Chapter 21: Value of Wisdom
"It simply shouldn't be possible for noodles to taste this good. Yet here I am, wowed once more and thankful that Fischl has money."
Slurping down the broth of a badly needed and highly belated brunch Lumine released a satisfied sigh, Paimon crying, "Ahh, Paimon has never before experienced such bliss~! Truly, hunger makes everything that much more tasty!"
Fischl merely looked at the famished pair with something approaching disbelief, ultimately remarking, "To witness such gluttony…truly, the royal treasury seems not so boundless as it once did."
"Fischl, are you calling me fat?"
Taking an inordinate amount of teasing pleasure in seeing her companion's visible eye fly wide in terror at the implication and jaw work soundlessly in horror Lumine quickly took pity on her, stating, "I'm joking, Fischl. But you really do make the cutest faces when embarrassed."
Mortification quickly replaced the previous emotions, a pink hue dotting the investigator's pale skin as Paimon cackled, remarking, "Ooh, she got you good there~!"
"Let's…let's just review what we know of the current situation, shall we?"
"Sure, let's do that."
Pushing aside her small pile of dishes before stretching and taking a deep breath of the crisp Liyue air - making sure to put on a show for her girlfriend and jut her chest out as far as possible - the Traveler stated, "So where do we start? And we certainly seem to have no shortage of places that can be started at."
Nodding in agreement and forgoing her usual flowery language Fischl pulled out a journal that held no shortage of earmarks and other notes, one hand idly feeding Oz a steady supply of glazed walnuts as she said, "We have a bit of a unique situation to contend with and our information is plentiful but scattered. Starting with the Fatui their entire means of operation is different in Liyue than in other kingdoms. The Cryo Archon's enforcers have always operated from a position of strength and uncompromising certainty, their overwhelming military and economic might as well as the unflagging presence of the Tsaritsa has ensured they hold absolute certainty in success no matter the scenario presented to them. The formation of the Adventurer's Guild also did much to endear themselves to wanderers or those that didn't seek a means of living through more established means."
Lumine took an appreciative sip of her tea, musing, "Doesn't seem to be the case here. If anything they act like they're running scared."
Withdrawing a collection of notes from her journal with unerring accuracy - Lumine trying hard not to coo at the dutiful and efficient action - Fischl continued with, "The Qixing are nothing if not masters of trade and commerce, keeping tariffs and taxes surprisingly low for the amount of goods that pass through their borders. But that very same attraction means they can do quite a bit of damage to any kingdom or organization that wishes them ill through sanctions or heavily targeted tariffs. And while their military is not as large or powerful as Snezhyana's they are home to both Morax the God of War and the Adepti, his generals and companions that have fought wars for many times the lifespan of Snezhyana."
"Except Morax is assumedly off the board."
Fischl nodded, brow furrowing as she tapped her notes, pondering, "And yet despite that the Fatui still retain their measured approach. Liyue could yet bring significant forces to bear against them, yes, but the disappearance of the Lord of Geo seems to have done nothing to alter the status quo. The Fatui remain cautious and unwilling to openly act."
The Traveler blinked, grimly saying, "Even going so far as to have a pair of complete outsiders and strangers - who've had less than friendly interactions with the Fatui in the past - do important work for them. Work that, for whatever reason, they can't or aren't eager to do on their own."
Stoically nodding as she gathered her various notes together the investigator concluded, "By that logic we are either being set up to take the fall for recent events as the Adepti or Qixing see us meddling…or this journey of ours ultimately doesn't matter, as long as we are the ones who inform Rex Lapis's old comrades of what has occurred."
Lumine sighed, rubbing her head in annoyance as she tried without success to find out the Fatui's angle in all of this convoluted plotting. What was their end goal is sending her and Fischl as their messengers, as opposed to just a simple letter?
"Are they just trying to make things as chaotic as possible? You know, by sending two strangers from a different kingdom to spread news that really should have come from their own supposed allies?"
