Work Text:
“liyue harbor had its origins when the mighty morax, now the lord of geo, moved his people south from the guili plains to settle by the wharf. but it is no secret that rex lapis did not rule alone, things were not like this millennia ago,” the storyteller began, his hands beckoning towards the audience that had slowly gathered around him. “come ye, and listen to a tale of old, of when the grand rex lapis had a companion to rule with, all in honor of tomorrow’s rite of descension!”
as the crowd grew, so did the inviting smile on his face. people sat nearby, around mahogany tables and on loose chairs, some standing or sitting on stairsteps. the hushed whispering of children revealed their eagerness, soon quieting down when the storyteller’s voice resounded through the space.
“long before war struck our land, the god of contracts, the god of dust and the god of music were the best of friends, the most inseparable of companions. together they had walked the world for hundreds of years, and together they would conquer it if time allotted it.
“but we are all aware time is cruel, yes? and so this great trio had broken apart during the war; the dust goddess guizhong had met her demise. word has it that all across liyue the only song the wind carried for years was the god of music’s mournful chants, and that stone would fall from the sky as the warrior god exercised vengeance on those who robbed him of his precious ally.”
you cradled guizhong’s head in your lap, as zhongli established a shield to surround you. war raged endlessly around you, but to the three of you, it was as though it’d come to a halt.
“guizhong, please, resist,” were the words he said while falling to his knees, a hand hovering over the fatal wound on her torso. tears stung your eyes as you placed a hand atop zhongli’s, willing yourself to muster a smile for your friend to see in such a dire moment. her eyes scanned your strained expression leisurely, then moving to zhongli’s furrowed brow.
“please hold on for a bit more, guizhong,” you pleaded, “we can save you together. please, please.” your other hand moved silky strands of hair out of her face, softly caressing her head.
“you need not go to such lengths for me,” the goddess heaved at last, missing how zhongli’s eyes widened in alarm. “you need your full strength to brave this war face on.”
“but is it that not the same as continuing without you? let us,” you told her, voice shaking as power emitted from your hands, a tune embedding itself in the wind that stirred your robes.
“please,” zhongli added, golden light coming from the hand conjoined with yours. this was until the dying goddess used the last of her strengths to break the bond, hand now limp against her stained robes. she gave you both a smile, serenity radiating from her in waves.
“do not. if you still wish to proceed, then consider this my dying wish, yes?” the words made your heart sink to your gut, shivers wrecking through your body. zhongli’s jaw locked tightly, a shaky breath coming from his lips. she called your name as though she was not in pain, uttering your companion’s soon after as well.
“stay together no matter what. i am sure you will not forget me, morax, and you surely will sing my lullaby,” she addressed you. both of you nodded right away, cradling her between two pairs of arms.
“my death should not hold back either of you. liyue is yours to claim. zhongli, i entrust to you the guili assembly. y/n can help you lead them just as well as i did, possibly even better.”
“do not,” you began, your voice breaking when you saw tears streak zhongli’s face, your gut lurching when guizhong gasped in pain. “it is… about time.” she smiled at you.
“thank you, dear friend,” you sang to the goddess of dust, the wind carrying your anguished tune, though it was meant to send her off. zhongli rested a hand on her head next to yours. “rest now, guizhong. you will forever shine like gold in my memories.”
“nurse the lilies for me, yes?” she exhaled as her eyes closed. “thank you, my dear friends.”
the world came to a standstill as your companion turned into the finest dust, glaze lilies soon filling the field you lied on, and erupting wherever the breeze took her remains. your song picked up, the harsh wind causing your hair to flow with your robes. you and zhongli no longer cradled the dying body of your friend, but the lilies she so used to love.
all liyue was the audience to your mourning, its mountains and rivers bearing witness to how you and zhongli sought comfort in each other.
“the god of music was no match to the god of contracts when it came to brawls, but for the god of dust they would stand their ground and strategize every move. fate destined the god of contracts to win, fulfilling guizhong’s prophecy. and so, our archon ruled the land with the friend closest to him that had withstood the test of time.
“they walked the land with the mere likes of us humans, establishing the great civilization we see today. rex lapis gave us mora, the landscapes painters so love to immortalize into paper; and y/n gave us the folk songs we hear by the port, the gong that accompanies the opera. together with the adepti, they brought liyue to its current glory.
“as the years would pass, they would inhabit with us no longer, but visit every month instead. as our ancestors relied less on the divine, their visits would be spread far. from every month to every six, from six months to a yearly descension to grant us their blessing and direction for the year ahead. yes, the rite of descension was not merely rex lapis, but him with his eternal companion.”
“zhongli,” you softly called out to him. “are you sure it’s all right to match like this? won’t the people think we are…?”
you were hesitant to tell him your thoughts, hesitant to confess to him your love. though you wished nothing more than to have your clothes match with his, be called an item with him, you worried he wouldn’t be up to it.
“does this bother you? if you wish, i could change my garments,” he replied, gleaming pools of amber soon meeting yours.
“i’ve made this suggestion as i'm more concerned of it bothering you,” you nervously chuckled, smoothing down a stubborn tuft of brown hair out of place on his head. it was soft to the touch, and you wished to keep running your hands through it, but it was not the time.
“oh, me?” he chuckled, in a voice so deep and rich you could not restrain the giddy smile on your lips, your pulse heightening due to your infatuation. “do not worry. i would always choose you to match my clothes with,” zhongli skillfully darted around the true origin of your internal conflict, though he knew very well himself.
