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1. (2,600 years ago)
The God of Storms had been overthrown and the title of Anemo Archon had been claimed. That was the news Morax, the Geo Archon, overheard between mortals. Word had it that the new archon had already begun shaping his land and organizing the scattered remnants of the people of Mondstadt. Morax had to admit, the god was skilled with anemo, as he had felt the tremors of mountains being flattened and valleys being carved into the land of the neighboring nation. It was an interesting sight, seeing an entire nation being changed so quickly. It made Morax curious as to who his new neighbor was, but not nearly curious enough to investigate for himself. Time would introduce them eventually.
That “time” was sooner than he had thought.
The Geo Archon was perched atop one of the many mountaintops that scattered Qingyun Peak when he felt a rather intense gust of wind form behind him. Instinctively, Morax summoned his spear and launched it at the intruder. It stopped mid-air.
"That's a rather rude way to greet a guest, isn't it?" Morax locked eyes with the newcomer. Braided black hair with teal tips at the end, a pure white outfit with a hood, and feathered wings that sprouted from his back all made up the appearance of the god in front of him. The deity wore the attire of an archon, and based on the way the god had arrived in Liyue, Morax quickly gathered that he was in the presence of the infamous Anemo Archon. He waved away his spear, which had fallen to the ground, and extended a hand towards the archon.
"Apologies, Anemo Archon. I had not sensed your presence, so I had acted on instinct when I heard your voice-" Morax had intended to continue his apology, but the god childishly waved away his words before he could continue. Instead, the newcomer placed a bottle of wine into the older god’s hands.
"No harm done! I'm Barbatos, by the way! Seeing as how we'll be neighbors indefinitely, I thought it would be polite to bring you a gift. Here's some wine from Mondstadt! Care for a taste?" Morax stared disbelievingly at Barbatos. To forsake one's duty to deliver a single bottle of wine- what a preposterous notion! And yet, the ever stone-faced god could not bring himself to lecture the one in front of him. Instead, he found himself offering the deity a seat at the table reserved for only himself, Cloud Retainer, and Guizhong.
"Guizhong? Who is that?" Barbatos inquired after reading the inscriptions on the seats. Normally, Morax would shudder at any mention of the deceased god, but for once, he smiled nostalgically as he recalled the memories of his time with her.
"Guizhong was the God of Dust. She and I ruled Guili Plains together before Liyue Harbor was established. For what strength she lacked, she made up for in her love of humanity and vast knowledge. Everything I know now I learned from her." Morax slid into his designated seat as he poured two cups of wine.
"You speak in the past tense," Barbatos noted as he sat down in the grass beside the Geo Archon.
"Unfortunately, she passed a few hundred years ago during a fierce battle. Even today, I try to uphold her legacy in any way I can, be it through passing her knowledge onto her people or simply protecting them from danger." Morax handed a filled cup to the god beside him, who eagerly accepted it.
"It sounds like you cared a lot about her," Barbatos remarked as he took a sip of his drink.
"I still do," Morax whispered as he looked at his reflection in the cup. To anybody else, his phrase would've gone unheard, but as the God of Wind, Barbatos couldn't help but listen as the breeze around him echoed the elder archon's words. Morax, remembering who he was in the presence of, quickly masked his vulnerability by changing the subject. "So, what about you, God of Winds? What method of ruling do you take on?"
"None." His answer, though a simple one, left Morax stunned.
"Pardon?"
"None," Barbatos repeated, this time with a cheeky grin plastered on his face. "I have full confidence that the people of Mondstadt can handle themselves. They don’t need me to guide them."
At first, Morax was impressed at how careless the god was. Did he not know that they were still in an era of war? Slowly his baffled mindset twisted into one of anger. Morax had seen several times what too much faith had done to his fallen comrades. He did not wish for the same fate to befall this newborn deity. "You're an arrogant god," Morax gritted out. The smile on Barbatos's face faltered. "How can you be so careless with humans? They're fragile and need our protection! Beware, Barbatos, your method of "ruling" will bring about nothing but destruction for the Land of Wind!"
A silence fell over the two gods. Though Morax's head was turned away, he could still feel the gaze of the Anemo Archon on his back. Perhaps he had taken his words too far, but he needed Barbatos to see reason. The Anemo Archon was young and naïve, so it was only right that Morax, who had centuries of leadership experience, helped guide him. Just as Morax was about to give this very reason to Barbatos, the young god spoke, his voice devoid of any emotion.
"How can you claim to be a protector of humanity if all you do is protect them?" When Morax turned to ask Barbatos what he meant, all he was met with was a single cup in the grass, its contents having long been downed by its owner.
2. (2,000 years ago)
It had been a year since the Archon War had come to a close and the final throne in the sky was filled. Celebrations rang out across Teyvat as each nation held festivals to honor those who died during the centuries of war, as well as to celebrate the years of peace to come. Morax, in the months following the war's end, had been given the pleasure of meeting each of the crowned archons. He had enjoyed the presence of all of them, but none could quite match the first meeting he had had with the Anemo Archon.
