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The sun was setting behind the mountains of Liyue, casting a warm golden hue across the land. The harbor buzzed with excitement as the preparations for the annual Lantern Rite Festival reached their peak. Lanterns of various shapes and colors floated gracefully above the streets, their soft glow beginning to shine as the daylight dimmed. Liyue was truly alive with the spirit of the festival, and everyone, from merchants to adventurers, gathered to celebrate under the auspices of the Archon, Rex Lapis.
Aether, the Traveler, wandered through the fields outside Liyue Harbor, his golden hair catching the last rays of sunlight. His thoughts were elsewhere, not on the festival preparations, but on a certain adeptus who had captured his heart—Xiao, the vigilant yaksha who guarded Liyue from the shadows.
Aether knew Xiao preferred solitude, and the festival, with its crowds and noise, might not be his ideal way of spending an evening. However, Aether had other plans. He had spent days preparing something special, hoping to make the night memorable for Xiao. In his hands, he carefully gathered a bouquet of Qingxin flowers, their delicate white petals glowing faintly under the setting sun. These flowers were known to bloom only on the highest peaks, and Aether had scaled mountains and cliffs to pick the finest ones.
The Qingxin flowers were Xiao’s favorite, a rare and beautiful flower that he cherished. As Aether picked the last of the blossoms, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking of how the stoic adeptus might react. Perhaps tonight, under the lantern-lit sky, Aether could find the courage to confess the feelings that had been growing in his heart since the day they met.
With the bouquet in hand, Aether carefully arranged the flowers, tying them together with a thin ribbon he had bought earlier from a shop in Liyue. It was a simple gesture, but one filled with thought and care. The bouquet was perfect, a symbol of his admiration and affection for Xiao. As he finished, he picked a few extra Qingxin flowers and held them in his hands, an idea forming in his mind.
He made his way to Wangshu Inn, where Xiao often stayed. The inn was quieter than the bustling harbor, with only the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant sound of flowing water to break the silence. Aether’s heart raced as he approached Xiao’s usual spot, a secluded balcony overlooking Dihua Marsh.
There, silhouetted against the evening sky, stood Xiao, his gaze distant and thoughtful. Aether’s breath caught in his throat. Even in his tranquility, Xiao exuded an aura of power and mystery that made Aether’s heart flutter. Steeling himself, Aether walked forward.
“Xiao,” he called softly, not wanting to startle him.
The adeptus turned, his golden eyes softening slightly as they landed on Aether. “Aether,” Xiao greeted, his voice a mix of surprise and calm. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“I wanted to find you before the festival started,” Aether said, stepping closer. He held out the bouquet of Qingxin flowers, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush. “These are for you.”
Xiao blinked in surprise, staring at the flowers in Aether’s hands. “For me?” he asked, a rare note of uncertainty in his voice.
Aether nodded, his heart pounding. “I know how much you like them. I thought… it might be nice to bring a little bit of the mountains most beautiful flowers to you.”
Xiao reached out, hesitating for a brief moment before taking the bouquet from Aether’s hands. His fingers brushed against Aether’s, sending a spark of warmth through them both. The adeptus studied the flowers with an expression Aether couldn’t quite read, but there was a softness in Xiao’s eyes that made Aether’s heart swell with hope.
“These… are beautiful,” Xiao murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked up at Aether, his gaze intense but gentle. “Thank you.”
Aether’s smile widened, his nervousness easing slightly. “I’m glad you like them,” he said. Then, with a playful glint in his eyes, he held up the extra Qingxin flowers he had picked earlier. “I thought these might look nice in your hair.”
Xiao blinked, his surprise more evident this time. “In my hair?” he repeated, glancing at the delicate flowers in Aether’s hand.
Aether chuckled softly, stepping closer until he was standing directly in front of Xiao. “Trust me, they’ll suit you perfectly,” he said, his voice gentle. Without waiting for permission, Aether reached up and carefully placed the flowers among Xiao’s dark, silky hair. The contrast between the white petals and Xiao’s jet-black hair was striking, enhancing the adeptus’s ethereal beauty.
Xiao stood still, allowing Aether to adjust the flowers, his gaze locked on Aether’s face. Aether’s touch was light and careful, as though he was handling something precious. As the last flower was placed, Aether stepped back slightly to admire his work, a satisfied smile on his lips.
“There,” Aether said, his eyes shining with affection. “You look… beautiful.”
Xiao’s cheeks flushed with a subtle hint of color, a rare sight that made Aether’s heart skip a beat. The adeptus averted his gaze, a little flustered. “I… I’m not used to this,” Xiao admitted, his voice quieter than before. “But… thank you.”
