____________________
"For those that live too long, the friends of days gone by and scenes from their adventures live on in their memories. As such, I have no regrets in meeting her, my dearest friend. In the millennia that we had been parted from one another, her memories and her smile continue to shine like gold in my heart."
- Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Consultant, Zhongli
____________________
(Later that night)
It was already past 10 in the evening and most of the members of the diplomatic convoy were already fast asleep in their respective tents, exhausted from the extraordinary event that had happened earlier that afternoon.
After the incident, Artoria immediately ordered the tightening of security across the entire encampment in order to avoid any further mishaps. She ordered Commander Yuan to select a group of 16 Eonians divided into squads of fours and instructed them to scour the entire perimeter of the Guili assembly in all directions and eliminate all other possible threats, whether it be monsters or more ruin guards.
The four squads carried out their orders with the utmost diligence and after two hours of rigorous patrol and searching, they had successfully eliminated a total of 14 additional Ruin machines which included 3 Ruin Graders and a Ruin Hunter that was cleverly hidden underneath a collapsed bridge!
Artoria further stationed the remaining Eonians all across the camp's perimeter and key areas, again grouping them into squads of fours with each squad assigned to guard a specific area in order to ensure the safety of everyone within the camp site. This setting of four members per squad would allow at least two knights to stay on guard while the other two could rest in shifts.
Meanwhile, inspired by what they had just witnessed earlier, several of the Millelith who came along with the diplomatic convoy, volunteered to help the knights in securing the area. Yuan, seeing their eagerness, accepted their help but made sure that they would stay within a safe distance in case things got messy.
With their safety secured, the members of the entire diplomatic convoy were able to resume their respective works peacefully throughout the rest of the night. Dinner was served as the entire community gathered around numerous camp fires to eat and converse about the day's events while the Eonians continued their watchful vigil.
Even Lu Fu, after receiving some medical treatment and a much needed rest, was able to rejoin the group, even going as far as to profusely apologize to everyone for the mess that he had caused earlier that afternoon.
Artoria, in her usual benevolent manner, dismissed the apology and instead told him that she, as well as many others were simply glad that he was safe and sound.
After the evening meals had concluded, many opted to return to their tents and rest-in early for the night, anticipating the final leg of their journey to Liyue Harbor which they will resume early tomorrow morning. Though a few, namely the members of the Steambird and some other local Liyuen journalists, opted to stay up for a few more hours as they tried to organize and write down the day's events for their respective newspapers.
At around 10 pm, most of the camp was already quiet, with only the occasional chirping of crickets and the gentle rustling of leaves to be heard.
Artoria however, couldn't sleep.
She laid on her comfortable bedroll inside the main tent surrounded by her five precious little children who were all sleeping peacefully around her. Normally this setting would have easily lull her into a peaceful slumber, but tonight was different.
Her thoughts were elsewhere and it has something to do with the very ground she was sleeping on!
After some careful consideration and making sure that all her children were fast asleep, the Grand Master carefully got up and exited her tent. She still wore her favorite blue nightgown and her hair was less braided.
"Ah, what a lovely evening." She whispered to herself as she gazed up at the clear night sky. The moon was full and its light along with those of the stars, bathed the ruins in an ethereal glow.
She knew that it was all fake of course. A projection casted into the firmament by the One who sits on the highest throne. Yet even with that knowledge, Artoria still couldn't help but admire the beauty it projected.
"Can't sleep my lady?" A familiar calm yet stoic voice asked from behind.
Artoria didn't need to turn around to know who it was. She just gave the ever vigilant adeptus a simple nod.
"Yes Xiao, I couldn't. My mind is too occupied right now. Too occupied in thinking about this place and its history. I was hoping you could accompany me for a late evening stroll around the ruins. I find myself quite curious about this ancient city-state."
The Yaksha simply nodded in reply and followed the Anemo Archon as they walked through the silent ancient ruins. Along the way they passed by a few Eonian Guards who were on patrol. The knights, upon seeing their Archon, immediately stopped and saluted, to which Artoria simply returned the gesture with a smile. Some even offered to escort them, but the Archon politely declined, stating that she was in good hands with the adeptus.
The duo continued their walk all throughout the remains of the ancient city, with Artoria occasionally stopping to silently admire and observe the architectural style of some of the still standing buildings and the few carvings that were still visible on their dilapidated walls.
'This place, like the rest of this world, is quite bigger compared to how it was portrayed in the game. Far, far bigger. Heh, who am I kidding, I sometimes tend to forget that all of this is no longer a game made up of numerous pixels, but a reality. A real world with real history and people.' Artoria thought to herself.
The Guili Assembly.
A collection of generic antiquated ruins as far as game graphics goes but lore wise, it was once the seat of a great civilization.
The cradle of Liyuen culture.
A place where two gods once walked and taught humanity the path of enlightenment and progress.
For someone who had a deep appreciation for history, may it be fictional or real, the place itself was a gold mine of knowledge and stories waiting to be discovered.
It also didn't help that she herself was an avid fan of the so called 'Guili Ship', as the rest of the Genshin community back on Earth called it!
A romantic yet tragic tale of two gods who were both in love with each other! A story that has inspired countless fan arts and fanfictions on the internet. And now here she was, standing in what many die-hard shippers would consider as the 'holy land'!
'Wouldn't it be lovely if I could perhaps find some sort of artifact here? Something that could give me some sort of hint or clue about their relationship? Hmmm...maybe I could use that to comfort Zhongli if I ever get to meet him! Oh, that would greatly help if I decide to establish a cordial working relationship with him! Wait, is he even a consultant at this point in the timeline? Hmm, judging by the age of my adorable kids, I'd say it's about a decade or so before the arrival of the traveler, so Zhongli might still be living as a hermit in some secluded place, or perhaps he's already in Liyue Harbor but living under a different identity. I really need to do some fact checking later!'
"Is something the matter your Grace? You seem to be spacing out." Xiao's voice suddenly cuts through Artoria's fangirling.