He had not seen that god for 600 years now.
It was not uncommon for deities to go several decades without seeing each other, given how their lifespan permitted large gaps between meetings, but to go several centuries without any contact at all? Morax couldn't comprehend the actions of that god. In fact, everything about Barbatos was so far from the principles of godhood that Morax wouldn't have been shocked to find out if he had already kicked the bucket.
But he knew that wasn't the case.
True to Barbatos's word, Mondstadt was still standing after 600 years of hands-off leadership. It was impressive, really, but Morax doubted that it would last forever. Soon, a disaster would befall Mondstadt, and Barbatos would be forced to see the faults in his method of ruling. Of course, Morax would never wish disaster upon any nation or any of its civilians, but if Barbatos needed to learn what the title of "Protector of Humanity" meant by force, so be it.
"How can you claim to be a protector of humanity if all you do is protect them?"
To this day, Morax had yet to figure out what Barbatos had meant. He was well aware that the god was known for his poetry and play on words, but these seemed rather straightforward with no underlying meaning.
So why couldn't he make sense of it?
"Rex Lapis, pardon one's intrusion, but you had asked one to alert you to when the festivities were starting." The Geo Archon was brought out of his thoughts by Cloud Retainer, who had perched herself on a nearby rock.
"Thank you, Cloud Retainer. Will you be joining the humans tonight?" Morax asked as he rose from his meditative position in the grass.
"One is touched by the offer, but must deny it. One believes that one is above the festivities of mortals and does not wish to partake."
Above the festivities of mortals, huh? For some reason, the adeptus's words did not sit right with Morax.
"Well, the gates of Liyue Harbor are always open to you and the other adepti. After centuries of fighting, you all deserve some time to relax." Cloud Retainer did not respond to his words. Instead, she opted for a respectful nod before taking off into the sky. Morphing into his dragon form, Morax followed suit and flew in the direction of Liyue Harbor.
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Lanterns littered the harbor streets, their glow almost as bright as the smiles that shined on the faces of his people. It was moments like these that Morax was grateful for Guizhong and her push for him to understand humanity. Their smiles were fragile ones, yet when in safety, shone brighter than the stars in the sky.
Morax leaned against a railing as he admired the merchants promoting their items, the children with their kites, and the buildings that were somehow more vibrant under the glow of the lanterns than they were under the rays of the sun. On the ground next to him laid a few trinkets and a lantern he had purchased. Many sellers had offered him their items to him for free as thanks for his protection, but he had refused on account of him simply doing his duty.
The wind around him picked up, causing the Geo Archon to shiver from the cold. "This is the first time I've been able to see this in person," a voice next to him whispered. He turned his head around to see Barbatos sitting on the railing to his right, his legs swinging back and forth in the air.
"In person?" Morax asked. Needless to say, the Geo Archon was surprised to see the Anemo Archon turn up in Liyue, and was even more surprised that he had chosen to visit him, given what happened at their last meeting. Morax felt the need to apologize to Barbatos, but the young god answered Morax's previous question before he could even open his mouth.
"Oftentimes, the lanterns from Liyue will ride the wind into Mondstadt after the festivals, but by that point, the fires that lit them have long been extinguished and we only see what remains. Still, it's always comforting to know how close our nations are, and I'm always fascinated to see what the people of Mondstadt create with the remains of the lanterns." Something stirs inside Morax as he looks at Barbatos's illuminated figure. The light reflecting off of his holy wings is a sight to behold, but something tells Morax that it's not the sight that keeps his eyes locked on the archon.
"You could've always come in person. Liyue never shuts its gates, even to foreigners." Despite Morax's offer, Barbatos shakes his head in refusal.
"I try to spend as much time as I can with my people whenever I'm awake. I do not wish to be like my predecessor, who was completely detached from human society."
"Whenever you're awake?" Morax repeats Barbatos's words, inquiring as to what the god meant. Usually, immortals like them didn't sleep due to the lack of need for it. Most gods considered it a waste of time, and that it left you vulnerable to attacks. Personally, Morax had just never seen the appeal of spending his days unconscious. Even as immortal beings, their time was limited.
"Oh, come now, Morax! Did you really not notice my 600-year absence?" Despite the lighthearted question, Morax noticed there was a semblance of hurt in the god's eyes.
"Actually, I did. In fact, I waited for several years for your presence to descend on my nation once more, but you never came." Morax was expecting a witty response from Barbatos to the elder archon's uncharacteristic and heartfelt response, but instead, a somber expression befell the young god's face.
"I'm sorry for making you worry, Morax, but sleep is a necessity for me. Please know that I do feel guilty about the length of my slumbers, and that I do not sleep easy knowing the vulnerability I leave Mondstadt and Teyvat with during my absences."
