Chapter Text
The golden glow of dusk crept over the mountains of Liyue as Zhongli enjoyed a cup of osmanthus wine in the Third Round Knockout. The storyteller, Iron Tongue Tian, took the stage and snapped open his fan, delving into the first story of the evening.
“The hero of our next tale is a young man by the name of Xu Huiliang. He lived during a time when gods and dragons still presided over Teyvat and humanity had no choice but to hide in their shadows. Although these ancient days are long past, the bravery of his deeds carried his legacy all the way into the present.”
Zhongli never tired of listening to this story. After hearing it for the first time, he had nudged Iron Tongue Tian in the right direction over a cup of wine, making sure he told it with as much accuracy as possible.
“One of the dragons was wounded in a battle with a god and was writhing in pain atop Mount Tianheng.” He paused to dramatically gesture towards the mountain in front of him. “While desperately clinging to life, the dragon made boulders the size of houses tumble down. That’s where Xu Huiliang’s story begins—He lived in a village at the foot of Mount Tianheng. Afraid that his village would soon be no more, he climbed the mountain and entered the dragon’s den.”
The waitress placed a dish of the tavern’s famous wine-fermented sweet rice balls on Zhongli’s table and exchanged his nearly empty wine jar with a new one. Zhongli poured himself another cup and took a sip of the fragrant wine.
Ever since he sat down, poorly concealed elemental energy prickled in the air and tickled the hair on his arms like static. This energy had followed Zhongli around town for no less than three days now, putting him on high alert. It had taken him a while to figure out with certainty who or what emitted that energy, but through the process of elimination he was certain that it had to be the man in dark gray cultivator robes, sitting at the table next to his.
Zhongli glanced in the man’s direction, but couldn’t make out any details, his face hidden underneath a hood. He held a glass of water in his hands. Who ordered water in a tavern, especially one widely known for its exquisite osmanthus wine?
By the time the first story concluded, the sun had fully set. Some people stood up and left, but the strange man remained seated. Zhongli waited until Iron Tongue Tian had begun the next story, then quietly slipped from his seat and jumped down onto the main street.
He crossed the street behind the tavern and snuck into a dimly-lit alleyway. A glance behind his back revealed that no one was following him, so he slung himself onto a balcony and waited, crouching behind the banister. Without averting his eyes from the street below, he grabbed a pebble from the planter next to him and wrung it in his hand.
Soon after, a shadow hurried down the alleyway. Zhongli waited until he was right below him, then threw his pebble in the man’s path. The pebble exploded in a blinding light the moment it hit the ground. The force of the explosion blew the man’s hood back and revealed his long, white hair. His head shot in Zhongli’s direction, revealing his sharp eyebrows and brilliant purple eyes.
Zhongli slipped away before the man’s vision could adjust to the light, disappearing over the rooftops.
The hydro sovereign had come.
The next day, Zhongli waited in his office in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, leaning against his desk and looking out the window. The sun had already passed its zenith, but he still hadn’t heard a word from Xiao, who he had asked to deliver a message for him. He drummed his fingers against his desk impatiently.
Should he have taken a less direct approach? Did Neuvillette decide to cut his losses and go back to Fontaine after Zhongli exposed him the night before?
No, he couldn’t have left Liyue, or Xiao would have already informed him.
He took a tea set from one of the shelves and sat at his desk, beginning to brew a cup of Pu’Erh tea. The familiar process of dowsing the fermented leaves in hot water and setting free the earthy aroma let him think more clearly.
The hydro sovereign had come to Liyue. Zhongli had expected this to happen ever since the traveler sent him a letter detailing the events of Fontaine. The traveler had never explicitly said that Neuvillette was the hydro sovereign, but when accounting for the holes in the story, the pieces weren’t hard to put together.
It was natural for a sovereign to be born resenting the archons, the gods who took their elemental authorities and appropriated them for their own purposes. And now that Neuvillette had restored his full powers, naturally, he would seek revenge. That part wasn’t surprising. But Zhongli hadn’t expected Neuvillette to come so soon. Fontaine was still in the process of rebuilding, a critical time for their ruler to provide stability. So, was revenge the only reason he had come?
