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From her seat in the pavilion, Ningguang watches the bustling of residents bringing down the numerous decorations that once covered the docks for the Lantern Rite. Those colorful banners and parasols falling like leaves in the autumn remind her that once again another year has passed.
“Tianquan, I have the documents.” Ganyu arrives, so casually yet quickly, a large pile of documents burdening her. Placing the stack before Ningguang, she promptly begins to go through them. As expected of the Qixing's secretary, she is extremely capable, every paper neatly organized.
“The end of the Lantern Rite festival always brings so much work, almost enough to rival what we do to set up.” Ningguang’s smirk is almost playful. Another year has passed successfully and peacefully. Stamp in hand, she gets to work, her hands rapidly moving through and stamping each appropriate paper.
“Tianquan, it’s alright to take a break every once in a while.” Ningguang’s eyebrows raise, not looking up from her work. To her great surprise, though she doesn’t show it, Ganyu of all people is suggesting for her to take a break.
“What unexpected advice from the greatest workaholic here.” She finally looks up, a mirthful smile on her lips. Ganyu’s surprise is evident on her face, startled as she is at Ningguang’s small laugh.
“I’m sorry.” Ganyu lowers her eyes sheepishly. “But you haven’t taken a break this whole time. All of Liyue knows you work tirelessly. Surely, you should take the chance to rest a little?” Ningguang taps her pipe against the lacquered table, the dislodged ash forming a ring around the end.
“You’ve been working hard too, so let’s order some tea and refreshments for a small break.” She smiles, moving her papers over and gesturing to the seat across the table. “We’ve had another successful Lantern Rite, so let’s enjoy ourselves a bit.”
“Of course, Tianquan.” A sharp look from Ningguang makes Ganyu startle. “I mean, of course, Ningguang.”
“That’s better.” Ningguang smiles, “you vastly outstrip me in experience, so you shouldn’t need to speak so respectfully while we’re on a break, secretary or not.” She moved her hands back as they were served.
“Not at all…” Ganyu trails off just a bit. “The Qixing has done so much for Liyue, to have allowed it to grow to this size. The Lantern Rite used to be so small.” Ganyu stares across the harbor, watching the busy crowds. The passage of time was bittersweet, the loss of her human friends as she watched Liyue Harbor grow from the small port town it used to be.
“Truly the esteemed adepti have done just as much for this city.” Ningguang smiles over her tea, her gloves clacking ever so quietly against the fine porcelain. “You all have protected us for so long, and continue to do so, each in your own ways.” She smiles. “For you, that’s helping this city continue to grow. And I thank you for that, and hope that you will continue to do so, long past when I’m gone.”
“Ningguang…” Ganyu could feel her chest seize up. Although she’s seen the coming and going of many Tianquan right by their side, it still hurts each time. “But you have many years before you, no?”
Ningguang laughs echo across the pavilion. “Of course I do, I’m still so young. I may deal in the law but I’m by no means a doddering old woman.” Her laughter subsides, a more relaxed expression now gracing her face. She looks back out, evening light glittering against the glassy waves. “I hope we can watch this for many years to come.”
Ganyu watches Ningguang’s face for a moment, before closing her eyes, a content smile on her face. “So do I.” Each parting is painful and sad, but each one has brought a joy into her life that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. “Thank you, for being here, Ningguang.”
xxx
Chongyun melts the shards of his ice that were still scattered the ground around them, mixed in with the ruins of the Hilichurl camp and slime condensate, upon noticing an almost-imperceptible shiver run through his companion's body. Xiao may be an adeptus but he is still human enough to feel the cold and Chongyun had been especially vicious tonight. He needed to be—when he'd seen Xiao battling the dark energy accumulated in this area as he trekked through the landscape of Liyue to find wherever Xingqiu had disappeared off to now, he'd known that his exorcism abilities were needed.
Xiao likely would have been able to deal with the problem himself but it was dealt with faster with Chongyun's help. He could actually purify the energy instead of leaving it to Xiao to absorb and battle internally—which would've been unnecessary, long and painful, no matter how dismissive Xiao was of the pain he inflicted upon himself on a regular basis. This isn't Chongyun's first time meeting Xiao and he has already found out all that he could about Xiao after he'd first encountered him. By now, he has come across the adeptus a few infrequent times and so, he knew what the adeptus was like and how he'd prefer for them to go their separate ways without a word now.
But Chongyun is feeling oddly sentimental tonight, with the lingering feelings from witnessing the lanterns a few nights ago still having a hold on his heart. He adores the Lantern Rite festival just like any other Liyue citizen, but it had forced him to acknowledge the passage of time and what that meant. And so, recklessly, he opens his mouth to address Xiao.
"Thank you. For all the effort you put into making sure Liyue is safe so everyone can live in peace; I know it's not an easy job. It's an immeasurably heavier burden for you as compared to me but... I know how responsibility drags one down and how you cannot ever move on past the grip your history has on you. It's a thankless job so I wanted to thank you."
Xiao is understandably flustered. Chongyun feels a smile playing at the edges of his lips as Xiao shifts on his feet awkwardly, hands clenching and unclenching around his polearm. Moments like these remind Chongyun of how age doesn't necessarily make you better at social situations and how not everyone is as blunt as him. He and Xingqiu had known each other too long by now to have these moments anymore but sometimes people unfamiliar with him were thrown off by his 'intense straightforwardness', as his friend says. He stays quiet as he waits for Xiao to respond.
"I… as it is my job, I do not require any thanks. I signed the contract with Rex Lapis with my own free will and it is with the same that I carry on. My profession is one that is becoming increasingly obsolete and the Liyue of today has no longer any need for the adepti of the past. There is no point in extending your thanks to me."
The words are hesitant and awkward and formal and Chongyun blinks at how familiar they feel. It's as if Xiao has spoken out loud something that had lingered, hidden, in his own heart for a while and only now was Chongyun recognising it for what it was. He gives the adeptus a pained smile and watches the frown that creeps over that pale face glowing under the moonlight in response.
"It is the same for me—my job as an exorcist is no longer called upon in this day and age and it is not something I would consider needing thanks for. However, because it is the same for me, I wish to extend my gratitude towards you regardless. Please accept it."
Xiao watches him consideringly for a few moments longer before resolutely disappearing his polearm. He gives Chongyun an accepting, curt nod and runs off into the night, soon hidden from Chongyun's eyesight by the cover of the rocks and sparse vegetation around them. What may have remained visible on flat land was unable to be discerned on the sloping grounds and hills that made up the country of Liyue. Chongyun lets his smile fade away just like the adeptus had in the darkness.
There is a sense of melancholy that overcomes him with the thought of the ancient traditions of Liyue being lost to the sands of time. Carefully, he scavenges what useful items remain from the fight that he had battled alongside Xiao and tucks them away into his bag. He raises his eyes to the night sky and the stars in it and remembers how it had been lit up by lanterns not that long ago. Another year has passed and so much has happened in that time. Allowing himself a single sigh, he turns to find his way as he restarts his journey across the land to find his wayward friend. Just like Liyue, he needs to move on from the past and face the future head-on.