Morax was rendered speechless. His first impression of the Anemo Archon was that he was a careless, reckless, and cocky wisp of wind, who obtained Celestia's approval through sheer luck. It seemed he was wrong. Perhaps, Morax wondered, he needed to devote more time to understanding his fellow archons, and not just humanity.
"You have nothing to feel sorry for, Barbatos. In fact, it is I who should apologize to you. When we first met, I misjudged your character and made rude assumptions about you and your method of leadership. Now, I know that my doubts were misplaced and I should have never spoken to you that way. Please accept my apology." It was pathetic and unprepared, but it made Barbatos smile nonetheless.
"I never held your beliefs against you, Morax. This hands-off approach is uncharted territory and something new to Teyvat, so it's only natural somebody as conservative as you would be skeptical. You have no need to apologize, I've already forgiven you." The smile that spread across the Anemo Archon's face, which had remained unchanged in the 600 years they spent apart, shouldn't have drawn any reaction from the Geo Archon...
So why did the mighty Rex Lapis feel so warm, even in the midnight cold that surrounded him?
"I am undeserving of such kindness, but you have my gratitude, Barbatos."
"I have many objections to the first half of that sentence, but there is something else that should be addressed first." Morax raises an eyebrow as Barbatos points to the almost-forgotten lantern that rested near the Geo Archon's feet. "Are you going to release it?"
"Ah, I had forgotten that I had brought it," Morax looks over the harbor to see a handful of lanterns rising and making their way toward the stars. It appears the most awaited part of the festival had already begun.
"Here," Barbatos hopped off the railing and picked up the lantern, extending it towards Morax. "Sure would be a shame if you didn't get your Mora's worth of this." Morax grips the lantern, but before the Anemo Archon can pull away, he takes Barbatos's hands and places them on the lantern so that they are both holding it.
"Let this lantern be a symbol of our partnership," the Geo Archon says, giving the Anemo Archon a look that Babratos can't quite decipher. Instead of dwelling on the elder archon's actions (and its meaning), the young god smiles and raises the lantern in union with his newfound friend. Barbatos summons a weak wind current under his feet, elevating him so that he is at the same height as Morax as the two release the lantern from their grip.
The two gods watch in peaceful silence as their lantern rises to join the others as their lights climb toward the stars.
Barbatos turns his head towards Morax and smiles. "Thank you for giving me the chance to do this, Morax."
For the first time, he sees the Geo Archon give a semblance of a smile. "I hope you'll return for next year's Lantern Rite, Barbatos. That way, I can show you the actual festival, and not just the infamous light show."
"I'll try to remember it," the Anemo Archon laughs as he descends back onto the ground. The two gods lean on the railing, exchanging small conversations about Teyvat and how it had changed in Barbatos's absence. The moment didn't last long- and to the people of Teyvat, it never happened -but if you were to ask either god about the First Lantern Rite, both would no doubt smile at the memory and first signs of friendship that blossomed that day.
3. (1,000 years ago)
The Mondstadt Aristocracy had fallen.
Morax had been right in his suspicions about the growing threat of the Lawrence Clan. Many times he had heard the cries of the people of Mondstadt, and it had taken all of his willpower to not intrude on the neighboring nation's problems.
He trusted Barbatos.
It had seemed he had his trust well placed. True to his promise once again, Mondstadt was now freer than it had been before with the assistance of the Anemo Archon. Now, the nation had an established military (The Knight of Favonious) and a proper government that would have a harder time falling down the same path as its predecessor. He had to hand it to the first Grandmaster, she sure knew how to get stuff done. Though, he was more impressed with Barbatos, who had never involved himself in his nation's affairs up until this point. Defying your own principles had to take a lot of courage.
Morax would've properly praised Barbatos for his performance...if the god wasn't currently in front of him babbling on and on about how much Mondstadt had changed while he was asleep.
"They've already started building a headquarters!" Barbatos exclaimed while praising the newly established Knights of Favonious. "Vanessa even came to me of all people, asking for approval on the plans and design! Ha! As if I have any knowledge of architecture!"
"So then what did you tell her?" Morax took a small sip of his tea as he gazed at the god who sat before him. Recently, Barbatos had chosen to dress in a strange green attire that didn't seem to fit the style of Mondstadt, or any nation for that matter. Still, he felt that it suited the archon's personality quite nicely, despite the questionable choice of pants.
Barbatos refilled his cup with more of the tea that Morax brewed as he recited the words he had spoken earlier that week. "I told her exactly what I told the people of Mondstadt after their first liberation: 'The nation of Mondstadt is one of freedom, so do not restrict yourselves to what would fit my tastes. I trust your judgment enough to know that you'll do what you see fit'."
"And do you believe they've lived up to that trust?"
Barbatos shrugged his shoulders. "It does not matter what I think. If the people of Mondstadt feel that something needs to happen, I know they'll do something about it."
