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Since arriving a month ago—no, that wasn’t quite right.
Since arriving a month ago, and getting into a brawl with some awfully rude bandits, Childe had been feeling gazes following him wherever he went. He didn’t think his (defeated) opponents were that notable. In fact, no respect should be awarded to bullies who picked on travelers who were simply admiring the flowers of the Guili Plains. Like, who does that?
So, not knowing the reason for it, the heightened attention was very off-putting.
In the bustling streets of Liyue, he was hounded by side-glances and whispers. Even when he toured small side-alleys looking for hidden tea spots (to find the perfect cultivated varieties to bring back home for his mother and Tonia), the shopkeepers performed comical double-takes.
“Toys for sale! Toys for sale!”
His usual calls for customers caused people to skirt around him nervously. Even a few curious children who were dragging their guardians closer got hastily tugged back.
“Ah, madam artisan! Do you accept commissions for small carvings? I have some ideas…”
The lady gingerly shook her head no, tapping her fingernails in a rapid staccato.
“Good evening, sir. Would you sell me these scraps of fabric? I can use them for…”
The cloths were obtained, but the man behind the desk kept tsk’ing under his breath. And he was definitely overcharged!
Eventually, a few days later after the hostility became too much, he sought a quiet spot on Mt. Tianheng, overlooking Liyue Harbor. He settled on the grasses and watched the sun set, to the background music of birds chirping and whistling to one another. A pudgy pair, dancing around each other in a funny little circle, made Childe laugh softly. After a moment’s thought, he searched through his rucksack and pulled out small bird-shaped wind-up toys. He positioned them carefully, wound them, and let them fly. The real birds stopped their play momentarily to watch, then launched into the air to mimic the toys.
“See now? Why is it that these two animals can enjoy my wares and company, but the people won’t?”
“What an unhappy sentiment. It’s unlike the people of Liyue to act so warily.”
Childe whipped his head around. Standing a few feet away was the most striking stranger that he’d ever laid his eyes on. Regal from head to toe in ambers and golds, he stood in the full, dying light of the evening. Glimmering eyes lazily drifted from the birds, to the toys, to Childe himself. A small smile captivated Childe before the lips parted.
“Apologies, it was rude of me to interrupt like that. My name is Zhongli. I presume you’re new to Liyue?”
Childe stood up abruptly, and stuck out his hand to shake. Zhongli came closer and took it. (Childe wished, briefly, that neither of them had gloves on.)
“People around here have just been calling me gongzi, so I guess I’m ‘Childe.’”
“Childe, hm? Not comfortable with first name basis?”
“Rather, I’m not willing to give my birth name to strangers, no matter how kind or handsome they seem.” Childe threw in a tiny provocative smirk.
“Ha! I see. You may keep your secrets then.”
“Hey now, you might earn my name if we become more familiar?”
“Oh? And how long are you staying, for us to have enough time to become familiar?”
“Hmm. Longer than some months, but no more than a year. I’m merely a traveling toy salesman, after all. What do you do, Mr. Zhongli?”
“I am a … keeper, of sorts, of all kinds of cultural and historical knowledge in Liyue. Nothing very interesting for most. You can find me most weeks as the consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.”
Childe let out a disbelieving laugh. “You remind me of the elder from my hometown, Morepesok. She happened to constantly downplay her wisdom, even essentially functioned as our local library. Our very own walking, talking library!”
“You sound like you respect her quite a bit.”
“Of course! You should hear the stories she tells! If you’re even half as wise as her, I should call you Zhongli-xiansheng.”
“If you must.”
Childe detected the amused undertone, and felt a thrumming satisfaction at successfully humoring him.
He retrieved his toys and then resumed his spot on the hilltop. He beckoned, “Come here, Zhongli-xiansheng. Let me test you on your expertise!”
Zhongli strode over and gracefully sat upon the grass. (Childe cheerfully noted that the man paid no mind to grass stains on his expensive clothing. Green flag!) He scooted closer and pointed at a lovely blue-and-white flower bud peeking out among the taller grasses.
“So, I was wondering what these beautiful things were? Any fun facts you have about them?”
Zhongli’s eyes appeared to flash a molten gold, before he used a gloved finger to stroke the petals. In a low voice, he said, “This is called a glaze lily. You’re very lucky to have found one in the wild.”
“Sadly, it’s not in bloom though.”
“Ah … now here’s a fun fact for you, then.” Zhongli breathed in deeply then began humming. After the second repeat of the melody, he began singing words softly, ever so softly. As if called from sleep, the flower bud burst open and revealed a vibrant yellow center paired with an indescribable fragrance. Zhongli finished the tune and then explained, “The flowers of the glaze lily only open in the presence of a pure song. How was it?”
