✧ Fluff & a teeny bit of angst
It was a Friday night. Just got home from work. I was one of the assistants of the Liyue Qixing. I felt so drowsy that I wanted to sleep for days. Had to work overtime because of a delayed meeting. I probably should take a shower, then go to sleep. Ah, and tomorrow is my 'museum date' with Zhongli. Better set my alarm to 8.30am so that I won't wake up too late.
I went to the bathroom to take a quick shower before going to sleep. I could see the visible dark circles under my eyes. How many days have I gone with such little sleep? I don't remember, I lost track... I had to take many cups of coffee every night I had to work overtime. By the time I was finished, I reached home at about midnight and I had to go to work at 6 and that's all without eating a proper 3 meals a day. Most I get is a half meal. There are no restaurants near my office, very inconvienient. Had to go to places by car. Traffic jam everywhere during lunch hours giving me only less than 15 minutes to eat and that includes ordering food. I usually take the food back to the office with me but I rarely get the chance to finish it all. Work-life balance they said. I often sleep after a supper of instant noodles, my saviour. Its unhealthy, I know, but there wasn't any other option. I turned the water heater on and took a quick shower without washing my hair. After my shower, I got changed into my pajamas. I dragged myself to my room, eyes half lidded. My room was just like a mini library but with a bed, 2 wooden bedside tables and a wardrobe. There was a window beside my left bedside table, giving me the not-so-pleasant view of the dark alleyways. My whole room was decorated to have a library aesthetic like the library in the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius in Mondstadt. I made sure the air conditioning in my room was cool enough, switched off the lights and tucked myself into bed. I closed my eyes and tried to fall asleep. The sound of cars passing by, the subtle whir of the air conditioner fan, was like a lullaby to me. I fell asleep not long after...
I woke up to the buzzing of my phone's alarm. 8.30am. I felt like I wanted to sleep more but I knew I shouldn't. I reluctantly got out of bed and went to wash up. The soft tapping of the rain made me want to sleep for some more but I made sure I didn't. I had to leave at about 9am in order to make it to the museum by 10am. The museum only took 15 minutes to reach on foot but I should arrive early in case there would be some unforseen circumstances.
I went to check my phone on the bedside table. Emails from work, 5000 steps...ah! Zhongli's message!
Hello, y/n. Are you awake?
Sorry to disturb... 😅 8.00am ✓✓
Would you like to have breakfast
at a café nearby the tea house? 8.02am ✓✓
Hi, Zhongli, sorry for the late reply.
╰┈➤ Yea, that sounds nice~ 8.35am ✓✓
There aren't many people at this hour. 8.35am ✓✓
I should be ready by 9. 8.36am ✓✓
Do you know the café? I can send the location to you if you need it. 8.36am ✓✓
Yeah, I've been there before.
Starry Café right? 8.36am✓✓
See you there then. 8.36am ✓✓
___________________________________________
My hair still messy, I went to the kitchen to get a glass of warm water. My half opened eyelids squinted to pour the warm water into a small glass. I got changed to the same clothes I wore last week to the tea house. All my other clothes were in the washing. I combed my hair neatly and placed a brown, velvet beret on my head. It was about 8.45 after I got dressed. I headed out of the apartment and went to the café. It wasn't far from here but about 5 to 10 minutes away on foot. I walked past the boutiques, flower shops, restaurants... I could see the café from a few blocks away. I wondered if Zhongli had arrived yet?
I opened the door and heard the subtle ding of the bell amidst the sound of cars passing by. I saw Zhongli at the right end of the café, he waved to me. I walked over to his table. It was a table for two. He was wearing an ivory black turtleneck under a brown trench coat and a pair of black slacks. He hasn't ordered anything yet.
"Here's the menu. What would you like to eat?" He questioned.
"Mmm, I would take a croissant and a cafe latte."
"I will go to the counter and order then."
The food came not long after. I got my awaited croissant and cafe latte. Zhongli got was the cafe's breakfast set. It looked like a lot but he finished it in no time. I took a look at the time on my phone. 9.30am.
"We finished breakfast but it's only 9.30am."
"The walk from here to the museum should be around 15 to 20 minutes."
"Maybe we can have a little chat while we're at it, haha."
We left the café and went to the museum. There were a lot of fancy boutiques in this area but most of the clothes are too expensive for me to afford. There were some autumn trees planted by the curb of the roadside. We walked on the left side of the road. I glanced to my left. Zhongli's coat resembled a billowing cape, the features on his face, angular and sharp. The wind running through his long, amber brown hair like a dragon's tail. The autumn leaves floated in the air as gusts of wind puffed in and out.
"Y/n, is anything the matter?"
Oh shoot, did I look for too long? I could feel my face reddening out of embarrassment. Uh, I should just, brush it off. TOTALLY NOTHING HAPPENED...
