Art:???

"So... I think that icicle drama Queen wants me dead."

"What makes you say that?" Xiao's face twisted in concern, and exasperation towards the sudden claim of death.

"It's a prediction." Y/N folded her arms in front of her chest, chin up. It's her way of acting serious, and convincingly.

Xiao gave her a look telling her to elaborate.

"She's attempting to take all of the archon's gnosis, right? So she could be in power, and not be stopped. So if there was any other good capable of throwing her off her own throne, she would do the best to her power to avoid that situation." She leaned over the table, to meet Xiao's gaze. And he seemed slight concerned, but tried his best not to show it. He nodded, in agreement.

"Mm.. I'm starting to not be sure anymore..." Her mumble was heard to the adeptus, who was still in the dark. Not understanding what's on her mind. "Though now I doubt it... I believe I have enough power to crumble, Snezhnaya..."

It grew silent.

She held her head in her hand, thinking as much as she could, to think of things. And Xiao snapped out of his slight dazed mind, and trailed back to what she had said.

"Enough power to crumble... Snezhnaya?" He repeated, carefully and slowly.

Y/N snapped her head back up to see Xiao with a look of wanting to know what she was talking about.

"D— uh, forget what I said."

"I heard you say it, I can't just pretend you haven't said it."

What else was she supposed to say? Of course she knew he couldn't have forgotten what she had said, especially about crumbling an entire region, as cold as Snezhnaya.

That conversations as long cut off, and Xiao wasn't able to get anything else out of her. The main part of their concern and her prediction was on hold at the moment.

Xiao noticed just how much he didn't know about what this goddess was capable of. He keeps thinking of how much he didn't know. And.. crumble Snezhnaya? If she could crumble that one nation, surely she would be capable of destroying the whole entire Teyvat... Xiao shook that thought out of his mind, as he made his way to meet the ex-geo archon.

The place was of a clean area. With trees of yellow and orange. And there, was placed a stone rounded circle table, enough for three people. Though the only one to sit there would be Xiao, and Zhongli.

The man was already situated in one of the chairs, and like always, enjoying his tea.

Xiao sauntered over, without much of dignity in front of the older god. And once he made around of a 5 feet distance, Zhongli noticed him walking over. And with the man's smile and curt nod, Xiao allowed himself to take a seat.

"Would you like some?"

Xiao shook his head, with a small 'no', to avoid being impious.

"What is it that you would like to ask me, Xiao? I could see in your eyes, you're mind is on something." Zhongli kept his eyes on his cup as he sipped it once more.

"Lord—"

"Please. Call me Zhongli. I live as a mortal now, I am no longer a god."

Xiao nodded.

"Zhongli, I would to ask about Y/N..."

He raised an eyebrow at the question.

"About... Y/N?" Zhongli set his cup of tea on the surface of the stone table, and put a hand to his chin in thought. "Hm... I see. I suppose I might be of help to you. Though personal details are best to be asked to the person in question."

"I understand."

"You may ask as you may." His voice gentle, of a soft man who has retired of his duties.

"Y/N had a prediction, and had discussed it with me. Of how the cryo archon might be after her life."

"Really now? Well... that prediction is a possibility. Go on." Zhongli nodded in approval.

"She had said it was because her, herself. Would be capable of crumbling Snezhnaya. Are her powers beyond what we understand?"

"It is not very difficult to understand. But rather, her powers are beyond of what you might think. As she had said, as I assume. Her powers involve the stars. Such as Heaven, and of how they may be connected to Celestia in a way. She was granted a mountain, that is of the highest of all Liyue. And on the same height as where Celestia is afloat."

"If she were to ever lose control, and in someone else's control, would she be capable of using her full extent of her powers and destroy... possibly Teyvat?" Xiao hesitated with his question. But he was dripping with intense curiosity, that would not settle down. He needed answers.

Zhongli had been silent for a moment, and only to add suspense to the answer.

"Yes. She is capable of it, as I fear."

'Even he is afraid?'

"That may be as why she is the goddess of humanity. Although, that is not the only reason..." Zhongli sighed silently, almost not able to be heard. "You've realized how willing she is to be close to the mortals, correct? As of close contact, and forming such relations as those, are not of a favorable aspect to the immortals."

Xiao saw a slight hint of sadness in his eyes, but was soon gone.

