Archive of Our Own

A magical being, more powerful and fair
Than all others, a legend beyond compare
If you met it, you must be quick, to capture its heart
Or run for your life, before it tears you apart

Run for your life, or suffer the curse
Madness and pain, a fate much worse
No going back, once you've met its gaze
Capture its heart, or be doomed to the haze

Run from the maze, or suffer the spell
Madness and pain, a fate none can quell
No going back, once you've met its face
Capture its heart, or be doomed to this place

In the far reaches of a land shrouded in darkness and despair, there existed a creature of extraordinary power and beauty. Tales of this divine being, with its golden aura and noble presence, were whispered among the witches, beasts, and monsters that roamed the land. It was said that those who encountered this being were bewitched by its magic, their minds, and hearts ensnared by its spell. If one were to come across this creature, one had to act quickly to capture its Divine Heart, for it was the only way to break the curse and fulfill their deepest desires. But beware, for if one failed to do so, they would be doomed to a lifetime of madness, with no chance of escape.

Childe had always dismissed the tales of the magical being as just another fairy tale, something told to children to distract them from the harsh realities of the world. He had even told the story to his younger siblings, delighting in the way their eyes would widen with wonder and their hearts would fill with the magic of imagination. 

But now, as he stood face to face with this powerful and beautiful creature, he understood the warnings that people had spoken of all these years. The legend was real, and the story more than just a little nursery rhyme.

Ajax "Childe" Tartaglia was by no means an ordinary young man. He was an aspiring and talented wizard who had made it his mission to become the most powerful in the entire world. No small feat, and after twenty-two winters, he would say he had already come a long way.

At the age of only fourteen, he was thrust into this dark plane of magic and sorcery called the Abyss. From one moment to the other, the redheaded teenager had fallen through a rift in the forest behind his childhood home on Teyvat into this world of its own rules; a world that allowed him to learn magic.

A world Childe couldn't leave—not that he wanted to.

Little Ajax had always heard stories about the Abyss, the dark twin of Teyvat, where only the most unfortunate became trapped. As one of the "Fallen," those sad individuals who stumbled into the Abyss by accident, Ajax was no longer a part of the world he knew. He had been separated from his family, his friends, and everything he held dear, left to navigate this treacherous realm on his own. And yet, even as he longed for the comfort and familiarity of home, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and adventure.

For in the Abyss, anything was possible. The laws of physics and reality were twisted, and even the most impossible dreams could become a reality. And so, Ajax vowed to make the most of his time in this strange and dangerous land, using all his wit, strength, and courage to survive and thrive in this new world.

That feeling originally lasted until he was hunted by cruel monsters. Fortunately for him, Childe was saved and taken in by a powerful witch who took him under her wing and taught him the fundamentals of magic. 

Years after their paths diverged, Childe learned just how lucky he had been to have Skirk as his mentor. She could have easily sold him as a slave or as fodder for those monsters or their magical companions. Childe also learned that Skirk was one of the four great witches, feared throughout the Abyss for her immense strength and power. Only a few little details she had hidden from him, but he was not angry about it. The realization only fueled his determination to become even stronger and surpass his master.

He left his little self "Ajax" behind and wandered under the name "Childe," a title given to him by the wandering merchants as he had roamed the lands with Skirk. 

Childe had dedicated himself to rigorous training over the past few years, with a particular focus on combat. He enjoyed the thrill of one-on-one duels, especially when his opponent was a formidable foe. However, such opportunities were rare, and he spent most of his time battling hordes of monsters and honing his stamina. His preferred form of magic was Hydro, but he was also skilled in using the Electro element to create powerful elemental reactions. His reputation quickly spread throughout the Abyss, attracting more and more powerful creatures seeking to challenge him. 

This only stirred his desire to become even stronger and he knew that he needed to find a way to increase his strength and power. And then, one fateful day, it hit him—he remembered a nursery rhyme from his childhood that spoke of a magical artifact known as the Divine Heart that existed here, in the Abyss. It was said to be able to amplify one's magical abilities to levels beyond imagination. With this in mind, Childe set out to find the Divine Heart, determined to do whatever it took to become the strongest wizard in the world.

As he scoured the Abyss, seeking out any clues that might lead him to the coveted Divine Heart, Childe heard stories of the legendary artifact's immense power and its rightful owner, the Golden One. But was the Heart truly this being's actual heart, one that he would need to extract to obtain it? Or was it just a figurative term? Although it didn't matter in the long run, he started carrying a hunting knife just in case.

The quest for the Divine Heart proved to be a difficult one. Information about the artifact was scarce and costly, and it appeared that no one was willing to seek it out due to fear of the legend of the curse. But Childe refused to be deterred. He threw himself into his quest with all of his might, taking on any job that promised even the slightest chance of leading him closer to his goal.

As he delved deeper into the realm, Childe began to hear whispers of a mysterious scholar by the name of Zhongli. Though not known for his combat skills, it was said that Zhongli possessed an unparalleled knowledge of artifacts and was renowned for his kindness and desire to simply study and understand them, rather than collect them for his gain. It was said that he sealed them away. This human, a scholar, with his handsome appearance that everyone seemed to mention, had seemingly appeared out of nowhere in one of the few settlements of sentient beings in the Abyss, leaving many wondering about his true origins and motivations.

It came so that exactly this person, offered information in exchange for Childe’s services as a mercenary. This handsome yet naive man offered as-good-as-free information on the legend of the Golden One. Despite his initial reservations, Childe knew that he had to take the chance and see where this opportunity might lead him. 

In addition to this, the redhead couldn't help but feel a twinge of attraction for the mysterious and enigmatic client with piercing golden eyes. The merchants from whom he had received the information about Zhongli had not lied when they said the man was handsome.

"I am very thankful for your assistance, Mr. Childe," Zhongli told him as they trotted along a path that led to a not-so-well-known ruin in the distance.

In response, Childe could only grin. "No problem, as long as I get my share at the end."

The wizard, of course, led the way and told the scholar to stay close by, as he could better protect the man that way. Mr. Zhongli was also known to be haunted by bad luck—or at least, the people that joined him on his journey seemed to be. The stories were spread far and wide of unfortunate souls that lost their lives in magic traps or found other cruel ends. Only a handful ever came back, but if they did, they came back with a lot of ancient and rare riches—Of course, they were only rumors, but Childe wouldn't mind obtaining some riches himself.

