Goodbye Liyue

The next day, over a mansion at Yujing Terrace, all the servants were busy preparing for the next event.

"You must be at your best today, Keqing."

Over the main bedroom, Ganyu stood over at a corner looking at 5 female attendees swarming around Keqing, preparing her for the occasion, making sure that her image was perfect, while on the other hand, Keqing had a pissed look on her eyes wanting for them to finish quickly after been more than an hour.

Finally, the attendees finished, letting space and revealing Keqing to Ganyu.

"Yes, it's perfect" Ganyu nodded seeing the final result. Keqing was fully prepared, a purple and blue dress with a short skirt with two frills on each side, letting her move freely. Light make-up over her face, with a red tint over her cheeks, that only enchanted even more her natural cute beauty with her hair collected in a bun over her left side and let it flow over her back.

"I want to wear this!" Keqing ran over her bed, taking a pink hood with cat ears.

"You can't!" Ganyu said sternly "How can you were such a thing to the ceremony? It would be disrespectful."

"But!" Keqing interjected "Allen would most probably leave today after it. And I would not be able to see him again for a long time. I, at least, want for him to know that he is important for me and that I think about him" She said hugging the hood, the first gift given by him when protecting him from the others' gazes.

"No, is no!" Ganyu said not accepting a negative.

Keqing glared at her but knowing that she would not accept due to her loyalty towards Rex Lapis, she thought about one thing. "So, what will you say if...?" Keqing started whispering over Ganyu's ear.

"N-" Ganyu was about to negate but seeing how decided was Keqing and knowing how stubborn she could be, even negating to participate or trying to escape again, she opted to accept 'At least is far better than the other option'

"Let's do it quickly, we're getting late" Ganyu commanded, the attendees returned to surround Keqing with another insufferable hour of preparation.

...

Allen walked over the streets of Liyue following the river of people. The time for the Rite of Descension had come and all the city's attention was directed towards the now opened Yujin Temple where Rex Lapis would descend.

Reaching the Temple, people were already waiting all over the plaza, letting free the middle of it where an offering with a cauldron stood and the direct path towards the Temple.

Using his little body, Allen made his way over the crowd, reaching the first in line and looked over the surroundings. Everyone was chattering, looking forward to the ceremony.

Finally, the Yiyan Temple's doors started opening, causing a complete silence over the crowd.

From the temple, Keqing surged, majestically walking over the offering.

'So this year was her turn' Allen thought. The Rite of Descension was an annual ceremony and each year was done by one of the Liyue Qixing 'She might have escaped due to not wanting to be part of it.'

Once Keqing was nearer, Allen was able to see her better, his gaze directly went towards Keqing's head, smiling at her new hairstyle.

'She is finally wearing her "usual" hairstyle' Keqing was wearing her usual hairstyle from the game, twin tails with bums resembling cat ears with a hairpin with half of a butterfly tying her left bun 'It seems that she really won't forget the promise.' Allen smiled.

As if sensing him, Keqing turned around, directly to him, smiling brightly at him.

'She is truly cute' In the game, Keqing was a hot and cute girl, her cat-eared style adding that special image, however, the effect was far stronger now that she was young, being so cute that Allen needed all his strength to step forward and pat her.

Keqing's gaze quickly returned to the front, her bright smile being replaced by a confident one. Seeing her like this, walking so confident and strong, made wonder if she was truly only 10 years old, no one daring to look down on the 10 years old Yuheng who showed her confidence and strength to everyone, shutting down every rumor.

'Good luck, Keqing'

...

After smiling at Allen and trying to hide her blush really liking him having come to see her, Keqing finally reached the middle of the plaza.

"The time has come" Keqing stated, putting her hand over the cauldron, a golden rune illuminating it. She started circling the cauldron with her hand leaning on it, more golden runes illuminating over her path as she infused elemental power. Once she finished the circle, she put her hands together.

"BANG!" The cauldron reacted, a golden pillar of Geo energy shooting and piercing the sky.

This was the needed ceremony to call Rex Lapis. The runes carried Geo elements that reacted with any elemental power put over it, shooting the accumulated power to the sky as a call for the Geo Archon.

