Chapter Text
There used to be the five Yakshas guarding Liyue. But one by one, they fell into madness, leaving only one lonely Yaksha to guard and fight for Liyue.
That was Xiao. He never really interacted with anyone, maybe as a way to protect himself from the pain of eventually losing them. But she was different. She was the opposite. Lumine. The Travelling Witch he met, who eventually caused their demise.
“Ah, ah, ow—!” Lumined tumbled down from a tree, bleeding. Unfortunately, she fell in front of an adeptus, who was asleep. Though not for long as he immediately opened his eyes, hearing the noise from the ruffling of leaves and Lumine’s groaning. She was wounded, scratches and grazes from her shoulder to her knees, her broom broken.
“Ahhh, oh no, this is bad..” She held her broom close to her. Xiao looked at her with wide eyes, examining her. Is she a threat? A witch.. It’s been a while since he has seen one. He was on guard though.
“Who are you?” The adeptus asked. It was a well known fact that witches were evil. Xiao was a guardian, he was tasked to defeat evil. But Morax, no, Zhongli once told him about a kind witch that even changed his life. The Tale of Guili.
◇
The Tale of Guili is about a kind and playful witch who met a ruthless God. The witch, Guizhong and the God, Morax, now known as Zhongli. Their names combined created “Guili”. Guizhong fell into the hands of Morax. Fascinated by her knowledge and behavior, Morax spared the “evil” being. The witch and the God eventually became friends, due to Guizhong’s undeniable kindness that melted the ruthless God’s heart. Morax changed for her.
Unfortunately, the Divine Beings found out about them. Morax was supposed to purge evil. Guizhong was supposedly evil. She was a witch, naturally, she was born evil. But Morax knew better. Guizhong was kinder than the humans he was tasked to protect. Even though he’d be going against the Divine Beings, he would never hurt Guizhong.
The Divine Beings, enraged by Morax’ disobedience, placed a curse on Guizhong; on all of the witches born, and to be born. If these witches were to come into contact with this world’s guardians, they would disappear. Because they were evil beings, they said. But among the history of witches, none of them caused major evil deeds. Only Guizhong. Was it so wrong to be with Morax?
In the end, the witch knew about the consequences of their relationship. She asked the Divine Beings for a favor, in which only she should disappear, as only she made that mistake. The Divine Beings gave no definite answer, but Guizhong still sacrificed her life. By embracing Morax. She knew there were things unsaid between them. And actions said better than words.
Thus, she slowly started to fade away, into little fireflies. Morax kissed her lips before she disappeared completely.
“Please forget me.” Those were her last words. Morax, who blamed himself for her death, gave up being a God and became a normal human.
❀
Lumine rubbed her forehead, which was bleeding from the fall when she heard a man’s voice. Her eyes widened. Those tattoos, that mask. A guardian adeptus. She immediately stood up, only to fall.
“Ah!” Lumine had sprained her ankle. She looked at the adeptus in fear.
“I won’t do anything! I promise! Just.. please don’t kill me..”
After hearing her words, Xiao sighed. This witch was wounded pretty badly. A broken broom, cuts everywhere and a sprained ankle, what more can she do? The adeptus looked away.
Lumine clutched her broken broom; she planned to use it as a weapon against the adeptus. However, it was of no use as the adeptus didn’t do anything.
…
“I’m sorry for disturbing your sleep..” Lumine said. The adeptus then looked at her, his eyes as if piercing into her very soul. He spared her, but he didn’t trust her yet.
“You see, humans kept on chasing me. They said I was evil, that us witches needed to be wiped off the face of Teyvat.” Lumine sighed. She was the last remaining witch. Most of her kind were either killed by humans, or were captured to be slaves and died.
Xiao had his eyes closed. He looked like he didn’t care, but he was listening. Lumine looked at her injuries.
“What did we do that was so wrong? It’s all that witch’s fault that our reputation got even more tarnished..” Lumine said, her tone bitter. Xiao knew very well who “that witch” was.
