Verisimilitude (GI Various x Reader)

Chapter Fourteen

        "I will wait for you near the Statue of the Seven. Meet me there when the perfume is ready." We nodded and I was about to leave with Lumine and Paimon, when Zhongli held me back.

"Ah, Miss (Y/N). Would you mind coming along and waiting at the statue with me?" He asks. Lumine glances over at me, a questioning look in her eyes. The silent conversation lasts about a few seconds before she nods and drags Paimon off with her to find someone capable of making the perfumes for Rex Lapis.

"Hey! What about (Y/N)! Are we really just leaving Zhongli with her?!" She exclaimed as Lumine dragged her guide away. I chuckled, shaking my head at them and then turned my attention back onto the archon hiding amongst his people.

"Well, we should get going, no?" He nodded and we soon made our way to the Statue of the Seven. Once we were at the statue, I glanced up at it, taking in the statue's features. The hooded archon sat leisurely in his throne, holding a cube that referenced his element of Geo. Much like how Barbatos held out an orb that referenced Anemo.

"You know, you're quite lucky the people of Liyue aren't very observant, and that the Statue of the Seven isn't more detailed. If it were, all you're doing would be for naught." I mentioned. Zhongli chuckled, amused by my thoughts.

"So it seems." His voice laced with hidden mirth. I then returned my attention back onto him.

"So, why did you ask for my company? Is there something you wished to speak about?" I asked him. He hummed, still staring up at the statue before him.

"I would like to hear the thoughts and opinions an outsider has of Liyue." My thoughts and opinions about Liyue? Does this have something to do with the question he asked Lumine earlier?

"Liyue has a strong culture and faith surrounding the Geo Archon. It's honestly very similar to Mondstadt and our faith in Barbatos. However, Liyue also has the possibility to finally take her first steps towards thinking for themselves. Though the Geo Archon will be missed, the time of the people has arrived. The mortals of Liyue will be free to decide what they believe in and what they believe is right or wrong. Not that they've never been able to do that before..." I trailed off, glancing up at Zhongli's reaction. He was quiet, taking in my words and opinions.

"Would you do me a favor, (Y/N)?" He asks, meeting my eyes with his own. I blinked and nodded.

"What is it?"

"You have seen the ending of what's to come, have you not? Is the sacrifice worth the outcome of the endeavor?" I closed my eyes.

"Wouldn't me telling you be ruining the surprise? Wouldn't you rather find out naturally the outcome of this chapter in the tales of Teyvat's future?" I asked him. He hummed to himself.

"Hm. Perhaps it is better left to fate. However, is it truly fate if you hold the key? That shall be my final question for you to ponder over." It seems as though instead of leaving him with questions, he has left me with his own questions to think about. We sit in comfortable silence as we wait for Lumine and Paimon to return from finding someone to make the perfumes. I'm not sure how long I sat at the foot of the statue before Zhongli spoke up once more, breaking the silence that had settled between us.

"I wish to form a contract with you." Huh? I glanced up at him. A contract? I frowned, not sure what he was getting at.

"I don't understand. Why do you want to form a contract with me?" I asked him. His eyes practically glowed as they stared down into my own.

"You are special and unique, not just because you can witness the future. Time has chosen you for something greater beyond the Archons and Celestia. Because of this, I believe I can trust you to keep this safe." A golden chess piece shone in Zhongli's hand. I gazed at it in awe, before blinking myself out of it and standing up in shock.