"May the wandering wind offer its protection. Even in windless lands, there are souls that yearn for freedom."
With holy archangel wings unfurled behind him, his expression solemn and benevolent, utterly devoid of his usual playful irreverence, Venti hovered in the sky. Emerald currents of Anemo flowed gently through the hearts of all present.
"Ephemeral dreams… are also eternity."
Beside him, lightning gathered and condensed into the graceful figure of Raiden Makoto. Thunder rumbled across heaven and earth at her arrival, yet the lightning felt strangely gentle.
"Frozen currents contract, rivers congeal beneath winter's veil."
A piercing cold wind swept across the plaza. The Tsaritsa descended, staff in hand, crowned and robed in regal splendor. Pure crystalline Cryo butterflies fluttered around her like drifting snowflakes. Though she was the God of Ice, she gave Nahida a small nod that felt unexpectedly warm.
Below, the citizens of Sumeru were already overwhelmed.
They had assumed their Archon maintained decent relations with the other Seven. When Nahida mentioned a Five-Nation Alliance, they were already confused.
Now,
Multiple Archons had appeared in person.
Before anyone could recover,
A faint golden glimmer emerged.
Then the sky exploded with resplendent golden radiance.
An ancient and immovable will descended, like a colossal stone pressing upon every heart.
A presence that seemed to span endless eras fixed its gaze upon the present.
Finally,
Zhongli appeared.
Even Venti and the others inclined their heads slightly in acknowledgment.
Nahida herself, along with the citizens below, instinctively offered respect.
This, at least, everyone understood.
The one now present was the oldest Archon in existence.
And the strongest.
The universally acknowledged mightiest being in Teyvat,
Rex Lapis, the Geo Archon. The God of War.
At countless meetings of the Seven, he had presided.
In Liyue, people called him "Rex Lapis" or "Morax," placing that identity above all else. But to the rest of Teyvat, he was first and foremost the Martial God, then the God of Contracts.
Clad in a simple white hooded robe, face obscured, he stood in the sky silently. After a brief exchange of glances with the other Archons, he descended to face Nahida.
Sumeru erupted.
Citizens of the other four nations shouted their own Archons' divine titles in ecstatic joy. Many had merely come to witness the Sabzeruz Festival, yet now they beheld gods whom even in their homelands were nearly impossible to see.
Worth it.
Entirely worth it.
Zhongli regarded Nahida calmly, while from the corner of his eye he caught Ryen's silent glare.
He sighed inwardly.
Ryen was probably thinking he had overdone it, stealing Nahida's spotlight.
After all, Ryen had asked the four Archons to appear only to bolster Nahida's prestige, to show Sumeru just how powerful her connections were.
Unfortunately,
He had miscalculated.
If it were only Venti or the others, perhaps things would have gone as intended.
But Zhongli possessed a passive ability:
Presence.
Six thousand years of legend as the strongest and oldest god ensured that wherever he appeared, he became the focal point.
Even if dozens of gods gathered, once Zhongli arrived, they would bow and call him the Martial God.
That reputation had been forged through millennia of battle.
He wished to be low-profile.
His strength did not allow it.
Even Venti and the others understood, when Zhongli donned the mantle of the Martial God, everyone listened.
There was a reason the tale of him standing alone against the Seven during ancient assemblies still circulated.
Among the Archons, only he held a record of single-handedly suppressing multiple top-tier gods.
Strictly speaking,
He had long surpassed the ordinary definition of a god.
Approaching even the Heavenly Principles.
After catching Ryen's increasingly aggressive "hurry up" gestures, Zhongli suppressed a sigh and spoke in a calm, resonant voice:
"By prior agreement, I have come.
Nahida, do you confirm your intention to sign an alliance with the Four Nations?"
"From this day forth, to share prosperity and ruin alike. To advance and retreat together. To live and die as one."
"To contribute to the alliance, and march alongside it?"
Nahida smiled softly, unshaken by the ancient divine authority emanating before her.
She turned to her people.
"My citizens, tell me your will."
"The Four Archons stand here. I intend to sign this alliance and share fate with the Four Nations."