“I don’t think we deserve this kind of treatment! We never hurt anyone! Just because we’re witches doesn’t mean… Ah. I mean.. Just because I’m a witch doesn’t mean I’m evil!” Lumine sighed. She was finally able to vent her anger towards humans. Xiao looked at her in wonder.
“..must feel lonely..” He thought to himself before looking away. Lumine looked at the adeptus.
“Why were you resting here? Why not at some inn or a fancier place.. Surely they’d let you in for free..” Lumine asked him. He didn’t answer for a long while.
“I don’t interact with people.” The adeptus replied. Lumine’s face brightened up after hearing him talk. She smiled a little.
…
Lumine thought for a moment. Why isn’t the adeptus “purifying” her? He’s a guardian.. Lumine looked at the sky. A witch who hates witches. She wondered if her fellow witches were alive, would they blame her for hating her own kind? She’d been running away all this time, getting hurt just to recuperate and get hurt again. Still, she wanted to live. Only if she was a normal human… maybe.. things would’ve been different.
Lumine fell asleep, her head leaning on a tree. She was full of scratches, wounds small but deep. Xiao looked at her, but he wouldn't get close. He looked away. She’s a witch. She can take care of herself.
Xiao remained silent for a moment.
“Witch.” He murmured under his breath.
“If you ever get into trouble.. Call my name.” Xiao then disappeared into thin air.
Lumine was unaware of his words. She woke up alone and wondered. Where did the adeptus go? However, after waking up, she found some herbs beside her. Herbs that she can use to heal her wounds. It must be from that adeptus….
After their fateful meeting, Lumine would often go to that tree, looking for the adeptus, but he was never there. She hadn’t even thanked him for his help and for sparing her.. Lumine walked with her head in the clouds until something hit her head. A rock.
“G..g-go away! You damned witch, just die!!” A woman, probably pregnant, had thrown a rock at her. What was a pregnant woman like her doing here? Lumine approached the pregnant woman.
“Your daughter...” Lumine mumbled. The woman’s eyes grew wide. Lumine smiled a little, her forehead bleeding.
“Are you lost? I’ll help you out.” Lumine offered her hand, however, a firm hand gripped hers and pushed her away.
“Do not touch my wife!” The man said, holding a dagger.
“I found her! I found my wife! This witch probably took her to eat our child!” The man accused Lumine. She looked behind the man. Those are a pretty lot of people.. Lumine took the initiative and ran, as fast as she could. The wife held her husband’s hand to stop him, but the other civilians chased after her. Lumine didn’t look back, she just kept on running without knowing where she’s supposed to go.
They won’t stop chasing her.. Lumine thought for a moment. There were rumors that wherever you are, the guardian adeptus will protect you. Just call for his name..
“If you ever get into trouble.. Call my name.”
Lumine kept on running. She wanted to stop, but she couldn’t. Her broom was still broken, she couldn’t fly. She took a deep breath.
…
She was about to call for his name, but..
What was his name again? Did he tell me his name? His name.. That adeptus’ name.. The only remaining Yaksha’s name.. What..
Lumine suddenly tripped and fell off a cliff. She rolled over in the mud and grass, got scratched from the broken twigs and rocks. Still, her thoughts were all about his name. The people chasing her looked at her from above. She wasn’t moving, she was thinking. They walked away. After a few moments, Lumine’s head shot up.
He never told me his name..!
Lumine stood up slowly. She had lots of cuts and bruises in her body. She dusted off her clothes and when she looked up, the adeptus was staring at her. She flinched.
“I didn’t do anything wrong..!!”
The adeptus looked at her in amusement. This is the second time he’s seen her all beat up. He looked away.
“Why are you here..? I didn’t call for you…” Lumine looked around.
“But I heard the commotion. I heard their curses, directed at you.” The adeptus looked at her, scanning her. She was wounded pretty badly again.
