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Chapter Text

Neuvillette was not a man too fond of traveling. Nor was he as excited to get to his destination as he should have been.

Sumeru.

The nation of wisdom. Home of the dendro element. The nation renowned as teyvats center of learning; where scholars from many nations, backgrounds and of all ages go to study. Home to deserts and rainforests. Beautiful landscapes all around with nature at every corner. And….

Heat.

Neuvillette let out a sound of annoyance as he trudged the path. He absolutely hated the heat. Be it the fact he wore many layers or because he was the hydro dragon sovereign, that was up for debate. All he knew was that heat was not his forte. Neuvillette was one who firmly believed that the beauty of bright sunlight was best appreciated from the indoors through a window.

He sighed, pulling on his collar and adjusting his jabot tie. He fanned his face a bit with his other hand. Maybe he shouldn’t have walked and instead used another means of transportation. Honestly it was an unfortunate situation.

Speaking of so, Neuvillette kept walking. Making random turns. Absolutely confused, and for a moment he just stood there. And after a moment of silence, he let out a very exhausted sigh. He was lost. His distraction with the heat, continuous walking and random turns, got him lost.

At this point the hydro dragon sovereign was ready to just go back home. But even then that would bear no fruit as of course he was lost and had no clue what direction would lead home.

Why was Neuvillette in Sumeru again? Ah yes, because he promised the traveler he would help run errands in sumeru. The hydro dragons care for his friends truly does land him in the most strangest and exhausting situations.

Neuvillette opted to walking around a bit more to analyze his surroundings. He scanned the scene around him. Mostly green, trees and tons of grass. There was also a statue of the seven and….

“A person?” Neuvillette asked himself. As he scanned the world around him, he spotted someone. To him it seemed he found his hope in the dark, not that it was nighttime currently but with how long he’s been lost the sun would be setting soon.

“Excuse me?” He called out but to no avail. The person began making their way towards a cave as if they were in a bit of a rush. Needing directions and being intrigued by this turn of events, neuvillette follows. Passing through the cave he came face to face with scenery that looked nothing like sumeru.

Rocky landscapes and a few workers around. The hydro sovereign blinked, he had somehow ended up in liyue. He looked back at the path he just came from, it seemed to be a path from liyue straight into sumeru and vice versa. Or it put it specifically, from the chasm into sumeru.

Spotting the person from earlier, he began to follow once more. Before he could make an attempt to call out, he saw the person make way to a taller man dressed in brown. What was this situation he landed himself in? Truly he should just stay inside next time.

When Neuvillette took a step to approach them, there was a sound behind him. He turned around to identify the source but when he did there was nothing there. Oddly enough, the caved path he took was also gone. “I must be hallucinating from the heat.” He tried to justify to himself. As soon as he turned back to address the mysterious duo. There was nothing. No one.

Absolutely no one. The chasm was silent. Not a single person was there unlike before. It looked less like a mining site as it did before. Just what exactly was going on? Neuvillette exhaled and began walking, he started investigating.

He crouched to examine the ground. Less grassy, no signs of human life, he noted. He stood up and scanned the area without a single movement. There were trees here before, those are missing as well. He put a hand to his mouth. How do people and trees vanish into thin air like that? He asked himself.

“You should not be here.” A deep voice speaks from behind him, interrupting his thoughts. At this point the hydro dragon was exhausted. He let out a subtle sigh. What now? How much was going to help in this one day? Today was supposed to be simple.

With that in mind, he turned around to meet the owner of the voice. Piercing golden eyes staring back at him. Oh. Was the only thought crossing the hydro sovereigns mind. He spoke no words and just stared, the man was quite handsome but at the same time his gaze was intimidating.

Neuvillette really hoped this man in black and gold wasn’t who he thought he was. The possibility was low but it was possible. After a beat of silence and no response from Neuvillette, the man before him let out an annoyed huff. “Can you hear? You’re not supposed to be here. Explain yourself or leave. Humans are barred from this area.”

