Chapter 17

It was a few months after he joined the Qixing and almost six months after Paimon found him when something happened. He was out on a shopping trip with Xiao, buying basic supplies, when he saw him. A tall lean man with ginger hair was accompanying Morax, both men looked at ease and Morax appeared to be chuckling at something.

"Xiao?" Aether questioned quietly, drawing the blue haired man's attention to Morax. His eyes barely darkened when he saw them. "Who is that?"

"Ajax," he said darkly, his scowl deepening, "For some reason Zhongli insists on courting him." Interesting. Another person that can be used for manipulation.

"Does Ajax…y'know..?"

Xiao looked confused for a moment before quickly saying, "NO!! Absolutely not! He could never." More secrets then, one day this will all crash and burn for all of you.

"What is his role then?"

"Zhongli…" Trailing off, he looked deep in thought, "Enjoys his company. He has no ulterior motives that I am aware of. He's a university student." He looked back over at the pair, Ajax had moved closer. Xiao scoffed and looked away when he set his hand on Morax's waist. "I have done extensive research both through the police and on my own time. The most suspicious individual he is with is a fellow college student. Oddly enough I can't find information on that student."

"Is the student involved then?"

Xiao quickly shook his head to end the conversation and said loudly, "Hello Zhongli!" When did he get closer? 'You need to be more alert,' Lumine scolded him.

"Hello Xiao, Sora." The hair on his arms rose as Ajax moved closer. From the dullness of his eyes to his posture, the man reeked of danger. How does Xiao not believe this man to be dangerous?

"Who is this Xiangsheng?" Laying his head on Morax's shoulder and wrapping his arms around the other man's torso, he stared directly at Aether.

"This is Sora. He is a friend of Xiao's and frequents the Wangshu Inn." Morax kept a serene smile as he said that, showing no sign of a lie.

"Another one!" Ajax said joyously, "Will you spar with me comrade?"

Aether recoiled slightly before hesitantly saying, "Spar with you?" Then turning to Xiao, "What does he mean 'spar with me'?"

"Unfortunately he means exactly what he said. He wants to fight with you. Hand-to-hand or with weapons, he doesn't care," Xiao sounded weary as he said this.

"Anytime someone new comes to Wangshu, he invites them to spar. Ajax is an adrenaline junkie," he said that last part very fondly, turning to the side to softly kiss his cheek. Ajax's eyes lit up and he looked at Xiao, seemingly flaunting the interaction.

Xiao simply stared at him before slowly saying, "He is certifiably crazy, I would avoid him at all costs."

"Xiangshengggg," Ajax said, lengthening the last syllable, "Xiao is being mean to me again."

"What brings you and Xiao out today?" He asked, electing to ignore Ajax and Xiao's antics.

"Xiangling wanted us to get some more ingredients and Xingqiu was wondering if a book had been released yet." Morax hummed thoughtfully. "What brings you two out?"

"Ajax just finished his exams so we wanted to celebrate." Aether suspected that Morax would have continued had Ajax's phone not rung. Pulling his phone out, his face paled when he saw who was calling.

"I need to take this." Hurriedly walking away before any of them could answer. 'You should try to listen in on him,' Dain suggested. How do I get away? 'Those two are already talking.' He contemplated for a moment before slipping away. Following Ajax down the alley, he came across him and a woman with pale hair contrasted with a black mask covering the side of her face. 'Is he cheating?' Lumine wondered. I don't think so, it feels different than that. Silently stepping, he hid behind a dumpster.

"...need to find Morax," the woman whispered.

"I'm trying!" Ajax protested.

"Really?" She countered, "Because to me it looks like you are just trying to get some. Stop messing around with your boyfriend and figure out who Morax is!" So Ajax is involved. Should I tell Xiao? 'No, you should confront him now. Get more information.' Lumine said. He contemplated for a moment before stepping into view.

"Why are you trying to find Morax?" All color left both of their faces.

"Why didn't you see if you were followed?" The woman hissed, smacking Ajax, if that's even his name, on his arm.

"Because he was accompanying Xiao! I assumed he was a civilian. No Qixing member would be stupid enough to associate with the police like that!" He internally chuckled. If only they knew that the Qixing have the police in their pocket.

"Who says I am with the Qixing? And what's your real name 'Ajax'?" He put the man's name in quotations.

"Why else would you care about Morax? The Knights despise them, the Shogunates want him to fall, and the Akademiya cares only for its research," the woman said scornfully.

"So are two a part of the Abyss? Or the Fatui? Because you conveniently left those two out," Aether asked with a slight smirk. How easily you fall in my trap. It almost isn't fun anymore.

"Why should we tell you?" "The Fatui." The two said at the same time, immediately turning to the other.

"Why would you tell him!?" The woman questioned angrily.

"Obviously he is well informed so we could at least try to get information through cooperation! Who knows, he could be convinced to reveal who Morax is. Especially if he is unaligned, info brokers exist for a reason." It would take quite a lot for me to reveal anything. I may be a free agent, but I am not an info broker. Ajax turned back to Aether. "I'm the eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers. My name is Childe, but I also go by Tartaglia. This is my comrade."

"You can call me La Signora, I'm number eight of the Fatui Harbingers."

I suppose I should extend the courtesy. "I'm Sora, no affiliation. And I could be convinced to tell you who Morax is. But for a price. And my price is information."