Zhongli had mulled this question over and over since the night before.
With a pop, Xiao teleported into his office. He reverently bowed his head. “My lord.”
Zhongli placed his teacup down. “Did you pass on my message?”
“Yes. He’s on his way here as we speak.”
Zhongli nodded. “I know this doesn’t fall under your usual obligations. You have my thanks.”
“It was no hardship, my lord. I merely left a message where he would find it.” As fast as he had arrived, Xiao disappeared again.
Shortly after, Meng knocked on the door, announcing the arrival of a guest. Zhongli instructed him to bring the guest into his office.
Zhongli rose from his seat to greet Neuvillette. Neuvillette wore very similar robes to the night before; long-sleeved and loose fitting, the type only cultivators and recluses wore in Liyue. Despite the clothes not measuring up to his aura of elegance, they also couldn’t hide the beauty of his perfectly symmetrical face and glowing, fox-like eyes.
“Morax.”
Zhongli grimaced. It’s been a while since he had heard his name said with such disdain. “Please sit,” he said, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk.
Neuvillette let his gaze slowly wander over Zhongli’s belongings. His eyes lingered on the bookshelves, the pine wood desk, the scrolls and fans decorating the walls. He pulled back the chair and sat down.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation. I believe we have some things to discuss, but first, let me offer you a cup of tea–”
“That won’t be necessary,” Neuvillette interrupted him. “I do not require your hospitality. I’d prefer it if we got straight to why you asked me to come here.”
Zhongli’s smile fell slightly. “Alright. I will get straight to the point. You have been following me for several days, but I believe it would save us both time if you simply told me what I can help you with.”
“Help isn’t the right word, I’m afraid. I came to judge you for the crimes you committed as the geo archon. I wasn’t sure whether you would be open to a civil discussion, so I felt it necessary to observe you first. Since you took the initiative for this meeting, however, I am amiable to talk about conditions for your cooperation. It would be easier for both of us if you came with me willingly.”
Sadness mixed into Zhongli’s smile. Although this was what he had expected to hear, a part of him had hoped their first meeting would go differently. “As one of the seven archons, you believe I have stolen the power of your kin, the sovereigns who ruled Teyvat before the arrival of the heavenly principles.”
Neuvillette's eyes gleamed curiously. He probably hadn’t expected Zhongli to know that he was a sovereign. “Indeed. But not just that—you helped the heavenly principles take power over Teyvat and thus are charged with the crime of assisting in the murder of my ancestors. I’m the last one who remains, the last one who can seek justice for the atrocities committed against my kin. I am here to take you to Fontaine and place you on trial, in the name of all sovereigns who once called this place their home but were slaughtered while defending their rightful place in the universe.” Neuvillette spoke slowly, as to have time to steady his voice and not reveal how much these words tore at his insides. But even so, the pain in his voice was impossible to miss, a pain that Zhongli was all too familiar with.
He hummed in acknowledgment. “I understand your position. I, too, know what such loss feels like. I do not agree with these charges, but there are certain conditions under which I am willing to subject myself to a trial.”
Neuvillette lifted a brow. “Which would be?”
“Before I get to that, please allow me to elaborate on what I’m prepared to offer in return.”
Neuvillette eyed him suspiciously. “Your cooperation would be more than enough.”
“You might think differently once you hear my conditions.” Neuvillette didn’t say more on the matter, so Zhongli continued, “You are the hydro sovereign, an ancient dragon reborn. You recovered your full strength after the hydro archon destroyed her divine seat of power and returned your authority to you in full.”
Neuvillette looked unimpressed. “And so?”
“When I heard the stories of what happened in Fontaine, there was one thing I kept asking myself. You are a dragon with the full authority of a sovereign, but even when calamity struck Fontaine, not once did you show your dragon form. Why? If you had, the news would have undoubtedly spread all over Teyvat by now, but it seems hardly anyone is aware of your true identity.”
Neuvillette was extraordinarily good at controlling his facial features, but not nearly as good at hiding the rise and fall of his elemental energy, which surged with every word Zhongli spoke. “What are you implying?”
