this point has several Sumerian Vases in all sorts of colors, patterns, and cultures

It also makes his life easier if you send him to nations for conferences or business meetings, saves a few days of travel, and can get there almost instantly. Plus, he'll spend all his free time with you

His favorite thing though is when you surprise him with some special date. A picnic in Inazuma, overlooking the sunset over the city, a private night in King Deshret’s tombs, or scuba diving in the reefs of Fontaine, whenever you plan something special, his heart fucking melts. 

[noxdont]

Lumiharem and their Endearments

Dilumi

"my love" / "love"

It just slipped out so naturally from Diluc's lips that he didn't even realized what he called her until he caught Lumine gaping at him. She still teases him nonstop about it.

Lumine has no problem using such endearments in public although Diluc only does it when they're alone or close enough that no one else could hear. Unless of course he gets jealous or someone tries to hit on Lumi

Kaelumi

"starlight"

The idea just came to Kaeya one day it just grew over time, Lumine often wonders if he's only using the endearment to tease her and thinks nothing of it. But the way Kaeya called her starlight when she was silently crying in her bed one night was nowhere near playful, his tone was so warm and painfully intimate that Lumine couldn't help but hold on to him as she lets everything go.

Zhonglumi

"Darling"

Lumine said it as a joke and Zhongli was more than happy enough to take it seriously.

I don't know what else to fucking say other than the fact that these two are like an old married couple that won't stop showing how in love they are in public. They're shameless.

Zhongli adores it, but his favorite is when she calls him "my darling Morax" when she's writhing and moaning underneath him.

Chilumi

моя дорогая (moya dorogaya) / "my dear"

Lumine has no fucking idea what it meant and thought it was another way of him calling her his partner and Childe never did correct her. Every time he calls her that in front of his co-workers, they'd always try and steal a sneaky glance and Lumine keeps wondering why.

She only found out when she asked one of the Fatuus in Northland Bank.

Enjoulumi

"Princess"

He just wanted to get on Lumine's nerves to be quite honest, but as he kept calling her that, it gradually just stuck over time. Lumine hates to admit it out loud but she started to like hearing the way he called her princess every time they'd see each other.

Ayatolumi

"Wife"

Ayato just straight up called her his wife one day and no one had the guts to say anything about it. Lumine was too busy processing whatever fuck just happened.

It gets to her. Every. Single. Time. And Ayato loves how she always ends up getting flustered.

When Lumine jokingly called him husband to get back at him one day, she had to physically stop him from telling the entire estate to prepare the ceremony.

Thomalumi

"Honey" / "Hun"

Lumine couldn't help it, she's been wanting to call him that ever since she realizes how sweet and wonderful he was. When Thoma heard heard it he almost dropped an entire tray of food, his face resembling the same color as his vision.

It took him some time to get used to it but when he did, oh how the tables were turned.

Every time she announces that she's heading out, he always replies with "Take care honey!" And Lumine could only scream internally.

Ittolumi

"Babe"

THIS. I don't think I need to explain this.

Lumine either loves it or hates it, there's no in between.

[giuliz-wthappened]

from the Simpsons gag: Homer drunk love letter.

(at first I thought to put Aether only, but let's make Lumine happy too)

[kaelumizine]

Happy Valentine's Day!

From all of us at Frostwind Star zine! We hope you have a great day with that someone special (or even just a friend!)

(Art by our guest artist, agnt-j)

[kdriegantier]

I commissioned LeeBeeNSFW on Twitter to make me a soft Modern AU Kaelumi and I am obsessed with it 🥰

[sevencandlesticks]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: 原神 | Genshin Impact (Video Game) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Kaeya/Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Kaeya & Venti (Genshin Impact) Characters: Ying | Lumine (Genshin Impact), Kaeya (Genshin Impact), Venti (Genshin Impact) Additional Tags: Other characters mentioned - Freeform, Serenitea Pot (Genshin Impact), friendship furnishings, Sumeru teapot realm is pretty, Ying | Lumine is So Done (Genshin Impact), Inspired by an actual co-op session, I finally got Venti, Comedy, Silly, One Shot Series: Part 26 of Memories of Teyvat Summary:

Venti decides he really likes Lumine's new realm in her Serenitea Pot.

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I wrote this in celebration that I FINALLY obtained Venti as of yesterday! Yahoo ~

First time writing a story inspired by a character coming home, but since I had my friend along for extra luck (so she could have her Venti on field as I pull) and she once again decided to tease me about my favorite pairing (KaeLumi) with Venti-style remarks, this happened. Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been any interesting material to work with and I’d just be like “yay I got Venti!” but no, now there’s a silly story to go along with it xD

[komitomi]

NSFW DRABBLE, MDNI! afab!reader x various genshin characters

♡ — fingering you until you coat their hands and fingers with your juices, pulling them out and licking your essence and groaning when the taste hits their tongue, 'so fucking yummy' they mutter before dipping their head down to eat your pussy like a starved person, lapping at your folds, nibbling on your clit, making you wince as you grip their hair tightly, they chuckle which causes vibrations to shoot up your body, it only took a few more minutes of them greedily devouring your cunt to make you cum once again, feeling overstimulated you push their head away, but they remain firm and continue licking away.

“We've only just begun, darling.”

Kaeya, Childe, Ayato, Abyss!Aether, Alhaitham, Tighnari, Raiden Ei, Yae miko, Sara, Lisa, Jean, Abyss!Lumine, Ningguang, Beidou.

[tangyangie]

𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠

desc. how genshin characters sleep next to you!

notes. i love these ppl sm sobs

they're so quiet. the only thing you can hear is their soft breath, maintaining a constant rhythm. they generally prefer to bury their head in your shoulder, but they're content just laying next to you. they're so easy to sleep next to. they probably completely shut off while they're asleep?? you will not feel a single thing. no water necessary. no bathroom breaks. they save feeling sick until the morning. in addition, a kiss on the forehead is the last thing you see before you fall asleep and the first when you wake up in the morning. all in all, they're super sweet—maybe, in a way, pretty old-fashioned. i give a 100/10.

lynette, tighnari, shenhe, XIAO, aether, ALBEDO, jean, EI, baizhu, KOKOMI, diluc, layla, ayato, ganyu

SO touchy. literally can't go more than ten seconds not being next to you. probably have a quiet, whispered conversation with you before bed—about anything at all. it's mostly to distract from the fact that they're feeling you up, but they still listen to every word you say. they mumble replies with a teasing voice as their fingers dance up your back, resting at your shoulder. nuzzling their head in your neck while lightly kissing you there. (maybe biting if they're into that...) if you want to get up to get water, they probably make you stay where you are so you stay comfy. they'll do everything for you. you want a massage at 3 in the morning? go ahead, ask. they won't refuse.