Their journey to the place turned out to be quite boring, they met no one, and there was nothing to see except the usual scenery. Although it was a relatively bright day—or night, you could never be sure in the Abyss—as the ever-present stars above shone with a strikingly beautiful aurora borealis. There was nothing to be seen of the normally appearing dark fog far and wide. Strange , but Childe dismissed it with the fact that his luck was once again in his favor. The surroundings were flat, with only a few bare trees… one would think they were on Teyvat and not in the Abyss with its endless plains of nothingness. This way there should be no problem spotting possible opponents. 

They got closer and closer to the ruins, which seemed to be nothing more than just that: a ruin. 

And it was nothing until they got closer. The wizard had been to weird ruins before, which were perfect backdrops for epic battles and offered a wealth of tools with which to interact in battle: Bricks, old crates, and other debris, the usual stuff. From the outside, it did seem like any other ruins Childe had visited in his time in the Abyss, but this one radiated strange energy, eerie if Childe had to describe it. Different from everything else he had ever encountered in the Abyss. It was so notable that he felt a shiver running down his spine.

Zhongli, on the other hand, didn't seem fazed in the least by the sheer weirdness that this place radiated. He calmly strode past Childe as the latter stopped to check their surroundings. Shaking his head at this recklessness, Childe followed him deeper into the ruins.

Only when they reached the inner courtyard did things start to get a little more interesting: Crystals , a lot of them, scattered around the area, seemingly growing out of the ground. The most notable thing about them was their colors: orange, yellow, and golden. Some were translucent, some glittering. It was a strange sight in this otherwise color-limited dimension of black, blue, and purple. Possibly a sign of a close-by Geo artifact, although Zhongli seemed to have no particular interest in them. Without glancing at them, the scholar walked on. 

If the brunette wasn't paying attention to them, they probably weren't that vulnerable either, so Childe thought it best to ignore them for the time being and focus on the task Zhongli had given him: Safe passage through the ruins.

This was the right decision, as Zhongli moved recklessly toward danger. A layman wouldn't have noticed, but Childe was far from being one. Quickly grabbed him with one hand to pull him back before he could run straight into a magic rune. This rune was a sneaky little tool that was meant to either keep people away or kill them, depending on the intention of its caster.

"Careful, professor," he said as the other just looked at him in confusion.

He crouched down to grab a stone and throw it at the small symbol on the ground. With a hiss, a Geo spike, similar to those crystals around them, popped out of the rune. A beautiful specimen, truly merciless work, and certainly very deadly, if one would be impaled with it.

"Ah," was the more or less clever answer of the man Childe had just saved the life of.

Cute , the redhead thought and continued to lead the way towards the huge stone gate, which was the entrance to where they were meant to go. 

Of course, Childe was no amateur, so he knew it was never good to simply walk through the door that looked the most welcoming. And thus, he turned on the spot, looking for another entrance.

"Mr. Childe?" Zhongli, the most adorable rookie adventurer, stepped close to him. His face was lit up with confusion. 

With a grin and a hand waving his way, Childe cared to elaborate on his actions. "You see, Mr. Zhongli, it is always better not to trust your own eyes but your heart on matters like these. Things are not the way they seem in the Abyss and ruins like this often harbor traps and other mischiefs, as we saw a few minutes ago."

On his watch, they would both leave this place safe and sound and rich in magical artifacts… and whatever Zhongli was looking for—if he was looking for something in the first place.

"That…" Zhongli started, as he crossed his arms before his chest. He moved one of his hands to his face—a thinking pose, how scholars-like—"I suppose that makes sense," he finally said with a nod.

Childe nodded as well, thankful that the brunette accepted his professionalism.

They took a total of two laps around the ruin's main building, which fortunately was not big. He was about to give up when he finally spotted it—Bingo! A small door was located a few steps around the corner, he must have missed it the first two times they passed it because it was overgrown with more of these strange orange-golden crystals. Either that or the fact that he had been ogling at his travel partner's teeny-tiny waist.

"Yes, and that's why we're going to use this," the wizard declared triumphantly and began removing the crystals that were in the way.

Zhongli just smiled as he silently watched his mercenary work. Childe suspected that the scholar was just happy to have someone as great as himself to help him with this mission.

Once the crystals were out of the way, it was time to blow open the door, because why try to open the door of a ruin in the normal way? Perhaps it was also because he wanted to prove his skill in dealing with the elements. 

However, the door opened before he could finish casting the spell, and a gust of warm wind welcomed them. The ruin's interiors were packed with soaring columns, indecipherable runes, a range of peculiar but very visible traps, and stairs heading down into the unknown. It was clear that they were in a magical place, and Childe was impressed by what he saw. 

Zhongli, on the other hand, continued to look unimpressed. Maybe the man had just been used to old ruins and their secrets. Childe could not blame him. 

Nevertheless, they had no choice but to continue their way down into the labyrinth of corridors that might be waiting for them, ready for the surprises that lay ahead. Wordlessly, they made their way into the darkness.

When it became too dark to see anything, Childe conjured a spell that gave them light, and so they managed to descend the spiral staircase, which seemed to be the only way to continue their exploration. Throughout the descent, he could sense an eerie presence in the air and made sure the scholar was not far behind. They stumbled upon a few traps and puzzles, but the wizard made short work of the traps and the scholar was able to use his knowledge to their advantage, and they made it through unscathed. With all that, Childe's strange feelings became stronger and stronger. Something was wrong, but the wizard decided not to say anything. He didn't want to burden Zhongli with it, but if it continued, it couldn't be avoided.

"You know, Mr. Childe, this ruin was once a temple dedicated to the one they call the Golden One," the scholar began to explain as they went deeper and deeper. 

It was likely that this dark place was getting a little too much on the other's mind, so he began to fill the stifling silence with a little lecture. It didn't bother the wizard in the least, as he felt very uncomfortable himself. Not that he would ever say it out loud. Besides, free information about his ultimate target would never get him bored.

Zhongli's voice echoed off the wall like soothing drops of water making their waves. The deep voice and well-practiced storytelling style calmed Childe somewhat and he listened intently.

According to the scholar, many creatures, including humans and monsters, have visited these halls in the past. "They called them holy and brought their treasures in the hopes of exchanging them for the favor of the Golden One." 

