Chapter Text
The next couple of weeks pass in a blur for the trio. With finals over and the school year wrapping up, Childe has little to do but work at the restaurant, so he picks up as many shifts as he can to build funds for their trip. Otherwise he would sit in his apartment anxiously refreshing the school website waiting for his final grades, so it’s a nice distraction. Plus, he often has overlapping shifts with Morax, so he can spend quite a bit of time around his boyfriend. Boy-friends, in fact, when Aether swings by to say hello.
To the relief of all of them, both Aether and Childe pass their finals and officially graduate. Not that there was any doubt, of course, even if Childe’s anxiety said otherwise. Congratulations are had, ceremonies attended, stages crossed, diplomas received. The three of them go out to celebrate with a nice dinner, and then the very next day they leave on their trip. Morax had planned a route to take them up the country, hitting not only the best spots to find wild glaze lilies, but also significant places he would like to show them. And such, they all pile into Aether’s car and set off.
Once out of the city, Childe finds that he has an easier time in the vehicle than usual. He stares out the window and watches the countryside go by, the ocean shimmering in the distance, and very resolutely ignores looking to the other side of the road at oncoming traffic. He still has a fair amount of anxiety in and around cars, but it has significantly lowered since he started talking to a therapist about it. He was worried about their road trip, certainly, but it starts off on a good foot.
And, of course, having his boyfriend next to him to lean on helps. His ancient, powerful, god of a boyfriend.
Their first spot is a popular tourist destination: Luhua Pool. Aether has visited a couple times, but Childe, having only had rare opportunities to get out of the city, hasn’t. They park and walk over to the outlook, taking explanatory pamphlets from a nearby kiosk. Other people roam around and take pictures, but Morax heads directly to the railing and leans against it, gazing over the pristine pools with a soft smile on his face.
“It is just as I remember,” he says softly, fondly, looking over the terraced pools filled with beautiful blue water, lotuses growing from the almost mirror-like surface. Behind them stand two statues, eternally watching over the land.
“Yeah, they turned this area into a nature preserve a while ago, it says,” Aether informs them, reading from the pamphlet. “It says that the Qixing decreed a number of areas in Liyue to be protected so that they wouldn’t be ruined by someone building on the land.”
“A wise decision,” Morax says with a nod. Something tugs at his memory, someone he feels like he used to know... or some ones. Part of the Qixing in his time, but as much as he tries to remember, the names fall from his grasp like grains of sand through his fingers. He shakes his head to himself and sighs.
“Something on your mind?” Childe asks, looking over at the old god.
“I cannot recall,” he says wistfully, putting an arm around Childe’s shoulders. “But it does not matter. I am here with the two of you now, and that is what is important.” He smiles at him, and at Aether on Childe’s other side. Childe leans against him with a soft ‘aww.’
They spend a few more minutes looking around and Aether insists on taking a selfie with the three of them, to which the other two oblige, and sends it to Venti. Morax had let him know about their trip and intentions of going to Mondstadt, and of course the bard was all for it, insisting that they come and visit him. Though they have not been apart for long, they are all looking forward to seeing him again.
Once the trio have piled back into the car, they’re off again, heading to their next destination, which will take them most of the rest of the day to drive to: Guili City, seated within the vast, sprawling Guili Plains. Morax is quite anxious, though he doesn’t show it. He knows the area is significant to him, but that was so long ago his memory has crumbled away. Perhaps by being there, it may unearth something.
The sun hangs low in the sky by the time the city comes into view, soaring skyscrapers in the distance breaking up the natural horizon. Morax stares up at them out of the car window, not minding Childe dozing off on his shoulder, as Aether weaves through the sprawling city in search of their motel. Finally finding it, he pulls into the parking lot and - after gently shaking Childe awake - they make their way into their room and collapse onto the beds, surprisingly exhausted from their day of travel.