“Th-that was incredible!” Childe burst into thrilled applause, matching the speed of his racing heart. “I expected you to tell me a boring scientific name, not give me a whole performance! Really, Zhongli-xiansheng, you go above and beyond.”
“Surely, you can’t be convinced of my expertise with so little?”
“Aren’t you just looking for more opportunities to show off? I’m onto you, mister.” He wagged his finger and winked. Zhongli returned it with a small huff of amusement.
As the sun set, he found himself engaged in the most entertaining and informative conversation he’d had since coming to these shores. Zhongli dropped facts about Liyue and its people like it was no big feat to know, although Childe assumed the most researched of historians would kill to know his sources. And the way the man dispensed his knowledge left little room for debate … except for topics that Zhongli pointedly left open for Childe to provide his own opinion. The conversation ebbed and flowed both ways, too. He found himself sharing tales of domesticity, mainly featuring his younger siblings. He regaled his companion with stories of his escapades in the wilderness, fighting opponents in back alleys, and thrilling treks while hunting game. And finally, Zhongli inquired about his wind-up toys, which prompted Childe to launch into his beginnings as a wandering toy maker and salesman.
Mechanical toys, plushies, wooden soldiers, decorative garden sprites, action figures … you name it, he had it! Childe opened his bag wider to pull items out one-by-one to proudly display his creations for Zhongli to admire.
“A craftsperson? How lovely. And very appropriate for a young man of your intense passion and eye for beauty.” He picked up a snake-like wooden puzzle, made of interlocking segments.
“That one was inspired by my brief stint in Inazuma! They had some fascinating box puzzles, and even more fascinating legends!”
Zhongli held the snake up and moved it like water through the air, smiling to himself. “Then, I’m looking forward to what our lands will inspire you to make. Please, let me be the first customer for your next line of designs.”
Even after they parted, Zhongli’s smooth voice and gentle praises electrified Childe’s mind. He was kept awake for a long, long time, to the point of pushing him out of bed and to his work bench.
Hahaha! When could he see Zhongli again?
On recommendation from his new friend, he paid visits to the pavilions and plazas where spoken word and opera performances were held for the public. He walked the beaches to find delicate seashells he could carve into tiny shoulder pauldrons and opalescent jewelry for his posable dolls. Even the small mine towns on the outskirts provided him ideas, especially the gemstones that shone with a unique luster which challenged him to imitate them in paints.
Just as Zhongli said, visiting these places allowed him space to observe others with no obligations for trading or purchasing. And it allowed the Liyuens to adapt to his presence amidst them. However, he realized by the end of his mining expedition that his cash was running low, and he was unfortunately bound by earthly systems like capitalism.
On to Northland Bank he went, to access his Snezhnayan bank account and pull some Mora for the next week or so. As soon as he stepped inside, the hairs on the back of his neck rose up. The two attendants behind the desk immediately smiled at him. The client who just finished her business thanked them, turned, saw him, then abruptly scurried out.
“Welcome, gongzi! We’ve been waiting for you to visit!”
They already know me?
“How may we help you?”
“Thanks, I just need to withdraw some Mora from my account. I’m a Snezhnayan citizen, so I can provide you the appropriate IDs.”
“Oh, no need, no need, sir! Just let us know the amount and we can withdraw it for you!”
“Uhh … no, that doesn’t seem right. How would you know which account to pull it from?”
The lady on the right leaned over the desk as he approached, gesturing him even closer. She whispered conspiratorially, “I know you’re here by the grace of Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa. Of course, we’d accommodate any request of yours, no questions asked!”
“O … kay …?”
Soon, he was flush with more Mora than he’d requested, he was bestowed the most over-the-top hospitality he’d experienced, and he was the most confused he’d ever been. He didn’t think a mere toymaker would be held in such high regard by even ex-pat businesses. In fact, in all the other nations, he’d never faced any kind of special treatment, from the locals or other Snezhnayans.
And anyway, though he’d like to think that news of his wares had traveled far and wide, realistically he knew he was still nobody. Not like he cared all that much, as long as he could see the joy his creations brought to children’s faces. And of course, too much popularity could mean licensing and franchising and business deals … all sorts of complicated things that would interfere with his ability to freely return home to his family.
Anyway. The borderline hostile glances he could deal with! But this unwarranted sucking-up rubbed him the wrong way. He needed to get to the bottom of this, pronto.
The first people to ask would’ve been the exact individuals at Northland Bank who somehow had developed this misunderstanding of him. However, Childe wanted to give it some time before going back. He didn’t want to give them the impression he wanted more Mora.