"What favor?"

Zhongli looked surprised at the question and blinked several times before answering. "Well, it depends on what the individual was looking for. There are no texts about it, but I think some came here looking for power, some for knowledge, some for wealth, and still others were looking for a miracle. But no one knows what kind of gifts they were… It is a mystery," said the scholar with a twinkle in his eye, which could have also been simply a trick of the mage light between them.

Childe's curiosity was piqued by the legend of the Golden One, wondering if the tales were true or simply a myth. As he and Zhongli continued down the stairs, he couldn't help but wonder about the Divine Heart and its purpose. Did the Golden One use the artifact to fulfill the desires of others, gathering worshipers in return? Or were people drawn to the being in the hope of claiming the Heart for themselves? Either way, Childe was excited to uncover the secrets and mysteries that lay hidden within these ancient ruins, and he hoped that Zhongli would share his knowledge and insights as they ventured deeper.

As he walked alongside Zhongli, Childe couldn't help but sneak glances at the other man, mesmerized by the way the mage light illuminated his features. Those golden eyes, with their molten gold hue, had captured Childe's attention from the moment they'd met. Perhaps, if he was lucky, Zhongli would even agree to a little outing after they completed their mission— To gather more information, of course.

"What would you have wished for, Zhongli?" He couldn't help but ask to distract himself from those thoughts.

The sudden serious look of the pretty man made the wizard startle, thinking he had asked the wrong thing, and he quickly added, "Ehm... I wish I could visit my family. I haven't been able to see them since I fell into this space. I miss them a little bit, and I hope they're okay."

It wasn't a lie. Eight years had passed since he had seen them the last time. Maybe, if he got the artifact he could use it to visit home for a little. 

He must have sounded sincere enough—which he was—because, fortunately, Zhongli took up the subject quickly, "You're one of the Fallen?" The surprise on his face was clear as day. "You have such mastery of magic, I would never have guessed that you weren't born here."

He sounded genuinely empathetic, but Childe just laughed.

"Honestly, I think this was the best thing that could have happened to me. My family back home is poor, and with me gone, they have one less mouth to feed. Besides, I could never have learned to do this there," he said, conjuring up a small Hydro narwhal that floated gracefully between them, performing little tricks that brought a smile to the other's face.

"I admire your opportunism, Mr. Childe," Zhongli said, looking at the narwhal with a fond gaze. "I wasn't born in the Abyss either. But I've been here so long that I can barely remember what it was like before."

"Really?" Childe asked, surprised. "I would have never guessed. You seem so... different ."

He winced at his own choice of words, but the scholar seemed to take it lightly. 

Zhongli chuckled. "Well, I suppose that's a compliment. But I agree with you on life in the Abyss not being as bad as some make it out to be.”

“There are opportunities here, too, if you know where to look." Childe gestured to the narwhal, which continued to do backflips. "Take this place, for example. It's a ruin, yes, but it's also a testament to the magic that once existed here. And who knows what secrets—or possibilities—it still holds?"

 "It's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?"

He grinned at Zhongli. "You got it, Mr. Zhongli. Come, let's see what treasures we can find—"

Their conversation came to an abrupt end when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Childe's eyes widened in amazement as he took in the room, and the small narwhal dissolved into tiny drops as his attention turned away from the spell. The room was large and impressive, with a platform at its center, unlike any other ruin the wizard had ever seen or imagined.

"The throne room," Zhongli announced.

"Incredible," Childe breathed. "I've never seen anything like it."

Zhongli nodded in agreement. "It's clear that this was a place of great power and importance for the people," he said. "We should be careful as we explore."

Childe nodded, his excitement tempered by the scholar's caution. He knew that Zhongli was right—they had to be careful in this ancient and powerful place. They slowly and carefully entered the chamber, but Childe couldn't help but feel a distracting sense of awe at the size of the room. He couldn't even see the ceiling, so large was the hall.

The throne was not a typical chair, but rather a spacious, cushioned platform large enough to hold an entire banquet table. Childe couldn't help but wonder who this throne was intended for. If it truly belonged to the Golden One, what did they need all that space for? Even if a person were to lie down on it, it seemed unnecessarily large.

The base of the ‘throne’ was decorated with intricate carvings of a giant golden dragon and symbols, each of which probably told its own story. The artworks seemed to pulse with ancient golden magic, almost as if they were alive.

Gold , a color that seemed to be the general theme of the place. Very promising, as this could truly be the ruin of one of the temples of the Golden One.

As Childe approached the throne, he felt a sense of wonder and respect. The closer he got, the more he recognized the symbols on the stone as ancient runes. They were undoubtedly magical in nature and in good condition, but despite his best efforts, the wizard could not decipher any of them. They were written in a language that was foreign to him, something he had never seen before. 

Frustrated, Childe turned to the scholar for help. "Do you have any idea what these symbols mean?" he asked.

Zhongli nodded, with a knowing look in his eyes. 

To Childe's surprise, the scholar began to explain the symbols without even taking a closer look at them. "This is the story of the Golden One, a powerful, wise god who was revered by all who knew him but was banished from the sacred halls of Celestia because, in their opinion, he made a fatal mistake. He was thrown into the Abyss and came to settle here."

Well, that was something new. A god? Banished from Celestia? The guy must have screwed up big time to get kicked out by his own colleagues. Was he so huge that he took up the whole platform?!

"What did the Golden One do to anger Celestia?"

"He gave up his Divine Heart to try to live the life of an ordinary mortal."

"What?!" Childe was shocked and confused at the same time. "What reason is there for Celestia to react like that? And— Why would a god want to throw away what makes him divine and gives him so much power?"

As Childe listened to Zhongli's answer, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment wash over him. Despite all his efforts, it seemed that he was no closer to finding the elusive Divine Heart. Who knew if the god took it with him into the Abyss in the first place? He sighed quietly to himself, steeling himself for the long journey ahead. He would not give up until he found the heart, no matter how long it took. Even if he had to crawl out of the Abyss to search the earth and heavens. 

