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| [ When all is said and done, and the bloodied sands are turned over for new, clean silt, a young aristocrat named Eberhart walks through the gladiators' hall in Mondstadt in search of the man he calls his slave.
He is a bastard son who will never inherit anything, though many call him fortunate and privileged to at least be acknowledged by his father, who could have turned his slave mother out on the streets to die if he were not a more kind and generous soul. Kind and generous, Eberhart thinks with scornful cynicism as his heeled boots click against the tiles of the gladiators' quarters. Kind and generous, though his somewhat useless, rather foppish, pure-hearted older brothers will inherit the family fortune, and probably let everything go to ruin if they are left to their own devices. Kind and generous, though Landrich as good as raped Eberhart's mother — even though she didn't think of it that way, even though, when she was still alive, she only ever used to say It was never about love, Eberhart. Few things in this world allow people like us to love.
He is a bastard son and his father's perfect scion.
He has one vice. ]
...Ainsley.
[ A name for a man who should be nameless. Words for a man who should be silent. Eberhart's applause comes so slowly — one clap, then another, then a third, a fourth — silence — that it could be sarcastic. His cool gaze betrays nothing of his thoughts. ]
Well-fought, today. The Bringer of Dawn, they called him? I suppose he'll be bringing nothing now. | |
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| [ Even being named Rex Lapis's sacrifice is a privilege in itself. The process of selecting an offering is a highly competitive one, and every single dancer and storyteller and tailor's pretty daughter signs up for the lottery. Everyone in Liyue wants to be offered to a god, after all — not because it comes with particular boons or blessings (it usually doesn't), but for the privilege of being able to say that they spent a year in Rex Lapis' service.
For the most part, it isn't worth much. A year is a short period of time for a god, and Rex Lapis doesn't often need to be entertained. A sacrifice could consider herself lucky to be called upon even three times in one year.
Moreover, the lottery itself is a ruse. The Qixing has its own methods of selecting the yearly offering.
But Aether figured that part out right away.
It involved quite a lot of maneuvering on Aether's part — first, he had to get into the good graces of the Qixing, so he'd spent a good deal of effort wheedling and bribing his way into an appointment with Ningguang. What ultimately led him to be named as the offering, however, was that he lucked into helping Keqing settle a dispute with the Fatui that left her impressed with his swordsmanship and his character. Based on her strong recommendation, and a show of rare approval from Ganyu, the Qixing unanimously voted to present Rex Lapis with an outlander.
It's a break from tradition, but maybe that's just what Liyue needs right now. And it's what Aether wants, too. If he can impress Rex Lapis — if he can befriend a god — then perhaps he can secure the Archon's assistance in finding his missing sister. A year will be time well spent if he can get that.
So now he's here. Surrounded by other offerings — the finest jade, the richest fragrance, the sweetest incense and the most sumptuous food — Aether waits at the center of the pavilion, kneeling in the black-and-gold silk robe Ningguang gifted him. Despite the traditional presentation, it does nothing to conceal the fact that he is clearly not a resident of Liyue. But perhaps that's the point. Tradition can only be revitalized by adding new twists every now and then.
As the grand stone dragon comes soaring down from the sky and coils above his offering table, Aether lifts his head, meeting the Archon's golden eyes with his own. ]
...Rex Lapis.
[ Patiently, Aether recites the traditional greeting Keqing coached him through. ]
If it pleases you, I am yours from now until the next Rite of Decension. | |
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