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rex lapis was currently bringing you home.
his long white and gold cloaks fluttered with the wind as he traversed the pillars of rocks. you observed his aureate veins, shining brightly in the moonlight. the lord of geo carried you, and your arms were loosely looped around his neck. guizhong and the other adepti followed behind you both, carrying lanterns along with them. a few of their lamps fluttered high into the sky, creating a trail that followed behind your lord. their whispers carried in the whistling wind.
you didn’t know how long it had been since you had declared the northeastern mountains of jueyun karst your home. hundreds, maybe a thousand years had passed since you had arrived into this world at the base of the summit. the adepti and yourself housed yourselves in the mountains, in brief moments of peace in the continent-wide war for one of the seven divine seats in celestia. it was a strange thought, a human living amongst non-humans and gods.
you weren’t quite sure why you were being carried by your lord. what you did know was that there was a dull throbbing in your torso, and your eyelids felt heavy. “why are we going back home?” you whispered, looking at rex lapis.
“hush,” he replied in a clipped tone. “rest now.”
looking down at your abdomen and down the rest of your body, you looked at a deep gash. “huh,” you murmured, not even surprised. even now, you saw the cold, ever immovable expression on his face. when you observed him even more closely, you saw his tensed jaw and furrowed brow. you reached out a hand for his jaw, in a weak attempt to soothe him. he looked down at you momentarily, and you saw the flakes of gold in his eyes, glimmering in the moonlight.
after a particularly long jump, he landed on the soft grass on one the lofty peaks of jueyun karst. he stood in front of a mountain wall, bracing one hand against it. with a soft tap, it carved itself open, revealing a hollow cave with a hole on the ceiling to let in the moonlight and the expanse of the sky. in the center of the cavern was a rock that almost looked like a bed.
“ganyu, the silk cloth,” rex lapis commanded, and the young adeptus placed the blankets on the rocks. he placed you down gently on the cloth, and you let your head loll to the side.
your eyelids felt heavy as you shut them, letting them flutter occasionally to show some semblance of consciousness. “what will we do, my lord?” cloud retainer asked. “they are clearly in no state to go into battle again.”
“liar,” you mumbled out, lifting a weak finger at the elegant bird accusingly. “i can go again. just give me a moment, and…” your voice trailed off as your head lolled to the side, and eyelids blinked shut.
“humans...always so delicate,” xiao muttered as he placed a smaller cloth on your wound.
“we must let them rest,” moon carver stated. “we have lost too many of yours and guizhong’s people to this war already. not only that, but this human in particular is particularly beloved by you, are they not? would it not be better to preserve their life while we can?”
“what will happen with your y/n?” guizhong whispered. “rex lapis?”
as you opened your eyes, you watched his face contort into uncertainty. he looked pensive, hand on his chin and eyes closed shut. he had never looked so worried, sweat beading his brow and jaw tightened even more than before. “i don’t know,” he eventually breathed out. “i do not know.”
the answer caused a thick layer of anxiousness to fold over the room. never had the lord of geo been so unsure. his battle style was calculated and precise, as was his leadership. rex lapis was a man made of silent confidence, and his lack of it made the whole room tense.
as your eyes slid shut again, an eon seemed to have passed. the cave echoed in hushed whispers, words going in one ear and out the other. eventually, it all slowed to a stop as another blanket was placed over your weakened body.
the god of dust sat next to you, humming softly as she played with your hair. her touch was warm and comforting, like a mother to a child. “rest now, y/n,” she whispered near your ear, and you felt yourself become drowsy.
“guizhong, stay here and watch y/n until they fall asleep,” rex lapis addressed, voice echoing through the cave. “they have to rest for only celestia knows how long. the rest of the adepti and i must leave and go back to the frontlines.”
your eyes shot open immediately, frantically looking at the god in front of you. “y-you mustn't leave me out, my lord!” you exclaimed frantically, fingers bracing against your rock bed in a vain attempt to prop yourself up. “i must make myself of use to you, i-i…!”
“no, y/n,” he countered, crossing his arms. “as your lord, i know when it is time for you to stop. please, sleep now. i must be going.”
you watched as he crossed to you, kneeling down to be level with your figure on the rock. he gently took your hand, observing it. rex lapis’ hand felt cold and heavy, but his touch was smooth, like one of his finest ores. slowly, he placed a kiss onto the back of it, lips warming your whole body. you looked at him with wonder, silently asking the question of why he would do such a thing.
“go to bed. may i see you in the morning,” he said, looking at you with earnest eyes. the god rose, motioning for the adepti to leave the cavern.
“no, no, please, rex lapis,” you pleaded as he watched you with some pity in his eyes. “please don’t leave! please let me fight on your behalf, please--”
your begging fell on deaf ears as he pulled his hood up and smoothed down his hair. his polearm manifested itself into his hand as he walked to the entrance of the cave. “sleep well,” he whispered, not bothering to turn back and look at you.
“no, no, please, rex lapis! please don’t leave, please let me serve you!” you called desperately once more. “don’t go!”
with the last of your strength, you lifted your head to look at his cloaks and hair flutter out the cavern. it was closed up instantly behind him, as if there was never an entrance in the first place. your head suddenly dropped only to be caught by guizhong, whose delicate hands cradled your head in her lap. tears welled in your eyes as you looked up at her. her eyes only held empathy as the moonlight illuminated her long hair and indigo robes.
“steady as stone, he is. he never changes his mind,” she whispered. “rest assured, i shall accompany you as you fall asleep, child.”
the tears flowed down your face as your head rested on her lap, surely dirtying her pristine blue robes. you hiccupped as you wailed for your lord, asking for him to return and allow you to battle on his behalf. your cries echoed helplessly against the cavern’s walls. the god of dust listened to your sobs as you tired your body, holding your hand and stroking her thumb over it.
“guizhong?” you asked quietly after you ceased your crying, body exhausted from grieving.
“yes, child?” she responded, tilting her head.
“tell rex lapis that i am sorry,” you whispered, blinking up at her as if she were the most interesting thing in the entirety of teyvat. “sorry that i cannot serve him in this mortal body.”
“i would not say that he is upset with you, but whatever it is that you wish,” she replied. “now, rest. that was an order from your commander, was it not?”
she began humming a sweet lullaby, voice the only thing tethering you to consciousness. you looked up at the moonlit sky as your eyelids felt heavy. you let them droop shut as guizhong ceased her lullaby and her hands left your head.
“good night, y/n,” was the last thing that you heard. “i wish you sweet dreams about your rex lapis.”
--
you had many a dream of rex lapis following your descent into slumber, just as guizhong. your first visit from him came briefly. it felt like you gained consciousness for a moment, as your surroundings slowly faded from black nothingness into the fertile lands of guizhong and your lord’s plains. it was still a black, moonlit night, even in this dream. glaze lilies were in full bloom along the riverside, and rex lapis was currently bent over, picking them up with tender care.
