𝙰 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚄𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 - 𝚇𝚒𝚊𝚘 𝚡 𝙵𝚎𝚖!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝙱𝚞𝚛𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 ~ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟽

Your POV

I flop down onto my ivory bed grazing my hands along the creased sheets. I reach into the light-colored nightstand on my left and pull out a leather-bound journal. Grabbing a pencil, I begin to write.

Dear journal,

Xingqiu gave me this journal and told me to write down my experiences in Teyvat since I'll be leaving eventually. It is a nice idea so I think I'm going to try and write weekly or whenever something interesting/important happens.

It's been a week and 3 or 4 days since Ms. Goldet hired me as the Inn's Chef's assistant, Smiley Yingxiao. He is very intimidating, but on rare occasions, he can be very caring and quite a teacher.

I shake my wrist, slightly sore now, before continuing.

I know how to make jade parcels, almond tofu, lotus flower crisp, tianshu meat, and some other dishes. I'm definitely not the greatest chef in Liyue but I like to think my culinary skills are somewhat impressive.

Chongyun and Xingqiu stop by frequently checking up on how I'm doing and my progress in finding a trainer and escort. I haven't had much luck with either. Chongyun did recommend someone though. Her name is Xiangling and apparently, she's like a world-renowned chef! She goes traveling around Teyvat apparently so she could be an idea for an escort.

I also made time to ask both of them if they knew Xiao. According to them, he is an Adepti with an Anemo vision. They also said that he isn't a people person. I can't say I'm not surprised. I actually haven't asked Ms. Goldet about Xiao at all yet...

I pull my hand up and place the pencil's end against my chin. I really should ask her if she knows anything about him. Looking up, I examine the clock in my room pointing to the time, 9:12. It is pretty late but there's no harm in trying to talk to her. I brush my h/c locks and straighten out my clothing before leaving the room.

The hallways are dead silent which only makes each of my creaking steps more painstaking. Eventually, the front desk comes into view and I can't help but smile in relief and excitement.

I stride up to her timidly and try to speak casually, although, my voice does falter between words. "Ms. Goldet?" Her eyes shift to me calmly and my sudden presence doesn't seem to have any effect on her. "I hate to bother you this late into the evening, but I was wondering if I could talk to you."

"Of course," She nods. "what would you like to talk about?"

"I'd really like to know about Xiao."

"Xiao is one of the Five-Yakshas and now the only living Yaksha, who has protected Liyue for hundreds of years. It wasn't always that way though. Under the rule of an evil God, Xiao endlessly slaughtered the living until he was freed. This has caused him to be trailed by his negative karma ever since. I think I heard those friends of yours mention he was an Adepti as well?"

I nod and keep my lips sealed.

"I should hope then that you are also aware of the risk."

Goldet lifts her chip up and squints at me. I'm hoping that my silence will express my 'no' to her more-than rhetorical question.

"As an Adepti, he not only has a vision for power but also Adeptal energy which is accustomed to each Adepti. This energy can be life-threatening for mortals. Prolonged interactions with an Adepti are very dangerous since we cannot handle such forces. With this in mind, I suggest refraining unnecessary or frequent contact with Xiao or any Adepti."

My gut feels like a huge knot; cold and heavy. That explains why he isn't much of a 'people person'. Xiao dwells in loneliness for the sake of others. How is this even fair? I want to talk to him, console him, get to know him. But risking my life, my soul, everything I have just to be near him,

is it worth it and should I be this willing?