KAZUHA, zhongli, cyno, yae miko, BEIDOU, xinyan, lumine, LISA, keqing, candace, THOMA, kaeya

LOUD. that's all you really need to know—but you can barely sleep. it's like they don't need it. they'll stay up for hours on their phones, talking about the videos they're watching, what they did—anything at all that they can think of. you'd believe they'll eventually get tired and toss in the towel, but they could pull 10 all-nighters in a row if it meant you'd listen the whole time. other than that, they're usually pretty cuddly. They'll grab onto your arms and scrunch into a ball position, their knees nearly at their chest. They'll probably talk to you like that until they realized you've dozed off. Once they do, they kiss you on the nose and cuddle against you, letting out an unbelievably loud sigh. almost comically so. (it might wake you up and you'd have to fall asleep all over again...)

CHILDE, yoimiya, ITTO, heizou, yanfei, VENTI, hu tao, gorou, kirara

sarcastic and mean. can you even get more mean than these guys?? they (lovingly) insult and tease you before dragging you into the bed, tightly holding you against them. they'll most likely hold the back of your head by tangling their fingers in your hair, keeping you steady against their chest. to hear their breathing. they might give you a kiss on the forehead if you get lucky. if you decide to tease them by refusing this kiss, they'll probably spread their limbs across the bed to make sure you've got no room, and that you'll have to climb on top of them to be able to lay down comfortably. that's better than a kiss, in their opinion. you're wide open for sarcasm, teasing, and letting them be the meanies they are.

yelan, kaveh, SCARA, kuki shinobu, FARUZAN, dehya, KUJOU SARA, alhaitham, mona, ningguang

notes. i hate school so much actually 🤗🤗 anyways GUTS WORLD TOUR IM SO EXCITED

mwah mwah i heart you guys 💋

[aeferkssr]

the first time you guys got a little more intimate than usual, they were oh so gentle. staring deep into your eyes before even daring to touch you. their own eyes crinkled up, showing their eagerness.

they cup your face in their hands as they admire you with all that they have, all that they are. as you were gently pulled into them, you close your eyes and pucker your lips a bit. your action being recognised by a kiss on your nose, and a cheeky giggle.

your face flairs as you as you avert eye contant, even when you two are so vulnerable they never miss a chance to tease you.

"im sorry, dear. you were too cute to not toy with." they muse as you pout. their left hand positioned right over their wide grin as their right never left your face.

you two finally close the gap, not for long but enough for fireworks to blaze behind your eyes. their smile never ending as they practically bounced in place, not even trying to mask his excitement.

you two meet fot the second time, your arms wrapping around their head as you play with what hair you could access. they turn their head to deepen the kiss as you panic, trying to 'go with the flow'.

that flow definetly wasn't flowing.

"calm down, you're going too hard" they say as they kiss your jaw.

"sorry, i got nervous"

they chuckle: "i can tell"

you two go at it again, matching their flow better than the last. you two eventually melted togetger, them pullung you closer by the waist. their arms never left your body, trailing down you midrift to the plush of your ass.

they reach for your hands to interlock your fingers, never once breaking the passionate exchange. you could feel them smile through the kiss as your tongues danced with one another.

you two part for air, panting as you looked deep into each other's eyes. both of your lips curling into a smile as their hands never left yours. both you lips being glossed eith the other's saliva. you two kiss once more, this one full of adoration and honesty (embarassment too, but its more poetic to leave ot out).

"GUYS, THEY'RE FUCKING IN THE BATHROOM"

shit.

SHIKANOIN HEIZOU. KAEDEHARA KAZUHA. KAEYA. wanderer. aether (delusional). lumine. venti. xiao (delusional 2). kaveh. al haitham (i have no clue). tighnari. cyno.

masterlist.

[luxthestrange]

G.I Incorrect Quotes#33 Lover Boy

-after an explosion set by a hilichurl-

Diluc, helping You stand: Shit, you okay?

Y/n: Yea, I think so

Lumine, from the ground snickering: Oh my god

Kaeya, flat on his back: We’re okay too, lover boy~

Diluc*embarrassed grumbling*

[cparas-art]

torturing myself rn, physically and emotionally

[auroratumbles]

if only that was me.

the beautiful sound of your laugh seems to echo in their ears. it’s almost taunting. taunting in the way that you’re always close to them but not in the way they hope. you’re with someone else - someone who makes you far happier and the one that you love so dearly. they would never amount to that.

so they attempt to banish these unwelcome feelings, but they just return even stronger. when you ask them why they look so lugubrious around you, they dismiss it as just being a little bit of fatigue. you - skeptically - leave the matter alone, respecting their wishes to not talk about it. if only you knew.

lingering glances, fleeting touches. those are the only things that happen. and they should be satisfied, no? selfish envy remains in their mind (much to their dismay) and they can’t help but glare at the one who has unwittingly taken their chance.

if only that had been them.

abyss!lumine, abyss!aether, kaeya alberich, diluc raginvindr, kujou sara, kamisato ayaka, thoma, kaveh, xiao

[noxdont]

LumiHarem & their fave pastimes together

Dilumi

Napping together. Honestly with the amount of things this man has on his plate, it's amazing how still manages to find some time for himself. Although when he does, he'd already be exhausted. One day, Lumine was there waiting for him in the manor and the sight of her just made him realize how tired he was for the day. And so they ended up lying on the large couch by the windowsill, nuzzling in each others' embrace. Since then it's become Diluc's favorite part of the day.

Kaelumi

Stargazing. (Yes I will keep pushing this agenda and I will never shut up about it) Them just finding any comfortable spot that gives them the perfect view of the night sky is more than enough. Before Lumine came into his life, Kaeya would often find himself ordering another drink at the tavern or in some old ruins trying to find more answers to the lingering questions in his mind. These days (or nights) he'd find himself searching for a certain traveler and just settling himself by her side as they silently watch the stars shine and burn above them.

Venlumi

Picnics. If he finds out that his beloved traveler is back in Mondstadt, he'd immediately whisk her away to Windrise and Lumine lets him because being with Venti also gives her some time to relax. They'd most likely be lying underneath the large tree at Windrise, Venti asking her about her adventures with his head on her lap while Lumine catches up with him. They'd have small picnic basket by the side filled all sorts food (Lumine always bakes an apple pie because she lowkey loves spoiling Venti) and a bottle of apple cider.