Zhongli sighed. "The Golden One was known for his great love and compassion for all living beings. After spending millennia leading his people and helping them to feed and govern themselves, he wanted to experience life as a mortal so that he could better understand the struggles and joys of humanity. Retirement, so to speak. It was not that he ran or refused to further help. He simply wanted to be one of many, instead of the one everyone relied on. Celestia, however, saw this as a betrayal of his divine duties and punished him for it. They believed that he had forsaken his responsibilities as a god and therefore had no right to return to Celestia—nor to stay on the mortal plane of Teyvat."

Childe was silent as he absorbed this information. The Golden One's selflessness and desire to understand others inspired him, but he could not imagine making such a sacrifice himself. 

"So, Mr. Childe, why would a god want to throw away what makes him divine?"

"Maybe it was a heavy burden he had to carry," Childe said softly, answering the question he had asked himself. "The Golden One was simply burnt out."—Just as he was trying to find that damn thing this Golden One had simply tossed away.

Zhongli nodded. "Indeed. The Golden One lived a long and difficult life, but he also learned much and gained great wisdom through his experiences. He used his immortality to help others and make the world a better place, despite the hardships he faced. A little selfishness was all he wanted after serving for such a long time."

Childe couldn't help but say out loud what Zhongli had left unsaid. "But he was punished instead of rewarded."

"It is a difficult path to walk, but ultimately one that the Golden One has chosen for himself," Zhongli said with a melancholy expression on his face. "We can all learn from his example and strive to be more cautious."

Childe nodded, taking in Zhongli's words and feeling a newfound respect for the Golden One and the sacrifices he had made. He knew that he had much to learn and much to gain from the wise god's example. All this still didn’t make him less mad about the fact that this god simply threw away the artifact he was looking for.

"I rather think we can learn from it to be compassionate and understanding in our own lives," Childe said, turning to Zhongli. "And treat others as they deserve to be treated, rather than relegating them to the darkest place in the world—and to not simply throw away important artifacts."

Surely there would have been other options than throwing the god (and, hopefully, his Divine Heart) into the Abyss—like taking his heart and giving it to someone who wanted it more. Like himself. Yes—That might have been a good choice. But oh, who was he to question Celestia, the distant gods who decided what happened in Teyvat? 

Zhongli looked at Childe silently, his expression thoughtful. It was clear that he was considering Childe's words, weighing them carefully. 

Whilst they stood there in silence, Childe couldn't help but wonder where the Golden One was now. The temple was deserted, the throne empty. How long had it been since anyone worshiped the god, or at least paid homage to him? And why was this place abandoned in the first place?

As he examined the symbols once more, he noticed something he had missed before. Among the glowing golden runes were others that did not follow the same pattern. They were dark and dull, almost as if they had been added as an afterthought. 

"Mr. Zhongli, tell me—" Childe began, but he was interrupted by a low growl behind them.

Whipping around quickly, Childe saw the red glowing eyes in the darkness. 

Zhongli had also turned around, his golden eyes wide with shock. 

"Azhdaha," he breathed into the darkness.

Childe wasn’t even able to think about what that could have meant, as the beast lunged toward them. He knew that he had to protect Zhongli at all costs. After all, he didn't know if the brunette had any fighting skills at all—and that's what he'd been hired for, right?

The wizard sprang into action, using his magic to defend themselves against the ferocious creature. A Hydro shield engulfed them just in time to deflect the swing of the horned head. 

The beast roared and snapped at them, its teeth glinting in the dim light of the mage light next to their heads. A single mistake could prove fatal, Childe knew he had to be careful. 

He summoned a blast of water, using it to strike the beast directly in the chest. The creature stumbled backward, its eyes glowing with anger and pain. But the beast was relentless. It roared and lunged at them again, but before it got remotely close to them, Childe thought of a quick countermeasure.

With a bolt of Electro, he struck the beast squarely in the head, causing the hydro-infused monster to be under an electro-charged reaction. The creature roared in pain and rage, flailing wildly as it momentarily went down. Childe knew he had to end the fight quickly before the beast got back to its feet. He summoned another bolt of electricity and tried to use it to deliver the final blow.

Unfortunately, the beast must have seen or sensed it, because this time it was able to deflect the bolt with its tail. The bolt flew back towards them and slammed into the stone of the throne next to them. Magic runes flared up and the resulting shockwave was so strong that it took Childe and Zhongli with it, tossing them across the room. 

Childe groaned as he hit the ground, his head spinning from the impact. He knew that this was not good. They were in trouble, and he had to think of something fast. He quickly conjured up another mage light, as his previous one went out while he was preoccupied with being thrown around. Luckily he was quick to locate Zhongli, who was lying not too far from him. Alive . Good. 

He knew that their best bet was to run for now. As much as he disliked the thought of abandoning an epic fight against a giant horned draconic toad, Zhongli's survival was at the top of his list. 

With another groan, he scrambled to his feet and rushed over to help Zhongli up, shouting for them to run. The scholar looked dazed and confused, but he seemed to understand the urgency of the situation. Together, they bolted for the exit, their feet pounding against the stone floor as they tried to escape the throne room. Walking proved more difficult with the little light and much debris that had accumulated after the blast.

In addition to this, the beast must have noticed their intention and charged after them with a loud roar. 

Childe knew they had to move faster to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the creature, he turned to the brunette to say something, but before he could open his mouth he knew danger was imminent. He sensed it first before he heard or saw it. The familiar hiss of electricity announced itself as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his only thought was to jump.

With as much force as he could, he jumped against Zhongli, bringing him and himself to the ground, fortunately for them both, not a second too soon. 

The bang that sounded in front of them was deafeningly loud. 

Childe felt his heart racing as he lay on the ground, Zhongli beneath him. With the mage light gone again, only the warmth of the rapid breathing of the scholar against the wizard's face testified that the man was still alive. The redhead's ears were ringing and he knew that they had narrowly escaped the beast's attack, and even without seeing the result of that attack, he knew that the way they had come would not be the way they could use to flee.

He pushed himself up and pulled Zhongli up with him. "Come!" he shouted, not sure if Zhongli's ears were ringing the same as his own. For good measure, he tugged on Zhongli's arm, hoping it would signal what he was about to do. "We must escape! The way we came is blocked, we must find another way out!"

Summoning another light was out of the question for now, as it turned them into living, moving targets in the spotlight. 

The scholar must have understood because he took the wizard's hand and quickly led him away from the entrance. Perhaps the man had discovered another exit? Childe readily accepted giving the man's idea a chance, not knowing exactly what to do next himself. 

