His Eyes Never Change (Gold like Cor Lapis, Blue as Noctilucous Jade)

Humans and Flowers

"Oh?"

Well that certainly caught the god's attention. It was spur-of-the-moment, but it was the best idea he had. Morax's face still showed traces of his earlier anger, yet his eyes were now filled with curiosity at the mention of a contract. The expression caught Childe off guard. It made the god look that much closer to the Zhongli he knew.

"And what are the terms of this contract?"

Ah. Well. Childe hadn't thought quite that far ahead.

"I...I have questions that need answering," Morax's eyebrow raised at the vague statement and Childe went on to clarify, "I woke up in your land with no idea how I got here. I want to learn how to return to my home, and I have a strong feeling you might have the information I need."

Not entirely a lie, but not the full truth either. What was he supposed to say? Oh yeah so I'm kind of from the future. I passed out and then woke up thousands of years in the past. That wasn't going to happen.

Morax seemed to ponder this, "What would I receive in return? A contract should benefit all parties involved."

"I'll dedicate myself to this war and fight alongside you."

The crowd, which had been relatively silent until now, began talking in hushed voices. Childe couldn't quite make out what was being said, but he had the feeling it wasn't positive.

"You? Fight alongside me ?" Morax stepped closer, once again invading Childe's space, "and what, pray tell, makes you believe that you are worthy of standing at my side?"

Morax's eyes glittered with danger and condescending mirth. Childe quickly realized he may have overestimated his worth. Fighting was his specialty. Above all else, he was a weapon, dealing in death and chaos. If that wasn't enough, what else did he have to offer? His life? He already felt that he was overstepping his loyalty to the Tsaritsa (had she even been born at this point? Ah, that didn't matter.). He had no mora to speak of but, even if he did, he doubted this version of the Lord of Geo would have need of such a thing.

"Besides," Morax's icy gold gaze traveled to the vision at his hip, "you are an outsider who bears the mark of another god. Your presence is suspicious to begin with. I cannot simply agree to a contract when you may have ulterior motives."

So it seemed he had no intention of seeing the contract through from the beginning. Childe recalled the previous conversation he'd had with Ren Yinghua about vision bearers and what he had read in the journal. He cursed inwardly. This was not going as planned. And whose fault is that, he thought bitterly. He really should've just stayed put.

Morax had moved his gaze away, "Who here knows when this person arrived in the city? Speak."

A soldier weaved his way through the crowd to bow before his god, "My Lord, I believe this man arrived just this afternoon. He was with a larger group claiming to be refugees from the south, and there was no sign of a vision on his person at the time of entry. They are currently being monitored in the Southern District's guest housing."

"A larger group?" Morax turned to Childe with a snarl, "What are you plotting? Someone bring those refugees here, I wish to understand just what is going on. Should I find that-"

Childe felt a bubble of panic rise in his stomach. It was one thing for him to be viewed with suspicion, but Haolan and the others? He was about to open his mouth when the woman who had arrived with Morax placed a gentle hand on the god's shoulder. She shook her head, a negative gesture. Morax seemed to calm slightly at the message.

"I see, in that case," he turned back to the guard, "continue to monitor the group as usual, but no further action than that is required. As for this one."