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Chapter Text

A story was being told on one a sunny day. It was a story about a child, a child of 17 years. He had a loving family, good friends and a soon to be wife. His could have a valiant hero or simple father, that would do anything for his Children. But one day that child went out on patrol and never came back. The child’s body had been mauled by some blades either made or infused with hydro. His family had been distraught upon seeing the child's body but now several days after the sadness had turned more sorrowful. 

Zhongli sighed. He hated seeing humans die this young, never getting a chance to experience the world, unlike him... who has seen it a thousand times over. Zhongli shook his head he shouldn't think about these things they reminded him of his past life. Of his past mistakes. 

----------------- 

“Hey um, Zhongli, you didn’t happen to bring any mora with you?” Director Hu asked in a sing song tone.  

“Hmm I could have some. Zhongli reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet, before Childe had left for Inazuma had pointed out some helpful tips for remembering his mora. “Why don’t you fill up your wallet at the start of week and don’t take it out unless you're paying for something.” Zhongli opened up his wallet, inside was 12,000 more sigh just enough to cover the meal. Sigh and it wasn’t Baalday yet. Scooping out the mora hey handed it to the waiter. 

“Aiya, Zhongli I didn’t expect you to actually have mora.” The waiter stared at Hu Tao’s comment. 

“Well Childe has gave me some finical advice before he left.” 

“Oh, so that’s why I haven’t been getting as many notices as of late.” 

“Director Hu...” 

“Just teasing, most of them are meant for me.” 

Zhongli just sighed. Why did Director Hu always get in trouble.  

“Director Hu, it seems to be getting late, shall I suggest going calling it a night.” Hu Tao looked up at the dark blue sky full of brilliant jewels. 

“Uggghh I supose you right old man. I wanted stay out longer, we made a lot of profit today, and I wanted to celebrate.” Zhongli smiled softly, Hu Tao was so young, so childish sometimes that he forget... Darkness envolpes his mind, Sometimes he forgets that she is two years older than that boy. It takes over 3,000 thousand years of political practice not to show a look of horror on his face. The horrifying truth she could easily be that boy. He had seen her burn marks on her skin after she went out adventuring.  Zhongli began packing up his things with that same soft smile, all the while those poisonous thoughts of immortality tear at his mind. 

“Oh Mr Zhongli, guess what I overheard yesterday. I completely forgot to tell you about it.” The voice of his boss pulled him out of his thought. “So, I was going to the bank to check up on the finical-” 

“Wolves!” The loud scream echoed throughout the streets. 

“Wolves?” The Director questioned. “I thought only Mondstadt and Snezhnaya had those.” Her queries were soon answered as abyssal monster. A Rifthound. The wolf had been searching for its prey and it had just found it. 

The wolf lunged at Hu Tao claw outreached. A shield wouldn’t block the blow. He could. The claws of the hound carved into Zhongli's skin. Each droplet evaporated into gas. Poison seeped through his veins, craving for more of his blood. Zhongli roared in agony and anger as he thrust his spear through the skull of the monster, shattering his amour. The spear made cracks in the pavement and void seeped out it eyes.  Turning back to see Hu Tao, coughing. 

“Hu Tao are you hurt?” Hu Tao looked up.  

“No, it just the air. Cough. You?”  

“I am, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” The poison was almost gone, thanks to his Adepti immune system. 

“Alright,” Hu Tao said skeptical. “But you better, come back your funeral is going to be held because of old age not because of some abyssal monster.” 

Zhongli half joked. “Well, what if I never die.” 

“Just come back encyclopaedia.” Hu Tao then turned round sprinted off to the parlour. Zhongli turned towards the northeast. That had been where monster had come from if Zhongli remembered correctly. Why was there a rifthound in the city? Was there an attack? The thought of attack made Zhongli walk faster he had to help the city defend itself. He stopped they could defend themselves, Liyue had passed Morax’s test they should be fine. Zhongli shook his head it wouldn’t hurt to check it was his duty as a citizen to help protect liyue he continued up the stairs overlooking the lotus pools. 