Albelumi

Reading together. Other than trying out various exercises and experiments, another pastime both Lumine and Albedo enjoy doing is reading books together. May it be fiction, non-fiction, some old documents or a book Lumine found in the midst of her trip, they'd eventually find themselves in their usual position. They're both underneath a warm blanket, Lumine's head leaning on to his shoulder as she reads through a novel recommended to her by Lisa while Albedo leans against her as well as his reads through another book Lumine found during her adventures.

Zhonglumi

Drinking tea and sharing stories (although most of the time Zhongli is the one who does the talking because he likes sharing about various things and Lumine enjoys listening to him). Third Round Knockout, Liuli Pavilion or at the stone table on Mt. Aocang, these three places have become their usual spots. It simply started out with Lumine inviting Zhongli for tea when she'd have some free time in Liyue and eventually it just became their thing. Lumine grew this habit of collecting tea recipes and ingredients from different places so she could share it with Zhongli while he tries to think of the tales he has yet to tell her for their next date meet-up. (He'd always try to choose the longer ones so that they'll spend more time together)

Chilumi

Fishing. Other than beating up each other to pulps like the romantic couple that they are, Childe also enjoys fishing and the fact that Lumine is starting to get more and more into it makes him all the more happier because he gets to spend more time with her. Sometimes they'd chat for a bit and talk about their families, sometimes it gets a little competitive and they'd end up just duking it out but most of the time right after their little activity, Childe would took her hand in his and leads her to the sandy shorelines of Liyue as they watch the sun slowly sink into the horizon.

Xiaolumi

Collecting random things. The word pastime probably doesn't exist in Xiao's vocabulary but if he miraculously does get some free time, he'd instinctively find Lumine and join her with whatever she's doing. And most of the time, he'd catch her collecting things either for personal use or for a commission. Whether it was collecting violetgrass and qingxin flowers on mountaintops, finding starconch shells and some cor lapis, Xiao has gotten used to helping Lumine find these things that he's memorized the spots where they'd mostly find them. Neither of them really needs to point out on how it was starting to turn into their little routine, all they know is that being with each other like this made their day a little better.

Thomalumi

Cooking. Ever since Thoma found out that Lumine also cooks, he suggested they start sharing each others' recipes when they have the time and Lumine happily obliged. From taste testing partners to mini cooking competitions to almost trashing the entire kitchen, Thoma never expected he'd enjoy cooking more than before. Every time he'd hear that Lumine was back in the estate or is at the teahouse, he can't help but be excited as he wonders what kind of dishes they'll make together this time. And as soon as they're done cooking, they realize that they made a feast large enough to feed the entire estate. Making sure that they don't waste any of the food, they'd invite the rest to share the feast with them.

Ayatolumi

Going for a short walks together. Ayato spends most of his time reading and signing papers under closed doors to the point where Ayaka and Thoma worries that he might end up overworking himself. Their prayers were answered in a form of golden traveler who seems to be one of the few people that Ayato can't say no to so convincing him to go on a short walk together was fortunately not that difficult to do. At first it started out as a way for Ayato to take breaks but somehow it became something he'd look forward to even as he works. When he hears three soft knocks at his door, he's already on his feet and ready to leave his office.

Goroulumi

Archery. Here we have another workaholic whose hobby can still be considered as work but then again, Gorou being committed to his job and position are just few of the things that makes him so loveable. Lumine has always been interested to train with the bow although she never really found someone to properly show her the ropes, this little tidbit slipped out while she was having a conversation with Kokomi and Gorou's ears perked up in interest.

"Then how about I teach you?" offered the general with thinly veiled enthusiasm. How could Lumine ever say no to that?

And so whenever they both have the time, they'd find each other on their usual training spot. Lumine making steady progress although she occasionally gets stuck on a problem. Cue Gorou appearing beside her to either fix her stance and explains the parts where she went wrong. Lumine never misses how his touch would linger longer once their eyes would meet. And the happy sway of his tail once she hits the target dead center.

Heilumi

Solving riddles. One would think that there isn't a riddle that the genius Doushin of the Tenryou Commission couldn't solve, Heizou takes pride in that very notion until he came face to face with a riddle that he has never heard before. The traveler sat across from with an innocent smile while a mixture of interest and frustration rung through his entire being. Not that Heizou never got the answer right, it just took him a lot more time (days even) to actually figure out Lumine's riddle. Once his mind managed to come up with an answer, he'd immediately go and find her. Overflowing with excitement, he'd pull her by the side from whatever she was doing and says his answer proudly. Lumine would reward him with a pleasant smile before complimenting him for doing a job well done. She would then present another riddle, another challenge that Heizou gladly takes and by then the cycle continues. Heizou has no problems admitting that he's been enjoying their little exchange but it might take more courage for him to admit that what he's truly looking forward to was seeing her smile every time he gets to solve her riddles.

Kazulumi

Cuddling. Kazuha is a huge cuddle bug (change my mind) and what better way to enjoy cuddling when it's with his favorite person? Cuddling just became natural to both of them and Lumine always welcomes it no matter the occasion. Being in each other's arms, often sneaking kisses on the other's cheek, temple and even lips before nuzzling into the crook of their partner's neck. Either of them can initiate the cuddling session, all Kazuha has to do was to hug Lumine from behind and tell her how much he misses holding her. Lumine on the other simply makes a grabby motion towards the samurai before he's instantly making his way towards her. Cuddling sessions are not and should not be disturbed, Kazuha has made this quite clear towards the others as he holds Lumine tighter.

Ittolumi

Playing with children. Everything with Itto almost seems like a pastime but Lumine doesn't mind. Being with the oni always give her this freeing feeling like she was able to escape runaway from the constant commissions and responsibility to enjoy life even just for a quick moment. Itto has been playing with some kids in Inazuma for quite some time now and Lumine never really had a chance to see more of it other than them having fun. But when Itto literally scooped her away for her to join them one day, Lumine found her perspective changing. Under the playful, almost rash, and boisterous oni that he was, there was another side of Itto that not many often see. Such as him instantly bending down to comfort a crying child, bringing back their smile when he'd notice them frowning all day or him making sure to keep them safe when they were in any sort of danger. Itto dragging Lumine along to his usual routine was unplanned (a spur in the moment decision really) but it surely wasn't unwelcomed. Lumine witnessing another side of Itto and being given a chance to step back from her usual routine offered warm comfort. And Itto being able to enjoy the things that he does best without being judged or criticize made him happier than he thought it would.

