Chapter Text
He stands atop a mountain of memories filled with joy, with laughter, with fear, and pain. He longs for a home that no longer exists. In the pouring rain, nestled in a field of Qingxin flowers, he feels himself break. The lone Yaksha calls out to a world he’s dreamed of joining for as long as he can remember. The Geo Archon watches in silence.
Xiao kneeled silently at the foot of a tree with golden leaves and twisting branches. Its bright colors seemed to envelop his vision as his eyes fell to the ground where the leaves decorated the earth beneath him. He sought to touch a leaf, pick it up and twirl it between his fingers but stopped himself. He would just tarnish the leaf. It would rot in his hand and be useless to the world.
Xiao waited patiently for his new Master to return. The Geo Archon had stepped away for a moment to retrieve what he had referred to as his “Family.” Xiao could only sit there in silence, his expression, emotionless but this quickly shifted to confusion as he felt a familiar presence approach.
He dared not turn his head. His Master had not instructed him to do so and if his current Master was anything like his previous Lord, he would be punished swiftly but painfully. He continued to stare down into the Earth adorned with golden leaves and remained kneeling until his Master addressed him. “Xiao, I would like you to meet your fellow Yakshas.”
At this, he slowly stood up from his position and was surprised to see other Adepti like himself. Being in captivity for so many years, Xiao had thought there was none other like him save for the Geo Archon. His previous Lord employed monsters and wicked beings that sought to do others harm. However, Xiao sensed no malice from the five Yakshas that stood before him.
Each of the Yakshas held differing visions and their own sense of style. He watched as two ladies grasped onto each other whispering and smiling at him. The two men standing a few feet away from him seemed determined not to acknowledge each other’s presence at all, turning away from the other completely and instead focusing their gazes on Xiao.
A rather broad-chested Yaksha with four arms and violet-hued tattoos stepped forward and introduced himself first. “I am Marshal Vritras but you may call me ‘Brother Bosacious’ as the others do.” His tone of voice was brash and seemed to drown out all background noises. Much like the storms that sometimes plagued Liyue, Xiao thought. Marshal Vritras smiled warmly at Xiao and gave a small wave in greeting.
Despite his size, Xiao was not fearful of the Marshal Vritras’s four arms, rather, he seemed to have a jolly temperament that contradicted the thunderous voice and the bold aura that he exuded. Xiao bowed his head in respect, but heard a sound of disapproval leave the older Yaksha's mouth. He thought to question it but was quickly reminded of how his previous master disliked questions.
Xiao’s eyes shifted to the other three Adepti and each gave a small introduction similar to that of Marshal Vritras.
A beautiful Adeptus with long, flowing-blue hair introduced herself as “General Chizapus,” but asked to be called “Sister Bonanus.” Her hair flowed down her back like the rolling waves of Yaoguang Shoal. She ruffled Xiao’s hair with a large paw as a kind gesture but Xiao remained unmoving and unfeeling. She frowned slightly before stepping away.
An Adeptus with fiery red hair that left Xiao with a warm feeling boldly announced her title as “General Musatas,” but told Xiao to refer to her as “Big Sister Indarias.” She paused, waiting for an answer from the young Adeptus, but seemed disappointed when he responded with “Greetings to General Musatas” accompanied with a polite bow. To Xiao, General Musatas brought a flicker of light to him that was reminiscent of the lanterns the mortals lit around their homes and villages.
Moving on to the last Adeptus, a Geo-user that bared some similarity to Xiao’s new Master stepped forward and called himself “General Kapisas'' and like the others, asked to be referred to as “Brother Menogias.” This Adeptus was the embodiment of Liyue’s vast plains. He seemed rather intelligent with his piercing gaze but did not have the same ferocity as the Geo Archon did who evoked the ground to shake and mountains to rise with just a swing of his spear. Like the others, Menogias frowned when Xiao gave a respectful bow.
Feeling a spike of fear well within him, Xiao cautiously spoke. “I apologize if I have offended you in any way. Please correct my behaviour with whatever method you wish and I will be sure to refrain from angering you again in the future.”
Xiao swallowed a lump in his throat but his eyes looked up as a reaction to the loud gasp that emanated from the other four Yakshas. They whispered amongst themselves but quickly stopped when a new character rested her hand on Xiao’s head. Xiao didn’t even need to turn to know who it was. The scent of glaze lilies was telling enough.
“My dear Alatus, please do not say such things. No one here will ever harm you. I promise you that.” Xiao kept his head bowed as Guizhong combed her fingers through his hair. All the while, Morax, who had been watching this interaction in silence, finally spoke.
“Please see to it Marshal and Generals that this young Adeptus is cared for. Fate has not been kind to him.” Xiao watched silently as his Master descended the set of stairs ingrained in the side of the mountain. His eyes trailed away from the retreating form of his Master and back to the other Yakshas, however, he was caught off-guard by sad expressions and spilt tears.
Xiao could feel the thrumming of his own heart as a cold chill slithered up his spine. “I-I apologize, I-” he was cut off by a suffocating feeling. It took him several moments of blinking his eyes in astonishment to realize that the other Yakshas were embracing him.
He felt gentle hands run over his hair, slowly grazing his back, avoiding the remaining scars, and rubbing his shoulder. They were partnered with words Xiao had only heard mortals speak to their families.
“It’s okay.”
”We’ll protect you.”
”You’re safe.”
”We’ll take care of you.”
”You are our Baby Brother now.”
Xiao felt something wet slip down his cheeks. He couldn’t describe the choking feeling he felt, not from how tightly the others hugged him, but from how reassuring and comforting he found those words to be.
Xiao wanted to say something. He tried to show his gratitude through his words but nothing but a stifled cry would escape. His newfound family didn’t seem to mind his struggle though. They kept holding onto him until the sun had fallen from its place in the sky and Xiao’s eyelids along with it.
~Later on~
”I worry for the young Adeptus, Guizhong. He will never be able to escape from his past,” Morax addressed in concern as he walked beside the goddess of Dust. Guizhong failed to share the same concern, her steps light as if she was walking among the stars. Morax never could understand how such a diligent and headstrong person could have an appearance that was so free.
“Do not worry, Morax. He is strong and will overcome it.” Morax halted in front of her, stopping her from going any further. His tail swung under his robes in irritation.
“How can you be so sure? You saw what that despicable dog did to him! Those wings will never grow back. He can never be free of his pain. I should’ve arrived sooner. I should’ve-”
Guizhong gave him a smile that told him she knew something he didn’t. This smile was fairly common since she had to be one of the most intelligent beings to walk Teyvat. Morax had grown accustomed to being proven wrong by her intellect. It annoyed him to no end but he couldn’t deny that her information had aided him greatly and now, he found her smile oddly reassuring. Perhaps that’s why she could be so carefree at times, because she was confident in her knowledge.
Guizhong kept walking up the steps, leaving him behind. He sighed, following her up but was met with a shocking sight.
Two of Bosacious’s arms were wrapped around a rather irritated looking Menogias. One was placed gently on Indarias’s and Bonanus’s waists, and the last cupped Xiao’s cheek who was nestled in the center of the “Yaksha pile" in between his two sisters who were clutching onto his arm. Tear streams were apparent on his face and his hands clenched tightly on Menogias’s sleeve, no doubt experiencing a nightmare.
Guizhong beamed as she laid a blanket over the five of them and in a soft voice, she said to Morax, “I told you, he is strong. He will heal. You just need to believe in him."
Morax laid his hand on Xiao’s head and the young Adeptus leaned into the comforting warmth that was easing away his nightmare. Morax smiled. “I already do."