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War was something he was to experience at some point or another. He was the first of the Adepti, having lived for over three thousand years.
Morax walks across the war torn ground towards the building in ruins. He remembers a young boy fighting and he wanted to know where he was and why a boy so young was fighting.
He steps into the ruins of the building and lowers his hood. The god that once lived here, Morax slaughtered him with his own hands.
He wanders throughout the ruins. He finds a large hall, with a throne at the end. He walks over to it, arching an eyebrow. He walks around it, only to see a small boy curled up behind it. He looks up briefly before shrinking away from him.
Morax simply sits down a few strides away from the boy. “Hello,” He whispers softly.
“Please don’t hurt me,” The boy whispers.
Something goes through Morax; something angry and violent. If he hadn’t already killed the God that resided here, he would make sure he died at his hand. Slow and painful and agonising. This boy couldn’t be older than fifteen or sixteen years of age and he was so scared that Morax would hurt him because of that bastard God.
“I promise I will never hurt you,” Morax whispers.
The boy looks up slightly, golden eyes peeking up over his arms. “Promise? You won’t treat me like Master does?”
Morax nods. “I promise. Can I know your name?”
He shakes his head. “I gave Master my name. That’s how he could control me.”
Every inch of Morax is screaming to rip apart every single part of this building. “My name is Morax. People of Liyue call me Rex Lapis.”
“I’ve been told about Liyue. I was told I need to slaughter their Archon,” The golden eyed boy whispers.
“I’m Liyue’s Archon.”
“I was told you were an enemy but you promised not to hurt me…”
Morax stands and offers the boy a hand to stand. The boy hesitates briefly before taking his hand and standing. He has dark hair with teal undertones.
Morax lets go of his hand. “I promise I’m not going to hurt you. I’ll protect you, take care of you. I swear. Now, come with me. I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
The boy nods as Morax leads him out of the ruins of the building. The boy looks so nervous. Morax removes his polearm from his back and the boy shrinks away. Morax goes wide eyed and returns his polearm to his back.
“I didn’t mean to scare you! I’m so, so sorry,” Morax apologises.
The boy nods slightly, noticeably further away from him now, as they continue walking. Soon, they reach the war camp. The boy moves back towards Morax, stuck right by his side.
He makes a private oath to not let anyone hurt him. The two reach Morax’s tent and he leads the boy inside. “You can stay here if you like. It’s safe and if anyone tries to hurt you, I’ll deal with them myself.” The boy nods. “I have some business to attend to, but I have a suggestion for you.”
“What is it?”
Gently, Morax places his hand on his shoulders. The boy flinches when he raises his hands. “How do you feel about the name Xiao?”
The boy furrows his eyebrows. “What?” He whispers.
“You said your old master controlled you with your true name. I think you should have a proper name. What of Xiao?”
The boy nods and says, “I… I like it.”
Morax smiles. “Good. You’re old master can never hurt you again. He’s dead.” Xiao looks slightly shocked at the words. “I decapitated him myself. He’s dead. He’ll never hurt you again.”
Xiao stares at him for a few seconds before forcing himself against Morax. The Geo Archon is disoriented for a few moments before realising Xiao is hugging him.
Gently, Morax holds him close. “I won’t ever let anyone hurt you again, Xiao.”
“Thank you,” Xiao whispers.
“By any means necessary, I will protect you. It would be similar to family, if you’d like that.”
“I… I don’t think I’ve ever had a father… Or mother…”
Morax leans back and smiles down at Xiao. “If you want one, I’ll be one.”
Xiao smiles at him.
Zhongli was waiting at Wangshu Inn. He knew his son saw. He knows he should’ve told him but he didn’t and that may be one of the greatest regrets he’ll ever have.
But a contract is a contract.
Xiao appears on the balcony and leans against it, holding himself up by his arms. He rips off his mask and tosses it aside.
Zhongli walks over it and picks it up before going to stand beside his son. He offers it to Xiao. “We need to talk, Alatus,” He states.
Xiao turns and stares at him. Tears well up in his eyes. “How could you?!” Xiao exclaims. “I thought you were dead , Morax!”
“It was complicated, Xiao.”
“How is it complicated? Liyue Harbour, the city you’ve protected for millenia , that we’ve protected for millenia, almost drowned because of that pesky little Fatuus friend of yours!”
“Xiao, you know how seriously I take contracts!”
