Chapter 3

Part VI. Humpty Dumpty

Ajax likes to think that everything is going fantastic. He’s been learning the new mechanics of this game-world, figuring out how to maximize stat gains, and steadily getting people to like him. He’s on his way to becoming the most overpowered mortal in the entirety of Teyvat. Everything is awesome.

Sure, occasionally, it hits him out of the blue that this world is different from the original game—it’s much more vibrant with added depth to everything: culture, history, and places. The world is well and truly alive and filled with people who are real. On the heels of that realization comes the weird but familiar sense of being uncomfortable like being hit in the gut with a hammer. But he can ignore those feelings. It’s probably part of the process of getting used to things around here.

They’re not a big deal.

They’re not.

What’s more important is that he keeps trucking forward. He needs to keep his head down and proceed with his plan to keep his Harbinger status after Osial’s inevitable release (failing to release Osial results in a thirty-thousand point deduction, which is an automatic Game Over. Thanks for that, System.) As long as he keeps his Harbinger status, he won’t share the original Tartaglia’s fate of getting his ass backstabbed in some dark alleyway by his own people plus some enterprising Liyuans.

Speaking of, he should really, really come up with an escape plan for post-Osial.

So yeah, he’s too busy to dive into what these funny feelings even mean.

(He’s not sure he wants to know. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss.)

It’s unfortunate that with every day spent in this world, it’s getting harder to ignore the differences between the world around him and the original Genshin Impact.

---

“Mister Zhongli, this is amazing!” Ajax laughs, leaning out against the low wooden fence (probably installed to keep people from plummeting off the watchpoint and falling to their deaths). The view of the port is a mesmerizing one. Rows and rows of colourful stalls line the boardwalk, stretching along the harbour as far as he can see, no doubt containing all matters of trinkets and fresh food ready to be sold. Further away from the shops and out on the dock is a large, majestic ship the size of a house that is pulling up to the port. Ajax watches the way it slowly glides into an empty spot like a puzzle piece slotting into place before dropping its heavy anchor with a large splash.

Liyue Harbour is the trading hub of Teyvat. This is a fact written into the description of the city in game and a fact that Ajax had digested without ever registering what it meant. Standing here, witnessing the hustle and bustle of daily life with the sounds of rowdy merchants and sailors around him while being caressed by the warm ocean breeze, Ajax thinks he is beginning to understand.

(The way the harbour teems with activity adds thrumming energy to his surroundings. It is a place of great potential, but more notably, it feels visceral and real in a manner that the original game never captured. Uneasiness rears its ugly head once more, and for a second, Ajax feels out of sync with the rest of the world, like he’s a glitch in the Matrix.)

Low laughter like velvet sounds out behind him, and Ajax stuffs his worries away, opting to turn around to throw a carefree grin at Zhongli.

“Shall we stroll along the boardwalk?” Zhongli offers. “There’s much more to see.”

It turns into an excuse for a second breakfast. Ajax isn’t holding back since his days as a starving student are still painfully fresh in his mind. If he sees something that looks interesting and edible, he’ll ask what it’s made of before scurrying off to buy some. After a short trek, he’s managed to procure a small mountain of treats, some of which are being carried by Zhongli.

Oh, how the tables have turned compared to the shopping excursion from the day before. Now it’s Ajax who’s going ham on the purchases and Zhongli who’s watching him with clear amusement.

(Everything about those snacks, from their look to their fragrance to their touch, and taste feels impossibly real. The jarring sensation comes back, and Ajax ignores it in favour of watching Zhongli.)

“I’ve heard about these and have always wanted to try them,” Ajax gushes, holding a stick of bright red candied hawthorn. He takes a bite, his eyes widening at the crunchy sugar mixed with a burst of tartness from the fruit. “Delicious!”

“One would assume you had not eaten a meal in days from the way you are devouring all of this,” Zhongli observes, his lips quirking up in a wry smile that makes him look unfairly gorgeous. “I am pleased that you are enjoying the food. Don’t forget about the dragon beard candy.”

“Aww, Mister Zhongli, don’t tease me! I can’t help it if my weakness is food!” Ajax takes another enthusiastic bite out of the candy. He’s worked hard these past couple of weeks. He deserves to treat himself. “Blame my fast metabolism. I’m always hungry! In an hour or so, I could probably go for another meal.”

They do end up going for another meal exactly one hour later; this time, it’s at a tiny dumpling store tucked away in the corner of Chihu Rock.

“Satisfied, Master Childe?” Zhongli asks once the plates are cleared away from their table.

“Extremely,” Ajax replies with a sigh while patting his stomach. It’s a little round from all the food but thank you Tartaglia for being so wonderfully in shape because those abs can still be felt! “So, what’s next on the agenda?”

“Yujing Terrace. It is further away from the harbour, but it provides a fantastic lookout point of the ocean.”

Ajax was there only briefly for his meeting with the Qixing, so touring more thoroughly with a guide sounds nice. “Lead the way!”

---

Away from the docks and up the steep cliffs of Mt. Tianheng, the atmosphere of Yujing Terrace cannot feel any more different than the rest of the city. It is noticeably tranquil here with grand buildings and quaint gardens with manicured lawns, well-tended flowers, and water features placed along the winding brick paths leading up and up to Yuehai Pavilion. Everything is clean and orderly, impeccably maintained in its beauty. Even those wandering about nearby are better dressed in their colourful, elaborate silk outfits as opposed to the merchants and sailors from the wharf.

Ajax passes by yet another group of young ladies dripping in pearls and gold and tries not to gape at the display of wealth. Yujing Terrace is clearly the bougier side of town, and those who can afford to live here probably make up some of the most influential people in the city.

It’s not Ajax’s scene, but there’s no denying that Yujing Terrace is very, very pretty. He can appreciate the architecture and the way the buildings blend harmoniously with nature. The lookout point also provides a spectacular view of the entire bay, as Zhongli promised, so Ajax supposes that the trek through this part of town is worth it for that alone.

“Oh wow, you really can see everything from up here,” Ajax breathes. The ocean seems to stretch in a blanket of brilliant blue, dotted with colourful ships on the horizon. To the northeast, Ajax can see what looks like a series of islands with sharp, sloping mountains jutting out from the land. He points to them. “What’s that over there?”

“Ah, the Guyun Stone Forest,” Zhongli answers. “According to legend, that is where Rex Lapis defeated a god and sea monster known as Osial during the Archon War two thousand years ago. Do you see the strange shapes of the cliffs? It is said that those are created from the stone lances Rex Lapis used in battle to pin Osial deep into the watery abyss, where he lays to this day.”