“You didn’t tell me your name.” Lumine approached the adeptus.
“Stay back.” He said. Lumine stopped. Xiao looked away.
“...”
“.. Adeptus Xiao.” He replied, not looking at her. Lumine smiled before she replied.
“Xiao.”
The adeptus looked at her.
“My name’s Lumine. The last remaining witch. Then..! I’ll be in your care!” Lumine chuckled. Xiao’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t say I would protect you.” Xiao said. Lumine looked down. It would’ve been really great if he was to help her..
“I’ll be your friend!” Lumine smiled. Xiao shot her a glance before he scoffed.
“Bold of you to assume I need one.” He then disappeared.
“Ah..” Lumine sighed. Well at least, she knew his name.
After that, Xiao saved Lumine from humans about four or five more times.
“Why do you depend on me to save you? What if I don’t arrive in time? What if I don’t listen to your call?” Xiao eyes looked at Lumine, he didn’t look pleased. Lumine chuckled awkwardly.
“I just know you’d save me. We’re both lonely after all, we have no one but each other.” Lumine said while smiling.
“Do you think I need you?” Xiao scoffed before looking away.
Lumine smiled. Before, he’d disappear after helping her. But now, he was willing to talk with her, little by little, more and more. Gradually, she started to know him more. Xiao liked sweets, but he hated meat. He didn't like small talk, but he'd talk with her from time to time. They started to spend a lot of time together. He helped her fix her broom, only for it to get broken again.
“You should start taking care of yourself.” Xiao said without looking at her. Lumine chuckled.
“Are you tired of fixing my broom?” Lumine asked.
“What if you seriously get hurt?” Xiao asked her, still without looking.
“I know you’ll save me.” Lumine smiled.
“There! Haha!— Oh..” Lumine’s face brightened up after she thought she’d fixed her broom, only to find out it’d been broken too much. She sighed. Xiao was about to scoff, but he turned away.
“Have you always been running away?” Xiao asked.
“Of course! If I stopped, I’d die.” Lumine replied as she put her broom down. She looked up.
“The sky looks beautiful.. If only I could fly and touch the clouds.. Haah~ How fun that would be..” Lumine chuckled. Xiao thought for a moment. She was certainly lonely.
“How long have you been running away?” Xiao asked.
“Ever since I was born. I had no choice, I needed to live.” Lumine looked at Xiao.
“Why are you suddenly asking so much questions?” Lumine leaned closer to Xiao. Xiao looked away.
“Why do you keep running away?” Xiao ignored her question.
“My parents died to save me. Can’t let that go to waste..” Lumine chuckled. She then stood up.
“How about you tell me about yourself?”
“No.”
“I told you so much!”
“You didn’t have to answer them.”
“That’s unfair.”
Xiao sighed.
“I think so too.” Xiao said.
“What?”
“It’s unfair. I don’t think you did anything wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“That witch. She was just with Morax.”
“You believe that tale?”
“You don’t?”
“I do.” Lumine replied.
Xiao looked at Lumine for a moment.
“I’ll protect you. But that’s all.”
…were his words. But as time passed, he found himself wanting to protect her and be with her. Her presence was something that he kept on looking for, each time she was gone. She was a pain, but he was willing to tolerate her. For years, they succeeded in hiding Lumine. But good things seldom last.
“You can’t run away forever!” A human yelled as he threw his torch towards Lumine. Lumine kept on running. Her broom was yet to be actually fixed, she didn’t know if it was going to work. But she had a plan in mind. On her left was a road leading to a cliff. Everyone knew that. But they didn’t know her broom was broken. She can just “fly”, surely they’d give up, right?
They didn’t, foolish humans, foolish Lumine! They followed her until the end. So she pretended to ride her broom.
“You can’t follow me, stay back!”
“You witch! Always running away!”
Lumine backed away. She was inches away from falling. She murmured Xiao’s name under her breath. She can just stall them—
Fwoosh!
