Rite of Descension

Early the next morning, dawn was just breaking.

Somewhere on the outskirts of Liyue Harbor, a tiny floating creature with stars glimmering behind her scarf pointed at the buildings ahead.

She spoke excitedly to the blonde girl beside her.

"Look, Traveler! We've made it to Liyue!"

The girl gazed at the buildings before her. Even in the early morning, Liyue Harbor glowed with colorful lights, its docked ships and waterfront houses all illuminated.

They shone with a warm reddish glow, giving the girl an immediate impression of prosperity.

"Yes, Paimon. We've made it to Liyue."

The girl smiled and patted Paimon's head.

Brother, I'll find you. I know I will.

The girl known as the Traveler clenched her fists, her resolve firm.

"Wow, so this is Liyue Harbor?!"

"There's grilled fish over here, and more tasty food over there!"

A tiny floating creature accompanied Lumine as she walked through Liyue's streets.

Lured by the food along the streets of Liyue Harbor, Paimon flew back and forth.

Seeing her like that, Lumine stopped, put her hands on her hips, and called out.

"Paimon!"

Paimon turned back toward Lumine with a guilty look.

"Wh-what is it, Traveler?"

"We're here to find the Geo Archon, and that Immortal Lord."

"Oh, right."

Paimon held her head. She had almost forgotten what they were here for.

"Hmph! It's all Liyue Harbor's fault for making such delicious-smelling food! Paimon got completely distracted."

Lumine held her head, at a loss for words.

"If we want to find the Geo Archon and that Immortal Lord, we only get this one chance each year."

"Good thing Venti reminded us before we left. Otherwise, we would've missed this year's Rite of Descension held by the Liyue Qixing."

Paimon waved her hands as she reminded Lumine.

"Do you know the exact time and place, Paimon?"

Lumine asked Paimon softly.

"Hmm... it might be today, or it might be tomorrow."

"Since we're already in Liyue, let's ask the locals."

Paimon patted her head, suddenly remembering something.

"Oh, right. About the Geo Archon, Morax."

"Did you know? The Mora we use is named after him."

"But if foreigners like us call the Geo Archon that in Liyue, we'll be demoted to rude foreigners."

"Hmm, so we'd better call him Rex Lapis more often, like the people of Liyue do."

Paimon pointed at the people on Liyue's streets.

Looking at the bustling street, Paimon and Lumine found themselves unsure where to begin.

"Let's ask someone."

"As locals, they're bound to know exactly when the Qixing's ceremony takes place."

At that moment, Qiu Bai was strolling through Liyue's streets when he happened to spot the Traveler and Paimon.

I really didn't expect it to be Lumine.

Thinking of the protagonist's cheeky expressions, Qiu Bai found her adorable.

As those thoughts ran through his mind, Qiu Bai walked toward Lumine and Paimon.

As luck would have it, Paimon and Lumine were also heading toward Qiu Bai.

"Traveler, look up ahead."

"That guy's really good-looking. Let's ask him."

Lumine looked ahead curiously. Just as Paimon had said, a handsome man was walking toward them.

"Hello!"

Paimon waved at Qiu Bai.

"Oh? What is this fascinating little creature?"

Qiu Bai approached Lumine and Paimon, looking at Paimon with feigned curiosity.

"I'm not 'little creature'! I'm Paimon!"

Paimon turned her head away and put her hands on her hips, speaking indignantly.

"Paimon, is it? Hello, I'm Qiu Bai, a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

Lumine politely held out her hand as well.

"Hello, I'm Lumine. This floating girl is my best companion, Paimon."

"Um, do you know when and where the Rite of Descension will be held?"

Lumine looked at Qiu Bai somewhat shyly. After all, what girl could resist such a handsome man?

Though Lumine apparently wasn't exactly a young girl anymore.

"The Rite of Descension, hmm."

"From the look of you, you're an outlander, aren't you?"

"My name is Qiu Bai. I'm a consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."

Qiu Bai asked as he looked at Lumine. After all, clothes like hers were rarely seen in the Seven Nations of this world.

