[He was not a proud god. Not by any means. He could deal with the salt god's followers believing that he'd killed gods indiscriminately, he could deal with people calling him all sorts of names, hell-- he even dealt with people making attempts on his life while he worked for the Order. But he couldn't deal with Xiao bearing the burden of his karma in a second life, nor could he bear the thought of Xiao being left alone because Zhongli tried to awaken him himself and screwed it up somehow.
So he'd simply raised Xiao the best he could. Blind to his heritage, dropping hints here and there but never telling him the full truth of it, or that they had met once long ago when Xiao was enslaved by something terrible.]
Do not blame yourself for this. It was my choice.
[He's prepared to bear the consequences of that, if necessary. But if Xiao will let him, he'll carefully run his fingers through his hair, like a parent comforting his child during a storm.]
I wanted you to live your life unburdened by a duty I have not asked you to perform.
[And, more than that...]
We have made many memories in this life. Watching you grow has been my greatest joy, and an honor. I dared not ask you for anything else, only that which you give freely...
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I kept it from you. You had no way of knowing.
[He was not a proud god. Not by any means. He could deal with the salt god's followers believing that he'd killed gods indiscriminately, he could deal with people calling him all sorts of names, hell-- he even dealt with people making attempts on his life while he worked for the Order. But he couldn't deal with Xiao bearing the burden of his karma in a second life, nor could he bear the thought of Xiao being left alone because Zhongli tried to awaken him himself and screwed it up somehow.
So he'd simply raised Xiao the best he could. Blind to his heritage, dropping hints here and there but never telling him the full truth of it, or that they had met once long ago when Xiao was enslaved by something terrible.]
Do not blame yourself for this. It was my choice.
[He's prepared to bear the consequences of that, if necessary. But if Xiao will let him, he'll carefully run his fingers through his hair, like a parent comforting his child during a storm.]
I wanted you to live your life unburdened by a duty I have not asked you to perform.
[And, more than that...]
We have made many memories in this life. Watching you grow has been my greatest joy, and an honor. I dared not ask you for anything else, only that which you give freely...