With a subtle gesture, I opened the Gate of Babylon and carefully retrieved the fruits. Despite the inter-dimensional journey, they remained perfectly fresh, their sweet fragrance wafting through the air like a whisper of summer.
(Ganyu... She's probably still buried in paperwork.)
I found her exactly where I'd imagined: in front of the Commerce Guild's office, reviewing documents with that relentless efficiency of hers. Beside her, a clerk was sweating bullets, struggling to keep up with her instructions. Her voice was gentle, yet every word carried the weight of an order.
I waited silently until the poor man finally retreated, exhausted. Then, I approached.
"Ganyu."
She turned on her heels and blinked, startled. Her eyes—the color of sunset over the ocean—settled on me.
"Oh! Dan Heng... I wasn't expecting to see you today."
"I had... matters to attend to," I replied, crossing my arms. A second later, I softened my tone. "Thought you might need a break."
"A break?" she repeated, tilting her head as if the word were foreign to her.
Instead of explaining, I lifted the basket I was carrying and placed it before her. When opened, the scent of melons and strawberries burst into the air—so vibrant that even Ganyu's tense shoulders seemed to relax for a moment.
"Are these... fruits?" she asked, almost whispering.
"Yes. From a very distant place," I nodded. "I don't know how long they'll stay fresh, but... I thought of you."
Ganyu hesitated. Her fingers hovered uncertainly before finally picking up a strawberry with the delicacy of someone handling a jewel. She examined it, breathed in its fragrance, and then took a small bite.
The silence that followed spoke louder than any words.
"...It's delicious," she murmured. And for the first time in so long, I saw her let her guard down completely. Not as the diligent secretary of Liyue Qixing, nor as the Adeptus burdened by centuries of duty—just Ganyu. With a strawberry in her hands and a small, genuine smile on her lips.
"It's heavenly! Though... was I being too greedy?" she asked, blushing as she realized she'd already eaten three.
Ganyu still held a half-eaten strawberry when she averted her gaze, a faint pink tint dusting her cheeks. She set the fruit down with sudden restraint, as if remembering something important.
"Drinking the morning dew and eating the most modest grains—that is one of my principles," she said with a melancholic sigh, gesturing to the fruit basket. "So please... remove this Adeptus temptation from my sight..."
(Now that I think about it, Ganyu is worried about gaining weight...)
Ganyu stared at the basket with mingled longing and guilt. Her fingertip absently traced the smooth surface of an apple, but she didn't take it. Instead, she looked away with a strained smile.
"Ganyu," I said softly but firmly. "That phrase may be a principle... but it shouldn't be a chain."
She blinked, startled by the response.
"You're not failing by enjoying something good. You're not betraying your Adeptus heritage. You're just... being yourself. Someone who works hard, cares for others, and deserves a moment for herself too."
I moved the basket to the edge of her makeshift desk—not as an offering, but as a tangible reminder that it was okay to pause, even briefly.
"It's not a temptation. It's a gift," I added. "And there's nothing wrong with accepting it."
Ganyu looked down, fingers interlaced uncertainly. Then, very slowly, her gaze returned to the basket. The light in her eyes shifted subtly. Not just desire... something more vulnerable. Gratitude.
"I've never been good... at receiving things," she whispered. "I always believed I should give more than I take. It's part of my duty."
"Your duty won't vanish over a melon," I replied with a faint smile.
A small, restrained sigh escaped her. Finally, she nodded and pulled the basket closer. Her hands were still careful, as if the mere act of accepting something carried more weight than any signed contract.
"Thank you, Dan Heng. I promise... to savor it properly."
"That's all I want," I said. "Just... take care of yourself. Don't wait for others to do it for you."
She nodded again. And for a very brief moment, our gazes met, and the silence wasn't awkward.
Just peaceful.
*******
Ningguang's Perspective
The sound of the brush gliding across rice paper was the only thing breaking the silence in the Jade Chamber.
