XXIV

Standing there, with the smell of buttery popcorn filling your nose, you could not have been more excited. Popping a piece in your mouth, you caught Ariel’s face from the corner of your eye as he stared strangely at your wide grin.

“Something going on?” He asked.

“Yeah.”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“Nope.” Your smile widened at his deadpan face.

You watched as Aether gave his wishes around the area in preparation. You did feel kinda bad, but your amusement of him being dragged around for who knows how long to help prepare the death rites of the person dragging him around… yeah, you were ready.

Aether soon joined your side, eager to see what might come of his wishes. You threw an arm over his shoulder, tugging him to your side as you offered some of your popcorn (yeah, you were just that nice). He leaned into you taking a piece for himself and smiling at the taste.

People began to crowd around you, practically shaking in anticipation of the beginning of the rite. Ningguag stood placidly at the front, hands held simply in front of her as she waited. She took a moment to look up, and you suppose that something in the sky that you couldn’t see alerted her to start because it was then she stepped forward, body of grace and refinement.

“The time is upon us.” Her voice called out, strong and almost regal. Her assistants bowed and moved back as Ningguag used her geo, chucks of gem floating around her. Everyone held their breath in awe as the gems shot towards the offerings in the center, embedding themselves into the altar, causing it to glow a radiant gold.

A beam of light shot to the sky, sending a knockback of wind that rustled your hair and made Ariel’s wings flutter. Your foot started to tap and you shoveled more popcorn in your face to cover the unnerving smile.

Clouds circled the light in the form of a loose tornado, quickly turning gray as small shots of red lightning jumped between the clouds. It was almost too fast for you to see it, but a hulking mass parted the clouds. Shining, brown scales shimmered gold in the bouncing sun and a wild mane whipped violently as Rex Lapis’ body careened down to Teyvat.

The silence was captivating, and the only thing you could do to stop yourself from bursting out laughing was to stuff more popcorn in your mouth. Everyone in the square had their voice taken from them, their widened eyes seeming to pop out of their heads from the disbelief at what they were seeing.

You looked at all their faces, trapped in stills of horror as Ningguag’s voice rang out. “Rex Lapis had been killed! Seal the exits!”

The millelith scrambled to follow her command, running to surround the populace of the square. Many began shaking and some, who had been too close to the body, were pulled aside to be questioned by the officers.

Paimon’s shrill voice tried in vain to whisper. “Oh no, oh no, oh no! Is she saying Rex Lapis is dead?!” In her dramatics, she failed to see how nervous Aether got. You tried to grab his hand, but he pulled away, shaking slightly. “And look! People are being questioned by the Millelith! We got too close to the body! What if we’re suspects too?”

“We can’t fall into the hands of another god…” Aether’s eyes had looked far away, and the only thing you could guess he was thinking was that something terrifying enough to ‘kill’ Rex Lapis could get him, an outsider to this world, so easily, especially with his powers sealed away. He ran off before you could try and comfort him, Paimon following easily as she floated above the crowd.

You knew Aether would be okay, getting caught by Childe and all that, but the worry growing in your chest trumped the reassurance from the harbinger’s appearance and any previous humor you held. You were about to push through the crowd to follow him when your elbow was pulled back by an officer trying to call you over to ask some questions. You saw Ariel frown out of the corner of your eyes as the guard pulled you to the side.

-

After talking to that guard for about ten minutes about how you weren’t the murder of an ancient god, biting your lip not to smile, you left the square. Aether and Childe, if you remembered correctly, should be making their way to Northland bank after he saved them from the weak ass guards, so you decided to make your way over there, if anything, to hear the long explanation of the quest to tell all the adepti that Rex Lapis is dead. You’d be able to meet Xiao at the very least if you went with Aether.

Climbing up the intricately carved red steps you saw the harbinger and your little blond haired friend speaking to each other.

“Hey Aether!” You called, accompanied with a smile and a wave.

Aether’s eyes softened when he saw you, hands unclenching and face relaxing from the hard frown it was set it. Childe, you noticed, looked at you with a strange inquiry, an eyebrow raised and his smile becoming more fixed when met with an unknown.

“Comrade.” He called for Aether’s attention. “Who is this lovely person?”

“A friend of mine.” Aether answered simply. Realizing that he wasn’t going to get more out of the blond traveler, Childe quickly moved on and explained the quest, probably understanding that it would be pointless to keep anything from you, as Aether would tell you after he left, or maybe have the audacity to do it right in front of him.

“Ah.” Childe exclaimed with faux politeness. “Well, I already told you what to do to clear your name to the Qixing. Have fun with the mighty and illuminated adepti.”

Aether nodded. “Thank you.” He turned from Childe and gestured for you all to make your way down to the main streets of the city.

