Archive of Our Own

The morning was entering its nines, sunlight streaming through the window as the muffled, bustling noises from the group outside were nudged through the stone walls — but neither Xiao nor Albedo were ready to leave the bed. The curve of Xiao’s body, his strong, secure arms had enveloped Albedo in a protective hold ever since they resigned to bed three hours prior to the crack of dawn.

They were amongst the night owls, aside from Jean and Diluc themselves. All work and little rest. Knowing that, the other members of the group made sure to tiptoe around their rooms whenever they did not appear in the common room at the livest time in the morning.

Albedo’s platinum blonde hair was sprawled all over the pillow, his bare back facing Xiao’s equally exposed , firm chest as their fingers were loosely intertwined. The sensation of the blanket draped over them, of the intimate warmth emitting from their skin and spreading through each other, even the workaholics found themselves unable to escape the paradise.

“I am glad that we made this big step. We have taken a lot of time,” Albedo spoke up among the chirping of the birds outside, staring at the glistening window.

Xiao let out a small noise in agreement, still mulling over how impossibly comfortable he had gotten with his partner. “The thought of sleeping undressed seemed like an absurd notion previously but… I suppose it has its own merit.”

“In the cold, people often disrobed and used each other as body heat,” Albedo idly informed.

Xiao raised a brow, and glanced over to Albedo in interest. “Had it ever happened to you before?”

“Yes. Timaeus becomes surprisingly, easily cold.”

“… Hmph.”

At the sound of Xiao’s disgruntled tone, Albedo slightly turned his body to peer at his beloved, a small smile appearing on his lips. “Oh? Is my dear Xiao alright? You seemed slightly less happier than seconds ago.”

Xiao scoffed at the implication. “Petty human emotions are beneath me.” Then he leaned down to nibble on the shell of Albedo’s ear, eliciting a small laugh from the man. “But if you are entertaining the thought of teasing an adeptus again, you had better be prepared.”

“You make it so easy.” Albedo hummed, letting the spread of red show on his cheeks without complaint.

Xiao growled softly at that and leaned his head down to bury his nose into Albedo’s neck, biting harder on his beloved’s collarbone as a punishment. The reaction to that was a small groan, but the man made no move to push Xiao away regardless as he merely lightly tugged Xiao by his short forest hair (to which there was a noticeable hard, restrained ‘’nngh!’’ from the yaksha). Fortunately, it was a spot that was located where it would not invite a lot of questions.

Otherwise, there were no complaints from either of them.

Finally, Xiao released Albedo’s collarbone and rolled over to lay on his back fully while Albedo turned to face Xiao, idly tracing his own finger down the center of Xiao’s well-defined pectorals, causing Xiao to shiver ever so subtly. Truly, one’s body was not something Albedo was particularly interested in (and neither did Xiao), unless they held an otherworldly quality for research, but he was intrigued over how Xiao built his over times of warring. 

“How did this come about?” Albedo asked, sliding his finger over to Xiao’s right upper arm, where green, serpent-like markings coiled around his biceps. 

“It resonates with the use of the mask. It serves no further meaning otherwise,” Xiao explained, then scanned the diamond mark on Albedo’s own throat. “What about yours?”  

“I am unsure. The best guess I have is its connection to Khaenri'ah’s alchemy and a symbol behind the conjuration that was used to create me. My old master did not speak much of it and I was not curious to pry,” Albedo replied, shrugging his shoulders.

“...I see.”

Albedo pressed his nose against Xiao’s hair, squeezing the other’s biceps softly in reassurance that it was of no importance to him. “And what of the one on your back?” Albedo asked to change the subject.

There was an audible sharp intake of breath, as Xiao’s gaze lingered upon the ceiling before it shifted to Albedo’s expression. It was a tale that not many knew, except for those who existed during the Archon War. The bloodhound of his old master, the slaughterer of villages — those were the stories that transpired across the battlefield as his master’s victories accumulated until Morax.

After awhile, Xiao decided that it was a stupid sensation to entertain, whatever that talon grab on his chest was, as it had been since millennia when he last saw his master’s crushed, defeated expression. There was no reason to continue being bound by a worthless memory.

“My former master, before Morax, imprinted it upon me when he made me serve him,” Xiao said in a slower place, clenching his fist, undoing every single knot that was trying to catch his words at his throat. There was no reason to feel this way, none at all — especially not around Albedo. “At times, it was to alert the villagers of their impending judgement, at times it was … my own punishments.”

“Xiao...”

Xiao huffed, letting out a pent up sigh he never thought he held in his chest. “It had been thousands of years ago, long enough time for any troubles to fade away for an adeptus.”

For once, Xiao was appreciative for Albedo’s innate ability to render his own expressions incomprehensible. Even though he found it in himself to trust Albedo to share with this painful, historic information, he was still irked by any worst case possible scenarios stemming from Albedo’s reactions. He did not wish for things to change, not even the slightest. A part of Xiao wished for Albedo to look at him as though he was an all powerful adeptus that could be relied upon in times of strife, as though he possessed enough beauty to be worth Albedo’s attention.

Amid Xiao’s own thoughts, his gradual averting of gaze, Albedo leaned over to press his lips softly against the shape of Xiao’s jawline. Nothing would change, not in the way Albedo already loved him.

“I apologize for bringing such reminders, regardless,” Albedo said softly against Xiao’s skin. “You have come a long way from the pain you endured.”

Better him than someone else , Xiao always thought to himself. Closing his eyes, he let out a small sigh again as he hesitantly roped an arm around Albedo’s shoulders. “I do not desire for it to affect my present circumstances with those around me, especially not you — of all of them.”

“You would have caused my heart to reach out to you, no matter what transpired. It would not change anything,” Albedo reassured softly, looking up at Xiao with the same tenderness he always held for the yaksha. “You will always be that stubborn, kind adeptus who carried the soul of a noble tiger.”

“That is an exaggeration...” Xiao mumbled.

There was a smile upon Albedo’s expression that always hid everything, but near nothing when it came to his beloved Xiao, especially when the familiar stubbornness peered from every enunciation of Xiao’s statement. The softest, barest of Albedo’s chuckles filled the space around them in amusement (and perhaps, fondness) as the alchemist leaned up to touch Xiao’s nose with his own and shifted his upper body weight onto the yaksha, trapping Xiao in between himself and the bed.

It was one of those days when Xiao was reminded how truly touch starved his body was, for as long as it had refused any contact. Not with Albedo, and he wondered when it actually changed. His hands ached to feel the softness of Albedo’s skin, his chest yearned for the warmth that Albedo’s own body emitted, how his own body sighed at the sensation of being touched like he was alive. 

It was a day he would refuse it to end, not when it was shared with Albedo.

Xiao’s other arm came around Albedo’s waist to support the other and keep Albedo from falling, as Xiao let out a small peaceful hum. Not before long, they busied with their mouths, tongues dancing in the air as the warmth of the sunlight piled upon their flushed skin.

Days after, Xiao had been busying himself with collecting materials for further refinement of his battle arsenal. The world was constantly growing and there was never a time to linger and remain complacent about one's battle prowess. Aside from that, the way of combat was the only element the yaksha was known to excel in, the only way they knew to defend Liyue — and if Xiao could not even fulfill that responsibility, then what use was he to his duties?

Thus he stood outside Albedo's workshop, carrying a large burly sack over his shoulder with ease, with the intention of having the materials crafted to their desired quality. 

Except that there was a sign that said "in the process of conducting research.

"It means to come back later," a small but perky voice chimed in from his left.

Xiao peered down at the child — no, there were two of them — staring up at him with their wide eyes. This was not the first time he had come into contact with children but always the situation would tempt him to disappear. An alarm in his head would sound off, reminding him more clearly of the bloodstained yaksha that he was.

Not that he abhorred children either but with what he had accumulated with millennia of slaughtering, he should not be around souls with such high purity levels.

"In the meantime, my name is Klee!" Klee said cheerfully.

Ah, Albedo's little sister.

… whom he had taken precautions to avoid over the duration of his relationship with Albedo.

"-- and this is Qiqi." Klee gestured to the other child to her right.

And yet another one whom Xiao did not wish to encounter, due to reasons tucked away in one of his and Liyue's sordid past.

"We are forming an excursion team!" Klee finished. "We have one spot left if you would join us!"

"I am not interested. Seek for someone else," Xiao simply said, turning around and it would have been his cue to leave if not for Klee leaping forward to grab onto his long, flowing sleeve.

"No, no! Please hear us out!" Klee begged.

"We are looking for the music of the waking dead," Qiqi spoke up for the first time within those minutes full of dread.

Xiao grumbled, and peered down at the two of them. The waking what ? "What in the manner .. forget it. This is none of my concerns."

"Please! We need someone big to help us esca— travel to the concert!" Klee exclaimed, correcting herself quickly as she mimicked the look of a kicked kitten with her expression. "We were going to ask big brother Albedo but he is not in."

Xiao simply stared back, wholly unimpressed. "Did you think that would have an effect on me? I am an adeptus, I am not a simple frail hearted mortal."

The words caused Qiqi to perk up as she focused her sights on him. "An adeptus…? And you look familiar too. Have we met before?"

"... Where is that concert?" was the only thing that came out of the adeptus.

The unspoken acceptance of their request might have distracted the zombie from seeking an answer to her inquiry. Though Xiao more often would entertain the option of disappearing from sight altogether, there was a slight tug in his conscience at shutting the innocent child out from her morbid past, caused by the battles between the adepti and daemons, no less.

This would not be sufficient to redeem himself, Xiao desperately understood that, but even he did not have the cruelty of shunning her and ignoring the weight of a dire consequence of his actions. A lost life of a child — a heavy debt that could never be repaid with even a million of small favors.

This was merely a hidden apology for not being able to bestow her with the truth.

Nevertheless, this was a mere effortless endeavour to perform for an immortal of his caliber. For him, it would only take a few minutes when it would take average mortals two days to travel along the same large distance. He ushered the two of them to stand within the glowing perimeter of his powers and wrapped them along the path leading up to Liyue, stopping at the area between Qingce village and Stone Gate as directed by the pamphlet in Klee's hands.

“Ah…” A familiar warm voice caught their attention.

Opposite to them, there was Albedo — having been caught in the middle of his sketching on his canvas when they suddenly appeared right on the spot he was using as references. The dancing geo and anemo Crystalflies he was observing had absconded from their position and scattered themselves into the wind, leaving his artwork unfinished for an indefinite amount of time.

Xiao shifted his gaze away from the sky, then at the canvas. “Did I obstruct your work?” 

He carefully placed his brush back down on his palette and lightly wiped a few sweat off his forehead. “No, it is … well, it is of no consequence. I was merely taking a break,” Albedo reassured.

