I do not own Fate of Genshin Impact.
English is not my strength so apologies for any errors.
I hope you all enjoy!
The rain fell on Liyue as it did on any other day. It had been like this since the cities founding all those centuries ago and it would be like this for centuries in the future thought Waver. Wait, how did he know this? He hadn't been alive for centuries, no millennia on end. But he had, or at least he knew what it felt like to live that long.
Waver also knew where he was right now.
Guyun Stone Forest in the Sea of Clouds area. Where the waters of the ocean were littered with jagged dagger like mountains. Or spears to be precise. Massive spears which had now been eroded into mountains over a thousand plus years. Where he had sealed Osial for the safety of his people. The memory of the battle did not flow through Wavers mind, but he felt it deep within.
Waver turned around and everywhere he looked there was grey. Grey sea and grey sky as a storm continued to pick up strength. The only break from the depressing and bleak landscape was a warm golden light in the distance of on the shoreline of the main continent.
The light of Liyue. Closer to him were tinier lights of the ships leaving the harbor, twinkling like stars.
He once more remembered foreign memories. Of Liyue harbor when it had first been conceived and started construction. Back then before any of the infrastructure had been put into place even the simplest of ships had to literally be dragged onto the beach by at least a dozen people. The work inefficient, backbreaking, and in the end the economic gains only just enough to get by.
But then things changed as they normally do when it came to humans/mortals, he (in this case Morax) had finally found the time right to begin construction of an official port. Before it would not have been worth the effort to take away resources from other projects such as roads. But now thanks to his work Mora was agreed to be used by all the nations of Teyvat. Not just as a resource for constructing weapons, or tools but as a full-fledged economic currency.
With Liyue of course in perfect position to benefit. Especially, through its geography.
Liyue was just south of Mondstadt and thus could help funnel resources through trade routes to the City of Freedom from all the other nations save the northern landlocked Snezhnaya. The nation of Geo was also closest to the island nation Inazuma meaning it was the only nation save Sumeru which could connect the electro archons nation to the mainland through trade. Sumeru itself would be a rival to Liyue's trade as both nations were in the centre of the map, both had a connection to the ocean, and both had river access which led inland to the nation of Fontaine and the borders of Natlan.
But Liyue had an advantage, for who else could make Mora but himself.
Of course, the god of wisdom would have a word with him when all the Archons got together again. Morax of course would work with him to make things equal. He also wondered what wine Barbatos would bring this time.
It was then that Waver felt a sense of… Happiness, pride at the people's accomplishments, worry that they still clung to him, and… was that sadness. Why sadness?
The answer, change.
There would be no more moments to spend with all the original Archons. How could there, only two were left.
His friends were gone.
Now just… Dust.
Dust like in the Archon war. The water lapping at the stone and chipped it away. That was why he was sad.
Waver/Morax felt tears well up in his eyes as the contradiction plunged into his heart like a spear. Why was he feeling so human? Why did he feel like a god who had done it all? Why was he crying? That wasn't even possible.
He continued to look back at the harbor to look for answers. The harbor and market, the once barren beach now a prosperous dock with vast vessels trading in quantities incomparable to the other nations. Despite the vast variety he knew of all the goods traded in the city. All under two vast towers with lines of coloured ribbon hanging between them.
A sign of prosperity, of more change. Was it his time to change? No Liyue still relied on him, there were still threats in the world.
The calamity of Khanria and the Abyss still proved that.
Khanria?
He had to stay, needed to stay. He had to prove himself! He had to show those people they were wrong about him!
What people?
Kayneth, Morax thought.
Two personalities, two people, two different species, two lives, and two possibilities twisted and turned like liquid slowly merging with them getting intermixed closer and closer.
Differences and similarities trying to merge despite the whole being opposites in almost every way.
He had to get out! He had to do something! He had duties! What duties?! His studies, winning the Holy Grail War?
He felt so, so, and just like that as the rain began to fall over his eyes and blurred his vision to nothing Waver Velvet woke up. Staring at the ceiling of the Mackenzie's house.
"Ah, it's good to see your awake." Remarked the familiar voice of his divine servant.
Waver didn't move, he just lay there on the bed staring at the ceiling as Zhongli asked, "Are you alright?"
"Ya, yes I'm fine, it's just that I feel…"
"Aged." The god suggested.
"No, I think fulfilled is right." It was weird, despite the fright of not knowing who he was just a moment ago he felt fine, steady, as hard as a rock. "It's weird, I've always wanted to accomplish something, for people to recognise my work, but now… I feel like I already know what that's like to have accomplished something and be recognised for it… Wait a minute, how did you guess what I was feeling?"
"I had a dream while sleeping from what I can only assume was a moment of your life. Based on how you acted when getting up I assumed you had the same but with the roles reversed." Explained Zhongli as he put some newly brewed tea on the nightstand beside the bed for Waver.
