Upon witnessing Morax's sudden shift in demeanor, Vorthis found himself deep in thought.
Could playing chess with him really be such torment?
Hmph, Morax is just a rock! What does he even know about chess?
Annoyed, Vorthis sat down in front of Morax with a slight huff.
"Morax, I'm not here to play chess with you today, but there's something else I need. This time, whether you like it or not, you have to agree!"
Vorthis addressed Morax firmly.
?
Morax frowned, clearly inclined to refuse.
Before understanding exactly what Vorthis was scheming, it was best not to agree to anything rashly. Otherwise, it was certain that Vorthis would drag him into some troublesome situation.
This was a hard-earned lesson Morax had come to understand through his interactions with Vorthis.
"If it's nothing important, don't bother me," Morax replied.
!
Oh, so that's how it is, Morax?
I didn't expect you to be so heartless!
"There is something!" Vorthis quickly interjected. "Something important!"
"Accompany me to the Glaze Lily Plains northeast of Liyue," he continued.
"I've heard a whole sea of Glaze Lilies is blooming there. Just imagining the sight makes me excited!"
"So, come with me. Think of it as a leisurely outing, traveling the world."
Go to the sea of Glaze Lilies together?
Hearing this, Morax was relieved. He had thought Vorthis was about to propose some bizarre game or activity.
However, the Glaze Lily Plains were part of the territory belonging to the God of Dust, Haagentus.
Their domains were separated by a mountain range, making them neighbors of sorts.
Yet Morax and Haagentus had never had any real interactions.
Carelessly barging into Haagentus's territory with Vorthis wouldn't be the wisest move.
After some thought, Morax addressed Vorthis.
"This might not be appropriate. Entering another God's territory without invitation could be seen as quite rude."
While this era was far less perilous than the Archon War, conflicts between Gods still occasionally arose over various issues, such as territorial disputes.
As neighbors, the Gods of Liyue and the God of Dust were already on edge. The sight of two Gods from Liyue stepping into her domain would undoubtedly put Haagentus on high alert.
But Vorthis waved away Morax's concerns.
"Don't overthink it, Morax. We're just going to admire the beautiful Glaze Lily fields, not to cause any trouble."
"And even if Haagentus misunderstands, so what? Could she possibly take on the two of us?"
"At most, we'll smooth things over with a few words. Worst case, I'll manifest some gifts as compensation."
Vorthis then issued an ultimatum: "If you won't come with me, you'll have to play chess with me. Your choice."
After laying out his terms, Vorthis crossed his arms, confident this move would force Morax to agree.
...
Faced with the choice between offending the God of Dust and playing chess with Vorthis, Morax ultimately opted for the former.
"We mean no offense by intruding. Any blame will rest solely on Zennos!"
Yes, that would be his stance...
After deliberating, Morax looked at Vorthis and finally nodded.
"Since Zennos has gone to such lengths to persuade me," he said, "it would be inappropriate to refuse. Very well, I'll indulge you this once."
Seeing Morax agree to join him, Vorthis broke into a smile.
After setting up a transparent barrier over his own domain that allowed only Liyue's citizens to enter, Vorthis and Morax transformed into streaks of light—one white, the other gold—and soared toward the northeastern skies of Liyue.
Crossing the mountain range, they entered the domain of the God of Dust, Haagentus.
As they ventured further, Vorthis was greeted by the sight of endless Glaze Lilies stretching as far as the eye could see.
This truly was a sea of Glaze Lilies—a world unto itself!
It was breathtaking.
In a desolate region like Guili Plains, marked by ancient ruins and barren landscapes, it was hard to imagine such beauty had once existed.
The Glaze Lilies swayed gently in the breeze, each with its own unique elegance, their faint fragrance wafting through the air.
This place was simply extraordinary.
If not for his reluctance to disturb the pristine beauty of the Glaze Lilies, Vorthis would have plunged into the flower field to revel in its tranquility.
"This is stunning, Morax. I've decided—someday, I'm going to create a flower field of my own!"
"Roses, jasmine, lilies, peonies, violets, tulips, carnations—I'll plant them all to create a garden of ten thousand blooms!"
"Well, I look forward to the day I get to see it," Morax replied dryly.
Morax couldn't help but recall Vorthis's many prior declarations of grand plans, most of which never manifest.
Days would pass without any progress, and eventually, Vorthis would forget about them altogether.
"What do you mean, 'look forward to it'? Are you doubting me, Morax? This shows a serious lack of faith in my abilities!" Vorthis retorted indignantly.
"That's precisely what I mean," Morax replied bluntly.
Fists clenched.
Fine.
Actually fighting him? Probably not a good idea.
Vorthis picked a few Glaze Lilies from the field and wove them into two flower crowns.
He remembered the Sumeru questline where the protagonist received a flower crown from the Aranara. Sadly, it had only been a quest item, not a wearable accessory.
Now, looking at the two flower crowns in his hands, Vorthis felt a sense of fulfillment.
He placed one crown on his head and conjured a mirror to admire his reflection. Not bad—there was a touch of elegance to it.
As for the other crown...
Vorthis turned to Morax and, before he could react, placed it on his head in a flash!
The sight of the stoic Morax wearing a delicate flower crown, paired with his usual stern expression, was too much.
Vorthis burst into laughter.
"Come on, Morax, don't look so serious. Smile a bit—it'll make you look much better!" he teased.
Morax sighed in exasperation.
Ah, Vorthis...
When would this childlike nature of his ever change?