#zhongli x guizhong

[sgrimp]

Shed be so proud

[xiaosonlybeloved]

Of Flowers and Death~ -Hanahaki AU

fem! reader x Zhongli, Zhongli x Guizhong, implied Zhongli x Lumine

warnings:- angst, hurt/no comfort, major character death, graphic descriptions of blood and violence. (lemme know if i missed anything) length-2.8k words a/n:- Mmm yes my favorite oneshot till date. stay till the end for that juicy angst haha (i have been writing for over two hours everything hurts but its worth it) Likes comments and reblogs are greatly appreciated, and do check out my childe smau too!

Edit:- there is a sequel now- Regret, Guilt, Anguish

masterlist

“Oh..” you murmured in less than a whisper. You were hidden behind a few rocks; you had come to meet Morax, the god of Liyue, but your dearest friend, Guizhong, was already there with him, and it looked like they were having a moment. You couldn’t help but want to listen in, because after all it was Morax who you had loved for most of your life.

You were a foreigner to Liyue; you came from Inazuma. But you weren’t any ordinary Inazuman. You were the third and youngest of the Raiden sisters, who ruled over Inazuma itself. No one other than the archons knew about your existence, because Ei and Makoto kept you a secret, protected. Although not many knew, there had indeed been a few attempts on the lives of the Raiden sisters, and this was what they wanted to protect you from.

After you had a few centuries of battle experience and training under your bag, you were allowed to explore the world. You were not tied down with the duties of ruling Inazuma. Naturally, you attracted the attention of the gods, each one of them remarking on how you inherited all the characteristic features of the Raidens.

Only the heavens above knew how you managed to become the best friend of one of the major gods, and that too Morax. But he was the reason you chose to settle down in Liyue. As time passed, your feelings for Morax, also called Zhongli by his friends, also grew more than platonic.

Now see, you knew Morax was something of a blockhead when it came to feelings. So you didn’t think much when Morax kept sending you mixed signals. You both were immortal gods after all, you had all the time in the world. You continued to hopelessly fool yourself, thinking that just perhaps, there was a chance of him loving you back.

Then came the goddess of Dust, Guizhong. A minor goddess she was, but a wonderful one. It didn’t take her too long to make her way into everyone’s hearts, including yours and Zhongli’s. While you both quickly grew into fast friends, there was just one thing that constantly irked you. Just one. It was the way she quickly grew so incredibly close to Zhongli.’

You knew that Guizhong fancied Zhongli; she confessed it to you yourself. You were forced to merely plaster a fake smile upon your face and laugh her words off.

That brought you to this day: watching Guizhong confess to Zhongli. And the amount of heartbreaking anguish when Zhongli accepted with a smile, pulling her in close, after having remained oblivious to all your advances over the decades…. It was just… You couldn’t handle it. It was too much.

You quietly sneaked away as soon as possible. And then.. And then came the coughs and the bloodstained petals. Being from Inazuma, you knew all about it of course. Hanahaki. Needless to say, you were horrified. Since that day, you somewhat avoided the duo on the pretext of the ongoing Archon War. It was here that you showed your true battle prowess as a Raiden. You alone decimated entire armies of the enemies, leaving not even ashes.

The war went on for months. You lost many allies in fighting to ensure that Makoto and Morax got seats in the Seven. Till sundown you fought without relent, showing that even a beauty can be dangerous. At night, you gave your fallen comrades the proper, respectful  farewell they deserved. By now, only the last few contenders for the heavenly thrones were left. The last opponent for Morax was the ocean god, Osial, in Guyun Stone Forest, and his followers. Recognising the serious threat he posed, you did agree to team up with Morax to eliminate him. The path for Morax to become an archon would then become clear. Through experience, you both knew that you two together were a formidable force. 

The battle was a long and exhausting one. You both started at sunrise, and barely managed to subdue him by sundown, having understood that even with their combined power, they would not be able to kill Osial. You both went back to your makeshift camp, looking forward to just resting for the night. Thank the gods you had very few coughing fits during the battle.

And yet, the moment you stepped past the protected borders, you felt that familiar eerie chill that crept up your spine. The heavy silence that hung ominously, the one that meant something was dreadfully, terribly wrong. And you were right. You took in the scene. The five Yakshas of Liyue were present, and they seemed to be sealing some sort of hexagonal structure, which was suspended above a figure. And the figure…

Was Guizhong.

Any dislike you harboured towards the Goddess of Dust disappeared as you laid your eyes upon the figure that had been turned to stone. The first and utmost thought in your mind was that something was wrong with your second best friend. Evidently Morax had come to the same conclusion. He let out a strangled sound as you both ran towards what remained of Guizhong. As you both gingerly touched her as if she was made of glass instead of stone, you knew. It was clear- Guizhong was no more.

Despite your stormy emotions, it seemed you were capable of only letting out a few tears. Morax seemed to be physically incapable of crying, yet his emotions were plainly displayed on his face for all to see. 

That night, you stayed with Morax, doing your best to comfort him, despite needing comfort yourself. Neither of you had any more tears to shed. 

That night, Morax has emerged as one of the Seven with your help, but you both lost Guizhong along the way.

~◈~

2 millenia had passed since the Archon War, and it left its scars on everyone. However, you could be lying if you said that you didn’t feel relieved that Guizhong was out of the way. You also felt guilty for feeling like that. But it was rather funny, how you managed to survive with your hanahaki for 2000 years, while most died within a few months. You supposed the reason was that Morax, who now completely lived as the mortal Zhongli in the Harbor, was seriously the absolute master at giving out mixed signals. He often unknowingly did things that lovers did, giving you hope. Yet that hope gets squashed a few days later, and the cycle continues. In all honesty, the hanahaki wasn’t really a big problem, more like a chronic disease that you had come to accept as a part of your life.

You knew that while Zhongli had mostly recovered by now, he still irrationally blamed himself for Guizhong’s death. You often told him to move on, yet he never said anything. You could see how opposed he was to the idea though. That’s why it was a surprise when he invited you to his office in the funeral parlor right after you returned from Inazuma. You could see on his face that there was something that pleased him. He first enquired about your travels and stuff, then said, “[name], do you remember how you’ve always told me to move on?” “Oh yes. Have you been thinking about that?” “Indeed. Although Guizhong will always have a special place in my heart, I believe that I am now ready to mingle again. I realised recently… that I have feelings for someone new.” 

You couldn’t deny the flutter of excitement you felt on hearing those words.Was this finally it? “That’s great Zhongli! Who is it?” “Do you know the Traveler, Lumine? It’s her. I met her a while back, when you were out on your travels. I love her so much.” He proceeded to tell you all about Lumine. He was lovestruck and you could see that. With every word he spoke, you felt your heart drop more into your stomach. You were doomed. Utterly doomed.

All this time, you’d just been deluding yourself, lying to yourself. He had never loved you, and he never would. You were struggling to keep your easy smile glued to your face as yet again, you felt something rise up your throat. You politely managed to excuse yourself, your voice coming out all scratchy and raw. Once you walked out of his cabin, you sprinted towards the confines of your home. By the time you locked yourself in, some petals had already escaped and blood was smeared across your palm. 

You were hunched over the sink, which was already full of flowers and blood within a few minutes. It hurt. Everything did, both your body and your broken heart. You knew your impending death was near, because never had your hanahaki been this severe. You couldn’t undergo the surgery because Zhongli was a massive part of your life, and simply forgetting about him would raise a barrage of questions. Plus, you still loved Zhongli too much to forget about him, despite the fact that somewhere deep down, you always knew that he’d never love you back.

~◈~

Your time was very close. The past few days had been spent isolated into the confines of your home, claiming to be exhausted from your latest journey whenever someone came to visit. Funnily enough, today was the day when Zhongli’s former love, and your former best friend, Guizhong, had died. In short, her death anniversary. Seemed it would be yours too.

You usually avoided visiting Guizhong’s memorial and burial site, which was in an isolated cave near Liyue Harbour. However today you thought it was fitting for you to pay your respects to her for the last time. And so, you dragged yourself out in the early morning, before sunrise. You left before anyone could see you, before he could see you.

By the time you are at your destination, your condition has significantly worsened due to the physical strain. It’s all you can do to respectfully place the flowers beside her memorial and lean against the wall. You began to speak to no one in particular in a cracked voice. “Hey Gui…? I hope.. You are at.. Peace… Just know that… I’ve never… hated you.. You’ve always been my.. Best friend.”

“How lucky you were… to be loved by Zhongli.”

Your throat choked up, not because of emotion, but because of another bout of bloody flowers. Not wanting to die there because he would see you, you got yourself out and into another deserted cave just beside. Not the best, but you had no choice. You had merely left a few petals at the entrance of both caves and a faint trail of blood in between.

By now, you had fallen to the ground in searing agony as flower after bloodstained flower forced its way out of your raw throat. You were lying on a bed of the flowers you yourself had coughed out.

How long it had been, you did not know. Perhaps minutes, perhaps hours. You started coughing again, not a moment’s respite. Your life force was almost completely drained. Any moment now.. You would be free.

It was then that you heard a horrified voice ring through the silence. “[Name]!”

~◈~ 

Zhongli was up at sunrise. Despite his new love, his mood was somber- it was Guizhong’s death anniversary. He had every intention to continue visiting her memorial. As usual, he sought you out. There was a rare chance that if you were in the mood, you would accompany him to pay respects to Guizhong. Yet when he knocked at your door several times and received no response, he chose to leave you alone, despite being slightly worried. You usually did respond at the very least, but he was sure you were alright,

He stopped short in front of the cave which housed Guizhong’s memorial. There was a fresh bouquet of Glaze lilies. But who brought them here? Especially since this place was practically unheard of. He took a few quick steps forward and kneeled down to inspect the bouquet. His heart lurched.

