— Paring: Zhongli x Guizhong (Guili)
— Tags: short, parting ways
— Summary: Zhongli and his promise to someone who has already been gone.
— Word count: 620
— Ao3
Notes: The story title was inspired by the anime "Maquia: When the promised flower blooms".
Travelers from every corner of this world when passing Qingce Village must at least once stand in awe of the beauty of the glaze lily field. This flower is as ancient as the history of Liyue. Their petals are azure and pure, only blooming in the humming voice of the beholder. It is also said that the scent contains memories of the land where they grow.
The flower that carried the memories of us turned into sand many moons ago. On the field of glaze lilies of which I take care myself; could you see it, the new memories of this land?
Once in a while, when I sit and enjoy tea on the porch and the glaze lilies bathe under the moon, I dream of you. Your eyes are the heaven stars, your sleeves rolling the waves of the ocean, and your lips humming a song as you stand among flowers. I want to put one on your hair. Lest I have the courage to touch your hair, you vanish.
The immortals are all subject to a curse, that their pain will become as eternal as their own body. The flowers bloom and wither away, yet my nostalgia cannot fade with time.
I remember the first time I met you in the middle of the glaze lily field. I also remember our moment of separation, it was also among those petals.
Before you vanished to sand, you had given me two things. One was the treasure locking all of your knowledge inside. One was a small seed containing memories of your past life. Your brain was far beyond a brawn like me. I have yet found a way to unlock the treasure you left behind. But I could plant that seed. I wait for it to grow. I use my own voice to nurture the flower, which is also the memory of the two of us. In the past, I was always ashamed whenever you caught me singing to flowers. But you only smiled, and sat down quietly beside me. You did not know that in my eyes, no flower could compare to your beauty.
Despite my hard work, the flower you left has not bloomed. It willfully reaches itself out among the most brilliant flowers in my field. But the petals are always closed, refusing to bloom for me. Is that flower holding your memories, waiting for the day you are reborn into this world, and those memories will return to you?
As time pass**, the rich land where we once ruled together is now in ruins. A new land, a new world was built. The people in the past that we took care of and protected have now turned into sand and left to your side, leaving their descendants with me. I have made countless contracts, precisely to build the Liyue as you can see today. Your sacrifice shall not be in vain.
Yet mortals no longer need my protection. I, too, have grown weary of the thousand years I have spent and yet to come. I have stopped at this place called Qingce Village, to live a life like any other mortal. I have given up my eternal body, as well as the burdens I have carried on my shoulders for ages. From now on, I am merely Zhongli with a normal, simple life; sitting on the veranda still, waiting for my flower to bloom.
Do you remember what I said to you when we parted? I am Rex Lapis, the God of Contracts. But this is not a contract between you and me. This is a promise. I will wait for that day when our glaze lily blooms.
Then, we shall meet again.