(The original game never mentioned backstory for Osial beyond that he was an old god Tartaglia released from its prison for revenge. Realistically speaking, it more than makes sense for Osial to have a backstory since he isn’t simply a character that popped out of thin air. It’s more proof that this world is real and alive, and for a split second, Ajax feels disjointed from his surroundings.)

Ajax ignores it. “Why was Osial imprisoned? What did he do?”

Zhongli leans against the stone guardrail, his face turned towards the jutting cliffs of Guyun Stone Forest. “The Archon War was a tumultuous time with multiple gods vying for power and territory. During that time, Rex Lapis had managed to establish Liyue Harbour as a haven for Liyue’s people, and as the years trickled by, the city grew prosperous and its people more powerful and devout. From this, Rex Lapis’s power grew even more.

“The other gods watched on with covetous eyes. None of the lands which they held dominion over could match the wealth of Liyue Harbour, and they wanted that for themselves. Osial, in particular, felt particularly entitled to Liyue Harbour as he had always believed Rex Lapis to have encroached onto his territory in building the city by the seashore.”

“So it’s jealousy and a power struggle that led to Osial being imprisoned.” Ajax makes a face and shakes his head. “That sounds like your usual politicking gone wrong amongst humans as well. I guess the gods are not so different from the mortals in that sense.”

Zhongli chuckles. “I suppose you are right, Master Childe. Even though gods are revered as great beings with unsurmountable power, there are characteristics that they share with mortals. They feel anger and jealousy, and they possess a sense of pride. Now—” He turns away from the ocean. “—would you care for a small tea break? I know the perfect spot that serves the most fragrant teas. It’s around the corner from here.”

(Ajax hears the happy murmurs of tourists behind them, mingled with the cries of seabirds overhead. It’s all so real.)

Ajax grins. “Tea sounds good. Lead the way!”

The stupid observations don’t stop.

They haunt him. Everywhere he goes, everything he does, he notices all these seemingly inconsequential details—the way that the merchants’ voices crack after a day shouting about their wares; how the sun beats down on the Liyuans, causing sweat to drip from their brows; the way the ocean breeze ruffles hair and clothes, making everything a tangled mess. These little things speak of a world that lives and breathes.

With those details spotted, the uneasiness grows, churning like a vortex, throwing his tangled emotions into utter chaos.

I don’t like this, the small voice in Ajax’s head whispers. Everything feels too real. It’s too much and I don’t like it.

Why is the thought that the world around him is alive bothering him so much?

“Sir?” Ekaterina asks with a small frown. “Is everything alright? You’ve been quiet.”

“It’s nothing, sorry. I got lost in my thoughts. No need to worry about me! I’m perfectly fine.”

(He is not.)

(Ajax is beginning to sense the first bit of his shield starting to crack, but still, he pushes forward.)

---

Two months fly by in the blink of an eye. It’s been delightful, especially after he’s charted the living hell out of his schedule to maximize his stats. So what if his charts require him to spend close to every waking moment on gaining more stats? Ajax firmly believes in no pain, no gain. He’s also a stubborn prick who’s hell-bent on reaching level 90 by the time the Main Character shows up, so he’s got a deadline to keep.

(Keeping himself busy also the added effect of keeping him tired. And when he’s tired, he stops noticing things. It stops the growing unease in his chest.)

Meanwhile, his relationships with those around him have gotten better. The recruits have stopped flinching at the sight of him. Instead, they actually linger to say hello and chat (mostly about ways to improve their fighting, but Ajax is happy to help). The impromptu training session keeps paying dividends.

As for La Signora’s spies, he can’t say they’re friends but they’re being nicer to him. After two months of consistent pleasantries, their barriers have worn thin enough that they greet him on sight with a smile. Ekaterina still gives him weary looks every now and then, but those are coming fewer and farther in between. Ajax isn’t worried, not when the R Points from their relationship are steadily dropping.

The most success has been with Zhongli. Ever since that impromptu meeting at the bookhouse and the subsequent tours, he and Zhongli have taken every opportunity to explore Liyue Harbour. This translated to more restaurants, more shopping, more walks around town, and more plays and operas.

Ajax is not complaining. Every time Zhongli opens his mouth, Ajax’s Intelligence stat benefits while his fanboy cravings for Zhongli content get fed. Zhongli is objectively good company all around, so Ajax is as happy as a clam.

(Zhongli’s stories are soothing. The sound of his voice helps Ajax tune out his tumultuous thoughts.)

Spending more time with Zhongli also means that Ajax continues to notice more differences between this world and the game world. They’re little things, like how Zhongli’s eyes crinkle whenever he smiles, the way he always, always blows on his tea right before his first sip, or how his body freezes in guilt whenever he remembers he’s forgotten to bring Mora yet again.

(All of those things, all those inconsequential little details, are more proof that everything feels real. Real, real, real—)

Luckily, Ajax has got plenty of things to keep himself distracted like with his music. For some reason, his Skill Points in music plateaued after he familiarized himself with a handful of songs borrowed from the old world. When he asks the System about his lack of progress, it merely answers with, “Playing music is not only about mastering the instrument, but also about playing from the heart.”

“What do you mean by that? I use plenty of heart when playing! All the heart, in fact!”

The System remains unmoved, and Ajax is left grumbling to himself.

Then Ajax ends up getting the Fatui to deliver him a piano from Fontaine purely out of spite. Because if the System is only rewarding him points for mastering an instrument, then guess what? He’s going to master all the instruments. Eat loophole, System!

The System does not answer his taunting and Ajax has a distinct feeling that it’s judging him with silent disapproval. It does grudgingly award him points for practicing his piano playing, so Ajax counts that as a win.

Honestly, Ajax is surprised he’s made enough progress to earn any points. It’s been so long since he’s last played the piano. Once upon a time, it was his favourite instrument. He found the act of playing soothing to his nerves, and it had the effect of bringing his parents to the room, laughing and dancing to the tunes he could whip up. He stopped after their divorce and opted for other instruments instead.

By contrast, his cooking goes much slower. With every success, he’s met with three times the failure and more ruined pots, and that’s after he’s followed every stupid word in those stupid cooking guides. When he finally manages to make his first perfect dish, a Calla Lilly Seafood Soup, he nearly weeps with unbridled joy.

He tells Zhongli about his success during their lunch at Wanmin Restaurant, but for some reason, he doesn’t seem that excited.

“I see. Congratulations are in order,” Zhongli says, taking a sip of his tea, but not without blowing on it first. Cute.

“Thank you, but why does it sound like you’re internally cringing when you said that?” Ajax teases. He attempts to pick up a piece of chili chicken from the plate in front of him with his shoddy chopstick skills. After watching him struggle for a few seconds, Zhongli takes a spoon and scoops the chicken into Ajax’s bowl with a mild look of exasperation.

