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Liminality

Summary:

Back in the age when the gods still walked upon the earth, the deity whom we now worship as Rex Lapis was but one among many.

 

 

In those days, the rumor among the common folk was that the Lord of Geo was a cold and unfeeling god. His conduct was just in all things and his judgments were rational and dispassionate, but he lacked normal human sentiment. Like the rocks, he was without warmth or softness.

 

Despite this, he has dear friends who have guided him all the way, but no one actually knows about how this unfeeling god met a stranger coming from afar— whose dazzling smiles and captivating stories helped him to understand human sentiment and mortal bonds.
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"There are a hundred of stories pertaining to the life of one Rex Lapis and his incognito excursions in the mortal realm, but no one knows about the story how he met someone with the aura of the moon and stars."

Notes:

This will take 4-5 chapters (?), I guess? I'll also add another additional tags for every chapters I upload.

Enjoy~

Chapter 1: The Meeting of the Minds

Chapter Text

Liminality

by springfieldofcherryblossoms/umi-sen-yama-sen


He has never been captivated, let alone paid attention to a single flower— except for Glaze Lilies.

 

Guizhong, the Goddess of Dust— would often hold up two or three of those flowers and offer them to him. Even though he was perplexed as to why she was giving him delicate flowers out of the blue, he could only nod in gratitude and scrutinize the flowers in silence.

 

Fascinating thing, he mused inwardly. It was always a mystery to him how a mere flower— with such a short life— could be so resplendent. Its appearance, especially in full bloom, never failed to enchant him. Who would have thought that the common sight of its closed bud during daytime is paler in comparison to its glorious petals in full bloom at nighttime?

 

Morax could only bask in the tranquility of the enchanted place as he gazed up at the sky, observing the massive moon staring back at him in silence. It was a habit of his to moon gaze in his favorite spot, with an old large tree and blooming Glaze Lilies to accompany him.

 

But then, his moment of reprieve was cut short the moment his eyes caught a certain object from above. Its plain white color was enough to draw his attention as it fluttered in slow circles in the sky, like a plucked bird feather falling from the heavens as it followed the whims of the wind.

 

Intrigued, he stood up from his lax position. His bare feet padded softly among the soft grasses, while intentionally avoiding not to trample the delicate flowers with every step he took as he moved forward towards his destination.

 

As he patiently waited for the object to descend, he looked up and reached his arm full of ancient marks that almost shone brightly in the dark. When it finally stopped on his large palm, he couldn't help but be curious, and he was even more intrigued when he discovered it was a flower.

 

And a peculiar flower at that.

 

In his entire life, he was certain that he hadn't seen anything like this in Teyvat. Not even the silk and sweet flowers could compare in its strange appearance.

 

So for confirmation and out of curiosity, he looked at the bed of Glaze Lilies around him— looking at the soft pointed petals that almost glowed in the moonlight.

 

He shook his head inwardly. No. Not even close.

 

But, where did this unusual flower even come from?

 

As he marched back to his original position, he sat down under the tree and began to scrutinize the flower like a mad scientist eyeing its specimen from a microscope. 

 

The flower was large enough to fill his palm but not so large as to crowd his hand. The flower, in his opinion, was not too flashy and eye-catching at first. But its unique colors enhanced the flower's simplicity, particularly the bright single color of one petal that differed from the rest.

 

There are five smooth petals. Four of them were ivory in color, with the remaining one resembling the bright blue sky he enjoys seeing during the day.

 

He just realized, after a few moments of scrutiny, that the flower has a closer resemblance to lilies. Was it a lily? Or a new kind of lily species in Teyvat that he was not aware of? He was not certain, but he can only speculate in silence.

 

Maybe he could ask Guizhong, or Cloud Retainer? Perhaps they might have known what kind of flower it is.


When he met them in the usual spot for their pre-arranged gathering, he was not surprised to see a small banquet laid out on the marble table for three people.

 

As usual, they discussed future plans for the thriving region. While it was true that Guizhong and Cloud Retainer did the majority of the talking, he also made an effort to contribute whenever the both of them ran out of ideas.

 

But somehow, he doesn't find himself listening to them chatter. At first, the sound of chatter was a soft background to his ears, until it gradually dimmed out and he could no longer hear their voices anymore.

 

While studiously sipping his fair share of tea, he spotted some colorful flowers sitting innocently on the table. His thoughts flew out once again to the flower that he found two days ago, and he couldn't help but check the flowers to see any resemblance. If there was any at all.

 

"Rex, you seemed preoccupied. Is there something wrong?"

 

He blinked slowly, breaking out of his trance, and responded to the sudden question.

 

"I found a strange flower." He knew he was being vague about mentioning it, but he doesn't feel like elaborating it to his dear friends where he found it— yet. "However, I have no idea what it is."

 

Guizhong leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. It was not a surprise, because he knew how much she adores flowers. "A flower? You haven't seen it across the region?"

 

"I believe I don't."

 

Guizhong's enthusiasm was obvious, that Cloud Retainer could only shake her head in amusement. "Is it possible that it's a new kind of flower that grew here?"

 

He pondered her words for a moment, his brows slightly knitted. Even though he has no idea where the strange flower came from, he doesn't believe it grew in the region.

 

Just how could he tell his two comrades that he saw it fall from the sky? He didn't even hand-pick it from somewhere. It just fell and appeared out of nowhere, and he only catched it because his curiosity won him over.

 

No, the flower doesn't belong in their region. It was unique, definitely foreign, and the flower was different from any flowers in Teyvat.

 

In fact, it was way otherworldly. Of course, only by his standards.

 

He shook his head after a few moments of silence, "I don't think that is possible."

 

"Oh? A foreign kind then?"

 

"...Perhaps." 

 

Cloud Retainer eyed him, her glassy eyes were almost eerie but he paid it no mind. "I am curious; do you have it with you? Would you mind showing us?"

 

Heeding her request without hesitation, he summoned the flower with a flick of his hand. The white flower with the blue petal that he found two days ago was carefully encased by a crystallized orb— perfectly preserved with his Geo element— that the flower within it almost glowed, surrounded by thousands of shimmering glitters. 

 

His friends' gazes were drawn immediately to the orb. Guizhong's delicate features were filled with fascination, while Cloud Retainer looked at it with a mixture of curiosity and mild interest.

 

Morax extended his palm forward as a courtesy, allowing them to see the flower up close and in greater detail.

 

"My insight tells me that this flower does not look like it belongs here," The avian adeptus craned her neck to look at him.

 

"I...think so, too," Guizhong murmured in agreement. Her hand raised up and began to prod the crystallized orb as her eyes drank in the sight of such exotic flower in his possession. She averted her intense gaze and regarded him politely. "Rex, I'm afraid this flower has piqued my interest. I would like to examine it carefully without this protective construct. May I touch it?"

 

Nodding, Morax lowered the defenses of the orb. The flower simply hovered in their eye level and the Goddess of Dust could only stare at it with unbridled delight and fascination. Guizhong brightly gushed at the sight, holding the flower in her dainty palms with care— as if the flora was so delicate that even a little rousing would break it.

 

"It's... beautiful," she touched the smooth petals, "This is exquisite, Rex."

 

Somehow, he seemed out of words for a moment and it took him five seconds to answer back. But he expressed his genuine opinion nonetheless. "It is." 

 

"Do you think we can cultivate this flower in the gardens, Zhenjun-sama? It is pretty, like the Glaze Lilies."

 

Zhenjun, or Cloud Retainer, perked up and agreed with a nod. Guizhong's point of view was unassailable, he thought to himself. After all, the flower was interesting enough, and its unusual aesthetics were enough to catch any eyes. 

 

"I believe so, and even though it is not as close to the native flowers that grow in this area, I think it would be a great addition."

 

The goddess beamed like a little child at her words, nodding enthusiastically as she agreed to her suggestion.

 

"Right? It would be a great addition to the region! I am sure the children would love to see this new kind of flower," she said cheerfully, turning to him. "What are your thoughts, Rex?"

 

He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice Guizhong and Cloud Retainer's worried looks. He couldn't even understand the surge of emotions he was feeling, let alone comprehend the feeling of uneasiness coursing through his body as if he had just eaten a swarm of bees.

 

He couldn't put a finger, or name this irrational desire within him. He doesn't want to indulge them. He doesn't even want them to get close to it, nor let them touch the flower for their own leisure.

 

But why?

 

"Rex? Are you alright? Are you still with us?"

 

Cloud Retainer and Guizhong exchanged glances for a moment when he was still not responsive to the latter's worried prodding. But as fast as his troubled expression appeared on his face earlier, it disappeared instantly when he faced them again with those beseeching, stoic eyes. As if his momentary lapse didn't happen at all, he flicked his wrist once again and the flower in Guizhong's hands was now back to its original place— back to its enclosed crystallized orb.

 

Quite surprised by the (somewhat) cold gesture, the Goddess of Dust could only fold her hands back to her lap which didn't go unnoticed by the adeptus beside her when her dainty hands clenched the silky robes of her person. "Was I being too forward? If so, I deeply apologi—"

 

He shook his head as he stopped her from completing her sentence, "Please don't. I apologize for making the two of you uneasy. I have a lot of things on my mind right now, and I didn't mean to make you both uncomfortable."

 

As if being summoned to get closer to him, the crystallized orb floated back in his personal space. He looked at it for a moment, oblivious to the slight change in his expression that morphed into tenderness, which both Guizhong and Cloud Retainer noticed in less than a few seconds.

 

"I'm quite skeptical if this flower can even grow in the beds of my dominion though."

 

"Now that you mentioned it, it doesn't have any roots. I noticed it was cleanly cut." Guizhong realized, "Are you the one who cut it?"

 

"No, I didn't. I just saw this flower from above and catched it as it fell."

 

"From above?" They both asked, perplexed.

 

Morax almost wanted to join them in their bafflement, but he couldn't, so he only nodded.

 

"That's strange," Guizhong commented.

 

"Indeed," Cloud Retainer agreed.

 

He couldn't flatly deny their claims, because it was indeed strange from anyone's perspective.

 

"Anyway, although the proposition that you both suggested can be beneficial for enhancing floral aesthetics in the region," he bowed his head slightly in reverence, much to the surprise of his allies. "I apologize, but I must decline your brilliant plan; I hope you understand."

 

"You are planning to keep it?" Cloud Retainer asked.

 

With a nod, he replied. "Yes, I am planning to."

 

"Hm," The adeptus hummed, somewhat surprised.

 

Looking at the orb one last time before he sent it back in his secret inventory, he reached out for his forgotten tea and took a sip. "I think it would be a great addition to those Glaze Lilies I have back home," he said almost casually, unaware of Guizhong's soft gasp. "That is why I intend to keep it with them."

 

He was so preoccupied with his thoughts as he sipped his hot beverage with his eyes closed that he did not notice Guizhong's flushed face, fidgeting slightly in her seat with a shy smile adorning her delicate features.

 

"I am glad," Guizhong murmured, and Cloud Retainer could only watch in silence as the Goddess of Dust started to develop feelings for the region's most dense ruler.


Just as what he promised to his comrades, he made sure to care for the unnamed flower, along with the Glaze Lilies that he had kept in his abode. He was still skeptical about the flower's longevity (given that it lacks roots), but if it is like any other flower in Teyvat, he can only guess that it will last at least two weeks before losing its allure.

 

As he slightly twirled the flower by its small stem, he hadn't thought of a good name to bestow yet. But he was not worried if it got delayed for a couple of days.

 

He was far preoccupied with important matters. Like his newly established region, the warnings from the Gods above, the unremitting war and bloody clashes with other surface gods and—

 

Celestia

 

The mere thought of it gave him a bitter taste in his mouth. What was Celestia up to this time? He would not admit it, but just thinking about them made him queasy. After all, it was them who instigated the war and established the rules of engagement. It was their idea that started the never-ending war in the first place. 

 

And to think it was all because of Celestia's proposal to the surface gods like him. The path to ascension. To achieve more divine power. Domination. Morax thought the notion was really absurd in some way. Competitive gods were literally out for blood to secure their place in Celestia, just all for one divine seat.

 

To be honest, a simple god like him doesn't want to get entangled with the irrational whims of others, but Celestia had already done a good job of coercing him to participate for the sake of protecting the lives of his subjects from the war.

 

Doing underhanded tricks was an all-time favorite of lowly gods. To gain the upper hand against a formidable foe like Morax, they would resort to targeting those people under him— leaving him no choice but to fight back and retaliate in exchange for the safety of his people and region.

 

To protect meant to kill as well. To stain his hands with the divine blood of every foolish god he slaughtered on a regular basis to protect himself and the region he governed. When that happened to him for the first time, he realized he could not ignore Celestia's shady plot of battle royale any longer.

 

In other words, it was undeniably inevitable for him.

 

He fell head first, like a bug caught in a spider's web, and he knew he couldn't get out of Celestia's clutches unless he fought tooth and nail until the end.

 

It was to kill or being killed along with his subjects, that was the only thing that drove him to entertain the whims of Celestia.

 

It was no use frying his brain with those unwelcome thoughts, so with a small exasperated sigh, he decided to banish all of it out of his mind. 

 

Morax was still holding on to the flower in his crossed lap when he thought his sensitive ears caught a soft lyrical tune. He was not sure if the sound came from his subconscious or not, but regardless of how strange it was to hear such an indistinct tune out of nowhere— he still found it pleasant to listen to, causing his eyes to close slowly, as if he were in a trance.

 

The soft hum was almost lullaby-like, causing him to slowly close his eyes and succumb to the darkness.

 

Morax had fallen asleep.


When he opened his eyes, he was greeted by the brightest colors he had ever laid his eyes upon. Light pink and purple. Everything was blurry at first, but after a few seconds, his vision adjusted and he found himself admiring what he saw above with bated breath.

 

It was a sea of pink and purple petals fluttering in the breeze. Both delicate colors seemed to complement each other so well that he couldn't help but admire in absolute silence.

 

It was a massive tree covered in thousands of tiny flowers. A tree so lovely that he was captivated just by its appearance alone. This was once again beyond his comprehension, reminding him of the flower he had taken a few nights before. What was the name of it? To be sure, he still doesn't know. But before that, where was he?

 

With a serious expression, he pushed himself into a sitting position and began assessing the enchanting, yet suspicious location. Morax swore that the last time he was conscious, he was staying on his respectful abode, engrossed in his darkest thoughts about Celestia's nefarious plots. But the more he thought about his whereabouts, the more clueless, lost, and skeptical he had become. This was not his territory, that he was certain. It didn't heed to his calls, it didn't even quake beneath him. And most importantly, it didn't hum in gratitude when he pushed some of his raw energy.

 

He was weighing his options for what to do with his current situation when his ears perked up at the soft rustling sound somewhere behind him. It was not far, but not too close either. Morax could only stretch his palm to summon his weapon, but much to his surprise, it did not appear at all by his silent command.

 

"Unbelievable," he said in utter disbelief, frowning at his empty palm as if the sight offended him greatly. Perhaps it did, which aggravated him even more.

 

Not only the lands didn't respond to him. Even his element didn't appear as he tried to call it forth. The lands, his element, his weapon..

 

What could possibly go wrong?

 

The soft rustling sound was getting closer, as his arms full of ancient marks suddenly tingled, making his whole body so tense as ever. 

 

"Ah, you're—" 

 

He moved so fast like a blur, as his powerful hand caught someone's throat in a tight grip and harshly dragged them on the large bark, winded. He pushed his large frame against the person by locking his thigh with theirs. With his body so close, Morax could hear the soft whimper coming out from the person in front of him; as small hands clawing pitifully against his arm to pry his tight grip away.

 

He had just realized, after a few moments of rumination and clarity, that his body was intimately pressed against something so soft and feminine. He can even feel some distinct curves, a pair of well-endowed mounds pressing against his torso and his thigh pressing against something so soft and warm beneath

 

It took him a few seconds to realize that this person—that he was choking against a tree—was undoubtedly a woman. Somewhat aghast, he let go of the gasping woman immediately, as if he had been burnt solely by her touch. His tongue was also prepared to offer a thousand apologies for rudely manhandling her for no apparent reason. But before he could fully apologize to the woman, his vision began to blur again, and he felt as if he was about to collapse.

 

His vision began to blur and his senses had followed suit.

 

He remembered the worried, blurry face of the faceless woman he had just manhandled, reaching out for him as if she wanted to catch him before the darkness engulfed him.


After he had that dream, his mind was filled with nothing but troubled thoughts that continued to swarm and distract him from his daily duties in Guili Plains. He can also feel that his comrades could sense his troubles from a mile away, but thankfully, no one bothered to ask him about it (much to his silent relief). Morax remembered waking up in a jolt that day, flower almost forgotten in his lap, and he couldn't believe what had just happened.

 

It had been bothering him for days, and he was not sure if he could ask Guizhong or Zhenjun about his thoughts.

 

Only mortals could dream, right? 

 

While he was thinking about that mind-boggling question, he felt a light tug on his flowing robes, which brought him back to reality and was greeted by Guizhong's worried face.

 

"Rex? Are you alright?"

 

"Aa," he confirmed, albeit a little bit winded. "I apologize; I was out for a brief moment, and that was impolite of me."

 

"No, not at all. I do not mind. It is your thoughts, and you can keep them to yourself if you want, but Rex, I am worried."

 

He couldn't help but look at the woman in question at that point. "Worried?"

 

"Yes, worried," Guizhong said seriously, "about you." she finished with a slight purse of her lips, "Tell me. Something bothers you a lot, don't you?"

 

To say he was not surprised by her words alone was an understatement. But this is Guizhong; she was intelligent and highly perceptive of other people's needs and troubles. She could always sense something was wrong, and she was more compassionate than he was. She also inspired people along the way, and he thought it was impressive in its own right.

 

He was kind of dense, and he doesn't deny it. Not at all. He just couldn't understand what it means to be human. He had no idea how to adapt, let alone understand and socialize with mortals. For him, it was almost agonizing in some way. 

 

But, in order to learn something beyond the scope of his abilities, he still sought Guizhong's advice. He was, after all, a ruler. And it was his job to learn and understand the ways of his subjects, as well as to connect with them.

 

However, he had to admit the experience was kind of jarring though. But he can always try. Gradually. Regardless of how much taxing it would be.

 

After a few moments of silence, he finally relented. It wouldn't hurt to ask, isn't it? Perhaps he would find an answer from her, hopefully. "Do gods dream?"

 

Surprised by the seriousness of his question, the Goddess could only look him in the eye— probably trying to size him up as to why he asked such an odd question.

 

In an agonizing lapse of silence, he waited for her surprise to mellow down. "I wouldn't know about the other gods, but if you are asking for my opinion on that question based on experience— then no, I haven't."

 

With a hum, she continued. "I was once told by a dear friend that dreams were a luxury by mortal standards, which makes me curious about what it would be like for us to dream as well," she said in a wonder, "Would that bring us closer to mortals?"

 

"Why are you so adamant to connect with mortals?"

 

Surprised, but she smiled nonetheless. Not taking offense to his blunt question. "It is an instinct, Rex, an instinct to bond with others, regardless of the differences. We may be gods and they are mortals, but we both share the same air that we breathe on a daily basis."

 

"It doesn't make sense why we have to be attached to them. We can protect them, lead them. But there is no requirement for us to attach ourselves with humans, are there?"

 

"Attachment is a part of life, Rex." Guizhong murmured but he heard her alright.

 

"Even though you knew how futile it was? You know that their lives were like a fleeting mist that would gradually vanish as time passed," He knew his words would strike a nerve while adding salt to Guizhong's non-existent raw wounds, but he could not help himself. He just did not get it, and all he wanted was answers. "Those who were left behind must have suffered from their memories; then why so eager for more pain?"

 

If you have been abandoned by a mortal you used to care about, why would you want to get involved with another one?

 

These so-called attachments do not make sense at all.

 

Guizhong smiled even more at his question. It somewhat unnerved him, a little bit perplexed by the meaning of her look; but he didn't say anything about it. 

 

"Who says that? Pain is what makes a person— human, isn't it? Whether they are painful or not, people dwell on their feelings because they know how to feel, Rex."

 

"But we're gods, Guizhong."

 

"So? What if we're gods? It didn't stop us from bonding with mortals, didn't we? There is no law stopping us from doing so, not even Celestia. We are not so different from them, except that our lives are longer than theirs. Like them, any day will get us killed as well. And also we, gods, know how to feel. We feel happy and sad. We also feel sorrow—"

 

"But I don't—"

 

"—And by the look you're sporting right now," Guizhong narrowed her eyes at him, serious hazels pinned him on the spot. "You looked so troubled, that your typical aloofness has been reduced to nothing. You feel, Rex. And yet you're a god. Does that answer your question?"

 

They stared at each other for so long, neither willing to back down from the silent challenge that she started.

 

Try to refute me. And I'll indulge you more.

 

The underlying message from her stare wasn't left ignored by him. And it took a lot of patience for him not to refute her quite sensible answers to his blunt questions and mild provocations. However, refuting her claims would lead to endless debates, which he was attempting to avoid.

 

With his arms crossed, he closed his eyes and turned away from her. It was his way of letting her know that he understood her implications and that he was not interested in refuting her explanation with another round of debates. He could almost feel the smirk on the woman's lips as she hummed beside him.

 

"You know that these so-called attachments are meaningless to me because I can not feel them."

 

"But you are getting there, and that is more important."

 

"..."

 

"We are getting ahead on the main subject, don't you think? So pray tell, what is boggling your mind?"

 

Quite hesitant, he opened his eyes to look at the grand scenery before him and answered.

 

"Nothing really," He said, a lie so obvious that Guizhong wouldn't believe it if it were not for the next words that came out of his mouth. "I was just thinking about what you said," Another lie, but she was too stunned to respond. "So it is nothing to worry about." 

 

In the end, he couldn't tell her about what he experienced.

 

He couldn't be so sure of himself if it was a dream or just a figment of his imagination. Perhaps he was just out of his mind that day, considering he was brooding about Celestia's shady agendas.

 

He was not certain if he would experience the same thing again.

 

So, why even bother?


When he awoke to the sight of beautiful pink and purple colors, he was inclined to believe that the heavens above enjoyed making fun of him in some way.

 

Earlier, he even believed that it was nothing but a one time thing. Just a mere figment of imagination or hallucination, or anything alike. But there he was, absolutely back in the place that he almost called a dream

 

Dreams were a luxury by mortal standards.

 

He could almost hear Guizhong's wistful tone. He was back again. To the place that he really wanted to know out of curiosity. But how was he going to deal with it? This is completely out of his scope of knowledge. A domain that he can not even begin to comprehend with theories, let alone wild guesses. A realm of dreams that he unintentionally entered. He has no idea how it happened because he was not a mortal—he was a god, and gods do not dream. They do not have the luxury of dreaming as mortals do. However, looking up at the tree above him in a vulnerable supine position leads him to believe otherwise.

 

So he was an exception then? He begged to differ. Unbelievable.

 

Morax was almost comfortable in his position when he remembered that something was missing.

 

The woman. He forgot he needed to apologize, no matter how possibly uncomfortable it could be. He sat immediately, his amber orbs scanning the area with searching eyes. Was she even present?

 

As if someone summoned the woman because of his desire to see her once more, he spotted her petite shell not far from him— crouching over some flowers that seemed eerily familiar.

 

Wasn't that the same flower that boggled his mind for several nights already?

 

Morax could hear the woman in the distance humming softly. He stood up, his bare feet almost tingling as the soft grasses beneath him made contact with his soles. It was soft and warm. He almost knelt to touch it with his hands, but the sight of the unknown woman took precedence.

 

He wanted to apologize.

 

When he got a little bit closer, he made sure to leave some noises with his feet just to alert her to his presence. But much to his slight befuddlement, she didn't even bother to shy away from him; let alone warn him to step away from her when he was getting closer to her respective space.

 

In fact, she only stopped humming— but she doesn't even appear to be wary of him. Before Morax could scrutinize this woman up close and appreciate her soft colors; he instantly kneeled down with his palms on the ground, head bowed— that his forehead almost touched the tips of the grasses, that seemed to tickle his very senses.

 

"My deepest apologies for what happened last time. Rationality had left me instantly when I woke up in a foreign place. I was too wary," he said politely, but sincerely, and he could feel her eyes on him as he continued, "I should have been more calm and assessed the situation before lashing out carelessly to you; it was wrong of me to manhandle you like that, Miss. I hope you forgive my careless misdeeds."

 

He waited for her to say something, even waited for her to lash out at him out of revenge for what he did last time. But neither came to him much to his confusion.

 

Was the apology woefully inadequate? Or did the woman not hear him clearly? Still, she didn't utter a single word, which made him a little bit queasy. His insides were doing somersaults, which was uncharacteristic of him. He had to admit, it was an odd feeling.

 

It was getting…. uncomfortable. And he doesn't like the feeling, not even a little bit.

 

Just in case she didn't hear him, he guessed he would just have to repeat it again. "My deepest apolo—" 

 

"Um.." she started softly, her voice almost breathy and lyrical that it sent unbidden shivers through his spine. "Can you please... raise your head?"

 

Heeding her request, Morax raised his head and was greeted by striking gold, framed with thick and long gold lashes. His amber eyes clashed with hers, and it almost felt like the time stood still as they sized each other.

 

Aside from the golden eyes, Morax noted that the color of her hair was in a similar shade as well. Albeit slightly lighter than her almost bright eyes, it was still in the same shade of gold nonetheless. Gold. For him, it was a regal color. It reminded him of the glowing Geo crystal flies he used to see in Nantianmen. 

 

Her long golden hair was kept on a loose braid with several fringes framing her innocent face. He also noticed a unique looking ornament on her left ear— a beautiful feather dangling on her lobule, touching her golden braid neatly plastered on her left shoulder. 

 

And she was undeniably beautiful in her own right. A kind of beauty that you couldn't help but indulge looking at. Kind eyes were blinking up at him, soft plump lips with the color of sunsettias slightly parted, and flushed cheeks with a kind of glow that he somewhat found.... endearing. It just reminded him of those happy children that he and Guizhong used to see from time to time. They had this certain natural glow in their cheeks, that pink tinge clinging on their fairest skins.

 

She tilted her head to the side, her long braid following the motion as well as the feather dangling on her ear. "Would you mind repeating what you are trying to say?"

 

"I humbly apologize for what I did last time. It was unbecoming and shameless of me." 

 

"...Ah," she blinked even more, brows furrowed as she looked even more troubled.

 

Was she dissatisfied with his apology?

 

Was the apology so bad that she had to make that strange expression on her face?

 

But somehow, after a few moments of silence between them. Her bewildered look was instantly replaced with a wry smile.

 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you with my lame response. If I have to judge what you are trying to do just by looking at you, I guess you wanted to apologize about what happened last time?" 

 

He gave a curt nod.

 

Her smile widened at that, "You understand what I am telling you?"

 

Blinking at her question, he nodded again in confirmation; albeit almost in confusion.

 

What was she talking about?

 

"Hmm, this is kind of puzzling. I honestly do not understand what you are saying, but you seem to understand mine."

 

What?

 

He couldn't help himself, he asked. "What do you mean?" 

 

"Right now, I do not understand any of the words you are saying to me, so I have to guess what you are trying to say based on your tone or your expression alone. You are trying to tell me 'what do you mean', aren't you?"

 

"You are correct," he murmured.

 

She hummed, "Let me guess, that's a 'yes' or something closer to it, then?"

 

He didn't need to nod or respond to her question. She was startlingly astute, deductive— and quick to guess things right.

 

The more he thought about the inconvenient situation between them, the more he realized it would be a shame if the conversation between them had to be one-sided. She almost reminded him of Guizhong in some manner. She seemed intelligent and had a way through words. People like her were unquestionably conversationalist. If he happened to regale her with his countless tales, she might be a good listener as well. 

 

But there was nothing he or she could do about it. Only he understands her, not the other way around—not even a single word.

 

What a shame. He might have enjoyed exchanging stories with her.

Chapter 2: The Acquaintance

Notes:

This is quite random of me, but I recommend that you listen to Continued Story by Hitomi, especially at the forest part scene (ahaha lmao, spoiler). It will give you the "enchanting" vibe while reading it (I guess? Or it's just me? 😂). Of course, it is not required, but at the very least, you can imagine Lumine—what tune she sang (?) in that part.

 


Okay, I'll stop with the ramblings. Enjoy~
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[Zhonglumi moments ahead]

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

 


It was his fifth encounter with the dream realm.

 

He did not seem to find it unusual when he found himself waking up in the same place all over again, as it happened every time whenever he started to nod off in the safest confines of his abode. Even so, he could not shake the niggling thought that he had almost ignored throughout the situation.

 

If this was a dream, then why did he keep on dreaming the same place; with the same companion— no less? Every dream that he had didn't feel repetitive in terms of experience, except for the place and his nameless companion who accompanied him everytime he woke up. If he had to be honest, it no longer feels like a dream anymore. With the current events edging ever closer to reality, he became skeptical as the things that continued to pile up did not add up. He had no idea how a dream worked, and it still perplexed him to the point where he even considered tracking down any of his people to ask about "What dreams are for?"

 

And the petite woman. Even though he was utterly clueless about her whole persona, he knew she meant no harm. In fact, based on the entire time that they had been together— he gradually started to learn a little about her. 

 

Seeing her personality in various forms in each meeting made him believe that there was a lot more to it than meets the eye.

 

Morax affirmed inwardly that she was a gentle soul within. She was awfully kind to him, not even questioning his whole existence nor prodding him for answers about where he came from (even though if she did, it's not like he can even provide her some real good answers; not with the language barrier that hung over them).

 

Not even when he helped her pick flowers and she noticed the glowing marks on his arms. She only looked at it in wonder, but she didn't even bother to pry; let alone ask him about what it was. She also seemed understanding and quite a chatterbox (he also noted that she bore good stories that he couldn't help but listen to). And she also smiles a lot.

 

"You seem curious about the flowers." 

 

Morax's sensitive ears had perked up at the simple question. 

 

"I am," he replied, almost eagerly.

 

"They are unique, aren't they?" she commented lightly, twirling the flora with a wistful expression painting her youthful face. After a few moments of silence, her eyes found him and smiled. "Do you want to hear another story?"

 

He didn't have to say anything, nor nod in affirmation as she started to regale him again with another one of her tales.

 

"Did you know? This flower was created out of a mother's love for her children." she said, "She cultivated this flower by special means to remind her children about their father's existence."

 

Morax listened attentively, and she continued.

 

"The children never met their father. They grew up fatherless. He died before they were born." She raised the flower up to her nose, "But even so, they didn't feel lonely at all. Because they still have their mother. Their warm and kind mother who sang them the most beautiful lullabies until they fell asleep, who played with them without minding the mud sullying the ends of her garments made from finest silks. She loved her children that much, and the children loved her back— dearly."

 

She went silent after that, softly sniffing the flower in her grasp. Somewhat a little bit confused by the sudden silence, he looked at the woman beside him and found himself staring at the view. With her eyes half-lidded, her curled bright lashes fluttered in slow motion— touching the apples of her cheeks everytime she blinked. He was quite mesmerized by the image that she made upon herself. While at the same time, he also felt lost and uneasy.

 

He saw a lot of beautiful maidens in his prime. From the goddesses above and beneath, he wasn't blind to those unearthly attributes that they possessed. He might offer his honest opinions from time to time about how resplendent they were. But even so, it was not like him to openly admire them. Not even at once have a surprising urge to admire it up close.

 

But why does the sight of this mysterious woman make him feel the urge to do so?

 

As if noticing his eyes on her, she looked up at him with a soft smile that didn't even reach her eyes and offered him the flower. Albeit confused, he still received it without a question. 

 

So when she suddenly scooted closer to his side without preamble (to the point where he could almost feel her warmth and smell her calming flowery scent), he felt himself stiffen in his position like a complete statue. If she noticed something amiss on his slight change of behavior, she chose not to dwell on it as her small hand hovered against his and pointed to the single different color that almost glowed in his palm.

 

"That single color," she began softly, as if in amazement, "Unusual yet beautiful, isn't it?" She slowly flipped the flower petal to the side, the color slightly changing with the help of light and angle— giving it a darker shade from its original color. "It has a lot of wonders. When you move it in different angles, it changes into different kinds of shade. But iridescence aside, those starlight looking glitters what interests me the most while looking at it."

 

He wanted to agree with her, but he was too enamored by the look of gentleness of her face up close. And by the second time around, as if she noticed his eyes on her again, she gazed up at him and tilted her head.

 

"It was said that, aside from her children, this single petal was the only thing that woman admired. Do you want to know why?"

 

He knew it was pointless to inquire, but he did so anyway. "Why?"

 

"Because it was the color of her beloved's eyes. It was the only thing she couldn't forget about him. Nothing more." she said with a fond smile, "According to the tales, she loved him greatly and he loved her back as well. They wouldn't have sired the children if they didn't, would they?" 

 

To him, love was a strange concept. He could not say anything about it without calling its existence and significance into question.

 

But he could only speculate on how it feels to a human. Based on her reaction alone, the way she spoke her tale about a mother's love for her children and her deceased lover..

 

Then it must be a great thing, he could only muse.

 

He was too occupied with thinking about mortal feelings such as love and whatnot that he didn't notice the look she was giving him. When he heard a soft chuckle beside him, it was almost an instinct to look over as he regarded her.

 

Grinning with her head resting on her folded arms on her knees, her golden eyes full of mirth seemed to burrow itself to his gaze. His eyes met hers accordingly, hers full of mirth and wonderment— and fascination? He was not sure. But he was quite inwardly reveling at the beautiful sight— which was the brightness of her eyes alone.

 

"Now that I have mentioned it, your eyes... They look so bright to look at," she remarked, almost in awe. "They appear to glow, like sun rays, but the color absolutely reminds me of the yellow sunset back home, which I must say was very pretty."

 

He stared back at her with obvious surprise on his typical stoic countenance. He didn't expect to be told bluntly just like that. Surprising, yes, but it was not unpleasant. Not at all. With his eyes widening in a fraction, thin lips slightly parted in an unbidden-like fashion. Morax was left tongue-tied for some reason, for the first time.

 

"Hearing that story makes me wonder what is so special about it, but now I seem to understand it by looking at your eyes alone. If I were her, if there was any chance I could create something like a memento from that person, I would have done the same too."

 

His ears were not playing tricks on him. He heard her right, and he was not imagining it. Everything around him had dimmed to the point where he could not see anything anymore— except for one certain thing. Only those beseeching eyes was the only thing he could look at, that seemed to carve on his very soul.

 

"You have the same kind of eyes. They glowed and were interesting to look at," she smiled, not taking her gaze away from him. "I used to think my brother had the brightest eyes of all, but not even his can compete with yours. Interesting, isn't it?"


As the moment he fluttered his eyes open, her familiar voice was the first thing that he picked up. Blinking slowly in a few beats, his bleary vision started to adjust gradually until her very face appeared— hovering above his with a cheeky smile. The comical sight confused him but he stared back anyways, unmoving. "You're finally awake." she said almost cheerfully, as if the sight of him being awake made her happy somehow.

 

He grunted as he drew himself to a sitting position, his gaze fixed on the woman beside him. He was at a loss for words with her this time. Not with the bold comment that she tossed at him regarding his eyes. He could still vividly remember how stupefied he was, that he couldn't even utter a single word after her unexpected declaration. The Lord of Geo was rendered speechless— by a casual remark, no less.

 

"Waiting for you to wake up took a little bit longer this time. I guess you are tired?" 

 

"..."

 

Seemingly used by his silence, she stood up from her position and stretched her slender arm to offer her hand.

 

Morax blinked slightly at the gesture, as he stared at it for a couple of seconds until she wiggled her palm in front of him, encouraging— as if she was asking him to take her hand without questioning it.

 

After a few moments of deliberation over whether or not to accept it, he finally relented as his huge palm found hers. She drew him to his feet by tugging on his hand, and he complied without saying anything. If he was surprised at the show of power she exerted by her small body alone, he didn't show it as he only followed the woman's trail— wondering where she was going to take him this time.

 

He couldn't help but flit his eyes at their connected hands. His hand was a stark contrast to hers; who seemed to dwarf her own with intricate gold linings on the back of his palm, whereas hers paled in comparison with a hand as white as snow.

 

Before he could jump to many questions and admire studiously the sight of his hand being held by a mortal (for the first time)— she stopped moving and he followed, halting beside her with enough respectable space between them. 

 

Somewhat curious, his amber orbs scanned the area with imploring eyes. He noticed they stopped at a mouth of some forest, filled with green shrubs and huge tall trees beyond that almost seemed to overshadow them both.

 

Frowning, Morax was a little bit skeptical. The place didn't look safe to him. While he was confident about his battle prowess whether armed or unarmed; just looking at the harmless woman in front of him made him hesitate.

 

What if something went wrong and he was too late to protect her? He couldn't summon his element, let alone even summon his weapon at this instance.

 

"Do you trust me?" she suddenly asked, softly.

 

The question made him halt from his musings. She was looking at him intently and he did the same. He does not trust anyone, let alone humans. He was always of the opinion that it was far better to trust no one but oneself. But looking at her like this, with such anticipation lighting up her golden eyes was a challenge to his personal beliefs.

 

How could he outright reject or give her a negative response when she was being nice enough to ask him if he trusted her?

 

To both of them, the period of silence felt like an eternity. But, before he could reconsider what he was about to do; in response to her question, he gently squeezed her hand.

 

He had no idea why, but the simple gesture suddenly felt right to him. 

 

Offering him a warm smile, she adjusted her grip on his hand and squeezed back. She was quick to understand the meaning of his gesture, and that made him thankful enough. And now, she began to move once again with him in tow, hand in hand, walking towards the unknown.

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Morax felt foolish for being so wary earlier with her intentions.

 

She took him to a majestic place where he could only witness the beautiful scenery with bated breath and smell the pleasant scent of petrichor and earth. As they ventured hand in hand, they came to a halt in front of a clear pool filled with floating Qingxin-like flowers, with a lively gushing small waterfall not far from where they stood.

 

For him, it was a perfect haven for those who like nature and peace—who likes to connect with it and to bask in its comfort. It was a kind of place that he wouldn't mind visiting everyday in his spare time to indulge in silence. 

 

"This is my second favorite spot," she turned her head and smiled, "I am glad you trusted me enough to let me bring you in here. It makes me happy."

 

When she suddenly let go of his hand, he simply watched her trot with small upbeat steps on the smooth rocks all the way to the pool. She looked so carefree this way, he noted inwardly. Her white flowing dress skirt billowed behind her like a curtain, with the motion itself almost flashing him a good amount of flesh that would entice any kind of man in his position. With a grace that was so perfect that he couldn't help but admire at a distance, she began to hum a familiar tune and did a graceful twirl with her arms outstretched.

 

This woman blended well with nature, as if her very being was solely made to be meld with it. 

 

The more he stared at her like this, the more he got fascinated by her unending charisma. 

 

He almost felt like he was looking through a goddess. A goddess from another world who was far beyond his grasp.


"Is it me, or does Rex Lapis seem unnaturally chipper nowadays?"

 

Guizhong automatically turned her head towards the stoic god who was sitting alone at their table— with a scroll, ink and a brush in hand. Her eyes followed the gracefulness of his wrist as he moved his brush. He did it with such finesse that she couldn't help but admire the movement at a far. 

 

"He is," she agreed.

 

"Did something happen between the two of you?" Cloud Retainer asked nonchalantly.

 

Slightly flustered, Guizhong shook her head as she waved her hand. "N-no, not at all. What makes you think so?"

 

Cloud Retainer flapped her wings once as if she was shrugging, "Nothing."

 

"That is not even reassuring, Zhenjun-sama."

 

The adeptus chuckled, marching all the way to their usual spot wherein the goddess followed behind her. When Morax saw them approaching, he paused in his writing and inclined his head in greeting, "Zhenjun, Guizhong."

 

"Good afternoon, Rex." Guizhong smiled as she took a seat across from him.

 

"Aren't you busy today? What is that?" The divine crane asked curiously, peering over the scroll he was working on.

 

Morax shook his head when he flicked his wrist in the air, making his brush disappear along with the ink. "My apologies. I came early and had to entertain myself until you arrive."

 

"Music notes?" Cloud Retainer tilted her head to the side incredulously as she saw the complicated musical notes on the scroll, "I thought this is more of Guizhong's thing. I didn't expect you have it too."

 

He paused for a moment, as if he recalled something important. "Guizhong said I have a knack for musical instruments as well as making a simple composition," he said casually, "and she even taught me before a couple of times how to discern a note from a simple tune. Wouldn't it be a waste if I did not put it to use?"

 

"Hmm. Interesting," The adeptus said, casting a sidelong glance at the slightly flustered goddess, who was only looking away out of embarrassment, "I would like to hear you play sometime. Even Guizhong would not mind, right, Guizhong?"

 

"For that.. I guess I would love to," she laughed wryly.

 

Morax scanned the scroll in his hand for a moment before snapping it shut with a simple command of his hand, "If I manage to finish it soon. I will." 

 

Cloud Retainer lightly chuckled as she made her way back to her respective seat, "You look motivated at least. You look less uptight when you are like this and I think it is reassuring."

 

The Lord of Geo could only grunt as he crossed his arms over his chest, looking a little bit pensive, but he didn't say anything to refute her words.

 

"But before we divulge to some other matters. There is something I want to tell you."

