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"Another nightfall," Xiao murmured to himself, perched atop the highest peak of Liyue's rugged terrain.
The eternal guardian of the city's tranquility, he surveyed the horizon with a gaze that pierced the gathering dusk.
For millennia, he had felt the weight of his duty as the Vigilant Yaksha, but tonight, something was different.
A shadow lingered on the periphery of his consciousness, a presence that whispered of a time when the world was brighter, and less tainted.
The air grew heavy with a scent of nostalgia and something else—a hint of longing. It was a feeling Xiao had experienced before, but never so vividly.
The presence was both a comforting embrace and a suffocating veil, wrapping around his soul like a warm blanket that hinted at a coldness beneath.
It was a paradox that intrigued and troubled him in equal measure.
He had encountered many powerful entities in his long life, but none had left such an enigmatic imprint.
As the years rolled by, the presence grew stronger, its whispers more insistent.
Yet, every time Xiao sought to uncover its source, it would retreat, leaving behind a trail of shadows and forgotten memories.
The pursuit became a silent dance, a game of cat and mouse that played out across the sprawling landscape of Liyue.
It was as if the presence knew Xiao's every move, anticipating his actions with an eerie precision that sent chills down his spine.
The presence felt like a phantom from his past, a specter of a time when the world was not cloaked in the shadow of the Abyss Order.
The comfort it brought was a siren's call, a false promise of peace that Xiao knew better than to trust.
Yet, the unsettling nature of its elusiveness spoke to a deeper truth—a connection to the very fabric of his existence that he could not ignore.
It was a constant reminder of the life he had once known, a life where the world was not so cruel, and the dreams he consumed were not tainted by darkness.
In the quiet moments between battles, Xiao found himself drawn to the whispers of this mysterious force.
He would often ponder the meaning behind its fleeting visits, his mind racing with questions that had no answers.
Was it a lost piece of himself, a shard of his soul that had escaped the confines of the yaksha curse?
Or was it a warning, a beacon of foreboding that heralded the return of the very evil he had dedicated his existence to vanquishing?
The more he thought about it, the more he realized that the presence was as much a part of him as the Karmic Debt that tormented his nights.
But little did Xiao realize, this presence was no mere shard, or a manifestation of the darkness that he fights, but something more complicated.
It was a person that suffered a similar torment not unlike the Yaksha's.
The Viator, once a curious traveler of Teyvat, had been transformed by the Abyss Order into a being of immense power, a harbinger of chaos and despair.
His soul was bound to the very essence of the Abyss, and his heart echoed with the cries of those he had once helped.
He had become a creature of the night, haunting the lands that he had once loved to explore.
Throughout the centuries, Xiao felt this presence, a shadow flitting at the edges of his consciousness. It was a burden he bore in silence, a whisper of a melody that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
It was a power that resonated with his own, a darkness that was eerily comforting in its familiarity.
Yet, every time he tried to confront it, to understand it, it would dissipate like mist before dawn, leaving him with nothing but the lingering scent of almond tofu and a feeling of profound loneliness.
Each time the dark being, once known as Aether, would visit Liyue to observe Wangshu Inn where the Yaksha resided.
But the vigilance of the Adeptus, and the potential rejection would keep the Viator from getting too close, teleporting away using the ancient waypoints that only otherworldly creatures like him can use.
The Viator's heart was a tumultuous storm of emotions. The comfort that the Inn brought him was a stark contrast to the turmoil he felt as the pawn of the Abyss Order.
The very place that held memories of his friendship with Xiao was now a symbol of his isolation.
He knew that revealing himself to the Yaksha would only bring pain and confusion, but the urge to seek out that bond was stronger than ever.
He felt the weight of his newfound power and the burden of his manipulated destiny pressing down on him, a constant reminder of the path he had been forced to walk.
On one of his visits to the Inn, the Viator lingered longer than usual, the sweet scent of almond tofu lingering in the air.
He allowed himself to be drawn into the warm embrace of nostalgia, his mind wandering to the days when he had fought alongside Xiao under the auspices of the Geo Archon.
He remembered the camaraderie, the shared battles, and the moments of quiet companionship that had once been his refuge.
The longing grew unbearable, and he let his guard down, allowing the light within himself to momentarily brighten the diamond ornament on his dark breastplate, eclipsing the darkness, the crimson edges around it.
His darkened eyes lighten with life, his pupils from harsh, sharp slits... to softer, rounder ones... eyes that echo his former self.
