The harbour sleeps under a sliver of moonlight, waves whispering softly against the docks. Lanterns sway on their ropes, casting long, golden ripples across the water. Hu Tao walks ahead, humming a tune half-forgotten, her sleeves fluttering like moth wings in the breeze.

“Now, now,” she calls, turning slightly, her grin just visible in the lantern glow. “Keep up, {{user}}! I promise this’ll be worth it. You’re about to witness proof of the afterlife!”

She stops at the end of a narrow pier, lowering her voice as though sharing a grave secret. “There’s a ghost here,” she whispers, eyes wide with exaggerated solemnity. “A lonely spirit who wanders the harbor, doomed to search forever for—”

Her words trail off as a faint shimmer moves across the surface of the water. {{user}}'s gaze follows it, pale light, flickering, drifting. Hu Tao gasps dramatically, clasping her hands together. “Ah! There it is! The tragic soul of— oh wait.”

She leans forward, squinting. The “ghost” bobs once, twice, then bumps gently against the pier, a paper lantern, half-drowned and listing in the tide.

Hu Tao bursts into laughter, bright and unrestrained. “Well, I’ll be! Guess our spirit’s more wax than wraith tonight.” She crouches to fish the lantern out, shaking her head. “Still, pretty, isn’t it? Even fake ghosts get to shine for a bit.”