"Keqing, for the last time. Go home."
The lilac groaned in frustration. Sharply turning her vision away from her paperwork, not entirely sure if she could believe what she was hearing.
"No. I've listened to you for the past couple of days. But, you're not the boss of me."
On the other side of her desk, stood a frustrated Ningguang sighing as she tenaciously leant forward. Keeping her determined stare on the younger woman.
"You are correct. I'm not your boss – But, I am your friend." Ningguang argued, though she hadn't forgotten to maintain a level tone, "The amount of work that you've been putting this entire week is incredibly hazardous to your health, and there is only so much work that we can tolerate you doing, before we begin to worry about your wellbeing."
Keqing's eyes remained on the fine prints of her documents, "I'm quite fine, thank you very much."
"The Millelith stationed around your residence would beg to differ." Catching how Keqing had frozen for a heartbeat, Ningguang knew that she's got brazen young woman right on the mora, "Their reports states that you would arrive home and barely spend any time resting. Citing that pen scratching and feet shuffling can still be heard well in to the early hours. Only subsiding for a couple of hours maximum, before you head out to the Pavilion once more."
Another groan found its way out of Keqing's lips as she laid her head on the base of her forearms. Muffled complaints about the Millelith leaking its way through the gaps of her arms, prompting Ningguang to press forth.
"Do not blame them. They are simply doing their jobs."
"And I'm just doing mine!" Keqing's head shot up in retaliation.
"At the expense of your health." Ningguang shot back, tone still as level as before, "You clearly haven't been sleeping well. You need more rest."
"No." Came her curt reply.
"…"
The short stint of silence had made Keqing think that the older woman would finally leave the matter be. Only for Ningguang to lean forward, her features almost towering over her.
"Do not make me bring Uncle Tian into this."
Her chair staggered as Keqing stood up to meet her eye level.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, you know I would."
Though on paper, the Qixings had borne a status of equal measure between each other, uncle Tian is most definitely a unique case. By far the most experienced member amongst them, many would consider his wisdom to have rivalled the Archons themselves. Though the man himself doesn't commandeer it, the respect that Liyue has for him is on a level that even Ningguang herself had yet to garner.
And Ningguang knew for sure, that if there was anyone amongst their ranks that Keqing wouldn't dare come to blows with – it would be him.
Their standoff continued for a few more seconds, each of them glaring into the others soul. Though one with contempt, and one with compassion.
Eventually, Keqing relented.
"Ugh… Fine."
Swiftly organizing the contents of her desk, she begrudgingly moved out of her seat, all while Ningguang kept a pointed eye on her.
Even as she moved towards the door, Ningguang maintained her authoritative gaze without much hesitation. Following her until they arrived at the entryway to the Pavilion.
"I can see myself out. You know that, right?
"I'm not taking any risks." Ningguang countered, nodding towards the stairs leading to the lower plaza, "Until you set foot off of the Terrace, I'm keeping an eye on you."
Keqing clicked her tongue. Knowing that the Tianquan had seen through her façade.
"Alright, alright!" Keqing walked off, her hands flapping about indignantly, "Just leave me alone, will you!"
Whether or not did Ningguang respond, Keqing hadn't stuck around to find out.
Had she stuck around, however. She would've caught a glimpse of Ningguang, sighing to herself.
"By the Archons, I know you miss him." The older women had deduced. Knowing full well how Keqing would act during a time of turbulent emotions, "But I don't think he'd taken too kindly to how you're treating yourself, Keqing."
On the other hand, Keqing was practically speed walking towards the Terrace stairs, wanting to get to her personal space as soon as possible.
Though as she reached the ends of the bottom steps, her mind had other ideas in store for her.
Might as well take a stroll through the city while I'm at it…
Turning towards the harbour, she allowed her feelings to guide her body as she began her aimless wandering for the evening.
As her feet kept a steady pace through the walk, her mind bogged itself with the events of the past few days.
That's the third day in a row that Ningguang had forced me to leave work early…
Her vision casted itself on the ground. Only looking up to avoid mutually inattentive onlookers, and curtly reply to the few people who had dared to greet her. Clearly missing the foul mood that she had been exuding from her person.
Have I really been working that hard?
An external interruption then forced her brain to end the monologue prematurely.
"Ah, turning in early for the day, Lady Yuheng?"
The sunset beams down upon the golden eyes that had stared into Keqing's own. His deep, piercing voice bringing a sense of familiarity to her distant mind.