Her girlfriend frowned, musing, "A tenuous scheme, since it would be quite simple for us to simply inform them that it was the Fatui who sent us."
"Ugh, Paimon is of the opinion you two talk and think too much at the dinner table!"
"While bluntly put, friend Paimon's argument isn't completely without merit. With such scattered and incomplete information a suitable conclusion will never be met without additional input gained by further traveling the path we have been set upon."
Lumine shrugged, perfectly fine with that as she said, "No arguments here. Let's pay the bill and remind me to pay you back when I'm actually making money."
Her companion's nodded, were about to flag down one of the waitstaff-
"I hope I'm not imposing, but how are foreigners such as yourselves enjoying our city's amenities thus far?"
-and paused as a figure suddenly stopped by their table, Lumine appreciatively licking her lips.
Primly snapping a floating scroll at her side shut and gazing at them with an expression that perfectly mixed suspicion and polite inquisitiveness was a young lady dressed to impress, Lumine almost blurting out that she'd like to enjoy her more than the city before getting ahold of her composure, cheerfully responding, "It's actually quite nice, although the atmosphere seems a little down and out for whatever reason. Sorry, we never got your name?"
"I never offered it. Keqing of the Qixing, at your service. And you chose a rather unfortunate time to visit, although I imagine you know the reason as to why that is, considering how seriously you were considering the state of our fine city."
"Oops."
Shamelessly smiling at Keqing's pointed comment as Fischl averted her eye in embarrassment the pretty little administrator cocked her hip, one hand going to her waist in a way that had Lumine genuinely wondering if she would be sent to prison for feeling her up. Seriously, that cool and composed aura combined with that posture just screamed 'tease me, tie me up then make me cry'.
"Am I being perverted again? I'm being perverted again."
Booting that wandering thought aside she returned to the land of the living just long enough to hear the young woman ask, "So what brings one of Mondstadt's most famed investigators and the newly minted honorary knight to our harbor during such trying times?"
"The mistress of mercantile pursuits knows our identities?"
Raising an eyebrow at Fischl's usual means of conveying information in as flamboyant a manner as possible Keqing nonetheless did an admirable job of moving past it without comment, simply responding, "I know everyone of importance to the future of Liyue, who may alter or change its course. And you two are of particular import, considering the recent events that occurred in Mondstadt."
She narrowed her eyes, neutrally stating, "An ostensibly friendly kingdom that sends two quite famous figures to our city on the very day that Rex Lapis dies. A coincidence rare enough to warrant a few pointed questions, yes?"
Before any of the four could respond a gloved finger reached out, daintily tapping the sigil they had been gifted with a pointed motion.
"Even more of a coincidence when you carry a means of passage to Jueyun Karst, something not lightly handed out. Certainly not by the Qixing, especially during such trying times like this."
Realizing that yes, that was pretty suspicious Paimon tried to deflect the inquiry with a trembling voice, nervously laughing, "O-oh well you know, we found that on the ground and, uh, since Paimon is such a good and upstanding citizen she decided that we should, should, uh…hold onto it until we could give it back!"
"I'm sure that's what your intentions were."
Voice utterly flat and lacking inflection Keqing looked ready to call security on them right then and there, Lumine and Fischl sharing a silent glance before coming to a mutual decision.
It wasn't like they had anything to hide in the first place.
"Well truthfully we were strong-armed by the Fatui and a Harbinger named Childe into traveling to the lands of the Adepti, where we were to inform them of Rex Lapis' demise."
The group stared each other down for a good few seconds, barely so much as breathing…and Keqing unfurled her scroll once more, glancing it over before primly nodding in satisfaction.
"My schedule can be altered. I trust the four of you have no objections to having another join you on this assignment? After all, as a member of the Qixing it's my duty to ensure Liyue's prosperity and safety."
A sharp SNAP sounded out as the parchment rolled itself shut.
