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It’s a joyous occasion to have an old friend’s return, especially one who fought for the same cause and has sacrificed themselves in that endeavor. However, as joyous as it is, there is something amiss that tugs him to stay a few steps behind while the traveler-duo and the returning white horse adeptus take their stride to enjoy the lantern rite.
A long overdue reunion that is yet to happen between him and a certain Fatui Harbinger.
“Zhongli! We are going to leave you behind if you’re walking too slowly! We don’t want to miss the festival, do we?” The flying companion screeches from the traveler’s side. Exuberant and high-pitched she is, the two people beside her also turn to his direction.
Zhongli gives them a simple nod, walking just a little faster but still steps behind them. Their voice echoes among the merry crowd, close but outside the wall of his mind. He lets the traveler-duo lead the chattering, showing Zibai around as he’s planned them to, because a part of him will be drifting away, searching for the Eleventh Harbinger. An established habitude it is, that comes to him each lantern rite since he made acquaintance with the young man.
When the divination of the moon's return reached him, and he subsequently devised the plan to resurrect an old friend, he also gathered a sight of Childe. The commotion caused by the lunatic Doctor’s prosthetic is tremendously grand, and the Tsaritsa will naturally rope Childe to do her bidding while she remains in Snezhnaya.
That gradually shows through their halted exchange of letters. Three months have gone by without new letters from Childe.
The news circulating proves he’s alive and running, playing a major role in Fatui’s grand design. Knowing a friend–
‘Xiansheng, what do you think of me, really?’
Indeed, referring to Childe as a mere friend is inaccurate. The young man is not a friend, as he would classify the adepti and the traveler. Childe was outside the spectrum to begin with, and after their initial clash, he made a new spectrum for himself.
‘You are a precious one, Childe.’
‘You make it sound ambiguous, Xiansheng! Although, well, I should take it as a praise, shouldn't I? Being regarded as that by a former god.’
Even though the news tells the Eleventh Harbinger is doing well, knowing Childe altogether, he's likely running into the eye of storms. However, he knows as well that the Harbinger will make it through. He's a human of rare quality, thick of youth naivety with the mentality of a seasoned warrior and the quality of a cunning connoisseur.
It does bug his mind, nevertheless, that Childe tends to care less about his well-being.
“Woah, the fireworks are amazing! Don’t you think it’s even bigger than last year?”
Another high-pitched scream brings the head to turn. The former archon takes the place next to the traveler as they stop before the prestigious venue of the white horse adepti figure.
“It is not off the mark, this specific show of fireworks is a new product of the Qixing’s innovative pursuit to call for an auspicious year for the people of Liyue.”
“That’s the Qixing for you! Always one step ahead, tehe!”
Behind the horse figure, the fireworks make a dazzling background of white and gold. It imitates the scatter of stars descending upon the figure from the moon at the center.
Childe will be delighted by the scenery.
His mind seems to keenly relate things to Childe on this night of reunion.
Last year, Childe had made a specific comment about the fireworks, a conceptual idea that had never been heard before. The young man suggested putting the fireworks as a moving decoration. Not only is it to be timed and shaped in a specific manner, but it should also be coordinated into a sequence that makes the fireworks visibly alive.
He wishes that Childe would be there to watch the Lantern Rite with him, so that he can see the idea come into live with his own two eyes.
Then again, the dearest Eleventh will return, and he should prepare what is necessary so that at the time of his return, there’s nothing else that can separate them.
“I could grant you a wish, as a gift of my return,” Zibai says from her spot while staring at his face.
There is a wide gap between them, but her voice is delivered straight to his ears. Zhongli looks up at the moon, staring long at the gleaming surface, when a playful smile spreads on his old friend’s face.
A moment ago, the traveler was pulled away by their flying companion to the line of stalls while promising the adepti delicious snacks, leaving them by themselves, in the likelihood of giving them time to reminisce.
“A wish is a generous offer.”
In the awaiting fate that will soon find this world, it is one of the contingency plans to guarantee the young man’s safety.
Zibai chuckles, perhaps finding amusement in the crowd of mortals, or he suspects it is in his own person, given the direction of her staying gaze.
“You really are becoming an old man.”
A pause.
“Is that so? I must suggest there is amiss in your conclusion.”
Zhongli quietly smiles to himself as Childe’s face appears at the back of his head. Flushed red and smiling cheekily, he's sprawled beautifully under him
‘Well, Xiansheng does better at being the human part now! That’s progress!’
The traveler returns with a bowl of delicacies and four lanterns–one for each of them. The flying fairy chirps immediately, asking them to release the lanterns again since Zibai hasn’t released one on her own. Always the sentimental ones they are.
This time, as each of them holds a lantern to release, Zhongli recites a sigil of protection for the young man who's miles away from him.
Through the waves of the silver moon, the lantern shall sail amid the sky of clouds and find its way to bring the young warrior back to his arms.