“it is about time we descend, dear friend,” his tone was soothing like fine wine, softly reminding you of your contract. zhongli offered you his arm, and you didn’t take long to loop your hand around it.
“it is time, rex lapis.”
“though they ruled together, only rex lapis was called king of stone. even so, only the divine y/n could soften the groundbreaker’s will of stone. together they dictated the course of trade and business, and the god of music provided us with new songs to rejoice with and the instruments to accompany it, like the zither and the tambors.”
the crowd marveled at the revelation, amazed murmuring traveling amongst most of the people that had gathered to listen. though once the storyteller’s mouth opened again, the comments quietened, and all listened intently.
“throughout the course of many, many rites of descension, those who frequented the ceremony and had an eye keener than most began to weave a tale so intricately spun that if one were to analyze it profoundly, thou were to find oneself believing it was no tale, but the truth.”
astonished gasps erupted from the group of children seated cross-legged at the front of the audience, their small bodies leaning forward from their unending curiosity.
“it would be rare if one were not to ponder about the relationship of the patrons of liyue, since one is aware that such an intimate companionship for a time so long may very well give way into a fondness more similar than that of spouses and lovers.
“those with hawk-like eyes took note of our lord’s lingering touches, of his fond gaze towards his cherished friend, of how his eyes directed their figure supreme adoration when they were not looking. and thus, many say that rex lapis was the one to fall in love first; though some retaliate with evidence of their own that the master of song was whom displayed said feeling first. whomever you wish to believe, the choice is yours alone.
“as word spread among liyueans, they began to prepare another gift for the next rite of parting, something quite different to the gifts that preceded it years prior. for it was a present for lovers, a pair of matching gowns with complimenting details for the backbone of liyue, made of the finest silk and embellished with the purest of jade.
“the people of liyue wished no more than to witness their rulers express their love in the open, to see them hold hands instead of linking arms, to be able to say and relay to their children they gave the land’s archon wedding gifts. it may sound ridiculous and farfetched, but is it not the charm of tales of this kind?”
“zhongli... is this really all right with you?” you hesitated yet again, though fifty years had passed. at this rate, a century would pass yet again, and you would not inform him of your feelings for him. but the rite of descension this year had given you an opportunity that you once again intended to deflect.
the silken robes felt heavy on your hands, its weight heavier than it really was from how flustered you felt. it was evident they had been made from the silk that came from pressed silk flowers, as its smell lingered under the sweet perfume of glaze lilies. you had yet to inspect them properly to admire the delicately woven colors and appraise its embellishments.
“how many times do i have to remind you that when it comes to you, it poses no bother to me?” his hand rose to tenderly cup your cheek, his actions fueled by the privacy the room offered.
your people told you to change into the robes they’d given you in a small room within one of the buildings of yujing terrace. “the way these garments were designed were made for you to require of each other’s help to wear them properly,” the elderly lady you knew was a yearly attendee of the ceremony told you with a soft smile, her eyes crinkled at the sides. “we can only hope they are to your liking. if so, it would be of utmost honor to recount their making to you, my lord.”
who were you to deny her humble request? not even the true ruler of the land, rex lapis, had done so. and so, you found yourself alone with the person you have longed for thousands of years now. it has always been him.
the folding curtain was the only thing separating you from viewing each other bare. your frenzied heartbeat seemed to be louder than the rustling of clothes in your ears. once your arms were past the sleeves did you realize what the woman had said. at that same moment, his voice reached your ears.
“i’m afraid i am in need of your aid,” he chuckled from the other side. you took a deep breath, holding the fabric to your chest as you peeked around the mahogany structure, taking him in.
you figured pleading to the gods was useless in your predicament, given you were one yourself and the archon before you would very much catch wind of what you felt. he looked so handsome with his hair completely down, horns nestled atop a crown of brown. his golden eyes soon met yours, before deciding to scan your figure.
“ah, it seems i am not the only one. allow me to lend you a hand first,” he smiled. you quickly shook your head, heat beginning to flush your neck. “you first, my friend. you are the archon between us both.”
he tsked, swiftly moving behind you and placing his hands on your shoulders. “nonsense. let me get you ready first.” how could you refuse now?
his fingers deftly clasped the pieces into place by your shoulder, wrapping a part of the fabric around your waist so it could be fully buttoned at the back. it took him some time to figure it out, but he realized the button carved from jade was to hold everything together at the back. “did i not mention all these colors look amazing on you? you truly are a sight to relinquish.”
a bashful smile spread across your face, which was now downcast. “…thank you, zhongli. now, let me get you ready.”
he chuckled in response, the rich sound resounding through your ears and straight to your heart. he was in high spirits tonight. you soon got to work, trying your best to repeat his actions on him. yet, you could roughly hold yourself back from tracing the golden lines on his shoulders with your fingertips, deciding to clasp the robes atop it to cover them instead.
when he spun to look at you again, his eyes gave you a once over again, a smile tugging at his lips. “you look stunning. such indigo should be reserved for you alone to wear.”
“what is it with all the compliments, hmm?” you hummed nervously, straightening his collar, and staring straight at his chest, your hands flat against it. his had more gold woven in to compliment his eyes, just like yours did with the hue of your eyes. his arm looped around your waist, pressing you to him. “you deserve far more praise than what i give you. so, from now on, i'll fix that.”
“legend has it the master of scores preserved the art of crafting ceremonial robes of that kind after accepting the people’s gift. that rite of descension y/n granted us a new song to claim as our own, and the lord of geo charted business’ course for the year. many said that this rite of descension the god of contracts was the most relaxed in front of his people.
