Moraxcon and the Lord of Geo - Part 2
Over the years, as the soil erodes, so too does the man's memory. Centuries of existence. Countless battles. Innumerable losses. Remembering them all was too heavy to bear.
But there was one thing the man always remembered. His promises.
He did not know when or why he cherished them. Whenever he thought about it, all his mind would think of were the blue petals of glaze lilies.
Until one day he did.
The wind wolves howled from the northeast that night. He had to prepare.
…
He did not remember in time.
What was the easiest way to gain lots of Mora?
There were plenty of answers. Pretty much every mortal has asked the question once; the citizens of Liyue being no exception. Greed flowed within their veins. As such, humanity mastered the many, many different ways to earn vast amounts of wealth, in the shortest amount of time. Zhongli, in particular, experienced countless of them in his long centuries of existence— all thrown roadside because of the simple fact he could literally conjure money from thin air.
But one of those ways, Zhongli realized, was earning money through a contest.
It seemed a great idea at first. Sponsored by one of the Eight Trades, the contest was a simple quiz game about Rex Lapis and the history of Liyue. Whoever answered the most questions wins. Zhongli figured since they were there anyway, why not participate and hopefully win himself money to pay back his thrifty companion. He's proven his skills before, and he doubted anyone could beat him when it came to random bits of trivia about himself.
What's more, an adrenaline-pumping event was exactly what he needed to cap off the first day of the Rex Lapis Memorial Fair. His memorial fair.
Just one slight problem.
"And with that, ladies and gentleman," the goggle-eyed game host shouted. "The unexpected duo of Lady Keqing and Sir Zhongli advances to the next round!"
The contestants had to be in pairs.
"..."
"An excellent display of teamwork, Lady Keqing," Zhongli said. Defusing the situation probably wouldn't be as difficult if she stopped glaring at him. "Let us do our best in the next round too."
Arms crossed, Keqing huffed indignantly. "Hmph. This isn't what I meant when I said I wanted to learn more about him."
His partner's lack of enthusiasm aside, reaching the final round was within Zhongli's expectations. The questions had not been too difficult so far, although there were a couple of times he had to dig deep into his memories to find the answer.
Luckily though, Keqing had his back, offering an insightful amount of knowledge on topics relating to Liyue. Swift as lightning, she answered question after question before their opponents could press a meaningful advantage, successfully racking up enough points to advance to the finals.
They never answered a question incorrectly once. The crowd went wild.
More and more people came to spectate and the Three-Round Knockout was soon packed to the brim. Their final opponents were the sibling team of Xie Chie and Xie Chang— two sharp-faced scholars employed by the Feiyun Commercial Guild.
"Do you know them?" Keqing asked. Straight to the point.
Zhongli nodded. "In passing. They are devout believers of Rex Lapis, often seen leading sermons praising his name and visiting the shrine of the Exuvia. Xie Chie, the elder sibling, conducts research into the market economy, while Xie Chang, the younger one, manages legal affairs for the Feiyun Commercial Guild."
"Oh?" Keqing raised a brow. She made it clear from her tone that she found the two troublesome- if not for their expertise then for their reputation as devotees. When they first started, she had a look of indifference. Now it simmered with a small sense of rivalry.
A similar fire stoked inside Zhongli. She is indeed a competitive one.
Regardless, he chose to let that fire burn quietly. He needed to be the calm earth to Keqing's thunder. Quick and decisive actions paved the path to victory— such is the way of the adepti.
His vindictive child of a boss had probably already docked his pay for abandoning her with paperwork. They were supposed to go to the fair together, but that felt like a fate worse than death— no pun intended. He had to win no matter what; his allowance depended on it!
I will win…!
When the chanting of the audience died down, the host pulled a question from a box. It might have been his imagination, but Zhongli saw a malicious grin flash on the host's face as he read the question aloud.
"The God of Salt, Havria, was once a powerful god that lived in the times of the Archon War. A gentle ruler possessing a kind soul, she was all but forgotten by time. Many wrote her life as that of a tragic martyr— but more recently, rumors seem to have surfaced regarding the true circumstances of her death!"
Zhongli reeled in shock.
The host continued, his voice booming with fervor. "Now, the question contestants! True or false: did the late Geo Archon, the great Morax, kill the benevolent God of Salt!"
