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"This... doesn't look like a domain," the adeptus grunted.
Xiao was just about to head back to Wangshu Inn when he noticed geovishap hatchlings rolling away from their nest near the foot of Dragonspine. The trees that were far from the eternal blizzard of the mountain had started to sway. When even the hilichurls started leaving their camps, he knew something was amiss.
As the ground shook even stronger, Xiao put on his mask to prepare for a possible threat. Slowly but loudly, a crack in the mountain had opened— revealing a hidden domain entrance underneath.
Inside was a vast field of vanilla-scented glaze lilies coated by a thick carpet of snow, as if the Tsaritsa herself had shed tears here. In the far North was the diamond in the rough— a lone figure of white that completed the view.
"This snow... is it of Cryo?"
Xiao started making his way to the figure. It was a quiet journey; even the winds were silent in this mysterious domain. The yaksha had seen and fought countless creatures of old, yet this domain— though he couldn't admit how breathtaking it was— was the first to make him feel like letting his guard down for even a second would mean immediate death.
Except...
"...Lumine?"
The figure turned to face him.
That moonlight-colored hair his hands used to comb whenever he had the chance, those golden eyes he'd drown in with no regrets everytime she'd look at him, those flowers in her hair she held as she cried to him about finding out what was happening with her brother... It was her. He wanted to believe it was her.
But what was she doing here? Didn't she leave for Sumeru? How long has she been here? Where was her little flying traveling companion?
"...Xiao."
Xiao had so many questions and that was his downfall. The moment she said his name, he knew he was trapped. Her voice was just one of the many things he treasured about her, yet it was enough to put him in a trance.
Lumine smiled— the smile that's so obviously holding back tears she would put on whenever Xiao came back to the Inn covered in battle scars. But this wasn't the inn. He wasn't covered in battle scars. He knows Lumine can trust that he can take care of himself with simple, small wounds he had right now, but her smile said otherwise.
"Lumine, is something wro—"
"Will you dance with me, Xiao?"
A small, rational part of him was on guard, but the rest ached to say yes. Dancing in a field of snow-clad flowers with the one person who he wants to be a part of his life, no matter how much karmic debt he had to endure, no matter how long he'd have to wait for her to come home to him after her adventures?
It was too good to be true.
And it was.