Attached to the bouquet was a small note that said, ‘To my dearest best friend, Guizhong.’ There was no name, but he recognised the handwriting well enough. [name] had already been here. Without him? Was there a reason?

His eyes were drawn to something else too. Relatively new footprints in the soil. And blood.

Blood?

His heavy footsteps echoed in the cave as he quickly walked out, following the faint trail of footprints, blood and petals. They were leading him to a nearby cave. His heart rate accelerated as he heard heavy coughing.  And behold the sight that awaited him- an utterly pretty bed of flowers and petals stained in a blood red, and someone coughing while lying on it.

“[Name]!” He cried out, completely horrified.

You curled into yourself even more on hearing his voice. All you wanted was to die in peace, why did he have to make things more difficult? Why did he have to come here? The flowers started choking and constricting your throat on their way up, ever more unrelenting, fueled by the appearance of the one who caused them. It was so hard to breathe… Just a bit more…

You felt yourself being gently lifted into someone’s strong and warm embrace. You weakly met Zhongli’s eyes, which were full of panic. You’d only seen him lose his composure like this once before, his fear more than evident on his face. “[name]- I- What happened? Please, tell me! I- I can’t lose you too!” He exclaimed frantically, feeling your life ebb away second by second, with each cough that released blood and Glaze lilies.

Your throat constricted even more, making it excessively hard to breathe. You just wanted to rest, It was all you could do to force a few broken words from your raw throat.

“...Hana..haki…” That was all Zhongli needed to know to understand. His pupils dilated in fear even more. “Who.. Who is it who made you suffer this way?” Zhongli whispered, unable to take in your completely broken state. You didn’t respond for a few moments, feeling your eyelids shut. You forced them open, not wanting to leave him hanging. “Always.. Loved you.. Always will… Be happy.. For me.. Okay? That is my last wish.” You weakly tried to reach a hand towards Zhongli, who instantly grasped it tightly in hsi, and pressed it against his face, as the realisation hit him like a truck. “What..?” He whispered softly.

Your eyes started to droop again, and you gave in, feeling nothing but qa soft ringing in your ears as your senses dulled. “[name], no, please don’t leave me!” Zhongli cried out in panic, grief and anguish, seeing you slip away from him. You simply let a small smile rest on his face as you whispered, “Just.. sleeping.. Tired.” Unable to accept your fate, he whispered, “Sleep well then, my dearest.”

But you never lived to hear that.

Because then you moved no more.

Was fate trying to mock him with [name] dying in his arms, in front of him, on the same day as Guizhong’s death? You were always there for him, always there with him, until you weren’t. And never in his immortal life was Zhongli able to forgive himself for this, knowing that he was the reason you were dead.

mm yes now hows that huh? gonna disappear for a few days now haha tags and comments are very much appreciated!

[121231212i]

Genshin Impact | Zhongli ☀️ & Guizhong 🌕

[amuneh]

"... and that led to a dalliance..."

I really love them a very normal ™ amount.

[le-roi-baleine]

Just did a Guizhong and zhongli from memory in more traditional Chinese clothes

[xxspringmelodyxx]

Betrayal (Finale) ~

Morax (Zhongli) x Reader (Angst)

And here it is, my beautiful readers! The final chapter of this story! I gotta say, it was really fun to write this, and I am so happy you all enjoyed it as well! I hope you enjoy this final chapter just as much! So, without further ado, grab your popcorn and enjoy the ride. Thank you all again for all the love and support on this story! <333333

“I thought I told you to stay away from Morax! Don’t you know how to listen?!” Guizhong yelled as she stepped in front of Morax.

“Did you really think that I would ever listen to a psycho such as yourself?” You said sternly

“You should have. You really should have, Y/n.” She said, her hands balling up

“No. No one, especially you, gets to tell me what to do. I make my own decisions, no one else.” You said back

“My, my. You have gotten quite confident haven’t you? What changed?” She teased.

She walked up closer to you, her heels clacking with the ground. She put her finger to her chin

“Hmm. Was it maybe because the other archons around you don’t think very highly of you? Is that it?” She said, making your hands slowly ball up. You looked around you, seeing the other archons look away from you to avoid eye contact.

“Or maybe it’s because you aren’t strong enough to take power over even the smallest group of people.”

“Enough, Guizhong.” Morax said. 

Sure, he felt hurt that you had moved on, but that doesn’t give Guizhong any right to treat you like this. 

“No. I wanna find out what made her this way. What conflict could she have possibly had that made her turn out this way?”

Just as she reached you, she stopped and smirked, turning around to look at Morax. 

She then looked back at you and bent towards your ear, whispering ever so softly,

“Or…was it possibly because the one and only man you ever loved…turned out to be the one and only man who broke your heart because he chose me instead of you?” She asked. 

She leaned back a bit and stared at you with a menacing look.

Your anger started to rise, vines slowly forming around the windows. Guizhong looked out of the corner of her eye, seeing what was going on.

“Ah, ah, ah. Wouldn’t want to start a scene now would we? I mean, afterall, these people are on my side. Even Morax. It would be foolish of you to start something you cannot finish.” She said, making you look at her with hurt eyes. 

Kai looked at you and held your hand, trying to help calm you down.

“Ignore her. We can’t do it here. Not now.” He whispered in your ear.

Morax saw this and couldn’t help but get more jealous each minute you two were together.

Your hand slowly unballed itself, the vines slowly going back down to their natural state.

“That’s a good girl.” She mocked, straightening herself up.

“Now, why don’t you turn around and go. You’ve already embarrassed yourself enough, haven’t you?” She asked, turning on her heel. You looked up at Morax with tears in your eyes. You couldn’t believe you were still emotional over him, especially after all this time! All of the work you put yourself through went completely down the drain. You hated yourself for it.

“Oh!” Guizhong said as she suddenly remembered something. An evil smirk making its way to her face.

“And give these to Asuka. Tell him we are all sorry for what happened to Airi.” She said, tossing something at you.

You and Kai both stopped in your tracks, all the composure in your body completely gone. You slowly turned around, looking at the gift below you to see a little ceramic item.

“That’s it.” You said, your voice calm, but clearly furious.

Kai tried to hold you back once more, afraid of what would happen to you.

“No, Y/n. Please, stop.” He said, wrapping his arms around your body to hold you back.

Morax tried to stand up, his jealousy getting the best of him, but Guizhong held him down.

“They are not worth it.” Guizhong said, making Morax look up at her like she was insane. 

“He is grabbing onto her!” He replied with a frustrated tone.

“Who cares?” She asked. He was getting more skeptical about her every second that passed.

Meanwhile, Kai was working hard to hold you back. But you couldn’t stand it anymore. You were going to get your revenge, not only for you, but for Airi as well. Guizhong took her parents away from her…and now she took her life, too. All because Guizhong wanted to keep you out of the way?

You grunted, trying to get Kai off of you.

“Stop, Y/n. Stop!” He yelled

“NO!” You yelled back. Out of instinct, you stomped your foot on the ground, which was a mistake.

The contact between your foot and the ground created a large burst underground. It forced Kai away from you into a couple other archons. 

The impact was so great that it caused the entire room to shake, allowing some items to fall. There were mumbles and whispers from other archons as they saw what you were able to do. 

You looked down and saw the huge cracks you left in the ground, seeing a trail of tree roots peeking out of them.

You looked back up and saw Morax staring at you in awe, never seeing you use your powers to harm anyone, accident or not. Meanwhile, Guizhong just stared at you with frustration.

You slowly walked up to the object, seeing it was a little bunny. 

You stared at it, your breath getting heavier with each moment you looked at it. Memories of you, Airi, and Asuka playing in an open field with little creatures started to form. Seeing how happy the two were when they saw a little baby bunny you had brought over. Seeing how in love Airi was when she saw the cute thing. Remembering her asking if she could keep it for the rest of the day. Remembering her laughter and bright smile  as she got to cuddle with it. All of those memories and more came running back to you, making your blood boil.

You grabbed the ceramic item and threw in on the ground, smashing it to bits and pieces, making people around you gasp.

“Don’t act like you care, you heartless bitch!” You yelled, tears making their way to your eyes once more. 

Guizhong glared at you, walking towards you carefully.

“I am not heartless! I was just trying to make things better for him-”

“No, you were trying to make yourself feel better!” You yelled, making Morax stare at you, his heart breaking again as he saw how distressed you were.

“”I have no idea what you’re talking about.” She said, scoffing at you

“You know exactly what you did.” You said

“What is she talking about?” Morax interjected

Guizhong quickly turned to him and smiled psychotically.

“Nothing, my dear. She is obviously insane, and should be put in a mental institute right away!” She yelled

“You killed her!” You yelled, making everyone go silent. 

“You killed her, and made it seem like it was nothing! And all of you so-called archons didn’t even help!” You yelled, looking at the others in the room with tears falling down your eyes.

“She was only 9 years old!” You said

Suddenly, the archons started to look away in guilt and shame.

“She was only 9 when Guizhong took her parents away. She was only 9 years old when her own life was taken away! Do none of you see anything wrong with that?! How could you all just….just stand there and act like everything was okay? Especially when she sent you all calls for help?!” You said

“And not only her, but hundreds…thousands of other helpless citizens called for your help! And now they are all gone because you didn’t do anything to help them! How can you look at yourself and think you are anywhere near what an archon is?! You ignored them and let them die…and you know what?” You asked, making all of them slowly look up at you.

