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Did you know that every soul in Teyvat has this mini seelie attached to them?
This little radiating ball-like entity followed you since the first day you were born, accompanied every single of your journey around the world. This mini seelie offered itself as your companion, following your trails in silence.
It could feel your happiness and sorrow, engulf those with them so that they could feel those feelings too. So be careful and control your emotions well, for they would feel what you feel.
They would never leave your side, not until your death. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Everyone in Teyvat has each with them, no matter you go, you’ll see them. Nothing special about it.
Only one of that seelie is special.
Is it the one with you?
Of course, yours always special. But there is another seelie that is exceptional.
Look at your seelie. If it ever shines brighter than it usually would, look around you. Find the one with that same light radiating seelie.
That is your soulmate.
He went with the name Tartaglia.
Carrying his duty as the 11th Fatui Harbringer, for the sake of Her Highness Tsaritsa, he wandered around the world.
Aside from finished his errand here and there, he was trying to find out about something.
Was the story about finding a soulmate through seelie true?
He was away from his home, Snezhnaya for around how long he couldn’t remember, for as far as he couldn’t recall. However, never once his blue-colored seelie glows. It only snuggled on his cheek, swirled around, and nothing else to be noted.
Well, his seelie glowed, only when it found enemy, that was. Tartaglia almost thought in disbelief that the hatchling geovishap was his soulmate, but turned out that his seelie was glowing as it found enemies for him to knock off for. To be fair, it radiated light that didn’t that much far cry from how it usually glowed, so soulmate was definitely out of it.
Tartaglia didn’t care about that too much, as long as he had fun knocking down enemies and finished his duty for the sake of Snezhnaya. He just wondered if one day of his duties, his soulmate would appear.
But then at that one fated day in Liyue, for the first time, his seelie was radiating the brightest light he had ever seen in his life. It wasn’t because it found other enemies, nor it found treasures.
It was more than just treasures.
Another seelie in gold color ignited, almost as blinding as his seelie.
That curcuma seelie owner’s name was… Zhongli, was it?
Tartaglia was elated to know that he finally found his soulmate.
He was extremely happy that he had to calm down himself. He needed to put Her Highness before everything else. But, at least for now, he knew that there was someone that was fated to him and he was nearby at that moment.
Which was why he was willing to be the bridgeman for Aether and Zhongli to meet, to pay for everything Zhongli bought along with Aether, cleared the mess Zhongli made while buying something, and of course, watched them from afar while gathered information.
But, the more he tailed them, the more he found this Zhongli man was interesting.
No, he wasn’t just interesting.
He was everything.
Tartaglia wanted him.
Tartaglia was thorn.
Only after he summoned Overlord of The Vortex, Osial, to destroy Liyue Harbor, he found out who Zhongli actually was.
He was the mighty Rex Lapis, who was supposed to be deceased at the Rite of Descension. Well, it was weird to see an archon who ended the archon war with his own hand suddenly dropped dead at the annual occasion, no mortal would have that ability to murder such a god.
However, that archon wasn’t supposed to be him.
Zhongli, who had planned all of this to be happened.
And Tartaglia was one of his pawn.
Never in his life Tartaglia felt this much of betrayal.
Every seelie which had found its companion would feel what the other seelie feel.
That happened to Zhongli’s seelie, which had been swirling around Zhongli’s face quite a time now. Zhongli was confused and a bit irritated at the same time since he needed to finish his paperwork but his seelie was in the way.
That golden eyes man sighed and asked, “What seemed to be matter?”
His seelie continued to swirl around one way, tried to point one of its bunny-shaped ear-like to one direction. Zhongli hummed before he stood up and followed the way his seelie pointed to.
Nantianmen.
The huge tree which emitted blue radiation never failed to impress one’s eye. However, that was not the reason Zhongli came.
It was the man who sat below that blue branch over there.
Tartaglia.
He was usually cheerful. He always smiled as bright as his seelie was. However, Tartaglia he saw today didn’t show such an expression. His eyes were blank, and his lips didn’t form a smile. His energetic seelie was dim, too dim that it was almost translucent.
Was this perhaps the reason why his seelie was too noisy, despite didn’t utter a word?
