Chapter 27: The Overlord
Lumine had seen a lot in her travels among the stars. Marvels of engineering, magic, biology and half a dozen other fanciful things that would have wowed any and all that were viewing them for the first time.
This was the first time she could remember feeling deep, existential terror that unpleasantly reminded her of being trapped beneath a roiling ocean, lost in the dark with no way to tell which is up or down as crushing pressure and asphyxiation closed in.
"W-what is that?! Paimon feels like she's being squished!"
"I'm going to make a bold guess here and assume it has to do with the giant sea hydra on the horizon."
Even from the Golden House the Traveler could see the enormous, twisting lengths of sentient liquid that gazed upon Liyue with evident threat, a strange shadow swimming beneath the growths that reminded the blonde more than a little of a whale, or perhaps a manta ray.
"Paimon, is that…a god?"
"Probably one that fought during the Archon War, if Paimon had to guess. Childe did imply it was familiar with Rex Lapis."
"Zhongli, Venti and Alec are something like this?"
Scarcely able to believe that the monstrosity before her eyes shaping the very air and harbor around it was the same as the trio she had become familiar with Lumine found her hands clenching into fists, the wind gaining in intensity and fury as rain grew from a few droplets into a steady downpour.
"Paimon…doesn't really know what to do."
"Yeah, join the club."
Even if she had all of previous power Lumine honestly didn't know how she would have fared against a being like this. It's aura and presence was so potent that it made even the Sustainer - brief as their battle had been - seem less intimidating by comparison. While she would wager the white-haired bitch was more powerful this raging storm made manifest felt far more personal and malevolent in its fury.
"Oh SHIT. Amy and Oz are still in Liyue, if that thing starts advancing on the city…"
Feeling a fresh burst of anxiety Lumine was snapped from her dark thoughts as Paimon shouted, "Lumine, look! Isn't that the Jade Chamber over there?!"
Following the sprite's pointed finger the Traveler felt her eyes widen as she saw the floating palace make its way over to the site of the swirling beast, its massive architecture appearing pitifully small in comparison to the titan now facing it.
"Are they seriously going to face that thing?"
"They don't have a lot of choice, Paimon. As soon as that monster decides to go on the offensive I don't think a few levees are going to stop it."
"W-well what are we going to do?"
Grimacing as she stretched - still a fair bit sore from her fight against Childe - Lumine stated, "What else? We're going to go help them. C'mon, we need to hurry!"
Taking off in a burst of speed with a startled Paimon flying close behind the blonde desperately tried to remember directions to board the floating palace from her conversations with Ganyu and Keqing, hoping she remembered correctly.
"Would it have killed you to get an umbrella for the occasion, Alec?"
"It blew away. The weather is a little wild right now, just in case you haven't noticed. Can't you just create a little bubble around us or something?"
"Ugh, fine. What's a little godly power to make sure we don't get wet, right?"
A snap of Barbatos' fingers and a light sheen of Anemo energy sprung to life around them, doing away with the worst of Osial's fury as they relaxed at a small picnic table not far from the Yuehan Pavillion, Alec glancing Morax's way as the Archon was hunched over, fingers clenched in what was the most agitated state he could remember seeing him in for a fair few centuries.
"This is the consequence of your wish, Morax. No sense in seeing it through with a dour mood and anxious disposition."
A slow, shaky sigh left the Archon, voice distant as he mused, "Aboard that palace reside friends and allies from many millennia past, no doubt once again preparing to risk their lives for the vision I've crafted. A brilliant young woman who not more than a few decades past was walking the streets of Liyue, selling her wares in a desperate attempt to rise above her lowly station. Yet another who has the bravery and drive to question whether my presence and actions have been for the greater good of this fair land. And so, so many more who fight to defend their friends and family, all for the sake of my desires."
The Archon's gloves audibly creaked within his grasp.
"And yet you expect me to sit idly by?"
"Who said anything about standing idly by?"
