Chapter 18: The Descent

"You know, I didn't start out on this journey thinking that I would basically be extra baggage in a fight."

"You're complaining about not having things to do? Sing us a song or something, I have it on good authority that your singing voice is lovely. Lovely enough to raise the dead."

Lumine's eyebrow twitched at the smug comment courtesy of Alec, the man sounding altogether far too pleased with himself as she growled, "And just who, exactly, did you hear that from?"

The fallen god's silence was response enough, the Traveler ratcheting her gaze to the side where Paimon was innocently whistling a tune, pretending not to fear for her life as the sprite hurriedly pointed out, "K-keeping watch is an important duty and integral to the flow of battle, Lumine! Paimon knows this for a fact and not because she's desperately trying to dredge up whatever facts about fighting she's heard so Paimon doesn't get yelled at!"

The floating woman blinked.

"Did Paimon say that out loud?"

"Yes. Paimon. Did~!"

Butting in yet again before Lumine could extract her righteous vengeance the man pointed out, "Go easy on her, blondie. She may be small but Paimon's an integral part of our emergency menu."

"HEY! PAIMON GETS ENOUGH OF THAT FROM LUMINE, YOU STAY OUT OF-"

Twang!

Their verbal sparring was put on hold as Fichl's bow snapped and released an arrow at a distant target, Lumine's sharp eyes catching a shadowy figure toppling over without resistance as Alec nodded, remarking, "Hilichurl number ten. Nice shot, Fischl."

Preening under the praise - Lumine fighting down the urge to tell Alec off for hitting on her girlfriend - the investigator replied, "Oz's sight from on high does provide an advantage most overwhelming for those not blessed with a familiar most talented and wondrous. Thy skill in arms lacks not in comparison, though."

"Yeah, well…"

Letting fly an arrow of his own a short cry emanated from another of their targets before it too collapsed, the man smoothly nocking yet another projectile while stating, "I've had the privilege of learning from some of the best and brightest when it comes to the martial arts, my talent with a bow is only because I had an excellent teacher."

Sensing a chance for revenge Lumine snarked, "Yeah, I bet a guy as old as you has all sorts of cool and interesting tricks you've learned over the really long time you've been alive."

"Gonna have to stick that particular knife somewhere else, young lady."

Not deterred by his easy response to her teasing in the slightest Lumine continued with, "But you are no doubt a great, great, great, great, great, great-"

"I believe Alec is aware of what you are implying, Lumine."

"-great great grandpa to some pretty accomplished people, right? Probably invented some styles or schools of combat yourself."

A bark of laughter left the man, eyes never leaving the small line of trees that provided cover for their quarry as he responded, "Not even close. I never had a real knack or the required discipline to start up an actual martial style or theory of combat. No, the main benefit to living as long as I have is that you can run across the true geniuses and learn or copy from them. I'm only as good as I am because I was instructed by hundreds of savants. Observe."

Letting his bow drift slightly to the right of where he was aiming a small sliver of Cryo energy suffused the arrow, wisps of chilled power flowing around the projectile as the man let loose a quiet breath-

-and released the string with a sharp thwap, Arrow impacting a boulder near the tree he'd been keeping watch over with a sharp CRACK, slivers of ice flying in every direction and embedding themselves deep into wood or dirt.

Or Hilichurl flesh, the gangly creature flopping out from behind cover with its eyes and throat cleanly perforated.

"Learned that particular trick from Ganyu. Ask her to show you her skills with a bow sometime, she's forgotten more about the art than I ever learned."

"Sheesh. Why don't you just go and marry her already?"

"I smell jealousy in the air."

Always eager to head off their playful arguments Fischl intervened with, "I would not mind learning from this most enlightened of beasts in the slightest. A Prinzessin must always be eager and bold in accumulating the secrets of skill and battle."

"She'd like you, Fischl. Ganyu always had a soft spot for those that try their best even if they're considered a bit outside the norm."

"Are you calling my girlfriend weird?"

"You're saying she's not?"

The investigator squeaked at Alec's blunt words, the man smirking at the reaction even as Lumine had to hide a smirk of her own. Unfortunately the fun was cut short as Oz swooped down from where he'd taken off to investigate, reporting, "The camp is completely cleared, no foes remain."

Sighing in relief that she could finally stop standing watch Lumine rose to her feet, stretching out her back and gazing at the remains of a small group of Hilichurls they had stumbled across and promptly decimated without issue thanks to Fischl and Alec's long range sniping.

"Are Hilichurl camps really this common? This was hardly a stone's throw away from the main road."

