“Have you been here long?”
A cheery voice came from behind. She has been staring at the glaze lilies for archon knows how long now. She’s been watching them get caught up by the wind, how their petals sways with elegance and how it shines more brightly under the setting sun. It was simply beautiful.
“No…no, I just got here.”, she said as she turned to the source of the voice. The other girl’s smile only went more dazzling from there. She could almost compare her smile to the Glaze Lilies except hers are the most beautiful she’s ever seen.
The livelier of the two girls got closer and clung to the other’s arm, showing more of her bright and dazzling smile, oh how the other thinks that she will do anything to protect that smile of hers. “Are we to talk about mechanical principles today or are you going to let me listen to your music, Streetward Rambler?”, she said as she looked up to her.
Streetward Rambler couldn’t help but give her a soft smile, “Hmm, let me think about it first Guizhong, but for now…”, she took the hand that was clinging to her arm and held it against her own. She has brought it up enough to her chin that the other could feel Streetward Rambler’s breath against her hand’s skin. “I wanted us to be like this for a while.”, she then placed Guizhong’s hand to her cheek. She closed her eyes and leaned into her touch.
That prompted for the other girl to produce a hue similar to that of a setting sun to her cheeks. And as soon as Streetward Rambler opened her eyes to stare at hers, she could feel them pierce through her soul. Guizhong bit her lips and leaned in further to get more of that comforting warmth, her forehead touching the taller adepti’s chin. Their joined hands now to her own chest. “I-I can’t stay here for long, you know that Streetward Rambler.”
Upon hearing those words, Streetward Rambler couldn’t help but for fear to creep up on her. She broke contact to hold both of Guizhong’s shoulders, “No! J-just stay here! I’ll protect you this time. Please…just don’t leave me.”, She begged as she hugged the other girl tightly, refusing to let go once again.
She could feel Guizhong return the embrace albeit hers are gentler. “I wish we had more time…spending the rest of them with you was the most fun I have ever had.”, Guizhong gently pushed Streetward Rambler, just enough to see her face now filled with tears. She placed a hand to her cheek and stroked it, feeling the hot liquid that keeps pouring down her eyes. “Streetward Rambler, I—”
Madame Ping awoken from her dream. She laid there for a while staring at her ceiling. When she reached a hand to her cheek, just below her eye, she could still feel the dampness. She closed them to take a moment for herself, her breath shaking as she let them out. She’s been having dreams of her as of late, not that she’s complaining, no, if it’s only in dreams that she gets to see Guizhong then she will gladly take it. It was better than having nothing after all.
She decided to get on with her day already. She got up, ate breakfast, and went for a shower before heading outside of Liyue Harbor. This is where she would usually hail a cab to Yujing Terrace and go to the Yuehai Pavilion to admire the Glaze Lilies and do her duties as an adviser for the current ruler of Liyue, but not today.
Today she intended to stroll around Chihu Rock instead, thinking that a sudden day off won’t really hurt her. She passed through many stalls and stores, occasionally stopping by to see what was being sold and thinking if she needed to buy something for her apartment in Feiyun Slope.
Upon her walks she came across a newly opened music store just beside Wanmin Restaurant. Curious, she went inside. There she saw a wide selection of instruments from stringed, to percussions, and wind, but something stood out that caught her attention. Right at the inner corner of the store, a lone zither can be found a top a glass case. She wanted to get closer to it and so she did. She caressed the body of the said instrument, feeling a familiar sensation from her fingertips. She lightly plucked a single string and a sound emanated throughout the store.
“I made that you know.”
Madame Ping turned around and saw a young girl probably in her early twenties. She wears her ash-colored hair short and her bangs slightly covering her beautiful cerulean eyes. She had her elbows propped on the counter to where the cash register is, and her chin was being supported by the palm of her hands. The younger girl looked at the old woman fondly. She then continued, “That’s not for sale though, I still needed to do a few tweaks in it.”, her face scrunched as her frustration showed.