Neuvillette raised a brow at this. “Barred from this area? Why is that?” He asked almost immediately. The man in front of him narrowed his eyes. “I’ve no reason to explain that to you. All you need to know is it’s a restricted area.” Now that was even more odd. Humans were allowed to go in and out of the chasm. There were mining teams.

Neuvillette crossed his arms. “You cannot keep people away with that alone. People will need an explanation be it true or not.” With this, the gold eyed man raised a brow at the hydro dragon. He let out an annoyed sigh. “I do not care to explain myself to mortals, especially one that is trespassing. Leave. ”

That threw Neuvillette off. The man thinks he’s a mortal? Surprising but also not. It’s not exactly public knowledge still that he’s the hydro dragon sovereign of Fontaine, however he senses a great power radiating off this man. So he assumed he would be able to tell Neuvillette was not a human.

“I refuse. There may be a possibility that I am trespassing, however you have provided absolutely no explanation to why the area is restricted.”

The man’s eyes widened then it immediately fell into a glare and a scowl found its way onto his face. “You know nothing about rules and law.”

“I know much more than you.”

“You-“

“My lord, I could not locate- oh. Am I interrupting something?” A new voice joined in the blink of an eye. Neuvillette turned to the owner of this new voice and he was surprised to see it was the person he began following into the chasm in the first place. Same look and everything.

The taller man closed his eyes and sighed. “No, it’s fine. Could you not find it?” He questioned, addressing the shorter’s self interrupted statement. As response the shorter shook his head. “I could not find anything on my end either, let us end our search for today.”

While the two conversed, neuvillette took his time to inspect this newcomer. He had a certain air about him. Non human, neuvillette mentally concluded. Another thing that caught the hydro dragons attention was the anemo vision on the left glove. Anemo vision? Did the other man have a vision too?

He looked to check but as he did the man’s golden eyes shifted to meet his directly. “Who is he? Do you know him?” The anemo user questioned. Ah, were they talking about him while he was distracted? The taller man sighed. “He’s nothing but a nuisance. I know nothing else.”

Neuvillette raised a brow. “Do you know how to do nothing else except be disrespectful?” He inquired. The taller man looked caught off guard as did the anemo user. Within a second, there was a spear at his neck. The shorter males eyes glaring at him. “Mind your mouth and your manners when around Rex Lapis.”

Now it was Neuvillette’s turn to be caught off guard. What was this child doing pointing a weapon at him? Not only was it dangerous but also….

Wait

“Rex Lapis??” Neuvillette questioned. That couldn’t be right. Rex Lapis was supposedly dead in the eyes of liyue, very few people know the archon still lives. And if anything they’re discreet about it and wouldn’t say it so openly. Should he even ask about it? No, that would make them suspicious of me, I’ll ask vague questions. He mentally decided.

The anemo user quirked a brow at Neuvillette’s confusion. “Do you not know anything about the archons?” The shorter asked. “Of course I know about those foolish usurpers, however-“ he was cut off, the spear was pressed closer to his neck, the tip pressing very lightly against his throat. Any more and it would actually draw a bit of blood.

The other man, supposedly Rex Lapis, crosses his arms. “Usurper?” He gave Neuvillette a look. The hydro dragon coughed into his fist in response, “Apologies, slip of the tongue.” The pathetic hardly-an-actual-excuse that left his mouth did not faze the supposed archon, the man’s quirked brow and sharp gaze still stood.

This situation was exhausting for the hydro sovereign to say the least. He needed answers, and some glass of water. Preferably not from liyue. Neuvillette clears his throat. “If I may, I have a few questions.” He had to check his suspicions, although he did pray this was all a dream. A very lucid dream.

The archon sighed and rolled his eyes a bit, “Of course the trespasser has questions. Go ahead, but Xiao will keep his spear at your neck, you die if you ask a question I do not like. Now make it quick so you can leave.” He responds. So the young man’s name is xiao, noted. Neuvillette nodded, thinking to himself of what to ask first. He had to ask a question that was subtle but would help him get answers.

“My first question, where exactly are we?” Starting off simple. The archon simply  looked at him, not a single sound leaving him. Clearly trying to see if Neuvillette was being serious. Of course he doesn’t say this outright, but that doesn’t stop xiao from doing so.

