Arrival In Liyue

After a week long journey, we finally arrived in Liyue.

"It's beautiful" I said awestruck as I admire the city, its beautiful architecture and landscape captivating me.

"Oh I forgot this is your first time in Liyue isn't it" Childe said as he smiled towards me as if teasing that he had already been here.

"Last time you were here didn't you release a God sealed during the archon war..?" He just rubbed the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.

"Well, anyway, why don't we go to see Mr. Zhongli now." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Changing the subject ay?"

"no clue what you're talking about."

"Uh-huh, whatever let's find this Mr.Zhongli"

We walked in silence through the bustling streets of Liyue. As we walked I admired everything I saw, the buildings, the shops and the clothing the people wore. I noticed along our walk Childe had seen my admiring everything, its probably why he hasn't spoken yet. I think I will cherish this silence. Instantly Childe looked at me as if he was in my mind, reading my thoughts.

I was drawn away from my thoughts by a commotion up ahead, Childe had stopped aswell maybe he knows these people. When I look past childe I saw a small girl she was wearing a purple hat with a pink tassel. The girl had light purple hair and magenta eyes. Sure her appearance seemed pretty normal but I was more drawn to the paper talisman which had been tucked into her hat.

This small girl seemed to have someone that was begging them for something. This girl had long brown hair tied into to pig-tails the tips of her hair faded into red. She wears a black-ish brown shirt with a mandarin collar, along with this is some black shorts. The sleeves of her shirt look slightly to big. Finally, she wears a hat adorned by a golden emblem.

Childe seemed to ignore the small girl and speak to the one with brown her giving a friendly smile as he walked towards her.

"Hey Hu Tao it's been a while, how are you?" he said while waving warmly.

"Ooh? Childe it's you? Who's the new person?" The girl, Hu Tao, who was previously begging had immediately changed and was now smiling mischievously as she greeted Childe.

"This is my frie-" Before he could finish I elbowed his side.

"technically, I'm your superior" I said while smiling at him.

"Cut me some slack man" he responds back to me.

"you're superior, so you're a harbinger" Hu Tao seemed to get defensive and ready to fight, as she did this I was able to see her pyro vision. Before she could do anything Childe interfered.

"Woah, wait, Hu Tao he isn't here for work, this is more of a vacation Before work." He said this as he jumped in between me and Hu Tao.

"it's the truth. My next job I'm paired with a harbinger I can't stand, so Childe suggested coming go Liyue to relax before my job which is in a month."

HU Tao lower head spear but still seemed a bit defensive, it was fair enough because The Harbingers and The Fatui do have quite a bad reputation.

"Oh now that I think about it Hu Tao, Do you know where Mr. Zhongli is?" Hu Tao's attention seemed to be instantly drawn off me and again her expression changed. She was now back to smiling.

"Hmm? Zhongli, knowing that fossil he's probably at the story teller" Hu Tao giggled as she talked to Childe. She was so suspicious when she found out I was a harbinger, how did Childe gain her trust when he literally released Osial..?

"Oh that's true he loves listening to stories about him- I mean Rex Lapis" Childe responded as he thanked Hu Tao. I could've sworn he was about to say Zhongli likes listening to stories about him self...

"Alright, Well, Thanks again Hu Tao we are going to see Mr. Zhongli now" Childe then waved her a goodbye and begun walking away. He didn't look back to see if I was following him, I wonder, would he notice if i just left.

As I thought that Childe looked back at me suspiciously as if asking what I was thinking. Fucking psychic..

We arrived at the story teller. The story teller had amassed a crowed of about 20 people who were all sitting at there tables deep in focus about the story.

The story teller was talking about how the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis created Guyun Stone Forest with his spears of stone, The story teller also said that the spears were used to seal Osial. The story teller seemed to fall of track here as I begun talking about the event which happened a few months back.

The story teller begun to speak about how Osial was unsealed by a certain Fatui Harbinger... The story teller then went on to say that with the help of the Adepti, The Liyue Qixing and a certain Blonde Traveller now know as The Hero of Liyue.