"Ah, forgive me for my momentary distraction Xiao. I was just...admiring the view! Yes, I was just admiring the view!" She answered with a slightly nervous smile.
"Admiring the view...hmmm." The adeptus placed his right hand over his chin and contemplated for a few seconds before nodding.
"My Lady, if you don't mind, I believe I know of a place that can offer a full view of this entire city. I believe you would enjoy it. Please follow me." Xiao said as he turned around and began walking towards the eastern part of the ruins.
Artoria smiled and followed behind Xiao. She was thankful that the Yaksha didn't press any further (that would have been an embracing moment!) but at the same time she's also curious by his sudden suggestion.
The yaksha then led her through a narrow cobblestone road which was flanked by two crumbling walls on both sides, almost akin to that of an ancient alleyway. The narrowed path eventually led them towards a small hill just outside of the main city walls where a lone solitary structure that looked like the remains of a stone house stood.
After climbing the said hill, they arrived at the front of the structure, and as expected, it was already in ruins with most of its roof and walls missing. However, upon further observation, Artoria noted that the building still had one intact section which was a small veranda that offered a magnificent view of the entire Guili Assembly below, and from a distance, a great view of the Sea of Clouds.
"Woah...this is amazing." Artoria whispered in awe as she stood on the ruined veranda, marveling at the breathtaking panoramic view.
"I figured you would like this place, your Grace. This is one of the few remaining spots here in this ancient city where one can enjoy a scenic view of the entire place as well as find some peace and solitude. Here, please take a seat your Grace." Xiao gestured towards a pair of stone carved chairs surrounding a small stone table.
The three stone furniture appeared simple yet oddly well maintained which were in contrast to the rest of the ruined house. There were no intricate designs or carvings etched upon them, just simple polished stones carved into the shapes of chairs and a table.
"These chairs...they look so…new? How strange." Artoria commented as she gently ran her fingers on the smooth surface of the stone chair getting a feel out of it.
'Hmmm...strange indeed, it seems like they've been imbued with some sort of preservation magic. Interesting.' She thought to herself as she turned towards Xiao for answers.
"My Lady, you may not know this but this place held a special significance to me, to my fellow adepti and most importantly to my Sovereign Lord, Rex Lapis."
Artoria's eyes slightly widened at the mention of the Lord of Geo. She knew that this city was of great importance to him but she didn't expect that this place, or to be more specific, this ruined home, had a personal connection to him!
'Lucky! Maybe I could find a significant artifact somewhere inside this house! Bring it as a souvenir of sorts!' She gleefully thought to herself.
As the Anemo Archon took a seat on one of the stone chairs, Xiao manifested a simple white ceramic vase and placed it on the center of the table. He then conjured up a single blue colored flower that seems to glisten and bloom under the light of the moon.
It was a Glaze Lily, and Xiao gently placed it inside the vase.
The entire process only took less than a minute, yet for Artoria the entire scene looked like a carefully choreographed ritual. Her suspicion only deepened when she saw the Yaksha close his eyes for a few moments before slightly bowing his head towards the now prepared flower vase, as if paying his respects to someone or something.
"Xiao?" She gently called out, curious about the Yaksha's actions.
"It's nothing my Lady. Just a simple ritual me and the other adepti had copied from our Lord whenever we visited this place." The Yaksha answered as he opened his eyes and took the seat opposite of her.
"Back then...when this whole city was still the center of power within the lands that will one day become Liyue...my Lord would often frequent this place. Whether alone or with a companion, he would always bring a freshly picked Glaze Lily and place it inside a vase similar to the one right here. It was a habit of his and overtime it eventually became a tradition of sorts that whenever we, the Adepti, decide to visit this place, we would always bring a Glaze Lily and place it inside of a vase as a way of showing respect.
Xiao then momentarily paused as he briefly gazed around the ruined house, a hint of nostalgia visible in his golden eyes.
"This place...this house became his retreat. Whenever he was done with his duties or if he just wanted to be alone with himself, he would retreat to this place to meditate and unwind."
Artoria smiled at the story that Xiao was telling. The image of a stoic and serious god like Rex Lapis, retreating to a secluded house, all by himself, just to admire the view and bring flowers to it was simply wholesome in her eyes!
It was a rare glimpse into the personal life of a god who had always been portrayed as an indomitable pillar of strength. And considering the type of flower that was placed at the center, she had a good idea who he might have been thinking of whenever he came to this place.
"I never expected the Lord of Geo to be this sentimental. Tell me Xiao, did he build this house all for himself? Or did he perhaps build it with someone else in mind?" Artoria slyly asked, her fan curiosity getting the better of her.
"Considering the presence of this Glaze Lilly, I assume this house was perhaps a gift or a tribute to the Lady of Dust, Guizhong. Am I correct?" She gave Xiao a knowing smile like a schoolgirl who had just solved a particularly difficult math problem!
OH HOW ROMANTIC! A loving god building a small secluded home for both him and the goddess he loved! Neither the game nor the lore explicitly stated a scenario such as this, but the sheer possibility of it being true was enough to make her heart flutter!
During her teenage years back on Earth, back when she was still just Emily Pembroke, she was often known to be a sort of hopeless romantic type of gal who often indulged herself in a plethora of romance novels!
Being raised by a single mother, she developed a rather idealistic yet somewhat naive view of the concept of love, a view that was often fueled by her mother's own failed relationships. She would often daydream of meeting a dashing person, someone who would love her unconditionally and would build a home for her to live in, just like in those novels she read!
Unfortunately, life wasn't as kind as those portrayed within the novels and her idealistic view on love would gradually lead her into a series of poor decisions that would later shape her adult life....
...and ultimately force her into a scenario that she would ultimately regret.
But regardless of the tears she had shed and the heartbreaks she had endured, a small part of her still continued to cling onto that ideal, and after her daughter's tragic and untimely demise, that small flicker of hope and love within her heart became one of the very few reasons why she continued to live on.
