Chapter Text
In Liyue, they hold annual Lantern Rite festivals. It’s sort of like our Krsnik Noc back home, except different, of course.
It’s rather lovely. I wish you could see it. Everyone’s busy setting everything up, with all the lanterns and decorations, but I must admit it is quite beautiful. Especially you, Teucer — you would love it.
It’s a little lonely here with no one close to celebrate with, but I enjoy my time.
There’s some sort of device I’ve learned of recently — a Kamera, if I recall correctly, that allows you to print pictures of sceneries. I’ll take pictures of the harbor while I’m here, if I remember to, and send them in my next letter. Of course, it’s not the same as it is in person, but I wish to somehow share the beauty with you.
I hope the cold back home is treating you all well.
Yours faithfully,
Your loyal knight
When Childe had mentioned the Lantern Rite festival near the end of his last letter to his family, he had meant it when he said he wished his siblings could view it with him.
He did not, however, expect for Teucer to actually show up in Liyue Harbor — again — just a few days later.
“Brother!” Teucer’s voice echoed loudly around the bank, and he nearly threw himself onto Childe with eagerness.
The Harbinger’s eyes widened in shock, and he found himself glancing back and forth worriedly in case anything in sight was something he didn’t want him to see. “Teucer?! What are you doing here?!”
“Here to see you, of course!” the boy chirped. He followed his older brother’s gaze before turning back to him with bright eyes. “Aren’t you excited to see me?”
“Well, yes, naturally, but-”
“You said you were lonely in your letter! And I really wanted to see the lanterns after you said I would like them, so here I am!” Teucer was beaming, completely oblivious to the panic his brother had boiling inside of him.
Childe released a sharp breath, letting himself relax so a calmer smile could make way to his face. “Teucer,” he started, levelling his tone to sound as undisturbed as he could manage, “how did you get here?”
Tilting his head to one side, as if confused with the question, the boy answered, “A boat, brother! Just like last time. I met an old man with one and he offered to take me here!”
“You-you willingly got in a boat with a stranger?!” Childe echoed, his surprise leaking into his voice. “I thought I told you to never do something so dangerous like that again-”
“I know, I know. But don’t worry! He was a kind old man. Besides, I had my Mr. Cyclops with me! Nothing bad will happen to me with him here, I know it.”
Childe could only stare through narrowed eyes when his young, naïve little brother pulled out a Ruin Guard toy, one he recognized as the very model he had given him the last time Teucer was in Liyue. For a brief, terrifying second, he almost considered scolding him about how a simple toy was incapable of anything and was worth absolutely nothing at all; then his eyes caught the exuberant glint that lit up Teucer’s entire figure, and the words caught in his throat.
They evaporated away completely when Childe forced a warm, proud smile to pull at his lips. “Of course, Teucer. Just… promise me this is the last time, okay? Pinkie promise this time.”
Teucer nodded his head up and down vigorously with a wide grin on his face. “Okay!”
Unable to do anything other than let out a relieved sigh over the fact that Teucer had somehow made it to Liyue Harbor safely anyway, Childe watched the boy race past the bank doors.
He hesitated briefly before following when the kid turned to gaze at him expectantly, and he wondered if he should take some time to find Aether. Perhaps the Traveler would be willing to help him again and send his brother back on his behalf.
“Ooh!” Teucer cried, way up ahead but not far from Childe’s chasing gaze, “Look at these! Brother, brother, what are these?!” He was grinning down at a food stand near Chef Mao's restaurant.
“A speciality of Liyue’s, Teucer,” said Childe gently. “Jueyun Chili Chicken. I can buy some before you leave if you’d like to try it.”
Teucer turned to him with a confused look etched on his face. “Before I leave?”
Childe paused. “To go back home, of course. Does sister Tonia even know you’re here? She must be worried-”
“She does!” Teucer interrupted. “They all do! I said I wanted to come again, and—well—she—I guess she didn’t really allow it…” He trailed off momentarily. “But I’m here now anyway! She must know where I’ve gone.”
He was looking elsewhere now, as if afraid to catch Childe’s gaze, and the Fatui Harbinger only sighed. He was too fond of him to bring up an argument. “Teucer, if you really want to stay for the festival, I can find Aether so he can watch y-”
“Mr. Nice Guy?” the boy cut in again. “Why?”
