wanderer's moon | kaedehara kazuha

09 | words you hold onto alone at night (ii)

2 weeks later

In one of the corners of Liyue lies an assortment field of floras, a nameless land that sits between the outskirts of Qingce Village and Mt. Aocang. It is a pity that not a single person is found standing in any of these fields yet built a home on such an endless panorama of the flowers, mountains and clear skies. Perhaps Kazuha found himself lucky to have stumbled upon this area not too long ago, for which he once met a botanist from Sumeru who knows every seed, every sprout and every gift of nature inside out. Kazuha knows a thing or two about flowers, but he is not as knowledgeable as the former and Nara...unless it is about maple leaves.

It is long past midday, and Kazuha had just woken up from an hour's nap on a lush patch of grass in the midst of a perpetual yellow gladiolus field. The wind greets him with a song brought from the clear blue skies, the sun's shine grinning down on him; so he wakes with a smile too. The gladiolus around him swayed as if they were enjoying the soft breeze. They look all the more golden out in the sun, the heaven's blessings cast upon them. They emanate a cheerful aura, naturally bringing joy to Kazuha's everlasting, gentle smile.

Still laying on the bed of grass, Kazuha leans on one side, enjoying the peace that comes with the pleasant smell the floras emit. Its scent is not overpowering even when gathered in a bunch, pondering that perhaps the wind helped to spread the lovely fragrance across the rivers and across nations.

Not long after, the shift in the wind subtly changes and then comes a self-inviting scent of old relics and cor lapis. Kazuha briefly closed his eyes and smiled.

"Fancy seeing you here, Zhongli." He greets without facing the consultant, hearing his steady footsteps crunching the grass and their tiny flowers a few distances from Kazuha. "Your timing is impeccable. I was just relishing the scent of this gladiolus field after I woke up from my nap."

"I believe we gathered here for tea," Zhongli sounded hilariously unsure as if wondering if the purpose of their meeting is lost. "But I do not see any form of furniture that could serve a cup of tea."

A blitheful chuckle comes out of Kazuha's mouth. "There is no need for proper settings. Let's enjoy our tea on this patch of grass surrounded by nature's gifts." He pats the spot beside him, finally turning his head to see Zhongli wearing an unamused expression, but Kazuha only laughs politely as the consultant settled down beside him, sitting cross-legged—all too stiff for a fully grown man.

"Comfortable?" Kazuha asked.

"I...don't dislike it. However, it has been a long time ever since I laid carefreely on a vast empty field." Zhongli starts unpacking the paper bag he brought with him, taking out two small porcelain cups, and a teapot with pre-made tea that is still warm from wherever he made it. He then lifts the teapot and pours a decent amount on each cup, bringing one to Kazuha's expecting hand, and one to himself. The samurai mumbled his thanks, and then takes a lingering sip of the aromatic tea, sighing at the warmth soothing his throat.

Kazuha finds himself looking down and staring into his cup, observing the tiny bits of petals on the bottom like corals on the seabed. Through the blueish brew, his crimson eyes discern the colours of these petals; violet.

He hums curiously at the tea and its fine scent. "This tea you brewed," Kazuha glanced at Zhongli. "Is this violet tea?"

The consultant takes a sip before answering. "Indeed. I found some wild violets when I was strolling along wooded slopes near a river. They are medically beneficial but of course, violets are still edible to enjoy on a daily basis."

"Do they have a meaning?"

Zhongli quirked an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"Violets," Kazuha enquired. "What symbolism do they hold? I've been paying too much attention to flowers lately—their meanings, stories, whispers, scents, and colours. Too fond I had to observe from afar otherwise I'd end up plucking every flower I see."