Gaming held up the Suanni and began dancing to the beat of the drums.
Countless lanterns lit up across the surface of the sea, rising one after another in time with his movements. The drumbeats grew more spirited, and his steps became faster and faster.
"But... how is he standing on the sea?" Paimon asked with a frown. "Can he fly too?"
"People these days still can't fly, right?" Guizhong blinked, looking puzzled.
"That, of course, is my doing," Xianyun said proudly to everyone. "I made it possible for Gaming to stand on the water! This way, his father can have a proper look at just how much his child has grown."
Guizhong watched Gaming's performance on the water, blinked, and sighed in wonder. "Now that you mention it, I've never seen a performance like this before! It's so lively. Is this a new kind of performance in Liyue?"
Ping explained, "Yes. This is Wushou Dance, a style of performance that has only recently begun to rise in Liyue. It is not yet widespread, but quite a few people have already come to watch it. And this child named Gaming is especially skilled."
Watching it all, Guizhong said with emotion, "Liyue today really is wonderful."
"Yes. Liyue today truly is wonderful," Xianyun said with a nod from the side. "If only this beauty could last for a long, long time."
Although Xianyun kept suffering setbacks whenever she dealt with Lora, she was no ordinary person. From the atmosphere and attitudes among these gods, she could also sense many things.
Perhaps the future of Teyvat would not be peaceful.
As Gaming climbed higher with the Suanni raised above him, lanterns stacked one after another, forming a unique picture over the waters of Liyue Harbor.
When the final drumbeat fell, countless fireworks rose into the sky and burst into dazzling flowers.
"Everyone, happy Lantern Rite," Zhongli said softly to those around him as he looked up at the sky full of fireworks.
"Happy Lantern Rite," Guizhong said, the colors of the fireworks reflected in her eyes.
After Gaming's performance ended, the Ministry of Civil Affairs began organizing the kite competition.
All the contestants took out their kites, and Sophia's group was no exception.
Looking at the enormous kite in the shape of Irminsul held by Sophia and Nahida, Lora said in surprise, "It's huge! Can you really get something that big into the air?"
"Now you're underestimating the wisdom of the Goddesses of Wisdom!" Sophia wagged a finger at Lora.
Lora clicked her tongue, then said to Furina, "Furina, come on, take out our kite!"
"Um..." Furina looked at the very confident Lora and whispered, "I couldn't buy one."
"Huh?"
Lora froze for a moment and stared blankly at her.
"Why?"
"They were all sold out!" Furina was helpless too. If there had been any way to buy a kite in Liyue Harbor, would she have gone and asked Nahida whether they were selling theirs?
Sophia held back her laughter, patted Lora on the shoulder, and said, "My condolences, Lora. Looks like the prize is ours!"
"Not necessarily!" Zhongyue stood to the side with her hands on her hips. She waved behind her, and Apep revealed a kite even larger than Sophia's Irminsul kite.
No.
Two kites.
One was modeled after Apep's true form, and the other after Zhongyue's.
"How about that? Our kites are giants!" Zhongyue looked proudly at everyone.
Guizhong walked around the kite shaped like Zhongyue's true form, then said to her, "Azhdaha, the you on this kite is too thin. You should be a little rounder!"
Zhongyue: "..."
The others also took out their kites one after another.
Lumine and Paimon had made a kite in Paimon's likeness. It was not very big, but it looked ridiculous enough.
Sophia and Nahida carried their kite past Lora. Sophia pretended to say casually, "Oh my, Nahida, who do you think won't even get a chance to win a prize? It couldn't be a certain someone, could it?"
Nahida blinked and glanced at Lora.
Lora looked at Sophia and said, "You can just say it plainly, Sophia!"
Sophia turned to look at her, then stepped forward with a smile and rubbed her head. "Be good. I'll go win a prize and bring it back!"
"For me?" Lora asked.
Sophia shook her head, pointed at Nahida, and said, "No. For my daughter."
Lora: "..."
It was probably too late to start calling her Mom now.
The kite competition began.
Everyone took their positions, while those without kites stood nearby and watched all kinds of kites fly into the sky.
Beleth, who had not been particularly interested and did not know what to do, spotted Tartaglia among the crowd of kite flyers.
She immediately froze in place, her expression complicated beyond words.
"Hey, that's Tartaglia." Lora deliberately poked Beleth on the shoulder and reminded her, "Look, look. The direction I'm pointing. That's him. He's even running with his kite..."
"I can see him," Beleth said helplessly, closing her eyes.
"Really? But your eyes are closed. How can you see him?" Lora looked at her closed-eyed expression and continued.
Beleth: "..."
"Hey, hey, look. Tartaglia is really getting into it," Lora kept saying to Beleth.
"...Lora! Is something wrong with you?" Finally, Beleth could not take it anymore. She opened her eyes, looked at Lora, and snapped.
"I'm fine! I was just giving you a reminder! What did I do wrong?" Lora protested. "What right do you have to say something like that? Are all you Snezhnayans this rude?"
Beleth: "..."
Who exactly was being rude here?
Beleth felt as if the dignity and restraint she had cultivated over the past five hundred years were being worn down by Lora bit by bit.
Her behavior just now had already been a serious lapse in composure.
For the Empress of Snezhnaya to ask someone if something was wrong with them was practically unthinkable.
And yet Lora had managed it.
She had made the Empress of Snezhnaya snap.
"You really are extraordinary, Lora." Guizhong gave Lora a thumbs-up from the side.
She had never met Lora before and had only heard Venti speak about her before coming here. Now that she had seen her in person, it truly was better than hearing a hundred stories.
So this was what the legendary Hydro Archon Egeria was like.
In Guizhong's view, these were the final survivors of the Archon War.
Yes, Guizhong did not think The Seven were the victors of the Archon War.
They were merely survivors.
And these members of The Seven truly were all different, each with their own distinct personality.