“Try holding the chopstick a little lower, Master Childe. A bit more. There you go.” Ajax’s terrible chopstick habits corrected, Zhongli continues, “I do not mean to offend, and my reaction is by no means a reflection of what I think about your achievement. It is simply that I am not the biggest lover of seafood.”

“Not a big fan of seafood?” Ajax makes a disbelieving face. “You order the Black-Back Perch Stew every time we dine in Wanmin Restaurant!” For lunch and dinner. The only reason why Zhongli doesn’t order it for breakfast is probably because it’s not available at that time of the day.

“I do not mind seafood only if it has been sliced and diced to oblivion,” Zhongli corrects. “The Calla Lily Seafood Soup is, unfortunately, not one such dish.”

(Zhongli has dislikes? That doesn’t exist in the original game. But here, in this living, breathing world where he is an actual person, it makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?)

“Here I thought Mister Zhongli enjoyed all different types of food! Why is seafood the exception?”

Zhongli actually grimaces, and the expression is so amusing on someone normally so elegant that Ajax finds himself laughing. “I do not enjoy things that wriggle and squirm while smelling overly pungent. Let’s call it an unpleasant memory from the past.”

(What unpleasant memory from the past? That shouldn’t exist either.)

“If you don’t like seafood, then is there a favourite food you do like? Aside from the Black-Back Perch Stew, that is.”

“I suppose I have a few favourites. The Adeptus’ Temptation is one of them. It is a complex dish made from an assortment of ingredients: quail eggs, bamboo shoots, scallops, sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin, fish maw, chicken, Jinhua ham, pork tendon, ginseng, mushrooms, and taro. It is cooked slowly in soup until the flavours are allowed to mingle harmoniously. It is a delight to the senses. Legend has it that the dish is so delicious that even the adepti are tempted to return to the world of men to have one more taste.”

“Status Update: Intelligence +1,” the System’s robotic voice chimes in his head even as Ajax is trying to figure out what half of those ingredients Zhongli listed out are.

“Another favourite of mine is the Slow-Cooked Bamboo Shoot Soup. It is made with the finest ham selected according to Yuehai Pavilion’s gourmet standards: pork belly from Springvale boar and bamboo shoots from Qingce Village. The soup is made by heating the ingredients gently, and then leaving the broth to simmer for at least two hours. The longer the better. Although it takes time to prepare, the result is quite extraordinary, featuring the perfect marriage of fine flavours in a milky white broth. It is a dish best served during winter, when the bamboo shoots harvested are at their most tender and sweet.”

“Status Update: Intelligence +1.”

“I am not surprised that Mister Zhongli’s taste in food is as exacting as his taste in the arts,” Ajax observes with a smile. “And here I was thinking that I could try my hands at making one of your favourite dishes, but I think the soup you have described is too advanced for me.”

Zhongli tilts his head in confusion. “You…would like to cook for me?”

The note of surprise is rather endearing, and it makes Ajax nod vigorously. “Why yes! But only when I can make something worthy to serve. Besides, I tend to make too much in my quest to get better at cooking. What better way to prevent waste than to share with a friend?”

Zhongli huffs out a soft laugh. “Master Childe is much too kind. I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

“You aren’t. I’m the one who’s offering,” Ajax insists. “If anything, you would be doing me a favour by motivating me to get better at cooking and helping me eat it when I inevitably make too much. So?” He leans a little closer and lets his voice go soft and teasing. “Interested to see what I can do?”

“Well, since you insist,” Zhongli says, amused. “As for a dish I prefer, I have not had the taste of Qingce Stir Fry in a very long time.”

Ajax has no idea what that is (it doesn’t exist in the original game). Still, he musters all the confidence he has and says, “Qingce Stir Fry, you got it. Once I perfect it, I shall invite you over for a feast.”

At that, Zhongli chuckles into his fist, and that little eye crinkle is back. It makes him look relaxed and surprisingly young. “Your confidence is admirable. I look forward to seeing your results.”

“New side-quest unlocked: Create and serve a perfect dish of Qingce Stir Fry for Zhongli. Rewards: 10 SP.”

Ajax happily latches on to this new Side Quest.

(Anything to stop himself from thinking.)

(But despite his best attempts, the cracks on his shield widen.)

---

One of the upsides of his cooking adventures and outings with Zhongli in the past two months is that Ajax has had the chance to interact with the merchants and shops in Liyue Harbour in person. He’s probably bought something from everyone at this point, whether it’s fancier items like vases, jewellery, an overpriced set of calligraphy brushes, or random day-to-day needs like a constant supply of new kitchenware due to his shoddy cooking results. This also means that the merchants are aware of the, uh, generous way in which he spends Mora.

(They shouldn’t though. these are non-playable characters with set lines and personalities. They shouldn’t be real people, and yet…)

The moment he steps foot into a local grocery, the store manager is immediately by his side, greeting him with a bright smile.

“Mister Diplomat!” she says, all sunshine and rainbows. “So good to see you again! How have you been? How was that seafood soup of yours? I hope you were successful?”

“I’m doing very well, Miss Li! Thank you for asking. My seafood soup turned out perfect, by the way. I used your tip on making stock out of the crab shells and it added a depth of flavour to the soup that was previously missing.”

“Of course, of course, I’m glad to hear that your cooking went well! What will you be trying next?”

“Qingce Stir Fry. Do you have any tips?”

She lights up. “Only for my best customer.”

Ajax makes a couple of more stops to gather the ingredients needed to make his first tester batch, hopping from one stall to another. Practically everyone seems to know he’s been hard at work with cooking and has some suggestions to share.

“You want to heat the oil first, then toss in your garlic, ginger, scallions, and spices before the rest of your ingredients. It really adds an extra depth of flavour!”

“Blanch your vegetables before throwing them into the wok! You want to have thin, uniform slices of lotus root so they cook evenly.”

“The secret to making a good Qingce Stir Fry is the wine you use in your stir fry! You want a darker rice wine for more depth of flavour! Here, here, I have a bottle, Mister Diplomat. I’ll sell it to you at a discount!”

(As NPCs, they shouldn’t be able to offer advice like that but of course, in this strangely realistic world, they’re acting the way real people do.)

“I’ll take it,” Ajax says with a smile. “Thank you for your help! I’ve gotten so many good tips for this dish. I can’t wait to try them all.”

The merchant chuckles. “Ah, the enthusiasm of youth! I remember what it was like back when I was as young as you with all that energy to spend. Nowadays, I can barely be bothered to get out of bed if it isn’t for the fact that I need to make a living!”

(As a NPC, the merchant shouldn’t have a past—)

“You could have sold the business and use the money to retire like I keep suggesting,” the merchant’s wife points out from the other end of the stall. She bags the wine and hands it to Ajax. “Ignore this one, Mister Diplomat. All he does is whine to anyone who will listen. It gets worse with his old age.”