“Big brother Albedo!” Klee chirped happily as she left their side and ran over to put her arms around Albedo’s legs, or as far as the little one could reach. “You said you are on a break? Does that mean there is time for Klee?”

“Yes, of course.” There was a small note of smile in both his tone and facial expression as he leaned down to pat Klee on her head. “But I am also curious how this happened. Did you and Qiqi kidnap Xiao on your way?”

Xiao scoffed, placing a hand on his hip. “Put that thought out of your mind. No mortals in existence could possibly even attempt it.”

Qiqi was left staring at Albedo and Klee with a forlorn look on her face, blinking as a small wave of heat stirred in her chest. She looked up at the adeptus and then back at Albedo as though to analyze some sort of medicine. When thoughts began to form in her mind, she stepped away from Xiao — and stood in front of the adeptus to wrap her arms around his legs, face buried in his lap, in the similar way Klee was demonstrating with her own family.

There was a slight startle and change in Xiao’s typically stiffened posture when it happened. Frowning, he looked down at the child that had the audacity to hold him in such a manner.

“What do you think you are doing?” was the words that left the yaksha upon the entire thing.

“You seemed lonely,” Qiqi only said.

A ridiculous notion was what it was , Xiao resolved in his head as he maintained his stern demeanor. “Your observations are entirely unfounded. Now release me.”

But to his chagrin, she only held on tighter. “No.” 

Albedo observed the scene with interest before Klee smacked him in the face with the pamphlet in her hand to catch his attention. “Klee—??” He then caught the piece of paper and stared down at it in confusion. “A concert? Is this where you wish to go?”

“Qiqi says it’s music of the waking dead,” Klee explained. “And it’s starting soon — over there!”

Albedo looked over to the direction where she was pointed. It was difficult to tell precisely the details but there was a crowd of people surrounding a raised platform at the bottom of the mountain.

“Ah, I understand. Let us make haste then,” Albedo said and offered his hand for Klee to take, in which she did, excitedly.

As Albedo and Klee walked towards the stadium, Qiqi finally released Xiao and caught him by his long sleeve before he could leave. Ridiculous , Xiao inwardly thought to himself as he allowed the child to lead him towards the edge of the cliff where they could observe the entire event. Because Xiao was unable to  mingle with the crowd, they agreed to stand a safe distance away as the main organizer and performer of the concert appeared on stage amid four bursting pillars of flame.

Flashy.

If Xiao had to describe the music in one word — it would be hell , and a type of sound that he realized it was not the first time he had been acquainted with. He distantly recalled a similar rambunctious string of noise being played near Wangshu Inn, nearly tearing off his ear drums, until Verr Goldet politely asked the guitarist to relocate her performance elsewhere since she did not have a permit. To think that this was what the undead child was looking for.

Music of waking dead, indeed — and the irony was absolutely painful, in a way.

Albedo did not seem to mind it, while Klee and Qiqi’s eyes were shining as though it was the best type of noise they had heard all day. With the bombs Klee threw around, one wondered if that had rendered her insusceptible to such a blaring racket.

When the concert was over, the performer was covered in absolute sweat. Was it worth it ? Xiao thought grimly. Music was supposed to be calming and peaceful. Mortals nowadays truly have no sense of knowledge in what they created, be it in culinary or the arts. Over at Albedo’s side, Klee waved her arm wildly to try and catch the guitarist’s attention. Fortunately, it worked otherwise Xiao had a suspicion the child would begin tossing her biggest bombs to achieve it.

“Xinyan!” Klee squealed in joy and totted quickly over to her approaching friend. “That was so cool! Everything went boom boom!”

Xinyan grinned, the corners of her lips stretching with genuine excitement and gratitude. “Always happy to meet a fan among my friends!” 

“Music of waking dead,” Qiqi said softly.

“Huh?” Xinyan blinked, unsure if the child was referring to her performance. “And oh, you are the adeptus, aren’t you? Folks — or rather, the boss at Wangshu Inn say that people such as yourself aren’t into rock music. Guess she might be wrong?”

“Do not misunderstand. I did not come with the intention of indulging,” Xiao said sternly, folding his arms across his chest. “The traditional music of Liyue had adhered to its classical pieces so as to instill a peace of mind. Yours is highly diverged from Liyue’s way of arts, and not one I, or the adepti, would appreciate.”

“Really? Zhongli actually hired me to play at the funeral parlor he was working at.”

If there was a way to describe the expression on Xiao’s face, it would be of a cat staring at a wrangling worm before it. His entire posture and facade froze over, no movements or whatsoever as his lips were left slightly ajar while he processed the information in his head. Rex lapis did what? His lord, who dressed himself in the epitome of perfection and manners for proper and respectful presentation — did what? This was an insult!

Laughing, Xinyan turned to the three of them. “I always thought of Adeptus Xiao and I have a sort of inner understanding. When I hear that people are being intimidated by Adeptus Xiao's eyes, I thought hey! Finally there is someone who shares my troubles!”

"He and I are similar too. We both like big brother Albedo!" Klee chimed in.

“That is ridiculous,” Xiao finally said in a delayed response to Xinyan’s proclamation. “Rex lapis, our lord, possesses the highest regard for traditions and knows to discern qualities of ores with a blink of an eye. He does not involve himself in the erroneous ways of the mortals.”

Xinyan shrugged, entirely unbothered by the accusation. It was not as though she was lying. “A geo archon into rock music does not seem too weird of an idea to me.”

“You…!”

Albedo laid his hand on Xiao’s shoulder, rubbing it in an attempt to soothe his lover down. It was a well-known fact how easily heated Xiao could become whenever Rex lapis was concerned but he doubted the day would end well if the adeptus were to conflict with one of their comrades, especially in front of the children. Not that he would become violent tempered but — this was Klee’s and Qiqi’s outing for their own enjoyment.

And to be fair, Zhongli did share his fondness for Xinyan’s music but that was something Albedo quickly noted to himself to explain it to his lover later.

Xinyan gave another bright, energetic grin to the two children. “Alright, kids. Since you didn’t get to hear my music up close, how about I perform an encore just for the two of you?”

“Really? You’re the best!” Klee cheered, jumping around with her arms raised high.

Stepping back a few distance away, Xinyan poured her heart into her next performance and expressions. Barbara’s own fond recounts for Xinyan’s daring and ingenious music had not been unwarranted, Albedo realized as the booming music travelled across the lands, stirring wildlife and its surroundings from its sleepy slumber in a way it enraptured the souls of youth . 

Perhaps that was where Xiao could not adapt, Albedo added silently to himself. 

As Qiqi and Klee watched in awe, even attempting to join in on the performance themselves, it took Xiao every ounce of his pride not to stick his fingers into his own ears.

“Mr. Kreideprinz!”

Albedo looked up from his research notes when he heard Chongyun calling out to him. Blinking, he briefly tucked a butterfly bookmark made out of leaves into the current page and gently shut his book with a hand. For as long as he knew Xingqiu out of a professional relationship, the young Liyuen had mentioned his exorcist friend a couple of times.

Perhaps there was an idea to research Chongyun's innate spiritual abilities tucked into the back of his mind. Ah, what a time for an opportunity to present itself.

“Good afternoon, Chongyun,” Albedo greeted with a polite nod. “And just ‘Albedo’ is fine.”

“Oh, very well then. Um,” Chongyun coughed into his hand at the end of that before continuing. “I was hoping if I could ask a favor from you.”

“If it is within my abilities — but be aware to keep it concise.”

“Yes, of course! I was wondering if you would accompany me to meet Adeptus Xiao.” At Albedo’s confused expression, the exorcist began fumbling with the end of his sleeve. “I wished to ask if he would train me and I thought if you could perhaps help.”

As far as Albedo was aware, Xiao was not exactly open to accept such requests residing outside of his duties. “Must it be specifically Xiao?”

“I’m not planning on forcing him to accept it,” Chongyun promised. “It’s just that we exorcists have partnered with Adeptus Xiao against evil spirits for many generations but he has the view that our repertoire was lacking and that our powers are trivial. While I disagree to some extent, I … admit that I myself have much room to grow and I thought that he would be the best person to supervise.”

“Given his experience, similar work environment and cadidness, I presume?” Albedo guessed.

Chongyun nodded and nervously rolled his own thumbs together. “Yes and, I thought that if you were there, he would be less... harsh .”

“Are you afraid of him?”

“No, not exactly afraid of him.” Chongyun stared off to the side, contemplating seriously. “I find him reliable when it comes to his duties but I find that he passes judgement too quickly. I don’t mind if that is how he truly feels about us exorcists but I wish he would not play down our efforts.”

“Ah…”

It was a fact that Xiao could be too vocally focused on the flaws of mankind, Albedo would admit. When teamwork was to be demanded, that might undermine a mission but Xiao was just too used to working on his own. It would be a difficult aspect to change, truthfully, unless he wanted to.

But if Chongyun wished to train under him despite such views then, Albedo supposed it was something he could leave to the exorcist to decide on his own.

“Very well. Let us seek him out,” Albedo said, opening his palm out to concentrate on the ashes leaving one of his cotton sacks and gathering them into his region of focus. Within seconds, an anemo crystalfly burst forth into existence.

“Wow,” Chongyun murmured in awe as he witnessed the entire process. “Is it truly alive?”

With a small smile, Albedo channeled some of Xiao’s energies from the bookmark to the crystalfly for it to search and detect for any similar pattern as they walked. “Yes, very much so.”

“Xingqiu did mention that you are a genius alchemist,” Chongyun said, keeping up with Albedo’s pace as they walked towards the direction of Dihua Marsh. “Not that he is ever the type to exaggerate.”

Albedo canted his head to the side, and let out a small thoughtful hum. “Genius? Though many have described me with such a term, I do not think of myself as that, I suppose. I believe that all of us have limitless capabilities in our own area of expertise.”

“I guess. Xingqiu himself is very proficient with martial arts and writing, and well — creating more victims for his trickeries.” Chongyun mumbled the last part under his breath.

“Xingqiu is certainly a talented figure in the realm of literature,” Albedo agreed.

“Yes, but your abilities are very much unheard of in Teyvat,” Chongyun pointed out. 

And then there was an incident that exploded and went drastically catastrophic in Dragonspine, in which the exorcist was careful to avoid mentioning it. Glancing at Albedo from the corners of his eyes, he supposed that in hindsight, Albedo was just like any other mortal like them. He also heard that it was more of an ‘out of control’ situation rather than a deliberate attack on Mondstadt.

But to harness such great power with dire consequences — Chongyun supposed it had not been easy for Albedo and the Mondstadt citizens. Hopefully it would not happen again, he lamented while shoving his hands into his pockets.