Unsheathing his knife Alec rammed it into the table point first, the Gnosis tantalizingly resting before their gazes as he said, "Even in death those who serve Liyue will be remembered, its sons and daughters comforted in their final moments by their Archon."
A familiar, jester-like grin adorned Alec's lips as he stared into Morax's eyes, free hand slamming a bottle of Osmanthus wine - the same vintage they had shared so many millennia ago - onto the table as he hypnotically stated, "So toast to them. Toast to Liyue's victory as the mortal bring low the divine."
The Geo Archon hesitated, looking towards the battle with what Alec would have described as primal longing.
"It is not the domain of the God of War to sit idly by as battle rages, to let others fight and die as he watches in dispassionate observation."
"Not seeing a lack of passion, Morax."
Turning to face Barbatos after the Anemo Archon's wry comment the taller god asked, "How have you stayed separate from Mondstadt for so long? Entrusted its people to their own destiny with only the most occasional of direct intervention? This…is so much more difficult than I imagined it would be."
A humorless smile graced the bard's features, his response blunt.
"Because I trusted that they would find their way. And you know my home's history, Morax. Sometimes that trust was betrayed or the people lost their way…but that's why we never truly stop watching over our kin, isn't it?"
The rare moment of genuine advice from his fellow Archon seemed to strike a chord with the god, golden eyes once more gazing out over the harbor, Osial appearing to regain enough of his cognizance after being awakened to view the approaching Jade Palace as a threat, the storm directing its malice directly upon the fortress with a bestial howl of furious winds.
"...Will doing this shorten what time you have?"
"As long as it's just viewing things rather than actively trying to avert or decipher them I should be fine."
"Then, please."
Gathering his two friend's hands in his own he brought them upon his weapon's hilt, the world exploding into heightened color and beauty as the approaching battle was cast into sharpened detail. The Jade Palace seemed to glow like a beacon of light, the fire of all the gathered souls upon it - Adepti and Human alike - shining like a star as it drifted towards the azure maelstrom that was Osial, the city below resembling simmering coals as alarm bells rang frantically, directing masses of people to higher ground or their homes as the trio looked on, Alec smirking as a small, golden orb joined the burning mass aboard the floating palace.
"Oh hoh, seems like Lumine found her way to the forefront of events once again~!"
Barbatos' cheery words coincided with Morax's grunt of acknowledgement, the fallen god musing, "I wonder what you'll think after tonight, Lumine…after all, it's one thing to hear of the Archon War and another entirely to come face to face with the monsters of that time, what the scale of destruction truly would have been as the gods vied for supremacy."
Grinning up at the approaching battle Alec raised their wine high, crowing, "Raise your glasses, friends! We stand witness once more to a turning point in history!"
"Oh it is so much worse up here than it was down there."
Swallowing thickly as she carefully planted her feet on the rain-slicked tile of the Jade Palace's main platform Lumine found the increased elevation somehow more terrifying than ground level had been, her gaze almost even with the malevolently swaying whirlpools that had turned their attention the palace's way.
"Lumine! How fortuitous that you traversed the hidden paths!"
Finding herself engulfed in a powerful hug courtesy of Fischl the Traveler all too happily returned it, asking, "How did you end up all the way in the sky? I was worried you would still be in the city."
"Circumstances most lucky dictated that I be present among the Qixing when denying foul despoilers their desired treasure. As the Prinzessin of Mondstadt's investigative branch Oz and myself should also be present during such a calamitous event."
"Calamitous is putting it lightly. How did you even get aboard?"
Meeting Keqing's gaze as she quickly approached them - Lumine noting that she looked good with her hair messily plastered thanks to the rain - the Traveler shrugged, replying, "Took a shortcut through those little teleporting stations you have scattered about."
The young woman blinked, eventually sighing before wryly commenting, "I forgot we mentioned that in your presence. No matter, if you really are here to help then we're not in a position to turn aid away."