The pools should have been a lovely sight crisp still water should have reflected the moon light as budding flowers hid away their petals for the night. That was not the sight that Zhongli saw. The water was a sticky black mud the flowers had withered away. Milleth were fighting for their lives while their co-workers' bodies lay across lifeless the bridge.  

The abyss was invading not the usual minor attack on supplies, no this was a full-scale invasion, Mages were commanding Hillichuruls, Rifthound opening gateways for the serpents to come in. It wasn’t chaos, it was strategic. Just like the Calamity Zhongli darkly thought. A Rifthound rushed towards him. Its body laid lifeless on the pavement not a second later. The general he had to find the general, if Zhongli killed the general the Milleth might gain the upper hand.  

His eyes scanned the battlefield for the general then he spotted them. A woman with midnight blue twin-tails danced across the battlefield, hydro polearm dispatching her enemies. She turned around and stared at him. Star shaped pupils locking with his. A smug smile crawled up her face.  

“So, it seems the prince of liyue,” The Governer of Khaenri'ah said as she slitted a Milleth’s throat. “Has finally come to join the party.” 

Chapter Text

The Governor of Khaenri'ah. Aqua Kallan. An  Elegant woman had been known for her political presence in Khaenri’ah. Zhongli had only seen her a couple of times before the incident, tongue had been sharp, and her stature had been almost perfect. The Governor spoke as if she knew Zhongli, always calling him ‘Prince’ for some reason, always layered with animosity. It seems that the animosity for Zhongli had not faltered to this day.

“My, I never expected the The Governor of Khaenri’ah to become a war General.” Zhongli noted, as he raised two pillars towards The Governor. She quicky dodged it with little effort.

She made a curt laugh. “You never expected me to be alive.” The Governor then launched herself towards Zhongli with impeccable speed raising her polearm towards him, but her speed could not be matched by the ex-Geo Archon. Zhongli deployed his shield seconds before the hydro infused spear pierced his heart. Geo and hydro collided leaving behind a sickening sound.

“You do realise that I am not going all out, Prince.” The Governor said as a cruel smile spread across her face. Zhongli looked down. In the centre of his shield a hydro spear laid embedded into it, millions of cracks forming around where it had impacted.

Without warning The Governor focused her energy into the spear, more cracks appeared as the shield shattered like glass. Zhongli quickly dodged only narrowly missing her polearm. Summoning his own polearm, he thrust it towards her neck. She dodged. The Governor than quickly swung her polearm towards Zhongli, it collided with another shield, a stronger one this time. Zhongli huffed internally, he needed to end this fight quickly. His eyes flashed towards the Millelith.

More bodies laid on the ground. From the looks of it the Qixing weren’t coming anytime soon. Testing out his weight a bit more with his opponent he reached towards the stars and summoned a meteorite. At the same time The Governor focused her hydro energy into a point and aimed it at him the meteorite slammed into the ground. Undoubtably ruining the pavement. Zhongli stood on guard expecting attack only to see The Governor perched on top of a building.

“So, are we done playing?” The Governor seriously asked.

“Yes.” Zhongli replied, knowing that the soon this was over, the better.

“Well then.” Another sadistic smile crept up her face. “Let’s get to it.” And with that the murky water of the Lotus pools swamped Zhongli attacking on all sides. Shifting into a more adeptal form Zhongli commanded the stone to block the blows. More hydro came in the forms a flying spears attempting to shatter his defences.

Rebutting against his opponent, Zhongli rose the rock to trap their feet. Encasing pavement around their lower half. Calling upon the stars again he thrust another meteorite towards them. It clashed against his enemy.

The governor remained unscathed.

“Is that really all you’ve got?” A giant wave rose from the depths of the harbour and crashed over Bubu pharmacy, streaming over the lotus pools, drowning the Millelith and the black serpent in time. The wave tore apart buildings and structures. Rex lapis reinforced his shield.