[intothegenshinworld]

Fate’s Destiny ~ Chapter 9 || Gnoses

You somehow, not being able to explain it, had fallen into the Genshin world you know oh-so-well. You were no new player and had explored most of the nooks and crannies of the world. When you first had woken up in Windrise you wondered; it might be a dream, after all, you were behind your screen usually, and now- here? It made no sense, and the world was keen on keeping it that way.

Warnings: Spoilers for main story.

Word count: 6.4k+

Summary chapter 9: we continue where we left off; you with the gnosis in the inn and Kaeya bursting through the door. Why is here here in Liyue? And more importantly; will he be able to aid you with your deteriorating memories?

Auteurs note: The beginning of the year was a bit hectic. Expect sporadic updates!

Thanks to: all the people who showed love on the last chapter <3

↺ PREVIOUS CHAPTER || ↻ NEXT CHAPTER || MASTERLIST

Kaeya stands in the doorframe. He is out of breath. You watch his chest rise and fall rapidly, and his expression is twisted into distress, a strange thing for a supposedly joyful reunion. 

“Kaeya?” You watch a drop of water fall from his navy blue hair onto the wooden floor below. “I don’t understand… What are you doing here?” 

As you gaze at him, his expression softens. His gritted teeth relax, making his mouth fall open, and his eyes soften as he stops furrowing his brows. He radiates stress, yet you can still sense his usual warm and inviting aura.

A grunt escapes his lips and you watch him struggle to get any words from his mind out of his mouth.

Worry now flashes across your face as you turn your head to look over at Lumine. “Did something happen?” 

Aside from Kaeya, the Cavalry Captain from Mondstadt being in Liyue , she too seemed distressed when she first opened the door. Her golden eyes make contact with yours before they move over to the side. She stares at something slightly to the left of you. When you follow her gaze, your eyes meet the gnosis standing solitary on the table.

Without any thought, you’re reaching your hand forward to the potent object, securing it in your seemingly powerless hold before returning her gaze.

The gnosis hums a low tune throughout your body. "Are we in danger?" 

Lumine quickly shakes her head. “No, no. We’re fine.” With the flick of her wrist she turns the handle of her sword, dissipating it into elemental particles that shimmer in the air before disappearing. She continues, “Nothing happened.” 

“But Kaeya?" With confusion, you gesture your free hand to him. The whole ordeal seemed too strange for her answer to be ‘nothing’.  

“He…” Lumine trails off as she looks up at the Cavalry Captain. 

He still hasn’t said anything at all. Not a ‘hi!’, not a ‘how have you been? Last time I saw you we were about to get into a fight on Dragonspine.’; nothing. And when you start to think about it, you’re unsure whether you prefer the silence over the inevitable explaining you’ll have to do. 

“He had a long journey,” Lumine says as she gives him a pat on the back. “I think he needs a shower and some dry clothes before he’ll be able to explain everything.” 

“Right.” 

You look over at him. If only you could tell him he’s awaiting a much worse explanation from your side than he'll ever be able to present himself. Nonetheless, a smile finds its way onto your face as you watch your familiar companion move through the room.

Kaeya was able to salvage his spare clothes from his drenched backpack—which probably has seen better days. You admit he does appear to be in a better state once out of the shower. You had only traveled long distances once with Lumine, and his journey from Mondstadt city to Liyue harbour was much longer than the one you made. Perhaps he’d been overwhelmed instead of distressed. 

As you observe him, he notices your fixated gaze on him and he sends you a toothy smile, one which you return with joy. “You look better.” 

“You too.” He replies.

You're unsure of the meaning behind his words. When you try to think about it, your mind blanks. Had you really looked worse in Mondstadt? All you can remember is the cold welcome you had gotten, so perhaps he meant you looked more relaxed?

For a while, you can’t quite grasp your head around the situation, and you’re not sure why. If anything, with your dull eyes and your skin seeming to fade into transparency, you should look worse.

Your eyes follow Lumine as she walks across the room. Once she reaches your side, she takes a seat on the couch next to you. On her other side, Paimon stops flying and plops down with a soft thud. The pixie had been quiet when the three first came back, but she’s returned to filling the air with her usual chatter again. 

A high-pitched voice interjects the silence.‘’Paimon knows everyone is relaxing, but Paimon is still confused. We know that Kaeya was in Liyue as a diplomat to check up on local business, but that doesn’t make sense. Why would the Acting Grand Master send Kaeya after Rex Lapis returned?”

Kaeya crosses his legs and sends her a teasing smile. “What can I say? Word about the geo Archon’s death spreads faster than his revival.’’ He twirls his hand into the air, “When I was on the road, rumors had already begun to circulate. With new information but no visual confirmation of it, I wouldn’t have been able to return to Jean, would I?’’

“Paimon knew that!” She huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. 

You catch a fleeting moment of eye contact between Kaeya and Lumine. With the latter next to you and the former on the loveseat across, it’s inevitable, yet you refrain from pointing it out. 

An unsettling feeling arises in your chest. 

You feel left out.

After a moment longer, you clear your throat. “So nothing happened after we got separated on Dragonspine?”

Kaeya’s eyes move from your figure over to your Lumine once more. Despite being happy to see him again, neither of you had a chance to say goodbye when you suddenly ended up in Liyue. And now he’s here, sharing hesitant glances with your travel companions while everyone refrains from giving you the full story of what had happened in your absence.

“To be honest, you certainly gave Albedo and me a scare when you disappeared. Admittedly, it took a while to convince Eula to calm down, but once Albedo’s doppelganger left, we all dropped our weapons to figure out what had happened.“ Kaeya sighs and shakes his head. “Not that it made much sense after. But… I was able to feel your aura. Though I wasn’t able to pin down where you went, I knew you were alive. And for the first few days, that was enough.“

“Wait, a doppelganger ?“

“Yeah,“ Kaeya tries to smile confidently but he ends up cringing instead, “We let Albedo handle that one on his own.“

“So the Acting Grand Master is not mad for you hiding me?”

Kaeya locks eyes with you, his gaze strong and unwavering. He sends a warm smile your way. Despite the tension from before, you feel your heart skip a beat. “I am thankful, but please don’t worry about me, dearest Creator.”

You feel the weight of the gnosis in your pocket. It suddenly feels like a heavy burden. For a moment, you felt yourself again, but with the way Kaeya said it, you have to believe his words; you are the Creator.

