𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐒𝐒. genshin impact

CHPT. 18 Beginning of the lantern rite

"提灯祭り"
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A festive atmosphere floats around Liyue as the citizens prepared for their ancient Later rite. A festival that brings praise to the Adepti and allows the mortals to relax all they want. The harbor was covered in decorations and stalls, filled to the brim with busy folk and foreigners that we're fascinated by the activities. Among these foreigners was an archaic Outlander.

"It's around this time of the year..." Noir murmured, gazing up at the blue sky. Meticulous of his own being, he caressed his familiar's head, sighing quietly.

"Go." He commanded the serpent.

"Find the relic that can unseal you from this form. You'll be more useful in your human form."

Nyx nodded, silently slithering away from her master. The lantern rite was not just a normal festival for the two, but the time of the year where a rift opens inside Teyvat. A rift in dragonspine will lead one to a temple that contains an artifact that dispels any curse or seal. Something that could free Nyx from her small state. However, Astaroth's problem was that she would be separated from him for a long period of time. He never found being away from Nyx desirable, as she was practically the one person that held his sanity and common sense

Sometimes, without her by his side, he felt like he could go on a rampage. Nyx was a companion that kept him in check and stopped him from doing something rash. It was required she stay by his side but it was necessary for her to venture into a dungeon that could free her from her curse.

"Don't fail me... Rather... Don't disappoint yourself in a devastating failure." His cold voice was conveyed to Nyx, her determination to free herself from the seal placed on her rising like a volcano. Dragonspine. She would have no trouble finding that rift and obtaining the relic.

Now Noir was alone by the harbor's balcony-like bridge, humming to himself. Watching the people frantically prepare for their dear festival, he was amused. The scene was something he watched centuries ago, together with the other Archons as they too came to celebrate Liyue's Lantern rite. It was nostalgic. The memory of him celebrating the festival with a pair of blondes made his heartache.

"Wow~ so many stalls! Here, there, everywhere!!"

A voice took his attention, snapping his head to the entrance of Liyue that came from the north. His eyes stung, pursing his lips at the sight.

As Aether and Paimon marveled at the sight, he couldn't help but know that their expressions were all too similar to someone else's. "I'm a fool." He told himself, chuckling wryly before he hopped off the balcony and down the harbor. However much pain he carried at the sight of them, he had to face the pair to get over his sorrow.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the famous traveler and his companion." He joked, smiling at the pair who looked delighted to see him.

"Paimon's my emergency food."

"This is my emergency food."

Clasping a hand to his mouth, Noir knew those words too well. They were not just spoken by Aether, but himself and a friend. The poor Paimon and the previous 'emergency food' would expectedly decline to the ridiculous nickname. Well, sometimes he was jokingly the emergency food themselves.