“Yeah, it did sound bad.”
Hearing Madame Ping’s comment to her creation made her eyes widen and her cheeks turn pink. “O-Oh! How dare you old lady!”, she said visibly annoyed, “I certainly respect elders, but I don’t want to hear that from a random person! I’ve put my sweat and blood to that zither you know!”, she placed a palm to her chest as she mentioned the efforts, she went through into making the said instrument.
The older lady just heartily chuckled, amused at the energy and enthusiasm for an instrument that is being rarely used these days. “Oh my, I’m sorry if I offended you somehow that was not my intention.”, she said as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye from all the chuckling. “It is certainly amazing that you can make instruments. I am sure that you are still trying to improve it, given how delicate and well taken care of this one is.”, she caressed the zither once more, admiring its craftmanship. “What is your name child? I wanted to give this zither a try once you make some more adjustments to it.”, she gave a soft smile to her.
The younger girl just pouted and was almost hesitant at first. “G-Guizhong. My name is Guizhong.”
It was a name that Madame Ping haven’t heard for a while. It was enough to stop her from her tracks, her soft smile instantly gone. She was most definitely surprised but she managed to compose herself instantly. “G-Guizhong…?”, it almost came out like a hitched breath. She could feel a sharp pain in her heart, piercing it all over again. It was like she was transported back to that time where she had seen her…lifeless.
“Y-yes ma’am?”, it almost came out as a question, confused that the hearty old lady suddenly changed her demeanor, “M-my parents you know, they loved that story and poem about the God of Dust, Guizhong, they…they named me after her. What’s yours, old lady?”, she suddenly felt the need to explain her namesake to the older person. She noticed how her name has somehow shaken her.
The question successfully snapped the older lady out of her ill thoughts, she can now finally see the younger girl clearly. She can’t help but suddenly see the similarity between the two. But she is not her Guizhong, she had to remind herself. “Ping. Call me Madame Ping.”, she simply said.
“Huh, Madame Ping.”, Guizhong closed her eyes, her brow creasing. She had her index finger to her chin while her other arm was across her chest. She was thinking hard enough that she keeps bobbing her head left and right. “Ah!!”, she suddenly hammer fisted the palm of her other hand as if she finally remembered something. “I knew you were kinda familiar! You’re the adviser of the Tianquan!”, she pointed at Ping.
“Well, that didn’t stop you to be brash and rude did it.”, Madame Ping just smiled.
Guizhong rubbed the back of her neck and smiled shyly at the older person. “I’m sorry.”, she said, now letting out a nervous chuckle. Then she suddenly stopped moving, it was as if a light bulb has manifested itself on her head. She stepped out of the counter and immediately went over to where Madame Ping is standing. She suddenly grabbed both of the older woman’s hand and brought it up to her chest. “Yes…yes this will work. You said you wanted to try my zither, didn’t you? I’ve made my decision. I want you to give your opinion on it whenever I try and make some improvements. You’re the adviser of the most powerful person in Liyue surely you are wise beyond your years and…and you can finally help me make a sound that could captivate people’s soul…Y-you will help me, won’t you?”
Ping could see the fire in the younger girl’s eyes. She was but reminded of the time her Guizhong would make some improvements for the bell and would constantly pester her about it. Oh, how she wanted to go back to simpler, innocent times. “I…yes, I would love that.”
That simple answer alone was enough to make Guizhong jump in delight. She hugged Ping much to the other’s surprise but as soon as she realized what she has done, she broke contact and straightened herself out. Elders must be met with respect especially the ones who are close to your country’s leader, she thought.
Guizhong immediately took the zither from where it was sitting and held it comfortably against her. She rushed to the back door, presumably to where her workshop is. She had her back on the door as she slowly pushed it open. She gave one last look to Madame Ping. “I’ll see you tomorrow then? I’ll be working on this the whole day so it will be ready for you to test tomorrow. Does that sound good?”, she said as she gave her, her warmest smile.
Adorable.
