To Rise, To Fall | genshin impact | ningguang

Night 3: Beidou

And the next day, she returns. Somehow, regardless of the exhaustion that weighs upon her shoulders after the sun dips low in the sky, she ends up in that room, beside that girl. She does not expect Zhongli to return today, for a single day is hardly enough to gather information, but she is here anyway. Today she brings a fine-tooth comb—unfortunately not her favorite, as that one now lies at the bottom of the ocean—and sets to work on the traveler's hair.

Though the girl does not have much, Ningguang combs each section with the same care she uses on herself, and she finds that she is grateful for her hands to be occupied. She clicks her tongue in disappointment at the state of the girl's hair—disheveled from lying sick in bed for three days is one thing, but the short back looks as if it was cut haphazardly with a sword. In fact, Ningguang considers, it probably was. Her hands still for a moment as she takes in the choppy lengths. Was this a punishment? A choice? Whose hand wielded the sword—was it her own? Ningguang purses her lips, and she reminds herself to find someone who can clean up this haircut.

Satisfied with her work, she repositions Lumine against the many pillows, propping her up slightly. The unconscious girl gives no response except her shallow breaths, and Ningguang sits back in her chair and sighs.

The door opens, and the scent of seawater and alcohol tickles her nose. Bolting to attention, Ningguang stands to face the new visitor.

"Heya, Ning," comes the deep voice she has been trying not to think about.

"Beidou," Ningguang breathes out, and she almost forgets to breathe back in. Several seconds pass: no words, no movement. Then, "You're alive."

Beidou moves towards her, and Ningguang wraps her hands around the woman's forearms. "We got lucky," Beidou says. "We weren't anchored at Guyun when it happened—had gone down further south. That thing caused some fierce waves, but we made it through alright."

Ningguang shuts her eyes, squeezes her hands just a bit tighter, and breathes. "I'm glad," she says.

Beidou's fingers draw aimless lines along the inside of Ningguang's wrists. "Me too," she replies. "When I saw the Jade Chamber go down..."

Eyes snapping open, Ningguang regards her with affront. "Did you think I was stupid enough to go down with it?"

Beidou laughs, and the sound steals tension away from Ningguang's shoulders. "No, no, of course not. Even if you didn't have an escape plan, you'd probably just change the rules of gravity on the way down."

Ningguang can't help but to chuckle at that.

"But it was still scary," Beidou concludes.

"Scary?" Ningguang echoes. "Aren't you famous for cutting off the head of a sea monster?"

Another laugh. "Well, that was scary too."

Ningguang releases her hold on the woman's arms, letting out a deep sigh as she glances back towards Lumine.

"That's her, then?" Beidou asks.

Ningguang could ask what exactly Beidou knows—just how much she's been told about their mysterious hero—but she doesn't bother. The pirate is sharp, and she can catch up on her own. "Yes," she replies, returning to her seat.

Beidou walks behind her, hands settling in at the crook of Ningguang's neck. "I didn't hear about her being so hurt."

Ningguang sighs once more. "She wasn't when the fight finished, as far as I am aware. I don't fully understand it, but it seems the adepti granted her some sort of temporary power that they weren't supposed to. There's no treatment but to wait."