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She was everything to Xiao. Ever since she entered the Wangshu Inn, his eyes could never leave her sight. Even as she ventured off to uncover the little girl ghost or was preoccupied with creating an offering for him, he kept his watchful gaze stuck on her. He couldn't explain why, what made her seem so special. It was only till they started talking that his heart made it clear. She seemed so… Caring. So sweet and kind, a drastic contrast from her talkative companion. Since then, he couldn't help himself. Drawn to her like a moth to a flame, he followed along—but always at a distance, just far enough to never be spotted.
It all came to a point, when he gave you his word. If you ever need something, anything at all, call his name. The way her lips smiled so cutely struck his heart. The way she thanked him so profusely left him helpless. He wanted to stick around her, at every moment, not just when he was needed. Well… Maybe he could just stick around… Just without her knowing.
He spent days trailing behind her. Every time a Hilichurl ever dared to lay their eyes on her, his spear head drove itself through their chest. No matter what it was, he was sure to slaughter them without a single thought. If they even dared to think they could lay a finger on her, they'd be met with the cold embrace of death with a mask haunting their last memory.
That's how he spent most of his days. Slaughtering, slicing, skewering through Hilichurls, Mitachurls, even Fatui Agents. Not once did his hands flinch at the sound of screams, not once did he hesitate to drive his spear through their hearts. Each time he closed his eyes, he could hear the screams of those he slaughtered. Was it any different if he heard those screams with his eyes opened?
At least, with his eyes opened, he could witness the beauty of the traveler before him. Even when she slept, prepared food for her strange floating companion, any and everything she did relieved him of those painful memories. He could no longer find solace in Almond Tofu. All the extra batches the Inn prepared for him did nothing when compared to watching the traveler. That's what all he needed, she's all he needs.
His spear sliced through yet another Hilichurl's head. He watched as the blood pours out, a faint reflection of his masked face reflecting back to him. His hand reaches up, carefully removing the mask to observe his cold eyes. Does the traveler think the same of him? Would she love this bloody, cold-hearted killer? Of course, she had to, why else would she look at him so gently? So kindly? So lovingly?
His thoughts snapped out of it. The loud stampede miles away from him brought him back to reality. As he glances over to where he last spotted Lumine, his eyes narrow. She was completely surrounded and overwhelmed. Her lips parted, the words leaving her lips.
"Help me, Xiao!"
His body shot up, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Equipping his mask, he rose into the sky, leaping towards the crowd. Without thinking, he dove into the middle of the attack. In mere seconds, sharp translucent spikes burst through the ground, piercing most of the crowd while others were sliced against the skin. Another step forward, he lunged his spear forward, striking the next person in front of him. One swing after another, his spear worked through the crowd.
One body falls, then another. Blood smeared his spear, his hands, his mask. And yet, he didn't flinch. His body moved on its own, controlled by this urge to protect. By the time the last body fell, blood drenched his entire being, the urges in him laughing at his despicable state.
"Xiao…" a voice stuttered behind him, drawing his gaze.
Lumine sat on the floor; her eyes were filled with shock and terror. Was it at him? Was she afraid of him? He couldn't accept it, it would break him to bear that thought. Perhaps it was at all these bodies. It had to have been.
He slowly approached, cautiously like she was a terrified animal. His hand reached out, cupping her cheek. "Don't worry," his voice whispered, eerie and low. "You're safe now."
As he rubbed her cheek, he watched as blood smeared against her face. Her cute, terrified, face.