"You do not deserve to be looked upon by the gods."

"Apologies, Morax. This one's a little clumsy." You felt his foot pressing harder on your head, almost dislocating your head from your neck before an adepti, one who bares a mask pushes the corrupt god away from you.

"Morax only accepts human prizes if they're alive, fool."

"General Alatus, calm down." Morax hushes as your god steps aside, giving you space.

"Stand." You obliged, scattering onto your feet and dusting the dirt off your ruined clothes and kept your head down. His powerful yet gentle voice had a certain effect on you, making it so easy to obey his words, even if it was just one.

"Such an obedient priestess you have." Morax says, brushing a bit of your hair over your ear before he sees the blood and bruises on your knees.

"Have you done anything wrong in your life?" You shook your head, only to hear a scoff from your god. Morax glares at him, followed by the adeptus named General Alatus while your eyes still stared at the ground.

"Her father sold her to my temple in the hopes that she'll be cured of her sin of passion. Unfortunately she is still tainted."

"I don't sense any sin from her besides an inherent desire to leave this place. Is there a possibility that you were the one that tainted her?" You flinched. He knew. How could he have known?!

"The gods look upon us every single moment of your life. All your sins, known and unknown will be remembered by them unless you confess."

The god looked at him in shock, before an angry look scorned his face.

"I can do whatever I want with me subjects, Morax. You can't dictate how I rule my people." You fell on your knees, feeling defeated. You wanted to reason, speak, plead for your life if that was an option, or better yet, run away.

An adeptus adorned with sky blue and horns knelt to your shaking body as you held in sobs while tears ran down your eyes. Morax takes one glance at your terrified figure, seeing you crawl away from his and your god's gaze.

"Whatever the case, you may do whatever you want with her. She's yours." Your god huffs, crossing his arms before seeing Morax pull out a spear out of the ground and pierced the corrupt god through the heart. You froze, both in shock and fear as your body starts to retreat away from the sudden blood shed.

"HOW COULD YOU?!?" The god screamed through the blood from his throat before meeting Morax's powerful gaze.

"You think you deserve loyal subjects? A tyrant like you doesn't deserve to even be called a god." He hisses, waving his hand before a flurry of stone spears pierced the god again, ending the 'divine's' life.

His eyes then turned to you, making you shuffle towards the corner and cover yourself with your arms. Unexpectedly, you felt a gentle touch on your shoulder.

"Don't worry, you'll be safe with me."

===

Compared to the Chasm, Liyue Harbor was full of life. It was the first time you has seen such a beautiful place, and the first time you saw the ocean. Your eyes glistened over the many interesting things you saw as you walked past the stalls of the small city. Both adepti and humans flourished and enjoyed their moments in this place and so did you.

However, as a newly liberated follower you had nothing on you. Unlike most of the people who once followed the old god, they had belongings, something they could sell or barter for food and gold.

But during your time as a priestess, you were instructed to dispose of any personal belongings as you were to devote your time to the old god, and that god alone.

Now that he's gone, what are you supposed to do?

"Is there something wrong?" You turned to see Morax, in a human form, though it was recognizable for you as you've been guilt of looking under his hood.

"Oh, it's nothing. It's best I should go--."

"Your eyes tell me otherwise, dear. You're lost." You frowned, looking away from him before hearing a light laugh from him.

"Do you not have anything to bargain?" You blinked before tugging on an old bronze necklace. It was all that was left of your personal belongings, a small token from your deceased best friend the priestess before you.

"Ah, I see. That doesn't really cost much, only a few clothes and if anyone would be generous enough, a stick of grilled meat." He sighs, before his hand traveled to your back to guide you out of the harbor.

"I don't think you are suited for such a chaotic society, however. A gentle soul like yours would prefer some peace after all you've been through." He says, making you smile with joy.

"Thank you so much, Rex Lapis."

"Please, call me Morax or if you prefer a less formal name, how about Zhongli?" He smiled making you blush. Compared to your old god, he was more good looking. He's also more considerate and more calming than the old man himself.

"Whatever you say, Master Zhongli." He suddenly laughs, before you cover your mouth. Even if he insisted on an informal name you still gave him a formal honorific.

"Old habits die hard."

===

It came to Zhongli's surprise that you had adepti blood running in your veins, he only realized that when he saw the beautiful adeptal tattoos decorating your back when he accidentally walked in on you bathing by the lake.

It seems that you'll be sticking by him for a while, but that was the least of his worries. He was fond of you, fonder than he was when he was with his previous lovers.

Despite your troubled upbringing, your soul remain untainted and untouched by the sands of time. Time also did wonders on you as well, once a shy reclusive hermit, you were now an outgoing follower of his who would escort him to Liyue during the Descension Rite.

Every passing day, he's falling for your every single detail.

He's seen many beauties in his whole lifetime, but still he can't help but think you were the prime of the word beauty.

He loves seeing you sit on top of the mountain, watching the setting sun as the golden hour glows on your skin. He remembered your eyes when you first saw the clouds that pass through the mountains and the first time you saw the sea.

Admiration. Your eyes beamed with admiration when you looked out into any view, any scene and when you looked at him.

"Are you alright, love? You seemed to space out." He smiles, setting down the cup of tea on the stone table. Your eyes poked at his rigid figure, concerned at his distant expression

"Just reminiscing the past..."

"Old friends and lovers?" He nodded, a sad smile on his face before you chuckle sadly.

"Same... But at some point you can see them in the new people you see down the harbor." He smiled before reaching out for your hand. You smiled, holding his hand as well before giving him a beautiful smile, one he'd cherish in his memory for the rest of his life.

"Do you still remember the first time we met?" He asked, a shy expression on your face grew as you shook your face.

"I don't like recalling that memory, but I am thankful that happened. After all, if that didn't happen then I wouldn't be here." You sighed before a huff escapes his mouth.

"As soon as my eyes landed on you, I knew you were someone I desired to be until the day I erode." His eyes gazed at yours, although they still never met.

"With a mortal? That's tainted?" Finally, after so many centuries your eyes met his, though instead of admiration is was guilt. Unnecessary guilt.

"You were never tainted, dear. You never were in my eyes." He says, brushing your hair behind your ears. He was hypnotized by you, his actions laced in a loving and gentle tone. You never expect someone to fall for you, let alone a god that had rescue you centuries ago.

"You're a gem above all gems, and I desire to own you as my own. I just thought that it would be inappropriate of me to do so because you were inevitably commit yourself to me." He confessed, expressing the desire for you he's always had from the very start as he held your hand tightly, to afraid to let go.

"But I owe it to you. You rescued me--."

"No one deserved what you've been through. It had to be done, I don't need a reward for such things. I--." He tried to reason, but was interrupted by a gentle kiss on his lips. It was light, like a feather brushing on his skin, and he craved that moment again.

"Thank you, my love. For everything..." You smiled, your hand cupping his cheek as he stares at you with delight.