“but some years later, trouble stirred deep within mt. qingce. its inhabitants quickly informed their gods of a presence stronger than that of humans disturbing their everyday lives. the great, slumbering dragon had woken at last, and trouble was bound to arise. the great y/n ventured into the area first, carefully inspecting the cave from which settlers had reported the noises to come from. the ground quaked beneath their light, agile steps as the chi sensed something unfamiliar around its territory.
“it is not my intention to say our master y/n was weak, but then again, we must remember they had far more affinity with peaceful activities, like those pertaining to music and the strategizing of business. chi had gained too much strength, for all its parts had gathered. the master of song intended to inform rex lapis of this discovery, until a growl billowed in their ears, the earth shaking from its might.”
a person with eccentric purple garments heavily sat on a chair that had been abandoned amidst the storytelling, trembling hands clasped neatly on their lap. a little girl sat by the front held her hands to her chest, eyes blown wide from the thrill. a young man listened quietly from his place by the crowd, seated at one of the mahogany tables with an untouched cup in his hand.
“it was too late to retreat; the god of music, coruler of liyue, had to brave the chi now or taint their hands with the blood of innocent qingce villagers.”
you took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as you mentally tried to reach rex lapis. ‘zhongli, chi has awakened in qingce’ was the message you tried to relay, attempting to do so perhaps three times. you were not so used to adeptus arts of this type yet, but something within you told you it had worked. zhongli would arrive in some time, and all would be settled.
your steps were light as you pranced around mt. qingce, keeping an eye peeled for the angry dragon. but would this be of any good now that he directed his anger towards the dwellers of liyue? “this will not suffice,” you mumbled to yourself, shortly after stepping into its line of sight. it glared at you menacingly, and thus was the moment you knew you had successfully become a decoy.
“the god of song drove the dragon up into the skies, and their combat raged in the heavens alone, not once touching the ground. so was their attempt at protecting the land of liyue and its people, at all costs. the dragon roared and clawed at empty air, as the master of scores dodged every blow. with each swing from the blade, came a melody from the sky, one that spoke of war and its dangers. they hurled a blow at the mighty chi, just as rex lapis fatally struck it from behind.
“soon, the chi would be sealed forever, its form beginning to crush under the wrath of the rock. but it still had a final trick up its sleeve, pretending to unleash its full wrath on our lord rex lapis, but the master of scores had foreseen it before it struck. and so, they took his place and faced the final, poisoned blow from the chi of mt. qingce before rex lapis crushed its form in the southwest.”
all you could feel was pain. you would rather be dead than let him feel such anguish and despair claw away at his integrity. but alas, you were already dying. the venom spread like a wildfire through your body, coursed through your veins like water through a river. it was something your form from days of yore could overcome, but not the one of today.
when he had called your name, you could barely register it. in no time, strong arms cradled you to an equally strong chest, and rex lapis descended to the ground with you in his embrace. your body moved on its own accord, twisting and squirming as it fought against the poison, to no avail.
“zhongli,” your voice was strange in your ears, shaky as well. he took you to a shallow stream, holding you close to himself as your body spasmed, and tears escaped your eyes.
“don’t speak,” he commanded, but not like a warrior. “don’t exert yourself.”
“zhongli, i’m leaving. it is just for a while,” you managed to get out, blood dribbling down the corner of your lips. rex lapis quickly sank deeper into the water, allowing it to cleanse your wound and wash it downstream. “first guizhong, and now… hah… i am leaving you too,” tears glistened on your cheeks, your nails digging so deep into your palms blood sept into the water.
“you… you must hold on, please,” zhongli begged, lips pressing to your forehead in an attempt to bring you some comfort. one of his hands rested by your ribcage, where tainted blood oozed freely from your body.
“i love you. for millennia i have loved you beyond words,” you confessed with a grimace, you whole body contorting in his embrace from a particularly sharp pang of pain. “i was scared you… you didn’t…”
“i do, i love you. you are what i treasure the most,” he frantically responded, power radiating off his body. “don’t you leave me too, please. i can’t afford to lose you, not now, never.” he pressed his lips against your gasping ones for a fleeting moment, kissing away your tears under the moonlight. how many days had passed already? to think that you would kiss on your deathbed because of your cowardice.
“i will come back, zhongli,” you tried to reassure him, but it was not too convincing to speak so hurriedly in between your endless sobbing. “perhaps… perhaps this soul will awaken in a new vessel once it's strong enough. but i will visit you,” you flinched, your eyes starting to close on their own.
a dissonant tune rang through the air, proof of your turmoil and pain. it was searingly loud, painfully so, and so horrendous to the ear one might as well as go into tears. yet, the breeze carried it loud and clear.
“i will visit you… in the harbor. find me, i will visit you… i won’t desert you.” your shallow breathing made him uneasy, just like your reduced squirming did.
“i will wait for you. i will always love you, my dear. please, come back to me soon,” zhongli pleaded, tears dripping onto your face as a smile rested on your lips, your eyes still meeting his for the last time in what would seem an eternity. your smile only became softer, gentler still, as you heaved a final exhale.
“in the river, rex lapis held his lover’s cold body in silent mourning, refusing to move for seven days and seven nights, until his body could withstand the rushing water no longer and tradition had been followed. a simple, anguished tune resounded in every crevice of liyue for that period of time, as though what gave life to the score master’s dying song was rex lapis’ embrace. a ceremony was held to revere their passing, and it was not until then that the king of stone returned to the mountains to completely overcome the chi of qingce.
