𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐁𝐘𝐒𝐒. genshin impact

CHPT. 22 Windy Embers

"ちらつきとやけど"
━━━━━━━━━

Ever since his talk with Kaeya, Noir had a small part of him want to visit the tavern. The very one owned by the last member of the Ragnvindr clan.

"An Alberich was adopted by the Ragnvindr clan and expelled due to the falling out with their sole descendant? Well, that's quite extra." Noir hummed, though yawned as he fell into his shadow. The scenery of Monstadt's windy moor became Liyue's bustling city. He hummed as he searched for a certain Funeral consultant.

"... Is it a good idea to enter a Funeral Parlor?" He asked, turning his head to the side where Nyx would usually be. "Ah... You haven't returned yet." He murmured, slightly dejected to the absence of his loyal Familiar. He took a deep breath and navigated himself to the Wangsheng Funeral parlor.

It wasn't an exactly good idea for him, with his connection to death and what was known to some mortals as the 'border'. A funeral parlor would be covered in the presence of souls that had entered the 'border'. It didn't give him a bad side effect, just made him want to jump into the in-between of living and dead to speak to old friends. It was difficult but he had already endured it for centuries.

Under his musing, Noir ended up bumping into someone. A young girl with dark brown hair fading into crimson tips, scarlet eyes with unique flower-shaped pupils. A porkpie hat on her head, designed with red plum blossoms.

"Aiya! Watch where your—"

The girl cut herself off, shivering as she felt a familiar sensation from the albino. "Miss? Are you alright?" Noir asked, offering his hand to her. The girl nodded, taking his hand and lifting herself up with his help.

"Sorry for bumping into you there! I'm Hu Tao, director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! If you're one of our clients, I'm afraid our services are dwindled due to the lantern rite!" She giggled, smiling mischievously at him

Noir blinked in surprise, before smiling in amusement. "Director of the funeral parlor huh? Well, I do need some help from you then."

"Oh? What could you need help for during the Lantern rite? But~ I'm willing to help if it is in my capabilities." She grinned.

"By any chance have you seen Zhongli? He's the consultant at the Wanghseng funeral parlor and I'm an old friend of his."

Discarding his supposedly timid persona, he asked her in a more casual manner that no one could ever refer to as 'timid'. Hu Tao looked slightly disappointed, though she had an answer ready for him.

"He'll be arriving at Wangsheng later on. Why don't you come along with me instead! We can wait together." She offered, grabbing his wrist and dragging him to Wangsheng.

Noir yelped softly, surprised that the director of a funeral parlor was so eccentric. He was already surprised with her cheery demeanor regarding someone as a 'client'.

"Director—"

"Hi meng! Bye meng!"

Hu Tao immediatly dismissed her employee, dragging the white-haired boy into the building. Noir sighed, glancing at every corner of the place. He could see faint traces of ghosts and apparations, misty traces.

'Hu... Right. The Hu family are in charge of the border in Liyue, Monstadt on the other hand.' He was slightly disappointed that Monstadt did not have a guardian for the border between living and dead, but he came to realize that the nation didn't need one. The wind itself carried souls to the after life, promising safe travels to the land of the dead.

"So~ I didn't catch your name!" Hu Tao plopped on a chair, gesturing for him to take a seat on the sofa.

"Noir. A Reisender from Sumeru."