It was the night of the lantern rite, a night the citizens of Liyue had marked as the start of the new year, when they released lanterns to light up the night sky, just as they hoped their wishes could light up the darkness and hardships of the year ahead of them. Xiao did not understand how mortals could hope a paper lantern that could easily get blown out by even the smallest wind would be able to keep them safe. He heard, knew, felt every wish murmured, written, engraved on the lanterns. It was frustrating, knowing, but not understanding. Those feelings the wishes whispered of, some he could understand, vengeance, hate, gratitude. Others he did not, pride for a child doing well in school, happiness that someone remembered your birthday, excitement for what may come of the year ahead of them… love. That feeling where you wanted to be with someone, where you felt joy just listening to the sound of their voice, where you would be willing to sacrifice so much for another.
Xiao both hated and loved the lantern rite. He hated being presented with these sensations, being the one who the people trust to fulfill their wishes, yet not even being able to understand the emotions himself. But he loved the light, the beauty of the night, the black canvas of the sky ebing lit up by the hopes and dreams of countless souls. Despite how feeble mortals were, despite how feeble the lantern rite was, he loved seeing hope, even if it weren't his own.
...
"Xiao!"
The adeptus was approaching Mt. Tianheng from the south when he heard a voice call out.
He turned to look around, and spotted a familiar face. Although without his wings, and in different attire, the Anemo Archon was still very recognisable. He had changed his white robe last time Xiao saw him in in favor of a typically Liyue style tunic, a white ruffle-skirt coming to his knees peeking out from two slits in the tunic on each side in the front where the fabric fanned out. A pair of well made black boots ending just under his knees.
Barbatos caught up to him and beamed up at him through those aquamarine eyes, opnening his mouth to speak.
Usually, Xiao would not lightly initiate conversation. nor would he be so rude as to cut someone off when they were evidently about to speak. But…
"What are you doing wearing women's attire?"
Barbatos' eyes widened "Eh???"
He spread out his arms, examining his own clothing, "That cheeky old blockhead! He never told me anything about this being women's attire!" Barbatos pouted. That blockhead had told him that Xiao would definitely like this!
Xiao, on the other hand, bristled at the insults thrown to his Lord (Rex Lapis, cheeky??), but decided not to comment considering the person saying them were Lord Barbatos. He waited, looking to Barbatos for an answer as to why he was here.
"Ehe~ You see, Morax promised me he would take me through Liyue Harbour for the lantern rite, but he seems to have run off. Would you mind taking his place?" he looked to Xiao, a faint smile touching his lips.
Xiao felt sure he couldn't trust this person, yet his expression remained unchanged, and he instead chose not to answer the question posed to him.
"Rex Lapis would never break a promise."
To Rex Lapis, a promise was like a contract, and he'd never break a contract.
Barbatos looked away, a little embarassed "Ehe, I guess your right." those endless teal eyes looked back to him, "I really came so that I could thank you for saving my life last time. I don't know where I'd be now if you hadn't pushed me out of the way."
Xiao looked him right back in the face, "I don't need your thanks"
"Hmm~ I guess not.
"But will you allow me to spend the Lantern Rite with you?"
And for some strange reason, he accepted.
...
Despite it being smack in the middle of the Archon War, Liyue Harbour was still a big city, with many people form all over Liyue coming here for work, trade, or protection. Although it was not lacking is bustle and hustle even on normal days at night, the lantern rite made the streets even more filled with people. People mountains, people sea, as the Liyue saying goes.
Nobody blinked an eye when two unfamiliar faces added their numbers to the populated crowds.
"So… What do people usually do on the lantern rite?" asked Barbatos eagerly.
Xiao stammered… he really wasn't the expert in this, yet he couldn't let Barbatos know that.
"I think we just wander around the streets and explore the bazaars"
Xiao saw Barbatos look around, his eyes pausing when they caught somehting of interest.
"What are those?!"
Barbatos gave no time for Xiao to respond, when he satrted pulling him through the crowds by his hand.
"Ah! Dear customer, what could I get for you?", seeing that her customer's eyes were trained on a string of red fruits skewered on a stick, she continued, "Would you like some TangHuLu? They're currently buy one get one free! Take your pick"
Xiao lingered behind Barbatos as he produced some mora (which he had previously obtained from Morax) and exchanged it for two chuan'er of TangHuLus (Author's note: tanghulu are candied hawthorn, a snack traditionally sold on the streets in Beijing, China).