In the morning, all awake well-rested and eager to explore the city. They grab breakfast at a nearby diner before visiting various touristy areas such as parks, monuments, and - most anticipated by Morax - museums. The largest one in the city is largely dedicated to the legends of the Archon Wars and events that supposedly happened in the Plains themselves. Most of it is relegated to the category of myth, the weapons and artifacts discovered attributed to a war fought by humans, not gods and demons. But Morax knows the truth - or at least he thinks he does. Much of that time in his memory is fragmented, but he remembers the broad strokes. There was a war fought between gods and demons, with him leading an army that emerged victorious. He had his Yakshas, his Adepti, himself at the prime of his power... they helped him shape the land and build up the cities to protect and shelter the mortals under his care, and they in turn worshiped him as the god he was. The god he still is, though much removed from his former glory.
“Was she someone you knew?” Aether asks softly, bringing Morax out of his trailing thoughts as he stares at a painting depicting a young woman with short grey hair save for two long locks that frame her face and billowing sleeves in her shoulderless outfit.
“I... think so,” Morax says, struggling to recall details about the familiar face.
“Guizhong, Goddess of Dust,” Childe reads off the information plaque next to the painting. “It says she worked alongside you in the Archon Wars and helped establish civilization, but died during it.”
“Guizhong...” Morax sighs, closing his eyes. That name is familiar, and flashes of her shining smile dart through his mind, then her lying motionless in a field of Glaze Lilies yet smiling up at him, saying something, and finally her body shrouded within a glowing sphere powered by... his Yakshas, containing her body...
Morax shakes his head as sadness threatens to overtake his mind, but it is a sadness removed from himself, as if he knows he should be feeling it, but someone else is instead. He casts the memories aside, as painful as he knows they should be.
“I did know her,” he says. “She... was very important to me, but those memories are lost now.”
“I’m sorry they are,” Aether says softly, taking his hand.
“Thank you,” Morax murmurs, giving it a squeeze. “Though perhaps it is for the better... those memories are fraught with sadness and loss.” He steps away from the painting.
“Should we leave?” Childe asks, wondering if this exhibit on the Archon Wars is too painful for him.
“No, this... is valuable, I think,” Morax says, looking over at another painting depicting a stylized version of himself and five beings below him - his Yakshas, and-
“Xiao,” he breathes, walking over to it.
“Xiao? Your Yaksha?” Childe recalls. Morax nods and points to the teal figure.
“He was one of my fiercest and most loyal soldiers,” he says. “My memory of him is not as fragmented as the others... he survived much longer than the rest, though I have not seen him in... centuries, likely.”
“Yeah... didn’t you say he disappeared a long time ago, since he didn’t want you to see him erode?” Childe asks.
“Likely so,” Morax confirms. “He was always proud and reclusive, yet utterly committed to his duties. I imagine he protected Liyue for as long as he could before succumbing to the flow of time.”
“That’s... kind of poetic, in a morose sort of way,” Aether says.
“Indeed it is,” Morax agrees. “My fate would have been the same, had Childe not found me so many months ago.”
“Months... goodness, it seems like so long and yet so short of a time ago,” Childe says, shaking his head.
“Well, time flies when one is having fun, no? That is the saying?” Morax asks with a small smile, trying to move past the dour topic. Aether chuckles.
“Yeah, exactly. Fun... and stress, I suppose. Ugh , finals were awful. I’m so glad that’s over with now.”
“Me too,” Childe agrees, jumping on the chance to change the topic, and then he changes it further still. “Say, I’m getting hungry, how about we get some food at the cafe here?”
“Hear hear!” Aether grins.
- - - - - - -
The next day, the trio decides to venture out of the city to visit some historical ruins in the Plains. Morax believes it may be good for him - perhaps he will recall more about his past. He also thinks they may be able to find some wild Glaze Lilies out on the plains, and so they pack all the necessities for a good hike: snacks and a lunch, sunscreen, water, and the like. It’s a beautiful day as they set out and they marvel at how the land opens up once they’re out of the city: great golden fields stretch endlessly towards the horizon with not a tree in sight.