Fischl shook her head, replying, "Bastions of malice and indiscriminate raiding have been so common not for a century. The highways and paths of Liyue are oft patrolled by the Millelith and they shirk not in duty. A rare and unwelcome change in parity this most certainly is."

Huffing out a breath Alec grumbled, "It can never be simple, can it? At least we caught this one before someone else stumbled across it."

Rolling his neck and putting his weapon away Alec also rose from his crouched position, stating, "Well let's start cleanup detail, if we leave the bodies and camp here another band might decide to take up residence."

"Yay. I get to sit around and do nothing then help bury and burn bodies. Life is exciting."

Alec gave the Traveler a condescending pat on the cheek as she mentally weighed her chances of getting in a good kick at his shins.

"We'll make the perfect soldier out of you yet, Lumine."


"Woah...you weren't joking, this is incredible!"

Getting her first good look at Liyue harbor Lumine felt her eyes widen, hair ruffled by sea breeze and nose twitching as it picked up a myriad of scents that almost threatened to overwhelm her at first. Fish, spices, wood, smoke...to say it was an eclectic mix was something of an understatement. The people were no exception, all of them being of varying height, weight, age and social station. Gangs of children roamed the busy lanes as they played make believe or ran errands, young men and women offloaded ships, displayed their wares or took stock of what goods went where and the elderly either directed it all or calmly took in the atmosphere with content smiles.

"I honestly can't tell if this is similar to Mondstadt or wildly different."

"How so?"

Glancing Alec's way as he watched the proceedings with a cheerful demeanor she elaborated with, "The sense of freedom is there as well as the certainty of, well...existence, I guess I would say. There's no underlying dread or overt fear that things could go wrong at any moment. Even when Dvalin was running rampant Mondstadt never felt grim, just wary. I get that feeling from this place as well."

Watching as Fischl eagerly approached a merchant with all sorts of various textiles and cloths on display - eyepatches being one of the offered wares among them - Alec nodded, replying, "Good eye. And you're right, for all their differences and rivalry Mondstadt and Liyue really do share the most important and similar attribute. Their Archons take a vested, personal interest in the success and prosperity of the lands they call their own. Their wealth and status is the wealth and status of the god. Helps that Barbatos and Morax have basically been around as long as their respective kingdoms were. Heck, Morax outright built Liyue."

The man pointed to the countless stalls and warehouses that - if they weren't tied up in distribution - were busy selling anything and everything fresh from wherever they originated.

"And while the end of their respective paths may vary wildly both Morax and Barbatos love their lands as if they were their own children. To be loved by god is no small boon, as you can no doubt appreciate in a world such as this."

Lumine nodded in understanding, gazing out over the teeming masses before commenting, "Morax must be the complete opposite of Barbatos, like all of you kept saying."

"Oh? Do tell, I'm enjoying your rare moments of great wisdom and insight."

Smacking the man on the arm in playful admonishment at his joking tone the Traveler continued with, "In Mondstadt there was a constant air of festivity and joy with their day-to-day activity, a celebration of the arts and similar disciplines. Here the main activity of choice seems to be mercantile pursuits and other like-minded things. One's happiness and success is in how closely they can score a deal and come out the winner in matters of money or resources obtained."

Nodding in agreement with Lumine's conclusion Alec said, "Right yet again. Morax is the god of contracts and much of Liyue is founded upon the idea that deals and brokerages between two parties are sacrosanct, that to renege on one is an act akin to divorcing one's partner...only done in the most extreme of circumstances."

"And how often is that decree honored?"

The fallen god smirked, jokingly commenting, "Often enough that it's endured for thousands of years. There will always be those that try to game the system but it's a rare crook indeed that actually gets away with it for any amount of time. The Qixing are quick to crack down on such individuals, not to mention the secretary has many years of experience in rooting out the source of such problems."

Lumine rolled her eyes, dryly remarking, "Geez, if you love this secretary so much why don't you just marry her already? I'm going to keep telling you that, by the way."

Dramatically sighing the man explained, "Much to my dismay there is yet to be a partner that has caught Ganyu's eye. While I hope that's changed in the past century or so I can't really bring myself to believe it. Honestly, any sane soul would be thrilled to be counted as her spouse."

"Hmm...maybe you should introduce me to her? Sounds like she's a nice girl and you can trust me to treat her right-"

"The only thing I trust you to do with Ganyu is exploit her innate innocence. Fischl is better off with someone like you since a strong disposition helps her come out of her shell and won't judge her but the Qilin needs a more understanding sort."

Lumine snorted, joking, "Ever wonder if no one has ever tried to date the girl because you're always hovering around?"

