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The sun was already setting, painting the sky in a fiery gold framed by the early stars and the night. From his position, Zhongli could see the celestial body diving into the waters of Guyun Stone Forest.
Such breathtaking scenery, and no one to share it with.
Well, it was at his request that the Traveler and her floating companion went away. He claimed to need a bit of alone time and Lumine simply gave him exactly that, without asking any questions.
But as minutes and even hours went away, he was starting to regret his decision. With no one to talk to and his mind still lingering on his last conversation with the wanderer from the stars, he came to a dreadful conclusion:
Now that he was no longer Rex Lapis, he had nowhere to go.
It wasn't that simple, he supposed. He did tell Lumine he would keep his job as the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's consultant, but it ended there. Would he be satisfied with it forever? Would he change his life once again?
But that wasn't the dreadful part. The truly terrifying conclusion he arrived at was that, even after decades mulling over the decision to retire and orchestrating the plan to Liyue's independence from divinity, he still had no idea of what to do with his life.
It was somewhat anticlimactic. The wise, all-knowing Rex Lapis dreamed of resting for the longest time, and now that he can he doesn't know how.
Zhongli sighed, tired of turning the same question over and over in his head. It seemed he was still terrible with matters of the heart such as these.
What would you tell me to do, Guizhong?
Ah, how would he know? Her memories were preserved in that stone dumbbell, but forever out of his reach. Anything that he did remember of her was looking more and more like a distant dream with the passage of time. He doesn't even remember if she would approve of his decision to step down from his role.
Time grinds all to dust and erosion chips even the sturdiest of rocks away. The Heavenly Principles made it so.
Zhongli couldn't contain a second sigh at that. Another glaring hole in his plan: he was not even truly free. Celestia was always watching, always present, and he suspected his decision to leave Liyue without an Archon's supervision was less than ideal in its eyes. One wrong step and tragedy would knock at the nation's doors.
He internally lamented the day he made his contract with that accursed island in the sky. Had he known how much trouble it would bring, he wouldn't have bothered with it.
...No, he still would. The Archon War was nothing short of a massacre, and his people were at risk. It was either fight and triumph or yield and be trampled on, be it by enemies or by the Heavens. Havria and Orobashi were proof enough of the reality of those times.
If it was for the safety and prosperity of Liyue, he would have no regrets. Or so he kept telling himself, but Morax knows better than trying to repeat lies in hopes of turning them to truth.
Azhdaha is as good an example as any. The day he had to seal him was the day he lost a comrade and a friend, despite his madness being a threat to his people. To think erosion would be so brutal to someone as powerful as him… Azhdaha was also a lesson, in the worst of ways.
Night came. Zhongli turned his gaze to the stone forest, the graveyard of gods he built himself. Without doubt, one Conqueror of Demons would brandish his spear against the demons and divine remnants there.
Yet another thing he couldn't forget. The sacrifices of his retainers, the endless pain the yaksha must endure. He thought that, with the end of their contract, Xiao would finally rest. Zhongli really should have known better than to expect him to lay down when there's a battle no one but him could fight.
It was the harsh truth. Liyue's exorcists were evolving with time, but still were no match to the real terrors in the nation's outskirts.
Those things were what made him postpone his decision for so long, but now that everything was said or done, he couldn't go back even if he wanted.
Did he want it? Did he regret his decision?
Distantly, he was reminded of a conversation he held with the Traveler, not so long after Rex Lapis' funeral.
"So, are you certain about all this?"
Zhongli tore his gaze from the sea to look at his companion, the traveler from afar. Her honey-colored eyes were especially inquisitive today, he noted.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked.
"I am talking about your retirement. You're being serious about leaving Liyue in the humans' hands?"
He furrowed his brows at that. "But of course. I already tested their prowess, gave my Gnosis away and Rex Lapis' funeral was days ago. There is no room for hesitation now."
Lumine blinked twice, as if trying to process his sentence. Then she spoke again, "Well, of course. But you can always regret something, even after you've done it, right?"
Zhongli hummed, deep in thought for a few seconds. What she said had a basis. Would he regret such a drastic decision in the future?
He decided to ask her instead. "Traveler, do you think I should regret my decision?"
It was her turn to be deep in thought. He waited patiently for her to gather her answer and was soon presented with it, along with a soft smile.
"I don't think so. Sure, it was out of nowhere, and Liyue will take some time to get back on track, but if you trust the people to overcome the problems so much, there is no reason for me to doubt them."
Zhongli mirrored her smile. "Then there is your answer. Even if the day I doubt them should come, I am sure Liyue will prove me wrong."
Of course. How could he forget his own words? Liyue will flourish on itself as much as it did under his wing, if not even more. He saw enough of human determination to know it's perfectly possible, and yet, his insecurities got the best of him.
Insecurities about himself, mostly. It was a good decision for Liyue's sake, but what about his? Was stepping down from his position as the nation's deity the right thing? Will he belong somewhere else or will he still be a god pretending to be human, trying to fit in a place with no space for the likes of him?
Zhongli has to wonder how Ganyu deals with this. He had wanted mortal life with such fervor, but what if it just isn't for him?
He knows he will never be human in constitution. His body was still the one of a god, the Prime of the Adepti in the flesh. He would still far surpass the mortal lifespan.
Mortal costumes, those he can understand like the back of his hand. He knows every tradition, every festival, every idiom and costume that roams in his harbor's streets, more than any mortal does. It's precisely why his position as a consultant is held in such high regard among the community.
But feelings, ah… Those he never quite got the grasp he wanted. He wasn't completely apathetic nor totally ignorant of them, but there was so much subtlety and nuances involved that he often got confused.
Nowadays, the one who often took the toll of explaining such things to him was… Yes, her.