“You all are so stupid that you didn’t even know that the monsters that were killing them all were all coming from her.” You said, pointing towards Guizhong.

“Come on, Y/n. There is no way Guizhong would do that-” Morax started to say

“Oh and here we are again. The one and only Morax, the Geo Archon, The man of Contracts. Helping defend Guizhong once again. Well you know what, Morax? Go ahead! Do it. Honestly, I’d be surprised if you didn’t!” You yelled at him

“Y/n, I-”

“Save it! I knew it was a mistake ever trusting you. I knew it was a mistake falling oh so deeply in love with you.” You mocked.

Morax felt his chest tighten, feeling like there were nails going down his throat as you talked to him like that. 

“I’m glad you chose her. Because thanks to you, I dodged what would have been the biggest mistake in my life. Being with you.” You said, your anger getting the best of you.

“Y/n…you don’t mean that. Please, you know I love you. I always have…I just-”

“Enough. I don’t care for what you have to say. You broke me. Absolutely shattered me.” You said, your voice faltering.

Tears began to build up inside Morax’s eyes, his guilt all coming back to him at once.

“And besides, I’m not here for you.” You started, turning your vision towards Guizhong.

“I'm here for her. To finish what she started.” You said.

Suddenly, there was a split second of absolute silence. No one moved, no one breathed. They all sat there, fearful of what was about to happen.

Then, out of nowhere, a large tree root burst out of the ground and slammed right into Guizhong. 

People screamed and began to run out of the large building.

However, some of the archons stayed put and ran after you to stop you. 

A man placed his hands on your arms, holding you back. You grunted as you tried to escape free from his hold. 

You looked ahead of you and saw three other men and women coming after you. You knew you had to act quick. Otherwise, this will all be for nothing.

You threw your head back, hitting his nose as hard as you could. The man cried out in pain, accidentally letting you go. You turned to him and kicked him right in the groin, making his breath leave his body. You saw that he had a sword in his sheath, so you grabbed it quickly. He tried to grab it back, but you brought your elbow up to his face and knocked him out. 

You turned around, seeing the three people right behind you. You forced your sword out as a warning.

They didn’t hold back, and instead, they ran after you with their weapons.

You quickly placed your arm on the outer left sword, pushing it into the other two swords on the right. You then wrapped your arm around the arms of the swords, blocking the archons from moving.

You then flipped over the swords and used your leg to kick each of them away, pulling their swords out of their hands and throwing them someplace else. 

They all got back up on their feet with ease and ran after you. However, you dropped the sword and raised your hands, a dark green glow emitting from each hand.

All three of them stopped, hesitant of what you were going to do to them.

“You all saw what I could do with a sword. Do you really want to see what I can do with my own magic?!” You warned, making them all back up a bit.

However, while you were focusing on them, you didn’t realize the large rock hurling towards you. 

You were knocked back into a wall, causing you to lose focus for a second.

“Get out of here, now!” A familiar voice said. You saw a blurry scene of feet running past you, getting to a safe area.

You tried to get up, but the rock that hit you made that hard

“Y/n. Please, stop. This isn’t you.” The voice said, making you look up at the person to see none other than Morax

“Y-You…used your ability on me?” You asked in disbelief.

“I have to if it will stop you. Please, Y/n. I know you are mad about everything, but please don’t blame Guizhong. She was just trying to help-” “NO! SHE WASN”T!” You lashed out at him, a large vine growing and pushing him back. 

You pushed him up against a wall, the vine slowly wrapping around his neck.

“Y/n…stop…”He gasped out as he slowly raised up in the air.

“No. All you have done is betray me over and over again. You don’t know what it was like.” You said, tears slipping out of your eyes again.

“You don’t know what it was like to watch someone you care for die in your arms. To see that little sparkle slowly disappear out of their once lively eyes. You weren’t there when those ruthless animals that Guizhong created killed her. Killed her family. Killed hundreds of other people.”

He stared at you, watching you pour your feelings out.

“You don’t know what it’s like to get your heart broken over and over again. And the person who caused all of it, is someone you’re defending.” You said, tightening the vine.

“Why are you doing this, Morax? Do you really hate me that much?” You asked, your power faltering, allowing him to breathe again.

He fell to the ground, grabbing his throat as he gasped in precious air. 

He then looked up to you, seeing you fall to your knees

He quickly ran to you and held your hands, holding you close to his chest.

“Don’t ever say that again. I could never hate you, Y/n. I love you. I really do. And I’m sorry about…about everything. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry all I ever did was cause you pain and heartbreak. That was never my intention.” He started, making you look up at him

“Y/n, I am not lying when I say I have loved you for so long. After you left, that love grew and grew. It killed me everyday that you weren’t here with me. I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything. I was and am so lost without you, and I realized that was my fault. I know I’m the one that pushed you away and I am truly, deeply sorry. I know what I did will never be forgivable, but please know that I really do love you, Y/n. And only you. No one else.”

“Then why did you choose-”

“I was angry. And I shouldn’t have been. I was being selfish and was mad at you for making me choose…when in reality, you were right. I treated you like garbage when Guizhong showed up.”

“Why? Why did you?”

“Y/n…I loved you so much…and I still do love you so much. But before I knew you shared the same feelings for me, I tried to get rid of those romantic feelings. I was so afraid that my love for you would destroy our already amazing relationship. I didn’t want you to leave me. So…I tried to push those feelings onto Guizhong. I tried to fall in love with her like I did with you.”

“Did you?”

He smiled a bit, placing his hand on your face.

“No. Not in the slightest. That love I felt for you could and only would be for you. And it still is that way, Y/n. But you have got to stop this. For us. Please.” He begged, a tear falling out of his eye. 

Your heart was confused at this point. It was racing fast at his confession to you…but at the same time, he still didn’t believe you. He believed you were imagining it.

You pulled his hands away from your face, pushing him away. You got up to your feet

“Y/n-” He started, standing up as well.

“If you love me. If you truly love me, then show it.”

“What do you mean?” He asked

“Show me you love me by trusting me. Trust that I know what I am doing.” You said, making him look down at you. 

He truly did love you, but he wasn’t sure about this. You were going to hurt Guizhong with an accusation that you haven’t proved yet. 

But he looked in your eyes and saw that same glint he once saw starting to show up again. He knew what he had to do. He couldn’t lose you again. 

He sighed and nodded.

“Okay. I trust you.” He said. You stared at him with a bit of surprise, not expecting him to say that.

“Just…please be careful. I don’t want to lose you again.” He said, caressing your cheek. You couldn’t say anything, not used to his gesture. Instead, you just nodded

Unfortunately, before Morax could do anything else, a large gust of dust spewed at him, forcing him back against a wall with the other archons.

“Morax!” You yelled in fear as you saw how hard his head hit the wall.

Kai quickly ran to him to aid his injuries.

You snapped your head around to see Guizhong walking down to you, anger evident in her face.

“I told you to leave him alone!” Guizhong said, forming a small dust tornado in her hand. She then threw it towards you, watching it grow bigger and bigger as more dust was added.

Your eyes widened as it was coming straight for you.

“Y/n, move!” Kai yelled

You jumped out of the way, just barely dodging it. Instead, it hit four large caryatids, completely destroying them.

Guizhong growled in frustration, whipping her hand to the left. Within an instant, a large gust of dust formed, throwing you to a wall.

“Y/n!” Morax yelled, trying to get up to help you. Kai, however, pushed him back down.

“What the hell are you doing?! Let me go!” He yelled towards the man.

“No, you are far too hurt. If you do anything more, you could seriously injure yourself!” Kai yelled back

“I don’t care! I would do anything for Y/n! Wouldn’t you? You’re hers now, aren’t you? Treat her like it and help me help her!” Morax said

Kai looked at Morax with confusion for a split second before realizing what he said.

“Gross! Y/n and I aren’t together! And I don’t love her like that! I love her as my sister!” Kai said

Morax suddenly shut up, looking at Kai with a look of confusion, but mostly relief.

“So…you don’t…love her the way I love her?” Morax asked, making Kai face palm.

“Dude, how dull are you? How are you deemed one of the smartest and strongest archons, yet you don’t even understand the basic emotions such as love?” He asked, making Morax look down.

“Look, I only see her as a sister and she only sees me as a brother. That’s it.” Kai stated, tending to Moraxs’ wound

“And here I was thinking she had moved on already.” Morax said, feeling like a complete idiot. Kai chuckled, grabbing Morax’s attention.

“What is so funny?” 

“Y/n is far from moving on.” 

“What do you mean?” He asked

“Where do I even start? Dude, she wouldn’t stop talking about you whenever you were brought up. One time, my little brother brought her a rock in the shape of a star and that made her start talking about how you would always give her beautifully shaped and handmade rocks.”

Morax stayed silent. He never felt so stupid.

“She even talked about your favorite drink and food when we cooked together. Gosh, honestly it was getting annoying every now and then.”

“Why?” “Because I could see how much she loves you. How much she misses you. Yet at the same time, I couldn’t understand why because you broke her heart.”

Morax turned his vision towards you, seeing you on the ground. 

“I made a mistake. One that changed my entire life…Now I need to fix it.” Morax said, pushing himself up.

“What?! No, Morax! You’ll hurt yourself and Y/n would never forgive me!” Kai yelled, holding Morax back. 

He quickly turned around, his hair starting to float from frustration.

“I would die if it meant saving Y/n. Now let me go!” Morax yelled at Kai, his voice deepening as his eyes emitted a bright yellow glow.

Kai quickly let go of Morax, not wanting to anger the archon any further.

–

Guizhong walked towards you slowly, forming more dust to hold you down on the ground.

