A/N: Hello there! This story here has been already been cross-posted in AO3 under the username 'thelurkingpanda'.
(For those clicking on this because of my KKM! history, sorry about that. ^^; It's been a while since I've written anything, and time has eaten all the KKM! plunnies except for 1. Let's see if I could flesh it out eventually, hehe.)
This story actually has a parent story in a different site, but am curious about its reception here hahaha
I think that this work could stand on its own with some Rightly Placed Assumptions (tm).
1) Xiao doesn't know Rex Lapis is alive yet,
2) Venti visited Zhongli first before Xiao, and
3) Venti came to give Xiao his meds upon Zhongli's request
References to the parent work are indicated by the footnotes and mostly in the last part of the story.
Linked Footnotes are a thing here~
If you see a number enclosed with brackets like this: [1] click on it to get to the footnote, and then click [back] to get back to where you left off. Pretty neat, huh?
I wrote most of the content at 3am... for 5 days (as in I consistently end up waking up at this ungodly hour and write). Yes, it is unhealthy. Don't be like me
Anyways, a quick thanks to my friend who patiently edits these fics with me despite RL stuff being a thing for her!
EDIT: Awww, I just realized that the footnote links don't work here, huhu. I suppose you'll just have to scroll down manually. I thought they'd work since it's HTML and they worked in AO3. What a shame. :(
Another sad thing I just noticed is how the images for Footnote 2 have not been carried over. OTL|||
Yes, I am realizing that this is not the platform for this story. ^^;
And YES, I did make that Sprite!Venti Plush on the cover.
EDIT 2: Oh, and for the footnotes, I think using the browser's find/search and typing in the footnote number would help in get back and forth where you've left off and the footnote below... (As a work-around for the html not working for them here)
Golden eyes blearily blink open under the midafternoon sun. Xiao realizes he had fallen asleep as a result of taking the painkillers. How long has he been dozing? He frowns. For a Yaksha, to be rendered unconscious by a single dose of his medicine was utterly pathetic; he must work on enduring its side effects lest he cannot perform his duty effectively.
The sun was not glaringly bright as the worst of its rays were directed at some other face of the inn. His body still feels quite heavy, his limbs refusing to move just yet. There was some comfort in knowing he could, at least, click his tongue. And so he did just that, bemoaning internally at how truly pathetic he had become. Would his Master, Lord Rex Lapis, be disappointed in him when he sees one of his appointed Yakshas in this state?
No, he must cease this useless rambling. He admits, it is an unseemly habit for an Adeptus to have, yet he cannot seem to break from it. Instead of pouring his energy into this distasteful habit, he decides to remember his last thoughts before falling unconscious. That may be a more fruitful activity.
"You're making me blush with the way you're staring at me like that."
He stands corrected; it isn't the fruitful he wished for.
Oh, yes, the Lord Barbatos had paid him a visit earlier, spouting nonsense once more.
"Say, are you falling for my youthful charm?"
Pure, utter ox dung. Lord Rex Lapis was right; the Anemo Archon is a disgrace to the arts.
He hadn't seen nor heard from the Anemo Archon since the War [1]. His lapse in memory had made Xiao a fool of himself. Ah, how frustrating. The heat on his cheeks, and light dusting of pink it brought as consequence, has reappeared once more. He gains more self-awareness as his vision starts to clear. Surprise is an understatement for what he feels when he finds white dots-for-eyes peering curiously at him.
The heaviness of his body forgotten and the fleeting moment of embarrassment gone, Xiao jolts into a sitting position with a small yelp. Recovering from the initial shock, he clicks his tongue in disappointment and disgust at himself. How could he miss the presence of another? And at such close proximity too? Was he not the holder of the title "Vigilant Yaksha"? Truly disappointing.
Done berating himself, Xiao fixes his gaze on the creature. At this distance, he sees that the bright, white eyes belong to a small creature dressed in what looks like a white hooded cloak with a looping aqua line along the edge of its cloak. The creature had three teardrop shapes that formed its wing; they were also tinged in that calming shade of aqua.
Was the creature an Elemental Spirit? Was it Hydro or Anemo? It had been a while since he had encountered one.
The Sprite tilted its head to the side in either curiosity or in question. Xiao does not dare assume that the creature is silently asking about his well being. Seeing that man was insistent on continuing to stare at it without talking, the Sprite decides to flit towards the tray.