 

"What is it?"

 

"My cranes informed me of Celestia activity within the region."

 

The moment she mentioned Celestia, the half-Qilin ruler's demeanor changed instantly. He looked tense and his eyes were glaring daggers on the marble table in front of him. 

 

"Did they cause any trouble?" Morax asked carefully, seriously; eyes almost flashing darker— threatening. As if any wrong answer would make him combust in anger. But even still, she could see that he was trying to keep his temper in check.

 

"Rest assured, Rex. Based on the brief account of my underlings, the gods were only meandering. Those higher deities, at the very least, seem interested enough to traverse the lands of Teyvat."

 

"Tell me if they do something despicable, I will deal with them myself."

 

"I understand," she nodded.

 

Silence reigned.

 

"Zhenjun-sama, how is Ganyu?" 

 

"Still amicable as usual, but I would not say she is completely fine. Her mortal father just passed away, after all."

 

"I am still saddened by what happened to her father. Poor little thing.." Guizhong sighed sadly, "I guess I will have to pay her a visit every now and then. I hope inviting her somewhere will help to ease her sorrows. I missed her company."

 

She bowed her head in gratitude, "This one appreciates your concern for that child. I believe it will be of great help to her. I am leaving her in your hands, Guizhong."

 

Smiling, the goddess only shook her head. "You do not have to mention it. It appears that you have a lot on your plate, so I would like to help you reduce it."

 

"I have to admit that she worries me a lot," she sighed, her wings flapping in a stretch. "She may be one of the adepti, but half of her is human. The way she perceives things is way different compared to us. She likes to hide her true feelings as well, too secretive. Somehow, I miss her younger self where she would just cry her heart out whenever she felt sad. I do not want that child to suffer from her own sorrows."

 

"Do not worry, Ganyu will be fine; she is a strong girl. All she needs right now is time for herself to heal, and to support her in whatever way she needs whenever she is down."

 

"...But I wish she would open up to me more often," she almost grumbled.

 

Guizhong chuckled, "You sound like a troubled parent, Zhenjun-sama."

 

"That halfling…" Morax was no longer brooding, and was in fact listening to them for the whole entire time. "She likes Qingxin, doesn't she?"

 

Cloud Retainer was quite perplexed by the question, but she nodded nonetheless. "She does…like it. What about it?"

 

"How about you give her something she enjoys? It might not be enough, but it might help brighten her sullen mood."

 

She and Guizhong fell silent, both staring at each other in utter bewilderment.

 

Did he just express sympathy for Ganyu?

 

Guizhong was the first to snap out of her reverie, but she couldn't help the blooming smile on her face. "I think that is a nice idea, Rex."

 

He only grunted.

 

The goddess asked, her demure smile turning into a full-fledged grin. "What do you think, Zhenjun-sama?" 

 

She had to admit, she was taken aback at their ruler's sudden suggestion. It was literally out of his page, that she couldn't help but gawk at him as if he had sprouted three heads.

 

But despite the strangeness, she couldn't help but smile as well. 

 

That may not seem significant to others, but for them who knew about his serious case of emotional deficit

 

That was definitely worth seeing.

 

Morax was improving. He was trying to understand.

 

"...I think I will do that," The crane said as she turned to face him, "But could you tell me where I can find fresh ones?" 


This time, a gentle lulling sound reminiscent of a strumming lyre awakens him from his slumber. The lyrical tune was unfamiliar to him, but he silently appreciated the comfort it provided.

 

As he took solace in it, his thoughts took him back to a time when he was still a lesser creature. He was once a small creature born from mortals' heartfelt wishes. A divine entity with an unusual penchant for walking in the clouds and flying heartily in the sky along with the winds— a half-dragon, a half-Qilin.

 

The moment he opened his unearthly eyes to the world, he knew he was meant to be a defender. His role was to act as a shield for his people, to protect the weak and the barren lands, to crush and purge the evil with spears forged from blazing steely rocks.

 

Though he had to admit that his role as a ruler was far more taxing than he had anticipated. However, seeing the fruits of his labor made his people feel so content living within his dominion, to the point of seeing their heartfelt smiles on their faces with no worries— was already rewarding itself to Morax.

 

It simply meant that all of his hardships and efforts had not been in vain. That was sufficient for a hardworking god like him.

 

After all, his top priority was to provide his people with well-served comfort and absolute protection within the boundaries of his dominion.

 

His neck ached from being in the same position for who-knows-how-long during the entire time he was barely conscious. So, with a slight tilt of his head to the side to ease the stiffness, he noticed his female companion expertly fiddling with a foreign contraption in her hands.

 

It looks like a lyre, he mused inwardly as he watched her pluck the strings with absolute finesse and grace, with eyes perfectly closed as she followed the tune.

 

In each strum, his gaze was drawn to the movements of her delicate fingers. Her fingers moved as quickly as a river current, and every strum she made with the strings was delicate— as if the instrument in her hands were a delicate thing that needed to be handled with care.

 

He almost thought she was interesting to look at when she was too engrossed in her own world. Her being preoccupied on some occasions was an unusual habit of hers, but despite the oddity, he was inclined to believe that it did not bother him in the least. Not at all.

 

Because in that way, he would not be caught staring at her profile like she was some strange abstract painting that needed to be unraveled both inside and out. At the very least, it was safe to admire her in an unbidden manner while she was stuck, immersed in her own world.

 

When the sad melody had finally come to an end, Morax raised his gaze to look up at her, but much to his surprise, she was already looking at him with a soft look.

 

"I hope I didn't wake you up," she said.

 

Shaking his head in response, he pushed himself into a sitting position and rested his back on the bark of the tree next to her. He cast a curious glance at the instrument on her lap, which didn't go unnoticed by the woman beside him. His fascination with the instrument was so obvious to the woman that she couldn't help the soft chuckle from leaving her lips.

 

"This is a harp," she said casually, her hands caressing the smooth body of the contraption as if it were a lover's touch. "This is much smaller than the other harps, but I prefer it," she murmured as she lifted it with ease, "because it is portable and light to use, you see."

 

Morax listened to her drone as she explained what it was made of, even showing him the various parts of the instrument as well as its function. She even plucked each string to produce a variety of melodies while meticulously explaining the basic chords to him.

 

Everything was explained to him so thoroughly that his brief thirst for knowledge was instantly quenched by her nonstop chanting.

 

To say he was not impressed by the way she carried herself would be an understatement. She knew a lot of things, and her knowledge was far broader than he had anticipated. She also said a lot of things that he had never heard before— whereas the desire to question her about all of them was strong; but the language barrier between them made it even more disappointing. He could not ask her to explain each one individually, without playing their own guessing game, which it almost irritated him to no end.

 

Somewhat resigned with an inward sigh, he turned his attention back to her. He knew it was pointless, but he could always try to communicate with her gradually. "Can you play again?"

 

Seemingly surprised that he even bothered to talk to her, she blinked at him in question. "....huh?" 

 

"Can you play again?" he repeated once again, pointing to the instrument in her lap.

 

"The harp?" she questioned, almost unsure.

 

Nodding, "Yes. Can you play the harp once again?"

 

She looked at him for a moment, "You want me to teach you about how to play the harp?"

 

Morax resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose at how hopeless the situation appeared to him. It was not like she could always figure out what he was attempting to say. But he couldn't help but try to fix that certain problem. That vexing language barrier that loomed over them.

 

He almost shook his head inwardly. It was not too late for them to start working on it, he reasoned to himself. If anything, Morax has a lot of patience to give— just to try and see if it works.

 

"Me," He pointed to himself in which she followed with an intrigued gaze, "I wanted to hear you—" he pointed at her briefly and then to the harp on her lap, "—play the harp again." 

 

After that first attempt of trying, they stared at each other for a couple of seconds until she finally answered.

 

"Sorry, I still do not get it. Could you please repeat it?"

 

He pursed his lips momentarily but he nodded in compliance, almost reluctantly, "Very well.." he then cleared his throat, "I wanted to—" he pointed to himself and cupped his ear, "listen to you—" and pointed at her along with the harp with additional strumming gestures he made with his hands, "play the harp."

 

"...you...want to listen? Ah, you want to play the harp?" she offered almost skeptically.

 

He shook his head as he replied almost instantly in retort. "No, I want you—"

 

He paused when she looked at him owlishly this time. Seeing those innocent bright eyes, beseeching, staring—discomfited him beyond belief that he couldn't speak for a moment (much to his chagrin). "...to play the harp."

 

It was even more difficult to try without making a fool of himself. He felt chagrined that his discomfort must be visible on his face because he suddenly heard his companion, doubling over as she burst into fitfuls of laughter. 

 

Speechless and somewhat confused, Morax could only look at her as she laughed.

 

"I-I am sorry— I just couldn't help it. You looked so serious, but I know you are trying." her chuckles finally died as she offered him a reassuring smile. "Although I am not so sure if my idea is right or wrong, I think I understand somehow. However, you are free to correct me if you find it wrong."

 

She adjusted her hold on the harp and did an experimental strum with her fingers. "Perhaps, you would like to hear me play a song again?"

 

Finally.

 

He almost wanted to sigh in relief. 

 

"Yes."

 

She hummed and began to pluck the strings with ease. This time, she played a much familiar tune that he often heard from her habitual hums. And he couldn't help but follow the rhythm of the lively tune in his mind, inwardly humming along with it; picturing the way how her beautiful voice sang it with pleasure— without a care in the world. 


He was kind of bothered.

 

Morax may not be so vocal, but the notion of being still clueless about his mysterious companion for months made him so jittery and dissatisfied.

 

He knew a few things about her based on his keen observations. With her inadvertent slips here and there, it was inevitable that his curious-like interest in her would develop over time.

 

This woman came from a different world, and he couldn't deny that he found her intriguing as well. And she never seems to run out of different stories to tell on a daily basis. As a result, he couldn't help but share her stories with Guizhong, and occasionally with Cloud Retainer as well. Despite their ignorance and skepticism about the origins and credibility of his intriguing tales, he knew that both of his acquaintances enjoyed the story as much as he did listening to it from his mysterious golden-eyed companion.

 

And right now, as he stood in silence watching her make flower wreaths, he couldn't help but be unnerved by the simple fact that bothered him day and night.

 

After months of being good acquaintances, he still doesn't know what to call her.

 

"Morax," he suddenly said, his deep yet soft voice made her raise her head, and he continued as if to elaborate. "My people referred to me as Morax." 

 

The moment he uttered his name, time seemed to stand still around them. She was kind of surprised and... slightly alarmed? It was clear from the slight shift in her eyes and the small parting of her plump lips. She was staring at him differently, almost guarded. However, her complete astonishment still overshadowed the other expressions that flitted across her face unconsciously. 

 

After a long awkward silence with them only staring back at each other's eyes, her lips slightly quirked upwards into a friendly smile. Morax felt his tense muscles relaxed at the sight, and his once-brewing anxiety faded as he saw the unmistakable sparkle in her golden orbs. Was she amused?

 

"Morax, huh?" His naked arms full of ancient marks tingled with sharp goosebumps, but he stayed motionless and stoic as ever as she spoke almost in detached wonderment. "Interesting." she murmured.

 

They lapsed for a moment, and he waited until she finally spoke again.

 

"Are you, by chance, telling me your name?"

 

"Yes."

 

Half-lidded golden orbs returned her gaze to the forgotten flower wreath on her lap, as she continued her work with careful touches. "I see."

 

Feeling uncharacteristically bold all of a sudden, he couldn't help but ask. "What about yours?" 

 

Her hands paused for a moment, "Are you asking me what's mine?"

 

"I am," he replied instantly, earning a single hum from her.

 

She chuckled wryly, "Who knows?"

 

Morax narrowed his eyes at that, but he didn't say anything to rebuke her.

 

"What if I tell you that I do not have one?" she supplied, "Does it still matter?"

 

Of course, it matters. He could almost hear Guizhong's rebuttal in his head. Names are important to shape oneself after all. That is what Guizhong told him once, when he made it clear that he was apathetically detached from the plethora of names he had earned from the people who worshiped him to no end.

 

"Names are important, Rex. You would not be complete if you did not have one." 

 

"Does it bother you?" This time, she inquired softly; her tone almost mellow— comforting.

 

All of a sudden, he could not find the words to respond to her simple question. The silence hung heavy over them, with only the sound of nature to accompany them.

 

"How about you name me?"

 

Inwardly surprised, Morax eyed her in slight disbelief. His amber eyes immediately searched for hers in confirmation. She was still smiling; her eyes were gentle, soft and understanding. It was as if she could read his mind, sensing the unsettling whispers that nagged at him all the time.

 

Know her more. Know her more. 

 

"Would you like that?" he finally uttered, his tone low, as if he was only talking to himself but she heard him nonetheless.

 

"Name me."

 

Morax assessed her carefully. From looking at her golden locks, to the exotic flower pinned to her head, and to the beautiful depths of her equally bright eyes. He thought of anything he could think of her; from her mannerisms, the way she talked, the way she laughed and so on. And her smile...

 

Her smiles were also filled with warmth and overflowing kindness. So very her. A very definition of radiance.

 

For him, he unconsciously thought that she was a luster of gems.

 

"Ying," The single name softly passed his lips with no reservation. "Ying." he repeated it once again more loudly, as the word simply rolled in his tongue swiftly and surely.

 

"That is a lovely name, I like it." she said, smiling. "You could start calling me Ying then."

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After bestowing that name on her, the annoying whispers have reduced since then.

Notes:

Fun fact:
If I had to pick a theme song for this fic, I would go with Continued Story by Hitomi. After all, this fanfiction would not exist without that song. That music was a big part of why I decided to write this story in the first place.

Just in case you were curious about what Lumine was playing on her harp, it was Affection Touching Across Time (Inuyasha OST). You can imagine her playing while listening to this: (https://youtu.be/ClzSlz5ZjTU)

Comments will be much appreciated. Tell me what you think about it~

Chapter 3: The Calamity

Notes:

Something died, and it was my brain cells hahaha lol.

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[*pulls a Jun Mochizuki behavior for not leaving any warnings; because I'm not spoiling* 17k words ahead, good luck reading and enjoy~ ]

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text


"What a lovely tune," Guizhong commented as she closed her eyes to feel the soft melody.

 

Undeterred, Morax still continued to play the erhu instrument in his hands. His fingers were having a mind of their own as he followed the rhythm of the familiar tune in his mind. He was working on this piece for several weeks. Even studied it in his spare time, as well as dutifully fiddling with the musical instrument everyday to find the proper notes to recreate the beautiful melody that he frequently hears from Ying a couple of times. In the end, his efforts were not in vain. Despite the fact that the process was never easy on his part (he made a few mistakes here and there), he was making progress, which was much to his relief.

 

"Would you mind teaching me that piece someday?"

 

Morax nodded curtly after a brief pause. "Sure, I will," he said.

 

"I am hoping it is halfway done?"

 

"Aa, it is."

 

Guizhong smiled as she leaned her body against his side, causing him to freeze and his body to tensile imperceptibly. But after a few moments, he finally relaxed beside her, his erhu forgotten on his lap as he gazed at the peaceful scene in front of him.

 

"Rex?"

 

"Hm?"

 

"Did something happen?"

 

Mildly perplexed, he responded. "What exactly do you mean?"

 

"I have noticed you have been acting a little differently than usual over the last few weeks, not in a negative way, of course. It is just..." she paused for a second, "you're... showing a different side of yourself."

 

He didn't say anything because he knew she was not finished.

 

"You are still showing few emotions, but you are putting forth effort in areas where you previously did not bother. I know you enjoy music and the arts, but I am curious what compelled you to learn it so suddenly."

 

She gently grasped his arm, "Rex, I am intrigued. What has changed?"

 

The question almost stuttered his mind to halt.

 

He actually didn't know. He just woke up one day and had a sudden impulse to study a musical instrument. To recreate the beautiful tune that haunted his mind for days, weeks and even months. He just knew he wanted to try it himself. He wanted to play it.

 

But as for the main reason, he honestly had no idea.

 

"I do not know," he replied truthfully, "I did it on impulse."

 

"I see..." Guizhong frowned for a bit as she tried to press for more, "Are you sure nothing happened?"

 

"Yes, nothing at all."

 

She sighed exasperatedly as she unglued herself from his side and pouted, her arms crossed across her chest. "Not fair, Rex. And here I thought you were getting better at expressing yourself, but you are still as unforthcoming as ever."

 

"...My apologies." 

 

She waved her hand with a shake of her head, "Shh. Do not be. It takes time, but you are getting there. You are slowly improving." He looked at her as she smiled, "No rush."

 

"Thank you." Morax said gratefully, his eyes softening at her attempt to lift his spirits. It was at times like these that he appreciated Guizhong's utmost understanding. 

 

When he thanked her, the Goddess of Dust felt her cheeks warm up. She lowered her head and fiddled with the ends of her long sleeves as she avoided his piercing gaze. "Seeing you making efforts on the simplest things makes me happy. It means you are listening to every piece of advice I give you." she confessed, "It means a lot to me. And I..." she mumbled the last sentence under her breath, and Morax couldn't hear the last words she uttered due to the sudden lash of wind hitting him in the face.

 

"Pardon me. I did not hear the last part," he said as he tidied up his hood and his long, unkempt bangs that covered his eyes. "What is it again?"

 

"N-nothing at all. Nothing for you to be concerned about."

 

For a brief moment, he frowned. He was certain she was trying to tell him something. "Are you sure?"

 

Smiling wryly, she replied. "I am sure."

 

Nodding, Morax didn't push any further than that and they went silent.

 

At that time of the day, the sky was suffused with a warm pigment of orange with a mix of amber in between. Soft warm hues painted the sky like a splash abstract of a citrusy canvas with splotches of scattering clouds with the color of slate gray to compliment the bright skies. Even flying cranes took to the skies with gusto, their long, wide wings flapping graciously as they retired for the day.

 

Silent as they were. They just stopped talking in order to admire the majestic sight.

 

"Guizhong," he called out without even looking at her.

 

"Yes?"

 

"Thank you," he added, more softly; his lips slightly curled upwards as he finally turned his head to meet her surprised yet flushed face. "Truly."

 

Clearly taken aback by his sincerity, she stuttered, so uncharacteristically hers that it made him smile even more, albeit briefly. "I—Y-you are welcome."


"Guizhong is not here?" Cloud Retainer inquired as she made her way to her spot.

 

He responded by shaking his head, "She excused herself before you arrived, saying it is something urgent and I think it is about the ballista."

 

Humming, her beady eyes were drawn to the scroll and ink on the marble table. He was back at it again, she thought to herself, as she watched him scribble several musical notes with a neat flourish of his brush.

 

She was intrigued by the reason for his sudden fixation with music. It was strange to think that their region's serious, stoic, almost impassive ruler was so gung-ho about musical instruments. He was not only interested in an erhu, but he also tried to learn how to play the flute and the guzheng in his spare time.

 

He was also becoming more talkative than usual in the last few months, regaling them with some interesting stories that had them scratching their heads as to where it had come from. It was too surreal for Guizhong and her, but they had to admit it was entertaining. The former even shared it with the people, including the children, who were completely enthralled by the stories. Morax, on the other hand, was surprised to learn that his stories had been shared with the common folks, but he did not seem to mind—in fact, he continued to share and share, almost as if he was talking animatedly to himself. It was an odd image to see, but to be honest, seeing this new side of their stoic ruler was refreshing.

 

This sudden shift of behavior had a reason, for sure, but she had no idea where to start asking him about it without sounding nosy about his personal affairs.

 

What about asking him where he got the stories?

 

"Rex, I was extremely curious about the stories you had shared with us thus far; it was entertaining, and the stories helped to ease everyone's worries in the midst of war; I have to say, I am also one of those who looks forward to it every time." She began in the most random way to strike a conversation and continued, "If you do not mind me asking, where have you heard about them? I am really curious."

 

She saw the subtle change on his face as he blinked, with his brush full of wet black ink hovering on the scroll, he responded. "It is from a friend."

 

Oh? If only she possessed human features at that moment, perhaps she was sporting a face full of interest with her eyebrows disappearing as it went through her hair line. This is interesting at least.

 

"A friend? Who might that be? Is it someone we know?"

 

"No."

 

Hmmm, he's answering. I might as well take advantage of the situation, she mused to herself.

 

"Why didn't you tell us? It would be great if you could bring that friend here and introduce them to us."

 

As he continued scribbling on his scroll, he shook his head once. "That would be impossible, my apologies."

 

"Why is that?" she couldn't help but ask.

 

Morax went silent for a moment as he continued his work on the scroll. She waited and waited, until he finally put his brush down. With a serious gaze, he checked up on his work and nodded once. "It is now done."

 

"Well?"

 

"Remember the time when I told you about the strange flower I snatched out of nowhere?"

 

"Hmm, yes I do remember. What about it?"

 

"I finally know where it came from. As well as the person who looks after them."

 

Curiosity piqued, she asked. "So let this one guess, the owner of that said flower is your friend?"

 

Nodding, Morax replied. "Yes."

 

"A woman?"

 

"Yes."

 

"What is her name?"

 

"She said she did not have one, so I gave her one."

 

She almost wanted to wince at the discovery. No wonder Rex Lapis had gotten softer, because the said friend was a woman.

 

"It's Ying," He revealed the name with akin to tenderness, and she swore her eyes must have been staring at his face too hard the entire time to pick up on this subtle change in his expression. "I suppose it was appropriate because she appears to be so bright to look at."

 

"Then, all of the stories you shared to us… it all came from her?" she asked.

 

"Yes. She always talks about some stories coming from her world, which I must say were interesting."

 

Huh?

 

"Coming from her world?" She swore her tone must be very bewildered. Morax looked at her once and did a slight upturn of his lips again as if he was amused (one of another changes that both she and Guizhong began to pick up every now and then; because they couldn't believe that Rex Lapis knew how to smile in his own way). "A mortal?" 

 

"Yes, she came from another world. That is what my theory is." He said as he got rid of his writing materials with a quick flick of his arm, "And she is a mortal." 

 

"...this conversation is becoming increasingly perplexing. Is she even here?"

 

He shook his head while frowning. "Unlikely. To be honest, I have no idea; but she came from a far-away land, whose world is vastly different from ours."

 

"Wait, I still do not get it. If she came from another world, how did the two of you meet in the first place? Is that even possible?"

 

He went silent in response that she wondered if she had asked an absurd question. Was she being overly intrusive? Maybe she does, but it was far too late to retract the question to save face.

 

But, much to her inward relief, Morax doesn't look like he minded her probing questions, though it took him a while to respond.

 

"I have no answer for that, because I am clueless as well, but we always meet in a dream," he said, his face solemn, and Cloud Retainer was quick to deduce that he, too, was bothered by the subject. "Ah, no.. It is far too realistic to think of it as a dream, but if it is not a dream, then what is it?" Morax muttered to himself as he began to ruminate, "It must be a special kind of realm. Now that I think about it, it reminds me of those realms you are so fond of creating, Zhenjun."

 

"And how many times has this happened?"

 

"It started after I found the flower several months ago, and we still meet on a regular basis."

 

Cloud Retainer hummed, "Nothing about this is normal," she commented with a brief flap of her wings, "Meeting someone in a dream seems too far-fetched for any of us, that it somehow sounds like a tale. Well, adepti both have the ability to sleep and meditate; but dreaming? That is unheard of. So I could not really say anything about it. I have no idea what it is like to dream, but if you have had the chance to experience it, I would say it must be something special. There must be something in you that allows you to dream about meeting this friend of yours. As to what that is, you have to find that out for yourself."

 

"Hm," he crossed his arms, "You do have a point."

 

She snorted, "Of course, I do. I always have a point. When did I not?" 

 

"That, I could not answer."

 

She almost wanted to roll her eyes on his kind of blasé response. While he might be changing at his own pace, at the same time, he still could be the most unforthcoming individual she had ever met in her entire life.

 

But before she could inwardly rant about how awfully taciturn he was while giving answers sometimes, she couldn't help but ask about this mystery friend that he talked about.

 

"Ying, is it? Tell me more about her. I'm interested." 

 

Morax looked at her for a moment before he responded, "What do you want to know?"

 

"Anything will do. Like what kind of woman she is, or what she looks like." Cloud Retainer said and continued, "It's up to you. I will just listen."

 

"Ying is... an exceptionally bright maiden in her own right. Absolutely knowledgeable, pretty sharp, and a good observer. She is... extraordinary, in a sense, and I also admire her astuteness. She is also patient and kind. Very so. I have to admit that it was difficult to be on the receiving end of her kindness at first, but as we got to know each other better on a daily basis, I suppose it just grew on me."

 

The avian adeptus blinked owlishly as she processed all of that in her mind. She couldn't believe it. Did he just utter a whole parade of string of words without even stopping at once?

 

"She is really that good-natured, huh?" she commented, still stunned beyond belief.

 

"Absolutely," he nodded, but then his expression turned somber as he relayed anything to her, "However, I could sense she was wary of me at times. Perhaps she knew about my divinity, but chose not to mention anything about it. Not that it minded me at least. I am comfortable enough with the anonymity, and the sense of normalcy she brought without being reminded of my status as a god."

 

Morax fell silent after that, and all she could do was stare at the powerful god in front of her, who unconsciously revealed a portion of his woes.

 

Being a god of his stature, as well as ruler of a vast territory, was no easy task. Of course, there were a lot of expectations from his band of followers (adepti and mortals alike), so whether he was aware of it or not, it was his first and foremost responsibility as a god to live up to their expectations. Not only was he a source of pride for the adepti and the common people, but his power and presence were also acknowledged by the Celestia.

 

Both she and Guizhong were aware of how much he overworked himself to ensure the protection of his people from his never-ending adversaries. Morax may have been intimidating and ruthless in his own right, but he was still a normal god who was overburdened by his divine responsibilities.

 

So it was no surprise to her that their ruler was unknowingly attached to this mysterious friend of his. In fact, Cloud Retainer thought it would be beneficial for him to bond with someone other than her and Guizhong, given the way he was changing for the better.

 

And if this woman named Ying could help bring out the best in him, then, there would be no objections to her side.

 

But what about Guizhong...?

 

Does she know about her? If she does, what would she feel about it?

 

"She has a pair of striking golden eyes, long hair that she wears in a braid," Morax said as if he was in a trance, but she didn't stop him as she let him continue. "She likes to sing, and she plays a musical contraption similar to a lyre; which she calls this a harp. She also wears the most impractical garments I have ever seen in my entire life, except for the short brown cape on her shoulders, but... I suppose her outfit suited her nonetheless, so carefree— so her."

 

"Rex," she called out to him, which he instantly cocked his head. "Does Guizhong know about this?"

 

He slowly shook his head, "No, she doesn't. Why do you ask?"

 

Inwardly alarmed, she replied. "You did not? And here I thought you told her." 

 

"I haven't. She didn't ask about it."

 

The urge to face palm was so strong that what she could only do (as a crane) was flap her wings as if she was trying to get rid of something on her feathers. Morax was only eyeing her, bewildered, but she didn't even bat an eye as she continued to flap and stretch her wings so wide— trying to think of how she was going to break this important information to Guizhong.

 

"If she asks about it, tell her, alright?" There was no way she could do it. It was much better if he was the one to break the information to her.

 

If anything, she was only a part of their circle, a spectator, as she accompanied both of her dear friends as they ventured their lives as divinities. Cloud Retainer might have known about the goddess' feelings for their lord, but she had no intention of interfering in their relationship in any way. She might be supportive of her in the sidelines and tease her about it every now and then— but Cloud Retainer couldn't ignore the thought of another person to whom Morax had shown favors (whether he was aware of them or not, the way he talked about her made it clear that he favored her). 

 

And if there was any chance that Morax might have been too attached to this Ying, then there was no way he would turn his head for the goddess.

 

(Let alone notice her feelings for him, because Morax was clearly too hung-up with another woman.)

 

"I'll keep that in mind." He said with a nod.

 

As she processed all of those deductions in her mind, she felt as if her energy and soul were being sucked out of her system, leaving only a shell of herself in the process. It was a lot to bear, but she vowed that whatever happened, she would be there to help them both.

 

After all, she was only a part of their circle. Their only spectator.


"What is your purpose for coming to my lands?"

 

"Lord of Geo! We're glad you finally showed up!" An elder man wearing a brown cloak greeted him jovially. He trotted all the way to him and grinned, "We apologize for paying a visit without informing you." 

 

Morax eyed the man impassively. Without a help from his sharp memory, he absolutely knew who this jovial man was. This elder was one of the gods who resides from the heavens, the god of mountains, Alisanos.

 

"We are worried that we dropped ourselves on the wrong world, but I couldn't forget those beautiful shaped mountains in your region as I looked at it from above. So I am certain that we didn't jinx our impromptu jaunt on the lands of mortals."

 

"We? Who's with you?"

 

"Oh! Miel had always wished to see your lands, so she came along with an old man like me."

 

Miel?

 

A woman appeared as if she was being summoned. Like the old man, she was wearing a cloak to cover her from head to toe. With a smooth flourish of her hands, she took off the hood covering her head and smiled.

 

This woman was named Miel. When he first saw her, her beautiful perfectly shaped horns on her head with green moss made an impression on him. It reminded him of his own horns, but hers were much smaller and more curved. She was, without a doubt, a forest goddess.

 

"My greetings, Lord Morax." she offered politely.

 

Morax nodded in return.

 

"We are relieved to say that we have arrived safely in your domain. This is our first journey through this land."

 

"I hope you are aware that traversing the lands of Teyvat is dangerous; I may be lenient with the both of you because we are acquainted, but some other gods who roamed these lands would not hesitate to make an enemy of the both of you."

 

"Egad, kid! We knew how to hide ourselves, so you don't need to warn us." Alisanos commented with a laugh, "Don't underestimate this old man."

 

He was silent for a moment as he intently eyed the jovial god in front of him, trying to feel the warm soil under his soles. There was something wrong somehow. It was subtle, but he thought he felt a slight shaking of the ground; as if a mini-earthquake bypassed the region.

 

Was it only his imagination? Or did a small earthquake really happen?

 

Before he could brood once more, he focused himself back to reality. "What brings you here?"

 

"The higher ups granted us permission to traverse the realm of mortals. We are only temporary here though, so we make the best of it. Right, goddess?"

 

"Yes, the offer was a once in a lifetime opportunity to bypass so we agreed to it. Although, I must admit, it was unusual for the higher-ups to grant us permission to descend on the surface, given the gravity of the situation with this conflict between surface gods for a secure spot in Celestia." The forest goddess could only shake her head and muttered, "But say... Do you believe this is the real will of the heavenly principles? It seems like a macabre-kind of survival of the fittest."

 

That he couldn't deny. Celestia was encouraging the surface gods to kill each other after all.

 

"Shush that, goddess. Be careful. They might hear you." Alisanos admonished.

 

"My deepest apologies for blurting it out of the blue."

 

So, Celestia offered them—or, more accurately, they granted them permission to descend? But wasn't that extremely risky and reckless? After all, the moment they entered the lands, they would be branded with target marks on their heads. If they are not cautious enough, they risk being executed—intentionally or unintentionally—by some other surface gods.

 

(They were, after all, in the midst of a nonsensical war.)

 

But it also made him skeptical. It was undoubtedly part of Celestia's nefarious scheme. For what reason were they doing this? What would that gain them?

 

"We apologize about that, Lord Morax." Miel bowed her head in reverence.

 

He shook his head in response, "Don't fret about it." 

 

They chatted a few, with him giving curt responses if required. Although Morax had other matters to tend to in his region, he decided it wouldn't hurt to lead them in his lands. The upper gods were also being chatty along the way, openly gushing about the mountains and beautiful sights that he recommended showing them.

 

That was until he saw a crane, a follower of Cloud Retainer flying on his way to him. Absolutely intrigued, he eyed the bowing crane in front of him while the upper gods only looked in silence behind him.

 

"Speak," he ordered curtly.

 

"Milord, I apologize for disrupting your leisure time but there is something that you should know about. It's urgent."

 

"What is it?"

 

"We sensed a malicious energy coming from the other land, Milord."

 

Other land, he mused to himself. There was no other land tied to his region, except for one place.

 

That would be the Chasm.

 

"We're afraid that the dormant meteorite was acting up from the malicious energy that was encroaching on the land. We direly need your presence, Milord."

 

Encroaching?

 

Before he was about to leave with the adeptus, Morax turned his head towards his guests to apologize, but they only shook their heads in understanding.

 

"You do not have to," Alisanos beat him to it, he continued. "Do not worry about us, young god. We know our way."

 

He was skeptical for a second, but after a moment of deliberation, he finally nodded. "I understand. Have a safe trip." 

 

"Likewise, Lord Morax."

 

Nodding in gratitude, his friendly countenance disappeared and was replaced by a serious, grave look.

 

"Lead the way." 

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What he saw and sensed before him was absolutely beyond the mortal's understanding. Before he could frown and eye the disorderliness of the land, he wanted to commend his adepti for being such quick-witted followers to handle things without his orders. Few miners had been forced evacuated, albeit confused by the impromptu evacuation, they didn't say anything to antagonize them— especially not in his magnanimous presence and the group of adepti herding them out of the land.

 

It was a wise thought of evacuating the mortals out of the mining area, because in the eyes of an adepti or a god himself— it was difficult to ignore the malicious, suffocating negative energy encroaching the area like a nasty plague. He almost wanted to wrinkle his nose out of disgust or leave the area in haste, but his sense of responsibility, wariness, and curiosity towards the unknown still won him over in the end.

 

The black miasma was all around, hovering the place like wisps of clouds. He observed that they were multiplying in a sense, making the atmosphere really stifling as the time passed. Some other followers were looking worriedly at the unknown, while some others were smart and guarded enough to stay closer to him just in case something happens.

 

He wanted to try a small experiment by touching the miasma with his bare finger. So when it suddenly zapped his flesh, as it left a small bleeding wound in its wake— he flicked his other arm in such speed, summoning a Geo shield to put a barrier between them and the malignant miasma.

 

"Starting from now on, this place will be off-limits," He barked his orders wherein the present adepti, albeit shocked beyond belief, only bowed their heads in understanding, "Tell the millelith to inform the miners that I am closing this land for the meantime. Only we can see this unknown entity, and it could be dangerous for humans." 

 

"We understand, Lord Morax."

 

"I am planning to purge the madness here with my power," He declared with both arms raised, as the marks on his arms started glowing; Morax started purging the miasma as he relayed his orders. "Inform Cloud Retainer with the other illuminated beasts about the circumstances here. I need them on guard; they need to be my eyes all around the region." 

 

As he purged the black mists with no difficulties, the ground began to shake, which caused panic to his followers, except for Morax.

 

"Milord!"

 

"Lord Morax!" 

 

The shaking continued, but he was too focused on channeling his power to transmit it to the cold lands of Chasm.

 

Purging and quelling two different things was no easy feat, but for him— it was easy enough. He could only indulge at the feeling of his magnanimous raw power running through his marks, transmitting more of his energy to the lands to appease the raging tantrums of a disturbed meteorite. It was his power alone that kept it dormant for so many years, allowing the inhabitants (the miners) of the land to work at peace.

 

As the lord of the region, it was very important to keep the meteorite always in check. After a falling star had plummeted next to his lands before the Archon war broke out, he was warned by the Celestia that the meteorite came from afar— from the whirl dimensions of the unknown

 

He always minded to look upon the neighboring lands of his region, because aside from a proud meteorite to check from time to time, there also lies a dear friend that he sealed from many years ago.

 

After a few moments of unleashing his power into large quantities enough to spread around the mining land, the shaking finally stopped much to his followers' relief, but their moment of alleviation had been cut to short when the supposed purged miasma had appeared again in full force. But instead of attacking them, it only hovered in the air— as if nothing happened at all. They kept on dividing, increasing and increasing— until it was almost like the mining land had been covered by a thick black fog.

 

Morax could only frown at the scene before him. 

 

What in the devil's name is happening?

 

Although the suffocating ambiance from earlier had disappeared, whereas the air was more breathable this time without having the urge to puke or flee out of the land— Morax couldn't let himself lower his guard. 

 

Not with the abnormal circumstances taking place in his lands.

 

"Step back," he ordered, as he moved forward towards the black fog— which earned some alarmed reactions from his followers.

 

"M-Milord! No, it's dangerous!"

 

Morax ignored the worried warnings as he left the protective confines of his Geo shield. But much to his inward surprise, the moment he came closer to the murky depths of the hovering miasma— it didn't even attack, nor made a different attempt to harm him.

 

In fact, it just only hovered, spreading, as if it was just an ordinary fog enshrouding the place in black.

 

Does it mean he managed to purge the miasma away? The more he stared at it, even attempting to pass his arm through it multiple times—nothing happened, nor did it exhibit offensive behavior like it had previously.

 

He could say that, maybe, he had been successful in a way, but the mind boggling question was— where did this black fog even come from? Nothing about it was "normal", not with the way it kept on spreading— to the point it was getting difficult to see all around them.

 

So with a final bark of his orders, his followers began to leave one by one; leaving him on his own devices while he seriously brood over the origins of the black miasma.

 

Morax had to close this land for the meantime. He had to investigate this weird phenomena. 


As he brood in silence, he could sense a pair of golden eyes drilling holes on the side of his face. Somewhat guilty for ignoring her for the whole time, he finally looked at her, resigned. "Yes?"

 

Seemingly startled, Ying blinked momentarily before she offered her response. "Oh, nothing. I was calling out your name a couple of times, but it looks like there's a lot going in with your mind. Penny for your thoughts?"

 

Even if he wanted to, he couldn't explain what was bothering him with broken sentences that she wouldn't understand even if he tried. As he shook his head inwardly while thinking of how disappointing it was that he couldn't share his thoughts with her, he only closed his eyes in resignation.

 

"You wouldn't understand anyways." he said.

 

She seemed to understand what he said, that she couldn't even create a suitable response to offer in return. After a moment of silence stretching between them, Ying suddenly scooted closer to him and offered. "What about let's do something."

 

"...What?" 

 

"Let's learn from each other."

 

While her offer was acceptable enough, he couldn't help but knit his eyebrows out of uncertainty.

 

How? She couldn't even understand a little thing from him, and it was kinda draining to repeat a certain sentence all over again and again until she finally got the correct answer. 

 

But the way she looked at him right now—eager to try something new with him—all of his pessimistic thoughts vanished right away in the center of his mind. 

 

He might as well let her try. After all, he was curious as to what she had in mind.

 

"What is it?"

 

"Sign language!" 

 

His eyebrows knitted in mild confusion, "..?" 

 

Ying started, "Like this one." she made some animated gestures using her hands, in which he literally had no idea what it meant, "You can convey what you are thinking using hand gestures. Let's try it. You first, just do something simpler."

 

Morax eyed her for a moment as he tried to think of whatever he wished to convey to her. A simple greeting. What about Zuoyi? It was a common way of greeting in his region after all, he thought to himself; but the more he pondered over it, the more he realized it was slightly inappropriate for her (for sure she wouldn't get what it means, he mused) so he quickly ignored the idea.

 

It should be something that she could easily understand, he nodded sagely to himself. And when he did, he tried a simple gesture with his hands; both hands slightly up in the air and did a casual—albeit stiff—wave.

 

A hello.

 

Ying had a serious expression on her face the entire time, but when he waved his hands repeatedly, her expression changed to confusion, and her golden orbs immediately sought his face as they looked at each other back and forth.

 

"Is that it…?" she asked carefully.

 

Did he make a mistake? Something simpler, right?

 

He slightly nodded in response as he continued to wave both of his palms. But with the way she was looking at him intently in the eyes, his hand gestures were becoming more stunted and awkward— that he stopped and only looked at her as he tried to gauge her weird expression.

 

Both of them fell silent, and the only sound he could hear was the soft howl of the wind. Morax had to admit that he was uneasy about the way her serious scrutiny seemed to drill into him. Was that too much? Was it not simpler enough? Or she just didn't get it? He doesn't really know.

 

"Was that meant to be a greeting?" 

 

"Yes."

 

"A sort of 'hello'?" 

 

Somewhat relieved, he nodded satisfactorily to himself as she made a correct guess, he responded. "Absolutely."

 

Ying's lips were pursed so tightly that he wondered if he had said something wrong to elicit such an unusual reaction. But then her body began to shake slightly as her restrained chuckles began to break free, leading to a full-fledged laugh.

 

Morax was downright confused, but he just let her laugh and laugh until she couldn't help herself and doubled over beside him. While he didn't mind the unexpected turn of events, he just thought the sound of her hearty giggles was endearing enough to listen— so he stayed still, looking at her with a slight upturn of his lips and observing how she seemed so free with him and unburdened by everything.

 

As she wiped a stray tear on her eye, she finally faced him with a smile. "My apologies. That was impolite of me."

 

"It's fine," he replied curtly.

 

"What you did back then was just so funny and adorable that I could not help myself," Ying confessed, covering half of her face with her hands as she tried to suppress her giggles, and he could only stare at her in surprise. "I am sorry. It just reminded me of those innocent children I used to play with alongside my brother; they always greeted us warmly with a wave of their hands, and I guess that simple gesture has stayed with me until now."

 

Adorable.

 

He doesn't know why, but Morax could feel the tips of his ears burning. The sudden warm sensation that he felt on his ears along with the back of his neck almost left his mind reeling into oblivion, that he couldn't help the urge to pull down his hood even more to hide the evidence of his newly found embarrassment.

