Chapter Ten: Where I Left You
"You don't fool me Morax," the Goddess of Dust had once informed him over tea long ago in the shade of a mighty tree amidst a field of swaying glaze lilies. "No matter how persistently you pretend."
"Oh?" Morax had hummed distractedly setting his cup unto the stone table between them with an awkward thud. "What do you mean I don't fool you? We're allies. Why would I try to fool you?"
"Well, you always complain and grumble whenever I ask you to help out in the village," Guizhong had replied with an amused smile.
"Your precious humans are quickly becoming a menace with all their absurd errands and requests," the God of War had shrugged.
"In time you will learn to love them as I do you,"
"I told you before I can't love," he had snapped furrowing his brows for good measure.
"You have love in you, Morax. I know it. I have felt it, so I know how capable you are of it."
It would take seven centuries until her prediction came true and when he met her in the valley of the newly settled Guili Plains, he made no secret his conversion.
"You were right," he had informed her suddenly turning to face her with a sheepish look. "I do love them."
"No Morax," Guizhong had replied patiently. "But soon. You will love them as I do."
"But I already love them now," Morax had protested.
"Not yet. Not truly," Guizhong had corrected. "You might enjoy their praises, but you do not truly love them."
"Then why do I protect them?" Morax had challenged. This time the Goddess of Dust had taken care to select her next words lest her only ally desert in frustration.
"You protect them because you love me and know how deeply I love them, how ardently I adore them, and how jealously I protect them. You cannot bear to see me hurt but you know that I am wounded by any injuries they suffer. And so, you protect them and smite all that threaten and oppress them."
Why…am I…remembering that now? The Archon of War wonders as he watches the cloudy skies above mutely. His lover's limp form cradled against his chest as he absentmindedly rocks him back and forth awaiting the Boughkeeper's response.
"R-remake him?!" Dainslief asks, his temper flaring for the first time that evening. "Why would I agree to let you do that? You said it yourself. I want him dead, and I also want the Heart of Naberius."
"And now you must choose," Morax replies calmly, not turning away. "Which do you want more? The heart? Or his life?"
"They are not mutually exclusive!" The Boughkeeper snaps suddenly beside himself.
"If you've been paying any attention then you would know that they should be," the Archon says with a knowing chuckle before elaborating. "A few months ago, I noticed a foul aura around the Traveler and his floating companion. When I asked of the source, he showed me a new weapon he had received from a friend in Mondstadt. I recognized that exact aura around Albedo tonight and now know that he must have given that weapon to the Outlander to conduct some kind of experiment."
"The point being?!" The Boughkeeper snaps once more, his patience stretched woefully thin now.
"I recognize the Heart of Naberius. While I know it by another name, its aura and effects are unmistakable. In ages past, the Heart of Naberius went by many names most notable amongst them were the Corrupting Heart and the Depraved Heart. The heart is sentient and feeds off its host's desires and ambitions driving them to mad obsession in pursuit of their goals. Once it latches onto a host, it cannot be destroyed until that being achieves its deepest and most desperate desire."
"I see," Dainslief mutters distractedly stroking his jaw. "But if she knew all that why not keep it for herself? Surely, she could have easily—of course. Had she taken the heart in herself it would have driven her mad. So, she implanted it in the homunculus and gave him the same goal."
"The truth of this world," the God of Contracts sighs deeply, running a weary hand over his lover's face before dipping two fingers to his neck in search of a pulse. "That was her final assignment for him."
He finds one but it is distressingly weak. The Lord of War knows that he hasn't much time to barter.
"I cannot trust you and I have no way of guessing your true motives," Dainslief admits at length.
"Nor I yours," Rex Lapis acknowledges. "So, I take it you reject my offer?"
"Yes," the Boughkeeper replies stiffly. "There would have been no point in destroying Rhinedottir if her memories survive in one gifted with eternal life."
"Even though I no longer bear my gnosis?" Morax asks with a sardonic chuckle.
"Even though you no longer bear your gnosis," Dainslief states firmly. "You once ascended to godhood. I have no doubt in my mind that you will attain it again."
"No matter," the Lord of Contracts sighs. "We can still bargain. You can still be of use to me, and I have something else of value to you."
"Oh? And what would that be?"
"Peace of mind," the Archon replies. "Yours to be specific."
"And how would you go about restoring said peace of mind?"
"If you save his life, I will walk away from him forever," the Geo Archon explains.