The crystalfly quickened its pace when its senses drew itself nearer to the source, its fluttering becoming more audible as it glided above the grassy terrain. Soon, Xiao appeared within sight, along with Ganyu by his side as they were engaged in a small discussion. When the crystalfly landed on Xiao’s shoulder, the yaksha turned to it in slight surprise, and turned around when he sensed Albedo’s aura emitting from its wings.

“Albedo,” Xiao murmured shortly, in which Albedo returned the sentiment with a small smile, and then the yaksha turned to Chongyun with a newfound frown. “And you...”

“Adeptus Xiao, Adeptus Ganyu,” Chongyun greeted with a small nod. “This won’t take long. Actually, I am here to ask a favor from Adeptus Xiao.”

The immortal in question merely blinked, although not too eager to learn what had possessed the exorcist to come seeking out for him, of all people.

This was way easier in my head, Chongyun thought nervously as he brought his hand to rub the back of his head. “I was hoping that you would train me.”

“Why?” Curt and full of doubt, Xiao looked between Chongyun and Albedo with pinched brows. This was becoming what the mortals called — a deja vu moment, and felt even more of one when Ganyu herself was present. “Did you bring Albedo here just to convince me?"

Smiling, Albedo was quick to clear the air. “I too am quite intrigued by Chongyun's physiology that affects the spiritual realm and to which extent the results would be different within a range of variables. It would be a good chance to further one of my studies.”

That made the exorcist blink in surprise. “You were?”

“Yes but this is outside the purpose of our visit,” Albedo reassured. “I would have a separate discussion with you some other time, if you are willing.”

“Uh, yes, of course. I don’t mind,” Chongyun said quickly, still utterly confused.

Sighing, Xiao brought his arms to cross them over his chest, scrutinizing Chongyun with a wary look. “Even if we had been performing our duties under the same environment, a mortal is still fundamentally different from an adeptus. It would be an ill fit.”

“But Liyue is coming to terms with handling more responsibilities over the lands,” Ganyu spoke up, placing her hand under her chin in thought. “If the exorcists are able to learn more ways in direct confrontations with evil spirits, it would reduce the number of casualties and losses as well.”

“Ganyu…” Xiao grumbled softly in exasperation. He was not entirely opposed to offering assistance — except that 99.9% of the time, mortals’ affairs do not require adepti intervention and a good number from that being solely inspired from greed. “The lives of an adeptus and mortal remain unacceptable to intertwine. We are from different realms.”

“You are dating one,” Chongyun blurted.

“...”

Chongyun took a large step to shift himself to a spot behind Albedo to evade the sharp intensity of Xiao’s glare. Perhaps that was a wrong thing to say — but what were the chances of it not being realized by the yaksha himself? Either way, Chongyun quickly apologized for the slip of his tongue and hoped that Xiao’s temper was not as rumored by the crowd.

“How about we experiment?” Albedo proposed. “You could conduct a trial run with Chongyun and observe the results. If it changes your mind and satisfies your approval, there will be benefits to the ultimate outcome. If it does not, you will not be compelled to adopt an apprentice.”

“The both of you have an alarmingly simplistic way of appealing to such complex circumstances,” Xiao said, deadpanning. 

“Does it mean that you would try?” Chongyun asked, hopefully.

“...”

Quietly, Xiao shifted his gaze from one individual to another, a drip of sweat trailing down along his cheek. He glanced back at the exorcist’s eager and earnest expression, and let out a louder sigh of exasperation. How ridiculous. The personal conundrums of mortals were not part of his duties and thus he had no obligation to accept such an absurd request. 

And even if he did, there was no telling if the mortal was capable of handling training at the adeptus level and there was also more to consider when undertaking an exorcist with his own special abilities.

“How do you propose creating a regime plan then?” Xiao finally said.

Ganyu turned to Albedo. “Ah, do you not have two apprentices with differing aptitude as well?”

“Yes, Timaeus and Sucrose are both incredibly gifted alchemists but Timaeus still has 20 years behind before he could achieve minimum knowledge to interpret Sucrose’s textbooks.” Albedo glanced in Chongyun’s direction, nodding. “In 20 years as well, I am certain that you will be an extraordinary exorcist.”

“Albedo…” the exorcist murmured.

Xiao quirked a brow, gaze flickering to the mortal. “I was considering 400 years.”

“I wouldn't even be alive then?!”

“I have faith in you, Chongyun! You are a hardworking person and I am certain that you will be able to exceed expectations,” Ganyu encouraged.

“Thank you, Adeptus Ganyu. You are truly kind,” Chongyu replied, feeling more heartened at those words of encouragement — 

— and then Chongyu sighed.

Xiao lifted his chin ever so slightly, peering down at the sudden crestfallen student. “… You were pondering if I could behave more like Ganyu, were you not?” 

“No, of course not!” Not out loud, of course.

“I will be more than happy to offer you some of my insights in the evening,” Albedo offered to Xiao, seemingly pleased by the outcome. It truly seemed as though Xiao was becoming more adjusted to communicating with mortals more than he himself realized. “However, for now, I will have to depart for more research.”

Xiao offered a small nod. “I understand.”

Smiling, Albedo took small strides towards where Xiao stood, and tenderly rested his hand upon his partner’s shoulder. He leaned in, giving Xiao a quick peck on the lips before pulling himself away to depart for his research project. Every soft expression that shone upon Albedo’s features, the way his lips remained curved to a smile every time he found something that he took fancy in — Xiao hung upon every single alteration with lavish attentiveness.

When Xiao finally turned his lingering stare away from Albedo’s retreating back, he furrowed his brows when he was faced with the big, pleased smiles on Ganyu’s and Chongyun’s faces.

“What are you two staring at?” he asked.

The kitchen was always lively whenever Xiangling took it upon herself to occupy it for some of her creative dishes. Depending on what the other members spotted Xiangling hauling back on her way home, ranging from a boar to a large cyro slime, they would avoid the kitchen or lock themselves in their rooms whenever it seemed like she was about to innovate something particularly nasty. Of all, Zhongli was the only one brave enough to try and provide critique afterwards.

Having one willing taste tester seemed to give Xiangling the impression that everyone was willing, especially anyone that had the misfortune of waltzing into her line of sight.

Which was why Xiangling was all over Xiao at this moment, in the common room where he sat, with a plate of meatballs with wrappings balanced perfectly in her hand.

Xiao knew it was a mistake to try showing himself to his fellow comrades more often at the behest of Aether. So what if some of them were intimidated by him? He really wished this particular one was.

“Try it, Adeptus Xiao! I promise that the taste will exceed your expectations! No slimes this time, I swear!” Xiangliang’s cries carried over the room.

“I have no interest in mortal’s butchering of a meal,” Xiao replied coldly, stubbornly turning his cheek away from a piece of meatball she was trying to shove into his mouth.

“It sure seems lively outside,” Albedo commented as he walked down the stairway, adjusting the gloves on his hands after having completed his experiments in the laboratory.

“Master Albedo!” Xiangling chimed up when she saw the man. “You are the only one who can convince Adeptus Xiao to try my new recipe! You can taste it too if you would like!”

Xiao scowled at that. “What do you take me for, mortal?”

Confused, Albedo sauntered over to them and looked between the plate and his currently disgruntled lover. “Xiao only consumes almond tofu though.”

“Hmph. Mortals nowadays render every other dish inedible with their ridiculous new means of preparing and changing them. They comprehend nothing of cooking,” Xiao grumbled out.

“Don't be rude now, dear Xiao. Chef Xiangling is a widely acclaimed master of culinary herself. Why, Miss Alice often spoke highly of her in her works,” Albedo said, taking off his glove and picking up a piece of meatball off the plate to pop it into his mouth.

Xiangling’s eyes brightened up considerably at the praise. “Really? Hehe, I am working hard to get featured on her Travel guide! How are the meatballs?”

“Well portioned and perfectly seasoned — and reasonably less exotic than your… more creative dishes,” Albedo answered before licking the sauce off his fingers.

“...!” Immediately, Xiao’s eyes widened, his heart raced and his arm shot out to grab Albedo’s hand where he was licking the sauce from. "Don't do that in public!" he chastised.

Albedo blinked, staring at Xiao with furrowed brows. “Huh..?” 

“It is unsightly,” Xiao struggled out through gritted teeths.

“Is it that big of a problem? My customers usually do it,” Xiangling said. “Often, it means that the sauce is so good that they want to finish it!”

Albedo’s expression turned that into one of smugness, the corners of his lips quirking in amusement at Xiao’s near flustering expression. How unusual from Xiao’s typically composed demeanor, and as usual, Albedo snagged up the opportunity with ease. 

“Could it be that you are getting an … unusual reaction out of the sight?” Albedo teased.

Xiao scowled and snapped his gaze to the side. “What ridiculous nonsense.”

Without warning, Albedo leaned down, pressing his ear against Xiao's chest. His smile widened as he listened to the quickening heartbeat. "You liar."

There were no words that were willing to leave Xiao’s mouth to protect himself from this exposure. Instead, his lips pressed together tightly, his cheeks lightly flushed at both the memory of Albedo licking his own fingers and the intimate proximity between them, Albedo’s head against his own chest. If any archon was looking upon them now, Xiao prayed for them to release him from this situation. Or perhaps not — given it was starting to feel dangerously comfortable.

Awkwardly, Xiao placed his hand lightly on Albedo’s shoulder. “That’s enough, you...” he grumbled.

Xiangling looked between the two, confused — and unsure if she should exit the premise as soon as possible. “Ah! I think my soup is boiling over! I’ll be over at the kitchen,” she exclaimed, arms flailing around like a bird before she ran towards the mentioned destination.

Just when any of them could think peace was within reach, a noise of clearing a throat alerted them to a new person within the room. Albedo promptly removed himself from the intimate position, and the both of them looked over to Ningguang, who only smiled politely.

Then, she motioned Xiao over.

“I will be collecting samples from the courier,” Albedo said to Xiao, smiling in a gesture for the adeptus to leave for his own business.

Xiao nodded. “I will catch up with you later.”

As Albedo left towards the door, Xiao walked towards Ningguang, gaze expectant for any news. Considering the Qixing were handling their own affairs, there was no need for the adepti to further pry in the business of Liyue Harbour any longer, much less for Xiao himself to convene with Ningguang.

“I will get to the point,” Ningguang promised smoothly, as she folded her arms elegantly across her chest. “I have been informed that the acts of daemons have been behaving strangely lately.”

Xiao frowned immediately. These were his duties, and not for any mortals to sniff their noses around it. “From who?”

Ningguang raised a brow, and then chuckled at the adeptus’s defensive stance. “That is not important now, is it? I received word that their presence had undergone certain patterns that broke normal expectations of several centuries. They seem to now congregate mostly around Jueyun Karst.”