As a curious fact, if one was the owner of a Geo Vision, there wasn't the need to activate each rune, being able to directly infuse Geo energy over the cauldron to make the call. And for the cases of the Qixing not being a Vision's user, elemental metals carried that role.

The sky opened clean, the shining blinding until a big shadow appeared from it. Quickly the shadow took form as it was approaching, finally being able to discern what it was.

A majestic dragon descended from the sky. It was an eastern-type dragon with golden horns and four claws, with a serpentine form, hard brown scales all over the body, a brown mane that turned golden all over his back, resembling precious metals. He seemed some kind of statue, but the powerful air surrounding him left no room for that misjudgment.

Seeing him descending, Keqing kept her cool, waiting for him.

Finally landing on the ground, Rex Lapis looked attentively at Keqing "So you are the new Yuheng. You sure are identic to the last one."

If it had been a day before, Keqing would have glared at him, becoming angry at his world and feeling down at them, but now she knew better, she kept her neutral face and made a light bow "Thanks, Rex Lapis."

"Thanks? How unusual" Rex Lapis wondered seeing her attitude "I expected a more rebel act from the Yuheng."

"I must thank you for all that you have done." Keqing stated "I really love this city and without doubt it reached what is now thanks to you. For that you have my thanks" Keqing raised her face "I look forward to learning from you. However..." Keqing's face turned fierce "I won't stop following you. I will grown and improve and one day, I will surpass you!"

"I will show everyone that my actions are not as expected of someone who had received the favors of a god, but the contrary, that me receiving the favor of a god is what it's expected." Keqing stated full of conviction "Showing everyone that the gods are no longer needed, humans capable to control our own destiny."

Listening her revelation, everyone in the crowd turned cold, shocked faces on everyone with a very few exceptions. Ganyu on her side, covered her face with her hands, almost crying "I knew that it would finish like this" She said, finally sighing, really having expected that outcome. At least, she should be happy that Keqing said her thanks.

'As expected' For his part, Allen wore a grin over his face, seeing the brave girl facing the mighty god and unconsciously comparing it with his meeting with the Tsaritsa 'It's certainly different'.

Rex Lapis's gaze pierced over Keqing, his mouth started opening showing his threatening sharp teeth that would be able to tear Keqing like butter "HAHAHAHAHAHA!" He burst out laughing.

"Don't laugh at me!" Keqing said angrily.

"I couldn't help, sorry" Rex Lapis said stopping his laughter "I look forward to it" Rex Lapis stated, taking some golden scrolls from his body and giving them over to Keqing.

This was the finality of the ceremony, Rex Lapis giving to the Qixing the policies and arrangements for the next year.

""""We give our thanks for this favor!""" Everyone started shouting as they knelled to the god.

Having finished his work, Rex Lapis prepared to leave, turning one last time to Keqing and whispering "Let it be early" He said before departing, taking off and disappearing over the sky.

...

'I will let you assist over the Rite of Descension for you to compare gods' Aleksei's words resounded at Allen's mind as he left the venue, going towards the docks where he would take a ship to return to Snezhnaya.

'Compare them' Allen made a thoughtful face. Both of them were powerful beings with a majestic aura that demanded respect, but each one on its way. The Tsaritsa with her cold and Morax with his strength.

'I'm not really able to truly compare them. I suppose that they are too strong for someone like me to tell the difference' Allen looked over the horizon in wonder 'Would I be able to reach that level one day?' He thought with a hopeful but worried look as he learned after each fight how much he and his talent were lacking.

"Sorry, can I have a moment?" Breaking his thought, just as he reached the docks, a young woman approached.

"Yelan" Allen could recognize the woman who in a blink of an eye was able to capture all that Hoarders.

"Oh? I am very happy to be remembered" She said with an amicable smile.

'It's fake' Seeing her smile, Allen instantly discerned her having no good intentions for him, showing how much he was able to learn about the merchant way thanks to Pantalone's tests and training followed by Alina and Aleksei.

