Erison

Lives

A/N - And here we are, my first actual series completed. Big warning, this chapter is extremely gory and gross so if you get the ick please feel free to stop reading. Not sure when I'll right the second series, but I'm assuming it'll be a long wait because I'm tired, I have camp, I'm simping over Parako, I have exams this term among some family stuff.

If you made it here, thank you so, so much for reading - it truly means the world for us authors who pour our hearts out into these silly little fics. Thank you guys so much for all the comments and support, it was truly amazing to experience. -

Zhongli could feel his own heart in his ears. It roared at him like an angry flame as he raced through the forest. Archons, he was far too old to still be doing this. He knew, he knew that contract was idiotic.

Why he had even given up his position, it was undoubtedly the worst decision he had ever decided to come upon in his life. If he had just kept his gnosis, if he had just remained an archon instead of being tempted but peace and quiet this would have never happened. If that was the case, the last yaksha should have never been endangered.

He knew, when he saw Moon Carver covered in blood that night, that something disastrous happened. Not just Osial - that was already as horrid as it could have been - but Moon Carver? Murder? They simply were not designed to be in the same place, let alone the same sentence. Yet there he was. Zhongli had watched with his own eyes as Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper argued, until Moon Carver went quiet and wandered off, never to be seen again. All knew that Moon Carver would have returned if he was alive, all knew when he never returned - it was a symbol of his passing.

Mountain Shaper was more disoriented than a mother who lost her young.

He never was the same; not after losing his other half.

Zhongli knew this would end in a fight. He never enjoyed fighting, not in the slightest, but what was necessary for the fate of Liyue was necessary for him. No longer an archon, but that didn't mean he wanted the fate of Liyue to fall into that monster's hands.

He should have realized the night he walked in ever so nonchalantly, and ordered a coffin. A casket.

The monster.

He hoped he would come in time - he would have prayed to the geo archon if he wasn't the (ex) geo archon. His head kepting repeating " I'm so sorry, Xiao " over, and over and over. He should have been the one to raise Xiao into the heir. He thought it would be fine. He thought Xiao would be fine. Zhongli didn't know what he'd do if he didn't have eyes on the inside.

The Fatui proved to be useful on some occasions, if only the letter hadn't come a week late. Part of him was happy he had that contract, at the very least he had House of the Hearth upon his side. Thank the archons (not himself) Alrecchino was at the very least a kind soul. Somewhat.

Almost.

Maybe?

Perhaps she felt pity for Xiao, perhaps she knew the relationship raising a child got you, perhaps she was simply just doing it for the sake of Liyue - Xiao was always supposed to be the heir after all. Whatever it was, thank the archons she informed him.

Zhongli had arrived just on time to hear Beisht hiss through her gills.

Wonderful , because Zhongli just adored the idea of taking down the angry fish with a hate for gods as well as one of the strongest Fatui harbingers. That was all in sarcasm, of course. If only Zhongli hadn't allowed himself to get so unfit.

Zhongli attempted to pick up the paste, but he was already going top speed. His ears managed to pick up a splash. A loud one, loud enough to be heard even as Beisht screamed her gills off.