During some of his strolls through the afternoon streets, he’d spotted a couple of Fatui. Although he hesitated to bother them while they were on “active duty,” they were also reliably the only Snezhnayans he could identify on sight here.
To give them the option of ignoring him, he decided to set up his toy stall a dozen or so paces away. He figured that once they were off duty, they could approach him instead of the other way around. And of course, he had products to sell and kids to captivate!
“Come one, come all! Childe’s toy emporium is open for business!”
He laid out his red scarf and displayed his most colorful toys on top of it, in a little row. This unusual sight had already attracted a few potential customers, but he needed more of a spectacle to really get going. Grinning, he pulled out a small one-sided drum he’d purchased in Natlan, then began tapping a steady rhythm. This was one of his favorite parts of the beginning of his sale days – the opening performance.
“Oh, how now brown cow? Mr. Moo, you’re looking reeeeaaal lonely, why don’t I introduce you to this lovely sow? Oh, lovely Miss Piggy, hey! Mr. Moo would like to see you, yea or nay? Mmhm, oh dear what a disappointment! Miss Piggy has eyes only for Zir Mit!”
On and on he went, down the line of objects, bequeathing them with tales of love, conflict, and humor. It was a simple tactic that he’d learned by observing merchants and storytellers around Teyvat. A toy can sell, as can a story. But if you combine the two, it unlocks a sentimentality that attracts children of all ages. And judging by the growing crowd, it was successful here as well, especially with the flourishes and references that he’d added based on his recent expeditions.
After a couple minutes, he finished his script and began taking eager requests and orders from the kids (and their guardians) who had assembled to watch.
He could tell today would be a lucrative day. Now, if those two Fatui could come over too …
“Good morning, Childe.” It was a voice he’d been excited to hear again.
“Zhongli-xiansheng! How are you?”
“Doing well, thank you. Your business seems to be booming. Congratulations.”
“Haha, your advice worked! There were some great inspirations. Oh, and here!” He rummaged around in his personal bag. With a secretive smile, he pulled something out, keeping it hidden in the cup of his hands.
“What is this?”
“Close your eyes. And hold out your hands, palms up.”
“Hm. Fine.” Zhongli followed his direction. He felt a heavy weight settle in his grasp, and when he curled his fingers, it felt smooth.
“Okay! Now open your eyes~”
Zhongli did, and then looked down. Cupped in his hands was a glaze lily. Specifically, a glaze lily encased in amber with a rare clarity. Zhongli marveled at its pure beauty, turning it this way and that, and murmured his thanks.
Once he got his fill, he looked up and was met by Childe’s beaming smile. “I’m so glad you love it! It was an expensive find, you know, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it for you!”
“Oh, Childe, thank you going out of your way. It’s stunning.”
“Not at all. I took it off the hands of a wayward son who was trying to sell off his late father’s trinkets. He priced it fairly for its beauty, but that had deterred a customer or two from sealing the deal. Luckily, I have a good amount of savings for a humble toymaker!”
“I’ll be sure to treasure it even more, then.”
Zhongli tucked his gift away and glanced at the crowd. A few people hastily turned away to appear as if they weren’t spying on their mundane exchange. A few children were bouncing on their toes, hugging toys that their guardians had given up prying from their clutches. “I’m holding up your business, Childe. I must be on my way. Do stop by once you’re done, and we can visit the new stew shop that opened on the main road.”
Childe watched, a bit forlornly, as his friend meandered away. That … was an invitation to a dinner date, right? Right?
Customers swept in to fill in the space Zhongli left behind, and he snapped back into salesman mode. An hour passed before he was reminded of his ulterior motive … both Snezhnayan Fatui had finally drifted closer as suppertime chipped away at the rush of people. Eventually they made their way to the front.
“Sir?”
Gotcha!
“Yes? Are you interested in my wares?”
The two Fatui exchanged a loaded glance. “Why, yes! Of course, sir, we’d love to look at your wares! It’s been so long since we saw someone so famous and skilled visiting. Are you here for a long time?”
“I’ve already been here for a little while, doing some research. I’ll be here until I run out of inventory, but no more than another six months, at best.”
“Oh, research? Please let us know if there’s anything we can help with, sir!” They looked a bit crestfallen at his response.
“Unless you’re familiar with textiles and engineering, I’m not sure …”
They seemed to droop further, remaining silent as they pretended to peruse his goods.
Childe realized he wasn’t really learning anything from them, so he needed to probe harder and more bluntly.
“Maybe you could help me answer something else. Why is it that you … are acting so respectfully with me, when we should be total strangers? Am I too … obvious?” He purposefully kept his question vague.