"She favors them. But the people of Liyue do not favor her..."

Not favor her? How could they not favor her?

"As Y/N? Or..."

"As 'Xiwangmu', yes. The old stories and old folklore that involves her story, and such rumors are not sold in the public stores. But they are of such possession, as they were written by people who had lived in around 3,000 years ago."

"Would I be able to retrieve them if I wanted?"

"Are you really willing to go of such length, to uncover her past? I am not so sure if that is to be done."

"Yes."

Zhongli stopped from letting the ceramic teacup touch his own lips, and moved his eyes up to see Xiao. Who did not hesitate in his answer. And was more than determined.

"I am willing to. I want to understand her more. And I solely find it slightly unfair of how she understands and knows my past, but not of her own."

Zhongli let out a chuckle of amusement, as it graced his lips of such an amused sound. Xiao moved his attention back to the man in front of him.

"If I may assume, do you love her?"

"I— yes..." Xiao mumbled his answer.

A small laugh then made his way to Xiao's ears, and with a flushed face of what he had admitted he looked at Zhongli once more with a confused look, though his eyes showed more of embarrassment.

"I apologize, for laughing. It was of just as what I had thought. I am glad, you have found somebody to love, Xiao. And I hope to believe you will take care of my sister for me I presume." He had on the most softest and kindest smile to be seen. And you could tell just how genuine his eyes had grown, as Xiao had seen them.

"You may believe that I will."

"You sound as if you are here to ask for my blessing." Zhongli for once teased.

"Blessing...?" Xiao asked not catching onto what he had said.

"As in... courting. Or a more straightforward way, marriage." Xiao almost dropped his spoon, from what Zhongli mentioned.

Marriage...? The one where two people who love each other vow to stay together, and whatnot? The one that Y/N had offered to be placed on her mountain for celebration? The one that she had exclaimed to be of a small conversation the two had? But now that they are bounded by their immortal love, should he have considered it at least?

Probably.

"Just to let you know for future reference, I have given you my blessings beforehand, Xiao."

"I— marriage is not yet something we had agreed on... yet."

"Yet?"

"...yet..." Xiao admitted with the smallest volume, but able to be heard by Zhongli.

"So is it alright if I assume once more you will to be married to her? That is something I will look forward to." Zhongli teased again.

"Please, stop with the marriage talk. I'm not sure if I can handle the embarrassment."

"I apologize. Back to what we were discussing. The folklores of Xiwangmu are in the golden house. In a very specific place, as I was the one who had requested for it to be inside there considering they involve my sister. But the stories have long been spread. And they were a misunderstanding, on her end. The actions she had taken were no lies however." He paused to take another drink of his tea.

"If you ask any bookworm, or scholar about her story, they will give you a bad image of her as that is what the rumors are about. I'm sure older people are aware of the fake rumored story, and tell their children and grandchildren she is of a villain in the mask of a goddess." This time the sigh he had let out were heard, and not silent.

"Mortals... they believe in whatever they hear to the full extent, and spread them. How unsightly." Xiao growled, with hatred again.

"I will not argue on that matter, as it is true. But I wish to not think it is all of their faults. They are just born to feel obliged to act this way, as I would think. And I find it admirable of Y/N, as she does not pay much mind to it, and continue to interact with Liyue's people. Has she mentioned her old persona?"

"She said that she used to act like the me, as of right now..." Xiao mumbled, with a small pout of being a little upset about it.

"Almost exactly like you. She was a lot more intimidating back then. Though I wonder why she hadn't been so confident around me then. She seemed to be more frightened..." Zhongli looked back up to Xiao.

"I digress. In any way, I am sure you would be able to get inside without a problem, as you are an adeptus. You might just be the only one I would let inside the golden house. I could request Ganyu to give you entrance inside, then there would be no problem." He offered, to which Xiao would find most grateful of.

"I would appreciate the less hassle."

"I'm sure you do. First, get a basis on what was in the past. I've taken a glance inside of it as well, and they were accurate of what happened. But they make it a misunderstanding. So do be aware. Good luck, Xiao. And if you have questions, I believe it is best to ask Y/N personally. That is all I can say." Zhongli finished.

Xiao had a good start.

"Thank you Rex— Zhongli." He has to get used to his mortal name...