Being blind and deaf, he simply followed the tug on his hand

Another explosion hit a stone beam behind them, causing it to fall over and nearly crushing them. This time it was certainly not an Electro bolt, but.... a Hydro blast, judging by the spray of the splash that hit them. 

Was that creature mocking him?!

At first, the beast didn't seem to have any elemental abilities, but after being hit by his spells, it must have absorbed them to be able to copy them now. Very bad news.  

As they ran, Childe couldn't help but feel a sense of desperation. He knew they couldn't run and dodge the Electro bolts forever. And slipping on the wet ground wouldn't be that great either. If they couldn't find another way out, they had to find a way to defeat the beast once and for all. 

They were still running when Zhongli suddenly made a turn, almost causing Childe to topple over. However, the scholar had an amazingly firm grip on him and he made it without accident. 

The roar behind them came no closer. From the echoes in the darkness, Childe realized that they were now in a corridor. Probably one that was too narrow for the beast to fit into. 

Gasping and panting, they turned a few more corners and ran down the corridor to which Zhongli had led them. Childe’s heart raced as they tried to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the beast. The wizard wondered where they were going and how they could find their way in the complete darkness. But Zhongli seemed to know exactly where he would lead the wizard.

Only after another minute did Zhongli slow down. Not a second too soon, because the wizard had a feeling he was about to pass out. One thing he had to hand to the scholar, the man was much fitter than he had expected him to be.

It took Childe a few moments before he was able to conjure another light, a relatively small one, but it had to work for now until he had more energy. 

The room they stumbled into was a room full of murals and another impressive sight. The walls were decorated with elaborate paintings depicting the story of a hooded man in white and gold robes with a star behind his head representing his divinity. Probably the same powerful god who had been banished from the sacred halls of Celestia. The colors used in the murals were vibrant and bright, and the attention to detail was breathtaking. Childe suspected magic was involved because he couldn't imagine the hues lasting for years.

With towering columns and a ceiling that seemed to stretch into infinity, the room itself was as spacious as the others they had seen so far. The floor was made of polished marble, and the walls were adorned with gold leaf and precious stones between the images. It was clear that this room had once been a place of great importance and reverence. 

He turned to the scholar, already the question on his lips whether the man knew what this room was, but what he saw was unexpected. 

The man shed thick tears.

Childe watched as Zhongli wept, speechless, and felt a sense of sadness come over him as well. How long had it been since he had seen anyone cry so humanly in the Abyss? It had probably been himself when he had just arrived here.

Even the crying Zhongli was so beautiful, but Childe noticed his heart sinking further and further as more tears fell from that pretty face. That would not be enough, he had to do something. The feeling that overcame Zhongli seemed to be so strong that the scholar did not notice Childe approaching him at first.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly, placing a hand on Zhongli's shoulder. 

Zhongli winced in surprise. But he quickly regained his composure, sniffled, and looked up at the red-haired wizard. It was only for a moment, but Childe saw that his eyes were full of pain. 

"I..." the scholar began but seemed to change his mind and shook his head. "It's nothing. We need to focus on the task ahead," he said, changing the subject as he wiped away his tears.

Childe nodded, certain that he should give Zhongli the space he needed. After all, they had just escaped with their lives. It was hard for him, but he averted his eyes to turn back to the murals.

As they walked through the room, Childe witnessed another part of the Golden One’s history. Something that must have happened before the banishment of this god, is that the murals showed happy people, a prosperous land, and a proud god. 

This must have been the Golden One at the height of his power. 

The further they wandered, the more Childe felt connected to this god. So many wars, and disasters, and the god overcame them all and led his people to a time of freedom. It was no wonder that after so many years that he yeared for rest, and yearned for a life to live for himself. 

Despite the splendor of the room, Zhongli seemed lost in thought as they walked. Silently, he did not even glance at the wonderful art. Childe noticed this as well and couldn’t help but bring it up another time. 

He paused and took the other's hand in his. "If you want to talk about it ...?"

Finally, the scholar turned around, his eyes still wet, but the tears had disappeared. The man opened his mouth, but froze, he must have seen something that made him stop. A trembling hand rose to the wizard's face, and only then did he notice it. A laceration on his head, probably from the fall after the first shock wave, bled across his face. 

"You're hurt," Zhongli intoned in a trembling voice. "I didn't notice, I apologize, we should have taken a break after the escape."

"Oh, it's all right, it's nothing."

"It's not nothing," Zhongli said firmly and dragged the other by his hand towards one of the stone columns and mentioned the other to sit down.

Childe agreed, mainly because he felt a little dizzy, but he didn't think the wound was to blame. 

The sound of fabric tearing made his gaze dart to Zhongli, who was in the process of cutting up his coat.

“You don’t—”

“I do.”

The wizard watched in amazement as Zhongli expertly wrapped his wound with the fabric, his skilled hands were gentle and careful, and… warm. The last time he had been cared for with so much care had been back at home when he was little. 

He couldn't help but blush at the care and concentration the scholar put into the treatment. Pretty golden eyes fixated on the task at hand, but Childe couldn't stop the feeling of wanting those eyes to look at him and him alone. 

When he was done, Zhongli sat back and studied his handiwork, a small smile on his lips.

"There," he said. "That should hold until we can get you proper medical attention."

Childe touched the makeshift bandage lightly, feeling a warmth spread through him at Zhongli's concern. "Thank you," he said and meant it from the bottom of his heart.

Zhongli nodded, his golden eyes soft. "I care about you, Childe," he said quietly. "You are a brave and noble wizard, and I am honored to have you as my traveling partner on this journey. Thank you for not leaving me behind." 

Childe felt a lump form in his throat as he looked into Zhongli's eyes. He knew that he cared for Zhongli as well, and he wanted to tell him that, but he couldn't find the words. So instead he reached out and took Zhongli's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"It's my job," he said dumbly, but from the softness in Zhongli's eyes, he knew the other understood that it had been more than that. 

The two men sat there for a moment, hand in hand, gazing at each other. Childe's heart pounded wildly against his ribcage, but he tried to ignore it. Now was not the time to indulge in a newfound crush. They had more important things on their plate. For example, how they were going to figure out a way. Or where the hell they were.

"Let's rest some more," Zhongli suggested, settling down next to the wizard—without letting go of his hand.