…
"...How foolish," Zhongli muttered.
Whispers erupted from the masses. The very nature of the question sparked controversy, and it wasn't difficult to see why. As history writes it, the God Havria perished at the hands of her followers after struggling to survive the chaos of the war. Only a very few could verify her story.
But... time was a great force. Its flow distorts history and rewrites the truth forever in its favor. Where one group of people revered their god as a savior, another group existed to despise it. The legacy of Yinyuan Hall proved it.
'If we discover the truth behind the God of Salt, you must judge it fairly, even if the truth harms Morax's image.'
Is this the path you've chosen, Wanyan?
"I am sorry, Keqing," Zhongli said. As a relic of a bygone era, he— no, Rex Lapis held no say on what humanity will deem 'the truth.' "I cannot answer this question. Forgive me."
Keqing stared blankly at the host as though she had not heard anything. Eventually, she responded with a stiff nod.
Both teams presented their answers.
"Oh, what's this?" The host cocked his head. "It appears we have two different answers, ladies and gentlemen! But as we all know, there could only be one, and the correct answer is False!"
The siblings Xie Chie and Xie Chang burst out laughing.
"Pfft! Hahaha!" The elder Xie Chie slapped her knee mockingly. "That question was an obvious giveaway, yet you STILL got it wrong!"
"The shame!" the brother chimed in. "We thought you could be worthy rivals, but we were mistaken!"
Shrugging, Zhongli did not voice out his objections. His worry fell solely on the person he trusted to answer for him. Like a stone statue, Keqing stood motionless, gripping the placard labeled 'Truth' in her hands. Face clouded over, Zhongli feared she could burst at any moment into an uncontrollable rage.
It might be best if they leave now.
"We don't normally ask this of contestants but…" The host approached Keqing with a sincere lilt, bordering on curiosity. "Can you tell us why you chose 'truth,' Lady Keqing?"
Like flipping a switch, the grimness in Keqing's expression disappeared. She answered curtly.
"Because I believe it. Morax killed the God of Salt."
An overwhelming silence descended over the crowd. All eyes focused on the young Yuheng— Zhongli included.
The host spoke up first to quell any riots before they could happen. "C-can you tell us why?"
Keqing nodded. She spoke without hesitation, and indifferent to the wary glances thrown her way.
"It is widely believed that the God of Salt was killed by her followers. Such a gentle soul was not welcome during the times of the Archon war. Through pity and a desire to live better lives outside their prison, their king brandished a sword against the defenseless god and banished her from the realm— leaving a single Sal Flore as proof she existed. It is my belief that Morax allowed this to happen, and thus, indirectly killed Havria even when her people desperately cried for help."
Perhaps to some this held true. Zhongli himself cannot challenge the prospect. If he had willed it, he could have shown pity on the Salt God and offered her people salvation— saving hundreds of innocent lives in the process.
But what were human lives in the face of warring gods?
"Morax placed great importance on the integrity of contracts," Keqing continued. "All the gods he killed had broken a contract at some point, and in his eyes, the Salt God broke one of the most important contracts of all: a promise to protect her people in exchange for their faith."
...That's right, Havria…
Humans were insignificant beings— insects that could be crushed with no consequence. Yet, the gods fought for them, cherished them, and ultimately, perished for them. They had no obligation to do so; they did it simply because of their pride as superior beings.
A god with neither the strength nor the conviction to protect their pride deserved to fade into obscurity and be forgotten.
Keqing bowed her head in a grievance. "Those in power conquered; those who ran away were destined for oblivion. Cruel as it may be, that was the order of the gods. Morax was no exception."
Without stopping for breath, Keqing continued her speech as the crowd grew more frenzied. She never faltered, as if hoping someone, anyone, would acknowledge the opinion she kept inside for the longest of time.
"Morax was a conqueror. More than that, he was a coward. To show compassion was a sign of weakness— and weakness led to death. Havria was an example of that. She loved her followers more than anyone, more than any god. Her dreams of living in a peaceful land ruled by love led to her demise. She became a pawn, a stepping stone— a slap in the face for the callous warlord we revered as a god."
He knew nothing except for might. He valued rigidity and order more than emotion. His hands were tied; to breach any of the standards he had set for himself would break the oath he swore to his people as the lord of all contracts.
