Cold Blooded

Guizhong

"Chongyun, is that you?" Xingqiu yelled out. He hadn't heard Chongyun in so, so long. At least, not the one that he had known. He had heard it a million times in his head, but this time it was here. He was here.

"Xingqiu?" Chongyun called again. "Xingqiu, I- I need help."

"I'm coming, Chongyun," Xingqiu raced towards the voice. "How can I help you? I'll do anything to help you."

"I- I need you to find me." Chongyun's voice sounded more faint. "If you can get to me through the darkness, you'll be able to help me. Me and everyone else. You need to find the real me before Misses hurts anyone"

"Who's Misses?" Xingqiu reached out for Chongyun, but now it sounded like the voice was behind him. "Where are you?"

"I..." Chongyun's voice became quiet. "I don't know..."

"Well, it doesn't matter. I'll find you. I promise I will."

"Thank you, Xingqiu..."

-<>-

"Morax, come on already!"

"Rex Lapis, why won't you join us?"

"Hurry up, you blockhead."

"I- Where are you all?" Zhongli reached out around him, but couldn't find any of them. The voices were all around him. Everyone he had ever lost. So close, yet impossible to reach. No, they were right there. He could reach them. He had to. He just needed to try harder.

"We're right here, silly."

"Come on now."

"Let's go already, Morax."

"I'm trying..." Zhongli began to pant. How long had he been running? He was growing tired. Were the voices in front of him or behind him. They were all around him. Up, down, left, right, below, across, so close, so far, right there, a million miles, everywhere, nowhere.
"Ah," Zhongli shook his head violently. He would find them. He needed to find them. He would find them. Just try harder.

-<>-

The ancient powers smiled as they watched Morax scramble around like a weak mortal. How much that great archon had fallen. At this rate, it wouldn't take long until the old fool's mind broke. After that, he would be easy to take down.

The ancient powers knew that they were not long for this world. The best they could do is make sure that their host lasts long, but this boy would perish sooner or later. The only way they would be able to satisfy themselves would be to take Morax down with them. All they needed to do was bide their time just a bit longer.

And yet, something within them was fighting them. Someone, more specifically. It was a miracle of itself that she had maintained herself among all the swirling pain and anger, but persevere she did. She didn't want to end Morax as they all did, but there was nothing she could do. She had comforted the host when she could, as it was her appearance that they showed to him, but it was their voice speaking.

The ancient powers would not be opposed, not from the outside nor the inside. They would destroy Morax just as he had destroyed them. It didn't matter what she wanted. She was too weak. She was nothing more than the god of dust after all.

-<>-

Xingqiu reached around desperately. He needed to find Chongyun, but in the darkness it was impossible. He didn't even know if he was walking backwards or forward, up or down. He swirled around as a small gust of wind blew against the ruffles of his sleeve.

A thin trail of twinkling dust twisted through the darkness. It emanated a warm light that brought a smile to Xingqiu's face though he didn't know why. Whoever this had come from was on his side.

He followed the twisting path, never taking his eyes off the soft, glowing dust. Step by step, moment by moment. The fear and stress that had pressed all around him in the darkness faded away, leaving Xingqiu with a strong reassurance. He would find Chongyun. This was it. He was almost there.

The dust grew thicker and twisted round and round. If Xingqiu didn't know better, he would have thought that maybe the dust itself was getting excited. The dust came to an end suddenly, but it seemed as if it were almost vibrating in anticipation. Xingqiu reached out and touched the very end of the trail of dust and he was thrust from the darkness.

He came face to face with Chongyun. Not a little boy anymore, but also not as Chongyun had known him. Instead, Chongyun was exactly as he should be. All grown up, but still undeniably Xingqiu's best friend.

Xingqiu almost started crying at the sight. He was so overwhelmed he almost didn't take the next step forward. When he finally did, he was almost certain that Chongyun would scatter apart into a million pieces and be gone forever. But no, there he was still.

Darkness leached out off Chongyun and covered everything outside of the small bubble of light that the dust had somehow made. This was it. The moment of truth. Xingqiu didn't quite know what to do, but he knew what he wanted to do.

He fell to his knees and grabbed onto his best friend. He gave Chongyun a hug like he never had before. He held on like it was the last thing he would ever touch. He held on as tight as he could, and slowly, the darkness around them began to fade away.

~author's note~

So... when I said I would have a chapter done on Friday I meant, uh *checks date* Sunday, yeah Sunday. Anyways, I kind of posted the wrong chapter Tuesday, but hey, we're rolling with it. Sorry, this is late, thank you for reading. We will soon be reaching the end of this adventure, so thank you for taking it with me this far. :D

chapter art in-game 

(lantern rite is the best event of the year, cuz my boy Chongyun is there hehehe)