Chapter Text
Another lantern rite in Liyue Harbour, although it's night, it still feels as if it's the middle of the day due to the the bustling streets, YunJin's dazzling performance, children playing, and most of all, the lanterns that light up the night sky imitating thousands of stars.
Those lanterns have always guided the lost back home. That was their intended purpose. Although now, it is just a tradition. It's original purpose is now long forgotten by the current people of Liyue.
Some even put down their wishes on the lanterns in hopes of it becoming a reality.
Those glistening papers and sticks that dance so gracefully above the lively city. Such a sight to behold.
Despite the beautiful scene, Zhongli's gaze were of loneliness and longing as he stood atop the stoney Mt. Tianheng next to that lone glaze lily as if he's keeping it company.
"How the years have gone by so fast." He sighs. He knows that those good old days can only be visited through his memories. But even he, whose memory is undefeated, would not be able to retain them all. He knows full well what the effect of erosion on someone is.
He knows that it is a reality that one must accept with longevity, but a piece of him just can't help but long for those moments... with her.
"Li?" A familiar but unexpected voice behind him spoke. A voice he longed to hear for a long, long time. A voice that has almost faded to dust in his memories.
He turned to see if he was imagining voices. After all, it's not impossible considering that it might be an effect of erosion and all that.
As he turned around, he froze in shock. Is he dreaming? He asked himself. Is he hallucinating? Why is she standing right in front of him? How?! He asked question after question without an answer. Guizhong, why is she...
"Li, you finally wore Menogias' latest work." She smiles. If only she knew that that smile was giving Zhongli chills right at that moment. "You did mention you'd only wear it on special occa—"
"Who are you?" A question that seemed useless to Guizhong. A question that was intended to be a warning from Zhongli. "How dare you try use her to trick me." His golden eyes looked at her as if he was ready to cut her down even without a weapon at hand. Such cold piercing gaze, that bloodlust sent a shiver down Guizhong's spine.
"Li, what are y—" She tries to step forward towards him but he summons a weapon, the Primordial Jade Cutter, before her throat.
"Don't even try." His cold and calm demeanor contradicts the raging storm of emotions inside of him.
Guizhong stood there confused.
'Use "her"? Does he mean me? As a what? We were just chatting earlier this morning...' Her thoughts and his now match each others. Both stirring up confusion inside each of their heads.
"Li—" She stops herself from uttering his nickname that she gave him. "Morax." It has been a while since she used his name but with the distance she felt in his words, it just felt right for her to use it.
He flinched at that moment he heard her voice call him Morax. For that name was only for his foes. He didn't want to hear her sweet voice utter such. That is why to him, that thing that dared to use her voice, face and body is unforgivable. He must cut it down no matter what.
But...
Even the toughest stone cracks as dust settles.
He's hesitating. His old enemies that he mercilessly slayed and sealed would puke their innards out seeing how weak and powerless he is against this frail and small goddess in front of him. How pitiful.
"Morax, I don't know what's going on, but if you have something on your mind right now, say it." Her mind is as quick and decisive as always. She understood that there was something that needed to be said
Her voice, once again, shook his heart. But that did not break his resolve to strike down this "creature" in front of him. He stood his ground and moved closer as his tip of the sword slightly pricks her throat letting out a drop of blood.
Like him, she stood her ground. She did not even flinch even after Zhongli got closer. She too learned from him as he did her.
Thier eyes locked on each others. Golden eyes to blueish grey eyes. And for one moment Zhongli felt she really was there. The feeling he had when he first met her came rushing in.
'No! This isn't her!' He snapped himself back to reality.
"You dare impersonate the late founder of Liyue right in front of its current guardian deity." He chuckled. "Although, I must say you have quite the guts."
"Late founder...?" She whispered as it sets guizhong to trail off. She switched her glance off to the lanterns and unfamiliar landscape behind him. A port city right beside the sea. She analyzes his demeanor. Her mind has come to a scary conclusion that sends shivers down her spine. But she needed some sort of confirmation first.
"The stone dumbell, have you opened it?"
Once again, his stoic figure cracks.
Only he and Guizhong knew of the fact that the stone dumbbell exists and what it is for. So how could this creature, that he suspects to be one of his foes, know about its existence. Unless, this creature spied on them while they were— No! that's not possible. They were in the middle of the farm fields of The Guili Assembly. They wouldn't have made it pass the adepti without one of them noticing an intruder. Plus, he would have known if there was someone or something there. He wouldn't have survived all this time if his senses were so weak after all.
This truly breaks his stance. He pulls back the sword from her throat as it disappears into thin air and looks down to the glaze lily beside him.
He's thinking.
His thoughts only lead to a single conclusion. That this is the real Guizhong. Or at the very least, a part of the real her, a memory perhaps. After all, leylines tend to leak out various things it has records of. But she doesn't look like a leyline memory at all.
You can't blame Zhongli for thinking it was his foe. She doesn't even have that ghostly body that all the other leyline memories do.
Guizhong felt a sudden rush of relief through her whole body. Seeing as Zhongli has calmed down now. He doesn't seem hostile towards her anymore. She let out a quiet and soft sigh.
But... he's quiet.
"So, Li, how are you?" She smiles and tries to break the silence with a belated greeting. He's still looking down at the place where that glaze lily was, but it's gone. And with his bangs covering his face, she doesn't know what kind of expression he's making. This mystery scares her, it worries her about what kind of emotion her usually unbothered and stone-like companion is making.
A crystal clear tear drop slid down his cheeks as he lifted his gaze. Guizhong saw it clearly. His eyes are swelling up with tears that are about to come pouring down as his lips quiver. The look of longing he gave her.
She couldn't help but freeze for a moment. This man, who never even flinched as he slayed his enemies, is making such a face because he saw her. Once she gathered herself, she steps closer and opens her arms, welcoming her dearest with a hug.
A single tear turned into a stream as he regrets what he's done to her earlier. He even dare use that sword. He hesitantly walks over to those small arms that welcome him wholeheartedly.
"I'm sorry..." He sobs. He buried his face into her arms.
"Hey..." She pats his head which messes up his hair. "You did good, my brave."
'Oh, celestia, or whoever it is that allowed for this to happen, I thank you. Thank you.' He smiles at the thought that even thought fate had separated them abruptly, it still gave him a chance to hug her once more.
He might have been physically larger than her but it felt as if he were a child nestled in her arms, seeking warmth that was once lost.
After all, lantern rite is all about guiding those who are lost back home.