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It’d only been a few months and Morax had found his calm within his new life, his home with Jing Yuan, his companionship with an ever growing warmth between them, between him and the others, finding it to be stressless when he adorned his horns and tail on a daily basis as he wasn’t seen as a God or Archon. He had found his place, his retirement… Finally.
Yes, there had been a fear that he’d be called on to return when he’d visited Teyvat the one time to see the others, but Liyue had continued to improve without him, to his relief, and Monsieur Neuvillette had been… a delight? Understandably, he was still mildly ruffled due to their past, but it appeared that he had shrugged it off to congratulate him on his new life and oddly enough, Morax had been gifted a… Ladle. Very finely sculpted and designed, very themed around his own being of a blue serpent. Jing Yuan had questioned it, but he’d explained rather well, he felt.
Much akin to Morax’s own situation in that he needed to learn far more of this new world he called home, Jing Yuan had much to learn of the Adeptus’s prior world. The differences between the beings, the species of Gods and Adepti, Yokai, Aranara, the dragons and more.
The fact that Morax still had much to learn was also why he took a stroll around the Luofu almost daily while Jing Yuan worked. Exploring and gaining knowledge of the Flagships own species, races, history and landscapes. It was a very large Starskiff and though there was indeed a limit to how far he could venture, it was still so large that he was yet to have explored the whole thing. Coincidentally, he’d run into Xiao while meandering along the paths of Fyxestroll Garden, seemingly calm and entertaining a young Foxian child with a glowing tail. An adorable young child and he’d wagered that Xiao had felt responsible when he’d found her from his guard over the girl.
Besides the Garden, Morax had also wandered along the very dilapidated Artisanship Commission. It appeared very… post-battle with how the area looked from afar, more so up close. The state made him wonder what it would have looked like before whatever had caused the damage. With the thought still in his mind, he hadn’t Jing Yuan just yet.
Stargazer Navalia had been interesting, though Jing Yuan had informed him of the Diviner, the young pink haired woman that had given him the same impression of Xiao with her eyes. A spark within the stars, he’d described her as. Amusing, Morax and she had gotten along quite well upon conducting her own examination of him through her abilities. It was… interesting.
She was interesting… Though, he’d have to admit that he’d met many an individual that he’d deem incredibly interesting. Dan Heng, Miss Yukong, Miss Fu Xuan, Miss Hanya, Qingque, Sushang… Jing Yuan.
A soft smile graced his lips as Morax drew himself from his thoughts, the sound of waves catching the sand and the walls of ocean rotating against itself around the old Ruins returning and warming him.
Scalegorge Waterscape… An escape for his own silence as no one appeared to venture to the Vidyadhara's corner of the Luofu… or so he thought.
For the better half of his time there so far, he’d found himself alone or with Xiao or even Jing Yuan when visiting this area, Dan Heng appeared hesitant, understandably. But then over time, Morax had ventured there unattended and found calm in the silence, feeling the landscape, tasting the salt water air, touching the unfamiliar stone that appeared to react regardless of the difference between himself and the earth.
He was very aware of the eyes cast along his back, the intensity of the stare as he’d pressed a hand to the wall, his fingers brushing the solid material. As he’d said, he was aware of the individual that had recently appeared and for the better half of the few hours he’d been adding to his knowledge, the less they followed, but he was still… ‘conscious’ of Morax’s presence…
Though the man only seemed to want to stay within the upper circle with the statue of the High Elder. Even Morax had felt this cold distaste in the air, bordering on hatred, yet he was… sombre in expression when he’d managed to catch a glance.
Though the Adeptus did not know the face, the description, the atmosphere, the sheer twisted air surrounding him, those alone gave Morax the name from Dan Heng’s words of ‘those to look out for’.
Morax lowered his gaze, feeling the breeze catch his horns only briefly. The question of why Yingxing-, Blade, was there was drawn to the forefront of his mind, but given that he appeared transfixed on the statue… another question eased its way ahead of the previous.
Why share his time with the statue of his past comrade that he supposedly disliked?