She quit her corporate job back in London and started to once more indulge herself in the things that she had once loved, spending countless hours playing video games and reading love novels and fanfictions, at the expense of her family's fortune.
She rekindled her love for those fictional stories and would often fawn upon the romantic relationships of fictional characters. In a way, those stories had become her escape, and one of the most endearing of such stories was the tragic tale of the Lord of Geo and the Lady of Dust!
Her beloved Guili Shipping!
She looked at Xiao with eager eyes, waiting for him to confirm her suspicions...
...
.....
...
What she got however was something she didn't expect.
Xiao looked at his divine benefactor with a rather puzzled expression before letting out a sigh.
"My Lady, with all due respect, I believe your assumption about this house is somewhat...incorrect."
What?
Artoria's fan-girlish smile slowly faded as her brain processed what the Yaksha had just said. She looked at Xiao with a raised eyebrow, her romantic fantasy slowly crumbling into pieces.
"Incorrect?" She repeated with a hint of disappointment.
"Yes your Grace. While it is true that my Lord and Lady Guizhong do shared a very close bond, this house was not built by him as a gift to her. In fact, Lady Guizhong rarely came into this sanctuary, and the few times she did, she would often have this sort of...conflicted expression on her face."
A conflicted expression? Now that's something new.
"My Lady, as much as many nowadays would often love to think otherwise, the relationship between my Lord and the Lady of Dust was not one of romantic nature." Xiao continued, breaking Artoria's heart into a million tiny pieces!
"They were great allies yes, comrades-in-arms and it was through their friendship that the great civilization of the Guili Assembly was built. But they were never lovers. According to my lord....he had always viewed her as a sister, nothing more, nothing less."
Xiao noticed the somewhat shocked expression on Artoria's face and couldn't help but feel somewhat concerned. He wondered if he had perhaps said something wrong or if he had somehow offended her long held beliefs with his clarification!
'I've heard that centuries ago, the Seven would often hold simple gatherings together here in Liyue, hosted by my Lord himself. They were secretive affairs, so much so that I and the rest of my kin were ordered not to get involved. I wonder...did my Lord not share nor clarify these sort of personal things to the rest of his peers? It was said that the first Hydro Archon had a penchant for gossip, surely she would've coaxed these sorts of things out of him.' Xiao pondered at this unexpected conundrum.
'Lady Barbatos and my Lord were the only ones of the original seven who are currently alive today. I had always assumed that given their long history together, they would at least share these personal secrets with each other. After all, as they say back in Mondstadt, 'no secret will forever be unknown to the winds'.'
(Oh how wrong you are Xiao.)
Deciding that perhaps he needed to further clarify the situation before any more misunderstanding arises, Xiao decided to continue with his story.
"My Lady, I think it would be best if I told you the brief history of this city. On how it came to be, and how it ultimately fell. That way you would get a better understanding of this place's importance and perhaps...learn the truth about my Lord and Lady Guizhong.
____________________
More than 4000 years ago, Rex Lapis, the great Lord of Geo, descended from the Heavenly Realm above and unto the vast land that will one day become Liyue.
Back then, monsters and malevolent gods roamed the land freely, terrorizing the early Liyuen people.
For centuries the people lived in fear, constantly hiding from these monstrous beasts, their growth and development stunted by the constant threat of annihilation. Desperate, many would try to brave the dangerous journey towards one of the more stable ancient realms found in the far north and in the west hoping to find refuge from these unforgiving lands yet sadly, their journeys would often end in tragedy with none of them making it to their destination alive.
With no one to guide them, they huddled together in small scattered tribes, living a miserable existence. Many of them pleaded and cried out into the heavens for a savior, a deity that would protect them from the creatures that seek to devour them.
And so the heavens answered their prayers.
When Rex Lapis descended, he saw their suffering and, being a benevolent deity, he took pity upon them. With his divine powers, the young god raised the towering mountain named Mt. Tianheng at the south as a symbol of his divine authority and as a refuge for the people.
With his mighty divine spear, the Lord of Geo then proceeded to subdue the various malevolent entities that plagued the land. He culled the monstrous sea creatures that infested the western sea, chief among them was the formidable behemoth of the tides, Baqui whom he fought for 3 days and 3 nights with the assistance of the dragon lord, Azhdaha.
After successfully clearing the land of most of its threats, Rex Lapis used his authority over the earth and began to drain the great western sea, funnelling vast quantities of water into underground reservoirs and further expanding the land. This divine act gave rise to hundreds of towering karst pillars which would one day become one of Liyue's most iconic landmarks, the Jueyun karst.
With the waters receded and the region now free from the monstrous threats, Rex Lapis gathered the people he had sheltered in Mt. Tianheng and formally established a mining settlement at the base of the mountain which he named Shanhui Fort (The Mountain Splendor Fort).
The people then dug beneath the earth creating tunnels that extend towards the very heart of the mountain. There they found priceless metals and ores such as gold, iron and silver of varying shapes and forms. They dug deeper and found gems such as jade, diamonds and agate.
With the help of Rex Lapis, the people learned to craft these precious minerals into tools, weapons and ornaments. Over time the small mining community of Shanhui Fort became prosperous as their newly created items would attract brave merchants and travelers from the surrounding regions, bringing with them newfound wealth in the form of knowledge and ideas that further improved the lives of the people living at the foot of the mountain. After just mere decades, all the people of Tianheng derived their livelihood from the mines, all prospered from them, and none knew poverty within a hundred-mile radius.
It was also said that it was during this period of prosperity that the Lord of Geo began to teach the various creatures of the land, from the mystical to the mundane, the secret art of Illumination, turning them into the first adepti. These illuminated beings or Xian as they were once called, would over time grow in strength and numbers and would go on to tend the land and guide the people living under the Lord of Geo's realm.
Unfortunately however, their rise in power and strength caught the attention of some of the less benevolent deities. Some of them would be captured or outright killed by those malevolent gods who had claimed dominion over the neighboring regions, and their knowledge of the adeptal arts would be forcibly extracted and used by these same gods who would one day plunge the land into anarchy.
