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“For the Yaksha lost all his friends, family, and those he fought alongside. He built up an incalculable karmic debt from the violent deeds his like necessitated, and the consequence was a heart filled with darkness from which there was no rest.
There was no reward to be gained nor there any escape from the unbearable suffering. The torment ate away at his heart and an infinite number of lifetimes could have done nothing to reduce it."
(一)
The first offering comes with a sober message.
He raises an eyebrow at the Traveler and her companion, in her hands a plate of lettuce and a plate of almond tofu. He had already sent them away once before.
Surely they can’t believe he’s that simple? The traveler isn’t the first one to try yet it’s almost insulting every time it happens, to believe an Adeptus could be curried into favor.
But when he looks into her eyes, he sees desperation. She tells Xiao about the Geo Archon's death with no hint of deceit in her voice. He thinks about how she couldn’t pull off deception even if she tried.
So he gives her his cooperation and a message to pass on.
He hears rumblings about her around the inn in the days after. The traveler caused quite a stir among the mortals, not only for being an outlander but also for taking various odd commissions ranging from fixing the staircase to finding artistic inspiration for poems.
“We will not need help clearing the area, Adeptus Xiao.” Verr Goldet tells him on a quiet morning. “The traveler took all three commissions.”
Why? Is what he thinks. But he shrugs it down.
He does not care about the motivations behind the actions of mortals nor does he expect to see her again.
(二)
The second offering comes unexpected.
Four days after Rex Lapis' supposed death, she appears again.
Lumine sits on the balcony of Wangshu Inn, the midday sun, bright and bold, casting short shadows on the wooden balcony floor. In front of her is a raised tray with a meat dish and a plate of almond tofu. The balcony is otherwise empty as usual, most people know to stay away from the Adeptus after all, but Lumine seems content to sit there unmoving, eyes fluttering closed as she hums a little tune with the wind.
“Your attempts are futile, Traveler.” Xiao finally resigns to appear, arms crossed and drumming his fingers against his elbow. He eyes the plates suspiciously. “I am not an Adeptus who gives wealth or blessings.”
Lumine just smiles. “Still they are for you.” She says.
They stand there for a moment unmoving and staring at each other. Him with his eyes narrowed and hers with a curiosity he does not understand. A stalemate.
“If I eat would you leave?” He sighs.
She gives the sunniest smile he’s seen, eyes crinkling. “Absolutely, Adeptus Xiao.”
The traveler shines with a naivety like she’s never seen the evils of the world. For someone like him who lives in darkness, it is impossibly bright, almost unbearable even, to be in her presence. And for some reason, all she wants is for him to eat. He does not understand it.
And she watches as he does, wide golden eyes trained on his face like she’s looking for an answer to a puzzle. To chase her away sooner, he cuts the tiniest piece of meat and swallows it down. It sticks to his throat and is overbearingly sweet.
“I guess Mondstadt food is not to your liking.” Still she gives a satisfied nod and makes good on her promise to leave.
Bosacius, Indarias, Bonanus, Menogias and Alatus.
At the start there were five and now there is one.
He has never seen their faces, always hidden behind the masks that they wear. All that's left is the memory of their figures and the understanding that all of them have returned to dust.
Adepti do not need to sleep, but sometimes he does.
Some nights, sleep is better than being left with his thoughts. On other nights like tonight, he sees memories of the past. He sees terror in the eyes of innocents as he drains them of their hope and dreams. The life in their eyes slowly fades, leaving behind an empty shell before they are painted red with the backsplash of blood.
Then the voices creep into his head. It’s worse than being awake.
“Indarias, Bonanus, Menogias.”
“All of them left for dead in the war. Tragic. Tragic.”
“And ah, Bosacius...offed himself, didn't he? The fall to madness was quite amusing, isn’t it?”
“And now all that’s left is the cruel bloodstained hands of the fifth.”
“He’s not going to respond.” Another voice chimes in. “ He never does.”
“Doesn’t matter.” The first voice cackles. “ Mighty Yaksha, just how long more do you have, I wonder? ” They echo into his ear. “We look forward to finally seeing your fall.”
(三)
The third offering comes with an attempt at understanding.
Today’s dish is a plate of stir fry along with the plate of almond tofu. Lumine sets the tray down before moving to look out of the balcony.
Xiao sighs as he materializes, more out of habit than anything else. Then, he reaches out a hand to take the plate, cutting a small piece and bringing it to his mouth. The traveler is overly persistent. But of the many battles he fights, this is not one worth fighting.
She shuffles the tiniest bit closer to his side.
