DISCLAIMER

The following work contains spoilers for these two Genshin Impact quests :

Archon Quests Chapter I – ''Of the Land Amidst Monoliths''

Archon Quests Interlude Chapter – ''The Crane returns on the Wind''


Chapter 1 - The Fall

''Morax, Geo Archon, you have strayed from the path that had been laid before you.''

''Your irreverence for the Heavenly Principles ends now. You have failed this divine trial. Do you understand what that means ?''

''It means that I will now be relieved of my position as an Archon, correct ?

Morax looked at the Sustainer eye-to-eye. There was no animosity in his voice. ''I have led the people of Liyue for millenia. They are now ready to go on their own, even without the blessing of a divinity.''

The Sustainer looked at him with contempt. Even in his last moments, the Lord of Geo still believed in his people, rather than fully embracing Celestia's rule. He disregarded even his own Gnosis for these puny creatures. What was so fascinating about humans anyway ?

She would never admit that she knew the answer.

''The time has come for my people to advance on their own. The age of mankind is upon Liyue.''

While the Archaic Lord remained calm, she had trouble repressing her irritation.

''They are not your people, Morax. They are your subjects. It seems that all of this time spent with Barbatos has dulled your spirit.''

Morax ignored the direct jab at the Anemo Archon. He steadied his heart and remained silent, awaiting her final judgement.

''I AM THE SUSTAINER OF HEAVENLY PRINCIPLES !'' Her voice was booming, dominating. ''THE BEING WHO OVERSEES THE DIVINE AND DELIVERS ACCORDING PUNISHMENT !''

''GEO ARCHON MORAX, YOU ARE NO LONGER DEEMED FIT FOR RULING ! YOU ARE NOW TO BE RELIEVED OF YOUR DUTIES, YOUR ARCHONSHIP, AND YOUR LIFE !''

Dark red cubes surrounded him. Morax closed his eyes, and bowed his head. Indeed, he had no regrets, and accepted his death with a smile. In all honesty, he was tired of ruling. He too would finally 'go home and call it a day'.

He did not feel the pain when the Sustainer's power crushed his soul.

All he could feel was the wind on his scaly skin, soothing his heart.

Which was no longer beating.

He would have liked to atleast roam the world a bit.

See the sights of other nations. He hadn't done that in a while.

Who knows, maybe somewhere there was a traveler who could roam Teyvat for him ?

As his lifeless body plummeted down from the sky, a chuckle and a few words, for no one in particular, escaped his lips.

''And now I too, shall become a memory.''


''Look, look ! We finally made it !''

Paimon tugged on her friend's scarf, as if he could not see the bustling city himself.

''Yes, Paimon. This is Liyue Harbor.'' Aether chuckled.

It was about time, too. They had spent so much time on the road, he had missed the sight of human civilization.

After crossing a bridge, they took their first steps into the city. No wonder the locals kept bragging about their harbor. It was an absolute jewel of the city. The elegant architecture, the vibrant colors, the decorated shops, everything was made to please the eyes. Paimon, on the other hand, was focused on other matters.

''Hey, let's go find that restaurant that Xiangling mentioned ! Wanten something-something !'' said the fairy while flying in his face with excitement.

''It's Wanmin Restaurant. And this city's huge. We'll worry about filling our stomachs later.'' replied Aether with a sigh.
They hadn't even been in the city for ten minutes, and his companion already wanted lunch. ''I'd like to register at Liyue's branch of the Adventurer's Guild before that. We'll also need to find an inn to stay at. Our Mora's limited, so I'd like to avoid anything too fancy.''

''Beh ! You're such a cheapskate ! Of course the fanciest places have the tastiest food !''

Thank goodness Aether always kept their Mora pouch with him. If he let Paimon have her way, everything would be spent on the first night.
Heck, give her an hour.

''Emergency Food, I know you'd love to be a traveling gourmet, but we're here for the Rite of Descension first and foremost.''

''Yeah, yeah, it's all about your sister...Also, stop calling Paimon that !''

Aether ignored her demands and simply shook his head. His fairy friend's bickering aside, most things went smoothly. They managed to find the Guild, ask the locals a few questions about the Rite, and a book a room at a cozy but cheap inn to stay at. The Traveler was worried about finding something good to eat for his friend, but Paimon settled for a few of Wanmin Restaurant's specialties. Several servings of them.