"And this development falls under that responsibility quite convincingly."
Merely smirking Lumine chirped, "Now why would we be bothered by that? The more the merrier~!"
"Ugh, Paimon just knows this is going to cause trouble…"
"Well isn't this a sight most novel. Wish I had a scribe or some other record keeper on hand. The great and indomitable Morax, brought low by just a few sentences."
The God of War himself was staring dumbfounded, at a loss for words in what Alec would put good money on being the first time in centuries. Not counting a few hours ago, granted. While brief his impression of Hu Tao had been that she enjoyed leaving others flummoxed.
"Well at least one of us needs to treat this with the proper gravitas. Truly? You're…dying?"
"Technically everything is dying, Morax. No, what I am is dead. And who says I'm not treating this with the proper gravitas? It's my funeral, you would think me of all people would have a good idea on how to run it."
Shaking his head free of whatever rebuttal he'd no doubt had ready in regards to treating his own death as a joke Morax instead stated, "But what of your knowledge, your experience? Alec, you have borne witness to history reaching back far before I ever walked this land. Your passing means entire annals and periods of Teyvat's journey will be gone, either existing only in fragmented and scattered records or ancient folklore more cultural hyperbole than any kind of reliable retelling."
The Lord of Geo gestured to the ocean beyond the harbor, as if encompassing the horizon beyond it.
"Set aside the Sustainer, the oldest and foulest monsters of the Abyss and who else asides from yourself remembers firsthand the reign of the Seelie? The moonfall, the covenants of old and knowledge that was forbidden from ever being spoken? History that shapes-"
"Morax, enough."
He did so, giving Alec a bewildered look as the man softly chuckled, stating with a wryly amused tone, "You vastly overestimate the worth of this knowledge. What lessons do the failed, reduced and extinct predecessors of this land have to teach to us? What grand wisdom is there to share when their mistakes are no different than our own? Infighting, love, old wounds reopened, wars started by those with power that affect those without it…feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but history does seem to love repeating itself, the only variable being in scale."
If Morax had an argument to that he kept it to himself, simply watching Alec as he stared up at the sky, small smile adorning his lips.
"My passing is no great tragedy, Morax. It's not a ransacking of ancient treasuries nor a burning of grand libraries. No…you, Barbatos, Eligos…you're a far better legacy to this world than anything I could hope to leave behind. And you already have all the knowledge you could ever need."
"To be made aware and humbled by one's origins is not an unneeded brand of knowing."
Now seeming more genuinely entertained than he had previously Alec asked, "Oh? And where was this humbled nature of yours, Dragon, when you tore your way through a mountain and saw the light of day for the first time, the first of your kind to do so? Where was this self-aware warrior when he allied himself with a goddess of true genius and inventors alike to escalate his strength and wisdom beyond others?"
"That was not-"
"I also seem to recall this humbled and modest lizard creating and imbuing the currency of the world for years upon years with a fraction of his essence, allowing others to partake and grow powerful off of that aura. And let's not forget the simple man that, upon losing the woman he loved, crafted in her name a kingdom that's stood for countless generations as one of the most powerful and prosperous examples of what Humanity can achieve."
Having fallen silent at Alec's words the man gave Morax an arched eyebrow, asking, "Tell me. When you did all of this were you aware of your comparatively humble origins? Holding close to your heart the lessons of those that came countless centuries if not millennia past? Or do you hold these events on a pedestal merely because they will be lost forever, rather than any inherent or practical value?"
Releasing a tired sigh the Lord of Geo blandly replied, "The latter."
"Precisely. Take it from me, I knew all of this and more yet still stumbled and fell short of the proverbial finish line. Fat lot of good primordial know-how did when I led my order to their deaths and merely wounded the Heavens, not bringing them down as I intended."
A more humorless chuckle left the male.
