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This was the seventh day in a row. The seventh day of non-stop raining. A whole week, it has been, since the people of liyue have last seen the sun, a week since they have felt the warmth of her rays. The now muddy roads had to be blocked due to the risk of injurie, postponing travels and numerous deliveries of goods.
Yet despite this unfortunate weather, monster activity around the marsh has remained unaffected. Which came to noones surprise. Only humans could be bothered by the natures event's.
Rain, a most common occurance, and yet they are not able to adapt to, or live with it. Incomprehensible.
The conqueror of demons was, of course, also unaffected by this weather, and continued his duty of puring evil, when all others -even millelith- avoided steping outside.
Soaked to the bone, and weighted down by all the water, Xiao patrolled the marsh. Water dripped down his face from both his wet hair and the rain. The strong currents of wind wipped in his face, tussling his hair and clothes. Squinting through the sheets of rain, he made his way from monster camp to monster camp.
He was even busier now, due to the absence of soldiers who would usually patrol the are as well. Now, the only soldiers on duty were those that patrolled the outskirts of the harbor.
Though it was bothersome, it should and could not affect his ability to carry out his own duty.
Still, today the weather was especially bad and he had been out all day, so now his feet were getting cold, and he couldn't ignore the feeling anymore. He was freezing. He was wet. He was drenched. He was soaked to the bone.
He felt disgusting
He wanted nothing more right now than to be able to rest in a warm, dry place, in dry clothes and with dry hair.
But he couldn't. He needed to protect the land. So he marched on.
''Have you seen him today, Huai'an? I'm getting worried. He has been gone all week'' Verr asked her husband, pacing around the reception area of the Inn.
Yanxiao said he did even stop by for his usual plate of almond tofu, which meant Xiso really hasn't stoped by once. If he was out during this time he must be drenched by now! Or maybe....he is staying with someone..? No, that wouldn't make any sense.
But where could he be?
Uughhh! A headache had formed from all of these questions and worries. She rubbed her temple, and leaned on the counter. Wei came over to rub her head against Verr's hand. ''Thank you Wei'' she her cat a few scratches in thanks, earning herself a few happy meows.
But that didn't stop her worries. Should she go look for him? But were could he even be? But if she didn't go look for him, and he was still out in tjis horrible weather, he could get sick. Or could adepti even get sick? But that didn't matter! He shouldn't be out in the rain anyway!
''Ughh, my head hurts, archons were is this little rascal!'' She exclaimed, straitening up from her position, and slamed her hand on the table.
Huai'an came over to her to calm her down, putting his hands on her shoulders.
''I know you're worried, but this will get you nowhere. How about head out to look for him? He always patrols around the marsh, so that's were we'll start, ok?''
Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself, ''Alright, I hope you are right about whereabouts though....''
''We have to try anyway, so let's get ready. I'll bring the umbrellas and raincoats.''
Huai'an concluded, making his way to the storage room. ''Oh! Bring a third coat, ok? Just incase!'' She called out, ''Of course.''
And with that, she made her way to their designated living area in the Inn, where she got dressed in suitable clothes for this 'expedition'.
About an hour later, bith were ready to head out. They assigned staff to take over their duties in the mean time, but since there weren't many guests here -due to the weather- it wasn't too much of a problem.
Firstly, they made a loop around the bottom of the Inn, just incase he was there. But, of course he wasn't, so they increased their search radius.
They habe been searching for about two hours now, with no luck at all. Their shoes were wet, and their clothes were only kept dry by the rain coats, but that didn't stop the freezing cold inf that wipped in their faces, and nearly broke their umbrellas twice.
But they kept on searching, Verr would not give up so easily. He could be alone somewhere, freezing, injured maybe, praying for someone to find him. Thise thoughs squeezed at her heart, and made her go on, even if she eas freezing herself.
She would not let him down!
After the fourth hour, her husband had to try to persuade her to go back. They were both wet by now, and their umbrellas had long since given up on them, unable to withstand the strong and unforgiving currents of rain. And even their rain coats wre slowly getting soaked through.
But Verr wouldn't budge, instead telling her husband to go nack if he so wished, but she woud stay, and keep searching.
Of couse, her husband refused, he wouldn't leave her alone.
Anf just when Verr started to feel hopeless, she heard the sound of battle. She had to strain her ears to be able to hear anything, but she knew it was him. It had to be.
Exhaustion clung to him just like his wet clothes, but he still needed go on. He arrived at another camp, and quickly delt with the monsters. It seemed even they have had enough of the rain. He noticed how in the last few monsters camps, most monster chose to stay in their little huts instead of roaming around. That just made it all the more easier for Xiao.