“at the next rite of descension, our lord’s presence was the briefest ever documented. his mood was somber, grieving, and his clothes were dull. the only semblance of life in him was a folding fan with a pair of songbirds perched on yellow flowers in front of a sky the color of noctilucous jade. the delicate item belonged to the late y/n, and was the only physical trace of their person left for rex lapis.
“and thus, the whole of liyue was plunged into a period of mourning and grieving at the sight of our lord providing us with the year’s course on his own. there were no songs to be shared, no instruments to play. the breeze no longer carried a joyous, but imposing, tune. the rite of descension was the confirmation to the news that hailed from qingce, it was the drop that made the cup overflow.
“although i could, i am not here to tell you the story of the rites of descension after that, surely not; instead, open your ears to a tale of rex lapis’ mourning, of a rex incognito that aimlessly wandered liyue harbor in search of his lover, waiting for the one that bound him into the purest of contracts.
“many decades were to pass before he could meet his beloved yet again, centuries even. nonetheless, he desperately clung to a promise made in between life and death, for it was the only chance fate would present him of experiencing the pleasures only love could bring. life cycles would come and go, but in each of them, a person with eyes that shimmered like gold would stroll around the city.
“the first time rex lapis reunited with y/n was an afternoon at the port. as the sun died in the horizon, a mob of violet blundered past him, bumping into his shoulder in the process. when he turned to face the one responsible, he was met with a familiar set of eyes. they looked back into his with fright and alarm, with an expression he was oh so distantly acquainted with.”
“o-oh! pardon me sir! it was very rude of me to walk without looking! i apologize, truly i do!” you quickly bowed your head to the man you’d bumped into. the only things in your field of sight were his long, black robes and pristine footwear. a folding fan delicately rested between long and slender fingers; a gorgeous image of fluffy songbirds perched on a branch was the only touch of color on the mysterious man. at the thought of him being a noble, your hands turned clammy and sweaty.
‘rex lapis, help me,’ was the first thing that came into your mind after the realization. it was only when you heard him chuckle under his breath that you met his eyes, holding your breath from the intensity of his amber stare. your heart constricted in your chest, an unintelligible set of emotions washing over you all at once from merely holding his gaze.
“fret not, for you have caused me no bodily harm. although, it seems to me my clothing says otherwise,” his rich, deep voice filled the space. it was so pleasant to the ear you barely registered what he’d said in your mind. but when it sunk in, your eyes widened.
“how come, sir? oh my!” you gasped, a hand flying to your mouth when you caught sight of the tear in the silky linen pooling at his feet. you met his eyes again, anxiousness making your heart drop to your stomach. you could not afford to mess with a noble, much less now.
“and so, rex lapis ensnared the human reincarnation of his lover from days of yore into a contract. ‘tis was the time he abused the privileges of nobility, giving the child of a poor farmer a permanent position at his manor. but the story of their romance could be saved for another day such as today, no?”
“if it is not rude to ask, why do you always keep this folding fan on you, my lord?” you questioned shyly, gathering his painting supplies to neatly store them away. you only heard him sigh, your fingers carefully placing things into the cabinet as quietly as humanly possible.
“it is the only reminder i have from someone very precious to me. although, i am very sure that the day you will understand, is nearer than ever,” came zhongli’s response from across the room. your brow furrowed in thought, trying to comprehend whatever he meant by that last sentence he so often told you perhaps the tenth time this week.
“i see, my lord.”
“blessed by fate, our lord was given a fleeting respite from his loneliness, as the human life cannot compare to that of an immortal. soon enough, no matter how much he cared for the life of his lover, they were whisked away from his presence yet again. the cycle would repeat itself for the years to come, granting him an ephemeral happiness at the cost of prolonged torture.
“almost four centuries would pass again before rex lapis encountered his lover for the last time. i shall, once again, spare you the details for another occasion, yes? what is the most important is that this meeting was the briefest he would ever experience, as the sliver of the god of music encased within a human would die in his arms, yet again. how cruel of fate to take their life with the same wound!”
the life of an adventurer should’ve never been your choice. was it really worth it when having to face a pain of this magnitude, when having to see his pained expression amidst the arduous task that was taking a breath?
“zhongli,” you called his name, choking on the blood rising up your throat soon after. he gently placed you on his lap, trembling hands wiping a splatter of blood from your face. your eyes took him in, images of days long bygone flashing through your mind simultaneously. you saw yourself dying in the same way as today, while he cradled you in his arms in the basin of a river.
“why couldn’t you stay with me awhile longer?” the brunet lamented, unspoken troubles causing tremors to wreck his spine. it would be futile to try and save you, as this was what fate predestined to happen.
“the time is close,” you told him, using the last of your strength to place your hand above his. “this body has remembered.” though your sight was blurry, everything was clear to you now: your purpose, your identity, and where you belonged.
“some time will pass, but i can assure you,” you started, voice fainter each passing second. zhongli gently placed you against his chest instead, his face coming to rest beside yours. “…once the next body remembers, i will be yours forever again.”
“i will wait, and i will find you again, no matter if it were to take a millennium for you to return. i will always seek you,” he fervently answered right away, unperishable passion nearly setting him ablaze.
“i will manifest myself to you when the next body…”
“remembers. yes, dearest. i shall find you and if you do not, then i will make you remember. until then, you will continue to shine like gold in my memories.”