“Woah. Paimon suddenly feels very grateful that Paimon didn’t give you an ugly nickname.“ You watch Paimon shiver as she imagines it. “Though we’ve already met a god, the Creator of everything seems much more powerful.”

A laugh escapes your lips, breaking the short silence. “What nickname would you have given me?“

“Well…“ Paimon buckles under the pressure of your curious gaze. For a moment, she intensely thinks about it, only to shake her hands defensively in front of her figure right after. “Paimon obviously can’t say it!“

Lumine taps Paimon’s shoulder, throwing her off balance. “And this is why you shouldn’t give every single person you meet an ugly nickname.“ 

“Paimon can’t help it!“

The warm sound of infectious laughter reverberates through the room. Kaeya holds a hand to his stomach, the eye without the patch closed. As he struggles to compose himself, his victorious smile radiates, casting a warm glow across the room. “Seems you've found your place here quite seamlessly.”

Paimon huffs, arms crossed. “We tried to tell you.” Her expression sours, “But Paimon thinks Lumine would’ve been worried as well if she had many bad dreams like you did.” 

Your eyebrow raises before they settle into a frown. “Bad dreams?” You turn your head to Kaeya who looks guilty. “You’ve been unwell?” 

“Don’t worry.” Lumine cuts in and a sigh of relief echoes through the room. “A lot has happened these past few weeks but I promise you that Paimon and I will keep you safe. Simply focus on getting your memories back. Afterward, all should be better for everyone.”

Lumine speaks rationally but her promise doesn’t sit well with you. Ultimately, try as you might, there was no counterargument against her. Even as the Creator, with your remaining memories slipping through your fingers, there was nothing you could do. 

Seeing the outlander's determined gaze, you find yourself unable to mirror the same resolve. As thoughts circulate, you start to feel pressure build up in your mind, trying desperately to cling to the last memories of your identity. 

“I must say, I’ve been quite curious.” Kaeya saves you from your thoughts as he speaks out to you. “You seem to have a more exciting story to tell compared to mine. Meeting the geo Archon and simultaneously reviving him after he fakes his death just because he wants to be with you? Now that’s a headline.” 

“It’s less exciting than it seems. It might be a long and boring conversation.”

Kaeya crosses his arms and makes himself comfortable in the lovechair. “We’ve got all the time in the world, my dearest Creator.”

After Kaeya prompted you to talk about your adventures, you rambled for nearly two hours. Not that he ever seemed to mind your neverending word vomit. Throughout your one-sided catching up, he kept an inviting smile on his face, only ever interrupting you to ask questions that got you talking for even longer. 

Lucky for you, with the rain continuously pouring outside there wasn’t any rush for Kaeya to leave. For a moment you could let all your worries out. It was a nice change of pace from glaring at the gnosis and hoping it’d give you back your memories in due time. 

You move in your seat. “Are you staying in Liyue for long?”

Kaeya inhales sharply. He lowers his head, causing the curtain of his bangs to cascade over his face. “While I’d love to be at your side for longer, my ride back to Mondstadt is leaving tomorrow and I still have business to take care of.” 

A silent nod conveys your understanding. While you weren’t surprised at his answer, you had hoped he could aid you in your quest to recover your memories. His presence alone had been enough to make you feel at ease during these distressing times. 

“Oh?” Kaeya smiles playfully. “You look at me as if this is goodbye.”

“It’s not?” 

“I certainly hope not.” He fixes the strands of hair that hang in front of his covered eye. “Besides, it is fate that has led us together all this time. I have the feeling that I’ll see you again sooner or later.”

You smile to yourself. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

After giving you a firm nod, Kaeya stands up from the lovechair. He stretches both of his legs and then moves his head to face Lumine. You’re unable to capture their expressions from your position but you witness them nod once—seemingly in agreement, before returning their attention to you. 

Kaeya speaks up first, letting out a laugh between words. “I better head out before my ride gets upset.”

The pixie hovers closer, “Paimon was wondering, who took you to Liyue? Paimon doubts anyone would willingly visit this chaos. It must be someone important, right?”

“Some people would argue his importance in this situation, but yes. You know him. A certain redhead we’re both familiar with had to check up on business after his connections got shut down. And I won’t say no to an opportunity where I can steal a few bottles of wine in the shipment he’s making.”

“Oh!” Paimon realizes something. “You mean Diluc? He is the only winemaker with red hair that we met in Mondstadt.”

“And basically the one to own the entire industry there,” Kaeya states playfully. He turns his head back to you. 

A torrent of emotions engulfs you, a tumultuous mix of grief, joy, fear, resentment, bliss, and emptiness,—each of them hitting harder than the last.

It disappears as quick as lighting strikes, leaving you to doubt if these emotions were real or a figment of imagination. 

Kaeya speaks again, pulling you back into the presence. “Good luck with everything. I know you’ll figure this out, whatever ‘it’ might be.” He then looks at Lumine, “I fear you’ll have to be better at protecting them than I have. Be safe, alright?”

The traveler meets his gaze, giving him a reassuring nod that acts as a silent promise. 

Before closing the door, Kaeya sends each of you a wave. A bittersweet feeling swirls in your stomach as you bid him goodbye. “Safe travels, Kaeya.”

Paimon, too, waves at him as the door closes.

“Bye Kaeya!”

Lumine seems different ever since she returned with Kaeya. Something is off. She seems worried. 

Paimon, on the other hand, seems more cheerful than before. She clings to your side whenever she’s allowed to and has spent the last hour discussing all the things you should do together after you regain your memories. 

You don’t have the heart to tell her that you fear it might never happen at this point.

“So… What do you want to do next? Paimon saw how much Kaeya’s advice seemed to help you. Maybe you needed the short break from the gnosis.”

Right, Kaeya did give you advice on the matter. 

You look down at the gnosis in your hand. Kaeya had never seen one before, which made sense, but it took you some effort to explain what it was without making things complicated. Such a small object holds such a great power. It’s ridiculous.

He turns his eyes from the gnosis back to you as he starts speaking. “Why don’t you ask Rex Lapis himself? After all, he is the best person to seek answers from. As much as I love Mondstadt, I fear our Archon is as free as its people, so I can’t advise you to come back with me on a journey to find the lost Barbatos.”

You remember how your mind spun at his words. For some reason, his advice seemed so familiar. Even now, you don’t doubt you had heard it before and had simply forgotten. With memories slipping in and out, it’s hard to make out what you did and didn’t already do.