To great success, their eyes lit up and they eagerly nibbled on his bait.
One leaned in conspiratorially, while the other appeared to set up a small perimeter by shooing other customers aside. “Sir, you have this aura around you, and your introduction to the Liyuens was through battle! We heard that the Tsaritsa finally closed the 11th Harbinger position, so we put two and two together.”
Aura?? Harbinger?? Wait, they’re not thinking that I’m the newest Harbinger…?
“But sir, don’t worry! We Fatui and employees at Northland Bank will ensure that Lord Harbinger’s investigations here go on without a hitch!”
And with that, they threw reassuring “OK” signs at him, then retreated to their original positions, with tiny skips in their steps.
Huh.
Well.
Yet another thing to clear up with the locals and his brethren.
After a couple more weeks, Childe had firmly cemented his reputation as an innovative and charismatic toymaker. However, he also somehow, against all efforts to the contrary, fanned the flames of the rumors. Like wildfire, the story spread. Some bystanders had overheard his conversation with the Fatui, and had told all of the best buddies about the “Lord Harbinger” gracing their streets. It was impossible to stop, especially since the Northland Bank employees and the visiting Snezhnayans seemed to preen at every mention of him.
“I’ll chalk it up to a lost cause, and give my apologies to the Tsaritsa herself once I’m home,” he muttered to himself as he trotted down the street. He was running late to meet Zhongli, who’d asked him out to share osmanthus wine at the lakeside.
Heh, asked him out, as in a date!
Childe leapt into the air with a whoop, startling some people walking by.
Some days later, the date was moongazing in the Dihua Marsh.
A week more, and the date featured a festival food tour, finishing the night with fireworks and sparklers.
And a fortnight before Childe was due to return to Snezhnaya and Morepesok, he was cordially invited for a spar. Finally.
So, his time in Liyue was meant to finish as it started. With a battle.
Blood pumping and sweat dripping down his face, Childe had never felt more alive, had never felt more in love!! Every strike was deftly blocked and parried. Every kick was dodged with a dancer’s grace. Every motion was predicted and accounted for. Those glimmering eyes were completely fixed upon him, darting across his body and causing him to shiver under their attentions.
It felt like an eternity passed before he fell to the ground, breathless but grinning. Zhongli smiled back at him from his kneeling position, just out of arm’s reach.
“A tie, then?”
“Acceptable. Well sparred, Zhongli-xiansheng. I’ve never met someone who could so evenly match me, even when I was trying new moves. I wish that fight could have lasted forever!” He sighed and dropped to the floor, rolling over to stare dreamily at the ceiling of the Golden House, and the towering body of Rex Lapis’s Exuvia.
“Same for me. You have such innovative uses of your weapons, like nothing I’ve seen before. I’d love to see more, maybe even develop some new forms with you.”
“Oh, that would be lovely, but …”
Zhongli’s wry smile came into view, before he knelt down next to Childe.
“I know you’re leaving soon.”
“Oh.”
“It’s not reasonable for me to expect a foreigner to stay indefinitely, no matter how … taken … they are by this land and its people.”
“Taken by one person, I might say.”
Zhongli let out a laugh that tickled his ear.
“Yes, of course. So, as a token, I’d like to bestow these upon you, for your return journey.”
Childe looked down as Zhongli placed two items upon his chest. One was a small velvet box, and the other was a stone piece resembling a chess rook. He palmed the latter before opening the box with bated breath. Inside, there was a pair of earrings, its golden clasps connected to droplets that ended in finely cut ruby-red stones.
“Zhongli … thank you!” He sat up to remove his studs and replace them with the gifted ones. He shook his head side-to-side, letting them catch every fleck of light. “Do they suit me?”
Zhongli was silent for a moment, simply looking.
“Yes, fiery and bold, just like you. I’m glad.”
Flustered, Childe pocketed his studs and took out the rook piece. “And? What is this curious thing?” He brought it up to his eye to inspect the glow. He didn’t see any mechanisms that would allow it light up from within, and no visible panels to allow a power source to be inserted.
“That, my dear Childe, is the Geo Gnosis.”
“The … what!?” He surged to his feet in disbelief. He raised the Gnosis higher to examine, but then lowered it as the weight of its importance dawned on him. Desperately, he shoved it back towards Zhongli, who was watching him with a bemused expression, still kneeling.
“Zhongli-xiansheng, please stand up. Can you explain how you have this in your possession??”
“I entered into a contract with your Tsaritsa. She assured me that she would send one of her strongest, most fiery combatants to collect this treasure from me. I gladly offer it to you.”