“I told you. You should’ve listened” She yelled, a plethora of her monstrous creatures forming around her. Everyone stared at her in shock, including Morax

“She was right! Y/n was right!” A lady yelled

“We have to help her! There’s no way she can stop all of those creatures by herself!” A man yelled.

Soon, people tried to come and help you after discovering the truth, but Guizhong pushed them all back with a strong dust storm.

“Enough! Leave her and me be.” Guizhong said, focusing her attention back to you. She walked up to you and pulled your hair back.

“You should have stayed dead when I stabbed you. But now, I’m going to make sure you die. Once and for all!” 

That’s when Morax’s mind went blank as he stared at Guizhong.

“You…what?” He asked, his mind slowly going dark.

Guizhong turned to Morax, rolling her eyes.

“Oh come on, Morax. Don’t tell me you still have feelings for the girl. You and I belong together! We are the ultimate couple that everyone will talk about. She doesn’t deserve you. I do!” She said

Suddenly, things clicked for him

“All those things you showed me the day she supposedly died…you did that! You hurt her and then tried to blame someone else for it!” He yelled, his head pounding. She frowned

“Yes. I am sorry I lied to you, but I needed to! All you talked about was Y/n. I couldn’t even get you alone anymore because you were too busy worrying about Y/n. Y/n this, Y/n, that. Gosh, she is such a pill! I can’t possibly understand what you ever saw in her!” Guizhong said

That’s when Morax saw red. He couldn’t believe she lied and manipulated him when he was at his lowest! But most importantly, Guizhong hurt you. She almost killed you. And no one gets to hurt you unless they want to face his wrath. 

Suddenly, he raised his hand, causing the ground to shake. The debris from the building quickly formed together to create a large boulder.

Morax shouldn’t have been doing this. He was already severely injured due to his head, so this was just making things worse for him. But he wouldn’t let Guizhong get away with this. He wouldn’t let her or anyone else hurt you ever again.

Everyone stared at the boulder as it slowly rotated in place. It was almost the size of a building.

“Take this, you lying bitch” He said uncharacteristically. 

He then threw it towards her, hitting her far away from you.

Your eyes widened as you looked behind you, seeing Morax. 

He looked at you, blood trickling down his head. A small smile plastered on his face as his eyes slowly started to close

“I’m…sorry…I ever….doubted you…” He said, slowly passing out.

“Morax?!” You asked with worry

“Don’t worry about him. He’s just dealt with too much. I’ll be able to help him. Now it's time for you to do what you came here for. Finish what she started, Y/n. For Airi! For all of us!” Kai said, dealing with Morax’s wound.

You looked away from them, and looked towards Guizhong. She was lying on the ground, but the creatures she created were still forming around her, growling at you as they got closer and closer.

“Run, Y/n!” A few archons said

“Don’t do it! You won’t make it!” Another few said

But you ignored them. You came here to finish things off. You couldn’t back down, not now. 

Your hands slowly opened and rose up as you watched the creatures slowly walk towards you.

A large window was right behind you, which was perfect.

Rapidly, large vines began to grow all around the window, pushing against it to get in.

Everyone stared at you in awe

“Stay.” You started, more vines growing thicker and larger. The window behind you started to crack.

“Away!” You yelled, pushing your hands forward. 

The vines broke past the window, shattering it into pieces. The vines quickly grew towards the creatures and wrapped them up, holding them tightly in place, lifting them up in the air. 

Some managed to escape, but a new vine was created out of another vine, which grabbed the creature again.

The creatures began to whimper as they realized they couldn’t move, nor could they escape.

“I’m sorry it has to be this way.” You apologized. 

The vines began to tighten around them and squeezed as hard as they could until they turned back into dust. One by one, each of the small creatures died, leaving nothing but dust on the ground. 

You ran up to Guizhong and grabbed your sword, ready to end things once and for all. However, she quickly dodged your attack and pushed you away with yet another large gust of dust.

She didn’t stop it, so you had to form a large barrier around you. You stomped on the ground, causing large tree roots to form around you, letting you breathe a little

“Stop hiding, you bitch!” She yelled.

She gathered her hands together, collecting all the dust from the previous creatures she made.

“Fine, if all you’re going to do is hide…then I’ll make you come out forcefully.” She said

Suddenly, the dust gathered together, creating a large object. She swayed her hands around quickly, forming a gigantic wolf. The roots slowly moved away, allowing you to see what she was doing. 

Your eyes widened as you saw the 30 foot creature salivating and snarling at you.

You stared at her with determination, though. Not letting her scare you one bit. 

“Two can play at that game” You murmured. 

You then placed your hands on the ground, pulling any vegetation together. The ground began to shake once more, only this time, it was more brutal. Statues were falling, chandeliers were falling, anything that was fragile was now on the ground and beaten down. Even parts of the walls fell down, creating various openings. 

Right after, large tree roots and branches grew in. Large vines and stems attached to them as well. First, they grew together to create what looked to be a paw, then another, then a large body, and finally, a head. 

Within seconds, you managed to create a large 50 ft animal out of nothing but trees and vines. 

You went over to it and touched it, causing its eyes to glow a bright white color.

Guizhong backed up a bit, shocked at what you were able to do.

The archons behind you watched you in awe, amazed with the power you held.

“You like it?” You asked with a teasing tone. Guizhong just glared at you.

“What’s the matter? Scared now, are we?” You asked.

You then sent your creature off to fight Guizhongs’ creature.

They both pushed against each other. The wolf bit into your animal’s chest, pulling some of the roots out. However, the area that was torn quickly healed back up as the tree branches grew back together.

Your animal then quickly grabbed the wolf's body with its mouth, easily lifting it up. The wolf whimpered from the pain as it was tossed aside. The animal then ran after it, knocking it outside, creating a gigantic hole in the other wall. 

“Everyone outside now!” Kai yelled, getting help to get Morax out.

While this was all going on, you and Guizhong were going at it. 

She tried to punch you, but you easily dodged it. You grabbed her wrist and twisted it, pulling it down. As she went down, you took the opportunity to knee her in the face, breaking her nose. 

She growled and lunged at you, forcing you on your back. She took her sword and tried to pierce you with it, but thankfully, you were able to push against her sword with yours. 

You both grunted, trying to beat each other's strength.

However, Guizhong was filled with so much rage that her strength began to increase more than yours.

Seeing that her sword was getting closer and closer to your chest, you had to do something else to stop her. 

You quickly kicked her in the stomach as hard as you could, making her grip weaken. You took the opportunity to then push her back and get back up on your feet. 

She looked up at you as you brought your foot up to her face and kicked her, forcing her head to turn away from you.

She quickly moved away from you to help get herself up.

You both looked at each other for a split second before running after one another again.

You both clashed your swords together, trying to hit an open area, but you two were always missing due to the other dodging.

You looked down and saw an opening. A perfect opportunity for you to strike to make her fall.

You swung your foot around and kicked her knee backwards, causing it to hyperextend and soon break.

She screamed in agony, feeling the pain surge up her entire body. As she slowly fell to the ground, she tried to hit you with another dust storm, but you stopped her from doing so by throwing your sword at her hand, slicing it.

With that, she finally fell to the ground, allowing you to complete your job.

You ran over to her and stepped on her chest to stop her from getting back up. 

You placed your sword over your head, ready to pierce right through her

However, you stopped as you looked into her eyes. You saw how fearful they were. You saw the tears forming as she realized this was her end.

It reminded you of Airi. She looked almost the same as she died in your arms.

That’s when your arms began to slowly descend, your senses quickly coming back and getting the better of you.

You couldn’t…You just couldn’t kill her. 

“Y/n! What are you doing?” Kai asked, worried what was going on.

You ignored him and kneeled down next to the girl.

“I…I can’t kill you.” You said in defeat, hating that you couldn’t.

Guizhong looked at you with confusion, tears still falling out of her eyes.

“I don’t know why…but something is telling me not too.” You said, not understanding what was going on with you.

Guizhong snuck behind you, grabbing her sword. 

She raised her sword above her, ready to strike, but just as she was about to hit you, another rock came and hit her hard in the head. 

Your eyes looked behind you as you saw Guizhong slowly fall to the ground, letting her sword go as she fell.

You then looked over to see Morax holding his hand up, his body going limp once more.

“NO!” You yelled, your anger coming back again. 

You saw out of the corner of your eye Guizhong getting up, her hand hovering around for her sword. 

You quickly got up and ran after her. You saw her hand just barely reach the end of her sword, but before she could get a full grasp on it, you kicked the sword up, allowing it to land in your hand.

She gasped as she saw you, quickly trying to run away.

“I gave you a chance! And you ruined it!” You yelled, finally throwing the sword towards her at a rapid speed. 

Guizhong didn’t get past 10 feet before the sword sliced right through her chest. Guizhong’s eyes opened wide in shock as she felt the sharp pain go through her entire body. 

She shook, her breath shaky as well as she slowly looked down to see blood pouring out of her chest. She slowly felt her body go numb and cold, causing her to fall to the ground.

She couldn’t believe she had lost. She couldn’t believe you had actually beaten her. And because you beat her, her life was slowly fading away. Soon after, her eyes began to close as her body began to feel tired. 

You, on the other hand, watched her fall, seeing the blood pool out of her chest. You were furious at what she did, well almost did. You looked over to see your creature fighting Guizhongs wolf. It was about to attack your animal, but it quickly stopped in its tracks, confusing the tree animal. The wolf whimpered and howled as it went rabid, feeling its life quickly come to an end. And within seconds, it quickly fell to the ground, turning completely into dust. 