Childe nodded, grateful for the opportunity to rest and equally grateful to be able to feel the warm and delicate hand in his for a while longer. They sat there in silence, just enjoying each other's company. 

While they were resting, Zhongli said. "I'm sure you have questions about this room."

"You know me so well already, Professor," Childe chuckled. "As you have told me, the Golden One's life has been vast and exciting. I can completely understand his motives for wanting to live as a mortal. But now I'd like to know what happened to him here. What happened after he was pushed into the abyss, and why is his temple empty? Aside from that angry beast up there. Where is he now?"

Zhongli looked around for a moment as if he was searching for something in the darkness. He seemed to be lost in thought, contemplating Childe's questions. Finally, he turned back to the wizard and spoke.

"That's a lot of questions, Childe. Let me see if I can answer them all.

"The Golden One did not succumb to the darkness of the Abyss. Instead, he was found by the inhabitants of the realm and claimed as a god for themselves. They were determined to survive and thrive in this forsaken place, and they saw the Golden One as a symbol of hope. He simply lived among these people and offered them guidance and protection and in return, they built him temples and offered him their treasures. He knew nothing of the curse that Celestia had placed upon him in addition to his banishment, and would later plague him and those close to him.”

Zhongli then fell silent, his eyes downcast and seemingly lost in thought once again.

"Curse? He was cursed?" 

Childe's eyes widened in shock as he remembered the nursery rhyme that had led him to search for this artifact in the first place.

Run for your life, or suffer the curse
Madness and pain, a fate much worse

"The curse of madness," he whispered.

“The correct sentence would be 'An eternal life of loneliness'. All those who worship and revere him would turn against him in madness.”

Even for a god, this was a rather tragic tale…

"That's a grim story," Childe said, his thoughts deep in contemplation. "It's hard to believe that something like that could happen, especially to a powerful god."

Zhongli nodded. "It is a reminder that even the most powerful of beings are fallible," he said. "We must always be careful with our actions and consider the consequences of our choices."

Childe couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness as he listened to the tale. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to be alone for eternity, banished from the world he knew and loved—actually, thinking twice about it, he could, to some extent.

However, getting cursed simply because the god wanted nothing more than to live his own life… even someone who threw away his most precious artifact didn't deserve that. 

"As time passed, many of the Golden One's followers, both those who had followed him from Teyvat and those who had joined from the Abyss, went mad. The curse began to take hold of him in another way: he, the once great and kind god, was consumed by his guilt and began to fear that all those who came close to him would tend to lose themselves to his curse. He ordered them to abandon the temples, hoping that they would find a way to free themselves from the curse. And, as for the Golden One, he put himself into a slumber. In hope that everyone would forget him in time so that no one would be affected by him and his curse anymore."

Childe could see the pain and sadness etched onto his face, and he knew that the scholar had a lot on his mind. Without a word, Childe reached out and took Zhongli's other hand, giving it a gentle squeeze in a show of support. Zhongli looked at him with gratitude in his eyes and whispered a quiet thank you. 

The two men sat there in silence for a few more moments, holding hands and offering each other comfort and support.

Zhongli appeared to have a wealth of knowledge about the Golden One, but he seemed reluctant to reveal everything he knew. Still, the information he shared was more in-depth than what Childe had gathered thus far. As for why Zhongli seemed so affected by this tale... it could be that he had a family member who had gone mad due to the curse. Or perhaps he was simply sensitive, which was understandable given the stressful nature of their journey.

It had been nearly a full day since they entered the dreary ruins, and the dim light outside was more uplifting than the eternal darkness and melancholy atmosphere inside. Perhaps a bit of rest would do them both some good—as soon they were out of here.

With this in mind, Childe spoke up. "We need to find a way out of here. I'm sure that beast is still out there, waiting for us to come back."

Zhongli nodded in agreement. "We need to be cautious," he warned. "We shouldn't be far from where the artifact I'm searching for is located. Do you think you can keep going a little further?"

Childe couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Professor, what do you think of me? Do you think I'm a coward?" He stood up, stretching his arms out to show that he was ready for anything.

Zhongli gave him a gentle smile, and Childe struggled not to trip over his own feet at the sight. If Zhongli had noticed he did not say anything. 

They continued walking slowly through the hall, where the murals began to depict the downfall of the Golden One and his banishment into the Abyss. The final paintings were darker and showed the madness that spread throughout these halls. Each drawing became more and more chaotic, less elegant, and more fanatical. The brushstrokes seemed jittery as if they were painted under pressure.

Childe couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over him. The murals depicted a story of tragedy and despair, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. 

What if the curse still lingered in these halls? How long would it take until the both of them started to go mad? 

Zhongli, however, seemed to be unfazed as usual, lost in thought, as they walked past the murals. His golden eyes were dark and distant, and Childe couldn't help but wonder what was going through the man’s mind. The wizard had already put two and two together and knew that Zhongli had a deep connection to the Golden One, and he couldn't help but wonder if the scholar felt a sense of guilt or responsibility for what had happened. Perhaps he was an heir to someone who had worked at the temple all those years ago?

Which would explain the reason why the scholar did not take the artifacts but sealed them away. As did it explain why the man knew so much about these ruins. Then again, didn't Zhongli say he wasn't born here? 

When exactly had Zhongli fallen here? 

His thoughts came to a halt when they reached the end of the hall and came upon a massive golden door. Embossed on the door was a large dragon with dark scales, its golden horns, claws, and eyes contrasting sharply with the dark scales. 

A long dragon, Childe noted, not like the ones he saw drawn in the books of his childhood. Its golden horns, claws, spine spikes, and eyes contrasted sharply with the dark scales. At the sight of the impressive door, Childe could not help but feel a sense of awe. This whole temple left a deep impression on him, but somehow he could hardly wait to finally leave this place.

"Behind this door is the artifact we have been searching for," Zhongli announced without preamble.

Childe took this as a cue to scale up his mage light, and as he did so, he noticed that there were more strange dark symbols etched into the metal, akin to those eerie ones earlier. He wondered if Zhongli could read them, as he wasn't able to ask the scholar about them in the throne room. 

"Maybe these symbols hold the key to unlocking the door," he said, pointing to the symbols. "Do you have any idea what they mean?"