"Oh, mister Zhongli…" She hadn't been taking note of where her absentminded consciousness had been walking her through, and recognized that she just about reached the outdoor seats of Third-Round Knockout, "I suppose so. It has been a particularly long day."
"Even so, it is still quite a rare sight." Zhongli commented, a billowing cup of tea in his hand, "Though I must say, I am delighted that you have chosen to have taken more time to rest these past few days. Many have been quite concerned with your recent work ethic, though tough as it tended to be."
"Is that so…"
Her words had petered out as Zhongli seemingly hummed in affirmation.
"I do not mean to offend, but people have taken notice of your increasingly… for lack of a better word, suffocating routine." The man explained, eyes laced with concern, "We, the people, have nothing but the utmost appreciation for all the work that you have done for us. But we can only hope that you would take care of yourself, as you have taken care of our wellbeing."
Once again, her words had failed her on the spot.
"…I"
In the end, she could do nothing but weakly nod.
"I… will take it under advisement." Keqing flashed an equally weak smile towards the gentleman, "Thank you, mister Zhongli. I apologize for any sort of concerned I have caused for you, and the public."
"There is no need to apologize." Zhongli shook his head with a smile of his own, his voice as clear as ever, "The Liyue of now would not have been as it is, had you not been a part of its great history. It would be a pain in many a people's hearts to see your health decline as an aftermath. Please, take as much time as you need, Lady Keqing."
"I will." Keqing replied earnestly, nodding in kind, "Thank you once more, mister Zhongli. Have a good day."
"Likewise, Lady Keqing."
As Keqing continued her stroll for the evening, Zhongli muttered to himself, once he was sure that she had been out of earshot.
"Above all, I have a contract to uphold. A promise to the one who holds you so dearly in his heart…"
"Watch over her for me will you, Zhongli?"
~Line Break~
After a brief moment of contemplation, Keqing decided that she really didn't have anywhere better to go to, other than home itself.
Closing the door to her room, she huffed vacantly. Leaning on the wooden frame as she looked up to her ceiling with wonder.
I've really been out of it this week, huh?
She shuffled sluggishly towards her desk. A particular item immediately jumping to her attention as it sat atop of her paperwork.
Picking the item up, she softly fiddled the realm dispatch with idle curiosity. Tracing the curves and edges of the badge as her mind wandered out of its space once more.
"I wonder if he's doing just fine…" Muttering to herself, a smile making its way onto her lips, "I haven't been in the teapot since he left."
A thought then occurred to her.
"Maybe I should visit to see how Tubby is doing."
Right. Tubby is the reason for her visit to the teapot.
It's not like she had hoped for an off chance of meeting a specific person in the teapot.
It definitely wasn't that.
Closing her eyes, she took a calming breath in and began channelling her energy through the badge. Feeling the resonance at it activated itself.
In an instant, she felt her feet leave the ground. The solid wood panels that had supported them now a soft and tender plain of grass.
She opened her eyes to the sight of the ever-impressive estate within the teapot.
It's been a while…
A quick look around the vicinity was all she needed to tell that not much hadn't been done ever since the owner had left for Inazuma.
"Guess he hadn't had time to do much."
Keeping her gaze busy with her surroundings, she made her way towards the doors. Unaware of the other presence who was rounding the corner of the building.
"Ah, Lady Keqing. It has been quite some time."
Recognizing the feathery voice, Keqing smiled as she turned her attention towards its source.
"Tubby. It has been a while, hasn't it?" Gesturing towards the scenery, Keqing asked out of curiosity and concern, "Have you been holding up just fine? It's probably been a while since you've had company here."
"Oh, no need to worry about me. Aether had left me with plenty of projects to stretch my wings on." The bird answered with a joyous grin, "Ever since he left for Inazuma, he's barely spent any time idling within the area. In the meantime, only a handful of his Mondstadt companions have come to visit on multiple occasions."
"I see. They aren't giving you any trouble, I presume?"
"No, not at all." Shaking her head, Tubby maintained the solemn tone her voice had always been laced with, "They have been nothing but respectful. But never shy to suggest one or two things to add to this teapot of ours."
Keqing knew that none of Aether's close Mondstadt companions would ever cause trouble. Guy knows how to pick his friends, but she just had to make sure.
"That's good to hear then."
