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Venti almost morphs himself into the wind and rushes to Liyue when he catches the news about Morax's passing. He doesn't even care that doing so probably will sap most of his powers at once and will take longer for him to recover since he's no longer a god. But he has to see Morax's body with his own eyes.
The memory of his gnosis being ripped out of his chest is still fresh. One can't simply forget a burning, gnawing feeling of darkness that suddenly envelops his own body and a sense of a gaping hole that slowly sucks his body dry. Venti couldn't imagine Morax going through the same. He is the most experienced among all of them. Surely the Fatui couldn't get a jump on him?
That is until he hears a breeze whispers to him.
It is soft, almost inaudible. Venti doesn't know because the whisperer uses a low voice or because Venti is losing his power. Thankfully, Venti still catches it. Because no matter what, Venti will always recognize Morax's voice.
"Worry not, love." He says. "I am alright."
"Morax!" Venti immediately covers his mouth. As the saying from Liyue goes, the walls have eyes and ears. There are no walls in the wilderness of Windrise, though the sentiment still holds, thanks to current development.
"Morax, you're alive," Venti whispers again.
"That I am."
"I heard-"
"Death is but a perspective. You should know that."
Is Morax telling him that one of his incarnations died? But which one? "Where are you? I'll come to you."
"You need not worry,"
"How can I not?!" Venti screams to the ground, hoping the earth would catch his frustration and notify their lord. A sniff escapes his voice. They are the only ones remaining of the Original Seven, so of course, Venti is worried when he heard about his friend's supposed-to-be-passing. That brutish, blundering buffoon! "How can I not, after what happened?"
"It pains me to see you cry," Morax coos. "And it pains me more so that I can not wipe away your tears. But I need you to trust me, for I will not make a contract I do not intend to fulfill."
"A contract?" Venti spaces out. His vision turns red. "You made a contract with Tsaritsa?"
Why? How? After what she has done to him, how can he work together with her? Has he got no idea?
No, Morax must have had his reasons. It isn't Venti's place to question it. Rather than that, Venti is angrier about the fact that Morax was given a choice to make a deal while Tsaritsa never gave him one in the first place.
"I am unable to disclose the details. But I will come to you once this is over. That is a promise."
A promise from Morax is a contract in itself, and Morax never breaks a contract. He supposes that's the best answer he could get right now.
The breeze stops. Morax is already gone, then. Venti sits and holds his harp in the air. His heart is a whirlwind mess of emotions right now. The best he can do is to sing it away.
In the end, Venti is the one who comes to Morax.
As much as he loves Mondstadt, Venti admits that Liyue has a special place in his heart. The abundance of gods and magical beings in this region shapes its people's culture, unlike other areas. Liyue celebrates everything, including the birth and death of a god.
The Rite of Parting is one beautiful and melancholy event. It is a mourning and celebration at the same time. A mourning because their god has left the realm, and a celebration because their god has returned to Celestia. All folks from various backgrounds would put aside their work to gather at Yujing Terrace to bid their god a final goodbye.
Venti couldn't recall the last time Liyue hold this ceremony. If he can't find Morax, at least he gets to experience this event. Perhaps he could immortalize it into a song.
It has been 400 years since they last met. Venti was in slumber until recently, so he has no idea what form Morax has taken this time. He could be the old lady lighting the incense, or the businessman who is lamenting the lack of divine intervention starting next year, or the girl who plays by the pool.
However, there is someone who catches his eyes. A young man stands alone at the edge of Yujing Terrace. A young man with the earth as the color of his hair and glowing gold on its edge. Venti has heard that humans have developed the means to color their hair, but he doubts they could achieve that particular lustrous effect.
"Barbatos,"
The young man greets him. A pair of amber eyes meet his jade ones. Ah yes, this is definitely him.
"I go by Venti in this form."
"You always go with Venti." Morax chuckles. If he isn't so angry, Venti would have laughed with him. Unlike Morax, who dons many personas over the past millennia, Venti only has one human identity. He shows himself to the people of Mondstadt every few hundred years anyway. No one could ever connect the dots.
Morax moves closer to him and bows down. "I am Zhongli," he says. A smile adorns his face.
"For Celestia's sake, you truly want to retire, don't you?"
Morax Zhongli is full-blown laughing, and it catches Venti off-guard. His soft and raspy voice Venti comes to love hasn't eroded with time. It feels nice to hear in person after a long time. Venti certainly missed it during his long sleep.