Outside, the sky was beginning to take on the golden hues of sunset. On my desk, four sealed envelopes already bore the mark of Liyue: one with Mondstadt's emblem of the Wind, another with Sumeru's geometric pattern, one more with Inazuma's stylized lightning, and finally, one adorned with Fontaine's delicate filigree engravings.
Four letters. Four invitations.
And a single name.
Lord Morax had been clear: an event was to be held at Yujing Terrace, formal and respectful, worthy of a title that Liyue does not bestow lightly. The designation of a new Adeptus.
"Dan Heng..." I murmured, setting the brush aside as I examined the final letter. "A most... curious presence."
I had heard the reports. A foreign youth, nearly always distant, though not as reserved as in his early days at the harbor. Some said he had been seen conversing with Ganyu at the docks, others mentioned him accompanying Zhongli to one of Yun Jin's operas. Even Xiangling had begun preparing dishes "inspired" by him.
But what interested me most weren't the rumors... but the power residing within him. Power that Morax had recognized. Power that should not be ignored, and that Liyue must protect—or at the very least, understand.
I leaned over the desk again, mentally reviewing the contents of the letters.
The title wasn't mentioned. There were no allusions to Adepti or lineage. It was a precise maneuver, like the movement of a chess piece that hasn't yet revealed its true intent.
I rang the jade bell hanging near the desk. An attendant appeared promptly.
"Have these letters dispatched immediately. Use secure routes, but do not delay."
The young man nodded and disappeared with the envelopes.
I rested my chin on my hand, gazing at the city below the Jade Chamber.
"Dan Heng. An outsider who carries an ancient aura... and eyes that don't belong to this time."
(Morax sees a future in him. I can only hope it doesn't drag us into a storm.)
******
*Mondstadt, Knights of Favonius Library*
The morning sun streamed softly through the library windows as Lisa Minci, the renowned librarian and sorceress, opened the envelope bearing Liyue's golden seal.
"Hmm... How formal. This isn't mere courtesy," she remarked, running her fingers along the letter's edge as if she could sense the intent between the lines.
Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights, looked up from her report-laden desk.
"A missive from Liyue?"
"From Ningguang, specifically," Lisa replied thoughtfully. "She's inviting us to an official ceremony at Yujing Terrace. While the letter doesn't detail the central purpose, it mentions being an event of cultural and strategic interest for future inter-nation relations."
Jean's brow furrowed slightly.
"The lack of details is conspicuous. Any names involved?"
Lisa gave a gentle shake of her head.
"Only an implicit mention of a distinguished figure recognized by Liyue's highest authority. Whatever they're planning, it's undoubtedly worth observing."
"We should send a delegation," Jean said. "Whoever they're introducing has been acknowledged by Lord Morax—if that 'highest authority' is what I think it is."
Lisa smiled, folding the letter.
"Then I suppose this means they're someone truly exceptional... or truly dangerous."
*******
*Sumeru, House of Daena*
Alhaitham was flipping through a thick tome of arcane records when a scholar knocked at the door.
"An urgent missive from Liyue, Grand Scribe."
Alhaitham took the letter, breaking the seal without even glancing at the messenger.
He read silently. Then lowered the paper with a sigh.
"An unspecified event at Yujing Terrace, convened by Ningguang... What sort of game is Liyue starting now?"
He leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.
"The Tianquan doesn't make moves without good reason. I'll send a reply. Prepare a small delegation. If Kaveh insists on coming, he can pay his own way."
From another room came a shout:
"I heard that!"
*******
*Inazuma, Tenshukaku Castle*
Kamisato Ayaka read the letter under the soft light of the cherry blossom garden. Beside her, Thoma waited attentively.
"An official invitation from Liyue... How intriguing. Ningguang rarely involves other nations without clear purpose."
Thoma nodded.
"Shall I prepare a delegation for the Yashiro Commission?"