Xiao only now realizes that a new food container sat on the tea table. Where did it come from? Was it from the Boss Lady downstairs? The Sprite sits on the edge of the food container and somehow lifts up a half-eaten Lotus Flower Crisp. It proceeds to pick up where it left off, nibbling with what looked like pure contentment.
The Yaksha is unsure of what to make of the situation. He wonders if he was in a dream of sorts. No normal creature that had a healthy sense of self-preservation would come close to him.
The Traveler and their floating companion doesn't count. Self-preservation seems to be only second on their list of priorities.
Still, he was curious; he wanted to know if this is all a dream. He slowly outstretches his hand, pulling it back slightly twice in hesitation. He sees the Sprite stop munching on the sweet dessert, puts it down and turns around in retreat.
Xiao felt a sinking feeling deep inside. He looks away, pushing his disappointment to the farthest reaches of his mind. Yes, he could confirm now that he is not in the land of dreams. Seeing the Sprite retreating when he moved to touch it was enough proof. This isn't the first time a small spirit had tried to come close, only to flee with fear from sensing his heavy Karmic Debt.[2] He could not blame them. Indeed, no creature—
Xiao felt something plop onto his outstretched hand. He tentatively turns his gaze onto his hand and his eyes widen when he sees a whole Lotus Flower Crisp sitting on it. His view of the treat is obscured by the Sprite hovering right in front of his face.
Its eyes were turned into upward crescents, a look of happiness.
"You… you're gifting me this?"
The Sprite nods and sways back from side to side before floating back to the tray where its snack lay. Instead of sitting itself back onto its little perch, it picks up its treat and comes rushing back.
Xiao utters a sound of surprise when the Sprite has chosen his right shoulder to be its new seat. His mouth hangs unattractively open as the creature begins nibbling on its treat again.
"Tch, what do you think you're doing?" he asks in confusion, mentally scolding himself for sounding harsher than he meant to be.
The little one looks up at him and blinks before going back to munching again. It does the munching deliberately slowly, as if it were saying that 'eating' is what it was doing.
Xiao rolls his eyes when he gets the message. He tries a test shrug to get the Sprite off him; he does, but it perches right back on, seemingly undeterred at being shrugged off.
"Very well then, stay until you finish your meal. Just don't dare make a mess on my shoulder, understood?" Seeing that the little one is quite stubborn and doesn't seem to have an ounce of self-preservation in its tiny body, he looks at the Lotus Flower Crisp in his hands and brings it close for a bite.
True to its name, the dessert is crispy and surprisingly light. It isn't as greasy as he initially thought, but it was no match for an Almond Tofu. Still, it was sweetened appropriately and was bearable to eat. He finishes it around the same time as the Sprite does with its own.
"Go along now, your meal has been finished." Xiao shrugs one shoulder to make the Sprite off-balance. "It will do you some good to never associate or come close to me again."
As if the Sprite has anticipated the shrug, it lifts itself off just enough to be unaffected by the shrugging motion as it leaned over the Yaksha's neck, using it as a pillow or head board of sorts.
"Listen here, you brazen fool," Xiao begins as he picks up the Sprite from his shoulder. The Sprite struggles to break free from his hold. "I will be going off to scout the surroundings. Those who witness my fights never come back. If you hope to go back wherever you came from unscathed, you will leave this instant."
The Yaksha lets go, sending the Sprite forward. But, he looks on with disbelief once the little one regains its composure. It floats its way back to him and this time, settles on top of his head. With a grunt of annoyance, he tries a few more attempts to fling the Sprite away.
It never worked as it always came back to perch on his head.
"Have it your way, you bull-headed whelp. Do not regret dismissing my warnings."
Xiao doesn't see the look of gratification in the Sprite's expressive eyes, but he could feel it pouring out of the small figure sitting on his hair. He lets out an amused huff before leaping off the rooftop balcony and doing two bouts of Lemniscatic Wind Cycling mid air before plunging down on the dirt road below where a small band of Hilichurls was starting to form camp.
Let's see how long will this Elemental Spirit feel so smug about its decision to stay.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
Apparently, the Sprite really does seem serious about its decision to stay. Not only did it look unphased by his earlier stunts, it seemed to be happy enough to cling to his hair as they plunge into one battle after another, literally. It baffles Xiao how this Elemental Spirit does not seem to shy away from danger when it stares at it in its face. Perhaps he shouldn't, given that it never strayed too far or left him during the frays against the impure in Guili Plains.