They travel for an hour or so, past smaller ruins that are of little interest, until they get to their destination: the ruins of an ancient tower long since abandoned. Not much remains, but in the visitor’s center they find reimagined pictures of what it may have looked like in all its glory. From what Morax recalls, they’re fairly accurate, but he doesn’t remember much about the site itself. They wander through the ruins on the designated pathways and peruse the informational plaques for a while before deciding to set off on one of the trails into the countryside to look for Glaze Lilies. They aren’t worried about getting lost - not only does Morax have an excellent sense of direction, but they have a compass as well.
After they’ve gotten some distance and can no longer see the visitor center, Morax directs them off of the path, saying that they aren’t likely to find any where people frequently wander. Some time later they decide to have lunch, and settle down on a low cliff overlooking the Plains. There are a couple trees dotted around that break up the otherwise golden fields, and even further in the distance loom the mountains Liyue is so famous for.
“This really is wonderful,” Aether sighs, smiling as he gazes out over the scenery. “Hopefully we can find some of the lilies.”
“I believe we will,” Morax says. “This is the perfect environment for them, out here in the wilderness.”
“Yeah, it’s only lunch. We still have hours until we should head back to the car,” Childe points out. “We can probably cover a lot of distance.”
“Yeah!” Aether grins. “Even so, we should finish up quickly and get back to it.”
“I am glad to see your eagerness,” Morax says warmly. “We shall set off once sated. You two must also reapply your sunblock.”
“Oh, right.”
Once lunch finished and sunscreen applied, the trio sets out once more. The sun is still high in the sky when Morax spots something as they ascend a small hill.
“I believe we have found our prize,” he says, smiling as he points at a few blue flowers at the crest. Aether gasps.
“Whoa- really??” He jogs up closer and pulls out his phone to take pictures, Childe quickly on his heels.
“They’re beautiful,” Childe breathes, crouching down next to them but not touching.
“Just as I recall,” Morax says fondly, gazing down at the closed blooms. “They close during the day, and only open up to reveal their full splendor at night... or if one sings the right tune.”
“The right tune? So, it’s not just any song?” Childe asks, looking up at Morax, who nods.
“I believe I recall most of the melody,” he says before starting to hum something, then falters and frowns, the rest of the tune evading him. Did they really come this far just for his memory to fail them now? He shakes his head. He has to remember this, or this whole trip will be for naught. He starts again, humming to himself, as the other two watch on, but he fails again in the same place; he can’t remember it. Aether looks down and starts typing on his phone.
“I... apologize, you two, I... cannot recall it,” Morax says softly, looking away as grief tugs at his heart.
“Is this it?” Aether asks, holding his phone up as a light and airy song begins to play. Morax’s head snaps up and he stares at it.
“Yes, that’s... that’s the song. How...?”
“The internet has everything on it, man. The song must’ve survived for so long and some folk singer put it online,” Aether says with a shrug. Morax’s anxious expression slowly fades into a smile and he closes his eyes to listen to it.
“Then I am grateful to whomever allowed the song to survive,” Morax says, “and not to be lost to time. Let us listen to it a few times, and then we will sing.”
The other two nod and carefully focus on the song, trying to memorize it quickly. When they have it down well enough for Morax to lead them, they begin to sing to the lilies. Aether’s voice carries high into the air while Morax’s deep baritone supports them, and Childe’s splits the difference. They take a round or two to iron out all the kinks, and by then the blooms are beginning to open.
“It’s working!” Aether exclaims in an excited whisper, and Morax motions for him to keep singing. By the end of their third repeat, the blooms have opened up to their full display, and their voices fade into the plains.
“I- wow,” Childe says, crouching down to inspect the blooms. “I didn’t- I mean, I trust you of course, Morax, but I didn’t really think that would actually work.”
“There is still magic yet in these lands,” Morax says with a soft chuckle. “One needs only know where to-”
Morax isn’t as fast as he used to be; crimson blood splatters across soft blue petals as a jade green spear tears through his side.