In the heart engraved

5

Liyue was bright, warm and full of colors under the midday sun when they arrived. The streets were crowded with people coming and going busily but Ei didn’t mind. It was a fresh change. No one seemed to have noticed who she was. The disguise borrowed by the traveler had certainly helped too.

Ei looked around curiously while the three of them walked by and admired the decorations and the lanterns arranged for the Festival already hanging here and there. She was wearing a light blue long dress resembling a Chinese quipao and an azure bandana over her head. Miko had done her beautiful indigo hair into two low fluffy buns before parting and the result was quite cute and practical. If she had accepted the sunglasses Paimon wanted to put on her though, Ei was sure she had looked way too suspicious.

“I’m not here on incognito”, she had explained before. “I just don’t want to attract too much attention.”

“You’re like an idol”, had teased the traveler smiling and Ei had tilted her head confused.

“What is an idol?”

“You know, like Barbara from Mondstadt. Er, don’t worry about it. But it’s not a bad thing”.

“I believe you”.

“So where do you want to go first?”

The question had a simple answer of course: to see Morax. But Paimon’s stomach had begun to growl by the time they had crossed the fountain and they decided to make a quick stop by Wanmin Restaurant. After a delicious lunch, they resumed their stroll through the city arriving finally to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor where an adorable white cat was having a sun bath nearby a bench.

“Is it here where Mo- Mr. Zhongli works?” Ei stared at the impressive front door of the Parlor with interest.

“Yep!” Paimon was floating besides her in the best spirit now that her stomach was full and her enthusiasm was quite contagious. But the frown in the traveler’s face as they walked to the door and tried to open it made the Shogun sighed softly.

“I think we arrived too early though. The place seems closed.”

“Is there anyone we can ask?” Ei looked around discouraged while the Traveler reflected.

“The Ferrylady comes at sunset. We can come back later and ask her in case we don’t find Mr. Zhongli directly or Hutao.”

“Alright. It seems to be the most convenient”.

“Don’t worry, Ei. Paimon knows you will get to see Zhongli soon.” Paimon smiled at her happily as they began to walk towards the main street again. “Why don’t we go to the Harbor in the meantime? There are a lot of shops and nice things to see there too.”

“Are you sure you just don’t want to keep eating, Paimon?” asked the Traveler.

“Hey, no way! Paimon thinks Ei should get the chance to admire all the beautiful things Liyue has to show, that’s all”.

“Sure, sure”.

Ei smiled slightly at their exchange but her heart was feeling heavy and uneasy. After receiving Morax’s personal invitation to visit him, she had hoped to meet him as soon as they arrived but it seemed Fate had a different path for them to walk.