Exhaling a disgruntled breath, Xiao crossed his arms over his chest as he thought deeply of the issue. The other adepti had not informed him of this development — perhaps they had not noticed? That was impossible. The remnants of ancient evil at times gather around places where mortals’ presence were more frequent, the odds of their survival were higher should they infect mortals with their corruption, as opposed to the illuminated adepti who had all means of destroying them.

Ningguang lowered her arms and placed a hand upon her own chest in a display of goodwill. “I simply would like to warn you and your fellow comrades. Be careful.”

“Hmph. You need not concern yourself over the wellbeing of immortals.”

“Truly the target of daemons are us mortals, especially when the Lantern Rite is near,” Ningguang said calmly. “Regardless, you would find more allies than strangers amongst us.” 

Xiao narrowed his eyes, and then closed them as he let out a small sigh. The Qixing had proven themselves capable during dire circumstances in Liyue, but if history had taught anything, it was that the ruling mortals often held themselves in higher regard than they deserved, speaking of stripping Rex lapis from his position of influence (despite what Rex lapis sacrificed for them) but came scrambling for help whenever chaos became rampant beyond their control.

Ningguang might have Madame Ping’s and Ganyu’s recommendation, and her demeanor during the resurgence of Osial was impeccable — but Xiao still preferred not to become close to any ruler aside from Rex lapis himself. They owed nothing to him and Xiao owed nothing to them.

Turning around from Ningguang’s expectant gaze, Xiao vanished into thin air.

The hour clock struck three when Xiao and Albedo were nestled in the bed for the night. Some other more energetic, rambunctious members were still up partying downstairs as they did every sixth day of the week — mostly the young, spirited ones or those who were tempted to stay by the new availability of wine. And perhaps a few others who stuck around to ensure nothing was set on fire while everyone else headed to bed.

Albedo had finished his research while Xiao subdued the rousing daemons. Neither of them were in any mood or energy left for late night entertainment.

Instead, they shed their tops and went to get their short-lived rest under the covers. Xiao’s arm was draped protectively over Albedo’s shoulder, while Albedo had his face lingering near the crook of Xiao’s neck. Both of their breathing were soft, steady as they had long slipped into their dreamless sleep. For a long time, they had not met a night as peaceful as such before their relationship proposed — and they were miles beyond the embarrassment of indulging in it.

Amid his sleep, Xiao’s brows twitched. And then,

Creak.

A pair of glowing amber were suddenly visible in the dark, as Xiao’s eyes snapped wide open and his arm darted with the speed of a shot arrow. His spear was within his grip in a flash, with the sharp tip of the weapon aimed firmly against the throat of anyone who dared intrude with the practiced meticulousness of an eagle. On the other side of the spear, there was heavy breathing — and perhaps a shriek before that.

“I--I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Bennett apologized profusely and raised his hands up in a surrendering gesture.

Xiao was not pacified, instead his eyes narrowed into slits. “You dare to intrude in our sleep? Had you been a monster, there would have been nothing of you upon the ground you stand.”

“I can explain! Please, please don’t be mad!”

“What’s going on…?” Albedo’s sleepy voice reached their ears as the alchemist was slowly brought to rouse from his slumber by the noise. 

When Albedo opened his eyes fully, he saw the scene between Xiao and Bennet, both seemingly frozen in place as Xiao refused to move his weapon and Bennett not daring to move an inch in case it would prompt Xiao to truly skewer him like a chicken kabob (not that Xiao would, he simply desired to drive a point so this would never happen again). Either way, the night was not going to proceed smoothly unless one of them made a move.

“Xiao, please put it down. I am certain that Bennett has a reason,” Albedo murmured softly, and placed his hand on Xiao’s dominant arm to slowly push it down back onto the mattress.

“Oh thank god.” Bennet’s shoulder slumped forward in relief, holding his hand against his chest. He was certain that his heart was about to rip through his ribcage and leaped itself onto the spear.

“Explain,” Xiao said tersely.

Bennett fidgeted, fingers dancing around one another as he tried to calm down. It was hard when Xiao’s piercing gaze looked as though it could kill more than the spear he still had in his hand. “W-We were playing a game and uh — somehow I am always the one who got the short end of the stick and this time, I was supposed to get Albedo’s hair tie. I said it was a bad idea but Kaeya—!”

Kaeya , Albedo internally sighed and massaged his forehead. He truly loved livening things around by raising the stakes of anyone involved. “Very well, but please do not listen to such absurd requests next time. You will not receive any penalty for refusing.”

“The alternative was to swallow a melted cyro slime marshmallow Xiangling made. Although, that is starting to sound like the better choice…” Bennett laughed nervously, trying his best not to lock gazes with Xiao at the moment.

Albedo hummed in half sympathy for the adventurer with the worst luck in the world, and reached his arm over Xiao so he could retrieve his hair tie from the side table to hand it to Bennett. Perhaps Albedo would not have minded if this happened once in a long time, though he was irked at having his personal space invaded. Xiao, on the other hand, had no tolerance for such disrespect.

“Do not, ever, repeat this again,” Xiao warned, punctuating on each pause with a hiss.

“Yes, yes, sir! It will never happen again,” Bennett promised, tucking Albedo’s hair tie safely into his pocket. He turned around, although before he left, he suddenly turned his head towards them again, squinting his eyes. “Are you two really naked under there?”

A tense silence filled the room.

“Do you really wish to know?” came Albedo’s cold voice that seemed too capable of slicing the air, as his fingers tested the edge of their covers.

Bennett shook his head frantically, waving his hands with the same pace. “No, no! I’m sorry! Good night, Albedo. Good night, Xiao!” 

The door was closed shut behind Bennett after he rushed out of the room.

A small huff left Xiao’s lips as he let the polearm dissipate from his grip and returned to resting his arm over Albedo. At some point, they would either have to bolt the door with a hundred locks or move themselves as far away from these unruly mortals as possible. Quietly, Albedo closed his eyes and lightly pressed his lips against Xiao’s forehead. He could at least comprehend Xiao’s gripes with these sudden intrusions.

At least he was becoming more familiar with some other members of the group.

“Are you alright?” Albedo inquired, tugging Xiao down so that the adeptus could rest his head against Albedo’s chest this time as Albedo stroked the back of his forest green hair.

“I am not harmed and neither are you,” Xiao grumbled into Albedo’s own bare skin. After a good sleep, Xiao would have let the incident go completely anyway. For now, being disturbed from his rest was making him slightly irritated.

“Bennett has an honest heart. It would be difficult for him to say no to influence,” Albedo mumbled against Xiao’s hair.

“You seemed furious a few moments ago.”

Albedo raised a brow. “I was not. To be honest, I would not have minded showing him what is underneath. There is nothing to hide,” he said, his fingers having dove under the covers to pry them under Xiao’s waistband.

Xiao scowled. “ I mind.”

“Oh? Then it is a good thing that I did not pull the covers down.”

There was a secretive slyness to Albedo's smile that Xiao did not know if he wished to pry, knowing that it would only result in Albedo's amusement. Letting out a small huff, the yaksha planted his face against the crook of Albedo’s neck, tugging on the platinum blonde hair lightly in warning.

"Go to sleep," Xiao only grumbled in response.

Ningguang’s information from two weeks ago had proven to hold some weight, as even Xiao noticed that odd behaviour surrounding the daemons as of late. He cursed silently to himself, wondering if Rex lapis’s descent from the throne had caused them to react in such a bold manner. The change within Liyue was palpable, and so did the hearts of people as they grieved over the loss of their archon. Some had even taken it upon themselves to arrange prigilmages to honour Rex lapis’s passing.

Landing upon the Geo archon statue erected in Mingyun village, Xiao glanced at the stone carved workmanship of his lord. Was this truly a wise choice? even Xiao began to wonder himself.

Truly Liyue had undergone multitudes of changes over the course of thousands of years, but this was the first time Rex lapis would not exist alongside them as an archon. Perhaps this lantern rite would truly show the consequences — and whether Liyue would be able to survive through this ordeal.

 Even if Xiao was actively performing his duty...

He closed his eyes in a moment of tranquility to clear his head — until a familiar sensation tickled his senses. Albedo ? He was around here too? No. Not in Mingyun village. Frowning, Xiao opened his eyes again and scanned the area until his gaze landed upon the neighbouring Dragonspine.

What is he doing there? Xiao lamented, disappearing from his spot by the statue so as to travel towards the source. Especially after what transpired before, Albedo had not expressed interest in returning to the wintry landscape, not recently at least.

When Xiao’s senses led him to a cave tucked away at the western portion of the land, he landed upon the ground and walked towards the hooded figure sitting by the crackling fire.

It was an old woman, surrounded by small snowy foxes at her feet.

“Oh? This is quite a peculiar visitor,” the old woman said, without even taking a glance in Xiao’s direction. “You reek of that person’s blessing.”

Xiao frowned deeply at the implication but more so at the further questions forming in his head. Why did this old woman carry the aura of the divine? “Who are you?”

The old woman scoffed, tapping her cane against the ground. “Are you without manners, boy? Did you not learn to introduce yourself before demanding names?”

The nickname only served to make Xiao scowl and narrow his eyes at the audacity of this old lady. “ Boy —? I have lived thousands, beyond hundreds of mortal lives.”

“Ha. The quantity of years your life contained matter naught in the eyes of a stranger. For all lives are bound to the same spotless soil, chalk .” A dead ley branch manifested between the old woman’s fingertips at the blink of an eye, before they began to sprout leaves.

“You…”

“Rhinedottir is what I now go by, Alatus.”

Albedo’s master.

Upon Xiao’s frozen expression, Rhinedottir stood up and sauntered over to the adeptus to thwack Xiao over the head with their cane.

“Of course, I am the one who trained Albedo. Why do you think he takes after me so much?” Rheindottir said, as though having read Xiao’s thoughts.

He doesn’t , Xiao was aching to say — but he kept his lips sealed about that part. “Albedo has been looking for you,” Xiao said.

“Appealing to this old lady’s sentiments, are you?” was the cool retort. “Instead, make yourself useful and run an errand. Deliver this to Albedo, I believe that boy is finding use of it.”

Rheindottir placed a sack of tiny particles onto Xiao’s palm and then waved her hand in a shoo-ing motion in dismissal.

Why this… Xiao grumbled at the continued audacity and disrespect of this woman. If he were to pocket the sack to deliver, it was solely for Albedo’s sake — whatever he was searching this for.

The adeptus supposed that he could pry barely anything about it from Rhinedottir then. Frustrated, he folded his arms across his chest, pondering on whether he should intervene further. He had not had the habit of involving himself in the personal affairs of others, clearly everyone should be well on their own in handling their own problems. However, Rheindottir was an elusive one — who knew if Albedo would have the next chance to learn about his master?