Then, you recall Zhongli. Or, Rex Lapis as you should say. He gave you the gnosis, something you supposedly had given him in the past. 

Was he right to put his faith in you?

“I think I’m afraid of disappointment. Zhongli—I mean Rex Lapis—he looked at me with so much confidence… as if I could save the world if I wanted to and yet I’m unable to remember anything about myself.” You look down at your hands. “I’m afraid his belief in me might be misplaced. What if I’m a fake after all?”

Kaeya was quick to respond. So quick, your doubts washed away with his words. “I assure you, you’re not.” 

He had moved his hand on top of yours, the gnosis now engulfed by both your hands and one of his. If he felt the vibrations from it, he did a good job of hiding it. The suave smile he sends you floods your brain with shortlived memories, enough to last a lifetime of him by your side. 

Then his hand squeezes, and he speaks again. “I might not worship the geo Archon, but I’m confident he’ll answer any questions you’ll have.”

The gnosis is currently on the table. The moment Kaeya left, you put it down and away from yourself. Its glow is dim once you’re out of reach and you no longer feel its energy pulse through your body. It’s a relief. 

Maybe you should arrange a meeting between you and Zhongli. It’s not like you hadn’t thought of it before. But the question remains; how? You weren’t ready to expose yourself to the public as long as you didn't have answers, so how could you contact him discreetly?

Lumine finally decides to enter the conversation between you and Paimon by sitting down next to you. She seems hesitant, and it takes her a moment to voice her own opinions. ”If you’re not sure what to do next, we can always wait a few more days. There’s no need to rush this.”

You want to agree with her, you really do, but you know you’re running out of time. 

You can feel it slipping away while a feeling of impending doom nestles in its place.

”I know I’d want to meet the geo Archon again. Last time I was overwhelmed and I had no idea how to even talk with him, but now I’m prepared. I’m sure I’ll be able to get answers this time.”

”Paimon is so excited!” She floats up before hovering down again. ”It seems like you finally know what to do to get your memories back.”

You let out a breath of air you had been holding on to. ”I don’t, but Rex Lapis will.”

”So you’re meeting him again?” Lumine asks. 

You nod. ”I’m not sure how to get his attention though. Last time he made a big spectacle. I hope to avoid that this time to preserve the little privacy I have left.”

”Paimon is not sure who to ask either. But maybe Paimon and Lumine could ask the Qixing for you!”

You look at Lumine. She seems less keen on this plan and offers something else after a moment of thinking. ”We can go tomorrow morning together before crowds begin to form. This way you won’t be alone and you’ll immediately be able to meet Rex Lapis when we ask the Qixing for an audience.”

”Are you sure I won’t cause a commotion?” 

”Paimon and I have been in the city lots of times these past days. Usually, crowds start to form at eight in the morning.” Lumine looks up at the clock in the room. She seems to calculate something in her mind. ”The Qixing most certainly wakes before the common citizens do. If we head out right before the sun starts to rise, we will be fine.” 

You nod to yourself. It sounds like a good plan. With Lumine by your side, you will feel safe enough, and you’ll be wearing your trusty cloak, so you agree to her plan.

“It’s already so late. Paimon didn’t expect Kaeya to stay for as long as he did. Seems like he’s fond of chatting, as usual.” She states in a dramatic tone which makes you laugh. 

“Maybe, but I enjoyed the reunion. I feel more certain about myself. I’m not sure why though.”

“You know,” Lumine hesitates, “You can talk to us as well if you need it.”

There’s an underlying disappointment in her words. You’re not sure if it’s directed to you or herself, but she makes a fair point. In these past few weeks, you haven’t made the best effort to properly ask her for help when you needed it, even when she had been ready to set aside her own mission to aid you. You hid your troubles away, which might’ve only made her more worried as a result.

You look at your hands. They feel distant from you and you can see the floor through your skin. Seems like that hasn’t changed.

Tomorrow you’ll properly thank her for all she’s done. Hopefully, when you meet Rex Lapis all the missing puzzle pieces will fall in place and you’ll be able to recognize yourself again.

A yawn echoes through the room. “Well. Paimon is heading off to sleep. After all that talking and running around, Paimon can barely stand. If you need Paimon, wait till morning!” She lazily rubs her eyes one last time and then flies off, assumingly to sleep. 

“You should sleep too if you can.“ Lumine says. “Tomorrow is a big day if all goes well.“

A sigh escapes your lips. “I hope so.“

With a swift but calculated motion, you grab the gnosis from the table and stand up from the couch. Familiar energy pulses vibrate through your body, but instead of making you feel alert and awake, it soothes you and puts you in a relaxed state.

“Goodnight, y/n.“

You put your last remaining energy into a smile for Lumine. “Goodnight.“

You don’t quite remember waking up. Hell-, it’s still pitch dark when you stand outside of the main exit to the inn, ready to confront an Archon for answers. However, it would undoubtedly turn into another tea party if it were up to Zhongli.

The only comfort you get this morning comes from the energy flowing from the gnosis into your body. It hums and cradles the nerves inside your chest. Once again, you look back down for the so-manyth-time since stepping outside. And once more, the glow of the gnosis is concealed by your cloak.

You just need to keep it safe for a while longer. A low hum echoes through your mind in agreement, and you squeeze the gnosis just a tad tighter to your body.

A voice squeaks over your loud thoughts, “Paimon isn’t sure where we should look first. Maybe we could ask the people at the docks for some information? They always seem to know a lot.“

Lumine huffs out a sarcastic laugh. “Word travels faster to the Qixing than we’ll find it. All we have to do is walk around the harbor and wait.”

“Do you think it’d be that easy?” You reply.

“Yes. Even before, the Qixing is widely known to have eyes everywhere. And with the Creator walking around in their domain, it’s only natural for their gaze to be fixed upon us.”

As the three of you depart from the inn and further into the harbour you find yourself growing more anxious. There are only a few people visible on the streets. Most of these people are setting up shops or stalls to prepare for the crowds that’ll inevitably suffocate these streets within mere hours, but it’s not the people who make you nervous. It’s the festive decorations that have been put up. 

More than once, you realized it had been a celebration for the Creator, so you can only hope no one will recognize you while your face is pasted on every corner of Liyue.

Paimon, who’s been floating next to you, turns her head to the side. “Paimon thinks you don’t have to worry. Remember the lady who was with Rex Lapis when he gave you the gnosis?”

