Chapter Text
Fast forward to eight years later…
“Okay, Yuxi, we are done for today,” Ziqiao proclaimed. Yuxi fell to the ground and just lay there. “FINALLY! Oh my Archons, I'm so tired…” she grumbled. “Did you really have to make me find and kill 1000 bandits within one hour?”
Ziqiao smirked at her, “Huh, Yuxi, my dear student. I didn’t know you were so weak.” Yuxi glared back at her master, exasperated. “No, I am not! I can definitely beat Qingya in a fight, and I can even win against Streetward Rambler!”
“Didn’t you pass out from exertion the last time you challenged Ping? You even had to force your connection to Geo just to win one time.”
“At least I won…”
“You challenged Ping around 9 times already.”
“…”
“Hmph. Also, you shouldn’t compare yourself to Xiao Ya. Her path is that of a healer.”
“…”
They sat in comfortable silence on Ziqiao’s chariot all the way to Guili Plains. Ziqiao tossed an apple to Yuxi.
“Here. Pass this to Xiao Ya if you see her. She requested it.”
“Hey, don’t I get one? I’m hungry! Also, you know I love apples. That’s so unfair!” Yuxi pouted, catching the apple.
Ziqiao knew Yuxi was just teasing, and just ignored her, walking off. In a flash, she disappeared, leaving an annoyed Yuxi staring at the spot she disappeared.
Yuxi sighed. “That old woman, always doing things that no one can understand…”
She did not think too much about what Ziqiao said, and returned to her room in the palace.
She carefully took out her scrolls she had been studying the day earlier, and plopped down on her bed to start her daily reading sessions.
Yuxi had been taught by Guizhong, Ziqiao, and most importantly, Zhongli, to value knowledge, for (quoting Ziqiao) "To the mountains, knowledge is but a layer of dust settled over an eon; but to the mortal heart, it is the only flame capable of lighting a path through the shifting mists of destiny before they are returned to the earth."
Yuxi knows she is not mortal, but whatever! Ziqiao has a point! So since she was three months old (bodily, mentally she was now 1 year old) she had been devouring any books that had either been thrown her way, or she stole. (Yes, she was young, ok, and she didn’t know stealing was bad. Zhongli did pay for her stolen scrolls in the end, but the salesman was very disgruntled and embarrassed from being stolen from by a seemingly 3 months old child)
She stared at the twentieth jian on the bamboo scroll. “Yakshas…” she mumbled. “What are those? How have I not come across any mentions of them?” She bounced up from her comfy bed, quickly put on her fighting gear (because one can never be too prepared) and went to find Zhongli. Of everyone, he is the most likely person to know what ‘Yakshas’ are.
Zhongli had been chilling in his room when a messenger ran in. “Lord Morax! There-there’s been an-an attack!” The messenger yelled, kneeling down immediately when he saw Zhongli.
“WHAT?” Zhongli roared. “Where?”
“He is approaching the palace from the north. His hair is of black and teal, and he takes the form of a teenager, while there is a mask on his face. Lady Ziqiao is already rushing to the scene, and she believes that he is sent by a rival god.”
“Thank you for the report. Please inform Lady Guizhong about this as fast as possible. Tell her that I will deal with this, and she should defend the palace and civilians.” The messenger bowed again and retreated to find Guizhong as fast as possible.
Just then, Yuxi ran in, almost bumping into the messenger. “Woah! Be careful!” she told him, before facing Zhongli. “Zhongli ge-ge, what’s a Yaksha?”
“Yuxi, I’ll answer your question later. There’s an enemy attacking the palace, and you should go join Ziqiao. She’s at the north of here.” Zhongli ordered Yuxi, while retrieving his spear from his inventory and letting in float behind his back.
Yuxi’s eyes widened and her mouth opened into a small ‘O’. An enemy? Who would dare to attack the Lord of Geo, Heaven’s Star? After a split second of confusion, she nodded solemnly before springing up into the air and disappearing in a flash of wind.
After a few seconds, she reached the north of the Palace. Ziqiao was already locked in battle with 6 soldiers wearing enemy colours surrounding her. “It’s time you got here, Yuxi. There are many opponents here, you should take this as a opportunity to train under pressure.” Ziqiao shouted over the sound of weapons clashing.
Yuxi could spot Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver, and even the normally peaceful Guizhong was also using the dust to their advantage to blind the enemy forces. Yuxi glanced at the people who were trying to sneak into the section of the palace housing important documents.
“Where do you think you are going?” she hollered. The intruders froze in their tracks, looked at her, then as if recognising her, they all ran toward her, brandishing their weapons. She smirked. Did those incompetent enemies really think she was that easy to take down? She sliced her hand decisively through the air, her polearm Herald of Night blinking into existence, a glint of the setting sun’s light shone onto it, casting it in a halo of gold that greatly contrasted with its dark colours.
“Bring it on, idiots!” She yelled, quirking an eyebrow, then rushed in and joined the fray.
Yuxi made quick work of finishing those cumbersome enemies, and returned to the main battlefield.
“Hey, Ping Jie-jie.”
Another enemy down as she conversed with Ping.
“Where’s Qing?”
Two more men dealt with, falling with agonized screams when Herald of Night jabbed and sliced into their skin.
“Don’t worry.”
Ping smiled as she finished off 4 other soldiers.
“She’s in the infirmary, helping the wounded.”
She nodded at Yuxi, but her eyes strayed to the wide expanse of grass that was stained with red, and the palace that was far away.