"If the people of Mondstadt are as capable as you make them out to be, then why didn't they fight against the aristocracy before you came? Why did they wait until their Archon appeared for them to finally take a stand?" Morax knew this was not the correct time or place to ask such an abrupt and invasive question, but he wanted to know Barbatos's thoughts on the incident now that it had passed. To his surprise, however, the Anemo Archon did not immediately respond as he usually did, nor did he jump at the opportunity to defend his people from Morax's doubts. Instead, the god stayed silent as he seemed to stare into his reflection in the tea.
Morax felt like he had crossed a line. He did not intend to bring doubts into the Anemo Archon's head. He had long since overcome his skepticism about Barbatos's leadership and the forging of a path for his people that no nation had dared to walk before. "I apologize, Barbatos. My question was meddlesome and-"
"Do not apologize, Morax, and your question was not ill-intended." Barbatos pushed aside the cup of tea as he looked down at the Holy Lyre der Himmel in his lap. The formality in his voice was like whiplash as Morax concluded that he was listening to the Anemo Archon instead of Barbatos. "I, too, have spent many hours pondering the reason behind Mondstadt's hesitance in taking action against the Lawrence Clan. Perhaps it was because it was silent and over the course of many years, or perhaps it was nothing more than fear. I cannot claim to understand their minds, so I will not try. All I can do is hope that this will never happen again."
"Do you regret giving them freedom, even with the knowledge that it led to this?"
"No." The response was immediate and unchanged, just as Morax had hoped.
"I'm glad."
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"Hey, Moracks, di-did 'ja hear about that new nation? Cat-Khan-Khaenri'ack?" Barbatos's slurred words served as quite the entertainment for the Geo Archon as he picked up the half-empty bottle of Osmanthus Wine that had gotten knocked over by the Anemo Archon's flailing arms.
"I believe you are referring to the man-made nation of Khaenri'ah?" Barbatos repeatedly nodded his head in affirmation as he grabbed the bottle in Morax's hands and poured himself another glass.
"Man, the people upstairs have to be pissed about their success," Barbatos laughed as he downed his drink. His reference to Celestia's definite anger at Khaenri'ah made Morax chuckle in agreement at the thought of their authorities scrambling to come up with ideas on how to deal with the growing nation. Barbatos obnoxiously groaned at the now-empty bottle of wine as he reached for another under the table. Morax quickly snagged it and held it out of reach. "Hey!" Barbatos dove at Morax, utilizing his anemo abilities to raise himself towards the bottle. However, in his drunken state, Barbatos ended up snagging his foot on Morax's hood and his anemo abilities gave out, leaving them both to topple to the ground.
Morax was the first to recover from the fall as he took it upon himself to help his friend up from the ground. Offering his assistance, Morax's grasped Barbatos's hand as he helped the god haul himself up.
"Woah, your hand is so coarse!" Barbatos drunkenly wobbled as he tried to gently brush his fingers over Morax's blistered hands.
"Well, thousands of years of using a spear has been quite taxing on my body." Morax chose to not mention, nor focus, on the strange sensation it gave him to have Barbatos holding his hand. Still, that didn't stop him from letting out a mix between a gasp and a yelp when Barbatos placed Morax's hand on his cheek. The young god drunkenly rubbed his cheek against the calloused hands of the older archon.
"Warm," was all Barbatos mumbled as he remained ignorant of the other god's internal battle.
Half of Morax's brain was scrambling for a way to get out of this situation, all while the other half of his brain screamed to stay right where he was. No, he couldn't stay like this! Barbatos's smile would be the death of him if he had to spend just one more minute looking at it!
"I pet a cat earlier with that hand," he lied, making Barbatos jump back and snap out of his tranquil moment as he tried to wipe off the non-existent cat remanents.
"Ah, Morax why didn't you say anything?! You know I'm allergic!" Even with the amusing scene in front of him, Morax couldn't get his mind off one question. As the Geo Archon, he was never much of a touchy person and rarely made physical contact with anybody. He would even go as far as to say he didn't like it.
So what made Barbatos different?
4. (700 years ago)
It had been 1,300 years since the establishment of the Archons, and now only four out of the original seven remained. It seemed that with every passing day, Morax's limbs grew weaker, his movements became more sluggish, and he felt less urge to fulfill his duties as the god of Liyue. Morax looked down at the seemingly endless stacks of paper on the table and groaned with exhaustion. It seemed like all he had been doing with his life since the conclusion of the Archon War was filling paper, after paper, after paper! He used to find joy in the repetitive activity, blowing off anybody who had told him to take a break or commented on how tedious the task must have been. Now, Morax understood what all of those people had meant. It was tedious, he did need a break, and he was absolutely appalled at his past self for ever finding peace with this god-awful task.
