Right, things were awkward now.
Ningguang and her people looked like they were ready to start fighting because those Adepti weren't backing down. And the Adepti came in very aggressively and immediately tried to throw around their weight.
And then I appeared and just threw one of those Adepti off the Terrace.
I could imagine how it looked in their eyes.
A dead god, each side pointing fingers or panicking, then a random one like me just slaps the big red bird away.
There are only a handful of things that I absolutely will not abide by. I know that Artoria can take care of herself, and in different situations, I would step to the side and let her because she values her own individuality.
She wasn't someone I needed to shield forever, or hold her hand.
Artoria was a strong woman, and I didn't need to act like she was some delicate maiden.
However, sometimes there's just something you have to do for someone you love. She was understanding and didn't look upset that I stepped in.
Frankly, I might have been more passive if that bird just straight up declared a fight with Artoria and charged at her rather than just taking a cheap shot like that so dismissively.
Before anyone could say anything, a bright golden and red light shot up to the sky from over the edge of the terrace.
The Crane looked furious.
But…
Could he be more angry than me right now?
There are very few things that absolutely piss me off.
"Mountain Shaper, please control—" Cloud Retainer tried to say something, but it was sort of overtaken by the sound of the terrace trembling.
He was gathering a lot of power; I could feel that. And I realized he was most certainly going to use it to attack me because his pride was most certainly bruised.
I took a step forward and used a burst of Shunpo. The bird's eyes widened, and his head reeled back as I stared right into his eyes with only a breath away, having arrived in front of him in the blink of an eye.
I waved my hand down, using the authority of Hanuman again, making a giant palm of wind smack him into the stones below, shattering dozens of them in impact.
The Bird was confused and disorientated for the briefest of moments, but waved his wing up, and a large, sharp, pillar of what looked like amber burst out of the ground coming at me.
The power of Geo?
It wasn't specifically earth-like in application.
Hmm
I drew my new sword—my Skyward Blade. Wrapped around with my authority over wind, it seemed to hum loudly in excitement. It was a weapon created by a God of Wind essentially; using my Divine Authority over Wind just seemed to amplify its effects.
I simply swung the sword, cleaving the amber spike in half down the middle before touching back down on the ground with another wave of my sword, releasing a barrage of sharp gusts of wind, turning the amber into tiny pieces.
I slammed my foot down on his body as he tried to get up and stabbed my sword into the ground next to his head.
The bird went still; I don't think he had even realized what happened by now. "You know, the funny thing is, I know you're not this weak. But I could practically just taste the disdain in your eyes when you were looking at me before."
Just a mortal, and his pride wouldn't let him actually be serious.
Or something along those lines.
Like, I could tell he was fairly strong. He could have put up a much better fight than this. I don't know, that just seemed to annoy me even more.
Ah, now things were tense again because this whole 'fight' happened and ended so quickly.
"Wilhelm. Please do not kill the Adeptus." Ningguang called out to me.
I wasn't going to, but I would help her out. "Since you said so, I won't." I pulled my sword out of the ground and released him.
The bird got up off the ground, looking angry still, but it seemed to hold it back this time. I ignored his glare and went back to Artoria's side.
"I don't know what's going on. So, I should probably say that I have no involvement here before anyone gets any ideas." I think it was important to note that considering what I just did. It could easily make them suspicious of me considering I was an unknown.
"A mortal who wields the power of a god." The red bird spoke, and as soon as he said so, I noticed Ningguang's eyes widen, and likewise, Paimon and Aether seemed to be startled as well. "Rex Lapis lays before us, and you deny involvement."
So he noticed.
It wasn't quite an accusation; I think his belligerence was…pulled back. Maybe now recognizing that I wasn't some 'mere mortal' that he could just push around when it was convenient.
But also, objectively, he raised a valid point.
I was someone not from here; their god's corpse lies right there, tensions are high, there's panic, and here I am with a godly authority that I'm throwing around.
I looked back at him, then at each of those Adeptus. I put a hand on my Divine Sword, and Black Clouds rolled in quickly, thundering and booming overhead. They all looked up at them and then back at me. "If I were the one who killed him, I wouldn't have to hide it."
With a wave, the clouds quickly separated just as well.
Theatrical?
Yeah, but it proved my point, I think.
"We are guests here. We have been polite, we have observed the laws, and we have shown only kindness to the locals. This treatment was unacceptable, but I'll forgive it this time because I can understand the circumstances." I said plainly, letting go of any sort of grudge or stopping them from thinking I would hold one. "I don't care to get involved, but since I have a friend who is, then I'll say this. There's something wrong with that body. Take from that what you will."
Artoria looked at me with a smile as I turned away from them, and she joined me as we left.
I didn't want to call out Aether, better to not make them think he was part of our group? I didn't want to drag him down with us now that we all but drew a line in the sand with those Adepti.
[Line Break]
"I like how you handled everything," Artoria told me. "You did so very well and expressed your own dissatisfaction appropriately. And you did so without causing any problems; that is unexpected." That last part ended with her smiling at me.
"I might have beaten up that bird a bit more if he actually started to throw his real power around." I hummed. "How dare he try to do that to you?"