"On that note, how have you been, Lady Keqing?" Keqing had noticed the shift of the bird's voice. Her previously kind phrasing, now mixed with a little bit of worrisome questioning, "Correct me if I am wrong, but Madame Ping had recently told me that the enormous amount of work that you are handling seems to have taken a toll on you. I sure do hope that you have come here to get a well-deserved rest."
At this point, Keqing could only laugh at the comment. No trace of malice or satire behind her giggles, "Aha, well… it seems like news travels fast. Even amongst the adepti." Her gaze turns towards the sky. Longing for something that Keqing herself couldn't quite put, "Honestly, sleep has somewhat difficult to get to. With what everyone has been saying, maybe there is a need for me to take it a bit easier for a few days."
Though Keqing had missed it, Tubby's beaming smile held a tiny bit of relief for the adeptus.
"I'm sure Aether would have you do the same if he was around to have a say on the matter."
A smile of agreement formed on Keqing's features.
"He would, wouldn't he?"
The two shared a chuckle. A bit of Keqing's weight released as she took in the fresh air of the domain's elemental properties.
"Well then, I'm going to take a quick look at the study." Shrugging her shoulders with a knowing look, "Some dust might have built up. Reorganizing some things might be a good way to take my mind off of some of the workload."
"Very well." Tubby nodded with understanding, "Have a good day, Lady Keqing."
"You too, Tubby."
As the bird made its way back to her previous activities, Keqing promptly made her way through the door. Her ears immediately picked up on the idle music that had been softly careening through the interior. Looking around, she noticed that it had originated from a device at one corner of the newly furnished living room.
Taking a closer look, she recognized that it been an ancient Liyuen jukebox that had long been developed by the adepti.
"Huh, even an adeptus listens to music these days…"
She took in all the development that had taken place on that ground floor. Though the exterior had seen barely any changes, it is quite evident that most of the work had been done on improving the variety of objects that the interior could hold.
Making her way up the stairs, she soon found herself at the doorsteps of her study. Wasting no time to let herself in.
Contrary to how the previous rooms had been, her study had gone through pretty much no change at all.
Everything is as she left it. Which is a good thing, seeing as she would definitely have plenty of questions for whoever might have been sneaking around what she had considered to be her second home.
However, since it had initially looked the exact same way as she had left it, anything that had seemed even just the slightest bit out of place, would most definitely be noticed by her observant eyes. No matter how tired she may have actually been.
Which is how she instantly took notice of the two letters that had been neatly placed at the top of her bedside table.
A pang of realization immediately hit her guts.
Of course… he said that he'd leave letters every now and then.
Sure enough, she picked them up to see that it had been sealed with the stamp that bore the insignia of her title.
The weight in her chest continued to ease up. Taking the letter that had been the bottom one out of the two, she opened it up. Finally relishing at the thought of reading something that she had been unknowingly looking forward to.
Unfolding the piece of paper within, she took a deep breath. Not wanting to rush through the letters as she would with other sort of parchment contents that she had come across over the past few weeks.
Thus, she began to slowly read through the first few sentences. Her eyes quickly adjusting to the font of his handwriting.
"Alright, I know you said you'd revise my letters if you see fit. But these hands are more used to holding a sword for a long time, rather than a thin, wiggly, fountain pen.
It's like holding a flimsy branch compared to holding a log of wood. So, bear with me here."
One sentence.
One sentence was all that it took for him to elicit what seemed to be her first hearty laugh for a while now.
"That idiot…"
Wiping the stray tears off of her eyes, she took another deep breath as she continues to read the letter.
"Anyways, long story short. The sailing was an absolute shit storm. Like literally, they weren't kidding when they said that the electro Archon had barred people from entering Inazuma. It was nothing but lightning and rain every part of the way.
Thankfully, we got there in one piece. Beidou and the Crux crew are one hell a seafarer.
Once we got to the docks, we met a guy named Thoma, who's apparently from Mondstadt. Which is quite ironic if you think about it. He got us past the checkpoint at Ritou.
That being said, he was quite a devious guy. Tried to mess around with how we got past the checkpoint. And by that, I mean in a way where we have to do some problem-solving before we finally made our way past the checkpoint officers.
Which included solving a monopoly problem that their International Guild had been facing for quite a while.
And something else that had involved smuggling someone out of the city…
Huh…
Okay.
Maybe I do have a habit of making myself look like a fugitive in a new city, huh?