Venti quickly throws away his gaze. He's supposed to be mad, not ogling him!
Zhongli looks at him in confusion. "You are displeased. Why? Even though you are the advocate of freedom."
"Why do you think?" Venti huffs. His fingers start to play around his lyre. "I know we both agreed not to meddle in each other's affairs, but I wish it didn't have to come to this."
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry for making me feel this way, but not for doing it. You'd do it again, given a chance."
Another chuckle. "You know me well, love."
Venti blushes at the nickname. An out of tune 'twang' is heard.
"How peculiar. You love to sing about vulgar things from time to time, yet you're embarrassed by this."
"Shut up, Zhongli!" Venti nudges the older ex-god's stomach. "I'm only surprised, that's all!"
"Why? Isn't it the norm to call a loved one by an endearment?"
Well, Zhongli isn't wrong, though Venti hopes he could see from his perspective. His heart can't help but flip every time Zhongli calls him that, yet his expression is always as flat as a polished bark. It's as if he isn't affected by it at all. It isn't fair!
"You truly are a brutish, blundering buffoon." Venti sighs in defeat. "Ugh, introducing you to Tsaritsa was a mistake."
Whatever happened to Tsaritsa? She used to be warm and gentle. Venti still recalls the time when she patiently taught Morax words of affection. What made her turn ice-cold and go down this path?
Zhongli must have known, but Venti has millennia on him to know that he'd rather die than to violate a contract. Zhongli doesn't need to look that concerned.
Venti turns to Zhongli and starts to pluck his lyre.
"Worry not, oh the recently abdicated Lord of Geo," Venti begins to sing. "For a contract is destinies tied in a knot, that no strangers shall elucidate without the say-so."
Zhongli hums. "I know you'd understand. Even so, my apologies for doubting you."
Venti nods in response and continues to sing. Thankfully, there aren't many people around them. The last thing they need is people gathering around and learning their secrets. "Even so, my mind is still plagued. Would you grant me one final act?" Zhongli nods. "What becomes the God of Contracts with no contracts?"
Venti continues to play his lyre until Zhongli reaches for Venti's braid.
"At first, I was thinking to return to the parlor and catch up to my works,"
"You freed yourself of your godly duties only to find other works?!"
"But since you're here," Zhongli twirls Venti's hair, ignoring the younger ex-archon. "I think I will take you to Wanmin restaurant since Xiangling is the one cooking today. I reckon their palate would suit your taste."
"Will there be wine?"
"Only Osmanthus, I'm afraid."
"A shame." Venti leans on Zhongli's touch. Should he make a divine intervention so Master Diluc would export Dandelion Wines? "Well, it's better than nothing! But you're paying!"
"Naturally. I bring my wallet this time."
"Is there mora in there? Remember, you can't produce them anymore!"
Zhongli takes a bag full of mora that dangles on his belt and shows it to Venti. "I took some funds from Northland Bank."
Venti smirks. "You're one sly archon, aren't you, old Morax?"
Zhongli doesn't reply. Instead, he stretches his hand to Venti, who gladly takes it.
People are staring at them during their walk, maybe because people of Liyue are not used to show public affection, though Venti chooses to ignore it. The distance between Yujing Terrace and Wanmin Restaurant is close, yet it takes them ages to reach there. Neither admits that they slow their pace so they could have more time.
"Zhongli," Venti calls after silence engulfs them for a while.
"Yes, love?"
"I'm glad you're alright."
Zhongli's eyes soften. He then brings Venti's palm for a quick kiss.
"I promised not to leave you alone after all, my love."
That is one of the syllabi they put in their contract from a long time ago. Venti would love to tell you, but that is a story for another day.
"If you think sweet words could get you anywhere, then you're mistaken, mister! I'm still mad!"
"Are you?" Zhongli teases.
"Yes! Like super-duper-mega mad!" Venti pouts. "I'd be shaking in my boots if I were you!"
"Oh, believe me, I am," Zhongli replies with a playful tone. "That's why I'm taking you to spend the Fatui's funds."
Venti hums in content. He scoots so he could walk closer to Zhongli. Although the circumstances are not ideal, at least with them being ex-archons, they could spend more time together, which is always a good thing.
Venti just hopes they could steer away from drama in the future.