You watched triumphantly as you saw that it was all over now. There will no longer be any more issues from her again. 

However, before you could pat yourself on the back, you were quickly knocked back into reality when you heard Morax groan in pain.

You quickly ran over to him, holding him in your arms.

“Morax! What were you thinking?” You yelled at him, seeing his eyes slowly close

“I…was thinking…about you…” He said

“What?”

“I couldn’t…let her…hurt you again.” 

“Morax, you idiot! I would have been fine.” You said, holding him close

He breathed in your scent, realizing how much he missed it. He took your hand and kissed it softly,

“I…missed you…” He said

“I missed you, too.” You said, hopeful that he was coming back to his senses.

“I…I'm so sorry…for all the pain….that I caused…” He said, tears running down his eyes.

“Morax, stop. I already forgave you. You have already shown me your love.” You tried to say, but Morax shook his head

“No. I should have shown you my love the day you asked me to pick between you and Guizhong. Because of me, all of this happened. And I’m sincerely sorry.”

“Morax, please stop. I know what you did was a mistake. I understand! And I still forgive you! But now, I just want you to focus on healing. That way we can spend the rest of our lives together. Once and for all. But you have to try and stay up.” You said, your voice breaking.

He didn’t respond, however. His eyes just kept getting closer and closer to closing, making you fear the worst.

“I…love...you” He said, his entire body going cold.

“I love you, too, you idiot! I always have! Please, stay up! Please!” You said.

When he wasn’t responding anymore, you freaked out.

“Morax?! Come on, wake up. Please wake up.” You begged as you saw more blood trickle down his head.

When he wasn’t waking up, your eyes started to water as you looked up at Kai

‘What’s wrong with him?! Why isn’t he waking up??” You asked desperately. 

Kai looked over Morax, checking signs for wounds.

“He is losing too much blood. But I don’t have my tools to help fix it! If I can’t get anything to help him, It’ll be too late.” He said, making your heart sink.

You couldn’t lose him. Not when you just got him back. Not after everything you and him went through.

You stood up, slowly backing away as your body began to shake. Your heart was slowly breaking once more as you saw Morax’s life slowly fade away.

Kai tried to help Morax, but nothing he was doing was helping.

“Does anybody have any medical tools?!” Kai’s voice echoed as he tried to get help.

“Come on! He’s dying! I need help right now!” He yelled again.

You looked at Morax’s lifeless body, getting flashbacks from when Airi died. You fell to your knees as tears started to fall down your face as you tried to think of something, anything that would help Morax.

And then, a realization hit you as you figured there was one more option, one that you had tried to do before but failed. 

It was a low chance that it would work, but you were willing to do anything at this point.

You walked back to Kai, gently pushing him out of the way.

“What are you doing?” he asked, but you ignored him. You couldn’t let anything distract you.

You placed your hand gently on Morax’s chest and began to use your ability on him. 

The area that you touched began to glow a dark green hue. You inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying your best to focus all your energy into your hand. You then began to push more and more of your power out, feeling yourself get tired again. It was just like last time with Airi.

“Come on.” You whispered, opening your eyes. Kai looked at you and saw that your eyes were all white now. He knew exactly what you were trying to do. 

He saw that you were beginning to shake and blood was starting to fall down your nose.

“Y/n, stop. You’re going to kill yourself if you keep going!” He said, but you shushed him

You began to push harder, seeing  your vision start to blacken.

You were light headed from all the power you were using on him.

Soon, vines and tree branches began to circle around you two the more you used your power

“Come on, Morax. I can’t lose you. Please, wake up.” You whispered.

Soon, your skin began to crack, allowing a bright yellow glow to emit from them. Your body felt hot the more you continued. More and more blood was trickling down your nose, but you didn’t care.

You did everything to stay awake, even if it meant it was going to hurt you. 

The green glow from his chest then started to move up to his head and his back, circling around that area. Your eyes widened as this was something you hadn’t seen yet.

You pushed harder, the cracks in your skin growing bigger and brighter. It was like your body was on fire at this point and the pain was becoming too much for you. You yelled loudly, trying to ease the pain. The more and more you did it, the more it was worse on you. “Wake UP!” You cried before your magic backfired on you. A loud burst was created and you were knocked back.

–

You were so tired, so weak. You felt your body slowly cool down as you started to relax. Nothing but ringing was heard in your ears. Your vision was completely blurry.

You were on the ground, barely functionable. Your half-lidded eyes slowly turned towards the area where Morax was, seeing his body lie there peacefully. 

A few minutes passed as you watched him from the ground, hoping something would happen, but nothing.

That’s when you got your hopes up…You knew he was truly gone. You would never see him ever again. Tears fell down your face like a waterfall as reality hit you. You quietly sobbed as you saw that he was gone, feeling all your emotions pour out of you.

That was until you heard him groan a bit. 

You paused, completely frozen as you stared at him. Soon, his hand began to move. Then his arm. Then his leg. And finally…his eyes opened softly, making your heart burst out of your chest.

You called out for him

“Morax!” 

You tried to run to him, but you kept falling back to your knees, too weak to stand. He looked over and saw this, making his eyes widen. He got up and ran to you, picking you up in his arms as you two sat together. He held you close to him, still confused as to how this happened.

You were breathing heavily in his arms, just glad to be enveloped in them.

Morax looked at you and saw how weak you were, seeing a lot of blood falling down your nose. He looked at you and realized.

“Did…Did you do this? Did you…heal me?” He asked, making you nod and smile.

You tried to move up, but struggled to. He caught on and helped bring you up to him. 

You got to look at his face, falling in love all over again. You shakily brought your hand up to his face, caressing his cheek. He closed his eyes, loving the feeling.

“I did it…because…I didn’t want to lose you.” You said in a raspy voice. He looked down at you with love in his eyes. He held you close to him, not letting you go one bit. You felt so good in his arms and he felt so good in yours. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, my love.” He whispered in your ear.

You smiled softly, kissing his cheek. He tensed up a bit just from that.

You looked back at him with a soft look. “I told you, I have already forgiven you.” You said, making his heart race.

He brought your face close to his, making both of your faces heat up.

“Then please let me do this.” He said, closing the gap between you two. 

Your eyes widened at the sudden contact. Your lips molded perfectly together as you continued your long awaited kiss.

You wrapped your arms around his neck and closed your eyes, savoring this moment.

The kiss was passionate, yet soft and sweet. Anyone could tell that it was out of pure love for one another.

The kiss lasted for a few minutes before you broke it off to get air. He chuckled at you, and placed his fingers on your chin, raising your head up to look at him.

“I choose you, my love. And I always will. I will prove it to you each and every day if I have to.” he said, making you smile.

“Y/n…will you please be with me for the rest of our lives? So that we can live our happily ever after?” He said, making you chuckle. You pushed a strand of his hair away, bringing him closer to you.

“Of course, Morax. Of course I will.” You said, pulling him in for another kiss.

“I’ve missed you so much.” He said, deepening the kiss.

He let go this time, still holding you right near his face.

“I love you, Y/n. I love you so much. I think I am the luckiest man ever to have someone like you in my life.” He said

“Yeah, you are.” You teased, making him chuckle. You then looked at him in the eyes before talking once more.

“I love you, too. And I always will~’ You said, making his face heat up again.

You two then wrapped each other in your arms again and began to relax.

–

“Let me go!” Guizhong suddenly said. You and Morax turned your heads to see her being held down by the other archons, surprised to see her alive.

“Don’t worry about her. She won’t be getting away any time soon. You two go back to your lovey dovey situation. We will take care of her.” One of the archons said

“You thought you could kill me, didn’t you? HAHAHA! You should see the stupid look you have on your face right now! You look like an idiot! HAHAHA-” Guizhong said maniacally before being knocked out by another one of Morax’s rocks.

“Take her away. We will deal with her later.” Morax said. The other archons nodded and took her to a place that would keep her trapped until her fate was decided. But before they left, one of the archons stopped to say something to you. 

“Oh and thank you, Y/n. We know we all have a lot to do to make it up to you. But please know that we are all deeply and truly sorry. We should’ve never treated you poorly. You have opened our eyes…and we all realize that we need to make a lot of changes right away. Not for us, but for everyone else who relies on us.” Another said, making you smile and nod. They then took Guizhong away to who knows where, but you two didn’t care. All you cared about was that you had each other now.

You two looked at each other and smiled.

“Now, where were we?” Morax asked as he brought your lips to his, kissing you deeply. You smiled into the kiss, loving every moment of it.

–

After that, you two began your lives together, living a wonderful life. You had explained everything that happened to Morax, including the people you met: Kai, Airi, and Asuka. When you told him of Airi, he couldn’t help but feel terrible. You reassured him that everything would be fine now, letting him know that she is finally with her parents again. You then helped Asuka and Kai with their small town, helping rebuild it and making it better. They also changed the name of the small town to Liyue in honor of Airi and her parents. Eventually, it would start to grow larger and larger. You and Morax helped other areas as well, defending them against all types of danger, but Liyue was the place for both of you. You both loved that area and so, you both decided to dedicate your lives to protecting it. But no matter what, whatever was going on, you two were always together. And nothing would ever stop that.

______________________________________

NSFW Maybe??

Taglist:

@hannya-writes

[justrandomgrill]

KISSES FOR DRAGON HUSBAND!!

I know I made Zhongli too tiny... BUT I JUST WANTED TO DO IT SMOL AND CUTE

Commission status is in my pinned post!

[fortheloveofarchons]

Xiao being tipsy in front of Aether

Inspired by @kiboyr on Youtube! Go check them out!

