A New Star in the Starry Sky

16. Hero's Travels

"Well, aren't you a feisty one?" Tartaglia commented. "Why don't you let the adults speak?" He smirked, pointing it out.

Xiao clenched his teeth, bearing his fangs at the man.

"That's not how an 'adult' should be talking to a child." Cale interfered before it got out of hand. "He's still young, and like he said, you're older. You should be setting a good example for the younger generation." He scolded Tartaglia.

Xiao stood back, nodding his head even though he was older than Tartaglia.

'Still as righteous as ever...' Zhongli watched Cale with a soft gaze.

Tartaglia froze, never in his life did he expect to be scolded at this grown age. "A- ahem.. I'm sorry, I was a bit.. caught up in my emotions.. for you." He winked at Cale.

(A/N: I know Tartaglia has deep lore, but I'm not a lore player. I just see him as a big flirt like Keaya.)

"..."

"Mom. I think we should leave, there's a weirdo here." Xiao turned around, erasing his memories of that specific moment. He dragged Cale along by his wrist.

Cale went along with him, he didn't want to be here either.

Zhongli followed next to Cale.

"Wait. You're not really leaving, are you?" Tartaglia tagged along. "So where did you come from, beauty?" He asked. "I haven't seen you around. I'm sure I wouldn't miss such a face."

Cale looked at him, creeped out more than his first meeting with Zhongli. Why the hell would he hand out his information? "I came here for the lantern rite festival."

"The festival?" Tartaglia whistled. "Too bad, it's over. We could've watched the fireworks together." He sighed, disappointed. "Are you heading back now?"

"I don't know." Cale knew, just didn't want to say it to him.

They stopped.

"Can you please leave now?" Xiao turned around, glaring at Tartaglia. "My mother isn't comfortable about your inquiry."

Tartaglia bent down on his knees to Xiao height, mocking him. "It looks like you need a father to teach you some manners, kid."

Xiao frowned. "I have a father, unlike you ginger-head."

"Why don't you introduce yourself before asking personal questions?" Zhongli asked, trying to calm the situation down even if he was also unhappy with the guy's behavior.

"I'm Tartaglia, or also known as Childe." He introduced himself. "I'm the branch manager at the Northland bank here in Liyue."

Cale's eyes widened a bit. 'Is he rich?' He thought.

"Why don't we talk over a meal?" Tartaglia suggested. "My treat." He winked at Cale again.

"We're not eating with you." Xiao rejected his offer.

Cale looked around. "I have to go." He spotted Traveler and Paimon in the distance.

"Where are you going, honey?" Tartaglia asked, tagging along.

"Stay out of it." Xiao pushed him away.

"Cale!" Paimon called out in her usual squeaky voice, noticing him in the distance. "I didn't expect you to be here still!"

Cale approached them. "What're you two doing?" He noticed them shopping for something.

"We're preparing to head to Inazuma." Traveler announced. "Want to come along again?" They asked.

Cale somewhat felt a bit guilty hearing that. It sounded like he was freeloading off of them, noticing that it was incorrect. "I don't know yet." Cale sweated. 'I don't want to be here with them, but...'

"It's okay. You still have a few days to decide."

——-
Honestly have no idea what to do.

Liyue arc was short (I don't really remember what happened). I want it to be a little bit longer, any suggestions?