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It was the break of dawn. The sun wasn’t even fully up yet, only a small, deep orange sun could be seen peeking over the horizon. It set the sky in the mountains of Juyeun Karst in their daily bright and peaceful morning glow.
The earliest birds were already flying through the crisp air, chirping at each other while they tried to find their breakfast.
But through the misty morning air flew a much larger bird. A bird with crimson-red feathers that cut through the clouds like a fiery blade. It was in a hurry; it was needed somewhere on these remote mountain tops.
It was a Phoenix.
The Phoenix lowered its gaze, bright red eyes focusing on one of the mountains. It then pressed its strong wings against its frame and tensed its entire body, to get ready to land. It cut through the clouds with high speed, but eventually landed gracefully on a dense patch of grass.
After looking around to check if this was the exact location, the Phoenix ruffled its fiery feathers and turned its face into the air.
It was then that the bird started transforming, morphing into the body of a strong, humane individual dressed in silk attire. The only thing that would still associate him with his animal form was his long, dark red hair and his intimidating red eyes. They had never changed.
And from the patch of grass he had landed on, he followed the path of cobblestones to an enormous hollow rock. He bent down, using his arms to push the branches of a tree that had grown towards the path away.
He followed the path that led deeper into the mountain. He made a halt when he arrived at the end of the path, or it seemed like it was the end. In the corner of the cave was an opening that most humans did not know of. It was closed off by a golden, unbreakable seal made by adepti magic.
“Who is there?” A woman's voice was heard, echoing through the cave the Phoenix found himself in.
The Phoenix cleared his throat. “Diluc.”
The seal slowly disappeared, evaporating into the morning air.
“Welcome. Get in.”
Diluc continued his path, now entering the abode. It took him into the gorgeous realm of Liyue scenery, where beautiful plants and trees grew everywhere. Right in front of him was a building. Diluc did not hesitate a second. He walked up to the building and got inside.
As soon as he reached the hall, he noticed a woman with soft, icy blue hair was waiting for him. It was Ganyu, one of the Liyue adepti. She has been in charge of taking care of Zhongli and the abode for the majority of the time.
A smile appeared on Ganyu’s face as soon as she saw Diluc entering the hall. “Good morning, Diluc. I’m glad to see you again. You look healthy.”
“Also good morning to you, Ganyu. I missed you,” Diluc replied and gave her a long, warm hug. He had known Ganyu for a really long time now, she and Zhongli used to hang out with Diluc together. But everything changed when Zhongli’s health started to deteriorate. Seeing his friend in pain scarred Diluc, and he decided to move out of Liyue Harbor and live in an abode on Mount Aozang. He felt guilty now that he was standing here beside Ganyu. He had let her do all the work, while he himself was just hiding and running away from reality.
The guilt hurt deep and Diluc suddenly felt tears in his eyes. He quickly blinked them away before Ganyu could even see them and cleared his throat.
“Is he aggressive?”
Ganyu nodded. “He was this morning. He has his bright moments and he usually recognizes me, but today was different. I tried everything but it did not matter. He even became more and more aggressive with everything I tried,” she told the Phoenix Adeptus and exhaled deeply. “I-I’m just really worried and I didn’t know who else to ask. I hope you don’t mind that I asked you to come and help us. I was hoping that he might calm down, once he has seen you.”
Diluc immediately shook his head, red curls dancing around his face. “Don’t worry about that Ganyu. We’re friends, you know that. Anything for you and Zhongli.”
“Wait! Diluc, before you approach him-”
Diluc stopped walking when he felt Ganyu’s hand around his wrist. He looked at Ganyu with a questionable expression on his face. “Keep in mind that it’s worse than ever before,” she warned Diluc. “Please be careful. I’m concerned he has now lost control over his human body completely.”
Diluc bit his lip for one second but then nodded. “Thank you, Ganyu. Make sure to get some rest and drink some tea, these days must’ve been incredibly hard for you. I’ll talk to you when I get back.”
Ganyu’s concerned face grew into a small smile. “Also thanks to you, Diluc. Oh, one other thing. I had to restrain him with adepti arts. You have my permission to remove them if he’s calm.”
“Noted.”
Diluc turned around and opened the only door that was in the hall. He entered and followed the long hallway.