 

A sudden realization struck him in, like a tree being stricken by a raging thunder coming out of nowhere.

 

That was it. The emotion that he felt at that moment was abashment, or if it was not— then something much closer to it.

 

And that was a first

 

"Are you alright?" 

 

"..."

 

She somehow leaned forward, "Morax?"

 

He made a placating gesture of his other hand, while pulling down the side of his hood with the other one. "I'm fine."

 

"So, I'm thinking that we should make our own kind of language to understand each other. What do you think?"

 

He side-glanced at her profile, "Continue."

 

"You knew about sign language, right?"

 

He shook his head.

 

"Oh? You didn't? That's a surprise. I thought you knew about that." Ying blinked, "It is a method of communicating that relies on hand gestures and movements, body language, and facial expressions rather than spoken words."

 

Ah, I see. So it's a nonverbal kind.

 

She hummed for a moment, and crossed her arms over her chest as she pondered over. "This could be difficult then. Let me think of another alternative."

 

They went silent after that, and instead of being comfortable with the silence— it was the exact opposite for Morax. Like, how could he? He should think of something else to help her (to help make their situation more expedient, less taxing and fruitful), or at least help her come up with any kind of suggestion to lessen her burdens. Thinking matters in the deepest sense was not really his forte, especially if it was not connected to his daily duties in his region.

 

And somehow, he inwardly wished he could ask Guizhong's input at some point.

 

But, in the end, he couldn't stop himself from brooding, with a frown marring his features, because he couldn't come up with any.

 

Several minutes later, Ying sighed beside him and scratched her head in resignation. "I'm sorry, I couldn't think of anything else aside from hand gestures."

 

"We should try it."

 

"Huh?"

 

"We should try it." he said repeatedly.

 

Ying looked at him seriously, and he returned the same look with his own. "Are you telling me you're up for it?"

 

He nodded, "Yes." 

 

She gave him a soft smile, "Then we should give it a try." 

 

Ying moved closer to him, causing his knee to collide with hers, but he simply ignored it. His sensitive nose, on the other hand, began to pick up on her familiar flowery scent—an inexplicable kind of natural perfume that some women possessed in their bodies. Guizhong had the same manner as Ying, but her perfume was more akin to the scent of her favorite flowers, such as Glaze Lilies, with a slight whiff of earth.

 

Meanwhile, Ying has a mysterious flowery scent on her person. Mature, but still innocent and sweet. A scent that he does not mind having around him because it soothes and calms the mind. 

 

Before he could get any more distracted by her flowery scent, he wanted to propose a long time idea of his.

 

In which to start teaching her his own language. Although the notion was nothing sort of easy on his part, he thought it was reasonable enough to teach her a part of himself in return for her patience and kindness over the months they had known each other.

 

But first, he wanted to share the basic greeting etiquette that he knew coming from his people.

 

While looking at her, he made a simple gesture with his hands; his right hand curled into a half fist and his left hand held the other hand. Ying was eyeing him in silence, obviously intrigued with the foreign hand gesture that he made in front of his chest.

 

"When greeting their peers in my region, humans used this simple gesture called Zuoyi."

 

"Shoyi?"

 

"Zuo-yi."

 

"Does that count as a formal greeting?"

 

"It could be."

 

Ying tried to imitate him, but he only shook his head and pointed to her right hand. "It is exactly the opposite."

 

"Eh?" she blinked as she did what he told, placing her right hand on top. "Is this what you meant?"

 

"That's right. In my region, women's honorable side is on the right, while men's honorable side is on the left. According to the ancient tales being spoken repeatedly by the mortals over a millennia, the left side is regarded as the important and honorable, while the right part is used for atta—"

 

"W-wait, do not go too fast. I am trying my best to understand…"

 

He blinked, but he nodded in understanding nonetheless. "My apologies."

 

"There are a few words and phrases in your language that I seem to understand—somehow— but given the linguistic barrier looming between us, I am still unsure if what I learned about your language in my own understanding is correct in the first place. But do not get me wrong, I'm not complaining in the least," she shook her head, "I just want you to please bear with me as I try to learn how to understand you."

 

He couldn't help but look at her properly this time. Her words, her sincerity, had really struck a chord in him, to the point where he felt compelled to chastise himself for being so oblivious to her inward struggles as she tried her hardest to understand him from the very beginning until then.

 

Between them, she was the narrator, while he was the listener. He was not good with words, so trying to talk to her for hours on end was literally out of the question (for him). He might ask her questions every now and then, but he had to admit that most of the time he let her do the talking.

 

(And Morax felt slightly ashamed of himself for allowing such behavior to continue without making any effort to assist her in overcoming their unfortunate situation.)

 

"I know," he said, his eyes softening as he continued to look at her while she anxiously fidgeted beside him. "My apologies for not realizing this sooner. I should have been more forthcoming with you, expressing my willingness to assist and accompany you as you worked through this situation."

 

It was at that moment that she finally turned her head, both of their eyes meeting in an instinct, like two pieces of magnet wanting to coincide and never to break away from each other.

 

"Let's start over again, and this time I am with you," he reassured her with a soft upturn of his lips, "Let's learn from each other, Ying." 

 

He was not sure if she totally understood what he told her, but Morax swore he saw her eyes and face light up, her cheeks a healthy shade of pink as she nodded at him with a beautiful smile.

 

How strikingly resplendent, he could only muse to himself that time.


"Ahhh," she plopped under the tree with a sigh and laid down, "That was nice. I feel like my feet are sore from chasing down a mammal like that, but it was fun."

 

He laid himself down beside her with some respectable space between them. "It was."

 

She turned her head to the side to look at him and gestured a few hand signs, "I hope you enjoyed yourself?"

 

Nodding, he made gestures with his hand in affirmation. "I am.

 

Ying smiled even more brightly, "I'm glad."

 

"Thank you." he said while making the correct hand gestures for gratitude.

 

They can finally understand each other this time without the issue of the language barrier between them. When Ying proposed teaching him what she called hand signs, he agreed without hesitation because he knew it would be beneficial to both of them. He even taught her his own language, especially the basics— and he had to say that she was a remarkable student to boot that she could remember any words from his mother tongue that he taught her. Ying also has a spectacular memory, he had a hunch that she might have an eidetic memory as well for being so sharp around her surroundings. 

 

Both of them were exchanging words back and forth with no difficulty, and the once awkward air around their heads dissipated along with the invisible walls that separated them. They talked a lot since then, and he was inwardly grateful for the opportunity to understand and exchange a plethora of words with her.

 

"Ying?"

 

"Hm?" she hummed, tilting her head to the side to look at him.

 

"Could you tell me the name of this tree?"

 

"Ah," she smiled as she looked at the tree, "it's a Wisteria tree."

 

"Wisteria.." Morax caught a falling single petal in his hand, "It's my first time seeing this kind of tree, but I have to say its beauty is glorious. It reminds me of a certain tree back home."

 

"Oh? What is it?"

 

"A Ginkgo tree." 

 

"Ging...go?"

 

"Gink-go,"

 

"Oh..." she blinked and then laughed, "Sorry about that. It sounds really foreign to me."

 

He shook his head, "Don't be. We both came from different worlds after all."

 

Ying nodded as she leaned back, closing her eyes. "Right." 

 

"May I hear one of your stories again today?"

 

"Sure. What do you want to hear?"

 

"Anything will do."

 

Ying smiled at his curt response, "Well then. I am in the mood to tell you about an ancient tale coming from a faraway land."

 

He perked up at that.

 

"A story about the kin of gentle, purest souls blest with the blood of cosmos running through their veins."


"I suppose my power was not enough to quell the madness." 

 

The avian adeptus retorted almost instantly, "This is preposterous. You took the greatest lengths to quell the foul miasma surrounding the region, Rex. How could this happen?"

 

"This is bad.." Guizhong muttered as she remembered the bed ridden villagers recuperating from the onslaught of miasma in their fragile bodies, "The miasma is getting worse in some parts of the region. If we don't do something, the people are no doubt at risk."

 

Guizhong was correct. The miasma got worse than ever. No, it was more like it increased—the negative energy multiplied tenfold, affecting living things such as plants, critters—

 

And now, it affected humans as well. Based on the witnesses' testimonies as well with the victims', the miasma attacked them head on; like it has a mind of its own. They dropped like flies the moment the miasma got them in its grasp, weakened them to the very bones and felt like their souls were being sucked out of their system. 

 

To them, it was like they were being branded by a curse.

 

He found it really unusual this time. The dark energies that percolated on his domain had, in fact, come from Chasm. But even so, he was assured and confident of dispelling the miasma, particularly on the borders. His raw power was sufficient enough to quell it, so the sudden onslaught of miasma within the borders made him skeptical. It was almost as if the miasma had been commanded by someone unknown to him to invade his lands.

 

But who? And why?

 

"Rex, are you listening? You're brooding."

 

Shaking his head internally, he turned to Guizhong and Cloud Retainer.

 

"My apologies. But there is something I want to check."

 

"We understand. But do you require some assistance?"

 

"No. I'll be fine on my own."

 

Without waiting for a response, he took off to the winds at such inhuman speed and he only slowed down the moment his eyes fell on his particular destination. Levitating until his bare feet touched the dead black grasses, he sized up the place with a serious scrutinizing gaze. The place sure looks normal for a mortal, but for the eyes of someone sublime such as him— could see the daunting abysmal-like mist on the other side, opposite to him.

 

To test his theory, he bravely moved closer with his bare arm stretched towards the ominous miasma that stayed beyond the border. 

 

The mist started to change, something like a moving shadow in response to his proximity. But then suddenly, the said shadow lashed out to him like a tentacle, devouring and trapping his whole arm with a vice grip.

 

Now absolutely convinced, Morax pushed a minimal of his raw power in his trapped arm. His flesh tingled as he felt the sudden surge of his power traveling on the ancient marks on his arm up until to the tips of his hand. The miasma latching on his arm was no match for his power, and it simply vanished into thin air, similar to how unexpected the attack occurred.

 

Morax thought that he managed to quell the miasma. He made a point of checking on its status on a regular basis, and it shows no signs of change in any way. It remained dormant at all times. But this time, it pounced on him like a snake on its prey.

 

(Just like what happened at Chasm, this miasma was on the offensive, attacking anyone in its vicinity.)

 

Now, he was finally convinced that someone was in control of the miasma.

 

Without a doubt.


Morax felt like his consciousness was slowly coming back to the surface. As he slowly opened his bleary eyes, what he saw right away was the profile of his longtime companion sitting closer next to him. Her long fingers glided through his dark locks as she hummed a familiar tune, distracted.

 

Bewildered, he could only stare at her in silence and feel the gentle touch of her fingers gliding through his hair. It was nice, he mused to himself. He couldn't explain the feeling, nor did he know the emotion by its name— but it was akin to the feeling that he always had whenever he flew heartily in the sky with no preambles.

 

Ying's fingers stopped the moment when her eyes caught his face. Slightly flustered from being caught red-handed, she instantly took her hand away from his hair and cleared her throat awkwardly.

 

"You're awake."

 

"I am," he replied curtly.

 

As he pushed himself from his supine position to sit next to her, he noticed a familiar brown cape being draped over him like a blanket. The familiar floral scent invaded his senses as he held the warm cloth in his hand. Somewhat confused, he turned his head towards her, who was obviously avoiding his gaze.

 

"This is yours, isn't it?" he asked quizzically, as he held the cape between them.

 

Frowning a little bit, she replied. "It is. What about it?" 

 

For a brief moment, he locked his gaze on her. The cape belonged to her, and he had never seen her without it since they met. He deduced that it was something important to her. She always wore a small cape on her shoulders, that he had no idea what she wore beneath it, along with her flowing skirt. He couldn't help but notice the unique style of habiliment she was wearing now that she was not wearing a cape. Simple white, similar to the color of her skirt, which was embellished with gold trimmings. The tops of her shoulders were also exposed, and her milky flesh had turned pink as a result of being exposed to the cold.

 

"Why?"

 

She doesn't look comfortable without her cape on. Why did she let him use the scrap of cloth to cover him up when it was obvious all along that it was unnecessary, especially for him, who has never been bothered by heat or cold?

 

"What are you talking about?"

 

"This," he said, referring to the cape on his hand. "You know this is completely unnecessary for me. I don't need a blanket, so why did you make me use this?"

 

As he said this, he saw the frown forming on her face as she looked back and forth between him and the cape. "Why not? No matter how much you insisted you did not feel cold or warm, seeing you without anything to protect your arms from it still bothered me."

 

He doesn't get it. But what about her? 

 

"But you don't look comfortable without it."

 

"What makes you say so?"

 

Dropping the cape on his lap, he reached out to touch her right shoulder, making her jolt from the suddenness. Her flesh was so cold to the touch that he couldn't stop himself from narrowing his eyes while looking at her. 

 

"You are cold. You needed the garment to cover yourself up more than I do." Morax held the cape and draped it over her shoulders properly, much to her surprise, "Unlike you, I am serious about not feeling anything in this realm. I am neither warm nor cold. Do not do this again next time."

 

Surprised and speechless by his soft reprimand, she only nodded meekly and drew the cape all over her to seek warmth from it.


It happened again. This time, the miasma attacked a small village during the night.

 

As he heard the panicked cries of mortals calling out the name of their revered god, he didn't hesitate to teleport himself to the place where his name was being called.

 

But everything was too late. The aberration of a miasma gnawed the flesh of the unfortunate people, spreading all around them as they moaned in pure agony. Their scleras also turned into black, giving them an aghast-like appearance enough to scare a normal human. 

 

They were possessed. He even saw some of them trying to attack other people by biting their victims enough to bleed, with manic expressions painting their faces as they moved mechanically— like a marionette being controlled by a puppeteer.

 

The cries of mortals filled his senses as he and the fellow adepti did their very best to quell the madness in the area. He even summoned pillars to protect the others from the spreading miasma and unleashed a half of his raw power to dominate and purge it.

 

He was trying to save the corrupted people like what he did with his arm back then, but it was too late.

 

He couldn't save them all as they dropped like flies one by one. Their bodies were simply too fragile to withstand it. The miasma already entered their system, leeching off whatever they had within them, along with their very soul. 

 

It became an unexpected tragedy, where everything happened in a blink of an eye. His people were shaken to the core, as heart wrenching sobs echoed through the night— expressing their despair to the skies.

 

He couldn't explain the feeling he was having, but he knew he was livid

 

Whoever controlled this miasma had really done it. They had harmed a quarter of his people, which could not be forgiven.

 

He is out for blood. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

 

Even if it was another god's doing, he had to pay for his puny life by inflicting harm on his innocent subjects within his domain.

 

He will exact his vengeance. They will have no choice but to face the consequences and feel the wrath of the rock.


"You woke up late this time. Tired?"

 

He was silent for a moment as he blinked his bleary eyes to adjust with the brightness.

 

"....My subjects died in front of me."

 

She was speechless for a moment as her golden eyes peered down at him to see his face. His face was still stoic as ever. "....my deepest condolences for your loss, Morax. How are you faring?"

 

Unperturbed, he replied. "I'm fine." 

 

"Are you?" she said, scooting closer to him as she plucked an innocent purple petal off his hair.

 

Morax remained silent as he watched the tree above him, staring at the flowers as it was pushed back and forth by the wind.

 

"I don't think you are. Are you certain?" she pushed again by inquiring.

 

"Yes, why wouldn't I be?"

 

"It's because your eyes are telling you the opposite."

 

As she spoke, his view of the tree above him changed, and he was greeted by her face upside down, hovering over him from a respectable distance. To say he was surprised was an understatement, but as he regarded her intently up close— he was certain that he didn't mind the attention she was giving him at the moment.

 

They were just staring at each other's eyes, but Morax thought it was a good distraction to dispel any dark thoughts that had begun to form inside his mind the moment he woke up.

 

He noticed a pink petal being stuck to her hair. Before he had the mind to stop himself, he reached out to her and plucked the flower gently out of her tresses. Ying was confused at first, but when she saw the petal on his finger— she couldn't help but smile.

 

She presented the purple petal that she plucked out of his hair to him, "Yours is purple."

 

"Pink." He murmured as he imitated her, also presenting the pink petal with his long fingers, beside hers with the purple petal.

 

She grinned, "Now you don't have that look in your eyes anymore. I'm glad."

 

"Look?" 

 

"You're always serious. I have to admit that your face is so stoic that it's pretty hard to discern what you're thinking about at times. My brother is like that too. He tends to keep everything to himself, especially if he doesn't want me to worry." she said, somewhat wistful. "But I'm a persistent kind of woman though. He denied it repeatedly, saying there was nothing wrong, not until I discovered another way to see what was going on in his mind by looking through his eyes alone. Since then, he has not been able to keep everything from me. I do not want him to bear the burdens alone, which is why I want him to be so open with me— his only sister."

 

He did not say anything to distract her as he remained motionless on his spot.

 

"Somehow, you remind me of my brother. He used to have those eyes like yours whenever he was thinking about things that were stressing him out. I do not know what you have been through, but I know how difficult it was to lose people you cherished all along. I do not know how I can help you, Morax, but I can assure you that you are not alone. I can listen if you do not have someone to talk to. Do not keep it to yourself, alright?"

 

Morax was definitely speechless. He couldn't tell what was the name of the feeling he had as of that moment, but he felt so light, like he finally got his ability back to breathe once again. Her words always struck a chord in him. Guizhong and Cloud Retainer were his dear friends, but they were not bold enough to tell their sweeping thoughts in regards to him. Perhaps the former was close enough, Guizhong can be bold sometimes and she always speaks what was on her mind— but compared to Ying, it was totally different.

 

He saw Guizhong as a special ally. Without Guizhong, he wouldn't know what to do with his people. She was a bridge between him and the subjects that he was inclined to protect with all his life. Guizhong was also like a mentor to him at some point, teaching him what to do and what to avoid. Teaching him the ways of humanity, to comprehend the minds of a mortal, and to know how to adapt with a human-kind of life. Without her, he wouldn't see any improvements to himself. As a god who ruled a large region in Teyvat.

 

But Ying, he was not sure what to make of her. They're close enough to see each other as acquaintances. But somehow, he felt like their bond and connection was more than that.

 

But he had no idea what it was. Her words always had the power to appease him, distract him from unsavory thoughts of bloodshed or something similar to it where it made him brood for the whole time.

 

"Thank you," he said, and he meant it. This woman was like a breath of fresh air to him, and seeing her happy, smiling face made him feel so light.

 

"Don't be silly. I didn't do anything at all."

 

He only grunted as he slightly pushed himself to sit beside her, much closer this time with their shoulders and legs touching. "Will you tell me another story today?"

 

Chuckling, she replied with a slight nudge on his side. "Do you really have to ask?"

 

Somewhat endeared by the sound of her chuckles, he almost sigh as he leaned back on the tree bark behind him. "I think not." 

 

"Stop being so formal, Morax." 

 

He couldn't help the smile that was forming on his usually stoic face, "I apologize."

 

"Let's start then," Ying started, "I still haven't told you about my favorite fable yet."

 

"Let's hear it."

 

Pleased by the eagerness of his tone, Ying responded with a smile. "I'll tell you a story about the benevolent demon named Xiao."


He was doing his regular inspections along the region for the whole day, as well as trying to find some clues where he could find the culprit of the miasma. His search continued being fruitless for months, and to say it doesn't irk him beyond belief was an absolute understatement. So when he was about to go back to his abode to retire, the goddess spotted him from the fields and asked him to accompany her. While he didn't mind sharing a couple of words with her before he retired for the night, he couldn't help but be intrigued at the new beautiful sword she was carrying.

 

(And that is how he found himself watching her in the middle of the night with a sword in hand, where a waning crescent looked upon them from above, giving them enough moonlight to shine down on them.)

 

While Guizhong was completely inept at sword fighting (due to her inability to fight against stronger opponents due to her weak constitution), she did know how to use a sword for a different purpose— which was to dance with the way of the sword.

 

As he watched carefully at the distance, he had to admit that the Goddess of Dust absolutely knew her way with the weapon as she danced gracefully on the fields, with her long robes following the motion of each step and every thrust of her sword in the air. Guizhong was entirely focused on her dance number, as if she was doing a grand performance in public— trying to woo people with her art.

 

In all honesty, Morax was enchanted, she made a beautiful image with her traditional dance. With the way she carried herself with a sharp sword, brandishing the said weapon and twirling it in graceful touches of her wrist— it was undeniably a spectacular scene. 

 

He, who absolutely appreciated traditional arts in all their forms, thoroughly enjoyed watching his friend perform. So when she finally ended her performance with a clean toss of her sword and swiftly catched it single-handedly, Morax started clapping and Guizhong only bowed her head with her sword behind her for the closing remark.

 

"How..." Guizhong started as she let out a deep breath, "...How was it?"

 

"It was spectacular," he replied honestly and continued, "The way you move along with the sword was graceful. As a spectator, I was truly impressed. It was a splendid performance, and you look beautiful with a sword." Morax eyed the sword in her hand, completely unaware of the flustered look the goddess was sporting at the moment. "It's my first time seeing that sword with you. Is that yours?"

 

She cleared her throat and responded, "Y-yes. I just think it's much better to practice using a real sword instead of a sham." Guizhong made her way back to him and offered him the weapon, "Want to see it?"

 

He only reached out for the weapon and checked it out with a studious look. The weapon was beautiful, and it was very light to hold. "It's a perfect sword to be wielded by a woman with a short stature. It's simple enough as well, not too pretentious, and I daresay it's beautiful." he said, "It suits you."

 

She smiled meekly, "Thank you."

 

"And also, the prestige tassel. What a good decision, it will help you with the balance point of your sword." He handed her back the sword.

 

"Oh, it is." Guizhong nodded with a smile as she got her weapon back, "I was told by a friend once that a tassel with jade stones or marbles would indeed help me handle the sword, and he gave me this. It was once his, he just gave it to me as a memento."

 

"The mortal friend of yours?"

 

"Yes. He gave it to me before he died."

 

So the tassel was from her deceased mortal friend.

 

He only nodded and stared at the distance as the both of them went silent. But then he suddenly remembered what Cloud Retainer had told him several months ago.

 

"If she asks about it, tell her, alright?"

 

He felt somehow uncomfortable from keeping it away from her. Whether Guizhong asked about it or not, he thought it was pretty unfair for the goddess to be the only one who was kept in the dark about his meeting with a mortal from another world.

 

So he made a decision. Morax wanted to tell her about Ying. Guizhong at least deserved that, after all, she was a friend of his.

 

"There is something I want to tell you," he started, wherein the goddess perked up at that as she put her sword away.

 

"What is it?" 

 

"Remember the time where I had asked you if gods are capable of dreaming?"

 

She nodded, "Yes, I do remember that. What about it?"

 

"Before that, I stumbled upon a realm." he confessed, "And met a certain someone in there. I was skeptical at first and thought if I was only dreaming, but it happened again and again, until it didn't feel like I was in a dream anymore."

 

"Does it feel like a reality?" she asked.

 

"It does feel like it," he admitted and continued, "But whether it is a dream or not, that realm is a work of art. It even has beautiful places in it. It was like a safe haven for gods."

 

"Hmm… About this certain someone," she trailed, "who is it?"

 

"Her name is Ying. Remember the flower I showed you way back along with Zhenjun? That flower exists in that realm, and I think the flower in my possession came from her." 

 

"Oh."

 

He blinked. Her tone sounded off to him somehow, so out of instinct, he decided to check over her. And what he saw then, baffled him to the most extent.

 

She doesn't look happy. Why does she look so doleful?

 

"Guizhong?"

 

"Could you tell me more about it?" she asked softly, smiling albeit forcefully. "Please? I always have the feeling that something is going on with you in these past few months. I feel like I'm being left out. Does Cloud Retainer know as well?"

 

He doesn't get it. Did he just say something wrong? "Yes." 

 

Now that he thinks about it, he almost got the same reaction from Cloud Retainer. She even suggested that he should tell Guizhong about Ying, which made him skeptical at the time. Was the idea of meeting her in secret really that preposterous to them? Or was he just overthinking things?

 

Cloud Retainer didn't mention anything about Ying after that, but she didn't seem thrilled at all at the same time when she remembered about Guizhong.

 

Perhaps, something was going on with the goddess?

 

"Are you alright?" he asked, almost uncertain.

 

"What kind of question is that?" she said with a wry chuckle, "Of course I am. Please continue, tell me more about her. What kind of woman is she?"

 

At her friendly response, Morax finally relaxed and spoke. "She is an extraordinary woman who is good at telling stories from her world."

 

"Her world? So she came from a different world then?"

 

He nodded and confirmed, "Yes, she is."

 

"I have always thought those stories you shared with us were a little bit peculiar," she hummed, "so all of it came from her?"

 

"Aa, everything. Aren't they interesting?"

 

"They are."

 

"She is pretty knowledgeable as well. She told me a lot of things that I thought were impossible, but they are actually true."

 

"Like?"

 

"Like you can make an egg bounce," He said so randomly and seriously, which made her look at him incredulously, "but it could still break though, unfortunately."

 

Guizhong was absolutely stupefied beyond belief as she replied, "Is that even possible?"

 

"Yes," he agreed, "you can make a bouncy egg by soaking it in vinegar for three days."

 

Her incredulity was still visible on her face as she inquired. "You can?"

 

"Yes, you can. In fact, I tried it way back and it surprised me as well that it worked."

 

"It sounds like a simple experiment," Guizhong said, still wide-eyed with the information, "but it piqued my interest, and I think I might try that as well."

 

"You must immerse it in a glass of vinegar for a few days."

 

"And what happens to the egg?"

 

"The shell will dissolve, leaving you with a naked egg."

 

"Naked egg?" she exclaimed, stunned.

 

"That is what Ying always refers to it as, and I think it does look naked—somehow—because it doesn't have a shell."

 

"Impressive....really impressive; I would love to try that later and see how it turns out."

 

"Ying is just so knowledgeable about a lot of things. Even as a mortal, she shared a lot of wonders, and nothing feels tedious when she's with you."

 

"She sounds like a spectacular woman indeed. It's obvious enough that you enjoyed her company."

 

"If you met her, you will think so as well. She's just...so different, I suppose."

 

They went silent, but then Guizhong asked him a certain question that made him eye her from the corner of his eye.

 

"Is she beautiful to you?"

 

He actually doesn't know where that question even came from, but he was sure it was pointless to lie at the proper question she presented; so he made sure to answer her simply without lies.

 

"I have to admit she is beautiful, in an otherworldly sense. Bright, she reminds me of the moon sometimes. I knew the fact she is a mortal, but the way she carried herself almost differed her from any mortals I see. It felt like she was too far to reach, somehow. And to think a god like me would think of her that way, it feels too surreal."

 

"I see. Some mortals could be like that in the eyes of a divinity sometimes. I remembered I used to feel that way on Weiyuan as well, so I understood the feeling." she said almost wistfully as she idly played with the purple tassel of her sword. "What's more about her?"

 

"She sings everytime, and her songs are splendid. She almost reminds me of you."

 

"...I see." she muttered something in herself but all he just caught with his ears were the words of 'interest' and 'musical instruments'.

 

Guizhong finally stood beside him as she reached for the sword, "I think it's getting late, Rex."

 

He agreed as he stood as well, "It is. I have to retire for now, and you should as well."

 

She smiled, but her smile didn't even reach her eyes. "I will. Thank you for accompanying me tonight. Have a good night."

 

"Likewise." he nodded in response as he flew away.

 

And, unbeknownst to him, Guizhong stayed another hour, trying to nurse the unmistakable pain in her chest that she had felt throughout the conversation about her.


Ever since what happened on the Chasm, miasma incidents were getting more frequent. The miasma has the ability to possess mortals, and because it has control over both the body and the mind, it has the potential to transform the possessed individual into a ghastly figure and turn them rabid the moment the miasma corrupts their minds.

 

While it could be cured if purged instantly, still, the alarming rate of its transmission when the miasma began to enter someone's body was just so fast that even he was inclined to believe how totally severe it was for humans if they became infected.

 

(But this was expected, after all, someone was controlling the miasma along with the shadows.)

 

And now, the miasma attacks happened again when her people and the adepti were celebrating in the name of his fellow god, Marchosius. It was all fun and festive at first, until the unknown instantly broke the joyous event where humans were running in stampede, away from those ghastly looking mortals who growled like beasts and attacked and hurt people along the way. 

 

The whole place was a bloodbath mess with several corpses lying on the ground, either infected or not— it was not a pleasant image to look upon.

 

Morax couldn't resort to violence. He couldn't hurt the infected people, because he knew they could be cured if it was not too late enough. He and his adepti began restraining the possessed mortals and started curing them by purging the miasma away from their bodies. He made shields out of Geo to protect the others from being scratched or bitten by the others, but even if he made protective constructs for the others, it was still not enough for him to mass produce shields for everyone where there was an ongoing stampede. He couldn't shield people properly if they ran all over the place like ants, and he couldn't as well create a large shield without even shielding the infected ones along with the normal ones.

 

Everything was just in chaos, and he felt bad for Marchosius who was also helping them restraining possessed mortals by herding them with his large stature. The festival was supposed to be momentous and joyous for his friend, but in a blink of an eye, it simply just led to tragedy. For sure, the Stove God was having a lot of questions as to who was their adversary for the whole entire time; but he didn't say anything as he continued to help him and his followers by quelling the madness all over the area.

 

While he was doing his very best to channel all of his power to reach the mass while quelling the very unstable miasma encroaching the area like a plague, he also witnessed how rabid the infecteds were as they attacked innocent people. Their growls coalesced with the screams of pain of the other victims, crying the name of their loved ones or his name as they begged for help. Some were devoured, messily, as blood spurted all around like a fountain. Some even died due to excessive blood loss, while the others were helped by some adepti being led by Ganyu by doing first aid at the last minute.

 

"Now!" Cloud Retainer and her band of crane followers flocked over the place with adeptal energies surrounding them. They made a decagon formation from above and created a huge dome to enclose all of them— successfully cutting the miasma off from controlling the people. He wanted to remark about her quick thinking, but he had to focus on doing his job instead of anything else.

 

Morax began to mark one by one of those possessed mortals in the vicinity. Now that the miasma was getting weaker inside the dome, it was his chance to take advantage of the situation to use his power to its full potential. 

 

Geo crystals began to sprout from the earth as it slowly covered the infected people up to their torsos to restrain them. The infected only growled in anger, their eyes mad, as they tried to gnaw the crystal out of them. He made sure that the crystals were strong enough not to break, and he just noticed that all of them were doing the same. From growling and gnawing the crystals restraining them, when they found out that they couldn't get out of the crystal— they began to weep and moan out of pain. And somehow, he almost thought that they seemed mechanical based on their behavior. 

 

The sound of their animalistic growls and their teeth clacking against the crystals almost grated his ears, along with their moans of pain. Morax started channeling his energy on the crystals, and slowly, their black scleras disappeared and the weird black marks began to recede. One by one, the restrained people started to reclaim their awareness back.

 

"I-I hurt my s-sister Meimei… t-too much bl-blood…."

 

"..... save us from the shadows...uhuuuu.."

 

"Nnngh... we're cursed, M-Milord. Please help me. I'm afraid I might harm my family—"

 

"...it hurts so much, it hurts so much…!" 

 

"T-the shadows will lock us up! It will make us lose control again, Milord! Please help us!"

 

"Oh Lord Adepti, please!"

 

They were slowly getting more coherent as he released them from the confines. Some of them were shaken to the core after he released them, crying at the blood in their hands and mouth, while the others couldn't help themselves as they puke out the contents of their stomach— obviously sick at the thought of hurting others by tearing their flesh.

 

Ganyu and the rest took the initiative to check up on each of them. Everything was just a mess, he mused to himself, as he made sure to dominate the whole area with his power. His power of Geo almost spiked all around the area, even the ground seemed to hum in gratitude in every step he took. The pandemonium was not over yet, and he had to go out of the dome in order to purge the remaining malicious miasma. Cloud Retainer and her followers were already doing a great job on trying to quell it, but it was not enough to repel it with their adepti arts.

 

He could still see the black aura hovering around the dome but it looked like it was aware of the cleansing power that the adepti had— so it didn't even bother trying to attack it as it normally should. As he stepped outside of the dome, some remaining infected individuals tried to attack him on every side, to the point of flocking him, but he only casted a shield around him in time and used a certain amount of his power to stun them temporarily with his petrification ability. They stood like breathing ghastly statues around him and Geo crystals began to sprout from the earth to encase them from the bottom up to their necks.

 

He could feel Cloud Retainer's eyes along with her fellow cranes looking at his back as he did his purging process. Unlike those victims inside the dome, the victims that were left behind were a lot more ghastly looking with their skin so pale with black sickly marks adorning their faces, neck and arms. As he forced his adepti energy to cleanse them, their animalistic howls reverberated in sequence as if they were trying to call something in the air— until when he turned his head upwards, the miasma began to move like shadows and Cloud Retainer and the others could only look at it warily as they pushed a lot of cleansing aura to protect the people inside the dome.

 

The hovering miasma was acting up from the animalistic howls of the infected and Morax couldn't understand what were the implications of each shriek of every individual; but he couldn't just ignore his gut feeling that something would likely happen if he wouldn't do something to quicken the curing process. So he doubled his efforts of forcing his power upon them on a large scale just in case the miasma was trying to get a hold on them from above.

 

Their screams of pain continued in a minute until each of them began to lose consciousness one by one, with their black eerie marks beginning to recede. His arms felt like it was shooting electricity from the magnanimous power he was trying to call forth out of his body, as bright Geo marks began to appear on the ground— with lots of ancient symbols that only he and a few senior adepti could decipher the meaning. 

 

He was planning to protect the people with his mark and cast a protective cleansing aura just in case a stray miasma would spot and attack them. The marks that appeared on the ground had made their way to the people inside the dome and latched on them— leaving a mark with the color of gold in their flesh.

 

And that was when he spotted the familiar figure of one goddess, with a child dragging her as they jogged on their way to him. Guizhong looked pretty alarmed as she tried to stop the child from running by trying to pull out her hand, but the child seemed uncharacteristically strong as she dragged the discombobulated goddess in tow. 

 

Then the unthinkable happened, all of the miasma above began to form like a huge ball, zeroed out on the unusual child, and it suddenly invaded the small body. 

 

For sure, that's the core of the miasma.

 

Morax was too surprised by the sudden turn of events, and he mostly didn't expect that the child was under the influence of the miasma. So when the child suddenly bit Guizhong on the hand, the goddess' ear-splitting scream almost rattled him to the core that he didn't even thought of anything else as he rushed his way through them in a blink of an eye— and threw a sharp steely rock spear on the child to separate her away from the goddess.

 

The child only chuckled merrily as she evaded the rock spear effortlessly and took a large step back.

 

"How despicable," he glared at the culprit who was laughing at the distance, obviously mocking them in glee. 

 

Guizhong was in tears as she screamed in pain from the bitten wound. He had a mind to help her staunch the blood flow by compressing his large hand on her, but he couldn't ignore the remaining threat who just summoned a beast out of the shadows and attacked both of them. Before the monster could hit them with its sharp claws, Morax scooped the wounded goddess and immediately teleported inside the dome.

 

Marchosius was beside them right away along with Ganyu and the other adepti. Guizhong's bleeding wound turned really bad, with dark vein-like marks appearing from the wound up until it crawled all the way to her whole arm. As he placed her down, he looked at the monster on the other side and was about to leave when Guizhong stopped him by the wrist.

 

"T-the child," she rasped, shaking. "Please don't hurt the child. She's innocent, I swear. Save her, Rex. Please."

 

He only looked down at her and gently pried off her grip, he talked to Ganyu instead. "Please look after the people in here, and her as well. Guizhong is wounded."

 

Ganyu nodded anxiously, "I understand, Milord."

 

"I have to settle this once and for all. I will change course to divert the miasma away from here, and when I do, make sure all of you have left; return to the assembly, it is much safer there."

 

He made sure that his marks were enough to protect the mortals, and he knew he could count on Cloud Retainer and the other adepti as well to look out for any threats.

 

After relaying his orders, he immediately took off, summoned his spear, and pursued the remaining infected mortal who had the core of the miasma.

.

.

.

.

.

The long time chase of searching for the core had finally revealed itself to him. If anything, Morax had a battle to settle.

 

This is no time to waste, he continued to chase the child who just made a hundreds of monsters who left a trail of death on its wake, making the healthy grasses turned to black, even the soil turned barren and desiccated. Morax summoned several amber spears out of nowhere and he rained it upon the beasts. While his offensive approach does work, the more he eliminated those on the way, it just doubled and doubled until it felt like it was a hassle chore to kill all of them. The shadow beasts just tripled in every kill, but Morax didn't bat an eye no matter how grueling it was as he continued to eliminate those by raining his spears (now imbued with cleansing aura, in order to protect his poor lands).

 

The chase had almost wrecked havoc in his lands, but the roundabout game of tag had finally come to an end when the crazed child suddenly doubled over in the plains, looking pained as ever as her screams got louder in every second. The shadow beasts even began to drop like flies as they vanished one by one. He was completely perplexed by the unexpected turn of events, and before approaching the child, he cast a strong shield around him and floated his way through her; but then another unthinkable thing happened regarding the miasma again.

 

The poor child started crying as she spewed something out of her mouth, and every cough she made caused her to vomit that vile looking inky vomitus on the ground while convulsing. He has no idea what was going on with the child, but he had a feeling something was wrong with her—somehow.

 

His suspicion was that the miasma was too much for the child to bear, so her body was naturally ejecting the vile entity from her by spewing it out. Because of how much she was convulsing on the ground as she lay in her own black vomit, there was a greater chance that she could not handle the amount of miasma that would cause a rapid deterioration of her small body, which was starting to look like it was the case. 

 

Morax remembered Guizhong's last words to him, that he finally made a move to help the child. With a silent order of his element, he encased the child protectively with a shield in order for her not to hurt herself while she convulsed. He waited for the child to stop convulsing, but Morax couldn't help but be uneasy of how she was getting paler in every second.

 

"Child, do you hear me?"

 

Morax began to rest his hand on top of her head as he channeled his adepti energy on her after the child made only garbled noises. He saw how deplorable the child was in her state, that it doesn't make sense to him why the miasma chose (at the last minute) to invade a small body that couldn't even handle its power to house it. While she continuously ejected the vile looking vomitus out of her, his simple trick seemed to work on her when her convulsions stopped— but then after a few moments, she lost consciousness. He touched the child's forehead and saw how the color returned to her cheeks again. She was still alive and breathing. Stable, he mused to himself with relief. However, his moments of reprieve were cut to short again when the inky liquid began to morph into something— like a humanoid figure but covered in black.

 

But he was much quicker than the suspicious entity though. So when he grabbed it on its neck as it flailed pitifully in his grasp, Morax created a shackles made out of earth to restrain it. The entity was absolutely at his mercy, that it didn't even fight back to gain its freedom. He couldn't explain the feeling he was having at that moment, but he felt like he was about to burst at the seams of how livid he was with the torment it did to his people.

 

Because of it, many of his subjects died.

 

"Who are you?"

 

"....kukuku..! Curses…! Curses…!" Instead of answering him, the entity only cackled at him, which fuelled his anger even more. "....kukukuku! Currrrrr…sssseeeesss!" 

 

How despicable, he cringed inwardly. It just reminded him of those mindless aquatic monsters Osial proudly referred to as his loyal army of depths.

 

(He doesn't want to think about those repulsive slimy creatures.)

 

The more it cackled to his face with absolute abandon, he squeezed its neck even more. He couldn't help the sneer from appearing on his face as he leaned forward.

 

"Do not make me repeat twice. Who are you?"

 

"I am no one," The entity answered with a cackle, "I am no one!"

 

Amber eyes flashed dangerously as he channeled his adepti power on the entity, absolutely zapping him with the cleansing spell.

 

"You are testing my patience. I have no mercy for such vile creatures such as you. I can go on with this until you die." He declared as he pushed a lot of his adepti energy. The entity only struggled in his grasp pitifully, with its black limbs beginning to deteriorate slowly into black wisps. 

 

"Speak.

 

"I….ammm nooo onnnneeee..! Am just...a shaaaadddow…! Jussssst a shadow..!"

 

"Tsk," Visibly pissed, Morax tutted to himself but he still pushed on. "You are no god. Who is the one who made you?"

 

Wheezing, the entity only shook in his grasp but he could see that it was trying to talk.

 

It screamed in pain, its screechy voice almost grated his ears painfully. "Aaaaaah! I-it hurts…! No more…! No more…!" 

 

Blinking, he loosened his grip on its neck and he even stopped on forcing his adepti energy on it, but the restraints were still in there. "Answer."

 

"....it's…. it's!" 

 

He frowned when he saw how its limbs began to deteriorate a little bit faster. He noticed that the more it tried to speak, its body parts slowly disintegrated into nothingness.

 

Something is wrong with this core, he mused to himself.

 

"....the shaddoooooowssss will conquer…! Theeeee sha...dows….. will bring….calamity..! Kukukuku…! Curses…! Curses….!"

 

"..."

 

"Agh! ...My lordddddddd will be... disappointed… You! Curses, Lord of Geo…! Cursssseeesss…!" 

 

Lord?

 

"Who..?" The entity was absolutely talking in gibberish circles that he couldn't really follow at all.