"Tell me your opinion."
Her voice was gentle.
Her presence was not.
Within her small frame surged unquestionable resolve.
In simpler terms:
"I am joining the alliance. Please confirm."
It sounded almost domineering.
But Ryen, Zhongli, and even Alhaitham thought it excellent.
A god must not be gentle alone.
Even if Nahida was kind and youthful in appearance, she was still Sumeru's Archon.
There must be moments of decisiveness.
A ruler who shows only softness invites weakness.
Even Raiden Makoto, despite her gentleness, would reprimand the Yashiro Commission if necessary. If the Tri-Commission faltered, she would purge them without hesitation.
Divine mercy is selective.
Now, Nahida was beginning to understand that balance.
At the very least, Ryen no longer needed to fear she would be taken advantage of.
Her excessive kindness had allowed the sages to oppress her for five centuries.
Had it been Zhongli,
Or even Venti,
The Grand Sage lineage might have been blown straight into a monster horde long ago.
The people of Sumeru were not offended by her firmness.
They were exhilarated.
Their god was leading them into the most powerful alliance in Teyvat.
Multiple Archons stood together.
They responded in unison:
"We follow Lesser Lord Kusanali's decision!"
Nahida nodded, turning back to the four Archons.
"Sumeru joins the alliance as one nation. We share life and death, advance and retreat together."
Golden light condensed into a contract scroll before her.
Without hesitation, Nahida signed her name.
She had seen this process countless times when Ryen conducted agreements.
But this time,
It was her hand.
"The contract is sealed," Zhongli declared. "Those who break it shall suffer the Planet Befall."
The scroll divided into five, each fragment entering the hands of the five gods.
At once, citizens of the four nations regarded Sumeru with newfound warmth, and Sumeru returned that gaze.
They were allied nations now.
"Sumeru has only just emerged from turmoil. As a member of the alliance, we shall assist in restoring its prosperity."
"For any needs, consult the Qixing."
He paused.
Ryen's "wrap it up" gestures were intensifying.
Zhongli coughed lightly.
"Additionally… as a friend, I wish you a happy birthday, Nahida."
With that, he dissolved into golden motes.
"Ehe~ Nahida, happy birthday!"
"Happy birthday."
"We prepared a gift for you. Enjoy your day."
One by one, the other Archons vanished.
The overwhelming divine aura faded.
Only Nahida and her people remained.
Zhongli returned to Ryen's side.
"Well? Satisfied? The four Archons' blessing should have given your Nahida quite the spectacle."
Ryen coughed, pretending nonchalance.
"It was… decent."
"You think too highly of yourself. My Nahida is already great. Even without you, her position would never waver."
"I just haven't appeared yet. If I did, I'd really show them what kind of backing she has."
Zhongli chuckled softly.
He had not expected Ryen to display such tsundere pride.
Ningguang and the others covered their smiles.
Usually Ryen was either utterly dependable, or utterly lazy.
This was the first time they had seen him act so adorably proud.
Zhongli said leisurely,
"By universal reasoning… though you may be stronger than I, your fame in Teyvat is not."
Ryen stared at him.
"Are you seriously competing with me on that?!"
"That's because I choose not to show off! If I walked around publicly, I'd never have peace again!"
Zhongli nodded calmly.
"You are correct. However, I am the universally acknowledged Martial God."
"…."
Ryen's face darkened.
"You've really grown cheeky with erosion."
He smiled thinly.
"Since you're the great Martial God, I suppose you won't mind if I show a little favoritism against you in the Five-Nation Bed-War during Lantern Rite?"
Zhongli froze.
He had forgotten.
Ryen was the referee.
After a moment, Zhongli replied,
"Deliberate bias would violate contract."
"Exactly."
Ryen grinned, casually polishing the Sword of Universal Dominion.
"So what if I violate it? You going to give me the Planet Befall?"
Zhongli chose silence.
Enforcing contracts required power.
Against anyone else in Teyvat, he qualified.
Even Azhdaha could be sealed.
But Ryen,
Was unreasonable in strength and temperament alike.
As the saying went,
A wise man adapts to circumstances.