C.W. - Paimon being a little shit - Xiao being a bit tipsy - Aether being the forward one - Kiss and make out (mild sexual content) - Past Zhongli/Guizhong - Guizhong dead - Mentioned Zhongli, Guizhong, Venti and Verr Goldet

.

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To my lovely traveller, 

The breeze combing through your hair today feels a little different, don't you think? A little sweet with a hint of grapes, right?

You must be wondering, you’re in Wangshu Inn, why would you feel my breeze? 

Hehe, that’s because I have left a gift for you. 

A few days ago, I paid a visit to this very same inn to try out their drinks, and guess who did I meet? 

If you’re guessing your beloved Vigilant Yaksha, you’re correct! Though he declined my offer for a few cups of drinks and company, I left him a gift and I told him this, 

“No takesies-backsies!” 

And I immediately left with the wind before he could process what’s happening. 

If you could smell it right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if you could pick a hint of sweetness in today’s wind. That’s because I left him a bottle of wine, haha! 

I know Xiao would only keep it instead of trying it, so I may have told a little lie that it may help with his karmic debt. I know, I know… it’s not good to lie about this. 

Still, wine and any kind of alcohol have been therapeutic to me. Almost like… a salvation. 

Nah, that was too strong of a word. 

So, if anything goes wrong with Xiao– in which the worst scenario is being tipsy, you can take care of him! 

How did I know you’d be here today? Well, a certain pretty bird told me– or rather, a pretty lady working in the inn told me about your upcoming visit. 

I do apologise for giving you this task which is partially my fault, but hey– at least you and Xiao can spend more time together, ehe! 

From your favourite bard, 

Venti. 

“Oh Venti…” Aether folds the letter neatly, letting out a sigh of resignation. 

Though, Paimon doesn’t notice the upward curve on Aether’s lips. 

“Hmm… Paimon doesn’t get why that tone-deaf bard is doing this,” Paimon says as Paimon floats in the air, munching on some cookies. “But we should check up on Xiao to see if he’s okay.” 

“Paimon, why don’t you let me handle this one?” Aether asks. 

“But Paimon wants to help!” Paimon stomps her feet in the air. “Hmph! You always leave Paimon alone when it comes to stuff like this! Paimon is not nosy, Paimon is just concerned!” 

“I know, Paimon…” Aether lets out a sigh once again. 

It’s just that you always say the wrong things at the wrong time… 

Aether could never forget that moment when Paimon, out of concern, asked about Navia’s parents whereabouts… even when Navia had told them both that they passed away years ago! 

Or how Paimon was so rude to Furina that Aether almost wanted to knock Paimon’s head. 

Paimon totally though you were just a bit of a diva at first. 

Oh, sounds like you’re really struggling to cope…  Ah, there it is. You don’t know how to cook! 

Oh… Right, Paimon totally forgot both your parents are dead. 

Even with that faint recollection, Aether’s ears feel red from remembering these moments. It wasn’t the first time for Paimon to say such insensitive words, and Aether is sure it wouldn’t be the last. 

“Paimon, why don’t you go and order some food?” 

“But–” 

Aether quickly brings up a small bag of mora from his inventory, shutting Paimon up instantly. The moment Paimon could hear the clinking sound of coins in the pouch, her eyes were shimmering like the stars tonight. 

“Thank you Aether!” Paimon gives Aether a hug that almost choked his neck, then grabs the bag of mora and finds herself a seat in Wangshu Inn to order what Paimon wants for today’s dinner. 

As soon as Paimon is out of his sight, the golden-haired traveller walks up to the lady named Verr Goldet, who is wearing a traditional, dark red, Liyue overcoat with gold accents and a chunky orange bracelet on each of her arms. 

“Welcome, traveller.” She smiles at him, just like how she would to any customers. “What’ll you have? We have dishes from both Mondstadt and Liyue, and our Almond Tofu is particularly popular.” 

“Then, I’d like a dish of almond tofu, please.” 

A few minutes later, the dessert is right in his hands. It has a silky-smooth texture with a long-lasting aroma of almond. Perfect for the adepti. 

He then quickly walks up to the inn’s topmost floor, where customers could see the whole view of Liyue: Rocky mountains that stands tall and proud alongside the stone forests, the open plains and lively rivers make up Liyue's bountiful landscape, all of which shows its unique beauty through each of the four seasons. 

As Aether could only hear the soft breeze, he called out a name, softly. 

“Xiao?” 

“You called my name, what do you need assistance with?” Aether quickly turns around to find the Vigilant Yaksha appearing in front of him, with hints of wispy black smoke. The first thing Aether instantly notices is the tint of blush around Xiao’s ears and cheeks. 

 “If you don’t need anything, then I shall take my leave. I don’t have time for your mortal ideals, humans do waste my time–” 

“Wait! I called you because…” Aether takes a deep breath before he continues, stretching out his hands to show him the dish. After all, he didn’t want Xiao to disappear on him again, which the yaksha would always disappear with a wispy black green smoke behind. 

Truly a signature move. 

“I want to give you almond tofu and… I’d like you to stay for a bit.” 

 “Huh? Almond tofu?” That made the Vigilant Yaksha’s ears perk up, raising an eyebrow. He looks up and down, both to Aether and the delectable dish in his hands. “You want me to stay in your presence…?”

Aether’s eyes shine bright like a puppy, twinking with pity. 

“Oh, fine . But only this once.” 

Settling himself onto a stool, the Vigilant Yaksha slowly chews onto his plate of almond tofu, savouring its silky sweetness. Meanwhile, the traveller sat right next to him, smugly stares at Xiao’s tipsy state as he continues to chew onto the tofu. Aether’s eyes follows the gentle movement of Xiao’s hands as he brought the porcelain spoon to his mouth, savouring each bite of his meal. 

“Why are you staring at me?” Xiao asks, noticing Aether’s burning stare on his left cheek. “You’re staring at me weirdly, I dislike it… I demand you to stop.” 

A soft smile grace Aether’s lips, reflecting the joy he found in simply being in his presence. He admires the way Xiao savoured the almond tofu, the way his eyes would gradually light up with delight at every delicious morsel.

“Traveller… you’re being very, very quiet.” Xiao puts his spoon down on the finished plate. “You want me to stay, huh?” 

All Aether could do was to prop his chin up with the heel of his hand, smiling at him in return. In that moment, Xiao could feel the traveller’s eyes lingering on his face, tracing every line, etching each detail into his memory: The flustered, furious blush, the prickling heat fanning across his chest and creeping up his neck, along with his clenched fists under the table.

“Fine, so be it.” Xiao quickly turns his head to avoid the traveller’s gaze, hiding his own expression. “I shall stay by your side.”

Ba-bump! Ba-bump! Ba-bump! 

“...What is this feeling?” Xiao mutters the question to himself...

[trivia-sea]

quick doodle

[snackcraving]

Happy New Year and HBD Zhongli!

My piece for Guili Zine! You can check the Zine here and download for FREE! It's also made by amazing artists and writers!

[huekaveh]

confession: i actually only started liking zhongli after seeing those dad zhongli and baby xiao fanart by pun_rii

[sgrimp]

Hc Guizhong has the same type of hands as Zhongli

[xiaosonlybeloved]

Regret, Guilt and Anguish- Zhongli

Sequel to 'Of Flowers and Death'

featuring:- Zhongli, sister!Ei, reader [name] warnings:- angst, hurt no comfort, a few slaps from Ei to Zhongli a/n:- This was a request from an anon, so nonnie, I hope you like it!

masterlist

“Chirp, chirp, chirp!” Birds flaw about happily as Zhongli walked down a familiar path, heart clenching as he looked at one of the houses. The guilt and grief he felt was immeasurable, to the point he hadn’t even protested when the Traveler set off to Sumeru, merely wishing for her safety and success. Why? Why did you have to die? He had barely recovered from Guizhong’s death with your help, before you too left him, shattering him into pieces all over again. And who would help him to rise from this night again?

His attention was drawn to a bird chirping angrily at the footstep of a house that was starting to look old . That bird was an exotic bird, imbued with electro, carrying a roll of paper with it. He walked over to it and bent down to take the paper, seeing that the recipient of those letters would not open the door ever again. His eyes widened as he went through the contents of the letter sent by Ei.

“Dear [name],

Did you safely reach Liyue? Why have you not been responding lately? Are you that busy? [Name], I’m getting worried. Please, send me a letter soon, even if it has just a few words. I won’t mind. Just let me know that you’re alright, and I’ll leave you in peace for a while. I am anxiously waiting for your letter, so please don’t forget.

With love,

Raiden Ei."

Zhongli’s breath hitched as he dropped the paper. He’d been so absorbed in himself that he completely forgot about your sister. How… how would he tell Ei that her dear sister would never reply to one of her letters again? It would be most rude and cold to merely inform Ei about your passing through a letter. Perhaps he should go to Inazuma himself to tell her, now that the Sakoku Decree had been lifted a few months ago.

***********

“What…” The violet-eyed female in front of him whispered, staring at him like he had grown two heads. She shook her head. “This is a joke, right? You’re just joking. Last I’d seen her a few weeks ago, and she was well and healthy. There’s no way she could be- be-” Her voice cracked at the end, unable to see it. Zhongli, or Morax, didn’t respond, he merely stared at the floor in regret. Anything he said now would trigger Ei, send her off the edge. She didn’t deserve this. You didn’t deserve this. 

