Chapter Text
Epilogue: All's Well That Ends Well
“There are two of you,” comes Ekaterina’s comment when she walks into the living room for a visit. The rest of the Spy Gang and the Mondstadt Gang follow, plus Venti and Zhongli trailing behind.
Ajax and AR look up. They’re sitting on the couch enjoying a pot of coffee, midway through their planning session for AR’s career. Though they’re dressed differently (Ajax is in his lounging clothes while AR is in borrowed dark blue Liyuan-style robes, courtesy of Hu Tao), there’s no mistaking their identical features nor mannerisms as they tilt their heads the same way in surprise.
“Ekaterina!” Ajax greets. His smile brightens when he sees everyone else looking whole and hale. “Wow, everyone is here, huh?”
It’s a surprise that they’ve all come for a visit at the same time, even more so that everyone looks relatively relaxed around each other—or in Diluc’s case, as relaxed as one can look while maintaining a strong hatred for the Fatui. Ajax moves to get up from his seat to serve his guests.
“Can I get you some—ack!”
AR tugs him back down. “Don’t get up, you’re still healing. I’ll go get some refreshments.” He gets up as Zhongli settles comfortably on Ajax’s other side. “Would you like anything to drink or eat?”
Zhongli, who’s already used to AR’s presence, answers with a calm smile: “Some jasmine tea would be lovely, thanks. I believe we still have some of those tea cakes in our pantry.”
“Of course. I’ll go get them along with a spot of wine.”
AR shuffles to the kitchen, unbothered by the eyes zeroed in on him. Silence falls heavily over the room.
The Spy Gang is the first to break.
“We heard about the madness in Liyue Harbour! But never in a million years would we—”
“Wait, so did you kick La Signora’s ass? Like, officially?”
“What about Dottore? Did you kick his ass too?”
“Why are there two of you?!”
The last one is from Ekaterina, but judging from Team Mondstadt's look of shock, they very much share her sentiment.
Ajax decides to put everyone out of their misery.
“So, that person there is Tartaglia,” he starts. “He’s the, um, me from before the injury and the me that shows up whenever I transform…”
The beauty of having AR show up that day while Zhongli was in the room was that they got to test their story with someone who’s hard to fool and too invested in all things Ajax to let any inconsistency in their admissions go. Revealing that Ajax was a Transmigrator or that the Administrators existed remained out of bounds. The Automated System has issued a warning filled with sad emojis as a reminder. So instead, Ajax settled with a very high-level truth while using Celestia as a meat shield.
It's this same truth that he’s sharing with the gang.
“Celestia intervened and rewarded me for taking down La Signora and finally getting my Foul Legacy in control. Getting the Foul Legacy Transformation controlled was an especially huge deal for them.” He gives the group an apologetic look. “There’s obviously more to it, but sorry, I can’t go into details because there’s a contract. For my reward, I get to have my Abyssal taint removed and my Tartaglia persona gets to be his own person, so…um, yay, winning? I can’t use my Abyssal powers anymore, but good riddance to that.”
“Congratulations!” Venti says, his easy-going nature a true reflection of his previous title as God of Winds and Freedom. “I’m glad you’re no longer plagued by Abyssal energy and on Tartaglia’s freedom! This calls for a celebration!” At Zhongli’s warning glare, he coughs lightly. “A very respectable celebration and only after you’re fully recovered, of course. No rush!”
“It will give us time to source some wine from Mondstadt,” Kaeya says with a grin. “Nothing quite like some Dandelion Wine and Dawn Winery’s finest to get a party going.”
“Between you two freeloading drunkards, it’s a mystery that my winery hasn’t gone bankrupt yet,” Diluc grumbles.
AR returns with snacks and drinks at that moment, which automatically draws the team’s attention to him. The Spy Gang stiffens.
“Uh, uh, Lord Tartaglia?” Felix asks. “Is that really you?”
“Considering Tartaglia technically died, that’s no longer my title anymore,” AR answers. “I go by AR now.”
Lumine is looking at him with narrowed eyes. “Do we have to worry about you going mad and murder-y? Do you have any particular desire to release an evil god and drown Liyue Harbour?”
Ajax jumps to AR’s defence. “Lumine! You’re being rude! AR would never—”
AR pats him on the shoulder. “It’s alright. I’m sure everyone’s wondering the same thing, and I haven’t left the best impression. For the record, no, I don’t feel the urge to fight or cause chaos. Without the Abyssal effect, I am happy to simply enjoy living in peace.”
“AR’s always been more strategic, especially in times of stress,” Ajax adds, hoping it’ll placate everyone. “It’s just the Abyssal taint that twisted everything up.”
Multiple hands go up. Ajax sighs. “Kaeya, you first.”
“Thank you, Master Ajax. Mister AR, what similarities do you share with Master Ajax in addition to physical appearance?”
Ajax and AR have also tested this out. It appears that when Ajax used his boon to create AR’s body, the Administrators have copied and pasted Ajax’s physical body such that all the stats and skills are identical. This includes cooking skills, which were developed over the course of Ajax’s stay in Teyvat. The only difference lies in their core talents. For Ajax, this means his music abilities are his own, whereas for AR, it’s his analytical skills, his battle experience, and his ability to remain calm under pressure.
“AR is calmer than I am,” Ajax admits. “He’s the one you want if you’re looking for a general.”
“Ajax retains his musical talents while I do not share this boon,” AR adds.
“Calmer in what sense?” Diluc asks as a follow-up. He’s shaking his head. “I’m sorry, but I’m struggling to imagine how the personification of Tartaglia is the calmer of you two.”
“I think we can figure that out easily enough,” Ekaterina answers. “Question one: in your opinion, how many cups of coffee is deemed a reasonable amount to have in a day?”
Ajax and AR answer immediately.
“No more than three cups.”
“At least five pots!”
Before Ajax can react, Ekaterina ploughs on, “Question two: how many hours of training per day is a reasonable amount?
“On average, two hours a day, five days a week. Anymore and you’d cause unnecessary strain on the body.”
“Five, every day!”
“Question three: how many hours of sleep do you think is a healthy amount to have per night?”
“Seven to eight.”
“Four!”
Felix interrupts. “I have a question too! Question four: whose idea was it to train the recruits with paintballs or to start bow training at 4 a.m.?”
“Definitely Ajax.”
“What’s wrong with paintballs and an early morning exercise?!”
Ekaterina gives everyone a look. “I think that answers that.”
“I understand how everyone feels. I am just as surprised as you are,” Zhongli speaks up for the first time, coughing in his fist lightly. “I had not anticipated that my Ajax is the more…impulsive one, given what we know of Tartaglia. No offense, Mister AR.”
“None taken.”
Diluc is nodding, his expression neutral, but his whole posture seems more relaxed than before. “I see. So, Mister AR is clearly the more responsible and reasonable one of the two of you. Dully noted.”
“And we can all breathe a sigh of relief,” Vlad mutters as everyone murmurs in agreement. “For a second there, I thought we’d have to deal with Master Ajax and a counterpart more excitable than him. Thank goodness we ended up with a responsible older brother instead.”
“Yeah, thank goodness.”
“Less headaches to deal with!”
“Can you imagine if there are two Master Ajax? It’d really feel like herding cats!”
“Hey!” Ajax says, affronted. AR tugs him back down before he can jump up. “I’m not that bad!”
He gets ignored. Only AR pities him. He grabs a tea cake and hands it to him like some consolation prize.
Venti pours himself some more wine and asks, “So, Zhongli, is Mister AR staying with you? How are you able to tell them apart?”
“I’ve been staying at the guest room,” AR answers. “As for how Mister Zhongli tells us apart, I’m not entirely sure either. Ajax and I look identical.”