 

"Kukukukuku, myyyyy looooord has the powerfulllll goooood on his sideeeeee," The entity hissed as it continued to talk in raspy tones, "....they urrrrgh— won't sssstooop untillll they defeaaaat yoooooou..!"

 

Morax didn't say anything as he let the entity talk, and was only paying attention to each word it said. "....cursessss! Cursesssss! I faileeeed! My lord, please give me another chance..! I will do better…!" 

 

The disintegration process of the entity's body began to speed up, much to Morax's utter disbelief. He doesn't even understand what was going on with the core as it only screamed and repeated the same sentence all over again like it was already out of its mind. It seemed to panic somehow based on its unusual and hysterical behavior.

 

Perhaps it was already dysfunctional at the very beginning. After all, dysfunctional entities made by some other crazy gods was pretty common, so it was not a surprise. Morax also noticed that it kept mentioning this particular lord, which made him wonder who this lord was. It was the key to his long-running investigation into who was antagonizing him and endangering his subjects in the shadows.

 

Shadows, he frowned to himself as he thought.

 

"....myyyy looooord, please heaaaar me! Have mercyyyyy!"

 

It continued to wail, until the most unexpected thing happened in the blink of an eye.

 

"I beg you, Lord Vaaaaaaaaas—"

 

Morax was literally left dumbfounded as he watched how the entity suddenly disintegrated in front of his eyes, leaving swirls of black wisps in its wake until it dispersed along the winds.

 

He eyed it in complete disbelief.

 

The core of the miasma disappeared.


As he stepped inside the transparent-like protective adepti barriers of the assembly, he was greeted by some hawkish and relieved looks from the subjects he had just saved from the possession. On his arms was the young child who had been possessed earlier, whose skin was no longer pale and had returned to a healthier, pinkish color. Despite being covered in dried black ink from head to toe, the child snored softly and slept like a log. A few moments later, he noticed a worried but relieved Cloud Retainer. With a simple command to a nearby adepti, he passed the young child and asked the human-disguised adepti to attend to her—to which he politely nodded in return.

 

He couldn't explain it, but he felt so bothered and downright beaten. What happened on the plains made him skeptical, frustrated, and angry. Morax had been looking for clues about the cause of miasma for months, but all in one snap, it just disintegrated in front of him like a wraith.

 

And he wouldn't forget the entity's last wail. It was supposed to be someone's name. Certainly the name of the said deity he wished to hunt all throughout the ends of Teyvat. The one who controlled the miasma in the shadows.

 

Lord Vas? Who was this Lord Vas?

 

"Rex, are you alright?" Cloud Retainer asked him with an incline of her head, her beady eyes looking at him intently as if she was trying to discern what was wrong.

 

Perhaps everyone could sense his foul mood because the place was so quiet that he almost thought dropping a single pebble would disrupt the silent orchestra.

 

He was tempted to answer "no" to his acquaintance, but he only ignored the question with a question of his own. "How is everyone?"

 

If Cloud Retainer noticed his obvious attempt at avoidance, she chose not to bother with it as she replied to his question. All is well, she said, continuing her long reports about what happened while he was gone, but Morax was too disconnected from himself and the people around him—that everything she just said was like a blur.

 

He couldn't make out all of them, until he finally heard Guizhong's name.

 

"Guizhong… how is she?" he asked.

 

"The bite wound would probably leave a nasty scar when it gets healed. The goddess was pretty shaken from the sudden turn of events, but she is fine." she replied with a sigh, "She's very worried about you. If you are so kind enough to check up on her despite your visible foul mood, please go see her. "

 

He nodded slowly in response, "I will." he paused and asked again, "Marchosius?"

 

"Ah, he is resting somewhere here. I think he got tired from procuring food for everyone. He also helped strengthen the barriers when we arrived, so I guess it took a toll on him."

 

"I will express my deepest gratitude to him later for his assistance." 

 

Cloud Retainer nodded, "He would greatly appreciate it."

 

They chatted a few words until the divine crane excused herself to see Ganyu. Morax then went in search of the goddess, who was sitting in her usual spot in the assembly while tinkering with a scrap of metal on her lap. When she saw him coming, she immediately stood up and searched over him, looking for any wounds or anything else that he did not even have in his body. He only let her do it just to ease her anxiety. He didn't even reject her soft touches here and there, as he only watched in silence.

 

"You are safe," she said in complete relief, "The child?"

 

"Safe," he responded in return, "She is sleeping."

 

Guizhong sighed as she sat back on her seat, with her heavily bandaged left arm sticking like a sore thumb at her side. "I'm so relieved to hear that. I was deeply worried about the child. She got separated from her mother and her father was killed in the stampede. I'm not really sure if she has remaining relatives, but I hope her mother is still alive."

 

"The child is already safe; she can look up for her mother later when she wakes up," he explained, blinking as he went on. "If you are still concerned, you could help her search if you want."

 

"I'll keep that in mind, and thank you, Rex." Guizhong said genuinely, her eyes almost glowed in the dark when the candle lights flickered on her face. He had to admit that the goddess looked so bewitching in front of him that he couldn't help but admire her beautiful features in the dark. "Thank you for heeding my request to save the child."

 

He shook his head, "I did not do anything, I just stabilized her. Her great willpower was the one who helped her in the end." 

 

After a brief moment of silence, he inquired. "How is your hand?"

 

"They cleaned it and applied a healing ointment to it; compared to the others who were severely injured, this is completely nothing."

 

"Did it hurt?"

 

She shook her head with a gentle smile, "A little. It just left a mark, but it's still nothing that time couldn't heal." 

 

"You're strong, Guizhong," he said with genuine approval, "I deeply admire that particular trait from you."

 

"Haha… enough with the jest." she laughed dryly to herself, "I'm not strong, Rex. I couldn't even do anything. What I can only offer is my wits and knowledge, nothing more."

 

"Just because your body is frail," he commented, "does not mean you are not strong. Mentally, you are stronger than you can imagine, and probably stronger than I am."

 

He was graced by her surprised face and couldn't help himself as he offered her a tiny smile, "I heard from Cloud Retainer that you were worried all day, and I hope my presence right now has helped to alleviate it."

 

As he said that, he was absolutely taken aback when she suddenly threw herself at him. With her hands curled on his chest, she pressed her body close to his as she sought out for his comfort. Despite being so dumbfounded, Morax didn't even think of pushing her away. In fact, he just let her seek some comfort in his presence, or in his body or his warmth. He stood still, along with her in the middle of a restricted part of the assembly where she often conducts her research; where they were surrounded by dust and candles, and a few scrap of ruin machines that she studies in her spare time.

 

"I…. I was scared the whole time," she finally confessed, "I wanted to help everyone. I wanted to help you, but I couldn't. I'm too weak, Rex. I'm too weak."

 

Morax felt her shaking in front of him, he reassured. "I know. It must be really hard for you not to do anything, but don't be so remorseful, Guizhong."

 

"...I don't want to be useless."

 

"You are not useless."

 

"No, no... I am. I could not even brandish my sword in front of an enemy, despite knowing how to defend myself. I am just so useless, too weak."

 

"..."

 

"I could not even help the adepti, not even Cloud Retainer, not even you," she continued as she rested her forehead on his chest with a soft thump. "And you don't want me to be remorseful? How could you…?"

 

He was silent for a moment, but then he replied. "I think you are misunderstanding something."

 

"I just wanted to be of use to my people! I don't want to be a burden, not to you! Can you see all of the scrap of machines in here? I didn't study them for nothing, Rex! I… I'm just too weak, and it pains me…"

 

"..."

 

"When I first saw you, I sought you out because your strengths are way beyond compared to mine. When we bonded together, I was so happy… because not only I gained a powerful ally with me, but I wanted to show you what I'm capable of even though I'm a lot more inferior to you."

 

"Guizhong."

 

"Please answer me, Rex. I just wanted to be acknowledged for various reasons—"

 

"Guizhong." He stressed out her name even more to make her stop and listen.

 

"—and for being weak and a burden to all of you is not one of them..!"

 

He suddenly grasped both of her shoulders, much to the goddess' surprise. Morax then eyed her intently, his eyes burning with grave seriousness that made her almost wince in front of his scrutiny. 

 

"You are not a burden," he declared to her, gravely. "Never you will be, and that is my answer."

 

"..!"

 

"You are misunderstanding something. But you are not a burden, goddess. Not even Cloud Retainer, the adepti, your people, nor Marchosius think of you as one."

 

He removed his hands away from her, "Whether you believe me or not, you knew me well enough to know that I do not lie, Guizhong. My words are absolute. There is no reason for me to feed you lies."

 

Morax looked around him and his gaze fell upon her again as he took a step back, "You need rest, it's late. Think about what I've told you. You are not a burden, not to me."

 

His words seemed to reach her in some way because she had calmed down.

 

"I believed you had told me once during our first meeting that you will act as my brain, while I will be your brawn."

 

"...Rex…"

 

"It is my duty to protect those who are weaker than me; if anything, I am also your shield, Guizhong, just like for everyone else."


He was still unable to calm the raging storm within him.

 

As he left Guizhong that night, he went outside the assembly's protective barriers and sat on a nearby boulder, gazing at the dark sky full of millions of stars. His mind was absolutely in total disarray, and he could not decide what to do. He kept on thinking what would be the next plan. And last but not the least, he kept wondering what the last clue was.

 

The core was supposed to be his big lead in his hunt for the miasma attacks, but it simply vanished into thin air before it could reveal who was behind it. It was almost as if it did not want it to talk any further, and revealing any small amount of information about this lord meant dispersing or dying.

 

He frowned momentarily. It may sound morbid in some ways, but the practice was fairly common among ancient deities. Branding curses on people for discussing sensitive information with others, which could lead to their deaths.

 

Again with the curses, he thought to himself as he stared hardly on a particular bright star in the sky, but it does feel like a curse though. 

 

Curses

 

Miasma

 

Shadows

 

The answer felt so close, yet so far. What exactly was it? Why couldn't he figure out the last piece of the puzzle?

 

Curses, miasma, shadows..

 

He was the lord of the region. He knew the names of the people and some other deities who lived in his land. But why couldn't he figure out who was responsible for the attacks?

 

"Shadows who are capable of controlling the miasma, that it could possibly also be imbued with a curse." he mumbled to himself as he brooded, "An ability to control shadows, someone who had the affinity for it."

 

He closed his eyes to think deeply of every god that he knew by name who resided in his region. Why hadn't he thought of this before? If he had done so, he could have saved himself a lot of trouble.

 

Think more deeply. 

 

Someone who had the ability to control the shadows. 

 

Someone who had the affinity for it.

 

Shadows, shadows, shadows.

 

A god with a name that started with "Vas".

 

As he scanned every name and face that had been imprinted on his mind for eternity, he finally stumbled on one particular name that was almost identical to the criteria.

 

A god known for his greed and treachery. A traitor to his own brother. One of the scapegrace of the ancient deities in Teyvat.

 

Vassago, the Lord of Darkness, who has the affinity to control the shadows.

Notes:

How was it? Hope you enjoyed it so far. Tell me what you think, and comments are appreciated as well. ( ꈨຶ ˙̫̮ ꈨຶ )

See you in the next (long) update.
— springfieldofcherryblossoms/umi-sen-yama-sen

Chapter 4: The Mission

Notes:

Hello, I'm back after a brief hiatus (of this fic ahaha lol). Sorry for the delay; I don't have a beta reader, so I always do all of the work. I lament why I write long fics; it was difficult to polish them on my own, to be honest.

I'm not sure if some of you are aware, but I announced on Twitter that I intend to continue this fic in a couple more chapters. This won't stop at 5-6 chapters (yeah, I guess I enjoyed thinking of this plot that much, and I just want more ZhongLumi and GuiLi idk), it's still tentative but I guess it won't exceed 10 chapters.

Also, I'm planning to write a connecting story of Liminality but in Lumine's POV (multi-chapter as well), but that will be coming soon. So just a heads-up.

This chapter is kinda uhh long, and full of my own headcanons. I'm not spoiling, so read at your own risk. Just imagine you're reading a light novel, I don't really put summaries in every chapters I write. Sorry, I like the surprise factor. ( ꈨຶ ˙̫̮ ꈨຶ )
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[Graphic violence, gore, some action, uhh drama (?), BAMF!Morax because I said so-- ahead]

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text


Morax had no idea how many gods he had interrogated over the course of several weeks, but he made it a point to track down every breathing god he could in order to find any leads about Vassago.

 

It was a hassle to interrogate every deity who lived in his land. From good to bad, no matter how civil he tried to be or how much he scared some of them, getting answers out of their throats had proven frustratingly unsuccessful.

 

Oddly enough, none of them were even aware of Vassago's existence.

 

He had his suspicions, somehow, and it wouldn't stop nagging at him about it to the point he had to brood over it for days, if not weeks.

 

Something was wrong, he just knew it. How come no one has any recollections about the god? Was it possible that they were being controlled as well? Brainwashed? It was impossible for them to have been completely unaware of the ancient deities who had once lurked in Teyvat.

 

(Except…)

 

Despite the fact that the thought had perplexed and mildly disturbed him, Morax persisted in searching— no matter how taxing and agonizing it was to look for a certain estranged god who had not been heard of in eons. Cloud Retainer and Guizhong observed how he had overworked himself to the point where he no longer showed up for their assembly meetings. Even though they expressed concern, there was nothing they could do to stop him from carrying out his mission, which was to protect his subjects and his region from harm.

 

(After all what happened back then, there was no way he would just sit back and watch his subjects die in front of him—again—especially if the shadows would came back to terrorize his people and his lands.)

 

And at that moment, Morax dutifully continued his search for any stray gods he could ask about. Rather than flying in the winds, he chose to walk on foot and observe how his lands were faring despite the war between any surface gods. So far, some areas were still intact (much to his relief) and peaceful (by his own standards). He could even see some of his milleliths doing their best to guard every entrance, brave and proudly holding their long spears with their visions strapped to their armors and glowing in the distance.

 

He had asked a couple of neutral, lesser gods along the way but the answer remained the same. Several nights had passed, from morning to dawn— nothing had changed. For him, it felt like a never-ending cycle of pointless repetitions. There have been no advancements, no positive responses, and no leads regarding the treacherous god Vassago.

 

Weary and mentally exhausted as he was, Morax finally took a break, somewhere in the humble lands of Minlin. It was also getting close to sunset at that time, and he couldn't help but sit on a nearby boulder next to an old large knotwood tree. With his weapon beside him, he wordlessly watched how the skyward turned yellow, then to a beautiful shade of amber until it turned orange along with splotches of dirty white. Several birds were also flying in the winds, complementing the skies with their dance number, in which they flew in loops and majestic circles as a group, as if for a ritual before retiring for the day.

 

He continued to watch the cinnabar skies until they began to dim, and when there was nothing left to watch after the birds had retired, he immediately stood up with his weapon in hand. Morax was about to leave when he heard heavy stomping behind him. The sound was too rough and brisk for mere footsteps of a living human, and when Morax turned around, he couldn't help but blink with both eyes at what he had just seen.

 

A two-foot-tall creature that looked like it was made of scraps of uneven rocks was waddling all the way to him. Its movements were jerky and mechanical, as if it was being controlled by invisible threads attached to its miniature body, much like a puppet.

 

What is that? 

 

Instead of being wary of it, he could only look at it with apparent confusion and intrigue. It almost looked like a budget toy made out of rocks and it also looked completely harmless. It didn't even look like a machine like what he was used to seeing in Guizhong's humble lab, but it was a real walking small golem with a few moss all around its limbs. It continued to waddle until it turned its asymmetrical head to look up at him. It just stared at him, eerily, until it started moving forward again— passing him by as it went all the way beyond the entrance of a large rock formation that was almost reminiscent of a stone cave. 

 

Of course, Morax followed the unusual creature from behind until he found himself walking through a tunnel-like passage. He couldn't tell how long they had been traversing the deepest part of the cavern, but oddly enough, he didn't feel like he was threading in a dangerous place. 

 

Call it a natural instinct of his, and his instincts had never failed him so far. There was no malignant energy in the area. In fact, the atmosphere was so peaceful and relaxing that he was tempted to run his fingers along the walls to see how they reacted to his power.

 

He was certain that the place was very much alive. Someone was certainly tending the place, someone with the same affinity as his—with an energy of something more ancient—that even the soil and grasses beneath his feet thrummed lively in every step, as if relieved and happy to be stepped on in his presence.

 

Morax was so enthralled by the land that he couldn't help but transfer his energy to it through his soles as if to reward it, and it only hummed back in gratitude like a cat purring in absolute satisfaction. Several moments later, a couple of plants began to sprout from the ground, mildly surprising him when some of them bore foreign beautiful flowers in front of him, all of which seemed otherworldly— like a true work of art. Not even Glaze Lilies can compete with its majestic radiance in a dimly lit environment.

 

"Interesting..." he murmured.

 

"Hm," A feminine hum interrupted his thoughts, and he froze for a moment, guarded. "Look at that... It appears that they wanted to greet you."

 

"You..." His eyes quickly searched for the owner of the voice and found only a woman in old robes, slumped at the corner in her sorry excuse of a dilapidated rock throne, petting the small golem on its head.

 

The owner of the voice, in his eyes, was unquestionably a goddess, albeit an ancient one. Ever since he entered and discovered the sentient lands and the unique energy that seemed to percolate around the place, it finally dawned on him that she was the one who ensured the lands within the caverns were well-maintained.

 

(Because who else could it be? There was no one else with her except him and the lovely flowers that were blooming and shining like a beacon in the ground.)

 

There was no doubt she was the deity with the same affinity as his, someone with the ability to revitalize and resonate with the lands.

 

"I commend you on finding and guiding him here, Horace," she murmured lowly, but he still heard her nonetheless. "Please forgive me, but this will be your final service to me."

 

He couldn't stop the mild knit of his brows at that last statement.

 

Last service?

 

The small golem only bowed in reverence and Morax could only watch as it suddenly crumbled, leaving a small dirt mound on her feet. 

 

"At long last, my child, you can rest. I'll see you later."

 

"Who are you?" he asked civilly, yet louder and serious enough to catch her attention. The goddess in question didn't move, but her dull eyes did as they drilled into his serious ones in return. Her eyes were dark and almost lifeless, and he could see large cracks in her skin, as if she were a living, porcelain shell.

 

Her gaze would make anyone uncomfortable due to its severity, but Morax was definitely unperturbed by the weight of her gaze.

 

"I am no one," She smiled weakly, causing the cracks in her face to worsen with the slightest movement of her facial muscles. "But please rest assured. I am not here to antagonize you, nor an enemy of yours. I am only here to help even in my final moments."

 

"Help," he reiterated, his face serious. "What do you mean by that?"

 

"I am sure you know by now that we have the same affinity for having control of the lands, no? But unlike you, I have the ability to talk and understand them, so even if this is our first time seeing each other, I would still know."

 

"..." He was speechless and simply let her talk.

 

"I can hear your lands calling out to me these past few days, and it appears that you're desperate in your search for a certain god."

 

Somewhat surprised and no longer guarded towards the unknown goddess, he smoothed out the tense lines of his face and confirmed with a curt nod of his head. "I am."

 

Is it possible that she was aware of Vassago's whereabouts?

 

"Then—" he continued, a small spark of hope flickering within him.

 

"I have no idea about the location of the god you were desperately searching for," she said as she adjusted her position in her not-so comfortable seat, and somehow, Morax tightened his grip on his spear. "But I can provide you with leads...some connections that may assist you in locating him."

 

Leads, he absolutely needed that for sure, however—

 

"What do you need in return?" he inquired, knowing that not everything is given for free, especially from someone he hardly knew personally.

 

And he was right when the goddess replied with a simple smile, "Just a simple favor, nothing big, I promise, if you indulge me."

 

"Simple favor," he grumbled to himself, "it depends. I'll be able to judge whether it's simple or not if you tell me. Now, what is it?"

 

"As you can see, I'm going to disappear soon. My body is deteriorating quickly, so I couldn't move my body that much. Please, can you…" She weakly eyed the flowers blooming in front of him, "...can you pluck five azaleas and hydrangeas for me?"

 

"Aza...leas…?" What's the other one? He blinked momentarily, "Pardon?"

 

There was no way he could recognize those flowers by himself. He was sure that they were not a native to his lands.

 

"Oh, my apologies. I forgot these flowers are not from here."

 

"I have no idea about them. If you are so kind enough, please guide me, goddess."

 

"I understand. Can you see those rubicund-hued flowers? And those blue ones with four petals?" He blinked, looking at the flowers in question. "Those flowers are all I need."

 

As he crouched, he began delicately plucking the flowers she had requested; five of the dark pink flowers and the blue ones that seemed to glow in his fingertips. "What am I going to do with these?"

 

"Please bring them closer to me."

 

Morax did as she asked and handed her the flowers without saying anything. He couldn't help but be amazed as she summoned a beautiful wooden box in her lap. Despite her weakness, with the cracks in her skin worsening with every small movement, she continued to arrange everything in the box out of sheer will and gently inserted the azaleas.

 

As for the hydrangeas, she started plucking each petal with care, removing them from its stalk in silence.

 

He had no idea what she was going to do with the flowers, but when he saw her stuffing them all into the box, he couldn't help but wonder.

 

"What are you going to do with that?" he asked, his gaze drawn to the box.

 

She responded softly as she gently closed the box in her lap, "I'm asking you to give this to someone. That is my simple favor."

 

"For whom?"

 

Her condition was worsening at every moment that Morax could spot a few shards falling from the cracks on her skin. In his opinion, she resembled a human porcelain that was about to break and crumble sooner or later, and the more he observed the goddess as she slowly deteriorated in her seat, the more he became apprehensive about what would happen to her next.

 

Even though he had few ideas about how ancient gods died over time, seeing her in such a pitiful state only confirmed his inner suspicions.

 

Erosion

 

They also suffered, similar to erosion.

 

"Lisha," she murmured weakly, "you can find him...in there.."

 

"Could you please be more specific, goddess?"

 

"He..." She slumped even further in her throne like a rag doll, which caused her to let go of the box and Morax could only reach forward to swiftly catch it with his hand before it fell. "he often switched territories from time...to time because of the never-ending war. But I can assure you...that you can find Alloces in Lisha." 

 

"Alloces?"

 

"Yes. He and the god you're looking for used to be acquaintances, so he might know something," the goddess said as she blinked sluggishly, "Or Saleos…"

 

Crack

 

"Goddess." His eyes couldn't stop eyeing the new visible cracks that appeared on her skin.

 

"My apologies… I slowly…. couldn't feel my body anymore, young god." she chuckled weakly, "Find him. He can help you, I can assure you that."

 

Morax was only rooted in his position, speechless, as he watched her slowly deteriorate before his eyes that he couldn't help but think of his old friend Azhdaha, whom he had sealed away in Chasm several years ago. He remembered how his friend succumbed to the effects of erosion, becoming crazed, violent, and vengeful. He had to admit it was a painful memory to reminisce, wherein losing a dear ally and friend to erosion like that had been one of the most significant impacts at some point in his life.

 

While he was sort of relieved that the goddess was aware enough and wasn't showing any kinds of violent behavior nor animosity against him for no particular reason (after all, erosion causes people to lose their memories, consciousness, and sense of self), seeing her so prepared for her impending demise didn't make him feel any less at ease.

 

"...It's been a long time since someone looked at me in that way. I guess I'm so deplorable in my current state, aren't I?"

 

He shook his head once, "It's not like you asked for it."

 

She chuckled, somewhat amused. "No, I didn't." 

 

He fell silent. 

 

"No one worships me anymore, which is why I became so weak over time. The world...is changing and I know it will always be, and there are no guarantees that I will still be recognized in the next day, weeks, century, or a thousand of years, which is pretty unlikely." She forced a laugh, "I no longer have my own followers, all of whom were already buried in these lands in time long passed, and were left forgotten just like me."

 

Crack

 

The goddess continued with a weak smile, "...As one of Almighty Phanes's first creations— our prime were already finished eons ago the moment several new gods started appearing because of the heartfelt wishes of humans, which simply means that sooner or later, we will have no choice but to accept that our existence in this world is no longer required," she sighed, "Well, except for Vassago."

 

"That's.."

 

"This is the...era of new gods," she murmured as her body began to show obvious signs of vanishing, where larger cracks were even more pronounced than ever which made him a little bit surprised when her hands simply caved and reduced to smithereens. "Ah...is it also too much for me to ask you to prevent this war from worsening?"

 

"Goddess, you haven't told me about your name yet. I need it in case Lord Alloces—" 

 

Crack

 

She hummed, "He would know instantly, I can assure you. My name is also unnecessary, for it is insignificant."

 

What does she mean?

 

"What..?" He frowned, completely bewildered by the meaning of her statement.

 

Why did her words just now make him feel so uneasy? As if he was feeling bad for her current predicament?

 

Was he starting to sympathize? It could be, it was possible. However…

 

For what reason?

 

"After all, I had lost my purpose a long time ago when no single soul bothered to call my name, and I am certain that no mortal even recognized me as a deity anymore."

 

"Goddess—"

 

She only smiled, tired but accepting, as her body disintegrated in front of his eyes, leaving nothing but dust and her old robes in its wake.

 

"I wouldn't meet my impending demise if my name was important, no?"

.

.

.

.

.

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"EEEEEK! IT'S ANOTHER GOD!"

 

"There's an intruder! We're under attack! Alert everyone!"

 

"Isn't this too much?! Half of our army was wiped out in the last ambush! I swear this war is endless!" 

 

"It's war, stupid! What can you expect?!"

 

"Get inside!" The sound of men shouting at the top of their lungs from various locations almost grated his poor ears in the distance, "Fucking get inside if you still value your lives! It's far too dangerous here!"

 

Morax could see mortals panicking as he approached their territory. After the goddess vanished into nothingness, he paid his final respects by tending to the place before fleeing the lands of Minlin in search of Alloces and his whereabouts in Lisha. He couldn't afford to wait any longer as he remembered the last object that the goddess had entrusted him with, wherein the box almost felt heavy in his hand as he remembered the goddess' last smile.

 

Her resigned expression, the soft curve of her eyes as she smiled for the last time, and her final words. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to forget those things easily just yet. It was still as fresh in his mind as if it had happened just moments before.

 

Even in her final moments, she never mentioned her name. The way she talked about how her name didn't matter inwardly bothered him, and he just couldn't shake the sudden feeling of helplessness when he saw her vanish right before his eyes.

 

Morax couldn't really ignore the small nagging thought that kept dancing its way through the deepest recesses of his mind—

 

Aren't names very important to them? But why did she insist it didn't matter anymore? Why was she so resigned to her fate?

 

"Defend this territory with all your might in the name of Lord Alloces!"

 

"IN THE NAME OF LORD ALLOCES!"

 

Following that was a battle cry.

 

He only summoned a shield barrier around himself to protect himself from the barrage of arrows coming from all directions. The sight of the flimsy arrows snapping into two against his strong barriers didn't make him feel any better. Seeing humans, his people, doing everything they could to protect their revered god from him—the so-called intruder—made him contemplate on his spot about the goddess' last words.

 

"No one worships me anymore, which is why I became so weak over time." 

 

"Don't stop! Just keep attacking until the barrier snaps! Protect this territory in Lord Alloces' name!"

 

"I no longer have my own followers, all of whom were already buried in these lands in time long passed, and were left forgotten just like me."

 

Morax could only stand there impassively watching the mortals while being showered with arrows from above.

 

"It doesn't work at all! We have no choice but to attack him head-on!"

 

"Tch! Fuck it all! We're all going to die anyway!"

 

"I had lost my purpose a long time ago when no single soul bothered to call my name, and I am certain that no mortal even recognized me as a deity anymore."

 

They started running bravely all the way to him, armed only with axes and dull blades.

 

"Foolish mortals," he couldn't stop himself from muttering, but he didn't have the heart to chastise them either, because they were only doing their job of defending their territory against an 'intruder'. "Rather than the other way around, the god should do the protecting."

 

"I wouldn't meet my impending demise if my name was important, no?"

 

They roared, "Protect Lord Alloces at all costs!"

 

He blinked. A flash of insight had just struck him.

 

No, it wasn't just resignation.

 

What if…

 

She was simply telling him that her name didn't matter because she couldn't remember it herself?

 

He almost forgot that their names were as important as their lives. For someone to forget their names also meant they had forgotten their purpose.

 

That meant it could also be the end of them. It was simply the way things were. After all, that was how the first surface gods worked.

 

How could he have forgotten such an important detail that Celestia had previously informed them of? About Phanes's first creations?

 

Before the mortals could reach him, he channeled his power through the ground and muttered his command to defend himself from his assailants. Several amber crystals suddenly sprouted from the ground, jutting out like unsharpened spears as it formed like a cage— preventing them from getting close to him. Even though they had demonstrated bravery by charging towards him with useless weapons in their hands, seeing the solid crystals locking them in place seemed to frighten the hell out of them— where some of the men were visibly shaking, some even pissed on themselves out of terror, and some couldn't control their tears as it rolled down on their cheeks.

 

It was obvious enough that they were afraid of dying, but for the sake of defending their territory and to show their loyalty for their god— they had no choice but to relent.

 

He almost felt sorry for the goddess. If only she had such devoted followers, perhaps she wouldn't have been so lonely and isolated, dying in her own den.

 

The place fell silent, even the men with their wooden bows from afar didn't even have the courage to shoot him anymore. Morax simply didn't move an inch in his position but they seemed to be almost not breathing while watching his every move.

 

"I'm not here to fight," he finally said after a few moments of silence, "Where is your god?"

 

"L-Lord Alloces is—"

 

"I'm here," An older man came out. Before he could land his eyes on him, he scanned the area and checked to see if his people were still alive, then sighed. He appeared tired, but relieved that no one had died in his vicinity. "I've already told you all that I don't require protection; how could you all be so harsh on yourselves?" 

 

Blinking, Morax could only stare at the older god out of bewilderment.

 

"B-but, milord, they'll kill you if we don't at least try to defend!" argued one of his supporters in the distance.

 

"And you think you are all strong enough to defend me? Have you forgotten you are all mortals?" he scoffed.

 

"These gods wanted to kill you, milord! What do you want us to do? We can't keep running forever; we'll be killed, just like the others the other day!"

 

His face contorted in agony, his brows knitted in anguish as he muttered. "...this is the reason why I don't need mortals to pray and follow me anymore."

 

Morax removed his protective barriers as he took a step forward, "Pardon me, but I'm not here to cause trouble."

 

Alloces eyed him, tired yet curious. "You are…?"

 

"Morax," he offered, coming to a halt an arm's length away. "I need your assistance, Lord Alloces."

 

"Morax..." He trailed off for a moment, "Ah, yes, I know of you. You are the young god who began governing these lands before the war broke out, but," Alloces worriedly glanced over at his followers, "is it okay if you let them go first?"

 

He didn't say anything as he did as he was told, and the men only scurried away like a pack of dogs with their tails between their legs.

 

"My apologies, young lord. These past few days have been…." The older god only shook his head as he changed subjects immediately. "Nevermind. What can I do to help?"

 

"It's about Vassago."

 

Alloces must have been surprised because he only frowned and hid his hands under his sleeves. "That mindless buffoon," he muttered briefly, expressing his dislike for the god. "What exactly do you want to know?"

 

"Do you have any idea where he might be?"

 

"I'm afraid that I do not. Not anymore." The older god frowned even more as he shook his head, "We're no longer in talking terms, you see, perhaps over a century. That traitor really betrayed us far more than you could imagine, and my other fellows suffered as a result of his immense greed, especially…"

 

Morax couldn't stop gritting his teeth out of frustration. 

 

So, another dead end? Just how many more nights must he endure in order to find one elusive god?

 

Will he be able to find him at all?

 

No, no, he quickly amended. He had to, no matter what. He needed to exact his vengeance for the sake of his innocent people, who were slaughtered in cold blood right in front of his eyes. Vassago must pay. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. There will be no excuses.

 

Furthermore, the miasma lingered in some areas of Liyue, particularly in Chasm. Even if it appeared to be mellow and docile at the time, there was no guarantee it wouldn't attack his people again out of nowhere. What if Vassago uses his shadows to manipulate it again? Morax didn't want another bloodbath like the one that occurred on Marchosius's celebration.

 

The people..

 

His people showed signs of panic attacks too, wherein some of them confessed they couldn't sleep at night thinking about the shadows controlling them. They were utterly traumatized that Cloud Retainer and Marchosius had to procure herbal remedies from time to time in order to calm them down from their sudden episodes of paranoia.

 

And the children…

 

The children were always crying because they couldn't find their loved ones, blindly searching for people who were no longer with them (and Morax couldn't just forget their anguish cries, as well as Guizhong's shattered expression as she consoled each child in her arms).

 

He refused to see it again. It not only made him feel truly helpless, but it also made him very angry for some reasons he couldn't fully comprehend. He wasn't sure if his rage was directed solely at Vassago or if it was directed also at himself.

 

It was downright complicated and confusing. Awfully so.

 

"—young god, what I can only advise is for you to look for my fellow brethren. Aymos is in Linju; he often sleeps in stagnation, but you can wake him up by setting his precious golden tree on fire."

 

That was an unusual way to summon a god, but he filed that knowledge away in the deepest recesses of his mind and only allowed him to continue.

 

"That's how you can wake Aymos from his slumber, well—" he cleared his throat, "—that's how I always summon him and it's always been effective." 

 

"I understand."

 

The ancient god continued with his ramblings, "...Well, I'm not sure about that violent churl, but I guess you can also try paying Labolas a visit. As far as I know, he's staying in Qingxu. I'm not sure if you knew, but no one actually dared to trespass that area because of how aggressively territorial he was."

 

Labolas, huh? He mused to himself. At the very least, he recognized the name.

 

"But, who knows? Maybe he'll have a sudden change of heart because you have control over these lands... or not, I really don't know."

 

"Thank you for your kindness, Lord Alloces." He politely bowed his head, "I was desperate for any kind of leads, so this really helps a lot."

 

"I could really see that.." Alloces trailed as he regarded him, "If you don't mind me asking, what did he do this time?"

 

"He killed some of my people." 

 

"…" He went silent for a moment, "That's..."

 

"I don't need your sympathy, Lord Alloces. Perhaps my people would need it more than myself, but," he bowed his head again, "I guess you still have my gratitude."

 

"Young god, don't be so hard on yourself."

 

Morax ignored his statement as he handed him the box, wherein the ancient god only eyed it in question. "Yes?" 

 

"My apologies, but I have to leave quickly tonight," he said curtly, "she just asked me to give this to you."

 

"'She'…?"

 

He glanced at the box solemnly and nodded, "She didn't tell me about her name, but she insisted I give this to you."

 

Alloces's hands shook the moment he held the box, it seemed like it finally dawned on him who the sender was for he only looked at him for confirmation. Morax wordlessly stared, and simply turned around before he could fully witness the anguish look that started to appear on the ancient god's face.

 

His expression was uncannily similar to Guizhong's when her mortal friend died of illness a long time ago.

 

A disbelieving face contorted with full of sorrow and heartbreak.

 

He had to leave, he mused. Morax was uneasy seeing someone so vulnerable, especially in his presence, as he felt like he was intruding on their private moments.

 

And then, the last thing he heard before taking off was the ancient god's pained cries, calling out for the goddess whose name he also no longer knew.

.

.

.

.

Now that he no longer felt hopeless for his search for Vassago, he quickly navigated himself all the way to Qingxu.

 

However, before he could even reach the ground, a hail of large fireballs began to rain down on him from the sky. A single large fireball almost singed the ends of his robes, and he was certain that if he lagged behind for even a second, the fireball would directly hit him, and would most likely cause a severe injury in its wake due to how scorching hot it was.

 

Alloces was not joking in the least. Someone was horribly territorial on Qingxu, and he was certain that anyone who dared to enter the place would perish instantly by being cooked into oblivion with bright blue flames. It also felt like an insult to Morax, who ruled over the lands of Liyue. Who in their right mind would attack a governing god like a maniac?

 

The perpetrator of the raging fireballs was none other than the crazed, violent Labolas, who was watching him with sadistic delight as he endlessly summoned his series of fire attacks that would undoubtedly alert any people or gods from neighboring lands.

 

Morax was familiar with this lunatic god. He had fought Labolas a long time ago, when he was just a fledgling god trying to find his way on the path to godhood. When he defeated Forneus (Osial's older brother and only kin) over some territorial issues in Yaoguang in an intense battle that nearly decimated the large caves in that area, Osial, the wretched aquatic abomination made a pact with one of the ancient deities to exact vengeance on him, and that deity was none other than Labolas, the God of Blue Flames and the Lord of Bloodshed himself.

 

Labolas's manic laughter almost irritated him, as did his sloppy attacks, so he had no choice but to retaliate. Majestic blue flames against his spear rocks, their battle had nearly cut the domain and its large towers in half, with flying concrete and rubbles catapulting in every direction in their battle for dominance.

 

The place was engulfed in blue flames, wherein the sight only alarmed him when it continued to spread all over Qingxu.

 

(If he didn't put out those flames right away, there was a strong chance it would spread to the neighboring lands as well. He had to douse it quickly so it didn't spread too far.)

 

So, with a quick flick of his arms to summon a strong barrier to shield himself from a large jet of fire from Labolas, Morax finally made it to the ground and commanded the earth to move for him. His lands, albeit pained as they screamed in pain in his mind (due to the flames that continued to spread all over the place), heeded his orders with no preambles as they moved under his control to douse the flames.

 

As a result, a brief massive earthquake bypassed the area, and when Labolas discovered that he had successfully stopped his flames instantly— he became aggressive towards him, shooting large fireballs in every direction, sloppy and endless that it nearly decimated the area and covered it in flames.

 

He once again controlled the earth to extinguish his flames, and the two of them went on a wild chase like a cat and dog. He continued to channel more of his power through the ground as he ran and evaded Labolas's attacks until he felt a familiar element beneath his soles; thrumming and existing, it also slushed around whenever the lands shook from their intense battle.

 

He was certain that there was a body of water beneath the ground. As he quickly devised a strategy to aid him by utilizing any resources he could see in Qingxu, he also took advantage of the dense smoke that surrounded the area to conceal himself from his assailant.

 

Morax quickly hid behind a torn tower, ignoring the god's manic laugh in the background, to plan his next move. As part of his plan, he tried to feel the land with both palms to see how much water it had by appraising it with his power. After a few moments of feeling the element beneath the lands, he couldn't help but stare at the ground, surprised and completely perplexed.

 

"Groundwater," he muttered to himself.

 

He had just discovered that beneath the lands of Qingxu lies a large body of water that, by his rough estimation, could cover all of Lisha's dry lands.

 

It was a startling discovery, to say the least. He ruled the region for a couple of millennia, and Morax had no idea Lisha was concealing a body of water beneath him.

 

(Now, it finally made sense why Osial was spitting such animosity towards his region— saying about how the first gods stole a larger part of his kin's dominion by creating a mass of higher lands in order for humans to inhabit, where now it is called the land of Liyue.)

 

The god's ear-splitting laugh had snapped him out of his stupor and he could only lean at the concrete behind him to conceal himself even more.

 

"The Lord of Geo is running away from me! This is unbelievable! Are you scared, young god? Hehehe, this is very entertaining at least!"

 

Boom!

 

"Hahahahaha!" Labolas laughed maniacally as he unleashed another series of fireballs at any direction again.

 

Boom! Boom! Boom!

 

He nearly flinched when a certain small rubble almost hit him on the side of his face. Morax considered approaching him closer so that he could engage in close combat with him. He remembered that Labolas was not a close-range fighter because he relied solely on his flames and did not use any weapons.

 

But before he could even leave on his spot, the ancient god laughed and started talking once again, his tone was downright mocking.

 

"Looks like you're planning something; aren't you always a cunning one?" he said and continued, "Well, I'll give you time to devise your big perfect plan against me, but while I wait, how about I tell you a story?"

 

Morax frowned momentarily in response to his words, but he quickly ignored it as he peered over the side of the concrete behind him and saw Labolas walking like he owned the place— his face was filled with manic glee as if he couldn't contain his excitement anymore.

 

"I wonder how many of your people died in these past few months, hm?"

 

He froze instantly. What?

 

He hummed, "Hearing their desperate cries for help was certainly entertaining; just hearing them scream in pain is fueling my love for bloodshed! I want them to scream and scream until they can no longer scream!"

 

How despicable. 

 

He was definitely trying to get a rise out of him, but Morax did his best to ignore.

 

"You're looking for Vassago, aren't you? Even though I know where he is, I have to say you won't get any answers from me because, as you can see, I detest you. I detest every lesser god like you— so much that I wanted to erase your very existence in this pathetic world," Labolas said with pure loathing, his words were laced with venom. "I swear if I defeat you tonight, I'll put your head on an altar, and maybe I'll announce it to the world while carrying your severed head as a trophy!" He exclaimed excitedly, "You, lesser gods, think you're the best and can surpass us? No, you don't!"

 

The feeling is mutual, he couldn't help but retort inside his head, I detest you as well. And while Labolas was pretty forward about his hate towards him, Morax was hardly intimidated by his nonsense.

 

"So we're getting closer to the most exciting part! Oi, you're still listening right? You have to listen! I'm really sure you would love this!"

 

He braced himself for his next move to surprise attack him, but what he just heard next suddenly made him freeze, like a statue on his spot, with eyes wide in complete disbelief.