Visiting another’s adepti abode would always stay an interesting experience. Being an owner of his own adepti abode, Diluc knew that this abode was specially made for Morax’s current situation. An abode could be turned into anything, depending on the wish of the adepti. This abode, in particular, seemed to be nothing more than a typical building placed in a gorgeous outside world of Liyue scenery. Nothing more, nothing less.
All this abode was used for was to give the former Geo Archon a peaceful place to rest. But given the circumstances and the growls Diluc’s ears picked up, he doubted how peaceful this place was for Zhongli.
In his Phoenix form, his sensitive hearing had already picked up the growls that were coming from the room where Zhongli was held. Diluc had tried to ignore them but now that he was coming closer and closer to where his long-time friend was, the noises had become louder and louder.
And now that he was standing here, just one door between him and his friend, he had to admit that the nerves were starting to get him. He had known numerous adepti that had lost themselves to erosion, but it was never someone so close to him. This felt quite different. A lot more… real. It was a reminder to Diluc that this would happen to him too one day.
He then shook his head as he noticed that his thoughts got the best of him. His hand reached the doorknob and he pushed the door open without thinking. But nothing could have prepared him for the sight of Zhongli in the bed, and he couldn’t help but let out a gasp.
This wasn’t the Zhongli he had known. This wasn’t Morax, this wasn’t Rex Lapis.
The god that was sitting in the bed seemed to be a mix of all of the above. His hands were covering his face, Diluc noticed the scales scattered everywhere on his pale, normally spotless skin. His nails had grown sharp and long and even though his face was covered, Diluc could see his glowing amber eyes through his fingers.
His dark brown hair was completely messed up. Diluc figured the the mental torture he had been through made him trash around quite a lot. And from the top of his head stuck the heavy but elegant-looking horns that Rex Lapis also used to have.
It seemed like Ganyu was right. The human Zhongli had lost control of his ability to shape-shift. And as a result, all of his previous forms had somehow found a way to express themselves in the archon’s tired body.
Diluc’s eyes traveled to Zhongli’s neck. Around his neck was a bright blue collar that was connected to the wall with a chain and a strong hook, right behind the bed. His wrists were also sealed with a similar technique. Diluc hummed softly. The adepti arts Ganyu was talking about. She had done a good job at it, Diluc never dared to doubt Ganyu’s extraordinary abilities.
It didn’t seem like Zhongli had noticed that there was someone in the room. He was busy mumbling all kinds of words, his body constantly shaking.
It was hard to watch.
Erosion was different for every god, but that didn’t change how heartbreaking every case was. Diluc and Ganyu had both known it; erosion gets more severe when the god is older. Zhongli caving in like this wasn’t something that caught them and the other adepti of Liyue by surprise. Everybody knew, even Zhongli knew. It was just… very hard to grasp what was happening.
Diluc didn’t even know how he should address his friend in this state. To which name would he reply? He internally cursed himself for not asking Ganyu how to address him. What if he gets aggressive? It wasn’t like there wasn’t someone to help him if things went wrong, but Diluc just… just wanted to spend some real quality time with his friend.
After thinking about it for a minute, Diluc decided to use the name Zhongli went by when they first met.
“Morax.”
That’s when the silence followed. Morax even stopped mumbling, taking some seconds to form a sentence.
“What do you want, Diluc.”
Morax’s voice seemed deeper and raspier than ever before, probably because he had screamed and growled so much. He finally removed his hands from his face, but still didn’t dare to face his good friend.
A warm smile grew on Diluc’s face. “So you do remember me.”
Morax huffed. “How could I ever forget you.”
“Well, you even forgot who Ganyu was just now. And I don’t spend as much time with you as she does, so I had assumed that I would’ve been gone from your memories already.”
Diluc expected another groan from the god, but he raised his head to meet eyes with Diluc instead.
The Phoenix Adeptus tried to keep his composure, he really did. He tried to keep himself from gasping but it seemed like he was no longer in control of that after he laid eyes on Morax’s face.
The archon’s yellow eyes were glowing brightly in the dark room. The scales that were on his hands and arms were also scattered around his face. He looked so different, so confused, so sad.
“I-I’m sorry Morax. I-I don’t- I didn’t mean to gasp,” Diluc lowered his face as it turned red from guilt, embarrassment, and sadness. It felt like all kinds of emotions he couldn’t even name had taken over his body. He didn’t know what to do or say anymore.