The Lord of Geo of course mourned the loss of some of his disciples yet he did not falter nor did he wage war against those who wronged him. Instead, He and the remaining adepti simply continued to guide and protect the people living around Mt. Tianheng while also securing the mountain and the surrounding lands from any would-be aggressors to prevent further loss of life.
For many years peace reigned over the realm of the Lord of Geo. The people continued to prosper and the adepti continued to serve under their benevolent god. But this state of peace and prosperity would soon be interrupted by the arrival of another god from the north whose subsequent friendship with the Lord of Geo would act as the catalyst for the next great chapter in the annals of Liyuen history.
Her name was Haagentus, otherwise known as Guizhong. And she was known as the god of dust
She and her people had fled towards the south in order to avoid the ever increasing power struggle between several other gods who were claiming rulership and dominion over the vast lands of the north. Having heard of the prosperous mining settlement at the foot of Mt. Tianheng and the benevolent deity who ruled over it, she decided to lead her people there and seek refuge.
Upon arriving at the borders of the Lord of Geo's realm, she was immediately greeted by not only the local populace but by the Lord of Geo himself who then welcomed her and her people with open arms. Together, with the assistance of the adepti, she and her people were given a place to stay and were provided with food, water, and shelter.
The Lady of Dust would befriend the Rex Lapis and his adepti companions, closest among them were the ones named Streetward Rambler and Cloud Retainer. Guizhong would then share her knowledge of the mechanical arts with her new friends and people, and in turn Rex Lapis and his adepti would share with her the teachings of illumination or the adeptal arts. The civilization under Mt. Tianheng would prosper even more with the arrival of the goddess, however both she and Rex Lapis would soon notice a certain issue that had been slowly growing within their prosperous realm.
The population had grown substantially and the mines of Mt. Tianheng were slowly showing signs of depletion. Rex Lapis initially considered the possibility of finding a new source of resources within the mountains to the west, but Guizhong instead offered a different solution.
She presented him with a plan that would shift their focus from mining into agriculture. She pointed out that the plains north of Mt. Tianheng were fertile and abundant, perfect for growing crops and raising livestock. She then made a proposal to her fellow deity, stating that instead of solely relying on a mining-based economy, their people could instead establish a new realm centered around the said fertile plain, a realm that would not only be able to sustain the ever growing population but also allow them to produce a surplus of goods which they could trade with other civilizations for resources they lacked.
Sound as it was, Rex Lapis initially didn't warm up to her proposal. For reasons still unknown, the Lord of Geo did not like the idea of his people moving north and occupying the fertile lands which he called the Plains of Returning and Departing. Some adepti would describe that there was a sort of nostalgia present within their Lord's eyes whenever the fields were mentioned or whenever he gazed from afar towards its direction.
Guizhong noticed that too but she kept on insisting with her proposal, emphasizing the long-term benefits it would bring to their people.
Then one night, while secretly visiting the Plains of Returning and Departing, Rex Lapis would be confronted by Guizhong who had followed him out from their home in Mt. Tianheng.
History would forget most of what had actually happened that night. Some said that the two gods had a heated argument. Others would say that Rex Lapis, in a moment of vulnerability, finally confided in Guizhong about a secret that had long since been forgotten by the world.
Whatever the case was, it was on that very night that the Lord of Geo made a solemn contract with the Lady of Dust, inthe place where the first Glaze Lilies had sprouted.
The words that preceded the signing of that divine contract would forever be recorded in the annals of Liyuen history, preserved by the Lord of Geo himself, and it goes as follows:
"Those little people are as small and fragile as dust."
"Because they are so small, they know not when they will lose their lives to disaster or strife, and so they are afraid."
"Because they are afraid, they try so hard to become more intelligent. This I understand."
"So I thought that since there is such a gulf between us in strength, I should use technique and wisdom instead."
"With your brawn and my brains, this city would surely become a great one."
"This is the pledge I made to you, with respect to the 'one' you so dearly honored."
Days after that fateful night, Rex Lapis with Guizhong at his side would summon all of his people and give them a new set of instructions. They would move north to the Plains of Returning and Departing and establish a new realm. He assured them that he and the adepti would watch over them and provide them with all the necessary assistance they needed to make their new home a prosperous one. They were told that the mines at Mt. Tianheng would continue to operate but at a much smaller scale, serving as a secondary source of resources for the newly established realm.
The people of course followed the commands of their sovereign lord, and in the next few years would migrate north towards the Plains of Returning and Departing. Under the guidance of Guizhong and the help of the adepti, the people cleared the fields, planted crops, and built homes, shops, and public buildings.
Rex Lapis on the other hand, oversaw the construction of the new realm's main city, ensuring that it would be able to withstand any threat, be it natural or otherwise. He personally designed the city's walls and fortifications, making sure that they would be strong enough to protect the people from any would-be attackers. He also created the first standing army to guard the said city, personally trained by him and equipped with the finest weapons and armor crafted at that time. He called that army the Milileth, and its subsequent iterations would go on to become the primary protectors of Liyue for millennia to come.
In just a few short years the new city would rapidly grow and flourish under the guidance of its two gods. Guizhong, inspired by her people's newfound prosperity, laid four sets of commandments for her people that would serve as the guiding principles of their new society:
1. To unite in ambition is to be steadfast and immovable for all time.
2. Wisdom is like water, it nourishes all those who receive it and in it is a reflection of the truth.
3. Fortify the bones, that movement be supple when the time comes.
4. Virtue grows tall like a tree, though there be shade it will flourish forever.
Rex Lapis would later praise Guizhong for her wisdom and benevolence. In turn the Lady of Dust would express her gratitude towards the Lord of Geo through a simple commentary.
"Our people had left their home and came to this place. Here, they are happy in their abodes and content in their work, thus it is as if they have returned home. Hence, what better name to call this place than 'the Plains of the Returning and Departing?'"