You nod. If you hadn’t been as caught up in your world you probably would’ve spent more time observing her, but it was hard to forget a face like hers. She looked familiar.

“Well, she’s the Qixing’s Tianquan, Ningguang. From the Jade Chamber above, she is aware of every confidential meeting, every private conversation, and every new visitor to the city! A storyteller once told Paimon that she enchanted the Jade Chamber in a way that allows her to eavesdrop on everyone in the city's private conversations.” 

Paimon visibly shudders after her own story. She wraps her arms around her body as she floats forward. “Though Paimon hopes that the last part is wrong. Anyways, she’ll surely find us like the traveller said.”

“Not to mention the geo Archon himself,” Lumine adds. “It’s only a matter of time. We just have to be confident it’s either one of them noticing us, and not the Fatui.”

As the three of you continue to walk through the harbor, you notice that Lumine never takes a shortcut and actively goes out of her way to remain in the public eye. A few people already recognized her and have waved in her direction, greeting the traveller and Paimon as they pass the stalls that seemingly appear out of nowhere. 

While it makes you uncomfortable, you realize Lumine is doing all of this on purpose. She’s actively putting herself in the spotlight while making sure you remain in her shadows. All to get the attention of the people you’ve been trying to reach. 

And while Lumine had mentioned the Fatui before, you had foolishly forgotten any enemies you could’ve made during your stay in Teyvat. After all, it wasn’t long ago that a whole nation had decided you were an imposter and tried to cause an uproar because of it.

Perhaps your comfort had been the exact reason why someone was able to grab hold of your arm and force your body into the dark ally. 

You hear Paimon yell before you can, the sharp movement of a sideways pull makes you feel as if you’re being dashed forward and successfully takes the breath out of your lungs, making you unable to scream for help.

A hand gently but firmly replaces its hold on your forearm. It guides you to the side and you’re certain you’ll fall—until you don’t. For some reason, your attacker tries to steady you, making sure you don’t tumble forward or hurt yourself. 

Your heart races against your ribcage and your breaths are shallow and fast. One moment you’re close to feeling safe in public and then you’re back into danger, or so you assume. 

You blink a few times, slowly getting adjusted to the darkness.

“Xiao?”  

Dark hair with teal undertones frames a pale face that homes a serious expression. Out of everyone, you hadn’t expected to see him today. While the situation he put you in was questionable, you trusted him.

His golden eyes move over your form until they hastily land on Lumine who now stands at the front of the entrance to the alley, her swords sheathed and appearing equally as confused and alarmed as you by the situation. She takes a step forward, hesitating to attack but determined enough to keep you safe if needed.

“You’re being followed.” Xiao’s warning is directed towards Lumine and his voice is a tone colder than it used to be in past conversations—there’s an unfamiliar sharp edge underneath his words. Xiao eyes something you can’t see. 

You finally register his words.

“Wait what? Who? ” 

“The Fatui.” Lumine spats the words out, catching on quicker than you do. Her voice is close to venom and she turns her body around to face the assumed stalker. Because of her reply, you’re certain she already knew the identity of the one following her. 

You try to turn your head towards the scene but with the way Xiao holds you, it’s impossible to fully capture what’s going on—and more importantly—who the person might be. You rely on your hearing to fill in the blank spaces. 

As you focus, you hear footsteps rapidly approaching. “Wait. Why would anyone,–” You struggle in Xiao’s protective hold, still trying to turn your head, and unlike what you’re willing to do, Xiao spends no time waiting to see who comes around the corner. 

Your vision darkens. It’s pitch black for a moment, and then a sharp light blinds you. You instinctively grip Xiao's arm for support, and in return, he holds you closer to his body. 

Teleporting three times ever since arriving in Teyvat, you’ve grown accustomed to the feeling. Still, it takes you a second before your surroundings stop spinning.

“Xiao, you need to go back.” With a sense of urgency and desperation you look around, noting both the absence of Lumine and Paimon through your spinning vision. Alarm seeps through your words, “You need to bring me back.”  

The Yaksha gapes and then closes his mouth. He’s holding out his arms as if he’s waiting for you to fall forward, or to comfort you, you’re not certain. Either way, he’s not helping you in this situation—he is not helping Lumine or Paimon.

“Please, Xiao. If the Fatui were following us it’d be my fault.”

A mocking laugh echoes through the room. “I highly doubt that.” The feminine voice sneers and you feel the room grow colder. As the woman continues to talk, you hear her smile through her voice. She continues to mock you. “Why, our Creator? Because it was I who ordered them to stop chasing your little friends. On behalf of the Tsaritsa, of course.”

You turn away from Xiao and towards the platinum-blonde woman standing next to Zhongli. Behind her, you see two people in what you recognize as fatui clothing. You take a moment to look her up and down. Her stance radiates confidence to a degree where it borders arrogance instead of intimidation. Her blond hair falls over her right shoulder and a black mask covers the same half of her face. When your eyes move to inspect her clothing, you first notice the elegant dress that morphs from a white color to a mix of pale brown and greyish color. It hugs her figure and it stands in contrast with the crimson-red colors of her sleeves, and what you assume to be, the cape that hangs over her shoulders.

It is only after you’re done with looking her over that you realize the cloak had fallen from your head and thus had revealed your own face. Light grey eyes are busy inspecting you in the same way you inspected her, though she seems to be far quicker with making her judgment. In one quick swoop, she eyes your character before her eyes remain stuck on your torso.

“So that’s where the gnosis went.” The woman chuckles once more and you intuitively hold the small object closer to your figure, desperately trying to shield it away. 

“Relax, Creator .” She calls out your title in a mocking way, “The Tsaritsa already called everyone back. I no longer have use for it.”

“Who are you?” You spat out in response to her sardonic jab.

Her face changes at your question, and her expression is unlike anything you’ve seen from her in the past minute. Your words had genuinely amused her.  

“Never heard of the Fatui Harbingers before? I must admit, I’m a bit embarrassed.” Her confidence replaces any kindness or pity you might’ve seen in that short moment of genuinity, and you frown in response.

Xiao shifts behind you and it’s a hard reminder that you weren’t alone in the room. Your eyes glance over from the woman to Zhongli, who lightly tilts his head in response to your recognition. 

“La Signora,“ He lifts a hand and gestures it towards the woman next to him. “Is the Eight of The Eleven Fatui Harbingers. They are acquainted with the Tsaritsa, or as you know her, the cryo Archon.“

Your mind gets stuck in a moment of stupid clarity.

Right. I am the Creator. I should know the Archons. 

