𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘥.

YOOOOO!

Thanks for the 100k reads! I know I've been on a bit of a break lately, but I couldn't resist sharing this chapter I wrote just for fun. It's not directly connected to the main story nor the timeline, but it does offer some context and foreshadowing for what's to come. Ok, no pressure, you're totally free to skip if you're not feeling it. But hey, how about we let our imaginations run wild and come up with our own theories, huh?

—

Dear Phoenix,

I hope this letter finds you well, my dear friend. I trust you haven't singed your wings in any fiery mishaps recently? I wanted to personally invite you to Liyue, as I stumbled upon something that may pique your interest.

You know me, I'm always on the lookout for intriguing phenomena, and this meteorite that I found is no exception. It's been here for thousands of years, but what's truly captivating is the mysterious energy it's emitting. I have no doubt that you would be the perfect person to investigate it with your keen eye for the unusual.

Don't worry; I won't bore you with godly talk. I simply want to spend some time with you, and I think this could be a fun adventure for us. Plus, it would be a nice break from the stale air of Khaenri'ah, wouldn't it?

Speaking of Khaenri'ah, how are your parents? Those two alchemists always make me chuckle with their odd names and your father's too-chill-for-his-own-good personality. I hope they're doing well.

On a separate note, I couldn't help but notice a stark change in your demeanor in the few recent years, and I couldn't help but be a little concerned about you. Is everything alright? I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds, but you can always confide in me if something's troubling you.

Anyway, I hope you'll consider my invitation. I promise there will be no strings attached, just good company and a mystery to solve.

Yours sincerely,

Guizhong

—

Guizhong,

I will go to Liyue at my earliest convenience. The meteorite's energy is of interest to me, but I will conduct my investigation independently and without altering my methods to suit anyone's agenda, including a god's.

I will arrive and report my findings when it suits me.

There is no need for your concerns regarding my well-being. I am fine.

Phoenix

—

As Phoenix finished writing, his hands paused for a moment before he withdrew them from the paper, showing no sign of the usual fidgety anticipation or any trace of anxiety. His face, like a polished stone, was expressionless, his eyes lacking any emotion as they glanced towards the window. Though his mind processed the concept of leaving behind the only home he had ever known, there was no flutter in his chest, no knot in his stomach. The opportunity to explore and discover something new was simply a logical conclusion, without any sense of excitement or trepidation.

He was glad to finally shed the facade of emotions that he was expected to wear like a mask. For so long, he had mimicked the emotions of those around him, but he found it exhausting and inauthentic. It was easier to embrace his true self, free from the burden of feigning emotions that he did not possess.

As he walked towards his parent's room, his movements were slow and deliberate, a reflection of the emotional emptiness that had long defined him. Yet, in that emptiness, he found a strange kind of peace, a sense of belonging that he had never felt before.