As Xiao patrolled Guili Plains, he felt the change in the air. The once-malignant presence had shifted, becoming more akin to a warm, comforting embrace from a lost friend.
His eyes narrowed as he focused his senses, searching for the source of this sudden shift. His mind raced with questions and suspicion.
But the feeling was undeniable: the presence was connected to him, a piece of his past that seemed to resonate with the very core of his being.
He could feel it drawing closer, a beacon of hope in the bleakness of his endless vigil.
The transformation was gradual, the darkness around the presence retreating like shadows before the dawn. Xiao's curiosity grew stronger, overshadowing his caution.
He had seen many strange occurrences over the millennia, but nothing quite like this.
It was as if a part of his soul had been scattered to the winds and was now slowly being drawn back together.
The presence grew clearer, and with it, fleeting memories of a time before the Abyss Order's influence had tainted everything.
Memories of adventures alongside the Traveler, of the laughter and companionship they had shared.
His heart swelled with hope, and for the first time in centuries, he allowed himself to feel something other than the cold embrace of duty.
The Viator, feeling the shift in the air, approached Xiao's chambers with a tentative grace that belied his turmoil.
His cloak fluttered softly in the breeze, the moon casting long shadows across the balcony. His eyes searched the horizon, eyes filled with a longing so potent it ached.
The scent of almond tofu, a favorite of Xiao's, lingered faintly in the air, a silent declaration of his presence.
His hand trembled as it reached for the railing, a silent plea for the world to stay still, for his heart to calm.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the scent of the marshlands, the air cool and damp against his skin.
For a moment, he allowed himself to believe that this was all a dream, that the Abyss had not claimed him, and that Xiao was still the same stoic guardian of old.
The landscape of Dihua Marsh lay before him, a tableau of tranquility amidst the chaos of his thoughts.
The gentle hum of distant life was a balm to his soul, a reminder of the world that continued to spin despite his own tumultuous journey.
He longed to share this moment with Xiao, to stand beside him and watch the night unfold without the weight of his secrets pressing down upon him.
The Viator's eyes searched the horizon, his thoughts a tapestry of doubt and hope. His hand, once firm and steady, now trembled with the burden of his new existence.
He knew that the comfort he sought was a dangerous illusion, but he yearned for it all the same. The night air grew colder, a harsh contrast to the warmth of the memory that filled his chest.
He knew that if he called out to Xiao, the truth would come crashing down upon them both, shattering the fragile peace that had settled over the landscape.
He took another deep breath, his chest tightening with the weight of his decision. The Abyss had changed him, tainted his soul, and yet the bond between them remained, a flickering thread in the darkness.
The urge to shout out Xiao's name was almost overwhelming, but fear held him back. Fear of what Xiao would see when he looked upon him, fear of what he had become.
The wind whispered through the reeds, carrying with it the faint scent of almond tofu, beckoning him to bridge the gap that separated them.
The balcony of the Inn creaked beneath his feet, a silent witness to his turmoil. The night sky above was a canvas of stars, each one a silent question about his fate and Lumine's role in it all.
He closed his eyes and tried to focus, to push aside the Abyss's shroud, but it clung to him like a second skin, a constant reminder of the path he had been forced upon.
His hand reached for the mask at his side, a symbol of his new identity, a shield against the recognition he so desperately sought.
With trembling fingers, the Viator lifted the mask, revealing his true face to the cold night air.
The almond tofu scent grew stronger, a beacon to Xiao's sharp senses. For a moment, the Abyss's grip on him loosened, and he felt a glimmer of hope.
Perhaps, just perhaps, Xiao would see the friend he once knew, the one who had fought alongside him.
The one who had shared laughter and camaraderie in battles long ago. The fun adventures they shared.
He took a deep breath, the frigid breeze carrying whispers of his thoughts to the distant chambers where Xiao rested.
"Xiao," he called out, lower than a whisper, his voice a mere echo of the kind Traveler he used to be.
The silence was deafening, and the marshlands held their breath, waiting for a response.
The Abyss's shroud pulsed around him, a prison of his own making, threatening to swallow his words.
Yet, he felt a warmth, a hint of something familiar that resonated within the darkness.
In the stillness of the Guili Plains, Xiao's eyes snapped open, his body taut with alertness.
The name that had once been lost to the annals of his memory reverberated through his mind, a warmth that seemed to cut through the cold steel of his resolve.
The voice was faint, almost lost to the whispers of the night, but it was unmistakable.
It was the same voice that had called to him in his dreams, the one that had brought him comfort in his darkest moments.
