𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐓 ↷ 𝑧ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑖

iv

"Where have you been!? Why are you so dirty!? And what is that on your face? Is that a new scar?" The moment you arrived at your home was your sister's surprised face.

You held out zhongli. "Look sister, I found a golden dragon when I was on my way home!" You said as you show your sister the adeptus in your hand. She looks so confused and worried at the same time, wondering why would you brought an adeptus back home.

"Isn't that an adeptus?" She asks as she examines Zhongli. "You should let it go. Adeptus aren't meant to be pet. They exist so they can protect liyue, our homeland."

"But . . ." you were hesitant. Yes, your sister was right, adeptus are meant to protect liyue and the its people. "This adeptus is quite small and it seems like it can not protect liyue and its people." You held zhongli higher.

The golden dragon you were holding felt offended but it did not show any emotion as you held him in your arms.

"[y/n], don't underestimate the adeptus. Some of them have small size but have destructive power." Your sister tells you. "So you should put it back where it belongs so it can do its job as an adeptus." she crosses her hands.

Your sister took the basket of laundry and went outside. "Now, go and tidy up yourself. After that give me your clothes so I can wash them. Be fast though, I'm not going to wait for you." you heard her say.

You immediately ran to your room with zhongli, the long golden dragon you found one day and decided to make it as your pet. As you reached your room, you put zhongli in your bed as you change your clothes. After changing your clothes, you held zhongli again in your left arm along with your dirty clothes in the right.

As you gave your dirty clothes to you sister, you ran to your garden without even talking to your sister; even holding Zhongli in your arms.

"Zhongli, I want to show you something."

As you arrived at your garden where you plant the glaze lily that you want to offer lady Guizhong and ask for some blessing. You put zhongli in the ground beside you. "Look at this, zhongli, they have grown." You said as you show the golden dragon beside you the glaze lily you were growing for the past weeks. "Do you think that Lady Guizhong these Glaze Lilies that I want to give to her?" You ask the adeptus beside you as you stare at him. The adeptus just looked away.

"Do you even understand what I am telling you? I have been telling you a lot of stories about my life when we were on our way home." You said to him. He didn't answered.

"Never mind that. We should make these Glaze lilies to bloom before we go and offer it to Lady Guizhong." you went back in staring the glaze lilies that are yet to bloom. "According to my sister, we have to sing for them to bloom."

You cleared your throat, getting ready to sing. "Na. . . nanana. . . na . . . nana . . ."

A moment or silence; the glaze lilies did not bloom.

You face redden because of embarrassed. Your not really fond of singing. You covered your face with your hand.

As you were covering your face out of embarrassment, the dragon you called Zhongli was holding his laugh.

"Oh my god, looks like I have to ask my sister for some help with the singing." You said as you grabbed Zhongli from the ground and immediately went to your sister. As you arrived, you saw your sister hanging the laundries. It seems like she finished doing the laundries.

"Umm . . . Sister, can you help me with something?" You gently asks holding zhongli tighter in your arms.

"What is it this time?" she said not looking at your way and just kept on hanging the laundries.

"The glaze lilies has grown but have not yet bloomed. Can you sing them for me?" You smiled innocently.

Your sister sighed. "Fine." She said and held the basket and went inside the house before going to the garden where you planted the glaze lilies.

She sang to them and the glaze lilies immediately bloomed. As expected from your sister, her voice was very mesmerizing and is nice to listen to. You still remember when you were small. She always sings you a lullaby when you go to bed.

"Thank you."

THE NEXT DAY

______________

"Are you going to offer the glaze lilies today?" You sister asks as she puts her items in the bag hanging in her horse.

"Yes! Too bad you can't join me and Zhongli." you said.

You sister looked at you with worried seen in her face."You are still not going to let go of that adeptus, are you?" You shook your head as a response. "That is an adeptus and they are not meant to be a pet." she added as she proper her hair clip that you made for her a year ago then she puts her hood on.

"But i need him! If he really an adeptus, then he can help me protect myself when I am on my way to Mount Aocang!" you replied as you held out Zhongli who looks so done.

"Mount Aocang? Why are you going there?" you sister look so confused.

"I'm going to offer the glaze lilies there." you whispered but it was obvious that your sister heard it.

"Why in mount Aocang!? I thought you were going to offer the flowers here in guili plains!"

"But you said that Lady Guizhong always have her tea there!" you protested.

"Whatever your reason is, you are not going there! Mount Aocang is a high mountain and I am not letting you go there!"

You look down.

You sister sighed and rode her horse. "I will be going to Sumeru. Please do take care of yourself and don't make me worry. My friends are waiting for me so I better go." She said and went off.

You looked at zhongli. "Don't worry, zhongli, we are still going to mount aocang. I want to meet Lady Guizhong personally."

[ march 4, 2023 ;; unedited ]