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The familiar scents of the inn wrapped around him, guided by the draft that flowed through the renowned local landmark. An aloof Adeptus was perched on the sturdy balcony of that same inn, his nails scraping against the railing as he cast his gaze over the vibrant landscape that stretched as far as he could see. From the damp marshes to the towering mountains to the sprawling fields…it was all beautiful, and it was all his domain. Well, it was actually the domain under the care and protection of Rex Lapis, the patron Archon of the region as well as the Prime of the Adepti. He was the master that Xiao served, and as a result the dutiful Adeptus adopted his master’s principles and plans as obediently as was expected of him. It wasn’t like he resented his position; he took pride in being trusted with the responsibility of defending and preserving the Geo Archon’s legacy, as well as his people…everything required protection, and Xiao had had more than enough experience to know how to manage the duty he’d been fulfilling for…well, it must have been hundreds of years by now.
A ruthless and accomplished guardian Yaksha, a skilled warrior who struck fear in the very souls of his enemies…and even many of his allies. He and his fellow Adepti were contracted to safeguard the peace and prosperity of Liyue and its people, although he’d never really experienced the fruits of that success and safety himself. It wasn’t his job to do so, nor was it his job to shirk his responsibilities or let his guard down; as if the lingering voices of the countless souls he’d slain would grant him such a reprieve. To desire such trivial things was to fall prey to his own doubts and delusions, a weakness he’d vowed to never yield to no matter what came to pass. Even the slightest dwindling of his focus could lead to chaos and disaster rearing their heads, depending on the kind of enemy or evil that managed to slip through the cracks of his distraction.
His mind rarely strayed from his duty to ensure that things went smoothly under his watch; for the most part, they did. Of course, there were instances where even he came face to face with challenges or circumstances that were beyond his control, sometimes even beyond his comprehension. He shuddered to recall them and quickly shifted his thoughts elsewhere, to anything else. Ruminating on such blood stained and tragic memories was exactly the kind of thing Xiao loathed and resented, the kind of self-generated pitfall he was typically quite adept at avoiding. But, immortal or not, he was still vulnerable to many of the same limitations and uncertainties that the mortals he watched over found themselves plagued with no matter how much time passed.
It wasn’t like he’d had a lot of experience mingling with mortals himself. It was standard practice for he and his fellow Adepti to dedicate themselves to seclusion and watch over Liyue and its people from a respectable distance. As Xiao examined the picturesque scene before him, his musings drifted towards the potentially unproductive idea that he had become more dedicated to the land itself than to its people. Was Rex Lapis the same way? Ruling over Liyue as the Lord of Geo, the Adeptus supposed that it wasn’t really that much of a stretch to conclude that the Archon was more concerned with the tangible state of Liyue’s highest peaks and lowest valleys rather than the transient individuals inhabiting them. Xiao swiftly shook that thought from his mind, tightening his grip on the spear he’d propped against the railing. No, no, he knew better than anyone how far from the truth that assumption was…yet something about it still lingered in his mind, fraying the edges of his worries even further.
Was he just feeling antsy, anxious? What could he do about it, what did he want to do about it, if anything? It was during these quiet periods of tedium that he realized just how reliant he was on the brutal yet predictable state of battle. On the battlefield he had a purpose, something concrete to achieve, a goal that he could clearly define and use to measure whether or not he was accomplishing what he’d set out to do. When he had too much time to himself, he struggled not to go mad with the aimless and often contradictory contemplation that ensnared him without fail. It was like he couldn’t escape it…more than that, he couldn’t escape himself. But, even knowing that, it wasn’t like there was anything he could do about it.
“Is everything alright?” the owner of the Wangshu Inn, Verr Goldet, inquired as she approached. It was rare to see her step away from the reception desk, and even rarer for someone to address him so directly, without even a hint of fear or hesitation. Xiao glanced over his shoulder, giving her a fleeting, unreadable expression before resuming his silent observation of the landscape.
