XXIII

Mornings at Wangshu in were, without a doubt, much better than the cheaper ones back in Mond. The rooms themselves were wonderfully comfortable and you hadn’t gotten a better sleep in an inn in your life, this one and the last.

After cleaning yourself up, you, Ariel, Aether, and Paimon made your way to the restaurant on the side. But you were so busy talking you accidently ran into another person walking back to their room. Just shoulders collided and before you could even say an apology they whipped around.

“Watch it!” Their brown hair gathered around their face in messy strings, hands on their waist with their hip cocked to the side and their leg pointed out at a strange angle, an angry scowl on their face.

You put your hands up in mock surrender and muttered a ‘sorry’ and watched as they whipped back around and walked away. “Weird.” But you shrugged and continued on.

The rest of the morning went rather easily, a hearty breakfast at the restaurant and laughter after your easy night. You enjoyed the switch from Mondstadtian to Liyuen cuisine, liking the stark difference in flavors and textures.

Unfortunately your wonderful morning had to come to an end and by early noon you were all packing up the little you took out from your bags to get back on the road. This day was much more pleasant with a comforting breeze wrapping around your sore limbs. You whispered a little thanks and the wind rustled your hair in return.

Starting on the road you felt eyes on the back of your head, not malicious, but strangely curious. You turned around only to find no one until you raised your eyes to the top of the inn. A figure was standing there, so unmoving you could’ve mistaken him for a wind vane in a still breeze, but you knew the only creeper on top of the inn was Xiao.

Happy that you got to see him at all, the last time being when you nearly had a heart attack in the chasm, you waved before walking off with the rest of your group who looked back confused, but you waved them off.

The trek to the harbor was short, thank god, and it was early evening when you finally made it. The lanterns along the street illuminated the pathways in a soft, orange glow, reflecting in the windows of the many shops lining the open area. People mingled in the street, even so late at night, in quiet conversation.

Despite the calming atmosphere, you couldn’t help but be excited. Not that you were anticipating the pain the people of Liyue feel seeing their god ‘die’, but watching a dragon fall from the sky with the dramatic music playing in your head would be epic as fuck.

Though coming to Liyue to see Zhongli’s death wasn’t the only reason you came, even if it was a big one.

The dream you had of everyone’s death was extraordinarily alarming to you, and the growing anxiety you felt everyday had you slowly letting go of the thought that it was a stress dream or simple nightmare. You did your best to lowkey look into any dream analysts or whatever bullshit could tell you about this stuff so you didn’t worry Ariel or anyone else, but you came up empty in Mond.

Coming to Liyue, you hoped the harbor that housed all kinds of people from many countries would hold someone who could tell you about dreams or visions or nightmares. If it got desperate enough, you might be able to pray to some of the adepti or subtly inquire about it to Zhongli. You didn’t want to alarm any of the people closest to you and you didn’t want this dream to be common knowledge among the people you cared about.

Of course, the fact that this could all be nothing wiggled in the back of your mind. You hadn’t had another dream since, and the fact that you might be stressing out or over thinking over nothing would not surprise you, it wouldn’t be the first time it happened. However, trying would not hurt.

For now though, you could enjoy some time in this beautiful city, appreciating everything from its food to its architecture to its toys. Liyue was so rich and nice that you couldn’t wait to explore it all. You were especially ready to go to the book shops. The stories of the adepti and Rex Lapis had always fascinated you when you played the game, and though you knew these versions would be dramatized and not very accurate, it would at least be interesting to see the stories often passed down through most families.

The awe on Aether and Paimon’s face was enough to get a giggle out of you, their eyes shining with glee and interest. They couldn't stop their eyes from tracing over every window and awning or shining at the waves tracing the sides of the harbor.

-

Soon you all found yourselves snuggled in a cozy restaurant with delicious food spread and ready to eat.

Everything was flavorful and burst just right on the tongue. An enjoyable meal for even Ariel, who snuck bites here and there when no one would notice the floating chopsticks.

Laughter was present through the entire meal, smiles never leaving your faces as you got to spend some stress free time with Aether, unfortunately, right before disaster.

You wondered how that would go. Of course you knew the path of the original story, but with it being tomorrow, a kind of anxious excitement bubbled within you. Seeing it in person will be so much more than seeing it behind a screen (that had glitches because your wifi wasn't that good so you had to look the cutscene up on YouTube later) and you couldn't wait for thar moment to come.

-

With Aether going to find a good hotel within the harbor, so you didn't have to walk to and from Wangshu Inn everyday, you wandered the now dimming streets with Ariel beside you.

"Do you really think you'll find someone adept in dream analysis? It doesn't seem like a profitable business in Liyue." Ariel mused as the shadows curled around your feet.

"Maybe, that's why we're looking." Your eyes grazed over the signs in the windows of the many shops lining the streets. "Liyue is a trading and business hub, there's a good chance there's one of everything here."

"Alright."

The two of you walked for a little while longer until a small corner caught your eye. The outside wasn't particularly excitable, nothing like in Gremlins that makes it look mystical or intriguing, but it did have a wide sign leaning against the window with neat scrawl. It said exactly what you were looking for, and you pushed the convenient suspicion from your mind as you pushed the door open, motioning for Ariel to stay outside.

A little jingle caught your ear as you raked your eyes over the small space. Similar to the outside, it was nothing too interesting, even bordering on clinical with its whites and silvers than the typical warm reds and browns that surrounded the harbor. The white walls and wooden floors were the basis for the white couches with silver gems in the back cushions that lined the outside of the space, the middle having a long glass table held up by curling silver legs.