The Guili Plains lay before him, the water reflecting the silvery glow of the moon.
The adeptus took a deep breath, the scent of almond tofu lingering in the air.
It was a peculiar aroma, one that didn't quite belong in these lands but was oddly comforting.
Xiao had felt drawn to the smell since it first appeared, and now, he knew it was the scent of the one who had called to him.
His curiosity piqued, Xiao decided to follow the trail, his steps silent on the damp earth.
As he approached the source of the scent, a sense of déjà vu washed over him. The voice grew clearer, more urgent.
It was a sound that the Irminsul had forced him to forget, a name that had been erased from his consciousness.
Yet, it resonated within him, stirring a warmth he hadn't felt in millennia.
His mind raced, trying to piece together the fragments of memories of an old friend that seemed just out of reach.
The Guili Plains grew quiet, as if the very air held its breath in anticipation. Xiao's eyes searched the horizon, looking for any sign of the mysterious caller.
The silence was deafening, and the whispers of the reeds seemed to echo with the name he hadn't heard in so long.
His heart thumped in his chest, a rhythm that seemed to sync with the distant beating of the Traveler's own heart.
Following the scent of almond tofu, Xiao approached the dimly lit silhouette of the Wangshu Inn.
The place was as he remembered it, a bastion of warmth and safety far from the cold, and corrupt city of Liyue Harbor.
A soft glow emanated from within, casting a gentle light on the ground that seemed to beckon him closer.
His steps grew lighter, as if the very earth knew of his turmoil and sought to offer solace.
Memories flooded his mind as he drew nearer—fleeting images of battles long past, of camaraderie, and of a shared burden that had bound them together.
These recollections were faint, like whispers in the wind, hinting at a bond that transcended the boundaries of time and fate.
Xiao paused, his hand hovering over the door handle, the warmth of the wood a stark contrast to the chilling grip of doubt that held him back.
Why now? Why was he remembering these moments of kinship with such clarity?
The door to the Inn creaked open, and Xiao stepped inside. The familiar scent of almond tofu wrapped around him like a comforting embrace.
The room was empty, yet the echoes of laughter and the clinking of cups seemed to linger in the air.
His gaze fell upon the counter, where a steaming bowl of the very same dish waited, untouched.
His stomach rumbled, a hunger not for food but for the companionship he hadn't realized he missed so dearly.
The warmth of the room seemed to pulse with the memory of the golden-haired youth, whose eyes held the warmth of a thousand suns and whose star-marked chest reflected the purity of his heart.
These past memories were not of the Archon War.... they take place in the present... of a different time... with a dear friend that had golden hair, fair face, gentle honey eyes, and a bright star on his chest....
These were not memories of this current world... these were memories of a better and brighter Teyvat that Xiao did not recognize...... what is this strange phenomenon?
Xiao's eyes searched the room, taking in the sturdy wooden beams that held up the roof and the delicate paper lanterns that cast a soft glow.
His mind reeled as he tried to reconcile the present with the images from his fragmented memories.
The sound of a glass chiming against the counter snapped him back to reality, and he approached the bowl of almond tofu with a trembling hand.
The scent grew stronger, and with it, the pain of his lost past.
He picked up the bowl, the warmth of the ceramic comforting against his cold fingers. As he took a bite, the flavors of sweet almond and silky tofu filled his mouth, and with it, a wave of nostalgia.
This was a taste of a time before the Abyss Order's influence had reached the seven nations, a time when he had felt a kinship with a soul that now seemed so far away.
The taste brought back a flood of moments shared with his golden-haired companion, battling monsters under the open sky, sharing quiet laughter over simple meals, and discussing the philosophies of the world that lay before them.
The room grew brighter as the memories took over, painting vivid images of a Teyvat that was more than just a land of ancient gods and elemental conflicts.
It was a world where people lived without fear of the Abyss, where the elements were in balance, and the Traveler was not a weapon but a fellow adventurer.
Xiao saw himself, the presence of the Traveler leaving Xiao unburdened by the weight of his karmic debt, standing side by side with his friend.
Their Anemo and Geo powers danced in harmony, a symbol of unity and friendship that transcended their roles as gods and guardians.
The taste of the almond tofu grew sweeter with each spoonful, as if the dish held the essence of their shared experiences.
The warmth of the Inn wrapped around him like a comforting embrace, a stark contrast to the coldness of his usual solitary vigils.
Xiao felt a longing for those days, where the simple act of enjoying a meal together meant the world was at peace.