(She shouldn’t be able to banter.)

“In any event, I am glad you are putting in so much effort to try cooking our cuisine,” the wife continues with a pleased smile. “I hope whoever you’re trying to impress will appreciate your good efforts!”

“Ah, please do not mind my wife, Mister Diplomat.” The husband fires a disapproving look at his wife. “She’s being nosey.”

“I am not! I said whoever he’s trying to impress. It could be anybody. Family members, for example! Surely, Mister Diplomat’s parents or siblings would enjoy his newfound set of skills!”

(Parents? Siblings? The only place they exist is in the real world where he’s well and truly dea—)

It’s like Ajax plunging into deep, ice-cold water, because suddenly, Ajax finds himself tensing up as he chokes and gasps at the truth and the terrible, horrible realization that struck him like a bat upside the head.

Is this…is this why he’s been feeling this way?

“…Mister Diplomat?”

Is it because every time he sees how real and alive this world is, he’s reminded that he’s in it, experiencing all its vibrancy and life in its full glory? However, he shouldn’t be experiencing any of this, because to be able to experience this means that he is alive.

And that can’t be right.

“Mister Diplomat? Oh dear, did I say something wrong?”

That can’t be right when in reality, he’s already d—

“I’m so sorry,” he thinks he’s managed to say, but his voice sounds thin like he’s run out of air. He must have from the heavy pressure crushing on top of him and the feeling of his heart and lungs being squeezed and squeezed and squeezed tight. “I just realized I’m…I need to—”

Ajax doesn’t bother finishing his sentence before he turns on his heel and bolts for the hotel.

He doesn’t slow down when he trips over something that has him almost sprawling towards the ground on his face, and he would have if not for his high Dexterity kicking in at the last second to keep him upright. He rushes through the front entrance and climbs up the stairs, skipping over a couple of steps at a time. He keeps his momentum all the way to the top floor, only stopping when he’s reached his suite. With shaking hands, Ajax pulls out his key, jams it into the lock, and turns, then tumbles forward into the blessed coolness of his room, slamming the door shut behind him.

Almost immediately, the welcoming quiet of his surroundings envelops Ajax like a comforting hug, and he lets his body go weak. He lets himself sink to the ground until he’s seated there, on the floor of the entryway, his back propped up against the cold hardwood of the door behind him.

Breathe. Just breathe, Ajax. You got this. You got this.

It takes him a few minutes to wrestle everything back under control, and slowly, ever so slowly, he relaxes into the stillness of his suite. Outside, through the glass of his windows, he can hear the muffled chatters of happy shoppers on the busy streets of Feiyun Slope. Someone is laughing, bright and carefree, and Ajax latches on to that spot of happiness like a drowning man clutching onto a raft as he steadies his breaths.

In and out. You got this, you got this.

Fuck. Fuck. Why can’t he turn off his stupid mind? He’s trying his best already, but he can’t shut his thoughts up. He can’t—

(“You have experienced a tragic accident in your original world and have died. However, seeing that you have died with unfinished business, your soul has been transported to this world so that you may seek fulfillment.”)

Ajax wants to laugh. Of all the stupid things he’s triggered by, he can’t believe it’s noticing that this game world is too lively and vibrant. Jesus Christ, no wonder he’s been such a mess. He’s being triggered every time he opened his eyes!

The sensation of being alive is jarring when deep down he knows he should be very, very dead.

Ajax curls up, bringing his knees to his chest and wrapping his arms around them. Dead. Fuck, he’s dead. Dead as a doorknob. No matter how hard he wants to deny it, no matter how hard he’s playing pretend here, there’s no changing the fact that it’s the end of the road for him in his old life. It doesn’t change the fact that he can’t go back to it. Ajax the student ceased to exist two fucking months ago and nobody in this world knows it except for him and the System.

And the reason why he’s stuck here is because:

“You have experienced a tragic accident in your original world and have died. However, seeing that you have died with unfinished business, your soul has been transported to this world so that you may seek fulfillment.”

Ajax chokes out a harsh, wet laugh. Fulfillment. What fulfillment? Ajax has no idea what that even means, so how can he seek it out?

(What a joke. He doesn’t think he ever felt fulfilled in his old life when he was alive, so how is he supposed to know what he’s looking for here?)

But what does it even matter if he’s dead in the real world? He doesn’t have anything left for him there. It shouldn’t matter. It doesn’t matter.

Except.

I never even got to say goodbye.

He finds himself choking back on his laughter again as his eyes sting something fierce and the pressure in his chest builds and builds like a pressure cooker, ready to explode. Of all the fucked-up things to regret, it has to be about saying goodbye to people who don’t give a shit about him. Because Ajax is that level of broken.

The world loses definition, quickly becoming a haze of colours and blurry shapes. He wipes his eyes with his sleeve with an angry motion. Everything hurts—his heart, his chest, his head—the pain throbs in time with his pounding heartbeat.

But despite all of that, his stubbornness persists. I just…wanted to say goodbye, even if nobody would miss me. I just wanted to say goodbye.

The sound of a piano note rings out in the air, pure and crystalline, cutting through the swirling mess in Ajax’s head like a hot knife through butter. Suddenly, the chaos dies down, leaving everything perfectly still, like a violent storm that has run its course, leaving the flying debris the wind has whipped up to come floating gently down the earth.

Ajax blinks back to awareness. He’s seated at his piano with his left hand on the keys.

Huh, when did he get there?

The pristine ivory keys stare back at him.

As if operating on autopilot, Ajax brings his other hand up. He plays a second note.

It resonates through the air, lingering like a ringing bell until it fades out of existence as if it had never been there. Ephemeral, but sweet nonetheless.

He has always loved the sound of a piano for the way it can soothe away his nerves. He still remembers the very first time he was introduced to the instrument.

“You see, son? This is where you place your fingers,” his father had said as he demonstrated the finger placement on the piano keys.

Ajax was four at the time. They were seated at the piano in the living room with him on his father’s lap. Somewhere in the house, his mother was humming a gentle tune. “Try pressing these keys altogether at once. A little harder now. That’s it.”

A harmony of notes sounded out, clear and resonating but pleasing to the ear. It made Ajax giggle.

“Very good! Very good! Now try this note with that.”

“Really, you’re already teaching Yasha how to play? It’s a bit early, don’t you think?”  

“Mama!” Ajax screamed in delight as his mother waltzed into the room and pressed a kiss against his head then to her husband’s lips. “Papa is teaching me the piano!”

“Yes, my love, and you’re doing so well,” she said with laughter.

“Bah, it’s never too early!” his father ran his fingers down the keys, playing the beginnings of Salut d’Amour. “You never know, Yasha could be a musician in the making. Isn’t that right Yasha?”