“and so, rex lapis wept for the loss of his lover, the wound in his heart reopening to make him bleed. as time waits for nobody, whether the lord of liyue took the shape of a man or a woman, he sought out his beloved and waited, patiently so. after giving him such hope, it would be too cruel to not fulfill that wonderful promise.
“but i am afraid, my dear audience, that this tale has not acquired a happy ending just yet. word has it rex lapis kept wandering the streets of liyue, living amongst us, awaiting the day he can finally be reunited with y/n just to never let them go again. a fan with a pair of songbirds remains in his possession, a cherished treasure that simply cannot see the light of day no longer so as to preserve its condition until their next meeting.”
the crowd murmured among themselves, a group of older women sighing in dismay at how the story ended. the children, disappointed, decided to craft an ending themselves, heatedly discussing potential outcomes sprinkled with happiness. the young man donning all brown seated at a table took a sip from his cup, steam rising from the tea’s warmth.
you briskly stood from your chair, its legs screeching as they roughly skidded on the floor. smoothing down your collar, you left the place immediately, breathing shallow and rapid. so many… memories? stories? (you were unsure if this was a byproduct of your imagination, or if your hypothesis was truth) flashed through your mind as the storyteller blurted all those things about rex lapis. “incredible,” you said to yourself under your breath, tugging at the lilac fabric to shield yourself better from the cool night breeze. heading home, you were unable to stop your mind from mulling over the storyteller’s show.
getting yourself ready for bed in the comfort of home, you felt unusually lonely, as if someone else was supposed to be doing this with you. it was nonsensical, really, as you’d done your night routine by yourself countless times now. yet, you wished for a pair of stronger hands to help you fetch the teapot from the pile of pots of pans at the highest rack in the kitchen. you almost wished for someone that relished the sound of your singing while brewing some tea for the night.
in the end, not even chamomile tea was enough to give you a good night’s rest.
your dreams were all over the place, and as much as you would’ve liked to get rid of them, there was no way to do so. you dreamt of yourself and a man so handsome and strong he might as well have been rex lapis himself. you dreamt of him holding you in a tender embrace in the fields of guili plains while you sang to the glaze lilies; of the two of you seated around a table atop mt. hulao; then both of you standing inside of the golden house, mora falling out of your hands into a seemingly endless pile of it.
but then, images of a bloody battle tormented your sleep, of you cradling a woman’s head during her last moments; of you lying on a warm bed while shaking from a fever; and you felt yourself float within a stream, the chilly water gushing past you.
until you woke up.
the sun hung low atop the horizon, sunlight’s first rays seeping into your room through the window. you couldn’t shake the feeling of water’s torrents caressing your arms, and a dull ache settled by your ribs, right beneath your heart. your limbs were weak as you stretched in bed, covering yourself with the bedsheets soon after. you felt tired, emotionally, and physically. still, you did not want to let the rite of descension pass you. therefore, you sluggishly readied yourself for the day ahead, some excitement bubbling within you at the thought of experiencing your first rite of descension.
purple adorned your body once again, as you decided to wear your most presentable clothes in front of your archon were he to see you. after breakfast, you set course to yujing terrace, greeting business owners you knew or any acquaintances of yours in liyue harbor. the sun was warm, but not too hot, and the breeze was cool, but not too strong. what day could go wrong with a weather like this?
while you took the stairs to yujing terrace, your mind still thought of the story you’d listened (at least part of) at third round knockout last night, and how odd the prospect of rex lapis in love seemed now that you would have a chance to see what people told you was his draconic form – the exuvia.
people milled about the plaza, and decorations had been arranged already. offerings surrounded a huge censer of sorts atop a great slab of stone, censers at two extremes of the location. carefully, you decided to follow tradition and make a wish with the incense, as per locals suggested. after much thought, though it was just a mere 20 seconds, you settled on something to wish for: an answer.
yes, it probably was silly to wish for the answer to something that you could figure out yourself, moreover something that had come to bother you since last night. however, something within you made you feel inclined towards that choice. you did not question it.
you repeated your wish at the other censer, overlooking liyue harbor as you let the breeze blow against your face, scanning the boats in the horizon. afterwards, you joined the expectant crowd that gathered around the offering table and lady ningguang of the qixing. you tried to land yourself a better spot, since the ceremony seemed to be starting soon. eventually, you were pretty much at the front, right as lady ningguang officially initiated the act. amazed, you watched as gems of geo went into the mechanism at the center, clouds gathering in the sky above. yet, something about the gray clouds settling over yujing terrace seemed like a bad omen. brown swirled into the clouds, and in the blink of an eye, a limp creature landed atop the offerings.
your eyes widened as rex lapis’ exuvia – a cross of a dragon and a qilin – remained unmoving, panic blooming in your chest as hushed whispers traveled the crowd. surely, that is not rex lapis? but why would it not be him, when its whole body is brown and gold, with beady amber eyes devoid of life or any semblance of emotion?