“You trespassed on an area and you don’t even-“

“The chasm.” The archon interrupted, finally responding. “At least, that is what we have decided to call it first the time being. Yes, he knew that already. Chasm, meaning a deep fissure in the earth, rock, or another surface. Fitting name if he had to say so.

“I see. But why exactly are you here?”

“To investigate something.”

“Such as?”

“You-“ The archon inhaled and then exhaled, clearly trying not to lose it in Neuvillette. “Your nosiness clearly knows no bounds mortal.” Then he sighed, “To answer your question, we’re here to investigate something that fell in this area. That’s all you need to know.”

Something that fell? From what he knows of history, there was a time within the history of liyue where a meteorite supposedly from ‘outside’ fell into an area of liyue, formulating the chasm. However that was several thousand years ago. As vague as the archon tried to be, he was helping Neuvillette immensely. It would be wise to play into the roll of a mortal. “Do you hate humans? You seem quite frustrated with me.”

“Not at all, just you.“

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“You have been nothing but disrespectful and annoying this entire encounter.”

The more the archon talked, the more the urge to judge the usurper in front of him grew. However his gut told him he could not, that this was not the right time. He hummed in response. “I see. Who apart from xiao here is your…..companion?” He couldn’t say subordinate and he wasn’t sure if he should use the word coworker, therefore companion was his best bet. It signifies a close relationship.

Rex Lapis glanced at xiao and then his eyes went back to Neuvillette. “There are a few. Cloud retainer, streetward rambler, moon carver, mountain shaper, ganyu…” he seemed to be in a better mood, eyes softer as he lists the names of his friends. However his eyes get particularly soft when he spoke the last name. “And guizhong.”

Neuvillette had to hold back a particularly judgmental reaction to that. Something within him found his softness when speaking the name of a woman who was supposed to be dead just made him want to look the archon in the eyes and say: you’re gross. He must’ve been hanging around Wriothesley and Clorinde too long.

“Right….ok. And my last question-“

“Finally the last one?”

Neuvillette cleared his throat. “For my last question, do you know what day it is today?”

Rex Lapis blinked. This mortal cannot be serious. The archon thought to himself. He glanced at xiao and even he had a very confused expression on his face. The archon rubbed his temple, stressed. “I’ve long since stopped keeping track within this war of gods.”

Ah. So this was the archon war.

But how? Why? It should be impossible, Neuvillette was just in the present time teyvat earlier. Has been for years, so how was it that he ended up in past, specifically the archon war? It should be physically impossible to go back in time. No such technology nor ability exists.

It seemed he was in his thoughts for way too long, as xiao was waving his hand in front of the sovereign’s face to grab his attention. Neuvillette blinked, “Apologies, I was thinking.” Then he glanced to a certain spot next to him and realized an absence. “Where is Rex Lapis?”

“My lord had to leave, he made a promise to lady guizhong to meet up with her after his investigation. I’m to escort you out.”

Neuvillette only nods.

He really needs some water imported from anywhere but liyue.

Chapter Text

A sigh escaped the geo archon as he ran a hand through his hair.

A giggle came from behind and Guizhong popped up from behind him. “What’s got you so stressed out?” The archon startles and turns towards the god of dust as a smile finds its way onto his face. “Guizhong, hello.” Guizhong happily plops down next to him.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about.” Rex Lapis waved off her concerns. In response, she immediately pouts. “It is! I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s wrong.” Then she clings to his arm. “Please?” The archon pauses then sighs softly, a chuckle leaving him.

“I truly can’t hide anything from you can I? Always willing to help.” With that she leans against his arm as a sign for him to continue. “There’s this man.”

“A man?”

“Mortal, met him in the chasm.”

“What’s wrong with him being a mortal?” She laughs.

“Nothing specifically. I understand that you have a love for mortals but this one in particular was quite irritating.” He rubs his temple. “How so?” She questioned. “From trespassing on a closed area to being blatantly disrespectful.”

“Come now, I’m sure he was just curious.”