The Lord of Rock moved by the words of the Lord of Dust would thereafter rename the city and the entire surrounding region by combining parts of their names to form one word.
'Gui' from Guizhong and 'Li' from the unknown name the Lord of Geo used at that time.
Thus, the Guili Plains and the city-state of the Guili Assembly was born, the predecessor to the nation of Liyue we know today.
____________________
"The Guili Assembly would continue to prosper for many more centuries. Merchants and scholars alike from the arid desert kingdoms of the far west to the frozen realms of the far north would flock to this city to trade goods and share knowledge.
Arts and culture flourished under the guidance of our benevolent Lord and Lady, and at its zenith, the entire realm covered an area that stretches from the tip of the Stone Gate in the north down to the gates of Liyue Harbor in the south. It was a golden age, a time of unparalleled peace and plenty." Xiao paused as he looked towards the now desolate ruins below them, a hint of sadness was present in his golden eyes.
Artoria could clearly sense the sorrow emanating from the Yaksha at that time. She had listened intently throughout the retelling of the ancient entire story, and while she was indeed captivated by the rich historical narrative surrounding the ancient city-state and the gods who built it, she couldn't help but notice that there were a few new informations that she had never encountered before. Things that weren't even in game or in the various fan threads or wikis.
First and foremost was the Geo Archon's initial reluctance in moving north and building a city at the Plains of Returning and Departing. The game never mentioned any such reluctance before, nor did it mention that the Lord of Geo had some sort of sentimental connection to the said plains before the founding of the Guili Assembly.
'But enough about that for now. There are things that are far more important at this very moment than some few add ons.' Artoria told herself as she continued to gaze upon the silent and profound sadness coming from the lone warrior who stood before her.
Judging by the flow of the story, Artoria could easily guess the reason as to why the adeptus suddenly became sad.
She didn't live during that era, but she knew just how much the subsequent anarchy and chaos that had followed had affected the world and all of those who were living at that time. So, in the silence of her heart, Artoria simply gave the adeptus a thoughtful and reassuring smile, and the space he needed to gather his thoughts.
After a few minutes of silence, Xiao took a deep breath and continued on with his story.
"Unfortunately my Lady, as you can see, golden ages such as that are not meant to last. Many years later, the Heavens opened up and decreed that seven thrones of power and dominion shall be given to seven worthy gods who would be able to prove their strength and might. Thus the Great War....the Archon War...began."
"For the next several centuries much of the known world was thrown into a state of perpetual chaos as gods and goddesses from all across the land vied for the coveted divine thrones. Ancient alliances were broken, mountains and valleys were shattered, rivers and seas boiled, and countless souls perished...among...among them were...were so many of...my brothers..and sisters, siblings all in name, but not in blood, yet the bond we shared was as real and as strong as any family."
Xiao's voice began to crack as the sheer weight of grief and pain he had endured for centuries began to resurface once more. The sight of a usually stoic and composed Yaksha being so vulnerable and emotional was enough to make Artoria's heart ache with sympathy and sorrow.
"Even the Guili Assembly....our home...did not escape the flames of the war. They came from all directions, gods and their respective armies, all seeking to challenge our Lord and Lady, to usurp the domain they had built from the ground up."
Xiao clenched his fists so tightly that they began to tremble.
"We fought on. Led by our sovereign Lord, Rex Lapis, we engage countless battles on many fronts. The loyal adepti along with the Milileth fought valiantly to defend the realm, yet no matter how many enemies we defeat, more would take their place. Strong we may be but we were outnumbered, and our resources were slowly being depleted. And then one day...." A shadow fell over the adeptus' face as he tried to utter the next few words.
"....when we were all busy fighting on the front lines....a misstep...a miscalculation....allowed one of our foes to bypass our defenses and attack the city directly. Only Lady Guizhong was present that day....the rest of us were all too far away...too far to help."
"She wasn't known for her strength, but so many of the survivors told us that on that day, she stood bravely against her attacker, wielding her knowledge and wisdom as a shield to protect the helpless civilians within the city. She fought valiantly, but in the end...the power of her assailant was too much for her to handle."
"And so...when we finally arrived...it was too late...Lady...Lady Guizhong and most of the city had already-"
Without warning, Artoria got up from her seat and pulled the poor Yaksha into a warm and comforting embrace.
"Shhh...there there... it's alright. There's no need for you to continue. I...I understand." Artoria gently whispered into the distraught Yaksha's ears as she gently caressed his back.
Her gentle words and her comforting embrace had easily broken through Xiao's emotional dam, and for the first time in many centuries, the Conqueror of Demons, the one who proudly bore the name Alatus, began to cry. He buried his face into his benefactor's shoulder and wept, weeping for the friends he had lost, for the masters he had failed, and for the home that had been destroyed.
Artoria held him tight, cradling his lite body like how she would comfort any of her children. She said nothing, letting the poor adeptus release all his pain and sorrow as she hummed a soft and gentle lullaby.
For Xiao, the feeling of being comforted, being held with such genuine warmth and affection, was something that he hadn't experienced in a very, very long time...
And it brought forth some memories he knew not...
Faint...and flickering...like an echo from a distant past, back in a time when he had not yet opened his eyes.
'How should we call him or her?' Come on Blockhead, you can't expect me to leave this precious little egg all alone back in the woods?!'
'Shhh...it's Okay little one, you don't have to listen to that muddled headed idiot. I'll keep you safe and warm until the day you decide to hatch.'
'Hmmm...you like that song little one? Don't worry I'll sing to you so many other songs when you come out of your shell.'
'I don't like how you name things idiot! It lacks a certain flair! And...hmmm, what does that old vamp call it again? Oh right, it sounds so chinese! What? You don't know what chinese is? Said the guy who speaks like one!'
'Alatus...yes, you will be my brave little Alatus.'
Strange and yet somewhat familiar. Those vague and lucid memories were so comforting yet he couldn't recall more.
As much as he wanted too...he just couldn't.