“What’s most important is that he likes it. After all, good music must come from the heart  .”

---

Ajax plays into the night.

He plays everything that he can remember whether it’s broken bits of classical pieces or pop songs he’s heard on the radio. He jumps from song to song, letting the strings of melody flow alongside each other like a current down a winding stream. He plays and plays and plays until the first rays of sunlight come creeping across his room, casting the walls in the molten gold characteristic of Liyue mornings. Only when the sun is high in the sky does he finally stop.

He sits quietly, listening to the muffled sounds from the street outside. He can hear the boisterous shouts of shop sellers advertising their wares and the delighted chitter chatters of the shoppers outside. Liyue is awake and as alive as ever.

For once, that realization doesn’t send a twinge of hurt to his chest. Maybe it’s because he’s too tired, but either way, he’s grateful for the numbing peace that has settled into his mind.

(He’s not okay. He’s far from okay but at least for now, he can continue to pretend he is.)

---

When Monday morning rolls around, Ajax feels normal enough to drag himself to work. As usual, he puts on his happy face, greets Vlad (who’s guarding the entrance), says his quick round of hellos to the other workers, and beelines for his office to get to work.

If he’s a bit quiet, or if he appears more tired than usual with his swollen eyes, those working at Northland Bank are kind enough not to point it out. It’s that, or they straight up haven’t noticed. Ajax is glad for the silence either way. He’s not sure what he could possibly say if someone decided to prod a little deeper.

When Thursday rolls around, he gets a knock on his office door.

“Master Childe?” Andrei’s muffled voice can be heard through the door. “Do you have some free time at the moment?”

“Sure, sure, come on in. How can I help you this morning?”

“You’ve been inquiring about the loan repayment deadlines of our clients, and I thought I’d give you an update,” Andrei answers as he settles into the guest chair in front of Ajax’s desk. He also hands over a small stack of papers. “These are reports on relevant clients, including their locations, amounts that are owed, and deadlines for repayment. Most of the clients are Treasure Hoarders.”

“Which means they’re scattered across Liyue, operating out of various little camps,” Ajax concludes. “Debt collection is going to require a bit of manpower.” Possibly more people than he’s willing to send out at once. He can’t leave home base with the skeleton crew as defence.

But then, maybe he won’t have to.

“Say, Andrei,” Ajax says after a beat of silence, the beginnings of an idea stirring in his mind. “I think it’s high time I take on some debt collection. What do you think?”

“I wouldn’t dare to go against Master Childe’s wishes if debt collection is something he wishes to do,” Andrei says. Despite his placating words, he’s not as pale-faced with fear as he once would have been. He merely furrows his brow in consideration. “I am happy to allocate any new work coming down the pipeline to our current staff for the duration of your absence. May I also share some personal thoughts on this matter, sir?”

Personal thoughts? Ajax clasps his hands together over his desk. “Please, go right ahead.”

“I think it would be good for you to travel outside of Liyue Harbour. And by that, I mean to take some time off beyond debt collection. It’s not lost on the staff and I how hard you are working, and to be honest, we’re starting to become a bit concerned. You look exhausted, sir.”

Huh. Looks like the staff did notice that something is off with him. “I’m fine, Andrei—”

“With all due respect, sir, I disagree,” Andrei says, looking at him with mild disapproval. Ajax tries not to huff out a laugh. The man looks more like a concerned uncle than the stern bank manager he’s probably trying to channel. Still, Ajax would be lying if he said he’s not touched by Andrei’s concerns.

“It’s no secret that you keep yourself extremely busy,” Andrei continues. “You’re up before it’s light out for training, followed by a full day of work, and then even more training. In addition to this, you keep up with your workload for the Tsaritsa, you supervise the men and their progress, and you continue to conduct meetings with business associates and the Qixing. Your effort is laudable, especially when you’ve been doing this consistently for months straight.”

Alright, so he may be a bit overzealous with his levelling efforts, but that hardly warrants an intervention.

“I’ll consider taking the vacation, how about that?” Ajax offers.

Apparently, that’s not good enough because Andrei’s frown deepens. “Master Childe, you are granted two weeks’ worth of leave away from the bank, during which you can collect…” Andrei reaches for the stack of paper he’s handed to Ajax and pulls out three of them. “…from these three clients. How you want to allocate your time to complete these collections is up to you.”

Ajax looks at the paper Andrei’s pulled up and scoffs. “All three are within a stone’s throw from Wangshu Inn. It will take me half a day at most to finish them.” Also, two weeks off? That’s two weeks’ worth of Intelligence points he’d lose out on! No deal!

“I suppose that means Master Childe has more wriggle room to complete this task. In any event,  two weeks are granted. Please spend the time however you wish, including some time to rest and relax away from Liyue Harbour.” As he utters that last suggestion, he gives Ajax a very pointed look.

Ajax tries to protest or ask for a shorter period off, at least, but Andrei won’t hear a word of it, excusing himself from the office at his first opportunity. So, Ajax tries the next best thing: he protests to Ekaterina. Surely, she’d be more willing to support his demand for less time off since she’d be the one picking up his slack.

“You know, sir, this has got to be the first time I’ve heard of someone asking for less time off,” she drawls out, unimpressed. Ajax knows a losing battle when he sees one. “I will see you in two weeks. Please enjoy yourself.”

This is how a handful of days later, Ajax finds himself skulking around Dihua Marsh with a massive pout on his face. As predicted, his debt collection job lasted him a grand total of three hours, leaving him the rest of his forced vacation to do…whatever.

Dihua Marsh is a gorgeous field of gold from the carpet of yellow wildflowers and tall grass peeking out of crystal blue water. As the wind blows, the stalks bend, making the land ripple and shimmer like the scales of koi flashing in the sunlight. The beauty of the land is something Ajax would appreciate if he wasn’t so annoyed by his lack of direction.

“Great, just great,” Ajax mutters. He finds a rock jutting out in the middle of the field and grabs a seat, crossing his arms and pouting even harder as the refreshing breeze ruffles his hair. “How am I supposed to relax when the only thing I can think of is playing catch up on my Intelligence progress?”

That’s not quite true; playing catch-up is not the only thing he can think of. Being out here in the wild also reminds him of how real the world is.

As well as how he is living in this world, and how he got here to begin with.

(“You have experienced a tragic accident in your original world and have died. However—”)

“Nope!” he declares out loud. “Not thinking about that right now!” He does not need to trigger another emotional breakdown while he’s out in public.

Hell, it’s not like he didn’t try to stay in Liyue Harbour. He had tried to negotiate for a staycation instead, but his subordinates literally banded together to kick him out of the city.