“Actually, Ajax and Mister AR look quite different.” Zhongli leans closer to Ajax and swipes his thumb gently under his left eye. His expression goes soft. “You see? My Ajax has a little extra freckle right there close to the lash line. His eyelashes are also 0.001 millimeters longer and his eyes are a touch lighter in colour.”
He turns Ajax’s face so that it’s towards the group. Everyone stares at him and AR.
Venti bursts out laughing while Paimon exclaims, “How is that quite different? Those are the smallest differences known to man! The only way any of us would be able to tell who’s who is after they’ve opened their mouths to speak!”
“Unfortunately, the rest of us do not have Mister Zhongli’s observation skills,” Nadia grumbles. “Say, Masters Childe, can you two promise to wear something that will let us tell you apart more easily? Like a different style earring or something?”
Ajax and AR look at each other again. “I guess we can,” Ajax says. “AR, you can keep the current style, and I’ll switch to something else. I’m sure Zhongli has ideas on what I can wear.”
Zhongli lights up, which answers that question.
Nadia is raising her hand again. “Hey, can we circle back to my previous question? So what actually happened to La Signora? I know you took her out and we heard rumours about bright lights during Osial’s sealing, but we can’t get a straight answer from anyone. Is she gone for good?”
“She’s gone for good. She self-detonated after we took out her fleet of submarines. Yes, Ekaterina, she was hiding in the ocean all this time and was using Il Dottore’s invention to cause mayhem. Her men are killed as well.”
“As for the Doctor, my Adepti still have him in their custody,” Zhongli adds. “I’ve written to the Tsaritsa about La Signora’s partnership with him to interfere with Liyue Harbour. We’ll see what comes out of this discussion.”
Ajax has an idea based on what Zhongli has shared with him. He’ll likely negotiate for the Tsaritsa to remove all Harbinger presence from Liyue and Mondstadt, claiming that he never wants to see any Harbinger as long as he lives or they risk forfeiting their lives. In reality, it’s just an excuse to lower the Tsaritsa’s ability to spy on them in either nation so that they can live a little more comfortably. Zhongli might require other forms of compensation, like a large sum of Mora to restore Liyue Harbour and to enrich Ajax and AR. In the meantime, the good Doctor will be transferred to a separate prison where he may experience the joys of living like a monk.
These are not things that Zhongli will share with the Spy Gang when they still hold loyalty to the Tsaritsa, so Ajax doesn’t bring them up either. The Spy Gang likewise didn’t push, probably sensing that whatever is going on is none of their business anyway. It’s self-preservation instincts like those that have kept them alive for so long, especially in their line of work.
“All’s well that ends well, I suppose,” Ekaterina says, and switches to a new topic. “Wait, when you fought La Signora, did anybody discover your identity? If a random person found out, we can pay them a little visit…why are you doing the guilt shuffle, Master Childe?” She glares at them with suspicion. “I’m not going to like this, will I?”
“You will not,” AR confirms with a sigh. “During the fight, we may have revealed our true identity to…Miss Ningguang.”
“Ningguang?!”
“And also a ship or two of Millelith soldiers.”
“A ship or t—how have you not been arrested yet?!”
“We saved them!” Ajax interjects. “We kicked ass, took names, and almost died and stuff. I mean, they did fish us out of the ocean and—”
“You almost died?!”
Ekaterina looks like she’s about to have a heart attack. Zhongli wisely steps in. “Miss Ningguang has left us alone for now. She will likely schedule a meeting with us in the future, but I doubt she will cause any trouble given all the good Ajax has done.”
“Our fight with Osial and La Signora is helping her boost her own reputation too,” Kaeya says, always the strategist. “Her and the members of the Qixing who aren’t traitors, that is. The victory over Osial and La Signora has made the public view the good Qixing members in a much more positive light, so she has us to thank for that.”
Kaeya sips on his wine and continues, “She’s also aware of Ajax’s close relationship with the Adepti so she won’t do anything that would risk offending them. I suspect that when you meet with her, it’s to discuss whether Ajax plans to keep his identity hidden. She’ll probably also want to corroborate on what happened with Osial and La Signora so that the public doesn’t get conflicting stories.”
Ajax grimaces. “A PR meeting. Great.”
Felix shrugs. “I’m surprised that she didn’t arrange one as soon as possible. The Qixing likes to run a tight ship.”
“Probably because I haven’t exactly left home. I’ve been recovering all this time, and AR kept a low profile whenever he’s out and about. Isn’t that right, AR?”
AR nods. “I made sure to disguise myself appropriately. People tend to avoid looking at corpse collectors working for Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.”
“It beats wearing Zhongli’s coat and that awful hat like your horrible Rite disguise,” Lumine says with approval. “Mister AR really is the more sensible one.”
“Hey! Rude!”
Zhongli blinks in surprise. “What Rite disguise?”
“Ah, I may have…um, snuck out during last year’s Rite of Descension and then rushed back home afterwards so that you wouldn’t know I left. In my defence, I was trying to set a plan in motion. You know, for the contract? I’m sorry for lying to you, though.”
Zhongli leans over and kisses him on the forehead. “I understand completely, my love. I just hope you didn’t also recklessly put yourself in danger.”
Ajax sends Ekaterina and Lumine pleading looks so that they’d keep their mouths shut. Zhongli does not need to know about how he had scaled the bank walls to get into his office or the fight with the Millelith to help Lumine escape.
The rest of the visit is more peaceful, and the day ends on a high note. It takes two more days of peace before Ningguang’s secretary comes knocking on their door.
“Good afternoon, Mister Zhongli and Sir Honorary Knight,” the secretary says once they open the door. She hands them each a beautiful envelope with the stamp of the Qixing. “The Qixing would like to extend an invitation to meet for dinner at 7 p.m. at the Administrative Building in one week’s time. We apologize for the short notice. Would you be able to attend?”
“Of course. We look forward to being there,” Zhongli answers. “Is it possible if we get another invitation?”
“That shouldn’t be a problem, sir. I’ll deliver your extra invitation to your mailbox.” With a last round of polite goodbyes, the secretary sets off.
“Is the other invitation for AR?” Ajax asks after closing the door. “Ningguang is going to like this development, I’m sure.”
Zhongli chuckles and kisses him gently. “Miss Ningguang is too clever to make a fuss. But we should prepare for this meeting with Mister AR. One should at least walk into battle with a plan in place.”
Every single time that Ajax has been “invited” to the Administrative Building has been an unpleasant experience, and the lingering trauma of those instances makes him feel tense and wary even as he, Zhongli, and AR are greeted warmly upon their arrival. The doors are opened, and a literal red carpet is rolled out, welcoming them in, but the uneasiness does not fade.
“It’s alright, my love,” Zhongli murmurs as he laces their fingers together. “I’m right here with you.”
Zhongli is dressed to kill. He’s in an ornate black and gold set of long silk robes that fit tightly around his chest, showing off his muscles. Gold-threaded geometric designs are woven into the fabric, adding a rich lustre to the cloth that screams wealth. The robes also feature long, dramatic sleeves with more golden geometric designs representing his connection to the power of Geo and the Adepti. There is a vertical slit in his overcoat on each side of the body, starting from the hip all the way down his legs. This feature allows the clothing to flare out such that with every step, the silk would sway in a mesmerizing manner, highlighting his otherworldly grace. Under his robes are a set of dark pants made of more fancy silk and a pair of dark silk slippers with gold accents to complete the look.
Beside him, AR manages to give Ajax a reassuring look even through his face mask. He’s wearing a simple, but elegant, set of silk clothing that looks more like a traditional modern-day suit, dark blue-gray in colour with gold trims. Instead of lapels, the suit has a mandarin collar and gold Liyuan-style knotted buttons down the front. More gold etchings featuring gingko leaves span across the upper left shoulder to create an interesting pop of colour against the dark, shiny fabric. The coat falls to his mid-thighs, showing off the pair of dark suit pants, giving him a clean and sophisticated aesthetic. In addition to the mask, a dark fedora helps hide his features and elevate the look.