He had no choice but to let Havria die.
"He was scared. A society built upon tear-dampened soils could not hold in times of war. Without that foundation, him, and all the sacrifices he has made, would crumble to dust."
Havria died when her dreams did. Morax crushed them all.
The crowd exploded with anger, accusations spewing left and right. Keqing withstood it all, her face emoting little more than slight boredom.
"Hacks!"
"Cheaters!"
"Slanderers!"
"Everyone, please calm down!" the host shouted. "This is a public space!"
Zhongli sighed and shook his head. As impious as ever, Yuheng. But I wonder… What will you do now?
"You!" Xie Chang yelled, his nose scrunched at Keqing. "How dare you even think of such words! What the hell are you doing here, anyway? Weren't you the one that always criticized Rex Lapis?!"
Keqing raised a brow. "I am. So?"
"So?! Get out of here, you bitch! Can't you see you're not welcome here?"
"I have just as much right to participate in the fair as anyone else. And, unless the law disallows it, I can openly state my opinion wherever and whenever it matters."
Xie Chang fumed with ill-suppressed rage. His sister acted more composed in comparison, holding her brother down in his seat.
"And besides," Keqing said, adopting a neutral expression. She glanced at Zhongli. "This contest served me extremely well as a refresher on my knowledge about Liyue and its customs. It has been a very fruitful venture. If I didn't win first place, what hope do I have of leading this country now that Morax is gone?"
"Hypocrite!" Xie Chang fired back. "You ranted on and on about Rex Lapis' and the gods, and now you have the gall to think you can rule Liyue better than he can? Such BLASPHEMY!"
Zhongli clenched his fists. Should he step in? His own actions led to the end of his rule; it would be unfair to let someone else shoulder the blame.
He had barely stood up when something inexplicable happened. Keqing, the stoic Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, laughed.
"You're bright, Xie Chang," she whispered. Her elegant, smiling face radiated with glee. It felt uncanny— terrifying, almost as if a madman had flayed her skin and wore it as a mask. "I would have written you off as hopeless if you hadn't deduced that simple fact."
"W-what?"
"You got it; I AM that proud. I AM capable of shaping Liyue into my own image. I've done so much for this country that I should have my OWN commemorative event, don't you think? I never agreed to this stupid fair in the first place. In fact, if I really wanted to, I could have all of you arrested for threatening me and misuse of public funds. And what I say, goes."
Everyone was stunned into silence. If there was one thing undeniable about her reputation, it's that most people knew when to shut up around her.
"But you're wrong," Keqing said. "I don't compare myself to a god— not yet. I still have a long way to go before I can. This 'liberation' we parade around did not come solely through our efforts. If the Qixing thought for a moment that they held power close to rivaling a god, then this city would have sunk beneath the oceans long ago."
The Qixing needed help. From an outlander now hailed as a hero.
Xie Chang shouted. "Not just Rex Lapis, but now you're insulting our beloved hero, too?!"
Long past the point where he could ease the tension, Zhongli closed his eyes. 'At what point will she stop criticizing Liyue's saviors?' the people thought, and he had to agree. Keqing judged everyone equally according to her near-perfect standards. Be they world-weary travelers or almighty gods, none could escape her sharp tongue. Nevertheless, Zhongli found himself chuckling at the naivety of his citizens. After all…
She was their savior too.
Arcs of electricity traced around Keqing as she stood taller than ever. She walked towards the sibling's table with an eerie calm. "Hero? Don't be ignorant. Aether is more than that; he's more than a hero to me. Because I don't worship him as blindly as you do, I'll criticize him just as much as I would criticize myself. Why would I ever let the Qixing lose to inconsiderate gods when we haven't even tried hard enough yet?"
Xie Chang shrank. "That's…"
"But hey…If you fanatics think you can lead Liyue better than we can, well..."
A roaring hand of thunder and lightning slammed against the wood, charring it black.
"Come and take it."
Evening came and the incident would soon be known as the time when a lavender-haired villain crashed the first-ever Moraxcon.
Despite fears of being labeled as an accomplice, Zhongli followed behind Keqing as she stormed out of the city. They kept going and going until stopping on a hill overlooking a nearby hamlet.
