"影と岩"
━━━━

The lands that are now prosperous and lively, was once covered in blood from the Archon wars. Bodies scattered all around Teyvat, as many mourned for the dead and feared for their lives. Among these, was a god that could only see the situation all to familiar. It felt rather melancholic, to watch the lands burn asunder.

But this was a period, a little while before these wars...but gods still aim for the title of Archon.

"Hm...I wonder how the others are doing." He wondered, turning his head upward from the destroyed plains that he had enjoyed spending time in. A plain of flowers that he found refuge in, gone by a raging flame.

In his hands was a black sword, covered in blood. The crimson stained sky that showed the sun was setting made him smile. By his feet was a blood covered man, struggling to keep his life, but alas...he met a pair of golden eyes that pierced his very soul.

"This... Was my favorite place... You wish to be the Archon of fire.... But I will not allow that." His last words to the dying god, raising his bloody sword up to the sky.

"Curse you! Astaroth!"

His golden eyes turned darker, no longer did they carry the soft shining silver. "It's no use cursing me... I'm already cursed as it is."

And blood splattered on the once flowery ground.

"Pity... I had to be in a filthy state at my favorite time of day."

Gold eyes returned to silver, gazing at the sunset. It was no use having to worry about his state, but he found himself enjoying the scene...even with a dead body disintegrating beneath him. "I wonder... Would she have been fine seeing me like this?" He questioned the sky, his full gaze fixated on the floating island above. Unbeknownst to him, his silver was gazing right at gold.

"My lord..." He heard, turning his head to his familiar that quietly slithered up his leg and to his arm. Nyx wanted to at least give him a bit of closure, before her white eyes landed on the burning plains.

"Oh..." She murmured, sad to know that the once beautiful grounds that her master calmed himself in was no more. She internally cursed the foolish god that did such a crime, but her worry for her master was grander.

Astaroth's eyes were full, before he silently walked away from the area. Shadows crawled from the earth, making several other scream in terror. They attacked all those that had worked with the foolish god, leaving nothing but bloody corpses in their wake. Astaroth paid no mind to the screams and begging of the mortals that followed the dead god.

Astaroth didn't know where to go. The only place he felt like home in, now gone. Cursing himself silently, he held his throbbing head. He knew that his hands were stained with blood, be it mortal, immortal, guilty or innocent, he was still stained by the blood of others.

It was the only way... To—

"Lord Astaroth?"

Silver met worried amber eyes, causing a false smile to form on his expression, but the blood over him made the smile out of place. "Hello little dragon.... What brings you here?" He questioned the young man who looked as if he were still in his teens. The male infront of him was visibly shorter, but Astaroth could not show a frown infront of him.

"Um... Well..."

Astaroth chuckled at the males hesitation, "Now-Now Morax. It's alright if you don't answer my question..." Astaroth murmured, promptly snapping his fingers to see the blood rise and vanish from his clothing. He quickly stepped towards the younger god, fondly ruffling his dark hair that faded to Amber.

"Now little Dragon, you mustn't come see me in my previous state. It wouldn't be good for you." Astaroth chuckled, watching as Morax evaded his gaze.

" I'm not a child. I'm already 3,000 years old." Morax complained. It was true that the god was in a form of a teenager because of his best friends wishes, however... It came with several remarks from Astaroth, who never stopped calling him 'little'.

"I'm aware, but— I'm very much older then 3 millenniums." Astaroth shook his head, placing his hands behind his back and trouncing away. He entered the outskirts of Morax's lands, turning his head to see the now known, 'Guili Plains.' He saw Guizhong basking in the orange light of the sunset, making him chuckle.

"You— should slow— down..." Morax panted, prompting to walking rather then using his powers as god to teleport.

"Morax..."

The sudden change of tone made Morax stiffen, looking up to see the grim expression on Astaroth's face. He worried for the words he were to say, almost praying that it wasn't something in vain.

"A war is coming... And we must win it."

.

Blood splattered across the lands as a lone figure wept for his fallen friend. Morax held the dying Guizhong, tears leaking out of his amber eyes. His spear now discarded to his side, left a trail of blood.

"No. No! Please don't!" He begged, but the goddess of dust sadly smiled at him. Her hand reached to his cheek, staring into his eyes.

"My dear Morax... Please... Please live on. Save our... People..."

A scream echoed through the ruined guili plains, as the survivors wept for their goddess. The Adepti around them mourned, but quickly took them away from the chaos, leaving Morax to suffer.

Heavy footsteps echoed, making Morax snap his eyes wide. Instantly, his spear flew to his hand as he pointed it to where the sound came from. To his shock, it was bloody Astaroth.

