In the tiny room, only the sound of Lovia's own breathing remained. Once everything quieted down, a strong sense of unreality enveloped her.
Was she really leaving this place? Leaving this "home" she had lived in alone for so long and built up piece by piece with her own hands, to head for a Fontaine she had only seen in games but which had now inexplicably become real?
Her gaze slowly swept across the familiar sights in the room: the light blue walls, the wooden bed covered with thick fabric, the shells drying on the windowsill, and that bookshelf packed to the brim... every corner bore the traces of her life, carrying memories from her initial fear and unease to gradually learning how to live on her own.
Beside the excitement and anticipation, a heavy sense of reluctance welled up in her heart.
This place, after all, was what gave her her first shelter.
But she also knew that with her father's call and Neuvillette's appearance, all of these were pointing her toward a broader future that was better suited for her.
She had to move forward.
"Time to start preparing..." Lovia whispered to herself, trying to cheer herself up.
The first thing she had to handle was her only job in Liyue that could be considered a "career."
Writing.
Walking to the large bookshelf piled with books and papers, her gaze fell on the organized booklets and the manuscripts she hadn't had time to publish.
Those were the booklets she had published at Sanyu Bookstore (Why booklets? Because the original manuscripts were given to the Bookshop). Although the readership wasn't huge, she had accumulated some fans, and Mr. Lovia couldn't just "disappear" without explanation.
She sat down at the small wooden table, spread out a clean sheet of stationery, and picked up that Liyue water pen that had accompanied her for a long time.
The tip of the pen hovered over the paper as she frowned slightly.
Fontaine... does it have a postal service?
Lovia tried hard to recall the details from the game. Fontaine's technology was quite advanced; Liyue had a postal service, so Fontaine probably did too.
But international mail...? There should be some, right?
She took a deep breath and began to write:
[To Mr. Sun Sanyu:]
Greetings.
Since I began collaborating with your Bookshop, I have been deeply grateful for your patronage and the care you have shown me.
Due to my father's circumstances, I will soon be departing for Fontaine, and my return date is uncertain. This matter arose suddenly and the decision was made in haste; I feel deeply apologetic for not being able to inform you in advance.
However, writing is my heart's passion, and I will certainly not give it up easily just because I am in a different land. Although Liyue and Fontaine are separated by vast oceans, since there are ships that travel between them, there must also be postal routes.
Regarding our collaboration, I wonder if the Bookshop is willing to continue this relationship?
Lovia can continue to create in Fontaine and send subsequent manuscripts to the Bookshop via mail. Although the distance is great and the delivery cycle may be long, and the settlement of royalties will need to be renegotiated, I will strictly abide by our agreement and do my best to maintain the quality and supply of the manuscripts.
This journey is truly a major turning point in my life. Although the road ahead is full of unknowns, there is no lack of anticipation.
I sincerely hope that you can understand Lovia's situation and consider this request for international collaboration.
If there is a reply, you may temporarily send it to this address...]
Writing to this point, Lovia paused, her face feeling a bit hot.
Where should it be sent? She didn't have a place to stay in Fontaine yet. To the Opera Epiclese? Would Neuvillette help?
Sigh, I'll ask him the next time we meet.
She shook her head, crossed out the previous words, and continued writing.
[If there is a reply, you may temporarily send it to this address. (Crossed out)]
Because of my hasty departure, my specific residence in Fontaine has not yet been settled. Once I arrive in Fontaine and am properly settled, Lovia will write another letter to inform you of the new contact address.
At that time, if you have made a decision, your reply can be sent according to the new address.
I apologize for the trouble this roundabout process may cause and hope for your understanding.
Writing is a sustenance for the soul, and it is also an inseparable bond between Lovia, Liyue, and the readers of the Bookshop.
No matter where I am, my original intention remains unchanged.
Respectfully, Lovia]
After finishing the letter, Lovia carefully folded the stationery and placed it into a waterproof envelope, sealing it. She planned to deliver it to the Bookshop as soon as she had the chance.
After handling the Bookshop's affairs, the next step was packing her luggage.
She stood up and looked around her tiny home, for a moment not knowing where to start.
What should she take?