“Your dragon form is much stronger than your human form, and yet you have never taken it. I can only conclude that you were born into human form and cannot shift. Even now that you have recovered your powers, you still haven’t grasped the secret of transformation,” Zhongli said, a finger tapping his chin. A contemplative pause. “What I offer in return is this: I will teach you how to take your true form.”
Surprise flickered in Neuvillette’s eyes, just for a fraction of a second, then it was extinguished. “Even if that were the case, it won’t earn you absolution for your crimes.”
He didn’t deny it. It wouldn’t make sense to deny it, because if these negotiations fell through and it came to a physical altercation between them, there would be no way to hide the truth.
“I’m not trying to bargain for absolution.”
“Is that so? Then what do you want in exchange?”
“Merely that you will hear my side of the story when the day comes,” Zhongli said. “And that the trial will take place in Liyue, just between the two of us. The things you will ask me about absolutely cannot be shared with the public.”
Neuvillette remained silent, eyes narrowed. The static in the air calmed, then intensified again. “You are questioning my integrity as a Iudex, but at the same time insist on me being the only witness. Isn’t that contradictory?”
“I wouldn’t dare question your integrity. The traveler has spoken very highly of you and your impartiality, even in personal matters. However… things are more complex than you could imagine.” Zhongli waited to gauge his reaction. Neuvillette narrowed his eyes even further as if trying to pry his secrets directly from his mind. Zhongli added, “You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You see, if you agree to this contract, I promise to answer your questions to the best of my abilities and to subject myself to your sentencing. Without this promise, you might find it rather difficult to carry out your judgment.”
Neuvillette huffed a deep, resounding laugh. “Bold of you to assume you can escape my judgment. I am the—”
“Yes, you are the hydro sovereign and by all means and measures stronger than a mere archon. But there is a reason I am still alive today. Can you say with absolute certainty that you will emerge as the victor in a fight against me? Monsieur Neuvillette. Considering the lifespan of a dragon, you’ve only just peeled off the shells after hatching from your egg, while I’ve been alive for thousands of years. Think about it carefully.”
Neuvillette leaned back, arms folded in front of his chest. “Why should I believe you’re capable of teaching me how to shapeshift? We’re not even the same species of dragon. And why should I believe you will keep to your promises?”
Zhongli internally sighed in relief. Neuvillette didn’t want to risk a confrontation with him after all. He controlled his voice, shaping it into the deep, self-assured tone he used all throughout the archon war. “I’m the god of contracts. If I enter a contract, then only because I know with certainty that I can fulfill it. As for trusting me: Ask anyone in Liyue and they will tell you that I haven’t broken a single promise in all my time as their archon.”
Neuvillette’s posture remained stiff and guarded, but Zhongli could tell that his resolve was slowly wavering. There was a reason Neuvillette was here and not in Mondstadt or Inazuma—because he and Zhongli were the only two dragons left. There was no one else who could teach him how to shapeshift. He might have come to Liyue to judge Zhongli, but that wasn’t the only reason he had come.
He would most definitely agree.
“There is another condition.”
Neuvillette scoffed. “Of course there is.”
“It’s hard to tell how long it will take for you to learn how to shift, so you will have to make preparations to stay away from Fontaine for the time being. And while I understand your skepticism and disdain towards me, you will have to let go of those feelings for the duration I’ll be teaching you.”
Neuvillette closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again. “Lowering my guard in the presence of the person I plan to prosecute and judge doesn’t seem prudent,” Neuvillette replied. “I cannot agree to that part.”
“I’m afraid a little trust is necessary. One cannot learn effectively while the heart is filled with other matters. I don’t require you to trust me with your life, but I do require that you commit your entire mind to your goal. Shifting your form won’t be possible otherwise.”
Neuvillette lowered his lashes, tapping his fingers on his elbow contemplatively.
“I promise you, no matter what you believe, I’m not your enemy.”
“I’ll have to think about it,” Neuvillette said, lower lip twitching minutely. “Let’s meet again tomorrow.” Without another word of courtesy, he stood up and left.