One thing he failed to understand about such relationships was why did the people involved intend to make it this complicated?

“Within Albedo, lies a heart of an archon. Was that your doing?” Xiao asked instead.

“... Hmph.”

“Why?” Xiao pressed.

Rhieindottir lifted her eyes from under her hood. “What do you know of Khaenri'ah?”

“The fallen civilization? Word tells that one of their own created powerful creatures beyond their control and it subsequently fell to ruin.”

The image brought back the time when Albedo was corrupted beyond his soul could contain, unleashing armies of monsters upon Mondstadt. Xiao flinched.

"Or was Gold led astray by promise from the heavens?" Rheindottir lamented aloud. At Xiao’s look, the woman scoffed. “In the days of yore, Khaenri'ah achieved much advancement on the arts of alchemy, wisdom and prosperity flourished beyond that of Teyvat. The accumulated memories and time — they had every right to question the heavens with that knowledge.”

Rheindottir canted her head back, casting her gaze towards the sky, in the direction of the floating island. “The heavens’ fury were resurrected as did a very real threat to the eternity they embraced. The once prospering civilization, beyond that of the heavens’ allowance, was brought to ruin. Cursed all denizens to bear the hide of monsters, one that lived till even now.”

“That is a very grave accusation you are making,” Xiao said slowly. Not even Rex lapis would entertain the thought of engaging in such slanders towards the divinity. Though he never minded if mortals were to speak ill...

“Why had I transplanted the heart into Albedo? Because the heavens do not pardon prospering creatures beyond their influence,” Rheindottir continued, gazing down upon her palm, memories of crimson skybed, of monsters birthed from human skin, flooding her eyes. “Would possessing the heart of an archon, of their very own obedient demonic hounds, outwit their perception?”

Xiao swallowed thinly, his lips suddenly ran dry at the sudden influx of conspiracy theories. He knew mortals often liked making such whenever they had nothing better to do with their lives, to reach higher than the office they occupied. But this had a very real consequence, and that being a master alchemist, creating a body and then transplanting a heart of an archon into him.

And that man being Albedo.

Xiao shook his head and regarded Rheindottir with narrowed eyes, wondering if she knew the weight of risk she was committing against information that might not even prove factual. “What is the point of all of this then? Of the curse placed upon that nation? To corrupt this, Gold?”

The corner of Rheindottir’s lips quirked into a mirthless smile, her eyes flicker in tints of gold. "To turn the world against sinners, witness as the sinners birthed corrupt monsters of destruction. To rise above the heavens on our own feet was blasphemous, that no other lands in Teyvat will dare attempt. To keep their own world tethered to the heavens by the promise of Visions, to control mortals' ambition with that alone."

Xiao let out a small pent-up breath.

“Gaze upon the unmoving sky, and find the meaning of this world, the meaning behind what the heavens is trying to protect,” she said.

Rheindottir stood up and slowly trekked her way out of the cave, leaving one final line to carry within the adeptus’s mind.

“The heavens are truly reversed beyond mortals’ comprehension.”

After Xiao returned from his investigation and unforeseen encounter with Albedo’s past, he encountered Aether and Paimon making their way over after having spotted the yaksha. In Xiao’s haste, he shoved the sack into Aether’s hand, instructing him to hand it to Albedo before continuing his way towards Zhongli’s room with impatient swiftness.

There were questions to be asked, conspiracy theories for his lord to put an end to with a firm word of assurance that it was just as nonsense as Xiao thought. But why? The tone that woman held, the very master of creation that Albedo regarded as in possession of skills beyond his own. What did it mean? Was Albedo about to be used as a plot of revenge? Was the risk of his corruption a deliberate mechanism, to lose control and destroy another part of Teyvat? Was that all his life was going to amount to? Or did she have an intention to spare Albedo from such a fate?

Pushing his lips further into a thin line, Xiao knocked on the door as per tradition and only entered when Zhongli vocally invited him in. He stood before his lord, and felt words crowding themselves in his throat as haunted thoughts did in his head.

Even if it was true, what business was it of his? There was nothing anyone or he could do. Xiao clenched his hands into fists — there had to be some answers to this mess. The moment he lifted his head up, Zhongli was able to affirm what had transpired within Xiao’s head with such precision. More often where their relationship deepened to such extent, where no words needed to be said. Then again, Xiao also had the familiar scent of that one who lived over 500 years on him, of the dust that had not seen their brightest days ever since they turned ashen.

After all, Xiao also had the same look as...

Zhongli placed a finger on his own lips, facing Xiao with an indiscernible expression.

Xiao found his voice but only to make a confused noise “Rex lapis…?”

Zhongli sauntered over to Xiao, hands neatly tucked behind his back. For all the centuries Xiao knew Zhongli, he never wavered in his absolute trust in his lord — and the Geo Archon never gave him a reason to feel otherwise. Not now, not ever. Hence the yaksha remained in his spot, even as their chests were mere inches apart and Zhongli had his hand, full of new tenderness, laid upon Xiao’s head.

Whether it was all a lie or not, the prime adeptus was not willing to confirm — because the ultimate truth would have slowly crushed his friend.

Lamentation seeped into Zhongli’s golden eyes, grief even, as the truth of the heavens laid deep within the remaining two original of the Seven. What Tsarista was fighting for, the scales that may or may not be tipped by the conclusion of their deal. With his adepti powers coursing towards Zhongli’s hand and his ever loyal yaksha standing before him, Xiao could feel his eyelids drooping, dizziness settling a fog in his head as he tried to remember what he had come here for. 

Not before long, his body gently hit the stable, firm structure of Zhongli’s chest — as the Geo Archon held Xiao securely so he would not fall to the ground.

"You have shouldered too much, my friend. That burden is not yours to bear."

When Xiao woke up, he found himself in Albedo’s bed. He blinked out the blurry spots that filled his vision upon waking and glanced over at the clock strung upon the wall. Evening. How odd — rarely this would be a time for him to be asleep but …

Sitting up, the yaksha stared at his gloved hand, trying to recall the hour prior to falling asleep. He was looking into the strange activities that were said to have sprung from the daemons’ actions, and then there was nothing. It felt as though a heavy fog had settled in his head, but perhaps he had encountered those voices during his investigation? After all, this would not be the first time it had overwhelmed his senses enough to leave him unconscious for a few hours.

He grunted, as another question ticked in his head. Who brought him here then?

Whoever it was, they must have been part of Aether’s band of friends, or even Albedo himself. When nothing else came to mind, Xiao finally drove the blanket off him and slid himself off the bed, deciding that simply laying around was not an acceptable option either.

I wonder if Albedo has returned , Xiao pondered while sauntering down the stairs with light footsteps.

There were a few of Aether’s comrades gathered about the common room, speaking among themselves in rushed chatter with Timaeus at the center of the circle. Xiao could make out Albedo’s name among the whispers, and by the tension weighting in the air, there was the very same dread compressing upon Xiao’s chest.

It was when his feet reached the ground, when he purposely let his presence known with his unconcealed aura, that they noticed Xiao’s presence.

“Mister Albedo was taken from our camp,” Timaeus informed, frantic rising in his eyes.

And Xiao’s blood went cold.

At Timaeus’s direction, Xiao arrived at the camp in haste, where Albedo was last saw taken from the vicinity. Timaeus’s recollection of the events only proved the worst case scenario he could imagine — dark purplish claws twisted from the soil, voices that could not form words but in screeches alone. The lingering spread of infestation that rendered the nearby berries rotten and flowers presenting in a gray-ish hue. Moreover, there was an impromptu painting, splashed with blood on the wall.

Underneath the yaksha’s chest, his heart thundered like no other. His pupils were dilated as he strove to keep his breathing and composure even. Was this part of an intent? But Albedo was from Mondstadt, and had no ties to their Liyue or its past. Xiao narrowed his eyes, thinking further than the superficial surface of this conundrum. 

Or — memories flashed into the adeptus’s mind, of Albedo holding Xiao within the exhausted battlefield of Dihua Marsh. Could that be it?

Meanwhile, Ningguang was already there, being one of the investigators of such phenomenal incidents herself. When she noticed the Vigilant Yaksha approaching, she only needed to turn her head to meet the rigid stature of one of Liyue’s mighty and illuminated guardians.

“Adeptus Xiao,” Ningguang greeted when he approached. “Please take a look.”

Ningguang gestured to the wall smeared with dark blood, written in an ancient language and characters that only the archons and adepti of Liyue were familiar with. Hastily, Xiao allowed his gaze to flicker over the writing a few times, as the words released an onslaught of flashes in his head, depicting one shattered piece of his past after another.

Come home, Alatus.

And lying beneath on the ground, was a replicated artifact that spelled every single meaning of that phrase alone. A golden collar, adorned with the aura of her wretched blessing, and a snapped leash attached to it (as it once was attached to her hold).

Grabbing the collar from the ground roughly, Xiao glowered at it when the puzzle finally formed in his head. He could not be more correct about this, even if he desperately wished he was not.  “It was her .”

“Adeptus Xiao! Where are you—” Ningguang called out to the retreating yaksha.

Stay safe , was the last words Albedo said to him.

Xiao gritted his teeth, knowing too well who was behind this. His voice came out in a low warning growl, promising peril should anyone stand in his way. No matter the figure in question, no matter the proposals to be had, there were places he had to be at this very instant — and one that he sorely knew by the back of his mind. He peered over his shoulders at the Qixing leader herself, his amber eyes glowing dangerous to convey that vow. 

“I will settle this on my own,” he said. 

—And disappeared from sight.

How did this happen?

His heart thundered in his own head as Xiao took flight into the skies, gliding across the ocean with a lift from his adeptus powers. There was frantic haste to his newfound speed that caused the body of water beneath him to split when they were sliced open by the force of his powers. In his hand, the replica golden collar and chain cracked in his own powerful, tight grip.

There was no indication leading up to this. Nothing at all.

Were the strange events among the daemons revolving around this ? Around her ?

It made no sense. While Osial was sealed, she was rendered into fragmented pieces by the flight of Rex lapis's arrow. Fragments were unable to congregate back to its original consciousness without any means of instigating reversal to their shattered existence.

Then, the creation from dust to life came to mind.

It couldn't be , Xiao thought grimly, as beads of sweat slid along his jawline when a notion flashed in his head. No, it cannot be!

Or did Albedo unintentionally…?

Xiao shook that thought out of his mind when the island drew closer. There was a faint foreign essence of magic lingering in the air but nothing about it pointed towards Albedo's own energies. It could even be a completely unrelated field of power but even that was difficult to distinguish without deep knowledge of alchemy. Yet one could also not rule out the possibility that Albedo's presence might have some connection with the occurrence.

