eleutheromania (xiao x oc)

1: Vision

I stood on the highest balcony of Wangshu Inn, the night breeze ruffled through my ashy brown tresses. The cosmos reflected onto my eyes, whose irises matched the color of the Anemo vision on my hip. They were clouded with worry, and I was biting my nails in a passive fit of anxiety. This isn't good...at this rate I really will be kicked out of the Inn. This damn Vision of mine....I took the glowing orb in my hands and squeezed it tightly. Tears of frustration filled my eyes. All it's done is cause me grief.

I made my way back to my room, unaware of the glinting, orpiment eyes that threatened to cut through me. My mind was filled with thoughts on how to fix the stairway that I broke, and overwhelmed by the consequences that befall me should I be unable to.

My Vision... I can't seem to escape it. I've tried to destroy it countless times, and each time it proved useless, for it is unbreakable. I chucked it from the roof of Wangshu Inn so it could end up somewhere in the Qiongji Estuary, where perhaps a passing scholar could find it; I hurled it into the depths of the Sea of Clouds, and each time it was futile. The archon-forsaken gem would just appear by my bedside the next day.

I obviously gave up in my attempts to destroy my Vision.

But why can't I seem to harness the power?

Nevermind all that, though. Going out on the balcony wasn't enough to clear my head, so I decided to go on a short walk instead. I am aware of the dangers within Dihua Marsh, so I won't go far.

I settled next to a tree on the outskirts of the woods outside the Inn. Yes, this is much better, I thought. The sound of the gentle, cool breeze ruffling through the foliage of the woods was enough to calm me down. I closed my eyes, and let the night sky consume me.

I shot them open when I heard light footsteps. Too quiet to be a hilichurl, I observed.

"Sin~"

I let out a sigh. I recognised that voice as the local ghost girl that would linger by the Inn. I let out a slight chuckle as I remember how scared she made Smiley Yanxiao.

"Dusky Ming?" I asked, standing up

"Please play with Dusky Ming~"

"I don't see why not." I smiled. "What do you want to play?"

"Dusky Ming wants to play hide and seek."

"Sounds good." I needed something to take my mind of off today's events anyway. "You can hide and I'll be the seeker."

"Okay."

I closed my eyes and began to count to twenty. When I opened them, Dusky Ming was nowhere to be found, of course. "Ready or not, here I come!" I shouted.

I began searching high and low for Dusky Ming, not going to deep into the woods because I was aware of the group of hilichurls that were there.

But she wasn't anywhere I looked.

"Dusky Ming?" I shouted, worry lacing my words. I stopped when I heard her voice.

"Silly-churl, billy-churl~"

"Dusky Ming, please come out, Sin doesn't want to play anymore!" I said.

I heard a whirring sound, like a machine of some sort. I followed the sound. "Dusky Ming, are you there?"

How naive I was.

I turned around to see a Ruin Hunter brandishing its deadly lance. Dusky Ming's voice sounded from it. She had possessed the automaton.

"Silly-billy hilichurl~"

I dodged the oncoming lance, landing on my side. Tears pricked my eyes; I was going to die.

"Dusky Ming, that's enough!" I dodged another fatal blow from the lance, although just barely. There was a small rip on my right sleeve. I racked my brain for options. I could use my Vision, but that could make the entire situation worse. I can't go back to the Inn, lest she followed me.

I glanced back at the Ruin Hunter to see it readying to fire missiles. My eyes were squeezed shut as I braced for a missile to hit me.

It never came.

I opened my eyes to see a flash of green. I looked at my hands. "Wait, but I didn't-" A crash made me look up. A man with a jade spear was standing on the fallen Ruin Hunter. His orpiment eyes had a gaze that could cut through steel. He, too, had an Anemo Vision. I stared at him in awe.

"You have a Vision." His cold voice snapped me out of my trance. "Use it."

"Wai-" I began, but he disappeared in flash of teal. Sighing, I got up, shaking slightly. There was one more thing I had to do before going back to the Inn.

"Dusky Ming?"

She appeared from behind a tree, head hung low and looking ashamed. I walked over to her and kneeled down to meet her eyes.

"Dusky Ming is...sorry."

"It's alright, but please don't ever do that again." I said, trying not to sound too exasperated. I would've reached out to pat her on the head to assure her that I wasn't angry, but I couldn't.

"Good night."

____________________________

My head was filled with questions about that man I saw last night. Who was he? Where is he now? I got dressed and remembered the tear in my clothing. I can fix it later.

The scent of breakfast drove last night's events far from my mind. I quickly made my way to the kitchen to place my order. "Good morning, Smiley Yanxiao."

"Good morning, Sin. The usual?"

"Yes."

I took my food up to the highest balcony so I could eat with the warmth of the sun beating down upon me. This gave me an opportunity to get lost in my thoughts. I thought about his features, his piercing eyes and his black and teal hair that looked soft to the touch. What a contrast, I thought, laughing slightly. What I focused on the most his Anemo Vision and his polearm, both of which he operated with cold, mechanical precision. Some like that could help me. If only I knew who-

Then it clicked.

"Glimmers of the Vigilant Yaksha can be seen in Wangshu Inn at night."

I ran to the lobby, my half-eaten plate of food forgotten.

"Good morning, Verr Goldet." I said.

"Good morning, Sin. Have you decided what you're going to about our stairs?"

"Yes. Does 200,000 Mora and help with the labour sound good?"

Verr Goldet considered it for a moment. "Yes, I suppose that will do."

"Mm, thanks!" And by the way..." I said, a small smirk beginning to form on my lips.

"You wouldn't happen to know a Vigilant Yaksha, would you?"