The wave slammed into his shield crushing it. Water ponded against Rex lapis feeling like he was being hit by a bolder over and over again he did not realise the fact he was being pushed into the sky.

“My Prince, I didn’t realise you were this week I am barely putting effort in to defeating you.” The Governor taunted. Rex lapis came to his senses only to realise he was being bound by hydro. No, no, no. He thought did Liuye fail his test did, they fail to seal Osial.

“PTSD? Really, come on Prince, you are better than this, honestly.” Rex Lapis turned his head to face hi captor. The Governor of Khanrei’ah. Memories came flooding back ah, yes, The Abyss.

“Finally.” The woman stated. “Now I have one question for you to answer before you explode.” The Governors face mortified it that of a teenager. Her midnight blue twin tails transformed into soft brown hair held in a bun. The Governor’s pupils were no longer shaped liked stars. Rex lapis thought she looked like a wee bit Guizhong.

The face smiled a cruel, smile. A smile that looked out of place on the stranger. “Do you remember this face, Rex Lapis?” The face asked.

“No, I unfortunately have no recollection of this face.” While it did look similar to Guizhong there were many differences.

“Shame.” The face said as it morphed back to that of The Governor. Silently and swiftly she then launched herself at Rex Lapis. Still immobilized Rex Lapis could not block the blow so…

Guizhong blocked it for him. Guizhong’s soul trapped in the Memory of Dust unable to be freed unless the memory of dust was opened or, or if Rex Lapis was endangered. In the situation that Rex Lapis was in mortal danger Guizhong could take his place. Guizhong could take the blow, but intern Rex Lapis’s soul and mind must be placed into the Memory of Dust. Guizhong did know how long it had been. All she knew was that she was holding back hydro coming from her old friend. All she knew that her child was endangered. Guizhong turned back to Rex Lapis, only to see his soul being tugged away. Guizhong stared at her old friend. She knew she couldn’t hold this attack forever. She knew she couldn’t fight back. So, she just let go.

A body of a ghost slammed into the wrecked pavement.

The goddess of dust soul had finally died.

Chapter Text

The parlour was quiet, moonlight shone through the windows painting the parlour grey, the air was still and quiet. All of these signs point towards a quiet night, but it wasn’t. Hu Tao knew better, she knew abyssal wolves were roaming the streets. Rifthounds.   

Surprisingly it was Xiao who told her what they were. They acted as scouts for the abyss order searching for places suitable for attack. When they attack, they would insert poison into bloodstream It would slowly evaporate your blood and turning it into gas. Gas that would summon the rest of the army. An army that was swift and deadly. Xiao’s eyes glazed over as he said that,  he seemed to be remembering past experiences.  

  It was not often Hu Tao worried about someone’s life, usually she accepted that it was their time, but sometimes Hu Tao hoped that it was not their time yet. The feelings she had for Zhongli was one  of these times.  Zhongli had roared in agony as those claws past through his skin. Zhongli actually roared, mouth displaying brilliant rows of teeth, framed by two healthy fangs. Zhongli had been in so much pain that his adeptus sided was shown. What if Zhongli struggled against the Rifthounds, what if-   

Crash!  

The sound of glass breaking drew Hu Tao away from her thoughts. Turning around she saw an abyssal hound barring it claws at her. Hu Tao did not let the wolf to attack. Infusing her polearm with pyro she lunged forward impelling the hound head on. The smell of burning flesh filled the room. The wolf did not yield so she striked again abyssal blood leaking out onto the floor the wolf did not die. So she striked again and again, dodging the attacks that came she kept trying. The smell of burnt muscle and flesh got heaver with each strike that landed onto the wolf. Finally after much effort the wolf finally stopped moving.  

The smell of abyss and flesh lingered, burning both Hu Tao lung and nose. The Rifthound had been slain, hopefully without any injuries. Hu Tao looked over herself admiring the burnt skin lacing her body, well no injuries caused by the Rifthound. Hu Tao sighed her pyro kept hurting herself. “ Maybe tomorrow if the parlour isn’t to busy she should ask Xangling for some tips on how to control her pyro.   