 

"I was the one who suggested to Vassago to attack the mortals, y'know."

 

His fingers twitched and Morax could only eye the concrete behind him, shell-shocked.

 

The God of Bloodshed continued, without a care in the world. "Without me, I don't think that greedy god could orchestrate such a beautiful tragedy. That's why me, the mightiest Glasya-Labolas had to help him perfect his plans. I crave bloodshed, so I don't mind pulling the strings."

 

So it wasn't just one god he was facing alone? But two?

 

Vassago has an accomplice, and it was no other than Labolas himself.

 

What was next? Should he expect another one? A third or a fourth who wanted to make an enemy of him too?

 

Morax was definitely seething at that moment, his body was starting to shake out of anger as the god continued with his tirade.

 

My people...

 

"Chasm? The attack on villages? That stampede that occurred in that humongous doll's celebration?—"

 

The more he listened, the more he couldn't contain his fury any longer. 

 

"—I was the one who orchestrated it, and I remember it also rained in blood in there. It was perfect, wasn't it?

 

Snap

 

"Fufufu. What do you think, lesser god Morax?"

 

He was the reason my people….! 

 

Out of immense anger, Morax summoned one of his spears and hurled it at such inhuman speed towards the grinning Labolas. The impact of the force shook the nearest mountains as well as the terrains, even the half of the remaining towers was now reduced to rubbles because of his sudden offensive attacks.

 

His ears were ringing, his whole body was shaking and even his blood felt boiling. Morax could feel his nails getting longer, even his normal fangs went sharper. He was starting to lose himself, he was enraged, so much so that he craved something or someone insignificant to rip to shreds. Someone vile who has no right to exist.

 

And amidst the heavy smoke that covered the area, he quickly spotted the gleeful manic face of Labolas. The sight enraged him to such an extent that hurling several spears at him was insufficient to quench his thirst for bloodlust.

 

He needs to see his blood splattered on the ground.

 

He needs his head.

 

He wants him to perish.

 

Perish perish perish perish—

 

"!"

 

Sharp, pointed earthen spikes began to appear and jutted out of the ground one by one as it pursued the fleeing hysterical god. Labolas easily evaded the spikes, but Morax was unaffected as he continued his uncontrollable assault. He felt unhinged and so liberated that he was gradually losing his rationality at that moment due to his bubbling anger, and nothing could stop him from attacking Labolas, not until he saw his cold corpse lying on his feet.

 

During the chase, Labolas was also showered with glowing Geo spears that appeared out of nowhere, and the ancient god could only laugh as he began to provoke him once more.

 

Which was a wrong move.

 

"That's it! Let me see your bloodlust, Morax!" He called out as he retaliated by summoning hundreds of fire arrows that Morax easily deflected with his sturdy shield. "Not enough. I need to see more!"

 

"Then I will give you more," he replied, his voice absolute and threatening as he stole a large chunk from a nearby mountain and divided it into small pieces, perhaps a thousand or more of them, all of it hovering behind him, pointed and menacing.

 

Like a vast army of earthen needles.

 

"Hahaha! That's all? That won't urgh—!" Suddenly, Labolas was pierced through the shoulder by a large spike emerging from the ground, and impaled by another on the other side. He coughed up some blood, but he was unfazed as he forced himself to unlatch himself from the spikes. "—This is not enough to kill me, Morax. How insolent. You have to do more!"

 

"Oh?"

 

As if the ground was having a mind of its own, several spikes suddenly sprung out along with shiny amber pointed crystals— wherein the injured god had managed to evade in the nick of time. However, one of the crystals had managed to cut through his flesh and Labolas could only grit his teeth as he jumped back away from the multiple spikes that continued to protrude out of the ground.

 

With his command, Morax's army of earth needles began its assault as it lashed upon Qingxu like a storm. Even injured, Labolas evaded his attacks without difficulties and quickly made a large jet of fire— so large that Morax was forced to back away as well. The large blue flames began to morph this time, into hundreds of creatures that he didn't know by its name, roaring so loudly that he was sure it had already been heard all across the region.

 

It was multiplying. Just like the band of monsters created by the core of miasma out of shadows.

 

The fire creatures began spitting fire from various directions, and Morax could only look at the damage it had done to the trees and terrains with visible offense painted on his serious features.

 

"I guess it's time to get serious this time, and you should as well," Labolas said, his face solemn. "If you care about your people and this region, you must stop my eternal flames from spreading across these lands!"

 

Swoosh!

 

"...!" Morax had moved his head in time, but the force of the small projectile had nicked a small amount on his cheek; that he could even feel his blood trailing out of the small wound.

 

"If I die tonight, I have to make sure that the people and this region come with me! I'll burn this region in no time and nothing will be left except my superior flames and your ashes!" He roared, "I'll make a living hell of Teyvat!"

 

I'm counting on you, Cloud Retainer and Adepti.

 

"FIGHT ME LIKE A REAL GOD, MORAX!"

 

"Haha. Interesting," Morax's booming voice had caused him to look up, wary and waiting. "I can't wait to see this hell you've been telling me about."

 

Please protect the lands and people on my behalf.

 

He wasn't sure, but everything seemed to be moving in slow motion to him.

 

As Morax said his loud command at the top of his lungs, a violent, intense earthquake shook the entire region of Liyue— to the point that it cracked some mountains into half and sent the birds flying in panic through the skies.

 

"Crumble!"

 

And the earth began to fall apart.

.

.

.

.

"The earthquake won't stop..."

 

"A-are we going to die?"

 

"It's not the end of the world yet, r-right?" 

 

"Crouch down everyone! Protect your heads!"

 

The people inside the assembly did as they were told, and Cloud Retainer could only stare at the blue flames that kept flickering on the skies like dancing lights, which she remembered Rex was fond of watching in his spare time.

 

Thinking about the aforementioned god only filled her with dread, but she was confident that he would return to them in one piece. Rex was a strong god who had a people and a region to protect. He wouldn't let himself be killed so easily.

 

He would never. He still had a place to return to.

 

"I don't know what's going on, but I'm relieved that the illuminated beasts are in here with the yakshas," Cloud Retainer said as she tried to calm down the panicked people, "He already warned me prior about the possibilities that could harm this region in the future, and I guess that time has already come."

 

She turned her gaze to the people who were staring back at her, their arms on top of their heads. "Rex Lapis is definitely fighting a formidable god right now, and we made sure that the protective barriers in every part of the region were strong enough to withstand any kind of adversity, but just in case the barriers couldn't withstand it, we will immediately evacuate all of you to somewhere safe, so don't worry."

 

"If that's the case, then we should hope that he will return to us safely."

 

"That's right! And also, Lord Morax is strong, he wouldn't be defeated so easily!"

 

"Goddess," The child that Rex had saved way back only clung to Guizhong's robes, "Lord Geo would come back to us safely, right?"

 

Cloud Retainer only watched in silence as Guizhong patted the child tenderly on the head, "...He will definitely come back to us safely, child."

 

The ground shook once more, this time with such force that they could feel the tiny debris of the assembly falling down on top of their heads. 

 

She had to say that the never-ending earthquakes also alarmed her inwardly.

 

Who is he fighting against, that even the lands were shaking violently from tremors?

 

Nodding, the child buried herself on the goddess' lap and Guizhong looked up to return her gaze and said in conviction, albeit her eyes were just as worried as hers, "I believe he will come back."

 

She and Guizhong, like the people, could only hope.

.

.

.

.

"Tsk! Not again," An old man suddenly appeared before the golden tree, annoyed. "Alloces, how many times do I have to tell ya to stop setting my sacred tree on fi— oh," he paused when he saw him standing beneath his tree.

 

After defeating Labolas at Qingxu and freeing his small community of captives that he had locked and hidden on one of his unusually untouched large towers (who had managed to withstand the fiery battle that occurred within the place), he quickly teleported himself all the way to Linju— drenched from head to toe, with blood obstructing his eyes from the gash on his forehead.

 

"It's not Alloces... But nevermind, looks like ya had it worse, huh?" Aymos commented with a cross of his arms, but then he couldn't stop looking around him with disbelief, "Huh, water?" 

 

The old man continued to rant, "Wait, why is this humble abode surrounded by water? What's going on—"

 

With effort, Morax dragged the ancient god's burnt corpse along by its head, and he could only look up at the skeptical-looking Aymos, who blanched when he saw the corpse beside him.

 

"—Huh, is that a corpse? Y-yer not going to kill me in cold blood, are ya?!"

 

"If you don't suddenly attack me like this god did to me," he said flatly, "then perhaps I won't."

 

The god only frowned, as if he had been offended. "I would never attack anyone! I don't like fights, which is why I sleep so much! I only came out when someone wanted to pray to me."

 

"I believe we're in concordance, Lord Aymos. I don't seek fights unless I have to defend these lands and my people," Morax simply let go of the corpse and regarded him, "I need information about Vassago. Lord Alloces told me that—"

 

"Huh, he did?" The talkative god blinked in response, "He doesn't really like having connections with any gods in his current predicament, ya see. That gloomy Alloces is hardly cooperative, but it looks like he made an exception this time and suggested ya come to me."

 

"He appears exhausted and burdened."

 

"We all are, young'un," Aymos snorted, and sighed, "Not everyone likes to fight until death, y'know, except for that clodpole beside ya. Good riddance, I don't like him."

 

Morax paused for a moment as he wiped the blood from his eyes with the back of his palm, somewhat intrigued by his unusual accent. "I thought you'd be more difficult to talk to, so I brought his corpse here to intimidate you."

 

"Ya kid sure are intimidating while dragging a corpse with ya, but I lived long enough for mere intimidation tactics to scare me." Aymos touched his long beard out of habit, "So, what do ya need again?"

 

"I need information regarding Vassago. Specifically, his location."

 

"Ah, I can't tell ya where he is because I have no idea. He's a sly god who doesn't stay in one place for long, so pinpointing his location is difficult." Aymos said with a hum, adding. "However, I am sure that his brother could help ya find where he is."

 

He muttered, "Brother…. May I know where I can find him?"

 

"Near Mount Aocang, he's just lurking in one of those isolated caves there. Uhhh, not really lurking per se, more like he's being sealed." The god said as he flicked his arm, summoning a wooden tiny flute that Morax was quite familiar with and tossing it at him, which he swiftly catched with both hands. "Yer in luck, tonight is a black moon; take this with ya. Ya know how to play this instrument, don't ya?"

 

"...This is.." 

 

It's a koudi, a much smaller flute.

 

"Ya sure it is," Aymos said as he hopped beside him, humming, "it's a koudi."

 

He blinked and shook his head, "Yes, I am aware."

 

"That instrument can help ya find Saleos in that place. Just play it in whatever tune ya want, and the tune will guide ya."

 

Morax nodded in understanding, "Thank you."

 

"Shush that, young'un. It's the only thing I can do. I can't ignore those who need my help." Aymos said with a friendly grin, "Just don't forget to return the koudi to me. Ya don't have to light a fire on my tree, just call my name out, understand?"

 

"I understand."

 

"Also, why has this place suddenly become submerged in water?"

 

"My apologies," he bowed his head slightly, "I believe it was my fault in my battle with Lord Labolas; I forcibly unleashed the stagnant waters beneath the lands of Qingxu."

 

"Ah, ya control these lands, so no surprise." Aymos blinked, then shrugged as he crouched down to touch the water. "This is fine; it surprised me, yes, but I don't think it makes my territory look so dry. In fact, I prefer it. It may also benefit yer dry lands in some parts of the region."

 

Morax couldn't take his gaze away from the dark skies, contemplating.

 

It's nearly dawn, so I should leave right away. I could not afford to put my search off any longer.

 

"Hm? I think so, too; ya really need to shoo. Don't mind me here, just go on."

 

Perplexed, he quickly turned his gaze to the god.

 

How did he know he was planning to leave right away?

 

The old god beat him into it, which caused him to blink even more in astonishment. "I can hear yer thoughts, ya see. They're loud."

 

No wonder. 

 

"And also, before ya go, leave the nincompoop's burnt remains in here..." Aymos said randomly as he faced him back, "...or not. Well, I wouldn't judge ya if yer planning to parade this buffoon like a poor carcass all around yer lands to intimidate other gods. In fact, other gods would be very proud to have his head, and as a victor of the battle between ya and Labolas— it's something for ya to be proud of," he shrugged. "Defeating him was no laughing matter. After all, Labolas was a beast and a serious threat to this land."

 

He had considered having Labolas' head earlier out of rage, but now that he had calmed down, he wasn't so sure anymore.

 

He knew he was relieved that he won against the god, however...

 

Was he even proud of it?

 

After a few moments of silence and rumination, he finally responded to his own question.

 

"No," he shook his head briefly, "I do not intend to."

 

"Oh?"

 

"I might kill gods out of necessity or for survival," Morax said quietly, but enough for Aymos to hear clearly. "However, Lord Aymos, I cannot say I am proud of them."

 

I'm not particularly proud to have their blood on my hands.

 

Never would it make him proud.

 

For it was a harsh reminder of the invisible shackle Celestia had imposed on him.

 

If there was no war, perhaps he would be living in peace and solitude with his subjects; perhaps no one would be afraid, and no innocent people would have to die. Nothing but peace and harmony.

 

But wasn't that all wishful thinking on his part?

 

His response may have surprised the old god, as he only remained silent. His eyes were dark, eerie, and solemn, and Morax could only return his gaze normally— impassively.

 

"Behind the hard-rock expression and how completely serious ya are about leading this region, I have to admit ya have a certain kindness in ya that was really rare for any god of yer high standing," Aymos said, "I know how burdensome it is, especially for ya who always fight everyday to ensure yer dominion over these lands from cunning gods, but I wonder how long will ya be able to sustain that particular rare trait though." He chuckled, "Yer a good god, yer interesting."

 

He was simply at a loss for words.

 

"Well, enough chit-chat. Ya have a region to protect," The god stood and made a shoo-ing gesture with his hand, "Just leave the body in here, it's on me."

 

Morax bowed his head politely, "You have my deepest gratitude, Lord Aymos. I will never forget your kindness."

 

"Ya should! Teehee!"

 

Then he left.

.

.

.

.

Morax grabbed the koudi that Aymos had lent him and began blowing through the large hole in the middle the moment he arrived at the top of a land mass near Mount Aocang. He attempted to play a simple children's lullaby tune he had learned from Guizhong, and as he did so, a string of ancient symbols began to emerge from the flute like a slithering serpent, leading all the way down to the very bottom of the mountain.

 

Seeing that it was the only lead that could lead him to Vassago's brother, he jumped down without looking back, dropping himself with such speed that even his damp robes billowed behind him like wings. The ancient symbols had simply led him to the ground, where he saw a couple of large wall-like rocks with a bumpy road in the middle (which he thought could lead him to somewhere when the trail continuously slithered all the way beyond the road).

 

Morax only followed, but he was wary as the place grew darker, with the ancient symbols serving as his only beacon. He walked through such a maze that he couldn't help but count how many times he took a turn; three and four, then five and six, until the trail somehow led him to a dead-end with no other exit that can be seen beyond it.

 

Was there some kind of mistake? He was certain he couldn't see anything in there?

 

"I've been expecting you, Lord Morax." 

 

In a blink, Morax was greeted by a silhouette of a man with long silver tresses, so long and enthralling that he couldn't help but stare. Foreign and so ancient, it was clear from the aura he exuded by his mere presence alone that he was the one he was looking for.

 

Saleos was an elderly man with rugged features, a thick well-kept beard tied into braids, and thick gray robes that covered all of his limbs. And despite his stoic, serious, and sedate appearance (in contrast to Lord Alloces' open calmness and Lord Aymos' friendliness), there was a certain kindness in his expression that somehow drew him in.

 

The god's eyes were closed, but Morax had the distinct feeling that he was being watched with those—intently—which caused his small hairs to stand erect in response.

 

"Lord Saleos."

 

"I've always known you were coming," Saleos stated solemnly, "It's about my estranged brother, isn't it?"

 

Morax's only response was silence.

 

"You're desperately looking for my brother."

 

"Yes, I am."

 

"And fate is on your side, so it's my job to lead you to him wherever he may be."

 

"..."

 

Fate, is it?

 

"With these eyes of mine, I have the power to see beyond," he admitted. "Although blind, I could see a glimpse of what would happen in the future, and I was aware the entire time what my foolish brother did to you and your people."

 

"Then you must know that he and Labolas conspired by using my people against me," Morax couldn't stop himself from saying.

 

"Yes, for that, I want to deeply apologize for the innocent lives that were lost; if only I had warned you beforehand, perhaps it could have been prevented or, at the very least, the severity of it could have been lessened," Saleos said, regretfully. "As you can see, I'm sealed, so I can't leave this place unless summoned; I don't have the power to prevent the tragedy, and I sincerely apologize."

 

"I'm not blaming you, Lord Saleos; if anyone is to blame, it's Labolas and Vassago."

 

The blind god's face only became solemn at the mention of his brother's name, and he noticed his radiance dimmed slightly as he continued to look so regretful. "I have to say, this is the biggest mistake he's ever made, and it's going to cost him a lot—even for all eternity; he's just like Labolas."

 

Silence.

 

"You know, avarice of mankind is insatiable, but so are gods'."  

 

Inwardly, he agreed.

 

"There is no greater calamity than being consumed by greed," he solemnly murmured, "and that calamity had already befallen on them the moment they succumbed on the waiting jaws of avariciousness. Labolas dug his own grave, and so did my foolish brother."

 

"..." Morax remained deafeningly quiet as he continued to listen.

 

"I will assist you in any way I can, however, let me remind you that I cannot intervene with fate; this must be done by you. I can only see a small portion of the future, but not the entire picture."

 

With Lord Saleos' assistance and his ability to predict the future, perhaps his search will no longer be uneventful, as he has the most powerful arsenal on his side.

 

"Fate leads those who are willing but must push those who are not. However, there are no perfect guarantees for it always depends on an individual," The god said, "Are you even willing to be guided?"

 

If there was a major threat to his region and people, it would be none other than Vassago himself.

 

If his fate dictates that he must be eliminated without mercy, as Labolas was, he would do so in a heartbeat.

 

For vengeance will be his for the innocent lives have been lost.

 

"Please tell me what to do."

 

With a solemn nod, Saleos murmured a foreign chant under his breath, causing several glowing vein-like threads to appear on the ground, crawling all over the place until it went beyond. After a few moments, the god simply blanked out, and Saleos quickly relayed his words; his tone was crisp and unemotional, as if he were not with himself like a marionette being controlled by a puppeteer, and Morax could only listen intently to the instructions he gave. The blind god even gave him a list of lesser god names and locations (four gods in total, to be exact) that he needed to subdue and save from Vassago's control, as they could pose a serious threat in the future if not stopped early.

 

The plague, massive land fires, floods, and poisoning were the specific things that Saleos warned about, and they made him shiver. So, if he failed to prevent Vassago from completely controlling those four gods, his people and region would be in grave danger. Absolutely.

 

(Even Saleos noted that Vassago's power should not be underestimated, as his brother was a master of deception and manipulation, to which Morax agreed wordlessly — if not gravely.)

 

When Saleos let out a long, shaky sigh, the vein-like threads began to retract and disappear, and he was back to himself.

 

"That's all I can do," he said after relaying his instructions, looking tired and pale. "To be honest, I'm being selfish and I'm violating many laws from heaven in order to assist you in your quest. If you succeed in subduing those four gods, it will be your victory; please, stop my brother for m—guh!"

 

"Lord—"

 

"—I'm fine," he said as he coughed, "I knew what I was doing had consequences."

 

His grip on the koudi had only slightly tightened as his brows knitted, visibly bothered as he looked at the weakened god before him. "...this.."

 

"Listen, Lord Morax, I'm sure you've realized by now that this is no longer our age and time." Saleos said carefully, "We're bound to disappear sooner or later, and before that, I have to do everything in my power to correct my brother's mistakes to prevent this world—that the Primordial One cherished—from collapsing. Vassago is a real threat, so I have to stop him. I knew there would come a time when I would have to break laws someday, and that time has finally come. It's fate."

 

"Lord Saleos… I am planning to kill your brother."

 

The god only nodded, tone accepting. "I am aware."

 

"..." 

 

"He'll have to pay the price for all of his wrongdoings. Although he betrayed me, his own brother, I already forgave him a long time ago, but it's time for him to face the consequences. Everything is falling into place this time, he couldn't avoid it any longer. With my blessing, the cards are already in your hands."

 

Even though it didn't make him feel any better, he simply nodded gravely in response.

 

"I understand…" he said.

 

It wasn't like he could stop the blind god from doing what he wished and encouraged, was it?

 

Furthermore, regardless of whether Saleos intervened or not, Morax was determined to exact revenge on Vassago.

 

"...My brother had always cheated death for some reasons that I was unaware of, so I secured a new possibility through the networks of fates I opened where there is no exit for him," he paused, "This time, if you manage to subdue the other gods I mentioned, a new future will open for my brother. He won't be able to evade this anymore, I can assure you. I'm leaving everything to you, Lord Morax."

 

"Lord Saleos, you have my utmost gratitude."

 

Instead of responding to his gratitude, the god only looked above, as if he sensed something Morax didn't know about, and he was exactly right when the god spoke the next words.

 

"The sun is about to rise, and I'm going to vanish soon; you must leave, or you will be sealed away with me, and you will never be able to return."

 

"Then I must bid my farewell." Morax bowed politely, and as he turned to leave, he was about to pass through a barrier he hadn't even noticed earlier when the god said, almost in a broken whisper, one last time.

 

"...face... ut...tter... dis….dain…. cer….tain crea...ture..if….su..….y...eek…sw...in....yun."

 

Morax had undoubtedly picked up the last broken words carried by the winds, and instinctively turned around to look back at the place, only to discover that the god had already vanished.

 

"Face your utter disdain for a certain creature; if you succeed in your quest, seek answers in Guyun."

 

Those were the last words he heard.


"Did I disturb all of you?" 

 

The moment he uttered those six words, several heads in the assembly had turned instantly to greet him, with mixed expressions of worry, alarm, and relief, Morax couldn't help but pause in his step as he regarded them all.

 

Was he on the wrong timing?

 

He didn't look like he'd just returned from a battle, did he? Before returning to the assembly, he made sure to clean himself on a nearby lake after leaving Lord Saleos' den to remove any dirt and dried blood on his skin from his battle with Labolas.

 

"The Lord of Geo has returned!" exclaimed a random man, along with the other concerned subjects.

 

"He's returned!"

 

"Our Lord Morax has returned!"

 

"Lord Morax!"

 

"W-we're so worried about you, milord," a woman cried, her voice full of emotion and relief, and Morax could only shift his gaze to every face of his people, all of whom were looking at him with similarly relieved expressions.

 

"We really thought you won't come back!"

 

He was definitely rooted in his spot, and he most likely couldn't comprehend the sensation he was feeling at that time. The emotions within himself were in chaos, as if a storm surge had swooped upon him, confusing him with a tidal wave of mixed feelings that was hitting him from every angle possible.

 

Surprised? He was. Inwardly relieved to see his people unharmed? Very much so. Overwhelmed by their kind words? It could be.

 

And finding warmth through their words… He couldn't even be so sure of himself, but somehow, just looking at them simply reminded him of Guizhong and Ying.

 

The way they got worried for him, the way their eyes lit up whenever they saw him— it was almost too much for him, but the feeling was absolutely pleasant and welcome, in fact he actually liked how it made him feel better; it helped how it calmed the storm within himself. 

 

"I'm...back," he murmured, and their relieved grins were only their response.

 

His subjects were worried for him, they expressed their genuine relief at seeing him in person; the tears they shed were real, their relieved smiles…

 

They were the people he desperately wanted to protect in his dominion. People he didn't know personally, but they were all important to him.

 

"Goodness, Rex!" Cloud Retainer finally revealed herself as she called out with a flap of her wings, her voice unusually stressed yet relieved as she saw him— as if a large burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

 

"Zhenjun," he called back as he took a step forward, "my deepest apologies for not keeping in touch these past few weeks, but I believe you're already aware that I'm on a quest, no? I'm relieved to see that all of you were sa—"

 

Someone suddenly threw themselves at him, and what he could only do was steady himself firmly on the ground from the sudden impact. He noticed a familiar mop of brown hair below him, adorned with lovely hair ornaments. And the distinct feminine smell, he was struck and inwardly comforted by its familiarity that he couldn't stop himself from discreetly breathing it through his nose.

 

"Guizhong..." He finally murmured the name of the individual who simply clung to him by gripping his robes, particularly on the chest.

 

"You're finally back!" she exclaimed, her voice loud and so worried. "You just made all of us worried, you dunce! Not even one visit? Seriously?"

 

He blinked for a moment as he processed her words in his mind, somewhat lagging behind at the same time.

 

Did she just called him "stupid"?

 

As he became more perplexed by the sudden events that occurred the moment he entered the assembly, Morax noticed Cloud Retainer in the distance, his eyes clueless and questioning, but the avian creature only flapped her other wing as if shrugging.

 

Not even a help, huh? He simply didn't know what to do, and the goddess didn't even move away from him, leaving him even more perplexed. The eyes of the people were on them, and Morax had to admit that the penetrating gaze of his subjects was making him uneasy.

 

"I returned," he stated, somewhat awkward, as his hands were slightly left suspended in the air. 

 

And her only response was to wrap her arms around his torso, causing him to freeze in place out of surprise.

 

She was now hugging him, wasn't she? Was that the time where he should return the gesture as well? 

 

He inwardly shook his head. That won't do, he noted as he only retracted his arms and let her do the clinging. If he returned the gesture with equal gusto just like hers, then there was a possibility that he might do the opposite and crush her in his arms instead. She is fragile, he remarked to himself. There was no way he would let himself harm Guizhong, whether unintentionally or intentionally.

 

She finally released him and took a step back, "We're glad to see you're back; we hadn't seen you in a month, and yesterday was just so..."

 

Now that he thinks about it, he forcibly released the stagnant waters in Qingxu, and the massive earthquake he caused was definitely felt in other parts of the region.

 

"Has anyone been hurt by the earthquake...?" he inquired, but his question was directed at Cloud Retainer, who only answered in return.

 

"No casualties from all over the region," she said, which made him nod in relief, "From the moment I saw the birds flying in broken groups in the air, my natural instincts were telling me that something big was about to happen, and I was correct all along."

 

"I always have faith and trust in your abilities, as well as the adepti, to protect the people in my stead," he said, sounding relieved and grateful. "I couldn't protect everyone while fighting at the same time, so it makes me relieved that I have all of you to help me on the sidelines. It's extremely helpful."

 

"Rex, it's our job to support our revered god," Cloud Retainer said, in which Guizhong and the nearby adepti also nodded in acquiescence. "My kin and the adepti alike are on your side, so you do not have to mention it. We're yours to command."

 

He only gave a grateful nod.

 

"I apologize for disturbing all of you," Ganyu appeared and said, with Marchosius by her side, "but it's time for the noon meal."

.

.

.

"I suppose you're getting close to finding the God of Shadows? Tell us about it."

 

Morax blinked as he thought for a moment how to start, "It was….eventful. I had managed to find any leads so far in regards to Vassago with the help of the ancient gods, however…" he shook his head as he eyed the tea cup in front of him, "it was not that easy to find him, let alone catch him. But I suppose, yes, I'm getting closer to finding him." 

 

Cloud Retainer eyed him from across the table, and so as well Guizhong and Marchosius next to him. "But you don't seem delighted… somehow. What's wrong?"

 

"My last encounter with an ancient god was the God of Light, the one with the ability as well to foresee the future and could weave fates and change it."

 

"Oh," The avian adeptus trailed for a second, surprised. "The Great, Ancient Seer Saleos?"

 

He nodded, somberly. 

 

"Did he see something bad in the future?" Guizhong couldn't help but join the conversation as well, concerned.

 

"Bad is an understatement," Morax said as he picked up his tea cup and peered over the liquid, "Plagues, land fires, floods and poisoning could happen in this region if I wouldn't be able to stop those lesser gods who control those. Unfortunately, they were in Vassago's control." he frowned, "There's even a huge possibility that it will affect the surrounding lands, as well as the other regions."

 

"That's…. that's even worse, Rex!"

 

"I know."

 

"I guess this one already knows what will happen next," Cloud Retainer murmured, "your next quest is to subdue these 'four gods' to prevent it from happening, yes?"

 

Nodding once again, he replied. "Indeed."

 

"Does that mean you'll be gone once more?"

 

"Yes," he confirmed as he took a sip on his tea, "I believe so."

 

"Is there any way we could help too?" 

 

"Just do what you always do in these lands and with these people whenever I'm absent, that also extends to the adepti with you as well," he said, "Before I leave, I'm planning to imprint each person in this place with my power so that if a miasma attack happens again— it will protect them from it." Morax downed his tea and continued, "Thinking about Vassago still lurking somewhere makes me uneasy, he could attack the people at any time without my knowledge. I can't be in two places at once, you see."

 

"I understand. Don't worry, Rex; we'll make sure the mortals are safe within these barriers, just as we do in the rest of the region."

 

"You have my gratitude, Zhenjun."

 

"Morax, before you go, you have to bring these with you."

 

He blinked as he turned his head towards the humongous god beside him, wherein Marchosius only opened his large palm and presented some delicious looking cornbreads wrapped in banana leaves. "Thank you, Marchosius." he said as he reached out to take them.

 

"Anyway, Ping has just returned from her ten-year training in the mountains."

 

He studied the avian adeptus across from him, his curiosity piqued. "Is she?" he asked.

 

"Yes, just wait until she storms in—"

 

"I'M BACK!" A shrill feminine voice called out, as the person behind it barged in through the room. It was none other than Ping, a gifted junior adeptus who had been training in the mountains for a decade under Moon Carver's guidance. She has long gray hair that she often ties into braids and secures it with a single bun on her nape; and wore blue provocative-like robes that were tightly snug on her body, showcasing her feminine curves and charm.

 

The divine crane could only sigh as Ping enthusiastically barged in herself, ignoring them as she quickly went through his direction and suddenly hugged him from behind.

 

"Oh well, there you go..." Cloud Retainer muttered to herself.

 

Guizhong remained silent for the majority of the time, assessing and observing. But when she saw the young woman hugging him affectionately, she didn't appear any less pleased.

 

"Lord Morax, I've missed you!" exclaimed Ping as she hugged his head against her modest bosoms, where he could feel her softness and inhale her feminine scent of violetgrasses through his nose.

 

"And you're still effusive....and tactile as ever, Ping," he responded, despite his discomfort with her touches.

 

Actually, he'd grown accustomed to it... particularly when it came to Ping. After being introduced to him by her adeptus parents when she was young, she developed a strong attachment to him and began idolizing him, shouting praises and even expressing her undying admiration by giving him flowers or declaring her love for him.

 

While it left him completely befuddled, surprised, and perplexed, he didn't as much as reject her advances because he assumed that was how women operated. Despite the fact that Guizhong, Havria, and his other female acquaintances do not show such forward behavior towards him, he just assumed that Ping was simply built differently and that it was all part of the so-called 'female-gushy-phase' that Cloud Retainer had tried to explain to him a long time ago.

 

He also remembered asking why Guizhong doesn't exhibit such behavior towards him, and the woman only choked on her tea and explained that as a fellow god, she couldn't just hug him out of nowhere. Even Cloud Retainer chimed in, asking if he wanted to be hugged by Guizhong, to which he simply replied that he didn't mind as long as it was harmless.

 

(And after that, he had to admit the said goddess seemed to be more forward towards him; in which she no longer acted awkward in his presence and she didn't pause at the notion of touching him.)

 

"Did you miss me? Because I did!"

 

"I actually....don't know," he murmured awkwardly.

 

"I really thought you won't come back, Milord! Did you know? The Goddess of Dust was so worried about you that she almost tried to flee the assembly last night to find you!"

 

"What— n-no, that's n-not true!" disagreed Guizhong, as her cheeks quickly turned red, causing him to slightly tilt his head to the side.

 

"Flee?" he said, blinking, as he looked at the flustered Guizhong.

 

"Yes, you have no idea how depressed she's been these past few weeks; Goddess has been so sad during your absence that I've had to console her with my adepti arts—"

 

"Ping," Guizhong, as red-faced as ever, stressed out her name to prevent her from finishing the sentence. "Isn't it time you unlatched yourself from him? Aren't you being obnoxious and disrespectful to your god?"

 

Ping only blinked owlishly at the goddess and made no attempt to free herself from him, much to his chagrin. "Why, goddess? Do you want to hug Lord Morax as well?" she innocently inquired, "Come, I won't mind sharing him."

 

"..?" He cocked his head slightly.

 

Sharing? What exactly does she mean?

 

Guizhong immediately spluttered, her face much redder than before, as if she had consumed hundreds of raw Jueyun Chili in one sitting.

 

"O-o-of course not!" she argued, "I'm just saying you're making Rex Lapis uncomfortable! Look at him! Respect your own god, Ping!"

 

At that statement, the young woman only looked at him, puzzled, and he sighed. "Ping, Guizhong is correct; could you please let go of me?"

 

"Tell me I'm pretty first, and then maybe I'll listen."

 

Guizhong spoke up again, this time a little louder. "Ping—"

 

"You are beautiful," Morax said flatly, making the woman smile toothily as if she had earned something so valuable in her life (it looked like his simple compliment really mattered to her somehow). "Now, if you're being so kind enough—" he gently patted her arm, "you're crushing me, and I'm afraid I won't be able to breathe if you keep doing this."

 

"Fine," she hummed, "I already got what I want anyway. Lord Morax thought I'm beautiful, which I'm very glad for," she quickly let go and whistled, "but will you now give me the cleansing bell this time?"

 

"You have to earn it," was his only response, which made her sigh and mutter under her breath 'denied once again after ten years'.

 

"Seriously, child. I wonder how Moon Carver has managed to survive a whole decade while being stuck with you in the mountains." Cloud Retainer said in exasperation, but Ping only chuckled kindly— seemingly unaffected by the remark. "You're just so full of energy, honestly, I couldn't even follow your verve." 

 

"That's cruel of you, Zhenjun-sama. Master adores me, and I'm always kind!"

 

"'Zhenjun'," She grumbled, "Stop imitating Rex by calling me that. You already know that 'Zhenjun' is not even my name; Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper almost have the same title as me, so basically we all share the same 'Zhenjun' title."

 

"But 'Cloud Retainer' is too long. Don't you agree, goddess?"

 

With a simple nod, Guizhong acquiesced. "I concur."

 

She groaned, "Not you as well, Guizhong." 

 

The goddess chuckled in return, "My apologies, but it's actually true."

 

And then she turned her sharp gaze at him, somewhat peeved. "And you too, it all started because of you. That's not even my name."

 

"...?" Morax furrowed his brows a little, "It's not? You didn't even correct me before, and I just assumed it was."

 

"Tsk," Cloud Retainer tutted as she shook her head, "Whatever. You three are impossible. This one gave up."

 

While the avian creature was grumbling under her breath, annoyed, Ping and Guizhong could only laugh at her expense. Marchosius seemed to be having fun by only listening to them, and Morax silently poured himself another cup of tea.  

 

That would be his final cup of the day. Because after that, he had to excuse himself to continue his search for the four lesser gods.

 

(He simply believed that he needed to begin moving quickly.)

 

"While I enjoyed talking freely with my superiors today, I'm sorry for barging in without stating my purpose," Ping said with a cross of her arms as she looked at Guizhong, "But I'm actually here to see you, goddess. You asked me to check the ballista and I did. It's a success, I have to say it was quite impressive. I saw the prototype as well, but you did a fairly good job at completing the final product. I finished the last tuning, do you want to check it out to see how it works?"

 

"Yes, absolutely!" Guizhong quickly stood up in her seat, clearly delighted and excited. And somehow, Morax couldn't help but notice how her features lit up the moment she learned about the success of her ballista.

 

The unexpected sight only made him smile curtly from behind his tea cup. Guizhong was a brilliant goddess, and he was certain that everything she planned would be a success in the end.

 

"Please answer me, Rex. I just wanted to be acknowledged for various reasons, and for being weak and a burden to all of you is not one of them..!"

 

Seeing her tears and anguish from way back had always been at the forefront of his mind, and it was something he couldn't easily forget.

 

She looked so broken that night, so deplorable and frail, but seeing her smile again and looking so fulfilled at that moment had finally calmed a certain restlessness within him.

 

You are never a burden, he thought to himself as he sipped his tea. Never will be a burden.

 

"Let me see as well, if you don't mind." Cloud Retainer's words made him snap out of his trance, along with Marchosius' who let out a sound of affirmation beside him. He had to say that the tea on his cup was about to also get empty as well, as he continued to drink it gracefully until not a single drop remained. "Rex, you're coming?" 

 

He simply shook his head as he gently put down his empty cup, "My apologies, but I have to leave soon."

 

Somewhat flabbergasted, the avian adeptus could only face him along with a surprised Guizhong and a confused Ping. "Huh? Right at this moment? I thought you were going to take a break at least for a day or two before departing for another mission again."

 

Morax stood from his seat as he regarded them all, "That won't do, Zhenjun. I could not afford to take a break, not when my people and region were in danger. I simply cannot calm down, this is too serious, and if not prevented it could endanger thousands of lives if not more." he said seriously, "I have to leave as much as possible to stop them. I have to put a stop to Vassago's facinorousness. I hope all of you understand my decision."

 

There was silence, and no one bothered to refute his claim, but then…

 

"Take care, Morax." Marchosius was the first to speak and showed his support by tucking his hood back on his head which made him nod slightly in gratitude. "A responsible god will always look after his subjects and his dominion; your priorities, indeed, come first; you have a large burden to settle fairly quickly."

 

"Thank you, Marchosius." he offered, absolutely grateful for his understanding.

 

Flap 

 

"...This rare touch of normalcy that we have right now as we dined together has almost made me forget how severe your burdens and responsibilities that you have no choice but to carry and act upon. You are no doubt correct with your decision. My deepest apologies for being insensible, Rex." Cloud Retainer said, her wings spread around her and her head bowed as if in apology, "Don't worry about the mortals; we will do everything in our power to defend them against your aggressors until death, for that we can assure you."

 

"Take care of yourself, Rex." It was the goddess' turn to look sad as she relayed her parting words, "When you come back, we'll look at the ballista together and I will show you them. That's a promise." 

 

Morax nodded in response as he pulled his hood down to cover his hair entirely and summoned his signature weapon with the other hand.

 

"I understand. Now, if you will excuse me..."

 

He had to imprint his people with his mark before leaving after all.

.

.

.

.

.

He was back in Ying's domain.

 

He hadn't seen those familiar pink and purple flowers in so long that he literally zoned out the moment he saw them.

 

How long was it? Four weeks? A month and a couple of days? He wasn't sure, but he was certain that he had accidentally dozed off in Cuijue while taking a small break in an inconspicuous tiny cave made of uneven rocks.

 

As he was about to push himself to sit, he was met with the woman's worried face up close, and he knew he had to stop pushing himself further or their faces would instantly collide.

 

Seeing her again was always a welcome. In fact, Morax was inwardly comforted to finally see her familiar face after not seeing it for a month. Those bright golden eyes that seemed to pull him into the depths, as well as her beautiful face that always seemed to glow as she expressed herself to him like an open book.

 

And then last but not the least, her smiles— her smiles that were enough for him to stop and admire, or her hearty laughs that he couldn't help but listen to at every beat because it sounded so pleasant to his ears.

 

While he admits that he liked the entirety of Ying's domain because it appeared to be a haven for any type of individual seeking tranquility and peace—

 

—but it was still everything about her that he always looked forward to seeing on every visit. Not just to see and admire the flowers or the lovely scenery.

 

However, before he could even greet her, Ying only moved closer to him with her hand raised. The sight only made him freeze, eyes glued to her approaching hand until her fingers gently carded through his bangs to expose his forehead. Morax was so taken aback by her unusual behavior that he couldn't even make a sound with his throat or call her out on what she was planning. But it wasn't until he felt the pad of her thumb tenderly caressing a certain fresh open wound that he realized what she was so concerned about.

 

"You're wounded," she said, her golden eyebrows furrowed in concern as her other hand reached out to touch his other cheek. He couldn't shy away from her innocent touch, he couldn't. "Here too. What happened?"

 

Morax was taken aback and floored by the genuine concern laced through her soft voice and warm touches, and he was unable to respond in kind. Ying only kept herself busy by constantly questioning him about what had happened and checking other places to see how many wounds he had, particularly on his face. Somehow, her mother hen behavior reminded him not only of a certain goddess— but it also gave him an unusual comfort within, wherein her touches were beginning to evoke some kind of new unnamed emotions that not even he was aware of.

 

I'm back. She's here.

 

(It was almost as if—)

 

She's in front of me again. It's her.

 

He also noted it was the first time she initiated a forward physical contact with him. The first time that she touched him without a care (without shying away), not even thinking about how really close she was before him. Morax could see her face more clearly now, that he couldn't stop himself from admiring the worried creases on her eyebrows, or to the small frown adorning her lips when she asked him why he wasn't answering. It was really obvious that she was worried, very much, for his well-being. Her touches also felt warm and so comforting, that he almost wanted to drown himself in them.

 

It's Ying.

 

(—he was craving for something, which was unusual. Was it her touch? The attention? The contentment when he was with her? Her tender looks and her lyrical voice? Her presence? Or was it…

 

….with her as a whole?)