Slowly, Zhongli approached Tartaglia, before stood in front of him. “Tartaglia.”
Tartaglia looked up. He forced a thin smile before he replied, “If it isn’t the mighty Zhongli-xiansheng! What’s the matter, xiansheng?”
Mockery.
That was written so clearly on Tartaglia’s tone.
Zhongli coughed before he talked, “Alright, can we talk about this first?”
“What do we need to talk about? I’ve done my part in your great plans. Surely you don’t need me anymore, do you?”
“Tartaglia,” Zhongli replied, “Please.”
Tartaglia stared at Zhongli for a few seconds. He sighed before he shifted a bit further. “Sit, if you care enough to sit beside this little pawn, that is.”
You don’t have to talk like that.
Zhongli didn’t say it out loud, knowing how it would make situation even worse now. Zhongli sat beside Tartaglia, stared at the scenery he didn’t see for a long time.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Everything.”
“What’s everything?”
“Whatever you feel, whatever you think, just talk it out. I’ll hear you out.”
“What are you, grandpa?” Tartaglia laughed weakly before went quiet for a bit and then talked, “You know what it means when a seelie glows so bright it almost blinded you, right?”
Zhongli nodded.
He knew about the soulmate things and all, but for himself, an archon on the top of that, to have a soulmate after those times was something unexpected even for him.
It was definitely out of his calculation.
“You see… when I found out that you were my soulmate, I was so happy. I thought I finally found my fated one. Then, I tried to learn more about you while I needed to fulfill my duty. I tried to get closer to you. I thought we were on the same page. But turned out I was excited for nothing, huh. I was nothing but one of your puppets for your plan whatsoever.
“When I found out about that… I’m not sure about myself. I was nothing but a tool for my soulmate, what do I do with that? Xiansheng, tell me, what should I do? Give me your wisdom, just like you always do.”
Zhongli stared at him.
What to do now?
Tartaglia has been hurt too much. What does he do now?
“Tartaglia,” Zhongli called, “Let’s sparring.”
“…Come again?”
“You love to fight all out, didn’t you?”
“What? Do you want me to fight till death with you? You think being an archon meant I can’t defeat you?”
“That’s not what I mean,” Zhongli replied, “I mean, spit it out. Give it to your all in this battle. Your emotions, anger, use it all in the battle. I’ll take whatever you threw at me.”
“Xiansheng…”
“If you’re worried about the humans here, no need to fret. This is Nantianmen, mortals hardly ever came here.”
“Why would I worry?” Childe laughed, “Xiansheng, even if I was about to kill someone, you’ll stop me with your mighty archon power, won’t you? Even without your gnosis that you gave to Signora, you’ll still be able to save everything from this peace intruder, won’t you?”
“Tartaglia…”
“But sure, let’s fight. Don’t you dare hold back at me, Xiansheng.”
For a normal human being, Tartaglia sure had enormous power. He was able to deal some damage into him, strong enough that he felt it smashed into his body.
However, a human has their limit. Just like Tartaglia now. He had been enduring Zhongli’s power for plenty of time until now, his body couldn’t take it anymore.
“Tartaglia,” Zhongli called, “Stop. It’s enough.”
“Why do you care?” Tartaglia asked, he swung his double sword towards Zhongli. “You don’t care about me, right?”
“That’s not true.”
“Then why can’t you trust me?” Tartaglia asked, “Just one word, Xiansheng. If it’s you who said it, I’ll do whatever you say. That’s how much I trust you. That’s how much I trust! You! So why!? Don’t you know how much I trust you?!”
Tartaglia charged another attack to Zhongli rashly while shouted, “Don’t you know how much I trust you?! How much I loved you?! You are the perceptive Rex Lapis! You should have known that much!”
Tartaglia kept swinging, he shouted again, “I hate you! I hate you, Xiansheng!”
He stopped.
Eventually, he stopped.
Zhongli dashed to grab Childe who almost lost his consciousness. When he caught him in his arms, he heard small mutter,
“I hate you…. I hate you… I…. hate…”
Zhongli patted his head and gave a small peck on his forehead.
“I’m sorry.”
