Ren
"Alright everyone, get a good spot while you can." Ren said to his employees standing around him.
As a group that partook in the preparation of the Rite of Descension, they got the chance to reserve front row seats.
One by one, his employees shuffled away like a flock of birds. They seemed to be in a good mood, which made sense considering this was the biggest event for the people of Liyue.
Most of his new hires were native to Liyue, all except one.
'Tao Jun, Cheng Bo, Kai Ren, Mei Rong, and… Janice.' He still remembered how jarring it was to have Liyue names followed up by one Mondstadt one.
They were really tense the first few days of work, even after they finished, they still needed some time to lower their guard with the rest of his workers.
Thankfully, Meifen did an amazing job at ice breaking.
'Maybe I could promote her to head of human resources…'
"Ren! It's been some time since I've seen you, my book buddy."
Turning around, Ren spotted a familiar face walking towards him in a small stride.
"Xingqiu, what a pleasant surprise."
Suddenly, Xingqiu put a hand over his mouth, feigning surprise. "Oh no! Don't tell me that a mere week with the big players got you speaking like one of them. While I'm glad to see you grow, I'd prefer you not to speak like one of my people."
"Haha, really funny." Ren sighed, but he kept a smile on his face. "Nice to see you again Xingqiu. I'm honestly surprised I didn't see you earlier in the preparation, especially with you being part of one of the Merchant Guilds."
The mention of the Rite's preparation made the young man wince. "Please, no more mentions of work. You must have talked with one of my representatives, I was in charge of things behind the scenes."
"Fair enough," Ren shrugged, "Are you gonna reserve a spot too?"
"Nope."
"Eh?"
He must have made a funny look because Xingqiu let out a loud laugh that gained some looks from bystanders.
"While the Rite of Descension may be the biggest event in Liyue, most people overestimate its importance for the nation."
'Are you sure you can just say that?' Ren got paranoid and took a glance up at the clouds. 'Rex Lapis if you're hearing this, I have no idea what he's talking about.'
Xingqiu seemed oblivious to the thoughts running through his mind and continued, "For the common folk, it is a chance to see your deity and have your prayers heard. For people like us, we can see the Rite for what it truly is: another meeting with the big boss."
He shrugged, "The Rite is Rex Lapis descending to give his divine prophecy for Liyue's economic and business activities. As humans grow and times change, such guidance is just not as needed anymore."
…
"You may have a severe case of survivorship bias."
"Survivor what now—"
"Interesting words, Young Master Xingqiu. I can't help but agree with your view." Another voice cut through their discussion. They turned their heads to see two figures approaching. A tall, composed man with golden eyes, and a shorter woman with a large hat and flowery eyes.
"You should be careful there, Xingqiu! Rex Lapis might get offended and strike you down." Hu Tao waved her hands in what she thought was a frightening manner.
It had no effect on Xingqiu.
But Ren did sweat a little.
"I'm merely voicing my thoughts, I'm sure our Lord of Geo would take no offence." He laughed without worry. "I see Mr. Zhongli agrees with my thoughts on the matter."
The man in question hummed in agreement, "Indeed. There have been many moons since Liyue was established, and the people now have grown much in that time. In my eyes, it won't be long until the age of Gods is no more, and the age of humanity may start to bloom."
"You have a way with words, Mr. Zhongli." Xingqiu praised.
"Don't encourage him, I already have to deal with so many unwarranted lectures from my dear secretary. I don't need him to do more now." Hu Tao interjected, but then she turned to Ren, and noticed him casting glances at the clouds above.
A grin slowly made its way onto her face, "Haiya, is Mr. Courier getting nervous that Rex Lapis might strike us down?"
That snapped Ren out of it, and he let out a huff, "Don't be ridiculous."
"Oh? Then why are you all the way at the back and not closer to the center?"
…
…
"I like it here?"
"Pfft—!" Both Hu Tao and Xingqiu burst out laughing, even Zhongli couldn't help but crack a smile.
"In any case, we should head to our spots. Please don't be afraid to come closer, Ren. I'm certain that Rex Lapis wouldn't mind your presence." Zhongli said.
"I must take my leave as well, I need to drag a certain exorcist here against his will." Xingqiu nodded pleasantly.
With that, the three of them walked away, leaving Ren in his lonesome.
