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Xiao is walking back to Wangshu Inn, bloodied and exhausted from his earlier battles. The night is young and quiet, moonlight illuminating his path as he trudges through the swamps of Dihua Marsh. It was then he spotted a lone stranger standing on one of the high rocks. Judging from the weird garb and moss green everything, he suspects that the stranger is from Mondstadt. Even though he had banished some of the monsters earlier, a stray mitachurl roaming around wasn't impossible.
So he stayed, he was in much need of rest anyway.
What could he be doing here, Xiao wonders. It's late and monsters usually roam around during this time. Though one look at the stranger’s hip banished those thoughts, as he is greeted with the sight of a vision similar to his.
He watches the green stranger take a swig on his wine bottle, kicking his feet out under him as he stares at the moon. Humming a song that was probably from his homeland.
Xiao feels wary of this. He feels too safe. He’s lulled into a sense of tranquility with the mere presence of this person. It’s dangerous, he shouldn’t be this relaxed. He grips his polearm tighter.
A ploy of the Abyss? Someone from the Fatui?
(Yet, all of this feels so right familiar
Who is this person?)
Xiao’s inner turmoil was enough to distract him from seeing the stranger materialize something. On reflex, he summons his mask and plunges forward-
Oh, it’s a flute.
The stranger brings it to their lips, creating a somber yet achingly familiar tune.
(He was face down on the grass, his chest heaving. His vision blurred by sweat, blood, and mud. The karmic debt was too much.)
The first time he heard this melody, his karmic debt was serving him on a golden platter to Death.
(He knew it was gonna happen sooner or later, but his foolishness speeded it up. Now he’s gonna die and he’ll fail Rex Lapis he’ll fail all the yakshas it hurts it hurts I’m sorry I couldn’t carry out my duty til the end.
His thoughts spiralling, face down with grass on his face, Xiao accepted his fate. At least, he will die carrying his duty. So he waited for it to come.
But it didn’t. Xiao had closed his eyes when he heard it. Someone’s playing the flute. Even in pain, he could still appreciate the melody. Death was kind enough to send him away with an orchestra. And clearly, they sent their best flutist. The tune was somber yet light, like the first time the sun kisses your skin on a dewy morning.)
A thousand years later, he is still alive to hear the melody. Yet not as a broken yaksha who needed saving, but as Xiao. He had yearned for this moment, to fully savour the music as he dances in the meadows. To listen to it without the burden of his sins and of the world. But they are in the marshes, and Xiao is still not free from his shackles.
So he only listens to it for now. Without the agony from before.
And it's an experience to say the least, hearing it clearly. All at once Xiao can feel the exhaustion and looming darkness leave from his body. A tide of new emotions welling deep within him.
It’s a shame he was eating grass when he first heard him, for hearing the tune alone could not compare to the sight of the bard performing it.
Xiao was never a man of many words, and he is alright with that.
But even now the word “beautiful” is not enough to describe what’s happening in front of him.
It was as if the bard was playing with his surroundings too. The trees, the wind, the waves; they were all swinging to the command of his flute.
Anemo crystalflies were floating around the bard, almost as if dancing to the calm serenade. Their glow illuminates him, a serene look on his face as he pours his everything to his performance. With Xiao as his only audience.
(Xiao thinks that perhaps the sight of him playing can solely purify his corruption)
Then the bard is gone, a gust of wind and dandelions left at his wake. The performance comes to an end, the only proof of it happening is the resounding echo of twinkling laughter.
And a lone adeptus being freed of his lifetime debt, if only for a little while.
(Xiao allows himself a small smile as he continues his trek back to headquarters. nobody's there anyway.
And if there was, he'd let them be. It’s just one more unbelievable rumour about the adeptus anyway.)
.
.
.
.
.
In Liyue Harbor, two long time friends meet.
The first one was half laying on the table, on his third cup of wine. He’s babbling about his new wine stealing conquest (aka the wine he’s chugging right now) while the other sighs while sipping his osmanthus wine.
“Morax! I know that adepti are supposed to work in the shadows, but why was that one so obvious!” Venti giggles, pouting. “I don’t look like I bite, do I? He was just content from watching me like a voyeur, he could’ve reimbursed me with some praise or some lovely Liyuen wine,” he grumbles while chugging his 4th (?) cup of wine.
Zhongli hums thoughtfully. “He has his reasons for keeping his distance. Xiao is not rather… fond of social interaction.”
Venti snorts, “So he’s just shy?”
“Perhaps he did not want you to be tainted by his corruption. It is something that he has been struggling with for years now. I had the Traveller deliver him medicine to help with his current predicament.” Zhongli supplied.
At this, Venti’s eyes light up. Almost as if he had hatched an evil, evil, plan.
The former Geo archon’s amber eyes narrow at this, “Barbatos, if you harm as much a hair on Xiao I will persona-”
The bard escaped before he could even finish. Zhongli sighs.