And despite your better judgment, you ask the Harbinger;

“The cryo Archon, no–, the Tsaritsa. Do you… does she know about my memories? Are you here to help?“

The eyes of La Signora widen and you realise you startled her with your question. Of all things, she had not expected this. That much was obvious to anyone in the room. 

Like La Signora, the two Fatui guards behind her stiffen up. They share a glance of confusion as they remain on one knee behind the Harbinger. 

“Your… memories?” The blonde woman in front of you squints her eyes. Her voice is uncertain and she seems to test the words in her mouth. 

While her smile remains, you can sense the mask behind her faux confidence as she ponders over your question about your lost memories. 

You’re glad to know neither Zhongli nor Xiao had mentioned your memory problems to her. At least they give you control over who to share it with and who not, though, that raises the question of why she was here originally.

You turn your head to Zhongli. You feel like a fish out of the water so you instinctively try to chase comfort in his presence. “We were searching for you. Well, technically we were searching for the Qixing to contact you– what I’m trying to say is .” You take an inhale so the following words don’t come out in the wrong way. “I wanted to talk to you about, well, everything.”

Zhongli nods urging you silently to continue without a care for the others in the room.

“I’ve been trying to get my memories from the gnosis but after spending literal days staring at it in frustration, I feel like it’s only getting worse.” I feel as if I’m losing my mind.

You clutch the gnosis a bit tighter in your hand. Soft vibrations echo through your body and it steadies you. 

You speak with more confidence, “I want to know why I’m here. I want to know who I am.”

Zhongli takes a calculated breath, “I’d prefer it if we were to discuss this in a more private setting, your Grace. That is if you don’t mind.”

You shake your head. “Not at all. I probably shouldn’t’ve assumed the Harbingers or the Tsaritsa to know.”

With Zhongli’s request for privacy, you wonder if the woman had been better off not knowing about your situation. In the corner of your eyes, you can see thoughts race behind her cold eyes. Either way, word is bound to reach the Tsaritsa sooner or later. Your memories won’t become better without a solution, so you’re not bothered by this revelation. If anything, it might prompt the cryo Archon to answer your questions and recover your memory if possible. 

“La Signora.” Zhongli addresses the woman with an intimidating undertone. She snaps out of her thoughts and her confidence returns in the blink of an eye.

She snaps her fingers and the two fatui members stand up straight behind her. 

“It seems like our mission is finished here.” She doesn’t seem to address anyone in particular but the Fatui members respond with a simple, ‘Yes, lord Harbinger’.

“Creator–” She calls out your title with less mockery than before, “it was a pleasure to meet you.” 

You mirror her words, realizing that it was the first time she had truthfully told you what had been on her mind. Whether for good or bad, she would not forget this interaction anytime soon.

And so, La Signora makes her exit. She doesn’t waste time with any more pleasantries and disappears almost as fast as you had appeared. When the doors close behind her, the tense atmosphere dissipates as well.

With the stressful situation out of the way, your mind instinctively moves to observe the unfamiliar room you had been teleported into. 

Your gaze glides across the room. You are greeted by a warm and strangely familiar atmosphere. The room has the same style as the one in the inn, but it radiates more luxury and wealth, almost to an exaggerated point. 

The deep orange hues from the lights above dominate the room, casting a soft golden glow on everything it touches and complimenting the golden lining in the wooden cabinets, desks, and chairs. Aside from the obvious golden details nearly everywhere in the room, the other furniture exudes an air of luxury and sophistication, not unexpected—considering Zhongli seems to be using it as his office right now. 

Everything seems to be carefully placed with a purpose. 

Wooden screens divide the room, hiding you from the maids and workers walking around and giving you some privacy with the Archon and yaksha. And as you move your head around further, your eyes fall onto the silk tapestries that are suspended from the ceiling. They depict important historical figures and events in Liyue. When you look closer, you see a figure that seems to represent you. 

Zhongli walks up to you. 

He smiles as he follows your line of sight. "I admit that Miss Ningguang has exquisite taste when it comes to decorating. The line between modern and antique furniture overlaps in a tasteful way, and yet nothing seems to be out of place."

"Wait, is that you, Xiao?" You point to a specific silk tapestry in the room. 

Xiao follows your pointed finger. The picture depicts you and Xiao, along with four other people you fail to recognize. It takes him a second to reply, "Yes."

"Do you recall any of these moments?" Zhongli, who remains at your side, asks you with care.

“I recognize myself. It’s difficult not to. Aside from the clothes, it’s exactly how I appear right now. I also recognize you and Xiao, but the other people in the pictures aren’t familiar.” 

Zhongli's expression remains neutral, as if he anticipated your answer. ''It's no surprise that you recognize yourself. Every single one of these tapestries depicts significant events throughout the history of Liyue, in which you played a major part.''

You hesitate, “In a way, they feel familiar, but I’m unable to remember what happened or who the other people are. All I know for certain is that these events happened, even if it’s merely a feeling.’’

“In that case, Would you like to sit down?” Zhongli places a hand on the small of your back. “If you have time I’ll be able to tell the stories behind each tapestry.” 

You reply, “I would like to, but I can’t stay here. Not while I know that Lumine and Paimon are both looking for me. I hope nothing bad happened after I left.” You look at Xiao. “I am confused though.”

Xiao hesitantly speaks out, “Your Grace?”

You continue; “You said it was the Fatui who were following us? Does that mean that the woman— La Signora —was lying?”

Zhongli lets out a deep chuckle. “I apologize, your Grace. It appears the situation might’ve grown a bit confusing as a result of my actions.”  

You look up at him, waiting for him to explain.

“In the past, I was approached by La Signora to make a deal with the Tsaritsa. My final contract. However given the unexpected change in our situation, the contract was deemed void. Upon further instructions from the Tsaritsa, La Signora was ordered to cease operation within Liyue and return to Snezhnaya with the other Harbinger who is also staying in Liyue.” 

Zhongli glances over to Xiao as he speaks, “I assume it was the Eleventh who acted independently and continued to follow the traveller despite his new orders?”

The yaksha nods, confirming Zhongli’s words. 

“But isn’t that a dangerous situation for Lumine and Paimon?” You ask.

“I assume by now that the Harbinger will have put all the given information together and realized why the mission was canceled and he was recalled. Confronting the traveller was the final push he needed to realize the truth.”

ㅤ

You lift an eyebrow, unsure why he held you in suspense. “The truth being…?”

ㅤ

“A bigger purpose, you, the Creator. ’’

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