He had to hand it to the Traveler; Dihua Marsh was clear, all except for that new Hilichurl camp starting up in one of the islets. At first, Xiao took Lumine's gesture of ridding of the potential threats around Wangshu Inn as a sign of pity for him—making him both grateful and angry for she had hurt his pride as a Guardian of Liyue. But as time and its continued recurrence went on, he began to accept it as a token of friendship.
To put oneself into danger, without regard for one's safety, when they are fragile beings themselves, as a way to show their sympathy for a lone warrior simply upholding his end of a contract? Absurd. Truly, humans will continue to evade his attempt to understand them.
Xiao pulls away from his thoughts when now familiar white eyes peer at him. They have come to a stop under a twisting Maple tree where he was wiping away traces of blood and ichor from his Primordial Jade Winged-Spear. His hands must've stopped moving to have alerted his companion.
'His companion'. Stringing these two words together sounded strange to the Yaksha, but the implications felt comforting somehow. Dematerializing the spear, he attempts to reach out for the Sprite, intending to pat its little head. This time, the Sprite doesn't run off and lets him. After the third pat, it even angled itself so it could nuzzle his hand.
Xiao was at a loss for words. A warmth blossomed within him. For the longest time, he has not felt the affectionate touch of another sentient being. The last may have been from Lord Rex Lapis himself—a head pat for a job well done, or was it an embrace (after the disappearance of a fellow Yaksha, one of the Five). Perhaps, both?—from centuries ago. The sense of touch was a sense he had disregarded as a form of comfort for many, many years. He is devoid of the need for it; he'll hate for one to manifest after this, simply because it is not a luxury he could easily attain.
Probably being tired of the nuzzling, Sprite stops and zooms back onto its place on Xiao's head. The Yaksha could feel excitement radiate from the little one, eager for more adventures.
Xiao huffs in fond exasperation as he stands. For such a small creature, it has quite the attitude—to order (judging from the impatient tugs on his hair) an Adeptus to get a move on.
"You truly are audacious for a creature that is mute." Xiao picks the Sprite up from his head to give it a warning glare. "Be grateful that I still have the temperament to humor you."
The little one seems to show remorse for a second or two before beaming with those upward crescent eyes. Xiao is not one for spoiling insignificant creatures, so he places it on his shoulder. The Sprite was flailing all the while. He didn't even feel a plop as the Sprite zooms back up on his head. He rolls his eyes and grumbles, thinking how incorrigible it is. He will take the action as a reminder rather than an order that they have been idling around for too long.
And so, the Yaksha resumes his patrol, dashing across ruins and wasteland alike with no actual destination in mind as the sun starts dipping lower over the horizon. He allows the corner of his lip to curl upwards just for a fraction of a second, thinking that he could get used to having to this—traversing Liyue with a companion in tow.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
It is well into the night when Xiao takes another break from his patrol. He stops sprinting when he feels Sprite's hold onto his hair loosen. He readies his hands before him so that he could catch the little one when it tumbles down.
The Sprite sways left then right, tottering, unable to keep its balance before it falls forward. It looks to be glad that it landed on something soft as it immediately sinks into Xiao's palm.
"Tuckered out already?" Xiao asks, bringing the creature to his face. "Hmph, that is the consequence of trying to match a Yaksha's stamina."
White droopy eyes look at him, unable to keep them open for much longer. He pets its head as he walks towards a nearby tree to sit on its branches. Having arrived at the Gingko tree, he climbs onto the sturdiest branch that was also parallel to the ground, one-handed. He makes himself comfortable as he leaned his back onto the trunk before placing the Sprite onto his chest.
"Though, I must commend you for lasting this long," Xiao says as he places both of his hands behind his head. He watches the Sprite slump down on his shirt and curl up, getting itself comfortable in preparation for a nap. His gaze drifts to the view ahead after feeling the gentle, steady rise and fall of the little one's body as it enters the land of dreams.
With a soft tone, barely above a whisper, he says: "Good job."
Cuijue Slope's so-called 'Nine Pillars of Peace', humanity's prayer for the future, lay before him. Some pillars stood still intact; others were reduced to barely a third of their original size. No matter how decrepit some of the pillars were however, they shared one thing in common: the sigils on each pillar shine bright amber.
Seems like the Traveler has unsealed all the pillars; did she understand the story of these monuments, or did she just come in search of loot? He chuckles at the thought.
