to preserve the silence
Baixiao made plenty of efforts to relieve her mistress of any pain. She witnessed what happened to her empress and what became of her lord. The Lunar emperor sought all methods of preserving the memory of his wife. He loved her dearly, severely, desperately. Baixiao was tasked along with her fellow maids to look after the only heiress. Even after the death of the empress, she did everything she could to defend her lady.
She took it upon herself to explain grief to the confused child. It broke her heart that the child lost everything after that tragedy. She would be met with a cold shoulder whenever she reached out to her father. As the Lunar Emperor stated,
"I could not bear to look at her… She resembles the late Empress in every detail. She is a reminder of my failure."
Baixiao held herself and stepped forward, "My lord, forgive my ignorance, but distancing yourself from your child isn't what the late Empress wants."
"Silence!" Baixiao could remember the grief-stricken emperor's expression very well. The crashing glass and fluttering papers scattered through the wind onto the floor almost covered his tears. "What do you know of what to do in this situation? You are a lone maiden. You haven't had the slightest idea of what grief is!"
"Then is your anger the same grief you describe? With all due respect, my lord, I mourn the loss of my family and the life I would've had if I were not brought, no, sold to this place." Baixiao stepped back. Another word would sentence her to death, however, "I am not asking for much, just speak to your child, the lady, she too mourns for the late Empress."
The ink bottle splattered all over her uniform and face to her neck. "Baixiao, learn your place in this world." The second the Lunar Emperor approached, the maid stepped back once more. "You are a maid. You are in no position to speak to me about how I am raising Ningguang or how I should grieve for my late wife."
Even with the emperor's fist holding Baixiao up from her collar or the tip of a quill pointing by her neck, she stood her ground. "My lord, you are the Lunar Emperor, the god of the evening light and commander of the night. I believe you can overcome all the trials the world has put you through."
"But her death was not a trial for me! She deserved to live longer… she—" the emperor eased his grip and let Baixiao stagger while seeking the door for support. "She was all I had in this world…"
A maid must serve her masters and mistresses. "Then take care of yourself and your child. She is the only one you have left."
"Yes… she is all that is left…" That day, Baixiao realized none of what she said was heard. A sinister look was by her Lord’s face.
Day after day the emperor seemed to have regained his dignity and himself. Ningguang truly felt like herself with her father. The loss of her mother was tragic and agonizing but with her father, she would definitely recover. She reminds her father everyday of what kind of woman her mother was.
"Father?" Ningguang said through her drowsy eyes. "Is it evening yet?"
Around the child's bed frame was a fog causing people to fall asleep. "Shhh Shhh… I'm here."
The footsteps echoed and all Ningguang could remember was a spiral staircase descending to the palace dungeon rooms. Her father's lullaby was sweet and calming. Her father's arms were definitely soothing. The second she awoke, she felt different. As if, the life she has lived was not as she remembered. The previous night was a blur but she definitely remembered something occurred. Ningguang remembered the feeling of needles and the voice of a woman conversing with her father. When she confronted her father, she was met with his false smile.
"Silly girl, that's just a dream. You know it's not right to lie to your father." He said with eyes empty and cold.
"But I—"
"Ning ning… my little girl, don't lie to your father. It breaks my heart."
Baixiao stood behind the door, listening attentively. That day, she vowed to protect the heiress all her life. If anything, the emperor is a liar. She remembered the scent of that fog vividly and how it was present in the dungeon's laboratory. Seemingly enough, the palace alchemist was not present at that time. Baixiao cleaned the area and found a door that led to another room, hidden from plain sight. When she heard a commotion approach, she hid and left the dungeon to the palace garden.
It took her decades to discover the lunar emperor's haunting secret, which led to her banishment. But before she left, she told Ningguang as much as she could. Warning her of what may lie ahead. The second she arrived at the Oceanic Empire, Osial questioned her,
"So my suspicions were correct. The contract was breached intentionally. Just as my investigators were finding clues, he closed his windows." Osial said, listening intently to every detail Baixiao stated.
"Celestia has eyes on the empire, It's only a matter of time before… before the palace crumbles because of him. I could only hope that the princess is safe." Baixiao said, bowing her head before the lord of vortex.
"We're lucky we found you, and Yelan remembered you. Else, you would've been killed before revealing the truth. You may breathe well now. The ocean will always welcome you." Osial assured.