“You…. I hate…”
“I’m sorry, Tartaglia.”
When Tartaglia came to, what greeted him was a ceiling. It wasn’t the familiar ceiling he usually saw when he woke up. Where was it?
His seelie snuggled on his face as soon as Tartaglia opened his eyes, and Tartaglia let it too. It was been quite a while since his seelie was this energetic. What happened?
When Tartaglia tried to sit, his seelie flew to approach another seelie. A golden-colored one.
Oh, it was Zhongli’s. Speak of the devil, he was there. Sat on a fine wooden chair near him while drinking a tea, it seemed. Their seelie was snuggling at each other happily.
“Xiansheng.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Definitely much better than… how long have I been passed out?”
“Three days now.”
Three days… that was pretty a long time. Guess archon’s power was really something even after they lost their gnosis.
“Yeah, I’m feeling better now. Sorry to cause you trouble, xiansheng. Now I’ll excuse…”
“Don’t,” Zhongli replied, “Not until you recovered.”
“It’s alright, I’ll rest more when I…”
“Is my presence bothering you?”
Tartaglia blinked at that question. Zhongli was concerned that he would make Tartaglia uncomfortable?
“That’s not it. I just don’t want to trouble you further.”
“I don’t feel troubled, so please, just stay for a while.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll rest here,” Tartaglia sighed and laid down again.
Only silence was heard then. Tartaglia wasn’t sure what to say anyway.
“Then, Tartaglia.”
“Hm?”
Zhongli stood up after he said, “Let’s talk again once you fully recovered.”
A contract.
This man who was the God of Contracts offered a contract to him. It was just that… the contract was a bit unusual.
“What do you mean, xiansheng?”
“It’s just like what I said,” Zhongli drank his tea while waited for their meal at Xinyue Kiosk, “Let’s start over our relationship again.”
Yeah, exactly, that.
What did he mean by that?
What needed to start over again? It wasn’t like they ever got involved in some sort of relationship.
“After you collapsed, I was thinking about our relationship, what would be the best for you, and for me, too. I think we need to begin anew about everything once again.”
“But why would you do this?” Tartaglia glanced at his fully cheerful seelie now, “Is it for the seelie?”
“How about if I say it was for you as well?”
Tartaglia was stunned.
For him?
“To be frank, I do enjoy your company. I find it enjoyable whenever I was with you, so I want to do that. To start anew. Not just for the seelie.”
“Then… how do we do that? Do I have to confess to you again or something?”
“No, I mean…” Zhongli put down his cup, “Let’s keep each other’s company again, but this time with intimate interest.”
Tartaglia stared at Zhongli hesitantly, “Xiansheng, then… how should we call this relationship?”
“Well, if it’s alright with you… I would like to be your friend but with the intention of pining you.”
Another silence.
Why would Zhongli do this? Did he even care about him?
Did Zhongli give him a second chance… out of pity?
“Xiansheng…” Tartaglia called, “Do you like me?”
Zhongli was taken aback at that question, but then he answered, “Honestly, I’m not sure myself, I’m sorry. But I don’t want to leave you like this and I want to respond to your feelings fairly.”
“…Oh…”
As expected of God of Contracts. He wanted to do things fairly, even for trivial matter as this.
But, oh well. Whatever happens, let it happens.
“Fine, Xiansheng. Let’s start over again.”
For the grace or not, Zhongli gave him the chance. How would Tartaglia miss it?
He would make sure that this time, Zhongli would look at him.
How many days have passed since then, Zhongli didn’t know.
The only reason that Zhongli made that contract so that he could confirm what was inside his heart himself. Love was an unfamiliar emotion to him, hence why he couldn’t answer Tartaglia’s question right away.
Did he like him?
Right now, what Zhongli could do was to know Tartaglia better. Wherever Tartaglia went, he would tag along whenever Wangsheng Funeral Parlor didn’t need him. Now they often made trips to go together, even for a simple meal.
Zhongli was amused that Tartaglia was a gourmand. He didn’t complain about food. The only thing he complained about was chopsticks. Tartaglia wasn’t picky about any food, he would be delighted to eat it all while Zhongli had to carefully not picking any seafood-related foods.