The gentle whispers of the wind outside seemed to carry the laughter of the Traveler; a sound that had been buried deep within the cobwebs of his soul.
He set down the empty bowl, the lingering scent of almonds mingling with the incense in the air. His eyes searched the dimly lit room, looking for any sign of the one who had called out to him.
The soft glow of the lanterns cast long shadows, playing tricks on his mind.
Was it a figment of his imagination? A desperate attempt by his heart to cling to what was lost.
Or was it a real presence, a ghost from the past trying to reach out across the abyss that now separated them?
Xiao stepped onto the balcony of his chambers that overlooked Dihua Marsh, he felt it strongest here, but now it had eluded him once more... was he too late? too slow to reach him?
The memories that he was given when he called his name... were fleeting from him by the minute.
The night air was crisp, the scent of almond tofu faint but still present. It was almost as if it was a trail left behind by a ghostly apparition, guiding him through his own haunted past.
Xiao gripped the railing, his knuckles turning white as he struggled to understand the torrent of emotions that surged through him.
Was this the Abyss Order's doing? Had they found a way to manipulate his memories, to make him feel this pain?
He looked around the deserted marsh, the moon casting long shadows across the landscape. It was a stark contrast to the vivid warmth of the memories that had just been dredged up.
The familiar presence he had felt—so light and warm—was now once more enveloped in a cold, suffocating darkness.
Xiao's eyes searched the night, his breaths coming in shallow gasps as he tried to grasp onto the fleeting warmth that had touched his soul.
It was a feeling that had been ripped away from him too soon, leaving him once again in the cold embrace of solitude.
The flicker of a shadow in the distance caught his eye, and for a moment, he thought he saw a figure in the moonlight—the Traveler's likeness retreating into the night.
But as he took a step forward, the shadow vanished, leaving only the echo of footsteps in the damp earth.
He swore to himself that he would not be fooled again by these manipulations.
The Traveler was lost to the Abyss, and he could not bear the thought of him suffering.
Yet, the hope that had briefly flickered to life in his chest now felt like a burden too heavy to carry.
Xiao's gaze fell upon the bowl of almond tofu, a silent testament to the visit he wasn't sure was real. He reached out, his hand hovering over the cold porcelain.
The scent was fading, but it was still there—a thread connecting him to the warmth of his past. With a trembling hand, he took a spoonful of the sweet, creamy tofu.
The taste was a bittersweet reminder of the time when they had fought side by side, when the world had seemed less grim, and the future had been filled with possibilities.
The emptiness of the Inn weighed on him, the absence of the Traveler's laughter echoing through the vacant halls. Xiao's mind raced with questions.
Why had the Abyss Order allowed this brief reunion, if it was indeed their doing? What twisted game were they playing with his emotions?
Or was it all just a figment of his own desperation, a trick of the mind trying to cling to what had been lost?
He couldn't shake the feeling that the memories he had seen were not just illusions but echoes from a different timeline, one where the Abyss Order had not claimed his friend and corrupted the very fabric of Teyvat.
The chill of the night air seeped into his bones as Xiao stepped out of the Inn, his eyes scanning the moonlit marsh.
He could feel the vibrations of his footsteps resonate with the rhythm of his thoughts—each one a question that demanded an answer.
The path before him stretched into the distance, a silver ribbon under the moon's watchful eye.
The same path that the Traveler had once trodden, filled with excitement and hope. Now, it was a silent testament to their shattered bond.
The whispers of the Dihua Marsh's creatures grew distant as Xiao approached the spot where he had glimpsed the shadow.
The scent of almond tofu lingered faintly, but the figure was gone. He knelt, placing his hand on the cold ground, as if to feel the warmth of the footprints that had once been there.
The memory of the Traveler's laughter filled his mind, a sound so real he could almost believe that the wind had carried it to him once more.
But as quickly as it had come, it was gone, leaving only the cold embrace of silence.
The golden-haired youth who had once stood before him was a phantom of the past, a specter of the light that had been snuffed out by the Abyss.
Yet, in the quiet of the night, Xiao felt a strange kinship with this lost soul.
They had both been pawns in a game played by beings far beyond their understanding, manipulated by the very fabric of fate itself.
The thought brought a pang of sadness, and he closed his eyes, willing the warmth of their friendship to wash over him once more.
But the memories were like whispers in the wind, slipping through his fingers as he tried to grasp them.
Each time he thought he had found a thread of truth, it would dissolve into the ether, leaving him with only doubt and the cold bite of reality.