“That same curiosity is what gets them killed.” Rex Lapis scoffed. “However, I can give him a bit of a pass as he did not seem to be from Liyue.”

Guizhong blinked in surprise. Each nation is on edge in their own way during this time of war. People can come and go through other nations but mortals must be extra careful as they can get caught in the crossfire. And for this man to be not only from another nation but in the chasm makes this even stranger.

“How could you tell he wasn’t Liyuen?” She questioned, voice full of curiosity. The geo archon did not think much of it. “He was pale.” The archons words caused her to start laughing. “Why is that his defining feature in your eyes?”

“No, funnily enough his defining feature for me was his eyes.” Rex Lapis responds. Guizhong tilts her head in confusion. “He has these strange dark blue-shaded slit eyes.” Guizhong could do nothing but stare at the archon before her.

“And you think he’s human? With eyes like that?” She questioned.

“Not particularly. Humans are strange creatures therefore I didn’t linger on it for long, his eyes mean nothing.” Then he softly exhaled. “He didn’t deny being a mortal either.”

“Alright I guess. You said he’s not from liyue? Where’s he from?”

“I never explicitly asked however he looked to be from Fontaine.” This caused Guizhong’s eyes to light up. “Oh! Egeria’s land? That’s fascinating!” She began shaking the archon. “I have to meet him!!”

“Absolutely not, I refuse to have you around someone as disrespectful as him.”

“Please Morax?” She looked up at him, giving him the puppy eyes. Guizhong knew he was a weak man to those he truly cared about and she loved using that to her advantage. This worked, causing Rex Lapis flushed slightly and looked away.

“I’ll think about it, my love.”

Guizhong internally cheered. She snuggled against his arm lovingly. “That’s enough for me.” Rex Lapis glances at her and a soft smile grazes his face. “Let’s change topics, yes?”

                         ____

Neuvillette strode through the streets of the Guili Assembly. He watched as the people went about without a care despite being in the middle of a war between gods. The hydro sovereign took note of the similarities between the Guili Assembly and Liyue Harbor which has yet to be built.

Trade.

Both past and future, where the people reside they continue to prosper through trade. This alone was intriguing to him, and yet he still could not bring himself to fully believe the situation he’s landed himself in. He’d hoped the walk would clear his mind, however this clearly was not the case.

To start, the hydro sovereign managed to get lost on his way to his destination in Sumeru. Although that wasn’t as complicated as it seemed, he was a bit too focused on the heat rather than where he was actually going and that was a mistake on his part.

Secondly, he magically landed himself in the past. This should be physically impossible and yet here he stands. In the archon war, specifically in Liyue. Not to say he was bound to Liyue and could not leave. No, that’s not the case. However if he did, that would potentially rouse suspicions with the geo archon.

Speaking of the usurper, that brings the sovereign to his last issue. The Geo Archon . The god doesn’t seem to particularly favor the sovereign which is reasonable. But, the gods hostility towards humans is a bit interesting. And even more so is the fact that Guizhong, the god of dust still lives. Unfortunately it seems he’s quite far back.

He sighs, how stressful of a situation he’s landed himself in.

“Something troubling you?”

Neuvillette jumps slightly. Turning, he’s greeted by the sight of a girl. The girl has light blue hair fading into a darker shade a the ends and black-red goat horns atop her head. Big purple and pinkish-gold eyes stare back at him with a mix of concern and curiosity.

“Ah, no not particularly.” He responded. “Just thinking is all. Nothing of concern.” He continued. The girl gave him a look as if she could see right through him. “Thinking about something that’s troubling you?” She questioned with a smile.

“That’s not-“

The girl giggled. “I’m kidding. But if something is troubling you feel free to tell me.” She stated, then she seemed to realize something. “Oh. Pardon my rudeness I didn’t introduce myself.” She puts her hand out. “I’m Ganyu, pleased to meet you.”

He took her hand to shake. “Neuvillette, and likewise.”

“Where are you from Mr. Neuvillette?”

“Fontaine.”