 

Morax was clueless. He honestly had no idea.

 

"...Morax?" she asked softly, and he hummed instead, strangely exhausted as if someone had sucked his entire soul out of his system. "Knowing you, you're supposed to answer one of my questions right now, but it appears that you have so much going on in your mind that you can't talk? Am I right?"

 

There was so much going on that he couldn't even complain about the urgency of his mission.

 

He hadn't seen her in so long that seeing her in flesh felt like regaining his ability to breathe after several weeks of being deprived of ataraxis. Just seeing her made him want to forget about his responsibilities for the time being in order to preserve his sanity.

 

Morax simply wanted a break. He knew he couldn't afford a simple respite in the material world once he regained consciousness, so he had to make the most of his time in Ying's domain, where he was free of obligations and burdens.

 

Take a break, Morax.

 

"Morax, are you alright..?"

 

There's Ying.

 

Morax simply leaned forward to her and rested his forehead against the crook of her shoulder with a soft thump. He didn't know why, but his body just moved on its own as he softly breathed her in, familiarizing himself with her scent that he oddly missed breathing. Ying seemed to be surprised by his sudden bout of vulnerability but she didn't shy away from him. In fact, she only let him rest while her other hand reached for the back of his head, weaving her lithe fingers through his dark locks and gently massaging his scalp with her pads.

 

"...I..." he murmured under his breath. He honestly didn't know what to say, let alone have any words to offer at the time.

 

"Don't," she said as she circled an arm around his shoulder to pull him in, and Morax could only bury himself further in her arms with a burdened sigh. "I think… I'm finally starting to understand. Don't force yourself to talk."

 

"..." Morax wanted to at least offer his gratitude, but the words were simply stuck in his throat that what he could only do at that moment was to forget and just feel the wholeness of her warm presence—

 

And to drown himself in the warmth of her embrace.

 

"Close your eyes," she murmured.

 

"...?" he blinked in response as he adjusted his head on her shoulder, "Why?"

 

"Just do it," she insisted with a gentle nudge of his head, and he curtly nodded, closing his eyes and following her words.

 

Warm.

 

"Take a rest. Sleep."

 

"But that's—"

 

Impossible, was what he wanted to say, or simply never, but she only beat him to it.

 

"Don't refute me," she said and Morax could feel the side of her head resting on top of his as she continued to play with his hair, "Trust me, just close your eyes and sleep."

 

And before he could stress himself about it, she only stopped him by hugging his head and started humming her favorite lullaby that he was familiar with.

 

He had no idea what had happened, but oddly enough, her voice had lulled him into darkness— the kind of darkness he doesn't mind succumbing to. Morax could feel the warmth, tranquillity, and gentleness of her ministrations, as well as her soft lyrical voice, urging him to embrace and feel it all around him.

 

Morax felt like he was forgetting something the moment he decided to go along with it, but he couldn't care less as he reached for that warmth to indulge in. It was almost as if he was embracing a warm, soft cloud—

 

—which has a strong scent of her.

 

In Morax's rare moments of vulnerability, Ying was almost like a guardian—a liberator of sorts, a savior.

 

And her presence was enough to calm him down, giving him a sense of relief from the mountains of responsibilities that unknowingly restrained him, as if there were shackles wrapped around his limbs and neck, confining him.

 

And, unbeknownst to Morax, Ying only embraced him tightly in that position for several hours; she never stopped singing, nor did she stop playing with his hair as he slumbered; not until he simply vanished in her arms, which was a sign that he had finally woken up in the material world.


(三十天 — Thirty)

 

Even though Morax disliked counting, he kept track of the number of days he spent searching for the four lesser gods. And in his first thirty days, he discovered an unexpected lead that led all the way to the other region, in which it was led by none other than the God of Storms, Decarabian. At the very borders of his region and the god's impenetrable walls made of windstorms, he managed to find and capture not only one, but two of the lesser gods on his list.

 

It was something he hadn't expected to see when he first saw them. They were much younger than he had anticipated and foreign as well, two new-fledgling gods with the bodies of young teenagers, a female and a male. Both of them were wandering aimlessly, seeking solace in other places while also attempting to flee the shadows that had followed them for so many days.

 

Vassago was undoubtedly looking for them right now in order to brainwash and control, albeit vulnerable and inexperienced, both young gods were wise enough to try their best to remain hidden. They were not only suspicious of the shadows, but they could also sense unwarranted danger if they got too close to them.

 

Morax checked them out with his power, of course (which both young gods didn't mind because they could sense that he was relatively harmless compared to the other gods), and discovered that they both have no traces of Vassago in their bodies (yet), which made him strangely relieved, and breathe a lot easier because there was no reason for him to use brute force against them.

 

After that, they talked civilly (albeit awkwardly, given that they spoke in broken sentences) about his situation and made some minor demands (which could benefit both parties) until the three of them decided to make a word contract. Yugnita and Rana, both new-fledging gods with an affinity for flames and poison who were accidentally reborn on the wrong land, only wanted one thing in exchange: to return to their lands where there are many rainforests. Morax was skeptical about where those lands could be found until Rana explained that they also contained vast deserts.

 

After a few moments of contemplation on their explanation, he realized that there was no other region with arid lands and dense forests like the lands of Sumeru.

 

They made a contract then, and suggested he would help those young gods to find their way back to Sumeru (while ensuring their safety from Vassago) as they fled his region. There was a difficult route that led all the way to their desired land by passing through the lands of Chasm, but Morax warned them that it would not be so easy to trudge upon, as there was only a bumpy road ahead of them.

 

But the young gods were unconcerned; in fact, they were motivated, telling him that their calling was not in his lands and that they needed to return to their origins for their own sanity. They have no choice but to endure in order to return to their homelands.

 

Thus, Morax sealed their agreement and gave them a piece of himself in the form of a cor lapis imbued with his power to protect and guide them. Yugnita and Rana were grateful as they paid their respects, chanting in a language he didn't understand, but he felt blessed by those two lesser gods.

 

"As for now, you both have to stay hidden," he instructed, in which both young gods nodded in understanding, "Just in case you needed my help, that crystal would serve as a connection to me, and as long as you're here in my land, I will do my best to get to both of you to hold up my end of the bargain."


"Morax?"

 

As focused as he was while making a clumsy flower wreath, he turned his head to regard her.

 

"Yes?" 

 

"Don't be too hard on yourself, okay?"

 

"Hard?" he blinked, somewhat confused. "What makes you say that….?"

 

The woman only stared at him, her golden eyes probing him as if she was peering through his soul and all the way to his bones. It made him a little bit uneasy.

 

Why is she looking at me like that?

 

"...Ying?" he called out, unsure.

 

"Don't be too hard on yourself," she repeated, more pressing and serious; and she went on before he could respond. "Please don't."

 

Her words caused him to pause in his work, but he returned his gaze to the flower wreath left on his lap, thinking.

 

He wasn't sure what she meant. It was not like he told her about his responsibilities in the material world, was he?

 

Am I too obvious? He wanted to ask, but he chose not to.

 

With a simple shake of his head, he decided to change the subject and offered instead. "Come."

 

It was her turn to blink confusedly, she asked. "Where? To you?"

 

"Yes, come."

 

At his simple command, Ying only crawled her way over to him and sat down. Morax simply showed her his flower wreath, which she examined with awe.

 

"Are you sure this is your first time?" He nodded in response, "It's really neat," she said, completely enamored by the simple flower wreath that he made. "It's lovely." 

 

And, for some reason, he thought her expression was quite adorable.

 

Luminous and simply beautiful.

 

"It's yours," Morax handed her the flower wreath, which she took silently from his grasp.

 

"There you go," Ying said as she placed it on top of her head, smiling. "How is it?"

 

"Ah," he blinked, giving the flower wreath a cursory glance, "I still think it's missing something, but I'm not sure what it is."

 

"Nah, simplicity is fine, Morax. I like simple things," she said with a bright smile, "Can you hunch down a little for me, please?"

 

Hunch?

 

He only hunched down in response, and Ying suddenly placed another flower wreath on top of his head, he blinked. "...?"

 

"Now we match!" she exclaimed excitedly, "It actually looks cute on you, Morax."

 

For a brief moment, he remained silent, content to listen to her remark about how the white flowers complemented the color of his hair. The flower wreath on top of her head, however, began to slide down to the side, causing the ornament to become slightly crooked.

 

Unbidden, he reached out to adjust the flower wreath to its proper position, and Ying abruptly stopped speaking, her golden eyes widening slightly, visibly surprised by his simple gesture.

 

Silence.

 

"There you go," he repeated her words, much a bit on the playful side and offered a gentle smile. "The flowers suited you as well. It's perfect." 


(五十六 — Fixty-six)

 

It was another rainy day.

 

He had no idea what had just happened, but the moment he heard rumors from his milleliths about a strange, suspicious black barrier covering a certain isolated village, Morax felt compelled to investigate. And by the time he arrived at the scene, he couldn't help but stare, wide-eyed in utter disbelief.

 

He hadn't expected the place to be filled with the same miasma that he had seen in Chasm, where it was so dark and thick that he couldn't even see the so-called village and the small community within it. It almost appeared to be a black empty dome, with nothing visible inside but a large dark void.

 

Before his mind could spiral out on some dark thoughts about another cold-murders courtesy of Vassago's vile power, Morax bravely entered the barrier with a sturdy shield of his own (as a precaution, of course) and was absolutely greeted by the disgusting stench of dead bodies scattered all around the village— as if they were being left in there to rot for so many days. As he entered, he couldn't even stop himself from covering his nose and mouth because the smell of death was just so sickly, strong, and completely overpowering.

 

It definitely smelled like sickness…or blights.

 

And many more innocent people had been killed, from the elderly to the children. He arrived far too late, and no one survived.

 

When Morax sensed a powerful presence inside the black dome, he wasted no time in searching for the source of the plague, which led him inside a torn abandoned small hut where he saw a cowering tiny child crying pitifully, her eyes bloodshot, face full of tears and snot as she hoarsely begged for someone to help her stop.

 

Young vessels with divine powers.

 

It was rare, but not completely impossible especially if Celestia allowed such circumstances to happen. In other words, those kinds of gods were premature in a sense, for they were not full-fledged divinities yet.

 

Somehow, as he mulled the cases of young vessels as new lesser gods, his suspicions had simply led him to realize that Vassago was attempting to exploit their vulnerability because they were easier to control and brainwash. Yugnita and Rana were simply out of the question; despite their youth, those gods were far more rational and difficult to fool and control than other younger gods.

 

He almost forgot that young vessels were extremely prone to self-destruction, and the stress they experienced from controlling their powers from the early stages could also trigger it, making them even more vulnerable and potentially leading to their deaths if not controlled properly.

 

(And the thought only made him see red and angry towards Vassago as he tried his hardest to stop the premature god's power from leaking and worsening; it was a good thing that the child goddess was sensible enough to mind the severity of her uncontrollable power by deciding at the last minute to immobilize herself; however, it also cost the lives of the villagers— who died from her massive blights.)

 

On his fifty-sixth day, Morax managed to capture and subdue the weeping third lesser god. He also buried fifty people six feet below the ground, in which the soil turned barren in the process because of the severity of the blights. He couldn't revitalize it, not even with his magnanimous power; the land there was already gone.

 

Morax was too late to save them, and the guilt will consume the child goddess for the rest of her life.

.

.

.

.

And the once-thriving isolated village was no more, but a myth in the next thousands of years. 


A gentle hum, a soothing voice, and a warm touch.

 

"Show me the flower invisible… Sing me the hymns inaudible…. The wind is my voice, the moon is my heart…"

 

Ying…?

 

"Come find me, I'm on every hills and fields… I'm here... ever your near…"

 

Ying was singing a new song today, but it was just as lovely as it always was. And as he tried to open his eyes, what he could only see was black, until he realized that her soft hand was simply covering his eyes.

 

He gently touched her wrist, signalling that he was awake, but he didn't as much take her hand away from his eyes. "Ying," he murmured.

 

She stopped singing for a moment, then hummed. 

 

"My apologies. I'm sleeping on your lap, am I? I might be too heavy."

 

She chuckled, her tone soft and lyrical. "It's fine. Don't fret about it."

 

"But—"

 

"Morax," Ying called out to him, wherein her other hand found the side of his face, caressing. He paused and couldn't stop himself from slightly leaning forward to feel the touch. "Calm down. Don't forget that you're not alone. Not this time." 

 

He was rendered speechless.

 

"Just focus on my voice and touch." 

 

And he did.


(七十 — Seventy)

 

Pitter patter 

 

The sound of soft pitter patter of raindrops hitting the ground filled his ears, even his robes felt heavy on his person as well because of how drenched he was from head to foot from his never-ending search.

 

Morax then slowly began to look up, seeing the skies begin to lighten, a stark contrast to the dark clouds that had surrounded his region for a week and a half, and the sight only filled him with a little sense of foreboding.

 

(The heavy rain had finally stopped, for good, but it didn't make him feel any better for some inexplicable reason.)

 

He blinked not only once, but twice and thrice. Morax felt unusually tired within, exhausted beyond belief, but he had no choice but to push himself and endure once more.

 

As he peered down, he saw a single piece of drenched small-sized robes being mixed into the puddle of muddy water, along with a couple of flower head accessories. The sight only made him feel heavy, but he simply bent down to pick it up and closed his eyes as he murmured his deepest apologies.

 

This time, he was far too late to come and help the fourth lesser god. Unlike the young Goddess of Blight, whom he had managed to subdue at the last minute (and by a stroke of luck), he failed to arrive on time for the Goddess of Storm, who eventually resigned to her tragic fate.

 

Morax stood up as he held the clothes with care. He simply thought he had to pay his respects to an innocent deity (a younger one, at that) who had fallen unjustly due to the machinations of a certain vile god.

 

She didn't deserve it in the least. She just fell right into Vassago's dark clutches until she self-destructed on her own because of her uncontrollable power.

 

He shook his head, his chest strangely felt heavy as he passed his small prayers into the winds.


After eighty-eight days of mind-numbing searching, he finally discovered the god behind the tragedies he never wanted to see, let alone remember in his moments of peace.  

 

Vassago was the very root of all of his woes. He was even the reason why he couldn't even calm down for so many months, nor even could take a break from the things that he had to do for the sake of his region and his people.

 

He had to say that seeing his aggravating face in person only made his blood boil, to the point that he even entertained an idea to stab him right there to death with his weapon— messy and inhumane, full of carnage as the ancient god swam in his own blood. However, before Morax could fully succumb to such morbid temptations, he quickly ignored them with an inward shake of his head and willed himself to clear his thoughts lest he do something foolish that would be completely detrimental to his position as a god.

 

While Vassago did not deserve to live because of the tragedies he had caused, let alone the innocent lives he had taken, Morax was still rational enough to listen to him before finally delivering him to his death.

 

"Haha—" Vassago laughed hoarsely, "—y-you finally came, Lord of Geo."

 

"Vassago," he murmured, his tone cold and serious; he couldn't even stop himself from looking down upon the weak, pitiful god on his feet, who was obviously crawling on his fours and in the worst deplorable condition possible for who knows what reason.

 

Well, it didn't matter if the god was nearly dying at that moment. In fact, Morax hardly cared, despite the fact that seeing his face only reminded him of the pitiful seer who broke a few laws in order to prevent him from committing such heinous deeds any further.

 

Albeit betrayed and deceived, Saleos still thought about his estranged brother without reservations. The ancient seer had always been a good brother until the end.

 

"I know… why you're here," The god struggled in his position as he rasped, "But please before you kill me, let me explain myself—!"

 

"Explain, you say?" he started coolly, his eyes sharp and biting, as his grip on his weapon only tightened and he continued. "Would you even care to explain the lives that were lost because of you? And the torment you deeply caused on my people?"

 

Vassago quickly interjected, "Y-you've mistaken something! I swear—" he coughed, "—eurgh," and then he coughed again, this time with blood, but Morax remained impassive, only watching him struggle with his might. "Lord of Geo, I— just this once, p-please hear me out while I'm still in control of my body."

 

He frowned for a second. 

 

"Still in control"? What does he mean?

 

"Speak."

 

"As you can see," Vassago's breath became labored as he tried to keep his burst of chronic coughs at bay, "Whether I speak or not, I'll die either way. It's too late for me to regret whatever I did—" he coughed, "—but if only I could turn back time, I swear I wouldn't ask for any he-help from that god! I'm toyed, u-used and tortured, believe me—!"

 

Morax could only watch him as he doubled himself to the ground, hacking some blood spasmodically through each coughing fit, but he felt no remorse for seeing him in such a state.

 

"It hurts....! It hurts....!" he wailed in agony.

 

To be honest, he literally felt nothing.

 

"And?" Did he really think he'd show mercy to him just for that? Did he really believe his pitiful screams of pain could make him give in?

 

Never.

 

"I'm greedy! I-I sure know of that!" Vassago cried between coughs as he clutched his chest, "....That's my error! And because of my own greed…. This is what happened to me."

 

"Ah, isn't it too late for you to admit that? Do you think telling me these would make me pity you, or let alone spare your life?" he scoffed. 

 

Thunk

 

"Certainly not."

 

Swoosh!

 

Vassago instantly froze when Morax brandished his weapon swiftly in front of him. "...!"

 

He tilted his head to the side as he looked down at him, pointing the sharp tip of his weapon against his neck. The ancient god was silent, a little bit shaken as he looked up in return.

 

"I already know you are greedy, Vassago. In fact, your brother continued to suffer because of your greed, and I just discovered that the other gods died as a result of your perfidiousness as well." He paused for a moment, "However, no matter how much you tell me about this other god deluding you into committing atrocities against my people, it doesn't change the fact that it was you all along who made an enemy of me. It was your shadows who killed some of my people."

 

"That's—"

 

"Labolas...was it? I eliminated him, he was all talk, as usual, and I made him swallow his eternal flames until his insides melted... his thawed innards creeped out at every hole in his body, and even his blood no longer looked red but a bottomless black." He said nonchalantly, his amber eyes sharp and menacing; Morax pushed the tip of his weapon even more, to the point it nicked Vassago's neck on the side. "Not only was his entire body full of liquid on the insides, not only was it boneless, but it was also charred from the outside, that even his people couldn't recognize their wretched god. You see, I even had to drag his body all around while I visited another god in search of you."

 

"..."

 

"I wouldn't hesitate to do the same, but in a different way; your life is nothing, and you have to pay for everything. If I have the ability to bring my dead people back to life, your life isn't enough for the lives of a hundred people in exchange for your sacrifice."

 

"I-I'm wrong… I admit it," Vassago croaked as he bit his lower lip to control his coughs at bay but he still failed, "Urgh—it was all my fault. If only I had been... se-sensible enough to consider the consequences of my wrongdoings, perhaps this wouldn't happen."

 

With a struggle, the ancient god clumsily pushed his robes open to reveal his chest, and Morax only frowned in confusion as he gently pulled his weapon away from his neck. Vassago struggled to sit against the wall behind him, but he couldn't stop the hiss from escaping his lips when his chest was fully exposed before him.

 

The god's chest has a very large festering open wound with disgusting vein-like marks surrounding it. Without even asking the god, Morax knew what it was just by looking at it.

 

It was no doubt an ancient cursed seal

 

"I'm cursed," Vassago admitted shakily as he yelped in pain, and Morax noted that the more he talked, the more his open wound seemed to pulse and look worse, and the black veins seemed to have a mind of their own as they slowly spread on his chest. "And he also branded me as a s-slave. I was....argh—" he clutched his robes as if they were the only thing holding him together in his pain, "—fo-forced to commit atrocities in the shadows by his orders. I'm so—guh—sorry, Lord of Geo."

 

Cursed? He couldn't help but think for a moment. As far as he could remember, Labolas didn't have that kind of power…. or did he?

 

Skeptical, he frowned as he asked. "Labolas… But isn't he dead? Then the curse should be—"

 

"N-no…!" The god almost growled as he squirmed in pain, "It's..not—aaaaaaaah—me! It's not me! It…..it's not him! It's—!

 

His mind absolutely stuttered into halt. So it was not only Labolas and Vassago alone?

 

There's another one?

 

Vassago's loud pained howl reverberated inside the cave, he screamed, screamed and screamed until it was almost borderline animalistic and unhinged. He was speechless, absolute disbelief filled Morax's face as he watch the god cried as he convulsed in the ground.

 

(As his curse mark grew worse, blood began to spurt from his wound.)

 

Somehow, his mind was suddenly consumed by the mystery god who had been making a fool of him the entire time. The one who cleverly pulled the strings, plotting cunningly—methodically—behind closed curtains all for the purpose of antagonizing him. To torment him along with his people.

 

Headache. He could sense another headache coming.

 

"Who did it?" He asked the tortured god, watching his flesh change as the cursed mark spread all over his body. Large alive blisters began to appear on his flesh, effervescing in and out like a bubbling lava on his skin.

 

While Vassago's skin was now covered in large blisters, some fresh blood began to ooze from his mouth, eye sockets, ears, and nose, leaving him in a terrifying bloody mess. The sight was morbid, he noted, but no matter how pitiful the god was in his current situation, he couldn't bring himself to feel any remorse for him.

 

Morax was also quick to notice that the god's body was gradually starting to rot, and it quickly spread all over his body, emitting a pungent odor that was extremely irritating to the nose.

 

(His head started to throb a little.)

 

Vassago tried to laugh despite his pain, but it only resulted in him choking on his own blood.

 

"I'm....I'm going to feel the ultimate torture once I reveal who ordered me," he murmured weakly, leaning against the wall and retching an alarming amount of blood beside him. "P-please do me a favor, Morax, I-I don't want to feel this torture any longer—" he wheezed, and the large blisters on his skin began to pop, revealing a grotesque image of his raw morbid wounds. "Kill me afterwards, I beg you."

 

Throb

 

He blinked.

 

"I have to do everything in my power to correct my brother's mistakes to prevent this world—that the Primordial One cherished—from collapsing." Saleos said, wanly.

 

He could almost hear the ancient seer as he also repeated Vassago's words of entreatment in his head.

 

"Kill me afterwards, I beg you."

 

"I knew there would come a time when I would have to break laws someday, and that time has finally come. It's fate."

 

Morax eyed the god before him wordlessly, considering. 

 

"Kill me afterwards, I beg you."

 

"Please, stop my brother for me."

 

"Kill me afterwards, I beg you."

 

His grip on his weapon tightened in a fraction.

 

Throb throb

 

"Kill me afterwards. I beg you."

 

He had no idea what was going on, but his ears were ringing loudly alongside the building headache.

 

It was almost annoying. So aggravating.

 

I beg you, I beg you, I beg you, I beg you—

 

"Morax," Ying called out to him, wherein her other hand found the side of his face, caressing. He paused and couldn't stop himself from slightly leaning forward to feel the touch. "Calm down. Don't forget that you're not alone. Not this time."

 

Ying…

 

"Just focus on my voice and touch." 

 

"Do it quickly, please." Morax finally snapped out of his trance as Vassago begged for one last time. The pungent odor of his wounds was becoming more irritating to the olfactory senses, in which it was starting to affect his building headache as well.

 

"Understood."

 

"Thank you….! Thank you….! You're a very kind god, Morax…!"

 

"..." He didn't reply in return, but he quickly demanded. "Speak." 

 

Vassago coughed once again as he spoke, "...The one who ordered me to harm your people was none other than—"

 

The unthinkable just happened to the god and what he could only do was watch, watch and watch— until Vassago's severe condition worsened even more. His animalistic screams blended with the sizzling sound of flesh burning, large blisters popping, and blood spurting in large drops like a drizzle. Vassago was no longer recognizable as the curse began to gnaw at his flesh, necrotizing his entire body.

 

Even one of his eyes started to pop out, his one eyeball began to hang out of its socket.

 

"—A-greas—!"

 

Snap

 

Before the god could experience the worst torture of his body burning from inside and out, Morax suddenly severed his head when he finally got the name of the god that he needed. Vassago's warm blood had splattered the walls, even hitting the side of his face. Impassively, Morax watched the dead body of the god in front of him who was lying in his own blood, his severed body shook as it spurted out more blood like a fountain, then he eyed his rolling head next to his feet.

 

Numb. He simply couldn't feel anything.

 

Morax only closed his eyes as he turned around and left the small cave in silence, along with his bloodied weapon in hand. He began to hum in low tones, humming a familiar song he had always heard from Ying.

 

"Agreas", is it.

 

As he finally got out of the cave, he channeled his power through his feet and silently ordered the earth to make the secret cavern to cave in. And in a blink of an eye, the cave had been suddenly reduced to rubbles, burying the dead body in its wake.

 

Now that he successfully eliminated Vassago, he had to move on to his next target.

 

Morax had walked away from the scene, unfeeling.

 

Notes:

My heart still breaks whenever I think of the first goddess (that was pretty random, but I love random things; her name is Akka btw, but I didn't mentioned it because y'know—plot). Tell me if you figured out the hidden message in her last gift for Lord Alloces! I'm curious if any of you got it right. 🤫

Also, I'm sure none of you expected to see (Madame) Younger Ping, but lo and behold, I just made her appear mwahaha.

By the way, the ancient gods' names in here were from the Lesser Key of Solomon (except for Akka, and the other gods I mentioned). The ancient gods were named after the demons from the Ars Goetia.

This was only the part one of the searching-for-the-real-enemy arc, and the next part will introduce an important character (?) as well so stay tuned.

And also, if you're wondering what the new song that Ying had sung was, it was Lullaby by Kaida Yuriko. Try listening to it; it's a great song.
(https://youtu.be/FpGttBvLw00)

Comments are appreciated. Hope to see you again in the next update!
—springfieldofcherryblossoms

Chapter 5: The Discovery

Notes:

Hello! I'm still alive and breathing well. I'm not abandoning this piece; I don't think I would, so I'll finish this story no matter how long it takes even though I rarely play Genshin nowadays. I still love ZhongLumi.

This is a bit longer than the last chapter, but anyways, enjoy! Enough yapping, ahahaha.
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[Balanced ZhongLumi and GuiLi scenes, I guess? And some lore and lots of Morax becoming aware of certain someone's womanly charms.]

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

“......rax…up…”

 

It felt like someone was calling out to him. But who was it? 

 

“....hang…there! … wa…up!”

 

? 

 

“Wake….up!”

 

As soon as he opened his eyes again, he found he was back to his usual spot. Even though he couldn't count how many times he saw the same sight every time he transported himself into his and Ying's shared space, the sight remained magnificent. Watching the sea of drooping pink and purple flowers billowing back and forth with the wind was strangely comforting—and he swore he couldn't ask for anything more.

 

This was it. This was the kind of peace he longed deep within himself. If only he could be like that in the material world, where there were no wars to fight or blood to spill—for both gods and mortals alike. 

 

“...”

 

He attempted to move, but it made matters worse; he found that his entire body ached, and he couldn't feel his body for a bit for some reason. He definitely needed some rest.

 

“Morax!” Suddenly, her familiar face came into his view, if not quite close. It was definitely Ying. After all, she was the only woman who constantly invaded his personal space (which he didn't mind in the slightest).

 

In fact, he had grown accustomed to seeing her face in such close proximity that he could see each twitch of her brow when she was deeply worried, with her pink lips slightly parted whenever she called out his name in raw desperation. 

 

Raw desperation? But why? 

 

(Just like right now.) 

 

“Can you hear me?” she asked. 

 

“...” He blinked slowly at her question. Once, and then twice. Of course, he can. What kind of question was that?

 

Even though he believed to have tried to move his lips, he appeared to be unable to speak. There were no words or sounds coming out. Ying's worried expression had turned to alarm, and for some reason, he found himself being dragged away by the arm and could only silently follow her as she navigated through the forest (the urgency on her behavior made him forget the aching muscles that he had), all the way to the familiar pool that she enjoyed visiting from time to time. 

 

He almost grimaced the moment his feet made contact with the wet soil beneath. Every step felt like the ground was sucking him in, and it didn't help that the cold water almost pricked his aching calves. 

 

Silent as ever, with only the sloshing sound of the water could be heard along with his companion's soft breaths, Morax could only watch Ying as she traversed through the pool with him in tow. A few moments later, they stopped near a cascade full of rocks, and she gently pushed him against a nearby small boulder. 

 

“Sit,” she commanded, with no room for excuses. 

 

And he did follow without a question. 

 

Curiosity filled his tired eyes as he watched her search her body for something, and when she couldn't find it, Ying resorted to ripping the edges of her thin robes with no regard for the world. Morax only watched her as she began working with the ripped cloth; she soaked it, squeezed it, and then looked him in the eye—full of intent—before reaching out to grab his arm and wiping away the obvious dried blood clinging to his arm without saying a word.

 

When he saw the splotches of blood adorning his arms, even on some parts of his habiliments, he finally realized the reason why she looked so utterly distressed. He was absolutely unpresentable. Too obvious that he came back from somewhere brutal where battlefields were a commonplace. The sore evidence, the blood, and his still fresh wounds on some parts of his body were enough to give away what kind of life he led in the material world; something that he was sure that Ying wasn't familiar with. 

 

The life of a shackled, overburdened god who had to face and kill his adversaries in order to protect his land and people. An endless battle of survival, an everyday living hell where he had to witness countless innocent lives being taken away. 

 

Morax couldn't bring himself to speak, much less explain what had happened. He was too exhausted to recount what had happened to him over the last few months, and the weight of his burdens was already catching up with him without a moment of respite. He only wanted to focus on one single thing

 

This moment, with him and this realm. A secret paradise where he can rest without worrying for the meantime. A paradise where Ying kindly shared with him.

 

Ying…

 

Her silence was soothing; her presence was comforting enough to divert his mind from the destructive thoughts he was constantly harboring nowadays. 

 

Slosh

 

She scrubbed his dimly tattooed arms before moving on to clean his feet. Morax could only observe her, admiring how her golden hair seemed to radiate like sun rays, a stark contrast to the earthy colors that surrounded them. Ying was already soaked in half, her torn, thin robes clinging to her obvious hourglass figure, emphasizing both her physical charm and her never-ending kindness.

 

The more he watched, Morax felt unusually uneasy within. Conflicted. He couldn't be so sure if this should be allowed to be seen, let alone be seen by him. There was no single individual who was this close to him in a long period of time, who would go as far as bowing down to their heads so that they could tend to his wounds. 

 

She was far too vulnerable in this regard, too fragile, bright, and kind. If he were a malicious god with depraved ideals, let alone interests, Ying would be like a pristine, paragon of virtue among the sea of the corrupt, enticing everyone to taint—tear it into ruins. 

 

Ying was so small. So delicate. He simply thought she was someone he could easily manipulate, someone he could use in his best interest, someone he could ruin

 

His blood suddenly ran cold. 

 

Morax felt sick within. The simple thought was enough to wake his weary soul. He just couldn't bear it. He swore he would go to considerable measures just to ensure her safety and security. 

 

Like that of Guizhong. 

 

For some reason, Ying moved even closer to his body and situated herself between his parted legs. The simple movement was enough to snap him from his inward distress. Her warmth was crowding him, to the point where it was clashing with the cold he felt from the pool waters. 

 

She looked at his face intently and began cleaning off the dried blood on the side of his face. Silently, Morax was free to look at her serious features up close, ruminating about the mystery of the woman named Ying. She even angled his face left and right, which made him feel the sudden goosebumps pricking his exposed flesh from her soft touch. 

 

As she wiped the blood off from his face, Ying laid the wet cloth next to him, and she suddenly grasped the sides of his face and leaned forward. His thoughts came to a halt once more, and he was greeted by how alarmingly close their faces were. He was clueless, somewhat stunned to even speak as they both looked into each other's eyes. 

 

"These blood..." she muttered slowly. 

 

He opened his mouth and was relieved to find his voice, albeit raspy from physical and mental exhaustion. "It's not mine. I'm not hurt at all.”

 

They stared at each other for a long minute before she sighed in relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, but she still looked concerned. "I don't know what's been going on with you these past few weeks, but I really hope you're taking good care of yourself.”

 

He went silent at that point, knowing full well that he did not.

 

"Morax, are you in danger?" she inquired, but he simply shook his head in response.

 

"No, I'm not. I'm absolutely fine."

 

"But you don't look so fine."

 

He was taken aback by the hints of frustration in her voice and decided to ask. "What do you mean?”

 

Ying leaned much further forward, their noses almost touching and their breaths nearly mingling. It was his first time being in such close proximity to another person, and the fact that she was the first and only one brave enough to enter his personal space didn't surprise him anymore.

 

(Which, up until now, remained a mystery, something that even he was still unsure of.)

 

Although his vision had slightly darkened due to the shadows and her much closer proximity, Morax swore he was drowning in her bright golden pools and couldn't think of anything else—not even his thoughts or his inner struggles of tracking Agreas to the ends of the world.

 

"You looked weary," she said softly, "beaten and burdened. And..." Ying cupped his cheeks properly this time; her thumbs gently caressed the smooth planes of the apples of his cheeks.

 

"Your eyes..."

 

"...?"

 

"Please, promise me."

 

His brows scrunched up momentarily in response, baffled. "On what?"

 

"That no matter what happens, don't lose that glow in your eyes." 

 

He was rendered speechless by her words as he looked at her eyes back and forth to see if she was having different intentions by telling him this almost absurd request. But after a moment of deliberation, he saw none, just unadulterated concern for his well-being. Those innocent lips uttered no lies, and those clear eyes full of good intentions showed no reluctance.

 

Her words felt like they weighed a ton. Morax was unable to figure out how to respond to that. After everything she had said, he was at a complete loss for words, but before he could come up with anything, Ying's other hand reached to his left ear and touched his soft lobule.

 

"Such a shame that I didn't have a needle with me," she said randomly as she massaged the flesh with her index and thumb. "I guess I'll have to make you a charm as well. I made one for my brother after all.”

 

"Charm?" he murmured.

 

She nodded with a smile, "Yes. Just a protection against bad luck." 

 

Ying took a step back, but his gaze remained fixed on her. "In my world, there was a myth that if a person's life was in danger, an earring should be worn to prevent a recurrence. It is said to provide protection against bad luck.”


It was already night when he came back to the material world. Morax's first and foremost plan was to clean himself in a nearby water stream before coming back to assembly, but upon seeing himself in the water—absolutely opposite of what he expected he should looked like, he couldn't help but marvel on every spotless areas of his body where he knew Ying dutifully cleaned up when he was in her realm. 

 

Everything on him was so neat with no dried blood staining his image, where no traces of any bloodshed could be spotted as if he came back anew.

 

The more he looked at himself, the more he couldn't help but wonder if his world and Ying's realm were connected in some way. Because how on Teyvat's name could he explain the phenomena behind his unusual tidiness? He was real sure that he was completely unkempt for sickening months before stumbling to Ying's mystery realm, but then after coming back from the said realm, all of a sudden he was surprisingly clean as if nothing happened.

 

Morax had always believed that he was just dreaming every time he met Ying. A special kind of dream where everything felt too real to even count as a dream. Her warmth felt too realistic, he could fully remember how her presence soothed him even if he had to close his eyes for good. 

 

But the more he thought about the mystery behind her realm; these unfamiliar, unexplained matters simply just didn't make sense to him. If he had to be honest, there were times where it made his head hurt. 

 

With an inward shake of his head, Morax made his way back to where his subjects were staying; knowing it was already late at night, he expected the place to be deserted, but to his mild surprise, he noticed a few people loitering around the assembly.

 

There were a few of them gathered in a circle, and he could see a fervent storyteller telling them stories about the Great Rex Lapis. Wanting to be apart from the group, some of them were even playing a fierce game of Go in their own respective corners.

 

The sight… Well, he simply did not want to disturb it, so he entered the place in a quiet manner, taking the covert route, where he had to take a brief detour to reach the back of the assembly.

 

After securing the invisible barrier of the place, his first and foremost thought was to see Guizhong.

 

After all, she was the only one of his closest companions who he couldn't help but be concerned about. Guizhong may be the second wisest person in their circle, but she was still physically frail. With her weak constitution, Morax couldn't stop thinking about the nasty bite wound on her hand.

 

The memory was still vivid in his mind. Even the sound of her terror and pained cries from that tragedy would not leave his mind anytime soon. 

 

Not even the distressed expression she had before he left.

 

He noticed the light leading to Guizhong's workplace, which indicated that the person had stayed longer than usual instead of sleeping. But before he could enter her workplace, a familiar voice approached him from behind.

 

“You’re finally back.”

 

He took a step back, and murmured in response. “Yes, I am.”

 

Morax was suddenly enveloped in softness and warmth, as well as the comforting scent of glaze lilies, which nearly dulled his senses. He realized with startling clarity that he was in Guizhong’s arms. Her actions were absolutely unexpected, but the moment her grip around him tightened just a little—as if she didn't want him to leave, as if she was scared of him leaving again—was something he couldn't completely ignore.

 

So he simply allowed her to embrace him. To let her bask in reality, to see and feel the proof that he was safe and sound, and that she only had herself to worry about. 

 

"Guizhong," he said, a sort of consolation, a reassurance to pull her out of her swirling worries.

 

“You are leaving again, aren’t you?”

 

They both know the answer to that question, but she still asked anyway. For him, it didn't seem right to feed Guizhong with a kind of reassurance that he could stay for a long time. 

 

(It was, after all, impossible for him to give false hope to anyone.)

 

It was futile on her part to deny it further. Morax had no choice in his divinity, no matter how much he disliked the thought. He would eventually have to leave in order to protect his people and fulfill his role as a god.

 

In the future, the likelihood of his death was also not far off.

 

"I'm afraid so.”

 

"Right, how foolish of me. My apologies." She clung to him with an audible sigh, her cheek resting below his shoulder blades, before mumbling to herself. "...why should I even bother asking the obvious…?”

 

“Did you say something?”

 

“Nothing at all.”

 

“How is your hand?”

 

“It already healed,” Guizhong finally released him, much to his relief. “What about you? How was the search?”

 

“Slow,” he responded, somewhat displeased by the reminder of his previous endeavors over the last few months. "However, I believe I have garnered at least a single vital piece of information.”

 

“I am pleased to hear that your tremendous amount of effort wasn't for naught, Rex. May I ask what it is?”

 

"I am certain that our adversary is the type who prefers to operate in the shadows. A god who is far too cowardly to confront me, resulting in the numerous tragedies to which my people have been forced to submit. Even you.”

 

"Rex…" The Goddess of Dust could only look at him, worried about his sudden display of hatred and animosity.

 

“How vile and distasteful.”

 

Morax then turned around, ready to leave. Guizhong almost reached out to him out of reflex, but she paused when she noticed the strange expression on his face.

 

“It's late. You have to rest, Guizhong,” he said calmly. His frightening demeanor had vanished, but she remained uneasy and concerned. “Before I retire, I would like to express that I am relieved to find you are well. I can now rest in peace.”

 

“...”

 

He offered a last gentle smile that didn't reach his eyes. “I will see all of you tomorrow. Please, have a restful night.”

 

The goddess could only watch his back in silence until he was no longer in her line of sight. At that moment, she felt sick and hopeless; she longed to help him in ways that could lessen his burdens.

 

But, what could she possibly offer? She was powerless and, most of all, useless in their circle. She couldn't think of anything to offer except for her brainpower. Even if she wanted to accompany him on his quest, her frailty forbade her from doing so; it almost seemed like a curse. 

 

Guizhong was supposed to be happy to be reunited with him once more, but remembering the unusual display of emptiness lurking in his eyes was enough to bother her. 

 

“I want to be of use to you too, Rex. I really do. If only you can share a part of your burdens with me too.”


When he had them summoned at the assembly first thing in the morning, it was Cloud Retainer who made the first move to initiate conversation.

 

"This one had heard about the circulating rumors of an unforgiving god in the region, who was quick to pass judgment among those ancient gods who had wronged him," the avian adepti stated solemnly, then continued. “By any chance, was it you?”

 

Morax gracefully busied himself by pouring a freshly steeped tea on his cup. Her question was definitely directed towards him, but his silence was loud enough for an answer to her simple query. He could feel several sets of eyes being trained on him, Marchosius eyed him from across, while Guizhong could only shoot both of them an awkward glance, as she waited for their conversation to progress, while discreetly fiddling her arm sleeves anxiously. 

 

“Hm. Regardless of the hearsays, I trust you are well, Rex? You made all of us worried.” 

 

“I have to admit it was a gruesome quest. Torturous even,” He confessed truthfully, “But I am well, thank you.”

 

“I believe you did not summon us for nothing?”

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

“Well, this one is definitely hoping you are bearing good news.” Cloud Retainer said with a soft sigh. 

 

“I have to say it is both good and bad.”

 

“Then let us hear about it.”

 

"I was unable to prevent a few innocent deaths during my search, but," he took a sip of his tea before continuing, “I am now aware of who the perpetrator is for all of these incidents in the region.”

 

“I have a feeling that you have yet to defeat this foe?”

 

“Unfortunately so.”

 

“Don't worry about it, Rex!” Guizhong interjected, her eyes burning with positivity. “Just leave the people to us; you can focus on your quest without worrying about other matters. It may not look like it, but we are having progressions on our side! The making of the ballista was a success!”

 

"The creation of the ballista was undoubtedly successful," the avian adepti remarked with a shake of her head, "but Guizhong, don't forget that we have other pressing issues concerning it."

