The Bloom of Life

Chapter 3

I was just having stroll near the mountains when I stumbled across a field full of Glaze Lilies. My eyes glistened as I walked towards the field. This type of flower was my favourite and it matched me as a person very well. I kneeled onto the grass and picked up one of the flowers, it shined in the suns and the soft breeze circled around me. That was until the wind blew and it was whispering the name "Guizhong".

I didn't know if someone was there with me, whispering that name to annoy me, or if it was just the wind after all. At first, I ignored it, but the whispers only were getting louder and louder. They were everywhere, saying that name almost like a mockery of me. At that point, I couldn't take it anymore, and I walked back to the city, thinking those whispers would stop. But they didn't. I put my hands over my ears, but as I figured, it didn't stop. Maybe this was a message? A message telling me to find out about something. Even though I'm half adeptus, I've always spent my days hiding away, so I never met this "Guizhong" person. I thought to myself: "Maybe I should ask someone about this person...".My first instincts was to ask Zhongli, but he was at the funeral parlour all day. It'd be rude to disturb him. But then a second person came to mind...

"Xiao..?" I looked around to see if he would show up .And, to my surprise he did. He was on the roof as he looked down at me.

"You called?" Xiao looked at me with piercing eyes.

"Yes, I'd like to ask you about something" He got down off of the roof and  landed in front of me.

"What?" Xiao crossed his arms, giving  me a curious look.

"So, earlier, I was in a field of Glaze Lilies and there was a breeze and the name Guizhong kept being said.. Anyway, I want to know if you know who this Guizhong is?" As I spoke, he was more and more surprised before his face turned serious, almost like he didn't want to say anything.

"What you were doing was walking in her memorial ground.." His voice grew quieter with each word.

"Memorial? are you saying she's dead?" I said curiously as I tilted my head. Xiao turned away from me.

"I don't know much about Guizhong.. I only know she was precious to Rex Lapis" I was trying not to ask too many questions because he seemed uncomfortable talking about this Guizhong girl, but I had to know more..

"'Precious'? How so?" As I asked on, Xiao's face became more serious, as if he really didn't want to say it, as if it was for my own good.

"She.. was... Uhm.. Rex Lapis' wife, lets say.." He tried to refrain from saying anything else. As soon as I heard that, my heart sunk.
Was I jealous?
I felt jealous, but I didn't show it and yet, I was still very curious.

"If you don't mind.. Could you tell me about her?" I said, taking my opportunity of talking to him while he was still here.

"Look, I shouldn't be talking about her for the sake of the people here. Now, if you'll excuse me I'll be taking my leave" He said and disappeared, leaving me standing there, confused and annoyed. He had just left me, full of questions.

"Xiao! Ugh! come back-!" I was annoyed. He could've at least told me more..

A couple  of hours after, I was at home, sitting on the bed. That was when an idea struck me. I got up, went to Zhongli's bedroom and I opened the door. I was surprised to see how fancy he made it look. I shook my head, realising I was already going off track, and walked over to a wardrobe full of items from years ago. I opened the wardrobe and looked up and down, there was a little glow in my eyes and when I looked up, there was a bell inside. 

This bell, it felt somewhat familiar to me, like it was calling me to ring the bell. I reached up and took the bell and I inspected it. "This bell.. gives off adeptus energy."  I thought to myself, I was about to shake the bell when someone snatched it off me. I quickly turned to see that Zhongli took the bell off me, he was defiantly not happy.