When he follows her gaze, he finds himself looking at the rocky structure of the Guyun Stone Forest. Lumine looks at it the way most humans do, with awe at the towering structure standing firm against the tides of the ocean. To the humans, it's a story of good vs evil, a testament to the Lord of Geo’s power and triumph.
For Xiao, all he sees is poison and filth. The cold chilling energy of embittered souls simply biding their time, waiting to crawl to the surface yet again. Time and time again, they will do so - they never truly die after all. And time and time again, he will deal with them as per his contract. For years and years to come, until he eventually falls.
“Days and nights you seem to stand here alone.” Lumine says almost like a question. “To be tasked with watching over Liyue alone, standing at these heights looking down..it must be lonely, isn’t it?”
Xiao stares at her. “We are not borne by such mortal constraints.” He huffs, bringing a hand to his forehead. His eyes narrow, making her stiffen slightly. “A simple human cannot understand the ways of the Adepti. Just like how Adepti will never understand your concept of loneliness.”
“But still,” She persists, “To have no respite or resolution-”
Her mouth is open mid sentence when he cuts her off, there’s a weariness in his bones and in his voice. “Leave, I do not wish to hear your meaningless theories.”
Lumine casts him one last deep look before she bows her head and moves towards the door. He stabs the last piece of almond tofu and swallows it whole.
Today the dream is not as sweet.
She doesn’t come the week after. Or the week after that.
He doesn’t know why but he goes to look for her.
He finds her at an inn on the outskirts of Liyue Harbour. It does not take him long. Her wind is light and gentle and his is harsh and unforgiving but they still resonate from the same source. That alone is more than enough for the vigilant yaksha who has decades of experience hunting people down.
The inn is mostly empty, given its location off the path to Liyue Harbor. Inside, the air is stale and unmoving.
Lumine lies on the bed in the small sparsely furnished room, covered by a blanket to her chin. In the slivers of moonlight from the window, her face looks flushed and her breathing is short. Her floating companion hovering next to her, brushes away strands of blonde hair matted with sweat to place a cool washcloth on her forehead.
How fragile Humans are he thinks and it echoes in his head and in every corner of the room. Xiao would never be like the peaceful Adepti of Jueyun Karst who can bring blessings or healing. So once he checks that her condition is stable, he leaves.
(四)
The fourth offering comes with reconciliation.
Xiao turns around from his position at the railing to face the presence lingering behind him. He finds Lumine hovering at the door carrying the tray holding a rice dish and the usual plate of almond tofu.
“Ganyu taught me how to make this dish.” She stammers slightly. “I didn’t taste it since Qingxin flowers are poisonous to humans, but it should be good..I think? M-maybe an Adepti’s speciality would be more suited to your tastes.”
Xiao reaches out a gloved hand and takes the tray from her. He sets it on the balcony railing. As he turns, the little sigh of relief she makes does not escape him.
The dish itself is tolerable. It's colorful but mild tasting from the mixture of vegetables and berries. Xiao stomachs two or three bites before switching over to the almond tofu.
“Thank you for visiting me, by the way.”
Xiao raises an eyebrow and turns back to the dish in front of him.
Lumine laughs, breathy and free. The sound rushes to his ears, but instead of being annoyed, he finds himself slightly endeared against his will.
“Mortal souls are not as robust as those with adeptal energy” She quips, using his words from their very first meeting. “Your presence is overpowering, Mighty Yaksha.”
Xiao gives her a rather unimpressed look “And pray tell what took you out, Fragile human?”
“A Cryo Regisvine.”
It’s his turn to laugh, a little huff of amusement which she catches.
“Don’t laugh,” She pouts. “Ameno isn’t the best against cryo and it’s not always easy to find someone to help. Xiangling has to run her restaurant and Diluc has his winery. I wouldn’t want to be too much of a bother..”
In between bites of Almond Tofu, he thinks how the ways of this mortal are strange. She seems able to ramble on and on and yet is still reserved. She is not bound by contract yet gives freely and refuses to take. She is a bundle of contradictions he does not understand.
When he turns to face her again, her head is bobbing up and down, weighted with sleep. “Sorry” She mumbles, eyes fluttering open then shut again. “Still feeling a little bit weak.”
“Then why did you come here?” He asks.
Her head is almost lolling to one side at this point. “I wanted to see you.”
There is a weight on his shoulder as her body slumps gently against him. The evening sun flits through her eyelashes and makes her hair shine like gold. Gentle shadows highlight the peaceful rise and fall of her chest that tells him that she is asleep. Sighing, he shifts her head from its precarious position against his shoulder onto his thigh.
Against the backdrop of the red and orange sky, the wind whistles among the marsh reeds and autumn leaves, making them dance to its tune. Later, Xiao would have to make a trip to Liyue Harbour to drop her off.