 

This piqued Morax's interest. “Pressing issues?”

 

“Apparently, we have to look for another alternative without having it consume too much energy to convert it into power.”

 

“What about its power?”

 

The Goddess of Dust sighed, “The ballista could only be activated by channeling adepti energy through it. Of course, in order to use it, someone had to supply the energy. The ballista's capability is fully reliant on the converted energy it received from the wielder, but the fundamental concern is that the weapon remains uncontrollable."

 

"And by what definition is it 'uncontrollable'?"

 

"It completely saps most of the wielder's energy," Zhenjun stated, appearing to be equally dismayed as Guizhong. "To make matters worse, this one is concerned that using it may impair someone's life essence. It does not currently have a limiting mechanism, and we are still working on developing a suitable limiter to keep it from killing anyone."

 

“Limiter…” he mumbled as he ruminated to himself. “But the ballista has a core, doesn't it?”

 

Guizhong nodded and said, "Yes, it has."

 

"Then," he swept his gaze across Cloud Retainer's perplexed eyes and then to Guizhong's. "What about preventing the aforementioned core from sapping too much energy rather than setting a limiter to compensate?"

 

“That is easier said than done, Rex.” Guizhong remarked, shaking her head. “Controlling the core is a fruitless endeavor; adepti energy couldn't even suppress it completely. We attempted it once, but it quickly became out of control. We're not even sure if your power is enough to counteract its greediness for convertible energy. Not even my, let alone Zhenjun-sama’s could."

 

Morax peered at his murky reflection on his cup as he pondered. They said that the core was uncontrollable and that neither adepti power nor gods like him or Guizhong could influence it. Knowing the goddess' penchant for collecting scattered relics in Teyvat from a mysterious nation, it was likely that the core was made by otherworldly forces. Just like—

 

At this point, the answer was already obvious, but he had to ask anyway.

 

“The core…it's an artifact from Khaenri’ah, isn't it?

It took her several moments to respond, but she did with a small nod. “Yes.”

 

“Please be careful,” he softly warned, which made the goddess blink for a second before her gaze landed on his own, clearly taken aback by the worry in his tone. “I do not object to having you pursue what you wish to attain from those relics, Guizhong. It's because I know that is where your interests and passion lie—by researching the unknown.”

 

But the dangers of harboring interest in something beyond the grasp of the world's law—about Khaenri’ah’s creations—was something that he and she should be wary about. It was far too perilous, as it could be interpreted as disloyalty or defiance towards the heavens' upper hierarchy.

 

Which would be the gravest mistake, challenging the absolute will of the Heavenly Principles.

 

“However, I implore you to be discreet. This also extends to all of you.” He lowered his voice, expressing his concern not only to Guizhong but also to Zhenjun and Marchosius. They merely shared and gave a nod in return.

 

“The heavens are watching.”

 

Silence filled their table; each of them was having thoughts privy to themselves after his warning. He felt like he ruined the mood of their meeting, but if he didn't remind them clearly of where they stood against Celestia, it would surely endanger all of them.

 

Not only the innocent people living in his region, but also them—lesser gods and adepti alike—who were mere disposable pawns for this nonsensical war of survival of the fittest. 


“Are you real?”

 

For a moment, Ying paused at the abrupt question, but as his words eventually registered, she softly chuckled. It seemed like his simple inquiry was enough to evoke some amusement in her, for there was a clear playfulness and a hint of laughter in the gleam in her eyes.

 

“Of course I am. Why do you ask?”

 

Before he could answer her back, his amber eyes scanned through the peaceful landscape with utmost interest. The earthy colors that surrounded them were pleasant; even with the randomness of the pastel colors above them, it seemed to complement perfectly along with the chill weather. 

 

Listening to the soft murmurs of the wind, breathing in the pleasant sweet aroma of the random wisteria petals raining down upon them, and enjoying the comfortable silence, they saw how serene the place could be; it was the perfect place to ruminate things without being disturbed. And that was the immaculate time to think about some things that continued to plague him with interest, even in the material world. 

 

Morax had always been mystified by the workings of Ying's domain. He was already aware of the fact that both of their worlds were different, where they both lived in different planes of existence. There were times when they casually talked about their worlds, but she never denied their worlds being similar, so he took that as a hint or an answer. 

 

Neither does Ying feel like a specter or a creation of his own mind. She was too vibrant and warm to be referred to as such. He couldn't help but compare her to the goddess he has known for an unknown amount of time because of the warmth and generosity she elicits, which undoubtedly remind him of Guizhong's primary characteristics as well.

 

As he felt a curious set of eyes staring at him, Morax turned his head and was compelled to return the same attention. Amber against pairs of molten gold, where his was full of wonder, while hers was full of openness.

 

Her aura, now that he considered it, was anything from typical. She seemed to know something he didn't, and there was something about her appearance that just commanded attention. It seemed as though she was too sacred for him to ever venture upon; she was so different, so far from being a mortal.

 

“A goddess,” a single slip of the tongue, but it was enough for the woman to break into fitfuls of laughter beside him. Morax was absolutely stunned and was left to behold how utterly human it was for her to express mirth. Her mouth wide open, her eyes were brimming with joyful tears, her arms clutching her abdomen as she tried to keep her laughter at bay but simply failed. 

 

Some goddesses he knew didn't express their joy in that manner. Not Havria, not even Guizhong, laughs in the same way. 

 

(Not that he remembered her laughing as freely as Ying did.) 

 

"It surprises me that you think of me that way, Morax," she finally said between laughter. Her eyes were so bright that they practically sparkled, enhanced by her tears. "But unfortunately, I'm no one special.”

 

He wanted to refute her, but before he could come up with a counter-argument, Ying simply beat him to it, rendering him speechless beyond reason.

 

She took his hands and placed them on either side of her face. His hands were so big they almost dwarfed her face, but seeing her exquisite features cradled in his hands gave him an unusual feeling of satisfaction. He couldn't stop the unidentified emotions from spilling out; it made him feel warm inside for reasons he couldn't even understand.

 

The longer he gazed at her in this way, the more exposed he felt, yet it was not unpleasant. Not at all. He just didn't understand why it didn't feel like that. Why couldn't he bring himself to pull away? Why do his thoughts get so jumbled and disorganized that he feels mentally exhausted?

 

What made this woman so special? It was confusing, overwhelming, and far too consuming. It makes him want to do something, but he absolutely has no idea what it could be. He doesn't want to think.

 

But there was one thing he couldn't afford to ignore. It was warm; it felt far too warm.

 

“What are you thinking so much that it feels like you're trying to run away from me?” she asked, almost in wonder. 

 

Does it seem that way? No, I don't. He wanted to say it, but his expression had a better way to betray the opposite of his thoughts. 

 

“Morax, is it me, or you look like—”

 

“You're almost impossible,” he finally said, if not a bit frustrated and troubled. Ying, who had not expected it, could only look at him with wide, curious eyes, as if taken aback by his simple, unusual outburst.

 

“Why?”  

 

Why, exactly? Morax also had the same question in mind, but he was still unsure of the answer. 

 

"If you have doubts regarding my existence. I guarantee you that I am not lying about being alive and real."

 

"...I understand."

 

“Let's just say I'm a special kind of case,” she added with a kind smile, “where I can bring you here every time you wish for a moment of peace and respite. Just think of me as a friendly but lonely hostess who enjoys the presence of another companion.”

 

That was it; that was the very thing he wanted to ask. The mystery of her unknown power of connecting one different soul to a different plane.

 

"Of course, being a hostess is one thing, but don't forget that I am also your friend!”

 

But for some strange reason, Morax no longer felt like addressing that question. He wanted to try something different to relieve his own dissatisfaction and curiosity. He wanted to accomplish everything on his own terms. 

 

He softly drew her near to him, her face several inches away from his. This kind of proximity didn't bother him anymore; he just…got used to it. His eyes were staring down at hers with purpose, while Ying was looking up at him with surprise.  

 

Something was trying to grab on to his consciousness from the other side. An obvious indication that someone was trying to rouse him up in the material world. Morax felt like his consciousness was gradually slipping away, but before he could leave Ying in her domain, he said:

 

“You're a mystery that I wish to unravel.”

 

That was his last declaration before awakening in the material world. 


When he opened his eyes to the world, he was met with an unhostile large pair of eyes. The image caused him to blink for a second as he sought to adjust his vision to remove some traces of sleep until it became clearer. 

 

He recognized the child instantly, it was the child he saved from miasma several months ago, the one who had been possessed by the core and left Guizhong with a wound and a scar she would never forget.

 

But it wasn't the child's fault that Guizhong had to carry such a dreadful memory in the first place; if anyone was to blame, it was Vassago.

 

“Lord Geo, you're awake!” She greeted him with a large smile, which was full of childish innocence. He was relieved to see that she didn't seem to dwell too much on what happened at Marchosius’ celebration. Morax expected that it would leave her horribly traumatized, but seeing her tad enthusiastic upon seeing him made his burden less heavy.  

 

“I am. How are you?” 

 

“I'm good!”

 

Before answering the child, he took a moment to survey his surroundings. She is definitely alone, he thought. “What brings you here?”

 

“Goddess told me that you went this way! So I came to check!”

 

“Are you looking for me?”

 

“Yes!” her head bobbed enthusiastically. 

 

“May I ask why?”

 

At his inquiry, the child began searching for something in her pockets until she pulled out a simple jade amulet adorned with a red string. With large, imploring eyes, she offered the charm in front of him as if she was planning to give it to him.

 

Mildly confused, Morax silently eyed the amulet in her hands. “What is this?”

 

“For protection! I'm giving it to you, Lord Geo! I heard that you're on your way to defeat the bad guys who killed the good people and my bàba!”

 

Bàba

 

When he was making sure the goddess was okay following the miasma incident, he suddenly remembered a memory of Guizhong—the part when she told him about the child's tragic situation. The fact that this was the same child who lost her mother and that her father had been slain in the festival stampede nearly slipped his mind.

 

In retrospect, he also realized that he had forgotten to question Guizhong about the search. Was there even any progress? He nearly wanted to inquire about the child's mother, but his interest was tempered by the thought that she might have been orphaned. 

 

It would make him far more insensible, knowing that he had to deal with a child's feelings. They are far too fragile, too emotional, and they wear their hearts on their sleeves. Regardless of whether her mother was alive or not, Morax would leave the matter in Guizhong's capable hands. As much as he wanted to help with the search, he had more pressing matters to attend to. 

 

After all, they both have different responsibilities. Guizhong will focus on helping the mortals, while Morax will focus on defeating their common enemy who harms them. 

 

Māma said this charm protected her when she had me! And then she gave it to me so that it would protect me from bad people too!” she added, “Now I want Lord Geo to have it. You meet a lot of bad people, and I don't like that. Please accept it!”

 

Speechless beyond reason, he was definitely floored by her bold declaration. Large, dark eyes were looking at him with unadulterated determination, something that he rarely witnessed, much less from a young sapling like her.  

 

It took some time for him to respond to the child's offer, but when he did, he simply shook his head kindly as he declined. It didn't feel right to receive such a valuable item; if he accepted it out of goodwill, he felt like he was robbing the child of her only remaining memento that connects her to her mother. 

 

“Thank you for your kind offering, child. But you do not have to.”

 

The young child deflated before him, seemingly saddened by being denied. “Lord Geo doesn't want it? ”

 

He shuffled awkwardly against the wall behind him, his brows furrowed as he struggled to come up with a good justification, but he was simply at a loss for words. He just thought it was that...difficult. Morax wasn't particularly good with children in the first place, and conversing with one made him feel as if he was entering uncharted territory. 

 

With a tiny slip of tongue, he murmured, “No…”

 

“No…?” Now, she looked like she was about to cry at any minute; her lips fractionally quivering into a saddened pout. 

 

No, that is not what I meant— 

 

She literally resembled a wilting flower at this point, which made him inwardly alarmed as he floundered with his words. 

 

“That's… That's not it. My apologies.” The young child could only peer up at him, listening to him speak. “I truly believe that you need that keepsake even more than the likes of me.”

 

He finally managed to offer a quarter part of what he truly wished to say, but the child still didn't look so convinced; she even looked like she was a minute away from bawling her eyes out. Looking emotional. “But why?”

 

“That is the only thing that tethers you to your only kin, which is your mother. She gave that to you in hopes that it will protect you.” He said slowly, in a way that he believed was more understandable and friendly-like in order not to discombobulate the child. He made it simple so that she could understand his point—that he didn't mean to decline just because he didn't like her offer but only wished that she could keep the amulet to herself. Only to herself and nothing more.

 

“...”

 

“Don't forget that you made it here, safe from harm, with that single amulet on your person.” Morax finished softly, imitating a certain goddess, as his hand made its way to the top of her head and gave it a simple, comforting pat. He knew this act; he was trying to give the child some sense of comfort so that she wouldn't give in to her tears, and it seemed to work somehow. “Do you know what it means?”

 

“...” Her sad pout was still too pronounced, brows were lowered and drawn together in a sad frown, but she was indeed trying to keep her tears at bay. “Are you trying to say that…no matter what happens, māma is with me?”

 

Before he could respond to her inquiry, someone familiar already beat him to it. 

 

“He's right, Yuè-chan. You need that charm more than he needs it.” Guizhong's eyes softened the moment it landed on him, as he tried to comfort the child in his own way. She made her way through them. “I do understand where your worries stand, but don't forget that Lord Geo is very strong; he will be most relieved if you keep that amulet for yourself.”

 

“Goddess….” The child named Yuè could only turn her head to the approaching goddess. That was Morax's cue to slide his hand away from the child's head, and suddenly the child threw herself on Guizhong's awaiting arms.

 

The sight looked so delicate, and he simply marveled at the unspoken bond between them. A goddess and a mortal child, where the latter was desperately seeking comfort in the arms of a revered god. She even cried and clung to Guizhong as if she was her own mother

 

The more he watched the both of them having their own world, he couldn't help but entertain a small idea of Guizhong being a mother. It wasn't that difficult to imagine; after all, she was soft-hearted, was definitely good with children, and she knew how to shape someone in good graces.

 

He bet even as a mortal, she would be a great mother, surrounded by children and adored by many. 

 

(Well, now that he thinks about it, he already believed she was already a mother figure to most humans.)

 

He shook his head inwardly. “Is there a problem?” Morax was kind of curious about Guizhong's sudden arrival that he had to ask. 

 

“It's nothing of that sort, don't worry.” The goddess replied with a smile while consoling the child in her arms. “I was trailing after Yuè-chan, but she was going too fast and ended up running when she saw you in the distance. That explains why I arrived a bit late.” she chuckled. 

 

“I see.”

 

“Have you already eaten?”

 

He shook his head, “I'm not hungry.”

 

Guizhong looked around, realizing they were inside the hollow cavity of a gigantic boulder. It was like a small cave that could accommodate at least three to five individuals. It was a place where he just saw by chance and found himself brooding there in silence (from time to time) since his return. 

 

“Meditating?”

 

He was indeed meditating, but before that, he remembered racking his brains over where to begin his journey to find Agreas until he became so frustrated because it felt like he was hitting a wall that he didn't want to think anymore—hence the meditation

 

However, for some inexplicable reason, as though his mind were telling him to rest, Morax found himself dozing off and went to see Ying in her mysterious realm. 

 

“I was…meditating.”

 

“Yuè-chan, you have to apologize to Lord Geo.” She gently nudged the child in her arms; she continued. “You disturbed him while he tried to meditate in peace.”

 

“I-I thought he was sleeping…”

 

The goddess sighed, but not in an unkind way. “Even if he was, it's not good manners to disturb someone's sleep.”

 

“It's fine,” Morax found himself saying. “It's not anything serious.”

 

Guizhong shook her head as she pushed on, if not a bit sternly. “Yuè-chan?”

 

“...”

 

“Please?”

 

“...sorry,” Yuè finally apologized while peeking through her fingers, somewhat ashamed. “I got too excited seeing Lord Geo. Please forgive me…”

 

She sounded way too innocent and repentant that he and Guizhong exchanged gazes for a moment. That was the moment he let himself offer a soft smile to both of them, and the goddess was left rooted on her spot when she saw it—her cheeks reddening. 

 

“You're forgiven,” Morax said gently. “Don't take it too much to heart, Yuè.”


After his short planning for his impending search for Agreas, Morax took his time to go visit a certain god he owed in Linju with the borrowed instrument and a gold hill censer in hand. His amber eyes surveyed the lands with great interest; the once-bleak and dry landscape was now covered in clear water. While the drastic transformation was unintentional on his part (he simply unleashed the hidden groundwater to gain an advantage; it happened by some unusual discovery during his battle against Labolas, after all), he had to admit he much preferred this peaceful scenery to the lifeless atmosphere it exuded in the past.

 

He silently stood in front of the golden tree and called out. “Lord Aymos, I came. It's me, Morax.” 

 

Nobody responded at first, but a few moments later, the cheerful old god materialized in a puff of smoke in front of him. Seemingly happy to be summoned normally rather than have his golden tree being set on fire. “Yer back, young'un! What a surprise! I thought ‘ya already ditched me!”

 

His distinctive accent remained evident, however Morax dismissed it and merely shook his head in reply. "Your assistance made things a little easier for me. While I couldn't say the process was as….nondestructive as I had wanted, it provided me with the answers I desperately needed." He softly bowed his head in respect and returned the koudi instrument to him. "I am infinitely grateful.”

 

“Too polite as usual, eh?” Aymos took the koudi from him as he scratched the side of his head, albeit awkwardly. "As ‘ya can see, I'm not sure when the last time someone sought me for assistance. As I previously stated, it is perfectly fine. I'm delighted I could help, that's all."

 

"Your benevolence is an honor.”

 

“I get it, I get it. Just cut it out already. Yer embarrassing me, young'un.” The ancient god sighed as his eyes landed on the hill censer on his other hand. “What's that?”

 

As if he just remembered he was carrying something other than the instrument, he offered the hill censer next before him. “A token of gratitude. It's yours.”

 

Aymos' once curious eyes brightened in an instant, as if he were a child who had been denied for a long time and was now given something as a present. Without further ado, he took the hill censer from him and examined it with bated breath, admiring the beautiful workmanship. "I-Is this gold?” He asked, his eyes gleaming.

 

Morax nodded, “Yes, it is.”

 

“Ahhhhh!” The ancient god's unexpected cry almost took him by surprise. Morax calmly observed as he twirled with the gold hill censer in his hand, clearly pleased with the gift he bestowed upon him. Guizhong and his other acquaintances didn't seem to elicit the same level of joy as the ancient god’s when he gave them a present, so seeing Aymos' unadulterated delectation for the hill censer made him feel light within.

 

“I hope it is to your liking?”

 

“Liking is merely an understatement, young'un. I truly love it,” Aymos said, flashing him with a wide grin. His happiness seemed to increase tenfold as he looked at the hill censer again. “I will cherish this censer until I disappear in this world! ‘Ya have my utmost gratitude, Morax! I will never forget this!”

 

He permitted a soft smile to grace his serene face. "I'm relieved that you feel that way. It was merely a passing interest for me, but I used to collect treasures from uncharted domains that I visited on occasion. That censer was one of the items I happened to discover from Minlin.”

 

“Oooh, now that I think about it, that place is the same place where the first leyline appeared in this region, isn't it?” The ancient god commented, unaware of the way he froze immediately once he mentioned about the first leyline. “In my time, Minlin used to be deserted—uninhibited. Even though we have enough power to dominate certain areas in this region, the heavenly order forbids us from laying claim on that land.”

 

Aymos had a fleeting, distant expression on his face, as if he had taken a momentary journey down memory lane. He said with a hum, "I suppose it's because yer kind had inhabited some parts of the region before we arrived. Though at that time I assume ‘ya were not yet a sentient entity, along with the others, the Primordial One recognized that land belongs entirely to the adepti.”

 

He blinked in response to the information. That was a new discovery that he was not….aware of. Morax believed that his kind did not exist since the time when Aymos and his brethren dominated the lands. As far as he could recall (for who knows how long his divinity had existed; he had lost count), he remembered coming into being when humanity sought for protection, and their cries of desperation made their existence materialize from insignificance.

 

"Surprised?” Aymos inquired, slightly amused by his extended silence. "I can see it in yer face that you weren't even aware that these lands were rightfully yours and your kind in the first place.”

 

“I…” Well, there wasn't anyone who could tell him the truth regarding the adepti's origins. Despite the fact that he was a deity in his own right, Morax couldn't help but inwardly admit that he still didn't know much about the universe. He was clueless (unfortunately, a handicap of his) and felt ashamed to even voice his own ignorance out loud. Even the mystery behind the Heavenly Principles, the all-knowing natural order that brought a new world and created a life out of Teyvat. 

 

“If ‘ya were curious enough, it doesn't hurt to ask.” As if he could hear his thoughts at that moment, the ancient god turned his back on him. A luscious earth-toned carpet with gold linings on the edges suddenly appeared by his silent command under the large golden tree. Morax could only watch when Aymos unceremoniously plopped down to the carpet, his hand flicking on the air as he summoned a kettle and a pair of tea cups out of nowhere. “Now, take a seat if ‘ya wish to know more, young god.”

He had no idea how many hours had gone by since they had begun talking. As he listened carefully to any information the ancient god might freely share, from his kind, to the beginnings of Aymos and his brethren and even their purpose of serving Phanes, their progenitor god, or, in this day and age, also known as the Heavenly Principles—Morax couldn't care less about the passing of time. 

 

According to Aymos, the ancient gods did not originate in this world (which surprised Morax; because his kind—the surface gods—and the ancient gods had coexisted for who knows how long, he assumed it was only natural for them to dwell on the same plane). Phanes created them in hopes of giving them purpose in a new world, as well as giving them enough sentience for them to pursue freedom. Their existence was a gift itself from the Almighty One, he said. Phanes nurtured them until the said god deemed it enough that his new creations could fend for themselves.  

 

Seeing Teyvat as a new ground for the new creations, Nibelung, the Dragon King who once ruled the old Teyvat, challenged Phanes and his Four Shades in a war out of vengeance. The war wrought enormous carnage and brought the world to the brink of collapse as a result of the forbidden knowledge received by the King of Dragons from the Abyss. Forbidden knowledge as it was, it also cost the lives of his race and also his own, leading to their complete near-extinction. 

 

Aymos remorsefully confessed that the more he thought about it, the more he felt like they had robbed them of their home, stripped the sovereigns of their power and rights to rule, and even forced Morax and his fellow surface gods to adjust and coexist with them, as if their creator and brethren hadn't invaded their world enough.

 

But then, Morax was acutely aware of how difficult it was to be in the midst of such chaos. It was war, and it was never supposed to be peaceful. It was a road to complete devastation, where lives had to be lost and blood had to be shed.

 

No matter how remorseful the ancient god was before him, Morax couldn't bring himself to fault him and his kind. Having been a pawn in Celestia's cruel scheme, he knew from experience that with the shackles forced on him, it wasn't that simple to break free. The same was true for the other ancient gods, who had no choice but to accept that the world was changing and that their existence was no longer required, resulting in the loss of their names, their sole purpose.

 

While he couldn't say that the Heavenly Principles—Phanes himself was as righteous and merciful (by his own standards); Morax inwardly thought that he still owed the god by creating other lesser gods and humans alike to populate the world. Morax believed that without Phanes' so-called creations, he and the adepti as a whole would not have a chance to thrive. Humans, who were also among his creations, solidified and brought them into existence after all. 

 

Even though the said progenitor god started the Archon war for the seven divine seats for a millennium (and still counting), the more he pondered about it, he couldn't….really bring himself to be angry. Not at the moment, at least. Morax was bitter and frustrated—no doubt—but he felt too drained to consider getting mad.  

 

"I talked to one of your kind before I met you," he began with a steady stare, and Aymos' entire attention was drawn to him as he continued. "A goddess in seclusion, lost by time and with nothing to remember her. The only witnesses to her awful plight were the sea of flowers that she seemed to adore, as well as a lesser god whom she summoned with the last of her might.”

 

“...” The ancient god remained silent, keen on listening to him talk. 

 

"I am aware that it is the duty of your kind to uphold and preserve the will of the Heavenly Principles, but is it disrespectful of me to say that your esteemed creator abandoned you all, given the way your brethren are vanishing one by one over time?”

 

Aymos watched him, expression unreadable. 

 

But he didn't end there. For some reason, Morax couldn't stop himself from expressing the thoughts that had been haunting him since meeting that unfortunate ancient goddess. From her tired smile, to her eyes full of acceptance, and even to her last words. 

 

"I wouldn't meet my impending demise if my name was important, no?"

 

Her fellow brethren might have never remembered her, but Morax swore that he would remember her face, even her voice until his body permits him. 

 

"Do you believe each of you deserves it? Being neglected? Disposed? Forgotten?”

 

When he asked that serious question, silence nearly fell on deaf ears. 

 

To be honest, he had no idea how he had managed to come up with that question. However, he had no regrets about asking for it. No, absolutely not. Did this make him insensitive? Will Lord Aymos take offense at what he said? He wasn't sure how the silent god would respond, but he was curious. 

 

The ancient god seemed to consider his question, but then after a few moments of silent deliberation, Aymos offered him a kind yet lazy smile. He didn't seem to express displeasure, let alone be offended by his blunt curiosity. He only shook his head. 

 

“I, myself, have no idea if we do deserve it, young'un.” The elder said, “But then, regardless if we were indeed ‘neglected’ just like ‘ya mentioned or not, we still had been granted freedom by the Almighty One, and we're grateful because of that.”

 

Clink

 

“Our creator gave us a choice on how we must live until we serve our purpose in this world. We couldn't ask for anything more,” he looked at his hazy reflection on the teacup, “And I believe that was enough. Living until we were forgotten, that is.”

 

Following that, neither of them spoke again; each of them was having thoughts only privy to themselves. They basked in the peaceful calm, sipping their separate teas (which had already gone cold), and watched cranes swim in the clear waters beyond.

 

"Now that I think about it," Aymos murmured in wonder, "I couldn't help but compare our kind to mortals. We are far from immortal; after all, we bleed and perish like humans. The only thing that distinguishes us from them is that we have had the most time to see the world evolve, for better or worse.”

 

He hummed in agreement, “I agree.”

 

"Despite being gods, we are not impervious to fear and desperation. While time is on our side, we nevertheless feel, get apprehensive, get terrified..." The ancient god said beneath his breath, "...for our impending doom, and even the unknown.” 

 

At that Morax fell silent. He began to grasp the sentiment and found it impossible to disagree. 

 

"If ‘ya give it some thought, gods appear far too human in certain ways, don't ‘ya think, Morax?”


Seeing the same spot for the umpteenth time no longer surprises Morax. In fact, each time he found himself waking up in Ying's mysterious domain, he kept expecting to be met by the same tree. He has always found the unusual tree in front of him to be fascinating. It seemed as though the pastel hues of pink and purple had become deeply embedded in his memory, and he became aware of the fact that he had begun to appreciate the subtle color tones over time.

 

Compared to the earthy hues he had always been used to seeing in his region, he just thought that soft pastels, combined with the long strips of red and white—

 

Red and white…? 

 

Morax didn't feel like moving in his spot until he realized something felt off in his surroundings. Long strips of red and white ribbons were fluttering; attached to the ends were small bells chiming in sync to the current of the wind. Curious, he couldn't stop himself as he sat, amber eyes drinking in the unusual yet pleasing sight of ribbons hanging from some branches of the trees like a decoration.  

 

The more he observed, the more he knew something was missing. He shifted his gaze left and right, looking for the familiar figure he had come to regard as his companion in this realm. 

 

After a few seconds of looking around, he didn't see her. His peripheral vision revealed nothing of the stunning gold hair. His brow wrinkled in doubt. Where exactly was she? 

 

“Ying?”

 

No one responded. The only response he received was the sound of the bells. 

 

"Ying?" He called out considerably louder, his deep, resonant voice drowning out the sound of fluttering bells. And this time, someone responded, someplace above him, albeit a little winded.

 

“Morax! I'm here at the back!”

 

Following the voice, he silently circled the tree, looking upwards, until he saw Ying on top of a branch, with numerous long ribbons hanging around her neck. He had to confess that the sight was not what he had expected to see after waking up in her realm, but if there was one thing he had to acknowledge to himself, it was kind of amusing to see the sophisticated woman clinging to a large branch for dear life. Why is she even there?

 

The woman spotted him below and flashed him a sheepish grin. “Hello, you're finally awake.”

 

“What are you doing up there?” Morax asked as he walked closer underneath the branch she was perched on.

 

"Well, I was hanging these ribbons around the tree." He could see that, but he was more interested in the significance behind them. As if she could sense his obvious curiosity behind her actions, she looked at the ribbon dangling on her hand and then at her legs. Ying squirmed on the branch she was straddling, trying to glide off a little bit backwards so that she could find purchase on the trunk. “Wait for a moment; let me get down, and I'll tell you about—”

 

Before she could finish her statement, Ying suddenly slipped on the branch and fell out of her perch. It happened way too fast, but Morax reflexively caught her falling weight with his powerful arms. In the comfort of his embrace, the woman's eyes were wide, her bangs somewhat disheveled, exposing her naked forehead and flawless eyebrows that arose in astonishment (which he inwardly thought was kind of endearing but would never say aloud).

 

They both looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Ying's pinkish lips parted in surprise and relief, and she let out a shaky sigh. Thankful for his quick reflexes. “That was a nice save. Thank you for catching me.”

 

“That was dangerous. You should be careful.”

 

“My apologies. I underestimated how slippery the branches are.” She smiled, apologetic. “But I am now safe, aren't I?”

 

He shook his head, “Be careful still.”

 

“Yes, yes. Don't pout.”

 

Pout?

 

“Did I?” he asked while his brows knitted in thought, uncertain. 

 

Ying chuckled as she reached out to smoothen the creases on his knitted eyebrows, which prompted Morax to soften his mild, troubled expression. “Now, you are frowning. Of course you won't be able to see your own face right now, but don't forget that I am watching you.”

 

“Then, show me…” he replied while looking down at her, “what kind of face I was making.”

 

The woman in his arms pulled an unusual expression on her face, her brows were drawn, her lower lip jutting out to a more pronounced pout—trying to make her own rendition of a “pouting Morax.” He was inwardly amused by the unusual sight she was giving him, and for some reason, a sudden urge to humor her compelled him. 

 

“Do I really look like that?”

 

“Yes,” she said almost instantly, nodding. “You can try to imagine what you look like while looking at me. You made this kind of expression too.” And then she pulled another interesting expression, a frowning Ying with her lips downturned. It was kind of…adorable, he had to say. The sight only made him feel those annoying fluttering of wings inside his person, as if he had swallowed a swarm of crystalflies. 

 

“That is an…interesting rendition of my own expressions, I would say,” Morax replied with a gentle quirk of his lip, as if he was trying not to smile at her antics. “And now?”

 

The woman seemed to consider him for a moment, studying his face, until she responded with a hum. “Now you look like you are trying to smile.”

 

Her statement made him slightly taken aback. Was he really that transparent with his thoughts? “You can see that?”

 

“I can,” Ying nodded as she reached a hand over his face until the pad of her thumb found his lip, smoothing the edges around it gently. “It can't hurt for you to smile every now and then, Morax. I honestly think you are better at smiling than frowning.”

 

Unable to resist, he ended up closing his eyes, silently indulging in the feeling of tenderness seeping through her caresses. “I can try,” he murmured. 

 

“That’s very good to hear.” The woman in his arms repositioned herself into a much more comfortable position, wrapping her arms around his neck, which seemed to get warmer with time. "Now, getting back to why I'm hanging these ribbons around the tree, I was hoping to replicate that one tradition in one of the few worlds I happened to stumble upon many years ago. The important feature of its custom is the bells in the ribbons.”

 

Curious, his gaze found itself drawn to the ribbons with the bells hanging above them. “What do they do?”

 

"Good question." She smiled as she said, "There was this religion called Buddhism, and those people who followed it believed that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but that if one achieves a state of enlightenment, it is possible to escape this cycle forever.”

 

“Just humans?” Morax found himself inquiring. He couldn't help but think about himself at that moment, for whatever reason. He just thought it couldn't be limited to humans—a cycle of pain and rebirth. It might also be applied to gods such as himself who continued to go through the cycles of godhood, where sacrifices and suffering were nearly always present. And what about this "enlightenment" she also spoke of? 

 

"Now that I think about it, it made no mention of other living beings besides human existence. But I believe it might apply to every living and breathing form on every planet in this infinite cosmos, not just humans….”

 

“....And gods,” he murmured.

 

“Ah,” she paused for a second but eventually nodded, albeit slowly. “Yes, that's right.”

 

“And what of this ‘enlightenment’ you speak of?”

 

"It refers to the extinction of desire, hatred, and ignorance, and, ultimately, of suffering and rebirth," Ying remarked, continuing. "I believe that is the highest state anyone could achieve, and I, for one, couldn't. It's impossible.” She shook her head. 

 

“You tried?” He blinked. That was surprising, to say the least, especially coming from her.

 

She sighed, "Well, I figured it wouldn't hurt, so I tried, and here we are. It is quite difficult, so I no longer attempt.”

 

After that, both of them went silent, but Ying cleared her throat to break the awkward silence that hung between them. "To summarize, the purpose of these bells is to bless and bring good luck. They also ward off malevolent spirits.”

 

He marveled at the bells fluttering above them with ease; the gentle sound reverberating around seemed like music to his ears. “These bells can do that? ”

 

“In Buddhism, yes.” The woman in his arms nodded; she closed her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest, thinking. "I believe there is a proverb that goes like this: ‘The whole body is like a mouth hanging on a void. When it comes to the east, west, north, and south winds, he will speak prajna, ding ding, ding ding…’

 

For some reason, as if her words had an influence on the winds, a sudden gust blew through, causing the flowers and ribbons to flutter sideways. The synchronous, melodious tune of the bells seemed to follow Ying's words as she went on. 

 

"...ding ding, ding ding," she finished with a smile. "As you can see, the ceaseless ringing of the bells represents suffering, emptiness, impermanence, and selflessness.”

 

“As far as interpretations go, that is quite novel. I must admit, it is quite thoughtful.”

 

“I think so too,” Ying agreed with him. 

 

“But…” Morax cast another doubtful glance at the tree before turning to face her. She has yet to tell him why she had to do all of this. It was no easy feat to hang ribbons all over the tree, knowing there were some branches that he couldn't say were sturdy enough to accommodate her weight, and they were kind of slippery too. Furthermore, if it hadn't been for his presence and quick reflexes, she would have had an accident. Just…

 

“...what motivates you to do this?” he asked, curious. 

 

“What motivates me? That's a good question.”

 

“...”

 

“What do you think?”

 

He unconsciously pursed his lips. “My apologies, but I have no idea…”

 

Ying let out a lighthearted laugh. "Morax, you are thinking way too much. There is nothing grand behind it. I'm only doing it because I want to.”

 

He couldn't stop his brows from arching, he parroted in response, almost dumbfounded. “You only…want to?” 

 

"If you want me to be honest..." She trailed for a moment, her eyes zeroing in on a particular bell above them as she almost spaced out—probably pondering about what to say next.

 

Ding ding ding

 

“When I didn't see you for a while back then, I assumed you had some pressing matters to take care of. Since I am aware that you and I both have lives outside of this realm, I didn't mind it all that much at first. However, I was still concerned about your wellbeing despite your absence.”

 

He remained silent, intent on listening to her speak her thoughts aloud.

 

“Then one day, you suddenly appeared before me. Looking so beaten and almost defeated. Seeing you looking for worse had me thinking,” Ying paused, considering her next words. “It made me think through a lot of things, that you are not truly safe, especially with the kind of life you lead.”

 

Morax was completely speechless when she made her confession. He couldn't bring himself to argue with her or convince her that it wasn't true since he knew there was some truth in it. 

 

And he was reluctant to tell her the truth. He wasn't ready to tell her everything. Morax is a god and a ruler over numerous people in the material world. He lived in a world where there was an ongoing war that he could not predict when it would conclude.

 

How could he tell her the truth when he had lived through war and bloodshed throughout his godhood? Where he had to push himself until he was exhausted to keep his subjects safe? Where it was necessary for him to kill and kill before another crazed deity might beat him to it? 

 

What if the instant he told her the truth, her perception of him changed? For some reason, the very thought of it struck Morax with a crushing sense of dread.

 

"Even if you refuse to share it with me, Morax, I am not blind to such things. Seeing those bloodstains, even if they are not entirely yours, made me feel uneasy. I wish I could relieve your responsibilities and protect you, but I am unable to do so. We both know I can't accomplish anything outside of this realm." She clenched her fists over her chest in frustration.

 

He watched her as she voiced her honest frustration to him. Her bright eyes had faded, and her cheeks had turned red from mental stress as she ranted. On so many levels, the sight in front of him seemed wrong. Morax did not want to see this kind of expression on her normally bright face. He didn't intend to place such hideous—

 

Ah. 

 

That wasn't the only reason he was so hesitant to tell her the truth. His reluctance to reveal the truth stemmed from…

 

“What if one day, you’ll come to me so broken, with no speck of light in your eyes? What if I can no longer see the whole you? That is what frightens me.”

 

This is it. 

 

Morax instinctively knew she would worry about him. If not more apprehensively. Given her unending generosity, Ying would undoubtedly offer him her merciful soul. In several kind ways, she was similar to Guizhong, which he was unable to ignore. 

 

“I…”

 

“Please don't. I won't force you to talk. I know this is absolutely pointless, recreating some useless tradition that I'm not sure if it would even work.” She let out a humorless chuckle that seemed too empty on his ears. 

 

Wrong. 

 

“It is… it is not useless,” he tried to argue, if not softly. The woman in his arms could only offer him a smile that doesn't even reach her eyes. Something twisted uncomfortably in his chest. “It does not.”

 

It sounded way too wrong. 

 

“You are too kind, Morax.” Ying leaned further into the comforts of his arms, her head resting on the crook of his neck.  

 

He simply adjusted his hold on her by bringing her closer to himself, to the point he could even feel the soft thump of her beating organ—beating in sync along with his. “It's because you treat me with kindness as well.”

 

More like, you pushed me to be this way. 

 

She whispered weakly. “Then…please stay strong. You have to be.”

 

You make me feel kinder.

 

“I will.”

 

“Will you promise?”

 

“Yes,” he murmured as he closed his eyes, thinking of their promise as a new contract that he would honor until his last breath.  

 

They remained that way for an unknown amount of time before their almost heartfelt conversation came to an end. Both of them were under the tree, listening to the bells around them ring ceaselessly, with Morax quietly indulging in the warmth that Ying emanated, finding comfort in her presence as well as the comfortable silence between them. 

 

"Let me do the rest of it," Morax abruptly remarked, causing Ying to gaze up at him. 

 

She blinked, as if she hadn't even considered the idea. "What do you mean...?”

 

"You are mistaken. This is not useless," he said, intently looking at the ribbons around her neck. "I would not let your efforts go to waste. Let me hang those ribbons in your stead.”

 

If this was enough to make her feel less anxious about his own well-being, then it was only right that he would indulge her. 


It was already late at night when he came back from his excursion in the mountains. Finding new leads regarding Agreas had been difficult since he killed Vassago, and it didn't help that it felt way too peaceful in some places within his jurisdiction, making him apprehensive of the unknown force that was yet to arrive (not that he was hoping for any). 

 

Miasma accidents began to dwindle as if Vassago's death had curbed its animosity towards him and the mortals. While there were still miasma sightings in his region, it was a relief (at least) that no miasma attacks or possessions had been reported to him thus far.

 

But if he had to be honest with himself, this kind of semblance of peace inwardly troubled him. It was too quiet. Uneventful. Too normal. While he couldn't say it was a bad thing, it wasn’t a good thing either. His subjects were continuing on with their current lifestyles while starting over. While some of them were still traumatized by the previous incident, he could tell that they were making progress and recovering nicely. It was all thanks to Guizhong and his subordinates, they were able to get back on their feet.

 

This feels….like the calm of a storm. Their current state of peace did not guarantee that it would persist for very long. He needed to remind himself that he had been fighting a war for a thousand years and that it would not end anytime soon.

 

But then recalling Ying's heartfelt request made him think, and it gave him hope for a better future. Hope is an unusual word, but he gradually came to accept it. After all, there are no laws prohibiting gods from yearning for a better outcome to this meaningless battle.

 

Stay strong, she said. Then he will have to persevere no matter what. 

 

Morax was about to change course in his plans for that night, deciding to take a flight through the skies for a change of pace, until he spotted a single crane flying at high speed towards his way.  

 

Curious, he allowed the avian creature to safely descend from the sky. The adeptus immediately lowered his head humbly in front of him, and he nodded in response, noticing a familiar scroll around his neck, indicating that it was a report from Zhenjun. 

 

The sight only made his blood run cold. He was certain he had been thinking earlier that it was far too peaceful for urgent reports to come his way. Did he, perhaps, jinx himself?

 

“This one brings an urgent report for you, my liege.” The creature continued to bow his head while stating his purpose. Morax wordlessly raised a finger, and the scroll flew on its way to his awaiting palm.

 

He inwardly steeled himself before opening the report, his amber eyes scanning through the neat ink strokes as he read in silence. 