He finsijed off the last hillichurl, when he heard his name being called from not to far away. He turned his head in the direction the voice came from, and saw two figures quickly approaching him. He scanned the area behind them, thinking they might be in danger, but saw nothing.
As they came closer, he could make out their faces. It was..... ''Verr..?'' He muttered quietly to himself. Her husband was eith her as well it seemed. What could bring them all the way out here? They must be drenched if they came all the way here. But mortal are so fragile, they get sick so easily.
''Xiao! Finnaly, we found you!'' Verr exclaimed once she was close enough.
'Found you'? Were they looking for him? Why would they do that? Did something happen? He worried immediately, his mind coming up with the worst possible scenarios.
''Why are you here, did something happen?'' He tried to keep his voice steady, so as not to let on the pure agony he was in at the moment.
Though it seemed he failed.
''Oh archons you're soaked! And you're shivering!'' She steped right up to him, to his surprise, and cupped his face in her hands, ''And cold you are as well! What were you thinking, staying out in this weather for days!'' She took out the third coat from the bag she was carrying with her, and put it around him.
He was shocked to say the least. He wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. All he could do was stare at them.
Huai'an came up to him as well, with the same worried expression Verr was carrying, and put the back of his hand to his forehead, feeling the temperature.
''My, you really are cold, we need to get you back to the Inn buddy.'' He spoke softly, he was a lot calmer than Verr, but the worry was still evident in his voice.
''W-why are you here?'' He finnaly managed to get words put, but he wasn't able to stop the tremors that crept into his voice ''You could get s-sick-'' ''We? We, could get sick? Oh you're one to talk aren't you! Put the coat on you little rascal!''
His eyes widend in surprise and his mouth fell open. His face turned a deep shade of crimson at the remark. He didn't have time to reply before she dragged him in the direction of the Inn. ''W-wha- eh!''
They got a few feet before Xiao stoped, ''Wait-I-I can teleport us'' He said, the other two halted, looking at him. He steped closer again, and in the blink of an eye, they were back at the reception of the Inn.
It took a few seconds for the two mortals to find their bearings, having never been teleported before in their life, but once they did, it didn't take long for the scolding to continue. Especially from Verr.
''Alright you man, mind telling us what led you to the brilliant decision of spending a whole week outside in such, truly, exquisite weather?'' She said, sarcastically, fixing him with a stern gaze.
''I-I was just-'' ''you were just what? Hmmm?''
''I- the monsters-I had to-I needed to-'' archons! Why was it so hard to speak. A scolding from mortals and this is what happens to him??
''No, you did not need to. You chose to. And that was so very stupid of you. Just look at yourself! You're soaked, you're shivering, archons, your lips have even turned blue!''
He could only look down in shame pressing his lips into a thin line, trying to hide them from her scrutiny.
He could hear Huai'an trying to calm her down in the background, but she didn't listen to him.
Was he really getting scolded by a mortal right now? And why did it make him feel so....small? So childish. So stupid.
She had a point. Why did he think this was a good idea??
''I'm sorry'' he said in the smallest voice. It made Verr quite down immediately. She let a out long, tired sigh and closed her eyes. When she opened them, her gaze had softened.
''It's ok, let's just...try not to have a repeat of this, alright?'' Xiao only gave a soft nod at that, not daring to speak or look up. He did not trust his voice at the moment.
''Now that that's settled, how about I prepare some water for a nice, hot bath.'' Huai'an piped in, glad that his wife was finally done scolding the poor boy.
''That's a good idea, I would say Xiao really needs it right now.'' She brushed his wet hair out of his face, in an affectionate manner, surprising Xiao yet again. His face burned with embarrassment, and the blush had spread all the way to his ears and neck.
Verr pulled him up to his room, while Huai'an went to prepare the bath water as promised.
They enter his room and Verr pulled out a laundry basked from the corner of the room. ''Take those wet clothes off, and put them in here.'' She ordered. ''Those will need to be washed, and the boots...sigh, ughh those will take forever to dry'' she muttered, more to herself than Xiao.
It was a strange feeling. Being taken care of, having people worry about you. But...it was a welcome feeling.
He removed the maks from his belt, and placed it on the nearby table, next, he took of the vara, his sensor, and all other accessories, as well as his boots. He was about to take off his shirt, when he remembered Verr was still in the room, fixing his bed and doing...whatever it was she was doing at the closet at the moment.
He looked at her, hoping she would get the hint and leave, but she only glanced back at him, raising her brows in question.