Zhongli stepped closer, his eyes were still thick and swollen from the tears he had shed earlier. He read the symbols monotonously, "Here rests the Golden One, may he sleep and rest until his time comes to awaken again and grace us with his presence."

Was this—the tomb of the god?

Well, that was another item on his bucket list that could be checked off. It came right after being grilled by his attacks from a big bad toad.

“Now we only need to find the key, maybe—”

Zhongli placed one of his hands on the door and pressed lightly against it. At first, it seemed as if the door would not budge, but then it began to glow with a bright golden light. Ancient symbols lit up in a mystical light that shone brighter than any mage light Childe had ever conjured. The symbols moved into a new phrase, and with a loud creak, the door swung open.

As he watched the door open at Zhongli's touch, Childe was struck by the unexpected ease of it. He had expected some kind of trap or obstacle, but it seemed that the ancient magic of the tomb had simply opened the door for them. 

"How did you do that?" asked Childe, excited and shocked in equal measure.

Zhongli just smiled politely and looked like he had been caught. "It had never been locked. In the Golden One's homeland, you never closed doors because you had nothing to fear."

That didn't really sound like the truth, but Childe's attention was taken by what was only revealed to them. The room was dark, as were all the others they had entered so far, but through the residual glow the door gave off, he could take a small peek.

The scholar strode forward and entered the room without further words.

Childe’s excitement grew as he stepped through the threshold and followed Zhongli, eager to see what lay beyond. Despite the strange atmosphere, he couldn't shake the thrill of discovery that coursed through him.

An immediate reward came: as they stepped into the chamber, Childe couldn't help but marvel at the glittering treasure that surrounded them. He had never seen so much wealth in one place before, and he couldn't believe that they had found the place they had been searching for. Piles upon piles of mora, gold, and gems. 

Zhongli, the ever-unfazed, paid no attention to the riches around him but walked toward the largest pile in the center of the room. 

One mission, one goal. Childe could respect that.

He stopped in front of a small, ornately carved chest. In contrast to the other treasures in the room, a very inconspicuous and less valuable-looking box made of wood. 

"That's it," Zhongli said in a low voice, "the artifact we've been searching for is in this chest."

Childe nodded, his heart racing with excitement as Zhongli carefully lifted the lid of the chest. Inside, they found a small figure, a dragon with dark scales that shone with an otherworldly glow. Identical to the dragon embossed on the door to this room.

"It's beautiful," Childe breathed, unable to take his eyes off the figurine.

He did not notice how the scholar blushed at this remark. "It's more than just a beautiful object," Zhongli said, his voice filled with emotion. "This is not only a depiction of the Golden One, but this is also his—"

The realization hit Childe like a bolt of lightning. "The Golden One is a dragon?!" he exclaimed, his mind racing with the implications of this discovery. "This isn't a tomb, Zhongli," he said, realization dawning on him. "This is the lair of a dragon. The beast we just encountered was the Golden One, and we've disturbed his sleep."

But Zhongli looked at him wide-eyed, shaking his head. "Tomb? No, Childe, I am—"

"Please, let's just take your artifact and get out of here," Childe urged, reaching out to grab the ancient dragon figurine from the chest.

As soon as Childe's fingers touched the ancient artifact, the room began to tremble violently, as if the very foundations of the ancient ruin were being rocked to their core. A shower of gold and gems rained down upon them, the precious metals and jewels bouncing off the ground and pummeling their bodies.

Childe struggled to keep his balance as the room around them shook and trembled, debris falling from the ceiling and hitting them from all sides. He couldn't comprehend how his touch had caused such devastation, and his heart was pounding with fear as he tried to pull Zhongli toward the door.

"We have to get out of here!" he shouted, desperation clear in his voice. "We have to leave before the entire ruin collapses on us!"

But Zhongli seemed rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on Childe with a mix of fear and determination. "You need to calm down, Childe!" he shouted over the noise. "Your emotions are causing this chaos! If you can calm yourself, it will stop!"

Childe was confused by Zhongli's words. Was he really suggesting that Childe's emotions were responsible for the destruction? And why wouldn't he just listen and flee?

Two hands found his face, cupping it. The smooth skin was cool against his own.

"We don't have to run. Everything will be okay if you just calm down. Please trust me."

Childe tried to slow his racing thoughts as he tried to understand Zhongli's words. Could it be true that his emotions were causing the destruction around them? It seemed impossible, but as he looked into Zhongli's golden eyes, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. Despite the turmoil surrounding them, he knew that Zhongli would never lead him astray.

"Okay," he said, taking deep breaths to steady himself. "I'll try to calm down."

As he focused on controlling his emotions, he felt the shaking around them gradually come to a stop. The debris stopped falling from the ceiling, and the ground beneath them stopped trembling.

"It worked," Zhongli said, relief evident in his voice. "You did it, Childe."

Childe was in shock after the events that had just occurred. He had never before experienced such a powerful and unsettling manifestation of his emotions, and he couldn't believe that he had the ability to wield such a force. The realization of his own potential was both humbling and terrifying.

"I had no idea," he muttered, still in shock. "I had no idea that my emotions could be so powerful."

"A god’s Divine Heart is a formidable tool," Zhongli said, his gaze still locked on Childe and the artifact he was holding. "But it can also be dangerous if not handled with care."

The dragon figure in his hands seemed to be clinging to something, a small chess piece that resembled a rook. 

The Divine Heart.

Childe's mind was still trying to wrap around the shocking revelation that he had somehow awakened the power of the Divine Heart. It was an artifact he had been searching for years, and now that he had finally found it, he was filled with a mix of excitement and fear.

"I can't believe it," he said, still in shock. "I never would have thought that my emotions could have such an impact."

Zhongli was deep in thought, his brow furrowed as he tried to understand what had just happened. "The Divine Heart is an ancient and powerful artifact," he said slowly. "And it is said to be the key to unlocking a god's true potential. Yet somehow, you were able to awaken its powers."

Childe looked at Zhongli, confusion written all over his face. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"This particular Divine Heart belongs to the Golden One," Zhongli explained. "And it is supposed to be able to be activated only by him. Yet you were able to do it. I'm not sure how it's— Watch out !”

With a very distinct movement of his hand, the scholar conjured up a bright, warm light that filled the room and stopped the piece of the ceiling that had almost fallen on the wizard, who did not even see it coming. The piece of debris simply bounced off him and fell to the ground beside him with a soft thudding sound.

