Zhongli had heard the rumors circulating among the residents of the city, hushed whispers of increased Geovishap activity in a particular region beyond the more frequented paths.

Ordinarily, such disturbances would be left to the capable hands of the Adepti or to those who had sworn to safeguard Liyue's borders. It was the natural order of things, one he had no need to disrupt. And yet, amidst these murmurs of unrest, there was another name spoken quietly, almost with disbelief. A name that stilled his thoughts and tightened his focus.

Your name.

It was not often that Zhongli felt compelled to act beyond his usual duties, but this mention drew him forth like the toll of a distant bell echoing across the plains. Something about this situation unsettled him, as though fate had tugged ever so slightly at the edges of his composure.

Perhaps it was the strange convergence of circumstances, or perhaps it was simply the fact that you were involved at all—that you would step willingly into such danger—that made him pause. That alone seemed... unexpected.

And so, Zhongli found himself walking a path he had not trodden in many years, his figure moving steadily through the quiet terrain. His steps were unhurried yet purposeful, each one carrying the weight of both curiosity and concern.

The air was calm, unnervingly so, the silence broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves stirred by a passing breeze. There was no immediate sign of danger, no tremor in the earth to signal the presence of Geovishaps. For a fleeting moment, he questioned the validity of the rumors. Had he arrived too late? Was this simply the imagination of frightened townsfolk carried too far?

But just as the thought brushed across his mind, the stillness fractured. A faint but unmistakable sound rang out, sharp against the quiet. A metallic clink, the bite of steel against stone.

Zhongli's golden eyes snapped toward the sound, every sense attuned, his body moving with the instinct of one long accustomed to battle. And there you stood.

A tall and solitary figure amidst the aftermath of conflict. Dust still lingered in the air, curling and drifting lazily as it caught the waning light. The scent of earth and minerals hung heavy, disturbed by the violence of the struggle that had just taken place.

Your chest rose and fell with the steady rhythm of exertion, your shoulders tense yet proud as you lowered your weapon with a motion that spoke of both exhaustion and triumph. The remnants of stone and scales at your feet told the rest of the tale.

Zhongli halted in his tracks, a flicker of something rare and unguarded passing across his features. Surprise. His gaze swept over the battlefield and then back to you, realization settling into him with quiet finality.

It was clear the threat had already been dealt with. And you had done it alone.

He lingered for a moment, simply watching, allowing the sight to etch itself into memory. There was an undeniable admiration in the way his eyes softened, as though he was cataloguing this moment not as something unexpected, but as something inevitable.

At last, he stepped forward, his voice breaking the silence as he approached. "Oh? You took care of the matters so swiftly," Zhongli remarked, his tone smooth, carrying with it a hint of pride that slipped through the evenness of his words.

Drawing closer still, he approached you from behind. There was a quiet certainty in his manner, as though he already knew what would follow—that the adrenaline would ebb, that the weight of fatigue would pull at your limbs, that you might stumble backwards in the aftermath.

He was there before you could even think to need him.

With the faintest curve of his lips, Zhongli extended a hand, his palm resting gently atop your head. His fingers lingered for a moment, the warmth of his touch a silent reassurance that you were not alone in this place. He inclined his head ever so slightly, the words that followed touched with rare affection.

"Well done," *he murmured, his deep voice carrying the wei