“No way …!”
“Please accept it, Childe. I’d be honored if you allow the Gnosis, along with my other gift, to accompany you on your way home.”
“No, you don’t understand.”
“Hm?”
“You, the Snezhnayans at the Bank, the Fatui, the Liyue folks … all of you are mistaken! I truly am just a toymaker, a toy salesman. No more, no less.”
Zhongli seemed a bit taken aback, pushing back up onto his feet. “Then, you are …?”
“If you’ll allow me to formally re-introduce myself—my birth name is Ajax.”
“So. You’re not one of the Tsaritsa’s Harbingers?”
“Disappointingly, no. They are greatly admired and feared. As you see, I don’t think I quite fit the bill?”
Childe glanced away, and waited for the outrage, the accusations of deception. Instead, warm hands pushed his own closer, closer until they gently curled over his chest, over the Gnosis.
“Ajax, I hope you don’t misinterpret my surprise. I thought the Tsaritsa had sent you to me. A strong, handsome warrior of cultured talents and a zeal for lifelong learning. Harbinger or not, such a person would earn my Gnosis wholly and fairly. I’ve been waiting for such a person as a sign to step down as the Geo Archon and live an ordinary life among the people.”
Childe was entranced as usual by Zhongli’s solemn, soothing voice. And greatly relieved by his easy acceptance. Until the words registered in his mind.
“Wait?? Step down as the Archon?? You??” Belatedly, he realized the Geo Gnosis would be quite difficult to obtain. Unless, of course, the one offering it was the owner himself.
“Ah, yes. Perhaps it should be me pleading for forgiveness for deceiving you.”
Childe stared, dumbfounded, as Zhongli’s eyes glowed brilliantly. With a pulse of power, the Exuvia circling the chamber also glowed and then slowly unraveled as if shaking off years of sleep. Zhongli let go of Childe’s hands and rose a few feet into the air. His outfit rippled and flowed, transforming and lengthening into gorgeously flowing robes. His hair floated in a halo around him, creating a rippling black-and-amber backdrop as branching horns rose from his temples.
“Allow me to also formally re-introduce myself. I go by Zhongli, but I’m better known by my people as Rex Lapis the Geo Archon, also known as Morax. Well met and seen, Ajax.”
Childe marveled at this literal godly side of Zhongli.
“Morax, Ajax. Two peas in a pod!” Childe could only laugh giddily as Zhongli descended to the floor. He transferred the Gnosis to his left hand, before reaching out with his right to graze up along his companion’s jawline, up the shell of his ear. Reverently, his index finger rubbed up the satiny texture of his horn while his thumb traced the scarlet coloring the corner of his eye. Eye lashes fluttered like gossamer over his thumb pad, and a hearty sigh flowed over his outstretched palm.
“Satisfied with your examination? I am an Archon, through and through. Although,” Zhongli laughed, “with the Gnosis successfully given away, I am more accurately an ex-Archon now. Still, my status as an Adepti is enough to maintain the majority of my power. With it, I was able to re-animate my Exuvia for this demonstration.” He gestured over his shoulder and spoke an unfamiliar command. The serpentine dragon curled ‘round and ‘round once more, and settled back into stone-like immobility.
“I’m not going to lie, a lot of idiosyncrasies of yours makes sense now. But many more do not. The God of Contracts and Commerce doesn’t monitor his own personal finances? Shame on you.”
“Don’t tease. If you recall, you took my business advice regardless of my faults.”
“That I did, that I did!”
Zhongli tilted his head, horns tilting too. Childe was tempted to reach out and touch them again, but his partner interrupted that train of thought.
“Now that we’ve aired out the skeletons in our closet, I propose we decide what to do with that. I don’t wish to burden you with handing it over …” He pointed at the Gnosis.
“Uh? How dare you attempt to rescind your gift?” Childe shouted, and shoved it out of view.
“I would never. I say, if you feel that strongly about it, you may keep and do with it what you wish. After all, I have fulfilled the Tsaritsa’s terms. My role is done.”
Finished here, hm? An idea occurred to Childe. He hid a coy smile behind his glove, then said, “And as I recall, Zhongli-xiansheng, you’re retired now, right? Ever wish you could travel to other lands? And ever wish you had a companion to do so?”
Zhongli hid his answering smile behind his hand, eyes glittering.
“Why, Childe? Are you offering to be my tour guide?”
“It would be my absolute honor, Sir Morax.”
“Then I’d be obliged to go with you, Sir Ajax.”
Months later, a wayward Geo Gnosis was delivered to the Tsaritsa, disguised as part of the latest product from Morepesok’s wandering toymaker—a chess set.