Dottore chuckled as deep purrs echoed in the room from the dragon lying in front of him. The rest of Signora's body had just slipped down Morax's throat.
"Are you satisfied now that you're full?" Dottore crooned, walking up to the beast. "You must've been starving; you didn't leave anything."
Smirking, he placed his hand behind Morax's horns and rubbed the thick fur. The dragon's purrs sent vibrations through his body, but those amber eyes narrowed at him.
He couldn't bite me even if he wanted. As long as I don't have control over Snezhnaya, I could sit in his mouth without worrying about being eaten.
Morax growled through his forced vocalizations of contentment.
"Oh, come now, there's no need for that," Dottore replied. "I have to make sure the contract works. After all, I just saw you devour my former comrades. It wouldn't help me if I ended up joining them, would it?"
"I keep my word," Morax replied.
"Then you won't try to leave for the next few weeks." Dottore removed his hand from the dragon and grabbed the crane necklace.
There's no need to take his strength for now. He'll need it for the other Harbingers. Pity Scaramouche was in too poor of a condition for me to do anything with him before giving him to Morax. But then, I've gotten rid of two Harbingers.
"I believe you'll find it wise to stay here, beast," the Doctor continued. "You've made quite a few soldiers disappear, and you wouldn't want to start a war against your precious Liyue. A dragon's more noticeable than the usual murderer."
He whispered the Abyssal chant Aether had taught him into the crane. In seconds, his dragon stood.
"I trust you won't abuse what I've given you." Dottore tucked the crane beneath his shirt. "When you agreed to take our contract, my stipulations about staying with me…?"
"They apply," came Morax's answer.
"Your honor'll be the death of you, dragon." Dottore chuckled as he made his way to the worktable where the written details lay. "Though there is the question of summoning you. I suppose you won't be able to help me if you're bound."
Sighing, he gazed at the chains restraining his victim. Detaching the shackles connecting Morax to the wall required the key in his pocket.
Dottore could feel the Morax's stare on him as he made his way to the locks located on the drake's ankles and wrists. He pulled the key from his pocket and inserted it into the first hole. A twist and a click, and the first band had fallen from Morax. Dottore continued with the rest, heart rate quickening as the last chain fell from the dragon's legs.
Morax dropped onto the floor as soon as the ordeal had ended, licking the chafed, swollen areas where he had been bound. With each stroke, the dragon winced.
"You really shouldn't do that," Dottore urged. "Especially not with your diet. You'll just cause an infection."
Morax paused and narrowed his eyes in reply.
"If you'd take on a more suitable form, perhaps I could treat you more effectively. It's quite difficult to work with a dragon's anatomy." Dottore walked to a nearby potion rack and pulled a bottle of antiseptic from the cracked, wooden shelf.
He couldn't help but smirk as Morax's tail bristled. Each of the beast's hairs stood on end at the mention of his taking on a weaker form.
He's scared.
"Afraid?" Pulling the cork from the bottle, Dottore stalked toward Morax's wrists. "Oh well. I'll admit, you're more useful in this form. If you could turn your head that way… Your breath isn't the most pleasant thing I've ever smelled."
Morax flinched at Dottore's words, but he obeyed.
He knows I can take his strength and withhold treatment.
"Now…while I'm seeing to these wounds, why don't you explain the technicalities of summoning you? I can't simply parade you in front of the other Harbingers." Dottore untied the rag wrapped around the potion bottle and poured the antiseptic onto it. "This'll sting…"
"Anything that makes noise will do," Morax murmured, clenching his jaw as Dottore began to dab at the sensitive skin. "As long as it's bound to me."
"And you'll come immediately?" Dottore asked. "Any time delays?"
"No," came Morax's answer. "Once the whistle blows, I'll appear."
"Fascinating." Dottore moved on to Morax's other wrist. "I never expected contracts to be so efficient. Quite the reliable one, aren't you, Morax?"
"It comes with a price," Morax replied, flexing his claws. "Contracts must be kept for them to work like this."
"May I ask what happens to those who break their contracts?" Dottore glanced upward at the dragon.
An odd light flashed through Morax's amber eyes as he turned to face Dottore. The Doctor stepped backward as soon as the piercing gaze fell upon him. He'd never enjoyed having the Geo Archon's full attention.
Especially not when he's hungry.
"It depends on the severity of the contract and what it entailed." Morax's dull tone was dangerously quiet.
Dottore resisted the urge to shudder at the dragon's words.
Since when have I ever feared an Archon?
This should do.
Dottore picked up the bone from the stone floor. After a few minutes of searching, he'd spotted what had once been someone's upper arm shoved into the corner of the cavern behind a couple of stubborn columns he hadn't removed. Cave formations often held old vials and other pieces of equipment thrown behind them or misplaced after a long experiment.
Although Morax often didn't leave much of a carcass to dispose, a disembodied limb would sometimes appear in tight crevices or corners. Victims didn't like to hold still.
The dragon slept a few feet away from where he stood. He'd never told Dottore of the consequences of breaking a contract during their conversation a few hours ago, instead tucking himself into a ball and falling asleep.
I suppose he needed the rest. He'll be fighting the other Harbingers soon.
Dottore traced his fingers over the bone, noting its brownish-yellow coloration.
A little dip in weak acid should bleach it. Once I've cleaned it up and carved it, I can make a whistle. The one thing that music class in the Acadeymia'll ever help me with.
He carried his new possession to his worktable and set it beside his collection of medical supplies. Several of the tools had been stained with Morax's blood.
