The thrill of their flight lingered long after they had landed. The two hoverboards, sleek and silent, were stored away in a secure corner of the house, a secret, magical treasure known only to their family. Life in the Harbor settled back into its familiar, comfortable rhythm, but everything felt different, imbued with the secret knowledge of the sky they now possessed.
One quiet evening, several days after their return, Ren and Ganyu were sitting on the veranda, watching the moon cast a silver, ethereal glow over the Glaze Lilies in their garden. The gentle warmth of the heater inside contrasted with the cool, crisp night air. It was a perfect, peaceful moment.
Ganyu let out a soft, contented sigh. "I still can't believe it," she said, her voice a soft murmur in the quiet night. "Flying. Truly flying. It's the most wonderful feeling in the world." She looked at Ren, her amethyst eyes full of a deep, profound admiration. "Your mind is a constant source of wonders, little brother. The hoverboard… it could change everything. The way merchants travel, the way the Millelith patrol… have you thought about showing the blueprint to Lady Ningguang?"
Ren was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the moon. He had, of course, thought about it. The engineer in him, the part that loved to solve problems and improve systems, was eager to see his creation benefit the world. But another, more cautious part of him held back.
"Not yet," he said finally, his voice thoughtful. "I don't think we should reveal it. Not for a while, at least."
Ganyu looked at him, surprised. "Why not? It's a brilliant invention. It would help so many people."
"Because it's only half of the idea," Ren explained, turning to look at her, his glowing azure eyes serious. "The hoverboard is amazing for one person, but it's… a novelty. A luxury, really. The real dream, the thing that could actually change the world, is the hovercar. A way for families to travel together, for large amounts of goods to be transported through the air. A true replacement for the slow, earth-bound caravans."
He leaned back, his expression contemplative. "The hovercar… that's Master Xianyun's real interest. It's a far greater challenge, a true test of her skills and our combined knowledge. She was so excited by the possibility. It's her project, in a way. Her next great work."
He looked at his sister, his logic clear and full of a surprising, mature consideration for his Master's ambitions. "The propulsion system we created for the hoverboard is the key to everything. It's the secret. If we reveal the hoverboard for manufacturing now, that secret is out. Everyone will know how it works. And… I just feel like that isn't my secret to give away."
He paused, trying to put his complex feelings into words. "Master Xianyun has given me a home, her knowledge, her protection. This… this feels like the first thing I can give back to her. A project that is just for us, for now. A secret to work on together. If she decides later that she wants to share the technology, then that's her choice. But until the hovercar is ready, until her part of the dream is complete… I think the hoverboard should just be ours."
Ganyu listened, her heart swelling with a new wave of love and pride. He wasn't just a genius inventor; he was a thoughtful, loyal, and deeply considerate person. He was thinking not of the fame or the potential profit his invention could bring, but of the promise he had made to his Master, of the shared joy of a secret project. He was honoring the partnership and the trust that Xianyun had placed in him.
She reached out and gently took his small hand in hers, her touch full of a deep, profound understanding. "I see," she said, her voice a soft, proud whisper. "You are absolutely right."
She squeezed his hand, a silent, unbreakable promise passing between them. "Then it will be our secret," she declared. "Just for us. Just for our family."
They sat together in the quiet, moonlit garden, the secret of flight hovering silently in the air around them. It was a bond, a special piece of magic that belonged only to them, a promise kept between the silver light of the moon and the sweet, fragrant scent of the lilies.