"No doubt Maeili would be jumping at the opportunity to say 'I told you so' if she were a part of this conversation. We still make foolish decisions, no matter how old or 'wise' we get."
Electing to pursue another avenue of attack Morax asked, "And what of these absent friends, Alec? Those we spent the best of our years with? There already exists so few that remember those ancient days…"
Huffing out a breath Alec growled, "Low blow, scaly. And you're right, the loss of loved ones - whether that be in the physical realm or through our intangible memories - is a blow far heavier than any historical footnote. But that's merely a part of nature that's inescapable, something not even the beings that govern reality itself have learned to deny. Everything dies and fades, Morax. Given time even stars burn out."
A highly amused smile accompanied Alec's warm chuckle, Morax confused at the sudden turnaround as he stated, "Although I imagine our stories will live on in a certain feisty blonde's recollections for some time to come, tales of Teyvat reaching even distant stars."
Sensing Morax's unasked question Alec merely replied, "You'll be meeting her soon. And unless I'm mistaken you offered her your blessing quite recently."
Eyes widening in recollection the Lord of Geo murmured, "I see…she does indeed feel like quite the intriguing soul."
Shaking his head clear of whatever thoughts had been plaguing it Morax huffed out a tired breath, remarking, "Conversations of this nature are not very reassuring or satisfying, especially when there are more entertaining diversions that can be had."
"Finally you get it! You're only six thousand and something years old, Morax. That's too young to be constantly posing questions about existence and the inevitability of death and passing legends all the time. Say what you will about the Gremlin, at least he knows how to have fun as an Archon and pass that along to his people."
Just as he'd hoped the Geo Archon's brow minutely twitched, instantly becoming irritated as he retorted, "Are you perhaps implying that Liyue is in any way inferior to that collection of wind turbines the drunk calls his kingdom?"
"Well the pursuit of money by and of itself is no means to happiness, just the means to a way of acquiring it."
The deliberately incorrect statement predictably drew Morax's ire, the man abruptly growling very much like an angered Dragon as Alec fought back the urge to laugh, instead simply enjoying the familiar debate for what it was.
"Seems I can still get the old warrior to break out of his funk as easily as always."
"My Prince, there exists a…complication within Liyue."
"More than the sudden and abrupt retirement of the Geo Archon? The Fatui have been busy."
"That they have, but that was an unexpected windfall we were able to take advantage of. This development is…not as welcome."
Feeling a pit grow in the center of his stomach Aether rounded on the Abyss Mage, exhaustedly stating, "Well? Spit it out, how bad can it-"
"Daman has made contact with the Qixing while your sister has also arrived, becoming embroiled in that very same Fatui plot we aimed to take advantage of."
…The Traveler hated it when his gut was right.
"How is he here so quickly? I thought that he was still recuperating in Mondstadt after our failed attempt to finish him."
"Word spread from one of the Hilichurl tribes near Liyue's border that one of their raiding parties was wiped out, the culprit none other than Daman himself…evidently he had a means of returning to the battle faster than expected."
Rubbing his head as an ache quickly formed with all the subtlety of an avalanche the blonde grumbled, "We need to account for this. And of course Lumine is still following him, she would never give things up that easily."
She hadn't seen the same things Aether had, hadn't seen the fallen god perform his craft in the person as his hands tightened into white-knuckled death grips. Even to this day he could remember the shriek and howl of elemental powers as they tore through friends and loved ones turned to monsters, the shifting color and surrealness as the deity's knife had ended life after life after life…
"What are your orders, my prince?"
Snapping out of his ruminations Aether forced himself to take a deep breath, calmly explaining, "For now we make no outward changes, carry on as we were. But in the near future?"
The male's eyes narrowed in thought, mind running a mile a minute.
"We can't assault Daman within Liyue, so we'll have to draw him out of it…and I think I know how."
He turned to the patiently waiting Abyss Mage with a renewed sense of purpose and hope.
"How obvious can we make our attempt to hijack Osial?"