Aether’s smile softened. “You deserve to be cherished, Xiao,” he said, his tone sincere. “You’ve done so much for Liyue, and for me… I just wanted to do something nice for you in return.”
Xiao looked at Aether, something unreadable flickering in his golden eyes. For a moment, the two simply stood there, the silence between them comfortable and filled with unspoken emotions. The sky above had darkened, the first stars beginning to twinkle, and the glow of the lanterns in Liyue Harbor grew brighter, casting a warm light over the world.
“Aether,” Xiao began, his voice steady but with an underlying vulnerability, “why do you do this? Why do you go out of your way to… make me feel special?”
Aether felt a flutter in his chest, knowing that the moment he had been hoping for was finally here. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding, and stepped closer to Xiao, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from him.
“Because you are special to me, Xiao,” Aether confessed, his voice soft but firm. “From the moment we met, I’ve admired your strength, your dedication, your sense of duty. But more than that… I’ve come to care for you deeply. Being with you, even in silence, brings me peace and happiness. And… I think I’m in love with you.”
Xiao’s eyes widened slightly, his breath catching in his throat. He wasn’t used to such open displays of affection, let alone hearing someone confess their love to him. For centuries, Xiao had distanced himself from others, believing that his karma and the burden of his past made him unworthy of love. But hearing Aether’s words, filled with such genuine emotion, stirred something deep within him.
“Aether…” Xiao’s voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mix of wonder and hesitation. “I… I don’t know what to say.”
Aether smiled softly, understanding the confusion and uncertainty in Xiao’s eyes. “You don’t have to say anything, Xiao,” he reassured him. “I just wanted you to know how I feel. Whatever your response is, I’ll accept it.”
Xiao looked down at the bouquet of Qingxin flowers in his hands, his heart beating faster than it ever had before. He had spent so long guarding his heart, convinced that attachments would only lead to pain. But Aether… Aether had slowly chipped away at the walls he had built, bringing warmth and light into the darkness that had surrounded him for so long.
“I’ve… never allowed myself to feel this way before,” Xiao admitted, his voice trembling slightly. “But with you, Aether… it’s different. You make me feel… human. Like I’m not just a weapon, but someone who can be cared for.”
Aether’s eyes softened, his heart swelling with emotion. “You are more than just a weapon, Xiao. You’re someone worth loving, someone who deserves to be happy.”
Xiao’s gaze met Aether’s, and for a moment, the world around them seemed to fade away. There was only the two of them, standing close, their hearts beating in sync. Xiao took a deep breath, summoning the courage to speak the words he had never dared to say.
“I think… I love you too, Aether,” Xiao confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t know how to be good at this, but… I want to try. For you.”
Aether’s eyes sparkled with joy, his heart soaring at Xiao’s words. He took another step closer, their faces mere inches apart, his breath mingling with Xiao’s. “That’s all I could ever ask for,” Aether said, his voice full of warmth and love.
Slowly, almost hesitantly, Aether leaned in, his gaze never leaving Xiao’s. Xiao closed his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest, as he felt Aether’s lips gently brush against his own. The kiss was soft and tentative, a first exploration of something new and beautiful.
The world seemed to stand still as their lips met, a warmth spreading through both of them, filling the empty spaces in their hearts. Aether’s hand gently cupped Xiao’s cheek, deepening the kiss ever so slightly, pouring all the affection and tenderness he felt into that one perfect moment.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested against each other, both of them breathless and dazed from the intensity of the kiss. The lanterns in the sky above them glowed even brighter, casting a gentle light over their figures, as if blessing their newfound love.
Xiao opened his eyes, looking into Aether’s with a newfound softness, a vulnerability he had never shown to anyone before. “Aether… thank you,” he whispered, his voice full of emotion.
Aether smiled, his heart overflowing with love for the adeptus in front of him. “I’m the one who should be thanking you, Xiao,” he said, his voice tender. “For trusting me, for opening your heart to me.”
Xiao nodded, a small but genuine smile tugging at his lips. “I’ll always protect you, Aether,” he vowed, his voice firm but filled with love. “No matter what.”
“And I’ll always be by your side, Xiao,” Aether promised, his voice equally filled with devotion. “Together, we can face anything.”
As the night wore on and the festival lights danced in the sky, Aether and Xiao stood together, hand in hand, their hearts intertwined. The lanterns above floated higher and higher, carrying the wishes of the people of Liyue into the heavens. And among those wishes was a new one, a wish for a love that had just begun, a love that would grow stronger with each passing day.
In the soft glow of the lanterns and the gentle moonlight, Aether and Xiao shared their first kiss, a moment of pure, unspoken love that would be remembered for a lifetime.