The outfit makes AR look cool and mysterious while reflecting his practical nature. The suit is also flattering on his strong but lithe frame. He reminds Ajax of a martial arts masters from movies back in his old world, which Ajax supposes he is. AR can probably take down anyone in this building effortlessly, minus Zhongli or Ganyu, if she’s around.
Of the three, Ajax feels like he’s the most underdressed. Unlike Zhongli and AR, who have chosen darker palettes, his own clothes are white. A simple long overcoat wraps over his body and is belted with a large belt made of gold, red, and white silk. Similar to Zhongli’s, the coat has billowing sleeves for a flare of drama. The coat is so long that it reaches his ankles, hiding his white pants underneath, but unlike Zhongli’s clothes, Ajax’s outfit is looser, and it features a V-neck. Ajax’s coat is also mostly devoid of designs save for the small golden Geo and Rex Lapis symbols etched along the hemlines of the sleeves, the neck, and the bottom of the robe. The only other shiny objects are his accessories: the simple gold necklace with his engagement ring, and his new golden earring fashioned to look like Zhongli’s. Even his mask and the large hood falling over his eyes are pure white and undecorated.
Honestly, his outfit reminds him of what the priests in Yiyan Temple wore, except more elevated, which is why when Zhongli had picked the outfit for him, he had given him a look of confusion. Why would Zhongli want him to wear something like that when he could be wearing something much more elaborate, like the Rite of Descension clothes from two years ago? But Zhongli had kissed him and said, “Trust me, love, this outfit will make quite the statement,” and that was that.
They continue their way into the building before getting to their destination. Another large set of double doors opens, and they’re guided into a brightly lit room with a large round table at the middle. Ningguang, Keqing, and Uncle Tian are already present, and they get up upon their arrival.
“Mister Zhongli and honourable guests. Welcome,” Ningguang says as they bow lightly. “We're so glad you can make it. Please take a seat and make yourselves comfortable. We’ve prepared some tea and light snacks to start. We hope it is to your liking.”
A pot of fragrant tea and some accompanying small dishes are quickly served. Once the door closes, Ajax and AR take off their hat and mask.
Predictably, the Qixing are rightly shocked.
“Wait, there are two of you?!” Keqing cries, eyes darting between Ajax and AR. “Since when does Harbinger Tartaglia have a twin?”
“If that’s the case then I must admit, you’ve fooled us all,” Ningguang says with a frown. Ajax can practically see her mentally go through all the intel reports on him to see if she missed such a crucial detail.
“Peace, Lady Keqing, Lady Ningguang,” Zhongli says, palm out in a universal gesture for calm. “This is a very recent development. As you know, my Ajax has a second persona who takes over when he activates certain powers. Celestia has rewarded him for stopping La Signora and for mastering his skills by cleansing his soul and granting this persona its own body. This is Mister AR. We brought him here so that he can make your acquaintance.”
“It’s very nice to meet you all,” AR says, bowing. “But I must object to being called Harbinger Tartaglia. Any connection myself and Ajax have with the Tsaritsa was severed upon by, um, death.”
“Nice to meet you Mister AR,” Uncle Tian says with grace. “Seeing that you’re willingly introducing yourself as opposed to hiding away or escaping to another nation, am I right to assume that you plan on staying in Liyue peacefully?”
“That is correct. I wanted to introduce myself as a gesture of goodwill. With Celestia cleansing us, I no longer operate under the influence of the Abyss. I merely wish to live peacefully as a civilian.”
“The Adepti do not object to his presence,” Zhongli adds. “I am happy to house him for the foreseeable future or until he wishes to move.”
“As long as the Adepti are willing to vouch for him and take responsibility should anything occur, then the Qixing does not object,” Ningguang says. “We only ask that you please send notice if you’re planning to travel to Guyun Stone Forest.”
Ajax supposes that’s fair enough. After dealing with evil gods being released from prison twice, anybody would be paranoid.
“We will also need to coordinate a story for Master Childe and Mister AR’s public appearance. While the Millelith and Captain Beidou’s crew know better than to spread the news about Master Childe’s reappearance, relying on them to keep this a secret is not a permanent solution.”
Zhongli nods. “I think there is a simple solution to this. We will simply say that Celestia has bestowed blessings on my Ajax. That is technically the truth.”
“It may be the truth, and sure, the public will believe Celestia intervened to resurrect Master Childe, but why are there two of them?” Keqing presses. She narrows her eyes, “And I highly doubt you’d want to reveal the existence of your, uh, Abyssal problem and your duo persona, so we’ll need something else to work with.”
“We can say that Celestia did that to grant me what I want?” Ajax hedges. “There’s a part of me that wants to live normally as a civilian, and there’s another part of me that wants to be married to Zhongli and join his world with the Adepti. To satisfy both of those things, Celestia created two of me?”
Zhongli brings Ajax’s hand towards his lips and presses a kiss on his fingers. “We can also say that Celestia has answered the demands of the Adepti and the people too. Both the Adepti and mortals would like to have him live among them exclusively, hence, the creation of two Masters Childe: one for the Adepti to keep, and one for the mortal world.”
AR clears his throat. “I would also prefer if we can also clarify that I do not wish to govern. No offence, honourable Qixing, but I do not envy your workload or your responsibility.”
That comment draws a smile from all three Qixing members. Uncle Tian asks, “Oh? What would you like to do then? As thanks for taking out La Signora, we’d be happy to lend you a hand.”
“Much appreciated, but I’m not sure my goals are exciting enough to warrant the Qixing’s effort. I simply want to have a stable job with steady pay without it being too mind-numbingly boring. I want to have the time to explore hobbies, and have a reasonable amount of paid vacation.” AR rubs his chin and adds, “I like numbers and I’m good with accounts, so a job in the financial sector would work.”
Uncle Tian laughs. “I don’t know, a steady life of peace sounds plenty exciting to me. As for work in the financial sector, you couldn’t have found a better city to work in. Liyue Harbour is, after all, the heart of Teyvat’s commercial activities.”
“You know, Mister AR, we might have a job for you. We’re in need of capable personnel who are also trustworthy.” Ningguang leans over with interest. “After all the trouble we’ve had with the Harbingers and the Fatui, we’ve been working on getting all Harbingers to divest their investments or ownership in Liyuan businesses. Northland Bank is one such establishment. We already have multiple Liyuan owners ready to take over, but we’ll need a leader who knows the ins and outs of the bank’s operations to oversee everything. We’ll also need the leader to be able to work with the staff; some of them might be new Liyuan hires, but others might be old Snezhnayan staff sufficiently distanced from the Fatui who agreed to stay. What say you?”
AR makes a little humming noise. “This job seems like it’s going to be busier than I’d like—”
“We’ll pay you a million Mora per year,” Ningguang says, going straight for the kill. “With room for upward mobility and bonuses. You’ll also get a signing bonus of 300,000 Mora, and we’ll guarantee that you have four weeks of paid vacation. Please try this position for the year. If you’re not satisfied once the year is up, you may leave for another opportunity.”
Ajax is surprised by her generosity, but upon further reflection, it makes sense. Getting AR employed at the bank will help stabilize it during this transition phase, ensuring that it keeps running seamlessly. At the same time, having AR—someone who’s endorsed by the Adepti and blessed by Celestia—seen so publicly as an ally to Liyue Harbour is more good PR for the Qixing. Keeping AR in place also makes it easier for the Qixing to keep an eye on him.
AR does not look surprised by Ningguang’s eagerness. It appears he’s also aware of what she’s trying to achieve. “That’s a very generous offer. I’ll need to see the full employment contract before making a decision.”