“I’m not bothered. I don’t even recognize myself anymore,” Morax smiled, letting out a pained laugh, revealing his teeth. They looked more like fangs a dragon would have than human teeth. Even his tongue was long and split at the tip. Diluc turned his head away again, without even realizing it.
“Why are you here?”
“I’m here because Ganyu asked for my help. And I- I needed to see you.”
Morax raised an eyebrow. “Needed?”
“You do understand what is going on with you right?”
“Of course I know,” Morax muttered, his voice becoming deeper again. “I’m old. I’m losing my mind and rotting away in this abode.”
A short silence followed, until Morax exhaled and tried to readjust his position. But the shackles around his neck, wrists and ankles, kept him from doing so.
“Do you know why I am restrained? Can you remove these? They’re starting to hurt,” Morax complained, his long nails dragging across the shackles made from ice.
Diluc bit his lip. He remembered how adamant Ganyu had been regarding the restraints, and that he was only allowed to remove them if Morax wasn’t aggressive.
After thinking for a while, the Phoenix Adeptus quickly nodded. Morax seemed calm enough.
“I will. Stay still please.” Diluc raised his hands, concentrating on the energy around him. A small fire appeared right above his hand palms. Morax watched carefully as Diluc came closer, the fire in his hands melting his restraints.
“Ganyu told me you were aggressive this morning, that’s why she created those seals,” Diluc explained. He watched Morax bring a scaled hand to his neck, rubbing the spot where Ganyu’s collar had sat.
“She has told me that before. I don’t remember anything though…”
Diluc lowered his head in pain. Any time Morax spoke, it felt like a knife was pushed into Diluc’s chest. Every knife was another rush of guilt and hopelessness. He should’ve visited his best friend earlier. He had left Morax here, suffering on his own.
“I’m sorry, Morax,” he couldn’t ignore the way his voice broke and immediately turned his head.
Morax smiled at Diluc, reaching his hand to his friend. “Come sit next to me,” he then gestured, his voice warm and low.
Diluc felt a little spark of hope deep in his stomach. Was this one of the ‘bright moments’ Ganyu was talking about? He did not hesitate any longer and hurried to Morax’s bed, sitting down next to him.
“I know I may come across as a very mentally unstable individual right now, but please know that I will never forget you and the memories we made together,” Morax spoke. His golden eyes focused on Diluc’s bright red ones and for that moment, Diluc really felt like his best friend was back.
“I don’t have much time left,” the Archon then continued. Diluc couldn’t ignore the tears that burned in his eyes, and the lump that felt painful and heavy in his throat.
“I-I should’ve visited you s-sooner,” Diluc whispered through gritted teeth, balling his hands into fists to fight the tears.
“Oh, do you think I’m holding a grudge against you for that?” Morax furrowed his brows, slowly tilting his head. Diluc couldn’t ignore the way his long hair fell to the side, revealing more of his horns.
“A-actually, I do.”
“I don’t, Diluc. Honestly, I completely understand you. It’s hard to visit a friend who’s ill and will never get better. I understand. I was the exact same when Azdaha’s memories started to erode.”
Diluc lowered his head. Morax was right, he remembered it all too well. It had taken the Archon a very long time until he found the courage to visit his friend. But still, he couldn’t help but feel guilty. He was too late, there was no turning back now for his friend and he knew that.
“Come here Morax,” Diluc did not hesitate to embrace the Archon. His strong arms, his crimson wings, pulled Morax closer to him.
Morax did not reply but didn’t show any signs of resistance either. Even now that he couldn’t trust his own mind and had to rely on his intuition, he felt that Diluc wasn’t here to hurt him.
Diluc’s crimson wings only radiated comfort. Warmth. Love.
“I don’t want to let go…” Morax then whispered in Diluc’s neck, who couldn’t help but laugh through his tears.
“Me neither Morax, me neither.”
But just like anything in the mortal realm, their hug could not last forever and at some point, the two Adepti had to let each other go. Diluc fluttered his eyes and felt a couple tears run down his cheek. Morax had also noticed it, and lovingly wiped them away.
They stared at each other in complete silence, until Morax suddenly let out a groan. His eyebrows furrowed and he lowered his head, placing a hand on his forehead.
“M-Morax? What’s wrong?” Diluc gasped. The Morax from two seconds ago, the Morax that gave the Phoenix a little bit of hope, had disappeared again. He was now back to mumbling to himself, eyes fluttering quickly.