“I only ask because you seem…troubled,” Verr Goldet continued, exercising her confidence as she moved to stand right next to him. She rested her arms on the railing and leaned forward a bit, analyzing the silent Yaksha with scrutinizing yet tender eyes. “Not that it’s any of my business. I know Adepti exist on a different level, in a completely different world compared to us mere mortals. But you seem to trust my husband and I enough to keep visiting, and I appreciate all you’ve done for us, whether you want to take credit for it or not.”
Xiao stubbornly clung to his silence, but he couldn’t deny that the woman’s kind words moved his heart to some degree. That was quite the feat, considering that sometimes he wasn’t entirely sure he possessed such a thing. And, if one had ever existed within him, he didn’t know if it was still there in any way, shape, or form. Had it vanished long ago? Was it still being chipped away at, bit by fractured bit, while somehow still sustaining him with its dwindling support? Ugh, he didn’t like getting caught up in mortal musings like this. They were consistently infuriating, confusing, complex…and he didn’t have the time, patience, or knowledge to process them, as unsettling as that was to confess.
“I appreciate all that you do here as well, all that this inn stands for. On behalf of both myself and every member of the Adeptal council, your generosity in welcoming us and accommodating our needs has not gone unnoticed.”
The woman giggled into her sleeve, quickly turning away in an attempt to regain her composure. “Such rigid formality…you know that’s not necessary. But I respect it all the same. I know I’ll never be able to properly express the depth of my gratitude for all that you do for us; for all of Liyue. For both the deeds we’re able to recognize, and those that will forever go unnoticed. I know I can only speak for myself when I express my thanks from the bottom of my heart. And I’m sure the rest of the citizens feel much the same way. You always do such tireless work for us. Watching over us, guiding us, defending us…I don’t think we could ever possibly repay you for everything you’ve done.”
“Such remuneration is unnecessary.”
It was true that the Wangshu Inn and the staff that kept it running had done their fair share of favors for the Adepti over the years, although Xiao was pretty much the only one that ever visited in person. That was fine with the owners and patrons alike…well, perhaps not so much for the latter. While a majority of the locals were aware of the intimate details regarding the rumors and warnings that loomed over Xiao like a curse, his reputation sometimes even managed to reach beyond Liyue’s borders. In a way, he was both a warrior and a weapon, shackled by his duties and simultaneously drawn to them. He’d been bound by this cycle for so long, he’d ceased questioning the way of life he’d dedicated himself to; he saw no point in it. Whether he’d known the true extent of what he was getting into all those years ago or not, it didn’t really matter all that much to him now. The past was the past, and all the callous Adeptus could do was focus on the present, keep marching towards the future. But, if that was the decision he’d made, why couldn’t he seem to let go of the past?
“What makes you so sure?” The tone in her voice piqued his interest, and Xiao turned towards her again only to discover that a plate of his favorite dish had unexpectedly arrived. Its warm, sweet aroma engulfed him like a comforting embrace. Wangshu Inn was known for serving the best almond tofu in all of Liyue, probably even in all of Teyvat. Although he’d never admit it, the Adeptus had an undeniable soft spot for this particular local delicacy, and despite how shameful it may have seemed, the fact that he often procured a serving when he stopped by definitely influenced the frequency of his visits.
Verr Goldet gave him a gentle smile, a twinkle of genuine appreciation and understanding dancing in her eyes as she stepped away to return to her own tasks. Xiao felt a faint flame flicker in his heart—another indication of its existence, perhaps?—as he took a bite, savoring the silky smooth texture as it warmed him up from the inside out. It wasn’t the temperature of the food itself that had such a profound impact on him. If someone asked him to explain this feeling or what caused it, he would be at a loss for words. The logistics didn’t matter, anyway. Right now, all that mattered was that he was able to enjoy this almond tofu the way he always did. Amidst the dark, brooding memories that clung to him like starving leeches, draining him the same way he’d drained the life of so many others, and the crippling fear of the unknown, of the kind of trials and tribulations that still inevitably stood before him…at least the almond tofu tasted good.