"You would give him up?" The Boughkeeper asks skeptically.
"I would."
"Truly?"
"Fully," Morax returns firmly. As he is speaking the tall blond manifests a tiny translucent vial which he holds out to the Archon. "But only if you save his life and leave him be."
"Mix it with a strand of your hair and have him drink it," the Boughkeeper instructs.
"And this will heal him?"
"No. I will heal him. That liquid will wipe his mind of all memories of ever meeting you."
"I see. Would you give me some time to properly explain things to him? It will not do to abandon him so abruptly."
"I can only give you till nightfall," Dainslief replies before adding somewhat sympathetically. "I'm sorry."
"Very well," Morax nods. "Then we have terms."
"Love them Morax, I beg you," Guizhong had once pleaded softly against his chest as they lay bare and entangled in a field of dancing glaze lilies. "As you love me now."
"Who says I love you?" He had hummed half-asleep.
"Your eyes when they gaze upon me," the Goddess of Dust had smiled back. "Your legs when they leap mountains for me. Your hands when they embrace me. Your lips when they part to consume me like a starved beast."
"And what of you?" He had asked with an amused smile. "Do you love me?"
"Always, Morax."
"My Lord?" Alatus asks quietly as he arrives finally with a groggy Fortune Preserver. "D-did you slay the Boughkeeper already?"
"No," the God of War replies calmly as he turns to greet them. The Kreideprinz's unconscious form is sleeping comfortably between his powerful hands "I negotiated a contract with him."
"A c-contract?!" The Vigilant Yaksha had cried out before catching himself and apologizing quietly.
"Yes," Morax replies. "He restored the Kreideprinz's life."
"And what did you offer in exchange, my Lord?"
"That I would give him up," Rex Lapis replies with a sheepish smile.
"Truly?"
"Truly."
Although the Conqueror of Demons tries to hide his relief the Archon sees through his indifference and smiles to himself as he moves to walk past.
"W-where are you taking him now?" Alatus asks quietly as he follows him.
"I am returning him to the Commerce Guild Manager's home. Once I've properly explained things, I shall leave him forever."
"Truly?" The Vigilant Yaksha asks again.
"Truly."
Albedo's sleeping quarters are exactly as Zhongli had imagined they would be—sparsely but elegantly furnished. His bed sat at the far corner of the room closest to the window, neatly made as it awaited its owner's return. The shelf atop his writing desk bore an odd collection of fairytale storybooks and alchemic textbooks. Two pairs of slippers stood at the foot of his bed one in his size and another in the size of a small child's feet. His traveling trunk stood in a half-open closet in the far corner, his easel propped neatly against it.
"We were so worried about him," the servant accompanying him informs him yet again with a deeply grateful bow. "We thought something had happened to him."
"Can I trouble you for some hot water and tea?" The Funeral Parlor Consultant asks warmly as he sets the blond down on his bed, pausing to tuck him in. "He shall wake soon, and I would like him to brew him some."
"Yes, Mr. Zhongli."
The servant departs and returns quickly with a tray of tea which she sets out on a small table. Zhongli thanks and dismisses her settling quietly to brew the tea. His lover begins to stir as the aroma of tea fills the room. The Lord of Contracts pulls a strand of long brown hair free from his ponytail as he empties the Boughkeeper's potion into the teapot. He stirs it thoroughly before dropping the strand of hair. It dissolves soundlessly prompting him to stir again.
When he is done, he merely sits still staring patiently into the distance as he quiets his mind to organize his thoughts. Hours pass in this manner with him sitting guard at his lover's side. Every now and then a servant pops in to check on him before departing when they notice his pensive demeanor.
"No, please Klee, Albedo is sleeping!" He hears an exasperated servant call out from the other side of the door.
"We'll only be a moment," Xingqui assures as the door swings open.
The blond child bounces in excitedly but stops when she notices Zhongli watching them quietly.
"Mr. Zhongli, is Albedo still sleeping?"
"He is, Klee," the Consultant responds with a kind smile. "He went to bed late and is still very tired."
"Oh," the child blinks sadly. "I wanted to show him my latest treasure."
"She finished her firework," Xingqui explains. "Just in time for the festival's finale."
"How wonderful," Zhongli says with yet another forced smile. "Will you be setting it off tonight?"
"Well, Albedo likes to test all my treasures first so I need him to test this one first."
"I see."
"When do you think he will wake up?"
