Under the night sky, bright moonlight cast a cool, pale hue across the land. Yet where people gathered, warmth still shone through. Though Liyue wasn't ablaze with lights at this hour, a few lamps along the quiet streets still held up the glow of the night.
A petite figure stood beneath the moonlight, performing peculiar movements while muttering to herself.
"One-two-seven-seven... two-two-seven-seven..."
Qiqi cherished the night, for it brought her comfort unlike the stifling heat of day. She diligently practiced the flexibility exercises Elliot had taught her, helping her stretch her limbs. Only this way could her body remain supple and avoid stiffness. Thus, flexibility exercises became an indispensable part of her daily routine.
"Flexibility exercises... done..."
"Anything else... left undone...?"
"Hmm... can't remember..."
Qiqi tapped her head lightly, but still couldn't recall. Relenting, she obediently pulled out her little notebook.
"Today... one last thing..."
"Read the story about Elliot..."
Elliot, beside Qiqi, smiled softly as he slowly drew closer. He remembered that Qiqi read the stories about him every night. The reason he hadn't looked at them himself was simply because his own affairs had been too urgent.
He had fast-forwarded through a long stretch of time, and when he found that nothing significant had happened afterward, he decided to reserve his final moments tonight to read his story together with Qiqi.
Now, Qiqi cradled the notebook in both hands and made her way to the rooftop—the spot with the best view. Only then did she slowly turn to the final page.
This was Qiqi's unique ritual. She wanted to read the last page in the most comfortable way possible. Up on the rooftop, bathed in the best moonlight, no one would disturb her. This was her time.
[Elliot is a very gentle, very gentle person.]
Opening the final page, the first line bore these solemn words. As her gaze drifted downward, Elliot smiled faintly and ruffled her hair.
[Some sought to use me, others feared me, but you...]
[You were different from them all.]
[You made me feel warmth.]
[Not the kind of heat that makes you uncomfortable.]
[It was warmth felt by my heart.]
[Thank you, Elliot.]
[I will remember you, no matter when or where.]
[After my death, you were the first to bring me warmth.]
[After you left, you passed that warmth on to Liyue.]
[The people of Liyue were kind to me. They loved me.]
[But...]
[Qiqi wanted to live on with you...]
[......]
As the notebook gently closed, Qiqi's eyes flushed crimson, and she began to sob softly. Though she had read its contents countless times, her poor memory made each reading feel fresh.
Thus, Qiqi revisited her memories with Elliot every single day.
"Elliot... Qiqi misses you so much..." she murmured, wiping her tears.
"I miss you too, Qiqi. I want to live with you forever too." Elliot stroked her head with a bitter, helpless smile.
"Qiqi... will always remember you... You must... remember Qiqi too..."
"I will remember."
"Xiangling said... soon... there will be the Lantern Rite... Qiqi really wants... to watch it with you..."
"Alright, I promise Qiqi, I will definitely watch it with you."
As he spoke, Elliot raced against time, instantly rewinding the timeline. The scenes before his eyes flashed by rapidly, the image of the sea lanterns passing in a blur. He immediately rewound time again, precisely fixing it at the moment just before the lanterns were released.
At that moment, Qiqi was excitedly holding a sea lantern, and Xiangling beside her was doing the same. As the first lantern rose, they simultaneously released theirs, slowly closing their eyes to make their wishes.
Elliot stood beside them, silently watching.
"So beautiful..." Qiqi opened her eyes, gazing at the sky filled with lanterns, unable to help herself.
"Yes." Elliot gave a faint smile.
At that moment, Qiqi seemed to sense something. She glanced to the side and suddenly froze, her eyes widening.
It felt like... she saw Elliot smiling gently at her.
The image flashed by in an instant, yet that brief moment felt eternal, forever etched in Qiqi's mind.
"Thank you... God..."
"You granted... my wish..."
"Qiqi... saw him... saw Elliot..."
"He's back... he came back... to watch the sea lanterns with Qiqi..."
She smiled as two crystalline tears streamed down her cheeks.
[One hour has ended.]
[Guiding in progress...]
[This is the fourth life. You have only one hour.]
As Elliot slowly opened his eyes, the first sight that met him was a handsome youth wielding a long spear. He skillfully swung the spear, dispatching the malevolent spirits with grace.
Only when the morning sun rose did the tension in his nerves begin to ease. He sheathed his spear and walked slowly into the forest, coming to rest before a solitary grave. He sat motionless, lost in thought.
Elliot stood beside him, watching silently.
After a long while, the young man rose slowly.
"Let's go see."
Soon, following the sound, he arrived at Liyue Harbor.
"Wow! It really is Xiao the Yaksha! Xiao has appeared!!!"
A little girl, overjoyed at Xiao's arrival, bounced up and down, clapping her hands.
"What is it?" Xiao inquired, his tone slightly cold.
"Mr. Xiao, my kitty climbed up a tree. Could you help me get it down?"
The little girl paid no heed to Xiao's cool demeanor, pointing to a nearby tree and pleading earnestly.
Xiao looked up and saw a cat perched in the branches. With a light leap, he scaled the tree, swiftly grabbed the cat, and handed it to the girl.
"Xiao is so amazing!!! Thank you, Mr. Xiao!!"
The little girl clutched the cat excitedly, her voice brimming with joy.
Seeing this, Xiao was somewhat surprised. He softened his tone and asked gently, "Little one, how did you know about me?"
"I saw it on Liyue's bulletin board! I never thought it was real! Thank you, Mr Xiao!" the little girl responded with a smile.
"You're welcome."
Xiao smiled faintly, ruffled her hair, and then departed.
Soon, he discovered the words on the bulletin board.
"If you encounter hardship in the wilderness, or face danger from bandits on the road..."
"Call upon his name: Xiao."
"Call his name, and he shall answer. Troubles resolved, but reverence required. Honor the Adeptus, show gratitude."
Reading those lines, the usually cold and taciturn Xiao felt his eyes grow red.
"You're the one who's been the most disrespectful to the Adeptus..."
At that moment, Elliot, standing beside Xiao, offered a faint smile.
"That's true."