Landing upon the shore, he gazed upon the large, rebuilt palace with dread filling his very soul. He could sense Albedo within it and that gave him the shove he needed to continue.

The place was crawling with daemons but neither of them were poised to attack the yaksha. By her command, Xiao suspected, and he contemplated on delivering blows on his way towards her location — but that had the risk of putting Albedo, her hostage, in danger. Walking past the courtyard, watching as the daemons filed themselves away from his path, Xiao balled his fists tightly to demonstrate his own restraint.

Aside from the sheer time it would take to finish exterminating everyone of them, he could be rendered severely weakened by using the Nuo mask and absorbing the further fragmented pieces of their souls. Not to mention most of such wars had Xiao emerged victorious only by a thin strand of hair, having his body beaten till half death in some other occasions.

Take Albedo out of danger and then take out the daemons.

When Xiao came upon the throne room, his heart palpitations were becoming more audible to his ears. The recognizable incense rendered his senses and muscles numb, and how much he despised that cursed thing ever since she used it to pile loads of inhumane work on his back. He struggled to lift his gaze upon the remnant of his cursed past, the darkness and greed swelling within those familiar orbs of piercing ruby. Most of all, his body demanded to be wrangled free by his composure when he saw who was upon the lap of the wretched archon.

Albedo .

Fright was climbing his chest, threatening to crush the pill that was stabilizing his senses, a sensation that he had not felt ever since millennia when he pledged himself to Morax. In her other hand floated a gnosis, heart of an archon, her very own prize — extracted from Albedo, undoubtedly. This was when Xiao’s cold demeanor truly began to shatter, as his gloved fingers dug into his palm, pupils turning into slits. Tremors were felt underneath the thin fabric of his shirt and if he were to dare part his lips, a shaky breath would find its way through.

However, one wrong move, it would also spell the end for Albedo.

“Verat,” out came her name in a tone that could rime the air. 

“You have forgotten the proper title, my child,” reminded the very last wretched being Xiao ever wished to lay his sight upon in the world. “You seemed too comfortable with your new lord, and my murderer .”

The hatred in her voice was palpable, over a betrayal that Xiao would carry out over and over again without remorse.

"Albedo!" Xiao called out to his beloved, only to receive nothing in response.

Upon closer look, the light in Albedo's eyes had dimmed and submerged into the dullest shades of hue. He was still breathing, his skin had not lost its colours but there was no sign of active life within the way Albedo's unmoving body slumped over her lap, his arm draped over his waist.

“What have you done to him?” Xiao found it in himself to ask, desperately wishing that he could warp over in an instant to grab Albedo from her bony fingers. 

“I merely removed an interesting artifact from him and his body was still in shock from the extraction,” Verat answered, her eyes savouring the fruits of her labour. “And I also replaced it with a rather fond accessory of yours.”

Her pale, lithe fingers moved to reveal the familiar gold collar wrapped around Albedo’s neck, attached to a gold chain that Xiao painfully knew, from experience, that she would not mind tugging at every stray movement from her pets. Instantly, the temptation to claw at his own neck was pulled out of the grave of his habits. 

Xiao’s eyes widened, and his expression turned aghast. “No…!”

“Don’t you remember? The fun times we had, the years where I fed you with delicious fond dreams of those spineless heroes? I am saddened that this is how you repay me.” She caressed Albedo’s cheek with her talon-like nails, causing Xiao’s teeth to grind harshly and for his tassel to begin materializing in his grip. “I wonder if this one has a taste for human flesh.”

Xiao let out a feral cry.

This was when the jade spear fully manifested in Xiao's hand, as he pushed his body past beyond its limits and gave his soul the adrenaline to lead the charge. He leaped from the red carpet, spear poised to kill as his eyes gleamed with a dangerous look of hatred and ferocity. However, before the tip of the spear could reach past the drapes, the barrier halted his advance and repelled him back towards the wall behind him.

A wave of pain overwhelmed his senses and he landed on a helpless heap on the floor, tiny pained groans audible through his more vicious growls. But she only looked, always looked with conceit and honeyed pity dripping from her eyes. Digging his nails into his palm, the yaksha leaned his weight on his forearm, struggling to push himself against everything in this damn room his body was fighting.

The incense, her taunts, and suppressed memories of the first time she showed her true nature, all flooding into his head. The smell of the forest after a thunderstorm, of the thick wet mud he was made to taste when his face was forced to the ground, of the roots coiling around his body to lift it up for her viewing. Xiao let out a small gasp when a throbbing pain struck his head.

Alatus jolted when he heard a blood curdling scream.

Another minor deity just like himself, was summoned by her. The deity hung in the air by an invisible force, as chains twisted and floated around his body. As Alatus stared in horror, strings of chains plunged through the captured minor deity forehead and chest, mangling the soul within.

“You know what I am capable of, my child,” Verat said in real time, and though her voice was light, there was every promise in her willingness to carry out the threat.

She gazed upon Alatus with a knowing look in her eyes, a hidden promise that Alatus knew that he would never dare to make. His thoughts were further interrupted when blood began to seep out of the immortal’s wounds, the taint within chains twisting his soul into an unspeakable shape — more than the extension of their pure souls would allow.

 If this went on, it would shatter the other beyond recognition.

There was his one true weakness that she knew. His kindness, his utterly naive and kind self that could not decipher her words — or the glint in her eyes. Yet that wasn’t what he was focused on, it was the tortured look on the captive’s face, the paleness of his skin, the way his brown hair stuck to his face.

“Alatus?” She didn’t even have to ask again.

“Let him go, let him go, let him go!” Alatus cried out, the heart wrenching, agonizing scream of a suffering being resonated within his own core. It crushed him completely, his willpower and heart, and everything. “I will join you!”

Smiling crudely, she ambled towards Alatus and laid her hand against his cheek.

“For eternity?” she asked.

Tiny gasp emitted from Alatus, as he hung his head low, refusing to see his own shame in her eyes. “For eternity…” Alatus replied after a long pause. 

“I…” Xiao managed out, watching as the carpet beneath him displayed a puddle of his own blood.

“Do you require further convincing? It would be a shame to lose another good child, for his body to endure such a spell, but if you are still unable to make a decision,” Verat cooed, tracing her nail along Albedo’s face, up to his forehead where her favourite spot for the incantation began.

“No, don’t!” Xiao gasped, desperation draining the colour in his face, fear hanging at the edge of his timbres. He barely noticed sweat rolling down his cheeks, the sting at the corners of his eyes as his chest felt as though a tooth punctured itself in. “ Please don’t!”

“You will terrorize all that oppose me, archons and not alike,” his new and future mistress said, for the first and second time. “Never will you raise a hand or tongue against me, or what I hold dear.”

“...Yes.” Alatus/Xiao said.

Pleased, Verat departed from her throne with a lift of her mighty hips, leaving Albedo to lay on the throne. Every step the archon took towards the yaksha felt like the sheer weight of the fragments of his wits being crushed, obilerated under his feet in Xiao’s own wildly thrumming heart.

How did this happen? How did she manage to ensnare yet another one of his weaknesses? Was this how it was meant to be? Was he born simply to endure a cycle of servitude and freedom? Even if the taste of snapped chains ever tasted better than a fond dream, even if the touch of someone he came to truly love and trust made him forget how her fingers, clutching his hair, shoved him down to a human head to devour their dream and hatred. They were all bound to return, whether he chose for it or not. There was no freedom, not in this lifetime.

Not even if he came.

Hundreds of bones laid around him as he scarfed down dreams of his victims. His appetite made insanely massive, her incantations instilling an endless, insatiable hunger within him just so he would endlessly crave and eat without pause. They tasted so delicious no matter how his heart ached for him to stop, the noise of his own heartbeat and thoughts drowned out by the echoes of her airy words and laughter.

I don't want to eat anymore. Please don't make me eat anymore , he had begged.

But it didn't have to be that way now.

Liyue had changed, mortals were becoming independent from their divine guardians. Rex lapis was around, there was the traveler and his friends too. Should history threaten to repeat itself in the form of bloody slaughter, Xiao could trust them to put him down before Verat could reap the benefits from his hands — and Albedo would be saved too. This was how it was supposed to end, a fitting departure for a wretched malevolent yaksha such as him.

Harshed breath covered the ground, as his helpless body remained obediently in place as tens of chains erupted from the ground of her domain to wrap around him, claiming the yaksha as hers once more. Yet another memory flashed, reminding him of the deal he was about to find a terrifying error within, causing him to rethink a moment too late.

When he looked up, he saw that the mistress walked back over to the fallen captive — and wrapped the unconscious being with her chains once more.

“Wait—!” Alatus shouted. “You said that you would leave him alone!”

Her cruel laughter filled the air, leaving Alatus’s outcry fading into the night, answered by the widening, deepening snake-like smile on her lips. 

She wouldn’t , Xiao thought in anguish and for once in his life, he fervently sent his prayers to the gods. Silence, nothing, not even the sound of a wind chime.

There was no answer to where her words now lay, Xiao would never find out,  not when there was a sudden halt to her movement a few seconds after a shadow of yellow flickered behind her. When realization hit, Verat peered down to find her abdomen struck and ran through by a purple blade, Festering Desire, drenched in a venom that coiled her innards into corruption.

She hissed tightly in pain and struggled to turn her head to take a glimpse of the preparator. 

Albedo , Xiao watched, eyes dilated with astonishment, as his now awoken partner stood behind her. His stature was as poised as knighthood demanded of him, while he steadily held the blade to her crippling physique — expression ever so impenetrable and cold .

“It was foolishly brave of you to dare use me to torment the guardian of Liyue,” Albedo said in a monotone, his eyes of faded blue held a frosty, unforgiving glint. It was the first time, his true merciless temper came to light, against a wretched being that dared bring agony to such a beautiful, gentle soul. “You will no longer see the light of another day.”

“How dare you?!” she seethed in blinding fury and turned her body around the sword to strike. "You are but another selfless hero for me to crush!"

"I am neither selfless nor a hero," Albedo responded.

Before Xiao could force his legs to move, Albedo swiftly bent his knee and evaded by dipping low, with his arms already poised to strike. Like a smooth whip, he swerved the blade across her abdomen to strike at the poisoned source the second time, cutting her as though she was but a thin piece of leaf. Her tormented screech rebounded off the soundproof walls of her chambers as dark mist was discharged by the separation of her body.

Alarms went off in Xiao’s head and he immediately moved to pull his body back up to his own feet, clutching his broken arm.

“Stay away from it!” Xiao yelled in Albedo’s direction.

With a steady gaze, Albedo merely looked as the body splintered into fragments, her eerie laughter echoed from the remnants of her existence. The Festering Desire pulsed as though it was alive, sensing the extant wicked, and its core turned into a shade of jade green. The energies of the fragments were pulled into the sword, Verat’s cackling turned that into a cry and rendered the blade itself into an ominous shade of purple — like when it was used by the traveller, before it was purified.

