*panting for breath*
People of liyue giving look toward young man who running carrying woman on his back, their eyes following the man when passing them
*Panting for breath*
He keep running on liyue street, passing by among the crowd, even don't care if he ended up bumping other people shoulder
*Panting for breath*
He keep running even though he tired, he keep running, he can feel his sweating and tiredness slowly make him reach his limit, but he keep forcing and push it. From the start he was not the athletic type, he simply just ordinary and average person you could find basically everywhere
Sometime he keep glancing on his back to make sure a certain little girl following him
***
Flashback
"Eh? She is... Not breathing?... CHANG YU!"
Chang yu who hear hibiki screaming calling her name, stop eating and soon come to him
"Wha- what is it hibiki..." Said chang yu suprised hibiki screaming her name
"Doctor... Where is the doctor, we should go?!"
"What happen?" Chang yu worried
"Your mother is not breathing" said hibiki not look at her but look at her mother
"Eh..." Chang yu still can't catch up the situation
"Chang yu! Focus! Lets go to liyue now!" Said hibiki while starting carrying her mother on his back
"But, b- but... I don't have money" Chang yu scared and almost want to crying
"That can be later! Hurry up!" Hibiki start running leaving chang yu house while carrying her mother
Flashback end
***
"Where? Where?" Hibiki running while looking around trying to find clinic, he still doesn't know well the location and roads in liyue
Chang yu mother might be looks breathless, but hibiki can still feel slight breath from her, it maybe weak, but there is still hope...
"Hey, Whats wrong?!" Some young woman suddenly come to hibiki, running beside him with the same pace. She look at the woman he carry on his back, and start understand the situation.
"I understand... Hurry up, follow me" hearing the woman who start running to lead him, hibiki just nodded
"You new here? whats your name?" Keqing glance at him
"Hibiki kuze, and the little girl here... Is chang yu, she is this woman daughter i am carrying currently *panting*" said hibiki, while chang yu still following and keep her silence but feel worried when look at her mother
"You can call me keqing... It's near, we almost there" said keqing, hibiki look at her. She has longlavender hair that fades into pale blue at the tips styled in two buns resembling cat ears. Her eyes are pink with diamond-shaped pupils and she has a sharp gold barrette by the right side of her head with a white flower and a small round gold piece at the left side.
("I know this, but... Something is wrong with this world beauty standart) Hibiki though
Few times later, they are finally arrive at bubu pharmacy, hibiki panting still carrying chang yu mother on his back looking at the clinic
"Dr. Baizhu! Someone need your help here" Keqing come inside clinic while hibiki simply following her. And then hibiki could see the man with green hair while white snake is wrapped around his neck.
Baizhu who currently have conversation with his employee in the pharmacy known as herbalist guia. A bit suprise with with our sudden arrival, especially his gaze toward keqing.
"Bring her to come inside" he looking at us, he understand and start handle the patient
*Nodded* hibiki put chang yu mother on the bed inside bubu pharmacy, let her lying down
"I will examine her condition first, please leaving the patient, so i can treat her" baizhu looking at chang yu mother
"No! I want to be with mother, please let me to be here" chang yu hold her mother hand
"Then you can be here, but please be calm okay?" Said Baizhu
"Then i am gonna waiting outside" hibiki leave the room while keqing seems also leaving too.
***
"So lise~ do you hear me? Lise~ are you listening?" Said the man toward fatui woman, both stand on the side road in liyue enjoying few street food.
"*Sigh* I hear you, you complaining about erick and his group got sending to our division here for working with you in liyue, right?" Said the woman with lazy tone
"Oh, you hear? I though you ignore me like usual..." Said the man smiling
"You make me sounds deaf" Said lise
"No! Ofcourse not, how could i? You make me sounds terrible as person. Is not like i am trying to make my coworkers sounds disabled. My point is about you being bad listener" Feel objected and defend himself from her word
"... Right, ofcourse" said lise with plain and simple
"Actually, what have you been thinking and seeing? Finally found your first love?" Said the man to lise try teasing her
"Hm, i guess so" said lise nonchalantly
"Eeh?! Seriously? Don't tell me it's me?" The man pointed at himself, lise look at him
"*Snickered*... Yeah, no wonder why the others look down on you" Said lise smile at him
"... Hey, even i am the last on the rank, i am still your boss okay" The man pointed at her
"Oh, Am i offend your little heart? Mr. Tartaglia the 11th of the eleven fatui harbingers" said lise while smirk, tartaglia or childe simply got twitch on his eyebrows