Aether couldn't fall asleep.

He knew he had to, there was a long day ahead of him, but he still couldn't relax. He had a lingering feeling, a strange sensation that he couldn't explain. That's when he remembered.

''The Unknown God...''

The exact uneasiness he'd felt when he and Lumine tried to leave Teyvat. He felt a chill run down his spine when that dark red portal opened. Dread.

Aether raised his hand and clenched his fist. Never again. He would save Lumine. No matter what. And if someone, human or deity, stood in his way, he would not hesitate to-

''Eat...these tasty...delicacies, hehe.''

He turned his head and saw his companion laying on the bed like a dead man on a battlefield.
The fairy was salivating in her sleep, muttering about her future breakfast.

''Do you ever stop thinking about food ?''

While being careful to not wake her, Aether got up and headed for the door. He was definitely not falling asleep. Might as well go for a midnight stroll.
He made sure to lock behind him and left into the night.


As he had guessed, Liyue Harbor was lively even at night. While most shops in Mondstadt closed down after 10 pm, here he could see some that only opened long after the sun had set. He had not taken ten steps, when the wind blew a paper in his face. Getting ahold of it, the Traveler noticed that it was a missing person poster.

Missing – Zhongli, consultant at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

If you have seen this man, or have any information, please contact the Millelith or Director Hu.

Huh. Someone went missing ? That face reminded him of a statue, for some reason. But he didn't pay much attention to it.
Aether didn't really know any places of interest, so he just wandered around. There were quite a few shops, but nothing piqued his interest. After walking past Feiyun Slope, he climbed up a set of stairs that led him to a plaza. This was where the Rite of Descension would take place the next day. But what caught his attention was the large official building right next to it.

Just as he was about to take a closer look, someone rushed out of the pavilion and bumped into him.

''Ouch !''

''Oh, I'm sorry !''

As he helped the blue-haired woman get up, he noticed the papers scattered on the floor.

''Um, are all of these yours ?'' he asked while pointing at the mess.

''Oh, yes ! I work here. I'm sorry, could you help me pick them up ?''

Picking up a sheet, Aether glanced at the documents. ''Ministry of Civil Affairs.'' he read out loud. ''You're a government official ?''

The woman nodded. ''Yes, I'm a secretary here, at Yuehai Pavilion.'' She looked at him for a moment before saying : ''These are some pretty unusual clothes, are you an outlander ? If you ever run into trouble here, just ask for secretary Ganyu.''

Aether gave her a friendly smile. ''Ganyu, got it. Here are your papers.''

He handed her the documents, and the secretary bowed in return.

''By the way, Ganyu, isn't it a bit late for secretarial work ? Looks like everyone else left already.''

''Oh, that's because I work overtime. I can't even remember the last time I went to bed early.''

The Traveler couldn't believe what he'd just heard. How exactly does one work overtime this late into the night and survive ? He couldn't imagine himself sitting down behind a desk not only all day, but also most of the night.

''How do you even do that ?'' he asked honestly.

Ganyu seemed to think about his question for a moment. Suddenly, she grabbed his wrist.

''Follow me.''

Aether obeyed without a word. The secretary walked with him to the other side of Yujing Terrace, and gestured for him to stand next to her.
The view was breathtaking. Liyue Harbor looked even more beautiful at night.

The countless lights were dancing before their eyes, the lanterns illuminating the streets bustling with people. Even from up there, they could hear the clamor of the tourists, the merchants selling their wares, the opera singers telling stories of the past.
Aether was completely speechless. The city was alive.

''This is why I work overtime. To make sure that this city prospers. To protect what was entrusted to us by Rex Lapis'' whispered Ganyu.

But surprisingly enough, she didn't have bags under her eyes. Actually, she looked really pretty.

''It is a beautiful city. You must like this place a lot.''

''I do. Even though I've felt a little down these past few days, I always feel calm when I come here.''

''Is there something on your mind ?'' Aether was by no means a psychologist, he just couldn't help but listen to other people's problems.
Lumine called that his 'special ability to get in trouble'.

But Ganyu shook her head. ''Just a bad feeling. I'm probably just a little stressed about the Rite of Descension tomorrow.''

