genshin impact one shots

chess: beidou x ningguang

It was the fourth month of the reconstruction of the Jade Chamber when Beidou had announced that she would be leaving Liyue to travel the seas of Teyvat. Of course, this was not surprising news, as her fleet had always traveled to new nations, but this time, Beidou made it clear that she did not want to return to Liyue after her departure. Her primary reason was unknown, but many people speculated that something had possibly happened between her and Ningguang; perhaps it were finally time for Beidou to be banished from Liyue for her meddles in trade relations between the geo nation and Inazuma.

It seemed as though Ningguang was much too busy to deal with most of Beidou's seemingly trivial affairs. A pirate was of no use to her when it came to supervising Liyue, and it was of no use to be informed of her matters when Ningguang had more important things to attend to. Yet when her subordinates told her of Beidou's plan to leave Liyue possibly forever, Ningguang sent her a letter, asking her to meet her the night before her departure underneath the sandbearer tree upon the cliff overlooking Liyue where they would play chess.

But Beidou never sent a letter back.

Ningguang still spent hours under the tree, moving the black chess pieces on her side and patiently waiting for Beidou to appear. Every slight rustle from the leaves would make her turn, expecting to see Beidou, but every time she did, it was a lizard or some other small animal running past.

It became darker and darker, and the hours passed by slowly. It was two hours before the sun rose again when Ningguang checked her watch. She sighed, staring out towards the yellow lights that illuminated Liyue.

There was another rustle in the grass, but this time Ningguang did not turn to look.

"I thought you would have left by now."

The voice was familiar.

"Are we going to play chess?"

Beidou.

Ningguang shifted her body towards the other woman, smiling, "Take a seat, then."

"I'm sorry I made you wait this long. I didn't know if it was actually you that wanted to see me or one of your workers." She began to arrange the white pieces.

"Would one of my subordinates want to play chess with you?"

"I suppose not." Beidou moved one of the pawns, and in retaliation, so did Ningguang.

The game continued in silence for a few minutes until Ningguang asked, "Are you really leaving Liyue Harbor forever?"

"Is this your plan to distract me from winning the chess game?"

She moved another piece. "It's a genuine question."

"I think," She moved her rook towards the center to put the king in check, "everything would be a lot easier if I did."

Ningguang used a pawn to block the check. "What made you want to leave?"

"Would you like me to be honest? Or would you like me to say something that is easier to hear?"

"I always prefer honesty." She moved her bishop, opening a space towards her king. "Would anything genuinely hurt me?"

"I don't know."

"So then," She moved her queen up the board, "Tell me why you'd like to leave Liyue forever."

"You." Ningguang's king was in check once again.

Silence filled the space again, except for the slight whisper of the breeze.

Ningguang moved her queen, putting Beidou's king in check and blocking her own queen from the check. "If leaving Liyue is what will make you happiest, I have nothing to do except for supporting your decision."