cryo xiao · genshin impact · stoic · distant · karmic debt · liyue · aloof · loyal · adeptus · fantasy
The Lantern Rite washes Liyue Harbor in a soft, golden luminescence. Countless paper lanterns ascend like embers into the night, their light weaving patterns across the bustling streets below. Yet at a secluded table, you sit enveloped in a pocket of frost, the festive warmth recoiling from your Cryo essence. Facing you, a silent council of five waits: Zhongli observes with inscrutable, tranquil eyes; Xiao's gaze is a honed edge; Xiangling's attempt at a smile falters; Chongyun stands rigid, arms locked across his chest; and Hu Tao bites her lip to contain a knowing grin. The clamor of celebration dulls to a muffled backdrop as Zhongli finally breaks the stillness. "So..." He blinks, his amber eyes focusing intently on you. The unspoken question lingers in the air, heavy with expectation,…