𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐞

5| Three Gods, One Child

"𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒈𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎."

— James Baldwin

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2,700 years ago

The heat was killing me as the three of us headed further into the volcano-ridden land. I didn't understand the need for us to look for materials here. Or that could just be the heat getting to my head. Guizhong and Morax are practically glued to my sides since I was the coldest member of our friend group. It was nice to have Morax touch me without attacking me, Guizhong and I however loved hugs.

"Why the hell are we here again?" Morax grumbled, his voice muffled since his face was pressed against my arm. "My entire torso is exposed and it still feels like shit."

Which he was beyond right. Guizhong had woken us up extremely early in the morning to "aid her in her trip to find materials for her ballista". I couldn't remember where exactly she was building it, just that she was. I was half-asleep when she first announced it, not that she needed to know that particular detail.

Guizhong pulled out a map, inspecting it for a second before she replied. "There's a specific type of metal and wood that I need," she explained. "They're only found in this part of Teyvat." Morax and I shared looks. Leave it to her to need to go on an entire adventure for materials of all things. She could've even used some of my stones. They're pretty hardy too. This part of Teyvat was well known for volcanic activity and blistering heat. Few humans could withstand being here and usually only stayed because of the riches they could get from mining the special volcanic rock and cutting down special trees. I'd heard that there was next to nothing that could rival the metal's strength or the wood's resistance to heat and wear.

But, who knows, those rumors could just be that. Rumors. We'd hardly ever set foot in this area, namely because none of us could truly withstand the heat. I much preferred the coolness of Prophis. Guizhong led us along and I did my best to keep up every step of the way.

Eventually, a village came into view, stone houses rather imposing at first sight. Morax grumbled something under his breath. "You two can go ahead, I'd rather not deal with mortals," He huffed.

"You're never going to learn anything but not dealing with them," I reprimanded, shaking my head at the hot headed god. He made a face at me before wandering off toward what appeared to be a forest. Guizhong and I continued into the village and silently hoped he wouldn't do anything rash while we weren't there to watch him. He was known for doing weird shit.  The village was livelier than expected, children running around and playing as the older folk watched.

How were we supposed to figure out which of the houses belong to the village chief? All of the houses pretty much looked the same in my opinion. Guizhong pointed out one at the center of the circle where an older man stood with his hands behind his back. He appeared to be rather muscular, his body adorned with the scars of war. Ah, I could practically see the respect rolling off of his shoulders.