"I can't have a good night's rest if the princess still suffers."
"Then live for her sake. You said it yourself," Beisht said, comforting her newfound ally. "You told the princess everything. Yelan described that she must've grown into an intelligent young woman. I won't be surprised if she escapes to the earthen realm of her own accord."
Overhearing the newfound citizen's testimony, Yelan went to her room and locked herself inside. It couldn't be. Ningguang is so close, she could easily search for her on land if she wanted to. Her lessons for the day were finished along with her duties. It left her with plenty of time to devise a plan to locate Ningguang by herself. She packed her bags and prepared whatever was necessary to seek information about her.
"Still… If the lunar emperor found out Ningguang was gone, it would lead to a calamity. I can't help but feel responsible for this possible outcome. Allow me to partake in training." Baixiao knelt to the oceanic serpents and lowered her head. "I could only do so much as a maid but I know my knowledge around the lunar empire would benefit all citizens of the oceanic realm"
"Raise your head, moonlit maiden. Goodness! There is no need for excessive formalities. We understand your situation. We'll do whatever it takes to ensure your safety, including your princess." Osial helped her stand. Realizing the possible burden the newfound citizen would have to carry.
As Yelan unlocked her door, she anticipated Baixiao's arrival in her room. Making her explain everything. There were some details that were spared due to her age. Including the whole truth about why Ningguang willingly suffers. Yelan desperately tried her best to understand but the lack of details only angered her. Stubborn as she could be, the oceanic heiress understood the gist of the situation.
"I still have to find her." Yelan said.
"I'll do whatever it takes to bring us back to her." Baixiao said. "I know her best. She would be where the ocean or waters flow. She once told me it reminded her of you."
Ningguang always spent her free time by the creek and fountains of the palace after Yelan’s visit. She would wonder how something fluid and free be restrained. It reminded her of the oceanic heiress herself. She would dip her hands and feel the water flow right through her fingers. Much like how it felt to braid Yelan's hair. Most of all, it was the only place where she could freely plan her escape without anyone overhearing. She's crafty and cunning.
The minute she felt something was off with her father, she used her skills to foresee what her father was actually doing. It didn't happen quickly, she had glimpses through her dreams and visions. However, it only alerted her father that someone was keeping a close eye on him.
"I believe it's far too late for you to stay up, Lady Yelan. We'll continue this conversation tomorrow."
The following morning, the archons felt something shift from the sunrise. A call from the Celestial court was issued immediately calling plenty of gods along with the archons. Beisht and Baixiao held their ground to protect the empire. Yelan accompanied the calm winds and prepared for whatever may come. Osial's chest dropped the second he found out.
The Hydro Archon brought her oracle and assessed the future. They yelled and screamed, tormented by what they had witnessed. Panicked, the oracle covered herself at the sight of the serpent god of vortex. Rejecting his reaching hand to assist her up or from anyone for that matter. The archon was anxious as the oracle has never shown any signs of fear or emotions to prove their devotion.
"The light—! Doomed— A kingdom doomed forever!! The waters are converging and the storms are approaching!" They screamed and their vision turned white. The entire Celestial court witnessed an oracle's descent to madness and blindness in real time.
The timer for the destined calamity had begun. If what the oracles say were true, it would endanger the oceanic empire and eradicate the oceanic race as a whole.
The oracle pointed at the lunar emperor just before the higher beings took their sight. Osial looked behind him, where the lunar emperor stood. A sinister expression from just a grin. A father's expression as Osial described but one from a mad father. One that has shut his heart off from his mind and world.
"Can I help you, god of vortex?" he asked.
"Commander, may I ask, how is your daughter faring? My little girl has wished to meet with her for so long."
"Goodness!" truly a man who shut his heart from the world. "My little Ning ning never leaves my side these days. Since her maids decided to retire, she had been looking for my company."
Osial knows the lunar emperor best, but the moment their eyes met, a different being stood before him. Rather strange of him to admit the maids retired when he banished one to the earthen realm. "I get what you mean. However, you should treasure the moments when your daughter clings to you. One significant mistake, and she'll resent you."
"Is that so? Has your little one resented you these past few years?"
"I once stole a bite off her sponge cake and she refused to speak to me for weeks." Osial sighed.
