In Another World

Chapter Two

He had just returned to Wangshu Inn, the sun just barely over the horizon. The boy, or rather the adeptus, had been out all night, defeating any monster who dared to cross his path, and,  just as he thought he had a moment of rest, he was interrupted.

"There he is!" The fairy whisper-shouted, "Paimon sees him!"

"You're being way too loud." The girl responded, holding a finger to her lips with her spare hand. The other held a plate of freshly made almond tofu, "Hi there."

No response.

"My name is Lumine." She smiled, "Your name is Xiao, right?"

Again, no response.

"I, um, made you some almond tofu."

"What do you want?"

"Jeez!" Paimon huffed, "He only starts talking when you offer him food."

"What is that? A companion?"

"Emergency food, actually." Lumine joked, putting the plate down on the railing.

"Hey! For the last time, Paimon is not emergency food!"

"Anyways," The girl cleared her throat, "You didn't answer my question. Your name is Xiao, right?"

"What a bold way of talking to an adeptus, but yes. My name is Xiao." He glared at her with his jarringly cat-like eyes, "So, what is it you want from me?"

"Just to talk, I guess."

"And odd request." Xiao mumbled, "Most humans only come to me seeking some kind of request."

"Why?"

He sighed, "Because you humans are greedy creatures, always seeking wishes from the adepti."

"You keep saying that."

"Saying what?"

"Adepti, adeptus--What does it mean?" She asked.

"You don't know what an adeptus is?"

"Nope. Venti didn't tell me anything about whatever an adeptus is."

"Is that still what Barbatos is going by?" He let out a small chuckle, "Over two thousand years and he still hasn't changed."

"Still, what is an adeptus?"

"We are creatures who signed a contract with Rex Lapis, and through that contract we protect Liyue."

"But what about the wishes part you mentioned?" Paimon interrupted, "Paimon wants to have wishes granted!"

"Silence." He stared daggers into the fairy, "I wouldn't grant any kind of request to someone like you.

Lumine's floating companion practically shrunk, leaving the balcony and reentering the building.

"It's very hard to get rid of Paimon," The girl remarked, "That's impressive."

"Your mortal praise is not needed."  He paused, looking at the islands that the inn shadowed, "I must be off, I see monsters."

"Ah, wait!"

But, just like that, he was gone, burst into a million fragments.