How could a few pillars sculpted and erected by mere mortal hands ever hope to achieve peace?
Greed, nostalgia, vision, jealousy, anger, lust, self-aggrandizement, competition, and turmoil are the nine mortal desires meant to 'heal the world' and achieve lasting peace—or so says the ancient texts. It boggles his mind how mortals had believed that these selfish traits could achieve peace. He wonders if the fallen gods have been affected by these mortal sentiments, bringing them to their downfall and everlasting resentment.
Xiao takes one of his hands out and looks at it. By his hand, many had lost their lives, had their dreams crushed, and even experienced repeated subjugations—never finding peace as their remnants continue to fracture even further, and slowly worm their way into his soul. He fought and still continues to do it to this day, wrestling with himself each day never to succumb to those cries and desires for vengeance.
He will never find peace, he knows, no matter how long he fights.
Yet the Yaksha wonders if one day, a day far off into the future, will he ever fall to such foolish mortal desires and bring ruin upon himself?
He clenches his hand into a fist.
No, he won't allow it, not when there is Liyue to protect. Even if the times change, even if the mortals don't need him, he would still uphold his contract.
That is his unwavering resolve, and it must continue to be so, even if he had to fight tooth and nail for it to come true, especially now that Lord Rex Lapis has passed on.
But, did he really…?
Two still images flash in his mind: the new batch of his medicine and (Xiao's face scrunches up in disgust) the irritating mug of the Fatui Harbinger still lingering around Liyue Harbor.
Just how could his master's scent persist on that atrocious Harbinger's person?
Xiao is an Adeptus , and by virtue the Adepti are not one for rumors, especially ones spun into being by paltry mortals. Yet there could be only two possible explanations for this: the first is that the contemptible Harbinger had somehow found a way to strike down his Lord and kept the body of the Exuvia close; or second, Rex Lapis is alive and has, for one ineffable reason or another, has staked claim on that nugatory, outrageous bastard of a Harbinger.
Xiao's clenched fist clenches even harder, turning his knuckles white and making it vibrate with sheer revulsion at the thought. His teeth clenched and gritted in frustration. He does not know if the frustration stems from conceiving such utterly abhorrent and scandalous hogwash, or the fact that the former explanation (as much as he detested to admit it) sounded less convincing than the latter at the moment.
The sound of gritting teeth must've been loud enough for the slumbering Sprite to start stirring into wakefulness. Xiao's seething, along with his teeth grinding, come to a halt. He stays deathly still until he can feel the gentle rise and fall of the creature's body become regular. His hand unclenches as he gazes back down to the slumbering creature.
Deep breaths, he told himself; he needed to calm himself and shelve this heated train of thought for another time.
Slow deep breaths. In... and out… In.. and out...
Once he has calmed down, he tentatively lowers his arm to gently stroke its back with a finger, careful not to disturb the wing sticking out with his ministrations so that the Sprite will not awaken.
He knew not where the creature had come from, nor its intentions. He does not know how long this little one intends to stay, but the fact that it had approached him and had stayed with him for this long makes him, admittedly (although, he will affirm this to no one), happy. An inexplicable wave of warmth and comfort washes through him.
Is he allowed to wallow in this sense of momentary peace—this moment of blissful respite?
Going back on track with his thoughts from earlier (before they had been severely derailed) he muses on how thankless his duty is, and on the fact that only a small handful of mortals will ever know of him personally. It was fine; it had been the status quo thus far. Yet, from this creature's intent to stay, he felt gratitude seeping out from it.
And in turn, Xiao feels the slightest bit grateful for its presence and its persistent nature. He then looks back on the day to gather the small observations he made while travelling with the Elemental Spirit.
The element the Sprite is aligned with is definitely Anemo. Xiao noticed that his movement was lighter and quicker than usual. Anemo Resonance is the most plausible deduction.
The Sprite was a combatant, of sorts. It cannot do actual damage, but it always stuck near him in actual battle, guarding his back. Xiao is used to fighting alone, and has honed his reflexes to be swift enough to turn with ease to fend off enemies from behind. Whenever he turned this time around, he would see that the enemies would be blown back by the gust of wind the Sprite would summon whenever they got too close.
The Sprite literally had his back.
With the countless numbers of enemy hordes they had to face from afternoon to night, it was no wonder that the Sprite was tuckered out and out like a light within a few seconds.