''Well? Are you going to take those clothes off? You're dripping onto the floor, so hurry up. This cannot be good for you, adeptus or not.'' She grumbled, going back to searching the closet.
''Can-can you leave? While I get undressed?'' He asked shyly since she did not get the hint.
''Oh? Is someone shy? '' She said with a smirk. Xiao fixed her with the best glare he could muster at the moment, but due to the blush and the situation he was in, it looked anything but scary.
Verr could onyl let out a muffled laugh at hsi expression, much to his embarrassment. ''H-hey! What are you laughing about, it's not f-funny!''
She couldn't take it anymore, she burst out laughing. He was sure everyone in the Inn could hear her. She was holding her stomach with how hard she was laughing. All Xiao could do was let out a quite whine.
This was just all too much, way too much. He was so overwhelmed and overstimulated, he couldn't hanfle this anymore. ''S-stop! Nghh! Be quiet!!'' He burried his face into his palms. Pull yourself together!
He really tried but he couldn't, he just kept muttering for her to stop.
And finnaly she did. She caught her breath, letting out a final giggle. ''Ughh, are you done now?!'' She looking at him, smiling.
''I'm sorry..giggle, you just look way to adorable for your own good. And that glare really isn't making it better...giggle.... but I'll try to stop now, I promise.'' She said, while giggles still escaped her every now and then.
Xiao really has had enough of this!
''Can you at least get out now?!''
''Oh c'mon, there is no need to be shy. I'm not even going to look at you, I just have to find some towles and a pair of sleep wear in here.''
Xiao grumbled again, sending yet another galre her way, but this time she fought hard to surpress the oncoming laughing fit.
Since she wasn't going to leave, he was just going to have to deal with it.
He started taking his shirt off, struggling to remove the thin fabric that clung to him like glue. After a good minute of struggling, he felt two hands grab the hem of his shirt. He startled, letting out a surpised yelp.
''There, there. Calm down, I'm just trying to help you.'' She pulled the wet shirt over his his head, and finnaly freed him from its bindings.
She flung it into the basket, and made quick work of un-tying the knot in his belt.
His face burned at the action, but he let her carry on nonetheless. It's not like he would be ablt to do it himself. He couldn't even feel his fingers anymore.
Once the belt was off she let Xiao do the rest. ''There you can do the rest, since you're so embarrassed about this.'' She said, playfully squeezing his cheek.
''I'm gonna go check on the water, but I'll be back in two minutes.'' She announced, and left the room
Finnaly alone, he took off the rest of his clothes, bar from his loose boxers. He'll keep these on until he is alone again after they filled the bath.
He looked over to the bed, spotting two towels, a fluffy white bath robe, anda set of light blue night clothes with white vertical stripes.
He took the towels and robe, then made his way into the bathroom, sitting down on stool in the corner to wait for Verr.
He didn't have to wait long before she came back with a bucket filled with steaming hot water. She poured the got water into the wooden bath tub, and filled the rest up with with another two buckets of room temperature water.
She tested the temperature, swirling her hand around in the tub, mixing the water.
''Alright, I think that's good. You can hop in''
She stated, drying off her hands on her skirt.
''There is soap in that cupboard, as well as oils, in case you didn't know already.'' He did not know, but he wasn't about to tell her that.
With that, she left him alone, taking the buckets with her.
He walked over to the cupboard, taking put a bar of soap, and took off the last of his clothes. He slowly got into the tub, testing the water first, then he lowered himself into the water.
It felt nice. It was warm and relaxing. Just what he needed after this week. Infact, this was exactly what he dreamed of the whole time he was out in the stinging cold rain. And now, finnaly, his dreams came true.
For the first few minutes, all he did was relax, sinking so far down that only his nose and eyes remained above water.
Sigh He could fall asleep like this.
His consciousness drifted, and he sank futher down. Water shot up his nose, and made him jolt forward. He shook his head, trying to get rid of the uncomfortable sensation of water in his nose.
He didn't feel like leaning back anymore after that, so he grabed the bar of soap, and started washing all the grime off of his body.
Half an hour later he was finnaly done. Dried and dressed, he fell onto his bed, exausted to the bone. He struggled to keep his eyes open any longer. He had strength left to crawl further up the bed, and pull the blanket over himself.
He fell asleep not a second later.
Verr came to check on him, and found him fast asleep, snoring softly. She smiled, tucking the blanket around him to keep all the warmth inside. Before she left, she checked his temperature, and sure enough, he had a slight fever.
Sigh, well, well, well, who would have though.
At least it was just a mild fever. She planned to check on him again tomorrow, but she was sure it will have subsided by then.