Despite eventually getting what I came here for, even if the way I did so was something I couldn't have predicted, there was one more question in my mind after dinner. Namely: Why is Keqing just agreeing to stick around me, especially as I head her to the harbor? Does she already trust me, or is this her personal confidence? After all, strip away all the fancy language about "magician tricks for practice" and what are you left with? A man, barely above a stranger, asking a powerful Liyue figure if they can talk quietly. When I word it like that, this sounds like a prime blackmail story.

But it didn't take long to find the reason. Keqing walked out of Wanmin before me to pay for her initial meal (as Xiangling insisted that the extra Shrimp Balls were on the house), allowing the chance to see- at the nape of the Yuheng's neck lied a purple orb- known to everyone in the world as a Vision.

Keqing was a Vision Holder, a new fact that came with a weird lack of punch. More of a 'makes sense' actually. But since she has the power of the gods of her side, that really explained her belief. There is no chance I, a non-Vision wielder, would be pose as threatening. Plus if she's anything like the holders back home, it's likely she has a weapon, literally invisible, at her call.

"Hey, what do you know about Fontaine?"

But now that we're at the harbor, it's time for the fun facts to give way to my plan being enacted.

"Not much, I'm afraid." She answers after a second of thought. "I've seen the look of your cities however- very beautiful, extremely pristine. I think, one day I would love to go to the Opera House. Maybe catch a performance or two."

"Hah~ If you're going there, it's much more likely you'll see my inspiration's show instead. But you're right about the city's beauty- it's a wonder. Plus very accessible with the ferry system we have going. I think that installed a familiarity with water being relaxing to me."

"Explaining why we're at the harbor, I presume?"

"Yup! Plus, and maybe I've betrayed my home with this line of thought, but looking at to the sea here-" I turn my head right, doing exactly that, taking in the sheer volume before me. "Is just as wondrous a sight, if not more so. Despite the history and location of Fontaine, we don't really have a place like this. Where you can just sit and admire the ocean in all its' purity."

I can feel a smile from Keqing, likely from complimenting her home. And a look confirms that feeling- she really is gorgeous.

Enough about that though, as she goes up to a port vendor and asks something unhearable, coming back with two stools.

The outside world will never be 100% silent, but considering our distance from anyone else and the calm weather making waves gently slap the port- this is about as good as can be hoped for.

Meaning…..it's time to begin.

"Alright." I say to Keqing, determined…but I can also strangely feel my heart racing. Huh… Why? She isn't Ganyu, save these nerves for her! "I-I would like to start with some deep breathing. Helps sets the mood, you know?"

Keqing nods, though a bit doubtful of my words.

"Now, take my hand in your own and close your eyes." Offering mine up with just a maddeningly little jitter, it's a great relief when she follows my instructions to the letter. Keqing's fingers gently lay on top mine, her eyes shut, and her confidence switches to a quiet showing. Some part of my mind wants to stop, enjoy this treat for the eyes and fingers, but I try to ignore that.

The sound of ocean waves behind provide a soothing backdrop, aiding my confidence greatly.

"Ok, now," I begin, my voice trying to be calm and soothing, "I want you to take a deep breath in, Keqing, and exhale slowly. Let the worries of the day drift away with each breath. As you know, in through your nose….and out through the mouth."

To my hidden excitement, her chest rises and falls as requested. I can feel the muscles in her hand slowly begin to unwind.

"Now, as you breathe in Keqing," I continue, amping my powers ever-so-slightly, "I want you to picture a light… A warm, golden light filling you with calm. As you breathe out, let go of any lingering tension."

Keqing responds, "A warm... calm light…?"

"Correct. As calming and bright as the sunset. Your breathing should comfortably fade away into it, the growing light… It's been a long day after all. Responsibilities, important assignments, managing everything for Lantern Rite…everyone needs to stop and relax…"

I can hear her take another breath, one that strikes me as much more free. Maybe it's my power at work, but it's equally likely that my words have indeed hit home. The stresses of Keqing's day, the weight and sheer number of tasks that I can only begin to imagine, they all seem to dissolve as the sound of her breathing fills the area, with support from the calm ocean behind.

Overworking is a serious problem, and it's something that seems to infect the citizenry no matter where you are in Teyvat. And then for Liyue in specific, there's Lantern Rite, a spectacular festival every single year. And it's all held together by a few key individuals, one of which is sitting right across from me? I shudder at the preparation required… but Keqing probably wouldn't. And while diving head-first into something like Lantern Rite is admirable, it also leaves you on edge. An edge I can exploit.

"In and out Keqing…just like that~ Letting the light gently envelope you…letting the waves gently carry you…into a quiet, peaceful, calming evening. It's like you wanted before, a moment of relaxation…"

(Well, before Xiangling screwed it up anyway)

I can see her shoulders, holding the unreal weight of her job, now begin to relax, easing her into a state of tranquility. Her bright purple hair, so noticeable even inside busy restaurants, have a few strands that break free. It's more obvious than when it happened to Ganyu, and no less pleasant. At some point, her eyes drifted closed, allowing me to witness the tension across her face slowly begin to ease. And with every breath she takes, the warm feeling that envelops us only grows, making her even more relaxed. Time to check in~

"The ocean, the light, it's very soothing…"

She responds with increasing drowsiness, "Yes it is... s-so… soothing..."