The Traveler had been crossing his mind quite a bit these last moments. Their conversation had left this much of an impact on him, perhaps?
She was patient enough to explain how things affected people differently. More often than not, Lumine would help him understand his own emotions.
But their time together couldn't be reduced to just that. Most of the time, he was the one teaching her all that he had to offer about Liyue, reveling in her enthusiasm to learn. There were also the meals they treated each other to, filled with stories, good food and laughter.
His personal favorites would be the ones where he took a stroll across Liyue's breathtaking scenery, with the Traveler right beside him. Night would come and they would sit together on the ground, teaching each other about the beautiful starry patterns in the sky.
Then, sometimes, one of them would confide in the other, secrets for only them to know. It was as if the moment was solely for the both of them to live in; be it in the small blessings he spoke to her, the lightness in which she held his hand or the way their gazes crossed.
These moments had something so fragile, but so utterly precious about them. Whenever Zhongli tried to put it into words, they would simply escape him. There was only fondness and the inexplicable warmth that seemed to flow from his chest, an innate desire to keep .
But he couldn't keep them. He would remember these nights, but it was the most he could do. What is it he wishes to keep, then?
His musings were interrupted by a pair of frantic steps. His supernatural hearing caught a person panting, as if they had been running for a long time. And then…
"Mr. Zhongliiiiiii!"
That voice. She came back?
He turned slowly and surely enough, the blond Traveler was on an all-out sprint towards him. She stopped right at his side, and he waited a few more seconds for her to catch her breath. While that happened, he noticed the absence of a certain floating companion.
"Traveler, you…" He began, somewhat dazed by her abrupt appearance, "...Came back. Did you forget something?"
"No, no!" She was still noticeably panting and her cheeks were still flushed. How long was that sprint? He wondered. "I just… I just wanted to talk to you again…"
That made Zhongli's eyes widen. He quickly regained his composure, not wanting to lack politeness with her. "Is there anything you need my help with? I shall aid you, if you wish so."
Lumine finally stood upright, shaking her head with an alarming intensity. Her refusal was further punctuated by her waving hands.
"You got it all wrong! I don't want anything from you now. It's just that… That…"
"Yes?"
The blonde then fidgeted with the hem of her dress, which only served to worry Zhongli. What was this hesitation about?
Finally, she took a deep breath, appearing determined to go to the end of… Whatever would be this. Lumine met his gaze, and he saw a quiet kind of determination in her eyes that she never showed to him before. It was intriguing.
No, rather than just quiet determination, it was also… Something he couldn't name.
"I know you told me that you wanted to be left alone for some time, but… You just looked so lonely and sad here by yourself and I couldn't bring myself to leave you that way."
No matter for how long he has known her, Lumine was always as surprising as the shooting stars that crossed the sky. Had she seeked to comfort him?
The thought of her worrying about him,sensing his inner turmoil, trying to support him through her presence… Ah, he suddenly felt warm all over, like on those nights they went to stargazer together.
He looked at her again, and he finally could see it in her eyes. Familiarity . The Traveler had also lost important things in her journey, had stood alone without support and had doubted the future, just like him. She knew how it was, to be at the beginning of a confusing and intimidating road, better than anyone in Teyvat.
More than that, he felt that she knew him . Not the late Rex Lapis, the once ruler of Liyue that Zhongli made sure to leave in the past. That one already fulfilled his role long ago.
She knew Zhongli, the esteemed consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor with a never-ending thirst for knowledge and love for his city's heritage. She also knew Morax, the god whose journey was etched into his heart and mind. Lumine knew him beyond titles and legends and worship, she saw him as he was.
"...And sorry again if I'm disturbing your leisure time or being too nosy, I just came back on impulse—"
...Oh, she was rambling. He let out a chuckle to get her attention back.
"Lumine," A smile made its way across its face and he couldn't quite hide it. "You're not disturbing me or being nosy, not at all."
"Huh?"
Lumine peered at him with those inquisitive golden eyes again, and he felt the need to take a hold of her hand. A tad strange coming from someone like him, but he acted on it nonetheless.
"In fact, I'd like you to know that your presence in this moment makes me happier than ever. Thank you for coming back here again."
Her eyes shone, apparently liking what she heard, and Zhongli swore he could see the early night stars reflected on them. She shot back a smile twice the size of his, making him feel so inexplicably blessed for seeing all of it.
It was as if all of him, body and soul alike, celebrated it - her existence.
"So, Mr. Zhongli, what got you all worried? Could you tell me?"
His vision shifted back to Guyun Stone Forest's sea. "I am worried about my future.", he confessed to her.
The blonde followed his lead, also observing the reflective waters. "The future can really be scary, I know. I once thought I had no idea where to go."
"Then, could you spare me a bit of advice? What did you do to find your path?"
She squeezed his hand, making Zhongli realize that neither of them had released the other this time. He was grateful for it, as her hand holding his always brought him some modicum of comfort.
Lumine lightly tugged on it, bringing him closer, so he complied with her request. She then spoke, voice lowered, as if sharing some great secret with him like she did on all those shared nights he treasured so much:
"I had help along the way. Friends who helped me stand on my own and friends that pointed the way forward to me. And do you want to know the truth, Mr. Zhongli?"
"Your companion is one I cherish the most. I don't want you to be lonely, never. So, if you still have trouble finding your new path to take, I will walk along with you, okay?"
He tightened his hold on her hand in response, taking a deep breath.
"Yes, I am most grateful for it. As long as you'd like for me to be with you, Miss Lumine."
The road ahead was still uncertain and full of unknowns, but he was no longer doubtful or afraid. Zhongli knew that, with Lumine, he would eventually see it.
As long as she stood beside him, the path would be filled with light.