“Business is a little busy this week,” said Childe quickly, “with all the decorations and toys we have to create for the kids. I still have some… manufacturing… to complete, and Aeth—Mr. Nice Guy, I mean, would love to show you around for a while, I’m sure-"
“But it’s a festival!” Teucer said, his eyes widening. “You said you were lonely, so I wanted to see it with you! Why do they keep you working when you should be celebrating?"
“Eh…”
“Teucer?!” a familiar voice cried suddenly, and Childe had never been more glad of Paimon’s abrupt presence. “Paimon didn’t expect to see you here! Did your brother invite you to see the Lantern Rite festival?”
“Paimon!” Teucer, in all his excitement, rushed forward to greet the floating fairy. He glanced around her, as if expecting to see something — or someone — else. “Where’s Mr. Nice Guy? Is he here too? We were just talking about him!”
Almost instantly, Paimon’s eyes caught Childe’s and she shot a look his way. “Uh huh. You’re not going to make us babysit your brother again, are you, Childe?”
“Well… I was considering the possibility if-” the Harbinger started hopefully.
"Absolutely not!” Paimon was already shaking her head, her arms crossed in front of her irritably. “Aether’s over at Wangshu Inn to help some people set up Xiao Lanterns, and we have no time to watch your sibling again! You’re on your own this time, Childe!”
He opened his mouth, ready to protest, but she continued, “Besides, it’s Lantern Rite! I assume Teucer came all this way to see you, so shouldn’t you show him around yourself instead of dumping him onto our shoulders?”
Teucer nodded along eagerly with whatever she was saying, looking as if he didn’t quite understand but was deciding to wholeheartedly agree anyway.
“All right, all right,” Childe agreed at last. “But I do still have some work left to be finished. Could you… at least… watch over him for a little while? Not too long, I promise!” he added quickly when Paimon seemed about ready to throw a tantrum, “Just a bit until I’ve completed the rest of my work tonight.”
The floating mascot let out a reluctant sigh. Still, she didn’t appear to have the heart to decline, and instead said, “Fine, fine. Teucer, come on, Paimon will watch you for some time, okay? Again,” she grumbled under her breath, although it was low enough for only Childe to hear it. Sheepishly, he rubbed at his neck.
Teucer pouted in disappointment. “Brother? Do you really have to work?”
“It’ll be quick,” promised Childe. “Then I’ll spend some time with you. We can… well… make a lantern together.”
The idea seemed to cheer up the boy because immediately, his entire figure perked up. “I want to make a lantern! Okay, brother! Don’t be too long!”
Relieved, Childe gave him a nod. “Of course, Teucer. And please — don’t run off or get lost. Don’t make me worry, all right?”
“Okay!”
“Come along then, Teucer,” said Paimon, motioning for him to follow her as she flew gradually around him. “Let’s find Mr. Nice Guy at Wangshu Inn.”
“Yeah!”
“Mr. Zhongli!”
Recognizing the shrill, female voice promptly, the Funeral Parlor consultant barely flinched before turning around swiftly. “Ah, Xiangling,” he greeted kindly, the stoic expression on his face ever so stern.
The young cook beamed at him, and his eyes darted down to the plate in her hands briefly. “Are you serving?” he asked, noticing her gaze follow his. “I assume business must be busier than usual with the festival happening.”
“Yup! Nothing my father and I can’t handle, though, of course. Would you like to order?”
Zhongli didn’t fail to notice the way her eyes traveled behind him expectantly, only to face him again with a sort of bemused gleam reflected in them. She didn’t mention it, however, and only waited for his response patiently.
“I wish not to bother,” said Zhongli. “I was merely stopping by, that’s all.”
“Oh. No worries, Mr. Zhongli! If you’d like to order, don’t be so modest to do so. I can take care of it.” Her grin was lustrous, and the consultant almost stopped to reconsider.
“There is no need, Xiangling. Perhaps you would like to serve your dish now? I’m sure your customers are waiting.”