“y/n,” he addressed. he wore his white robes, face hooded by his cloak. “so you did find rest.”
“my lord,” you breathed out, rushing over to him and taking a knee from behind. “you are here.”
“that i am not. this is but a dream while you rest for the time being.”
“dream or not, seeing you again is enough for me,” you replied, bowing your head respectfully.
“how did guizhong treat you?”
“guizhong would not allow me to fight for you. the stubborn woman,” you swore, before recomposing yourself. “i mean such words teasingly, of course. still, i was not pleased that she would not let me follow you out of the cave.”
“headstrong as ever,” he shook his head disapprovingly.
“guizhong said the same about you.”
“how in character of her.”
“rex lapis?” you asked after a moment of brief silence. “why did you do it? why did you leave me in that cave?”
he turned around, observing the single glaze lily in his hand and face still covered by his hood. “you were nearly fatally injured. to save you, it would be better to preserve your state until you have recovered. if i had let you go back on the frontlines, you could have died.”
“if i had died on your behalf, it would be an honor, rex lapis,” you retaliated. “my contract ensures that i defend you until my last breath. i shall not breach it.”
“even after brushing your hands against death’s own, you still stand firm in your beliefs. your faith has not shaken your hopes that i may become an archon, has it?”
“a trait that you have rubbed off on me,” you replied.
“no, my lord. i do not plan on leaving your side, ever.”
he huffed a defeated sigh. reluctantly, he handed you the glaze lily after a moment of silence. “as you sleep, the war continues to rage on. if you trust me like you say you do, you will continue to rest for the time being.”
“but, my lord…!”
“it seems our time is almost up,” rex lapis announced suddenly, as if to change the subject. “you must return to your slumber.”
“wait a moment!” you exclaimed, reaching out for his hand. they were cold and heavy, just as the stone that he manifested was. still, it was a comforting weight against your own hand. you heard a confused breath leave his lips. “let me see your face. for a moment, my lord.”
“if but for a moment,” rex lapis replied. slowly, his hands left yours to meet the end of his hood. his arms that were beautifully traced with golden veins pushed back the white cloth from his head, and flipped his long hair to the side.
and here the man, no, the god that you had pledged your life to was, in all of his glory. the moonlight made his face divine, jaw sharp and cheekbones perfectly chiseled. despite his hard exterior, his gaze was that of soft affection. like the feeling of drinking a pot of tea he brewed, his eyes were warm and calming, as if him leaving you was but a bad dream. there was a moonlike smile on his face, a rare sight for the soon-to-be archon.
“you are simply divine, rex lapis,” you complimented softly, shyly reaching out a hand to touch his face. you swore you felt him lean into the palm of your hand, all while closing his eyes. when his eyes opened once more, he was the one to take a step back, letting your hand fall to your side in a featherlike motion.
“i must be going now,” he insisted, placing the glaze lily into your hand and putting his hood back on. “good bye for now, y/n. please rest, as i have told you before. when i wish for you to be awake, i shall call to you.”
“if you so command,” you replied.
he turned away for a moment before reverting back into his position. rex lapis then did the most surprising of things; he leant down and kissed the back of your hand softly. the action was almost foolishly out of character for him; here a man brash and hard headed as he was, kissing the back of hand so tenderly. he let go, albeit not without reluctance.
“goodbye, my lord. may we see each other sometime soon,” you sighed as lord of geo turned his back on you once more. he seemed to walk away from you for an eternity, crossing through the river bed and through the glaze lilies.
when he finally disappeared out of sight, you looked down at the glaze lily in your hand. its color was as bright as guizhong’s garments, and blue as the sea to the southwest of your home. the scent it gave off was soothing, reminding you of a time when the thought of fighting never crossed your mind. a time when your friends, adepti and gods alike, would sit down for a hearty meal. a time that you knew was long gone by now.
though you were separated from rex lapis, you felt an odd sensation of peace and drowsiness. as your eyes blinked close, you felt as if you had gone through another battle, body exhausted. you were transported from the guili assembly and back into your void of subconsciousness, where only black nothingness remained. the darkness reminded you of the moonlit sky at the top of the cavern, somewhere far beyond your lord’s reach.
--
“arise,” the voice of rex lapis cut through the silence after what felt like eons upon eons of floating in the darkness. it had been a long while since he had come to visit through a dream. his arrivals in your subconscious were hard to measure, due to your lack of ability to read the time.
slowly, your eyes blinked open. the sky above you was the same as it had been the night of your first rest, except for that several of the adepti stared down at you. guizhong was the first to make any sort of reaction, gasping and kneeling before you. “you’re awake,” she whispered, gently holding your face. “how did you rest?”
“it was unpleasant, thanks to your stubbornness,” you teased, looking up at her with bleary eyes and a smile. “how long did i sleep for?”
“a long while, longer than we all expected,” cloud retainer replied. “are you feeling well, y/n?”
“my head hurts,” you complained. as you tried to rise from your rock bed, you were incapable of doing so. frantically, you tried once more, only to make no progress. “i-i can’t get up.”
“you cannot stand up?” ganyu asked quietly, tilting her head.
“i can’t control my limbs. everything from my head down is immovable.”
“that is not good to hear,” moon carver’s golden antlers shook disapprovingly. “rex lapis, what do we do?”
“it seems you need to rest even more,” he spoke for the first time since calling you out of your slumber.
“my lord!” you exclaimed happily, looking at him intently. “please excuse my inability to stand for the time being. when i can, i shall kneel before you and honor you.”
“there is no need,” he replied, voice firm as ever. “you must sleep again for the time being.”
“once more?!” you all but shouted. “but i-i must fight again. i have been breaching my contract, my lord. i cannot afford to waste anymore time in this cave.”
“and i mustn't let you get injured anymore. though a long amount of time has passed, you still are not healed fully. i must let you get the sleep you need.”
the command was immovable as he was. as much as you adored the young god, he was somewhat hard headed at times. “but, rex lapis…” you began to argue, but stopped as throbbing ached at your head. you winced, shutting your eyes tightly.
“you only prove my point, y/n,” he replied. he was pensive for a moment, eyebrows furrowing and chin held in his hand. his mouth opened to say something, only to close quickly. “indeed. we must head out quickly so that you are able to rest properly.”
once more, the adepti headed out, but not without their long exchange of goodbyes. the elegant cloud retainer and moon carver tucked your sheets back over your chest, both nudging your head affectionately after they were done. ganyu kneeled at your bedside, wishing you a bountiful sleep. even xiao, the quietest among the yakshas whispered a few words of good health and a peaceful slumber before slipping out of the cave and into the night.
that left only guizhong and rex lapis beside you. “i shall wait with you until you fall asleep,” she said, patting your hair. suddenly, she rose, long azure robes flowing behind her. her musical laughter rang out in the cavern, voice fading as she walked away. “but first, i believe you two have some catching up to do.”
rex lapis shook his head, scoffing slightly and crossing his arms. you only smiled at him, wishing to reach up a hand to touch his face. “as sly as she is, she is correct. there is much to discuss.”