Morax stood up and stretched his limbs, almost knocking over the table in the process. He had become quite a bit more clumsy in his years out of combat and the archon almost found it amusing how much he had changed. With a flick of his fingers, he whisked away the piles of papers that were scattered across the room's interior. Making a mental note to deal with the reports at a later date, the Geo Archon began his descent to Liyue Harbor.
Recently, he had found pleasure in walking amongst his people as a mortal, rather than it seeing through his dragon eyes high above. It made him feel...welcome. That isn't to say his people weren't friendly to him, but whenever he descended upon the land as Morax, civilians would often act as if he would behead them if they gave him the wrong type of drink. Although he knew those misconceptions were far from the truth, trying to convince everyone else was always difficult. That is why it was far easier for everybody if he walked the streets of Liyue as a simple man, rather than the esteemed Lord of Geo.
Once he arrived in the harbor, the first thing that Morax noticed was the small crowd gathered on the docks. Intrigued by the mass gathered on the pier, he descended the stairs and made his way to the large group. The Geo Archon would soon be pleasantly surprised to find a familiar face strumming his lyre to the crowd. Morax made his way to the front of the crowd as the song drew to a close and those around him began to clap. If only he had arrived sooner; hearing Barbatos's songs never failed to make Morax smile. Still, the look that Barbatos gave him when they made eye contact made Morax forget all about the missed performance. The "bard" approached his old friend, lyre tucked under his arm, and eagerly greeted him.
"Nice to see you again, old man," he smiled as he looked up at the Geo Archon.
"It's nice to see you too, Barb-" Morax stopped himself as he quickly glanced around at the remains of the crowd. Luckily, nobody seemed to have heard his slip-up.
"Just call me 'Venti' in public," Barbatos-no, Venti, laughed. "I'm sure you have a public alias as well, right?" Morax pressed his lips into a thin line, suddenly embarrassed at his lack of planning. In all his time in Liyue, he has never had to appear under a false name. In hindsight, it was stupid to not have an alias as Venti did, and it was a true miracle that nobody had bothered to ask him before.
"I believe that I may have, uh...forgotten that part," Morax rubbed his nape as he nervously looked down at Venti, who was quite clearly trying to conceal his laughter.
"Ah, Morax, you never change," Venti sighed once he had regained his composure. "Tell you what, that performance I just gave provided me with enough Mora for a meal for two. We can discuss name options over some food, my treat! What do you say?"
"No," Morax quickly negated. "This is my nation, and as its host, it would be very rude of me to make a guest pay for my expenses." Venti rolled his eyes and groaned at his friend's professionalism.
"Come on, lighten up! You've treated me to Li and Yue cuisine dozens of times, and never once have I been able to repay you! Let me spoil you, just this once, okay?" Morax gave Venti a long, hard look, heavily contemplating whether or not to agree to the bard's proposal. Eventually, after much silent pleading on Venti's behalf, Morax caved.
"Only if it's Li cuisine. I can't deal with Yue food and its reliance on seafood." Morax cringed as he pictured being served slim and raw fish on a platter. No way, not happening. He had far too much PTSD from hunting down those pesky hydro slimes all those years ago that even the sight of raw seafood made him gag.
"The God of Liyue being disgusted at half of his country's food? Ha! That's a story that would go well into a song," Venti laughed as he made his way up the stairs towards the restaurants, Morax trailing not far behind.
"Please don't, Barbatos," Morax grumbled, though there was no venom behind his words. In truth, the Geo Archon would be honored if he was the inspiration for one of the Anemo Archon's infamous songs. For a moment, Morax dwelled on the question of how many of Barbatos's songs he was a part of, but quickly shoved the thought out of his head. Even if he was a part of just one, Morax would be far happier than his friend would ever know.
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"Oh, this is so good!" Morax barely made out Venti's words through his stuffed mouth, but the tone of the bard's voice served as enough proof of his enjoyment of the cuisine. As for Morax himself, he was quite a bit more dignified with how he consumed the food in front of him, but he couldn't deny that the taste was exquisite. True to his word, Venti did bring Morax to a place that served Li cuisine and had just enough money for the two of them to eat a proper meal.
Morax had ordered Qingce Stir Fry and Bamboo Shoot Soup while his companion settled for a simple Jueyun Chili Chicken. During their meal, the two of them had discussed possible names for Morax, but had come up short. Every name in the book was suggested during their meal, but none of them stuck. It was a disappointment, sure, but when would Morax have to use a human alias on a daily basis? He doubted ever, but Venti suggested otherwise.
"Who knows, Morax? One day you might find yourself growing bored of your archon duties and decide to live life as a mortal. There'd be no shame in it, look at me! I've been doing it since the beginning and I'm fine!"
"You live off a handful of Mora a day and don't even own a home," Morax deadpanned as he looked over his glass at his friend.
"All of Teyvat is my home! And Mora is overrated anyways," Venti mumbled as he inhaled the last remains of his food.
