Rex Lapis
A/N: I outlined the plot for a new novel, but without the complete lore of the other Fontaine Characters, it may cause some plotholes later on. I will probably have to wait until the other characters in Fontaine get released as playable characters. Still undecided if I should start it.
So I will be continuing with this fanfic in the meantime.
Enjoy
===
*Flashback Start*
'This is … where am I?" Jason found himself standing in an unfamiliar place.
He last remembered having a fight with Beidou and falling off a cliff.
In front of him right now was a serene landscape. There were majestic mountains around him, their peaks kissed by wisps of cloud. He could hear the rustling of leaves and chirping of birds amidst the faint scent of blossoms.
It was as beautiful as the forests from Chinju Forest during the Sakura Bloom season.
"Welcome." A voice, emanating authority and calmness, interrupted his thoughts. "I finally get to meet you, my successor."
Jason turned behind to see a young man, leisurely drinking tea, sitting on a chair.
"Successor? What is going on? Where am I?" he studied the mysterious man before him.
The person before him was dressed in an elegant attire with a brown and amber waistcoat. He seemed to exude an aura of unwavering composure, his gaze seemingly carrying a depth of wisdom and knowledge.
He was anything but ordinary.
"I'm sure you have many questions." The person took a sip of the tea. "Have a seat. You are now inside a dream. The scene you see before you is from the mountains of Liyue. Beautiful, isn't it? Liyue has a way of captivating hearts, even in a dream like this."
'Suspicious, but I'll comply for now.' Jason thought with a helpless smile as he took a seat in front of the table. "You're the one who orchestrated this dream?"
"Hmm, I got the help of my fellow Adepti to reach you through an ancient art. Think of them as my subordinates." the person placed the cup in his hand back on the plate with an almost imperceptible sound. "As for the reason I reached out to you …"
The man paused for a moment, adding to the anticipation that was building.
"It's because you're the next Geo Archon."
"M-Me … I'm a God?" He was both surprised and doubtful of the claim. "Why?"
"I do not know the reason for it. It was not supposed to happen this soon, but yet it has." the man lifted the teapot with impeccable grace as he poured tea into two cups and offered him one. "As Liyue's God. You must ensure the prosperity and safety of its citizens. Many of the new archons over the years have forgotten their duty to guide humanity."
"Why do I don't feel like I have a choice here …" Jason's brows furrowed; he felt a headache coming on. This was way too much to take in at once.
He accepted the cup from the mysterious man and drank it. There was a soothing sensation that began to spread from the first sip, and he could feel a sense of peace settling in as his muscles relaxed. It was hard to believe this was just a dream.
As he let the liquid flow down his throat, memories flooded his brain, causing it to hurt momentarily. They were combat memories of an awe-inspiring person, but only portions of it.
Mountain sized spears being thrown.
Entire landscapes terraformed.
Mighty beasts and creatures of unimaginable might quelled and killed.
There was another rush of information and this time it contained portions of knowledge about Liyue as well as about Teyvat.
"W-what is this?" Jason felt like he had stumbled into a trap.
"By drinking the tea I offered, you have agreed to a contract." the person folded his hands ."This is the ritual of succession for the Lord of Geo."
'I just fell for a scam …' Jason gave a shake of his head and planted a hand to his face. "Did the previous Geo Archon do this to you too?"
"There has never been a previous Geo Archon. I was the First Lord of Geo." the person stated as a matter of fact. "You should have received some fragments of memories from me, I was unfortunately not able to transfer all of it. It should prove useful in helping you master your powers. Although …
"Although?"
"You should try to limit the size of meteors you summon. Inazuma is surrounded by water. It would be disastrous if a huge one landed in the waters and caused a tsunami." he continued to pour himself a new cup of tea. "A conflict between you and the Electro Archon arising from it would be most regrettable ..."
'I can summon meteors? That's pretty overpowered ….' Jason thought to himself. 'I wonder what else I can do. From the memories, it seems that Archons do not need visions to wield their powers. Perhaps the vision I obtained could serve as a disguise. How strange ... why did I even get one?'
At the same time, he could not help but see the person before him in a different light. The man mentioned earlier … 6000 years. That meant he was working for 6000 years. That was some incredible dedication.
However, an extremely important thought came to Jason's mind as he recalled the implications of the figure before him being the first Lord of Geo. "Is it safe for me to assume that you are Morax? The God that the currency we use, Mora, is named after?"
"That is correct. Although the people in Liyue prefer to call me Rex Lapis." Morax nodded.
'This Morax is a huge walking wallet!' Jason shivered as he smiled excitedly at the thought that he was now one too. "So how do I mint Mora as the Geo Archon?"
It was time to spawn Mora.
"The Golden House in Liyue has a connection with the Gnosis and relies on its power to mint Mora with the permission of the Geo Archon. I believe the Qixing shall seek you soon out for this matter." Morax stood up. "Head over to Liyue at the soonest. I shall hand the Gnosis over to you. With your appearance, my contract with the Cryo Archon is no longer valid."
Jason's vision started to slowly blur.
"It seems the Adeptis can't sustain this dream for much longer. When you are in Liyue, look for a man by the name of Zhongli. That is my current identity in the mortal world." Morax's voice turned faint.
"W-wait! One last question."Jason gritted his teeth, fighting to keep his consciousness. "Presiding over a nation is no trifling matter. Are you sure I'm the right person for it?"
"You should know that all power comes at a price. For every bit of power you gain, so too do you gain more responsibility. That power is already yours, so you can no longer shrink from it." Morax's voice was now almost barely audible.
"Think of it as a contract. You have already signed on the paper knowingly or unknowingly and have to fulfill it."
"Ones who break their contracts shall suffer … the Wrath of the Rock."
…
*Flashback end*
Jason watched the Ruins Guards that were approaching the village in distance.
'Let's try out the new powers. But I better not overdo it and expose my identity as an Archon.' He thought to himself as he concentrated and stretched forth his hand …