Title: foundations

A/N: For the Condensed Light zine! I had to resist the urge to write Beidou in or it'd just be a ship piece.

Summary: Ningguang knew Liyue's shoreline like the back of her hand. Yet, after the Osial's fight, the scene in front of her was unfamiliar and uncharted territory.

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Ningguang knew Liyue's shoreline like the back of her hand. While she might not have been born and bred in the city, she'd spent more than enough years here to make up for that deficiency. More importantly, she'd studied the city thoroughly for all of her ambitions, noting the busy dock and harbour for her plans. Whether it was the morning or the evening, a stormy squall or a calm day, Ningguang was proud to say she knew exactly what her city looked like at any point of time.

Except the shoreline in front of her was unfamiliar and uncharted territory. Standing on the dock, Ningguang watched as the sun burst through the clouds, illuminating the choppy sea. Pieces of her Jade Chamber jutted out of the grey-black water, the waves beating against it as it sank. There were small flames here and there from stray pieces of wreckage, the fire enduring despite the storm before.

This was only temporary, she knew. Another hour and it'd all be gone, swallowed by the water. Beidou had once told her the ocean was ever-changing, but Ningguang hadn't really believed her until now.

At one moment, there had been Osial, a monster bent on destroying all Ningguang held dear.

The next, it was gone, only the remnants of the battle left behind.

In another, all of this would be wiped clean, leaving only their memories untouched.

Ningguang exhaled softly. She was taking this too personally. Osial hadn't come for her after all, but for Liyue. If Rex Lapis had been here, then maybe she would have made it through this unscathed.

Then again, if the archon hadn't died, they wouldn't have been in this mess in the first place. The power vacuum he'd left behind was too big to fill in, not with the strength of one or a dozen or even a hundred others. Even this battle had taken dozens, all to fight a weaker form of the legendary monster.

She glanced around. The others were still here, watching the sea calm. With an arm wrapped around the adeptus Xiao to support her, Lumine smiled wearily as she finally relaxed after a hard-won battle. The other adepti stood majestically under the sun, appearing only slightly worse for wear. Even Ganyu seemed more worried about Jade Chamber than her own torn clothes, her expression despondent as she stared pitifully at the wreckage.

The only one who looked how Ningguang felt was Keqing, who sat shell-shocked on the dock. Her fingers dug into her knees as she processed the situation, her sharp tongue failing her for once.

It was almost enough to make Ningguang laugh.

Almost.

"We did it," Paimon said softly, hovering over Lumine's shoulder as usual. She scanned the sea and then the sky, as though making sure no more monsters appeared out of thin air, before pumping her fist. Louder now, she shouted, "We did it! We killed the monster."

"That didn't kill it," Xiao corrected immediately, his grip on Lumine firm as she tried and failed to straighten up. "It's only sealed."

"Though inferior compared to how Rex Lapis handled the ordeal, the seal shall prove adequate enough." Cloud Retainer stood tall, her head dipping slightly as she considered the matter.

Running a hand through her hair, Ningguang forced herself to look at the present. The Jade Chamber was gone. Rex Lapis was gone. Osial was defeated.

And Liyue was safe.

Though, that left an entirely different problem at hand. She glanced at the adepti. It was time they settled their argument on just what Liyue needed.

-x-

"Do you think they really understand?" Keqing asked, her voice rough. She sat on the dock again, toes skimming the water as she leaned back and took a deep breath. The wind blew her long locks forward and they tumbled over her shoulders. "They might come back for a fight."

Ganyu pushed her messy hair out of her face and smiled. Her eyes were soft as she shook her head. "No, I think they'll be fine."

"Really?" Keqing frowned, scowling at the sky. "Because I don't think they trust us at all."

"They don't," Ganyu agreed, raising a hand to her chest. Her fingers curled over her heart. "Yet, we have just made a contract with them. They'll watch over until we break it."

"We won't," Ningguang cut in, crossing her arms as she glanced behind her and at Liyue, in the direction of Jueyun Karst. Most of the adepti had returned there, leaving only Ganyu, Madame Ping, and Yanfei in the city. It was fitting that the most human of the adepti were the ones to stay in Liyue, the ones to grow and change with the city.

Keqing nibbled her lip, doubt colouring her voice. "Still…"

"I trust Ganyu's opinion." Ningguang regarded her secretary warmly. They had worked together long enough for her to understand the adeptus and her motivations. "Obviously we will keep an eye out for any surprises, but it should be safe enough to focus on rebuilding. Still, that does leave me with one question."