Xiao lets a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. He finds it endearing, but at the same time he didn't want to dwell in the comfort that the idea brings. He was a lone warrior, destined to fight the darkness even after others like him had fallen.
Though, he does entertain the notion of allowing the Traveler to drag him along more often. No, Lumine does not have his back; he has hers.
Sudden pain begins to claw at his limbs, and an intense pressure builds in his mind. The warm bubbling feeling in his chest was doused with ice cold water.
Moments of peace do not last long for the likes of him. That is the burden of the Yaksha.
Xiao closes his eyes and bites his lower lip, determined not to let out a whimper, even if it meant drawing blood. The howling, the cursing, and the screams started to assault his hearing, drowning out the sounds of the wilderness around him. In the landscape of his mind, he found himself shackled by black, rubbery threads that simply wouldn't give no matter how much he struggled. He was forced to watch multiple slides worth of events that lay over on top of one another, all of them playing simultaneously.
One showed a raging battle of the gods, elemental energies clashing—Pyro against Electro, Hydro against Geo, Anemo against Dendro and all sorts of permutations in between—as they step on the bodies of the fallen. Another shows the grief and mourning of a nameless god towards the death of its kin—their grief growing into anger and vengeance. Another shows the descent of lower Yaksha into madness as they are overwhelmed by the grudges of the gods of old they have subjugated again and again. There were many more and yet they were buried under those he could make sense of.
The visuals were chaotic and the cacophony of the sounds were deafening.
Xiao started repeating to himself a mantra he always believed in.
"No grudge can last over a thousand years."
He hisses and he screams as the voices start to mold together into one solid message, their dismembered voices synchronizing into ominous pleas, asking him for more blood to be shed, and to carry out their vengeance.
He was used to this. He knew what they wanted, and he never gave in. In hindsight, he blamed himself for letting his guard down too much. The malignant shards within him probably sensed it and planned for an all out attack.
And it is working.
Xiao finds his strength leaving him and his vision, even in his mind, growing dark. It felt as if he were being submerged into a pool of tar. Struggling only made him sink deeper, faster, so he stills. He tries to find some clarity in the chaos—something he could hold onto.
And he does find one. A note, no, two notes.
He latches onto the beat, trying to find a pattern. A few seconds of frantic listening proves him wrong; there was no pattern. It is not a beat or a constant rhythm, it was the melody of a song.
It was a beautiful song. Angelic, even.
He lets himself be lost in it.
The chaotic visuals begin to dissipate; the cacophony in his ears begins to subside. They all faded out of existence until it was just that song that occupied his mind.
The Yaksha felt the bonds tied to him loosen and he takes the opportunity to break free from them. In the process, he crawls himself out of that dark quicksand and into this verdant and lush forest his mind's landscape has transformed into.
When he looks back at the hole he just crawled out of, the sight of a gentle pool greets him. He surveys his surroundings and sees branches and vines gently sway as the wind passes by. There were small animals scampering around, and the birds were flying overhead.
The song continues to play in the background until his eyes snap wide open.
Xiao finds himself sprawled on the ground, shaded by a canopy of bright yellow ginkgo tree leaves, streaks of sunlight peeking through in the gaps. He could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest. Adrenaline still flows in his veins. His hearing comes back to him next and he hears himself gasping for air and a mellifluent voice in the background. His gingerly sits up and spots the Sprite rushing towards him, coming from his right. The song stops then.
The sprite looks beside itself with worry, zooming to and fro, checking for any injuries on his person. When it is satisfied, it floats in front of him and sighs. White eyes turn to him in those familiar upward crescents before it comes over to nuzzle his cheek.
"Cu-cut it out," the Yaksha protests lightly. "You act as though I were dying."
The Sprite listens to his plea and floats back. It sways from left to right with a metaphorical skip in its step.
The sound of loud chattering enters the range of Xiao's hearing. He whips his head to the direction of the slope and spots a party of three Adventurers headed their way. It is time to leave.
"I suppose, I owe you thanks for…" the Adeptus trails off when he turns his attention back to where he last saw the Sprite swaying. He felt a twinge and a sinking feeling in his chest.
The Elemental Spirit has left. There were no signs of its white and aqua body in the vicinity. He clicks his tongue as he felt the presence of the party grow nearer, along with their obnoxious chattering. He stands and quickly departs towards the direction of Luhua Pool without a word.