Once the Story Teller was finished Childe begun to scour the crowed looking for someone in particular, once his gaze stopped I followed his gaze my eyes landed up a man wearing, a beige dress-shirt, and a brown and amber waist-coat. The man also wore slim black trousers, black dress boots and black gloves with twin silver rings on each thumb.

Overall Hu Tao was right, he does remind me of a fossil, his out fit is stylish but it seems, behind our time in a way...

I didn't have much more time to ponder as Childe begun walking towards the man I had deduced to be Zhongli.

"Hey, Mr. Zhongli, it's been a while. I brought a friend" at this point I didn't bother correcting him, something about this Mr. Zhongli intrigued me.

"Ah, Childe it has been a while how do you do?" His voice. It truly is the voice of an old man, but yet it seems to hold so much authority and at the same time he seems so carefree..?

"I'm good, Thanks Mr. Zhongli" Childe seemed to be smiling like an idiot is he really that fond of this guy. I then looked towards Zhongli to see a small but noticeable smile on his face.

"And is this your friend?" Zhongli gestured towards me.

"Oh Yes, how rude of me. I am Noctis, friend of Childe." Childe look at me as if asking why I sound so robotic and honestly I didn't know.

"It's nice to meet you Noctis I assume you're a Harbinger as well." Zhongli spoke and at first I thought he would be suspicious of me yet he still seemed to hold the same carefree but confident aura as before.

"Yes, I am but I assure you I am not here to cause trouble." His expression remained the same.

"don't worry, I figured that out. Why don't you both take a seat." Childe and I complied and both sat down at the table.

"So what brings you both to Liyue if not work?" I sighed out loud and laid my head onto the table as Zhongli mentioned this.

"Well you see, Noctis has a job in about a month with a Harbinger he could never get along with so I suggested coming to Liyue." Childe explained my situation to Zhongli while I just laid with my head flat on the table.

"Well that was very smart of you, Liyue is the perfect place to relax, you can do many things such as trying the cuisine, admiring the sights, learn about Liyue's history or just relaxing in a comfortable Inn." Zhongli seems to know lots about Liyue, I removed my face from the table before speaking as I didnt want to be seen as rude.

"Thank you for the suggestions, I think I would like to try out some of the food and drinks here."

"A good choice indeed, I suggest we all go to the Wanmin restaurant it's small but the food is very nice" I nodded in response, Childe talks about his intelligence quite a bit so I'd love to try his suggestion.

"That's a great idea Mr. Zhongli. Should we go now."

"I am free to go if you two are. We should also get some Osmanthus wine to go with our food." For some reason I felt off, I couldn't put my figner on why but I just felt like this whole situation was weird.

"I wouldn't mind getting some osmanthus wine."

"Ye me either" Childe said while nodding. I hope he won't drink too much...

The three of us began our walk to the wanmim restaurant, it was basically right around the corner from where we were which is nice.

Once we arrived me started to place our orders. Zhongli got Northen Smoked Chicken, Childe got a sticky honey roast and I got something I hadn't tried before which was a simple jueyun chili chicken.

We all talked while we waited for our food to arrive, well mostly Childe and Zhongli talking but I would jump into the conversation every now and then and neither of them seemed to mind.

Once our food arrived, we all begun to eat, we were all silent and enjoying our food but still I had a feeling of unease, I couldn't put my finger on why, or where it was coming from.

I looked toward Zhongli who was eating, he seemed to have noticed my gaze and begin to look back at me, for a while I stared into his eyes, they felt so familiar. No. Looked so familiar. Where had I seen those eyes before...?

His eyes seemed empty, eyes which had seen death, lots of it... I remember only one person whose gaze was so empty, someone who never changed their expression but isn't he dead? I mean if he was alive wouldn't he have stopped the Osial attack personally?

I deicide to just ask him instead of debating in my head.

"Zhongli... Are you... Morax..?"

(A/N) so It seems I have decided to write a bit more, maybe i will continue this if I do I need some help. I have no idea which Traveller should be well Traveller? So help me pick between Lumine and Aether. Also sorry its a big short again