“rex lapis has been killed! seal the exits!”
the words felt like a sack of bricks had been dropped on your shoulders, and your breath hitched in your throat. in no time, the millelith had surrounded the crowd, present in every possible route one could take to exit yujing terrace. your eyes stayed glued onto the god’s corpse, a sharp pain spreading through your chest. a million images went through your head too fast – a blur of memories from days long gone, and occurrences that could only happen in dreams. but they were real, something told you as much. you turned your back to the horrific sight of rex lapis splayed lifelessly, making your way to the stairs that led out of yujing terrace.
you’d foreseen that a guard would interrogate you, of course you had done so. you were not distraught at all, your stomach queasy from all the thinking.
your arm wrapped around your stomach unconsciously while speaking with the millelith guard, which was kind enough to let you go upon revealing this was your first time ever attending (the last as well, it seems) and taking note of your uncomfortable and sickly pale complexion. bubu pharmacy was nearby, and baizhu could possibly have some cure to the pain in your chest? would he really? you clutched the fabric by the left side of your chest, hands shaking as you walked back to your home to the best of your ability. a thousand voices resounded in your head, all calling your name but with different titles added: master of scores, master of song, god of music, music’s…
as you walked the streets of liyue, you couldn’t help but see it different, décor dating all the way back to over two thousand years ago hanging on red posts, shop names written in ancient text, people wearing traditional clothing instead of the current one, and so much more (although such thing is, factually, impossible. you are not in ancient liyue, you are no longer living in the age of gods and monsters, but one of humans leading other humans to brave the perils ahead).
seeing all this at the same time was overwhelming, turning your breaths into shorter, shallow ones as you sprinted the remaining part of the way back home. as you fumbled with the keys, an image of yourself and a man with golden eyes changing together into ceremonial robes played in your mind, and you could’ve sworn you felt someone breathe behind your head. paranoid, you brusquely turned to look around your front door, quickly entering the house and sliding all locks into place at record speed.
such indigo should be reserved for you alone to wear.
with wobbly legs, you made sure to reach your bedroom, locking the door behind you right away. you pressed your palm to your temple in hopes to dull the pain that pulsated within your head, but it was futile. with a pained grunt, you flopped onto the bed, snippets of the storyteller’s story flashing in your mind.
nurse the lilies for me, yes?
you tried to calm yourself, taking deep breaths and attempting to focus on one thing at a time. if the what the storyteller said was just fiction, then why could you imagine it so vividly? you’d never been exceptionally good at visualizing things anyways, so why would it happen all of a sudden now?
it is the only reminder i have from someone very precious to me.
did he mention reincarnation? you wracked your brains, trying to focus on the words iron tongue tian had said last night, instead of the live depictions of it in your mind.
i would always choose you.
yes, he said rex lapis’ god lover died or something like that millennia ago, but visited him through human vessels here in the harbor. rex lapis took the shape of many humans as well, but all had golden eyes, which was how they identified the person to be rex lapis. had you had any past lives? did the fortuneteller you visited that one time mention something of the sort?
don’t you leave me too, please.
goosebumps erupted on your skin, and you quickly curled into yourself from the sudden gust of cold wind that entered through the window. it was as though you were lying on a riverbed instead of a mattress, the vertigo you were experiencing being something you’d never associated with the latter. as you shivered under the bedsheets, you decided to list all possible conclusions you could get from this, no matter how ridiculous they were.
first, it could be you were just feeling sick from seeing a god fall dead (practically) to your feet. it was quite the sight after all; not something you’d see every day either.
find me, i will visit you.
not quite the answer.
had you gotten sick from the incense? or was someone sick in the crowd? but how could one get sick so quick? not plausible at all. but, then again, you made a wish. you wished for an answer. was this your answer manifesting itself to you?
for millennia i have loved you beyond words.
you… are rex lapis’ long lost lover? and you reincarnated into this century. wait, was reincarnation even the correct concept? it was the only thing you could think of; your brow furrowed in utmost concentration. and everything would fall into place, really. it was… logical.
yes, dearest. i shall find you and if you do not, then i will make you remember. until then, you will continue to shine like gold in my memories.
you let yourself come to terms with it, puzzle pieces falling into place in your mind as you accepted that conclusion. of course, it was a bit farfetched, but it made sense to a certain degree. you chuckled, bringing your knees as close to your chest as possible. “me being the god of music totally makes sense.”
you weren’t aware of when you fell asleep, nor what time it was when you woke up. the sun poured in through the window, as usual. the only thing out of place were your clothes, given you’d never get in bed with outside clothing on. your limbs were stiff as you got out of bed, heading straight to the bathroom to freshen up for the day. looking at yourself in the mirror, something felt starkly different, even though you looked the same. then, you realized.
yesterday’s events flooded into your mind, and you reevaluated your face in the mirror, hands softly going cupping your cheeks. “i have… awakened?” you extended one arm in front of your face, then the other. it was all real. you were back in the flesh, and not just as mere fragments of yourself inserted into human vessels. the only problem now, was that rex lapis was dead.
the both of you could never win, was that it? when you were finally strong enough to return in one piece, zhongli was the one dead. you had made him go through six or seven cycles of reincarnation, made him seek you out just to die in less than a century to then make him wait five times that amount to possibly have a chance at developing a relationship of any type with your vessel at the time. fate is wicked, truly.
your mood turned sour at that, but you continued with your daily routine, nonetheless. you showed up to work, even if business had temporarily come to a halt for at least today. you could only shrug at comments regarding your deflated humor and nostalgic smile, lacking the energy to explain anything. it wasn’t like anybody could fully sympathize with you, anyways. these humans had never established a relationship as personal as yours with rex lapis, nor were they eternal beings (at least, not that you knew).
you wandered the city aimlessly, like a boat left to the wind’s mercy. your feet carried you to the port, where you recalled that meeting with him when he was of noble status. how he took you in and fed not only your stomach, but your mind as well, nourishing your thoughts with liyue’s culture, history, and fantasies of breaking the feudal contract you were involved in.
