Before I answer this question, you need to understand that I am unable to speak freely about certain topics. I take no satisfaction in withholding anything from you, but the price of such knowledge is your death.
[ Gods are, after all, bound by many rules. Most of them involve smiting. ]
I take it that you will not spread what I have shared with you. [ i.e. 'I'm telling you this, because I am choosing to trust you.' ] I have chosen to cooperate with him, as I agree with his ideal of a world without predestination; to let humanity live to their fullest potential.
It means my death even if I don't belong to this world or its gods?
[ he's not arguing, or pressing - just seeking to understand. zhongli apparently has earned more respect from ookurikara than the god of time. ]
Is it meant to be a secret that a god is bearing the time for all of us, too? [ that would be why zhongli hasn't been open about it, right? ] And you're okay with ceasing to exist to that end?
It will destroy you utterly. I would not wish to subject you to the wrath of the gods.
[ It would also probably kill all of the outlanders, so! ]
I did intend to keep my role hidden. As part of our contract, I was absolved of the memory that I took on the time compression. When I made that contract, I did not wish to complicate matters by prompting others to worry about something that cannot be changed. Instead, I would rather you focus on what you are capable of changing - the fate of Mondstadt and Dravlin.
[ As for the other question: ]
Ookurikara... I must set things right. Even if it will cost all that I have.
I have no intention of revealing your role to anyone. [ tsuru may have been a contender, but he can find out for himself!! zhongli is right, anyway - there's no point in focusing on something they can't change, only that which they can. kara won't waste his time with that.
however... ]
He said the reason we've been brought here is to bring an end to Celestia's cruelty. How much of that have you been responsible for? Or is that something else I'm not allowed to ask?
[ it's not an accusation, but more of a curiosity. ]
[ There's a pause as Zhongli considers how to answer. ]
The Archon Wars began four thousand years ago. Celestia promised power to the final victors, and to that end Teyvat was ravaged for two millennia. All gods participated, not all by choice. I fought only to defend Liyue, but there were inevitabilities.
[ Those who wished to walk the path of justice must continue to give up all that they loved. ]
I fought for peace. But this peace is ultimately temporary. It will never last, so long as fate destines a cycle of war.
[ he listens in silence, watching zhongli carefully as he weighs each word and allows understanding to sink in.
it always comes back to war, doesn't it? one way or another, from one world, one time period to the next, there is always some battle looming on the horizon. once only a few decades prior, he may have looked forward to it. as a sword, war is what he was made for, where he thrives... and yet...
and yet.
he thinks of gohei, and the kakegawa farmer's family that ookurikara will only know through stories rattled off to a child when they didn't realize he was listening. he thinks of nobuyasu, who valued flowers over swordsmanship. he thinks of ieyasu, who lost much of his family to war, all in the name of trying to unite a nation and finally bring peace so no one else would know that same pain.
he thinks of the soldiers in the tokugawa camps, all fighting for their own reasons, and the soldier in that liyue village who simply wanted to protect their home.
and once again, he wonders... ]
Do you really believe that will change, with all of the gods gone? [ his voice softens, gaze dropping to watch some nearby flowers sway in the breeze as he speaks. ] Do you think a world without war is possible?
[ it hurts, this heart in his chest, when he dares to hope. yet ookurikara can’t help but yearn for it, knowing how war hurts everyone, no matter their role. he can understand facing down oblivion, he thinks, if it means a peace that will finally last. ]
[ Zhongli's eyes grow distant, as if he is remembering something from a distant past. ]
Humans are fragile. Their lives are easily extinguished, like dust upon the wind. Because they are afraid, they try so hard to become more intelligent. Their greatest strength is not their power, but their ability to realize infinite possibilities.
[ For years upon years, he had guided Liyue with the belief that he must do his utmost. But time changed everything; even Rex Lapis could not forestall change. ]
Hope is what turns possibility into reality. Once humanity is free from the gods' predestination, they will have a chance at crafting a lasting peace.
The alternative is to leave them in eternal ignorance of what could have been. [ A cycle of fate unending, a destiny of war and destruction. ] Even if it is only a chance, it is better than none at all. And humans are known to overcome seemingly impossible odds.
[ He knows it's not reassurance enough for Kara, so he adds: ]
Walking the path of light oft results in losing the things that one treasures. The path ahead becomes arduous, and a single individual's faith may waver. there will always be darkness, but there cannot be darkness without light. Even if one light-bringer is extinguished, others will take up the torch. That is the strength that humans possess and the gods do not; the ability to continue a legacy and achieve lasting peace.
[ he wants to point out that they'll always face some kind of ignorance like that, but it makes little difference to ookurikara. ]
I would like to see a world without war. But I don't believe it's as simple as he makes it out to be. There are worlds without gods that still don't know peace. [ he assumes? obviously his own world has gods and spirits so maybe that isn't true at all, kara wouldn't know. ] Do you really think it will make a difference, losing you?