“what would you like to know?” he replied, sitting on your stone bed.
“how long has it been since i’ve fallen asleep? it has felt like an eternity has passed since you have left me here.”
“it’s been 100 years to the day, y/n,” he responded.
“you left me here for a century?!” you shrieked, before immediately shutting your mouth and wincing. “my apologies, my lord. excuse this outburst of mine.”
“no, it is understandable,” he sighed, looking at you intently. “perhaps it is selfish to keep you here, but you must be aware of your delicate human nature. for your own sake, it would be better to rest.”
“is that an order or a statement?”
“an opinion.”
“if these words are coming from you, then i suppose i should follow them,” you said, closing your eye momentarily. “is there anything else i should know?”
“the war for the seven seats in celestia is raging on. even here, in the farthest part of liyue, there are still an endless number of gods that have yet to be slain. it does not seem to be ending any time soon.”
“what else?”
“i have told the other adepti to not wake you from your sleep. i am the only one who can wake you up fully as we are bound by a contract.”
“my, you’re like some sort of charming hero from a human folk tale,” you laughed, watching as a small smile crossed his face. “and you look the part as well.”
“y/n,” he murmured, head whipping to the side. even here, you saw the blush take over his cheeks. coughing, he redirected his attention to you. “nevermind. it seems it’s your time to rest.”
“always one to avoid a compliment,” you chuckled, staring up at him. softening, you stared up at his towering demeanor. “is there something on your mind, rex lapis?”
“not at all. trivial matters is all,” looking at the entrance of the cave, he took in a deep breath. “i really must be going.”
slowly, he approached your figure, and you looked at him curiously. carefully, rex lapis leant down and picked up your hand delicately. his lips met the back of it, treating it gently, like he would a fine glaze lily.
“good night, my y/n,” rex lapis bade farewell, and if you weren’t listening carefully, the words would have slipped in one ear and out the other. “sleep well.”
“good night, my lord. stay safe out there,” you whispered back as he disappeared to the outside world.
“my, you two took quite a while,” guizhong said, entering the cavern with her robes fluttering behind her. “did rex lapis tell you it was bedtime?”
“more like commanded,” you scoffed as she let her giggles echo against the wall. she sat down beside you, pulling your head into her lap and humming a lullaby.
your head felt lighter now, and eyelids heavy. they fluttered close, and you looked up to the moonlit sky above you. as guizhong’s musical humming filled the air, you were soothed into a subconscious state of mind.
“good night, sweet child,” were the last words you heard.
--
once more, your subconscious was an empty void for an eternity at a time. you couldn’t see your body, nor use any of your senses. it was peacefully quiet, leaving yourself to your thoughts.
at times, you wondered about the outside world. guizhong, rex lapis, and the rest of the adepti must have been working hard, slaying miasmas and monsters alike. you already knew the outcome--rex lapis would become the ruler over liyue, and all would be well. even still, you worried whether or not you would be able to be there with him when he did so.
when you were awake last, your body was in no position to fight, as much as you wanted to deny it. if you couldn’t even move from your head down, you were more likely to die than anything. dying for my lord would be an honor, you scoffed to yourself as you had many times before when rex lapis argued about your “fragile humanity”.
you floated with your thoughts, sorting through and replaying old memories before the war. sometimes, you pretended you were awake, running around the fields of liyue or fighting to preserve rex lapis’ honor. alas, doing so was impossible as you were confined to your subconsciousness.
it seemed like a millennia before rex lapis finally summoned you in a dream. the black void shifted into a bright world full of color. you recognized the scenery as the top of mount aocang, where your friends often dined before the war. the sky was a brilliant blue, and the sun pleasantly shining down on you. you stood in front of the table that floated on the water, hands folded in front of you. “y/n,” your name was called, making you snap your head in attention. “good morning.”
your lord stood before you, gentle expression on his face.“rex lapis!” you exclaimed, going down on one knee before him and bowing your head to revere him.
“no need for formalities,” he replied, motioning you to sit in the chair across from him. “let’s have a discussion. there is much to talk about.”
“you sound tense, rex lapis,” you noted, folding your hands in your lap. “is everything alright? the last time you approached me in a dream was before i had woken up. even then, that was simply lighthearted talk about the outside world.”
“yes, you could say that,” he hummed, before chuckling. “oh, y/n. always so observant.”
“my lord,” you breathed out, reaching for his hand that lay on the stone table. tenderly, you took it, tracing his knuckles and golden veins. “we have been good friends for a long time. you know that you can speak with me.”
“i am aware,” he answered, head turning to the side. you felt your heart drop at the sight, not used to seeing your lord hold a desolate look in his eyes. “the news is quite unbearable. it pains me to tell you this information, but it is better that you know.”
he inhaled, and you felt an uneasy feeling in your stomach. when he turned to look at you again, the hood of his cloak cast a shadow against his fine face. “guizhong...guizhong was slain today, in a battle in our plains. she faded into dust as she passed.”
gasping, a hand came to cover your mouth. tears clouded your vision as your hands on the table slack. though your throat felt closed and dry, you choked out a weak response. “guizhong,” you echoed her name weakly, as if she would be able to hear it. “guizhong is dead?”
“she is scattered dust now,” he whispered.
“oh, celestia,” you swore, placing both of your elbows on the table and covering your face. “she’s gone, one of my closest friends, a woman who i have relied on for an eternity, someone i revere and admire. gone, and i was not able to comfort her in her last moments.”
rex lapis was quiet as you cried helplessly. knowing him, he did not dwell on the past. his face was steeled in pure neutrality, already having accepted the situation at hand. “she mentioned you as she passed,” he said suddenly. “she said that you and your human fragility would make you distraught at the thought of her dying. guizhong told me i must comfort you. if you would, please sit beside me.”
through tears, you shakily stood, hiccuping. walking over to him, your legs trembled until eventually giving out beside him. as you wept and wailed, he listened to your incoherent babblings. you dirtied his robes with your tears, not that he minded. you heaved your chest for what felt like forever, up until the sun in the sky was nearly down the horizon.
“you have exhausted yourself,” rex lapis stated plainly as he smoothed your hair. you had quit your crying for a while now, moon nearly breaking over the skyline. “she was right. she is always right.”
“are you leaving too, my lord?” you asked quietly. “you must have taken up the responsibilities of taking care of guizhong’s people. it is alright. you are a busy man.”
