LANTERN SKIES ( xiao ) ✓

𐐒𐐚 09 : the duty ˎˊ˗

•| ⊱ CHAPTER NINE ⊰ |•

❛❛ till we meet again ❜❜

It has been three days since the day Xiao showed another side of him to you. If you're asking what happened after him thanking you, the two of you just departed awkwardly after he accompanied you back to the Wangshu Inn.

Tough week it has been, and you are now riding in a caravan on the way to Liyue Harbor to meet up with Xiangling.

You've waited for this day to come, since there's practically no one you can tell about your admire to the adeptus but her.

Sighing, you folded your arms across your chest and closed your eyes to doze off for a while since the trip will take a bit long. However, taking a nap seemed like an impossible thing to do when your mind just flashed the memory of you meeting Xiao on loop.

The man literally lives in your mind rent free and it sucks because you couldn't do anything about it. You remember him in almost everything you see in your surroundings.

You kept on wondering why the adeptus disappeared when he was just about to teach you how to fight, and when you saw him he just immediately collapsed like that. If you weren't there, he would've suffered from an injury then.

Come to think of it, you don't even know what he does in his spare time. Nor his background, anything. You simply just know that he's an adeptus and that's that.

A half an hour had passed, you finally set foot in Liyue Harbor and strolled around to find Wanmin Restaurant. You mostly spend your time here and there gawking upon the vastly, tall yet elegant structures in this place, but what caught your attention this time is the people crafting huge, beautifully-shaped lanterns by the corner.

Finally seeing the sign of the Wanmin Restraurant, you took a couple of strides towards and noticed someone new to your eyes.

A tall man with long, hazel hair tinted of amber golden color in the ends. He had a unique outfit, and to that, his eyes were breathtaking as well.

You slowly walked closer to the restaurant, in hopes of seeing Xiangling. You scanned the whole place while standing in one spot, and you were glad to see her run towards you from a distance.

"[F/N]!" She exclaimed and held up her hands while she ran up to you, hugging you tight as soon as she got close to your figure.

"I've got so much to tell you!"

"Tell me all about it!" Xiangling jumped around, her eyes sparkled and squeezed your arms from the excitement. The last time you saw each other was you weren't able to talk much and hearing you have a lot of stories for her made her happy.

"Ahem- I apologize for interrupting, but may I talk with Xiangling for a moment?" A deep voice broke in, as you looked back and see it was the man from before who interruped. His presence was a bit intimidating so you stood there nodding and forcing a smile when your mouth couldn't utter anything. "Alright." He answered, his voice still faze you.

"Oh, Mr. Zhongli! I didn't see you there!" Xiangling greeted and proceeded to walk towards the man called Zhongli.

"Good afternoon, I'm pretty sure you lots are aware of the Lantern Rite coming soon mayhaps?" Zhongli greeted back, standing still in his spot.

"Ofcourse! What's the matter?" She answered and decided to sit down while waiting for their conversation to end.

"It'll be a memorable event rest assured. However, I'm perturbed for the adeptus who will have to ensure Liyue's safety during the day and night."

You cocked your eyebrow at that one word, adeptus.

"Are you talking about Xiao?" She asked, holding up a finger, waiting for Zhongli's answer.

"Yes. Evil beings are the most active in that particular day, and it's undoubtedly that man will harm himself in the process. So I would like to request a special Almond Tofu for him, the one he'll certainly like and give him these painkillers too on my behalf. I thought to give him a simple gift as a sign of my gratitude for that adeptus, still keeping up with his duty for over a millenia already." He said, his lips slightly tugged downward, you can clearly see the look of worry on his face.

"I see." Xiangling looked down in worry too, but nonetheless added someting in her statement, "That's thoughtful of you, Mr. Zhongli. I will not let you down on your request."

Zhongli chuckled lowly, touched by Xiangling's words of assurance and smiled. "Well then, I still have matters to attend to. You have my deepest gratitude."

The man walked away and Xiangling waved her hand of farewell.

You just sat there and realized what Xiao has been doing all along, all this time.

"It must be tough." You mumbled as Xiangling later on sat beside you. She nods and sigh. "Well, it's his sign of respect for Morax after all."

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The sun had set, and the illume, dusky moon takes its throne over the lucid, limitless beds of skies.

You can't bring yourself to sleep as to feeling worried about the adeptus. You hoped for the both of you accidentally meet each other again, and utter a sign of your gratitude too.

At this point, you're not hoping to see him for your heart's content since you basically take a liking to him, but to show him a bit of comfort and support he probably haven't gotten for aeons of bloodshed.

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