Tartaglia the 11th of the eleven fatui harbingers, code name childe. He is tall man, with short ginger hair and dull blue eyes. He wears a red Fatui mask pulled off to the left side of his head, and a beaded earring with a red crystal on his left ear. A few lighter blond streaks can be seen in his hair, with one prominent one on the left side of his bangs
"Just call me childe, for you to call me that, feels weird..." Said childe *sighing* to her
"Fine, i stop poking you on the sore spot" said lise
"You still not answering my question previously, about what have you been thinking and seeing? For you ended up contemplating, seems interesting" Said childe
"Being invasive toward woman is bad childe..." Said lise
"... Just tell me" said tartaglia with neutral tone
"*Sigh* well, i am simply interested at the group who was running on that street passing us" Said lise
"Ah, them... I also see that group too previously, seems like they are in emergency situation, someone sick perhaps? Now, after i remember it again... Isn't one of them in that group is keqing from qixing?" Said childe to lise
"It seems so..." Said lise
"Hmm, how nice of her to helping citizen... Not just beauty, seems like she also generous with sense of justice. Fatui sometime also need learn from qixing" said childe smirk
"Yeah, rather than making propaganda here and there and then ended up got hated by other region" lise nonchalantly starting walks away
"Wait, wait, wait, hold up... Even if i am your boss, i can't protecting you from other fatui if they are hear you saying that" childe feel hassle walking beside her
***
"Nicaea? What kind of application is this?" Hibiki muttering when look at his phone, this is the second time he look this app. He try erase this app or uninstall it, but he can't
*Sighing* hibiki simply sitting on the stairs outside bubu pharmacy try to be relax and put his phone back into his pocket
"You seems tired... Well, i guess thats obvious, not athletic type?" Said keqing
"Something like that... Keqing right?" Said hibiki look at her, keqing just nodded
"I guess we should introduce ourself properly this time. Well, i am keqing, i am the yuheng member of liyue qixing" keqing introduce herself with kind smile toward hibiki, while hibiki simply mouth agape
("The yuheng member of liyue qixing? Isn't she basically a big shot here...?")
"Hehe" keqing chuckling, "thats amusing reaction you have there, you can relax, is not like i am gonna bite you"
Hibiki simply have awkward weak laughing when hearing her word, "should i kneel down or giving salute as greeting ms. Keqing?"
"I told you, no need for that" said keqing
"*Nodded* if you said that then, i will treat you casually, tell me if i am rude or might be ended up offend you" said hibiki not want into trouble
"Sure, now, how about introduce yourself again?" Said keqing while put her hand on her waist as posture
"Sure, i am hibiki kuze... Just call me hibiki, i am just your everyday regular guy you could find anywhere" said hibiki to her with smile and politeness
"Regular guy huh... Is that how you see yourself?" Said keqing with examining eyes
"I guess so" said hibiki to her
"... *Sigh* How i should say it again, somehow i don't like how you see yourself with that mindset" keqing telling her though to him
"*Weak laughing* don't worry, i understand what you mean, it might be sounds like i am just underestimating myself... But, actually, it's more like how i am just try to saying. I am just a guy, ordinary guy who you can approach easily without complicated though or things. Basically i am the type will be your friend as long you are good and decent" Hibiki try to explain after feel slight strictness in keqing tone
"Ah, i see, what you mean basically... You just friendly chill guy" Keqing become relax and smile to him
"Yeah, yeah... Thats what i mean, lets go with that" said hibiki pointed to her word
"What a weird person... No, perhaps unique?" keqing giggles
"Qixing is based seven stars of constellation isn't it?" Said hibiki
"Whats wrong?" Said keqing to him
"Nothing, it just somehow i feels familiar with this term..." Hibiki have some though with this
("What is it? Is not about their system of government, it is more about the knowledge itself. Somehow whenever i remember big dipper or stars, it's giving me familiar of uneasy feeling") hibiki though, meanwhile keqing simply looking at hibiki with wondering look
"Hibiki, you are not from here right?" Said keqing to him
"Y- yes" hibiki answer her
"Family... Seems not, so what is your relationship with this little girl name chang yu and her mother?" Asking keqing
"W-well, how i should explain it... It's complicated" Said hibiki with weak smile, while he can feel keqing giving him curious look
"Complicated? How much complicated is that?" Ask keqing
"Well, if you just want to know my relationship with chang yu. She is the first person i met in liyue here. Actually, i just know her not long ago... Today, just today" said hibiki to her
Keqing examine hibiki "So where are you from?"