Minutes later, after a long period of crying and silent sobbing, Xiao finally managed to calm down. He slowly separated himself from the Anemo Archon and tried to wipe away the tears from his golden eyes.
"Apologies your Grace. I shouldn't have..." He tried to apologize but Artoria simply cut him off.
"There is no need for you to apologize, Xiao. It is clear that these memories were still very much painful for you. You have nothing to be ashamed of." Artoria gently replied as she then conjured up a small piece of white embroidered handkerchief and began to wipe the remaining tears from the adeptus' face.
Xiao remained quiet as his benefactor's action was quite oddly comforting.
"There! All better now." Artoria said with a warm smile as she then placed her hands on her hips in a playful manner.
"Now, I think that's enough storytelling for one night. Best if we head back especially that we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow, what do you say Xiao?" The Archon suggested.
But Xiao, remained silent.
The Anemo Archon, the peer of his Lord and his divine benefactor had just done something that no one else, not even Rex Lapis himself, had ever done before.
She had seen his moment of vulnerability and instead of shunning him or treating him with pity, she had embraced him with warmth and compassion, like how a mother would comfort her own child.
He had a 'father' but due to circumstances, his relationship towards him was kept as a tightly guarded secret. Yet he....never had a mother.
There was Yunu, the one who found and raised him. He initially thought of her as such and even called her mother for sometime, but after realizing just how truly despicable and manipulative she really was, he immediately disavowed her.
'So this is what it feels like...to be cared for by a mother.'
Xiao looked at the smiling Archon before him and decided that he should give something in return. A gesture of gratitude for what she had done and for the genuine warmth that she had given.
"Your...your Grace, I know you wanted to get back to the camp, but do you have any more questions? I would be more than happy to answer any of your inquiries!" Xiao suddenly said, surprising Artoria with his sudden shift in demeanor.
'Hmmm...there are still things that I really want to ask but given how emotional the previous topics were, I don't think it's appropriate to push him any further.' Artoria thought.
"Are you sure about that Xiao? You have already shared so much with me tonight. I would not want to burden you with more painful-" She tried to say but the adeptus was insistent and immediately cut her.
"It's not a burden your Grace! It never was! In fact, I would be honored to share more!"
'What's with the eager attitude all of a sudden? One moment he was a crying mess, the next he sounded like an overly enthusiastic child who's trying to impress his parent. Hmmm..maybe I should give him a chance, after all a little more knowledge wouldn't hurt.'
And so Artoria caved in and decided to continue with her line of inquiry.
"Alright you win, but how about we have a change of scenery? This city, as ruined as it is, is still a large place. Perhaps we could continue while walking around? Would that be fine with you?" She suggested.
"Of course my Lady! In fact I know of another place that you may like...just promise me you wouldn't tell my Lord or any adepti you encounter that I took you there!" He said, a hint of nervousness that made Artoria chuckled.
"Duly noted. Don't worry Xiao I promise not to tell your master or any of your peers. Now, lead the way!"
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After the old ruined house, both Xiao and Artoria descended from the small hill and followed a small dirt path that led them further out from the city and into the surrounding fields.
The two walked silently with the ever vigilant Xiao leading the way while Artoria kept her pace a few steps behind, observing her surroundings and admiring the night sky. It was so quiet that the only sounds present were the gentle rustling of the leaves from the nearby Sandbearer trees and the occasional chirping of crickets hidden within the grasses!
"Hey Xiao since you agreed to answer more of my questions, perhaps I could ask you one more bit about your master and Guizhong's relationship? If you're comfortable that is." Artoria decided to break the silence, still not wanting to believe that the ship she had been rooting for so long was never actually a thing!
'Please! There has to be something more! I mean, they spent centuries together! Heck they even built a god-damned nation! Surely something must have happened between them!'
Xiao stopped in his tracks for a second, seemingly pondering about what to say next. He then turned to his benefactor and gave out a sigh.
'My poor dear Lady. Considering the tales that I've heard about how the Anemo Archon would tend to occasionally prank the Geo Archon centuries ago, I'm inclined to believe that my Lord made her believed that Guizhong and him were a couple, only to reveal that they were nothing more than friends just to mess around with her.' Xiao thought to himself with a faint hint of pity towards Archon.
'Come to think of it, was my Lord ever a prankster himself to begin with?' He added.
"Again your Grace, for the countless years they've been together, Rex Lapis only saw Guizhong as a sister."
"It's true that they were close. So close in fact that one could be forgiven to think that their relationship goes far beyond being co-rulers of this once prosperous nation." Xiao nostalgically said as he looked back towards the ruins of Guili as the cool evening winds swept across the plains that surrounded it.
"However..." He paused, as if trying to convey a secret that has been kept hidden away for countless years.
"However, looking back on how those two would always interact, it appears that there's always been that line between them. My Lord, he...he never allowed his interactions with Lady Guizhong to be anything more than friendship. Always presenting himself as a friend...a colleague...an elder brother...whenever the two of them were together. And..." Xiao once again paused as he tried to convey what he was about to say with the right words.
"...and that line became more apparent after they've established the Guili Assembly. Yes, my Lord had constantly kept his distance yet I and the rest of the adepti weren't so blind to notice that Lady Guizhong herself would often make certain hints or gestures indicating that she wanted something more from the Lord of Geo."
"Small gestures such as avoiding some important meetings at times when my Lord was present, only to appear later on with a new set of clothes and her hair done up in a new style that seemed to be intentionally made to impress my Lord. She would often times give the Lord presents such as finely made mechanical devices she had crafted with her own hands, with a few of them having an odd resemblance to some of the common romantic symbols that existed at that time."
"And there's the 'face'...that expression she made whenever she makes a visit to that house on top of the hill which we had just visited..."
"Whenever she went there to find my Lord all alone, she would make this...I don't know what to call it...this sort of hopeful yet crestfallen face, especially after staring at the lone vase with the Glaze Lilly at the center of the table. A few of us had noticed it even as Lady Guizhong tried to be subtle about it."