That’s not a no. Ningguang’s smile widens. “I’ll have my secretary send you something within the week. Thank you for your consideration.”
The conversation shifts to rebuilding efforts. In true Qixing style, the progress is staggering and done so efficiently. Minor repair works are done, and more civilians are given orders to return to their homes. Those who live closer to the dock will need to wait a little longer since the harbour front suffered the most damage, but Uncle Tian is optimistic that reconstruction will finish in a month’s time.
“There will be a ceremony to honour the fallen once the docks are repaired,” Keqing says as the light snacks are cleared to make way for the main course. “The Qixing will be happy to take the lead with making the arrangement in consultation with Wangsheng Funeral Parlour, of course.” She gives Ajax a long look before shifting her gaze to Zhongli. “Will Yiyan Temple be conducting the ceremony?”
Why is she looking at him when asking the question about Yiyan?
Before Ajax can ask the question, Zhongli steps in. “It would be more appropriate if both Yiyan and the Qixing would conduct it. After all, the Qixing represents the new governing body of Liyue, so naturally, their presence is necessary.”
Ningguang puts her cup down and tilts her head in curiosity. “I see. Are you saying that the Adepti have no intention of electing a new leader to take Rex Lapis’s place? I know you are retired after your uncle’s passing, but what of the other Adepti?”
Zhongli shakes his head. “The Adepti do not seek to govern. They leave this responsibility in the Qixing’s capable hands. However, they will continue to lend support should Abyssal forces or other gods threaten the nation.” His eyes flash gold with displeasure as he speaks his next set of words, “However, the Adepti expect the Qixing to show more effort for this ceremony than for Rex Lapis’s Rite of Parting. The fact that my Ajax had paid for 80% of it when he was still a member of the Tsaritsa’s court is shameful.”
Right! Ajax was the one who funded a good chunk of the Rite of Parting, and the Qixing still never paid him back! He had forgotten all about that, but Zhongli is clearly keeping score.
“Did the Rite of Parting happen?”
“It was conducted a month after the trial,” Keqing answers. She seems more cowed along with the rest of the Qixing members. Being called out by an Adeptus would make anyone feel ashamed. “We’ll also honour Rex Lapis’s passing as part of this Rite of Parting, and we’ll pay back what Master Childe has spent with interest. It was our fault for failing to pay him back to begin with.”
“You don’t have to pay me back. Those were a gift.” Honestly, he has so much money already, even after dividing it with AR. More money is hardly going to move the needle. “It matters more to me that this Rite of Parting is conducted properly, so please allocate those funds for that instead.”
Zhongli squeezes Ajax’s hand. His temper soothed once more. “My Ajax is so generous. The gift is much appreciated, as with all of your other offerings.” He turns his attention back to the Qixing. “Regarding Yiyan’s representative at the ceremony, I will leave it to them to choose, though my preference is to have someone experienced with the proceedings.”
Ningguang glances at Ajax. “I had thought you’d want Master Childe to take the lead.”
Again, why is he being picked on? Is Ajax missing something?
Zhongli answers before he can ask the question. “My Ajax still needs to fully recover. There will be no stressful activities for him in the foreseeable future.”
“Zhongli…” Ah, the protectiveness is rearing its head again.
“In fact, my Ajax will do nothing but relax at home for at least one more month, like he promised.”
“Zhongli, really—”
“No, no, I think we can all agree with what Mister Zhongli is saying,” Uncle Tian interjects. “If nothing else, it will give Liyue Harbour a much-needed break from these intermittent earthquakes.”
At that, all three members of the Qixing give Zhongli a long, judging look.
Zhongli merely shrugs and takes a quiet sip of his tea.
There are more talks about the preparation work for announcing Ajax and AR’s existence, strategies to counter the Tsaritsa’s efforts to investigate this matter or even trying to recruit both Ajax and AR to her side. As the dinner winds down, Ajax feels like they’ve got a pretty good game plan. Sure, they will need to work out some kinks and iron out the fine details, but with the Qixing’s efficiency, Ajax is confident they’ll get there in no time.
Keqing clearly shares his views. “I’m sure we’ll have a final plan in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, we would appreciate if Master Childe and Mister AR maintain a low profile.”
With that, dinner draws to an end. They are escorted out of the Administrative Building, with Ajax and AR donning their disguises once more, and are bid farewell with polite bows. Rather than going home, however, Zhongli suggests that they make a pit stop at Yiyan Temple.
“I would like to speak to the priests to discuss the upcoming Rite of Parting.”
“I’ve been wanting to say hello to the priests as well,” Ajax agrees. “Maybe I’ll run into some of the Adepti too.”
The priests greet them with the same amount of friendly Zen as they did when the evil gods were running amok, their behaviour unchanging even after Ajax and AR took off their hats and masks. Their calm and steady nature is unchanging no matter the chaos and storms that batter the temple. It’s nice seeing how steady the temple remains; a true representation of the Geo Lord they worship.
“Welcome to the temple, Lord Adeptus and friends. How can we help you today?”
“Good evening. I would like to pass on a quick message to one of your high priests. Is one of them available? I can leave the message with someone if that’s more convenient.”
“High Priestess Xi is available. I’ll take you to her. Right this way, please.”
As Zhongli is guided to a separate meeting room, AR puts his hand on Ajax's shoulder and says, “Why don’t you go ahead and say hello? I’ll be in the main prayer hall if you need me.”
“You sure? You can come with me if you want.”
“I’ve been tagging along to all your friends’ visits so far. I’ll give you some space to meet with these ones.” With that, AR begins to head off. He waves over his shoulder. “Find me when you’re done!”
It’s always going to be a bit weird and nerve-racking seeing AR walk away from him, but Ajax supposes that they’ve been clinging to each other a lot. This might be AR’s attempt at slowly introducing some healthy space between them, especially if AR’s going to be out of the house, working and living his own life in the near future. And what a terrifying thought that is, one that Ajax is happy to bury for now.
He heads down the hall in the opposite direction, stopping every now and then to say hello to the priests. A familiar set of voices has him moving forward until he finds the room where those sounds are emanating from.
“Oh! Miss Ganyu, hello! And,” he grins brightly. “Xiao! Long time no see!”
“Master Childe! I’m so pleased to see you all better!” Ganyu’s eyes widen at his clothes. “Oh my! Did Lord—Zhongli give you these?”
“Yeah!” Ajax does a little twirl. “They’re nice, but I was afraid they’d look a little plain since we were having dinner with the Qixing. You should look at Zhongli, though! He’s all dressed up—what’s with that constipated face, Xiao?” His attention goes back to Ganyu, who’s giggling with her cheeks flushed. “Did I miss something?”
“Just that Lord Lapis is sending a very strong statement.” Xiao sighs with a shake of his head. Seeing that Ajax still looks lost, he clarifies, “The clothes you are wearing traditionally belong to the Head Priest. By introducing you to the Qixing while wearing them, Lord Lapis is further declaring your importance amongst the Adepti and to Yiyan Temple, as if it requires further emphasis.”
The last bit is muttered but very clearly heard.
Ajax knows he’s giving Xiao the biggest shit-eating grin, judging by the way his expression grows even more sour. “Zhongli is showing me off! That’s adorable! I wish he told me! I’d totally ham it up!”
“Please don’t.”
“You know, he did call me his Head Priest before, but I guess I never registered what that meant. Say, are there special responsibilities with the job? Do I get work perks?”
