Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there was a Liyue Adeptus, one of the more unique kinds–
No… long before that, there was a spirit of the land, a spirit of protection. It was known as the Guardian Spirit. Whether it was a one of a kind spirit that formed from the wills of the world, or was once one of many like it, one will never know. For their cunning mind and courageous heart, this spirit was drawn to the Lion Adepti in Liyue, taking hold of their body. This was a curse, and also a blessing; for the one who was chosen by the Guardian Spirit was given boons of strength, courage, and stamina. Yet, it was at the expense of the host, who was driven to an unnatural degree to protect the innocent, even at the expense of their own life.
This spirit was not sentient, it saw in black and white: protect the innocent, destroy the corrupt .
Despite the Guardian Spirit’s beliefs, the world is not a stark black or white, but rather, shades of gray. The truth is nuanced, complex. Very rarely do we have a clear right or wrong choice, a good or bad side. The Lion Adepti fought against this, struggling to keep their own morals and understand the complexities of life.
This ultimately brought them closer to their demise. Either succumbing to madness as they fought against the spirit, or by being forced to do inexplicable, almost divine feats of protection, overexerting the host.
This spirit, this
curse
, was killing Lion Adepti indiscriminately, leaving them to die for lacking the strength to handle its power. When they died, it simply hopped on over to the next host.
Throughout the years, this was deemed a sorrowful thing in the way of nature. The world’s way of protecting others, at the expense of a life. Inevitable fate, never to be diverted.
Yet, one Lion Adeptus lived on, caring naught for her doomed fate.
She found love in a Qilin Adeptus, wandering the mountains together in the ancient times. Of this union, a child was born, with both Lion and Qilin Adeptus blood in their veins. This Adeptus lived a relatively calm life, finding joy in the simplest of things.
This changed when the Guardian Spirit had finished with its most recent host, preying upon this Lion-Qilin instead of the Lion Adepti it typically plagued. Feeling the spirit take root in the depths of their soul, they knew they had been chosen.
This Lion-Qilin Adeptus, this first of the Guardian Lions, as they would later be called, could withstand and coexist with this spirit. They grew with power, able to dictate specific actions while adhering to the strict moral code of the spirit; keeping an uneasy peace whilst sharing the same body.
Lion Adepti were no longer being taken against their will, forced to fight beyond their capabilities only to perish for a cause they did not wholly believe in. Thus, the Guardian Lion bloodline was born, able to bear this curse, something that slowly became a blessing for how many lives it would spare.
Guardian Lions were able to live long enough to lead normal lives, the host being chosen for this sacred spirit; an honorable and courageous cross to bear.
The most recent host for the Guardian Spirit, is a Guardian Lion adeptus, called Jianwei. Their mother was a Guardian Lion of the original bloodline, previous host for the Guardian Spirit. Their father, a powerful, wise and kind dragon adeptus. From their bond, Jianwei was born.
Trained from birth to be host for this sacred spirit, they were ready once it was time to receive it, but their story does not stop there. This Guardian Lion had their unique fate twisted with some of the most important figures in the history of Liyue.
…
In modern Teyvat, Rex Lapis is the Geo Archon of Liyue, having won his seat at the celestial table during the Archon War two thousand years ago. Less known but not forgotten is the God of Dust, Lord Guizhong, who was at Rex Lapis’ side. She was a wise partner, and together they formed the Guili Assembly.
Though, at Lord Guizhong’s right hand was our Guardian Lion, Jianwei. They pledged their loyalty to Guizhong a millennia before the Archon War had begun, serving as her protector and dear friend, having met Guizhong when she was a fledgling god. And at her right hand is where they fell, everlasting loyalty to the two gods whom they loved more than anything.