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Leaves fluttered down around the two figures as they stood side by side in the heart of the vibrant wilderness. The breeze that passed through was calm and refreshing, but it seemed only one of them was feeling the benefits of that tranquility. Zhongli held out his hand and conjured his spear with a flourish, an elegant and powerful tool that appeared in a dazzling burst of sparks. Effortlessly twirling it around his wrist in one smooth motion, he held it upright and peeked over to observe his companion’s reaction.
The young man took up a decisively defensive posture as the weapon materialized, prepared to strike either preemptively or in retaliation at a moment’s notice. Zhongli supposed he should have expected as much. It probably wasn’t the wisest idea to summon his weapons willy nilly, especially in the presence of an individual who had been bound by conflict and stained by blood for the majority of his existence. But that was part of the reason he’d brought him out here in the first place; to offer him the opportunity to forge a new existence, to accept a future that would hopefully prove much more fulfilling and enable the young yaksha to realize his full potential.
The expression the yaksha wore as he examined the weapon was strange to say the least. His mysterious eyes were perplexed and guarded as he swiveled his head this way and that, his posture reflecting much the same attitude as he attempted to get a closer look. Curious, yet unconvinced. It wasn’t like he’d never encountered such an item before…and if he hadn’t, the Archon would have been quite surprised to be proven wrong. Temporarily disregarding his personal musings on the matter, the notable expression coloring the yaksha’s otherwise stoic face told Zhongli everything he needed to know. Trying to coax his new charge into taking the implement from him, it seemed that said charge wasn’t exactly interested in complying.
“It will give you a significant advantage in battle if you choose to wield it,” Zhongli patiently explained, his voice smooth and firm. “Even more so if you allow me to demonstrate the best techniques to bring out both its full potential, and your own.”
“Aren’t teeth and claws good enough?” the one he’d granted the name ‘Xiao’ argued in a reserved voice.
Ah, so that’s where his objection stemmed from. So accustomed to carrying out his previous master’s orders with nothing more than his instincts and the tools he was born with, Zhongli supposed it made sense that the young yaksha would regard such a foreign concept with some skepticism. Adding superfluous nonsense to the dynamics of battle wouldn’t serve any real purpose in Xiao’s eyes, especially when he’d been able to carry out his tasks successfully for so long with little to no assistance.
But this was a different time, a different place, and the Archon of War had an extensive wealth of knowledge regarding the best ways to optimize one’s odds in a fight. He’d honed his own skills and expertise through years of personal experience, and there was a part of him that felt it was his duty to share such information with any that he determined might gain some benefit from it, no matter how meager their status or apparent lack of ability. If he could help this troubled refugee of his adopt a more suitable and productive outlet for his bloodlust, perhaps he could still prove to himself that Xiao really was worth saving.
It wasn’t as if he couldn’t be a merciful god…although that certainly wasn’t the first or most prominent thing he was known for. “They serve a purpose, yes, but I believe you’ll be surprisingly pleased with how far wielding a proper weapon can take you.”
Yes, Xiao had had his fair share of experience with weapons. He was a weapon, a disposable tool that’d been employed for his utility as a ruthless and reliable killer. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d done anything else, when he’d been rewarded or encouraged to employ a different method to deal with whatever obstacle happened to spring up in his path. Now that this other god had saved him, freed him from the shackles he’d been chained to for as long as he could remember…it was almost as if this gesture of goodwill was wasted on someone like him. All he could do was fight; that was all he knew. But, then again, it seemed that was one of the only things this new master was going to demand of him as well.
Why did it matter how he got the job done, as long as he did it? Xiao didn’t understand this shallow preoccupation with trying to improve himself, or give himself some sort of edge in a fight. He’d been fulfilling his duties for years using the means of attack at his disposal, and nothing more. So why was this Archon trying to convince him to change, to try something new? It didn’t make much sense, but even he had to admit that he was starting a completely new chapter of his life. A blank slate that had yet to be recorded or even imagined. Xiao supposed it was only natural that there would be one or two unexpected developments for him to face, and even accept. If he could do that much, would that mean he really had a chance to find and forge a new future for himself? Did he even want to?
He reached out to touch the pole arm, sliding his fingers around the curved staff directly under where Zhongli’s gloved hand held it firm. Securing his grip, it wasn’t readily apparent to Xiao exactly how this weapon was intended to increase or support his attacks. He’d seen people wield weapons like this on plenty of occasions, but he couldn’t remember a single instance where he’d faced an adversary that could outmatch the power and wit he commanded entirely on his own. Would the Archon’s pretty words turn out to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors, an illusion or distraction intended to undermine him just long enough to damn him to an unfortunate yet deserving fate of atonement? Well, there was no turning back now…perhaps it was time to find out.