“Your responsibility is that you have to provide faithful and timely offerings to the divine,” Ganyu says. “As for perks. Hm, I’m afraid the position is more symbolic than anything since historically, it was often granted to the mortal lovers of high-ranking Adepti though Zhongli jumped the gun here…”
“It’s supposed to be granted to mortal lovers who are spouses to the high-ranking Adepti,” Xiao adds, crossing his arms. “Never in a thousand years would I think that Lord Lapis is so eager to do away with propriety. That’s two things he’s done before marriage: granting you this position and—”
His face grows red, and he coughs into his fist. It takes a second for Ajax to get it and another for him to grow as red as Xiao.
“Okay, but in my defence, Zhongli was hurt and I was giving him a bath and, uh, it just happened?”
Ganyu’s face turns beet red. She covers her mouth with her hands. “Oh my!”
“I mean, he was very respectful, but I might have made him snap, and then he threw me in bed—”
“Stop!” Xiao looks like he wants to crawl into a hole and die. “Just stop. I do not need or want to hear about your love life with Lord Lapis. Just…remember to control your offerings. Do it for his health and for our sanity. Please.”
With Xiao sufficiently traumatized, the topic turns to something lighter, such as the Adepti’s future plans now that peace has been restored over the land. Ganyu has requested a well-earned leave of absence and is looking forward to visiting her master Cloud Retainer. As for Xiao…
“I will be travelling to Mondstadt for a short visit.”
“Oh?” Ajax’s shit-eating grin is back with a vengeance. “You visiting someone special? Good on you, Xiao! Make sure you bring lots of wine with you, though. You know how much he likes to drink, and to him, nothing says ‘I like you’ like a good vintage!”
Ganyu looks like she’s ready to settle down with a whole bucket of popcorn as Xiao does nothing but splutter. His dignity is saved by Zhongli’s timely arrival.
“Beloved? I’m done with my meeting. Ah! Ganyu, Xiao. I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“You are not!” Xiao says quickly as Ganyu returns her own polite greeting. “We are done with the conversation. Please take him away before he can cause more chaos.” Then, with a lot more politeness, he adds, “Please summon me if you need anything, my lord.”
Zhongli chuckles as he loops his hand around Ajax’s waist. “Of course, Xiao. Now that the Qixing and the Rite of Parting are taken care of, I will need all of the Adepti’s help for my other project. But please also feel free to pay us a visit not just for work, but as friends. You as well, Ganyu.”
They pick up AR and head out. They’re a few steps away from the temple when Ajax asks, “Wait, what other project? Why do you need all the Adepti’s help with it?”
Zhongli gives Ajax’s waist a squeeze as his smile grows more and more satisfied. “The most important project of all, my love: our wedding.”
Ajax lights up. “Oh! Right! Our wedding!” Then, realizing the weight of those words, he says with feeling: “holy shit, we’re getting married.” He twists around and gives AR a wide-eyed look. “Holy shit, AR!”
AR rolls his eyes. “You were the one who proposed to him! And it’s been months at this point, how are you still surprised?”
“It’s not just the Adepti’s help that I will be recruiting either,” Zhongli continues, all too pleased. “Our other friends will also be pitching in. Director Hu Tao, in particular, is keen on joining in, and she’ll be dropping by tomorrow to discuss further.”
“It’s going to be the most lavish wedding Liyue has ever seen, isn’t it?” Ajax asks helplessly. “Why do I suspect that the whole city is invited?”
“It won’t only be the most lavish party in Liyue, but in Mondstadt as well. Barbatos has agreed to host us there for a second wedding reception. It's only appropriate given that Mondstadt will be our second home, but personally, I think he just wants an excuse to drink.”
“Oh my god!”
The night air feels crisp and fresh even through the layers of Ajax’s clothes. The path ahead of them is lit by the warm glow of paper lanterns hung on lacquered posts. Around them, rows and rows of Liyuan townhouses are throwing more warm light out onto the paved street from their windows, the sound of people going about their day muffled through the wooden walls. There is a young family enjoying their stroll further ahead, and a few steps to the right, a merchant is slowly closing up shop to return home to his loved ones. Overhead, sitting on the star-spangled, indigo sky is a shining moon, perfectly round, and it nestles among all that blue like a perfect Cor Lapis gem in a velvet casing.
Just another perfect evening in Liyue Harbour, a place that has long since become one of his beloved homes. It’s made all the more perfect by the people beside him: to his right is Zhongli, who is humming the familiar tunes of “Salut d’Amour”, and to his left is AR, who’s walking idly by with steps as light as the fine silk in his clothes.
And what’s a better way to celebrate a perfect evening than with some fine music?
“Say,” Ajax says, “I just realized I never got to play on the piano since we’ve been back. AR also hasn’t heard me play live. How about an impromptu performance over snacks and tea? I’ve got a few songs in mind that I think you’ll both like.”
Zhongli kisses him on the cheek. “That sounds perfect. Home it is, then?”
“Yeah. Home it is.”
Extra I: Ningguang
“We’re just going to let them go without pressing for La Signora’s secret?”
Ningguang gives Keqing a look as the figures of their three departing guests grow smaller and smaller over the horizon. Uncle Tian has already left for home, leaving just the two of them standing outside by the front entrance.
“Considering that we’re trying to establish a mutually beneficial partnership, I think it’s best that we let some sleeping dogs lie,” Ningguang replies.
Keqing clearly thinks otherwise. “But aren’t you curious at all? La Signora said there’s a contract between the Tsaritsa and Rex Lapis. For some reason, Master Childe knows about it or else he wouldn’t have interrupted her. And if Master Childe knows, then odds are his fiancé, the Adeptus, knows too!”
“Even if I’m curious, what can I possibly gain from knowing this secret?” Ningguang challenges. “I don’t know what advantages I would gain from possessing that knowledge. What I do know is that if I pry, I risk alienating the Adepti and Master Childe, something that will damage our very fragile reputation.”
A very fragile reputation that they just began to rebuild, thanks to their steadfast effort to protect the population. Speaking of which—“We’ll need to set a public trial for those ex-Qixing traitors. A public show of justice being enforced should help us regain some popularity. I’ll begin planning shortly and will provide you draft of my thoughts tomorrow. Please look it over and see what you think.”
Keqing sighs and turns around to head indoors. “And people call me a workaholic. Fine, we’ll let that secret go. This is going to keep bothering me, though.”
The doors close. Ningguang is alone. She takes out her smoking pipe, preps it, and lights it before taking a long drag from the mouthpiece. Sweet smoke curls inside of her mouth and fills her lungs. On the exhale, tension bleeds from her body.
She wasn’t lying when she said she doesn’t wish to learn the secret because she does not wish to pry and lose the alliance. However, that wasn’t the only thing staying her hand.
The second reason why she’s hesitating is that she suspects she knows the answer already. Or more specifically, she has all the pieces of the puzzle that will point her to the answer. All she has to do is put them together.
Piece #1: Rex Lapis’s favour towards Master Childe is well known. She’s seen it with her own eyes during that fateful Rite of Descension and the way Rex Lapis had particularly favoured the diplomat.
Piece #2: Adeptus Zhongli also clearly favours Master Childe to the point of bringing him to dinner dressed in a traditional high priest outfit, something that is normally only reserved for the spouse of powerful, high-ranking Adepti. This is despite the fact that they’re still engaged.
Piece #3: Adeptus Zhongli’s mastery is over the Geo element, and he’s clearly very powerful, considering the earthquakes he made whenever he was upset and his attacks during the second Osial’s sealing. His form is that of a dragon that bears a striking similarity to Rex Lapis’s exuvia. This makes sense given Adeptus Zhongli is allegedly Rex Lapis’s nephew.
Except.
Piece #4: There are no historical records that Rex Lapis has any siblings or blood family. Ningguang has people researching this information to great lengths, combing through archive after archive. Rex Lapis has multiple disciples, trusted comrades, and close confidants. But family? There were none.
So where does this mysterious nephew come from?