“Morax?”
“Voices,” Morax groaned, “I hear voices.”
“V-voices?” Diluc’s voice cracked once again. He was completely unable to keep up his usual demeanor. All he felt were emotions, and pain for his friend.
“I don’t know, that is the most frustrating part. I think I hear Azdaha sometimes. But it’s a lot of noise… a lot of screaming-“ Morax’s breath hitched in his throat and his clawed hand grabbed Diluc’s pale slender one with a firm grip. It startled Diluc so much that he froze right on the spot.
“Diluc, I think it’s the people I’ve killed. They’re coming to get me. They’re here, aren’t they? They-“
It happened so quickly that Diluc, who was also still frozen to the bed, didn’t even have time to react. Morax jumped up, a loud growl emerging from his throat. Furniture was knocked over by the blanket that flew from the bed in the movement of the Archon.
It was only when a large vase hit the ground and shattered into a million pieces, that Diluc seemed snap out of his frozen state. He now also jumped up and tried to restrain Morax, who continued to growl and trash around in the room.
The door flew open and Ganyu appeared in the door opening. A high-pitched scream left her throat when she noticed what was going on and she ran towards the two, quickly grabbing Diluc’s wrists to pull him away from their friend.
“Stay here, Diluc, and do not move!” she ordered, spreading her arm to protect Diluc from Morax. Diluc watched her perform her adepti magic. She chased the feral Archon back to the bed with a couple of moves. Then, the icy chains started forming again. They chained Morax back to the wall.
It was as if the cold chain around his neck took all of the anger away from Morax’s body. He slumped on the bed like a puppet, one last groan leaving his throat.
Diluc was once again frozen on the spot he was standing, staring at Morax. He could not believe what just happened, the moments after he pulled his friend closer for a hug seemed like a blur.
“Luc, w-we have to go,” Ganyu slowly came closer to Diluc, placing a hand on his shoulder. Diluc seemed to snap out of his gaze and quickly nodded. He turned around, without looking at Morax one more time.
He could not face his friend anymore without bursting into tears.
“Wait, Diluc-”
The warm voice had returned and Diluc immediately stopped walking, turning around to enter the room again.
“Yes, Morax?”
Morax looked at his old friend with his glowing eyes, filled with pain. “Can you… can you visit me again tomorrow?” he then asked, and Diluc tried his best to not break out in tears on the spot. He managed to pull his mouth corners in a small smile instead and nodded quickly.
“I will, I promise,” and with those words, Diluc turned around and closed the door. He stepped aside and watched Ganyu lock the door with a golden key.
The two Adepti continued their walk to the hall in complete silence. It was as if they were both convinced that Morax could hear them if they started talking right now, and would lose his mind once again.
*:･ﾟ✧ 🐉✧ﾟ･:*
It was when they reached the hall that Diluc noticed how badly he was shaking.
Ganyu had noticed it as well and she looked at her friend with a concerned look on her face. “Do you want to sit down? There’s still tea left in the teapot, if you’d like to have a drink,” she pointed at the couch and the little coffee table in the left corner of the hall.
Diluc managed to mumble a “Y-yes. Please,” before he stumbled to the couch. Ganyu sat down next to him and poured herself and Diluc a cup of tea. They drank their tea in silence, both having to process what just happened.
“I’m terrified for him.”
It was Ganyu who spoke first.
“I… I don’t think he has very long left.”
“Me neither.”
“I’ve spent so many weeks here with him now, but I just can’t be at peace with it, Diluc! I don’t think I can say goodbye to him like this!” Ganyu buried her face in her hands as the loud sobs left her lips.
“Oh believe me Ganyu, nobody is at peace with it. Nobody is,” Diluc mumbled as he pulled Ganyu closer. She sobbed in his chest, and he had to admit that fighting against the tears was starting to get impossible. He tightened his hug around Ganyu’s frame and also let his tears flow.
“Morax is older than all of us. It’s already a wonder how long he has lasted without erosion catching up to him.”
Ganyu let out a shivery sigh. “I know…”
“We will get through this, okay Ganyu? We still have each other and that is the most important part,” Diluc slowly let Ganyu go and watched her grab a tissue to clean her face from tear stains. She then also gave Diluc a tissue, who followed her example.
“You’re right,” Ganyu mumbled, her voice shivery from crying. “We still have each other.”