The haughtiness and composure she'd displayed slipped away as her eyes once more landed on the sentient hurricane approaching their position, posture tightening and hands nervously clenching.
"I can't imagine why you would want to help against that, however."
The Traveler immediately considered that both Keqing and Fischl were relatively young, despite their positions of authority and responsibility and that something like this must have rattled them pretty badly.
"Shit, it's making me nervous and I've been around the proverbial block a few times."
Quickly providing a reassuring squeeze to both girl's hands she mustered all the certainty she could before stating, "Relax, I take it all of you have a plan?"
Releasing a tension-filled breath Keqing seemed to lose a bit of her anxiety, stoically nodding before motioning for her and Fischl to follow, informing, "We do, albeit one fraught with danger. Although I can't imagine fighting one of the gods of old would ever be safe in any capacity."
They quickly came upon the sight of Ningguang speaking with the Adeptus, Lumine noting that Cloud Retainer had been joined by a few other animalistic beings and a young man that just screamed tortured soul, someone she would have normally been perfectly happy to pursue for a friendly chat if the situation hadn't been so completely and irrevocably dire.
"You've picked a truly unfortunate time to rejoin the fold, Traveler. But we are not so picky as to turn away any and all help we can acquire. Would it be too much to hope for Alec to be traveling at your side?"
Much like the Adeptus boy the blonde wasn't afforded a chance to really take in the Ningguang's imperial majesty - and damn did she wear authority like a sexy gown - and had to settle for a shrug, replying, "Last I talked to him was a few days ago, you probably know more than I do."
"Unfortunate."
"You mean to tell us that this one is the companion of Daman? Our condolences, young one."
Tilting her head at the stag-like Adeptus Lumine was saved the trouble of asking after that question as Ningguang intervened with, "Now is not the time, Moon Carver. We will have introductions later should we survive the battle. Ready the Ballistas!"
Alongside her shout the woman flared with Geo energy, blinding light engulfing her body as the palace itself seemed to shudder with ambient strength, a massive sigil that looked perfectly solid engulfing the palace and creating an ethereal platform, shining pillars of light revealing three ornate and powerful-looking weapons that left Lumine whistling in appreciation, several of the Adepti including Ganyu rushing to them as the Traveler briefly wondered what she should do in this situation. Thankfully Keqing motioned for her and Fischl to follow, the three of them reinforcing ranks of Millelith that stood guard over the various walkways and entrances of the flying palace, the Traveler noting that while they held their positions there was clear anxiety and unease on all of those gathered, weapons held in white-knuckled grips and tongues nervously wetting already drenched lips.
"Yeah, I get the impression I'm not the only one feeling the pinch right now."
"While we ideally won't be required to do much it's better to be safe than sorry, there's no telling if Osial will have some small scale way of attempting to strike back, we will guard the perimeter of the palace."
"My Lady, I bring news most dire. Most of the Fatui have vacated the bank they occupied to locations unknown, many of them armed and concealed."
As if to prove that Keqing's caution was well warranted Oz swooped through the storm, alighting upon Fischl's shoulder and relaying what was definitely not good news. At all.
"Did they merely evacuate or are they plotting something more unpleasant?"
"Who's to say? The Fatui employ means both nefarious and underhanded in their quest to blanket the land with their Archon's will."
Shaking her head Lumine was quick to dispel her companion's questions as she stated, "Don't worry about that right now, we have other things to worry about."
On cue Ganyu leapt beside them, demeanor serious as she informed, "The Ghuizhong Ballista are almost ready to fire, they will begin as soon as possible."
Lumine glanced towards where the three animalstic Adepti were positioned above each device, practically radiating golden energy as Osial finally deigned to notice their presence, watery tendrils focusing on the floating palace-
-and were promptly torn asunder as golden lances of power flew out of the Ballistae, shredding each tendril in massive explosions of steam and water that sounded like an entire warehouse's worth of fireworks going off, the Traveler gaping as she asked, "What the heck are those things? I expected a couple fancy arrows, not a bunch of laser beams!"