("Should i just be honest? Or...") Hibiki though
"I don't know..." Said hibiki to her, while keqing have a look "*did he hit his own head somehow?*" Through her eyes toward him
"No, i am not amnesia, stop giving me that look" said hibiki
"You know, for your case, it will be convenience if you using amnesia as excuse, so you can evading my question" Said keqing smile at him
"No way... Thats sounds cliche and you will be more found me as sketchy" said hibiki while keqing just laughing
"Oh, why?" Keqing ask hibiki
"It's simple, because i don't want to be your enemy keqing" He look at her eyes, keqing just nodded understand
"Well, your clothes is too good, have high quality, and from your hand *she try hold his hand to inspect it*. you seems have never done any manual labor have you? Just look how soft your hand is, even though you are man, this hand is already telling me so far you living comfortable life. Are you noble?" Keqing release his hand
"No, i am not-" said hibiki
"Ms. Keqing, i already done with my treatment" suddenly baizhu come telling us
"?" Hibiki
"You done? So how is it?" Keqing asking him
Baizhu simply smile, but the smile is not for someone who looks happy. Baizhu simply shake his head
"I am sorry, seems like i am still lacking with my skill" Baizhu has a facial expression that Hibiki finds hard to explain, sadness? Seems not... Hibiki feels that it is much more personal and philosophical for Dr. Baizhu
"Let me ask this ... Have you already giving your all?" Said keqing, baizhu simply look at her eyes
"Ofcourse" baizhu answer it with simple word
"I see... Then, i guess there is nothing we could do" said keqing sighing, meanwhile hibiki felt let down, look down at ground feel frustrated
"It's fine, it just nature... Thanks dr. Baizhu" hibiki said to him
"Come inside, i will explain it" said baizhu
***
Jade chamber, is an airborne structure above the skies of Liyue from which the Qixing monitored all the happenings in the region
Ningguang, known as tianquan of liyue qixing, currently enjoy her dinner in jade chamber. There is also baiwen, baixiao, and baishi as secretary of jade chamber
"It should be dinner with the yuheng and the tianshu, but where are they when it already passing the time that has been planned based on the schedule" Said ningguang feel unpleasant, complaining with sigh
Ningguang rest her chin on her hand on the dining table, "by the way, any reason why you here?" Said ningguang to the woman across the dining table in front of her
"Thats harsh, i also want to enjoy luxury dinner here" Said the woman nonchalantly toward ningguang, there is smirk on her face
"I am not in the mood right now, yelan" Said ningguang have annoyed smile
"Well, calm down, i am here basically got asked by our tianshu himself for this discussion or whatever work we currently have now" said yelan
"Is that so? Well, then it will make things become simple" Ningguang smile
"So where is our lady yuheng?" Said yelan asked her while drinking alcohol
"Thats what i want to know too... It's not usual for capable person like her not appear on time" Said ningguang
"Perhaps something happen?" Said yelan
"Even so, i believe she will be fine" Said ningguang
"Sorry if I'm interrupting" Suddenly their gaze look at someone who suddenly come, it's ganyu. She is secretary of the Liyue Qixing
"Lady ningguang, i am here want to tell you message from lady keqing, that she can't attend for tonight dinner" Said ganyu
"Whats wrong?" Ask ningguang curiously
"I also don't know, but, seems like lady keqing have other business right now. Even if you planning want to wait her, she herself not sure can come here soon later"
"Thats pity, i want to discussing about rite of descension with her... Well, i guess i will doing it tomorrow" Said ningguang
"Ahh, last year lady keqing was the one who perform rite of descension. Now this years is you right?" said yelan intrigued
"You are right, but somehow ... I don't know why feel uneasy for this year rite of descension" said ningguang
"It's only one month left before rite of descension gonna occuring" Said ganyu, who come join to the dining table for sitting
"Well, with a lot new face appear. It sure make us feel uneasy, especially how many fatui come here for this year" Said yelan, "Oh, i remember there is already one of harbinger come here in our region currently"
"Then i guess, we only need to make sure to keep monitor their movements" Said ningguang
***
"Talk about erick and his group, if you don't like them... Why not just killing them? I am sure nobody will care" Said lise to childe
"Don't be ridiculous... Lise, why you always saying something scary? Also, aren't you underestimating erick too much, erick is also strong. Ofcourse i am happy fighting strongest person, but he is just creepy and ass as person" Said childe to her, both currently walking side by side with the same pace
"Now, after i remember again, he sure is strong... He is candidate for harbingers seat after you isn't it" Said lise to him
"When you said that, it only makes me think about my positition as 11th harbingers sounds fragile" Said childe
"Hmm, now i understand why he keep blabbering his mouth acting so bossy around his group... So he actually really strong and not just empty word" said lise
*Childe just looking at her and smile feel funny*
"Strenght is not the only things to make us as harbingers lise"
"I know... Just looking at you, is already telling me, the level just too different" Said lise
"I feel flattered" said childe smile
Both after walking a bit longer, finally arrive at front restaurant, the place seems classy and luxury.
"Still, for business... I already don't like this person. Why they should using my money to please this person" Said childe with unpleasant lazy tone
"Stop whinning just for a few pennies, this person is known by a lot people for his wise view and wide knowledge, make relationship with him might be benefit us" Said lise
"I don't know how much important this person for our mission this time. But, his lack with sense of money... Is ridiculously annoying" Said childe sighing, both finally enter the private room in restaurant
They found tall man sit behind dining table, sipping his tea calmly. He have aura of elegance around him
"Oh... You finally here" Said the person calmly
"Sorry, are we late? Well, let me introduce myself, i am tartaglia, you can just call me childe. I am fatui diplomat, nice to know you, mr. Zhongli from wangsheng funeral parlor