Maybe the events of that afternoon and night were all part of his surprisingly active and colorful imagination.
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
The sun was high up in the cloudless sky when Xiao found himself gawking at a rectangular food container on the tea table. It takes several seconds for him to pull himself back together and stop acting like an idiot.
It shouldn't matter to him too much if the events from yesterday were grounded on truth or if it were a figment of his imagination. He shouldn't feel much relief over this confirmation.
He scowls at his childishness. It is one more thing to work on. He looks a bit more to the left and notices that his medicine bottle isn't where he left it previously. Did the Boss Lady take it?
If a child were to come to the balcony and take one…
Panic flared within him as he rushed to the stairs. His haste was dampened by the sound of a lyre playing. By the time he reached the reception, he was walking instead of running. His eyes were drawn to the balcony where he could see a man clad in green entertaining a little girl.
The child was happily humming along to the notes.
"Good Afternoon, Young Master, is there anything I could assist you with?" Verr Goldet greets him with her cheery voice.
Xiao snaps his attention to the Boss Lady.
"Have you seen a bottle on the tea table in the rooftop balcony? I seem to have misplaced it when I went off to scout yesterday," he says, keeping his voice down, lest he draws some unwanted attention.
"Oh, yes, Smiley found it when he went there to retrieve the tray and bowl." Verr Goldet replies with an equally quiet tone, winking at him. "Please hold on for a minute."
Xiao's eyes squint, and he crosses his arms. Just what is that wink for?
"Oh, is that the mister you were waiting for?" The little girl exclaims.
"Shhh, keep it down!" The flustered bard crowds her with a finger held to his lips before turning to the direction of the receptionist's desk.
Gold meets aqua. The golden eyes turn away, preferring to focus on the Boss Lady rummaging through the drawers. A storm of trouble is approaching him, and he would rather pretend to be oblivious to it.
If he had any luck, it would pass on its own, leaving him alone.
"Hey Mr. Grumpy Sweet Tooth, could I ask you for a favor?" Venti asks with a hand on the Yaksha's shoulder. Xiao shrugs the hand off with a grunt. "Aw, don't be like that! Consider it compensation for yesterday's error."
"What do you want?" He asks a bit testily, his dislike for the nickname briefly overriding his restraint. He mentally winces; has he learned nothing from yesterday, to still be so ill-tempered in front of a former Archon?
"That's more like it!" the bard giggles, to the Yaksha's surprise.
Xiao takes note to keep testing the limits of the former Anemo Archon's patience in the future. The other seems to enjoy it thoroughly anyway.
"Here it is," Verr Goldet cuts in with a cough to hide her growing amusement as she hands over the bottle of medication.
Xiao swipes the bottle from her hands and turns towards the stairs, quickly tucking it away in the confines of his outfit in an attempt to hide his embarrassment as evidenced by the tinge of pink tainting his cheeks.
"My, aren't we clumsy. To think that I went through all the trouble to deliver that to you yesterday." Venti tuts, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Mayhaps, I should count that as another slight?"
"We should continue this discussion elsewhere," Xiao says sternly as he began his ascent up the stairs without waiting for a reply.
"Hey, wait up!" Venti glances at the Boss Lady for a quick second before running after the Adeptus. He knew it, she has a knowing look on her features. It made him a bit self-conscious, a light blush rising to his cheeks.
The two Anemo users kept their silence as they made their way up to the balcony. Venti was the first to speak up when they reached the landing.
"How are you feeling today?"
Xiao turns to face him, a little surprised as he was not used to hearing someone ask about his well being aside from the Boss Lady and, occasionally, the Traveler and Paimon.
"Better," he replies a bit too sharply, causing the bard to flinch slightly. "But we're not here for pleasantries. You have a favor to ask of me, I believe?"
Venti brightens up when he hears the softening of the young Adeptus's tone hidden in the question. "I am in need of a tour guide, for Liyue stretches very far and wide. The Traveler could only do so much, and I believe you are an expert on these matters and such."
Xiao could feel a headache coming in, and so he pinches the bridge of his nose as his other hand rests on his hip.
"Let me clarify your request. You want me, who only knows nothing but the art of slaughter and subjugation of evil to be your travel guide in the quest to learn more of the opulence of Liyue's landscapes?"
"Yup, you got it!" There was a twinkle of mischief in those eyes and a brazen grin on those soft features.