"Yes. And let's keep this from Itto, or he'll claim we're 'discriminating' against his lack of diplomacy," Ayaka said with a faint smile.
*******
*Fontaine, Court of Fontaine*
Neuvillette sat in solemn silence, contemplating the letter on his desk.
The fountain's mist shimmered softly beyond the windows. Nearby, Furina had already read her copy three times.
"How audacious! Not even a hint about the event's nature! How is one supposed to know what to wear?! What if it's a religious ceremony?! Or a trial in disguise?! So typical of that Jade Chamber woman!"
Neuvillette shifted his gaze from the water to her.
"Furina. This is a diplomatic letter. It's not our place to speculate, but to attend and observe. At least as a courtesy."
Furina crossed her arms in annoyance.
"Of course we're going! I won't let Mondstadt or Sumeru steal the spotlight!"
Neuvillette calmly folded the letter.
"Then... we should prepare the orchestra."
******
Two days before the event
Silk banners fluttered in the harbor breeze as workers under the Jade Chamber's supervision arranged floral arches, crimson drapes, and ornamental lanterns along Yujing Terrace's stairway. Every detail had been personally approved by Ningguang - from the Glaze Lily arrangements to the dragon-embroidered tapestries subtly hinting at the guest of honor.
On the main balcony, Beidou stood with crossed arms while one of her sailors helped raise an elevated platform.
"So this Dan Heng did something impressive enough to earn an official Liyue title?" she asked with a lopsided smile.
"Morax himself endorsed it," Keqing replied, reviewing a checklist. "Ningguang's kept it quiet, but he's been actively protecting the harbor lately... and he's no ordinary man."
*******
*Liyue Harbor, Citizens' Whispers*
As merchants and residents browsed the market, rumors flowed like ginger tea in Heyu Tea House.
"They say he's a new Adeptus?" asked a florist, smoothing her flower leaves.
"That's not all - they say he descended from the sky. That he's not even from Teyvat," whispered one of Beidou's sailors. "Though I heard he one-shot a giant Geovishap. Bam! Like it was paper."
A curious young girl spoke dreamily:
"I saw him once... He has this serene aura and eyes that seem from another world. Not like mortals at all."
********
From the heights of her chamber, Ningguang reviewed the reports from the Millelith: rumors, reactions, enthusiasm... and also fear.
"His presence won't go unnoticed," said Keqing, standing before her with crossed arms. "If we wanted to keep his identity discreet, this has had the opposite effect."
Ningguang nodded slowly.
"Morax has given his word. And a god's word carries more weight than any rumor. Though his appearance may cause a stir, his conduct has been impeccable. And that, Keqing, will be our foundation."
"The representatives from other nations will arrive tomorrow morning. Fontaine confirmed their attendance with a diplomatic judge. Inazuma is sending a cultural emissary. From Sumeru comes someone from the Akademiya... and Mondstadt has yet to confirm who will attend," Keqing added.
Ningguang closed her fan, looking toward the steps of Yujing Terrace.
"Then it's time for Teyvat to see him as he is: not as an outsider, but as someone Morax chose to be one of us... even if his blood isn't of this land."
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Author's Note:
This chapter was difficult to write due to using many different points of view. Regarding why Ningguang didn't invite Snezhnaya and Natlan:
• Snezhnaya: Because of the Fatui, relations with Liyue are tense
• Natlan: They don't have formal diplomatic relations, though Natlan warriors sometimes visit for training
Confirmed attendees:
• Mondstadt: Jean, Klee and Kaeya (Lisa remains in command and Venti hasn't awakened yet)
• Inazuma: Though not fully open, the canon timeline hasn't begun yet. With Ei secluded and Yae busy, Ayaka and Thoma will attend
• Sumeru: Scholars will attend, though the local situation remains tense
• Fontaine: Furina will attend with Clorinde - events like this are rare and she won't miss the chance to show off
PS: I was surprised to discover Lisa's surname after years of playing Genshin! I only learned it while researching for this chapter.