I would gladly tell you more. And there is much I would like to know about you as well.
[ especially now that she knows he's a gazillion years old ]
My village is on an island, with beautiful beaches and lush forests. The people who live there are mustari, like myself, living under the protection of our guardian deity, the Dragon God Eht.
Of course. I'm sure there are many questions I would be glad to answer.
[ ... yeah, her mentioning the guardian deity makes that even more apparent. but he nods, considering. ]
Mustari, I see... perhaps a more tropical clime, for such forests to prosper? You must have been able to look out into the bluest, crystal clear waters beneath Eht's protection.
Teyvat has many nations across its continent, but Liyue is the one that I have called home for as long as I've walked the earth. The heart of it is its port city, a place of commerce and its lifeblood, Liyue Harbor.
There are a number of beaches, but our major point of access to the sea is there.
It is. Boats are made for transferring commodities back and forth, after all, and those that come across Liyue tend to stay a while, so it is where many things come to settle - whether it is in the harbor, or going upriver to the rest of the nation and finding rest at their docks.
[ but the... question gives him pause. the cat's out of the bag, so to speak, and eupha is earnest and her heart is filled with faith. best to be honest. ]
For some time now, as Zhongli, I have been a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, often borrowed by outside businesses and traders alike for inquiries. But I stood as the nation's Archon - something akin to a Guardian Deity, for ease of understanding - for thousands of years before stepping down and entrusting Liyue to my people.
Mm. Each nation in Teyvat has an Archon, and we are colloquially known as the Seven. I am both the oldest and the longest reining, having never succeeded another before me or having a successor, so for almost 5000 years. Every Archon has a different approach to their interactions with their nations, some more hands off and others ruling directly in the public eye.
In my case... I walked among my people in disguise often, and felt that perhaps the future of Liyue should belong to them after hearing an exchange between workers in the harbor one day. Zuriel compared it to a parent and child, when I spoke of it to them, and it's not far off in many ways. They had proven themselves ready for the task, in the age of man, and my work had been done in preparing them for it.
[ he smiles, just a little, soft with fondness and quiet pride. ]
I will admit that I put them through a trial, to see how they would fair. But I was prepared to step in and remain their Archon should they have needed it.
They exceeded expectations, and the adepti - comrades of mine, illuminated beasts who signed a contract with me to help protect the people of Liyue - allowed them to take lead, aiding them in the trial. Some of them have taken to mingling in the harbor, now, as time marches on and the world changes, showing that the children of the Nation of Geo have grown up in the years we've watched over them.
No place is perfect, and there is always room for growth, for betterment. But I'm proud of my nation and my people. I will be looking forward to seeing what they do with their futures.
I'm sure you must be proud of Eht Ria, regardless of how much further they have to go?
I believe we have achieved some of that needed growth, thanks to my people's understanding and willingness to change. I have more pride in my home than ever before.
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[ especially now that she knows he's a gazillion years old ]
My village is on an island, with beautiful beaches and lush forests. The people who live there are mustari, like myself, living under the protection of our guardian deity, the Dragon God Eht.
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[ ... yeah, her mentioning the guardian deity makes that even more apparent. but he nods, considering. ]
Mustari, I see... perhaps a more tropical clime, for such forests to prosper? You must have been able to look out into the bluest, crystal clear waters beneath Eht's protection.
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Would you tell me something of your home, as well? What kind of place do you come from?
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There are a number of beaches, but our major point of access to the sea is there.
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What is it that you do in Liyue?
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[ but the... question gives him pause. the cat's out of the bag, so to speak, and eupha is earnest and her heart is filled with faith. best to be honest. ]
For some time now, as Zhongli, I have been a consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, often borrowed by outside businesses and traders alike for inquiries. But I stood as the nation's Archon - something akin to a Guardian Deity, for ease of understanding - for thousands of years before stepping down and entrusting Liyue to my people.
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A guardian deity...!? For an entire nation? And for so long...
What made you decide to step down?
[ she didn't know they could do that... ]
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In my case... I walked among my people in disguise often, and felt that perhaps the future of Liyue should belong to them after hearing an exchange between workers in the harbor one day. Zuriel compared it to a parent and child, when I spoke of it to them, and it's not far off in many ways. They had proven themselves ready for the task, in the age of man, and my work had been done in preparing them for it.
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... There are many people who have faith in their gods, but this is the first I've heard of a god who has such faith in his people.
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I will admit that I put them through a trial, to see how they would fair. But I was prepared to step in and remain their Archon should they have needed it.
They exceeded expectations, and the adepti - comrades of mine, illuminated beasts who signed a contract with me to help protect the people of Liyue - allowed them to take lead, aiding them in the trial. Some of them have taken to mingling in the harbor, now, as time marches on and the world changes, showing that the children of the Nation of Geo have grown up in the years we've watched over them.
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It sounds almost idyllic... I wish that I could see such a place.
I feel that my people still have much growing to do, before we can dream of such a thing.
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No place is perfect, and there is always room for growth, for betterment. But I'm proud of my nation and my people. I will be looking forward to seeing what they do with their futures.
I'm sure you must be proud of Eht Ria, regardless of how much further they have to go?
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I believe we have achieved some of that needed growth, thanks to my people's understanding and willingness to change. I have more pride in my home than ever before.