"Haaah…" He sighed and rested his hands on the railings. 'I know everyone says that Rex Lapis wouldn't mind, but I'm still nervous.'
After Childe had done something with his soul that allowed him to suppress his leaking negative energy, it came at the cost of insane headaches the few days after.
For some reason he didn't get them anymore, but what if he lost control and let the negative energy leak in the middle of the Rite? That was just a recipe for disaster—
"Hello Ren."
"Holy crap!"
Ren stumbled back and was greeted to the sight of a startled Ganyu.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to surprise you. I just wanted to ask why you were all the way back here." She tilted her head curiously, "I reserved a spot for you near the front."
"A-Ah, it's just that I don't think it's a good idea to have me in the middle of so many people… And so close to Rex Lapis."
It seemed like he didn't need to elaborate further, as his words gained a frown from the half-adeptus.
"Ren, I already told you that Rex Lapis would not take offence to your presence at the Rite." She gave him no chance to retort and instead held his hand and slowly pulled him to the center.
'Since when did she get this bold?!'
"Ganyu, wait a second—"
"Besides," She cut him off, "I can't accompany you once the Rite starts, as I have to be beside Lady Ningguang. So if you're too far away, I can't even see you."
Ren couldn't see her face right now, but she sounded like she was pouting a little.
"Oh, alright. I guess I can stay a little closer."
"Fantastic!"
/ — /
'Holy crap, this is a lot of people.'
Ren stood stiffly in the middle of a crowd with his shoulders locked. Even though he was now in the front row, people were still pushing and nudging each other.
People filled the pavilion quickly, and he could spot Millelith stationed at all the entrances. It was somewhat amusing to see mortal guards stationed at an event where a deity was about to descend. Though it was probably for image's sake.
He decided to pass the time by looking at the faces around him.
Not too far away was Xingqiu standing beside Chongyun. It seemed like the young master was able to successfully drag their friend to the front row. And somehow, Chongyun still had a popsicle in his mouth.
A little further off were Xiangling and Hu Tao, chattering enthusiastically about something. What caught Ren's eye was the newcomer that was with them, someone he'd never seen before.
The woman had dark spiky-ish hair, and from what Ren could sense, she was also a Vision Wielder.
'Another Pyro Vision wielder? Hu Tao is just collecting pyro users like pokemon at this point.' He shook his head. He didn't know why it was so amusing to him.
Then the crowd's loud chattering suddenly settled into quiet murmurs.
An announcement rang out over the pavilion from somewhere Ren couldn't see. But the sea of people parted to show three figures making their way to the center.
'Keqing, Ganyu, and Ningguang.'
He immediately noticed Ganyu's serious demeanor. It was a rare sight to see her actually working beside the Tianquan, and it was definitely different from her usual professionalism. She even looked pretty intimidating.
Ren straightened his posture slightly without meaning to.
Keqing and Ganyu stood back as Ningguang stepped toward a long table set at the center of the pavilion.
Food offerings and other trinkets were placed there, along with a stone construct right in the middle that Ren couldn't identify.
As the Tianquan stopped, the crowd went silent on its own.
"The hour is upon us," As Ningguang finished her words, a golden light bloomed around her feet.
Ren felt his pulse pick up.
Four stones suddenly circled the Tianquan, gathering elemental energy before slotting cleanly into the waiting construct.
They clicked into place at the same time, and in that instant, a beacon of golden light tore upward to the sky, piercing straight through the clouds.
'That's—'
A large shadow began descending through the opening the light had carved.
Ren felt himself tense up as a draconic shape slowly made itself known. Ancient, golden eyes burned so bright as if it could pierce his very soul.
The Lord of Geo stopped just a little above the table of offerings, his mere presence carrying an unspoken warning to anyone who dared threaten Liyue.
Rex Lapis had descended.
The Rite of Descension had begun.
/ — /
"People of Liyue—"
Rex Lapis's voice was not what Ren expected.
A part of him still thought of the Lord of Geo as similar to Zeus. So he expected a thunderous voice that would shake the earth.
But the Archon's voice was actually quite calm. It still carried the authority fitting of the Geo Archon, but it also sounded gentle.
Ren was too focused on Rex Lapis himself instead of the words he spoke, not that he was interested much in it anyway.