"Ah.... I was... To late..." He mumbled, his fist clenching as he looked down in shame. Guizhong'sbody brought back to many terrible memories, as he could not even look at her.

Morax frowned, before returning to Guizhong. "She defended our people till the end... Guizhong will forever be remembered."

A hand landed on his shoulder, turning slowly to look at Astaroth who stared at Guizhong. His eyes held melancholy, but what was questionable was the glint in his eyes. As if he had experienced it before, the lose of a loved one.

"Guizhong's memory will remain eternal, little dragon."

.

"You— Thank goodness you're alright!" Zhongli was finally able to breathe properly, before carelessly embracing Noir. Relief washed over him like a tide, as if all impurities had been dispelled from him.

Noir blinked in surprise, before sighing tiredly at his worrying. "I was only gone for 2 days. I had to go back to Sumeru... Sorry for not telling you..." Noir murmured, gently pushing Zhongli away. The Geo Archon was confused as to why his old friend didn't want to be embraced, before the albino nodded towards Childe. The questioning expression on the ginger made Zhongli falter.

Coughing into his palm, he composed himself quickly. "I see. Well, I prefer if you do inform me next time. You're slightly unwell after all." Zhongli scolded, making Noir roll his eyes at the nagging.

" Wait— Noir you're sick?" Childe asked in worry, suddenly placing a hand to Noir's forehead. He heard a low growl, glancing atZhobgli who glared fiercely at him. It was a surprise, but very much intruiging.

"No I'm not. He's just overreacting." Noir scoffed, swatting Childe's hand away from him. The harbinger's touch made him shiver, feeling the flow of faint abyss from his palm. It was unnerving and a frustrating for him.

"Hmm... Well, it is quite surprising to see Mr. Zhongli all concerned over someone...I wonder." Childe trailed of, smirking to the Archon who glared at him. Noir tilted his head, hearing his familiar's sigh from within the shadows. The tone Childe used was odd, but he knew that he was somehow provoking Morax.

Taking a glance at the younger god, he saw Zhongli glaring at Childe, eyes holding annoyance. It made him sweatdropp, before turning his gaze back at Childe. The amount of abyss particles that surrounded him was uncomfortable, to the point h—

"Achoo!"

Surprised of his sudden sneeze, Noir quickly covered his mouth as if he had said something blasphemous. His silver eyes were wide and shocked, not expecting that he would show a sign of human sickness at the very wrong time.

Both men stopped their staring contest, turning to Noir who tried to hide his sneezing... unfortunately it was a failed attempt on such. He sneezed two more times, still disliking the scent of abyssal particles and...

'Master... You're not allergic to abyssal particles..' Nyx stated, sweatdropping at how her master acted like a sick human with allergies. Sure, the sight of Barbatos sneezing because of his cat allergies was amusing, but seeing it on her master instead was unpleasant.

'I'm not! But I haven't been exposed to abyssal particles in years, and the amount on this human is affecting my scent!!' He retorted, covering his nose and shutting his eyes. He didn't want to see the worried yet surprised gazes of both men with him.

"Noir? You really are sick!" Childe exclaimed, a concerned look on his face. He found it odd that he was worrying over a stranger he had only net twice, but something about Noir made him feel softer....

Noir tried to run away, turning on his heel and scurrying from the pair.

"I'll be—"

"Noir. Clearly you are sick. Let us return home, little dragon."

A sly smile adorned the man's lips, his eyes holding a sort of mischief towards the very, very, memorable nickname. A nickname that was used in the wrong way, with the wrong person and was being used by the person to be called by said nickname .

Noir stopped in his tracks, eyes wide and surprised at suddenly being called by such a name. He remembered it clearly, in a time where it was not as peaceful, but pleasant. In a time where he was surrounded by his old friends.

In a time...

Where he was taller then Morax.

A vein popped on Noir's forehead, snapping his head back and glaring atZhobgli with every ounce of annoyance he had. To be in a humiliating situation where the one being called 'little' switched from both of them.

This cheeky bastard! Just because his human form is the same height as my original doesn't give him the right to reciprocate his nickname! Me being shorter is not a reason! He grit his teeth, his eye twitching from the utter frustration.

"No. I'm going back to Monsta— AAH! LET ME GO!!"

Beingpicked up like a sack of potatoes was not what he had predicted Zhongli to do, neither did Childe. But the red blush spread through Noir's cheeks, embarrassed to be in a situation where it used to be himself picking up the lord of Geo.

"Brat! Just because you're taller doesn't mean you get to treat me this way!" He whispered angrily, but Zhonglionlt chuckled in amusement. The man lead him back to his home, whole-heartedly planning to let the older god stay and rest.

"Now-Now. You mustn't act so childishly, little dragon."

"Damn you Zhongli!"