And then, Piece #5: the Adepti have shown great deference to him, calling him their lord. The Adepti do not abide by a system of monarchy. Only the powerful and the respected are deserving of being recognized as a lord. For Adeptus Zhongli, who had no recorded achievements under his name, to earn this level of reverent respect is suspicious.
It’s possible that her research is incomplete. After all, the Adepti’s history is long and there are numerous ones whose names have faded from history, but there are not many who have earned such deference, and they all have stories to their names, including records of their powers. Adeptus Zhongli does not appear to match any of those Adepti.
All these points point to a possible theory, one that Ningguang doesn’t dare to speak out loud. This is especially true after the research reminded Ningguang that the Adepti, particularly the Prime of the Adeptus, can cast away physical shells of their bodies like a molting crab. Another fact to support this comes directly from the name for Rex Lapis’s body.
The Exuvia. The sloughed skin of an animal.
She takes another long drag of her smoke and turns her face upwards to watch the full moon.
It appears that Mister Zhongli has metamorphosed, casting away his old shell to become someone new: a retired Adeptus living amongst the mortals and a soon-to-be husband to a man who was once the vanguard of another Archon. A vanguard whom, for all intents and purposes, he had captured and converted into his own high priest. How scandalous.
It would certainly explain why Master Childe was framed. The Tsaritsa would not let such disrespect go, and what better way than to use the Qixing against him? It would be poetic justice. Rex Lapis had stolen her lieutenant, but in return, the Tsaritsa is using the Qixing to do her bidding. If anything, Ningguang is surprised that Rex Lapis had shown so much restraint and mercy during the trial and afterwards. If she were the Archon and her mortal subjects had dared harm her beloved, the whole nation would’ve been buried alongside her.
She’s almost done her smoke, and the night grows late. It’s time for her to go back to do some work, and a good time to stop her thinking. She already has a plan on how to move forward, and it’s a simple one: stay on Master Childe and Mister AR’s good side lest she accidentally invoke the wrath of Liyue’s retired emperor god.
“The Qixing should send a lavish wedding gift,” she murmurs as new plans begin to emerge. Yes, she thinks she has just the perfect idea.
Extra II: Ekaterina
“Master Childe! Master Childe is back from the dead! It truly is a miracle!”
“And there are two of them, too! Celestia has blessed us!”
The streets have not stopped buzzing with excitement after the Qixing and the Adepti made a joint public announcement about Master Childe. Of course, seeing two of them standing side-by-side on the steps of the Administrative Building only drives home this point, especially where one is dressed in a set of high priest robes while the other appears in a beautifully tailored suit.
A large wooden wagon trundles down the path, filled with all sorts of packaged goods. Ekaterina nimbly steps aside for it to pass, and as she does, she hears the familiar voice of Miss Li, the local grocer, enthusiastically bragging to her listeners.
“Just the other day, both Master Diplomats came for a visit! I didn’t think they’d remember me, but they not only took the time out of their busy day to check how I was doing, they also brought me some baked goods. Oh, I guess I shouldn’t call them Masters Diplomat anymore now that they’re honorary citizens of Liyue. I’ll have to get used to calling them High Priest Ajax and Master AR now, won’t I?”
“Can you even tell which one is which? They look identical if not for their earrings and their demeanor. It seems only High Priest Ajax’s fiancé can truly tell them apart!”
“You’d think Celestia could have created the bodies to look a little bit differently to help us out!”
“I don’t know about all of this,” a new person says. “Doesn’t it sound a little too good to be true?”
Of course, there will always be skeptics.
“It’s just…Master Childe died while he was in prison for attempted murder and terrorism charges, and then, he’s alive except there are two of them. The Qixing and the Adepti are united and are backing both Masters Childe. There seems to be a lot that’s missing between his death and resurrection. It’s suspicious, is what that is.”
Ekaterina peels away from eavesdropping the conversation and carries on her journey towards Northland Bank.
It’s not just the random civilians who view all of this with skepticism. The Fatui communications line is flooded with requests to look into this phenomenon. The Tsaritsa had naturally caught wind of it and was furious on top of her anger at La Signora's idiotic actions and death, plus Il Dottore’s continued detention. Word has it that she's summoned all the Harbingers back to Snezhnaya to discuss next steps. Luckily, according to Ekaterina’s own sources, she remains uninterested in Master Childe’s family or making any sort of announcements slandering his good name. Perhaps the idea that Celestia itself had intervened is making her act more cautiously; it's hard to imagine how else Master Childe got cloned aside from Il Dottore’s experiments.
She climbs up the winding steps to the bank and pushes open the wooden doors. Business is running as usual, but there are significantly more new faces now that the bank is firmly under Liyue control. Due to her connection with the Fatui, she and her non-civilian colleagues were let go from their bank posts, but Pantalone has given them new orders to stay in Liyue. Their tasks are to keep an eye on things, particularly with Master Childe’s miraculous resurrection, but aside from having to write a report once every two weeks, Pantalone has left them all to their own devices.
The vague order and light work is a blessing; it has granted them all a rare moment of downtime, which is used by those loyal to Master Childe to further consolidate their own separate spy network to help Master Childe scan for danger headed his way. Once that work is done, Ekaterina knows that the group will likely resign and work for Mister Zhongli and Master Childe directly. Mister Zhongli is already working with her to make a lucrative employment contract.
But that’s plans for the future. Today, she's here for a separate reason altogether. She walks up to the counter and greets the teller. “Is the high priest in Mister AR’s office?”
The teller looks relieved to see her. “Miss Ekaterina! I’m so glad you’re here! Mister AR has another meeting coming up, but, um…”
“The high priest is bothering him? I’ll go extract him, no worries. We have an appointment to go to anyway.”
“Thank you! You’re a godsend!”
She heads for the back area where the offices are, muscle memory kicking in and taking her straight to Master Childe’s old office. The door is open, and there are sounds of chatter and laughter. She knocks on the frame before poking her head in the room.
“Mister AR, Master Childe, Andrei, good morning.”
Mister AR is at his desk while Andrei is seated at one of the visitor’s chairs, papers in hand, but looking the most cheerful in a long while. Master Childe has ignored his chair and is sitting on the corner of the desk, grinning and clearly in the middle of telling a story. The room feels relaxed and happy, a far cry from how it was when Master Childe had “died”.
“Ah! Ekaterina!” Andrei gets up. “I’m sorry, did you have a meeting with Mister AR? Goodness, time really escaped me!”
“No, no, continue your chat with Mister AR though I think he has a meeting next.” She points her finger at Master Childe and crooks her finger. “I have business with you. We have a fitting appointment, remember? We’re going to be late, and we don’t want to leave Miss Hu Tao alone with the Madame.”
Master Childe grimaces and gets off the desk. “Hu Tao is a lot of things but when it comes to fashion, the woman has chaotic tastes. I have no idea why Madame the tailor even entertains her ideas.”
Because they’re bold and exciting, which is all fine and good, but maybe not for the biggest wedding in Liyue’s history. “Which is why the sooner we can get there, the better. We don’t need her to inspire the Madame into making more alterations to your outfit.” She turns to the other and dips her head. “Sorry, I couldn't stay long, but is dinner still on tonight?”
Mister AR nods with a smile. “Andrei and I will see you later tonight. We’ll catch up then.”
“Good luck, Ekaterina!” Andrei says with a wave.
They leave the office area and return to the front lobby. The teller mouths “thank you” to Ekaterina as they exit through the front door, into a sunny, picturesque afternoon.
“I hope Zhongli isn’t making you run around for the wedding,” Master Childe says, rubbing the back of his head. “I know he tends to have very, uh, exacting tastes, but let me know if he’s being a menace!”
