Episode 13: And Yet, Time Marches On
One bright, sunny morning, as the waxing warmth of spring gently embraced the city she once called home, the promised time arrived.
Birds sang happily in the budding trees, and the breeze felt like an embrace, as if it was quietly whispering "don't worry, everything is okay now". It was the perfect day for a final farewell.
At the edge of that idyllic scene, on a lonely cliff side near some ruins overlooking the city, a single, beautiful flower bloomed, steadfast and strong…
And it was clothed in the purest white.
The streets of the harbor were packed with people and teeming with life. No one would have been surprised if every single person in the city was there for this event. They lined the streets, pushing as close as they could, preparing for their final glimpse of their beloved leader.
The small procession wound its way from Yujing Terrace, passing so many places that she had seen every single day. Led by a young-looking girl dressed in black, it crept along, through the town square, and over the bridge to Chihu Rock, headed for a small mausoleum on the edge of town, where her ashes would be laid to rest.
Once she arrived at her final destination, she would take her place next to her mother and father, finally reunited in a quiet corner of the world that belonged to only them.
From above, a red-haired man and a white-haired woman watched the procession. Despite what had happened before, the pair were not at each other's throats. They both understood that this wasn't the time for conflict. Right now, the two were only focused on honoring her.
They stood there in tense silence until the procession was no longer in sight.
"…Are you going to her grave?"
"Later. There's a few things I need to do first."
"I see. Diluc… I'm truly sorry for your loss."
Her tone was serious, and her eyes didn't meet his. But he responded with a strong, confident voice.
"You shouldn't be the one saying "I'm sorry" here. In any case, wait until this is finished to pour your heart out to me. I'll have plenty of time to ask forgiveness for my sins then, too. I hope you'll hear me out when that time comes."
Diluc gave her a half-smile, tinged with many different feelings. Then, just like he had once before, he strolled away on the stony path, leaving Ningguang alone.
There was someone he still had to meet, after all.
Ningguang hung her head as she watched him leave. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to have him imprisoned on such a day, despite his obvious crimes. She somehow knew that she would have never forgiven her for that.
Inside of Yuehai Pavilion, Diluc quietly followed a diminutive horned woman through the silent halls. Their footsteps echoed through the empty building, amplifying the solemn vibe. Few were there working on a day like this, making this perhaps his last chance.
He had barely spoken a word to that woman since their rendezvous a few minutes earlier. So many things needed to be said, but he just couldn't find a way to say them. Every time he tried to start, it felt like his heart was being squeezed in a vice.
They approached a familiar door, labeled "Keqing". This was the place where it all began. It seemed like so long ago now, even though it had only been such a short time in reality.
Ganyu unlocked the door, then pushed it open, holding it for Diluc as he entered. It creaked shut behind them as they walked towards her desk.
"Ganyu… I don't know what to say… but thank you for this."
She just looked down and nodded slightly, not saying a word.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there to save her. And I'm sorry I didn't speak to you until now."
"No, don't say that… I haven't spoken to anyone really. I just don't want to let it become real, I think…"
Diluc showed a pained smile. Because despite her best efforts, reality remained unchanged. Time itself was the enemy now, cruelly continuing on in spite of the ones who couldn't bring themselves to move forward yet.
"I think I can understand that sentiment. If nothing else, just know that I loved her… so, so much. I couldn't imagine anyone else becoming my wife one day… Damn it, sorry…"
Diluc raked the tears away from his eyes, laughing in self-deprecation. When he looked up at Ganyu again, her eyes were overflowing as well.
"Diluc…"
The dam burst, and Ganyu began sobbing brokenly. She stepped forward, thumping her horns against Diluc's chest as the tears fell. Diluc wrapped his arms around her small body.
"Ke…qing…!"
And he didn't let her go until her tears had dried.
Some time later, the two sat in Keqing's office. Ganyu watched as Diluc looked through her desk drawers. He didn't even know what he was looking for, perhaps something to remember her by? A keepsake? Maybe just a glimpse at the kind of person she was before he met her. In any case, he felt that this was necessary to begin moving forward again.
As he searched, the two talked about their favorite memories of her. They laughed and cried repeatedly, but somehow, it was therapeutic. The grave wounds in their hearts finally had a chance to start the process of healing.
"Huh, what's this?"
Diluc's hand had brushed against something hard at the bottom of a drawer filled with old papers that probably hadn't been touched in years, if ever. His fingers felt around, wrapping around the object.