“Contract?! What contract, Morax?!”
Zhongli sighs and places his hands on Xiao’s shoulders. “I… I made a contract with the Eighth of the Fatui Harbingers. Tartaglia did not know . In fact, he discovered it at the same time the Traveller and Paimon did.”
“So… So, you just gave up being Liyue’s Archon? Decided that it was better for Liyue and your people to think you dead?”
“I did so much more than… give it up … I handed over my Gnosis.”
Xiao is silent. “So… You’re not Liyue’s Archon?”
“They think I'm dead, Xiao. I suppose it’s time I retire.”
Xiao looks out over Liyue. “You need to leave.”
Zhongli sighs. “I’ll be at Wangsheng Funeral Parlour if you need me. Ask for Zhongli.” The former God of Stone leaves the Bane of All Evil on the highest balcony of Wangshu Inn.
Zhongli walks up the steps to the top balcony of Wangshu Inn. He walks over and stands at the railing.
A few moments pass before he hears footsteps land on the wood.
“You no doubt wish to know why I summoned you here,” Xiao states.
“That, and concern for my son. Whether you like me or not, I chose you as my son and you chose me as your father.”
“I’m going to the Chasm.”
Zhongli looks over his shoulder slightly. “Bosacius died there, Xiao. Are you set on going?”
“Yes.”
“This trip may be dangerous. Yet you insist on going.”
“I have guarded this place for several hundred years, only to seek the nameless Yaksha. Do I request your approval?”
Zhongli sighs and looks dead ahead. “You are free to do as you wish. When I took you in, I vowed to never be like the monster who once had you enslaved. I cannot control where you do or do not go. I know you’re still upset about me faking my death. Do as you wish.”
He shoots out the powers of Geo, into that abyss his son was trapped in. The others, they had gotten out safe.
The Oni and the Green-Haired Fighter from Inazuma. The Half-Adeptus Legal Advisor and the Strange Woman of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The Traveller From Beyond and his Floating Companion.
He is not going to let his son die.
He’s focusing with every inch of his being. Soon, the Geo he shot out is saving his son, making him free, returning to the Chasm, above ground. He doesn’t leave until he sees his son move.
He takes a deep breath. “He’s safe,” Zhongli whispers to himself.
He turns around and walks away from the cliff edge he’s standing on. He speaks to no one as he walks through Liyue Harbour and all the way to Wangshu Inn. He waves to Verr Goldet as he heads to the highest balcony of Wangshu Inn.
He stands at the railing and waits. The sun is setting when Xiao walks onto the balcony. Zhongli turns around and smiles. “Hello, Xiao.”
Xiao slowly walks over. “Mor- Zhongli. You got here swiftly.”
“The Chasm has prying eyes and ears. Especially Yelan. She works for Ningguang, does she not?” Xiao nods. Zhongli takes a deep breath. “I apologise. For keeping you unaware about the contract I had with La Signora.”
Xiao sighs. “I was more angry that you say you see me as a son yet you did not tell me.”
“Xiao, I’ll never stop seeing you and treating you as if you were my son by blood. I should have told you.”
“I am… relatively over it. Thank you for saving me, Morax.”
“I’ll have to be dead and buried if you want to die.”
Xiao smiles slightly. “Clear. You may wish to return to Liyue Harbour soon. The Traveller wishes to speak to you about why you were at the Chasm.”
“It was not Zhongli at the Chasm.” Zhongli walks over to stand directly in front of his son. “And it was not Liyue’s Archon. He is happily retired from that role.” He places a hand on Xiao’s shoulder. “It was a father, scared to lose his son.”
Xiao hugs him. Zhongli can count on one hand how many times Xiao has hugged him, so he hugs Xiao, still scared to lose him.
Zhongli leans back. “Why don’t I take you to dinner?”
“No, for two reasons. The first is you have no Mora because you didn’t make yourself any before retiring , as you put it. The second is I know you are well aware I have an extreme distaste for mortal food.”
“Shame, I was going to have some Almond Tofu.”
Xiao sighs. “Very well, I’ll come.”
Zhongli smiles at Xiao as the two begin to walk downstairs. “That legal advisor you were trapped in the Chasm with, the Half-Adeptus one, what’s her name?”
“Yanfei,” Xiao states. “Why do you ask?”
Zhongli chuckles slightly. “Hu Tao is in slight legal trouble and asked me to find her a lawyer.”