“We heard you’ve been granted some time off. We booked a luxurious, all-inclusive stay at Wangshu Inn for you, sir!” one of his lieutenants had chimed in that fateful day when Ekaterina told him to (kindly) get lost. “One with a fantastic view of the Liyue countryside. Have fun, Boss!”

“This is insubordination,” Ajax grumbled, but nobody looks afraid. Since when did people stop calling him Lord Harbinger? What was this disrespect? “You know, I outrank all of you!”

The lieutenant had the audacity to roll her eyes. “We’re well aware, Boss. Please enjoy your time off and remember, if you try to come back to Liyue Harbour, your men will escort you right out!”

Which leaves him here, sulking on a sunny rock.

Maybe things aren’t as bleak as they seem. He’s got two weeks off. That’s two weeks of intense training he can do. Plus, he packed his guitar with him, so he can use the time to boost his Wisdom stats by playing music. In addition, the chef at Wangshu Inn is a talented cook, if he remembers correctly. Ajax can probably get the man to teach him how to make a proper Qingce Stir Fry, which will help boost his cooking skills and get his quest done at the same time.

Ah, beautiful efficiency!

Feeling infinitely better now that he has a battle plan, Ajax gets up from the warm rock and brushes the dirt off his clothes.

“Right, first thing’s first,” he says, cracking his knuckles. “Time to find the nearest Hilichurl camp.”

---

“Status Update: Strength +10, Dexterity +10, Constitution +10.”

“Status Update: Strength +10, Dexterity +10, Constitution +10.”

“Status Update: Strength +10, Dexterity +10, Constitution +10.”

On and on, the stat gains flash on the screen as Ajax wipes his sweaty forehead on his sleeves. How many Hilichurl camps has he taken out in the two days he’s been here? Fifty? At this rate, there isn’t going to be anything left for him to clean out.

On the plus side, his fighting prowess absolutely skyrocketed.

On the downside, he’s bored out of his mind.

“Hey, System! What’s the time?”

“It is currently 6:00 p.m.”

Ajax sighs and dismisses his Hydro blades. With a flick of his wrist, he draws out a large sphere of water and lets it hover over his filthy palms. With another flick of his wrist, he sends a fine stream of water flowing from the sphere to run down his hands, washing off the blood and gore.

He’s getting better at cleaning up after himself!

“It’s a bit early, but I might as well call it quits for today. If I don’t ease up, I’m going to end up hunting the Hilichurls to extinction.”

“Indeed. Dihua Marsh is seeing a 35% decrease in monster presence,” the System replies. “Perhaps User would like to travel to another location for mob hunting tomorrow.”

A glowing map of Teyvat appears beside the System’s window. On it is a blinking dot signifying his location as well as a list of all the locations in which monsters are spawning.

“Hmm, where to go, where to go.” Ajax swipes the map. “Guili Plains? Or I can go further out to Mingyun Village.”

A strange feeling washes over him, making him go tense and the hair on his arms rise. Ajax dismisses the System’s windows quickly and casts quick looks around him.

Only wildflowers meet his gaze. There’s nobody around. Weird.

But why does it feel like someone is still here, watching him?

“Hello?” he calls out. “Is anyone there?”

Predictably, silence greets him.

Ajax shrugs and begins his trek back to Wangshu Inn, keeping an eye out for any shadowy figures lurking about. He doesn’t end up seeing anybody but the weird feeling doesn’t go away.

Eh. It’s fine. Ajax is more than happy to deal with the spy if they decide to show their face. At the very least, it should provide him with some fresh entertainment.

---

Day Three of Ajax’s forced vacation starts off the same as always. He wakes up at the crack of dawn, cleans up, makes a quick breakfast, packs some gear and food, then trudges out. Save for the orange glow of the inn’s lit lanterns, the land stretching out beyond him is pitch black, blending in with the deep indigo sky. The stars are still out and the moon is hanging on the horizon, but in a couple of hours, those will disappear as the sky begins to lighten.

Ajax jogs down the inn’s wooden stairs and heads south. The further he goes, the more the ground around him is covered in a rolling, misty fog and the air around him grows noticeably chilly as well. Despite knowing that he’s a hell of a lot stronger than the monsters around him, Ajax still can’t help but shiver at how eerie everything looks.

Ignore it, Ajax, he thinks to himself. He needs to get himself warmed up on a few easy mobs to take his mind off his creepy surroundings. No biggie.

He gets his wish sooner rather than later. In the darkness of the early morning, he manages to accidentally stumble onto a camp by literally tripping on a Hilichurl that is asleep on the ground. It lets loose a loud screech of indignation—loud enough to wake up every member in the camp—and jumps up with its club swinging.

Ajax materializes his Hydro blades and braces himself for the onslaught.

The fight starts off relatively simple. Ajax dances around the Hilichurls’ strikes and blows, flitting about from one spot to the next, only striking forward when he sees an opening. He keeps his motions fluid like the element he masters; every thrust, every slash, every cut is quick and unforgiving before drawing back to evade the counterattack. He likes to think his fighting style is akin to the tides rushing forward to lap at the shores, swallowing up everything in its path before withdrawing just as quickly.

One by one, enemies before him fall. Some fall with painful slashes to the neck, leaving them dropping to the ground, gurgling before they go still, while others are covered in fresh, bleeding wounds across their torsos that leave them too injured to stand.

The Mitachurl with the giant shield is more problematic to deal with, and not for the first time since he’s woken up in this world that Ajax finds himself cursing his Hydro Vision. Pyro is the OP element here! Pyro!

He jumps back, escaping a deadly swing of the shield that would have sent him flying if he wasn’t fast enough. Ajax dashes to the side and pivots again, bringing his blades together to form a spear, and strikes the monster on the back.

Or at least he intends to, if not for the well-timed blow hitting him on his side and sending his body skidding across the ground.

A swath of fire erupts along his side and he hisses in pain. Fuck! Where did that come from? He scrambles up, only to duck back as a second(!!) Mitachurl with a large shield takes a swing at him. The motion sends a wave of agony along his ribs and he grits back the pain.

System, he thinks, pump me up with some healing food ite—ack!

He can’t finish his sentence, too distracted from the sight of two other Mitachurls—both carrying axes—emerging from the fog. Fuck, what the hell? Why are there so many of them?

Something doesn’t seem right with these Mitachurls. There’s something more sinister about them, more violent in the way they attack. The shield fucker that had clipped his side certainly hits a lot harder than the other shield bastards Ajax has taken out in the last two days.

System, do you have something that I can do to stop these?

There’s a bright ping sound, then: “First Battle Gauge reached. User can now use Delusion. Activate Delusion now?”

Ajax dodges the axe and lunges, stabbing the Mitachurl right in the chest with his spear. It’s not enough to kill the bastard, but it does make it scream. Wait, what do you mean First Battle Gauge? Since when do I have battle gauges?