“not yet,” he said, surprising you. the lord of geo patted the seat beside him. “i will stay with you until you fall asleep, only for you.”
you did as he said, hastily wiping at your tears. your head leaned on his shoulder as you sniffled slightly. the wind brushed against your face as your lord rubbed at your back comfortingly. slowly, his hand intertwined with your own and you made no effort to tell him otherwise. in fact, it felt comforting, despite his hands being incredibly cold and heavy. there was a content silence between you as your eyelids drooped down. as your senses seemed to turn off, ready for rex lapis to end the dream, he picked up your locked hands. gently, as he always did, he let his lips reach the back of your hand.
“good night, dear y/n,” he whispered. “let us see each other soon.”
--
on the contrary, rex lapis did not come to see you again in a dream much at all, or at least, much less than when you were previously asleep. when he did present a dream to you, you were only filled in on what was happening in the outside world.
despite the lack of visits from your lord, you waited patiently for him to come back every time. even though the war for the seven seats was grim, he always found a way to make you smile like a fool about the situation. each visit, his eyes would become brighter, as if there was a day on the horizon that would bring forth new hope.
and it seemed that day had finally come when rex lapis awoke you from your slumber.
“arise,” he announced, voice echoing through the cave. you felt your consciousness flicker on, as your eyes blinked awake. at the foot of your bed was a bundle of cut glaze lilies.
the sky above you was a clear night, with only a crescent moon decorating the heavens. you stilled as you heard footsteps enter the cave, and the fluttering of...wings?
“you know, for some archon, morax, you sure have terrible architectural skills. this hole in the ceiling doesn't protect this poor human from rain or snow. plus, any human could climb this thing and realize there’s a sleeping person in there! i can’t believe you left them like that for thousands of years!” a chipper voice said a little too happily for your liking. no one insulted your lord and got away with it!
the words suddenly registered in your brain. archon. was the war finally over? had your lord come out on top?
“barbatos, you are insufferable,” your lord scoffed as he approached your bedside. you stared at the looming figure before you, recognizing him as your rex lapis.
“my lord, are you an archon now? is the war over?” you asked with hopeful eyes. there was a softness in his gaze as he turned his head to the side and nodded. “oh, that’s wonderful news! i knew you could do it!” he only make a huff of acknowledgement, but he flushed at your praise.
reaching out to him, your arm surprisingly lifted, albeit it weakly. your eyes widened in wonder as you felt the rest of your torso rise. “i can move!” you exclaimed, flexing your fingers in awe.
“and what of your legs?” he asked. you tried to get up, but you felt nothing. frowning, you looked at him.
“i cannot move them,” you whispered.
“it is alright. i can see that you are healing more as you sleep,” he almost smiled, taking your hand in his own.
“morax, are you going to introduce me to your friend or your lover or whoever this is?” the happy voice spoke again, although with agitation this time.
there was a fluttering of wings as a small figure flew above you. he looked no older than a young boy, with two dark braids on his face that was black to light green. his wings were an ethereal white, dressed in a cloak and white robes that ended midway up his thigh. the expression on his face was sly and cunning, and in his arm was a small lyre. “may i ask your name?” you asked, tilting your head.
“barbatos is my name, fragile one. god of the winds, mondstadt’s archon, and anemo archon. they’re all all just fancy titles, so you may just address me by my name,” he replied, flying up in the air and going in circles. “and yours?”
“y/n, y/n l/n,” you answered. “defender of rex lapis.”
“oh, i see! a beautiful name and title indeed,” he nodded. “though, you both look like you’re closer than just being an archon and his servant.”
“we have been friends for a long while,” rex lapis stated.
“oh, no, no, no, that’s not exactly what i meant. that archon far out west was right; you really are a blockhead,” he insulted cheerfully. “i meant, are you lovers? to be fair, you both are holding hands, rex lapis saved you from the verge of death, and he’s the only one who has seen you in a millenia.”
“we aren’t together,” you replied quickly. “though my lord is a handsome and charming man, he could never enter a relationship with someone with as fragile as me.”
“whatever you say,” barbatos waved you off, fluttering to the top of the cave. his wings blocked out the moonlight as he flew in circles around your head.
“barbatos, quit your querying in my love life,” rex lapis scoffed, though not letting go of your hand. “i brought you here to do a job for me. please, get to it.”
“i am only teasing, old man. such a downer!” he giggled. slowly, he descended, placing his lyre in his lap. “your lord sent me hear to play for you! what song would you like to hear? i know every and all songs, past, present and future!”
as you thought, the thought came into your mind immediately; guizhong’s lullaby. you could remember it clearly, just as her face was. before you could say anything, barbatos looked at you with gentle eyes.
“ah, i see,” he hummed, preparing to play his instrument. “such a song was written by a friend who has passed away. she sang it to you to help you and other humans fall asleep, and to her glaze lilies.”
“how did you--” you began to ask before being silenced by the first plucking of strings.
the notes came out quietly at first, but you recognize the melody immediately. you watched as his fingers swiftly pulled at the lyre’s strings, eyes shut as if he knew the song by heart already. barbatos, despite being insulting to your lord, seemed to be a kind-hearted soul. when he began humming, it brought several tears to your eyes. he sounded almost exactly like guizhong, calm and soothing.
the song made you drowsy, eyelids fluttering close. rex lapis laid you on your back once more, just as he did the first time you entered the cave. you folded one hand back onto your torso, letting the other one still be held by your lord’s cold ones.
barbatos played the song a few times over, each one lulling you into a deeper and deeper sense of slumber. when he eventually stopped, you looked at him with kind eyes. “that was beautiful,” you whispered. “i suddenly feel quite drowsy.”
“oh? bedtime already?” he asked, fluttering above you. “and i was about ready to play a few more songs for you.”
“barbatos, they really must rest if they want to get better,” rex lapis chastised, but there was a lighthearted tone in his voice.
“i know, i know, old man. just kidding around,” he grinned. “good night, y/n. i hope that we will meet again soon, when you feel better and rex lapis lets you out of this cave.”
“may you have a prosperous reign of your region,” you replied, smiling at him. barbatos fluttered away as you turned to your lord.
“good night, y/n,” he said simply. “i hope that you are completely better when i see you next.”
“i hope so too,” you replied, looking at him once more. there was an unknown emotion glazed over his eyes. smiling at him one last time, your eyelids slipped close and you loosened your grip on his hand.
he, however, did not. instead, as he had multiple times before, lifted your hand to his lips and chastely kissed it. “sleep well, my y/n,” he murmured. despite his own hand being stone cold, his lips were comforting and warm. ever so slowly, he pulled away.
“you have a heart too, you know,” barbatos said hushedly as you teetered the line between awake and asleep. “you can admit that you love them with your whole being. you’ve moved mountains for them; literally. there is no harm in professing you hold a deep affection for them.”
“it is not the right time,” rex lapis muttered. “not yet. when they are better, i shall tell them. until then, i must keep these feelings for myself.”
they continued to talk, but you didn’t bother to listen. instead, you slipped into a deep slumber, just as he had asked.