Zhongli told Tartaglia a few times about how he disliked seafood, and that many times too Tartaglia laughed at him.
“Come on, xiansheng, tell me! How come you can’t eat seafood?! Did being a mortal make you allergic to them?”
“No, I rather disclose about it, so…”
“Whaaat, tell me!” Tartaglia laughed.
And whenever Tartaglia laughed, something was tingling in Zhongli’s heart.
“So, what do you want to do today?”
“Mh-hm, I don’t have to collect debts for today, don’t have any urgent things to attend to…” Tartaglia hummed, “Ah, say, how about we go to see Aether? He’s still in Liyue, right?”
“Aether? I thought he left already.”
“No, I still saw him wandering around here and there… ah, look. They’re there.” Tartaglia pointed at the blond-haired boy with a floating white-haired kid talked to the lady from the Adventurer’s Guild. And their face… they seemed troubled.
They walked away from the lady while holding a piece of paper and eventually they saw Zhongli and Tartaglia were there, near the wooden stairs they were using.
“Ah, it’s Childe!” The floating kid shouted, “What are you doing here?!”
“Come now, I’m a Fatui diplomat in Liyue, how come I’m not here?” Tartaglia laughed while answered that kid, “Say, what are you doing, Aether? Paimon? Making trips for commissions, I assume?”
“Well, that’s the plan…” Paimon replied, “But it’s just… we’re looking for a sword.”
“That’s an easy commission, then.”
“If only there wasn’t a Ruin Hunter on the place we’re looking for,” Aether interrupted.
“Yeah! Ruin Hunter, of all things! It’s such a pain to fight something that could fly and throw many fires to you at once!” Paimon shouted.
“Well, it’s not like you ever help in the first place, Paimon.”
“Come on, Paimon is your guide, not your ballista!”
“Ruin Hunter?” Tartaglia asked while his eyes sparkled, “Now that’s interesting. Let me help you.”
“You? Help us?” Aether asked while he narrowed his eyebrows.
“Come on, don’t be like that. Aren’t we comrades?” Tartaglia laughed, “I can help you to immobilize it. Though I’m not the best while it comes to archery, I can shoot one-two arrows to its eyes. What do you say?”
Zhongli didn’t interrupt their conversations for a bit now, but he could see how Tartaglia’s way of speaking… especially when it comes to battle… was interesting.
“Ugh… two people are better than one, I guess…” Paimon scratched her head, “Just don’t try anything funny! You hear me?!”
“Okay, okay. I’m not that sneaky, alright? And it won’t be two people, right, Zhongli-xiansheng?”
“…. Sure, I can help out, too. I can create shields so that you won’t get that much injury.”
Zhongli often walked together with Tartaglia to eat together, to collect debts, to see what Tartaglia’s likes. But to accompany him on a battle? Now that’s new.
Maybe with these, he could see more of Tartaglia’s side.
“There was nothing here, too,” Paimon huffed as she looked around that area in Guili Plains. Aether went from the other side of the ruins and muttered, “Nothing here either.”
“That’s the unseen razor for you,” Paimon sighed.
“That’s a shame. But well, let’s just report it to the guild as what it is,” Tartaglia reassured Aether.
“That’s what I’m planning- Oh! Childe, watch out!” Aether yelled when he caught a glimpse of something moved behind where Tartaglia stood.
That was the Ruin Hunter they defeated just a moment ago. How come it could still fight? The Ruin Hunter flashed its eyes and begun to spin.
Tartaglia almost brought his double water sword out when Zhongli pushed him aside. “Stay still.”
Zhongli threw his polearm just like a true spear it was, pierced the Ruin Hunter’s eyes until it stunned itself and no longer able to move. This time, it finally shut down.
“Mr. Zhongli, that was amazing!” Paimon screamed, “As expected of an archon, you don’t even have your gnosis with you!”
“Paimon, seriously…” Aether covered his face with his palm, probably embarrassed.
Tartaglia himself was perplexed. He stared at Zhongli with amusement written on his face.
“I… I can handle that one myself, but… thanks, I guess, xiansheng,” Tartaglia muttered.