“Well I suppose I should head of to the pharmacy now huh.”  She wondered if Qiqi would allow her to burry her. Probably not and it might not be the best idea to ask when getting health care. Baizhu couldn’t refuse to health care, right? As Hu Tao opened the door she was blasted by the gas produced by the wolves. Ayia, she really hoped that this gas was gone by the morning.  

Walking done the main street, Hu Tao admired the moon bright and full. Framed by the night sky it gave Liyue a soft glow. She hoped some will families reunite tonight. The sky darkened suddenly as the moon was hidden by what seemed to be water. The wave had risen high above the buildings, dimming the city. The sounds of screams, and crashes echoed throughout the harbour, most of them coming from Bubu Pharmacy. People were dying, business was being made. Hu Tao could not help them.    

“Hu Tao.” Xiangling’s voice sounded taught. “The Millelith have told us to go up the terraces, a tsunami is incoming. We should go.”   

“Thank you for warning me. I will go and tell the parlour, you go ahead.” A Tsunami, just how serious are things getting. Hu Tao began jogging off towards the parlour only to be interrupted by Xiangling yet again.   

“Hu Tao what’s that?”Xiangling’s voice demanded Hu Tao to Turn around, only to blinded by a golden light emitting from the top of the wave.  

“Unless You want to be drowned, another reason to leave.” Ushering Xiangling to leave, Hu Tao ran towards the parlour. Ugh, why did her burns hurt so much. “Guys we’ve got to leave a Tsunami incoming!” Her voice echoed throughout the parlour, this was followed by grumbles by her employees. “Guys, Tsunami, we need to move!” The sound of movement echoed through the halls. Hu Tao clambered up the stairs. Everyone seemed to be getting up except, Zhongli. Hu Tao groaned that old man better not be sleeping through another Tsunami. Banging open his door she was about to call out only to remember,  

Zhongli wasn’t there. He had gone to protect the city from the Rifthounds. If anything he already knew about the Tsunami. Hu Tao was about to leave his room when a golden light caught here eyes. A small glowing ball was resting on his desk. It looked heavenly, a strange impulse told her to grab it take it with her so that is what she did. Shoving the ball into her pocket she re-entered the hall way. Everyone was moving to the terraces. “Come on guys you better move faster than that, unless you want to become clients.”  

“Not the time Tao!” Came a reply. But the people in front of her speed up the pace.  

Opening the door they faced the stuffy air. It worse than last time. The sounds of screaming and fighting could now be heard. It had been so quite in the parlour. The sounds of reacceding water filled her ears. People were clambering up the stairs, panicking. The Millieth were ordering people to hurry their way up the stairs.  

When that water hit the docks the sound was defining. The sound of wood cracked underneath the pressure of the wave. The wave that destroyed more and more of the harbour. The people kept running. Hu Tao kept running. Running towards the hills. Where it was safe. Stone turned into grass as she and people fled. Darkness was beginning to grip at her consciousness. Hu Tao was tired and hurt.  So she stopped, to rest it was only for a moment.  

“Keep going the wolves are following.” Someone yelled. That someone grabbed her hand. Hu Tao barely registered anything after that. Only darkness and screams.  

Chapter Text

The first rays of morning reflected of the fog, bathing it. Tartaglia looked down at the reports. Most reports were about troop placements and clean up work to do.  Sigh. Sounds just like Inuzuma. Tartaglia  thought. “Lord Harbinger, we shall be arriving at Liyue harbour in 30 minutes.” The voice of Admiral Vera echoed throughout his chambers.   

“Understood, I'll be up in a few minutes.” Tartaglia replied his eyes, scanning over the last of the reports. Nothing of note.  The sound of Vera footsteps echoing told him that she was heading back up to the deck. Liyue. He hasn’t been back their a while. Hmm I wounder if I will become Zhongli’s wallet again. Probably, not seeing as he was only going to be there for 2 days. Heck I might not even see him. He hoped to see him, Zhongli was a good friend. Even though he lied to me. Putting on his coat, Tartaglia headed up to the deck.  