It was a tiny, decorated box.
Ganyu and Diluc both stared at the little object. It was around six inches wide and 3 inches deep, with intricate carvings decorating the outside.
"…Should I open this…?" he muttered.
Ganyu didn't respond, but instead put her hand on his shoulder and gave it a light squeeze. That was the reassurance he needed.
With steady fingers, he unlatched the lid, and opened the box. Within, there were two objects.
The first was a letter, sealed shut with wax. It gave the impression of being quite old. The paper was yellowed, with cracks around the edges.
And as he lifted the letter, he saw the second object underneath it: a small necklace. It looked quite like the one that Diluc had kept with him all this time…
"Wh-What… the hell…"
Diluc muttered in utter disbelief as he picked up the necklace. The tiny amethyst hanging from the chain glittered in the sunlight that poured through the office window.
"No… this… this can't be possible!"
The necklace didn't look like the one Diluc had.
It was the one he had.
His head started to feel light as panic closed in. He grasped at his chest like a man having a heart attack, finally dragging the necklace out of his pocket. He held it beside the one from the box…
They were identical. Not just in construction, since that could be easily explained. But he had noticed one particular detail that couldn't have been possible at all.
They both had a chip in the amethyst, in exactly the same place.
"W-What's going on here, Diluc? What's wrong…?" Ganyu whispered, concerned.
Diluc dropped the necklaces on the desk. He raised his shaking hands, studying each minute detail of them.
Is this reality? How can this be real…?
His mind still spinning, he picked up the letter, carefully opening the seal to prevent the ancient parchment from ripping apart. Inside was something that was perhaps even more unreasonable.
'Dear Diluc,
I know we just parted, but for some reason, I still want to talk to you…'
Through blurry, wavering eyes, Diluc forced himself to read the heart-rending letter. When he reached the end, he turned it over and over in his hands. A small corner of the paper broke off, fluttering like the severed wing of a butterfly as it fell to the desktop.
Ganyu's mouth hung open, but no sounds came from it.
"…Ganyu… just… what is this?"
"I… I…"
Neither of them had an answer. Diluc's head was aching intensely as he stared at the anomalous objects before him.
"That letter is…" Ganyu started to speak, but stopped half-way through her thought.
But it didn't need to be finished. They both knew what she had meant.
That letter is wrong.
Diluc was no expert in historical documents, but he had quite a few old books and letters from his ancestors at home. He had seen his fair share of old writings, but none of them were in as bad of a shape as this one was. This letter looked more decrepit than any of them. It had to be at least one hundred years old.
"Ganyu, please tell me if I'm wrong, but that letter is… really old, right?"
If anyone would know about that subject, this woman would. And her wide eyes told him the answer before she even spoke.
"I… I believe so… but…"
But how could that be real?
The two were silent for a long time. Diluc's mind was in overdrive, trying to work out the meaning of this paradox. But try as he might, nothing made any sense.
Did she write the letter on old parchment? Possible, but why would she do something that weird? And that still doesn't account for that necklace…
Faced with an unanswerable question, Diluc slowly picked up the two objects and replaced them in the box. Then he slipped it back into the drawer from whence it came.
"Hey, Ganyu?"
"Yes?"
"Can we just pretend that didn't happen?"
"I… don't think I can… sorry…"
"Yeah, me either."
"Ganyu?"
"Yes?"
"I'm starving, let's go eat."
The whole way to the restaurant, and most of the time during their meal, the two were silent. What they saw in Keqing's office just wouldn't leave their mind. It was an endless loop of questioning whether it was real, confirming that it was real, then trying to figure out how it was real.
"Ah, forget it! We won't get anywhere like this."
Diluc grumbled quite unexpectedly, causing Ganyu to jump a few inches off her chair.
"I-I think you're right. We should let it sit for a while, maybe something will come to us."
Diluc leaned back, patting his stomach. Then he chuckled as an unrelated realization hit him.
The awkwardness was completely gone. The two of them had started acting like friends again. For the first time since Keqing's death, his chest felt a little warm.
"Thanks again for everything, Ganyu. I'll be going now. I should go visit her."
"Right… Goodbye, Diluc."
Diluc left the table, heading across the bridge leading out of town.
After a short walk, he arrived at the small mausoleum that had become her final resting place. It was on a peaceful hillside that overlooked a lesser-traveled road. A large tree stood near the entrance, its brand new leaves waving in the warm breeze as if to welcome any visitors. The evening light cast an orange glow over the scene as Diluc prepared his heart for this visit.
