Chapter Text
Words can't describe how terrified or tired Xiao is. He has been running from this strange mechanical-looking robot that shoots missile from time to time. All he did was walk towards it? How did it even detect he was here? What kind of machine did they use for the robot to be alarmed. Xiao didn't know shit about computer or whatever that programming stuff is. He couldn't care less. But what he does care about right now, is that this thing was trying to kill him.
The ground shook every step the gigantic robot takes, leaving cracks along the ground. It was as if there was an earthquake occurring at the moment. Xiao tried to dodge all the attacks it threw him, his breathing ragged as he tried to escape the slips he'd make and the rage of the mechanic thing. He felt his panic rising as the whole sky turned red. It felt like a horror movie scene when you realized you have been caught in the hand of the ghost. His whole body shaking from the anxiety he felt, but he kept running.
Just as he thought he was about to die, he felt himself fall into a pond of sticky red. He turned back around but the monster that was chasing him was now gone. He was in a chamber. He could feel the liquid clinging around his body like saliva, relaxing as he sighed a breath of relief. He didn't know how to get out of here but he will find a way after he rested a bit. His body felt painful from all the running, it felt as if a skeleton was digging through his muscles. Deciding to swim around and explore the place, he felt the substance temperature rise up.
The lake started swirling around as if it was forming a hurricane. In panic, he started banging on the walls and clawing as if he was trying to climb up. But it was futile, as the pool dragged him down. His body felt like it was being crashed into pieces and he couldn't breath. He thought it was the end. He was going to die. Xiao tried to reach for the surface but he didn't succeed. He was being dragged down as if the substance was telling him that he belonged there. Way deep down below, where nobody can hear his screams. The liquid beside him disappeared and he found himself falling endlessly. He couldn't move or speak.
He started to give up on resisting when he heard a flute being played. It was faint at first but he could hear it ring louder and louder. The music made him feel calm. He tried to find the source and saw a green figure flying? around him. The creature gently summoned a gust of wind and saved him from falling way down further. The creature moved closer as if to observe the human it saved. Making eye contact with its swirling emerald eyes, he was stunned by its beauty. The beautiful braids floating around its face, Xiao would have fallen in love right there. He reached to touch its cheek, wanting to feel the soft looking and perfect skin. Just before his hand could reach anything, he felt his ears ring. He woke up, raising his head from the desk from the horrible sound in his head. Sweat evidently around his face, he scanned the classroom while panting from the weird dream he just had.
"Did you have a nice dream Xiao?" the professor asked glaring at him from the blackboard. Xiao groaned while pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to fight his sleepiness. He tried to remember what the creature looked like but he couldn't remember its details. All he remember was that it was beautiful.
"Please pay attention or I will have you cleaning the bathroom", the instructor smiled at him even though it seems more eerie than genuine. Xiao sighed and turned his focus onto the board where the teacher seem to be explaining about some kind of story.
"Okay let's continue, so to wake mister Xiao up I will be telling one of the myth from the book which I think he will find interesting. But who knows. Also this will be in your exams so pay close attention. In a land where there were gods and many supernatural creature, there lived a yaksha that was trapped in a torturous state, the state he was in was painful and he knew that he wasn't worth being saved. But then he heard the dihua flute played, it blessed his ears and he found himself saved by an unknown bard dressed in green."
Xiao started frowning at the story. "Dressed in green?" isn't that the creature he saw? Not to mentioned he heard the flute too? Maybe it was just a coincidence. Xiao shook the thought off and continue to pay attention.
"After the bard left, the Yaksha longed to be reunited with them once again so they could dance and sing once more. It was their wish but not everything was meant to be. The bard has soon forgotten who the Yaksha was and they were never able to meet again. Pretty sad huh?" The professor asked.
"Okay then it's time for your lunch breaks. I am going to be releasing you early today since some of you seem to be tired and all that" the instructor once again glared at Xiao while saying that. He could hear a few snickers behind his back. Xiao mentally sighed at this act and head off to the canteen to have his meal.
Walking down the path, he could see students bustling in the area. Some of them hurrying back and forth probably late for their next class or craving for their lunch. He made his way to the door when he spotted a familiar looking person, wearing a beanie with two braids that has a greenish highlight on the tip. He stopped and stared at them as they happily skip towards the building.
"Bar...batos" his mind seemed to speak out loud but he had no idea where it was from. As if hearing the name he just spoke in his head, the stranger turned around with widened eyes and stared at him.
"...do I know you?"