Zhongli knew that Tartaglia was able to manage somehow. But why did he agitate and went ahead to save Tartaglia?
Another day of works in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Zhongli sighed after he put his pen down, pressed his temple with confusion.
For some reason, he wanted to see Tartaglia today.
And seemed like his seelie agreed with him, as his seelie swirled around his face now. Zhongli stood up from his seat and made his trip to the Northland Bank.
What great timing. When he arrived at the Northland Bank, Tartaglia was there, talking with his subordinate.
“Great job then, I don’t have to step in for… Ah, Zhongli-xiansheng! Now if you’ll excuse me.” Tartaglia walked away from his subordinate to approach Zhongli who was entering the Northland Bank. “What’s wrong? It’s rare for you to come here. Ah, do you need something?”
Zhongli didn’t answer it.
Did he… need something? He came impulsively. He didn’t need anything in particular.
“Oh, did you perhaps forget your wallet again? Which store did you put your debt into? I’ll…”
“None.”
“Oh? Then did you have any business with Northland Bank today?”
“Not that either?”
“Huh? Then why did you come here?”
“I just want to see you.”
Childe stared blankly at that answer. “What?”
“I don’t know why, but I want to see you today.”
What he needed was the sight of Tartaglia’s face.
Again.
Zhongli came again without warnings. And this time again, Zhongli didn’t come other than the reason he wanted to see Tartaglia today. It occurred several times now.
Tartaglia was confused. Why would Zhongli come to him like this? Perhaps Zhongli was too used by Tartaglia’s presences over times and he simply needed it?
Perhaps he… finally fell for me?
Ah, heavens, no way.
As much as Tartaglia wanted that to happen, the possibility for it to come was no different to zero. Tartaglia smiled wryly at that thought.
“Tartaglia, what happened?”
Tartaglia jolted when Zhongli suddenly asked him. They were at the Yujing Terrace now and Tartaglia was in the fog of his mind for a while.
“Ah, s-sorry, xiansheng. Did you say something? My mind was occupied.”
“No, I didn’t. You made your seelie worried.”
Tartaglia looked at his seelie, and yes, his seelie let out weird noises, probably tried to comfort him. Tartaglia laughed and pat his seelie, “Don’t worry, I’m alright.”
I made my seelie worried but not enough to make you worry, huh.
“And you made me worried too.”
Tartaglia quickly turned his head to face Zhongli bewilderedly. “Huh?”
“If something is bothering you, you may talk to me. I’ll hear you out.”
“Ah… n-no, it’s alright. It’s none of your concern.”
You are the problem.
“Well… then the least thing I can tell you is that…” Zhongli muttered, “I’m here for you.”
And Tartaglia nodded.
So this is the city where that bard’s territory is.
Truly the city of freedom, it gave a different atmosphere of where he always been, Liyue.
The reason Zhongli was here today none other than tailing Tartaglia, or more precisely, to tag along with Aether. Aether got a commission to deliver something to the Mondstadt, so Tartaglia decided to come with him.
“Oh, if it isn’t our favorite Honorary Knight and his companion? It’s been a long time.” A cheerful yet sneaky voice greeted them out of thin air. Who was this gentleman with long blue hair and an eyepatch?
“Oh, Kaeya. It’s you!” Paimon greeted him, “It’s been a long time indeed!”
“And I see that you’re not alone, care for some introduction, perhaps? Though judging from your attire, one of you must be an affiliate with Fatui while that gentleman over there from Liyue, perhaps,” Kaeya talked, “But name exchange would be nice. As for myself, mine is Kaeya.”
“It’s nice to meet you, good sir. My name is Zhongli, you may call me that.”
“Well, as for myself, I go with the name of ‘Childe’.”
Childe.
It’s been a long time since Zhongli called him that.
“Mr. Zhongli and Mr. Childe, eh? Welcome to the Mondstadt, then,” Kaeya greeted them with a smile. After that, he stared at Tartaglia for a while.
“Why, sir? Is there something on my face? Or perhaps you suspect me I’ll do something?” Tartaglia asked him.
“Well, can’t blame him if he was suspicious of you, though,” Paimon sneered.
