璃月港的夜，总是带着几分特有的宁静与神秘。当最后一抹晚霞隐没在地平线，浩瀚的星河便如同被打翻的碎钻，洒满了墨蓝色的天幕。今夜，在这万家灯火阑theofthecity,adifferentkindofluminescencewasbrewing,asoft,etherealglowthatseemedtoemanatefromtheveryheartoftheJadeChamber.Itwashere,amidstthesilkendrapesandthescentofrareincense,thattheseven-starexecutive,Ganyu,foundherselfinasituationfarremovedfromherusualcomposeddemeanor.
Theoccasionwasararemomentofrespite,agatheringofcloseconfidantestocelebrateaminorvictoryininter-speciesdiplomacy.Normally,Ganyuwouldhavebeenthepictureofdecorum,hereveryactionprecise,herwordsmeasured.Buttonight,aparticularvintageofQingceVillage’sfinestricewinehadbeenoffered,abrewwhisperedtopossessapeculiarcharm,capableoflooseningeventhemosttightlywoundhearts.Anditseemed,tonight,ithadfounditstarget.
Herfirstfewsipsweretentative,apoliteacknowledgementofthehost’sgenerosity.Butastheeveningworeon,andtheconversationflowedasfreelyasthewine,Ganyufoundherselfdrawnintoitsgentleembrace.Thesharpedgesofherresponsibilitiesbegantoblur,theweightofmillenniaofdutyfeltalittlelighter.Asoftwarmthbloomedinherchest,spreadingoutwardslikeripplesonastillpond.Herusuallysharp,observanteyesbegantosoften,takingonahazy,dreamlikequality.Themeticulouslyarrangedhair,usuallyatestamenttoherdisciplinednature,nowseemedtopossessalifeofitsown,afewerrantstrandsframingherdelicatefeatures.
Asmile,tentativeatfirst,thengrowingmoreconfident,gracedherlips.Itwasasmilerarelyseenbythoseoutsidehermostintimatecircle,asmilethatheldauniverseofgentleamusementandatouchofshyvulnerability.Theusualstoicexpressionthatguardedheremotionsbegantomeltaway,revealingasweetnessthatwasalmostdisarming.Shefoundherselflaughing,asoft,melodicsoundthatwasmorelikethechimeofwindbellsthanherusualreservedtone.Shespokeofsmallthings,ofthebloomingofaparticularrareflowerintheDihuaMarsh,oftheanticsofamischievousQilincubshe’donceencountered,ofthesimplejoyofwatchingthecloudsdriftby.
Hermovementsbecamelessrigid,morefluid.Sheleanedbackinherornatechair,herposturerelaxed,almostlanguid.Thedelicate,almostinvisiblehornsthatcrownedherheadseemedtogleamunderthesoftlamplight,theirusualausterepresencenowsoftenedbytherosyblushonhercheeks.Hertail,anappendagesheusuallykeptwithutmostcontrol,nowswayedgently,anunconsciousexpressionofherunfoldingemotions.Therewasacaptivatinginnocenceinherposture,adisarmingunguardednessthatmadethosearoundherfeelasenseofprofoundprivilege,asiftheywerewitnessingarareandsacredmoment.
Theairaroundherseemedtothickenwithanunspokenenchantment,asubtlemagicthattranscendedthemereeffectsofalcohol.Itwasasiftheveryessenceofherbeing,thegentle,nurturingspiritthatdrovehertoservetheQixing,wasbeingamplified,broughttotheforefrontinitspurest,mostunadulteratedform.Thesharp,intelligentgaze,soadeptatdissectingcomplexmattersofstate,wasnowfilledwithagentlecuriosity,observingtheworldwithawonderthatbelongedtoamuchyoungersoul.
Shespokeofdreams,notofgrandvisionsforLiyue,butofsimple,personalaspirations.Dreamsofwalkingthroughafieldofmoonlitdandelions,ofhearingthegentlemurmurofahiddenspring,ofsharingaquietmomentwithabelovedfriendunderacanopyofstars.Thesewerenotthepronouncementsofapowerfulexecutive,butthetenderwishesofaheartyearningforpeaceandconnection.Theusualgravitasthatsurroundedherlikeaninvisiblecloakhaddissipated,replacedbyanauraofapproachablewarmth.Itwasasifthewinehadnotonlyloosenedherinhibitionsbuthadalsounlockedahiddenchamberwithinher,revealingatender,almostfragilesidethatshesocarefullyconcealed.ThiswasGanyu,notastheunwaveringpillarofLiyue,butasabeingofpure,unadulteratedgrace,touchedbythegentlemagicofthenightandthemellowinginfluenceofthenectarshehadconsumed.Themoon,asilentwitness,seemedtocastasofter,morebenevolentlightuponher,asifacknowledgingthisrareandbeautifulunveiling.
AsGanyu’sintoxicationdeepened,thewallsshehadmeticulouslybuiltaroundherheartbegantocrumble,notwithadramaticcrash,butwithagentle,almostimperceptibleyielding.Thewordsthatflowedfromherwerenolongermereobservationsorpoliteinquiries,butratherastreamofconsciousness,alyricaloutpouringofthoughtsandfeelingsthathadlongbeenheldincheck.Hervoice,usuallyclearandprecise,nowheldaso