"Lasers?"
Ganyu didn't display the same confusion Keqing did, merely explaining, "Old inventions of the Archon War fulfilling their purpose once more," as Lumine pondered the ramifications of that statement, that such blatantly destructive weapons were a necessary product of what must have been a truly large-scale conflict.
"Wait, who has access to the Palace's entrances? Did any of you call for reinforcements?"
Keqing's sudden inquiry drew Lumine from her introspection, several portals manifesting along the length of the ethereal platform as all eyes were drawn to them…and the already high tension ratcheted up a notch as dozens of Fatui poured from within, immediately making a beeline for the weapons as Ganyu yelled, "Millilith, to arms! Defend the Ballistae at all costs!"
The quartet shared a brief glance that immediately solidified their plan of attack as ranks of Liyue soldiers moved to engage their opponents, Lumine and Keqing leading the charge as Fischl and Ganyu followed at a slightly slower pace, bows in hand as the full force of the rain and wind hit with all the force of an icy razor and causing the Traveler to wince in discomfort.
"Should have brought a raincoat."
The random thought was immediately punted to the wayside as they arrived at the cannon where Cloud Retainer was stationed a few seconds before the Fatui did, Lumine taking a deep breath as the battle was joined.
"My Prince, if we are to make our move then now is the time!"
"I know. What of Daman and the others?"
"Still observing, they have not yet made any open moves against the Overlord or in aid of their allies."
Aether scowled, gazing at the besieged city even as another volley of blinding light further pushed back the olden God, the explosion reaching him a few seconds later.
"What are you playing at, Morax? You of all deities would never let Liyue face something like this on its own."
His time spent interacting with the Archon from so long ago - however brief - had gifted him a keen understanding of what drove the Geo Archon, a deeply rooted attachment to the nation he had built with the aid and sacrifice of so many others, something bordering almost on obsession. Had things not turned out so badly in Khaenri'ah he would have even been perfectly happy to think of the Archon as someone to be admired.
Shaking himself free of that thought Aether instead chose to look aboard the hovering palace, where even through the storm and maelstrom of combat he could see flashes of his sister locked in combat, protecting the comrades at her side and the people below.
…
What he would have given to be able to fight alongside her, rather than watch from a distance.
"My Prince, we have observers ready and waiting for any change in Osial's being. All we need now is the proper opportunity."
Nodding in response to the Abyss Mage's report the one time Traveler took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm as he continued to watch the battle, pretending that the sight didn't pain him.
"Understood, I'll keep an eye out for Daman and the rest if they try to move."
He stared towards the battered and deluged harbor of Liyue, gaze narrowed as the barest outlines of three figures could be seen if one squinted hard enough.
"On your left!"
Darting around Keqing's right - an old trick she'd long employed - Lumine scored a clean hit on the surprised Fatui's leg, the man collapsing with a hiss as the Qixing girl took the opportunity to slam the hilt of her blade against his head, knocking the man flat and out of the fight as Lumine nodded in approval.
Sure, head wounds were a serious business but she tried to avoid killing if possible and the young lady at her side evidently shared the same mindset, seeing as the Fatui could likely be just fine if he received treatment fast enough.
Although they just kept coming and Lumine braced herself to turn lethal if need be, her morality not even close to the same importance as the people she fought alongside.
Thankfully the two long-ranged ladies had her back, Fischl making liberal use of the damp conditions to electrocute any Fatui unaware enough to step in puddles of rainwater while Ganyu was lethality incarnate, Lumine now fully believing Alec's claim that she was the one who had given him more than a few pointers on how to use a bow. Immaculate footwork and positioning that had the Adeptus at perfect angles to unleash unnervingly accurate barrages that froze limbs or in rarer cases ended a Fatui outright, projectiles piercing throats or eyes as the woman maintained a terse but collected expression as she dominated the battlefield.
