Erosion | Zhongchi | Genshin Impact

Chapter 01

An ancient and powerful being walked through cold, bleak forest. They wore a white cloak that was sleeveless and had a wide hood. Their arms were dark brown with glowing runes that crawled the whole length of the limb. As he silently glided through the overgrowth, not leaving being a single footprint.

A young boy with bright ginger hair and ocean blue eyes was running from invisible demons. He blindly weaved through the trees, fat tears rolling down his chubby cheeks. Great clouds that promised storm and snow slowly slithered through the sky, eating away at the sun. The boy abruptly stopped and looked at the sky in horror.

"What is an infant like you out in this weather?" questioned a deep, soothing voice.

The terrified child whirled around, momentarily forgetting the storm.

"I'm not a infant! I turned five. Five! That's not an infant!" protested the red faced infant, hurriedly wiping away the wet spots on his face.

The hooded figure deadpanned, "Compared to me you are."

Steam was practically pouring out of the furious baby's ears.

The ginger pouted and retorted, "Then how old are you?"

The stranger just shook his head and pointed at a cave hidden between two giant trees.

"You can question me inside. The storm is going to set in soon, and I pity anyone stuck in it."

The blue eyes glared suspiciously before waddling inside. The figure chuckled quietly before following suit.

When they got comfy inside, the older raised a hand and willed for a rock to provide further shelter from the whirlwind of snow and lightning.

"How did you do that?!"

The rock summoner turned around, a little startled by the change in attitude.

"W- What?"

The ocean eyes sparkled, "The rock! Wait. Don't tell me... You have a vision?!"

He scratched his chin in confusion and answered, "I guess?"

The irritation and annoyance was quickly thrown out the window.

The next few hours slowly crawled as the storm outside whirled and twirled in their dance of death.

Questions after questions came about the world outside of the little town in Snezhnaya. Surprisingly, the stranger patiently answered every question that was constantly bombarding him. The ginger was quickly tiring himself out as the thirst of knowledge was slowly quenched. The blue eyes started to droop and quickly, the child fell asleep.

At last, the figure threw back his hood. The face hidden under was truly out of this world, literally. Amber eyes with a golden ring around the pupil were aflame with an ancient life. Chocolate brown hair that shimmered into a yellow shade. His muscular arms gently caressed the fluffy mop of messy, ginger hair.

The next few days went by with questions and sleep.

Slowly but surely, the raging wind started to die down, until one morning, it was completely silent.

"Mister Morax!" called the ginger.

Rex Lapis turned and answered, "What Ajax?"

Ajax informed, excitedly, "I don't hear the storm!"

At that, the Archon of Geo lowered the barrier of rock a little. Sure enough, the storm had passed. The pair quickly walked over the snow. They had to find Ajax's home before dark. Monsters and wild animals were sure to make a feast of them if they dared to bathe under the moon.

It seemed as if luck was on their side. The god and mortal found a hysterical woman trying to run into the forest in search of her lost son.

"Mom!" Ajax yelled, waving his arms at her.

Ajax's mother lifted her head with a snap. The steady stream tears shuddered to a stop.

"Ajax?"

The boy quickly dashed to the weeping woman. He wrapped his small arms around his mother. The ginger with forest green eyes buried her face into the crook of her child's neck.

After calming down, she asked, "How did you survive the storm all alone?"

Ajax tilted his head in confusion, "What do you mean 'alone?' Mister was with me the whole time!"

He turned around, only to find an empty forest. There were no signs of the man who saved him. Ajax furrowed his eyebrows. He couldn't have possibly imagined all of the things he remembered from the cave. He wasn't a dreamer.

Or was he?