Allen's eyes would have turned cold, but he was able to control them, thinking how to proceed and instantly acting.

"How can I forget who saved me?!" Allen shouted exagerrated, his eyes shining brightly "You were like "WISSSSH!" "WASSH!" "BANG!" and everyone was down, having been captured. You were so cool! Thanks for everything!"

"You're welcome, little boy" Yelan smiled and looked around, making an confused face. "What are you doing here alone?" She said showing worry.

"I need to take a ship and return home." Allen answered.

"I see..." Yelan nodded "And why are you alone?"

"The truth is that I shouldn't have come" Allen scratched his neck and made an ashamed look. "I'm from Vladivostok and when I heard some workers talking about going to Liyue for the Rite of Descension, I've got curious and wanted to go. So I.." Allen avoided a little his gaze "got into the ship hiding myself over the cargo."

"I've got caught quickly" Allen blushed a little "but the ship was already in its way, so they didn't have time to return. But thanks to big brother Aleksei," Allen said with a happy smile even when he wanted to vomit "I was let to stay here some days, even sea the Descension. I'm now in my way to the ship and return with the first cargo."

"I see" Yelan smiled amicably "You had a great adventure"

"Yes!" Allen nodded.

"But you shouldn't do this again, it could be dangerous." Yelan scolded.

"I know" Allen made a downcast expression.

"Good." Yelan nodded "Have a safe trip returning your home. And visit us again, this time without hiding yourself." she said smiled

"Of course!" Allen made a salute, putting his right hand over his forehead "Bye, Yelan" Allen waved his hand as he turned around, running his way towards the ship. Just as he turned around, his childish face disappeared, a cold grin appearing 'Nailed'.

That was Allen's idea to take away any awareness from himself. Act like his age and twist truth and lies. Assuming that Yelan had come to him, she shouldn't be someone useless, so she must be aware that I am from Snezhnaya and that I came with Aleksei's group that entered in a legal way.

Knowing that, it was simply as making up and story with these facts, pushing it all to a child's move.

On the other hand, Yelan turned around, her warm smile changing to a cold and calculative look 'If he would have hided the fact that he is from Snezhnaya, I would have doubt, but his story is credible' Yelan thought 'Most probably, he was discovered or even they let him hide, Pantalone's men knowing too well that he was hiding. Then, they used him as a decoy, distracting my investigations with the case with Keqing.'

Yelan turned again seeing Allen's back 'In the end, at Snezhnaya is custom to make Vision's users soldiers without mattering the age. So it would kind of explain that ruthlessness.' Yelan turned to the north, seeing the sea 'Snezhnaya. They truly got me this time.' she sighed.

'But' Yelan's gaze turned sharp 'I won't let them away with impunity.' Suddenly, Yelan's body disappeared into the crowd.

...

Allen reached the ship and he directly went to his cabin, laying on the bed "I don't know how I will I have been marked for this test" Allen sighed "What would be the next mission."

Allen turned over the window, seeing Liyue Harbor "It had been a very short time, but it have been funny. How much time will pass until I return here again?" Allen sighed "Goodbye, Liyue."

"INTRUD-AGGGH!" Allen's thoughts were broken by a cry from the crew. Allen quickly reacted, he took his bow, loaded an arrow, preparing to shoot it at any moment and charged outside the deck.

Over the deck was the aftermath of a swift battle. A person with a black bodysuit covering all her body and a dark blue mask guiding her face stood still, surrounded by more than 10 Fatui's skirmishers, all of them laying on the ground unconscious.

'An attack?' Allen was about to shoot his arrow, but before he could let the arrow go, the bodysuit person turned to him, detecting his presence. Her body flashed, completely disappearing from Allen's sight, and before he was able to react, he felt a great hit over his neck, his world turning black as he fell to the ground.

...

Inside a warehouse at Liyue Harbor, the black bodysuit person appeared with a white coat over her hands. She took out her mask and body suit, revealing her blue hair and emerald eyes, revealing herself as Yelan in her usual outfit.

"A present for the Tsaritsa" Yelan smiled, putting the white coat over her back as a cloak "I think it suits me better."