“User has always had Battle Gauges. Once User has delivered a certain number of blows in a battle, User’s Battle Gauge becomes filled, allowing them to temporarily use a power to aid them in that fight. Character Tartaglia has two Gauges, the first being Delusion and the second being Foul Legacy Transformation.”

Now you tell me?! Ajax twists himself out of the way of a charging Mitachurl as his side screams with agony. He whips the spear around him, slicing in an arc. His blow catches the Mitachurls with enough force to send them stumbling back. System! Active Del—

A flash of green comes crashing to the ground in a bolt, sending a gust of dirt and debris flying. Ajax brings his hands up to protect his face, but in that split second, he manages to catch sight of what looks like a shorter, lithe figure straightening themselves as they twirl their spear, readying for a forward strike.

Ajax can’t make out the face, but their eyes are glowing bright green. It looks oddly familiar.

Then, the mysterious figure speaks.

“Mortal, these are matters of the adepti. Stay out of my way if you wish to live.”

Ah. Ajax thinks. Looks like our favourite edgelord adeptus has arrived.

---

Extra I: Ekaterina

“Thank you all for attending this week’s meeting,” Ekaterina says the moment all the members of La Signora’s undercover agents have taken their seats. “Are there any housekeeping matters we need to go through before we start?”

At the round of head shakes, Ekaterina continues. “If that’s the case, then we can get started. Has anyone spotted the Vanguard doing anything particularly odd that we need to highlight in our report to La Signora?”

“None here,” Vlad reports. “Honestly, he’s been showing up to work on time, all chipper and polite. I don’t think there’s an instance where he hasn’t wished me a good morning.”

“Does he look out of the ordinary?”

“Not really?” Vlad shrugs. “I mean, it’s the same old thing. He wears the same uniform, and his red mask is pinned to the side of his head. As far as I can see, he looks impeccable every morning.”

“Same observations here. Nothing on my end either,” Nadia says. “He does dip out to have meetings with business associates. Wangsheng Funeral Parlour seems to be demanding his attention, but we already brought that up to La Signora and she’s not interested.”

“The man is doing his job as a diplomat. La Signora is probably not interested in hearing proof of his good behaviour,” Vlad mutters.

It’s no surprise among the four of them that La Signora does not like Tartaglia one bit, and that the information she’s really after is anything incriminating that she can report back to the Tsaritsa.

“Nothing for me as well,” Ekaterina sighs. “He does his work and he’s nice to the staff. Andrei seems to really like him.”

“The Vanguard did give him back his corner office instead of, you know.” Nadia draws a line across her neck. “I still can’t believe he did that. You said he didn’t even keep the nice office for an hour before insisting to get a smaller one?”

Ekaterina nods. It is surprising considering that Ekaterina had expected him to act all high and mighty as any other Harbinger would. “He took one look at the office and demanded that it be given back to the original owner. He wanted the smaller space. He said the larger space is better used by someone who knows what they’re doing in the bank. I can’t say I disagree, to be honest, but it’s…rather good of him to admit it.”

Despite her initial reservations about the Vanguard, Ekaterina must admit that seeing him brush away the justification that he should keep the office solely for being a Harbinger makes her like the man a little. She doubts the other Harbingers would have acted the same way. Definitely not La Signora. She would probably demand that her office be expanded, even if that meant knocking down a wall or two.

There’s also the fact that the Vanguard has been…rather pleasant towards her as well. It’s hard to dislike someone who consistently waves and smiles at you with genuine happiness.

“I have something to add.”

Ekaterina turns her attention to Felix, who is raising his hand. “I’ve spotted something about the Vanguard,” he volunteers. “Do you…notice how he doesn’t seem to sleep, or that he sleeps very little?”

“Wait, what do you mean?” Vlad asks. “Does he get up to anything suspicious?”

Felix shakes his head. “No, no, not like that. It’s more that the Vanguard, well, his work ethic is inhuman! I’ve been hearing some of the trainees talking, the ones stationed to do night shifts and all, and apparently, the man always trains first thing in the morning at the ass crack of dawn. I started digging around some more and uh, here,” Felix roots around his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper. “I think I managed to plot out his daily schedule.”

They all peer over to see what’s written on it. Vlad lets out a long whistle.

Ekaterina must agree with that sentiment.

The paper reads as follows:

• 4 am (?)—T wakes up.
• 5 am—T heads out of the hotel and into the wilderness. Trains for an hour. Monsters decimated.
• 6 am—T heads back to the hotel, cleans up, presumably eats, and works on Fatui matters (confirmed by multiple sources who’ve been asked to deliver freshly written letters by T himself at this hour.)
• 8 am—T heads into Northland Bank for work.
• 12 pm—T heads to the hotel for lunch. Alternatively, he has lunch meetings with business associates, often it’s with the consultant from Wangsheng Funeral Parlour.
• 1 pm—T goes back to work in the bank. The schedule may deviate a bit if there are more meetings to be had.
• 5 pm—T heads back to the hotel, presumably to change and freshen up. T then heads back out to the wilderness to train.
• 8 pm—T heads back to the hotel, presumably to eat. T resumes working on Fatui matters (confirmed by men being asked to either deliver mail or intelligence reports to his room.) Also, possible leisure time. Men reported the sound of music from T’s room.
• Midnight—music stops; T presumably goes to bed.

“Like I said,” Felix says, folding the paper once again and tucking it back into his pocket. “Inhuman working schedule. That’s his Monday-to-Friday routine, by the way. Saturdays and Sundays are spent with even more training, business meetings, and catching up on Fatui matters. It’s like the man is allergic to rest or something!”

“How the hell does he manage not to collapse from exhaustion?” Nadia wonders out loud. “Just reading this is making me feel tired.”

“According to sources, our Vanguard likes to drink copious amounts of coffee ‘like it’s going out of style’. That and he practically inhales a ton of sugary snacks every day.”

Ekaterina feels the corner of her lips twitch upwards. Why does the Vanguard sound exactly like her younger brothers when they were studying for exams in university, living on nothing but caffeine and sugar?

The realization also has a sobering effect. The Vanguard is of the same age as a typical university student—which is to say, shockingly young to be a Harbinger.

“At the rate he’s going, I think it’s more worthwhile to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn’t collapse or something,” Vlad mutters, frowning. “Can you imagine what would happen if word got around that the Eleventh Harbinger fainted from exhaustion?”

It would reflect badly on all those stationed in Liyue, painting them as incompetent slackers. After all, why would the Harbinger have to work himself to the bone if he has people he can trust and delegate his work to?

But there’s also a second reason why Ekaterina doesn’t want things to get this bad, and it’s simply that she…doesn’t hate the Vanguard. Ever since his injury, he’s treated her rather kindly, and it doesn’t sit right for her to watch the Vanguard burn himself out like that.

