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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Geo: The Price of A Contract (1)

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c


Many years ago, Rex Lapis stood by the tip of a mountain, contemplating over the usual rituals entertained by the people in the Harbor.

The Geo Archon had seen this happening for many decades, always wondering if, one day, the people of Liyue would stop worshiping him if he stopped visiting. How would they react? With scorn? With fear? Could they believe in some mystical rules he never brought up out of worry of being left into the unknown over his sudden disappearance?

The thought didn't come to him out of morbid curiosity, but genuine wonder if, eventually, he could truly accept the limits of his real nature. As much as it once used to feel like Gods could live forever, the chains of being an Archon meant that Zhongli's own life had a date which he wouldn't live beyond. It was ironic how he once thought his immortality was an absolute fact... like many other things.

Like Guili, like the old attempts to bring peace and prosperity to the land. Then Celestia brought her rule upon them - the Sustainer of the Heavenly Principles was an enforcer of those rules, with the Archon War being her way to abide by the Heavenly Principles' own decree: seven Gods, seven Elements, seven Archons.

The War was brutal and yet Guili became Liyue. And Liyue became great once more.

Was he proud of the children of the previous civilization? Yes. But Rex Lapis had a growing fear in his heart that, one day, he may have to accept he could no longer take that burden no more. He had to find a way to break from that duty before it was too late and...

This was the year Morax, the Geo Archon, would find his 'demise'.

Or rather, Morax would allow for a symbolic spectacle to dignify the passing of a God. How many could have hoped to see something of the kind? Definitely not the members of the Liyue Qixing, the political body of the Geo Country.

But his plan didn't unfold within a mere few days. Morax had actually retired months before the 'moment' would unfold, having vacated his lair to finally adopt a new identity.

Albeit he changed very little of his true self, 'Zhongli' was now a scholar that sought and then found a job as a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlour. The 'Director' was quite earnest to give him a role after hearing him speak.

Alas, this decision of his to join a Funeral Parlour of all places was made on the basis of many factors. Some of which involved the peculiar nature of said director, but most of those involved the unique peace given by the tending of the deceased and the handling of affairs regarding death itself.

Months went by and, while there were some amusing troubles at the workplace due to a lack of 'steady clientele', the most eventful days were those that saw him gamble on the survivability of Liyue itself: he was approached by the Fatui. It had been years since he spoke with anyone tied with the Tsaritsa, but 'La Signora' was indeed a surprising element.

Her vehemence was something that had left him 'touched' to some extent. The scorn, the rage... it was ironic how this year would see him met so many wrathful figures. La Signora wasn't the first of those, of course, but she was long beating the sealed fury contained within the youngest student of Xianyun.

Shenhe was indeed a prodigious child, now a grown woman with an impressive grasp on Adepti Magic. Yet, she had been left stunted in the matters of social interactions. He couldn't blame much Xianyun considering that all Adepti and those related to them shared a curious lack of 'understanding' over the ever-evolving human nature of the Harbor. And as the young woman herself came to visit to 'intercept' the third anomaly, Zhongli gave her some brief directions.

The girl didn't know his true identity, but appeared pleased to find a 'kind soul' in such a 'loud place'. He could relate to this depiction, and he felt like these were the same words Ganyu had used within her first years spent in the busy Liyue as the secretary of the Qixing.

The biggest encounter was, however, claimed by the 'third anomaly'. The most wrathful entity, and the one that Zhongli made an acquaintance of as him and his group were waiting for the Rite of Descension to unfold.

Tall, towering among humans, the bald man had a rather unique skin coloration. Younger beings would easily mistake his whiter complex as his proper skin shade, but it was the opposite. The red 'stain' was what was left of the man's true skin with the white made of ashes that... were close to him. Family.

It was such a perplexing sight for Zhongli, and he could feel his instincts screaming at him to be careful around this towering creature but... They 'met' right as Zhongli was enjoying a meal at the Wanmin Restaurant. A popular point for most people, and not only for its homely nature- it was the affordable prices and the exquisite cuisine.

And the scent of good food was what attracted the man to stand by the counter.

"Would you like to buy something, good sir?" Chef Mao was instantly on the move, spotting a potential customer and already offering a smile despite the bulky monster in front of him. The bald man blinked, grunting briefly and Zhongli realized that...

He had no clue on what to order.

Part of him wanted to facepalm, but most of his 'sane self' decided that being helpful was indeed the best route there.

"If I may, I can offer you a few suggestions, sir. I assume you are not from the Harbor."

The man turned and... nodded at Zhongli. "Yes."

"I believe you will find the Crystal Shrimp a simple but filling recipe. Chef Mao will provide you with some samples, I believe."

"Obviously, Mr. Zhongli."

And the foreigner nodded at the option, taking a seat and... appearing particularly tame in such a display.

In a sense, Zhongli felt somewhat silly at comparing him to the other. Perceiving the somewhat godly nature of the man sitting beside him, but also sensing how immensely greater it was. A sleeping giant, but not one that was prone to hasty decisions.

It was almost amusing how that distracted Zhongli long enough for another developments to come to sight. Shenhe had finally spotted the 'reason' of her visit. And the young woman, perhaps unfamiliar with the need to be tactful and subtle about her approach, opted to pick a seat right beside the man.

"Is that good?" Shenhe inquired, her flat voice catching the bald man's attention, and the man grunted in what Zhongli deciphered as a 'yes'. Shenhe thought so too, and this is where two things caught the God-in-disguise's attention.

First, Shenhe was choosing to eat a non-vegetarian dish. Maybe she didn't know since the meat was well-hidden, but as the girl got the meal, she didn't seem to care much for the ingredients. In fact, it almost felt like she was wolfing down the snack. In a similar display to the bald man.

Second, as he looked at these two together, he couldn't help but feel a sense of natural kinship that was impossible for him to deny. Even as the two finished and-

"More please." The two said at the same time, not missing a beat to wolf down a second portion of Crystal Shimps.

Adorable, and then, the 'big finale' was that Shenhe had no money to pay and... the bald man paid her tab too.

As the two left, with the young woman trying to appear as if she wasn't following the bald man and his companions, Zhongli felt an idea worm its way to his mind. And he was smiling giddily at what may be a 'sweet' addition to his already sour plan.

The Rite of Descension was, after all, around the corner and... that was going to spook a lot of people in the harbor.


AN

Dad meets Daughter. And Geo Grandad is watching this with intrigue. Next time, a more fleshed out interaction. And Lumine will get Jelly.