In the field of Glaze Lilies

2

"Wonderful, I shall depart from here the day following tomorrow. I am quite sure my injuries would heal by then." Lady Guizhong remarked, her ruby red eyes glistening from success of convincing  the contract god. It was truly a sight to see. Being that her eyes contrasted the blooming blue flowers which surrounded them, yet was still fitting to be around her environment. The young god fairly knew what he was getting himself into, though. A contract as simple as this could change the course of history forever. This was a matter of waging war against the other Archons. 

"Well, we can not forever sit here idly now, can we?" The woman uttered while she turned her back to leave. "I'll see you by sun rise, Lord Morax." she added, her head slightly facing over her shoulder. A grin rising from the tips of her rosy lips.  

Morax nodded, his mind now fully made up. "I'll meet you by then, Lady Guizhong."

*
Dawn arose quite faster than anticipated for the diligent god. Before he knew it, he and his drafter were met face to face again in the same Glaze Lilied field. "Surely you don't plan to do this expedition looking like that, Lord Morax?" Lady Guizhong asked with her eyebrows elevated. "And what do you mean by that, Lady?" he deliberately questioned back. He didn't get the memo of which he has to travel around with her anonymously yet.

"I meant that you should at least change from your rather.....divine-looking clothes, My lord. It can catch quite the unnecessary attention..." 

"Oh." 

Morax was caught off guard by the sharp tongued woman again. He was not used to have encountered such a bold personality. Her eyes unwavering as she met his. With a small grin, she motioned for him to follow her along the trail which lied ahead of them. "Seeing that you're an Archon, may it be that you're very familiar in these areas already, Lord Morax?" 

"You could say that.." he admitted hesitantly. In truth, he rarely did wander around the corners of Liyue. The reason due to either not having the time or not seeing any purpose to do so. He avoided making eye contact shortly after he made a response. It was embarrassing to be made for a land which you did not pay much attention to. Unfortunately for him though, lady Guizhong was able to read between the lines. It was obvious, being that another sly smirk crept up her mouth.

"Very interesting..." Was all she answered under her breath before continuing her tread along the path. It was visible she doubted him despite sounding sincere. Morax sighed, knowing there was no use in convincing her otherwise since she had already concluded an answer for herself. He decided to start a conversation to distract the both of them from the awkward atmosphere they were in. "So, my dear drafter, where do we head off to first?"

Lady Guizhong paused in her tracks. It appeared as if she was retracing a memory because her eyes wandered around looking for something. Not a moment later, she mumbled as she finally thought of an idea, "Oh, wait it was here.." and took out a scroll from her right sleeve. Morax eyed the woman. For him, it was odd for someone who looked as modest as her to be storing an item up in her sleeves. Though this was not his first time witnessing this from humans, he surely found it peculiar.

Sensing the odd gaze Morax had been giving her, Lady Guizhong glanced at the curious Archon. "What? Have you not seen mortals doing this before, my lord?" Her voice sounding sort of bothered. "I have, but never would I have expected for you to be the type to do so. I see my judgement has done me wrong." He spoke as a matter-of
-factly. A chuckle escaped the woman's mouth, "Oh? Was that a compliment then?"

What? Was what the young god thought. Is this mortal playing words with an Archon? She's very bold.

"A compliment? How could you say so?"

"Any person would feel flattered if they have been thought highly by another, would they not?"

"Huh...perhaps you could say that. Humans do get flattered easily." He backhandedly added. He had no intention of offending the lady beside him, and she knew that— but it was still shady for him to say about her kind. With her teeth gritted and her eyes showing forceful warmth, she questioned, "Now, it's my turn to do the asking...Why do you think of us humans as the equivalent of useless, replaceable creatures?"

"What? When have I implied that, lady Guizhong?" Morax, who was now feeling wrongly accused, focused his radiant amber eyes on her. He has never been cornered like this by any other being. The raven haired woman pursed her lips in silence. "Nothing. It's just that your wording made it out to be understood as you looking down on us."

"Ah! Lady Guizhong, over here!"  A person, masculine sounding, called out the woman's name. Both of them turned their heads towards where the voice came from and saw a young man dressed out for venturing, all the way across the field. Lady Guizhong smiled. It looked as if she was quite familiar with this man. She slightly waved at the lad and softly responded, "Merchant Jing, lovely to meet you here. Have there been monsters nearby?"

The merchant beamed at lady Guizhong's warm greeting. "I've had my boys fend them off for me a few minutes ahead." Walking further, he resumed, "I know you are still injured, so I have prepared some items you might need for recovery." He proceeded to take out things from his rather large backpack with carefulness and pulled out a kit filled with medicinal herbs and cloth used for bandages alike. The lady's face was written flushed from the surprise of receiving an unexpected amount of materials. She gestured that she should not take anything which other people might direly need.

Merchant Jing kept on insisting for the considering woman to take it. "Please, I have heard of how painful that arrow impaled through your shoulder lady Guizhong. The least I could do is provide some materials you might need on your journey."

As if he just noticed for the first time, the merchant took a brisk glimpse at her friend who had been tranquilly listening to the conversation between the two. "And I'm glad to see you have finally thought of bringing a guard with you. But this person seems too...dressed? For adventuring that is."

Lady Guizhong laughed it off. "Haha, I took this guard out for a quick stroll and found some clothes which suited him." She did not even break a sweat. "Is that so..." The naïve lad pursued. "Okay. I would not want to stall you in your journey. May the Archons bless your trip, lady!" He smiled once more as he planned to leave.

Morax's eyes were fixated on the merchant as he headed farther and farther away. "If you are still injured, would that not make sense for you to have waited a little longer? And since you are able to travel around, why did you not personally request for my presence?" The woman's left eye twitched a tad bit for a moment. "Do you think I could head from here to your temple in a heartbeat, lord Morax? My request would be useless since I would have to waste more time in walking to your location by foot while being incapable of sustaining my stamina."

The archon posed, quickly disregarding the other statement his client spoke out. "Waste more time?" His attention now onto her.

"Mhm. I do not want to waste more time. That is all. Now, let's continue with our walk."