𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙀𝙮𝙚𝙨 [ 𝘼𝙐 𝙕𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙘𝙝𝙞 ]

Epilogue

Zhongli got up like every morning, waking up because of his alarm. Not even on a Sunday would he stop getting up early.

He shuffled into the bathroom, where he washed. He looked at himself in the mirror, the years had passed, even for him, even though he appeared to be much younger than he was now.

He left the bathroom to return to his bedroom, opening the closet doors. He dressed in a cream-colored sweater and black pants, along with the shoes he always wore. He opened the dresser, finding a certain red scarf. Zhongli ran his hand over the worn fabric, then scooped it up and brought it to his nose, inhaling. He knew that he had lost the essence, but he always did that as if at any moment he could regain his original scent. He closed his eyes tightly, as he wrapped the garment around his neck.

It was February, the day of the Lanterns Rite.

—

Zhongli climbed the stone steps, a bag in one hand and a small box in the other. A breeze of wind made his hair flutter, as did the red ends of his scarf.

He sat up when he reached the top, watching the sunset. It was a little while before the Rite began. He opened the box, pulling out a star conch. Zhongli smiled sadly, as his chest picked in pain. He put the conch in the box again, without closing the lid. He was watching the calm sea and the sunset.

Two more hours passed before The Rite of the Lantern began. He watched as thousands of lanterns came out of the port of Liyue, lighting up the night sky. Zhongli took out his as well, along with the lighter. He rose from the ground, turning on the flashlight, still holding it. He had done this for twenty years, without fail. He remembered the first Rite of the Lantern that happened with him, the one that was left so long ago. He raised his arms, still holding the paper, his eyes glassy.

"Ajax..."

He remembered his face lit by the little flame, smiling. He remembered when they dropped the lantern and it began to rise towards the sky, towards the stars.

What did Ajax want? He never knew, he could never know. Zhongli dropped the paper, and the desire for him began to rise into the sky. Perhaps his desire was related to his family; Twenty years had passed since Zhongli sent the letter to Snezhnaya, and he never received a reply.

Tears began to come out of his eyes, like every year. His chest ached, he missed it. He missed it so much. He hugged himself, remembering each time he had hugged the redhead, how his hair brushed his nose each time he made that gesture and tickled his nose. He remembered all the times Ajax had cried in his arms, the times he had kissed him.

He remembered the last Rite that had passed with his loved one, the words that came out of his mouth were etched in his mind.

"I will never leave you."

Zhongli lowered his head, sobbing.

So why was he alone?

"We will always be together."

Why wasn't he with him?

"I promise you."

Why had he broken his promise?

Zhongli dropped to the ground, allowing the tears to continue to flow, as did his sobs.

Twenty years had passed, and he still loved him. Zhongli was still in love with those blue eyes, the unruly orange hair, the freckles on his face, his smile, his voice, the way he laughed, the way he cried, the way they fit perfectly as if they had been destined to be together... Zhongli was still in love with Ajax. But Ajax was no longer there, it had been a long time since he was by his side. It was long gone, it had taken off towards the stars as one of those lanterns. Is this what Archon Geo felt when his beloved also left this world? Was he in love until his last breath of that warrior who fell in battle?

Zhongli had been throwing down a lantern every year without fail. Not to fulfill his wish, that wasn't what he thought when he dropped the lantern. Despite not knowing what Ajax had wished for the first time he participated, he wished for it to come true.

What was it he had wanted?

He could never know.

"I hope... we can always be together."