It had been awhile since Lumine felt like the weak link in a scrap.
"Keqing, light up the floor!"
While the Qixing girl looked a bit perplexed at the shout she caught on as the Traveler channeled a storm of Anemo energy that flung a deluge of water at the last few Fatui charging their position, leaving the 'ground' around their feet mostly dry and their opponents soaked to the bone.
A soaking that turned lethal as the girl stabbed the business end of her blade into the surface, a line of purple electricity coursing through their opponents and causing them to seize, spastic twitches and hacks leaving them before she cut off the flow of power that would have certainly ended their lives. Heck, they were already pretty close to dead if anyone was going to ask for her opinion on the matter, stunned and twitching on the floor as they were.
"Is that the last of them?"
"I think so, the other groups seem finished as well."
All across the Jade Palace Fatui were falling back, retreating from contact with Millilith and grabbing a few of their comrades before vanishing through the portals they'd entered on, a ragged cheer leaving the defenders as Cloud Retainer proudly announced, "There now exists a clear path, adjust the angle of the Palace!"
The building tilted dangerously, the Ghuizhong Ballistas zeroing in on the shadowy form beneath the swaying tendrils of water as Lumine braced herself for another firing-
-and was left unprepared regardless as this time all three artifacts combined their energies, unleashing a firestorm of golden energy that struck with all the fury of a meteor strike, a benthic howl of pain and fury echoing across Liyue as the serpentine constructs sagged, losing their potency to what Lumine assumed was sympathetic agony as a geyser of water and flame reached high enough to lick the edges of the Palace.
"I can't believe it, the plan is actually working!"
Eyes widening at Keqing's exclamation Lumine glanced towards where Osial's gargantuan body could still be seen, muttering, "Umm…I think you spoke too soon there, sweety."
"Why? The Ballistae are…oh."
Rearing up from the cloud of destruction with godly fury clear to see Osial re-engaged its watery avatars, compressed balls of Hydro power forming in the maw of each sea serpent as Lumine swallowed.
"Does this thing have shields?"
Before anyone could answer the deity fired its congealed energy high into the stormclouds…and with electric blue smatterings of light raindrops began to fall.
"If raindrops moved at mach speed, eerily glowed and are probably lethal."
The Traveler was proven correct as the first lance struck not more than a dozen paces away, the kinetic crack of its landing and resulting spray of liquid shrapnel feeling like someone had just run a razor over her exposed skin settling the matter.
"Scatter!"
Lumine's shout was ultimately unneeded, the Millilith and Adepti running like hell as the worst rainstorm the Traveler had ever experienced crashed down around them, one of the Ballista cracking and splintering like cheap wood as a second worry quickly made itself known, specifically the fact that the glowing platform they were on wasn't made to take a magical typhoon and remain intact.
With a noise akin to shattering glass the whole thing fell apart, leaving them in freefall as Lumine resignedly accepted the fact that every new journey was going to leave her at the mercy of gravity at least once.
"Well, at least I have practice."
Quickly glancing around the Traveler spotted her tumbling companions, drawing upon her Anemo power to hopefully slow them down enough that hitting the water below wouldn't be crippling-
-and yelped as a verdant blur scooped her, Fischl and Keqing up in its arms, performing some truly insane acrobatics amidst the falling debris that made her stomach churn before depositing them atop the Jade Palace, said blur revealing itself to be the brooding Adepti boy as he gruffly asked, "You okay?"
"Now I am. Feel free to carry me whenever you want~!"
A scoff left the Adeptus as the Traveler grinned, the moment of levity sorely needed before she checked on everyone else, thankful that Fischl and Keqing seemed fine aside from being a bit motion sick, Ganyu leaping down from Cloud Retainer's back as the rest of the Adepti also deposited gathered Millilith survivors.
Lumine grimaced as at least a dozen were missing, either killed during the bombardment or unable to be retrieved as Keqing growled, "Now what? The Ballistae were our only chance at stopping that thing!"