“How about this? We keep an eye on him. Get the other men to do so as well, including Andrei,” Ekaterina proposes. “The moment that things get rough, we stage an intervention.”

Felix blinks. “An intervention? Like, we force him to go on vacation or something?”

Ekaterina shrugs. “If we must! Better that than letting him self-destruct.”

“What do we tell La Signora?” Nadia asks. “Do we disclose this information to her?”

Vlad shakes his head. “As if she’d be interested in more proof of how hard the Vanguard is working. I say we keep this quiet, including our plan to intervene. Something tells me that La Signora would not be happy to learn that we are planning to help the Vanguard in any way.”

Yet another secret kept from La Signora. If they are ever caught, there’s no doubt in Ekaterina’s mind that their loyalties towards the Eighth would be severely questioned.

For some reason, that (very real) possibility doesn’t seem to scare her as much as it did in the past.

---

From his hotel suite, Ajax stares in confusion at the status update from the System, notifying him that he’s experienced a round of Regret Point decreases from Ekaterina, Felix, Vlad, and Nadia.

Eh? What did he do to deserve that?

---

Extra II: Zhongli

The Eleventh Harbinger remains an interesting figure, and the more Zhongli gets to know him, the more fascinating he becomes.

One of the observations that Zhongli makes is that the Eleventh is clearly new to travel. He is looking around at everything with large, round eyes, as he’s practically brimming with excitement. Even the most mundane things and little details capture his attention, from the way the ships are pulling into the harbour to how Liyuans dress. He also continues to remain completely attentive to Zhongli’s (admittedly) long-winded stories with a smile on his lips, even asking for Zhongli to elaborate on some.

Zhongli is rather…flattered by the attention. He knows that he gets easily lost in his memories, which has the unintended effect of boring his conversation partners, but apparently, this is not something he has to fear when it comes to Master Childe. If anything, Master Childe always looks inordinately pleased whenever he goes into one of his lengthier tales.

Another observation he’s come to realize is that the young man possesses a stomach akin to a bottomless pit. He makes this discovery during their third meeting when showing Master Childe the wharf. Master Childe took one look at all the food options and practically lit up.

Then, he proceeded to beeline to the closest stall to buy the sweetest snack they offered. And he repeated that for the next stall, the one after that, and the one after that, to the point where his arms were laden with all his purchases.

And even then, he eyed the other stalls he did not get to with the expression of a kicked puppy.

“I can hold some of these for you,” Zhongli had offered. He made no effort on hiding his amusement. “Although perhaps you should consider finishing some of these other snacks first.”

“Oh, they’ll be gone in no time, I’m not too worried,” Master Childe answered with a bright smile. There were traces of sugar on his lips and at the corner of his mouth. Zhongli huffed out a low laugh as he drowned out the urge to reach over and wipe the young Harbinger’s mouth clean.

True to his word, Master Childe polished off his sweets, and the moment he had freed up some arm room to hold more purchases, he immediately flitted to the stall with the tanghulu.

“One would assume you had not eaten a meal in days from the way you are devouring these snacks,” Zhongli could not help but tease. “I am pleased that you are enjoying the food, though. Don’t forget about the dragon beard candy.”

“Aww, Mister Zhongli, don’t tease me! I can’t help it if my weakness is food! Also, blame my fast metabolism. I’m always hungry! In an hour or so, I can probably go for another meal.”

Good. For someone as tall as Master Childe, he was surprisingly lean. It made the old Liyuan in Zhongli cluck with disapproval. The young man could use more food in him.

Subsequent meetings with Master Childe were similarly filled with stories, good food, and walks around town, particularly to places less frequented by tourists. Master Childe remained generous with his Mora and footed the bill for most of their meals and purchases. Whenever Zhongli had offered something in return, Master Childe had simply waived it away, citing that friends don’t owe friends anything.

To be given so much with no expectation of anything in return was refreshing, and despite Zhongli’s best efforts, he found himself getting more and more comfortable with Master Childe’s presence and generous spirit.

He’s also getting more attached to this young man than he expects, a feeling that only grows when Master Childe offers to cook for him. That had gotten the dragon within him stirring with interest once again. The prospect of an offering made with the purest intention to please him is bound to be delicious and powerful, and Zhongli suddenly felt so very hungry.

In any event, Zhongli finds himself reluctantly becoming fond of the little rascal, which is why when he starts noticing the increasing way Master Childe going quiet, sporting a sad, lost expression on his face. Zhongli can’t help but be a tad concerned.

Those moments seem to appear at random. They could be talking about something as benign as the newest recipe that Wanmin Restaurant is promoting and that look of quiet sadness would appear, lasting for a flicker before dissipating like smoke in the air. Zhongli doesn’t know what’s causing them. From what Childe had told him, it appears that the young man keeps a (very, very) busy schedule of training and work, both of which he attacks with gusto.

With the lack of a solution, Zhongli begrudgingly decides to let things slide for now until he figures out how to intervene.

Then, Master Childe starts showing up to their meetings looking utterly, utterly exhausted, his face wan against the dark circles around his eyes, and Zhongli grows even more alarmed. He is ready to put his foot down. He isn’t entirely sure what to do, but it appears Master Childe’s men beat him to it.

“They’re kicking me out of the city and forcing me on vacation!” Master Childe complains to him during dinner. “Apparently, I’ve been working too hard or something!”

Something tells Zhongli that if he lets the relief show on his face, Master Childe would not appreciate it. “Oh? Do you disagree with their assessment?”

Master Childe grimaces. He also tries to pick up more food with his chopsticks with mixed success. He’s getting better at handling them, though. “I mean, sure I feel a little tired but it’s nothing worth this overreaction!”

The bags under Master Childe’s eyes beg to differ.

“Allow me to ask you this,” Zhongli says after taking a long sip of his tea. “When was the last time you had a day off to do absolutely nothing? By that, I mean no training, no touching any of the files on your desk, and no sending letters and reports?”

The silence he gets in response is telling.

“I see. I believe your men are acting correctly.”

Master Childe groans. “Not you too, Mister Zhongli! And here I was hoping for an ally in this! What am I going to do with two weeks of nothing?”

Zhongli hides his smile behind his mug. So expressive, this young Harbinger, and so very dramatic. “Where are you headed off to? Perhaps, I can suggest a few places you can sightsee.”

“Dihua Marsh and Wangshu Inn.”

“Ah, I am very familiar with those locations and surroundings. To the south are a set of ruins that might be of interest to you…”

As Zhongli rattles off his suggestions, a stray thought enters his mind: perhaps it is a good idea to contact the Guardian Yaksha to keep an eye on the Eleventh. Knowing Master Childe, it’s only a matter of time before his restless and reckless nature gets him into trouble.