"I'm not sure," Zhongli confesses.
"Is everything alright Mr., Zhongli?" Xingqui asks quietly.
"No," the Archon confesses. "But it will be. Eventually."
A silence falls over the room as the pair watches him with a mix of sympathy and confusion. Although they clearly wanted to pry further, they knew better than to press him in his dejected state. After some time Xingqui mutters a quick excuse as he ushers Klee outside to continue playing leaving Zhongli alone with his lover.
"What time is it?" Albedo asks weakly as he finally comes to sometime later that afternoon.
"Good Afternoon," Zhongli greets quietly. "How are you feeling?"
"A little sore," the Alchemist confesses, his expression slightly strained as he stretches his hands high above his head. "How long have I been asleep?"
"Six hours," the Archon informs him as he rises to reheat the tea. "I've made you some tea."
"Is everything alright?" The Knight asks hesitantly as his lover returns with the teapot. "You look…miserable."
"Do you remember anything of last night?"
Albedo considers his words for some moment as Zhongli returns with the teapot and pours him a cup.
"I remember a strange girl with light blue hair I think…coming to wake me. She said you were in trouble, so I followed her. She brought me to a place and you were standing there with two men I had never seen before. One was tall with blond hair and the other was short and slight.
"The tall one was Dainslief the Boughkeeper." Morax informs him.
"And the short man?"
"An adeptus known as the Vigilant Yaksha," the Archon explains. "The maiden who led you was Ganyu another adeptus."
"And they both answer to you?" Albedo asks with a bemused frown.
"They both answer to me."
"How many adepti answer to you?"
"Only those two," Zhongli replies. "The rest are happily unbound. But we are old friends and I try to visit them whenever I can."
"I don't understand, why are you confessing now?" the Kreideprinz asks his frown deepening. "Whenever I tried to talk about it you would find some way to distract me."
"I wanted you for myself. Fully. No obligations. No duties. Just pure desire and affection."
"Wanted?"
"Perhaps needed would be far fitting," the Archon muses distractedly.
"Needed?" the Chief Alchemist repeats. "Past tense? So, you don't need me anymore."
"That is correct."
Albedo turns away before rising from his bed and approaching his lover, teal eyes watching the taller man as his feet carry him forward. A thought suddenly occurs to the blond stopping him dead in his tracks. Without warning or explanation, he unties the sash securing his hanfu and parts them to inspect his chest.
"The wound in my chest how did you—?"
"The Boughkeeper healed it."
"And what did you surrender in exchange?" Albedo asks quietly.
"Come sit and drink. You'll feel better."
"Whatever's in that tea won't work on me," the Alchemist informs him flatly.
"The Boughkeeper assured me that it will."
"I'm a homon—"
"I know. I've known for some time now."
"I don't understand. If you knew, why did you ask me to marry you?"
"Because I wanted you to marry me," Zhongli explains simply before repeating. "Come. Sit and drink."
"What's in the tea?"
"I love you," the Lord of Contracts informs him softly, his lips settling into a gentle smile. "I am quite comfortable saying that nothing will ever change that."
"Morax what's in the tea?"
The Archon sets the teacup down and crosses the room to meet his lover. His large hands fall on the blond's bare shoulder and he allows himself a longing gaze before pulling him into a crushing embrace.
"Something to ease our parting," Morax replies at last his voice calm and soothing. The blond quivers slightly but says nothing.
"Yes," Albedo mutters blankly as the Archon finally pulls away to take him by the hand. "I will marry you."
"One day, perhaps if we ever return in another lifetime."
"Morax please I—"
But the Lord of Contracts silences him with a deeply searing kiss as his hands slide to caress the expanse of his exposed flesh. His large hand palms the youth's growing arousal prompting the shorter man to shove him aside.
"Stop it! Every time! Just for once answer my questions!"
Zhongli moves away and retrieves the teacup he had been holding earlier from the small table before returning to his lover.
"It will remove your memories of me."
"I won't drink it," Albedo informs him firmly. "If you're going to leave me then leave. But leave me my memories."
"You and I both know I can't do that."
"So, what makes you think that I would drink it?" The Alchemist fumes crossing his arms.
"Albedo just—"
"No," the Kreideprinz interrupts firmly.
Zhongli reaches out to grab him but the smaller man raises his arms in self-defense prompting the Archon to seize them and pin them together with his strong hand. The Kreideprinz squirms and struggles desperately against his lover's hands as his teal eyes scan the room for an escape route. Finding none he tries to reason with the Lord of Contracts.