“Morax?” She murmured in a voice less than a whisper. “Is… is it really true?” Zhongli had told Ei all the details about your end, omitting a few things at the end though. Now he responded only with a nod, unable to talk due to the choking feel in his throat. (dw he wont get hanahaki he has to live to suffer). A multitude of emotions could be seen swirling in Ei’s eyes- grief, sorrow, anger, rage, disbelief, fear; it was all there. Staring at him with wide, shell-shocked eyes, she slowly collapsed to her knees, staring blankly forward, ears ringing in the silence. First Kitsune Saiguu, then Makoto, and now [name] too? You had been so full of life the last time Ei saw you. But now… She was all alone. How did she not even know about your hanahaki? Why did you hide it from her, making her believe everything was great?  What was the point of her pursuing eternity, if she couldn’t even protect the ones she loved?

A loud sound echoed throughout the room. ‘Slap!’ Ei had unsteadily gotten to her feet, and landed a harsh blow across Morax’s face. ‘Slap!’ Another. She didn’t care that he was older and more powerful than her. What she cared about was that he was the reason you were dead. Another slap echoed throughout the room, and another. Ei didn’t stop. He was the reason her sister was dead, and Ei was releasing all of her fury and grief on Morax, and he… He silently stood there with his head bowed, silently accepting all the sharp blows that made his jaw ache. Because her anger towards him was completely justified- it was all his fault.

He had to go back to Liyue with a heavy heart. And he knew, he knew that he would never recover from this.

I'm sorry, this was really short but the idea has been living in my head since the time you sent in the ask, i hope you liked it!

[kykyonthemoon]

Old friend

— Pairing: Zhongli x Guizhong (Guili)

— Tags: short, soft angst, event

— Summary: The tragedy of reunion is knowing that there might be separation once more.

— Word count: 1286

— Masterlist

— Ao3

Inspired by Lantern Rite 2023 event.

As the roar of the zither from the top of the high mountain mingled with the music and the cheers of the festival at the harbor, everyone was stunned for a long time. The sound was not of this world, but came from the heavens, and the mortals would feel privileged to have heard it once in their short lives.

Consequently, no one noticed anything unusual at the time. Those who paid close attention could only notice a few unusual breezes carrying dust from all around Liyue to one area. Every stream of sand flew with the wind, from plains to hills; from narrow streams to vast seas. Then they met, swirled and merged  to become one being. A shadowy figure above the high mountain.

The barefoot maiden slid through the grass, her star-like eyes fixed on each of the xiao lanterns above her. That night, they were stars and moonlight. Peach lips parted slightly as she hummed a tune to the sound of her longtime friend’s zither. How much time had passed? Several thousands of years. Everything had changed, even her melody had been more or less altered.

Yet, she was content. Because, even though she was no longer alive, her music was passed on and was now a part of the current world.

She had been away for a long, long time. She had become part of the land, of the grass, of the wind and water, of the Liyue sky. But that night, perhaps the only exceptional night when her melody sounded, she could return.

Someone's footsteps could be heard from behind her. She could predict without turning her head.

"What a lovely evening, don't you think so, Rex Lapis?"

Zhongli's footsteps came to a halt. The maiden in front of him moved her head slightly, a smile spreading across her lips like a blooming flower. Fragile and fading, but not completely lost. Time stood still for a brief moment.

"It is true that you are back, Guizhong."

The young woman nodded gently. The sound of the zither was still echoing.

"Until this melody comes to its end."

Merely that one moment, for her to see him again. It had to be enough. She had already flown over to where Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper were still enjoying tea. She visitedCloud Retainer as she began to work on the great lantern for her disciple. She had come to sit next to Streetward Rambler when the very first notes were played. And now, she came to visit Rex Lapis, who was standing silently beside her, gazing out at the sea of xiao lantern lights.

"Would you accompany me on a walk around Liyue Harbor?"

Guizhong had always enjoyed the lively environment. She would never sit quietly on this grand and spectacular holiday. Zhongli graciously nodded. She followed him into the prosperous harbor. A man walked quietly among the sea of people and lights, flanked by a shadowy maiden who was as pale as dust. Nobody appeared to notice them, or, more accurately, no one could see them. Side by side, they strolled together.

"How beautiful!"

Guizhong exclaimed as her palm softly touched a xiao lantern on the side of the road. It ascended slightly, as though taking advantage of the breeze. She laughed slightly and added that she could have invented some fascinating machinery relating to this particular xiao lantern.

Zhongli said nothing and simply nodded. Just like the old days when they walked the mundane world together. Guizhong had always noticed everything on the side of the road. She would be fascinated and want to touch or even purchase everything. Zhongli would keep following her silently, carrying everything for her. Her eyes would be so bright, and her smile would be just as vibrant.

Over time, things had changed, and they were no longer beneath the same sky. Nonetheless, certain things remained constant.

Like their feelings.

They came to a halt in front of a teahouse. When the tea was brought out, the song was drawing to an end. Guizhong sat across from Zhongli, still happily looking down at the bustling music hall below. Perhaps, she longed for once to be in the audience, singing and cheering enthusiastically. If she had existed in this realm not in the form of a ghost, she would undoubtedly do so.

From the mountain came the music, harmonizing but not being overwhelmed with the music below. Zhongli looked down at his half-empty cup of tea. Even the gods could not catch the moonlight that had fallen to the bottom of the cup. Just as the retention of the deceased who was now only dust; it was completely illusory.

"Rex Lapis." 

Guizhong spoke up. She wanted Zhongli to look at her. One last time. 

"Just like this place, Liyue, you have changed a lot. You have had a new identity, a new life, and new friends."

From the upper floor of the teahouse, Zhongli looked down below, where the hat of the Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor - Hu Tao - stood out from the crowd. She was holding hands and pulling three of her other friends along to the diner. Zhongli recalled the meeting after Hu Tao's performance ended. Friends? Rather, it was a business relationship. But between people, or between gods and mankind, there is always a kind of contract. People frequently refer to it as fate.

"They would be delighted to meet you, Guizhong." 

"Really?" Guizhong eagerly responded. "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could meet?"

I would be delighted too if you could stay a little longer...

Feelings that could not be escaped into words have lingered in the heart for thousands of years. However, Guizhong could understand. She had always read people's emotions and knew how to make them feel good. Even after she was gone, the feeling that she was always there provided those who knew her the courage to continue on their own paths. Like the way Streetward Rambler was finally able to replay her music, theirs.

"I was concerned for you." Guizhong carried on the conversation. "I imagined how you would manage after the battle, how you would deal with your loss... But now I realize I was overly worried. You have done well, Rex Lapis. You're smiling more frequently now."

The melody from the high mountains became faster than ever. Guizhong's silhouette turned blurry. The tragedy of reunion is knowing that there might be separation once more.

"Guizhong... I sincerely miss you..."

The corners of Guizhong's eyes filled with tears. She did, however, smile.

"I'm glad to hear those words from you..."

The tune slowed down, gradually. Guizhong's body also became paler.

"You know, I'm always here, in Liyue. I am dust. I have spread everywhere. I have seen the world and countless of mundane lives. I've never really gone..."

Zhongli clenched his fist around the tea cup. The tea in the cup was rippling, as if his suppressed emotions were about to burst. Guizhong's voice continued to reverberate, becoming further distant.

"At this moment, I'm nothing but an illusion in front of you. Yet, I believe that at some point, we will all be reunited. You and I... Everyone... Therefore, as long as you remember me, I shall always exist."

"Would you make a contract with me?" 

Zhongli's offer caught Guizhong by surprise. She gave a tender smile:

"Yes. This is a contract. I will always be in your heart."

When the final notes sounded, Madame Ping glanced away and saw a figure smile at her before dissolving into dust and soaring away. By the side of the teacup opposite Zhongli's, there was left a blooming glazed lily, from which a melody could still be heard softly…

-The end-

[gold-rhine]

Morax & Guizhong, first meeting.

He would always remember how they met in the fields of glaze lilies, where she made a PowerPoint presentation on why they should work together and insinuated that he’s kind of dumb.

Warnings: none, safe for view, can be read as platonic or a bit shippy.

A\N: Repost bc my previous blog got shadowbanned. I wrote this as a part of another fic, but in the end it didn’t fit the structure, so I’m posting this as standalone bc I like how it turned out. I hate that “Memory of Dust” is described as “dumbbell” in English when it’s obviously a puzzle, but I had to roll with it. Guizhong basically has nano-particles powers bc I think it’s fun.

Wordcount: 2,5k

Guizhong clasped her hands together, hiding them in her long sleeves. She tended to get jittery when nervous and it was no time for that.

“Lord Morax,” she said solemnly, watching him from across the field. He looked both as she imagined him and the complete opposite at once. He radiated power and confidence, but wasn’t huge or bulky as she expected. Of course, a god didn’t need muscles to fight, but from his reputation as a reckless, brutal fighter she thought he’d want to take a form boasting of warrior prowess. After all, the god of rock just kind of implied a mountain of a man. But he was very tall and sort of narrow, without any warrior regalia, intense gold eyes with red paint under them and long black hair, turning to burnt amber at the ends. She remembered that he was a dragon and perhaps this slim and sharp build made sense for someone used to a snake-like body. “I offer you my greetings. You probably don’t know who I am, so allow me to introduce myself, I’m…”

“I’ve heard of you,” he had a deep, calm voice and watched her with polite indifference. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Lady Guizhong?”

Okay, but how should she start? She had a list of arguments in defense of her offer that she thoroughly prepared, but she hasn’t thought of the openings. To be honest, she expected a loud warlord, not someone this taciturn and serious.

“I would like to propose an alliance,” no sense in dragging this out.

He looked at her for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“You are known as a wise and kind-hearted goddess. I would welcome you in my court.”

His expression barely changed. As she expected, with his reputation as a conqueror who never knew defeat and a fair ruler, he was used to people pledging their allegiance and accepted it as a given.