 

Rex,

This one had received an urgent report coming from one of your milleliths in Qiongji. It said that the villagers from Mingyun were desperately in need of healers. The villagers that were once possessed of the miasma were exhibiting peculiar signs of psychosis. So I, Guizhong, and the others were on our way to survey the victims and see what we could do. 

 

He rolled the scroll back with a frown. Psychosis? Just thinking about it was enough to make his head hurt. He was no healer, so he had no choice but to rely on his subordinates' help once more.

 

“I’m going,” he declared, ready to take flight. 

 

The adeptus nodded in acquiescence. “After you.”

The moment when Morax stepped into Mingyun Village, his sensitive nose took a whiff of incense percolating around the area, and he saw some of the milleliths running back and forth while carrying censers in their hands. He could hear a combination of moans and frenzied shouts from every dwelling, with some familiar faces he knew barking orders all around. Milleliths and adepti alike.

 

“T-the herbs weren’t enough!”

 

Bam! 

 

He could hear an extremely loud screech, with an animalistic tone to it.

 

GIVE ME MY CHILD BACK!

 

“But, h-he’s already gone, madam!”

 

NO! HE'S ALIVE! HE'S STILL THERE!

 

“They're freaking strong! Use a bit of force, or they'll get out!”

 

“O-on it!”

 

GET OFF OF ME!

 

“I need some help here!”

 

“Coming through!”

 

I'm….sssscaaaareeed! His ghost is still following me!

 

“Hey, watch out!”

 

Bam!

 

Graaaaaah!

 

“Eeek!”

 

“Tie them down! Tie them down!”

 

Morax was about to sprint to the nearest household, where he could hear the loudest bellowing of a hysterical mother and a few panicked milleliths, until suddenly, he heard Zhenjun's alarming voice amidst the ear-splitting screeching and shouts, making him pause and look around to search for where the noise was coming from.

 

“Guizhong, where are you going?!” 

 

He suddenly turned his head at the third household on his left, where he could hear Zhenjun's voice calling out. The goddess in question appeared in his line of vision, looking as rattled as ever at the doorway with beads of sweat clinging to her face and neck as she exclaimed.

 

“I-I'm going back to the assembly! The golden poppies aren't working; we need stronger ones like valerian roots to sedate them!”

 

“But it's dangerous to leave alone! There is no one who could accompany you back!”

 

“It's fine! I can use a little of my power!”

 

Distressed, Zhenjun warned once more. “Do not do it, Guizho—”

 

“Guizhong!” He suddenly lunged next to her, stopping her from trying to do whatever she was planning on by holding her by the arm. “What are you doing?”

 

“Rex!” The goddess seemed relieved by his sudden appearance; she grabbed his arm with her free hand. “I believe I'll need your help; I have to go back to the assembly to bring more herbs.”

 

He nodded instantly, understanding. Cloud Retainer was far too surprised by his sudden presence and was busy quelling the madness to even express any opposition she had for the goddess. “I promise she will be safe. I will accompany her back.”

 

Zhenjun could only offer a nod, focusing back on the thrashing villager on the bed who was murmuring some weird mantra under his breath. He noticed that there were other villagers inside the hut with several milleliths trying to tie them down. “Very well. You must be in haste. We need a potent sedative.”

 

“Yes, we will be quick.” Morax quickly scooped up the goddess beside him, who only squawked out of surprise. “Hold on tight.”

 

Guizhong quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him real tight. Without further ado, he immediately took flight with the goddess in his arms, mind completely zeroed in on getting back to the assembly in no time.  

“Which herb do we need?” he inquired as they arrived at the assembly; his feet swiftly led them both to the familiar hallway and then all the way to the place where Marchosius kept his medicinal herbs. 

 

It had been a while since he had found himself strolling through this part of the assembly, but even if he wasn't a frequent visitor to the stockrooms, he knew where they were, though not enough to get lost.

 

Guizhong said, “Golden poppies and valerian roots," and she added. "However, I intend to bring every practical herb I can think of to prevent psychosis.”

 

Morax whirled around in a corner and glanced at the entrance to the stockroom where the medications were stored. The goddess in his arms writhed and softly drew away; he set her down without a word and watched as she hurried into the room.

 

With haste, the Goddess of Dust was pulling out every herb she required and could find from each drawer. Since he was not very knowledgeable about herbs, he was worried that he might pick the wrong ones and burden Guizhong with his lack of knowledge about medicines. Therefore, he chose to avoid the medicine cabinet and simply observe, letting the goddess handle everything without interfering.

 

He watched as she wandered around murmuring under her breath, most likely repeating some medicinal herbs she knew by heart and their applications. Guizhong appeared so serious and motivated on her mission that he could only watch from the sidelines as she meticulously sorted each herb on packaging sheets, wrapped them perfectly, and secured them with plant fibers. 

 

Everything was fine at first as she busied herself with the herbs she packed successfully, until she suddenly yelped and doubled over the side of the table while clutching her covered wrist to her chest; her face was absolutely contorted into discomfort. Alarmed, Morax was at her side the moment he saw her now completely doubling over in pain.  

 

“Guizhong, what's wrong?” Kneeling next to her, he placed his hands on her shoulders, eyes scanning over her figure to see what made her this way. 

 

He saw Guizhong trembling a little. Her eyes appeared momentarily confused, and her breathing was laborious. She continued to hold her other arm across her chest, and Morax quickly pieced together what had abruptly afflicted the goddess to the point that she was reduced to a writhing mess in front of him. 

 

Her hand. 

 

He carefully took the arm sleeve that was concealing her once-wounded hand. "Let me see your hand—" 

 

No!" She pushed him away, backing out until her back struck the table's leg. 

 

Her unexpected outburst astonished him, and he couldn't stop his eyes from widening as the impact of her weight caused the enormous censer to collapse over from its perch on the table. Before the object could even crash on top of the dazed goddess, Morax snatched her in his arms, covering her with his bulk figure to protect her small body, and the censer found its way to his back, falling to the ground with a loud clatter. The unexpected hit undoubtedly made him grunt, but he instantly overlooked his discomfort for the sake of the goddess underneath him. 

 

Guizhong stared at him. Her once-jaded eyes changed from uncertainty to outright fear as she realized what was going on around her. Morax watched as she sobered up, the agony immediately forgotten as she clutched both sides of his face, her eyes watering out of shame.

 

“M-my apologies, Rex. I-I didn't mean to.” Her hands shook as she apologized, and this time, he finally noticed what was wrong with her hand. 

 

Her hand was still covered with a cloth bandage, but for some reason, Morax could see some suspicious black lines peeking out of the cloth. He couldn't see the state of her wound the last time he checked on her, and he felt ashamed of himself for remaining so calm. He should have checked her condition thoroughly rather than merely asking her; knowing Guizhong's mentality of not wanting others to worry about her, she would plainly tell everyone that everything was well. 

 

When the goddess noticed his focus drawn to her hand, she hurriedly moved her injured hand away, but Morax was much faster, grabbing her wrist firmly, not enough to harm but enough to keep her from fleeing.

 

"Why are you pushing me away?" He couldn't stop himself from asking. It bothered him that she was pushing him away, especially when he was just concerned about her own well-being. 

 

“I am not,” Guizhong denied weakly, “Please, Rex… Let me go.”

 

"Guizhong, you're injured. And you expect me to be oblivious to this?" he added, indicating to her hand, which was bandaged with fabric. 

 

“I'm not lying. My hand was truly fine,” she said as she looked away from his questioning gaze. “I just feel random phantom pains every now and then, but it's nothing serious. Believe me.”

 

“If that is the case, then why can I see some suspicious black marks—”

 

Rex,” seemingly distressed, she pressed on; her face was now filled with unadulterated anguish, as if she was truly pained while pushing this kind of conversation. “Please let it be.”

 

After her pleading, they drifted into awkward silence that not even his sharpest spear could slice through. He watched how truly vulnerable she was before him. Guizhong appeared exhausted, as if she was carrying a whole world on her shoulders. Even if he wanted to squeeze an honest answer from her, Morax knew he could never force the goddess to speak, no matter how desperate he became just to know the truth.

 

For some reason, he couldn't stop himself from coming up with similar, interconnected notions regarding this predicament. Ying's pure concern for his well-being paralleled his concern for Guizhong.

 

Is this how she always felt? He knew he was only keeping the mysterious woman from becoming too concerned, but looking at Guizhong at this point made him feel sick in the stomach. His insides churned, and his throat burned like he had swallowed lead. It nearly choked him. 

 

Hypocrite. A distorted image of himself mocked him distastefully in his mind. You cannot continue to force them to tell you what is wrong with them when you are unable to do it yourself.

 

Hypocrite. 

 

His hand twitched. Lips pursed. 

 

You are obviously a hypocrite, Morax. 

 

He carefully released her wrist and pulled away from her, keeping a respectable distance. Morax then began gathering the secured herb packets on the table without saying a word, and he took matters into his own hands by packaging the remaining herb that Guizhong had not finished. 

 

“We should get back,” he remarked calmly while grabbing the packages in his hand. He decided to respect her wishes and leave their conversation as is. 

 

The goddess only nodded as she followed him out of the stockroom. On autopilot, Guizhong found her way to his arms once more, and they took flight back to the village with no words spoken between them. 

 

When they arrived at Mingyun, Cloud Retainer seemed to notice the uneasy silence that hung over them, and before she could ask why, he chose to bow down, hand her the herbs, and leave the premises, claiming he needed to scout the village for any suspicious activity. 

 

While the divine crane was undoubtedly unaware of what was going on, she simply left it at that and did not pursue the matter further. She could only watch Morax leave them without looking back, and she couldn't help but notice Guizhong's sad expression on her pale face. 

 

"Shall we go inside?" She offered quietly, and the goddess nodded without saying a word.

.

Time had gone by, and the screaming from the village had subsided.

 

He had to admit, he felt relieved in some sense. Morax wouldn't acknowledge it out loud, but such noises triggered unpleasant memories that he didn't want to relive in his random moments of solitude. True to his earlier excuse to Cloud Retainer, the god was monitoring the region for an hour for any suspicious activity, and he had found nothing unusual thus far. 

 

That was until he noticed some milleliths several kilometers away, holding lanterns and spears, near the mouth of a forest on the other side of the village. Morax followed the trail in silence out of curiosity, listening to them argue in the distance over who would be the first to enter the forest.

 

"Haoran, don't forget that you lost to my scissors previously. Now, brave soldier, step inside! I swear to follow you!”

 

“Zihao, you coward!” Haoran in question only exclaimed, annoyed. "Who the hell in their right mind decides to choose whom to take the lead by playing rock, paper, scissors?!”

 

"It's not like we have a choice!" countered Zihao. “Neither of us wanted to enter first!”

 

"Idiot! Yichen is surely waiting for us inside! He's been there for quite some time. Forget that; I'm getting in!" The infuriated millelith began marching inside, leaving his subordinate behind.

 

"W-wait, don't walk too fast!”

 

“Given your extreme fear of the dark, how in the world did you end up as a soldier?”

 

“You’re not getting it, Ran! It's a spooky woodland!”

 

“And so? Don't tell me you still believe those childish ghost stories surrounding this village?”

 

"B-but Yichen said he smelled a curse in this part of the forest. Aren't they dangerous to us mortals? What if we get cursed for all eternity—”

 

The young man sighed, "Why don't we just return and quit as soldiers?”

 

"Hey! You don't actually mean that!”

 

"You fool, if you keep trying to test my patience like this, I really might.”

 

Morax moved stealthily through the forest, following them both. They didn't stop squabbling, and he wasn't sure his ears could take any more insults shot back and forth between them, so he decided to make his presence known. 

 

He glided, closing after them, and murmured, “...What are you both doing?”

 

AHHHH!” Both of them simultaneously let out a surprised yell. The lanterns they were holding were nearly chucked out on his way, but he was inwardly grateful when they instantly recognized who he was before they could completely throw the poor lanterns at his face.

 

While it was not his purpose to frighten either of the startled foot soldiers, he couldn't help but be amused by the comical expressions they sported when they saw him emerging out of nowhere. 

 

“My apologies, it was not my intention to scare both of you.” 

 

“It's L-L-Lord Morax!” Zihao was the first to express his utter disbelief, followed by a wide-eyed Haoran, who appeared to have witnessed the most astonishing sight he had ever seen.  

 

He asked a question, ignoring the pointed gazes of the young soldiers, who appeared to be at a loss for words when they saw him. “What are you doing here?”

 

Haoran was the first to recover from shock, smoothing his face into a much more serious and professional expression while giving him a brief salute and courteous bow. “Our sincere regrets for acting in such a shameful manner, my liege. I'm Haoran, and this is Zihao, my brother-in-arms from the Millelith Brigade. Qiongji sent an urgent report to our platoon stating that they needed additional assistance. While the other half assisted in caring for the victims, the other half had been instructed to scout the village.”

 

Zihao then added, his once almost scaredy-cat persona disappeared and was replaced by a matching serious expression like Haoran's. "Three of us thought no one had scouted beyond the settlement yet, so we went looking and ended up here. Until our other subordinate, Yichen, saw something strange at this location, claiming he could smell a curse deep in the forest.”

 

He blinked slowly, absorbing that one remarkable piece of information in his mind. “Curse? He can sense curses?”

 

They only nodded.

 

Is it possible for an ordinary individual to sense curses? 

 

“Yichen is part illuminated beast and a human,” Ah. That completely explains it, he mused. Haoran continued, “And he's kind of...sensitive to dark energies. He can detect those over a broad range. Now that I think about it, I believe he was the first to tell the people to leave the festival before the miasma appeared.”

 

Whoever this Yichen was, Morax was intrigued by his capacity to detect malevolent energy. While he was completely confident in his divinity sensing abilities, he couldn't overlook a new variable that could help him in his quest. 

 

"—But then, before we could even ask him to elaborate on what he felt in the forest, he abruptly left us and disappeared deep into the woods. He has been there for quite some time now.”

 

He frowned. 

 

Well… Speaking of sensing energies, Morax could detect faint traces of an element he was familiar with, but it was also tinged with a terrible aura that made it almost smell far too vile. Far too ancient, he noted. The amount of malice imbued in the elemental force was far too conspicuous to ignore, so he felt compelled to follow it.  

 

He wordlessly ventured deeper into the woods with the two soldiers flanking behind him on both sides. Morax eyed the bright trails of the elemental energy on the ground (which could only be seen by an adepti). They walked considerably deeper for a while, until it felt like they were being swallowed by an abyss, with only the lanterns to illuminate their way. 

 

But then, Morax had to come to a halt abruptly. It had been too quiet, and he would be foolish not to remain vigilant in this part of the forest. Something seemed odd, as if he had entered a world where time stood still. Not even Haoran and Zihao's sound of breathing could pass through his sensitive ears. 

 

While he could no longer see the trails of energy he had been following since entering the forest, he could certainly feel a different energy lurking in the bushes this time. 

 

It was something that was living and breathing. Strong and relatively pure, combined with the familiar vile energy he had noticed previously. 

 

A young guy wearing the traditional earthy hues of the Millelith Brigade's uniform lay sprawled on the ground. His wild, flashy hair, the hue of the crystal blue waters of Luhua Pool, was like a bright beacon amidst the dismal forests that surrounded them, as were the peculiar golden marks reminiscent of whiskers that gently gleamed on his somnolent visage.

 

A half-Suanni, he remarked thoughtfully. No wonder his presence felt strange yet oddly familiar. 

 

Much to the relief of the other soldiers, the half-illuminated beast was lying there unconscious but undoubtedly breathing. "Yichen!” As they attempted to wake him from unconsciousness, his fellow brothers in arms immediately rushed to his sides. "Wake up!” 

 

"....a smell of earth," Yichen grumbled as he slowly opened his eyes, exposing a set of dazzling flavescent colors beneath long light lashes. He blinked, looking at their expressions with utter confusion. It appeared like nothing was sinking into his head at the moment. "...?”

 

“Egad! Have you gone insane?! Why did you leave alone?!” Haoran, the noisiest of the three exclaimed, incensed.

 

“...”

 

"Yichen, we know you're incredibly strong, but aren't we brothers in arms?” Zihao added, sounding weirdly emotional. "And brothers in arms are meant to stick together until the end!”

 

"Ugh," Yichen murmured almost pitifully, clutching his chest in apparent discomfort. "I miscalculated; the negative energy was far too heavy for me to absorb."

 

"Then you shouldn't have absorbed it in the first place!”

 

“It doesn't mean my body couldn't handle it, though; I just needed some time.” He sighed. 

 

Morax decided to join their small circle, clearly interested by the young man's ability. “You tried quelling the curse.”

 

"The smell of earth…" The half-Suanni turned his head, bleary-eyed. He took a few blinks as he peered at Morax's face, and when clarity dawned and he recognized who he was, he became flustered. "Lord of Geo," Yichen sat down on his knees and bowed deeply in respect. "What brings your noble presence to these secluded woods?”

 

Morax merely ignored his display of deference and spoke instead. “What you discovered piques my attention fully. I suppose you felt the same energy I did all the way here?”

 

“Ah, yes.” He nodded, “We had just started searching around Mingyun when I smelled an unidentified energy wafting through the forest. Given that half of my blood contains Suanni genes and I was extremely sensitive to the elemental energies around me, I was able to differentiate between the pure and the impure.”

 

Yichen continued, “In this forest, I felt a sensation of an ancient curse. A malicious one. I managed to capture the remnants of evil energy and absorb them before they could even expand and wreak havoc on the locals, but I was unable to apprehend the bearer of the curse.”

 

"You are impervious to curses?”

 

“Yes, my liege, I am. Suanni creatures are able to fend off curses.”

 

That was a really impressive ability, he had to admit. Even though he had a cordial relationship with the Suanni ruler, Morax had only seen a small number of them in his early years, and they chose to live in isolation in the mountains, never considering descending from their domain. They were rather reclusive and unsociable creatures. Suanni beasts were infamous for being elusive to humans, so it was a mystery how Yichen could exist between a Suanni beast and a regular mortal. 

 

"I see." Morax looked around once more to make sure there were no negative elemental traces, but he detected none. "You did an excellent job.”

 

"Lord Morax, it was our responsibility to do everything in our power to put a stop to any potential threats that might arise. This devoted soldier of yours had vowed to protect the people and serve as a shield for the weak until his death.” Yichen sincerely recited his pledge. 

 

“That's right,” Zihao nodded in agreement as he did a quick salute, which was also followed by Haoran. “While the Millelith stands guard, evil shall never prevail!”

 

They are indeed a quite lively bunch. 

 

With a nod, Morax said, "You have my deepest appreciation. This region needs more driven, selfless warriors like you, who will defend the weak until the end. I am counting on you three.”

 

Following his words, all became silent, with three of the milleliths staring up at him in wonder. They probably didn't expect him to speak freely (he had to admit that it was happening more often these days, and he couldn't help but wonder when it all began—was it when he got to know Ying?), and based on the way they appeared to be beaming, it seemed that his words alone were enough to boost their morale as devoted soldiers of the region. 

 

Three sets of fearless eyes were fixed on him, and they continued to gaze at him in awe. He inquired, somewhat intrigued by their casual demeanor. "My presence does not intimidate you?”

 

“Not at all, my liege!” They all spoke in unison. He blinked. Half a century ago, he was certain that no soldier ever amused himself by observing him closely. For reasons even he didn't care to know, they would never want to meet his gaze. He could only speculate that he may be the kind of intimidating god people didn't want to see or interact with.

 

Despite the fact that they took their oaths of allegiance to him after numerous generations, Morax was (ironically) not particularly close to them. 

 

(But seeing these new innocent faces with no fear of him surely doesn't feel unpleasant at all.) 

 

“Why?”

 

“Why would we do that?” Haoran asked a question instead, and then he shook his head. "Lord Morax, you may not have realized it because of the great distance between gods and mortals, but many people, including ourselves, truly admired you.”

 

“...”

 

"That's true," Zihao said, adding, "You're a living legend among humans, Lord Morax. My forefathers would be envious if they could see me now meeting the one and only Yánwáng Dìjūn, who has been protecting these territories for a very long time.”

 

“I see…” Morax took a moment to process what they had said before answering once more, albeit reluctantly. “Nevertheless, I don't believe I am all that unique. Like the rest of you, I am only carrying out my duty.”

 

Given that there were no longer any threats in the vicinity of Mingyun, he decided it was time to return to the village and evaluate the victims' conditions; as a result, he chose to cut their conversation short.

 

"Let's get back; this place is already clear of threats," he murmured, turning around and retracing his steps back from whence they had come. “That is, if you wish to return to the village with me.”

 

“We're coming with you, my liege!”


"Hm. Look at you brooding again." 

 

He didn't need to turn around to figure out who was speaking to him from behind. Morax raised his head in greeting, "Zhenjun."

 

"How far along are you with your quest?”

 

"Uneventful.”

 

"Ah," the avian adepti blinked as she situated herself beside him. "Are there no more new leads?"

 

He shook his head. “There is none. I might look northwest to see if there are any.”

 

“Northwest, hmm.” Zhenjun merely flapped her other wing once, but Morax could clearly picture her striking a contemplating position if she had human arms. “Do I have the same thoughts as you do?”

 

“Perhaps?”

 

“Mount Yaojun, huh.”

 

“Well…It's the area surrounding it.”

 

“Chenyu Vale?” She looked really surprised when realization hit her, “But aren't you enemies with the goddess residing there?”

 

“Honestly, I'm still skeptical about what I've done to incur her ire. But I suppose it's a prerequisite for any ruling native gods to be despised by other ancient gods.”

 

“Hmph, they are bunches of fools who think the world revolves around them.”

 

“Not all of them, though. I have encountered several ancient gods who exhibit humility.” 

 

“But aren't they deceased?”

 

"There are some who still live to this day," he said, recalling the jovial ancient god in Lingju who was enthralled by the gold censer he gifted, "while there are some that have already been forgotten in time.” For example, that earth goddess and other unfortunate gods and goddesses who, each time a new nascent god emerges, must face the hard truth of extinction. 

 

In retrospect, Morax would say that it was a case of natural selection, in which the emergence of new gods signified their dominance over the more ancient ones. Like, which of the two versions was far superior? The one who was fading away, waiting for the time to pass, or the one who was shining brightly in the midst of their prime?

 

It’s an evolution of gods, he mused to himself. Even while the idea made him feel bad, he had to accept that it was also inevitable.

 

And who knows, maybe there may come a day when gods like him are no longer needed, thus all of them will eventually vanish for the sake of evolutionary progress. 

 

"But, whether or not some of them were still living, it is always up to the individual to practice humility. They can choose whether to be evil or nice. It completely depends on what they want to be in life.”

 

If Guizhong and Ying's demonstration of humility taught him anything, it was that exerting and expressing kindness is a choice in and of itself. 

 

"This one already knows you're a god with a lot of depth, but listening to you speak without inhibitions like this is like breathing in the fresh air at the crack of dawn," Cloud Retainer said with a satisfied tone. "It makes you more feeling, more sensible, like a human.”

 

"Is it a negative thing?”

 

"Of course not; on the contrary, it's a very positive thing."

 

Silence. 

 

“You must take precautions on trespassing all the way to the northwest,” she warned. “While we have complete faith in your combat abilities, entering forbidden terrain remains perilous. Xuanwen beasts are one thing, but what about those unsociable, proud Suanni creatures whose egos are bigger than the mountains they guard?”

 

“I am not intimidated by them, Zhenjun,” he said, shaking his head. “And also, I'm in a cordial relationship with the Suannis.” 

 

“Hmph, I still do not like their arrogance.”

 

"Now that I think of it, did you know we have a halfling in the Millelith Brigade?”

 

“Oh! I know who you are talking to. You're talking about Wentian's offspring, aren't you?”

 

"Wentian…?” The name seemed familiar to him. Morax was certain he had heard that name about thirty years ago on a battlefield, where it was chanted by numerous warriors whenever they were in desperate need of powerful reinforcements.

 

A well-known female soldier with herculean strength, each piercing of her spear capable of tearing through the strongest shield. The woman who was said to have been blessed by Zhenjun itself. 

 

"That human once under your wing who retired early from her warfare responsibilities," Morax mumbled with recognition. He looked at the crane by his side, who just cocked her head in return. "She sired Yichen?"

 

"Yes. This one could not blame you; after all, he does not resemble Wentian. Not one bit in terms of appearance. ”

 

He gave a nod of agreement. “He possesses the vibrant colors of a typical Suanni. Save from the fact that he appears more like a human than a beast.”

 

“But believe it or not, he has his mother's brains, battle prowess, and even her calm demeanor.”

 

"I can see that. He possesses exceptional abilities." 

 

The avian adepti could only sigh. "If anything, I bet he looks way more like the human form of whoever his father was."

 

He blinked a number of times, slightly puzzled. "You had no idea who his father was? 

 

“No one knows, except for Wentian herself.”

 

He momentarily frowned. “But why?”

 

“I have my guesses, but unfortunately, I didn't have enough proof to validate it.”

 

“I see…”

 

"Anyway, has something transpired between you and Guizhong?”

 

“...”

 

“Well?” Cloud Retained pushed him on, her head cocked to the side to stare at him.

 

He stayed silent for some time before opening his mouth to speak.

 

"I think I may have been prying too much…" he began, perhaps reluctantly. "And offended her by my callous forwardness."

 

"What happened?" she inquired patiently.

 

“Guizhong is hiding something pertaining to herself. In particular, the state of her injured hand. Are you aware of this?”

 

It was Zhenjun's turn to stay silent, but she ultimately spoke—albeit hesitantly. 

 

“I often notice how she still covers her other hand with those cotton bandages. Since it had been months since she sustained that wound, I almost thought it was strange. When I asked her about the status of her hand, she always said it was healing fine, so I stopped asking. You know how much I trust Guizhong, Rex.” As she described her observations to him, he noticed that she was becoming increasingly agitated. More realizations began to flow into Zhenjun's swirling thoughts. 

 

"At first, I assumed she was really disturbed by the scar it left behind. But is there anything I should know about what you discovered?”

 

His thoughts suddenly brought him back to the stockroom, where he was holding Guizhong's wrist and saw the suspicious black lines akin to veins peeking through the cloth protecting her hand. Just remembering it was enough to raise some suspicions in him, making him inwardly concerned by the goddess’ true condition. 

 

It was too soon to make a firm judgment without properly seeing her injury up close, but those vein-like splotches on her pale skin were almost reminiscent of the wounds he saw in Vassago. But who knows? Perhaps he was just being tricked by his eyes. It was possible. 

 

“The black marks I saw on her hand…” He paused, his hands unconsciously clenching against his lap. “It reminds me of the marks I saw on Vassago's wounds before he died.”

 

“What….what do you mean?”

 

“I might have been overanalyzing things, but it's too soon to know if she sustained the same wound as Vassago. I'd want to try looking at it if I could at least check. However, Guizhong asked me not to push any further before I could even attempt it, so I didn't.”

 

“Then I should try convincing her to let me see it.”

 

“Please do, Zhenjun.”

 

I sort of have a bad feeling about it, is what he wanted to add, but he made another request instead.

 

“Can you please look after Guizhong?”

 

Zhenjun fell silent for a minute; her beady eyes met his amber ones in a one-on-one staredown that ended in a standoff when neither wanted to back down. She eventually replied. "So why wouldn't you?”

 

"I don't want her to feel uncomfortable with me," he admitted as soon as he closed his eyes. "And she feels most at ease with you.”

 

"Rex, you know that is false. If we're talking about her personal comfort, she's most at ease with you," Zhenjun contended, but he simply gave her a slight tilt of his lip—as if he wanted to smile but couldn't. 

 

"If she is most comfortable with me, just like what you have said, Zhenjun, then Guizhong shouldn't have looked at me with uncertainty in her eyes.”


Morax continued with his search once more, but this time he decided to take a flight through the skies. Scouting around his territory midair was a good change of pace, and if he had to be honest with himself, he quite missed the feeling of liberation every time he took flight along with the cranes.  

 

It has been a whole day of reconnaissance with no breaks. He went to search through the mountains and talked to every lesser god he met along the way. He even found himself visiting other woodlands that he couldn't and had willing adeptal beasts to help him ‘search’ for clues. 

 

While he couldn't say to have discovered such important leads to his mission, he did learn a few things from other gods and beasts with whom he engaged. 

 

According to the lesser gods lurking in the mountains, there was a higher deity who came down to tell them of “The Day of the Beginning.” As for what this god meant, or what kind of ‘beginning’ they should expect, whether it was good or bad—it was a mystery. Because the day the said god had dropped the cryptic message, it was also the same day they had vanished. 

 

Since then, the neutral lesser gods who inhabited the region had grown agitated, knowing the message had come from a higher deity from above and could be a bad omen. While some of the other lesser gods had been extremely wary and evasive of the higher gods, they could never disregard a message, especially one from them. Who knows, perhaps it was a warning? He had to admit that he too was curious.  

 

Morax tucked that information away in the depths of his mind. When he had the opportunity to return to Lingju, he would undoubtedly inquire with Lord Aymos about the situation. 

 

As he searched the region from above, he realized that his scouting hours had to end (it was almost midnight, after all), and he felt compelled to visit Mingyun village to see how they were doing so far. With a new plan in mind, he ended up altering his course in midair and flying all the way to Qiongji. Upon reaching the village, he was left bewildered by what he saw. 

 

He was certain that it had just been a day, but he had not expected any villagers to be awake at this hour, chatting with some Milleliths—looking oddly healthy for some reason, as if they hadn't been violent the night before.

 

As he marveled at the sight with unadulterated discombobulation, Morax muttered to himself. “What….is going on here?”

 

“Lord Morax?” A gentle, familiar voice called him out, simply jolting him out of his temporary stupor caused by the unexpected turn of events. "You're here.”

 

He turned around to see the half-Qilin approaching him, holding so many food containers in her arms that they nearly dwarfed her small stature. "Ganyu."

 

"Are you here looking for Master? Or perhaps you are looking for Lady Guizhong?” She inquired gently. 

 

He wasn't looking for either of his close subordinates in the village (though he wouldn't mind having a few words with them if he saw them), but he was more interested in checking on the people than looking around. 

 

(However, what he saw before him actually stunned him beyond imagination; he never expected those victims to behave normally as if nothing had happened the night before.) 

 

"The villagers…" he began, struggling to find the appropriate words to express his muddled thoughts. "They appeared to be alright now. I believe the herbs have been effective?”

 

“Oh,” Ganyu looked hesitant when she noticed some awake villagers chatting with other Milleliths in the distance. She remained silent for a moment before responding to his question, "The thing is, we didn't know what happened, Milord. We did our best to sedate them last night so they wouldn't injure themselves further, but we didn't expect them to wake up tonight as if nothing had happened either.”

 

“They are not in danger, are they?”

 

She shook her head. “They appear to be in excellent condition.”

 

“Then let us consider it as a good thing.”

 

“Except…”

 

He tilted his head to the side, as if urging her on to continue. 

 

"There's something important you should know, Milord," she said with a troubled expression. He listened. "The villagers awoke with no recollection of what had happened the night before. The worst part is that they couldn't remember the miasma incident that occurred at the festival several months ago.”

 

That came as quite a surprise to Morax. If he were to recall what he had seen last night, it was the complete reverse of what he had discovered at the moment. It was clear that losing their loved ones to the miasma was the root cause of their hostility. They couldn't even distinguish imagination to reality, as they kept on searching out for the people that already passed on. 

 

“Are you saying this is not the work of the herbs?”

 

“No, Lord Morax. The herbs that Lady Guizhong and Lord Marchosius procured are only for sedation and calming effects to promote a sound mind.”

 

That was downright suspicious, indeed. What could be the possible factors that could lead to them losing their memories connecting to the miasma incident? And losing them overnight at that? 

 

“.…Lady Guizhong and I have a feeling that this is the work of someone else,” Ganyu commented, she continued. “Someone who had the power to alter the workings of the mind.”

 

Knowing that there were many gods lurking in this region who liked to cause mischief on occasion, her speculation was plausible.

 

But then, who could it be? 

 

“It is a plausible conjecture, but we need more solid proof.” He murmured as he nodded, “Where is Zhenjun? I believe I have to conjure a new plan to further strengthen the security in this village until we find the main root of this matter.”

 

“Master is staying in one of the huts over there,” Ganyu pointed her head at one particular dwelling that was quite isolated from the other huts. “Lord Marchosius and Lady Guizhong are convening with the master as we speak.”

 

“I see. Where are you headed?”

 

The halfling merely blinked at him in astonishment, but she responded nonetheless. "I'm on my way to distribute these foods along with the medicine door-to-door, Lord Morax.”

 

He nodded once more and offered, "Allow me to assist you.”

 

“Huh,” Ganyu was left awestruck at his sudden offer, tongue-tied even, she added. “It's fine, Milord, I-I can do it—”

 

“Be at ease, young Qilin.” Morax didn't even let her finish her statement as he raised his index finger and made a circular gesture, making the food containers in Ganyu's arms levitate in the air—relieving her from her menial labor. “I am curious to see how the villagers are faring with their sudden memory loss.”

 

Flabbergasted, with her cheeks warming mildly out of embarrassment. “I understand. Thank you very much for the help.”

Morax merely listened as they talked endlessly about the reason behind the villagers' unexpected memory loss. Although each of his subordinates was willing to express their own opinions, he could see how genuinely perplexed they were by this unexpected development, and he wasn't even sure where to begin searching for clues. 

 

Earlier, when he accompanied Ganyu to each residence to deliver food, he spent time examining every villager. He intently observed how they spoke and behaved. It didn't seem weird at first, but after hearing the relatives (the unaffected ones) express their grief over the victims' abrupt change of demeanor, he was convinced that this was no ordinary case. 

 

Not only had most of their memories been erased, but they had also been altered. Some of their personalities took an unexpected turn, and their intellect was gradually reduced to that of a child. 

 

This was far too serious for Morax to overlook, so he had no choice but to put his main objective on hold for the sake of his mentally compromised subjects. 

 

"...It is indeed a real mystery, I would say," Cloud Retainer said with a shake of her head. "This one was tending to them all night, but I never noticed a significant shift in their energies as they slept. Nothing at all. If someone tried to meddle with it, I would have recognized a single speck of oddity in their bodies.”

 

“I second that,” Marchosius murmured. “I would have noticed an intruder as well, but nothing passed through my barrier. It is unusual.”

 

“But still, I have a feeling that this is a work by someone else,” the goddess remarked with a frown. “This memory loss pertaining to the incident was far too obvious; it almost seemed intentional. Although I'm not sure if having them lose their memories connected to the incident was a good thing, we couldn't ignore the fact that these people lost a larger part of themselves.”

 

Cloud Retainer and Marchosius seemed to agree with her statement, albeit somberly. 

 

"I'm not even sure if this is an act of kindness from an unknown source to spare these victims' agony, but….it seems so wrong that they couldn't even remember those who were once part of their lives.”

 

Silence. 

 

"What if this sudden memory loss worsens to the point where they lose their sense of identity?”

 

"It is already happening, if not gradually." It was his chance to speak up, but this wasn't an opinion, let alone a theory like theirs. He had seen reality with his own eyes, and he was all set to share his discoveries with them. "I found that their personalities had changed, some of their memories were altered, and worst of all, their intellect had been reduced to that of a child's.”

 

“...!” 

 

“No… it can't be…” Guizhong covered her mouth to suppress her gasp, horrified. 

 

"As we speak, Ganyu and the other Milleliths are checking each one of them for me, keeping track of all their behavior, personality, and other changes," he stated. "I ordered all of the soldiers to remain vigilant in this village. It seems to me that Guizhong's theory was worthwhile to take into account.”

 

He went on, three sets of eyes on him as he talked. "Last night, Wentian's offspring detected an unusual energy deep in the woods across this village. A malevolent curse imbued with a notable but unknown elemental essence belonged to someone we had yet to locate. The young lad was able to put a stop to it before it could spread and cause havoc; but, the curse's bearer was nowhere to be found even when I arrived.”

 

The goddess took a slow, shaky sigh. “What are we going to do? This is far graver than we expected.”

 

“Do you have a plan in mind, Rex?” It was Zhenjun's turn to speak, she asked.  

 

"I have a plan, but I want to keep this village as is. I've already disseminated these orders to the Millelith Brigade with Ganyu's assistance. Make it appear that everything is too lax.”

 

“Understood.”

 

"I shall leave for the time being. Please continue to watch after mortals. When danger returns, call out my name."

 

They simply nodded in understanding. 

 

He had a feeling that this was not the end yet. If he had to follow his sharp instincts when it comes to the unknown, he was definitely sure that the culprit would come back once more. 

 

And he would be there to end it once and for all. 


There was a strange tale spreading in the village that had reached his ears. Something about a large avian creature visiting people's dreams at night, both villagers and Milleliths alike. 

 

At first, he assumed it was just one of those ancient adeptal arts in which an adepti offers humans a vision (usually warning them of what is coming). But when he asked Cloud Retainer whether she had any ties to it, or even one of her kin, she simply claimed that she had never employed such adeptal arts in her life (which he immediately believed, knowing Zhenjun was not one to lie, especially not to his face).

 

Mortals believe in symbolism, which means that what they see in their dreams has meaning. Large birds represent freedom, new opportunities, and even a new beginning, thus seeing them in their dreams seemed to elicit a favorable response.

 

As ridiculous as it sounded in his head, they even believed that the large creature they saw was a 'heavenly guardian' sent to them in their dreams by Rex Lapis to protect them from their vulnerability (when, in fact, he did not, and he had no idea where those dreams came from). 

 

But, given that it had no negative impact on their well-being, he has yet to deny any of the rumors. Even though he disliked the notion of taking advantage of their complete devotion to him, Morax reasoned that it would be good to have them believe that way since it might make them feel less frightened and apprehensive about the predicament they and the victims were currently in.

 

He didn't want to incite unrest among his people, especially since he was still waiting for the perpetrator to fall into his trap. 

 

A whole week of mere waiting. Morax was patient, simply waiting for the golden opportunity to pounce. While pretending to be lax wasn't his strong suit, he was at least satisfied that the seeds he had sown had sprouted and borne some fruit. 

 

He surmised that his subjects' dreams might be linked to the culprit, so Morax resolved to return after midnight. Just as he suspected, the perpetrator decided to make another covert, quick excursion to the village while he was away. Specifically, at night, when most people were asleep. 

 

(But what this culprit didn't realize was that his lands would serve as his eyes in his absence and that his very being was in sync with the earth he commanded.) 

 

Morax stared impassively at the same elemental tracks he had seen the first time he set foot in Mingyun's deep woodlands. He moved silently through the forest, like a wraith, following the bright, sloppy trails of anemo. It felt nearly endless, as if he had just been through a maze, but as he followed the trails to their intended destination, he gradually became aware of where they may lead. 

 

He watched the end of the forest, which revealed the dotted skies full of blinking stars and the clear shallow waters of Yaoguang. Morax carefully inhaled the fresh sea breeze; the elemental trails he continued to follow extended farther, going to the only place he had never contemplated, let alone permitted himself to enter its borders.

 

The very place he truly despised entering. Territory of one disdainful creature he didn't wish to see.

 

The island of Guyun. The domain of his longstanding adversary, the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial.  

 

A moment of realization came to hit him full force. He couldn't help but recall a certain ancient god's message to him before he passed. Saleos’ words came to echo in his mind; his old, gruff tone served as a reminder—as if he wanted to tell him to never forget.  

 

"Face your utter disdain for a certain creature; if you succeed in your quest, seek answers in Guyun."

 

Morax let out a little scornful chuckle that spiraled out of control as he laughed and laughed with no humor in his tone. How could he be that blasted clueless? That was one hell of a clue that he absolutely, unknowingly overlooked for months. If he were as quick-witted as Guizhong, he wouldn't have had to spend months looking for scraps he thought were clues.

 

His laughter ceased the moment his amber eyes landed on the skies; he channeled his element through his bare feet, causing the earth beneath him to roar with all its might—resulting in a very large-scale earthquake, not enough to create danger, but more like a warning that he was approaching. 

 

That was sufficient enough for a spontaneous greeting to the Overlord of the Vortex. 

 

He summoned his weapon out of nowhere, his face smoothing out coolly, almost reminiscent of his roots and origin, hard and unfeeling as stone. His greeting was definitely well-received when he noted the abrupt shift in the weather; the waters from afar began to tremble and effervesce as several long, slimy heads emerged one by one from the deep depths of the Sea of Clouds.

 

"It's all or nothing," he muttered as he took off to the skies, his spear shining alongside the large stone lances he summoned in the air—meeting those humongous, howling, detestable water creatures in a full-blown head-on battle. 

 

Notes:

He would definitely crash out in the next chapter. Baby, watchin' it burn, send death to isolation—oof, wrong game.

(I'm so sorry; I'm so horribly obsessed with Phainon as of the moment. I have this infinite attachment to Kevin Kaslana, so no wonder I'm so attached to Phainon too. This attachment will go on in every Kevin expy that would come. Give them to me, Hoyo!)

So, now, back to the story. I couldn't count the numerous times I had to rewrite some other scenes. But I'm satisfied right now with the outcome. I enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the ZhongLumi scenes. Good god, I miss writing about them. And finally! Morax has become aware of Ying's charms!

(I bet some of you were wondering if there will be smut somewhere down the future? Possible. I'm still debating. But what do you think of it? Should I write it?)

I hope you enjoyed it! Reviews are really appreciated. See you in the next chapter!