He glanced over at the individual who was now talking with Rex Lapis, Ningguang. The Tianquan stood calmly with respect, she didn't look the slightest bit fazed that a god was speaking to her.
'She's on another level.' He felt a wave of respect for the Tianquan. If he was the one up there, then he would have passed out.
Both from fear and the immense divine energy from Rex Lapis.
The divine prophecy went on for a while. Ren was able to understand some of it, something about balance and Liyue's prosperity.
He was not smart enough to understand all the sophisticated lingo that Rex Lapis used, and he was pretty sure he would fry his brain trying.
Eventually, it concluded, and the second phase of the Rite started.
A line started to form in front of the Archon as people bowed down one by one to offer their prayers.
It was a sight that hit Ren in a way he didn't expect. To see regular citizens able to gather their courage to prostrate themselves in front of an actual god and ask for things.
There was something moving about it. To see real faith actually be met with something that could offer an answer, or at least hear.
He couldn't say the same with the people of his world.
Another person stepped up.
"Oh great and boundless Rex Lapis, sovereign of stone and contracts, whose wisdom guides the very foundations upon which we—"
'Ok, he's really dragging this one.'
"—we humbly beseech thee, in this most sacred hour, to grant unto your servant—"
'Ask. For. The thing.'
"—continued favorable rates on maritime insurance for the coming fiscal quarter."
…
'Bruh.'
Rex Lapis, mercifully, showed no reaction whatsoever, which somehow made it funnier.
The next few prayers ranged from touching, with a woman quietly thanking the Archon for her family's health, to Ren having to bite the inside of his cheek to keep his expression neutral when a merchant basically delivered an entire business pitch for some ungodly reason.
Ren got bored of listening to more and more prayers and decided to glance at the side where Ganyu stood.
Their eyes met, and Ganyu's expression changed into a slightly worried one.
Ren forgot that even though the Rite was going smoothly, he was still sweating at being in such close proximity to a god. It wasn't even fear at this point, just the sheer amount of energy Rex Lapis exuded was enough to make him lightheaded.
To add insult to injury, Ganyu's worried expression soon switched into an amused one.
'Thanks Ganyu, laugh at my misery.'
Finally another announcement was made, and the prayer session came to a close.
The Qixing representatives bowed in respect to their archon as Rex Lapis prepared to ascend once more.
But before he did, he moved his gaze towards the sea of people.
And landed on Ren.
Ren's entire body felt the change in the air as an invisible weight slowly encompassed his body. His breath hitched, and he froze in place as if he were standing in front of a predator.
A few heads nearby turned to follow Rex Lapis's gaze, confused about what could have gained the Archon's attention.
Most of the crowd remained oblivious, but a handful of people were able to track the angle at which Rex Lapis glanced, directly at Ren.
The mere seconds that Rex Lapis gazed at Ren felt like an eternity.
Then it was over.
Rex Lapis's gaze moved on, and the ceremony concluded, the golden light beginning to recede as the Lord of Geo ascended into the heavens.
All the while, Ren was left sweating profusely, refusing and too afraid to move from his spot, and mere seconds away from passing out.
/ — /
"Am I gonna die?"
"You're not going to die."
"He looked right at me. Right at me, Ganyu. I'm so fucking cooked gang."
"What does that even—? Ren."
"What if this is like a three-day warning before something happens and I just don't know it yet—"
"Ren." Ganyu put both hands on his shoulders, forcing him to stand still. "You are not going to die."
They were in one of the private rooms overlooking Liyue Harbor from above. Ganyu had brought him here when she saw him ready to pass out, and she had given up trying to get him to sit down.
"How do you know that?"
"Because if Rex Lapis wanted you dead, you would already be dead. That's not really a gray area, trust me." She said, as if it helped in any way.
"That's not as comforting as you think it is! And why do people I meet keep saying that?!"
Off to the side, Hu Tao was sitting on the edge of a table, one hand pressed over her mouth, shoulders shaking with the effort of not laughing out loud.
Beside her, Zhongli stood very still while sweating in a way that felt distinctly out of character for someone usually so composed.
"Wait, why are you two even here?!"
Hu Tao lowered her hand just enough to speak. "Felt you leak a burst of negative energy right after His Lordship looked at you. Figured I'd come check if you were dying."
"I was NOT—" Ren's voice cracked slightly. "Wait, I did what now? I leaked my energy?!"