I automatically turned away and looked to anywhere but him. How could I make myself calm down. I focused on the museum up ahead. It was very...square. Looked like a giant box of chocolates. We arrived in front of the museum. It's facade of wooden details carved into its walls, fine and intricate. As we entered through the large doors, we were greeted with a towering, bronze statue of Rex Lapis. I looked up in awe. The line for the Ancient Liyue Relics exhibit was nearly empty. We got entry tickets in no time.
When we entered the exhibit, there were many relics from the time of the Archon War and The Great Cataclysm. I was intrigued by the brown, square cup inside one of the glass casings. It was said that Morax used to bring those cups during every reunion of the gods and adepti of Liyue. The geo symbol on the cup looked identical to that of Zhongli's iris.
'Morax, why do you keep bringing those square cups? We already have enough teacups to go around'
'I guess he just likes anything square'
Everyone burst into laughter. Today was one of the reunions among us adepti, and one of the happiest as well. Marchosius brought a lot of food this time. I wasn't sure if we could finish it all. I felt quite full already. Little Ganyu eats a lot. She is so cute and chubby I wish I could just pinch those cheeks! The weather is rather nice, its cooling and a bit cloudy. If only everyday was like this...
Was I an adeptus in a previous life? Wait...that child with horns looked familiar...THAT'S MISS GANYU, ONE OF MY SUPERIORS! Couldn't believe she looked that cute as a child. From hearsay, my colleagues said that she was about 3000 years old. And Zhongli was holding this exact cup. No, this had to be a coincidence.
He crossed his arms and leaned against the glass casing, looking at me with curious eyes. I hoped that thing doesn't break.
"Probably because I never seen this before"
I gave out a nervous laughter. Zhongli had an odd resemblance to Morax, the square teacups were similar to that in the exhibit. I turned to my right and saw a painting. An interpretation of the adepti's reunion perhaps? It looked similar to the 'flashback' I received.
"That painting was painted a long time ago. Even the Liyue Qixing have a hard time dating back this painting."
"Ooh, this painting does looks accurate though"
"A-Ah, a slip of tongue. I meant amazing, yes. Amazing."
Y/n is being awfully suspicious. She talked about that painting as if she had seen it in real life. How would she know anything about it? There is very little known information other than myths passed on by elders.
I walked past the square cup to see the cleansing bell being kept in the same type of glass casing as well. I could hear a lovely melody play in my head. It sounds better than that of the renowned composers.
"True music is an expression of the soul, not from some mechanism, Guizhong."
"Dear Ping, my cleansing bell is on par to human composers. Some say my cleansing bell is superior."
"Morax, you have to put an end to this petty argument. It has dragged on for far too long."
Morax and Cloud Retainer made a verdict from a hilltop not far from us. He confiscated my cleansing bell. My cleansing bell. He designated it for ceremonial use so that Streetward Rambler and I would stop arguing over some 'petty belief'. I have taken my concentration to a new invention, the Obscuro Vulpes Mechanism!
The Obscuro Vulpes Mechanism looks like the real-life version of the Guizhong Ballista taken straight out from a history textbook. I think I would have a hard time pronouncing that. And the famed Cloud Retainer in human form?! This was too much for me to digest in one sitting.
Y/n looks more confused now. She shook her head multiple times. I wonder what was going on inside that head of hers. She hasn't asked me anything since we entered the exhibit. Her reaction was not quite what I expected. Sigh Looking at these 'relics' reminds me of the good old days... Residing in the Guili Assembly, overlooking a field of glaze lilies with Guizh- Lover's...Oath?
I haven't heard this piece before. It sounds comforting and soothing to the ears. But who in their right mind would sneak a guzheng into a museum exhibit? I doubt security didn't notice someone dragging a big wooden thing into a state of the art museum.
"Zhongli, what is this piece? I haven't heard this before."
"It is one of Liyue's classical pieces, also happens to be my favourite one of all."
"I don't think it's from the sound system. Sounds like someone is playing a guzheng. I think it comes from further inside the exhibit."
Out of curiosity, I followed the footsteps of the melodious tune and found an old lady playing the guzheng in front of a painting of a glaze lily field.
It was the first night of Lantern Rite and people sent lanterns to the sky. The dark sky illuminated with a warm glow. Morax and I were watching from a field of glaze lilies nearby Guili Assembly. We were having a 'picnic' or so called, by mortals. I brought a basket of lotus paste mooncakes to eat. Zhongli brought a freshly brewed pot of osmanthus tea. I could hear a sweet sounding tune coming from the direction of Guili Assembly but I didn't know who played it.
"A toast to a prosperous new year" Zhongli raised his cup.
I raised by cup and took a sip. The osmanthus tea was calming and soothing to the senses. I felt like I could fall asleep there and then. I wish for a prosperous new year as well.
