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Wangshu Inn is quiet tonight.
Not silent, because it's the only real inn in the whole of Liyue, but quiet.
But quiet does not mean undisturbed; it does not mean peace.
And if one looks close enough, the tell-tale signs of battle litter the plains beyond.
Yet nobody cares to look, because this is Wangshu Inn, where you get drunk under the protection of the last yaksha.
They don't look, and they don't see the emerald-green spark that seems like it's falling from the heavens.
--
The moment Alatus lands, he sways and stumbles to one knee.
Wind flows around him, almost worried, before blowing away with dandelion seeds on the breeze.
The yaksha tightens his grip on his polearm, knuckles turning white, and staggers to his feet; his right foot slips on the wet roof tile before he can fully manage to stabilise himself.
But he is Alatus, is the last yaksha and the vigilant yaksha and the Conqueror of Demons, so he brushes aside the pain with practised concentration and keeps an iron fist around his weapon, leaning half of his weight onto the spear.
The karma weighs heavy today, more so than usual. Distantly, he can still hear the screams of his victims.
Alatus growls, shaking his head like he's chasing away a particularly persistent fly. This debt is the least of what he can bear for Liyue and the archon that saved him. The yaksha pulls his mask off his face with appropriate care, ignoring how his hands tremble as he does so. The mask amplifies his pain, but it numbs everything else.
Alatus can take pain.
As he slips off the room and onto the balcony, the yaksha's gaze turns to one of the rooms of Wangshu Inn in confusion. He hadn't noticed before – it wasn't the mask, though he can certainly think clearer without it – but now an amber signature, so bright that it nearly burns his eyes, can be sensed within. His elemental sight has only reacted to one person that way. But then that begs the question: why is he here?
He takes a step and blinks into existence on one of the windows of the Inn, umber eyes locking on the familiar head of orange-brown hair. Though the man is turned away, the yaksha doesn't delude himself into thinking he's good enough to avoid his notice. Golden eyes meet his.
"Morax," he sighs, sliding off the windowsill and into the room, greeting the God of Contracts with a bow.
The archon turns easily enough in the current body of his, the golden tips of his hair swaying with the motion. A cup of steaming tea is clasped between his hands, but that is as far as the domesticity goes – his clothes are meticulously pressed and his eyes razor-sharp.
"Alatus," he acknowledges, and two long strides take him close enough to lay a hand on the yaksha's shoulder.
Alatus flinches, tensing, and Xiao tips his gaze upwards.
The yaksha's eyes are golden.
"You're injured," the archon says, hand slipping from skin. "The karma is strong today."
Xiao knows his pain is palpable in the air – so strong that Rex Lapis can probably smell it.
"Evil has been... active tonight," He replies, because he can't lie to his god but he can omit. Morax has always blamed himself, and Xiao knows he can bear the pain better than his master will.
There's a beat of silence, and Xiao feels his muscles pull taut.
"It's my job. Think nothing of it." He blurts, cheeks dusting a light red as his eyes turn downcast. When the archon speaks, his voice lacks its usual curious joviality.
"I'm sorry."
The yaksha exhales and stands, taking a few nimble steps back until he's leaning against the window with his arms crossed. He's aiming for casual, trying not to show how the change in atmosphere has put him on edge, but he knows Morax spies the way he clenches his arms so tight that his skin turns pale around his tattoo.
“For what, exactly?”
“When I first summoned the Yakshas, it was for the betterment of Liyue.” Rex Lapis moves away, pushes open the doors to the balcony and steps outside, inhaling the crisp night air; Xiao follows his master, as he has always done. The geo Archon braces his forearms on the railing and lets out a quiet breath, turning his eyes to the moon. It’s full, tonight, and Xiao belatedly realises why Wangshu Inn is so busy today.
“Only now do I realise how unfair it was to you, and to your comrades who have long since departed from this realm.”
“You had humans to protect, under the request of your lover, Guizhong. You were supposed to keep them safe. I merely fulfilled the contract you offered me.”
“And I was supposed to protect you, was I not, Alatus?” Xiao doesn’t respond. “Was your safety not part of the contract when I first found you? I promised – I gave you my word, Xiao, and I failed you.”
“That’s different,” Xiao protests.
“Perhaps.” Rex Lapis turns his head to look Xiao straight into the eyes. “But only in my moments of retirement do I realise the irony of the God of Contracts breaking a contract. And not only to you, but to Bosacius, Indarias, Bonanus, and Menogias. You know what day it is today, don’t you? And it‘s my fault you don’t have family or comrades to celebrate it with.” The archon’s voice breaks, and he turns away again to stare at the flickering lights of Liyue Harbour.
