Story#3: To be worthy
Part#3: Epilogue: Trust
We've reached the end of this issue, yay! Thanks, you all for your support!
2 day later … and the event has started.
Everything is going well as planned and their hard work is finally paid off. There's a lot of people from all over the place coming and enjoy this special day. After the opening ceremony speech from Ningguang, the event has officially begun and today is also marked as a yearly event.
The marketplace is really busy as many people came in…they are really interested in Rex Lapis and bought a lot of stuff about him. Although Rex Lapis is no longer with Liyue but people still doing the same thing as the Rite of Descension as a regular way of praying for their fortune and luck.
Keqing and Aether again went out and took a stroll around the city and they were enjoying every moment of it.
They then stopped at one of the souvenir stores…Keqing saw a Limited-Edition Rex Lapis figure. She was very hyped and want to buy it but then she's looking at Aether.
Aether took her hand and nodded: "If you like it, you can buy it".
"Are you sure?" Keqing asked him again.
"Don't worry you can buy it as long as you like"
Keqing then went in a bought one of the figure and something else…
"Here…this is for you". she bought a banquet of Glaze Lily and gave it to him.
"Wow they were found in the wild!? They're really rare, aren't they?" Paimon exclaimed.
"Yes, they are extremely difficult to find nowadays and it's expensive as well...But I want to buy it for you" Keqing said
"Thanks, Keqing"
"Do you want something to eat? There's a food's vendor nearby" Keqing said as she pointed at the vendor.
"Sure, why not"
They then order some food, Aether and Paimon called some Universal Peace while Keqing called her usual one…Golden Shrimp ball.
The pair then continued to go around the Chihu Rock and Feiyun Slope in the whole afternoon.
The evening has come…people started to gather around the same old Ritual Square for the final speech.
"You can do it, I believe in you" Aether cheered Keqing up.
"Yeah, you can do it!" Paimon joined in.
Ningguang, HuTao, Ganyu,... and all of her friend nodded in agreement.
"Thanks everyone" Keqing then stepped forward and begin her speech:
"Good evening, everyone. First of all, thank you all for enjoying the first Rex Lapis Memorial Day. The reason we hold this event as the day to remember his achievements to the city. As we all have known Rex Lapis is the founder of our Nation, he has built and protected this city for thousands of years and we are all grateful for it…Now he has entrusted us and leave this Nation to our hand to decide…this is why we must not let him down, we will have to try our best to become better and better to prove we are strong as well…And another reason we made this event is also chance to encourage people to learn more about him…Therefore we can become better…together we will make Liyue become even stronger and more prosperous!"
The people are very enjoying her speech as there's a lot of applause from them. But then Keqing's looking at Aether, before he can realize what happen, she's pulling him close by her side, holding his hand tight and continue:
- And we must not forget…whatever you want to do, it cannot be done or achieved without the support from your relatives, your friends…and the person who cares and love about you the most…always value and treat them with all of your heart.
After her final sentence…the people cheered up even more as they seeing the couple between the Yuheng and the Hero of Liyue standing before them. Other Qixing people are very enjoy the view as well…
This event is a huge success as the people are very satisfied with it.
After the event ended, Keqing, Aether, Ningguang, GanYu,... and the others returned to Yuehai Pavilion to celebrate their success. Aether's now at Keqing's office to prepare it.
"I was a bit surprise when you've done that" Aether said still tried to remember that moment.
"After the first met at the Guizong Ballista, I know you're the person I've been looking for all long…you're strong, capable and reliable…that's why I want to be with you…you are the idea of my life" Keqing looked at Aether and let out a bright smile on her face.
"Thanks, you've helped me a lot too, after the Rite of Parting when I had asked you for looking for my sister, you have helped me a lot without asked anything…I want to do more than just say thanks" Aether smiled at her too as both of them go for a hug.
Aether then asked Keqing again: "But you know I will embark on the next journey soon right, are you fine with it?"
"I've already known it…but don't worry if you need me, you can call me anytime. I want to find your sister too"
Aether held Keqing's hand and channeling his energy…she can feel his power flowing in, her Vision started to glow so bright for a while.
"I've given you some of my power, this way you can locate my position anytime and also can use the Teleport waypoints and the Statue of the Seven as well" Aether said
"That's mean I can go with you anywhere, right?" Keqing asked him, she feel so excited about it.
Aether nodded.
"Thanks…for trusting me"
They enjoy their moment for a little bit more then there is a knock at the door:
"How long are you two going to stay in there…it's time for our celebration" Ningguang said from the outside…Ganyu, Hutao, Xingqui, Chongyun and the others are waiting outside too.
"We are coming" Keqing said and then told Aether "I'm going to get some change, you wait here, ok?"
"Ok" Aether said as he's waiting for her.
Aether rarely in her office before because he doesn't want to bother Keqing while she at works so he knows very little about how's her room looks like. He decided to take a look around.
There are a lot of paper works, books all over the room but they are well-organized, the room is very clean too…only a few Rex Lapis as figure…well is a thing that helps her always on track at work anyways.
"What a hardworking person and always serious at work" He admitted.
Or he thought so…
After walking for a while, Aether leaned against a wall to rest for a while but then a loud "click" came out from it. The wall behind him started to open and reveal a small room … some kind of secret room.
The light in the room slowly brightens up the room, Aether turned to that wall has just opened up he then he saw…
A room with so many stuffs in there from a small notebook, souvenirs, figure, to a huge poster and there more. They are all about Rex Lapis. He confused about this room is some kind of a Rex Lapis's mini museum or a shrine…
Aether sitting there dumbfold with his jaw dropped not because of that attitude like the last time but surprising about how she likes collecting Rex Lapis's stuff a lot more than he expected… Aether then noticed there is something is placed in the middle of the room and it's quite big and shine brightly.
But before he can go for a closer look, someone rushed in and pushed him fell off again.
He opened his eye and saw Keqing is on top of him … her amethyst eyes are staring up with his golden ones. She afraid of Aether may have found out that thing in the middle of the room. Meanwhile Aether can feel his heart is racing non-stop…their face is getting flushed overtime…
Outside, Ningguang heard the sound, she opened the door to take a peek and saw the scene inside, she then closed the door back slowly without any sound. Ganyu asked Ningguang:
- Did something happen?
"No, it's nothing… it seems like we're going to wait a little bit more" Ningguang grined … Lucky for Keqing … Ningguang didn't see the whole room … only Keqing and Aether.
Back inside, they're still on this awkward position and didn't even move an inch…
"… Have you seen anything yet…?" Keqing asked, he can feel her embarrassment yet dangerous on her face right now.
"… You mean all of those Rex Lapis figures? Don't worry I'm not like that anymore…" Aether slowly answered.
"No, I don't mean that but is that all what you see?" She asked again, somehow Aether can sense some dark aura is surrounding her…
He's feeling so scared of her right now…
"What do you mean? All I see is just your Rex Lapis's collection … is there anything else?"
Aether is very curious about it but he doesn't dare to ask her more. But after all he doesn't mind about it anyways.
"That's good then…you're not allowed to see it yet…I will show it to you at the right time…" Keqing relieved because he hasn't seen all yet.
Because…
Because if he sees that thing now…she won't know what to say next to hide her embarrassment…in the middle there is…
A special figure is made of purest magical crystal ore and it seem like it was made after the Rite of Parting. It shines so bright that can even illuminate in the darkest place and it's also well-placed inside a special glass. That figure looks like a certain golden hair boy traveler and there is a label under it:
"The hero of Liyue…The person of my dream and my heart"
End.
P/s: This part is quite shorter than I expected...I hope there are enough sweet, fluff on this story to you all :D