As the first shock was gone, Childe noticed that it had not been light but a translucent wall that had been erected around him, a shield so to say. A Geo shield judging from the color and consistency. 

What was really interesting, though, was the fact that the artifact felt warm in his hands and began to vibrate, as if it was also responding to Zhongli's cry for caution before the stone fell. And the fact that Zhongli's eyes shone with a mystical light.

As Childe stood there amid the treasure-filled room, staring at the small dragon statue in his hands, he suddenly realized something that he had not considered before. He turned to Zhongli, who stood beside him. 

As he turned to Zhongli, the golden eyes that had caught his attention earlier now seemed normal. If there hadn't been too many coincidences, the wizard would have almost believed that he had imagined it.

Just as he finished the thought the golden shield vanished into golden sparks.

The scholar was looking at him with a mixture of worry and concern. 

Childe's voice shook with nervousness as he tried to find the right words to address his suspicions. "Mr. Zhongli," he said, his voice shaking with nervousness. "Where exactly did you come from?"

It wasn't just the fear of what would happen to him if he found out the truth or the fear of being driven mad by a curse. It was the fear of what would become of them, and the crushing disappointment that his crush on Zhongli might be shattered by the revelation.

Zhongli's face turned ashen and his eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about, Childe?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly. “I already told you I am not from here.”

"Yes, but you never told me exactly where you were from. And, more importantly, from when," Childe pressed, his suspicions growing stronger by the moment.

The scholar hesitated, clearly struggling with something. This is very suspicious and it only confirmed Childe’s theory.

Childe's thoughts were swirling in his head, and everything was starting to fall into place. 

"All of this," he said, pointing to the treasures around them, but meaning so much more than gold and gems. "The inexplicable power we've encountered, the way you seem to know your way around this place, the way you reacted to that dragon toad. How do you know about all of this, even though the only thing I've ever heard about the Golden One is a silly little child’s poem and some rumors? It all makes sense now."

There was a long, tense silence while Zhongli struggled to find the right words. Childe could see the conflict and fear in his eyes. 

He did not give the scholar a chance to think up a new story and confronted him with his suspicions.

”You're the Golden One, and this," he said, holding up the dragon statue—or, rather the rook it held—, "is your Divine Heart."

The unmasking of the god caused silence to fall between them, a heavy, palpable silence that seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog. Childe's heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of excitement and sadness coursing through his veins. He couldn't believe that the man he had come to admire and respect over the last few hours was actually a deity with powers beyond his wildest imagination. The realization was both exhilarating and overwhelming.

But as he looked at Zhongli, he also couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy for the god standing before him. He could still see the pain and sadness etched in Zhongli's features, and he couldn't imagine the weight of the burden the scholar had been carrying all these years.

Zhongli's expression was unreadable as he looked at Childe, his eyes seeming to pierce through him as if trying to gauge his reaction. "It's true," he said finally, his voice laced with sadness and regret. "I am the one they used to call Golden One; Rex Lapis; Yánwáng Dìjūn . And I am so sorry for not telling you earlier. I didn't want to burden you with the knowledge, and I thought the less you knew about me, the easier it would be to separate ways later so that we didn't risk the curse taking hold of you as well."

Childe couldn't help but feel a twinge of hurt that Zhongli hadn't trusted him enough to confide in him. He knew it wasn't his place to ask a god to reveal his identity to a mortal like himself, but it still stung a little that Zhongli had kept this from him. But at the same time, he understood the importance of keeping such a secret, and he couldn't blame Zhongli for wanting to protect him.

Reaching out he took Zhongli's hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "It's all right," he said gently. "I understand why you kept it from me. But now I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. I've been looking for this heart for a very long time, and I don't mind getting a two-for-one deal as payment for lending you my skills for this mission."

Zhongli's face was the quintessence of bewilderment as he listened to Childe's words, his hand trembling in the wizard's, and he didn't seem to know what to say. Lovely. Childe had left the god speechless.

"Since I was able to use your heart as I wished, does that make me immune to your curse? Oh, and does that mean..." He leaned closer to Zhongli, grinning broadly as he saw the blush creep into the features of this beautiful and feared being. “Does that mean I’ve captured your heart?”

"Insolence," Zhongli muttered almost inaudibly and turned his head away, but Childe stroked the other's cheek with his hand and made the god look at him again. 

Golden eyes gazed into his blue eyes. 

The blush on the other's face was undeniable. And as they stood there, Childe realized that he had developed deep feelings for Zhongli during their journey together, that he couldn’t even call it a crush anymore. 

"I don't know if using my Gnosis would make you immune to the curse," Zhongli said. "And as for the other thing..." he trailed off, his face turning a deeper shade of red as he realized what Childe was implying. "I...I didn't expect this, Childe," he said, his voice shaking slightly. "I don't know what to say."

Childe chuckled softly, his heart full of warmth and love for this amazing man before him. "You don't have to say anything," he said, leaning in even closer, whispering into the other’s ear, "Just know that I could very well imagine having you along more often on my adventures."

He had admired the scholar's intelligence and kindness and had been drawn to his quiet strength and determination. And now, looking into Zhongli's eyes, he knew he wanted to be by his side—well, it was far too early to think about such a thing, but it was the right moment, you know?

Zhongli's eyes filled with emotion as he looked at Childe, causing Childe's heart to overflow with love and gratitude. Eons of loneliness were enough to break a person, but Zhongli had prevailed. Perhaps it was fate that made him persevere only long enough for Childe to find him.

"We'll see if you're really worthy of having my heart, rascal," Zhongli said in an almost inaudible whisper as he leaned forward a little more.

With a smile, Childe dissolved the mage light and plunged the room into darkness, as he, too, leaned in closer to capture the other’s lips.

The Divine Heart in their hands flared up, bathed them in its warm, magical light, and began to cast its spell to bring them both to safety. 

Both of them, however, did not notice it, as they only had eyes for each other.

A human, a wizard, a wanderer of worlds
A chance encounter, a love that unfurled
He met the divine, a being of might
But it was his love that made everything right

The curse, the burden, the pain of the past
All melted away, in the love that would last
A magical being, a mortal now blessed
Their love eternal, a love that never rests

The curse, the burden, all left in the past
Together forever, their love meant to last