--
you always had extra time on your hands as you were asleep. to quell boredom, you tried to interpret what your lord and barbatos had talked about in the cavern.
as hard as you tried, you couldn't make heads or tails of their discussion. sighing, you eventually conceded to not figuring it out. if your lord had something in mind with you, you would simply leave it up to fate and accept what was to come.
the first visit in a dream took a long while to come about. the time to wait was much longer than previous intervals as, seeming like several lifetimes had passed while you were sleeping. when he eventually called your name, a great sense of relief flooded your now visible body.
the world colored itself in the colors of an afternoon. your stood along an unrecognizable path surrounded by mountains. if you listened hard enough, you could hear the crashing of sea against stone. the air was slightly cooler than the winds when it was summer or spring in liyue, indicating that it was the end of winter.
“it is good to see that you are still sleeping,” rex lapis called, arms folded in front of him. he still wore his divine clothing, letting the wind brush at his cloak. “it is imperative that you rest so that you may continue to get better.”
“my lord,” you replied, hastily dropping on one knee and bowing your head to honor him. “it has been a while.”
“that it has. my duties as an archon have come with great responsibilities that i alone must bear,” he explained, shaking his head as you rose. “however, today is a day that i can spend with you, though only in a dream.”
“dream or not, it is a pleasure to be in your presence once more, friend,” you smiled. “now, what have you brought me here to discuss?”
“let us discuss events, both old and new,” he answered. “like a worker taking a day of rest to visit with close ones, we shall do the same.”
motioning you along, you began making your way down the unfamiliar path. it was the work of human hand, no doubt, as rex lapis had a distinct style of carving out the roads of the civilization he and guizhong once ruled over. instantly, your first question popped into mind.
“what did you do with those humans that you and guizhong used to watch?” you asked, tilting your head curiously.
“they have become my own,” he chuckled, folding his hands behind his back. rex lapis took a few steps forward, beyond an overlooking mountain. “would you like to see the city my people have made over the course of a millenia?”
slowly, you took a few steps forward, peeking over your lord’s shoulder. in front of you was a bluff overlooking a distant harbor, flooded with boats and merchants alike. humans like yourself walked among one another, holding boxes, fine cloths, and other expensive goods alike. the architecture of the city was beautifully done, with red and gold painting almost every building. “rex lapis,” you addressed with widened eyes. “your city is absolutely beautiful.”
“i give my thanks,” he replied. “but to be fair, these people are the ones who have built the city from the ground up. i was only there to guide them.”
“no need to hide from my praise, rex lapis. it truly is breathtaking.”
you both continued down the path, reminiscing on old memories. over a thousand years had passed since the end of the archon war, and liyue was in a great time of peace (unlike, according to your lord, barbatos’ region at the moment). despite this, there was still a silent war beyond the humans of this harbor.
“some of the adepti have long retreated to their homes in jueyun karst,” he explained. they are unable to serve liyue in ways other than battle, so there is no need to continue their contract. some of the other adepti have turned into stone, as per their wishes. three of the yakshas are missing, and one has disappeared of the face of this earth. all except for xiao and ganyu have passed away or are dormant. xiao still feels the need to fulfill his contract of slaughtering the demonic remnants of the archon war. ganyu signed a contract with the liyue qixing, a group of seven elite business people, and is their secretary.”
“how interesting of them all,” you mused. switching the subject, you watched a small fishing boat left the harbor. “what about these humans? any different from the humans before the war?”
there was a brief smile that crossed rex lapis face, and a quiet chuckle left his chest. “no. despite the world changing rapidly around them, they are still the same in their unique quirks and fragility, just as you are.”
“i am nowhere near as fragile as they are,” you scoffed, teasingly bumping his shoulder.
the afternoon was spent catching up on what happened in the last millenium. you stayed at the bluff’s edge, seated with your lord as you watched boats pass in and out of the harbor. your laughter filled the air, just as you and other old friends would before the archon war. the two of you remembered old antics from guizhong and other adepti alike, some bittersweet and others downright hilarious.
as the sun barely hit the edge of the horizon, you turned to look at your lord, who talked about the new currency he had introduced to his people. he seemed handsome in the orange light, cheekbones contouring against the glow of the sun. his hood was down, not bothering to conceal his identity in front of you. some about him made your heart hum against your chest happily, similar to when you had drank far too many glasses of osmanthus wine.
“is something the matter?” rex lapis asked, forehead wrinkled in concern. snapping out of your daze, you waved your hands frantically.
“no, of course not. how could anything be wrong when you are here, my lord?” you responded. “i’m just...happy to see you once more. i worry that one day you’ll leave me and not be able to return.”
“i shall always return for you,” he promised, taking your hand into his own. “do not doubt your lord.”
in a swift motion, he kissed your hand gently, conveying all of his words and imprinting them onto your soul. like the weather, his hands were cold and heavy compared to your own warm ones. you felt your face burn with bashfulness, quickly turning away as he looked up at you.
“if you eventually ever settle down, your lover will be far more blessed that you could ever imagine,” you said, a little bittersweetly after his lips left your hand, though you could not deny the increase in your heartbeat.
there was a pause in his speech as he looked at you. “i am sure that i will be even more fortunate to have them on my arm,” he affirmed, squeezing your hand slightly. looking at the horizon behind you, he let out a small sigh. “i must get going. there is much to do when i leave this dream.”
the two of you rose, dusting off your clothes. rex lapis turned to leave your presence, but stopped halfway through as you spoke. “i shall miss you,” you said suddenly, letting the words escape out of your mouth before you could do otherwise. “please come visit me soon so that i can see your face.”
his mouth opened slightly, as if he were shocked. he closed it almost immediately after, shaking his head. “you are always so considerate, y/n,” he laughed. “i will miss you as well. i shall return soon for you. good night for now.”
rex lapis turned back onto the road, gold and white cloak and long hair fluttering behind him. as he faded out of sight, you let yourself be consumed by your subconsciousness, eyes shutting close. you lost feeling of your senses, and soon enough, you did what your lord had dictated for you to do.
--
rex lapis came to visit your dreams a few more times, although most of them were short and sparse. despite this, each left you feeling more flustered than the last. hand kisses suddenly felt like more than friendly gestures, cradling your face felt borderline romantic, and handing you silk flowers felt like receiving gifts from a lover and not your lord.
you couldn’t deny that this feeling had torn your chest apart, but it felt like it had torn your brain apart even more. your lord saw you as only a friend and nothing more; you were sure! besides that, you knew that rex lapis was someone who would enter a relationship with you. he had mentioned several times that you were “fragile” human and he was a god. in a thousand different realities, there no way of your relationship working out.
even knowing this, your felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought of rex lapis being with someone else. you were sure that they would be beautiful and kind, but you couldn’t help but want to be that person for him.
if you were awake right now, you were sure that would be crying.