In any case, he has bags of tricks up his sleeves, but actually looks like an all-around nice guy.
So, I wouldn't worry about him.
Apparently, he's an attendant to one of the government's leading officials. His boss thinks that I might be someone who can help them solve their Vision Hunt decree problem."
Up until then, Keqing had completely forgotten about the Vision Hunt decree. Though she wasn't exactly worried about it, seeing as Aether himself does not have a vision. Yet, since he's able to wield the elements all the same, a worrisome thought began to plague her mind.
What if he attracted the Shogun's attention in the wrong manner?
Thankfully, her worries were swiftly quenched as she read his next sentences.
"Of course, I made it very clear to him that I wasn't here to solve their problems. That I'm only here to speak with the Shogun.
Might've caught him off guard, seeing as all that problem-solving was apparently a way for his boss to test if I might be the one to 'change the tide of the times', as he so eloquently put it.
Honestly, I feel slightly bad. But at this point, I'm only here for a question. I'm not about to solve some revolutionary problem on a whim.
We're currently on our way to the Kamisato Estate. It's where Thoma and his master live. Her name's Kamisato Ayaka. Apparently a pretty popular figure amongst the people.
I've encountered some waypoints so far, but it seems like I can't utilize them to connect to the ones in Liyue nor in Mondstadt. It's like something is interfering with its elemental powers.
Didn't think that Archon would be paranoid enough to also block off a means of transport that no one else can really ever use.
Even the Katheryne here is cut off from outside intel, and has no updates over the happenings of other regions.
Man, it's only been a few days and I miss Liyue already.
And on that note, I've got something to test from this letter.
I'll be leaving it by your nightstand. That way, I can tell if you've ever actually come near the bed in your study room, or if you've completely gone nuts with the amount of work you're charging into.
Don't disappoint me now, Lady Yuheng.
I'll see you in the next letter.
-A."
Taking note of the last sentence, Keqing could only outwardly cringe.
Seeing as she opened the next letter, the first sentence she read had elicited a rather timid laugher out of the normally upfront young woman.
There at the top of the letter, obviously added after he had written the rest of its content, were the words that Keqing had expected to find.
"I'm disappointed, O' Lady Yuheng…"
"Hey… that's not fair!" Keqing protested to no one, thinking that the declaration of her intentions would travel through the vast sea that separates Liyue and Inazuma, "I had a pretty busy week, you know?"
"Though I probably shouldn't say anything due to what is in this letter, and you would most definitely have made an 'I had a busy week' excuse by now…"
Crud… what is he, a Sumeruan prophet?
"Please, get some rest. I'm sure I'm not the only who've said this recently. Don't go back to ignoring your health now that I'm not around to keep you in check."
She couldn't help but to just smile. Smile at the thought of the fact that he's still thinking about her wellbeing, even when he's in a land of absolute unknown.
"Alright, Alright… I'll give myself more time to rest, you absolute man child."
Taking her shoes off, she decided to sit on the bed as she went through the letter once more.
"So, on to the thick of things. There's no better way to say it, but I've decided to help them with their fight against the Vision Hunt decree."
"…"
Keqing merely deadpanned as she re-read the sentence.
"I swear to the Archons…"
Her eyes caught the next line before she could finish her thought.
"Now, before you go on and brand me an idiot or whatever, just hear me out for a second here."
She outwardly groaned. Both astounded and irritated at his ability to just pre-emptively perceive her thoughts like that.
"We ended up meeting with Ayaka. Though initially, she had only been talking to us through a screen door. Some kind of weird Inazuman custom, I guess?
In any case, she asked me the same thing that Thoma had. To help them fight against their, now, year-long issue with the Vision Hunt decree.
And again, I had rejected her. Again, all I wanted is to ask the Shogun a single question
But she persisted. In the end, we got a new deal.
She would arrange for me to meet the Shogun, only if I were to do three things for her.
Which was to help an old warrior, a former samurai, and a sword master who strove to be the greatest in the world.
The similarity between all of them being, that their Visions have been taken away by the shogunate and her decree.
And I'll be honest, Keqing.
It was tough.
Emotionally, that is.
All of them were highly respected members of their communities. Their ambitions for their goals being the one driving force that separates them from others in their respective circles.
And when their Visions were taken away from them, that ambition just… disappears.
Along with what seems to be their purpose of living.
It had been a heart-breaking experience.