"Isn't there a more suitable candidate? Perhaps, Ganyu could—"
"Oh, but aren't you the one who traverses Liyue's splendid terrain on a daily basis?" Venti quickly cuts him off in retort, before he lets out a big yawn. "Besides, I'm not one for lectures on history and literature. Just let me tag along and go with your day as is."
"Oh, maybe I should be the one to ask if Lord Barbatos is ready for a sightseeing trip. Have a rough night?" Xiao snickers with a smirk.
"That's Venti to you. Ven-ti!" The bard was quick to scold.
"All right, Venti, could you physically keep up with me in your state?" Xiao eyes the man before him, his smirk not leaving his features.
"T'is nothing to worry your pretty little head about. Just a little night duty while the moon is out." Venti replies coolly. "Should I take that as a 'yes'? If that isn't enough, I suppose I could throw in a few songs into the mess."
"Hmph, and why would I take interest in your songs?" Xiao huffs in disbelief and crosses his arms—a challenge of sorts.
"Hm, Dvalin seemed pleased with my singing, enough to descend from Celestia. Isn't that enough reason?" The bard taps a finger on his chin to look as if he were in a contemplative mood.
"Hmph, I will be the judge of that."
"By all means; lead the way, O Illuminated Yaksha of Guili Plains." Venti outstretches his arm towards the view of Dihua Marsh with a reverent bow.
Xiao huffs and leaps from the balcony without delay, eager to leave the former Anemo Archon to dust.
Venti looks down at the Yaksha from the balcony and chuckles. Ah, how energetic that young Adeptus looks, not a trace of melancholy from yesterday could be seen. Seems like the babysitting gig was worth it after all.
The bard takes the food container from the tea table and dumps it unceremoniously into his pocket dimension before chasing after that cocky Yaksha to teach him a lesson or two.
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
Bright aqua eyes full of mirth watch on as Paimon angrily realizes, aloud, how the bard escaped just in time before the topic of the broken roof's [3] compensation has come up again. Venti, covering his mouth with two hands, giggles from his hiding spot by the rock formation beside the ramp going up to the reception area of Wangshu Inn itself. He quickly tucks his head behind the rock face, and presses his back solidly against it, lest he triggers the Traveler's keen intuition. And right on cue, he could feel a curious gaze train in his direction.
The bard is sure that Lumine couldn't see through objects, so he feels he could trust the wall of a rock to conceal him and weather through the brunt of that gaze.
He mentally counts to ten before he takes a tentative look behind him. Ah good, the Traveler's eyes are now focused on the menu card in her hands.
Saaaafe...
It isn't the prospect of Emergency Food's tirade on roof repair reparations or that he has gotten tired of their joint energies that he fled. In fact, hanging out with the Traveler and her bite size companion has been fun today, so far.
It's just that… well, but Venti has other places to be—other agendas to oversee. Sightseeing was at the top of today's agenda, and what better way to start than taking in the picturesque view of Dihua Marsh from Wangshu Inn's rooftop balcony?
As a servant of the arts, it is only fair to assume that the green-clad bard is on a look out for places of inspiration [4].
He didn't really get to have a good, long look at the view with the medicine delivery earlier [5]—those golden eyes hoarding his attention all the while. Never mind that, he had places to be.
As quietly as he could, on his tippy toes, he edges closer to the ramp railing closest to Wangshu Inn's water mill.
Really, Venti could have taken the ramp up back to the reception, just like any normal person would, since it was just right there, and then climb the indoor stairs to make his way to the rooftop balcony.
But, for many reasons, he chooses not to.
First, he isn't, by any means, a normal person [6]. Second, he had the means to get there faster (so he might as well use that to his advantage; gliding is always faster, you know~). And third, he doesn't want to see the Boss Lady so soon. He could already feel the knowing stare she'll give him if she sees him now.
Three is enough to be considered many, in his book.
And so, Venti stands on the ramp's railing and takes a leap towards the bright clear water of the lake below. Not even a fourth of the way in his fall does his wind glider's wings spread wide open, immediately catching the natural breeze. With the aid of his trusty gusts of wind, he is carefully lifted up to a level slightly higher than the destination itself. He has to assess the situation after all.
Venti's eyes are drawn to the slumped figure at the tea table. The young-looking warrior's head lay on the nest of arms underneath—an attempt to make sleeping on the tea table more comfortable. The expression on the warrior's face was neutral, dare he say peaceful, even.