“arise,” your lord’s voice broke through the silence, making you blink awake. above you, the sky was the color of a bruise, and a few stars twinkling. fleeting sunlight broke through the top of the cavern. you sat up, rubbing at your eyes.
you turned to look at your lord and greeted him. he looked slightly different from when you had last seen him. he had traded out his divine robes for more human wear, dressed in robes of brown and cold. his long hair was also down, and gaze tender. “is something wrong?”
“of course not, my lord,” you shook your head. “you look beautiful in your traditional wear.”
“you flatter me,” he replied with a gentle smile. “however, i have a more important question to ask. how have you healed?”
you twisted your body to face forward. slowly, you flexed your feet. gasping, you slowly turned your legs to swing over the side of the bed. after a moment, you stood, legs shaking. you walked in front of your lord slowly before taking a knee in front of him. “i have waited so long to do this,” you whispered with a smile, bowing your head to respect him. “i apologize for not being to do so sooner.”
“y/n,” he responded, kneeling before you. looking up, your gaze caught his own. “you still revere me, even after all this time.”
“it is the least i can do,” you replied. “you are my lord and my friend. it would be foolish not to,”
he let out a huff of acknowledgement, helping you rise with shaking knees. “it seems you’re mostly healed, but you need some time to regain full stamina.”
“does this mean i still need more rest, rex lapis?”
“unfortunately for you, yes. predictably, you would only last about half a day before weakening and needing rest,” he replied. “but that is not what we should be focusing on right now. we should be celebrating that you can stand at all.”
“did you have something in mind, my lord?”
“how would you like to see the city? they are holding a festival, and i believe that it is fitting for such an a special occasion,”
“really?” you gasped with excited eyes. “it would be an honor to accompany you, rex lapis.”
“very well,” he nodded. the lord of geo manifested a new set of clothing, one that you could only assume was blended in with the human world. “please get dressed in these. it would be suspicious if you wore your bloodied and dirtied battle gear.” leaving abruptly, you stared at the brilliantly white clothes in your hands.
after you changed, you headed outside of the cave for the first time in over 3,000 years. the wind brushed at your face gently, and you watched as your lord’s hair danced in the breeze. his hands were tucked behind his back, and eyes focused southwest. if you squinted hard enough, you could see a faint emanation of light twinkling down the way. that must have been the harbor city that he spoke so fondly of.
“are you ready, y/n? we should hurry along if we want to watch the main event,” rex lapis asked, turning to face you. you snapped out of your admiring daze for your lord, expression crossing into a bashful one.
“yes, my lord,” you nodded. “you should lead the way to liyue harbor, as the terrain has changed so much over the course of my slumber.”
“come here,” he addressed, making a small motion at you. you did as he said standing near him. he abruptly lifted you up, robes and all. squeaking, you hid your face in your hands. you never knew that he could be so forward! “are you alright? you seem flustered.”
“i-i was simply surprised, my lord,” you replied, trying to still your humming heartbeat. you couldn’t deny that the feeling of being held by him was unpleasant. instead, you felt right at home by his side.
as he jumped from peak to peak, you listened as he described the celebration taking place down in the harbor. “do you recall that people would light lanterns to help human soldiers find their way home?” he asked, and you nodded. “it seems that my people wanted to commemorate the souls lost to battle through raising lanterns, just as they did during the war.”
“some things never change,” you hummed, watching as the small mass of lights grew larger and larger. the sky was borderline blue now, and a full moon toed the edge of the skyline. as you traveled, you looked down at land that was now river. the sun reflected upon the water, rippling as the current moved it along.
“is xiao or ganyu coming along?”
“xiao has busied himself in purging the demons of the land, even during lantern rite. ganyu has had her plate full since the start of the month in order to help organize the event.”
the bright lights shined even harder as you climbed a particularly tall mountain. rex lapis summoned stones as steps before him, jumping up with ease. “we have almost arrived at our destination,” he said, looking down at you. “hold on.”
you didn’t have time to think as he descended the large peak, only stuffing your head in his chest and clinging onto his robes. when the wind stopped whistling in your ears, you blinked open.
slowly getting off of your lord, you recognized the bluff that you stood on as the one your previously saw in your dream. it had grown in size slightly, with more large buildings and bigger ships docking on its ports. crowds swarmed the stone streets, carrying unidentifiable objects in their hands. you took a step forward, then another. the work of your lord was simply grand, and you felt a swell of pride in your chest. when you turned around to voice your excitement, he had a soft look in his eyes. the two of you walked down the path to the city, with you spouting off every thing that you found interesting about the harbor. it was more striking than you could have ever imagine, and you made sure that he knew that.
as you crossed the bridge that lead into the city, you felt immersed back into human culture. children raced along the bridge, laughing happily. couples walked in pairs along the slope leading up to a more commercial area of the city. the elderly stood on the sidelines, enjoying watching life pass by. an umpteen amount of stalls lined the streets, selling goods and food alike. “it is quite busy,” you noted, staying close to rex lapis.
“that it is,” he nodded. taking your hand in yours, he maintained a firm grip on it. “please do not wander away from me.”
you turned away to hide your bashfulness from rex lapis. instead, you focused on the stands lining the main street below the harbor. there was a stall with a aromatic scent wavering in the air, and you perked up at the smell. “may we visit that store, my lord?” you asked hopefully, staring at him pleadingly.
he nodded, leading you against the crowd and to the stall. the two of you ordered; a grilled ticker fish for you and a jewelry soup for him. somehow, a currency unfamiliar to you manifested itself onto his hand and he paid. after getting your food, you thanked your lord. “i am grateful for your generosity,” you beamed, before taking a bite out of the kebab. ungracefully, you groaned in delight at the food. “it seems human food has come a long way since our time. this is wonderful.”
after he took a sip of his soup, he only smiled at you, shaking his head affectionately. “you and the rest of the adepti have always been fond of grilled ticker fish,” he chuckled.
soon after, you both wandered the streets of liyue harbor aimlessly, hands stilled intertwined. you stared in awe about the architecture, no doubt the work of your master. there was a giant lantern in the center of the port, which was apparently a mingxiao lantern, to commemorate an adepti who you had long forgotten the name of. you also made a lantern of your own, albeit much more messily than rex lapis’. the people were pleasant enough too, polite and kind. as the night sky began getting darker, you looked up curiously.
“the lights have not yet turned on,” you asked curiously, playing with the lantern in your hands. “do your people not illuminate their streets during the evening?”
“today is the exception. when the mingxiao lantern is lit, it will brighten up both the night sky and the streets,” your lord explained. “now that i mention it, it is almost time for the lantern to be lit. let us go find a spot.”
you gripped his hand firmly as you weaved through the traffic of people. you heard bits and pieces of conversations, all gleefully discussing the grand lantern that sat on the edge of the docks. eventually, you broke free of the crowd and ended up on the same bridge that you had crossed to enter the harbor. it was a quiet corner of the city, where hardly anyone walked by.
leaning against the bridge and looking at the rising moon, you beamed at your friend. “it has been a long time since i have been able to use this body of mine. despite only being able to use it for half a day, it feels good to be surrounded by humans again,” you said softly, placing your lantern on the railing.
