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Night fell. The moon cast its dim light as the streetlamps faded. Only a few workers were roaming about, returning home to rest.
In a house, a young child pulled the covers close, asking, "Mama, can you tell me a bedtime story?"
The mother thought for a bit, looking around for anything she could draw inspiration from. Her eyes set on a kite, black, gold, green, and white intertwining through the patterns. One might think, upon the verbal description, that it was an eyesore that no one would love, yet one gaze at it and the glory of the mismatched colors mixing and matching together, just like a puzzle.
"Of course, dear, I shall tell you today the story of how the kite was created," She cleared her throat, ready to tell the tale that she fell asleep to many years ago as her own mother whispered it, "Long, long time ago, after the archon war and every archon's respective region was settled, there were two gods, Barbatos and Morax. Have you been paying attention to your lessons? If you have, you should know them."
The child nodded eagerly, "Barbatos, the god of wind and freedom, and Morax, the geo lord, the god of war and contracts! 'The ones who break the contract shall suffer the wrath of the rock', isn't it, mama?"
The mother smiled fondly, "Barbatos was inspired by the birds. It was freedom that led him to become the god he is today. A weaker one, lesser-known, but I admire his ways. I was from Mondstat after all, before I moved to Liyue and had you.
Back to the story. There was one thing that inspired Barbatos more than the flying doves in the sky, however. It was a nameless bard who had passed away during the battle to return Mondstat to freedom. Legend says he now takes the form of the bard, yet no one knows how he looks like.
Morax strived to bring Liyue to prosperity, setting up trades, commerce, creating mora... All helped to bring our Liyue to such a position.
The two were great friends, with either Barbatos bringing dandelion wine to bridges of Liyue to share with, watching the fish swim around the lotus flowers, with Glaze Lillies adorning the side of the pond like glimmering diamonds, or Morax taking a fine selection of tea leaves to Windrise, as they sat under the giant tree, with a small table they built out of rocks, laughing and talking for hours. Some say they were in love, which good for them, free to love who they want. Remember not to judge who people love, okay?"
"I promise, Mama."
"One day, Barbatos sighed, tired, 'Oh, how I wish there was something fun to do other than talk and talk and talk!'
Morax chuckled, 'Why don't we make something then?'
They searched the plains, coming back with long branches, along with some fallen roots, light as a string. Morax took a parchment out of his sleeve and placed it on the table.
The gods stared and stared, like a young child, wondering what could be made out of this. Barbatos started ripping the paper slightly, making surprisingly tidy tears, as perfect as the gods were in their own way. He took some resin that he pocketed before leaving to meet his friend, or boyfriend for the matter, in Windrise, a sticky, clear kind that restored life to all. The branches were tight on the piece of paper, the 'rope' knotted to it.
Barbatos laughed heartily, a gust of wind coming from his mouth, the creation taking flight in the blue, clear sky and would have been lost in the plains if not for Morax catching hold of the end of the 'string'.
Both stared at each other in awe, shocked that they had created a new toy.
Without another word, they rushed to Mondstat like how you rush to the kite stall when your new kite was made, childish grins plastered across their faces as they collected finer materials for their craft. They scrawled down the recipe, made more, taught everyone, sharing their new invention through Liyue and Mondstat.
Despite Mondstat slowly forgetting such craft, it held strong in Liyue, used in all sorts of important events.
People say that the kite carries the freedom from Barbatos and the carefulness of Morax. I say that something more was carried."
"What is it, Mama?"
"The bond and love between the archons and how our bond with Mondstat will last forever."
"That's a beautiful story Mama..." The child yawned, starting to feel drowsy.
"Indeed it is. Now remember it, dearie, and tell your future generations one day."
"I promise... Mama..." The youngster fell into deep sleep as the mother blew out the candles, only the peaceful snores echoing.
Far far away in Windrise, two kites danced in the air. One was green and white, one of a wind spirit, with a bard holding the end of the string, grumbling that "a flying bird tied to a string was not true freedom", yet refusing to cut it. Another was black and gold, a majestic dragon drawn on it, controlled by a fine gentleman who didn't seem the type to be out in the wild so late.
The creators of the kite held each other close, the shorter one snuggling his face into the taller one's chest.