Another story

Volume 2 Chapter 3.5: Aside the campfire

As Sans and Rijal finally exited the ever-moving chamber, they decided it was time for a rest. They set up camp in a secluded corner of a room they had reached after their long journey. Working together, they crafted a makeshift campfire; Sans conjured small embers from thin air to ignite the twigs Rijal had meticulously gathered before venturing into the tomb.The room they had chosen for their rest was dimly illuminated by the fire, revealing ancient, dust covered stone walls and the occasional glimmer of embedded symbols that sparkled faintly in the darkness.Rijal offered Sans some of the food he had brought along, noting that Sans hadn't prepared anything for the journey. Sans accepted the offer but took only a modest portion. As they shared the simple meal, their conversation flowed easily, offering a moment of respite and a temporary escape from the current eerie silence. Gradually, the warmth of the fire and the exhaustion of the day lulled Rijal to sleep, leaving Sans to watch over the softly crackling embers

"Do you mind if I join you ?" a subtle female voice can be heard

"ah it's you" He replied as the female figure appeared before him. Her gray hair transitioned into cerulean blue downward, styled with a bob cut at the back and the remaining length tied into a rat-tail secured by a dark blue hairpin. The front of her hair was arranged into neat, slightly side-swept bangs, finished with a delicate, dangling accessory. She wore a type of clothing with long sleeves featuring a color palette of varying shades of white, blue, navy, and gray, resembling the glazed lily of Liyue

"Of course not, feel free to sit down next to me, Guizhong. It looks like you can actually manifest now instead of just floating around, huh?" Sans chuckled, patting the spot next to him with a welcoming gesture.

"You don't need to address that, you know?" she said, a hint of annoyance in her voice, though she appreciated Sans's welcoming gesture as she sat down next to him. Her gaze shifted to Rijal, who lay curled up, his steady breathing a gentle contrast to the tense atmosphere. "He sure is energetic, isn't he?"

"Yeah, the kid is very determined alright. tho i am curious on why he decided to travel to this tomb in the first place" Sans said looking down the campfire

"I'm jealous of him," she said, her gaze fixed on the campfire as well. Sadness visible on her face. "He has dreams and determination...things I feel I've lost. He... exists, while I don't."

"How long has it been since we first met in Liyue, I wonder?" she asked, her eyes meeting Sans's. "I was trapped in what felt like an endless slumber until you woke me up. I got to see the lights of the new Liyue Harbor... things I have never thought can witness. But now, aware of what I have gone through, the endless darkness haunts me."

"Guizhong..." Sans tried to respond, but words felt inadequate. How do I even begin to address something like this? he wondered, his hands entwined as he gazed into the fire's flickering light. The warmth of the flames contrasted sharply with the chill of his thoughts. "How am I supposed to tell her that, once what keeps her here is gone, she will be condemned to that eternal darkness she fears so much?"

The crackling of the campfire provided a comforting background hum, occasionally interrupted by the distant, eerie echoes of shifting stones deep within the tomb. The soft rustle of Rijal's bedroll and the occasional hiss of burning twigs punctuated the brief silence, underscoring the isolation of the moment. The truth about what lies beyond the anchor of her existence was something he could not bring himself to utter.

"For 500 years since my death in the Archon War, I've been... just gone. All I've felt is this endless darkness. And now, finally seeing the sunrise again, walking through the nations, experiencing things I never imagined the fireworks of the Lantern Rite festival, the majestic opera of Fontaine,. the night skies I shared with you ... I...I just can't bear the thought of slipping back into that darkness, Sans."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly.Her eyes reflecting the firelight's flicker "What happens if, one day, what's keeping me here isn't there anymore? Will I have to face that darkness forever? And right now, what's the point of my existence if no one can see me, interact with me, or even know I'm here? If no one I care about can reach me... do I truly exist... Do I really exist? "

"I can't give you an answer to that, I'm afraid," Sans said, a hint of sadness on his face. "I can't say what will happen if one day what's keeping you here is gone." He lied, unable to bring himself to reveal that what awaited her was precisely what she feared if that anchor to her existence were to disappear.

"But you can think and question," he said, looking at her eyes . "The fact that you are doubtful, that you are struggling with these questions is in itself proof that you are real. Your thoughts, your fears, they all point to a truth that cannot be denied. You are here, you are aware, and that is a testament to your existence. Even if you can't see it right now, that is the evidence that you matter. You are not just a fleeting shadow; you are a presence with depth and meaning.you think, therefore you are"

"But even if that wasn't enough for you, you have me," he said softly, his voice warm and gentle "I see you. I can talk with you, interact with you and consider that proof of your existence." His gaze was compassionate as he continued, "As for the darkness, I can't foresee the future, but in this moment, if the darkness is what you fear,if darkness makes you cry, let me be the moon that lights up your night. If the darkness concerns you, then let my light be the beacon that dispels it. Because I am damn sure I won't let you cry in the darkness" He smiled gently as their eyes met, his words seemed to weave a protective shield around her. In that fleeting moment, the heavy shroud of darkness and her fears seemed to lift, replaced by the soft, reassuring glow of Sans's presence like the moon's gentle light breaking through the darkest night.

"Thank you," she replied, her voice trembling seemingly in the verse of tears. "I guess I'll continue to be in your care now, huh?" She managed a soft chuckle, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and gratitude as she slowly fades.

"Huh? What did I miss?" Rijal asked, still a bit tired from his rest. "Did you talk to someone? Is this place haunted?"

"Nah, you didn't miss anything, just talking to myself" Sans replied with a reassuring smile as he extinguished the campfire. "Feeling refreshed now?"

"Yeah, let's continue," Rijal said, rising and ready to resume their journey.