A Light To Call Home ☆Genshin Impact☆

Epilogue

_-_-_-_-_

Under the bright afternoon sky, the sun shone with a soft, golden hue, casting long shadows over the landscape below. The azure expanse stretched endlessly, broken only by a magnificent figure gliding through the clouds. 

It was no mere creature but Zhongli, an Adeptus of legendary power, his scales gleaming like polished obsidian under the sunlight. Riding atop his back was Guizhong, her robes billowing as they soared, her gaze sharp and searching as they neared their destination.

The faint outline of an island appeared on the horizon, growing clearer as they approached. Guizhong squinted, then raised a slender hand, pointing towards a particular spot nestled amidst trees and rocky outcrops. "There, Zhongli," she called over the rush of wind. 

"That's where we need to land." With a tilt of his great wings, Zhongli shifted course, descending gracefully towards the earth. They touched down gently in what appeared to be a desolate village, eerily quiet, the signs of life long since faded. Once Guizhong dismounted, Zhongli's form shimmered, transforming into his human appearance, his golden amber eyes scanning the desolate surroundings with quiet contemplation.

They began to walk through the remnants of the village, the silence pressing around them. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, a stark reminder of the lives that once bustled here. Guizhong glanced around, her brow furrowing. "It's hard to believe how empty it is now," she murmured. "Ever since Karazumei wiped out the population here, it feels like the land itself mourns."

Zhongli nodded, his voice low and steady. "They were a village of murderers, Guizhong. Their end was inevitable. Sometimes, cleansing is necessary for balance." Despite his stoic words, a hint of regret lingered in his gaze. 

They had come searching for Karazumei, who had not been present at the recent meeting at the Guili assembly, and the emptiness of this village only deepened the mystery of his absence.

Their steps carried them beyond the village's edge, into the embrace of the forest. Towering trees arched overhead, their branches intertwined to create a natural canopy. Shafts of sunlight filtered through, casting dappled patterns across the forest floor. 

Moss carpeted the ground, softening their footsteps, while ancient roots twisted and gnarled around rocks and through the soil like the veins of the earth itself. The air was rich with the scent of pine and wildflowers, and a gentle hum of insects filled the stillness, giving life to an otherwise forgotten realm.

After a short journey, they arrived at a secluded house by the riverbank, half-hidden by the lush greenery. The house looked as if it had been claimed by the forest itself, vines creeping up the walls and ivy trailing along the roof tiles. It was a quaint, two-story structure with weathered stone walls, red-tiled roofs, and small, arched windows. 

Sunlight glistened off the river nearby, casting a serene reflection of the house on its surface. A balcony jutted from the second story, with a wooden railing draped in flowering vines that swayed softly in the breeze. Despite its state of semi-abandonment, there was an undeniable charm to the house, as though it had stories etched into every crack and corner.

As they approached the door, a sudden burst of sound came from within, rummaging, the clinking of metal, and the unmistakable wail of a baby. Guizhong's eyes widened, and she exchanged a confused look with Zhongli. 

"What... is happening in there?" she whispered.

Zhongli raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall Karazumei mentioning anything about a child," he replied, equally bewildered.