As if the food she held in her hands had left her memory, her eyes widened at the reminder. “Oh no — truly sorry, Mr. Zhongli, I’ll have to tend to you another time! I should deliver this first, hope it isn’t cold by now, oh dear-”
He nodded once, but when he watched her turn away, he let a sudden statement leave him. “You must be wondering where Childe is at.”
She whirled around in surprise. “What?”
“Oh, my apologies. I do not mean to interrupt your work.”
“Mr. Zhongli, you’re too polite. And—well—yes, he hasn’t stopped by our restaurant in a while. I assumed he would be with you? The two of you usually come to eat together.”
“Hm.” He studied her for a brief moment before giving her a small, nonchalant shrug. “I am not too aware myself, actually. We haven’t quite spoken in a while or so.”
“Oh.”
“I suggest you finish serving, Xiangling. The food may turn cold.”
“R-right, of course, Mr. Zhongli!” The fervent chef didn’t hesitate to quickly scurry off with her dish grasped tightly in her hands, as if afraid to drop it.
It was only when she was gone that he dared to let out a faint sigh. He wondered, where had Childe been? Ever since Zhongli handed his gnosis over to Signora, it didn’t escape his notice how Childe had not approached him once.
Was the Fatui Harbinger upset with him? He was pretty certain of the possibility, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint why. He didn’t recall doing anything that would anger the man, anyway.
Naturally, the Funeral Parlor consultant had tried to track down the Harbinger but was unable to create an interaction like before. He was unaware of why, considering he’d even convinced Ningguang and the Liyue Qixing to let Childe stay in the harbor. That had been no easy task, either, as no one was fond of the Snezhnayan rascal after he released Osial.
Zhongli hadn’t realized how distracted he’d been with his train of thoughts until he felt a sharp tug at his suit and an unfamiliar voice exclaim, “Sir? Are you going to buy that? I can help pay, if you need it!”
Bewildered, he gazed down and found himself staring at a boy and — oh, what a coincidence — his features were almost identical to Childe’s, in a way. His eyes danced around the kid’s surroundings, but he couldn’t spot the Harbinger anywhere.
He hid his confusion well, however. “That is unnecessary,” he said, and the boy tilted his head. “Children should not throw around Mora so casually, less so to strangers.”
“But you’re not a stranger! You’re Mr. Poor Guy!” the boy cried, and the genuine astonishment on his face would have amused Zhongli if he hadn’t just called him poor. “My brother talked about you in his letters. He said you never have any Mora, and I happen to have a lot, so if you’re interested in-”
“Your brother,” Zhongli echoed. It came out more as a statement rather than a question, as he didn’t need confirmation to know — this boy was no doubt a sibling of Childe’s.
The kid nodded his head rapidly. “Yes! My brother. You must be that friend of his, aren’t you? I recognize you. I don’t really remember your name, though. So Mr. Poor Guy it is!”
Zhongli didn’t bother to correct him. “Ah.”
Grinning proudly, he said, “And my name is Teucer! It’s nice to meet you.”
“The same to you.”
Teucer waved a hand at the stand the two were facing. It was filled with kites and other toys as such, and the old lady running it was watching them patiently. Though there was a glint in her eye, as if she found the interaction entertaining. “So? Do you want that?”
“I find no amusement in toys for children,” Zhongli told him. “If you’d like, you may purchase a few for yourself.”
“That’s all right. I don’t need any! My brother said he’d spend time with me after he’s finished with work, and I don’t want to do everything without him.”
There was the slightest twitch that pulled at his eyebrow, yet Zhongli kept his expression calm. “Oh? Your brother let you explore by yourself?”
Teucer’s nose scrunched, as if the mere thought was unacceptable. “Of course not! He told Mr. Nice Guy’s fairy friend to watch over me for a while. He even specifically said not to get lost or run off.”
The second he mentioned a fairy, Zhongli figured he was referring to Aether’s traveling companion, Paimon. “I don’t see her anywhere,” he mused.
“Well, she’s ri-” Teucer turned around, then froze. “Oh no, did I lose her?!”
“It appears so.”
“My brother will get upset!” he cried. “Mr. Poor Guy, please help me, if he gets mad please say it was your fault-”
Zhongli patted the boy’s head once.