Of course the pissy Yaksha is still there, so he'll just have to take on a very unassuming form once he gets close enough.
Ah, it has been a while since he last assumed that form. The memory draws out a fond smile, with tinges of bitterness at its edges, for a second.
Venti shakes his head and slaps both of his cheeks.
No, no, this won't do. This isn't the time to get sulky, especially when someone on the rooftop balcony was doing exactly that, enough for everyone else in Liyue (and he'll probably be at it again once he wakes up).
Taking precautions to avoid disturbing the slumbering not-so-vigilant Yaksha, Venti opts to transform in midair. But first things first, he takes out the food container [7]. Without a proper lunch to his name, a little snack should do him wonders as he sightseed. He shifts into a significantly smaller form mid air. The box is slightly bigger than he is, but that isn't much of an issue. He could still summon a bit of wind in this petite form to help carry it towards the tea table.
Oh-so-gently, the elemental sprite makes the box descend beside the tray with an empty bowl, of what was once a large serving of Delicious Almond Tofu, on it. If only this form had a visible mouth, he would smile openly at the emptiness of the bowl.
Once satisfied, he hovers close to the Yaksha's face for a good look before he starts making an effort to open the box that held Zhongli's delicious Lotus Flower Crips.
No, Venti isn't worried about the Conqueror of Demons. He had total faith in him. He was just checking if he was going to wake up any time soon. He's sure Xiao can take care of himself, surely never needing someone to babysit him or keep danger at bay, particularly those pesky inner demons. If he didn't, he wouldn't have blessed the Adeptus with a Vision in the first place.
Venti is just simply there to draw some inspiration and to sightsee.
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
FOOTNOTES:
[1] In the event that Barbatos would come for a visit, Guizhong tasks Xiao to be on 'Cat Duty', making sure no felines would be anywhere in the vicinity. The reasoning behind this, albeit flawed, was that it would keep the serious Yaksha occupied enough, and it would prevent a possible cat allergy flare up if ever Xiao's cat-like personality is enough to trigger that deathly cat allergy. And when Barbatos came to visit again, Rex Lapis simply did what Guizhong did. Why change a practice that isn't broken? [back]
[2] Please imagine the idle animation where Xiao spots a green light approaching him that he hesitantly reaches out for, but then the green light quickly flees, and he looks absolutely heartbroken. [the image here did not carry over, I'm sorry. huhu]
(now, for those who have Xiao in their party, count the number of times this idle animation comes in within an hour. Let that number be the approximate number of times it has happened to him within a millenia—or if you're feeling especially cruel, within a century.) [back]
[3] There is a broken roof in Liyue Harbor that is in need of fixing for it had served as a 'cushion' for a certain former Anemo Archon's fall on after a certain former Geo Archon decided it was best to kick said former Anemo Archon off of Mt. Tianheng, in the most literal manner.
*You may read more on this event in Chapter 4, scene 1.4 (basically after the 3rd 'mini' custom line break that looks like this: •○●○• ◇ •○●○•) of the parent work, "Ruin Guards are so Hard to Photograph!". [back]
[4] This particular bard isn't picky. He wouldn't mind if he finds a Muse instead. [back]
[5] This encounter could be read in Chapter 4, scene 5 of the parent work.
For the context of the event, the actual task-giving is in Chapter 3, scene 4, and the referenced/shorter form is in Chapter 4, Scene 3.
(The ends of scenes are marked by the appearance of line breaks that look like this:
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —) [back]
[6] While the Venti the Bard looks and acts and looks very much like a human, people may forget that he fundamentally isn't one. He is an elemental spirit turned Anemo Archon, who isn't even an Archon anymore.
Hm, maybe he is closer to being considered a 'human' after all? He certainly possesses the intelligence, empathy and social aptitude to pass off as one for sure! [back]
[7] Zhongli's little packed snack for his old friend to carry as he sightsees. He says he may share the treat, if he so wishes.
(This event should have been featured in Chapter 4, scene 1.4 as well). [back]
A/N:
Phew, Xiao is hard to write. ^^;
Mostly cause he had the same old timer linggo as his dad Zhongli, but more tsuntsun sharper. It's his voice and appearance that make it not seem like that, I think. I hope you enjoyed this~
Leave me a little something if you did! I'd really love to hear your thoughts! ^^
(Also, let me know if you want to see the Parent Story called "Ruin Guards are so Hard to Photograph!" here too.)