"I would beg to differ, as I crafted every coin in this world with my own hands. It is my flesh and blood, Venti, so are you implying I'm worth less than what most believe?" Morax grinned at the stuttering mess his friend turned into. He had not actually meant his words, and in truth, he did agree with Venti on some level, but there were times Morax simply wanted to turn the tables on their relationship, where he was the one doing the teasing instead of Barbatos.
Relationship.
Huh.
Is that what this had grown into?
As Morax looked over at the god in front of him, a ridiculous thought wormed itself into his brain. No, he didn't dare believe it. How could he, an archon, who had slain thousands with his spear, be capable of such a human emotion?
He wasn't.
He didn't deserve that.
It was impossible for an archon like him to love.
5. (500 years ago)
The chaos that had engulfed the land had finally settled. As he flew through the skies of Teyvat in his dragon form, Morax belittled himself for not being able to protect his people. Everywhere Morax turned there was death and destruction from what remained of the attacks. Anger, grief, and regret all piled on top of each other in the mind of the Geo Archon as he took in the damage done by his delayed response and reluctance to raise his spear against foreign humans.
Oh.
That was right. He had broken his contract to protect humanity...
Ironic how the God of Contracts so easily broke the most important one. How far he had fallen.
As he flew along the border of Liyue, Morax caught a glimpse of a shade of white different from the surrounding snow atop the peak of Vindagnyr.
Could this be the second wave of attacks, Morax wondered as he made his way toward the stilled figure. As he neared the snow-swept mountain, the once mysterious figure slowly morphed into the Anemo Archon. It seemed Barbatos had heard the cries of his people and awoke to aid them in battle.
What a horrible sound to awaken to.
Morax demorphed from his dragon form and approached Barbatos silently. Neither said a word as the two archons stood side by side while looking out over the continent they had sworn to protect all those years ago. The red sky above them acted as a backdrop to the already horrific landscape. Behind them, the flames of Khaenri'ah raged as there was nobody left to put them out. As for Teyvat, it wasn't looking much better. Smoke engulfed every nation, and although there was nobody anywhere near them, Morax swore he could still hear their cries of desperation. Below them, the remnants of the Abyssal Dragon that Barbatos and the Dragon of the East had slain earlier that day stood as a stark contrast to the white of the mountain. A brutal fight it must have been.
"They're gone," Barbatos whispered. It was the quietest Morax had ever heard him be. Whether he was referring to the deceased archons or the fallen humans, he did not know.
"I felt their passing," He opted to say. Makoto was not a warrior, but she still fought until the very end, putting herself in front of her sister so that she would not have to burden the sin of killing humans. As for Rukkhadevata, her presence had slowly faded out of existence. Whether she had departed peacefully or not would be left up to history.
It had only been a millennium and a half, barely a fraction of a god's life, and yet five out of the Original Seven had already parted from this world.
"I guess it's just us now," Barbatos murmured, his eyes glossed over in a way that resembled a dead body.
"We are not the only archons, Barbatos," Morax offered, but was only met with a displeased grunt from the God of Winds.
"Oh, don't be the nice guy, Morax. These replacements are nothing like their predecessors. They don't deserve the title of Archon," Barbatos spat, glaring out over the continent. "I highly doubt Raiden Ei and whoever the hell replaces Rukkhadevata will be any better than the cheap stand-ins we have now. Celestia has already failed at crowning the last three, what hope should I hold that the next ones will be any better?" This type of tone was not a normal one for Barbatos, as the god has always been reluctant when it came to gossiping or shit-talking his fellow archons. Still, Morax couldn't bring himself to disagree with the god’s words, despite the fact that he would’ve liked to defend the others. The title of Archon was, indeed, not properly honored by the Gods of Justice, War, and Love, but few would be able to exhibit the same devotion towards protecting mankind that the Originals did.
"I can understand your anger, Barbatos, and I do not believe that it is misplaced. However, I advise that you should-"
"Oh, do you ever shut up about advise?!" Barbatos yelled, boosting himself up so that they were at eye level with each other. "That's all I ever hear from you! 'I think you should do this' or 'I believe this course of action is most suitable'! It gets really annoying how after all of this time you still see me as some incompetent wisp of wind that can't handle the responsibility of an archon!"
"I do not see you as incompetent-"
"Then stop treating me as if I am!” The wind around them shook with tension. “You're always so professional about everything, and sometimes I wonder if you even are capable of being casual! How long have we known each other now? Over 2000 years! Yet I've never once seen you smile. It's always a half-assed grin, a smirk, or a frown! Damnit Morax! For once I want you to listen to me and learn how to let go! Stop insisting that everything be followed to a 'T' and learn to guide humanity not by the hand, but from behind! Give them a push when necessary, but try to watch them grow and prosper! If you manually carve out a path for them, you'll never be able to see what they can do on their own, or even what they've already done! Shit, Morax," the god laughed bitterly, "I just want you and the people of Teyvat to be happy..."
