Eleutheromania (Various Genshin x Reader)

In the Teapot -35-

You found Madame Ping at the East side of the Yujing Terrace, arms folded behind her back as she stared at the drooping Glaze Lilies in a small garden patch. She sighed sadly and shook her head. "All things must change..." she muttered to herself with a sorrowful tone.

Aether appeared behind her, gently coughing into his fist to catch the woman's attention. "How do you do?" He asked respectfully. Madame Ping turned around, eyebrow raised at the three of you. "Mm? Youngsters, are you here to admire the flowers?" She asked sweetly, moving out of the way so you all could see the flora.

"But it's a shame. These Glaze Lilies have almost all wilted..." Your eyebrows furrowed slightly at her saddened tone. "Are you alright?" You questioned with a tilt of your head. The old woman chuckled softly and waved a hand in dismissal. "It's nothing, it's nothing. I just thought it a great shame that so many of these Glaze Lilies have wilted."

Paimon pursed her lips at the curling flowers. "What happened to them?" The pixie innocently asked. Madame Ping gestured to the flowers behind her. "Back in my day, people said that Glaze Lilies can read human hearts. If they heard beautiful sounds like laughter and singing, they would also bloom joyfully. ...But if they heard too much wild gossip or slander, they would quickly wither away," she explained calmly.

You moved forwards, feeling the soft albeit slightly crusted petals of the blossom. "So that means these flowers feel what's happening in Liyue," you confirmed. The elder woman nodded. "Yes, the rumors of Rex Lapis' death are no small matter. They are everywhere."

Madame Ping sighed once more and readjusted her glasses. "Some say it was a Fatui plot. Others say that the Qixing made it all up, and still others think that That Which Lies in the Deep is breaking free. This harbor is like a mountain of dry tinder. One spark and the fire will consume us all." She shook her head as if to silence herself. "...Well, I shall say no more. This old woman's grown too old and naggy... Did you have something to say, youngster?"

"We'd like to borrow the Cleansing Bell," Aether straight up inquired of her with a hopeful tone. Madame Ping's eyes glimmered in a sort of entertained amusement. "Ah, that old trinket... I remember it being here with me, but I've grown old. I can't quite recall where it is exactly," she admitted.

"An old friend of mine used to wear it on his person, back when I was young... He saw me gazing at it often and gave it to me. But he told me then that if someone should come to borrow that bell, I should not be loath to part with it," the old woman shrugged with chuckle.

Madame Ping carefully straightened out her shawl. "It has been many years, and who knows how many times someone has come to borrow this bell. Still, though I can't recall when it started, it's been a long time since anyone has come to borrow it. Ah, these old bones are so slow to look for things. I doubt you can wait that long..."

Aether was quick to reassure you. "We can look for it ourselves," he said. Paimon grinned and sent the woman a wink and a thumbs up. "That's right granny. We'll follow you back home, and search for it ourselves! And... Um, we can help with chores if you have any too!" She added on quickly.

The woman laughed. "Alright, children, there is no need to worry. I didn't place the bell very far away." Paimon tilted her head to the side. "Eh? Do you live near here, granny? Whoa, but this is Yujing Terrace. It's gotta be expensive!" She explained in shock.

A worried look flooded your face. "You're homeless?" You asked in a concerned intensity. The lady's knees were literally shaking. What if she had to fight off a treasure hoarder?! They just loved easy targets. Cowards. Unless it was Junming who was trying to rob her. Even a woman of... advanced age such as Madame Ping could flip him on his ass. Pardon your Fontainian (French).