“So Admiral, any reason for me to be up here, or no.”  

“Well, we have spotted, a ship roughly 1km(0.62m) away and identification is underway. Agent Nina, any developments?”  

“Ship has been identified as The Crux, from Liyue ma’am.”  

Admiral Vera was quite for a moment, the list of hostile ships seamed to be flashing through her mind. “Manned and ready.” The order broke Vera silence. The recruits began moving to their stations. Tartaglia was left struggling to remember the translation of the order. “I am telling the men to go to their stations and be alert dipshit.” Vera quietly whispered to Tartaglia.   

“I would have gotten there, just give me a couple more a seconds.” Tartaglia hissed back, trying to keep up appearances. Admiral Vera simply replied by walking away shouting orders to her men. Looking towards the Crux Tartaglia noticed the ship was ring colourful flags, communication flags. The Crux seamed to have something to say. “Admiral.” he called out. “I believe the crux has something to say.”  

“Don’t worry Harbinger, we shall not be attacking the ship.” Her toned voice replied, as she directed men. Both boats were getting closer and closer. Tartaglia noticed that his vessel was coming to stop. While the ship was still moving to the tides but gently. The Crux began moving closer and closer so until it was aliened with the fatui vessel. Throwing out it’s anchor, making  the ship came to a stand still. Both captain and admiral made their way to the side of their ships, eyes locking.   

“Captain Beidou, what is it that you wish to communicate?” The admirals curt voice rang out across the sea.”  

“Well for starters, Purple smoke is coming from the harbour, and one of my men believe one of the docks have been destroyed.” Beidou paused to catch her breath before continuing. “This is simply just a warning, that it might be hard to dock.”  

“Hmm from the looks of your cargo you also need to dock.” Admiral Vera gave a slight nod to the boxes of cargo on the deck. “So, let me propose a solution, you send out a rowboat with one man from your ship and the harbinger from ours to go and assess the situation? Hmm?” While the proposal was one that would benefit both parties Tartaglia had to hide his look of morbid horror of being offed up for the contract, by his junior. He did manage to contain the horror. Barely   

Beidou stayed quiet for a moment defiantly out waying the cons and pros. It was like this for several minutes before turning side on to the Admiral and calling out to her men. “Is there anyone who would like to travel with the harbinger to check the harbour?” A short boy with white hair raised their hand.  

“I volunteer.” The boy said.  

Beidou stared at the boy before turning back to the Vera. “Very well, I, Beidou will send Kazuha to Liyue harbour along with your harbinger, to assess the condition of the docks.”   

---  

Tartaglia watched as men from both ships scramble round the decks as they slowly lowering the boat into the water. After a couple of minutes of shouting over the water, finally after several minutes the rowboat finally slammed against the water. Tartaglia jumped onto the boat with Kazuha following behind. It had been decided that Tartaglia will be rowing, and Kazuha will be navigating.  

The waves were slowly rocking the boat side to side, slowly getting rougher. Realising this Tartaglia used a pit of hydro to stable the boat. “So Kazuha was it?” Tartaglia broke the silence. “Is that an Inazuman name?”  

Kazuha stared for a moment, before replying. “Yes, I was born in Inazuma, bet left during the vison hunt decree... So, have you been to liyue before?”  

Tartaglia almost laughed. Had Kazuha not heard of the harbinger that nearly drowned Liyue or at the very least not recognize him. “Yeah I came to Liyue just before the Osial incident.” Kazuha, just stared for a moment, realizing that he was in the boat with harbinger who had nearly drowned Liyue. After about minute of holding his face like this Kazuha finally regained himself.  

“We should almost be at the harbour.” Kazuha noted. Looking around  he noticed it to the fog that had been surrounding them for most of their journey was dissipating. He could begin to see some blues and red. Fog slowly drifted away to reveal the docks.  