"How can you claim to be a protector of humanity if all you do is protect them?"
Oh.
So that was what he had meant...
"You're an admirable god, Barbatos." If Morax's words had gained Barbatos's attention, he did not show it. "It is because of you and your ideals that Mondstadt has suffered far less than any other nation today."
"I do not deserve the credit for their actions. Everything they've done has been the result of what they saw fit-"
"You're wrong," Morax interjected. "Please listen to me when I say that it is because of your guidance that Mondstadt is still alive today. When I had first met you, I had thought you were the opposite of an archon, a disgrace even. Now, I think that you are what every god should strive to be. You are a true protector of humanity because you do so much more than protecting."
"Don't recite my own words to me," Barbatos scoffed, yet a light hint of red dusted his cheeks. Morax cupped the side of the god's cheek and slowly turned it so that they were looking at each other.
"Barbatos, I have never thought of you as incompetent. Careless at one point, yes, but never incapable. Your people are alive today because of you." That time, Barbatos did not refute Morax's words.
Something stirred inside of Morax, and the uncharacteristic need to embrace his friend washed over him. The look Barbatos was giving him, their isolated location, and his hand on the god's cheek all pointed towards something Morax knew he wanted.
Something he needed, and would probably collapse if he didn’t get it.
But this was not the right time or place. Their nations still needed them.
Slowly, he pulled his hand away from Barbatos's cheek and let it fall to his side. The light in Barbatos's eyes faded as he, too, stepped back.
"I should go help my people recover." It was the first time Morax had heard Barbatos refer to the people of Mondstadt as 'his people'. It was comforting, in a sense.
"I wish you luck, Barbatos." The Anemo Archon did not smile, but the gratitude in his eyes was more than enough proof of his gratefulness for his oldest friend at that moment.
"You too, Morax. I hope we meet again on a brighter day." Morax knew just as well as Barbatos that this 'brighter day' wouldn’t be for a long, long time, but he found himself unbothered by the stretch of time that was to come.
He would wait. He would wait a thousand years if it meant he could see Barbatos even one more time.
Morax gave a nod, a parting bow, and took off in his dragon form.
The flames around Liyue Harbor had dwindled in his brief departure, yet they still served as a reminder of what had happened, along with what was to come. The future now held many uncertainties, both for the continent as a whole and personally for Morax.
However, for some reason, the unpredictability that was to come didn’t seem as threatening as it once did.
1. (Present Day)
The God of Contracts was free.
If somebody had told the once almighty Geo Archon that he would be living a peaceful life amongst mortals, unchained from his heavenly duties, he would have scoffed at their ridiculous delusions. Now, as he made his way toward the neighboring nation of Mondstadt, Morax couldn't help but smile at the irony. He was supposed to be the God of Contracts, yet he felt ashamed him how long it had taken for him to understand his own ideal.
Morax had once believed that contracts were supposed to be as steady as stone, an extension of eternity. That was why he had confined himself in so many ways to such an unpredictable world. Contract after contract was made to solidify his word and legacy in the bedrock of Teyvat, yet it only had taken a few simple words to shatter it completely.
"You've finished your duties, go ahead and call it a day." It was nothing more than an employer bidding his worker farewell, yet it had struck a cord deep in the heart of the stone-faced Geo Archon. It was then he wondered 'Have I already finished my duties?'
Morax would soon come to realize that he had, indeed, finished his duties- a long time ago, in fact. After all, every worker’s contract end eventually. Thus was the catalyst for the "incident" at the Rite of Descension and his contract with The Tsaritsa’s creation. Now, as nothing more than a consultant at a funeral parlor, he made his way to visit "an old friend", as he had told his boss, Hu Tao.
The air of Mondstadt in this era was different than that of the past, though some sense of familiarity remained. Despite his previous and sporadic visits to the neighboring nation, the consistent smell of Windwheel Asters, Cecilias, and wine never failed to escape his nose. He liked it that way.
Perhaps this was Mondstadt’s own form of eternity, Morax thought to himself as he made his way past the infamous Dawn Winery and toward Windrise. It had been a millennium since he had last seen the towering tree of Mondstadt, and though its height had certainly increased, the boundless presence it held over the land had not diminished in the slightest.
But the Tree of Vanessa was not why he had come all this way.
Strumming his lyre up in its branches was Barbatos, the God of Freedom. For a moment, Morax allowed himself to close his eyes and listen to the soft humming of his friend and the vibrating notes of his instrument. Although Barbatos was not singing, Morax recognized the tune almost instantly.
It was the first song the god had sung to him.
"Fly, fly away.
Like a bird in the sky.
See the world on my behalf.
To the heavens may you fly..."
It was the night after their first lantern rite together that Barbatos had told Morax of his fallen friend and the rebellion he had led. It was there he heard Barbatos sing for the first time, and that very song was comprised of the last words that his deceased friend had spoken to him. At the time, Morax had felt nothing but pity for the newly crowned archon, but now he saw it as a symbol of the god's strength.