Ekaterina shrugs. “I don’t mind exacting tastes. He’s clear in his instructions, which makes it easy to execute.” The Adeptus only wants the best of the best. Simple enough. “You, on the other hand, need to make a firm decision on what you want for your wedding outfit. I don’t want to hear another ‘I guess that’s okay’ or ‘sure, it’s fine, I guess’, from you.”
“But what do I know about fashion? You know I only care about whether it’s comfortable that I can fight in!”
“That doesn’t mean you still don’t have aesthetic preferences, or do you want Miss Hu Tao to completely take over the design?”
Master Childe makes a face and doesn’t argue back. Good.
They arrive at Madame’s workshop and are ushered inside. Hu Tao is already seated at the sofa in the waiting room at the back, happily chatting with Madame and her team. There’s a coffee table in front of her with a plate of snacks and fresh, fragrant tea. When they get close enough, she waves enthusiastically. “Boyo! Ekaterina! Are you ready for more dress-up?”
Master Childe shrugs helplessly, taking a few seconds the greet Madame and her team before turning his attention back on Hu Tao. “Sure, as ready as I’ll ever be, I guess?”
Ekaterina barely refrains from facepalming.
As usual, the session involves Master Childe trying a lot of different cuts of outfits to see what works best. Madame’s directory of clothing is vast, and she has what’s most popular and in fashion right now, ranging from sharp, clean suits to tight but elegant cheongsams, and boxier loose cuts that show off Master Childe’s shoulders and figure. They all look good on Master Childe, which doesn’t help with the selection process one bit, and as predicted, the session quickly derails into exploring ideas of combining silhouettes given Master Childe’s nonchalance.
At least Madame, her team, and Hu Tao are enjoying themselves.
“That top with that bottom? Or maybe, this top and this bottom?”
“No, no, we should try this top instead. It evens out the proportions, and it will look so avant-garde!”
“Or we can try that set of robes, but we make the shoulders bigger! Bolder!”
Ekaterina shoots Master Childe a look. “Do something,” she grits out.
Thankfully, he does. He clears his throat. “Um, I don’t want to rain on your parade but maybe let’s not go with something that’s too avant-garde. I don’t want it to stick out, especially compared to the rest of the wedding vibe.”
“Master Childe has a point,” one of the attendants says. “The wedding will likely be more on the traditional side so the outfit’s design should reflect that.”
Another attendant nods. “That’s right, the style should be harmonious with the setting and with Mister Zhongli’s clothes too!”
“While harmony is nice, Master Childe is hardly the traditional bride so the style doesn’t fit him,” an attendant counters. “Selecting a more modern and popular design would better suit his personality!”
“It will certainly make him shine!”
“Besides, the outfit will be red and gold. That’s traditional enough!”
Ekaterina looks at Childe. “Master Childe, what do you want?”
Master Childe frowns as he rubs his chin. Then, he perks up as if a lightbulb goes off in his head. “Hang on, one of you mentioned Zhongli’s clothes. Do you know what Zhongli’s outfit will look like?”
Madame nods. “Yes. Mister Zhongli has finalized his design a week ago, and it is more traditional in style.”
“Would I be able to see what it looks like? You don’t have to show me the outfit if you want to keep it a surprise. What I’m more interested is the, uh, shape? Silhouette?”
“Of course.” Madame grabs a sketchbook on a nearby table, flips to a blank page, and begins sketching the shape with charcoal. A figure manifests on the page wearing long silk robes that touch the floor. The inner layers are wrapped around the body and are cinched around the waist with a large, ornate silk belt and a smaller one over that. The belts are decorated with pearls, jewels, and, as a finishing touch, a jade pendant hangs below them that sits at the front. The outer layer, by contrast, is even longer and more dramatic, with a set of decorated shoulder guards that flare up, under which long billowing sleeves spill forth in a waterfall of luxurious silk. There’s a train that pools to the floor, and Ekaterina can imagine how regal the outfit would look as Mister Zhongli walks to the dais to perform his bows. The regalness is only heightened by the tall crown with a flat, rectangular top and long strings of luxurious pearls sewn from the edge, cascading down in a curtain that reaches the forehead.
An emperor's crown, if Ekaterina’s memory of Liyue’s history is correct. One that is worn only at the most auspicious and important occasions.
Everyone goes quiet as they take in the drawing.
“Wow,” Hu Tao says with a whistle. “Zhongli sure knows how to make a statement. When you said traditional, you meant he went ancient history traditional.”
The third attendant sighs. “The hanfu is pretty, but I still think something more modern—”
“Wait, no, I want to match Zhongli!” It’s the first time he’s expressed a strong opinion about his wedding outfit, so it gets everyone’s attention. His attention also appears utterly rapt by the sketch.
“You’re matching in terms of the colours and the fabric type,” an attendant points out.
Master Childe shakes his head. “I want to match more. I want to—um, I want us to look like we’re a set no matter how faraway people are from us. I want them to be able to see the shapes of our clothes and go: ‘that’s a couple getting married and is staying together for life’. I want the ornate vibes to be the same, and I want um, the flowy bits and the structured parts like Zhongli’s robes. Zhongli is going to look so nice and flowy and elegant and powerful and handsome, and wow, I want to also look like that too! Am I making sense?”
“We can work with that,” Madame answers. She flips to a new page and begins sketching. “You’d be looking at multiple layers that flow with design elements that resemble a bit like armour. What are your thoughts on shoulder guards?”
A pause. “They’re going to look so good on Zhongli, but I don’t think I can pull off something that severe. Can I get something a bit more rounded? I also want a V-neck instead of Zhongli’s mandarin collar since I don’t think I can pull off his sophistication, but I want to keep the same patterns.”
“What about the train, or the sleeves?”
“Zhongli’s going to look good with those, but maybe less for me on the sleeves. Can I get something that’s a bit less billowy, but I still want it to swoosh around like Zhongli’s…”
The attendants get to work with renewed enthusiasm. It appears the dam of uncertainty is finally broken, and of course, all it took was for Master Childe to become fixated on Mister Zhongli’s clothes. Ekaterina settles down on the couch beside Hu Tao, watching Madame go through each element of Mister Zhongli’s clothes, with Mister Childe partly waxing poetic about how nice it will make Zhongli look and partly providing views on what he wants for his own robes. Within half an hour, they’ve made way more progress than they did in the last few weeks combined.
“Leave it to the boyo’s fanboy tendency to get him to finally lock in,” she hears Hu Tao say with a chuckle. “In hindsight, that probably should have been our go to solution.”
Ekaterina sighs. “So long as he likes his outfit.”
“How goes the rest of the planning? Has the rest of the crew threatened to quit yet?”
Vlad, Nadia, and Felix are also helping with different wedding tasks. Last Ekaterina heard from them, which was three days ago, they’ve been treating their various chores like a soldiers hell bent on winning the war. No effort is wasted, and no expense is spared. Ekaterina suspects that the three are enjoying doing something where getting it wrong won’t mean losing their lives for once.
Being La Signora’s lackey for years and years tends to be emotionally and psychologically scarring.
“They’re doing just fine,” she says instead. “It’s a nice break for them. Mister Zhongli is also very generous with payment.” She murmurs a quick thanks when Hu Tao pours her a cup of tea. “You know, never in a million years would I have ever thought I’d be in this position,” she says quietly so that only Hu Tao can hear. “Two years ago, when I was sent to Liyue, I thought this was going to be a challenging mission and that the moment it was over, I’d transfer back to Snezhnaya and work for another Harbinger. I was expecting to wash my hands of everything and move on with my life. I wasn’t expecting to like Master Childe or Liyue, let alone want to stay here and make a life with friends.”
Some of them include mythical god-like creatures, too. The old Ekaterina would have been rightly panicked.