Ganyu looked absolutely fascinated. “Fontaine? That’s amazing, how is it over there?”

Neuvillette had to keep from grimacing. He couldn’t possibly answer that. Despite his age and knowledge, the hydro sovereign wasn’t particularly born during the archon war. And the original hydro sovereign withered during the time of the old world and he himself was born near partway through Egeria’s time as he was appointed chief justice some time after the cataclysm. 

Egeria’s reign lasted a while after the archon war as she was alive to be appointed as one of the seven. He knew of Fontaines history but to say the hydro dragon had enough knowledge of Fontaine during the war was an overstatement. he in fact knew nothing apart from basic history.

“It’s quite lovely, Lady Egeria has begun to establish law to keep peace in Fontaine during these trying times.” Was the most he could come out with. Neuvillette worried his limited personal knowledge would not be convincing. Yet somehow that was not the case.

Ganyu looked absolutely fascinated, her eyes practically sparkling. “Oh my! I’d love to see such a system in action.” She drooped, slightly gloomy. “However I have a duty to Rex Lapis and to Liyue. I won’t be seeing it personally any time soon.”

In comfort, neuvillette opened his mouth to speak one thing he knew of Fontaine’s history to be true from personal experience. “I assure you, such a system will last for millennia.” This seemed to better her mood. Although he did not bring it up, he of course pocketed the information of her having a duty to the geo archon within her statement.

From that alone he could surmise the girl before him was one of the many adepti loyal to the archon of liyue. It’s best to stay close with her. Neuvillette thought to himself. Keeping her close would make it easier to keep and eye on and gather information about not only this time, but of this nations god.

“Since you’re from Fontaine, please, let me show you around Guili plains.”

“I would love that.”

                          __

The walk around Guili plains has been enlightening. To be able to learn of Liyue’s trading history prior to the building of the harbor and in person was more than he could ask for. To see everything with his own two eyes kept his interest and his mind occupied for quite a while. The extensive knowledge he’s gained was amazing.

Not that he would ever let the geo archon hear of this.

He cared not for the fact it was the foolish usurpers land as he would always remind himself that a dragon sovereign owned the land prior. And ganyu was a lovely guide. Not only did she have a vast amount of knowledge, but she was sweet and the people loved her. As nervous as she was chatting with the people, she managed.

Neuvillette has seen everything. From rock trade to antiques. From paintings to yarn and fabric dyeing. The Guili Assembly had it all. Everyone was carefree despite it all and kind to him as well.

The two stopped in front of a toy shop. Shifting through the hand crafted toys on display. As Ganyu looked around, something caught Neuvillette’s attention. A wooden birdhouse, a cute little handmade blue bird perched atop the house. It was absolutely adorable, a small smile making its way onto his face.

“See anything you like, Mr. Neuvillette?” Ganyu’s gentle voice pulled at him. He turned towards her and shook his head. “Honestly, everything here looks quite well crafted. Yet even if I bought something I’d have nowhere to put it.” A small ‘oh’ left the adeptus. Out of kindness she double checked and even offer to pay, yet he still declined.

Moving on was a flower shop. Ganyu stopped to smell the flowers and looked content. The flower shop owner greeted them with a smile. “Why hello there Ganyu.” Ganyu flustered slightly but kindly greeted the owner back. “Hello Ms. Peng Ju.”

The owner laughed a bit before turning her attention to Neuvillette. “Oh? Who is this gentleman you’re with?” Neuvillette gave a respectful bow to the owner. “Good afternoon, I am Neuvillette. Pleased to meet you.” The owner was caught off guard but then laughed amusingly.

“How polite. Nice to meet you as well Mr. Neuvillette. What kind of flowers can I get the both of you?” Peng Ju asked them. Ganyu looked at Neuvillette and he couldn’t do anything but avoid her gaze. He wasn’t very well versed in flora as he himself rarely had time to stop and smell flowers. He only did so on occasion when he went for walks.

Neuvillette cleared his throat and spoke. “Apologies, my knowledge on flowers is very limited.” He admitted, a bit of shame in his voice. Ganyu frantically waved it off. “No it’s ok!! I’m not knowledgeable on flowers either.” She confessed, clearly hoping to ease Neuvillette’s embarrassment.