"He would have been proud," Morax finally said, breaking the silence around them. It seemed, however, that suddenly announcing his presence wasn't the best course of action as Venti almost fell out of the tree at the sound of his voice.
"You're alive?!" Venti's surprise stunned Morax, who had assumed that his friend would have been well-informed about his faked death.
"Indeed I am," he laughed nervously. Venti jumped down from his place on the tree and beelined for Morax, who was already braced for some sort of physical attack. He knew he should've told Venti before anybody, but the rate at which his plan had progressed, and the lack of knowledge on whether or not his friend was even awake, left Morax unable to properly inform the god.
So, it took the former Geo Archon by shock when, instead of attacking him, he found Venti wrapping his arms around his torso, embracing him in a tight hug. "I thought I was the last one," Venti whispered into Morax's coat.
"I know. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Guilt drowned out the relief in Morax's voice as ran his hand through Venti's hair, who nuzzled his face farther into the elder's coat.
"Don't ever do anything like that again," Venti mumbled as he leaned into his friend's touch. A warm and amused smile replaced Morax's frown from the amusement of the god's childish actions. Although Barbatos had matured quite a bit in his almost 3,000 years of existence, he still retained his lighthearted behavior. Slowly, Morax moved his hand from the top of Venti's head to his cheek as he raised his friend's head.
"I promise I won't ever leave you," he swore, rubbing his fingers along the bottom of Venti's eye, which had, previously unbeknownst to him, began to water.
"That's a hefty promise you're making," Venti laughed, though there was little humor in his voice. His first tear fell soon after, and the moment almost shattered Morax's heart.
"I know, but I've never broken a promise, and I don't plan to start with this one," he reassured, wiping away the tear with his thumb.
"How can you be so sure?" The tremor in Venti's voice, their physical closeness, and Morax's newfound freedom all pushed the former Geo Archon to whisper the words that had plagued him for half a millennium.
"Because I could never bear to leave the one I love." There was silence. If Morax had half the mind he usually he did, he would turn on his heel and bolt back to Liyue, but his position with Venti kept him grounded, both figuratively and literally.
"You...love me?" The dreaded question had arrived, and it was now or never that Morax owned up to it.
"I do. I think I've loved you since that first Lantern Rite." This was it. There was no going back now.
"Even after I left you?" There was confusion in Venti's voice, and Morax couldn't blame him. Honestly, he had no idea how he fell in love with somebody who he only saw a few times a millennium.
"It was hard," he admitted, "and each time you left it hurt so, so much." Almost every day after that Lantern Rite, Morax would wonder when Barbatos would reawaken. He would think about what wine his friend would bring to their next meeting, what songs he had learned, and his thoughts on Mondstadt's progression. It wouldn't be for several hundred years that Morax would learn what these feelings were, and it would take even longer for him to accept them. "It was worth it, though," he added. "Every time you appeared it would always fill me with joy, and those days that I spent with you would be the highlight of my year. I'm fully aware of how ridiculous that sounds, but it's the truth...I love you, Barbatos."
The confession felt like a weight had been taken off his chest, and it felt even more rewarding when Morax saw a deep blush spread across Venti's face. "Y-you can't just go around saying things like that, you old blockhead!" A soft chuckle escaped Morax's throat as he watched Venti cover his eyes and groan in embarrassment. It wasn't until both had regained control of themselves did they, hesitantly, make eye contact once more. "Morax...was what you said true?"
"Every word."
Then did Barbatos act, boosting himself up with a gust of wind- much like he had done at the Lantern Rite -and the two met at eye level. Barbatos slowly wrapped his arms around Morax's neck as the latter wrapped his own around the former's back. With as much hesitance as a newborn baby standing for the first time, the two gods finally locked lips. Morax moved his hand from its place on Venti's back to the god's hair as Venti tightened his grip on Morax's neck. The wind swirled around them, its activeness embodying Barbatos's emotions at the moment. Despite his element's betrayal, Morax did not need the wind to know that Barbatos had been waiting for this moment for as long as he had.
He loved Barbatos, and somehow, Barbatos loved him back.
Their relationship was bound to be unreliable- they knew this. Morax wouldn't always be by Barbatos's side in Mondstadt, and Barbatos wouldn't always be awake like Morax wished he would. But that was destined to happen. Barbatos was the God of Freedom, and Morax wouldn't dare dream of stripping his lover of such an ideal. As for the God of Contracts, Barbatos knew full well that Morax would never give up his own principles for his sake, but he wanted that; he would never dream of stripping his lover of such an ideal.
Perhaps time would erode away these emotions, or maybe they would stand the test of time. In the end, eternity is as unpredictable as what's not. A love between two archons was foreign to Teyvat, but that is what would make it all the more worth experiencing.
After all, it was love fit for only an archon.