A billion souls lost to war—a number Keqing could scarcely fathom.
She'd never dreamed conflict could exact such a merciless price.
Then, realization dawned, her gaze snapping to Xander with wide-eyed shock.
He offered a faint smile, "You've seen it, haven't you?"
"Teyvat's Seven Nations have never waged war against one another," he pointed out.
"Beyond the Fatui's schemes from Snezhnaya, peace holds firm, unmarred by strife," he observed.
"The gods and Celestia's laws forbid it—war withers under their vigilant eyes," he explained.
"In my world, no divine overseers curb us; humans slaughter for greed, battles ceaseless," he contrasted.
"From petty skirmishes to grand campaigns, blood stains our history without end," he added.
"Unleash humanity from all bonds, and nothing rivals its capacity for ruin," he concluded.
His words carried a somber weight, a human lamenting his own kind's darkness.
He knew the truth—evil lurked in mortal hearts, unbound by higher powers.
Teyvat bore witness in Khaenri'ah, a cautionary scar etched into its bones.
Defying Celestia, they'd dared to sidestep the gods, a rebellion against the heavens.
Each world spun by its own rules, a delicate balance of order and chaos.
The Traveler's kin had sown alien knowledge, birthing Khaenri'ah's doomed glory.
A kingdom of death rose, the Abyss erupted, and ruin swallowed their pride.
Common folk cared little for gods or their absence, only for who ensured their days.
Under the Seven, war stayed dormant, a fragile peace cradling Teyvat's lands.
Monsters roamed, yes, but stability reigned, a gift of divine stewardship.
Keqing bowed her head, silenced by the piercing clarity of his words.
His argument struck true, leaving no room for her to parry or deny.
Teyvat thrived under gods, a pact sealed by Celestia's unyielding hand.
"Don't lose heart—total mortal rule may elude you, but a blend is within reach," Xander said.
He patted her head, a gentle nudge to lift her from her reverie.
"Tell me, quick, lay it out!" she urged, vitality flaring anew.
Her eagerness overrode the casual touch, her focus locked on his wisdom.
"It's straightforward—Morax once shaped Liyue's path, a yearly helm," he began.
"Now, let the Seven Stars steer, crafting the mortal rule you crave," he proposed.
"Morax and the adepti step in only when crises outstrip human might," he finished.
Keqing bit her lip, her mind churning over his simple yet bold vision.
The shift he suggested felt almost natural, a tweak to Liyue's fabric.
Morax appeared but once a year, the adepti long absent from mortal affairs.
Liyue's current rhythm already echoed this hybrid dance, she realized.
All it demanded was power's reins passing from god to the Seven Stars.
"Perfect! At the Invitation Ceremony, I'll pitch this to the Emperor," she declared.
She clapped her hands, her grand design snapping into sharp focus.
To her, the plan gleamed flawless, a bridge to her dream's horizon.
She'd only need to sway Morax at the ceremony, a task she deemed sure.
His wisdom and might would see the merit, she trusted without doubt.
Xander watched her glow, reluctant to douse her with the truth.
Morax planned to stage his end and slip into retirement that very day.
He held his tongue—Keqing wouldn't believe, and he'd not shatter her faith.
Slandering her idol risked the fragile bond they'd forged over this meal.
Her silken allure drew nearer; he wouldn't sabotage his own advance.
Their feast and discourse done, they stepped from Xinyue Pavilion's glow.
Keqing dashed to the Jade Chamber, eager to rally Ningguang and the Stars.
Moments later, Zhongli emerged, his stride calm from a nearby booth.
He'd overheard every word, the wall between them no barrier to his ears.
Xander's reasoning rang true, aligning with his own shadowed design.
He'd always meant to linger as Liyue's unseen safeguard, a quiet sentinel.
Perhaps this hybrid path warranted a tweak to his grand charade.
The test for Liyue's mortals would stand, a crucible of their mettle.
The contract's terms, too, must hold—his word was stone, unbreakable.
Xinyue's opulence faded behind him, the night swallowing his thoughts.
Keqing's zeal burned bright, a torch he'd subtly stoke from afar.
Xander's words had planted seeds, a harvest he'd watch unfold.
The Shadowfang Blade at his hip thrummed, a silent partner in the game.
Liyue pulsed beyond, unaware of the currents shifting beneath.
The broadcast slept, its next jest a storm yet to brew in his mind.
Keqing's dream met his counsel, a pact of mortal and divine entwined.
***
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