His Eyes Never Change (Gold like Cor Lapis, Blue as Noctilucous Jade)

Paper Flowers

There were crystals growing in a glass container. Actually, containers. They had been stored underneath one of Guizhong's workbenches. Childe figured that it was one of her new experiments, since he didn't see them the last time he visited her laboratory. It had been a few weeks since the first time she invited him there. A few weeks since she revealed that she knew the truth and had begun her investigation into Childe's situation.

He had been invited back on multiple occasions since then, always helping her with something new or answering questions that she had regarding his time traveling. So far, it seemed that she hadn't made much progress. Though, now that he had witnessed the way she operated and her thought process, it was also possible that she simply didn't feel the need to share her discoveries just yet.

The sealed room was also still a mystery to him. Every time he walked past it, Childe swore the energy inside was increasing. Not in power necessarily, but in quantity. It was multiplying. Unfortunately for him, Guizhong never talked about it.

But, back to the crystals. Childe wasn't sure if there was a specific reason why she placed them under the table, so he didn't want to bring them out to get a closer look. There were two rows of strings strung across the top of each container, with three sticks fastened to each one and partially submerged in a solution. The ends that were inside the liquid had crystals growing off of them. Some of the containers held clear liquid, others had been dyed a myriad of colors.

"You've been so quiet, I'm starting to worry you might be getting up to trouble."

Childe nearly hit his head on the table at the sound of Guizhong's voice.

"Me? Trouble?" he grinned innocently. "Never."

Guizhong put down her tools and turned towards him, "What's caught your attention?"

"Just these crystals under here. I haven't seen them before."

The god stared blankly for a minute, whispering to herself. Then a flash of realization crossed her face.

"Oh, those! I'd forgotten about them. You can eat one if you'd like."

Childe was about to grab one when her words fully registered, "Wait, I can do what?"

Surely she didn't expect him to eat rocks ? Seeing the confusion on his face, Guizhong shook her head in amusement and walked over to where he was. Dust hands brought a few of the containers out and she untied two sticks, handing one of them to Childe.

He raised it to his face, still a bit hesitant. Holding it close to his nose, he breathed in a sweet scent. Childe's face lit up when he realized what it was. When he looked back up at Guizhong, she took a small bite out of her crystals and tilted her head towards him in encouragement.

He took a small bite, delighting in the sweetness that coated his tongue and the satisfying crunch.

"They're sugar crystals," Guizhong explained. "I learned this technique from the people under the care of the God of the Woods."

Childe continued munching on his candy, nodding along to what she was saying.

As she finished off the last bite of her own, she frowned slightly.

"Though, it seems that this experiment has failed as well."

He raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean? They seem fine to me?"

"I grew these in the hopes that I could store memories in them," Guizhong sighed, "but I haven't been able to get the memories to transfer over."

"You...want to put memories inside of candy?"