Keqing squatted on the grass. She hasn't said a word since they left, but the rattling of her lips gave away her frustration. "You didn't have to follow me."
Honestly, Zhongli didn't know why he followed her either, considering the harsh words Keqing shoved in his face. It was like a part of him, the retired old god, wanted to.
"...Our contract states that I shall accompany you for the duration of the fair unless instructed otherwise. I am merely upholding my end of the bargain."
"A contract?" Keqing laughed. "How narrow-minded. You really do think too much like him…"
"Is it a problem?" Zhongli asked.
"Well…" Instead of a straight-laced response as he would have expected, Keqing gave him a warm smile. "I don't dislike it."
It was at that moment he remembered.
'Those little people are as small and fragile as dust...'
What kind of god would he be if he ignored a scared little girl's cry for help? Without his gnosis, he was no longer a mighty Archon. Presumed dead, his true identity no longer existed. A broken, hollow shell left with only the memories of days gone by.
But still, he remained as the Lord of Geo— the lord that governs over the earth.
And the earth… listened.
"Why?"
That was his only question.
"..."
He could wait.
"'...Faith in a god who has already passed will do you no good,'" Keqing finally said. "' So it is for Havria, and so it is for Morax also.' Those are the words you told Aether when he asked about the Salt God."
Zhongli nodded. "The people of Liyue will understand that someday."
"Just as so. Both gods and mortals are flawed— human beings even more so. We lie, take, corrupt, and kill those we touch, all for the sake of satiating our needs. Teyvat is a land ruled by gods. Injustices still exist, but we managed to secure harmonious lives because of these gods."
Gazing ahead, Keqing hugged her knees tight, the tree leaves humming gently in the breeze.
"How long will Liyue last once humanity has taken over its reins?"
Zhongli could not answer. Not even the wise Rex Lapis could predict what the future holds. He ended his rule with his own hands; his greatest fear was to do it all over again.
Keqing brushed the hair from her face. "Humans are capable of more than just blind faith. They should learn to think for themselves and grab their future with their own hands. That, to me, is what it means to be human."
"I see."
Somehow, the wind felt more refreshing that evening.
"Hey, Morax…"
He almost responded on instinct.
"...Are you proud of me?"
…
Zhongli smiled. "...Yes. He is."
A gentle warmth washed over Keqing's cheeks. "That's sweet of you to say, Mr. Zhongli. You don't have to lie to me."
"I am not lying, I am merely stating facts."
Keqing giggled. "Thank you."
Yes, I am proud of you.
With a flick of his hand, shards of geo converged into a sphere at Zhongli's fingertips. A bright yellow light radiated from it, and like clay being molded into a pot, the sphere fissured into a shape unlike any other.
"Mr. Zhongli, what are you— "
Amber eyes focused. Steadily, the shape began to morph into something else— a figurine of sorts of a brown dragon, recognizable from anywhere.
I am proud of all of you, my successors. My living legacy.
He handed the figurine to a surprised Keqing. "Perhaps this is a more suitable souvenir to remember this day by?"
"It's Rex Lapis…" Keqing said.
"Hmm… Not exactly…"
With claws as sharp as spears and scales as tough as mountains, the figurine perfectly captured the majesty and strength of a dragon. But, its soft, pearl-like eyes, its window to the soul, gazed with compassion. It was not a figure of Morax, the immortal conqueror of the Archon War. It was not a figure of Rex Lapis, the authoritarian ruler of Liyue and the God of Contracts.
It was the draconic figure of the Lord of Geo, whose stone heart has been fully tamed with love for the people he cared for. Judging from how Keqing marveled at it, it was a shame no one would find out.
'Gramps! Let's promise we'll meet each other again!'
Memories of those wartorn times flashed in Zhongli's mind. They were as bloody as ever, yet. he felt his breath relax a little as if an immeasurable weight was lifted from his shoulders.
A promise was like a contract. One way or another, the old man from back then finally fulfilled his.
Something tugged on his sleeve.
"Hey, can you do me a favor?" Keqing asked.
"What is it?"
Under the night sky, Keqing's face shone brightly. "Can you make more of these? I'm sure the children would love to play with them."
What a humble request.
Zhongli grinned. "Very well…"