"I don't live in Liyue all the time, that argument holds no weight."

Shaking her head at the male's rebuttal Fischl rejoined them a moment later, cheerfully stating, "Hark! The descent of a Dragon ancient as the mountains it draws strength from approaches! Our arrival was most fortuitous in timing!"

"The Rite of Descension is happening that soon? Well I'll be, it looks like it's our lucky day, Lumine?"

"How so?"

Alec smirked.

"Because we're going to meet old and scaly in person, obviously."

"Wait, so Morax actually makes all sorts of decisions and stuff that people will then follow as gospel? Wow, that's divine intervention in the strictest sense of the word."

"Indeed. Possesith little resemblance to the far more free and mercurial climes of Mondstadt does this harbor of Liyue."

Nodding along with the understandable points made by the duo Alec extrapolated, "Old Grandfather Geo has always been heavily invested in Liyue and that extends to aspects both large and small, military and economic."

Scratching her head Lumine couldn't help but ask, "Doesn't that cause problems, though? I mean the thing with economics is that someone always has to foot the bill at first before growth starts happening, or a group only loses while another gains."

Smiling in gratification at the Traveler's comment and observation Alec stated, "I raised that point a fair few times myself. But Morax is nothing if not experienced and while there have been problems or tragedies in the past that result as a natural outcome of these edicts for the most part Liyue has prospered under his rule, ideas and reform carried out at his behest."

A brief grin colored the man's lips.

"Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he carries out such ideas and reform at the behest of his people."

"How much of a distinction is there between those two statements?"

"You might just be surprised."

Rolling her eyes at Alec's observation Lumine nonetheless looked on with great interest as they emerged onto a tightly packed and extremely busy plaza that held hundreds upon hundreds of people, all of them excitedly murmuring and conversing as a large offering table in the middle of it all was attended to by a collection of ornately dressed and powerful looking men and women.

"Well they certainly know how to throw a party."

"Less a party and more a grand celebration of future prosperity and wealth. Hard to think of this event as anything less than a literally divine spectacle when the figures of myth so readily answer your calls."

Fischl stroked her chin, Oz perched atop her shoulder while commenting, "Perhaps an event like this would serve the Anemo Archon well? He need not speak of future portents but perhaps simple games and exhibitions would be of sufficient grandeur to contribute to his legend?"

"Yeah, there's being humble and then there's what the tone deaf bard does! Paimon doesn't understand the point of being a god if no one doesn't even know what you look like!"

"Trust me, I've brought up that very same point in the past and all he does is complain that I'm asking Mondstadt to be more like Liyue. I even tried while he was drunk and didn't get much in the way of results, that was especially disappointing."

Lumine chuckled, amused at the mental image before glancing at where a pale-haired woman began the ritual, Alec also spotting the same thing as he smiled, stating, "You're about to meet your second Archon, Lumine. At this rate you'll have met most of them before the year is up."

"Well aren't I special?"

"In a manner of speaking…"

"I heard that."

Their usual banter fell by the wayside as the sky darkened, swirling clouds and gusting air gathering above as a pillar of golden light reached towards the heavens, the crowd gasping as even Lumine felt herself fall silent in a moment of awe. It seemed the Geo Archon certainly knew how to put on a show.

"...This is odd."

"Huh? What is?"

Lumine glanced towards the fallen god as he stared up into the sky with narrowed eyes, clearly finding something amiss as the blonde shifted her gaze towards the rest of the crowd before finding that the woman who had initiated the whole ceremony also appeared ill at ease, shifting her weight and gazing to and fro.

"Is this not normal-"

A crash that shook the entire plaza almost knocked Lumine off her feet, startled shouts and cries echoing out around her as the Traveler tried to place just what had happened...and felt her eyes widen as an enormous, majestic dragon laid motionless atop the crushed remains of the offerings laid for it, completely lifeless were it not for the occasional gust of wind that ruffled its majestic pelt.

She immediately turned to Alec, wincing at the shocked expression he wore.

"What...how did he…"

"Rex Lapis has been murdered, seal the exits!"

Pandemonium ensured as armed and armored guards begin to do as instructed, people panicking while Lumine and Fischl warily glanced at each other, knowing that their status as an investigator and honorary knight of Mondstadt would have them being some of the foremost suspects.

"W-what do we do, Lumine? Paimon can't go back to prison again!"

"Easy, we'll figure it out. And what do you mean again-"

"Wait a damn minute."

The group turned their eyes back towards Alec as he squinted at the carcass, eyes narrowed and hand on the hilt of his knife, previous apprehension long gone.