“is it now? i am glad,” he replied, though his tone in voice changed slightly. looking at you with an intense gaze, he let out a small sigh. “y/n, what shall you do when you are all healed?”
“i suppose i will go about serving you, rex lapis,” you replied, shrugging your shoulders. “had it not been for you, i would have died on the battlefield long ago. it only seems right to stay by your side to fulfill our contract and to honor you.”
“and what if i dissolved our contract? there is no need to protect liyue if we are in a time of peace.”
“i would still choose to stay by your side,” you defended. “i owe my life to you, my lord, and i say this with my whole heart. you have moved mountains for me, shielded me from death itself, and made this immortal life less lonely.”
“does it please you that you have been serving at my side for almost 5,500 years?” he asked, tone shifting.
“of course it does. you have always lightened my life, and i find it to be the highest honor to dedicate my life to your own.”
“y/n, do you ever wish to settle down? whether it be by leaving liyue, or marrying another human, or remaining dormant for the rest of your days?”
“settling down?” you nearly scoffed, looking at him. though your heart thudded rapidly, you swallowed and stared him directly in the eye. “the only person i could ever see myself ever relenting my role would be you, rex lapis.”
you meant what you confessed to him. so long as your lord walked this world, you would remain with him. whether he accepted you platonically or romantically, there was no denying that you loved him with your whole heart. “you...wouldn’t happen to think about dissolving our contract, right, rex lapis? i don’t think i could bear it if you did. and besides, what is with all these questions?”
chuckling, he crossed his arms after placing down his lantern. “no, i do not plan on it anytime soon. i was curious to see if you wanted to end our contract or not.”
sighing a breath of relief, you decided to take a shot in the dark. “are you...planning on settling down soon?”
“no,” he laughed and you felt an odd sense of relief wash over you. “the only person i could myself settling down with is you, y/n.”
before you could have a moment to calm your heart or question his words, you watched in wonder as the mingxiao lantern illuminated. the people of the geo archon watched with widened eyes and whispered talk. it was a grand and elegant bird adeptus, which fluttered to the sky. it dived down to sweep over the streets of liyue harbor, brightening the streets with floating xiao lanterns. they ascended into the air, reminding you of the stars that you observed above the night sky when you were still in your cave. as the mingxiao lantern gracefully crossed to the heavens, it burst into a brilliant gold shower of fireworks.
“it is a wonderful sight,” you whispered, watching the sparks explode. “thank you for taking me to see them, my lord.”
“it was a pleasure,” he replied earnestly. he then nodded at your lanterns, now glowing from the mingxiao lantern. “shall we release them? make a wish while you do so.”
a wish? there was much to wish for. your lord, the city that you were to defend when you were fully healed, your friends, both alive and deceased. looking over at rex lapis, though, the choice was obvious. you silently wished to be with your lord and for him to have a prosperous life, no matter what he did.
slowly, you lifted yours up and watched it float. rex lapis soon released his afterwards, following your lantern. it joined the crowd of floating lanterns above the sea, going higher and higher until they touched the heavens. the reflection upon the water was a brilliant amber, almost the color of the man next to you’s eyes.
“ah, it must be time to go to bed,” he said after a moment of silence after looking at the lanterns a little bit longer. “are you ready to go home, y/n?”
you paused, looking to the sky once more. reluctantly, you nodded, feeling a wave of fatigue wash over you. “yes, my lord,” you nodded. he swept you off your feet and cradled you close as he left the harbor.
the moment felt like when you had first been injured in the archon war. you were in your lord’s arms, safe and sound, and traveling back home. looking above you and past rex lapis’ face, you observed the stars and lanterns, unable to discern which was which. the wind hummed on in your ear, and the rushing river of bishui echoed below you. soon, river turned to stone, and stones into mountains.
you were far away from the city now, only being able to see the faintest light from the harbor as rex lapis ducked his head and entered your cavern. he laid you down on your stone bed as you felt a surge of sleepiness in your body. “will you be alright here?” rex lapis asked earnestly
“stay a little while longer,” you yawned, patting an empty space on your bed. he did as you motioned, settling himself on your chaise. “i had a delightful time. thank you for bringing me along.”
“it was the least i could do to celebrate your healing,” he replied. coughing slightly, he changed the subject. his voice sounded a little vulnerable, unlike his usual composure. “i...i will not visit you in your dreams this next time around. are you alright with that?”
“yes,” you replied easily, bringing a hand up to his cheek. his expression was weary, and eyes glazed over. “you always come back to me, do you not?”
“i do,” he responded. “i will always come back for you, y/n. even if it takes a thousand contracts, or an eternity, i shall come back for you.”
taking the hand on his cheek, he leaned into your touch momentarily, before taking it in his own. it was frigid against your own, but you hardly paid mind. rex lapis kissed your hand as he had done a million times before, as if to seal his promise of coming back to you. but you did not need a kiss--you already knew that he would.
you smiled up at him one last time as he let go of your hand. “good night, my lord.”
“good night, my dear y/n,” he replied as your eyes flitted shut, cold hand still in your own. “sleep well.”
as you his hand left yours, you swore you heard the faintest whisper of, “i love you.”
--
you felt an odd sense of comfort, despite there being no dreams from rex lapis. you knew he would come back for you; he always did. his contracts and promises alike were always sure, and you trusted that he would return for you.
until, he did not.
“arise!” the voice was frantic and worried. you blinked awake suddenly, rubbing at your eyes, you yawned, covering your mouth with your hand. no moon illuminated the cavern, but the stars offered some semblance of light. the yaksha was panting heavily, folded over and leaning on his pole arm for support.
“oh, good evening, xiao,” you greeted, looking at his crumpled figure. “is something the matter? you know that rex lapis is the only one who should wake me up.”
“that is the issue, y/n! rex lapis, he--” xiao’s voice trembled slightly, and eyes glazed over in an uncertain emotion.
“xiao? are you alright?” you asked, eyebrows furrowing. your lifted your legs over the side of the bed, leaning down to meet his gaze. your hand came down and smoothed his hair comfortingly. “what about my lord?” there was a moment of silence filling the cavern, and you suddenly felt a chill crawling up your spine. a sense of dread filled your stomach as he spoke once more.
“rex lapis...passed away at noon. he was assassinated,” he whispered, head hanging down in shameful regret. “i am so sorry, y/n.”
you almost wanted to laugh at the thought of your lord dead, but the look on xiao’s face was grave. your throat closed up and your hands curled into fists, looking at the empty sky above you. “it cannot be,” you denied, shaking your head as tears flooded your eyes. “rex lapis does not die. it is impossible. he is the strongest in all of liyue, one of the strongest in teyvat. that is my--no, our lord that you speak of. how can this be?”