Artoria raised an eyebrow as she continued to listen to the Yaksha's tale.
'Strange, and here I thought that my assumptions were just baseless fandom nonsense...I guess not! But still, I never expected that the situation between them was more complicated than what I'd initially thought. Instead of a mutual love between the two gods, Xiao's testimony now portrays a one-sided romance from Guizhong's part. And it sounded like the goddess...was struggling to convey her feelings towards Rex Lapis.' She carefully thought.
But now, the question is...why?
Why did Rex Lapis never reciprocate her feelings?
Why did he keep his distance from her?
Surely there must be a reason behind it.
'Was it something to do with that contract they've made that one night, amidst the fields of Glaze Lilies?' Artoria pondered, trying to connect the pieces of the puzzle together.
"Do forgive me Xiao for asking these sensitive question, but do you know perhaps where the Glaze Lilly fields you mentioned earlier is located? The one that you said where Rex Lapis and Guizhong made a pact to establish the Guili Assembly?" Artoria asked, deciding to get some more clues about the mystery that is on hand.
Xiao nodded.
"I'm actually taking you there your Grace. Don't worry it's just a few more minutes from here." Xiao answered before resuming his walk.
The Yaksha's answer had somewhat surprised Artoria. Judging from the direction they're heading, she had initially surmised that they were heading towards the coast, after all coastline at this weather and hour would have been the perfect spot for a conversation/lore interrogation.
But instead, much to her surprise, the adeptus was actually taking her to the place where, according to his earlier accounts, a contract between two gods was sealed thousands of years ago leading to the creation of the entire Guili Assembly!
'Maybe I could find some more clues over there. But still, I couldn't help but get so excited! It is like getting a Literary Rush but cranked up to 11!' Artoria nearly squealed in her mind.
The Ship hasn't yet sunk! But it's taking on water, and she's going to save it!
True to Xiao's word, after a few more minutes of walking, they finally arrived at the eastern edge of the grasslands which was a cliff edge that overlooked the vast sea of clouds below.
There were no monuments, ruins or even trees present in the said cliff, just a few patches of tall grass and some wildflowers swaying gently with the sea breeze. To any average person, the place would look just like any other seaside cliff.
Yet to someone like Artoria who possessed far more acute senses, this seemingly ordinary place was somewhat 'unique' and 'out of place'.
Throughout the five years she had been in this world, she had become attuned and accustomed to the natural flow of energies that coursed within the land through the numerous Leylines that perforate it, may they be from Irminsul or in the case of Mondstadt, Resplendence.
The Leylines are the veins that nourish the world, carrying the memories, knowledge, and even the souls of all who inhabit this world.
Yet, the small piece of land that laid before her felt empty, as if...
"Xiao, this place...I don't sense the presence of any Leyline connections at all. It's as if this very ground we now stood on had been...severed from the rest of Liyue. Did you know something about this?" Artoria curiously asked.
The fact that there was a location within this world that's utterly disconnected from any sort of Leylines intrigued her. Heck even Natlan which had been detached from Teyvat's Leyline system for thousands of years had its own alternative in the form of the Night Kingdom.
This small place though? It felt like an empty void.
Xiao, instead of answering her inquiry simply nodded and walked forward. When he neared the edge of the cliff he crouched down, placed his right palm directly onto the ground and closed his eyes.
Moments later, the small purple colored gem in the middle of his forehead began to glow as a large intricate adeptal array manifested itself onto the ground directly beneath him, causing reality itself to twist and warp around the area.
"Oh great pillars of the past, manifestations of star and stone, heed my call."
"Let this passage be once again known, let the ancient bond be once again shown."
"Through meeting and through parting, two lives had been intertwined."
"Let the sanctuary oh so dear, once again be unconfined!"
After he uttered those words, the adeptal array beneath him flashed with a brilliant light causing the ground to rumble slightly, before a portal with an eerie blue light manifested itself out of thin air right in front of them.
A domain.
A well kept hidden domain.
"This way my Lady." Xiao politely said as he gestured for Artoria to go through the portal. The Archon, intrigued, followed without hesitation.
____________________
(???)
When Artoria stepped out from the portal, she was greeted by a sight that would forever be engraved in her memories. A place of stunning almost ethereal beauty.
A night sky, similar to the one from the outside, yet its numerous stars burned so much brighter and have appeared to have clustered themselves into vast visible galaxies.
There was no moon in sight and only the visible light from the said stars above illuminated the place.
But what stunned her the most was the vast and seemingly endless field of Glaze Lilies that stretched out for miles and miles all around her!
Thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of these beautiful silvery blue flowers were all blooming, basking under the light of the stars and swaying gently along with the cool breeze of the subliminal domain. Their collective fragrance was simply intoxicating, bringing forth a sense of peace and serenity within Artoria's soul.
'How... nostalgic.' She immediately thought to herself, but as to why though, she couldn't fathom.
Something within her had stirred the moment she saw those flowers, yet she could not tell exactly what it was.
A feeling?
A memory?
A long forgotten fragment of the past perhaps?
Yet the more she stared at the near endless sea of flowers, the more she felt an unexplained longing within her heart for something...or someone...she couldn't recall.
"Welcome Your Grace to Liuhi Baihe, the Realm of Solitary Fragrance." Xiao reverently announced, unable to notice the silent turmoil brewing inside his divine companion.
"This is the place that many had called for centuries as the Field of Glaze Lilies. The place where Rex Lapis, and the Lady of Dust, Guizhong, made their contract to form the Guili Assembly."
"This place...held a special significance in the heart of my Lord. Thousands of years ago, even before the Guili Assembly was conceived, my Lord separated this place from the rest of the land using unknown techniques that even we the adepti do not fully comprehend. He literally separated this place from the rest of the world, cutting it off from Irminsul and even from the gaze of the heavens."
After his explanation, Xiao led a slightly stunned Artoria further into the field until they arrived at a small clearing where a small mound of earth about three feet in height stood. And on top of the said mound lies a single stone tablet.