"Well I'll be. Took you long enough…"

Before any of them could ask what was wrong the man abruptly turned towards them, pointing to the one entrance still not entirely cordoned off before explaining, "You need to get going, now. You can't observe and experience this world from the inside of a prison cell."

"Well what about you? How are you going to get out of whatever it is you're planning-"

"I have my ways. Now get going, ladies."

With that he spun them both around before gently shoving them towards the remaining exit, loudly shouting in an overly arrogant voice, "Ha! The great Lord of Geo? That overblown monster was easy enough to fell by my hand, you think a few paltry warriors will be enough?!"

The crowds near them fell silent, Lumine and Fischl slipping away as cries out outrage and fright echoed around the plaza, several of the armed soldiers dogpiling the man as he wore a fake but ultimately convincing grin, no resistance offered.

"Is Paimon the only one worried that he's going to get himself into trouble?"

Lumine thought about the sprite's words as they raced through the quickly destabilizing streets, eventually shrugging before replying, "If anyone is going to get into trouble, it's the people trying to jail him."

"Paimon thinks that's a fairly accurate statement."

The quartet came to a halt on the side of a relatively empty staircase, catching their breath as Lumine openly wondered, "So what's next? I mean we didn't really have a plan or anything like that for this kind of scenario. And I bet tours of the city are going to be a bit different right now compared to how they were."

Fischl nodded, cupping her chin and falling into deep thought-

"Well well well, if it isn't the famed warrior goddess of Mondstadt in the accompaniment of its most recognizable investigator! Now this is a chance meeting I don't regret happening upon in the slightest."

All eyes snapped to where a cheerful, slightly dangerous male voice emanated, a handsome and well-built young man approaching them with a carefree smile.

"No need to have all that hostility and wariness, can't a Fatui Harbinger just stop and chat with some persons of interest?"


"The interior of this place has seen some serious uplifting. Last I saw of the Qixing headquarters it was a little less ostentatious. Wealthy and well-cared for, but somewhat humble."

Then again the woman staring him down with a neutral expression seemed to wear riches and station like a second skin, the second younger lady standing astride her quite the serious little minx as she held back an obvious scowl.

"Quite the complementary pair they are. And they seem to be taking Morax's apparent death well enough."

That particular thought immediately left his attention wandering elsewhere despite the admittedly dire circumstance of finding himself held at bladepoint by angry and jumpy guards, mind pondering the million mora question.

"What is Morax thinking with this latest stunt? Faking his death is going to throw Liyue into chaos, they haven't been without the aid or presence of its Archon for millennia, how are they going to handle that much of a paradigm shift?"

He frowned, eyes drifting half closed.

"It's definitely not a joke, the old lizard's sense of humor begins and ends with the occasional wordplay or embarrassing of people he finds intriguing. This is WAY beyond any of that."

"Why did you lie?"

"Pardon?"

Snapping out of his ruminations Alec met the steely gaze of who he idly realized was almost certainly the leader of the Qixing.

It spoke well of her ability or ruthlessness to rise to the position when she was still so relatively young.

"Why did you lie about killing Rex Lapis?"

"Who's to say I lied about carrying out the deed, miss…"

While an immaculate eyebrow raised itself in clear disbelief that he somehow didn't know her name she indulged his request nonetheless, replying, "Ningguang. And this is Lady Keqing."

She made an idle motion with her hand, the soldiers removing their blades from his neck before taking up a more passive spot at the entrance to the room.

"I am asking why you lied about your claim of murdering Rex Lapis. Anyone clever and intelligent enough to bring low the Lord of Geo would not then loudly proclaim the feat to a significant military force at the scene of the crime."

Lips curling upwards in an amused smile Alec replied, "Not entirely faultless logic, Lady Ningguang. After all, for someone to engage the God of War in a fight to the death they would have to be rather insane in the first place."

"Amusing. Then explain why you made such a foolish announcement to begin with."

Sensing that the woman was about to reach the end of her polite phase Alex thought about what his response would be, trying to weigh how much of his current suspicions he should share.

Morax must have faked his death for a damn good reason, or at least one he didn't want others to immediately discover.

"I need to talk to the Adepti first. If they're in on this scheme then I can at least get a better idea of what's truly happening instead of stumbling around in the dark."

Deciding on a course of action he made to speak-

-and the interrogation was put on hold as the doors slid open, a startled gasp and clatter of wood gaining their united attention as the fallen god didn't bother fighting the wide grin that tilted his lips.

Those crimson and midnight horns would have been distinctive even if they weren't attached to an incredibly attractive and memorable woman.

"A-Alec?"

"Long time no see, Ganyu."