“No, no. even though you’re affiliated with Fatui, since you’re with our Honorary Knight, I assume that you wouldn’t do something funny so openly here. Though, I’m just sincerely admiring your face.”
“…Pardon?”
“It’s just as what I say. You’re quite a looker, pretty even for a man. It’s refreshing.”
Tartaglia laughed as he heard that. “Shall I take that as a compliment?”
“May so be it. it’s rare for me to call someone pretty myself- “
Suddenly Zhongli stood between Kaeya and Tartaglia, made himself a human wall to block Kaeya’s sight to Tartaglia.
“Xiansheng?” Tartaglia asked confusedly.
Again, Zhongli acted impulsively.
Why did he do this? It wasn’t like this good sir meant anything beyond the compliment. Why was he agitated?
“Oh?” Kaeya smiled, seemed amused, “My bad, then I guess I’ll be on my way. I’m sorry if I ever offend you, Mr. Zhongli.”
After Kaeya left, Paimon asked Aether, “Why would he apologize to Mr. Zhongli, though? I mean…”
“Xiansheng, what’s gotten into you?” Tartaglia poked Zhongli’s back.
“I don’t know…” Zhongli muttered, “I… don’t have any idea in the slightest.”
Was this something that called…
Jealousy?
Lantern Rite has finally begun.
Hundreds of Xiao Lanterns being released to the open sky, glittering the night view with its illumination. Stalls and performances were just below it, ready to enjoy such a beautiful view.
“So this is Lantern Rite…” Tartaglia muttered, “And I didn’t know Xiao Lantern is this big. I can’t imagine how big Mingxiao Lantern would be.”
“Where are you going to use it? Northland Bank?” Paimon asked.
“Nah, this is for me. Zhongli-xiansheng, you sure didn’t want one?” Tartaglia asked, and Zhongli only answered by shaking his head.
“Then, find a high place to float it,” Aether told Tartaglia.
“Sure, I’ll do that after I write my wish! Xiansheng, care to tag along?”
“It’s fine by me.”
“Okay, then let’s go to Wang’ya, Aether! We need to give her a hand!” Paimon grabbed Aether’s arm and she waved to Zhongli and Tartaglia, “See you soon!”
“See ya!” Tartaglia waved back and sighed, “Can’t wait to see my siblings see them…”
“They’re good kids.”
“Yup, as good as my siblings! Xiansheng, I’ve done writing my wish. Can we go somewhere high?”
Mount Tianheng.
At the peak of Mount Tianheng, Liyue Harbor was still visible and brighter, as the Xiao Lanterns scattered to the sky. One of them was Tartaglia’s lantern, which he just released.
“What did you wish?”
Tartaglia smiled. “You know that you don’t say anything about your wish, right? Though, I wrote something pretty impossible. Would be nice if that become true. But… well, let’s enjoy the view from here, shall we?”
Tartaglia sat on the edge of the mountain, followed by Zhongli. He smiled as he watched the night view, hundreds of lanterns in the sky.
He was beautiful.
Tartaglia was beautiful.
In the night where lanterns scattered, Tartaglia was beautiful.
“Ah, xiansheng, what should I do…” Tartaglia whispered, “I love you.”
“…I love you too.”
Tartaglia immediately stiffened his shoulder.
He turned to face Zhongli with bewilderment and tried to ask, “What?”
“I said I love you too.”
Yes.
This time Zhongli was certain.
After all this time… he finally could admit it.
He fell in love with him. Tartaglia.
Not only because of their seelies.
Because it was Tartaglia.
“Huh? W-what?”
“I said I love you.”
“D-did my hearing betray me? I-i…”
“I said I love you too.”
“Ah…”
“I love you.”
“W-wait! Wait!”
Zhongli enjoyed this.
Look at how flustered this kid in front of him.
“I said I love you too.”
“I said wai-“
“I love you.”
“Okay, okay, stop it! I hear you clearly! I gave up!” Tartaglia pushed himself to Zhongli, buried his face on Zhongli’s chest.
He could feel Tartaglia’s burning face.
“Xiansheng…”
“Yes?”
“Did you just make… my wish come true?”
If that’s what Tartaglia wrote on the lantern, then yes.