Wish Upon A Lantern (Rite)
A "Choose Your Own Story" Game produced by Mod Mei of Storyteller: A Genshin Impact Coloringbook Zine
Liyue Harbor always seems more beautiful around this time of year.
Glowing lanterns illuminate the cobbled streets, lighting up the usually dark roads with spots of harmonious red blended into orange. Banners are strung from building to building, the canopy of shimmering golden silk wrapping all of Liyue in a gorgeous veil of festivity. And though the stars in the night sky are barely visible in the presence of artificial light, it's almost impossible to notice when surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city as activity extends well beyond midnight.
Liyue's lively atmosphere thrives in this newfound warmth, the holiday breathing life into the normally unassuming city at night.
It's an entirely new experience from Mondstadt. More welcoming, serene, familiar, and-
"Oh, oh, oh! Traveler look! Tiger Fish! Grilled Tiger Fish Skewers!"
A shrill shriek from Paimon pierces the quietude of the evening, pulling you from your thoughts. You turn your head and find that the small creature is pointing to one of the many street food stalls set up around the capital.
"Can we get them, please, please, please?" Paimon begs, tiny hands clasped together tightly. "I know we had dinner five minutes ago, but please?"
"Paimon's just special!" she huffs haughtily, patting her stomach proudly, "And I digest food quickly, so let's go!"
She somehow manages to yank you towards the Grilled Tiger Fish vendor as you fumble for your wallet, slightly wincing at the noticeable decrease in Mora that it's taken upon since the start of Lantern Rite.
"-Fish Skewers, please!" Before you can even fish out the money, Paimon's already ordered and prepared to eat, by the look of the hungry glint in her eye.
"That'll be 5,000 Mora, please." You hand over the money to the vendor and sigh in half-amusement and half-disappointed expectancy as your companion snatches up the three skewers and shoves one in her mouth.
"Ohhh, so good!" she exclaims, swiping her tongue across her top lip, "This is the best! After-dinner fish! Ever! Traveler, try it! It's so good!"
She extends a hand to offer the snack and you laugh at her antics, finding joy in witnessing her enthusiasm.
But before you can take the kebab from her, someone suddenly bumps into you.
You whirl around to speak your apologies, but the words die on your tongue when you come face-to-face with a familiar guardian adeptus.
"Xiao?" The yaksha just stares at you when you call his name (and you can't tell whether he's surprised or indifferent about the encounter, though you guess the latter). "What are you doing here?"
"Am I not allowed to stroll through Liyue as I please?"
"No, no, no! That's not what I mean at all," you say, panicked, "It's just that... you usually tend to stay away from crowds, don't you?" He considers the question for a moment, testing an answer on the tip of his tongue.
"You're right, but someone suggested that I should enjoy the mood, as uncomfortable as it is." He mumbles the last part, but you manage to pick it up, frowning in response to the comment.
He gives you a thoughtful nod, and it's all you need to whisk him and Paimon away to a more secluded area.
When you bring up the idea of him having your company, he looks a bit more comfortable with the idea of roaming the city.
"I'd like that."
You smile at his reply, then take his hand and pull him away from the Grilled Tiger Fish vendor to continue celebrating Lantern Rite.
Xiao seems surprised when you arrive at the cliffside that overlooks Liyue Harbor. You chuckle at his expression—slightly raised brows and an inquisitive look about his eyes—and sit down, patting the patch of grass next to you, motioning for the adeptus to take a seat.
He obliges after a second, gently setting himself down in a lax position and leaning back, his arms supporting his body as he shifts his weight to his hands. Paimon comes to rest in between the both of you, her small figure bridging the gap between you and the yaksha.
Somehow, it brings about a heightened sense of togetherness.
You dare not to spoil the moment with words when you realize this. Instead, you opt to simply sit and stare at the city below that seems to glow with the presence of so many lanterns. Even the harbor itself is so facile—able to reflect the light that emanates from the city perfectly in its still waters.
"Wow... you really can see everything from up here, can't you?" Paimon suddenly says, sighing dreamily, "It's so pretty."
You smile.
The conclusion of Lantern Rite comes shortly after the conversation.
You realize that the city has gone quiet, despite how it keeps its original, festive appearance. And for a moment, you can only see the dimly lit tops of buildings and the movement of people down in the docks of Liyue Harbor...
... then the next, a sea of light.
You gasp as hundreds of thousands of lanterns start to float to the sky, dotting the dark lavender with heavenly shades of a golden hue. They're carried upwards by the wind, ascending to whatever higher entity that may grant the wish written so carefully on their insides.
Gazing at the spectacle in awe, you can't help but get a bit lost in it. The way that everything comes together, the way that everyone's wishes dusts the sky is such splendor, such magnificence, you can't help but get a little careless.
The festival was made to allow people to submit to their hearts.
So you submit to yours, and you speak.
"Xiao, if you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?" Unlike your predictions, he isn't startled by the suddenness of the question, nor does he seem annoyed.
"If I told you, would that ruin the wish?" You hum at his question, feeling the edges of your lips curl upwards in ample amusement.
"I suppose that would." You feel him move beside you.
"Then I don't think I'll tell you." A gentle joy blooms in your heart you as you laugh at his response, unafraid at the moment of what he might think.
"Happy Lantern Rite, Xiao," you say, turning to look at him with sparkling eyes. He takes a minute to respond accordingly, most likely taking his time to fully witness and appreciate the sea of lanterns making their way to Celestia, but eventually shifts to face you with a small smile.
"Happy Lantern Rite, Traveler."
End.
(There are two endings.)
By the time you, Xiao, and Paimon stop by the docks after exhausting yourselves at multiple mini-games, storytelling events, arts and crafts booths, and eating competitions, the time for the festival to wrap up has nearly arrived.
You can feel the liveliness of the atmosphere die down as the crowd comes into a collective hush when they pass around empty lanterns. When you receive your paper messenger and a brush to write with, you don't take the time to hesitate and immediately start writing your prayers onto the carrier.
I hope you're safe, wherever you are.
It's simple, but it works. It's everything you've ever wanted since you crashed-landed into Teyvat—just for your other half to be alright and well, no matter what.
"Traveler, are you alright?" Xiao's inquiry disrupts your train of thought and pulls you out of your contemplative state. "You seem worried."
"It's nothing, really," you insist, shaking your head, "I'm just a little tired." The adeptus gives you an disbelieving look, but doesn't press further out of respect.
Once he's written his wish, and Paimon's written hers, a person in uniform comes by and lights the lanterns, a small blaze fading into a warm glow within the delicate paper.
Minutes later, it's finally time.
The crowd clustered on the docks chant a countdown from three, their voices blending with the entirety of Liyue in anticipation for the highlight of the night.
"3... 2... 1...!"
You let go of the lantern, then tilt your chin up to witness, like so many others, the true beauty of Lantern Rite.
It's not only the way the dots of light illuminate the indigo night sky, nor is it the way that the whole city's focus remains on one thing for the most beautiful moment...
... but it's the shared realization of how open the festival allows for every participant to be, how connected everyone in Liyue is when seeing what the amalgamation of their hopes and dreams really looks like.
As the sky fills with hundreds of thousands of bright, golden-orange lanterns, you put a hand on Xiao's shoulder and look at him earnestly.
"Happy Lantern Rite, Xiao." He turns to face you, eyes wider and brighter than you've ever seen them. You stare at each other for a moment before he spares a small smile.
"Happy Lantern Rite, Traveler."
End.
(There are two endings.)