She just smiled. "I understand; I am also upset. However, I have nothing to add. You spoke my own thoughts well and expressed my own feelings appropriately. You know me quite well now, don't you?"
"Of course, I know all your…secret~" I pinched her thigh, making her yelp.
She puffed up cutely as she tends to do. "That's not what I meant." She huffed with that adorable face of hers. "You are not allowed to become more shameless just because…" She trailed off, but I knew what she wanted to say.
Just because I don't need to hold back anymore.
But I saved her from those words. As much as I love teasing her, it was still a fresh memory of us together the other night, so I didn't want to ruin that feeling of intimacy that grew afterwards.
"Ah, over here." I abruptly pulled Artoria's arm, making her almost stumble, shooting me a look, but she realized where I was pulling her to and didn't voice dissatisfaction. "Excuse me, ma'am, I couldn't help but notice. Your leg looks swollen, you could perhaps let me take a look at it, I'm something of a doctor."
An elderly woman was sitting at a table outside a familiar tavern, what looked like her grandson was sitting with her.
The elderly woman's leg was outstretched, swollen, and red.
It was one of the people that Bird had pushed away. She had fallen, and at her old age, that was very detrimental to her health.
She looked up at me, with a face full of pain but still carrying a warm and gentle smile. "Oh? That's very kind of you, young man. But I'm afraid I don't have any money on me. It's quite alright; it's just a bruise."
Their clothes weren't the best, with noticeable stitches from repair rather than buying something new.
"It's alright, there's no charge. The Great Tianquan sent out doctors and physicians to make sure no one was hurt after what happened on the terrace. She's understandably preoccupied at the moment and couldn't address everyone properly herself." I made up a lie on the spot.
"Is that so?" Her expression relaxed. "Then if you don't mind…"
I wonder if she believed me or if she knew I was lying.
"You are not from Liyue?" She asked.
"Was it obvious?" I smiled good-naturedly.
"Your accent." She spoke very bluntly before reaching over and patting her Grandson's shoulder. "Don't mind him; he's shy." Her grandson was hiding behind her, peeking over her shoulder.
Artoria noticed. "While my husband attends to your Grandmother, would you like a treat, young man?" She held out a skewer of candy-coated fruit. "I have more, so there's no need to hold back.
The boy looked to his grandmother, and she gave him a little nod. He took it before going back to behind her, like she was his shield.
She called me her husband.
I know it was just for convenience, but that made my heart flutter. Who knows what vernacular they use around here? Saying "girlfriend" in front of some conservative people may make things rather awkward.
"Have you attended the Rite of Descension often?" I asked.
"I attend every year." She said quietly. "Ever since I was a little girl. Though…" She looked up at the terrace. "I hope that Lord Morax is okay. That wasn't really him, was it? He is the Great God of Liyue."
"There seemed to be some problems, so you shouldn't worry. Whatever schemes someone is conspiring with doing such a thing, the authorities and even the Adepti will handle it." I tried to sound like a local and reassure her.
There was a commotion happening. Plenty of people were running back and forth to the Terrace behind us, but that wasn't any of our business.
Let's see, swelling down the side of the leg, some more at her ankle. Yup, sprained ankle, some internal bruising as well. It would get better if she stayed off of it for a few weeks, but that's unlikely to be a possibility for her.
The way her grandson hides behind her, there's certainly a story there. I wouldn't be surprised if his parents weren't in the picture and she was all he had.
"I have some ointment here that will reduce the swelling and make it all heal nicely. If you don't mind, I will apply it."
"Thank you, Doctor." She smiled.
It was just lotion. But it was a good excuse for me to cast some healing magic. I rubbed the lotion onto her leg over the swollen parts and slowly cast a very weak healing spell. Many people don't realize that an overcharged healing can sometimes be detrimental.
Even my 'normal' basic version of just Heal that I picked up in Skyrim way earlier in life, it was a bit too…mmm, potent. A woman in her later years like this—her vitality isn't what it used to be; overcharging the healing in her leg to ramp it up might weaken her more than I intended.
Gentle does it.
Slow and steady.
It would have only taken a few minutes, but I stopped because I sensed something. A certain red bird was flying down from the sky. It landed down next to us, causing another commotion. The people were scared, excited, intimidated, it was hard to say.
To the locals here, Adepti must be mythical and legendary.
However, for the grandmother here, who was injured because of it, she was most certainly feeling scared in its presence.
The Bird looked at me, then saw what I was doing. I think it very clearly noticed me using Healing Magic on the elderly woman, then it stared at her.
To my surprise, the proud bird bowed its head. "Mortal, I apologize for my actions. It was unbecoming of me to cause you harm as I did. Please, allow me to rectify my mistake."
He wasn't talking to me.
The Bird's power flowed out, gentle, resonating with the Earth, as it flew into the Elderly woman.
She began to heal quickly. And my initial fears were unfounded, because it wasn't merely healing. It was a type of revitalization; a few wrinkles on her face disappeared, and she perhaps regained ten years of youth.
Basically the equivalent of Immortal Magic from back home. It was a few tricks not in my repertoire. I didn't have anything—as in magic—that could restore youth like that.
