EN | An encounter she will never forget | ᴄʜɪʟᴜᴍɪ

6 - The Eleventh Harbinger

After walking through most of the city which appeared to be far more vast than what the two companions were expecting, Childe took them to a building a little way from the city center.

"This is the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Perhaps one day you will need to go there..." Childe said to the two friends, a mocking smile clearly visible. Understanding the innuendo, they looked at each other without saying a word.

Don't bury us too quickly.

But as they thought they were going to continue their guided tour, someone interrupted them.

"I thought I recognized that voice."

A figure emerged from the building they were standing in front of, and came to meet them. It was a man, dressed in brown from head to toe, with black hair with brown tips, short in front and long at the back, and amber eyes. He was as tall as Childe, who himself was a head taller than Lumine.

"Ah, hello Sensei!" replied Childe with a warm smile, which seemed a little less fake than the previous one he had addressed to the two friends as of now.

"I see you have good company," remarked the stranger.

"They are two adventurers I met when they were lost," answered Childe while emphasizing the last word, which annoyed Lumine.

The stranger turned his gaze to Paimon and Lumine before continuing.

"Ah, forgive my rudeness, I have committed a breach of etiquette. I am Zhongli, a consultant from Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. What is your name miss?"

This question threw the Traveler off balance. Not the question itself, but rather the manner of this Zhongli. He seemed younger in appearance, and yet his words and his gestures seemed to come from another time as if he had seen numerous eras pass through.

"Lumine, adventurer," she answered succinctly. "Nice to meet you."

"And I'm Paimon," added the little fairy. "Pleased to meet you!"

"The pleasure is mine, Miss Lumine, Miss Paimon."

"I was showing them around the city. I was about to show them the view from the Yujing terrace. Would you like to come, Sensei?" asked Childe with another smile.

"If these two lovely ladies don't mind, I'll be very happy to accompany you. The view is always beautiful from up there."

Seeking their approval, he looked again at the two 'ladies' in question in search of an answer. Finding no inconvenience for an extra person to join them for their tour, they both nodded.

So the four of them set off, climbing more steps to reach a terrace overlooking the city. It was a round square with a small canal also forming a circle in which there was water. The view from here was masterful, overlooking the whole city and giving a clear view of the harbor.

The declining sun causing the evening glow only made the moment more magical, reflecting off the ocean in the distance and reflecting off the traditional roofs of the city and the glossy hulls of the boats.

"Wow, this is beautiful!" exclaimed Paimon and Lumine in unison as they approached the railing. Right after, the two guides came up behind them.

"Indeed. This is my favorite view of all Liyue," Zhongli's deep voice replied.

"I prefer the view from the top of Mt. Tianheng. But it's a lot of exercises to climb that high," the orange-haired man laughed.

According to what they had learned today, Mt. Tianheng was the gigantic mountain right behind Liyue Harbor. Without a doubt, this Childe must be in an exceptional physical condition in order to do so much climbing just to admire the view.