It was surprisingly modern, something you'd have expected to see in a magazine showcasing a celebrity's soulless living room, but even this still had some more personality. In great contrast, paintings that you could only guess were Liyuen myths hung from all four walls, a small one even decorating a door on the opposite side of where you were standing that most likely led to a back room.

Caught in your thoughts and intrigue of the beautiful artworks, you didn't notice when a young woman emerged from that supposed back room.

"Can I help you?" The smooth and professional tone jerked you from your thoughts and you whipped around to see a gorgeous woman.

Her dark russet hair was pulled in an updo, revealing the plain beauty of her face. Enviously unblemished tanned skin and dark, almond eyes accented with thin eyeliner and red eyeshadow complimented her red and gold qipao dress. Her hands were cupped in front of her and an easy smile was on her painted lips.

"Uh yeah." You cursed internally at your stutter. "You do dream analysis right?"

"That is what the sign says." Her eyes held a strange sort of amusement, like she was enjoying watching you stumble.

"Yeah I know I'm sorry I just-" you took a deep breath. "I apologize for coming in so late, but I was wondering if I could have some advice."

"Well," she started, her sharpened nails that looked more like claws, traced the veins of her own hand in a weirdly exploratory manner. "You can pay for it. I'm afraid I can't just give it to you."

You scrambled for your mora bag tucked safely away in the side bag you had bought from Mrs. Blanchard. "Ah," you thought as you shook out some coins. "How much?"

She looked at the little pile in your hands,  contemplative, before nodding and holding out her own hands. "That'll do nicely."

You handed her the mora and she placed it in a delicate stack on the glass table. Her nail tapped the top coin before she pulled away and locked her eyes on you once more. Swallowing the nerves that had suddenly lit your being, you held your hand out.

"I'm [Y/n] by the way. It's nice to meet you and thank you for your help."

She stared at your hand for so long you were about to awkwardly pull it back to your side, but she slid her soft fingers to your palm and gave a firm grip, one shake before she pulled away, that same smile on her face.

"I'm Jinfeng. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She motion towards the white couches with the silver gems. "Why don't we sit down and we can talk?"

"Sounds great." You plopped down into one of the couches and she gently sat across from you, every move of her body seemingly calculated and unnervingly steady.

She crossed her ankles and rested her hands in her lap, back straight and a more serious expression took on her face. "What is the dream that worries you so?"

You were about to spill, but hesitated. "Can I first ask that this stays between us?"

She waved her hand. "Of course. Like any professional I never reveal a client's information, especially information so personal."

You relaxed a little at her words and began to explain your dream. Nothing in detail, just that you had been in a void and seen the dead bodies of people you cared about and people you had yet to meet.

"You said you had yet to meet some of them?" Her slim fingers had traveled to play with her lip, never smudging the red tint to them.

"Yeah." Thinking back to the dream multiple times had you realizing something. Despite seeing the bodies of all the people you currently cared about, and ones you had yet to meet but recognized from the game, you also noticed many other bodies with just as intricate details and damage, even though you had no idea who they were. The fact worried you and it was partially why your anxiety was spiking, causing you to seek this analysis in the first place.

"That's rather strange. The mind cannot create new faces, it is concerning that you were able to have such a vivid dream of people you're sure you have not encountered." Her hands rested in her lap once more, giving her lips a break from the soft picking. "Have you considered visions?"

"I… have not, no."

"Hm." She picked up a mora coin and flipped it between her fingers. "In any other situation I'd have said it's a dream caused by stress. Stress induced nightmares commonly have violent and vivid imagery, and I'd be unsurprised if that was the case given the recent issues in Mondstadt."

"Mondstadt?" You asked, confusion littering your tone.

Jinfeng cocked her eyebrow. "You are from there no? I recognize the craftswoman of your bag. I've been a buyer of Mrs. Odette Blanchard for many years." She gestured to her qipao. "In fact, she made me this beloved outfit. Give her some measurements and a design and she can do anything."

"Really?" You leaned forward. "I haven't been able to buy any custom stuff as of yet, but is she really that good?"

"Oh yes." She nodded. "Quite the talented woman. In her youth I believe she even welded to make custom jewelry pieces. Unfortunately I find her old age has stopped her from doing so."

"Oh."

"But enough about that!" Jinfeng waved her hand in that dismissive manner once more. "The disruptions caused by one of Mondstadt's four winds would cause anybody large amounts of stress or even trauma given how severe the damage may be to the psyche. Factors such as age and experience must be taken into account to determine the levels of stress, but since you're young I doubt it didn't affect you. However the presence of people you've never met means this dream could have deeper reason, leading to my conclusion of it being a vision rather than a dream. And it was specific people, yes? Not just a void of dead bodies but people who do and could hold some importance to you?"

"I think so." You stumbled out after the long-winded explanation.

"Alright then." She stood, motioning for you to stay seated when you went to follow her. She disappeared into the back room and came back with a book. "The bookstores around Liyue mainly consist of legends and history, a few heroic tales here and there, but the authentic works of vision and dream analysis are hard to come by."

She set the book on the table. It was thin and weary, the age telling through the broken spine and fraying cover. Neat font spelled the simple title of "Dreams and Visions: Symbolism and Warnings" in simple gold lettering.

"I can lend you this book to study the objects, people, places, or signs you might need to look out for. Come back in a week when you're finished with it, and do try not to damage it. Understanding the parts of your dreams will help you know whether they are nonsense or a warning."

You muttered a 'thank you', soon leaving the shop with the tired book between your hands and Ariel waiting with an anxious look in his eyes. You hurried him along to the place you told Aether to meet you back at when he had found a good place to rest, prepared to jump into bed.