"I'm a traveler from another world."

Lumine made no attempt to hide it and told him outright. That was what she had told everyone in Mondstadt, after all.

"A traveler from another land?"

"You have no Vision, yet you possess both Anemo and Geo elemental power."

Qiu Bai spoke with an air of mystery as he regarded Lumine.

Lumine felt as though he had seen right through her. A Dull Blade suddenly appeared in her hand, and she stared intently at Qiu Bai.

She was puzzled as to how the man before her knew she possessed two kinds of elemental power.

Lumine's guard shot up instantly. As far as she knew, ordinary people had no way of telling that she possessed elemental power at all.

"Who are you, really?"

"How do you know I have two kinds of elemental power?"

Qiu Bai noticed Lumine's wary gaze. How do I know? Because I've seen the story, of course. Since I've started showing off, I might as well see it through.

"I'm just an ordinary person from Liyue."

"Weren't you asking me when and where the Rite of Descension would take place?"

With that, Qiu Bai turned around without waiting for a response, then glanced back to signal for Lumine to follow.

"Liyue has been in something of a turmoil lately, because just a few days ago..."

"Liyue's Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles mysteriously disappeared."

"The Liyue Qixing used every resource at their disposal to search for him, but they still couldn't find him."

Qiu Bai walked on as he spoke. Behind him, Lumine and Paimon exchanged a glance and followed.

"He disappeared? But isn't he an Immortal Lord whose fame rivals Rex Lapis?"

"What could possibly take him away?"

Paimon asked in confusion. Before they arrived, Venti had told them about this Immortal Lord.

He's disappeared. Does that mean I can only seek clues about my brother from the Geo Archon now?

Lumine felt a little dejected. For now, the Seven Archons of this world were her only source of clues about the god who had taken her brother.

"Every year at the Rite of Descension, Rex Lapis delivers divine guidance to show Liyue Harbor the way forward."

"This is Liyue, the land that walks alongside its god."

Qiu Bai looked back at Lumine and explained with a smile.

"Up ahead is Yujing Terrace, where the Rite of Descension is held every year."

"As it happens, I'm going to watch too. Come along with me."

With that, Qiu Bai turned and continued walking.

Lumine and Paimon watched Qiu Bai's back and followed him.

Lumine kept getting a mysterious feeling from this man, but she could sense no malice in him.

They arrived at Yujing Terrace.

Paimon flew ahead curiously, while Lumine marveled at the sea of people before them.

At the center of the crowd stood the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.

"I hear wishes made on the day of the Rite of Descension are especially likely to come true. Do you two want to give it a try?"

Paimon turned to Lumine and Qiu Bai as she asked.

Qiu Bai smiled. Wishes? It seemed he had nothing he wanted to wish for at the moment.

"I don't have any wishes myself, but perhaps my friend here has one?"

Lumine nodded. Of course she had a wish.

Qiu Bai didn't even need to think to know that Lumine's wish was to find her big brother.

"Come on. The incense burner is just ahead. Offer some incense, and you can make a wish."

With that, he walked over.

"Oh? Isn't this Mr. Qiu Bai, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant?"

"Are you here to receive the adepti's blessings too?"

A woman dressed in blue-green and purple looked at Qiu Bai as she asked.

"Miss Changshun, it isn't me who's here for their blessings, but this friend beside me."

Qiu Bai explained.

"And who might this be?"

"My name is Lumine, and this is Paimon."

Lumine spoke to the woman before her.

"I'm Changshun."

"You know your stuff, young lady! If you make a wish today, Rex Lapis and the Immortal Lords will bless you."

"I've already finished making my wish, so the spot is yours. Here, you can have this incense too."

"Thank you!"

Having said her piece, Changshun left.

Qiu Bai rubbed his nose awkwardly. Blessings-that wasn't exactly wrong.

But if I made a wish, would I be blessing myself?

After offering the incense, Lumine gently closed her eyes and held her hands before her.

"I hope I can find my brother soon..."