''You might want to rest more, then.'' Aether chuckled. ''Overworking yourself is not gonna do you any good.''

''You're right, and I'm off to do just that.'' She clasped her hands together, making it clear that it was time to go. After taking a few steps, she turned around.
''By the way, I never got your name.''

''Oh, I'm Aether. No last name, but most people call me the Traveler.''

The moon illuminated Ganyu's smile. ''Aether. I like it. If you plan on checking out the Rite of Descension, we might run into each other again.'' She waved at him before swaying away.

Aether watched her walk away before realizing that his eyes were looking a little too low.

''I should probably go to bed too.''

He took the same path as before to get back to the inn, only the breeze felt a little more refreshing.
Thankfully, Paimon hadn't woken up while he was away, and she didn't notice him when he came back either.

This time, Aether fell asleep immediately.


When he woke up, there was a delicious smell in the room. Following the fragrance of food, he found...Paimon stuffing her face on their table.

''Oh, hey Aether ! Sleep well ?''

''…''

''Don't know about you, but Paimon slept like a baby.''

''…''

His fairy companion finally looked at him. ''Aether ?''

''Did you order this ?'' Aether looked like he was about to pass out.

It was an absolute feast. Several different plates were around the table, each one full of delicacies. Seasonal fruits, Sunsettia juice, eggs and breakfast sandwiches...
There was probably enough food to last for two days. And it certainly did not look cheap

Paimon looked at Aether, and then the table. Aether. Table. Aether. Table.

''Uuuh...hehe~.''

Aether wanted to sigh. A deep sigh. A strong sigh. A babysitter's sigh.
But rather than sighing, he shook his head in disbelief and sat down.

''How much ?'' he asked, his voice almost inaudible.

''W-well, about three hundred Mora...''

''Ah, I see...''

Aether ate very slowly that morning. He made sure to thoroughly enjoy every flavor in his plate. To hell with being late to the Rite, he had just lost a ton of money.

And Paimon had the audacity to rush him once they left the inn.

''Come on, we're going to be late ! Paimon's doing all of this for you, you know.''

''Yes Paimon, of course.''

Still, it was pretty important. If Rex Lapis knew anything about Lumine's whereabouts, it would be crucial information. Tons of people entered and left the harbor everyday, but a literal god would probably spot her, right ? Besides, everyone in the city bragged about how their god was the wisest of the Seven.
He was completely in the dark regarding his sister, but a spark ignited in Aether's chest.

For once, there was hope.

As expected, the entire area leading to Yujing Terrace was flooded with people of all ages and origins. Kids were trying to not get separated from their mothers, merchants were already mumbling prayers about financial success, even the elderly looked excited.
Thankfully, Paimon could scout for the both of them. By following her directions, the Traveler managed to jostle through the crowd and reach the front.
Just in time, apparently. A collective cheer came from all sides when a group of seven noble-looking merchants exited Yuehai Pavilion.

''There they are ! The Qixing are here !'' shouted a random citizen.

Aether's eyes looked for Ganyu, but couldn't find her anywhere. She probably worked behind the scenes, being a secretary and all. But the Qixing themselves definitely had a presence.
After the crowd had settled down, Ningguang stepped forward.

''People of Liyue, the time has come. Let us begin the ceremony, and welcome our god, Rex Lapis.''

She recited a prayer, and the Geo Vision at her midriff emitted a warm glow. Countless Geo crystals swirled around her elegant body. With a flick of the wrist, the Tianquan sent the crystals into the altar, sparkling in a flash of gold and jade. The altar seemed to resonate with the sky, and the clouds made way for the descent of the Lord of Geo.

Everyone gazed at the sky in a respectful silence, but something ticked Aether off.

''That same feeling...Why do I feel so uneasy ? Something's not right...''

That's when he saw it.

Rex Lapis, in the form of a dragon-qilin, a being of pure power, descended from the heavens upon men.
Actually, no. He was not descending.

He was falling.

The Lord of Geo, in all of his stripped glory, crashed on the altar, sending offerings of food and gold flying. The Millelith instictively protected the crowd, but Lady Ningguang took a closer look.
She kneeled next to the beast and inspected it. The eyes that were once glowing in an amber fury were now bleak white. There were no wounds on his exalted body, but there was no doubt about it.
With a commanding voice, the Tianquan announced what no one could have foreseen.