"Well we can't just give up, there are other Ballistae scattered around Liyue, if we can delay Osial-"
"No."
Keqing, Ganyu and everyone else turned to face Ningguang, the Qixing leader looking highly pained as she continued with, "Every minute we let the Overlord run free is a minute in which it can further annihilate Liyue. Retrieving the other Ballistae will take far too long…I will drop the Jade Palace upon its head and imprison it beneath a pillar of stone, just as the Geo Archon did so long ago."
Ganyu gasped, hastily asking, "B-but Lady Ningguang, you have been constructing the Jade Palace even before you rose to your current station, it means-"
"Absolutely nothing, if the nation it was meant to overlook is consumed by the waters."
The pale-haired woman's countenance softened slightly, stating, "I thank you for your consideration and worry, Ganyu…but there is no other choice."
"A noble decision, but this one cannot help but think that a construct such as this will not be so easy to drag from the sky, assuming thou had any competent hands during its assembling."
"I am counting on the Adepti to channel enough of their strength to destroy the Palace's floatation core in one go, although we currently lack a catalyst."
"I might be able to help with that."
All eyes landed on Lumine, the Traveler shrugging as she glibly replied, "I've got two different powers from two different gods working in tandem just fine and I've always been adaptable, if you can direct all of that strength to me I should be able to pull off the feat without too much trouble."
"Understood, if you accomplish this then it seems Liyue will be in your debt much as Mondstadt was, Traveler. Head to the center of the Palace and make ready! All Adepti and Vision-wielders are to follow the Traveler, all others evacuate to the city below!"
The Palace blurred with activity as Lumine broke out into a run, Fischl and everyone else hot on her tail as she joked, "You know, this isn't really how I wanted you to be inside of me for the first time."
The Investigator almost tripped, red-faced and protesting, "Is now the time for raunchy jokes?!"
"What other time is there?"
Planting a quick kiss on the girl's bewildered lips the Traveler grinned, spirit's buoyed as she strode to where she assumed was the Palace's primary means of flight, taking a deep breath as the Vision wielders and Adepti gathered in the courtyard began to glow with several sources of light, streamers and rivers of energy reaching towards her as the Traveler tried to remember what it had been like when she'd contracted with Barbatos and Morax, of distant nature and roiling strength-
-and a strangled gasp left the blonde as what felt like molten sunlight poured through her body, teeth gritted as she soaked up every last drop of energy she was being offered, a solar star gaining in potency as her blade practically sang with glee at all it was being offered.
"T-this is a lot more intense than when I still had my old abilities!"
Chest heaving with the strain of containing and directing the raging torrent of force Lumine instead stared up into the sky, watching with slightly unfocused eyes as Osial's tendrils encircled the Palace as it drew directly above the submerged body, circling and undulating like the coils of a snake preparing to crush its prey.
"Traveler, now!"
Ningguang's distant shout coincided with Lumine lifting her sword high overhead…and in a moment of out of body clarity noticed that the colors of the world grew just a little bit brighter, head turning towards the harbor slightly as three pairs of eyes stared across the intervening distance, nods of approval, satisfaction and friendly egging on causing her to grin despite the fire in her nerves.
"Yeah, let's put on a show."
Unleashing a roar of challenge she rammed her blade downwards, directing every last drop of offered strength into a celestial hammerblow that tore through the palace and into the god below, a deafening wail of agony filling the air with benthic song as the ground gave out from beneath her feet, burning stone and a pinwheeling sky being the last things she saw before blacking out, smug smile upon her lips.
"Did you like that one, Alec?"
"...I have to compose an epic out of that girl's latest maneuver."
"And I may let you."
Canceling his enhanced and shared senses Alec let out a tired breath, feeling a bit winded and under the weather but in all honesty he would have taken a coma and been happy about it, considering how things turned out.