The mound itself was as barren as the ground. It has no stylish features nor any decorative carvings etched into it. Just a plain earthen mound with a weathered stone tablet standing on top of it. Overall, the structure eerily looks like a...
"A grave?" Artoria asked, mind still preoccupied with the unexplained feelings the Glaze Lilies had brought upon her earlier.
Xiao shook his head in response. He then picked a few Glaze Lilies that were growing around the edges of the clearing before walking closer towards the earthen mound, placing the flowers gently at its base.
"No my lady. This is no grave of sorts for no body lies beneath this earth. This is a memorial that Rex Lapis had built, but to whom or to what it was built for, neither I nor Lady Guizhong knows."
He turned to Artoria and noticed that the archon was oddly staring towards the stone tablet. Thinking that her odd reaction was due to curiosity, Xiao decided instead to continue on with his story, hoping that it would somehow answer any further question his benefactor might have.
"Since its creation, only four people have ever visited this place. My Lord first and foremost, then Lady Guizhong, myself and now you my Lady."
A momentary silence had once again settled between them as Xiao paused, trying to find the exact words to use.
"I...I once promised fath- my Lord that I would keep this place a secret, even from the other adepti. But..."
Xiao took a deep breath before continuing.
"...but after all you have done for me my Lady, after the kindness you have shown me, I guess that I could make an exception. I just hope my Lord would forgive me for this." Xiao smiled before removing his gaze from the mound and staring back into the endless sea of Glaze Lilies.
"Heh, you know what my Lady? When my Lord, Rex Lapis freed me from the clutches of Yunu thousands of years ago, instead of taking me straight back to Mt. Tianheng, he instead brought me here, in this place."
"I could still remember it as if it were just yesterday. I was greatly injured at that time, wrapped in bandages yet my Lord carried me in his back until we arrived at this very spot. While still carrying me, he simply stood in front of that earthen mound for a few moments before he began speaking in a mysterious foreign tongue."
"I've never heard such language before, but my Lord seemed to be so well versed on it. He looked like he was conversing with someone, but alas whenever I ask him about it, he would either answer me in a very vague riddles or just outright refuse me."
"Ever since that day, he would often take me with him in visiting this place. He would still speak in that strange foreign language whenever he's in front of that mound and I would just stand by besides him as he continued on with his one sided conversation. Though, throughout the centuries, I came to realize that my Lord looked more comfortable and more at ease whenever he was here."
"After Guizhong died, he came here and he found peace."
"After the Archon War ended and he became the Geo Archon, the first thing he did was to come here bringing with him a bottle of Osmantheus wine."
"After Liyue Harbor was established, he came here and just sat beside the mound, watching the stars above."
"After every single Rite of Descension, he would come here, muttering in that unknown language as if he was asking if the predictions he had bestowed upon the people were right."
"Whenever one could not find him, chances are my Lord is here. In this place...safe from the prying eyes of the world, safe from the burdens of his rule. Just him and that lone earthen mound, under the radiance of this pocket dimension's false sky."
"That is why-" Xiao suddenly stopped his monologue for when he finally turned around to face his divine companion. He noticed that Artoria had already wandered just a few inches in front of the mound, staring unblinkingly towards the weathered stone tablet.
Concerningly, the yaksha tried to call her out but his voice seemed to fall into deaf ears as Artoria continued to stare at the slab of rock in front of her as if she was under some sort of trance.
'H...how? This...this can't be?! Why...why is it written here?!' Artoria nervously thought as she stared not on the stone tablet itself, but on the nature of the language the inscriptions were written.
Celtic.
More specifically, Welsh.
The words and letters carved into the stone were a mix of the English and Welsh alphabet.
It was a script...a language that is not of Teyvat!
This...this is the language of her home, of Wales....one of Earth's!
And yet it's here staring directly at her!
What the hell is going on!
She reached out a trembling hand, her fingers brushing against the ancient carvings as she dust off the parts that were obscured by moss and lichen, revealing the complete text hidden underneath.
Mae fy nyfodiad i'r byd hwn yn ymadawiad mewn gwirionedd a dim ond dychweliad yw hynny, yr ydym yn ei alw'n ymadawiad.
…
Y rheswm pam ei fod mor brifo gwahanu yw oherwydd bod ein heneidiau wedi'u cysylltu.
…
O, mor lwcus ydw i i gael rhywun fel chi sy'n gwneud ffarwelio mor anodd.
…
Felly os gwelwch yn dda, gadewch i ni'r ddau wenu ar y diwedd oherwydd ni waeth ble byddaf yn mynd, byddaf bob amser yma gyda chi.
....
....
....
*Drop*
'Huh?'
While still reeling from sheer shock, Artoria felt something wet trickling down her cheeks. With a trembling hand she instinctively touched it.
Tears.
Tears were flowing down from her eyes.
She's crying...
But why?
"Your Grace!" Xiao shouted in alarm as he hurried to Artoria's side just as she suddenly dropped down into her knees and began wept heavily before the earthen mound.
____________________
Mae fy nyfodiad i'r byd hwn yn ymadawiad mewn gwirionedd a dim ond dychweliad yw hynny, yr ydym yn ei alw'n ymadawiad.
(My arrival in this world is really a departure and that, which we call departure, is only a return.)
…
Y rheswm pam ei fod mor brifo gwahanu yw oherwydd bod ein heneidiau wedi'u cysylltu.
(The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected.)
…
O, mor lwcus ydw i i gael rhywun fel chi sy'n gwneud ffarwelio mor anodd.
(Oh, how lucky I am to have someone like you that makes saying goodbye so hard.)
…
Felly os gwelwch yn dda, gadewch i ni'r ddau wenu ar y diwedd oherwydd ni waeth ble byddaf yn mynd, byddaf bob amser yma gyda chi.
(So please, let us both smile at the end for no matter where I'll go, I will always be right here with you.)
_______________________
(End of Chapter)
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