Peng Ju laughed, and with time to spare the hydro sovereign and the qilin adeptus let themselves be roped into an extensive class of flowers and their meanings. Not only did they learn of Liyue flowers but ones of other nations as well.

When all was said and done, the flower shop owner picked up two silk flowers and handed it to the duo. “Here take these. As a small thank you for letting me ramble.” Neuvillette smiled. “You really don’t have to, we’ve learned quite a lot of your self proclaimed rambles.”

The shop owner seemed to receive the compliment well as a slight blush crept on her face. “Oh Neuvillette, how kind of you. Please I insist you take these as a gift.” The duo glanced at each other and a small giggle left the qilin. “Thank you.” She spoke, accepting the silk flowers. Ganyu placed one in her own hair and then did the same for Neuvillette.

The two bid the owner goodbye and went about their day.

                           __

By the time their tour was finished, the sun had nearly completely set. Disappearing behind the vast mountains of Liyue. Like a magic trick only this nations scenery could perform. The soft orange glow of the sky illuminating the land around them and the gentle yet content faces of the hydro sovereign and his qilin companion.

Ganyu stretched. “That was nice, how did you like the tour Mr. Neuvillette?” Ganyu kindly asked him. Neuvillette gave her a smile, one of those rare ones he reserved for the melusines. “It was lovely, thank you Ganyu. You’re quite the tour guide, applaud you.”

Ganyu looked relieved that she did well. She was a bit nervous at first, showing around a guest from Fontaine. But Neuvillette was nothing but kind the entire time and that quickly eased her concerns. The qilin adeptus opened her mouth to speak when a flash of green appeared before them.

Xiao.

“Ganyu, what are you doing? Rex Lapis has called for a meeting.” His gaze shifted towards Ganyu’s companion. The yaksha’s gaze hardened at the sight of Neuvillette. Of course, the sovereign wasn’t bothered nor was he also particularly pleased to see Xiao again.

“Trespasser.” Xiao let out a displeased grunt. “Now I see why you’ve yet to answer the summons.” Neuvillette opened his mouth to speak but Ganyu beat him to it. “Adeptus Xiao, please don’t say such things about Mr. Neuvillette. He’s been nothing but kind and I just got caught up showing him around.”

The yaksha’s glare shifted from Neuvillette to Ganyu. “Explain yourself later, right now we must meet up with the others. Let’s make haste.” Ganyu sighed and gave Neuvillette a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, I’ll see you soon?” To this Neuvillette smiled and nodded. And off the two adepti went.

Neuvillette looked at the books in his hand. A purchase prior to the end of their tour. It was time to gain more insight on the Liyue of this time.

                          __

The two adepti walked in silence, Ganyu fidgeting slightly. Wondering if she’d be scolded or something. But why would she? All she did was be hospitable and hopefully make a new friend. Why would that upset Xiao? Why would that upset Rex Lapis?

“Stay away from him.” Xiao’s voice broke the silence.

Ganyu looked at him, genuine confusion plastered on her face.

“That man is a problem. A trespasser with no respect for Rex Lapis.” He glanced at the flower in the girls hair. “Matching with him, you’re too kind for your own good. Xiao looked forward as they walked.

“But adeptus xiao, he’s not as bad as you make him out to be-“

“He disrespected Rex Lapis upon his arrival. Yet you wish to remain friends with him? Have you no loyalty?”

Ganyu looked down at her feet, unable to respond. Of course she loved and respected Rex Lapis. He was always kind to her and she promised to keep Liyue safe. But Neuvillette was very kind to her, just as Rex Lapis has been. She wanted to stay friends.

Her silence was all Xiao needed. He sighed. “The tiniest bit of kindness from a stranger gets you attached. You need to be careful.” He looked at her. “If you insist on this friendship, use it to gain information on him. The man is suspicious.”

With that Xiao walked ahead, leaving Ganyu wondering if she should really let her friendship with Neuvillette be built upon lies.