#lantern rite

Wanderer!MC’s first Lantern Rite without Yuki and the Tatarasuna crew.

It feels…strange. Lonely. Even with so much work constantly piling up, they always set aside time to sail to Liyue Harbor every year.

Yuki would run off with his pen pals (with MC and the parents watching, of course) to check out the games and souvenirs.

Niwa and Nagamasa would mull over what kinds of extra goodies to bring back to Inazuma and gift to the other lords and their colleagues.

Katsuragi, Miyazaki, Nozomu and Kinjirou would be getting into some other silly shenanigans; and at some point, it became a tradition to playfully knock one of others into the water at the docks.

And for the folks back home (and any regulars) who couldn’t afford to tag along for some reason, MC would make sure to craft a big supply of Xiao Lanterns for them to float out to sea (since MC hadn’t come across any ore veins with plaustrite in Inazuma).

To MC’s pleasant surprise, Miko kept that tradition alive in memory of those who died in Tatarasuna. Every year around Lantern Rite, the Grand Narukami Shrine would send a group of shrine maidens to visit the memorial stones and local shrines, offering food and drinks and helping the locals make the lanterns.

Now, it’s just MC and Columbina visiting Liyue Harbor…

MC’s first Lantern Rite without Yuki and the others.

…Or, it would have just been MC and Columbina, had they not been pleasantly surprised by Thrain showing up, bringing with him the now grown Khaenri’ahn children who proceed to almost topple over MC in a group hug.

Wanderer!MC: 😦 “Oh my gods, these kids are so much taller than me now…!”

Anemoboxer: 😁 “We’re not kids anymore, big sis!”

Columbina: ☺️ “I was worried you weren’t going to make it tonight.”

Thrain: “Well, a man has to keep his word in the nation of contracts.” 😌 (Don’t tell me [MC] was outside the city fighting monsters again. 🙂‍↕️)

Ah, speaking of contracts…

MC waits until it’s almost time for the lights to go out: “I’ll be heading for Mt. Tianheng soon.”

Cicin Mage: 😶❓ “You’re not sticking around, big sis?”

Wanderer!MC: “I have a…long overdue appointment to make.” 😅

Columbina: “Alright! We’ll be waiting at dinner, then.” 😊

Wanderer!MC: “Yeah, see ya.” 👋

Pyro Agent: 👀 “Who’s big sis seeing tonight…?”

Columbina: “Shhh just let ‘em be.” 😉

Xiao’s there at Mt. Tianheng.

Wanderer!MC: “You’re here.”

Xiao: 😦 “So are you…”

Wanderer!MC: “I thought you’d take a bit longer. Were there fewer monsters than usual…?”

Xiao: “Yes, thanks to your help in other areas. Even the Millelith has grown lax tonight.”

Wanderer!MC: (Ah. He noticed. 🙂‍↕️)

Xiao: “Someone also helped rebuild Pervases’ temple while I wasn’t looking.”

Wanderer!MC: 👀💧 “R—really?” <- responsible

Xiao: “Hm. How nice of them.” 😌 <- knows it was MC

Both of them have Xiao lanterns. The one MC is holding is specially crafted and stylized with an Inazuman flair, just like the ones they’d make back in Tatarasuna; but it will float perfectly fine with its plaustrite core.

For a moment, MC gets distracted by all the lanterns rising into the sky.

Yuki always got so excited when the lights went out, as it meant it was time to release the lanterns.

Xiao lightly bumps them with his elbow, and they finally let go, watching both of their lanterns join the rest of those motes of light.

MC can kind of feel Xiao’s eyes on them. “Is there something on my face…?”

No response for a moment.

They startle when they feel gloved fingers entwining with their own, and look at Xiao.

Xiao’s actually smiling at them.

Xiao: “…Happy Lantern Rite.”

Wanderer!MC: “…Happy Lantern Rite.”

I’m sorry it took me so long.

The moment’s interrupted by an already tipsy Venti stumbling and crashing into some nearby bushes, demanding the two join him and some other special guests (Zhongli, Nahida, Furina, Thrain and Columbina) for a huge round of drinks.

Venti: *hic* “Especially you, Mx. Blind Artificer—” *hic* “—I wanna hear all your stories~!” 🥴

And then he topples over falling asleep under a tree.

Xiao: 😥 “He reeks of alcohol…”

Wanderer!MC: 😅 “Someone’s had too much osmanthus wine.”

Wanderer!MC finally got a chance to spend Lantern Rite with Xiao... 🥹

Oh, and even if they're sad the rest of their family/friends aren't with them anymore, at least he got to see tbe Khaenri'ahn children! That was so sweet of Thrain to bring them to see Wanderer!MC!

And wait... Wanderer!MC fixed Pervases’ temple?! Nice! And also, Venti?! 🤣