Hu Tao grins and raises her own cup in a toast. Clearly, she’s sensing her line of thinking. “Especially when you’re friends with us motley crew, right? I get it. But hey, isn’t it a lot better this way? It’s certainly a hell of a lot more interesting!”
A few paces away, the attendants are bringing forth boxes and boxes of golden accessories for Master Childe to see. But instead of looking bored or uncertain, he’s beaming and pointing at some fresh drawings the Madame and her attendants have just made. When he sees them watching him, his grin grows wider.
“Ekaterina, Hu Tao! I told Madame that I also wanted cool pearl pendants like the one Zhongli will be wearing! And I want a neat headpiece too! What do you think?”
Hm. More interesting is right, and, dare she say, it’s rather charming too. With luck, their future will be painted in more charming and interesting events filled with love and good cheer.
“That’s a great idea, Master Childe,” Ekaterina says, deeply satisfied. “I think Mister Zhongli will really like that too.”
Extra III: The Administrators
“Who amongst the three would you say is the shrimp, the snail, and the seaweed?”
Their brethren turn away from the screens at the center of the table. Many eons have the three existed, bound by their duties to carefully weigh the souls of the departed and shepherd them to a new world to settle old debts. The ability to perform such a duty does not come easily, despite the way they can cross between timelines and worlds as effortlessly as parting a sheer set of curtains. Rather, the long, endless years have imbued them with the experience necessary to do their jobs efficiently, and with it comes the deep sense of familiarity amongst each other. It’s been well over a million years since they have forgone addressing each other by names, finding such things unnecessary when a mere shrug of a shoulder or a tilt of a head is enough for the others to know what is being said and to whom. But in the privacy of their own minds, the Administrators have unilaterally identified each other by simple code names based on who popped into existence first: Administrator A, B, and C.
Administrator C, the youngest and most expressive one, perks up. “Ah, World Gamma-302-GH. It’s our precious aquarium with the three souls. I’m glad that they have corrected each other’s imbalances.”
Administrator B, the realist and more pessimistic one, mutters, “I’m surprised it was a success. When we ran the calculations, the odds for System AR to achieve his objectives were merely 38%. I was anticipating a failure.”
“But what fun would it be if they failed?” C countered. Beside them, a screen shows a beige flying fungus monster firing angry rounds of seed bullets at a group of men. It’s one of C’s more experimental and interesting ideas for soul transmigration, though the poor man who’s inhabiting the mushroom body would protest that statement vehemently. “Don’t we all want to see a happy ending? There’s so much negativity that exists already. What’s a little sunshine and rainbow to spruce things up?”
“Hm. Childish.”
“Pah, not everyone likes to live so jaded!”
Administrator A steps in, a task that has fallen on their shoulders numerous times as the oldest. “Alright, if we can focus on the question at hand.”
They point to the screen showing Gamma-302-GH, where a lavish wedding is on display. Two figures are in elaborate red robes. One is wearing a gold and black crown with a curtain made of individually strung pearls that sway with every step forward. Red silk trails behind him with geometric symbols and images of a flying dragon stitched in gold and silver threads. The material catches the light, making it shimmer to the awed onlookers, of which there were plenty. His companion is also equally eye-catching. He’s in a headdress featuring blue swirling clouds, red rubies, and white pearls, while his ethereal silk robes are embroidered with similar motifs. However, instead of a proud dragon on the train, it features a phoenix and, oddly enough, some sort of large marine animal. A narwhal?
Administrator A doesn’t fully understand the Ajax soul originally from Delta-298-KB but appreciates his whimsy. But that is neither here nor there. The screen pans to the other guests, including the two other souls placed in that world: System AR and the Hu Tao soul from Delta-298-KB. Both of them are fabulously dressed and looking a little misty-eyed.
“As I was saying, which one is the shrimp, the snail, and the seaweed?”
“You know, it’s a myth that a closed ecosystem only requires those three things,” Administrator B points out, propping their chin on their palm. “Technically, the ecosystem also requires sunlight to function because the seaweed needs a light source and fertilizer from animal waste to live—”
“It’s clear that in this analogy, we’re the sun,” C chimes in. They also wave a dismissive hand at B. “But don’t be a spoilsport. If you’re not going to answer, then I will, but first, we should observe the specific roles the shrimp, the snail, and the seaweed play.”
C gets distracted for a second. The couple on the screen has reached a platform before a figure in priest robes and a silver-haired, elegant lady, who are about to provide their blessings and make speeches. The wedding is taking place outdoors in the pavilion outside of a large temple and is decorated with more red banners and beautiful flowers. Separate tents are set up, with the ones closest to the grooms clearly belonging to close friends and families. One such tent is filled with all sorts of mystical beasts and powerful minor gods, undoubtedly the family members belonging to the world’s god Zhongli. The crowd of ordinary mortals is torn between watching that group and the historic wedding taking place.
“Anyway, where was I,” C shakes their head. “Ah, yes. In my view, the seaweed provides nutrients and oxygen. Arguably, it provides something critical to the entire ecosystem that can benefit many things than just the shrimp and snail if other creatures existed in that space. It also has roots that hold the soil together, allowing for life to flourish. Now, who amongst the three is suited to that role?”
“Obviously, that would be the soul called Hu Tao,” B answers. For all of their grumbling, they cannot help themselves from joining in on their silliness, even if they are grouchy about it. “It is Hu Tao’s draft that sets this story in motion. Her words serve as the anchor for this world, and many have benefited from them. She is the seaweed.”
“I cannot argue with that logic,” A admits. “Alright, Hu Tao is the seaweed. What of the snail and the shrimp?”
“The snail is slow; that seems like a fitting role for soul Ajax,” B says with a scoff. “Compared to the snail, the shrimp is infinitely faster and more combative. That role should be for System AR.”
On the screen, the crowd cheers as the speeches are done. Some ceremonial trinkets are brought to the couple. Looks like there will be multiple rounds of these traditional activities to bring good luck and fortune for the couple. At least the grooms appear to be enjoying themselves. Neither of them has stopped smiling tenderly at each other.
“Counterpoint,” C cuts in, “the shrimp is more energetic, whereas the snail is steadier. Wouldn’t that mean that soul Ajax is the shrimp and System AR is the snail?”
“It can go both ways at this point,” A agrees. “What other roles do these creatures play in the ecosystem? Maybe that will help us decide who’s who.”
They pause. The grooms are performing their wedding bows. The first bow is to the Heaven and Earth. The second bow is towards the parents, or those who are standing in as the parents. System AR is acting for Ajax’s side of the family, while an elderly woman is acting for Zhongli’s side. Then, the third bow is towards each other. The crowd goes wild once more.
“Of the two, the snail’s role is to clean,” B volunteers. “It cleans excess algae, and it cleans the shrimp’s waste.” They pause. “Actually, on second thought, I take back what I said earlier. System AR is much better suited as the snail.”
C laughs. “Yes, poor System AR is the sensible one, always cleaning up messes. He is definitely the hardworking snail!”
“Which leaves Ajax as the shrimp who makes the mess that needs cleaning up after.” A nods, satisfied. “And yet, without the shrimp, the other two would not have been successful. Every creature is needed to play its part, and our three chosen ones have fulfilled their duties splendidly.”
The grooms are performing a tea ceremony. System AR’s eyes are red, but he takes his cup with a wobbly smile. Seeing him express such vulnerability is a vast improvement from the cold, almost automaton being that he had been when he had signed his contract. He’s come a long way, this precious snail of theirs.
The three souls are going to be just fine. Administrator A does not need to rely on their vast knowledge and power to predict that outcome.
“Here’s to three souls successfully shepherded then,” they say. A pretty martini glass filled with a bright blue cocktail appears in their hand. B and C likewise manifest the drinks of their desire. They clink the glasses together with practiced ease.
“And here’s to our happy ending.”
THE END