But both Kazuha’s and Tartaglia’s eyes met carnage, for there was nothing, no docks just some stone pillars nothing else. The wooden planks that made up the docks floated in the water. The rest of Liyue was not fearing much better. The low laying houses of liyue were rubble the foundation swept from right under them and on the streets he could see. Tartaglia gasped. On the streets of Liyue he could see abyss heralds, black serpents and other regiments or the Abyss army. The more Tartaglia looked the more he found it strange. Even if the abyss order attacked, the city should of held it ground even if it was really strong offensive, if worse came to worse Zhongli could always just reveal himself, yet here Liyue was completely overrun.  

“Tartaglia, should we report this, or do a bit more investigation?” Kazuha’s voice was quite clearly trying not to alert any of the lectors. Quickly waying over the pros and cons, Tartaglia decided that they should head back. As much as he disliked not properly investigating the battlefield it would be better than them being captured by the abyss and bring back no information. If they were noticed they definitely would be captured.  

“We should, report the information we have now and decide what to do from there.” Tartaglia replied quietly as he grabbed the ores and began to head back towards the boats. The journey back was a quite one. Neither Tartaglia, nor Kazuha dared make a sound, least they be captured. When the ships were finally came into the Tartaglia heard Kazuha, give a sigh of relief.  

“We made it.” Kazuha’s voice was and calming. “We made it.”  

The waves continued to lap at their boat until they finally lined up with their vessels. Kazuha some how manged to gracefully jump to his ship, leaving Tartaglia to clamber up to his. Admiral Vera met his face as he finally reached the deck. “So, how are the docks.” The sharp voice of Vera contrasted Kazuha’s calm one.   

“Destroyed, and Liyue has been overrun, by the abyss order.” He paused before continuing. “I believe it would be in our best interest to help Liyue with it’s little abyss order problem, seeing as the abyss order is our common enemy.”  

“Hmm. Do you suggest we work with Liyue?”  

“Yes, I do it would benefit us spectacularly.”  

Admiral Vera thought continuing to calculate the options. “What about the original orders harbinger?”  

“We shall send a letter to The Captial requesting the action.”  

“And by that you mean telling the Captial that you are helping Liyue.”  

“Yes.”  

Chapter Text

Golden, all he could se was golden. He could see golden trees, sky clouds all he could only see golden.

Ping

Ping

Ping

The sound of his feet, clinking against the still water echoed. Looking down at his hand he noticed deep brown almost black scales lining his hand what should have been soft rounded hand were tipped off with deadly sharped clawed. The past life form. Looking round he noticed a strong light. This golden light was so bright it was almost white, it seamed to be calling to him.

Ping

Ping

Ping

The footsteps echoed as he headed towards the light. What was it? Just a few steps away now.

Splash!

One of his footsteps missed the top of water. Losing his balance he fell forward. Water. That golden water began swallowing, enclosing in on him. He tried to swim towards the but he wasn’t getting closer .Slowly as he thrashed about the golden light faded to a deep black of an Abyss.

Chapter Text

The first thing, Hu Tao realised when coming to was that she was lying face down in a cot, there had been a hole cut out, to breath, but it all in all. The bed was rather uncomfortable, 3/10. The next thing she realised was that she realised that her back was in pain and her legs were itchy. “Ugh, why does my back hurt.”  

“Because you’ve been slashed by Rifthound claws.” Came a smooth voice reply. The sudden voice made Hu Tao jump a wee bit, aggravating her injuries. “Director Hu,” The smooth voice continued. “Do you believe that, you can move, we have patients with broken limbs and will need to use that bed.” The voice seamed familiar.  

“Ekaterina??” Hu Tao exclaimed. “What are you doing here? Where am I?”   

Ekaterina seamed to sigh, before replying in a sterner voice. “Director Hu, I shall tell you what you need to know. If you move from your bed.”   