I repeat the breathing steps again, encouraging her to focus on the sensation of her breath, the sound of the waves, and the sensation of her body sinking into the stool. Her responses become even slower and more dreamlike.

"Feels nice, huh?"

"Y-…yes..."

With each word, Keqing drifts further into a hypnotic trance, her mind open to my gentle suggestions that will soon follow…or so it seems. But out of nowhere, there's a snag-

"W…wait…this…is not…r-right…"

Huh, I wonder what tipped her off finally. Maybe I took too long. Oh well. Still, the fact that she can even resist is impressive, she's better than Ganyu. Without panic though, I reach into my pocket, pulling out my old friend.

"Don't say that~ Open your eyes and see the golden light."

Archons above, the sight of her normally sharp alluring red eyes being reduced to quivering puddles is nearly too much to handle. I do love deterioration.

"Hu-uuh? T-that's not-" I swing the 'light' back and forth gently. "Not…a…..li…"

"….."

"Anything else, Keqing?"

"….."

I put my watch away. Thanks buddy, ya never have let me down~ The same hand goes right to the Yuheng's ear.

"And…Three… Two… One…."

Snap.

Her hand in mine suddenly goes completely limp, and I can only feel a paltry amount of warmth from it now. I gently slide it off mine, slowly guiding it to its' similarly down owner.

It's lucky that she's still on the stool~ To have such a calm and responsible woman completely fast asleep, piercing eyes hiding once again behind screwed shut lids- it's an image worth committing to memory forever. In fact, there's a distinct pounding in my heart, only getting louder as I examine my work. Her head and neck bend at an ugly angle forward, dangling just above her chest…which is gently breathing in and out rhythmically. If Ganyu's episode was just a trance, this is much more like the standard 'hypnosis' you've read about.

But I can't lose focus! This was all for Ganyu after all! Not this beautiful, literal god-blessed, impressive woman before me, she was just a stepping stone! Besides even if I wanted….more, I couldn't get it. This is still her first time after all, any unKeqing-like orders would wake her up fast. Hopefully in the future…

"Keqing? Can you hear me, Keqing?"

"….Yes…" Amazing the relief that one word can bring. "….I can…." Aside from the expansion and contraction of her chest and stomach, her mouth barely opens to mutter.

"Perfect~ First thing then! Upon awakening when I snap my fingers again, you will not remember anything related to being hypnotized. You will instead believe that I just performed an impressive magic trick, one where I guessed your card right ten times in a row, and then pulled out all ten of them out of my pocket in order. Got it?"

"Y-yess…."

"Good! Next…" Here it is, what this has all been for! "Listen carefully: the next time you are alone with Ganyu, you will mention that somebody wanted to see her. You don't know this person's name, but they're apparently often around the harbor in the evening. You will emphasize the urgency of this meeting, while making sure not to overwhelm Ganyu. Also…" I briefly pause to recap. "When 30 minutes pass after telling her this, you will no longer remember saying anything about the topic."

That's mainly to prevent anything weird from happening. Don't need someone overhearing and confronting Keqing over it, after all.

"Lastly." Yeah, time to run this again. "Although you won't remember being hypnotized, you will remember how nice my trick felt, how welcoming it was to relax for a bit. In fact: you will have a higher opinion of me in general. Is that all clear?"

"Yes…" Hm, did her mouth just curl up a bit? I didn't know that was possible, but it sure is nice.

"Fantastic. Now, I'll wake you up…three, feeling a push to stir… two, conscious returning… and one, eyes slowly opening."

SNAP

Before she can regain her bearings, I take a seat back on "my" stool, at a perfectly professional distance. Oddly after that though, Keqing grows a cocky smirk and crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"Heh, do you see the errors of your ways now?"

Wh-what? …Ohhh, oh, right, my "preferred audience" thing. "I d-do indeed! It's was a worthwhile experience! I only hope I was able to put on a performance worthy of your time." Phew, her posture made me think that I failed somehow…

"Don't be absurd. Honestly, I'm not convinced your deck doesn't have some kind of invasive device built in, but I suppose that's something for me to ruminate on my own time. After all, our dear magician doesn't want those questions."

"H-Hey…" I put my hand on my neck. "It's not the worst thing in the world, actually…"

"Is that so? Well I am looking forward to your performance at Lantern Rite, in any case." She says, as if I've been her friend for years… Of course though, it cannot last as she quickly remembers what time it is, and that she (of course…) has some more work to do. So with a wave, she rushes back to the main part of Liyue.

While staring at Keqing's ass as she leaves, I take stock of my extremely good situation.

I've put Ganyu in a trance.
And I've hypnotized Keqing to let me have another crack at the secretary.

It is indeed all coming together. I'm gonna have a hard time sleeping.

I want these chapter titles to easily show which character is hypnotized when.