The Adeptus lifted his gaze again, eyeing the walls of ocean where the faint shadow of a dragon fluidly danced along. There may be hate there, but he could hazard a feeling that there was a sense of mourning as the mans comrade was gone, in a sense. Unintentionally, Morax had found himself feeling sombre at the thought as well.
He shook his head slowly, drawing back the sympathy before gradually tilting his head to send a glance over his shoulder. Sure enough, the man was watching him, rather openly with his body turned towards the entrance to the Vidyadhara gorge. It appeared that he was done with his time shared with Dan Feng and had turned his attention to the other presence.
It also appeared that once Morax had openly eyed him, that had been a signal for the other, as he’d started walking in long strides towards the Adeptus. Visually, upon the man getting that much closer, he could already see a fraction of a difference in height. The other was maybe three inches taller than Morax. The clothing choice hid most save for his broad shouldered frame while the Adeptus wore his newer attire, bar for the upper arm guards.
Morax remained silent while watching the other closely, deciding against his better judgement in drawing his Vortex Vanquisher. As much as he’d been warned by others, namely Dan Heng, there was a voice urging him to hear the other rather than warn him off.
If a fight did break out due to the others actions, then so be it, but Morax wanted no fight. Why give him the indication that Morax wanted no interaction… He wanted the chance to learn…
The sound of footsteps disappeared, overtaken by the rush of water before the stopped entirely with the Adeptus turning his side to the man rather than his back. With the better angle, he could see the questions on the mans face, eyeing him, his horns, eyes, ears, tail, arms and so on. He was questioning his being, his appearance, the frown gave it away only seconds later upon stopping to meet his gaze, strong, guarded, resentful maybe, but undoubtedly curious and demanding answers much akin to an aggressive boy with questions…
But first…
“My name is Morax,” he greeted simply with a bow of his head, “Blade, I presume?” though he knew the mans name, he wasn’t about to jab the Geovishap by using his prior name. The expression he received was confirmation enough.
“You know me?” it was far from a question with how heavy and dark the tone had been with that gravelled voice, a constant warning in those three words alone. Yet he saw the number of questions grow inside of those dark eyes.
“‘Of’ you,” he corrected smoothly, delicately, keeping his tone soft and below the others in volume if only to keep the mood from escalating.
“Mostly through warnings prior to my wandering if a scenario such as this came to fruition,” a soft smile reached his lips, again if only to keep the mood at ease, though the others frown deepened, appearing to eye him for a tell-tale lie that he would not find.
“You did not heed the warnings,” the voice grew heavier, his gaze firm still and Morax eyed him with no sign of guard, no indication that he’d draw his polearm and react reflexively to a beast. But the words…
“I did,” Morax corrected with a slight spark to his gaze, catching the narrowing of his eyes.
“I’m not foolish enough to underestimate you,” he continued, keeping his own stare firm in return and not giving him a lowered guard, no falter within his knowing gaze. Although he’d indeed wanted to keep the shared time at ease, he wasn’t about to allow him to underestimate the Adeptus in return.
It was that very stare Morax had given that appeared to catch the others' interest… He watched as Blade inched forward, head tilted a fraction down to stare him in the eye. He was there for a few long, lingered moments, attempting to read him, and successfully it seemed as he leaned back with a soft breath.
“Your eyes scream of War,” ah… The experience within ones eyes. The eyes being the window to the soul… One would think the phrase was true when faced with someone who could read another's experience through a simple stare…
He sighed softly, his frame relaxing further.
“They also breathe of times long passed,” Morax spoke with a pointed wording towards the others, giving him the indication that his years of fighting were over. And again, there was that spark of interest, curiosity, yet he said nothing. He simply watched him, eyed him, attempted to read him and gazed at him from horn to tail once more. He really did appear openly interested though refrained from asking. It did amuse him, drawing a soft smile to his lips once again.
“Do I appear as a Vidyadhara to you as well?” he’d asked after a moment, eyeing the other who simply returned to a rather unreadable expression.
“No,” Blade had replied curtly, and then inched closer again, “But I sensed ‘Power’ when I saw you,” and remained that close, far closer and within reach of him. It almost felt as if the intrigue had him by the throat with how intense he’d gazed. But then again, the interest caught Morax with his wording, the talk of power?