“i cannot tell you otherwise,” the adeptus replied, voice soft. “rex lapis is simply dead.”
dead. the word cut through your heartstrings, ceasing all feeling in your chest. your head throbbed at the thought of your lord not being within your reach. dead, you thought bitterly. he was as dead as the gods who had been slain over the millenia, and now he, too, would be joining them in the ranks of the deceased.
your hands came up to your face in a vain attempt to stop the tears from running down your face. guizhong, the other four yakshas, and a countless number of adepti had all passed away, and you weren’t even there to see their last moments, only hearing about them from your lord. you did not even get a chance to tell your lord how much you loved him.
the situation seemed similar to when rex lapis left your cavern a multitude of times. every time, you knew that he would come back, gentle demeanor shining underneath his brash and brutish persona. this time was exponentially worse; he would not return to you and you had breached your contract.
“if only…” you murmured, returning to your position of lying down on the rock bed. “if it weren’t for that weakened state of mine when he last visited me, i would have been able to prove that i could get up and walk. i could have fulfilled the contract, and defended him.”
xiao looked at you carefully, as if you were proposing a dangerous thought. “y/n,” he began, but you raised your hand to silence him.
“no, xiao,” you whispered softly. “that was my contract, was it not? even before your contract with rex lapis, my own was to defend him until my last breath. and what has become of it?”
the tears refused to stop rolling down your face as you let out choked hiccups. your chest rose and fell irregularly. was this divine punishment? was this because you broke an archon’s contract? and what of the future?
‘what shall you do now, xiao?” you asked quietly, long after your crying had ceased.
“i must go tell the other adepti. moon carver, cloud retainer, mountain shaper… they have laid dormant for nearly 2,000 years. they do not know that our lord has passed on. after that, they will make their decision and we will decide whether or not to perform an investigation or not.”
“i see,” you replied, staring up at the bright stars above. possibly, rex lapis may have ascended to celestia after his assasination. you would not be surprised; he was more worthy than anyone to become a denizen of the divine. still, your heart ached at the thought of him out of your reach.
“and what of you?” the adeptus asked, leaning his head against the side of your bed. “rex lapis is the only one who can properly make you awake.”
“i do not know,” you breathed out, chest rising and falling in slower intervals. “i do not know. perhaps, i shall sleep for the rest of eternity. that was the last command rex lapis gave me before he passed. there is no use in completing my contract if he is both gone and he is the only one who can completely pull me from my slumber.”
“if that is what you wish for, i shall let the other adepti know,” he said, looking at you with determined eyes.
suddenly, your eyes watered once more, this time from a yawn and not sorrow. “i suddenly feel drowsy,” you thought aloud.
“would you like me to stay with you until you fall asleep?” the young adeptus asked. “i once heard from rex lapis and guizhong that they did this with you.”
“yes,” you hummed, reaching a hand to pat his silky hair.
after letting out a noise of acknowledgement, he leant at your bedside. as he did so, you pulled your hands to your chest, staring up at the barren sky. your thoughts were only flooded with memories of your lord, ranging from before the archon war, to your injury, and to the dreams that he had presented himself with.
“rex lapis,” you echoed quietly, eyelids sliding shut from drowsiness. your hands went slack on your middle, and your consciousness faded. “i am sorry.”
--
you were prepared to sleep for an eternity. at this point in your life, you were used to it. dormancy with the equivalent of death for immortals such as yourself. you floated in the dark with no thoughts, resting peacefully. if this was what your lord told you to do, you would do it, even if it took the rest of your days.
it seemed like only a short time had passed before you were pulled from your slumber, hearing the calling of your name. “arise,” you heard, voice tender and warm. you blinked awake, with the sky the color of peaches and pinks. the air was still chilly, indicating that the sun was about to rise. “good morning, y/n.”
you rubbed at your eyes, stretching languidly and looking up. “if you have come to see me, i believe that you have made a grave mistake,” you declared. “did xiao not tell you the news? rex lapis is dead, and i must sleep.”
“dead, you say?” the voice asked, voice slightly teasing.
“yes. ascended to celestia after his assaination, according to that young yaksha. the news was all over liyue harbor, and--”
suddenly, you froze, a chill creeping up your spine. that voice--! no, it couldn’t be. he was somewhere beyond your reach, body cold as stone and eyes lacking life. turning around, your mouth dropped and tears creased your eyes. running over, you looked at the man that you had dedicated your entire your life to.
rex lapis was alive, though he was dressed in a beige dress shirt and brown and gold waistcoat. he smiled as you approached him with starry eyes, hand covering your mouth. immediately, not even bothering to kneel before him, you collided your face into his chest and wrapped your arms around him tightly.
“rex lapis,” you whispered, as you hiccuped. “you’re here! tell me, tell me this is not a dream.”
“you are not dreaming,” he replied, cradling your head. “i am here.”
pulling off of him, you reached a hand to touch his face. he leaned into your touch silently, a smile coming over his face. as the first beams of sunlight entered the cavern, you observed him. his eyes were golden in this light, lashes long against his cheek and cheekbones perfectly the same. yes, this was indeed your lord. “what miracle happened to bring you here?” you murmured, as you held his cheek. “xiao… he said that you were dead. how can this be?”
you took your hand is his own, observing the callouses on his hands. for once, his hands were mellow and like that of a human. gasping, you held his hand up to your chest, holding it tightly. “your hands are so warm, rex lapis,” you murmured. “have they always been?”
“i have rescinded my title as an archon,” he replied, much to your surprise. as you opened your mouth to rebut him, he raised a hand. “i am but a mortal like you now, that goes by the name of zhongli.”
“zhongli,” you hummed, testing the name on your tongue. “i love it. it is as charming and wonderful as you are.”
clearing your throat, you looked at him curiously. “why...why did you leave?”
“this is now an era of change. the people do not need me to hold their hand anymore. they must learn to live for themselves.”
“do you…” you said reluctantly. “do you regret it at all? are these not your people?”
“no, i do not,” he answered confidently, looking at your intertwined hands. “because now, i am able to fully experience this mortal concept of love.”
“what do you--” you began before the hand on your back dipped you down suddenly. you blinked up curiously, looking between zhongli’s intense gaze and his lips. softly, you let your lips meet his. in one hand, you held his own and the other holding his cheek. you had waited lifetimes for a kiss such as this, and it was everything you had hoped for.
tugging his arm, you both walked over to the entrance of the cave. the sun crossed the harbor, shining onto both of your faces. “it is a new life,” he said aloud, looking you in the eyes.
“that it is,” you smiled. turning to him, you held his warm, living hands once more. “i would be honored to spend this with you. i love you.”
“i love you. to this life, and to the next,” he replied, before taking your lips once more in the breaking sunlight.