Barbatos offered one to Xiao
"You earned that yourself, I should have no share in it", was his way to 'politely' refuse.
"No, it was buy one get one free, so this one's free. And anyways, consider it a small act in which I repay you for saving me." (cough* cough* also note that the mora was not earned, but handed over by Morax)
"I have no need for food"
"Ooooh I get it. You don't like tanghulu do you?"
What a ridiculous conclusion
Xiao chose not to respond, since he didn't care what Barbatos thought, as long as he stopped trying to feed Xiao the tanghulu.
"Alright, then what do you like?"
"I already told you, there is no need for you to get me food."
"How stubborn. Well, I'll find out your weakness sooner or later."
...
The rest of the evening from sundown to nearly midnight was spent tasting more Liyuen snacks, guessing lantern riddles, and at some point they even tried their hands at making a Xiao lantern (try word here being tried). Barbatos grinned when for the first time, Xiao initiated conversation without being spoken to. He grinned again the next time Xiao was the one to suggest something they could do, and again when Xiao pulled him by the hand to some place, without noticing what he was doing.
However, Barbatos still wanted a Xiao lantern they could use for the upcoming midnight event ("contributing to the glowing trash" as Xiao put it).
"That one" he said, for once not jumping around.
It was in fact, not one but two lanterns, in the shape of some bird (Barbatos could not exactly place it). The design was simple, with no colourful paintings or elaborate patterns as some other lanterns, but the shape was beautifully crafted, making the animal seem almost alive.
A wooden base connected the two birds so that they would always be together, even in flight.
"A good eye, sir. These lanterns have a very good meaning! What are your names?" said the shop owner, already reaching for his ware, "Let me write them on the lanterns to ensure the fulfillment of your wishes."
Barbatos started confidently, "Xiao and…"
"Venti"
"Right, Venti"
He couldn't very well say that he was Barbatos, could he? Xiao on the other hand, was already an alias of sorts to start with.
The lantern man finished writing their 'names' on the lantern, and handed it over to 'Venti'.
"So… Venti huh?"
"I thought it would suit you" said Xiao simply, his posture, relaxed.
"You know, these birds, they're called mandarin ducks"
"Hehe~ You're starting to sound like Morax."
Xiao ignored him, "they're meant to represent companionship", he said, never once looking at Venti's eyes.
Venti hummed in response, and Xiao secretly smiled to himself, choosing to leave out that they were actually symbols of companionable love, of marriage since the manderin duck only ever chose one partner in life, and they stayed together forever, until either of them died.
But since Venti seemed unaware of this fact, he decided to let it go.
...
"We should go to Mt. Tianheng"
"Huh?"
"It will be quieter. And we'll have a perfect view of the lantern rite."
Despite his outward disdain for the rite, Xiao secretly spent every year's lantern rite atop Mt. Tianheng, watching the sky fill with lights. It was the first time he was there with another person though.
They found that their joint passion of sitting in trees worked out pretty well, as without any discussion both headed straight for a very comfortable-looking branch. Venti had to laugh when he realised what they were doing, leaving a confused Xiao to ponder what was so funny.
When they saw the first glow start to rise from Liyue Harbour, they hurried to light and release their own lantern. Unfortunately, they discovered that neither had experience with lighting lanterns, and they had even forgotten to bring a lighter. Luckily a flaming flower grew nearby, so they lit the lanterns using its stamen. Howeever, they released it before the air inside could get warm, and if not for a lucky upward current (cough* cough* definitely not summoned by Venti), the lantern would have had no chance of survival.
Standing there looking back at Liyue Harbour, the thousands of lanterns emerging as if by magic from the rooftops of the city, Venti though that they were not so different from the seeds of a dandelion, holding the wishes of people to carry with the wind.
"Almond tofu" said Xiao, breaking the silence between them.
Venti turned to look at Xiao, his confusion too insignificant to bring a frown to his face.
"I like eating Almond Tofu"
The words put a growing smile on the young man's face, until his features were possibly even brighter than the thousands of lanterns flying toward fulfillment.
...
Xiao thought maybe, just maybe he could understand why seeing another smile could fill you with so much joy.
Hello again! This is (as the title of the story suggests) a start to a whole Xiaoven series I want to write. they will all be called Echoes of the Dihua Flute: [something, so if you liked the story (though I feel like my writing had plummeted dramatically in quality), there will be more~