Forever and again

[leaveofabsence]

[ What is Zhongli and Childe without a reincarnation AU ]

[ Based off Buckingham's 不動玄石の夢　(Dream of Solitude Basalt) ]

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I'll stare directly into the sun but never the mirror.

[vapour]

[ His boots sink into the muddied grass, soaked with blood as he maneuvers strategically around the bodies strewn across the plains. A masked man ahead turns and hurries to him, offering a bloody parchment as they speak, the wind locking up as dark clouds curb threateningly above them. ]

"Sir, this group seems to have been tasked with finding the two traveling companions that recently fled from Sumeru and met with failure."

[ the parchment is swiped from their hands roughly, causing them to go silent as their superior walks by them to stare out across the Guili Plains of Liyue. Although his hood conceals his features, his voice doesn't suggest he's very interested in their newest location (and yet, something about it...) ]

So they fled to the Geo Archon's domain, did they? Find the Boughkeeper, I'll deal with her.

[ I told you, oujou-chan. you can't run forever with my sights set on you. Not even Morax can save you from the all-devouring Abyss.]

---

[ The massive dragonlike creature is not what he expects to be in his way to his target. Fear doesn't dot his features or his one visible eye, even when Azhdaha's head lowers to snort in Ajax's face causing him to flinch from the force of the air like the wind. It's enough to blow his hood off, revealing light messy colored hair and a young face. So much for keeping himself disguised—not that it really mattered who or what saw him. He folds his arms, now staring up at Azhdaha as if expecting him to realize he's in the way and rectify his mistake. Behind the massive geo spirit a blonde haired girl peers out from by the creature's hind leg, staring her pursuer down as she catches her breath.

With no response from the beast, Ajax tilts his head before beginning to speak, his voice strangely alluring and calm in tone despite clearly being there for less that pleasant reasons. ]

Hello, are you Rex Lapis's guard dog? I have no quarrel with you or your master, but the girl is mine, and I don't take kindly to anyone or anything getting in the way of me getting to my things.

[ why is the spirit protecting the girl, anyway? In addition to that, he isn't quite sure what the geo elemental is suffering entirely, but he does sense that it is inflicted with decay. It's not Abyssal decay, though, which means he has no ability to manipulate it to his advantage. As much as he would love to try and get the geo archon's attention by clashing with his followers, Ajax has no time for that right now. He takes a slow breath exhaling in slight exasperation before lifting his hand up, dark hydro energy spinning itself threateningly as if to call upon a coming storm. ]

Now, get out of my way—