you ascended grand, stone steps and walked past liuliu pavilion, stepping under the arch atop the path that led to where he died. absentmindedly, you watched the fish swim in the pond, chasing each other amidst the lotus heads. you idled by the pond as the sun set for the ever-busy harbor, your feet taking you to the balcony overlooking the city. your forearms rested against the wooden banister, a sigh escaping your lips.
the view was stunning, as gold embellishments on the railing shimmered against the sun’s dying glow, and ships docked by the port. pearl galley was visible from here as well, reduced to half its size from the angle. “if rex lapis were alive, we could have gone together,” you tsked under your breath, a frown settling deep into your expression. “just my luck.”
with leisurely steps, a man clad in brown descended the stairs to yujing terrace, golden gaze surveying every corner in sight. he curiously watched the figure overlooking the city dressed in black from head to toe on such a warm afternoon. he observed their back for a few more seconds, forcing himself to be on his way and mind his business, as much as he wanted to get a better look at the mysterious stranger. hu tao was waiting for him at the parlor, after all; and zhongli was aware of how impatient the 77th director could be at times.
zhongli left, but you stayed in place, watching the sky turn dark and business dwindle by the port, as merchants and sailors called it a day. the cool night breeze blew against your face on the way back to your home. restaurants buzzed with customers, the delicious smell of traditional dishes wafting in the air surrounding you. however, it wasn’t enough to convince you to stop and buy anything.
you kept walking, and walking, and walking. you eventually went past the street of your house, but you could care less. you reached the other side of the port, the one closest to the pearl galley. the wooden boards creaked beneath your weight at times, and it was pretty dark all around. at this hour, it was just you, the ocean, and the moon. the hustle of liyue’s nightlife could only be heard if you tried hard enough, as the sound of the waves lapping ashore and hitting the docks covered it up.
it was then you let the full weight of things crash on you, letting the calm sea swallow your turbulent cries as you mourned the only person you had loved (romantically, of course) throughout your entire existence. you lamented your hesitance to ever come clean about your feelings to rex lapis, how you’d let your cowardice hide your yearning. now, there was nothing left to do. you could only love and cherish the memories you had of him, until erosion would make you lose yourself and forget having ever loved him.
so, as you walked back home hours later, late into the night, you made up your mind. tomorrow, you would visit yiyang temple and yujing terrace again to formally pay your respects with incense. the day after, you’d visit the pearl galley, even if he could no longer explain to you every detail of anything and everything. the day after that, you’d finally visit jueyun karst. surely, at least cloud retainer would love to see you again.
heart heavy with grief, you blocked out all things in your surroundings, moving about your house with reflex and muscle memory alone. he was the only thing you could think of while tossing and turning in bed, waiting for the sun to shine over the east today as well. when it did, you donned your best clothes in darker colors, your mouth set into a flat line. few people were out at this hour, given the sun had just fully risen over the horizon, casting a cool glow on green roofs and red wood.
you prayed at yiyang temple, a lengthy confession of sorts to a god that would no longer listen. it was strange: to be a god and pray to another. yet, it was the closest thing to talking to him. after burning incense at yujing terrace, most of the locals you spoke with expressed their surprise regarding rex lapis’ passing, and some expressed that maybe, even after death, he still watched over liyue (how could you tell them otherwise?).
that same afternoon, you headed to third round knockout, seating at the same chair as you did that fateful night. you ate in silence, alone, listening to people’s chatter. someone complained about being swindled by shitou at jade mystery, and you could hear the oddly suggestive phrases ying’er called out to anyone passing by the perfume shop, as well as dongsheng’s advertising. the round table was full of dishes for just one person, an untouched cup of tea in the spot in front of yours, all because you still weren’t capable of doing this with cloud retainer, seated at the stone table you’d always share a meal together at.
not a person would pass by without you seeing them, and the gentleman dressed in the earth’s hues was not an exception. you watched him as he sat at the table next to you with a blue-eyed man just as tall as him, the emblem of the fatui quite visible on his flashy attire. his hair was long and brown, with tips that glowed gold just like his eyes. you stared, entranced, at the set of eyes that seemed so distant, yet so familiar.
you were not discreet with your staring, boring holes into his figure with your eyes alone. even if his companion had noticed, even commented it to him with a hushed whisper, you remained unmoving. was this man truly rex lapis? his energy was the same as the one you would find comfort in centuries ago. when he met eyes with you, you held your breath. his expression was unreadable, his brows mildly furrowed but those amber eyes showed no intention of leaving yours. and so, you carefully took the few steps to his table, occupying the empty stool left. the ginger seated with him was quick to react, clearing his throat to address you, but you beat him to it.
“zhongli,” you spoke aloud, voice low with trepidation. “answer me. are you zhongli?”
“excuse me, but we are currently discussing serious affairs-” the snezhnayan man began, but you rose a hand to the air.
“pardon me for interrupting. i merely ask for a minute of your time. sir, if you could be so kind as to answer my question?”
eyes the color of the purest cor lapis appraised your features, curiosity seeping into the handsome man’s fair complexion. gloved hands delicately put down the teacup he held, gaze locking onto yours again. “indeed, i go by the name of zhongli. might i query as to why this is of your interest?”
you felt your heart star to beat frantically within your chest, threatening to pop out of your ribcage any time now. pursing your lips, you swiftly got up, glad you had paid your tab in advance. you turned your back to them, scared that your face would give away your feelings.