"Just a little! Barely noticeable!" Hu Tao held up two fingers close together, which did not help. "Only someone with my particular sensitivities would've caught it."
"And you think a GOD wouldn't?!"
His shouts only made Hu Tao laugh louder, making her nearly fall off the table.
Ren finally gave up and crashed onto a chair.
"I can't believe I lost control of my energy in front of an Archon… This is the worst day of my life…"
"Ren, listen to me." Ganyu knelt in front of him after he calmed down a little. "When Rex Lapis acknowledges someone directly like that… It's typically a sign of recognition."
"That doesn't feel like something you'd know for sure."
"I—" Ganyu hesitated. "I've never actually seen it happen before. B-But that's the only explanation that makes sense!"
"Indeed." Zhongli finally spoke, his voice seemed slightly strained. "From what I understand of these matters, when Rex Lapis extends his gaze to an individual in such a manner, it serves as a form of blessing. An acknowledgment of belonging."
Ren looked at him for a moment, narrowing his eyes. "You just made that up."
"I did no such thing."
"You did. I can tell. Your tone was different from when you usually tell your history stories." Ren put his hands over his face, "Even you don't know what that means. I'm so cooked."
"I assure you my words bear weight." Zhongli's composure broke slightly. "In fact, Rex Lapis would likely have left some token of acknowledgement. A physical mark of the blessing."
Now it was Ganyu's turn to be confused. She furrowed her brows at the man "I don't believe I've ever heard of something like that."
"It is not widely known."
"Because you're making it up," Ren said again.
"Check your pockets."
"What do you—huh?" Ren froze. He actually felt something heavy in his pocket that he didn't notice before.
Slowly, he put his hand inside his pocket, and his fingers closed around something solid.
Pulling it out, he saw that it was a pendant of sorts. It was a simple construct in the shape of a Geo symbol, but the elemental energy that permeated the item was so pure that there was no room for doubt that this actually came from an Archon.
Ganyu stared at it. Ren stared at it. Even Hu Tao had stopped laughing, leaning forward slightly to look.
"...How did I not notice that?" Ganyu was bewildered, her expression one of confusion as she tried to understand why her Archon would give Ren a token of acknowledgement.
Never once in many millennia did Rex Lapis ever do something like this, so the fact that he did so for Ren really messed with her head.
"I have no idea."
Zhongli said nothing. His expression remained composed, but a single bead of sweat slowly dripped from his face.
Hu Tao let out a long, low whistle. "Rex Lapis works in mysterious ways. Right, my dear assistant?" She nudged Zhongli's arm with her elbow.
"...Indeed."
/ — /
???
"How amusing…"
On a jagged outcropping in the mountains just beyond the harbor's edge, a woman sat with one leg crossed over the other, watching the last threads of golden light fade back into the clouds.
"Oh my~" She laughed lightly, resting her chin on one hand, elbow propped on her knee. "What a vile little soul you have. To think that something like you could ever exist… What kind of world did you come from?"
Her golden eyes tracked the distant figure still being fussed over far below by the half-adeptus. Most people couldn't see anything from this distance, but she was unusual by any metric possible.
'How curious.'
She hadn't planned on personally checking on Ren Roman, she had much more important work after all. But a part of her brain continued to knock at her, and watching him now, she was beginning to understand her friend's interest in the boy.
"I think it's about time I get to put my hands on him." She tapped a finger against her cheek, a dangerous smirk plastered on her face. "How does one get close to an individual like him? He is an energetic young man. Perhaps I could have some fun—"
She stopped.
"Well, aren't you protective?"
A pulse of energy made itself known from the harbor below, and a pair of golden eyes turned to meet her own.
This reaction only served to blow the flames of her interest. She laughed louder, as if to mock the one watching her.
"Oh, relax." She waved a hand carelessly as though the gesture could actually reach him. "I won't touch your little stray. Not while he's still in your territory anyway."
The gaze lingered a moment longer before it withdrew, returning to whatever business had occupied it below.
'How predictable.'
"But he won't stay in Liyue forever." She stood, brushing dust from her clothes, already losing interest now that she'd made her point. "And the world is so very large."
"Ren Roman… I'll be sure to drain you for all you're worth~"
And with that, she dissipated into particles of light.