[ still, he wants it. for his country, for nobuyasu and his father, for gohei and the grave that he wishes to revisit someday. to bring news of the end of wars would be better than any flowers. ]
If there was another way to make it happen, would you still choose oblivion?
Change will always come at a price. I would not prioritize my own survival over realizing our shared goal.
[ He says 'our'. ]
You have seen what befalls humanity should they become over-reliant on the grace of the gods. Even I am not eternal - my time of departure will come one day. Humanity should thrive on their own, and I would see them become self-sufficient rather than leave them unable to fend for themselves.
[ he doesn't disagree, of course. to the spirit of a sword who never had a say in who wielded him or where they pointed his blade, or even where he was put away for storage, freedom of choice is everything. the humans in this world, with a predestined fate decided by gods, can't be that different from tsukumogami who must rely on masters to move them. and if that's true, once they get a taste of that freedom, there will be no going back.
but the same goes for gods, doesn't it? ]
I asked what you would choose, if there were another way to achieve all of that without having to sacrifice yourself to do it.
[ what would zhongli want for himself, if the cost didn't matter so much? is oblivion really waht he wants? is there anything a god could want, or is that only for spirits and mortals? ookurikara wants to understand. ]
[ What would he choose? Usually, this is the sort of question that Zhongli would avoid answering. However, he has to be truthful to the sword spirit - not because he wants to lie - but because the understanding between them is vital for many reasons. ]
I am the oldest living god in the mortal world. I know not to hesitate when it is time to depart.
[ Zhongli is tired. After all these years of constant work, it seemed to him that the only way to acquire respite is to pass on. ]
Should there be the faintest realized possibility that I will continue to live after all has been said and done... then I would hope that I can take a long rest.
[ why do old gods and spirits always talk like this smh. with just under a thousand years since his forging, ookurikara still hopes he never comes to be like his elders, even those for whom he holds a modicum of respect. ]
Is that it?
[ as much as i'd like to say he isn't judging, he's... a little judgmental? like. what does rest even mean, for a god? surely it's different from how kara would define it. then again... it's not like he knows, exactly, what he'd do in a world without wars, either.
after a few moments to consider, he admits, softly: ]
I have seen the rise and fall of civilizations. At the end of it all, some peace and quiet is the most valuable thing I can ask for.
[ He worked without end as the Geo Archon. Even for people who take on never-ending workloads like Ganyu, their labour was only of an individual scale. The problems that required tens of thousands of people to otherwise solve were handled by Rex Lapis with his divine power. But even the cliffs and mountains will crumble one day... ]
For beings like us, we can only rest when all evil has been exorcised. It is crucial to not lose sight of what lies at the end, or to lose oneself in the endless battles that we must face.
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What about the other volunteer? They're a god, too, aren't they?
[ he has to ask ]
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[ Something something contracts something ]
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[ he doesn't particularly care who they are... but if he finds out it's venti he'd probably try to help. being child-coded does wonders lmao ]
Would it affect them differently than you, when you're both gods?
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[ That's the reason he considered himself the best candidate. ]
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[ He knows Kara hates Forneus, but it can't really be helped. ]
By accepting my aid, he binds himself to my laws. Should he deviate from the terms of our contract, he will face oblivion.
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[ it's satisfying to hear, though? even if it seems like it would mean trouble for a world to lose their god of time prematurely. ]
What are the other reasons?
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[ Gods are, after all, bound by many rules. Most of them involve smiting. ]
I take it that you will not spread what I have shared with you. [ i.e. 'I'm telling you this, because I am choosing to trust you.' ] I have chosen to cooperate with him, as I agree with his ideal of a world without predestination; to let humanity live to their fullest potential.
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[ he's not arguing, or pressing - just seeking to understand. zhongli apparently has earned more respect from ookurikara than the god of time. ]
Is it meant to be a secret that a god is bearing the time for all of us, too? [ that would be why zhongli hasn't been open about it, right? ] And you're okay with ceasing to exist to that end?
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[ It would also probably kill all of the outlanders, so! ]
I did intend to keep my role hidden. As part of our contract, I was absolved of the memory that I took on the time compression. When I made that contract, I did not wish to complicate matters by prompting others to worry about something that cannot be changed. Instead, I would rather you focus on what you are capable of changing - the fate of Mondstadt and Dravlin.
[ As for the other question: ]
Ookurikara... I must set things right. Even if it will cost all that I have.
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I have no intention of revealing your role to anyone. [ tsuru may have been a contender, but he can find out for himself!! zhongli is right, anyway - there's no point in focusing on something they can't change, only that which they can. kara won't waste his time with that.
however... ]
He said the reason we've been brought here is to bring an end to Celestia's cruelty. How much of that have you been responsible for? Or is that something else I'm not allowed to ask?
[ it's not an accusation, but more of a curiosity. ]
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The Archon Wars began four thousand years ago. Celestia promised power to the final victors, and to that end Teyvat was ravaged for two millennia. All gods participated, not all by choice. I fought only to defend Liyue, but there were inevitabilities.