Ganyu cocked her head curiously. "What?"

"Does the contract still stand? Now that Rex Lapis is gone?" Ningguang tapped her bicep lightly as she studied Ganyu. "Or are you done working for the Qixing?"

"Oh." Ganyu's eyes widened in surprise before she giggled softly. "Oh, I see. Well, fortunately, that isn't the ca—" She clamped her jaw shut, her skin paling.

Ningguang raised a brow. Ganyu looked like she'd said something she shouldn't have. "That isn't?"

"That isn't a problem," Ganyu replied quickly, the words rushing out. She fiddled with her fingers as she laughed awkwardly. "You see, that is, even if—even though he's gone, the contract still stands. And even if it doesn't, I enjoy my work."

That didn't sound right. Ningguang pursed her lips.

"So it still stands for all of you?" Keqing leaned back, looking at the two of them. "When does the contract end?"

"That…well, not quite never, but I suppose if Liyue ends." Ganyu rubbed her horn nervously as she considered the question. "But we won't let that happen."

The we sounded like more than just the Qixing, more than just the humans. It seemed regardless of their agreement, regardless of the fact that Liyue had outgrown its need for immortal protection, they would still receive it.

It was a comforting thought. It was a stifling thought.

It was hard to imagine a Liyue without Ganyu, without any adeptus, one where gods and mortals alike no longer mingled. Then again, it had been impossible to imagine a Liyue without Rex Lapis, and here they were. In the end, it was Ningguang's responsibility to see past those improbabilities, to plan for any misfortunes they met.

Such as the case in point in front of her: the final tips of the Jade Chamber remained above the water. After years of putting it together, she had never imagined a future without it.

Now the cumulation of all her efforts was sinking into the sea.

There was something poetic about that.

Keqing followed her gaze and turned back to the sea. Her shoulders slumped. "It's too bad it came to that."

Ningguang sighed, unable to dispute her. "It had to be done. There was no other way."

"I'm sorry." Ganyu stepped closer, her expression apologetic. She clasped her hands in front of her and shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

"Why?" Ningguang kept her gaze on the last golden spire. "It's not your fault."

"Still…" Ganyu gripped her hands tightly, her knuckles turning white. "If we adepti had been stronger, you wouldn't have needed to lose it."

It was like hearing her own thoughts earlier. Ningguang chuckled; aloud, they sounded childish. Especially if made by someone trying to prove that Liyue had changed. "Some sacrifices are necessary for victory," she admonished Ganyu, shaking her head. "And I would make it again. The Jade Chamber can be rebuilt. Liyue can be rebuilt. But the people we could have lost…they will never return."

Ganyu stared at her contemplatively. She let out a soft burst of air, something that sounded like a cross between a laugh and an exclamation. Then she inclined her head and agreed, "You're right. You've changed."

Sometimes, Ningguang forgot just how long she'd known Ganyu. The adeptus had seen her forebears and would certainly witness her descendants. "That is to be expected."

"Not for everyone. Not for everything." Ganyu opened her hands and stretched her arms behind her. "There are many too scared to do so."

"It is to be expected of Liyue and its people then." Ningguang closed her eyes as the spire finally disappeared, leaving only ripples in its wake. "Hopefully, by our next crisis, we will have changed enough to handle it ourselves."

"Without the adepti," Keqing chimed in, still stubborn despite it all. "We won't need them."

"It's not about need." Ganyu frowned, her hands curling into tight fists. It was a rare sight to see Ganyu angry, but then again, she was part adeptus. No matter how the argument went, this would be a sore point for her.

They were about to argue again. Ningguang pressed her index and ring finger to her forehead, already feeling a headache forming. Today had been exhausting enough without a squabble added to it. "Enough," she ordered.

The pair immediately quietened and turned to her.

Ningguang glanced one last time at the water. The ripples were gone, the waves had calmed, and as far as the harbour was concerned, the crisis had passed. It was time she returned to work.

"You both have fair points. We have to be strong enough to accept help, but not require it." Ningguang turned around and slowly headed back to the city. "Ganyu, go find us a temporary headquarters and assess the damage. Make a priority list."

"Understood." There was a soft gust of air as Ganyu pushed off the dock, her adeptus strength propelling her high into the air.

Ningguang kept walking. "Keqing, tell Beidou to salvage what she can from the chamber."

Behind her, she could hear Keqing scrabble to her feet. "Right away."

As for herself? Ningguang smiled. She had to re-establish her power.

And that meant planning her next Jade Chamber.