And then the room was filled with silence like the first time it did after Verat’s death.

Xiao continued staring at the spot where the remains of his former mistress once surrounded in disbelief. His throat tightened and head throbbing in confusion at every single second he had consumed with that scene alone. Slowly, he forced himself on his two feet once more and trudged his way over to where Albedo stood.

Once he was in front of Albedo, he crushed the rusted, golden collar around Albedo’s neck and tugged his lover into a shaky embrace, as Xiao breathed out a pained sigh of relief. Thank god nothing would happen to his partner, thank god Albedo was now safe. Slowly, Albedo wrapped his arms around Xiao and rubbed his back in a way that his body still remembered how. 

They remained this way for a while, before Xiao was the first one to pull himself back to gaze upon Albedo.

The dullness of Albedo’s eyes, not even a residue of light left within those teal orbs. Even his speech had been reduced to a lifeless monotone. It ached that this had to happen to Albedo, who had nothing to do with Xiao's past to begin with.

Xiao looked around and then left Albedo's side to retrieve the fallen gnosis thrown by Verat during her frenzied attempt to strike. He returned and gently pressed the gnosis against Albedo’s chest.

The heart glowed in reaction and slowly submerged itself back into the confines of Albedo’s body. Years later since the first transplant, the artifact had adopted the homunculus as its resting place.

The beat of his returned heart gave light to Albedo's brightening teal eyes, to every single movement of his facial expression attuned to the feelings the heart helped him achieve, to the softness he always offered to his one and only.

"Xiao…" Albedo murmured.

"You are safe now," Xiao promised, raising a hand to Albedo’s cheek as he tenderly brushed his lips against Albedo's. "Nothing else will come for you. I will not allow it to happen anymore."

“I am alright, Xiao,” Albedo reassured and placed his hand on top of the ones on his cheek. Letting out a small shaky breath, he finally locked gazes with his partner, searching for anything hidden within those amber eyes. “Are you—”

Immediately, Xiao raised his hand to cover Albedo’s mouth, not wishing for that sentence to reach completion. He knew what was on Albedo’s mind, he could tell — but it was not something that the yaksha wished to discuss, especially not in this room when the stench of her existence lingered. It took every fibre in Xiao’s muscles and willpower to not let what happened just now to show, it took more than it seemed to the naked eye. Fortunately, he had Albedo’s own situation to distract him.

Xiao could not afford to crumble again, he could not. He would not allow himself to.

And Albedo understood that by peering into the sudden rise of intensity within Xiao’s eyes, while the yaksha himself desperately tried to cease the light tremors through his body. Xiao was trying so hard, he was always trying so hard.

Finally, Xiao gradually let down his hand from Albedo’s mouth and glanced sharply towards the direction of the exit. “Outside the door is crawling with daemons. I will fight my way through and leave an opening for you to escape.”

It was when Albedo had to step in immediately, placing his hands firmly on Xiao’s shoulders to stop him. "You cannot afford it. Your body has been compromised." 

"Don't worry," Xiao said instead. “I can—” he winced when another wave of pain pierced through his side and briefly his body gave into Albedo’s arms.

“This is not going to be a discussion. We will find another way,” Albedo said firmly, looking away from Xiao’s gritted teeth to find a safe spot where he could observe outside.

“There isn’t. I know this place,” Xiao insisted.

There was a note of frustration in the way Albedo eyed the entire room. Truly he did not wish for Xiao to engage in any more battles after the beatings his body had gotten from the effects of the incense and the illusions casted by Verat. Of course, Albedo would take it upon his own sword to drive their foes away — but that would require precise positionings and planning to support Xiao (even if the yaksha in question was in constant refusal against help).

Suddenly, the huge door began to rattle, which was then followed by a series of louder thumps. Had the demonic spirits outside sensed that their ringleader’s presence was missing? Without any warning, Xiao immediately pushed Albedo behind himself protectively when the doors swung open. 

It was Ganyu.

“Xiao, Albedo,” she called out eagerly. “We have to make haste.”

“Ganyu? How did you—” Xiao was cut off when Albedo ushered Ganyu over to take his right arm while Albedo slipped Xiao’s left arm over his shoulders. “Hey, wait—!”

“I can hear the others clearly now. You will not be fighting,” Albedo said firmly.

When Xiao was about to protest again, he took a look at Albedo’s stern, unimpressed expression and promptly pursed his lips. 

“Please rest easy. We have knocked out most of them on our way in. The rest of the way should be easier from hereon,” Ganyu added softly.

The three of them promptly left the chamber and it was a massive weight lifted off from Xiao's chest. It was finally easier to breathe and he was admittedly eager to leave that part of his history behind.

Glancing around, Xiao caught sight of the fallen daemons. They were either unconscious or temporarily sealed away by familiar geo pillars before they would burst into dark mist. It was easy for Xiao to tell that the group was careful not to accidentally end one on their own, lest they risk absorbing the dark energies of such fragmented remnants.

Their path remained unhindered along the walkway surrounding the courtyard and from the upper corner of their route, a flash of purple appeared before them.

“Bring the Adeptus boy over!” Keqing yelled in their direction, gesturing with a wave of her hand.

Xiao felt himself bristle as Albedo and Ganyu led him over. He narrowed his eyes, as his gaze turned stern and cold. " Boy ? You disrespectful mortal and your erroneous ways of speaking, I am beyond your years by thousands—"

Xingqiu asked when he became visible from around the corner once they reached Keqing's side. "Is this really the time?"

"Do not interrupt me," Xiao snapped.

They were led through a secret, narrower passage through an underground sewer — a path that was known to lead up to the beach. There were less daemons stationed here but should they sense life beneath the castle, they were bound to congregate in time. Before that happened, they would have to dig themselves out of this path or risk having to engage in a full out battle in a disadvantageous terrain.

When they reached a platform, the centermost portion of the underground network, Xiangling and Chongyun both leaped from above and landed on the ground before them.

"Area C is taken care of and we have sealed the entrance above," Xiangling reported with a thumbs up.

"Good job," Keqing praised. “But keep on a lookout, we cannot expect to be too familiar with an enemy’s territory.”

Ganyu nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Xiangling. And rest easy, lady Keqing. We should not be expecting a large number until the northern exit to the beach."

Xiangling laughed and waved a hand over to the exorcist. "Even if something else comes up, let’s toss Chongyun in their way and watch them all disperse!"

Chongyun's face fell. "That’s cruel."

Xiao let out a small 'hmph' noise. "You should not be here if you are terrified, exorcist."

"I didn’t say it was a bad idea!"

"Please do not worry. This is simply Xiao being concerned in his own way," Albedo reassured as Xiao let out another huff beside him.

"And we will just call it plan B, shall we?" Xingqiu offered with a sweet smile.

Chongyun groaned at that and wondered why he hung out with Xingqiu sometimes but ah — the other was good to him over everything outside of his teasing. Not that Chongyun minded that much either because having his friend around was inspiriting.

Either way, the newly formed group was closing in on the next phase of their plan. As suspected, there were some daemons beginning to gather on the platform of the room and it was impossible to pass without a confrontation. With a plan forming quickly in his head, Albedo then moved Xiao’s arm over Chongyun’s shoulder and brought his blade out to wield against their next foes.

"Chongyun's presence will keep the evil spirits away as the three of you proceed," Albedo instructed as the remaining comrades entered a battle stance. "The rest of us will create an opening and follow after."

Not quite used to being benched on a battle with daemons, much less act like a supporting shoulder for Xiao (because in his opinion, the yaksha had a lot of pride to preserve), Chongyun looked between Albedo and Xiao with a degree of uncertainty. Surely Albedo valued pragmatism above simply forcing one's way through or vanquishing as many evil doers as possible, given his flair for tapping into his resourceful nature — but this setup was rather unthinkable, no?

Xiao sighed, on the other hand. He knew what Albedo was capable of, he trusted his partner firmly (and did not wish to see how Albedo would react with his frosty temper if he were to challenge so). 

“Let us continue," was, hence, the yaksha’s following words as Keqing, Xiangling, Xingqiu and Albedo took over the forefront of the battlefield. 

The four of them proved to be capable of launching into a well organized coordination against the number of daemons before them. Not before long, they tore through the final stronghold within the territory and returned to the surface of a sandy beach.

Nighttime had descended over them, drowning out the sunset hue of orange two hours ago. The vicinity was littered with daemons but, not much of them had remained in the wake of the exchanged blows. From a distance to their left, the loud rock music was distinguishable among the typical cries of a battlefield. When they passed, they caught sight of the other four comrades of their circle.

Hutao and Xinyan were submerging daemons in their flames, manipulating their pyro elemental proficiency as sharply as a whip. Beidou completed and amplified the effect with her electro charged claymore, creating an explosive overload reaction that crushed the remains of daemon's spirits. 

All the while, Ningguang had erected her barrier to protect them from faraway shots and knocked out a number of foes with her spell.

"How many of you are here," Xiao could not help but wonder aloud as Ganyu sprouted a small smile.

"Lady Ningguang gathered all of us present for this mission," Ganyu explained. "Group B, Aether and the others, are eliminating the threat in Liyue."

When Xinyan noticed the rescue group, a large beam of smile shone on her face.

"Looks like everyone got out alright!" she cheered.

"Heeeey, Adeptus Xiao," Hu tao called over, waving wildly in their direction.

"About time," Beidou remarked and sheathed her claymore. She raised her arm, gesturing towards her ship docked near the shore. "Alright, everyone onboard!"

At that command, all of them eventually left the island and boarded on the ship. Chongyun and Ganyu placed Xiao on the ground, against the wooden side of the ship while Beidou hollered instructions around for departure. Only when they were miles away from the island, did Beidou signal a nod over at Ganyu who began to fire a charged arrow to the sky. It hit a device back on the beach with an impressive precision, sending it to blow and dispatching a series of coloured lights to burst into the sky.

A few seconds later, the island began to shake and so did the body of water where their ship was travelling upon. Floating above the tip of the mountain was a figure bathed in the divine glow of amber, surrounded by three other guardians of divinity as they channeled their powers towards their lord.

The sky split apart and a meteorite a hundred times larger than its normal size was hurled from the heavens, crashing mercilessly upon the haunted island where it simultaneously drowned the daemons with it. The ocean shuddered by the sheer destruction of it all and the boat rocked against the new lapping waves.

"Rex lapis," Xiao mouthed with widened eyes, staring at the Geo Archon accompanied by Moon Carver, Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper.

Just like that, the remaining legacy of his former mistress was laid to waste. 