The older woman chuckled and gave her a nod. “Yes, that does sound good.”, Ping thought that the other girl couldn’t smile brighter than that but oh how she was wrong. She could feel the excitement from Guizhong, a pure ray of sunshine, that’s what she is, and it made her heart hurt a little.
“Hearing you play your zither always makes me at ease.”, Guizhong commented, her eyes closed as she listened to Streetward Rambler’s playing. “Do you think that if Rex Lapis hadn’t confiscated my bell, I would be able to make music as beautiful as yours?”
“I stand with what I said. If you think that your mere machinations could replicate my music, then no, you wouldn’t be able to make music as beautiful as mine.”
“Hmmp. Stingy as always Streetward Rambler.”, the God of Dust pouted, sulking, but it did not take long as she always forgets her displeasure immediately whenever the adepti would play her zither. She stared at the instrument, observing every vibration whenever Streetward Rambler’s fingers fiddle with the strings, the way how her other hand gently caresses the body of the stringed instrument. It was like she was put into a trance. And then it hit her. “What if I make an instrument, better than the bell, and you play it instead? I bet you will make the most magnificent sound with it.”
Streetward Rambler stopped playing and looked at Guizhong instead, her eyes twinkling, anticipation apparent. “I…yes, I would love that.”
Guizhong’s smile went wide and bright. Oh, how Streetward Rambler thought that the sun only shines for her. She won’t ever get tired of it. “Then, it is a promise.”, Guizhong said taking Streetward Rambler’s hand to hers, stroking the fingers that played the strings as she looked at them fondly. Lovingly.
But Guizhong never upheld her promise…
Madame Ping got up from her bed, her hand stroking her forehead. It was another dream, she thought. She wished she could’ve stayed longer in dreamland, just enough to hold her again, just enough to say the things she never got to say. Maybe then she would wake up with her by her side again if she dreamed enough. A wishful thinking. As much as she wants to go back to bed and dream of Guizhong again, she still has duties to perform. Then she remembered the girl at the music store. At least there was something to look forward to.
The old lady arrived at the Yuehai Pavilion and the first thing she did was to check her Glaze Lilies. “I’m sorry I was not here yesterday to take care of you.”, she said as she watered them. She has been faithfully caring for the flowers until today, but she doesn’t know what got to her yesterday that prompted her to leave her beautiful Glaze Lillies unattended. She was filled with regret but whenever she remembers her encounter with a certain young girl, all her regrets were being washed away. You could say that it all quite ended well.
She did her duties quite earnestly in Yuehai Pavilion secretly looking forward for the day to end already so she could see what Guizhong has made for her. She tended to the Tianquan as he asked for advice for the upcoming Lantern Rite Festival. After that, her students visited her for martial arts training, albeit her body and condition were not as efficient as it was before, she was able to guide them still quite well.
She still had time to spare so she chose to spend it with her Glaze Lilies. She stared at them reminiscing about the time that was long lost. Being so close to the Glaze Lilies has always put her at ease, it was as if she was beside her again. She caressed the still budding flower, “Would it be possible to grant me a tiniest wish?”, she smiled bitterly. “It seems that ever since I started dreaming about her again, I always find myself wishing for the impossible.”
“Granny!”, she turned around to face the owner of the voice, “Granny, I’m back. You wanted some Lotus Flower Crisps?”
“Ah! Yanfei. Yes. Thank you. This will make a fine gift.”, she said as she was handed the paper bag containing the dish she had ordered.
“What do you need these for anyway granny? I doubt you’ll be the one to eat them.”, Yanfei cocked an eyebrow as she questioned her granny.
Madame Ping let out a chuckle which prompted the young adepti to bob her head to the side, “No, child, you are right. I won’t be eating these. You see, I made a new friend yesterday and I will be heading to her. I thought that these will be a good gift.”, she said as she looked at the paper bag in her hand. Her eyes glowing.
