709 word, 8 July 2022

Several months after the incident
Jade Chamber, Liyue

"hmmm, this sure is strange... "  said ningguang as she flip through the newspaper quickly

"Anything the matter lady ningguang?" said ganyu as she pour a cup of red tea

"No its nothing, its just quite peculiar to me that there isn't any news of the traveler lately"

"Yes, it has been several month since I've heard of him either, maybe he is busy with saving another country?"

"hes a walking headline, everything he do make top news, let alone something as big as that"

Said Ningguang as she grab onto the handle of the cup, she tried lifting it up but it suddenly broke and fell onto the ground, shattering it all

"I'M SO SORRY, ILL GET IT CLEAN QUICKLY" said Ganyu in shock and quickly clean it up in a panic

"what a bad omen" said Ningguang quietly as she took a look at the window, wondering what will happen next

Then Ningguang softly sigh, knowing that whatever will happen, she would probably be unable to control it

"leave the mess to the cleaner later, lets head into the meeting room now"

"Yes lady Ningguang"

Then they both head toward the meeting room, while this was happening, a long reunion was happening at the same time

Same Time
Third-Round Knockout, Liyue

The street was as busy as every down in Liyue, the sound of merchant, walking sound of the people, and the laughter that came from the children playing around

This all sound like music to the ears of that man

Today he sits at his favourite place to pass away some time in Liyue, the Third-Round Knockout waiting for his favourite story teller to tell more tales about the story of the great Rex Lapis

"Still as early as ever ey! , Zhongli Xiansheng" said Chef Mao as he passed by

"Good afternoon to you to Mao Xiansheng" said zhongli as he slowly brew his tea, watching the empty stage as he brew

"You do know that the show only starts about 2 hours later right?" said Chef Mao as he looks at Zhongli im curiously

"Well, i dare not to miss it" said Zhongli as he let out a soft smile

They chat for a bit until Xiangling came out from the kitchen and yelled at her father to come back to work

Chef Mao quickly said his sorry and ran back to work, Zhongli wave goodbye to him and continued to pay intention to his brewing

Then a foot sound appeared from his back, as if the one walking was heading toward him

The foot sound stop, and a memorable sound was let out

"Quite the nice day isn't it?" said the golden hair boy wonder from behind

"Aether! " said Zhongli excitedly as he turn back his head, its been several month since he met his good friend the traveler, he can't wait to have a chat with him about his adventures and--

Then Zhongli let down his smile when he look at Aether expression

The fake smile, the act of happiness and the sinister eyes, none of it fits him, this wasn't an expression that will come out of Aether, the once loving man has disappeared

"Anything the matter?, oh the great. Rex. Lapis" said Aether slowly, every single word filled with wrath and anger

Zhongli has seen those eyes back in thousen of years ago

Back in the Great Archon War, those eyes filled with anger, wrath, hatred and violence was once something that he had seen everyday

He even saw it in his own pair of eyes, in the reflection of his enemies blood

It was never a pleasant sight to see, and it was never something he like to witness anymore

Zhongli sigh in disbelief, but reality is most often disappointing

The man in front of him was not the same as before anymore, he changed, everything about him has change

"... Is there any matter you would like to discuss with" said Zhongli as he stop what he was doing

"Yes actually, shall we take this to another place? "

"... I guess childe have to wait"

Then they both went left to another place, leaving only the tea set and old memories behind.