“i trust you know liyue harbor better than i do, and that you will know where to look. find me when you have the time, zhongli.” with nothing left to say, you hurried down the steps, food and drink long forgotten now.
silence prevailed for a minute, as zhongli stared at the table in contemplation. childe was first to speak, wording his sentence carefully. “who was that mr. zhongli?” blinking twice, said man snapped out of his reverie. the harbinger awkwardly struggled with the chopsticks while waiting for a response from the brunet. zhongli sighed, deeply, a frown adorning his face. “someone i have much catching up to do with, if i'm not mistaken.”
whatever he meant by that, tartaglia certainly did not get. “what?”
“i’m afraid we will have to discuss things another time, childe,” zhongli told him while getting up. baffled, the hydro user rose to his feet as well. not only was he getting stood up, but he’d have to pay the bill as well! “come again, zhongli?”
“my apologies,” the man excused himself, quickly taking the same route he’d seen you take moments ago. childe could only watch him leave, coattails lifted by the breeze and his hurried pace. he huffed, looking down at the food that he’d left practically untouched.
how long would zhongli take to find you? not long, maybe. he knew liyue like the back of his hand, just as he knew you too. even if you wanted to speak to him, a part of you was still trying to make sense of things. he was dead, supposedly. so why did you find him in the city, dining with a member of the fatui? or was that really him? but you could recognize those eyes anywhere, no matter the time or season. had he staged his death? if so, why? had you ridiculed yourself in front of a pair of strangers, mistaking him for the love of your life?
you let your feet take you to the bridge leading out the city, where stone turned into dirt. a bit winded from the sudden sprint, you sat at the edge of a grassy cliff, looking at the city you had helped him build thousands of years back. before you could register it, tears were falling onto your lap. a particularly harsh gust of wind made the leaves from the tree above you fall on your head, and you swore music came along with it. heavily troubled, you leaned back against the trunk, closing your eyes awhile for the first time in hours. images of him smiling, then lying lifelessly on the floor tormented your thoughts, tears spilling past your eyes no matter how hard you tried to hold back.
when you finally looked at the world again, your sight was blurry. yet, you spotted a mob of brown trekking up the hill, presumably in your direction. hastily, you wiped your tears with the back of your hand, taking deep breaths to steady yourself. you were proven correct when the person only drew nearer to you, letting you confirm it was zho- well, the man you believed was zhongli.
quietly, he sat next to you on the grass. you stared at him in silence, waiting to hear what he had to say, waiting for him to explain himself. his gaze softened when directed towards your tear-streaked face, gloved fingers twitching by his legs. “at last, you’ve come to me, dearest,” he exhaled with a tender smile. he looked stunning as always, but this attire made his eyes stand out so much. his hair was the same as always, and his aura as well. soon enough, you began to cry again at the sound of your name leaving his lips, causing him to immediately shift closer to you.
“may i?” zhongli queried softly, his hand outstretched to you. “of course you may,” you chuckled, pulling him in. he enveloped you in a hug straight away, lips softly pressing to your temple. “i really… i thought you died. i… i was…”
his hand rubbed circles on your back, his other hand holding your head close to his chest. “i apologize, my love. it was time for me to step down, and resigning like this was the course of action i considered best. i did not factor you in, and i am sorry,” he explained in a soft voice.
“i mean… this form only remembered because of it. don’t worry too much,” you clutched his collar tightly, knuckles turning white. “i’m yours now. we got plenty of time ahead of us, even more since you retired.”
“yes, we do,” he replied with a tender smile, fondly stroking your hair. “i am yours, i have always been.”
you stayed in a comfortable silence afterwards, syncing your breaths with his slow, rhythmic ones. the wind seemed to carry the sweet tune of an ocarina, a song of love and joy reaching every nook and cranny of liyue harbor. you let zhongli cradle you in his arms for the rest of the afternoon, listened to him talk about how he was now the consultant at the wangsheng funeral parlor. you apologized for making him wait so long, to which he only shook his head.
“darling, it truly poses no bother to me. i was lucky enough to meet you so many times, and the fact that now i will have you beside me forever makes even a thousand years of waiting worth the while,” his deep voice made you melt, his lips grazing the shell of your ear. “how many times i ought to tell you, nothing about you will ever bother me? except being away from you again, of course.”
“ever so smooth with your words. ah, it really is you, my love,” you nuzzled into his neck, fingers playing with the golden tips of his hair. “when will you brew me some of your tea again? with some of your bamboo shot soup too, please?”
“whenever you want, as many times as you want, my dear,” zhongli pressed his lips to yours, and even the leaves seemed to stop flowing with the breeze at that moment. unable to resist a pleasure he’d been denied for so long, he deepened the kiss as though the world was ending, and this was the last time you’d ever enjoy each other’s presence.
“i love you,” the words finally left your mouth, though millennia had to pass for it to happen. you smiled at him, relishing in the sparkle his eyes had. he reciprocated the gesture, briefly kissing you. “say it again,” he murmured against your lips.
“i love you, zhongli,” a giddy smile rested on your face, letting him tighten his arms around your waist in a bone-crushing embrace. “i waited so long to finally hear you say it. i love you too, y/n,” zhongli’s golden eyes shut as he molded your lips together yet again.
though your time had passed, you found yourself to be happiest in the human race’s age, with a love preserved through various lives. zhongli would be there to kiss you goodnight, and wake you with a kiss once the sun rose for teyvat. you would fall asleep tonight knowing he was right beside you, and that he would remain until the end of time, as stone is the strongest foundation of all.