A Change of Fates

Chapter 4: To The Future With You

"Guizhong... Ping... I've decided on what I have to do now."

Two pair of eyes all fixated on him. One is from an elderly looking woman with glasses on her eyes, and one is from grey haired young looking girl, who's ash grey eyes stared at him with a knowing look, yet the curiousities are still there.

The brown haired man who is object of their interest sighed before taking a deep breath. He opens his once closed eyes, the pair of amber orbs glanced between the two woman before his lips parted to say the words.

"I've decided... That it's time for me to step down from my title as god." He said, firm and absolute.

The two woman on the other side of the table fell silent, they exchanged a quick glance to one another before wordlessly came into an agreement.

"We understand. Can't say if I should be happy or not, but I respect your decision, Morax." The girl with grey hair, Guizhong, nods her head, placing a hand over her chest.

"Aaah, so the time has come at last. It feels almost just like yesterday when we've all gathered amongst the humans, posing as their divine protectors. But alas, seems like that duty should be put to rest as well, along with those we've lost along the way. It's time for the children to learn how to protect themselves." The elderly woman among the three mused with a little sigh, a small smile appear on her lips.

Morax silently nods in agreement with the old woman, Ping, that was her name. As for Guizhong on the other hand, she turned her head to look at Morax before asking a question that has been bothering her mind.

"Now that you have decided to step down as the Geo Archon of Liyue, how will you announce your retirement?" Guizhong asked, curious and confused. "Are you going to announce it to the people in the upcoming Rite of Descension? I know that it's the best opportunity for you to do it, but can you expect the reaction you'll get from the people? What will you say to them if one or two disagrees with your decision?"

"Actually... I do have a plan in mind regarding how will retirement will be announced." Morax paused for a second, before looking at his two conversation partners with a serious expression, his lips parted as he reveals his plan. "I've made plans to fake my death."

Guizhong's eyes widened and her mouth parted with a small gasp. And as for Ping, though her expression didn't show any changes, inwardly, she was as surprised as her old friend beside her.

"Faking your death? But wouldn't that be too much?!" Guizhong asked, standing from her seat, looking at Morax at disbelief. "How do you think the people will react to this? There's gonna be a widespread panic and fear if such thing were ever to happen! The people of Liyue has been worshipping and praising the almighty Rex Lapis for centuries, surely to hear the sudden of their beloved god would be-"

"They do worship me and pray to me. But they need me anymore?" Morax asked, cutting off the rest of Guizhong's sentence. His amber eyes stares upwards, looking at the fabulous city before them as they sat around a table near the docks. Inside his mind, flashes of memories from the first brick placed to what becomes of the city right now appears. "Guizhong... You and I... We may have been the one who built the foundation that would become this great of a city, but we both know that it was at the hands of the humans who made Liyue into the dazzling diamond it was now."

Morax stood up from his seat. Sighing, he turned around to approach the nearby railings overlooking the sea. His eyes closed as he immersed in the sensation of how the fresh morning sea breeze blows towards him, just by basking in it made him remember so many things... The smell of the sea, as much as he hates it, Morax has to admit that it brings some nostalgic memories of the different past. Back then during a more harsher times, when death and bloodshed rampages through the land. When the world is nothing but a cruel and unforgiving land... Yet there exists some soothing warmth in the form of the smallest things. The gathering of friends during free time, the fun and laughter they shared when they're together, and the smiles they shows to everyone including... Him.