Zhongli let out a long breath and poured fresh, hot water over his tea leaves. He brought the cup to his nose and inhaled the calming scent. With his other hand, he pulled open his desk drawer and took out a photo—the traveler, Paimon, and Neuvillette.
As much as the prospect of their first meeting had filled him with apprehension, now that the time had come, he was relieved.
He couldn’t believe there was still a sovereign alive. After the war, he had searched for hundreds of years, had held his eyes open for thousands more, never able to find even one of them. He had concluded that the heavenly principles managed to rip all of them out of the cycle of reincarnation. In the end, the last sovereign had come to him on his own…
There was so much they had to discuss. The truth was the least he owed Neuvillette, but first, he had to make sure he was ready to hear it.
By the time Neuvillette returned to his room in the Baiju Guesthouse, two copies of a contract already waited for him on the table. The fact that Zhongli knew where he was staying and had the means to enter his room without being noticed was very disconcerting, but unfortunately not unexpected from someone like him.
Neuvillette sat down and read over the contract. Everything was laid out just as they had discussed and Zhongli’s red seal was stamped at the bottom. All that was missing was Neuvillette’s signature and their lessons would begin posthaste.
In theory, Zhongli’s proposal was a good one. Too good actually, which either meant that he knew he couldn’t prevail in a fight against Neuvillette, or that he was stalling for time to come up with a convincing lie. Or… Who knew what else Zhongli could be planning? He most certainly wasn’t telling him the full truth about his motivations.
He put the contract on the table and inhaled deeply, massaging his aching temples. Originally, he had come to Liyue with a plan: Observe Zhongli from a distance to get a feeling for his temperament and the level of power he still possessed. Then, if he could be reasonably certain the rumors were true and Zhongli had indeed relinquished most of his powers, he would detain him, bring him to Fontaine, and put him on trial. But his observations ended up inconclusive. He could sense power emanating from Zhongli, but the last few thousand years had left him with a trick or two up his sleeves. His energy was well concealed, like a current of water underneath a thick sheet of ice. Neuvillette could make out a faint flow of Zhongli’s power, but couldn’t tell with what speed it was flowing or how deep it went. It could either be a rivulet or a raging stream.
To add insult to injury, Zhongli had guessed correctly—Neuvillette had indeed hoped to learn how to shapeshift from him. However, he had wanted to wait until Zhongli was in his control before inquiring about details. Now that Zhongli had guessed his deeper intentions ahead of time, he could use it as a bargaining chip.
The sunlight slowly tinted yellow as Neuvillette mulled his options over in his mind. The biggest issue he had with the contract was that Zhongli demanded he lower his guard. How could he trust him when he was one of the usurpers? When he was part of the reason his ancestors were eradicated from this world? Zhongli promised they weren’t enemies, but Neuvillette couldn’t imagine a version of the past that would make that statement true.
And yet…
The promise of discovering his true form filled him with unparalleled curiosity. A year after recovering his full authority, he had gotten no closer to finding out how to shift. Dragons weren’t known for writing books; they passed knowledge down in the form of elders teaching their young, so there was no ancient knowledge he could dig up on the matter. He knew it was possible to shift, it had to be, but without someone illuminating the way he couldn’t hope to achieve it.
Neuvillette might have been born in human form, but he was a dragon, he could feel it in his soul. Not knowing how to connect with his true identity left a gaping hole. A part of him was missing, making him incomplete, leaving him stranded as neither human nor dragon, just something undefinable in between.
He took a silver fountain pen from his breast pocket and spun it in his hand. He imagined his hand covered in blue scales, imagined his fingers ending in claws as sharp as crystal shards… What would that be like? Would he finally feel whole?
There was another reason as well, one far more important than his personal curiosity. The Fontainians had already suffered a great deal, and now their archon was gone forever. On that fateful day when Focalors ended her life, Neuvillette had vowed he’d take her place as their protector, even if that meant he’d have to stand against the heavenly principles themselves. The only way he could keep that vow was to grow into his full potential.
He uncapped the pen and signed his name.