Yuxi let out a sigh of relief, her movements not stopping. “Even though I know that Qing is very capable, I don’t think she can fight for so long without stopping…”
Ping spared a moment to level a deadpan stare at Yuxi. “My disciple is perfectly capable. After all, she learnt from the best…”
“Hey, I’m just saying she’s more suitable for healing… Her whole vibes just don't scream violence.” Yuxi replied sheepishly. Ping rolled her eyes at that statement.
Just then, a whirlwind of energy almost knocked Yuxi off her legs. She immediately ducked under the sword that thrusted at her from the enemy in front of her, and stabbed her sword into the grass and soil to steady herself.
“What the…”
After regaining her balance, she cursed herself for being so unaware of her surroundings. “Shit, that was very careless of me…”
Suddenly, there was a shift in the air.
“Xiao yu! Watch out!” Ziqiao cried from whatever corner of the grassland she was at.
Yuxi whipped around, bringing about a gust of wind strong enough to knock the men surrounding her to the ground. Just in time for her to see a shadow of black and teal—wait no, a teen, barreling towards her.
She yelped and scrambled backwards. Who in the Abyss is he? Yuxi had not sensed such a strong presence in a long time (well, if you count the time she has been alive as long) ever since she met all the adepti. Granted, she knew very well that this person in question was not an adepti. There was no way in—wait, if he isn’t one of the adepti, what is he doing here?!?!
A civilian? No way, civilians should not be here, and no ordinary civilian would have an aura that strong———
“Xiao yu! He’s the enemy! Retreat and leave him to us!” Ziqiao saw Yuxi suddenly freeze in the middle of the battle field, and her heart crystallised into stone.
Yuxi startled at the sound of her nickname, focusing back on her own battle. She really did have to get rid of that bad habit of hers. ‘You’re such an idiot,’ She chided herself. ‘Do you want to get killed?’
By now, the human whirlwind was already in front of her. How did he even move so fast?!?! Yuxi had no time to react, and could only use both hands to hold Herald of Night horizontally in front of her, hoping for her polearm to bear the brunt of the attack.
The resounding ‘clang!’ of metals coming into contact with each other sounded across the field. Yuxi staggered backward from the force of the blow, her arms cramping a bit.
“A formidable opponent…one that was able to withstand my blow..I have not faced such a being in ages…” a deep voice sounded beside her. The hairs on the back of Yuxi’s neck stood up. This was the mysterious entity that had almost injured her with the explosion from his residual energy!
Something told her that he was dangerous, and that she should run. It was a primal instinct deep inside her. Yuxi slowly turned around to get a better look at him, and came face to face with a spear that was trying to pierce her throat. She had no time to think, and her reflexes kicked in, using a bare hand to push up the blade of the spear.
The moment the blade touched her hand, Yuxi was almost overwhelmed by the negative aura surrounding it. She inhaled sharply, her hand stinging. Yuxi had never been more grateful that her original form had Cor Lapis, which blocked most of the blow.
The boy stared at the few drops of blood welling up on the girl’s hand. “What are you?” He muttered, staring at her hand in confusion. “How?” However, he did not hesitate to attack the girl once again.
From far away, where Ziqiao was, she could see her disciple locked in battle with the enemy boy. Yuxi was holding up fine, from the few snippets she spied. Ziqiao let go of the breath she didn’t even know she was holding in. At least Yuxi wasn’t in danger. Even though the boy had the upper hand, Yuxi wasn’t losing too badly.
Back to Yuxi. She was slowly faltering under the relentless blows of the boy. “Why…are you target…targeting me?” She grunted, having to use her hand to block his jade spear again. “My master told me to eliminate any threats and you are the easiest one to destroy,” he vaulted behind her and thrust the spear from behind her. Yuxi was forced to block again.
“You are…strong. Stronger than most Adepti I have met…I ask again. Who are you?” He rasped. “There’s no need for you to know, just die already! You will never be able to harm Morax!”
“Who said anything about harming Morax? That useless excuse of a god. My master could beat him within a few minutes!” The teen yelled back at her. “At least tell me your name. I want to know the name of the mortal who could withstand my blow.”
“Yuxi.” She answered coldly. Yuxi was now barely holding her own against the teen. “Whats yours?”
“Call me Alatus. And no, I’m not a mortal.”
Yuxi furrowed her brows. Just as she was a bit surprised, Alatus took this opportunity to swing his spear at Yuxi’s neck, planning to end her there and then.
“No!” Ziqiao yelled, and threw Harbinger of Dawn at Alatus’ Primordial Jade Spear, knocking it aside. However, it still sliced open the skin on Yuxi’s left arm, leaving a deep gash.
“Hmm, Adeptus Ziqiao cares a lot for her…This Yuxi must be someone of importance.” Alatus took note of their relationship, and smiled. Looks like he had new information to report to his master. Now that Ziqiao was here, there was no way he could beat her. In a flash of green light, Alatus disappeared, and the enemy soldiers also retreated.
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“Hello, Alatus. Welcome back,” the Goddess of Dreams drawled seductively. “How was your…trip?” Melinoe stared coldly at Alatus, much unlike her sickenly sweet tone.
“I met a girl called Yuxi who was able to withstand many of my attacks, and was also very close to Ziqiao, my lady,” he answered after kneeling down, avoiding Melinoe’s eyes.
“Someone of importance to Ziqiao…called what? Yuzu? Inconsequential trash, I can deal with her easily. As for Ziqiao, I’ll order— no, ask my allies to finish her off. Now, since you have scouted out the battlefield for me, time for your reward…” she trailed off and beckoned Alatus to come closer.
Alatus knew what was about to happen, and wanted to refuse. However, when he saw the dangerous glint of light in Melinoe’s eyes, he shivered and had no choice but to go up to Melinoe, each step echoing in the cavern.
“Now, bare yourself to me…”
Alatus grimaced and did as he was told.
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