She took a deep breath and tried to sound calm and confident, though her palms were sweating inside of her sleeves.

“No. I will not join you as a follower, only as an equal.”

That finally got his attention. He blinked in surprise, then folded his arms, gold eyes focusing on her.

“And why would I want to share my power with you?” he raised an eyebrow, but his voice stayed calm, with just barely noticeable undercurrent of irony.

“I’m glad you asked,” she smiled and dragged the basket full of scrolls out of the lilies at her feet. Both of his eyebrows disappeared under the disheveled black bangs. “I’ve prepared a list of arguments. Though, I imagine, as a priority you’d like to know why you should take me seriously on the battlefield. Well, let’s get this unpleasant topic out of the way first,” she sighed and waved her hand at him. “Please make one of your stone spears.”

He watched her with taciturn amusement, head cocked to the side, then smirked sharply and made a brisk motion with his hand. A rock spear twice her height smashed into the ground precisely at her feet, not touching, but close enough that the basket next to her shuddered. Guizhong flinched, but stopped herself from stepping back and threw him a glare.

He wasn’t taking her seriously yet, but was willing to indulge her just to see where this is going, which was good enough for now. She had some aces up her sleeve.

She took a deep breath and focused on the spear in front of her. Rocks crumble into dust because they were always made of it, every stone is actually a collection of dust particles, densely packed together. And so, she knew how to call the dust within the rock to her will. It was the easiest with natural mountains, which already were weathered by time and ready to turn to dust without much resistance.

Stones created by Morax were different. They were unusually solid, called into existence by the power of a deity and so appeared wholesale, without internal fractures or inconsistencies, unlike stones that formed naturally. But she thought of it, visited the battlefields to study his spears and learned to call the dust in them too.  

It wasn’t working now though. Spears on the battlefields were weeks, sometimes months old, they had time to be corrupted by wind and rains. This one was just created, and so was flawless, without any cracks for her to exploit.

Guizhong gritted her teeth, her fists clenching hard enough that her nails left the marks on her palms. She couldn’t fail right now, couldn’t show herself as a fool when so much was riding on this. She searched frantically for the smallest flaw to get in and unravel it, until the picture snapped into view, like an optical illusion finally coming into focus. It was a perfectly structured grid with no points of failure, but it was still a grid of dust. She didn’t need a fracture to claim it and had never needed it.

She smiled and extended her hand, meeting his gold eyes.

“Every rock turns to dust,” she snapped her fingers and the top of the spear started softly crumbling. “And I can always take what is mine.”

Morax visibly tensed up, now actually taken aback, then turned back to her, no longer looking amused. She smiled wider in triumph, while the spear was still turning to dust from the top down.

“I don’t have delusions of grandeur, I realize that I don’t have the firepower to take you on by myself. I mean, I do have a knack for war machines, so maybe with an ambush and the right strategy… No, but realistically, I’d make an alliance with someone else, who could strike hard enough when I crumble your defenses.”

“That’s a very convincing point,” his voice was flat, but eyes much colder than before. “Now explain to me why I should let you leave alive.”

“I don’t actually want to bring you down, I just thought as a warrior, you won’t take me seriously unless you believe I can be a threat. I’m not trying to blackmail you into an alliance.”

“Thrilled to hear,” he said dryly, still eyeing her incredulously. “What are you trying to do, then?”

Perhaps she miscalculated. She proceeded on the assumption that he would value combat strength above all and didn’t adjust her plans even though nothing in his actual appearance and conduct supported it. Now she had to tread lightly.

“I have much resourcefulness to offer,” she clasped her hands again and forced herself to speak slowly and choose her words carefully, keeping her tone neutral. ”You see, humans are as small and fragile as dust. Because they are so small, they know not when they will lose their lives to disaster or strife, and so they are afraid. Because they are afraid, they try so hard to become more intelligent. This I understand. So I thought that since there is such a gulf between us in strength, I should use technique and wisdom instead. With your brawn and my brains, this city would surely become a great one."

He let her speak with the same guarded expression, then looked away for a moment, and when he met her gaze again there was tension around his eyes she wasn’t sure how to interpret.

“My brawn? Is that why you sought after me, for military strength?”

To keep her people safe, she often had to deal with gods stronger than herself and in all of her experience, conquerors loved to hear their accomplishments on the battlefield being praised. But somehow he seemed so unlike anyone she’s ever had to deal with. It was clear, the neutral tone wasn’t going to work, she had to commit to either sticking to her initial plan of talking with a warrior or to instead treat him as… as what? She had no clue, aside from that it’s someone very different.

She bit her lip and took the risk of talking sincerely instead of diplomatically.

“I’m… No, not at all. I wouldn’t want to join just any warlord, no matter how strong. I heard that you are merciful and let even lost souls join you, and so your followers are loyal to you out of love and not fear. I heard that you spent many days borrowing the mountains in search of a blind dragon just because it was crying for help, and then granted it eyes and freedom. That once your people were plagued by the aquatic pests and you went door to door to every home and caught them all by yourself. This all tells me you are kind and fight to protect, not for glory or power. That you are building an empire to serve it, and not for it to serve you. And so from all this I thought no matter how different, we share the same dream.”

He kept silent, and as always when panicking, she slipped into overexplaining.

“By brawn, I didn’t mean just prowess in a fight, I meant your general strength. I think you’re used to choosing the most direct, straightforward solutions because you know you have power to back it up, so you don’t even start to consider other options. I’m, on the opposite, used to having little resources, so I’m very good at calculating cost-effectiveness. I think I could use more material basis and you could benefit greatly from my ability to optimize. Frankly, I decided to join you when I heard of the story of how you've dealt with parasites. I mean, personally going door to door? That’s so well-intended and yet so wasteful! How no one told you “Stop, no, what are you doing to yourself, there are so many other options”? I immediately thought, “I have to save this man”.

She forced herself to shut up, because that was probably too much sincerity and his eyebrows were disappearing under the bangs yet again. Under the desperate strike of inspiration, she raised her hand, and the rest of the stone spear crumbled down, leaving the small, intricately carved puzzle lock in the form of a dumbbell floating in the air.

“I think that by combining your solid foundation and my inventive precision, we can create something bigger than both of us.”

He eyed it, still looking impassive, and walked up to Guizhong, stopping a couple of steps ahead. Then he met her eyes and suddenly smirked.

“So you’re implying that I’m stupid?”

She blushed and smiled apologetically.

“I never said that. I only meant that when you have a hammer, and by hammer I mean giant rock spears, everything looks like a nail, and you could use some new perspectives.”

He actually smiled at that, a wide grin that showed inhumanly long fangs.

“But I do in fact think that I’m smarter with the currently present evidence,” she added cheekily. “But! The dumbbell I gave you is actually a puzzle lock. This is the mark of our pledge, and it is also my challenge to you. All my wisdom is hidden within this stone dumbbell. If you manage to solve it, I will admit that you’re at least as wise as I am."

“I���ll keep that in mind,” he said, chuckling, a deep rumbling sound, and she noticed that his gravelly voice could turn almost velvety when he was friendly. She could understand why he was so loved by his followers despite his initial stand-offishness. “So, are you going to finally show me these scrolls or are you planning to just keep insulting me?”

She fluttered her eyelashes with feigned innocence.

“I can do both. I’m very good at multitasking.”

Joking like that with the most fearsome conqueror in the land was objectively a dumb idea, but the difference between sharp, gilded intensity in his eyes to the interested, warm golden glow was almost dizzying. She’s never met anyone like him, but at the same time she felt like she knew him for a lifetime, knew that he was proud, but not arrogant, that his ego was not fragile enough to be hurt by friendly jabs.

“Okay, let’s start with agriculture, it’s honestly a basis for any great settlement,” she dropped to her knees and started rummaging through the scrolls. “Ugh, where is it?.. No, that’s the ballista schematics… the mining equipment…”

He sat down in the grass next to her and threw her a somewhat bashful glance.

“To be honest, in retrospect I do wish there was someone who stopped me from dealing with the pests like that. I now cannot stand even the smell of seafood.”

She clasped her hand over the mouth to stifle a horrified laugh, dropping the scrolls.

“Oh no! Oh, sorry, I’m not laughing at you, it’s just the situation itself is so… You took preventative measures to make sure it’s not happening again, right?”

His smirk froze and his eyes widened, letting her know that he never thought of it and now was horrified by the idea. There was no monster or god powerful enough to brag about seeing the lord of stone scared, except for the goddess of dust who was now trying to stop wheezing.

“Oh no, you poor thing… Don’t worry, we’ll get to that, I won’t let it happen again on my watch. Now, where was I…Aha, here’s the agriculture scroll!”

She hesitated, because flowers were not the most comfortable surface to roll your scrolls over, but then he snapped his fingers and a small stone table rose up in front of them.

“Thank you! Oh, this is so convenient. You can’t imagine how many times I’ve thought “Ugh, I’d kill to have a block of stone right there.” I mean, I can create things by pressing dust, but it usually only works on small objects and if they are not supposed to be put under a lot of pressure. Which, in most projects I have, they are!... Sorry, I often get my thoughts derailed from the subject.”

“I’ve noticed,” he said with a dry grin and she blushed.

“You can interrupt me to get me back to the topic.”

“I don’t mind,” he shrugged, eyes still sparkling from laughter. “I think it’s interesting to hear you ramble.”

“Well, I’m glad you think so, because I tend to do that a lot… Anyway, agriculture! In my opinion, a well-planned and organized irrigation system is a key to…”

[le-roi-baleine]

Some Guizhong sketch