Someone shot an arrow. Thankfully, Lumine had avoided the arrow. However, she lost her footing and fell out of balance. She gripped her broom tightly.
Please fly. Please fly. Be a good broom, just this once, work, work, WORK!
“I told you, I can’t always save you.”
Gloved hands. Lumine looked up. There was Xiao. He was holding her hand. After seeing Lumine fall, the humans ran away. It was now only the two of them. Xiao’s face was red as he pulled her up. Lumine looked below her. The gushing water. She can hear them, but not see.
“Don’t let go!” Xiao demanded.
“I’m not—” Lumine looked up at her hand.
Oh no. No, no no no. No, no, no, no, no..
Lumine noticed it. Her hand, she wasn’t letting go. But Xiao’s hand was losing its grip on her hand. She was fading away.
“Xiao.”
Xiao was still trying to pull her up. Lumine tossed her broom up the cliff. She used the dirt as a stepping stone. She gripped Xiao’s wrist, tight, but Xiao couldn’t feel it.
“You love me, don’t you?” Lumine asked.
“Why does that matter right now!?” Xiao looked sharply towards Lumine’s way.
Lumine repeated herself. “You love me. Don’t you?”
“I don’t!” Xiao grunted.
“You do.” Lumine chuckled.
“You do.” She repeated.
“So what?!” Xiao clenched his teeth and pulled up higher.
“Hold on tighter!” He demanded.
“Xiao.”
Xiao looked over to Lumine.
“I’ve been holding onto you. So tightly. You can’t feel it, can you?” Lumine looked at her hand, her fingers were gone, Xiao was only holding onto her palm. Xiao’s eyes widened. He had forgotten. He didn’t realize. He didn’t notice.
“Just.. hold on, I.. I’ll fix this.” Xiao clenched his teeth again. Lumine can feel Xiao’s grip tightening even more. But he can’t feel her hands on his. This wasn’t working. Xiao looked away. Why is it painful?
Lumine used the dirt as a stepping stone. She gripped his hand as tight as she can, and with two hands, she used her “stepping stone” and pulled Xiao down, with all her might, over and over again.
“Lumine—what are you doing—!?”
Xiao finally fell.
His eyes were wide. Lumine slowly smiled. She pulled Xiao closer into an embrace. She had never felt his warmth before.. He was actually warm? She didn't know that. Not until now. Lumine smiled. Xiao didn’t know what to say. What was she doing!? If he was to fall, he’d be fine, but what about her?! He embraced her tightly, covering her body with his. As they both fell, Lumine whispered words in his ears which were muted by the air and the sound of the gushing water beneath them getting louder. Xiao’s mind was a mess. She can feel Lumine’s warmth disappearing, but at the same time, holding her like this felt.. nice.
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“Is this alright?”
“Can I hug you like this?”
“Do you not mind?”
“Ah.. I don’t want this to end.”
“Xiao, you’re really warm.”
“I like this.”
..were Lumine's thoughts.
They can both hear the gushing water beneath them. Xiao looks at Lumine, his eyes sharp.
“You idiot! What are you even doing!? I told you I’ll fix this!—” Xiao was cut off by Lumine’s lips enveloping his. His eyes widened. Her lips were warm. Xiao embraced Lumine tightly.
…
Splash!
Xiao suddenly felt cold. He was underwater. The warmth from Lumine was gone. Lumine was gone. He opened his eyes. Lumine. Where is she? He looked underneath, he swam up, looking for her. He yelled out her name. No response. Xiao froze. He looked everywhere. No signs of Lumine.
Why did you have to disappear now that I’ve grown to like your presence? Why did you have to make me feel warm, then leave me? Why did I let myself fall? Why did I embrace you? Why did it feel good to hold you, to kiss you?
Xiao felt his chest grow heavy.
For the first time, he felt his chest tighten. He felt a lump in his throat.