I'll have to clean them soon. It's a good thing I drew extra blood vials a few days before I made the contract. If I take too much, Pierro'll likely kill us both.
Dottore shuddered at the thought of the First Harbinger. He'd never directly competed with Pierro for anything; Pierro could easily kill any of the other Harbingers.
Damn him and his Khaenri'ahn magic…
Dottore glanced over his shoulder at Morax. The dragon's flanks rose and fell in rhythmic breaths.
Of all the Archons, Morax is the oldest and strongest. He's been through several wars, including the one against Khaenri'ah. And if Pierro's caught off-guard, I'll have an advantage.
Pierro seldom allowed his cold anger to overcome him. Only one topic could bring out his fury: his precious Tsaritsa.
After all, he's not immune to love.
Grinning, Dottore prepared a vial of acid and grabbed a metal tray from one of the many shelves lining the wall. He simply needed a speech on the right topic.
Once I lure him with the rest of them into a spot big enough for Morax, I'll have the throne. The others don't have near as much power as Pierro.
The shift in breathing behind him caused him to turn toward Morax.
"Ah, you're awake," he greeted. "Will this work if I make it into a whistle?"
Dottore picked up the bone and held it in front of Morax. The dragon winced at the sight of it, tailtip flicking with what had to be displeasure.
"It's the best I could do." Dottore put the remains into the acid, smiling as pale bubbles began to form within the acid vat. "Besides, I find it rather fitting. Don't you agree?"
"You're…" A growl rose in Morax's throat, but he didn't finish his answer.
"I'm what, beast?" Dottore chuckled, stepping toward his captive. "Insane? Sick? And what are you?"
Morax's legs tensed, and his gaze dropped to the ground.
"Need I remind you that our contract said nothing about me keeping from performing experiments on you," the Doctor threatened. "We're both immortal; I can wait for a few days while you heal."
Speaking of healing…
Dottore approached Morax's tail, smiling at the pale scar that greeted him. The symbol of Dottore's mask had been etched perfectly into the skin.
"You've recovered nicely." Dottore traced his fingers along the mark, smirking as Morax shuddered at his touch. "In a couple of days, we'll make our move."
I just need to get them all together with as few witnesses as possible. Then again, who cares if a few lower-ranking officers see it? Morax can easily take care of them. A dragon's a powerful ally to have.
Where is he?
Chongyun paced outside of the entrance to Rex Lapis's palace, gnawing on a popsicle stick. The cool sweetness of the dessert had long disappeared, barely able to suppress the new wave of yang energy brought by the past couple of months. Drawing a deep breath, he ran his fingers through his ice-blue hair.
One of the first lessons a young exorcist learned before taking a position as one of the Geo Archon's most-trusted guards was his frequent outings. Morax often took private journeys lasting for a couple of weeks at a time. At first, Rex Lapis's disappearance had appeared to be one of these trips.
Meetings with the adepti, getting rid of treasure hoarders and Abyss members… He does more than make Mora. But this…
Rex Lapis hadn't returned to his people for over two months.
He goes back centuries with our family. We're supposed to protect him! If we fail him—
Chongyun started at the creak of the giant doors to the palace opening, dropping his popsicle stick.
"Nothing inside except old blood," a woman's voice sounded from behind him.
He sighed in relief as he turned to face the soft features and black hair of a middle-aged woman. Tiánmêi, one of the senior exorcists, stood before him.
"Mom…do you think he…Rex Lapis…?" Chongyun stuttered.
Is he dead?
"I don't know," she answered, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose.
For the past few weeks, every exorcist had scanned the palace and its outskirts, attempting to trace any trail of elemental energy or physical signs of Morax's presence. Nothing had appeared, and no one in any of the remote villages had seen anyone resembling the Geo Archon.
"Your grandfather thinks we should make the announcement." Sighing, Tiánmêi sat on a nearby stone and stared toward the horizon.
The sun had recently begun to set, bathing both of them in its reddish light. Their white garments swayed in the cool breeze drifting from off of the lake.
But the tranquility of the evening couldn't slow Chongyun's rapid heartbeat.
"Everyone'll panic," he answered, unable to keep his voice from heightening.
"It's better if they know, Chongyun," she replied. "We haven't found him for two months. If something's happened to him… We can't lie to the people. They deserve to know."
"There has to be something more to this." Chongyun closed his sky-blue eyes and crossed his arms. "He wouldn't just abandon us, and he's too powerful for anyone to really…"
"Chongyun." He felt the warm pressure of his mother's hand against his shoulder. "Worrying about it won't do anything. We've done our best."
"We've done our best." One of Tiánmêi's most-used phrases.
But have we?
Chongyun opened his eyes and gave her a stiff nod before making his way to the entrance to Rex Lapis's palace.
It's my job to serve and protect Rex Lapis, and I'm going to do it. I have a little time while Mom takes her turn guarding the front doors. Maybe we missed something.
"Where are you going?" Tiánmêi asked.
"It won't hurt to go over everything one more time," Chongyun answered, turning to face her.
"You're so much like your father," she chuckled, flashing him a tiny smile. "Just as determined as he was… He'd be proud."
"If I can be half the man he was, I'll be happy," Chongyun murmured.
A hint of sadness filled her pale blue gaze before she turned away from her son. Chongyun gave her a final glance before entering Morax's palace.
Whatever we do, we can't give up. For Liyue. For Morax. For our honor.