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It was another dark night. Though the moon’s pale light was illuminating the lands and its reflection sparkled brightly across the water, there was no moonlight that could’ve reached Xiao’s thoughts. He believed himself to be stronger than his past, that he would be able to resist the darkness and despair for years to come. But on some lonely nights, Xiao wasn’t so sure anymore. Daylight had allowed him to silence the voices and screams ringing through his head with ease before, but it was seemingly more difficult now. The humor was not lost on him- the Conqueror of Demons could defeat every demon appearing on Teyvat, yet not the ones plaguing his heart?
He was leaning on the railing at Wangshu Inn’s top floor, seeking comfort in the silence and the mountains in the distance, watching over Liyue. Still, he couldn’t help but to feel alone. Once, he had stood alongside the other Yakshas, protecting the land under Rex Lapis’ command. But the bloodshed and countless fights claimed their victims; one by one the Yakshas fell, and now Xiao was the only one left in the mortal realm.
He thought of his acquaintances, and whether or not he should seek someone’s company. Zhongli? No, the Geo Archon had already enough on his plate and frankly- he was one of the causes for Xiao’s troubles. The little zombie girl who was kind enough to always pick him some flowers? No. Xiao once made a grave mistake and it took away everything from her. And she was still a child. Children shouldn’t be exposed to matters this dark. The other Adepti? Most of them weren’t exactly the most empathetic beings and Ganyu was training under his guidance, making her essentially his student. What kind of teacher would show his deepest weaknesses to a student he’s supposed to help become strong?
The last person Xiao thought of was the golden-haired traveler. They were reliable, kind, and spent their days helping everyone in Teyvat. And as they weren’t fully human either, the traveler could possibly even understand some of Xiao’s feelings. But then again, was Xiao even capable of putting the darkness raging inside of him into words? And would the traveler have time to listen? He didn’t even know where the Outlander and their little fairy companion were. Maybe it would be improper to seek them out for such a personal matter. Or anyone. He had survived thousands of years alone, after all.
Just as Xiao was debating between what minimal options he had, the wind blowing from Guyun Stone Forest carried a peaceful melody to his ears. A tune played on a flute. The melody was unfamiliar to him, but the effect it had on him wasn’t. The storm inside of him stopped tearing him to pieces and his body slowly stopped shaking. Xiao could sense Verr Goldet at the reception desk let out a sigh of relief as the tension at the inn was diminished. It was as the flute’s sound was purifying him, freeing him from the darkness threatening to consume him. Xiao then realized- it was the same as back then. The night he had been in agonizing pain, on the verge of death... he had been saved by someone playing the flute. When he had gone to look for his savior, they had disappeared before Xiao could catch a glimpse of them. This time, he wouldn’t miss it.
Closing his eyes, the Yaksha listened to the wind as he tried to locate where the music was coming from. He allowed the wind to guide him, moving as swiftly as the wind itself. Getting closer to the Guyun Stone Forest, he immediately felt the divine energy nearby. Preparing himself for a possible battle, Xiao summoned his mask and raised his spear as he moved towards the music’s source. But when he landed on the shore, Xiao saw neither an enemy or a threat.
Instead, there was a bard. Clad in green, sitting on a rock peeking from the water, his legs dangling off the edge. Caressing the flute, he was playing the same calming melody the Yaksha had tracked here. The wind rustled the bard’s long cape, the flowers hanging on the side of his hat, and Xiao’s own clothes as well. The bard knew Xiao was there, he couldn’t hide his presence from an Archon. And the bard definitely was one. The Anemo Archon, Barbatos, or Venti, the name he preferred to go by nowadays.
Neither of them moved or said anything. There were too many emotions and not enough words to describe them. Xiao simply stood there, listening to Venti play his flute as he thought about everything. All those times, when he had been in trouble or badly injured, the wind had assisted him. And that one night when the wind had carried a healing tune... had it all been Venti’s work? Xiao knew asking would be pointless, for the Archon wouldn't give him a clear answer. So instead, he decided to lower his guard, put away his weapons and hoped that Venti could feel his gratitude.
When the Archon finished playing his song, he turned to smile gently at Xiao and patted the seat next to him. Xiao sighed and accepted his invitation. They talked about their casual lives- or rather, Venti spoke and the Yaksha simply listened. Before either of them really noticed, the moon had traveled across the sky and was making way for the sun, coloring the horizon orange.
“I take no pay for this performance, for I am more than happy with our meeting by chance!”
The bard proudly declared his final words before he departed, taking with him the darkness and chill of the night. As the sun rose, Xiao realized that once again, he had made it through one more difficult night thanks to the Anemo Archon. But if he had a plethora of questions before, they were now an unanswerable amount. The most prominent one being: what exactly was the silly bard to Xiao, the Guardian Yaksha?