"Enough! Can't you see this is already impossible for me?!" Morax seethes. "Being together puts you in danger. The Boughkeeper will smite you if we do not part now."
"I don't care."
"And what of Klee?" Zhongli snaps, his grip tightening in frustration. "Who will watch her when you're gone?"
Albedo falls silent at his words as the heat of shame and guilt tints his cheeks. His blond hair falls over his teal eyes as they begin to water with unshed tears, and it is all Morax can do to not lean down and kiss him.
"One by one. First my master. Then Alice. Everyone I care about always leaves me," the Alchemist chuckles bitterly. "Every time."
"'Love doesn't die simply because we don't see each other anymore," Morax informs him softly. "Guizhong once told me that long ago when we arrived at our moment of parting. You love your master even though you can't see her. You love Alice even though she's not here and you miss her terribly."
"I love them because I remember them," Albedo mumbles quietly. "How can I love you when I can't remember you?"
Unable to formulate an acceptable response, Zhongli releases him and walks away.
"I wish we had more time," he sighs at last. "There were so many things I was going to teach you. So many places I was going to show you. I would have been happy to pass all of eternity at your side."
"So, stay Morax. Please. Let me love you as you love me."
"Do not ask this of me. I would promise you eternity, but I cannot watch you get destroyed. It is a pain too terrible to bear. So, please I beg you for the last time. Come sit and drink."
"But I—"
"Do me this final kindness my Kreideprinz. I beg you. Forget me for all eternity."
"I thought he would never drink it," Alatus murmurs to Ganyu from their perch atop a nearby rooftop as Zhongli finally emerges from the Commerce Guild Manager's manor.
"How can you be sure the Prince drank the tea?" The half-qilin asks innocently.
"He walks as he did the day we were forced to slay Guizhong."
They follow him quietly from the shadows taking care to make no sounds as they watched their master calmly make his way out of the city. He bumps into the Funeral Parlor Director at the city gates and offers a terse apology when she tries to engage him before walking away. He walks without stopping for several hours and it is almost dawn by the time he reaches the place in Guili Plains where his first love had fallen.
Ganyu is the first to descend and she greets him with a deep and reverent bow. Alatus watches as their master merely stares at her blankly before turning to pat her hair affectionately, stroking her horns in the manner he had often employed to comfort and assure her. The Vigilant Yaksha descends but keeps a respectable distance watching them quietly for any signs of anger or indignance in his master.
"Can you ever forgive me?" Morax asks softly as he settles to watch the brightening skies. "Both of you?"
"M-my Lord. There's n-nothing to forgive," Ganyu stutters fiddling with the hem of her dress sheepishly.
"I allowed loneliness and desperation to cloud my judgment," Rex Lapis disagrees quietly. "Had the Boughkeeper not exercised restraint Liyue Harbor would have been decimated during our confrontation."
"There is nothing to forgive, my Lord," the Conqueror of Demons agrees, stepping forward. "We are your servants. We merely exist to assist you. Even when you stray or falter from the path. There is no greater honor than to follow in your wake."
"Alatus…I have only just left his side and I miss him already."
"We will walk with you master," Ganyu assures him. "We know it's not much, but we will try our very best to be worthy companions."
"You already are. Both of you."
"Then let us guide and follow you, forever." The Vigilant Yaksha asks watching his Master gently.
"And the pain? Am I to carry it where I carry Guizhong's?"
At this Alatus steps forward with a translucent vial and holds up a fine strand of ash blond hair.
"The Boughkeeper recommended a cure for that too."
But Morax did not want to forget his beloved Prince of Chalk with his vibrant teal eyes and crown of flaxen hair. He did not want to forget the madness his very presence ignited within him or the possessiveness his body provoked.
With Guizhong it had taken him centuries to realize and perfect his love. With the Prince, he had known it the moment he laid eyes on him that fateful day on the steps of Bubu Pharmacy. Perhaps in time, he would love another. But something in him doubted it as fiercely as it delighted in that simple truth.
Before Guizhong he had never loved another. After the Prince, he would never love again.
The Boughkeeper watches silently from his perch high in the surrounding mountains, silently willing the God of Contracts to accept the vial. But the Archon politely turns away and settles down to watch the sunrise with the last of his surviving children in the place where he had now buried both of his greatest loves.