"How amusing! Hahaha!" An attendant of the Lunar empire approached the emperor and whispered something in his ear. "If you'll excuse me, I will be taking my leave. I assume the meeting is over and my presence will no longer be required for the time being."
The god of vortex was amused and concerned. The sight of the commander marching, no, rushing to leave Celestia. Every god and archon knew what that oracle witnessed. A war will soon brew in Teyvat. One that neither man nor god will ever escape.
"Have someone inform Beisht about the news immediately. I will be investigating something in the Celestial realm for the next few days." Osial commanded his two knights.
"At once."
"Also," A box of bottled ambrosia was placed gently on one of their hands. "Hand this to Yelan. Tell her she needs to drink it as soon as the bottle touches her palms."
The god of contracts overheard the conversation and kept a close watch on Osial and the Lunar Emperor.
"A few days will not be enough to gather whatever information you seek in this realm"
"Morax, a pleasure to see you."
"Your child isn't of true serpent blood. You do understand the consequences all of you will face if something were to happen. A human child turned god isn't going to save her."
"Morax, with all due respect, have you ever thought about the past she had? If anything, I did Yelan a favor by taking her in as my own." Osial sighed, and his clenched fist almost cut through his palm. "Even if she isn't born of my blood, she is still my child. I'll lie to her if I have to. Besides," noticing the approaching goddess of dust, he looks back at Morax with pity. "Humans don't live that long, I'm sure the past where she belonged to has long forgotten her."
"Still-" Morax stepped back as Osial approached. He could not understand why the god of vortex was persistent in keeping an heir he did not need.
"I understand whatever trouble my daughter had caused was from my lack of confidence in raising her as my own." Morax uncovered the serpent god’s hostility and yet was astonished at his reaction. Could a human truly have such an effect on the gods? They are just mere creations and followers. There is no need to seek an heir from a child-turned-god.
"You should keep a close watch on her. I sense danger within reach from her naivety."
“Who are you to lecture me on how I should raise my own child? I know she isn’t of my blood and I have broken multiple laws just to bring her back to life. I don’t need a constant reminder from the archon who descended from the heavens.” Osial turned his back and rushed to the celestial library, passing the goddess of dust.
“There you are! I want to get out of here. It’s suffocating.” Guizhong waved her hands over Morax’s face. “Hellooo! Earth to Morax! Your Barbatos has descended already.” Like the stone pillars, he refused to move. “Come on!” he refused to budge no matter how much she struggled to pull.
“Guizhong.”
“Finally!”
“When did you get here?”
“I’ll tell you once we leave. Now come on! I have things to do and places to be.”
Morax left the celestial realm just before noticing Barbatos’ look. The wind was harsh and unforgiving, a telltale sign of a calamity approaching.
Meanwhile, the oceanic realm was as peaceful as ever. Yelan held the bottle of ambrosia in her hand. It was too sweet, and the flavor resembled what gold and immortality taste like. Baixiao watched her mistress finish every last drop of the ambrosia and tried to remember the significance of the liquid.
It was concocted from Celestia, preserved, blended, and sifted to its purest essence. Immortality is only exclusive to those who have consumed the fruits of the heavenly abode and were blessed with godlike characteristics such as the control of the elements, immortality, and even the preservation of faithful followers. A human being consuming it would lead to their demise, especially if it weren’t blessed by the god who made it. However, the gods and archons only need to consume it once in a lifetime. Why did Yelan have bottles upon bottles of finished ambrosia under her bed?
“I can feel your eyes piercing through me. What is it?” She asked.
“Is there a reason why you hoard those bottles, Lady Yelan?” Baixiao locked the door behind her and closed the curtains. She can immediately understand what her mistress needed. Centuries of raising and growing with Ningguang has been ingrained in her head.
“I can’t just return all of them. Some of it still has drops under it.” Yelan said before gulping an entire pitcher of water. The molasses-like ambrosia she always consumed lingered at the back of her throat. It was hauntingly sweet but the gods consumed it like it was alcohol.
Yelan’s complexion lightened from before. Compared to when they met at the beach, she was revitalized and resembled a human more than a serpent.
“Baixiao,”
She sat on the floor by her mistress, “yes, my lady?”
“Have you heard of humans turning into oceanic serpent beings?”