Silence descends upon them as Xiao attempts to gather his thoughts. Then, Morax speaks again. His voice boils with righteous anger beneath a cracked guise. “Perhaps I didn’t deserve the title Rex Lapis, when I still held it. I failed as an archon the moment I broke my word. And look at where we are now – You, cursed to eternal pain, and me: mortal, stripped of my Gnosis and my power, reduced to a lowly consultant for a business that profits off of the death of my people!”
Xiao stares at his master, aghast. It takes him a moment to process what was just said, but when he understands he snaps back with ferocity.
“Do not utter such abominable lies! You don’t mean it. You can’t mean it!” He hisses, eyes blazing with fury, “You gave me a purpose! You gave me meaning in this mundane existence! You-” His voice cracks, “You gave me my name.”
Morax’s back is still turned, and his reply sounds choked.
“And in doing so I took everything else away from you,” He pauses, swallowing audibly. “The karma you’ve accumulated is too much to bear or cleanse, along with the solitude you’ve been exposed to for eons on end. And for that, I will repent for the rest of my life.”
“You have nothing to apologise for-”
“It is undeniable that I am to blame – if not in whole, then at least in part-”
“-Since I chose to accept your contract to protect Liyue from demons!”
“And for that I am sincerely grateful.” Morax gives Xiao a small smile. He looks tired, Xiao notes. He has always looked tired. “I understand that it took a toll on both of us, but now Liyue is in an age of prosperity, just like Guizhong desired. Osial‘s defeat and the fall of the Jade Chamber marks the beginning of a new era. One where gods and yaksha aren’t needed. Now, it is the people that govern the lands. Maybe there was an easier way for this to happen, a route with less pain, but what does it matter? What’s done is done. You can rest now, Xiao. No longer do you need to bear the burden of trading with death – appreciate how far those we protect have come. That is what I have chosen, and I have yet to regret it.”
“That can’t be right,” Xiao growls, anger overflowing like molten lava, “The humans can always do with a little more protection, a safeguard, a first line of defense, anything! You and I are made to serve the people. What will you do when it’s all over? When your purpose is fulfilled? Then what? Will you disappear like Mondstadt’s archon did, and swear never to interfere? Because let me tell you now, Morax–” He spits the name, “Your work is never going to be done. Liyue is the land of Contracts, it’s the root of Teyvat’s economy. If you just up and disappear, if you leave the Harbour and the Golden House and- and me, then there will be consequences. And even if my pain isn’t your fault? I can guarantee you, this will be.”
Rex Lapis sighs, and his whole body heaves with the movement.
“I know,” he says, “I have prepared. I’ve informed Ganyu, Keqing and Ningguang, and they have already begun cementing relationships with each of the seven nations – except for Inazuma, of course, considering how unreasonable Baal is being at the moment. They have assured me that while Liyue will feel the impact of losing their archon, it will not affect them for long. After all, they already believe me dead, and the mortals are vigilant enough to mind their own contracts. If not, I’m sure you‘ve heard of that legally trained halfling – what’s her name, Yanfei? Our people are capable enough without us, Xiao, and you know me well enough to know I wouldn’t do something like this on a whim. It is time for us to move on.”
The yaksha sighs, shaking his head.
“You should know that I’m highly unimpressed with such decisions, but I suppose you’re not unprepared. I can accept it for now." Xiao huffs. He’s tired too, after all, and he’s never really been allowed to have a break.
“This is our chance to forget our past and bask in the present. The future can wait. So, let me be selfish just once more. Alatus, forgive me – if not for your sake, then for mine.”
The yaksha tips his head down with a fond smile. He hadn’t been expecting this when he first locked eyes with Rex Lapis tonight.
“I haven’t had the chance to visit Mondstadt,” he responds, in lieu of an actual answer. ”Maybe you can take me?”
Morax’s tone is decidedly happier when he next speaks, and he turns to walk past Xiao. ”I understand you’ve become acquainted with Venti – or at least, his music. I’m sure we’ll be able to track him down in a bar somewhere playing his lyre for a few apples.”
Then he stops mid-step, and begins to pat himself down rather comically.
“Uhm,” and it comes out decidedly more sheepish, “…However, as I neglected to put aside a retirement fund, you’ll have to pay for our expenses. If that’s alright?”
Xiao feels a surge of naïve excitement bubble up within him, and he snorts. It takes some ferocious blinking to force the stinging dampness away from his eyes, but when he lifts his head he finds himself grinning uncontrollably at the other man’s equally elated face.
“Of course. Let’s go find ourselves a bard, Zhongli.”