"The Abyss Order has already seized the power of the Anemo Dragon Sovereign Dvalin in Mondstadt. They definitely won't let the Geo Dragon Sovereign Azhdaha go either," Lora continued.
"When I went to Mt. Hulao to take a look, I found that a corner of the seal you set had already worn away, allowing part of Azhdaha's power to leak out. Don't worry, though—I patched it up while I was there."
"You've gone to great trouble," Zhongli said, inclining his head slightly as he thanked her.
After thousands of years, it was inevitable that the seal would suffer natural wear. Subtle changes like that were beyond even his perception.
"The Abyss is indeed a problem," he continued calmly. "Given my current circumstances, it's inconvenient for me to take action personally. I'll have to trouble you to stay in contact with the other Adepti."
Had Lora not gone to Mt. Hulao, he might not have realized something was amiss until far more of Azhdaha's power had escaped.
By then, although he could still stabilize the situation, it would certainly come at a cost—and the idea of any innocent person paying that price was unacceptable to him.
"Oh, come on, it's nothing," Lora said, waving her hand dismissively. "We're old colleagues. No need to be so polite."
"Having lived another lifetime, you do seem far more carefree," Zhongli remarked with a smile, seeing her bold, unrestrained demeanor. He then turned the conversation to other matters. "I've arranged to meet a Fatui Harbinger from Snezhnaya here, as well as that blonde Traveler. Do you have any other plans? If not, you might as well stay and meet them."
"I see."
Lora thought it over briefly, then nodded.
"Sure, let's meet them. I'll probably end up dealing with that Harbinger again sooner or later."
'Childe,' Tartaglia.
That whale in Fontaine would still need someone to hold it back for a while. This was the perfect opportunity to build a good relationship. Who knew—maybe she could even arrange for Tartaglia to bid farewell to the Winter Capital forever.
Opportunities were something you created.
"That blonde Traveler came to Liyue Harbor with you, didn't she?"
Zhongli asked, taking another sip of tea.
"If I'm not mistaken, she's one of the twins from five hundred years ago—the outlanders who once fought the 'Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.'"
Lora didn't conceal anything and nodded. "That's right."
"The foreign traveler has once again set out on her journey," Zhongli said softly. "What, then, will this final chapter bring…"
After that, the two of them fell into silence.
They drank their tea and waited for quite some time, but neither Tartaglia nor Lumine arrived. Lora's cup was already empty.
Seated in her chair, Lora idly swung her legs back and forth. Then she glanced at Zhongli, inspiration suddenly striking, and leaned closer with a smile.
"Hey, Zhongli," she said quietly. "Can I talk to you about something?"
"Go ahead," Zhongli replied, looking at her with mild curiosity at her sudden caution.
Lowering her voice, Lora said, "It's not a big deal. I just wanted to ask you for… a position."
"A position?" Zhongli looked at her in confusion.
Could resurrection really change a god's temperament so drastically?
He remembered that Egeria, as the heart of the Primordial Sea, though all-embracing and the arbiter of justice, rarely smiled and seldom displayed emotions so akin to those of mortals.
Yet the present Lora was worlds apart from the former Hydro Archon. In both her behavior and manner of speech, she resembled an ordinary human far more than a god.
Even so, Zhongli never doubted her identity. The divine aura hidden deep within her soul was unmistakable.
Lora continued, "Well, do you think I have the potential to become a Liyue Adeptus?"
"A Liyue Adeptus?" Zhongli was genuinely surprised. He looked at her in puzzlement. "Why would you suddenly think of that?"
"I thought you'd say something like, 'Your bones are extraordinary; you have the makings of an Adeptus,'" Lora said, spreading her hands.
"On my way back from Mt. Hulao, I passed through Tianqiu Valley and ran into Shenhe, Cloud Retainer's disciple. She mistook me for an Adeptus wandering the mortal world. Of course, that's not the main point."
She leaned back slightly and continued, "The real reason is this—if I end up having to use power beyond ordinary understanding while acting in Liyue Harbor, I need a reasonable explanation."
While a Vision allowed ordinary people to wield elemental power, it was ultimately just an external tool. There were limits to what it could explain.
After hearing her reasoning, Zhongli nodded slightly. "Your concern is not without merit. However, to become a Liyue Adeptus, one must sign a contract with me—one that binds them to protect Liyue. As for that…"
Forming a contract with the Geo Archon was a necessary process. Even Zhongli would not alter that rule.
"If it's just about protecting Liyue, that's no problem for me," Lora said. "Didn't you promise to help me with everything you had before? I'll help you protect Liyue Harbor—consider it… repayment."
Zhongli gave a quiet hum.
"In that case, I have no objections."
As his words fell, a radiant, gilded light appeared before Lora, outlining a contract already inscribed with the name Morax, awaiting only her signature.
The terms were simple: as an Adeptus, she bore the responsibility of protecting Liyue Harbor. There were no other excessive restrictions.
After reviewing it and finding nothing amiss, Lora signed her name.
"The contract is sealed," Zhongli declared solemnly as the golden script dissipated. "Those who break their word shall suffer the punishment of the Rock Eater."
Then his expression relaxed.
"Of course, between the two of us, speaking of betrayal would be nothing more than an empty notion."
A contract was, in essence, only a contract, without inherent power to bind. But neither of them were beings who would casually break their word.
An agreement between the God of Geo and the God of Justice and Law was firmer than any contract in this world.
"From now on, I'm officially a Liyue Adeptus!"
Lora clapped her hands, smiling brightly. "This will make things much more convenient!"
Zhongli looked at her beaming expression and said, "Now that you hold the status of a Liyue Adeptus, have you considered your Adeptus name? Every Adeptus of Liyue has a name that is passed down among the people. Even if this is for convenience, it would be best not to treat it lightly."