''Rex Lapis has been killed ! Seal the exits !''

After a quick moment of disbelief, the Millelith executed her orders, and began to apprehend anyone attempting to leave the venue.
The mood shifted dramatically, and it sent chills running down Aether's spine. They had to get out of there.
He crouched down to not get noticed by the guards, and gestured for his companion to do the same.

''Paimon we have to bounce. Now.''

His fairy friend was already panicking.

''What do we do ? What do we do ? There's soldiers everywhere !''

Aether scanned the area and found an opening between two guards. But he wouldn't get far with Paimon. A floating child stood out way too much.

''Paimon I need you to disappear without asking any questions.''

Surprisingly enough, she nodded and blinked out of existence without making a fuss.

Channeling a gust of Anemo into his palm, Aether propelled himself forward and slid under the guard's field of view. Taking advantage of the momentum he had gained, he ducked behind a nearby building to assess the situation.
Right now, he could see five guards in his chosen escape route. Six if he counted one that was patrolling back and forth.
Just as he lunged forward to make his move, he heard a crunching sound beneath him.

He had just stepped on a piece of broken glass.

''Motherfu-''

''Freeze, now !''

Of course the guards heard the noise. Just his luck. With nowhere left to go, Aether jumped over the terrace's edge, and landed a few meters down, right next to the stairs. The same stairs that the Millelith were now running down after him.
At the same moment, another squad came running from the opposite direction. The Traveler was now properly cornered.
This was the moment that Paimon chose to emerge.

''Yikes, we're surrounded !'' squealed the fairy. ''Do something ! Paimon doesn't want to rot in jail, the food's horrible !''

Aether was baffled at his companion. ''I told you to stay hidden !''

Paimon yelped and disappeared again as a captain of the guards marched towards them.

''Outlander, put your hands behind your back, and follow us quietly.''

The Traveler obeyed without complaints. The captain asked for a rope to restrain him...

''3...2...1''

...And let go of his polearm.

''Now !''

Aether kicked the captain in the chest, sending him flying. Just as the soldiers registered what had happened, he conjured his sword.

''He's armed ! Men, attack !''

Aether dodged the oncoming spears and blew the first guards away with Anemo. Three down, twelve more to go.

The Millelith attacked all at the same time, but their oppenent was an experienced fighter. Moving around at a surprising speed, the Traveler knocked out the reinforcements first.

Every swing of his sword struck its target, incapacitating it on the spot, or blowing it further back. When half of the forces had been dealt with, Aether heard shouting coming from the stairs. More backup. With the soldiers blocking his only escape route, he had no choice but to take them all out.

Clenching his fist, he summoned a jagged boulder and ruptured the earth under their feet. While they were staggered, Aether's blade cleared through them in an instant. Other guards tried to close the distance, only to be pushed back by a windblade. Another one tried to sneak up on him, and was greeted by a kick in the face.

His movements overwhelmed them. A tactical use of the elements, combined with his unpredictable bladework, prevented the guards from laying a finger on him, as he rained down hell upon them. In a masterful dance of steel, wind, and earth, the blond dominated the battlefield, defeating wave after wave of soldiers, as if they were mere hilichurls. Only a few remained, but a simple glare convinced them that running was a better option.

Just as he was about to take his leave, a pained groan caught his attention. Oh, right. He had gone easy on the captain. The man struggled to get up, but still pointed his tassel at him.

''You...you won't get away with this ! As long as...the Millelith stand guard...''

He rushed at him, but Aether simply walked out of the way and whacked him behind the head, knocking him unconcious.

''Evil shall never prevail. I know.''

The Traveler looked at the sky, and let out a sigh. Again.

''Where the hell do I go now?''


Aaaand cut ! This was the first chapter of my new story, Down With the King ! As you've probably guessed, it's a rewriting of the Liyue Archon Quest, with a lot of plot differences (like the Ganyu scene, which will be relevant later). Also, this chapter was all of Aether's POV, but there will be scenes with characters like Shenhe, Keqing, etc. But tell me what you thought of the first chapter ! I'll be glad to read your opinion !

Later ! :)