[ Zhongli reaches up to pluck one such pink petal from Ajax's hair, rolling it between his fingertips before letting it go and take flight on the wind. Ajax looked so much younger like this, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the shrine of his people rather than tucked away in the dark forgotten crumbling ruins of long past. Those nagging questions start tugging at his mind again— why did Ajax live so far away from the others, even considering how his kind had been treated. Surely here, of all places, under the watchful eye of the Guuji, he would be safe.

But, ah, that does not really matter now. Because now Ajax was safe with Zhongli. ]

I did. Thank you for indulging me. I have not seen Lady Yae in over 500 years, so we both had a lot to catch up on.

[ Zhongli leans forward, tapping the wooden plaque held in Ajax's hand. The fact the one side still remains unblemished does not escape his attention. ]

Are you going to make a wish?