Yanfei smiled in return, “Oh, oh, that’s good granny. I’m actually happy that you are making friends again. These few hundred years has been really tough for all of us. I’m happy that you are slowly gaining your footing.”, she said, clutching her thick book to her chest tight. The last few centuries were something that neither of them wanted to remember. To slowly move on from it was a good start.
“Yeah.”, the older lady gave a melancholic smile, but she has to get herself together again. Today is the day that she is meeting her new friend after all. She can’t possibly go there with a sour mood. “Well, Yanfei, it was nice seeing you today. I’ll be heading out now.” She said as she patted the young adepti’s shoulder.
“Take care grangran and have fun.”
Madame Ping just waved a hand to her as she faced her back to Yanfei.
Usually, she would take a cab to Chihu Rock but today she decided to take a stroll given that she still has enough time. Walking would be a good exercise too she thought. Her little stroll made her appreciate Liyue more, how time has changed her beloved city. How buildings kept getting taller now, how roads widened to give way to transport machineries or simply just vehicles, how people would walk with their handheld devices and earpieces. How Madame Ping would think that Guizhong would feel right at home at this world.
After a little while Madame Ping arrived at the music store. She went inside but the person she intended to see was not there. It was a different person behind the counter. That person spoke, “Oh, you must be Madame Ping, Guizhong told us so much about you.”
“My, I am flattered, Miss?”, she asked.
The other person had a booming laugh that echoed throughout the store, “Missus actually, you can call me Meilin. I am the mother of that good for nothing child.”, she said ‘good for nothing’ but fondness is evident as she talked about her. “If you are looking for her, she just went outside for a while to buy something down at the harbor.”, she looked at her watch, her brows creasing, “That child should’ve been here already though. If you want you could—”, as soon as she looked up Madame Ping suddenly vanished.
Suddenly sensing a feeling of dread, she immediately headed down to the harbor. It was not like her to act impulsively on something baseless, she did not know what got to her. She took a cab to the harbor since that is much faster than her current form.
Upon arriving she walked a little bit faster, her heart racing still. She searched which stall could Guizhong possibly be. There was countless of stalls in Liyue’s harbor, as well as there is abundance of people but that did not dishearten her. She kept up the pace checking one of each stall.
She stopped on her tracks when she heard a loud yelling from a distance, the voice was all too familiar for her to ignore. She turned to where it was coming from and there she was, Guizhong, arguing with one of the vendors. She could clearly see her despite her being a mile away from her. She sighed a sigh of relief but that did not last very long. She has heard a bunch of screaming from the young girl’s direction and a sound of tire screeching. It was a car that has lost its control and now headed towards the stalls.
It was as if by instinct that Madame Ping tried to run to where Guizhong is. Alas but her current form was too frail, too weak to do what she wanted to do with it.
No, this body is too weak to keep up with me, Guizhong…
She tried her best to keep up the pace, but she can only do so much with an old body. No matter how much effort she put, it will just fail her. The car was inching closer to the stunned Guizhong.
No, this can’t happen again. Please, I need to save her, let me save her!
She cursed the archons for she has lost the ability to shape shift, cursed at the form she decided to be in. Have the cruel gods decided to play with her again? Just when she has found her again. She can’t lose it all, all over.
“Guizhong!”, she screamed her old voice shaking.
Despite Guizhong frozen in place, she has heard the other’s cries. “Madame Ping…”, she was so far away, and it was only but a breath but the old adepti could hear her loud and clear.
NO!
The rampant vehicle crashed.
It was as if by some sort of miracle that at the last-minute Madame Ping sensed the return of magic from the long-withered ley lines. It was all a blur but as soon as she connected to them, she was able to shift to her younger form.
She held a half conscious Guizhong to her arms.
I saved her…
Before passing out, Guizhong stared right through the adepti’s eyes, it was as if she has recognized her then.
I saved her…
“Have you been here long?”, Guizhong said weakly, smiling.
Streetward Rambler finally let her tears fall freely.
I am able to save her.
“No…no, I just got here.”