“Please continue,” he requested calmly, crossing his arms behind his back as he straightened up and faced the slightly taller man. In terms of expression, there really wasn’t much to aid the Adeptus in reading the long lived human. He was… numbed.
“... I’ve felt Dan Feng’s power, Jing Yuan’s power. The atmosphere they bear is winding,” and such an impactful use of words, and quite true from what Morax could also feel.
“You’re something more. You’re not a Vidyadhara,” the man added, drawing a hum from the prior Archon.
“You’re quite intuitive,” the elder tilted his head, amused and curious. It wasn’t often that another voiced their thoughts of him, his power specifically. And though he was sure that ‘Blade’ could not ‘actually’ feel his power, the air he held likely gave him those feelings. He’d been told a few times that the stance he took, the aura he gave off, showed power, or at least refinement. Maybe it was that.
“What are you,” the other questioned, though it hadn’t exactly sounded much akin to a question. Morax eyed him, again, finding no tells to discern his thoughts. He was unreadable.
“An Adeptus,” he offered with a slow nod, something like a small bow. He couldn’t very well call himself an Archon anymore, nor would he refer to himself as something like ‘High Elder’ despite Dan Heng and Bailu having informed him that he’d fit the role at this point.
“A God?” the man questioned, his brow furrowing just slightly, and as far as the Adeptus could tell, it had to have been the first real facial shift he’d seen in his face upon meeting him.
“Close. But no,” Morax shook his head lightly, “Not anymore,” he’d added, a soft smile gracing his lips. The words had even seemed to cause his brow to pinch that little bit more, his head tilting a fraction as if requesting an elaboration of what he’d meant.
“It’s quite the history, best told over tea,” Morax commented, a moment later a thought came to mind, “Would you care to join me?” Although he assumed the offer would be declined, he’d have liked to learn more about his partners past friends, regardless of their experiences that parted them.
“No,” he declined rather swiftly and predictably, though he hadn’t expected it to be so firm.
“Understood,” he chuckled softly, having an alternative, “Do you have a communication-, uh… Cell phone?” he asked simply, retrieving his own from his pocket as an offer. He watched as Blade eyed it, him and then the device again before he seemingly sighed and drew out his own while reaching for the Adeptus’s. He’d only waited a few seconds before seeing the mans brow quirk upon seeing something on Morax’s phone.
“Jing Yuan texted you a while ago,” the man muttered and continued with tapping his own screen, supposedly adding the Adeptus’s number to his phone.
“Ah, yes. I tend to need reminders to return home before he does,” Morax smiled softly and a tad sheepishly. He’d missed the text while enjoying his time meandering around Scalegorge.
“The reminders appear ineffective,” the man muttered as he continued tapping the screen, only pausing in waiting for Morax’s device to vibrate with a notification of sorts before he seemed to pause for another reason, having ‘snooped’ assumingly.
“You’re an item,” the man commented, eyeing what was on screen before handing the device back to the Adeptus. Morax quirked a brow, eyeing his phone to see that he had indeed investigated the gallery, the organised folders mainly that held images of himself and Jing Yuan.
“Understandable,”
“It is?” Morax questioned as he lifted his gaze, unsure of what he’d meant by the last comment. He was met with silence initially, the stare he received making him feel as though he had missed something.
“... It is,” he affirmed, and to Morax’s confusion, he watched as the man turned and began walking away, pocketing his device as he strode. The Adeptus blinked, eyeing him while tilting his head in uncertainty of what he’d meant. Additionally, was that his ‘goodbye’?
A soft hum left him, continuing to watch until he was out of sight before glancing down to his phone and seeing the notification. It was a message that the man likely used to store each other's identification. The message itself read:
Blade: “Tea, next time.”
A soft smile graced his lips once more, shaking his head his amusement before he pocketed his own phone and gave the Gorge a brief second glance. He lingered for only a moment before leaving for his Starskiff, not wanting to let Jing Yuan wait for him that much longer.