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He was propulsed against the wall with a loud thud.
Everything hurts. It all hurts so bad.
The Yaksha grunted, back cracking as he slowly got up. He had let go of his spear long ago, yet here he was, still fighting, relentlessly.
What else was he supposed to do?
There were too many monsters. He knew he was not physically able to take them all in a fight. He knew that. But leaving them alive would allow them to grow stronger and stronger, and if he wasn't able to keep up at this stage, no one else would later on.
The consequences would be atrocious.
He was responsible for their strength, anyway. He hadn't rid the land of them soon enough. He was the one to blame. It was his fault they had gained strength, he would be the one to pay the consequences. And no matter what, no matter how slim his chance of triumphing was- he would exterminate them. He wouldn't let them endanger anyone any longer.
Gritting his teeth, the adeptus re-adjusted his mask on his face and summoned the wind to his side. No polearm? No matter. He would fight with claw and teeth, just like before, if need be.
This has gone for long enough.
"Disappear!"
He threw himself back into battle.
With every leap, dive, jump and dash, he ached and ached. Karma clung to his bruised limbs, and his bones sung with pain, yet he kept pressing on, wind ripping through demon flesh yet giving him enough speed to dodge attacks. Their screams and cries filled his head and it hurt, and they mixed with the voices in his mind, demanding that he submit, that he surrender to the darkness and give in to his urges like the creature of violence he was.
These urges aren't mine, but yours. Your trickery knows no bound, he snarled internally.
Now was not the time to lose himself. No matter how much time would pass, no matter how hard they tried to convince him, he would remember this truth. He would not let himself be controlled- not again.
The Yaksha collapsed as the final monster fell, disappearing into a dark and toxic mist. He breathed it in and it poisoned his lungs, but he was too exhausted to register the ache of it. He took in deep gasping breaths, trying to recover enough strength to get up. He choked as the foul air burned him from the inside.
That was it. He was going to die here, deep inside one of the countless caves of Liyue, without anyone knowing. A fitting fate for a Yaksha, to simply disappear one day suddenly.
At least, he was blessed to be granted death near his god's element.
He wondered if anyone would remember him.
What of the Traveler?
What of his lo-
With a gasp, Xiao opened his eyes.
If it was truly the end, he needed to say goodbye.
"...Zh...ugh- Zh-Zhong...li..." He whispered between coughing.
He tasted copper.
Through his darkening vision, he thought he saw a sudden flash of gold.
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When he came to, an ache that had previously been dulles came back to life without any warning, making him jerk up.
He needed air.
He couldn't breathe.
The adeptus thrashed around. He grabbed a warm, soft cylindrical object in a panic, gasping for air. His mouth was open, but no oxygen seemed to reach his lungs...
He was struggling against some force that was trying to hold him down. Through his panic, he thought he heard a deep voice speaking to him...
The man jerked violently when something warm pressed against his lips. It felt... Familiar. Suddenly, air was flowing much easier in his throat. He inhaled through his nose, tilting his head back. It felt divinely good to breathe at last. The force against his mouth withdrew and he opened his eyes.
Though his vision was blurry, he immediately recognised his lover's amber eyes. He seemed worried. The adeptus tried to speak, but only choked noises got past his lips. His throat felt dry and closed up.
"My bird, please, keep your strength. You should try to rest your throat instead. Explanations can wait for later." He said gently, scanning the other's face.
The latter nodded weakly.
"Good." The god continued, his deep voice soothing the avian adeptus.
"Do you remember what happened before you passed out? No need to reply verbally."
He blinked. Slowly, memories were starting to come back.
He had found out that demons had settled in a cave not far from the Dragon Queller. Having gone to investigate, he had found himself in one of the toughest battles he had partaken in on his own. He had fought and fought and fought until strength left him. Had taken down all the opponents, and fallen to his knees, and...had been rescued on the verge of death.
His lord had seen him half dead.
"M-my lord- I- urgh-" he suddenly coughed blood, turning his head away.
His lungs were filled with it.
Dimly, he registered being gently rolled onto his side so he could expel it without suffocating.
"Easy now, my Xiao. Do not try to speak, simply breathe with me." his lover mumbled, rubbing his back soothingly.
He coughed and spluttered, staining the grass under him. Eventually, his throat cleared up enough to allow him to take in deep, gasping breaths.
"hurts..." he whispered.
Strong arms wrapped around him protectively. The Yaksha gasped as warmth surrounded him, going through him and chasing the pain away. Only the dull ache in his muscles remained, and it was almost comforting.
"I apologize for not noticing sooner that you were still in pain, Xiao. I had thought that most of your injuries were healed by now..." the older frowned.
"...poison...poison gas...and karma." the smaller replied, not trusting his voice to hold a complete sentence.
He could feel geo energy engulf him completely, urging him to rest, to trust. He sighed blissfully. Here, in these arms, encompassed by warmth and yang energy that kept his karma at bay, he felt safe.
"Rest, my dove. I will take you home and nurse you back to health, I promise. I do not know what exactly you meant by poison gas, but I will research the matter. Allow me to take cafe of everything." came Zhongli's promises murmured into his hair.
And, as always, the adeptus placed his entire trust into Zhongli.
"...yes, my lord."