"Congrats on your retirement, Morax. Feel like buying us all a nice meal? Or should I say feel like getting whoever's bankrolling your retirement to buy us a nice meal?"
The Geo Archon's lips twitched in a small smile as Alec sheathed his knife, the sky already clearing and bathing Liyue in streamers of sunlight as Osial once more fell silent.
"I suppose I will have to meet with the Fatui sooner rather than later and complete the terms of our agreement."
"I can't believe you're actually going to go through with that. Wouldn't it make more sense to hold onto your Gnosis if we're going to all be on the same side anyway?"
"If we are all to be on the same side anyway then what does it matter who holds the Gnosis?"
Chuckling at Morax's stubborn insistence Alec joked, "Let the man fulfill his contracts, Barbatos. We're almost at the finish line, can't have him going into withdrawals now."
"I resent the implication that I would fall apart like some deprived addict."
Alec and Barbatos smirked at Morax's grumpy words, words that were at complete odds with the Archon's relaxed and content body language as a group of Adepti swooped down onto the harbor, the Qixing, Fischl and Lumine jumping off of them with triumph clearly displayed in their otherwise battered bodies.
…Well, Lumine mostly slid off like a soggy bag of rice, Fischl catching her as the traveler no doubt said something along the lines of her being hungry as a round of exasperated expressions appeared on the group's faces, Ninnguang alone among them seeming amused by the prospect as she made some sort of proclamation that was agreed upon by all, only a wistful glance towards the bay's waters where the palace and Osial now lay hinting at her melancholy.
And it made for quite the sight indeed. The ornate architecture sticking out of the still surging waters like a gravestone while a discerning eye could spot the shadows of Osial's trapped and crushed form resting beneath it, consigned once more to an existence of Liyue rocks resting atop of it.
"After a certain point you'd think he would give up…"
"All right, we'll catch up either at the celebration party or tomorrow at the Funeral Parlor, I need to go greet the victors. They won't want Barbatos to spoil the mood-"
"Hey!"
"-so you're stuck with him for now, Morax."
"A few more hours I can suffer in his company, if it be for the sake of my people. Oh, Alec?"
"Yeah?"
"Do not turn Ganyu away merely to spare both of your feelings."
A look of old pain drove the point home better than any words could have hoped to.
"Better to have admitted and experienced what little happiness there was to be found in an all too brief encounter, than to have never had it to begin with."
The fallen god grimaced, mumbling, "I hate being old enough to know you're right…fine, I'll…think about it."
Morax smiled, more cheerfully remarking, "I shall ensure the bard does not spoil the moment, as he is wont to do."
"And just when have I ever 'spoiled the moment', huh?!"
"Shall I recount the entirety of your existence?"
Smirking as a familiar argument ensued Alec made his way down to the docks - at least what was left of them - as he felt a familiar presence float down alongside his shoulder.
"So did you get all of that?"
"Paimon did. But Paimon has to ask, why do you want her to watch all of this?"
The Sprite gave him an inquisitive look, Alec plainly replying, "Because the Sustainer feared Lumine and Aether enough to tear them apart and strip them of their strength. Factor in my rampage through Celestia and the sight of Lumine channeling incredible amounts of strength once more is sure to gain her attention, never mind Aether conspiring with the Abyss."
"Isn't…isn't that bad?"
"Only if you don't expect it."
Smirking at Paimon's bewildered expression he nudged the Watcher forward, saying, "Go congratulate Lumine and start thinking of what you want the victory celebration to be, don't worry about the rest."
She was more than happy to accept his proposal, zooming forward as he more sedately approached, gaze landing on a certain blue-haired woman as he felt a sigh slip past his lips.
He'd been dancing around her clear interest even before he'd been put on the proverbial chopping block, how the hell was he supposed to handle a whirlwind romance while facing down the fact that he was going to be dead in a few years at best?
"Damn your scaly ass, Morax…fine, if I'm going to do this then the celebration better have a shit ton of hard alcohol."