Still, he supposes, it was not the worst way to spend an afternoon.
When Osial rises and Liyue threatens to fall, he finds her there. Of course the traveler sticks herself into places she does not belong.
And all Xiao can think about is that mortals around him often die. Yakshas are built for war and bloodshed, to show no mercy and to be shrouded with vengeance and hatred. He is built for destruction, to lay waste to all obstacles in front of him, regardless of who else falls in his wake. He thinks how fragile humans are and how easily she will break.
When Lumine fights, Xiao learns that she has her own strength. She’s warworn but still determined. The way she darts and swings her blade like she’s dancing with the wind shows that she’s been in many battles before. Adeptal energy is hard on a mortal’s body but she doesn’t show it as she embraces his power and flits across the battlefield. Maybe Lumine is not young or naive as he thought. She too, has faced some of the evils of the world. Perhaps her energy is something she embraces because she chooses it.
When he puts on his mask, the voices in his head echo, ringing loudly the chamber he traps himself in. Today he will have to put on the mask again. But the other Adepti are here. She is here. For once he is not alone.
When she falls, he moves without hesitation to catch her. Their touch feels electric.
“Careful now.” He says. His hand finds hers and he grips it gently, his other hand wraps around her waist to steady her. Cloud Retainer stares at him. He too is surprised by how gentle he sounds.
And then Rex lapis appears in a dream.
In his many forms, whether beast or dragon or man, the Lord of Geo has an unmistakable aura. Even to someone like Xiao, Rex Lapis’ power feels like an immense unwavering pressure that would easily crush him if Archon wishes.
Today, Rex Lapis seems almost different.
“Morax.” He breathes out, “You are not dead.”
Rex Lapis smiles. “Not dead no. But soon a thing of the past.”
Xiao wants to ask more. The Lord of Geo has always put Liyue first, regardless of what sacrifices had to be made. The Rex Lapis of the past would have been in the forefront of the battle to make the first strike if a threat like Osial rose. Xiao has many questions but the Guardian Yaksha has never once questioned the Lord of Geo.
Rex Lapis hums as if he hears these thoughts. “Liyue is entering a new era. There is no longer a need for a god to protect her.” He says, looking out into the horizon. Sharp amber eyes trace the jagged peaks rising from the sea, the remnants of many spears he had thrown decades ago. “And with Osial’s fall, the power of the Guyun Stone Forest is spent. No daemons will rise for decades to come.”
There is a look on Rex Lapis face that Xiao does not understand. “Guardian Yaksha..” He pauses, “I admit that at times I feel guilt for the contract between us. It appears that even when released from the control of your former master, you have never been free.”
“I don’t understand.” Xiao crosses his arms. “The ‘guilt’ you speak of is a mortal concept. We Adepti simply follow the roles assigned to us, you of all people should know that.”
Rex Lapis smiles. He looks almost pleased. “There are some things humanity can teach the Adepti.”
“My Vigilant Yaksha, I wonder if you too will get the chance?
Bosacius, Indarias, Bonanus, Menogias, and Alatus.
Out of the five, only Alatus remains.
And perhaps now, Alatus is free from his shackles and what’s left is up to Xiao.
(五)
The fifth offering is a wish for something more.
Other than the usual tray of food, Lumine kneels on the balcony fumbling slightly to light some incense.
He jumps lightly to the balcony from his position on the roof. “What are you doing” He asks.
“Making a prayer.” She hums, “A request per say.”
The dish today is a favorite of Cloud Retainer, it’s something that would be served when Rex Lapis gathers the Adepti at Mount Aozang. The way the dish is plated almost looks like it would meet the standard of the Lord of Geo himself. Xiao has a sneaking suspicion he had something to do with this.
Satisfied, Lumine takes a step towards the balcony railing, her face streaked with the colors of the setting sun.
“I’m told with Osial’s fall, the power of the Guyun Stone Forest is spent..” She stands stiff and says it like a memorized speech. Xiao shakes his head, the smallest of smiles threatening to form on his lips. “It does not suit you.” He says.
The wind flutters on to its endless song. It blows out several sticks of incense and also the guise of confidence she tried to keep up. Lumine coughs, cheeks flushed like the pink clouds in the sky. “So..” She whispers breathlessly, “So.. I was wondering if you would join me on my journey.”
He stares at those wide golden eyes willing him for an answer. This is new to him, a feeling he does not know how to capture in words. The closest he can get is that when he looks at her he feels almost tranquil, a sort of peace he never expected to have. And maybe, for once he has the time to figure it out.
“You are a ridiculous human.” He says but there isn’t any bite in his words.
He joins her at the balcony railing, their arms lightly brushing together as they look out into the sun. When she leaves, he follows her out the door.