[ Those who wished to walk the path of justice must continue to give up all that they loved. ]
I fought for peace. But this peace is ultimately temporary. It will never last, so long as fate destines a cycle of war.
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it always comes back to war, doesn't it? one way or another, from one world, one time period to the next, there is always some battle looming on the horizon. once only a few decades prior, he may have looked forward to it. as a sword, war is what he was made for, where he thrives... and yet...
and yet.
he thinks of gohei, and the kakegawa farmer's family that ookurikara will only know through stories rattled off to a child when they didn't realize he was listening. he thinks of nobuyasu, who valued flowers over swordsmanship. he thinks of ieyasu, who lost much of his family to war, all in the name of trying to unite a nation and finally bring peace so no one else would know that same pain.
he thinks of the soldiers in the tokugawa camps, all fighting for their own reasons, and the soldier in that liyue village who simply wanted to protect their home.
and once again, he wonders... ]
Do you really believe that will change, with all of the gods gone? [ his voice softens, gaze dropping to watch some nearby flowers sway in the breeze as he speaks. ] Do you think a world without war is possible?
[ it hurts, this heart in his chest, when he dares to hope. yet ookurikara can’t help but yearn for it, knowing how war hurts everyone, no matter their role. he can understand facing down oblivion, he thinks, if it means a peace that will finally last. ]
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Humans are fragile. Their lives are easily extinguished, like dust upon the wind. Because they are afraid, they try so hard to become more intelligent. Their greatest strength is not their power, but their ability to realize infinite possibilities.
[ For years upon years, he had guided Liyue with the belief that he must do his utmost. But time changed everything; even Rex Lapis could not forestall change. ]
Hope is what turns possibility into reality. Once humanity is free from the gods' predestination, they will have a chance at crafting a lasting peace.
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[ disheartening. he'd like a guarantee, but it's impossible to ask for. ]
Is giving up everything worth it, when it may not work out the way that you hope?
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The alternative is to leave them in eternal ignorance of what could have been. [ A cycle of fate unending, a destiny of war and destruction. ] Even if it is only a chance, it is better than none at all. And humans are known to overcome seemingly impossible odds.
[ He knows it's not reassurance enough for Kara, so he adds: ]
Walking the path of light oft results in losing the things that one treasures. The path ahead becomes arduous, and a single individual's faith may waver. there will always be darkness, but there cannot be darkness without light. Even if one light-bringer is extinguished, others will take up the torch. That is the strength that humans possess and the gods do not; the ability to continue a legacy and achieve lasting peace.
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I would like to see a world without war. But I don't believe it's as simple as he makes it out to be. There are worlds without gods that still don't know peace. [ he assumes? obviously his own world has gods and spirits so maybe that isn't true at all, kara wouldn't know. ] Do you really think it will make a difference, losing you?
[ still, he wants it. for his country, for nobuyasu and his father, for gohei and the grave that he wishes to revisit someday. to bring news of the end of wars would be better than any flowers. ]
If there was another way to make it happen, would you still choose oblivion?
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[ He says 'our'. ]
You have seen what befalls humanity should they become over-reliant on the grace of the gods. Even I am not eternal - my time of departure will come one day. Humanity should thrive on their own, and I would see them become self-sufficient rather than leave them unable to fend for themselves.
no subject
[ he doesn't disagree, of course. to the spirit of a sword who never had a say in who wielded him or where they pointed his blade, or even where he was put away for storage, freedom of choice is everything. the humans in this world, with a predestined fate decided by gods, can't be that different from tsukumogami who must rely on masters to move them. and if that's true, once they get a taste of that freedom, there will be no going back.
but the same goes for gods, doesn't it? ]
I asked what you would choose, if there were another way to achieve all of that without having to sacrifice yourself to do it.
[ what would zhongli want for himself, if the cost didn't matter so much? is oblivion really waht he wants? is there anything a god could want, or is that only for spirits and mortals? ookurikara wants to understand. ]
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I am the oldest living god in the mortal world. I know not to hesitate when it is time to depart.
[ Zhongli is tired. After all these years of constant work, it seemed to him that the only way to acquire respite is to pass on. ]
Should there be the faintest realized possibility that I will continue to live after all has been said and done... then I would hope that I can take a long rest.
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Is that it?
[ as much as i'd like to say he isn't judging, he's... a little judgmental? like. what does rest even mean, for a god? surely it's different from how kara would define it. then again... it's not like he knows, exactly, what he'd do in a world without wars, either.
after a few moments to consider, he admits, softly: ]
...I guess some quiet might not be so bad.
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[ He worked without end as the Geo Archon. Even for people who take on never-ending workloads like Ganyu, their labour was only of an individual scale. The problems that required tens of thousands of people to otherwise solve were handled by Rex Lapis with his divine power. But even the cliffs and mountains will crumble one day... ]
For beings like us, we can only rest when all evil has been exorcised. It is crucial to not lose sight of what lies at the end, or to lose oneself in the endless battles that we must face.