The leaves above Klee rustled as a gentle wind blew by. It seemed to ruffle her hair with a tender affection that she remembered treasuring. Her hands were clasped behind her back, one of them playing with the small ball of cotton that hung from her backpack to try and find comfort.

The young woman rocked back and forth on her heels as she tried to gather herself with deep breaths and slow blinks. Klee tried, she really did. But whenever her eyes slid down to the stone tablets, she would reflexively turn her head up towards the blue skies, her scarlet eyes shining in the sun's warm caress.

"Take your time, Klee." a deep voice spoke calmly from behind her, and she briefly remembered that yes, there was still someone with her. "I can wait."

Klee sniffled and rubbed at her eyes with what remained of her blue tailcoat. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. There was only a choked sound that told her that she still wasn't ready despite how long it had been.

… How long had it been since then?

"Three hundred and eighty-nine years." the voice behind her answered with the confidence of someone with a perfect memory. She nodded appreciatively.

Three hundred and eighty-nine years. Klee barely felt it.

"Does it ever get easier?" she asked in a whisper.

There was a long pause before she got her confirmation. "I'm afraid not."

"How did you deal with it?" Her voice was hoarse. Desperate. "How do I deal with the pain, grandpa?"

Slow and heavy footsteps approached before coming to a stop beside her. Zhongli rested a hand on her shoulder and gave it a firm and reassuring squeeze.

"You do not deal with it, my child. You learn to live with it. We remember those who are no longer here and we cherish their memory, for we cannot afford to do anything but."

We'll live longer than any of our friends, my dear. But it is precisely because it'll be painful that we must never take them for granted, even in death.

Alice- no, her mother's words flooded to the forefront of Klee's mind. Bile rose in her throat and threatened to spill out as she forced her eyes closed. Klee turned to bury her head in Zhongli's chest. The old man slowly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"I-I can't do it. I'm not ready to say goodbye, grandpa!" Klee cried.

"I know."

"I can't say goodbye to them!"

"I know."

Her wails of anguish only grew louder as the sun began to set. Eventually however, both faded away into the empty space on the horizon.

Zhongli gently moved Klee by her shoulders so that she stood before him. He used one finger to wipe away what was left of the tears staining her cheeks. The young woman he had come to view as a granddaughter still had her eyes shut tight as she sniffled quietly. He couldn't blame her for not wanting to see the graves of all her loved ones.

Whilst it was true that she was destined to live longer than most of her mortal peers, Zhongli knew that Klee wasn't ready for them to be so abruptly ripped away. The Traveller, the Favonian Knights, even her own mother… all gone in the blink of an eye. Whilst it pained him to see her in such a state, Zhongli knew that if she didn't get it out, Klee would forever be haunted by the grief.

"Klee, please listen to me." Klee opened her eyes just a sliver. The pure agony visible in them pained him. "I know it's painful, but it will only get worse if you give up now. You're strong, stronger perhaps than even I. I know you can do this."

Klee hesitantly turned her head. From the corner of her vision she could make out the words 'Here Lies', 'Acting', and 'Forever Loved'.

She knew her adoptive grandfather was right of course. However, that didn't change the fact that any attempt to get the words out felt like it would tear her heart out with them.

Klee wasn't ready to say goodbye, but this was her last chance. She had to, even if it killed her.

Zhongli knew the moment she stood a little straighter. "I'll wait for you over there, my child."

Alone with nothing but her resolve, Klee turned around.

Before her, a sea of gravestones threatened to swallow her whole. From Mondstadt citizens to Snezhnayans. From strangers to friends. At the very forefront of the graves were those most important to Klee. Her family.

All dead and buried since the Final War for Teyvat.

Klee almost fell to her knees, but managed to catch herself on the most prominent gravestone. Her whole body shook as scarlet eyes stared into beautiful sapphires that were captured in the most precious photo to Klee. It was a picture of Klee and Jean as they celebrated her 18th birthday. That was the last time they were happy.

"J-Jean… Mama…"

Klee managed to force herself to stand with one hand on Jean's gravestone to support herself. Shaking her head, the young woman took a deep breath.

"Mama, big brother Albedo, everyone… It's me. Klee. I've come to s-say… I've come to say goodbye."

A breeze blew past and ruffled her hair, providing her with just enough confidence to continue.

"I'm really, really sorry it took so long. I was afraid. I was so very afraid that if I said goodbye, I'd never see you all again." she hiccuped. "But that wouldn't make a difference would it? You're all gone, and I'll never get to hug any of you ever again even if I begged.

That's okay. It's not your fault. I understand completely. Grandpa Zhongli taught me that everyone has to move on. He's really smart! I…

I just. I wanted to say goodbye. I have to tell you all that we're leaving. Going away from Teyvat to another world, one far away from here."

Klee clenched her hands into fists when she felt more tears threatening to spill out.

"I learnt a new song a while ago. It's from a play in Inazuma. I want to… I hope it reaches you all, wherever you are."

She rubbed the top of Jean's gravestone as rain began to pour.

"Kimi to natsu no owari shourai no yume

Ookina kibou wasurenai

Juu nen go no hachigatsu

Mata deaeru no wo shinjite

Saikou no omoide wo…"

And as she bade farewell while smiling, Klee prayed with all her heart that her loved ones could hear her song.

A/N: Search 'bilibili 多多 Secret Base' for the Genshin Chinese VAs cover for the song which got me to write this. If you need help with the Chinese characters, translate from English to Chinese 'a lot', it's the second character.