Her gaze first fell on the velvet cloth properly placed on the top of the bookshelf, and the pure ice crystal in the center of the cloth that emitted a faint chill, as well as the wooden round sparrow next to it.
The pure ice crystal was a gift Shenhe gave her; as for whether it was a thank-you or an apology, she didn't want to overthink it, otherwise she would recall that embarrassing scene from before. The wooden round sparrow was a gift Tartaglia gave her; he didn't seem to have any ill will toward children, so this was also a gift.
She definitely had to take these two.
Next, she looked at the bed.
Liyue bedding might not be useful in Fontaine, but she was a bit reluctant to leave those specially selected thick and soft fabrics (she had gone to great lengths to find a color and texture she was satisfied with back then).
If these were folded up, they shouldn't take up too much space, right?
Her gaze moved to the small hangings on the wall, the small flowers on the windowsill, the small basket by the bedside containing shells and a talisman, as well as the dried Qingxin and the cute wooden round sparrow... these were all the little bits of beauty she had collected in Liyue. She couldn't take everything, so she would choose the most meaningful ones.
Finally, her gaze fixed on that huge bookshelf.
Inside were the Liyue Customs and Traditions and folk tales she had collected, all her writing outlines, inspirations, unpublished manuscripts, and that book... "Moon Shadow Mystery."
Books were the heaviest and hardest things to part with.
She wanted to take them all, but that was impossible; they were too heavy.
She didn't want to trouble Neuvillette too much.
After agonizing for a long time, Lovia finally decided: she would only take the most important writing manuscripts, inspirations, and outlines, as well as a few Liyue ancient texts she had read repeatedly and cherished most.
The other books she could only painfully leave behind.
Maybe... she could give them to someone in need?
The process of thinking was trivial and long; every time she decided to give up an item, it felt like saying goodbye to a memory.
A faint sorrow of departure filled the air.
During the process of organizing, the figures of Xiangling, Guoba, Yaoyao, Xingqiu... and others constantly appeared in her mind.
The Qingxin Yaoyao sent her had been dried by her and still emitted a lingering fragrance. When Guoba grabbed her tail to play, the furry and warm touch, just like her own tail, seemed to remain. Because her tail was particularly sensitive, she found it extremely ticklish.
And Xingqiu... she really was a bit reluctant to leave them.
Although they weren't deeply acquainted (Xiangling: I'll beat you up!), they had brought her kindness and warmth without any ulterior motives.
"I have to go and say goodbye to them..." Lovia murmured to herself.
When she delivered the letter to the Bookshop, she could stop by the Feiyun Commerce Guild to see if Xingqiu was home.
Yaoyao and Qiqi... which field did they usually play in? Maybe she could go near Qingce Village to try her luck?
Xiangling was the easiest to find; she just had to go to Wanmin Restaurant.
At the thought of taking the initiative to find people and say goodbye in person, her social anxiety instinct made her scalp tingle and her heart race.
But she didn't want to leave silently like this.
Neuvillette had given her the courage to face change, and she also wanted to pluck up the courage to put a proper period on her survival journey in Teyvat's Liyue.
However, since she was leaving, should she secretly go to WangSheng Funeral Parlor to take a look at that Liyue street wanderer? It should be fine, and she could also say hello to Hu Tao; she quite liked Hu Tao.
Besides, when she ran into Hu Tao before, she had kindly offered to help her. She should find a time to visit!
But wait, dragon of all has come to Liyue, so why hasn't that Liyue Dragon King made any move? Surely they haven't already finished their dance battle, have they?
Or have they already had a fight?
Images of two little dragons dancing suddenly popped into Lovia's head, accompanied by some kind of brainwashing BGM.
How terrifying!
Lovia quickly shook her head, hoping to shake the image away.
Just like that, while organizing and let her mind wander (crossed out) listing plans in her head, Lovia soon had part of her luggage packed.
In the middle of packing, she inadvertently looked out the window and seemed to see a familiar blue hem of a garment flash by behind a distant reef, but when she looked closer, there was nothing.
"It's probably just the shadow of a seabird flying past," she said to herself, not paying it much mind.
A few hours later, Lovia looked at the small pile of luggage she had initially organized on the floor, then looked at the sunset gradually sinking in the west, and took a deep breath.
Good luck, little Lovia, go go go!
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