Everyone was still entranced by the powerful sight, a glimpse of the true strength of their god that was only brought to its peak during the archon war. The rocky terrain was flattened, debris that were fortunate enough to survive were littered around the shore. Any traces of daemons were wiped out by the sheer impact, though given their immortal state, they were bound to return from the soil to haunt for another day.

When they snapped out of their trance, they looked over to the yaksha, their primary target of the rescue mission along with Albedo. It was a success, to say the least. More than that — it was the first time they had a first hand experience in facing the daemons that the yaksha bravely fought against for millennia. None of them died, which spoke much for itself.

"Tch. Reduced to being protected by mortals as well. How laughable," Xiao said to himself in a low voice, trying to contain himself from all that had transpired from the moment Ganyu showed up at the Red chamber.

Soft footsteps ensued in the wake of Xiao's muttering, and it stopped until the yaksha could get a view of the child.

"Qiqi was told to stay on the ship," Qiqi said.

Not sure what to say, Xiao could only blink and let out a barely audible, "Ah…"

"Qiqi hates it," the child of the undead continued.

"Ah…" everyone murmured awkwardly.

Half an hour into their voyage, the entire group had split into smaller chatter of their own. Knowing that the immortals wished some privacy, the mortals avoided lingering near the adepti. Qiqi was offering bandages to anyone who might be in need of it, while Xiangling came out of the ship’s kitchen with baskets of snacks for everyone to enjoy.

Meanwhile, Xiao remained close to Albedo just as he always had been, unwilling to leave his side even during the aftermath. His fingers were tightly and firmly intertwined with Albedo’s, as though his own presence could ensure the continued safety of his lover. Even so that was the intention, there was another matter that had persisted in Xiao’s mind, slightly dithering over having to bring it to words.

"Albedo, forgive me for inquiring but — Verat, was she… did you have a part in her revival?" Xiao asked.

"He was not involved in any of its process," Zhongli spoke as he walked towards them.

Confused, Xiao turned his gaze towards his lord. "Are you aware of the identity?"

"It seemed as though it was a mutation of a creation embedded with selective harnessed memories of the dead," Zhongli surmised aloud, placing a finger underneath his chin. "But I will conduct a more thorough investigation before divulging any further."  

“Very well,” Xiao said softly, averting his gaze to the sword now containing the captured soul of Verat.  “Now how did that…?”

“Sir Zhongli and I have been working on this synthesis,” Albedo answered this time. “The absorptive power of the Festering Desire, the sealing powers of sir Zhongli’s jade, the reductive powers of amber, the mechanism of Cloud Retainer’s engineering, the refining powers of Moon Carver — and the sand native to Liyue that allowed the sword to live outside of Dragonspine.”

Xiao’s lips parted when he remembered the times he spotted Albedo conversing with the other three adepti, the one moment where he retrieved the relics for Zhongli and himself to examine. That was why , he thought internally as he looked around at his fellow adepti.

To think they would be in it too.

“This will not resolve your wars immediately but one believes that it will show you an end to them in time,” Cloud Retainer said.

“Us adepti have been discharged from our duties by the conclusion of Rex lapis’s contracts, it is only fitting that you are to follow suit,” Moon Carver followed after.

“Though we are of differing minds, have there been no doubt that we hold a consensus agreement over your eventual release,” Mountain Shaper added.

Xiao remained silent on that subject for a while longer, looking between his fellow immortals as he tried to form words. His mouth opened slightly, and then closed it again when unease settled in. Nothing he thought to say was good enough to be spoken. For as long as he regarded himself as a mere weapon, and encouraged those around him to do the same — this was a divergence to the life he brought upon himself and believed in.

Even Rex lapis took it upon himself to do more than he already did. Even when the Rex lapis many times expressed his wish for the yaksha to be freed from the same karmic debt the geo archon was subjected to. Rex lapis’s departure … was a signal for Xiao to move on as well.

“You have my gratitude,” Xiao finally conveyed, feeling the tightening and loosening sensation in his chest. He glanced to the side, unsure of how to unknot or properly resume this peculiar exchange between them. Instead, he opted to change the subject. “How much can this blade carry? Eventually it would need to be purified.”

“Allow me to worry about that,” Zhongli said, gently.

“But—”

“If you wish to know more, I am more than happy to hold a discussion tomorrow.” The geo archon promised as he placed a hand on Xiao’s shoulder, wearing a small smile. “For now, allow yourself some rest, my friend. The lantern rite is about to start.”

As if on cue, Xiangling’s energetic cries interrupted the talks on the ship as the sky began illuminating with droplets of soft orange. The stars took a bow from the stage, allowing the floating lanterns to colour the sky with hopes and dreams of the mortals that raised them.

This was often the day Xiao detested most, where he would be sauntering with more blood smearing his skin and trailing on roads from his footsteps. Where he would be beaten bloody for another day and reminded of his fellow brethrens that fell to the very same war, that it was a morbid reminder that one day, it would be his turn and never will he be able to gaze upon the very same sky.

Now, he was able to listen to the prayers of hopes clearer without the eerie whispers plaguing the very sanity of his soul. He could even hear the voice of that little girl he once helped and had given Albedo permission to draw a painting of him before. Every single voice offering a prayer of peace, and thanking for another harmonious year passing — it was all worth it, the yaksha thought.

Xiao looked over to the mortals on the ships, how they gathered around at the side closest to the view of the sky. Everyone of them made the sacrifice to miss this tradition to fight through Verat’s daemons. How ridiculous , Xiao thought. Mortals were better suited to indulge in insignificant, mundane hobbies — so they would not risk being involved in the greater pains of a karmic cycle.

But this time, Xiao listened to each of their own prayers, and committed them to his memory for his entire lifetime. They would not be forgotten, not ever.

Before anything else could be said between them, Xiao turned to Albedo, maintaining his serious demeanor as his voice dipped low. “I apologize that you have gotten involved with this.” He winced, remembering how Albedo was held captive by his former mistress and the yaksha felt sick to his stomach. “If not for my past connection with her…”

Albedo placed a hand on his partner’s shoulder at the end of the trail. “I am not worried about my involvement in it. I’m only concerned about you,” he said softly.

“This was supposed to be my own burden to shoulder.”

Wordlessly, Albedo contemplated the manner in which Xiao was struggling to keep his voice firm, the flickering guilt and doubt penetrating the yaksha’s normally composed expression. The disasters that happened around Xiao was more distressing to the yaksha than he had realized or even dared to admit. In a way, it was not that difficult of a concept to understand.

After all, who in good conscience would be able to walk away from such tragedies?

In the end, Albedo slowly moved his hand towards Xiao’s neck, brushing along the skin and tucking it under the forest green sideburns where he touched the yaksha’s cheek.

“Do you remember when you offered me your spear should I ever fall without hopes of returning?” Albedo asked, his lips curving into a smile at the memory. “You would rather have me lay with a peace of mind, than hide yourself from agony as you suffered for many years.”

“Because that,” Xiao started and then looked down. “-- is all that I could do for you.”

“Xiao. I do not regret anything,” Albedo said. “Our connection is too strong, I have never thought of leaving or changing my mind. I will not pretend to comprehend the intricacies behind human relationships but for the company that you had given me, or what you have done for me, or what you are to me — they have become truly irreplaceable parts of who I am.”

“... Albedo.”

“If you do not wish to give yourself to my willingness to continue being involved with you, regardless of the adversities, then allow me to appeal to you in another manner.” Albedo glanced in the direction of Liyue Harbor, thinking. “In terms of contract, would this not qualify for a fair exchange? Your assistance to compensate for my collateral faults and my own offer to help lift you away from a life of excruciating hardship.”

Xiao’s eyes briefly widened, meeting Albedo’s expression with his gaze, before he sought to contemplate on such a notion. “Our connection far exceeds that of a contract.” He then sighed, tapping his left foot against the ground. “But I comprehend the intention behind your words.”

“I agree that this is no mere contractual obligation between us. As I have said, losing you would be the equivalent of losing an important part of me — and this world,” Albedo reminded, lightly touching Xiao’s gloved fingers with his own. “Being around you has taught me many things, Xiao. One of it being — no unconditional promise is ever demanding if the relationship far exceeds than anticipation. That … simply wanting , even for another life, is a strong basis of life itself.”

Xiao let out a small huff and caught Albedo’s hand in his own, lightly and carefully wrapping around it. “You would not lose me. No wraiths can ever hope to strike me down before I do upon them.”

A chuckle left the alchemist lips, as another soft smile peered through his gentle features. “An interesting proposition — but not one that you will have to witness alone — from now on,” Albedo said.

“On that word, how are you intending to fight by my side? Your duties are not of a trivial amount and are bound specifically to your homeland. Are you to release yourself from your occupation?”

“No, of course not.”

“Your instructing obligations?” Xiao asked.

“I will still be mentoring Sucrose and Timaeus as usual.”

“Your work with the novelist?”

“That is still in place.”

“...Your research?”

Albedo’s smile widened. “As a matter of fact, I am intending on joining Sir Zhongli in the works of purification — adding one to my current projects.”

Xiao stared at Albedo, brows furrowed. For as long as Xiao knew and understood Albedo, his lover always had complaints about how there was never enough time and from that list alone, Xiao could see why. He spared a glance in Ganyu’s sleep-standing position — and had a feeling that soon, Albedo would be following suit. Suddenly, he had a thought that Albedo might be taking more burdens upon himself than he could handle.

Noticing Xiao’s expression, Albedo leaned forward and placed his finger upon the yaksha’s ajar lips. “Trust me,” Albedo whispered.

And Xiao did. Or tried.

For the rest of the journey to Liyue Harbor, Xiao tucked Albedo and himself further towards a more secluded corner of the ship, gently leading Albedo along by their joined hands. Their lips touched for the barest moment when no one else would notice, silently enjoying the time they could spend under the glowing lanterns as promised a long time ago. 

Ever since then, so much had changed between them — where Xiao was dismissive of the alchemist while their paths never stopped crossing despite that.

Xiao’s hold on Albedo’s hand tightened slightly with a firm squeeze of his own, as he indulged himself in the softness of his partner’s lips, the warmth of his existence glowing as brightly as the prayers hung above them. Thoughts lightly trickled along from the recesses of his mind, bringing him back to the many promises they made to each other — to the day when Xiao made his vow to a fraught Albedo who wished his life forfeit should he lose control again. That tender smile, that life shining in those teal eyes that Xiao believed he did not wish for it to end.

For the years after, there was only one person Xiao wished to continue watching the sky of the lantern rite with, and for centuries more, to dance among the flowers for as long as Albedo’s heart remained beating in this world. But which one of them would fall first? Or could he save the both of them? 

Would you be upset with me? If it turns out I would rather let the world burn than to allow it to take you away?