The warmth of almond tofu had brought a glimpse of joy, but now it felt like a taunt, a cruel reminder of what could never be.
The days grew colder, and the nights longer, as Xiao continued his vigil. He found himself drawn to the spot in the marsh where he had seen the shadow, hoping against hope that it would return.
Yet, with each visit, the scent grew fainter, and the warmth of the past grew more distant.
His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and anger, torn between the bonds he had sworn to uphold and the painful longing for a friendship that seemed to be slipping away.
One evening, as the last embers of sunlight disappeared behind the horizon, Xiao sat in the quiet of the Inn, his thoughts swirling like leaves in the autumn breeze.
He had not slept well, his dreams plagued by images of battles past and the shadow that haunted his waking moments.
The warmth of a freshly cooked bowl of almond tofu sat untouched before him, its aroma a bittersweet symphony that filled the room.
He knew he should not indulge in such things, not when his duty to Liyue and the Archons was paramount. But the loneliness was a yawning chasm, threatening to swallow him whole.
Soon, the scent grew faint, and the memories of their shared laughter grew distant, swallowed by the ever-present whispers of the Karmic Debt.
The warmth of their bond, once a beacon in the night, had been buried beneath layers of doubt and suspicion.
Xiao found himself forgetting the joy of their friendship, the gentle camaraderie that had once felt so real.
The Abyss's manipulation was a cunning beast, weaving its tendrils through two minds, obscuring the truth with the ease of a seasoned illusionist.
The Abyss Order's latest task sent the Viator to the frigid lands of Dragonspine, a place of ancient power and sorrowful whispers.
The cold pierced his soul as he journeyed through the frost-covered peaks, his thoughts heavy with the weight of his mission.
Gold had instructed him to retrieve samples from the fallen dragon Durin, whose resting place was a grim testament to the price of freedom.
Each step he took closer to the dragon's corpse was a step further from the warmth of the memories he cherished.
The mask of Umbra had returned, its crimson more potent, and darker than before.
The Viator's visible eye glowed with dark flames of seething spite, for himself, and for the world he had helped create.
But... looking closely, there were tear stains on his right cheek, as he journeyed deeper into the darkness of the winter storm.
His memories of Xiao were now faint, and distant at the back of his mind. Cold anger gives him sharp, calculating focus.
His dark, and red tattered cloak fluttered behind him in the roaring cold, chilling winds.
Once, he had felt the chilling cold of death here.
But now he only felt the intense, burning darkness that threatened to devour him whole.
As he walked, he recalled the words of his dark Master.
This fixation you have on the Yaksha, is from a different time, that no longer exists in this world, no matter what, he will not remember you… you must purge this from yourself, Umbra.
The Traveler is a distant memory that is now insignificant for our plans, you are now the Viator.
As you command, Master.
Anyway… Rhinedottir has a task for you on Dragonspine, you will find the chilling winters there, a nice reprieve from your ... unfortunate condition… but a small price to pay for the immense power that you now wield. Use it well, Umbra.
The dark and crimson glow from his diamond ornament was fierce as he finally reached his destination, the colossal corpse of the dragon was yet to be fully skeletonized as he gazed upon it with his visible eye with a passive expression on his face, his sword glowing with dark crimson.
Slowly remembering the heart of Durin, the Viator makes his way there, slaughtering any hilichurl in his way with ruthless efficiency, not giving them a chance to react.
The path was treacherous, steep, and narrow, but as the Viator reaches he journey towards the heart, he senses life from the Festering Fang cave, that was piled with rocks, and rubble, an obstacle in his way.
However, Umbra wasn’t so easily bested, he reached out with his outstretched hand, channeling dark power in his palm, sending a blast of intensity that it utterly caused an explosion to be heard across the landscape of Dragonspine.
He uses the Abyss to protect himself from the rubble that threatened to hit him, when the fog and smoke clears, he sees the glowing, crimson of light of the dragon’s heart, slowly beating in an unsettling almost soothing rhythm.
As he slowly made his way inside, he slowly realized that the Heart wasn’t the only form of life here.
For as the Viator narrowed his visible eye, he saw a familiar figure…. A familiar face… trapped inside the Heart.
The flowing, pale blond hair, the fair face of Albedo was unmistakable.
The Viator contemplated, as he slowly approached the Heart, staring up at the sleeping clone of Albedo.
Is it worth the risk.... To free him?...
But then… the memory of Xiao’s face and gentle smile returns.
And the Viator makes his choice.