"Thank you, Lord Adeptus! Thank you!" The woman bowed her head as if giving praise to a god. It really did show how they viewed them here.
But that hint of fear didn't disappear. And I think the bird noted it as the woman quickly grabbed her grandson and respectfully disappeared from sight.
The bird noticed her reaction too.
It didn't say anything, but I think I could see the shame it was experiencing. "The Adepti have protected Liyue and its people for generations." It then turned to me. "My actions were not appropriate. I apologize to both of you as well. Cloud Retainer spoke nothing but good will and informed me that you were the ones to bring to our attention the matters of Mondstadt and the Anemo Archon."
I waved it off and well as using Venti's trick again to surround us with a thick and sound proof wind.
As I said, I would forgive it that time, because I know he probably wasn't thinking straight at the moment. Their god, leader, friend, whatever their relationship is, he was apparently dead before their eyes.
"We accept your apology." Artoria said in my place.
"This one is thankful." He bowed his head again.
"Did you all agree on how to handle things?" I asked offhandedly. Because if they were going to bully Ningguang, I would speak up in her defense.
I was very truthful when I said we were friends now.
The bird looked like it was going to hold itself back but eventually responded. "The….body of Lord Morax cannot remain as it is. We have decided, with assistance from the current Tianquan, to move the body to the Golden House for it is the only building that can hold him and contain his presence due to the abundance of Mora."
"Mmm." I didn't know what that was, but I wanted to appear knowledgeable. "Do you think he's dead?"
Did my question take him off guard?
The bird was silent for several moments.
"When a god dies, their resentment and miasma linger." He spoke as if it were common knowledge. "We have done our duties to cleanse the lands of that very same corruption from the death of so many gods during the Archon Wars. The lack of the same reaction from Lord Morax's corpse is…confusing."
Even if I didn't know the details, I understood what he was saying.
But God's dying here leaves that sort of thing? Well, actually, I'm not unfamiliar with that kind of concept, but it seems different than what I know as well.
"So there are two primary possibilities. One, he isn't dead. Or two, he was able to stop that from happening before his death." I laid it out very plainly to see his reaction, and surprisingly, he didn't dismiss the possibility of death.
"If there is a god who knows about the stains and destruction left after a god's death, it would be Lord Morax. If he were to die, I would believe he would do everything he could not to condemn Liyue to such a fate." The Crane spoke with no lack of reverence in his tone.
"If it were me..." I held up my fingers, using them to mentally picture the scenario. "And I was on the verge of death, for whatever reason. I would be able to measure if further resistance was futile, or there was hope of Victory. In the latter, if he were the protector god of Liyue, I would have lured the enemy far away. In the former, if escape was impossible for whatever reason, I would do what I could to minimize the destruction of my death. Therefore, perhaps he shunted off the corruption to somewhere else right as he died. However, there is also the possibility that whoever killed him had intentionally dropped his body at that exact moment, because that was far too coincidental of a spot to 'die.'"
The bird stood there listening to my words.
I was an outsider, so I was surprised, especially after what happened.
"In either case, there should be evidence of it somewhere." I knew Venti's strength more or less when he wasn't letting himself get stepped on, so to make the equivalent judgement. "Someone of his strength wouldn't go down quietly."
"You are correct, and you have provided logical conclusions." The bird simply listened quietly as I rambled. "His potential death is suspicious, and we will investigate fully. We are cooperating with the Tianquan but keeping our involvement a secret and have publicly condemned Liyue and the Tianquan for their inattentiveness, creating an intentional divide. We have come to the conclusion that his death was intentionally displayed, and as such, we are making preparations to appear divided in the case of an emerging conspirator."
I nodded.
He didn't need me to hold his hand then. I could mention the Fatui, but they already know everything about that considering he mentioned Cloud Retainer.
"I wish you luck."
The crane bowed its head elegantly, both to me and Artoria, before flapping its wings and flying away.
"He was not a dishonorable creature. Simply overcome with confusion and possible grief." Artoria commented. "His actions can be forgivable."
"God knows how I would act if someone I cared about died." I put my head on the table, removing the wind barrier.
"Excuse me." A voice called out, walking over. "Do you mind if I join you at your table?"
I sat up straight, looking at him. He was dressed very well, I admired the clothing quite a bit actually. It looked almost like the combination of a suit and the local clothing, complete with a tie.
A simple glance at Artoria told me that she didn't mind.
"Of course, my well dressed friend." I gestured to the empty seat across from me. Behind him, I saw a Vision attached to a chain.
"Thank you. I apologize for intruding."
Polite.
"It's no problem." I smiled. "Out of curiosity, do you have a tailor?"
"A tailor?" He blinked. "Yes, I do have one. If you desire, I could give you their address. They do fine work, if I do say so myself." But he paused. "Forgive me, I should introduce myself first. My name is Zhongli; it's my pleasure to meet you."
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A/N
A wild zhongli appears. For those who don't know who Zhongli is, uh…well, google him if you want a spoiler, lol.
If you want to read 10 chapters ahead or support me, visit my p.a.t.r.e.o.n.c.o.m / astoryforone
I also have a boosty if you can't use the above under the same name