To Rise, To Fall | genshin impact | ningguang

Night 2: Zhongli

The following day is much the same—the sheer amount of work to be done in repairing the harbor keeps the Qixing occupied from dawn to dusk. Every hour a new batch of citizen complaints and requests add to the already towering piles on every desk, and the secretaries of the Yuehai Pavilion can scarcely write fast enough to keep up with the plans and statements the Tianquan and Yuheng rattle off. They have only just begun to address the Jade Chamber debris around Guyun as the sun dips below the horizon.

Ningguang stands from her chair, waves a hand, and dismisses the secretaries. The ladies maintain their usual composure well, but even they are beginning to crack under the constant work, and she can see their shoulders sag as they shuffle out of the office. Some part of her hopes they are not working the poor girls too hard, but most of her thinks that there is still far too much to do for anyone to be slacking.

They are all only human, in the end, so she lets them go and exits the office, strolling along the stone streets in the crisp night air. Almost unconsciously, her feet take her to that remote room in the back of the Yuehai guest quarters, and she stands, hesitant, outside the door once more. There are voices inside; one deep and one high, and she thinks she recognizes both. Carefully, she pushes open the door by the tiniest of cracks, thankful for the impeccable craftsmanship that allows it to swing without so much as a squeak.

Inside is the man from before—Zhongli, wasn't it?—sitting beside the bed. The traveler's floating companion is up and about, flitting nervously in the air above her unconscious friend. With the door open, their conversation begins to reach Ningguang's ears.

"Baizhu and Qiqi came by and still couldn't do anything," Paimon whines. "And Paimon doesn't really know where to find any adepti. As an archon, can't you help her?"

Ningguang narrows her eyes, but before her mind can take this tidbit and run with it, Zhongli gives a quiet laugh.

"I appreciate that you think so highly of me," he says, "but I am no Archon."

"But..." Paimon begins, gesturing towards the traveler.

Her vantage point isn't perfect, but Ningguang swears Zhongli's eyes flit to her for the briefest of moments—so quick that by the time she notices, he has already returned his gaze to the girl in the bed.

"Adeptal energy is not something that can be reclaimed once granted," he explains. "The adepti would not be able to help her. She must withstand this on her own."

"But... Paimon isn't sure she can," says the small creature. "She's really sick, and if no one can do anything..."

Zhongli sighs, and when he speaks, he does so slowly, as though choosing his words carefully. "It is regrettable that she became entangled with Liyue's business. I imagine the adepti sensed something... not quite mortal about her, but they—like I—misjudged her constitution."

"Can't you do anything to help?" Paimon asks. "They keep saying she needs to rest to get through it, but Paimon thinks she's having nightmares, which doesn't seem very restful at all..."

Zhongli considers this for a moment, hand under his chin in what feels like a caricature of deep thought. "There is an adeptal art of gifting dreams," he begins, but Ningguang does not hear the rest of his explanation. A secretary approaches with a basin of water and various other supplies, and Ningguang intercepts her.

"I will take these," she says, holding out her hands. The secretary simply stares for a moment, gaze flitting between Ningguang's ornately adorned hands and her face.

"I—Lady Ningguang, there is no need—"

Ningguang reaches forward to grasp the edges of the tray. "Give them to me," she says. It is not aggressive, nor commanding, but the secretary's eyes go wide and she dips her head as she relinquishes the tray. "Thank you," Ningguang says. "You are dismissed for the night."