Hu Tao sighed in defeat. “Fine, moved her hands to prop herself up. It was painful but she finally managed to do it. Ekaterina then quickly monvered herself to help prop up Hu Tao.   

“Easy now there we go.” Ekaterina cooed as she helped Hu Tao walk. “Your employees are waiting outside I will drop you off with them.” The two women then hobbled out of the tent. The sun was harsh but warm it felt nice. Just like Ekaterina said they were outside. Noticing Hu Tao her employees ran over well most of them, the Ferrylady hobbled over with a walking stick.  

“Hu Tao!” Her employees faces lit up as they called. They all huddle around Hu Tao making sure she is okay. Quickly looking around, Hu Tao made a checklist for each employees everyone was there, except...  

“Hey guys, where is Zhongli? Hu Tao questioned. The happy faces suddenly turned solemn.  

“Um well” Ming started but the Ferrylady finished.  

“He didn’t make it. It is believed when the abyss order attacked he perished. Along with the many others.” Zhongli had died. Hu Tao was the one who saw Zhongli last. He had died. Hu Tao hoped that Zhongli passed on easily.  

“Oh.” Was her only reply. The silence of mourning carried on for a couple of minutes before a gruff  voice interrupted.  

“I am sorry to interrupt but may I borrow Hu Tao for a minute.” Several faces turned in the direction of  the voice. For up on the roof was Xiao.  

“Of course Adeptus Xiao, should I plop Hu Tao in that grass patch over there.” Ekaterina nodded her head over to a small patch.  

“Yes, that shall do.” Came the birds reply.  

“Wait what if I don’t want to be borrowed, I mean I do, but next time let me answer before you, before you hobble me over to the grass patch. Came Hu Tao indigent cries as she was plopped down in said grass patch.  

After Hu Tao was plopped down Ekaterina turned to Hu Tao before saying goodbye for she had to deal with some more patients. After the employees went back to the tent they were Xiao finally began to speak.  

“So, have you seen Rex Lapis? Since the invasion.”  

“Um, no because he is dead.” What a strange question to ask. He died over a year ago.  

Xiao seemed to be getting stressed. “What do you mean, he’s dead!” He can’t he dead. Did you see him die.”  

“Xiao, didn’t Rex Lapis die during the rite of a year ago?” Was Xiao hallucinating? After Hu Tao asked that question she witnessed the adeptus experience a flurry of emotions he took a deep breath before saying.  

“Did you know that Zhongli is Rex Lapis.” What. The. Fuck. The statement echoed through out Hu Tao’s mind. Her consultant was actually a god that died almost a year ago. Why. Was Zhongli Rex Lapis’ reincarnation. Or did the man dragon fake his death. How dare he fake his death like that. “I’m guessing from your face you didn’t know.” Xiao words tore Hu Tao from her thoughts.  

“Yeah, I didn’t, I knew he was and adeptus but I didn’t know he was THE adeptus .”  

“So um, when did you last see Zhongli.” Xiao asked.  

“Well, I last saw him by the funeral parlour, he then went to fight rifthounds people haven't seen him since.” Archons she wanted to cry she may have been the last person to ever see Zhongli.  

“He could very well still be alive judging from the fact that Liyue hasn’t exploded, he might captured. I will around the harbour and see if I can spot Rex Lapis. If I’m not back by sunset tomorrow alert the Adepti. Is that understood.”  

“Yes that is understood.” Hu Tao replied.  

“Good.” And with that the yaksha dispersed into the winds with a cloud of poison.   

-----  

The Sun had long since set. It had been along day, many people had come in and out of the Fatui camps, but now that Ekaterina can finally have a break. Sitting down on her chair. Reaching into her pocket she dragged out a beautiful golden catalyst. It thrummed with power. A perfect gift for a harbinger if they were to save them. Ekaterina scoffed. What a joke no harbinger was going to save them except Tartaglia and even then it was dubious, the mother land did not care if they died for Ekaterina was one of the many flies to a pawn