That was... Lantern Rite... What's with me and glaze lilies? That music, it sounds similar to what that old lady is playing. I watched as she rhythmically plucked the strings of the guzheng, it tells a story for itself.
This old tune makes me want to reminisce about her. After all those years, her death still haunts my soul.
She laid in my arms, knowing that her return to the dust was nearing.
"Morax, promise me this... that you will continue to live a full, prosperous life as the Archon of geo and become a god that the people of Liyue will look up to in the many years to come." She said with tears on the verge of escaping her glass-like eyes.
She gave a soft grin, cupping my face with her frail hands.
"Always remember that wherever I will be...I love-" Her last words got cut off. She turned to stone right before my very eyes... I shook her stone body, hoping she would wake up. Her lifeless body, giving me the most loving smile in all of Teyvat...
"GUIZHONG, WAKE UP! Please...stay with me..." I was in shock that she just died. She was dead. No, this couldn't be happening, no, no....
I hugged her for the last time. The glaze lily I gave her was still in her hair.
"Guizhong...I love you too..." I whispered into her ear as tears flooded my eyes. I cried out to the heavens, hoping they'd bring her back...
I got up in front of Guizhong's lifeless, stone body. Bowing to pay my respects.
"Take the people south, we will set up a new city. It is far too dangerous to stay here."
I held back the last of my tears. I had to lead the people of Liyue to a safer place, where they will prosper for a long time. The remaining adepti and I took the people to the coastline of Liyue, south of Guili Assembly. Guili Assembly is no more. All that is left of it was the ruins of our past and the joyful memories of old.
I looked up from my guzheng after I finished playing. Morax and Guizhong? Wait...GUIZHONG???
"Guizhong...is that you, perhaps?"
Me? Guizhong? Who even is Guizhong? These 'memories' were so confusing. I didn't remember any of these and they didn't look like they were in Liyue Harbour.
"Oh, you remind me greatly of her, haha. Our bickering about opinions of music... the small little things in life might be the ones you appreciate most..."
She spoke with the wisdom of millenias of knowledge. I got another sudden 'flashback'. I didn't know what they were about. It was just so chaotic. Everything happened too fast. I couldn't understand the context of it. A lot of people were crying, then it all fades to black...
"Y/n, are you okay? You seem deep in thought."
"Who is this 'Guizhong'? I kept getting these weird 'flashbacks' where people kept calling me 'Guizhong'. Zhongli, you were there as well, or some who looks like you." I hesitated to continue. What if he thought I was crazy?
"'Guizhong' hmmm? You said I was there as well..."
"Yeah! There was one where a lot of people stood in a circle around me, crying. You were the one closest to me, you called me 'Guizhong' as well."
"What else do you remember?"
"Mmm, there was one where we sat in a field of glaze lilies watching the lanterns float up during Lantern Rite. You also tucked a glaze lily into my hair, you smile was as sweet as a plate of almond tofu."
"Guizhong passed away many many years ago...but I do miss her."
"Wait...so you're saying that YOU ARE MORAX, THE ARCHON OF GEO?!"
"Hush, no one else should know. The lady that played the guzheng there is a fellow adpeti, Madame Ping, as you might know her."
"Ping? ... The one I argued with about music?"
"After all these years, we meet again, old friend."
"So, who was Guizhong, Zhongli?"
"Guizhong was our friend and fellow adepti also know as Haagentus, Lord of The Dust, ironically. I suppose you do have some recollection of her memories."
"So, basically speaking, I am Guizhong?"
"Her reincarnation probably."
I tried to process this information. That I was a reincarnation of a god. A god. Was it fate that led me to him? Me, a god. How could that be possible? I was still shocked, blankly staring into the painting of glaze lilies. I still couldn't imagine this. Like it all wasn't real yet so realistic. Even if I was a god, I'm no longer one, I'm just a mere human now...
"Was all that hard to digest? You look stunned."
"Maybe we could talk it over a cup of tea." I chuckled. "I still wondered how you managed to sneak in a guzheng almost as tall as you into a museum exhibit, Madame Ping."
"People won't notice an old lady like me, but a someone playing the guzheng in a museum exhibit is truly something out of the ordinary."
"Will I regain all of her memories?"
Me. An actual god. I mean a reincarnation of one but close enough. When I was in highschool, I remember that one of the history lessons taught about the Archon War. There was a god that died, I suppose that was me? It didn't give much detail on it, I think I forgot most of it. I wonder how must it have been to live as a god residing in the Guili Assembly. When would I regain all my memories? Maybe I should go somewhere to trigger it? Or look at something like the square cups? How would my parents feel? That their daughter was a reincarnation of a god. Would they be proud of me or disown me as a lunatic? Did the heavens take pity on us and reincarnate me thousands of years later? Was I really a god? Or was I imagining it all? I could tell, really. I would let time show me the rest.