Feet crunching on the gravel path, Aether explained everything Childe said. “All we have to do is head to Jueyun Karst and tell all the adepti of Rex Lapis’ passing before the Qixing get to them first so I won’t be considered a suspect in any investigation.”

“Sounds like a plan. We’ll hit three of the four adepti we have to tell in Jueyun Karst alone. We better move fast though, the millelith might already be on their way.” Aether nodded once more and the both of you, followed by your respective companions by flight, began your run to the home of the adepti.

While the two of you jogged, you couldn’t help but ask. “Aether.” you said, doing your best to keep your breathing steady as you ran. Aether hummed in response. “Why did you run so quickly from the square, we could’ve just gotten questioned by the millelith and been done with this.”

You hear Aether sigh, incredibly enough. “I know it was stupid, but I got nervous. Rex Lapis, supposedly the oldest and strongest of the seven, was just killed in front of his people. What has the power to do such a thing? All I could think about was the unknown god, and what if the killer of Rex Lapis is the same as she? What if she wanted me, an outlander, one who doesn’t belong in this world, dead? All my body could think to do was run.”

You kinda felt bad for laughing at the whole thing now. You didn’t realize it had such a profound effect on him. “Hey, yes if you kept your head on straight, we might not have been in this mess, but you can’t always help the flight or fight response.” You turned your head to see his lips pursed and eyebrows drawn together. “Besides, I have a feeling this will all turn out fine.”

He scoffed. “Was that in one of your visions?”

“Maybe.”

-

You and Aether spent the rest of the day trying to find Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer. Fighting the millelith, helping those two idiot brothers, and going through an annoying domain only to get the same response of ‘wHaT? AsSassINaTEd? iT Can’T bE?!?!?” in different fonts.

Finally, as you approached the Wangshu inn, with the sun settling over the horizon, you were finally going to meet Xiao properly. You had insisted to Aether to make a plate of almond tofu before meeting on account of you ‘hearing that Adeptus Xiao enjoys the dessert’.

You clinked the glass plate of the little wooden table on the balcony as Aether and Paimon rested against the railing, looking at the gorgeous view of the country. You couldn’t deny that while Mond felt like ‘home’, Liyue was absolutely beautiful with its warm colors and staggering mountains that painted an ancient silhouette against the sunset. Its horizons, one of the most amazing, breath-taking things to see in person. You had gotten so sucked in you didn’t notice the little woosh of air that appeared next to you.

“To the blind, everything may not be as it appears.” It was a voice calm and gruff yet you still jumped out of your skin, letting out an undignified yelp.

You, Aether, Paimon, and Ariel turned simultaneously to see the, unlike you, dignified adeptus standing in the rays of the dying sun, highlighting his soft, yet intimidating features. His back was straight with easy posture and a gleam in his eyes that expected no funny business. Despite your excitement with finally meeting him, you kept your inner fan inside that wanted to smother him with love and hugs.

“A sigil of permission?” He remarks, beginning to go into a rant about adept energy and how we mere mortals can’t stand it. He was about to leave, with a slightly harsh ‘go away’, after his rant, but you stopped him.

“Before you go,” you called to his turned back. “Can you please take the almond tofu I made with you? I worked kinda hard on it.”

He stood still for a moment, the only movement being the bobbles on his clothing swaying in the evening breeze. He turned around slowly, with what you could only assume was muted shock.

“It was you.” He murmured.

“What was me?” You raised your eyebrow.

He shook his head. “Nothing. Thank you for the gift.”

“Always.”

He took a bit of the tofu, his eyes lighting up only a little, but you were having a huge celebration inside your head. However, Paimon took the opportunity to tell Aether to explain everything to Xiao while he was shoveling his face.

Aether did so and you got the same shocked reaction, but Xiao you could see a hint of a special hurt that you didn’t see in the other adepti, like Rex Lapis was something more than just his god. He disappeared soon after, with one last strange look at you before poofing away in a swirl of black and green.

The four of you stood there for a moment. “Well, do you guys wanna get a couple rooms here?”

“Really [Y/n]?! We just spoke with four of Rex Lapis’ adepti to tell them that he was assassinated and all you can think about is sleep?!”

“Yes I’m thinking about sleep, bitch I am exhausted! You weren’t the one of those that had to run around the whole damn country! You got to ~hover~.” You did a strange hand movement that you hoped displayed your displeasure but only got a scoff from the fairy and a snort from Aether.”

You threw your hands in the air. “Fine! Laugh all you want, but I am going to get a room, and when I wake up next morning more prepared for whatever fucking shenanigans happen tomorrow I will be the one laughing.”

“No wait!” Aether followed after as you marched towards the front desk, trying desperately to cover up his laughing.