In the end, there really wasn't much that we could do for them. Other than to help them find solace through all the other things that they still have in their lives.
I couldn't do anything more, Keqing…
The emptiness in their eyes, it scares me.
What if it had been the eyes of someone that I cared about?
The daunting notion that I would've been helpless to do anything about it. Just hurts me inside.
I've been lucky enough to meet so many extraordinary people in my short time here, and if I were to see such an expression in the eyes of those people…
I don't think I'd be able to handle it."
Keqing took the time to pause, and take in all the information that he had just dropped on her unthinking mind.
Knowing how the blonde would act. The reason for his decision no longer came as a surprise for her.
"So, I hope you can understand. Just why it is that I have to do this."
Of course, she understood.
It is in his nature to help.
"Guess it can't be helped…" She muttered in acceptance, recognizing that there wasn't really anything that she could've done to change that decision in the first place, "He's too kind for his own good."
But then again, it is what made him ever so endearing to her.
That willingness to help, the kindness to never leave anyone behind.
Only serves to strengthen her conviction.
That conviction to wait for him.
Smiling to herself, she went on with reading the rest of the letter. Her eyes drooping as the words turned blurry for but an instant. Refocusing as she steeled her gaze.
"You can rag me about it all you want when we meet again, I promise you that."
"Oh, I most certainly will, dear Traveler."
"So, once we told Ayaka of our decision, she wasted no time in getting into the gist of things. The first order of business being the mission to rescue a craftsman who had been making replica Visions to be given to Vision holders. With the help of another girl named Yoimiya.
Bit of a fire cracker. Fitting, seeing as she owns a fireworks shop.
Get it?
…
Anyways…
The man had saved the lives of many, and it was important that we got him out of the military's custody.
Short to say, we had to do a prison break in.
…You can add that to the list of questionable things that I've unwittingly put myself in the middle of.
Funnily enough, we were technically caught this time around.
By the General of the governing commission herself, actually.
But for some reason, she let us free.
Maybe… there are some people within the governing body itself that doesn't fully agree with the Vision Hunt decree?
We didn't really get to think on it too much though, seeing as we took the opportunity to run out of the prison, with that craftsman by our side.
After we ensured that he would be hidden from the police, we gathered at a safe house in Inazuma City. Which had been conveniently disguised as a teahouse.
A success that looked like they had kind of needed.
To celebrate, we did hot pot game where we each bring a certain ingredient, and combined it all together. We close our eyes and took turns trying to guess what ingredients had been put in by everyone else.
Needless to say, my stomach could really use some proper spicy Liyuean cuisine at this point.
I've been writing this entire thing while I'm trying not to barf.
We're about to go enjoy some down time in the city. And honestly, I feel like if we weren't actively trying to be out of the sight of the military, this place wouldn't be so bad.
But damn, seeing Liyue Harbour would be quite the sight for sore eyes.
I miss that city…
You should come by here, if it were possible in the near future anyways.
Alright, enough about me. How have you been? Apart from burying yourself in work, that is.
It's kind of funny really, Thoma and Ayaka had been trying their best to give a guide of what to do in the city. But it had been kind of a struggle to see what I could do in terms of adventuring.
Your company is another thing that I've forgotten to thank you for.
Feel free to leave a letter in your study all the same, it'll be great to read some things that reminds me of Liyue every now and then.
Speaking of which, there were some Inazuman snacks that Ayaka had given me earlier. I left it by the stove downstairs if you wanna give it a try.
Do leave me some though.
I'll see you in the next letter, Keqing.
P.S
I left some tea in the cabinets of your desk. I know you'd probably still be working till the ends of the world at this point, but you can at least try to keep a little bit of warmth while you're at it.
Take care, and please… keep your health in check.
I worry for you.
-A."
"I'm not the one out there fighting an entire government, Aether…" An exasperated comment out of her fondly frustrated groan, a yawn following suit, "But I guess that makes us even in terms of driving each other up a wall."
She kept her eyes on the letter, a ghost of her hands running above the signature that he had left at the end of it.
"Liyue misses you too…"
Her grip on the letter tightened ever-so slightly.
"I… miss you, Aether."
Leaning onto the pillows of the bed. Her eyes began to waver. Her vision blurring as the lulling atmosphere of the study began to take hold of her consciousness.
A smile peacefully on her face she flew into the land of the dreams.
The best sleep she had gotten in the weeks ever since he's left.