He gingerly entered the cave-like entrance, finding several urns lined up inside. He felt like he was intruding on sacred ground, so he tread lightly. A small plaque had an unfamiliar family name on it. But underneath one, he managed to find the name "Keqing".
In silence, he bowed his head.
He prayed to any god that would listen, begging for Keqing's soul to find peace. He apologized profusely to her parents, hoping that they could forgive him for his gross negligence in letting their daughter die so young. Then, he simply cleared his mind, taking in the silence of his beloved's new home. He spent those last few moments by her side quietly, before whispering his farewell.
"Goodbye, Keqing. Take care, alright?"
He spoke those simple, heartfelt words, raising his head. He took one last look at the ornate urn, contemplating the meaning of it. That small jar held all that remained of the girl he once held in his arms. That thought made him feel a little dissociated, so he turned to leave.
The gate creaked open, then closed again. Then, the red-headed man was gone.
The sun had set while Diluc was making his way back to the inn. Tonight was the final night before the showdown that Dainsleif had "prophesied" a few days before. The city was bustling as always, and it seemed that things were on their way back to a semblance of normalcy. Or perhaps, tonight's atmosphere wasn't normal at all. Perhaps this too was another side of the mourning process - a celebration of a beautiful life that had ended much too soon.
He slipped through the crowds, trying to keep to himself. As he passed by the Heyu Tea House, he heard the voice of a storyteller drifting on the evening breeze, reciting timeless old tales about heroes and adventures and love to an audience of eager listeners. He found himself wondering if one day, his story would be retold in such a place.
No, that would simply not be possible. A story like that wouldn't make a single member of the audience happy. But out of spite, it continued on, as if the author had gone mad, stubbornly refusing to take back his mistake. The plot crashed and burned, collapsing in on itself, yet long after the last angry listeners had left, there was still no end in sight.
That was the sort of story that his was. One with no remaining possibility of a happy ending.
Sighing deeply, he entered the inn, preparing himself for another sleepless night.
It took hours and hours, but well after midnight, the tortured man finally drifted off into the world of dreams.
And there, he saw a land more beautiful and more heartbreaking than any he had ever seen.
The sun was rising over the shore of a dilapidated, overgrown world. Unfamiliar-looking structures dotted the landscape, rusting away, but nearby, a large white building was still intact. A paved road ran along the shore, dividing grassy fields from sandy beaches and the azure sea beyond.
The bright white walls of the building beckoned him, so he made his way there, following a cracked concrete path. Everywhere he looked were signs of a civilization long gone. Only the roads and the building appeared to still be in use.
As he drew near to his destination, he noticed the figure of a person standing outside. It appeared to be a young woman of around 20, but she didn't look familiar in any way to the person he was at that moment.
He slowed his footsteps, unsure about this stranger.
But suddenly, a lifetime of memories poured into his mind. The overwhelming scope of them staggered him. He remembered the day he met this girl. He remembered their first time together. He remembered the day they were married, and how beautiful she looked in a wedding dress, and how his heart burned with an unshakeable love when he kissed his bride. He remembered the day their first child was born.
And somehow, he remembered when she held his hand, the day he died, when her weathered, kind smile was the last thing he ever saw.
The young woman glanced up from the sea of white flowers that gently danced at her feet, and a bright smile bloomed on her ageless face. She ran towards him, eyes full of love.
"⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜, welcome back!"
More than anything, he wanted to ⬜⬜⬜⬜ her right then and there. He opened his ⬜⬜⬜⬜, and ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ them around ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜-
"AH?!"
The red-haired man jerked awake and sat up in one motion.
"Wh-Where-"
It took him a few seconds to get his bearings.
That's right, I'm at the inn… What the hell… what was that dream?
His chest burned as he recalled what he had seen. It had felt incredibly real, and the emotions it had evoked were so powerful he could still feel them now.
It had ended, but the afterglow of that dream remained, painting his heart in an unfamiliar color, both bittersweet and warm. He looked outside the window, checking the time, and found that the pre-dawn sky was already getting brighter. His heart stirred as he realized what that new day meant. There was no time to dwell on the meaning of a dream now.
The day he would meet her killer had arrived.
Ending Theme: FELT - Bouquet
Next:
Episode 14: Turning Point