"That makes sense, I guess this is part of the Holy Grail War." The young boy let out a chuckle as he then told Zhongli, "you know I'm surprised it wasn't the alcohol from last night and… Wait what part of my life did you see!" Please don't let it be Kayneth throwing out his essay, please don't let it be Kayneth throwing out his essay, please don't let it be Kayneth throwing out his essay he silently prayed. Zhongli would never look or treat him with respect if he ever saw that moment.
"It was when you made a contract with Mr. Weins so you could come to Fuyuki." Oh, thank god thought Waver, "I intrust that you will be fulfilling that contract."
"O-Of course I'm fulfilling it! Actually, I already fulfilled it." Waver then crossed his arms and added "In fact he even confirmed this last night. He was so impressed with my work that we even made a new one."
"That's good to hear. If you don't mind me asking what exactly did you see of me?" He asked.
"Oh, well I was on standing on spears I think. On a stormy day… Sorry that must sound weird but-"
"No, I understand clearly. I wouldn't think that moment in my life would give you a pleasant experience but I'm glad nevertheless." Zhongli said.
"Ya, well it was admittedly pretty weird" and scary Waver mentally added, "while I was in the dream it was like I was both myself and you at the same time I could barely tell the difference."
"Yes, I to felt my identity seeming to cross with yours as I experienced your life. You said this was likely a natural part of the war. I would like more information on the subject if possible."
Waver before answering sat up. A yawn leaving his lips grogginess overcoming him as he answered, "I have a few guesses but nothing certain. From what I understand servants at their core are spirits turned into familiars. But they aren't the only type of familiars which can be made with some created through the placing of leftover thoughts of dead humans into animals. So, it is possible for memories to get transferred, but obviously our situation is different."
Zhongli made a mental note to ask Waver about familiars and the transferring of the deceased memories into other bodies later as he came to his conclusion on the topic at hand. "You mean beyond just me being summoned as a non-spirit. But my divinity as well."
The young magus nodded, "That's the best I can come up with. Sorry, I know it isn't much, but this is pretty new territory for me and probably most mages in general. The only person who would probably tell us more without trying to attack us would be the war supervisor at the church."
"Then I suggest we go there to get any information of value." Zhongli got up from his sitting position on the floor and headed to the door, "I'll head down and make breakfast for us and the Mackenzie's while you get ready."
Waver looked down at himself with messy bed hair, wrinkled clothing, and a need for a morning shower making him feel inadequate when compared to the finally dressed god who still wore his perfect brown suit with eloquent dragon scale imagery.
The accomplished feeling in Waver disappeared as he began to get a sick feeling in his stomach. A reminder that he hadn't been recognised yet by anyone, he wasn't content.
The imagery between the two also in many ways represented their differences, the young un-noticed child against the ancient renowned perfect god which the whole world was focussed on.
He put his head down as his chest felt tight and uncomfortable.
He didn't like it.
He hated it.
He especially hated that he couldn't stop himself from asking out loud to Zhongli, "Did you enjoy it? What you saw from my past."
A small smile appeared on Zhongli's face as he replied with, "Yes, I must say I did. Although the actions that were taken weren't particularly suited to me." The god had a brief sour look on his face as he really didn't like the childish way Waver had asked Melvin for money. Especially when it felt like he himself was the one being childish. "Despite that the emotional experience was something I quite enjoyed."
Waver's face was still non to happy as he noticed Zhongli's sour look, a far cry from the reaction he had been hopping for but one he had guessed was inevitable. His hopes predictably dashed. But still he had something to ask, "The emotional experience?"
"Yes, it's been sometime since I've felt that brazen, it was rather nostalgic I admit. Back when I was less controlled and more war like. To experience something as a mortal human was actually something I had hoped to do in the near future." The god pleasantly thought.
Waver all the meanwhile berated himself, brazen, of course the Morax would see him as brazen. Sure, the god seemed pleased, but it was hardly impactful in the way Waver felt about his own experience.
Sure, he had given Morax an early mortal experience but so what. He was a god; he could have done that whenever he felt like when he wasn't busy imprisoning other gods with weapons bigger than most mountains. The down to earth impression Morax gave was likely just an act for his own and other humans sake.
Human.
Mortal.
The word rang through Wavers head, a reminder that he didn't have eternity. A part of his mind feeling the ticking of every second. How long would he live when compared to the thousands he had felt not too long ago. How long till he turned to dust.
He had to win.
He had to win the grail war.
He had to prove himself to the world.
He had to.
He also had to finish the tea which was soon going to get cold.
Ok so there we go. I hope that was an improvement.
Some Character development for Waver where he like every buddy else in the grail war thinks Morax is some being far above humans. Waver also becoming a bit more obsessed with his goal for victory in a non-healthy way, and of course taking all the wrong messages from his dream sequence.
This dream sequence was original with hints of Zhongli's compassionate side but nothing from the game as I don't want to have that repeated twice when it comes up in character discussion. We will see actual moments in his life though. Or Waver will at least.
Part of this chapter was also establishing Zhongli as a good ruler and in one many ways different from the other kings do to his willingness to work with the other Archons for all Teyvat.
Anyway, that's all. Next Waver and Morax visit the Church and the masters and servants have a meat up!
Gold meets gold baby!
