GNOSIS | Xiao

CHAPTER 4 | Adepti And Their Ways (Y/N)

"Please help me! O'might messengers of the Adepti!" The man begged.

"Um, we're not the messengers of Adepti. But she is an Adeptus," Paimon said sweetly, pointing to me.

I whipped my head on her, "This is private information that cannot be shared to outsiders. Spill the beans to one more person and you'll find yourself floating in the middle of the Sea Of Clouds as a popsicle. Half the Harbingers do not even know,"

"Harbingers? Oh-your one of the Fatui! The ones that the people in the Harbour have been talking about!" The man paled before clasping his hands together, "Please spare me! My brother got captured by the amber further down on the mountain. We only came here looking for some things to make money off and sustain our family. We didn't come looking for harm!"

I stifled a small laugh, Mountain Shaper never changed his anxious ways, trapping poor souls within the amber of Mt. Hulao. I remember the one incident he trapped me within one. His feathers took several years to grow back and attain it's full glory after I plucked them all.

"Don't worry, we'll find your brother," Aether's calm voice reassured the man before gesturing for me and Paimon to help him.

We walked for several minutes before coming to a cluster of the encasing amber.

"Watch your step. If you get trapped, I will take several minutes to think whether or not to rescue you. But that time...let's say that things can get unpleasant," I warned. After several hours, anything encased in amber start to loose their memory and become paranoid.

Both Paimon and the Traveller visibly paled before powering on.

"You two look for the man's brother," I ordered.

"What are you going to do?" Paimon asked.

"Look at some of the Cor Lapis. It is probably the one thing I cherish from Liyue," Memories of my victory against my kin to become one of Morax's Adepti circled my head, "When I won, Morax gave a shard of Cor Lapis to me. It granted me a human body. I still have it on me,"

"What are you talking about? Won? Won what? Weren't you always human?" Paimon asked, scratching her head.

"My kin. I was apart of the Foxes. There were many of us and we all fight to remain as the sole adepti, serving Rex Lapis. Naturally I won," I sighed, proud of my history nonetheless, "As one of Morax's most powerful adeptus, he granted me a human body to navigate the world easier. So I won't be targeted by hunters even thought I cannot be easily killed,"

"So your...a fox?" Aether eyes the lock of hair that stuck up on my head, resembling a fox's ear, "Does that mean you give two chunks of meat?"

"Watch your tongue, Traveller. Sooner than you know, you will have your tongue frozen off. I can bite back harder than you ever will," My tone grew cold. What two chunks of meat what logic is that. I am superior to any other fox that has walked this universe.

"Let's get moving...ehehe," Paimon laughed nervously, leading Aether off to hack the amber off and find the man's brother.

•••

"Who would have thought that those two were brothers. They totally don't look-" Paimon was cut off by the familiar arrogant voice of the stark.

"Who dares free the trespasser from their fate?" Mountain Shaper flew down from his perch on the rocks above into the cool pool of water below.

"I did. And I doubt you would want to trap me in amber again. Not after last time," I stepped forward, crossing my arms.

Mountain Shaper visibly choked on the air as his eyes trained on me, "The Fox has returned. In her traditional cunning ways One sees,"

Aether quickly stepped between our friendly staring contest, "Please take a look at this,"

"A Sigil of Permission. On would have thought they were erased off the face of this earth. Speak traveller. You have my time," The adeptus spoke with dignity.

"So basically, in the Rite of Descension, Rex Lapis fell from the sky and went smack into Lady Ningguang's table and broke it. Then the whole of Liyue went into uproar and they now suspect we did it. But of course, Paimon and the Traveller could never had cause such a big feat. So we suspect that some other god might have done it. We have come to see you because Y/N said you were smart," Paimon summed up casually.

"You sound so casual it's hurting my brain. And for your information. I never said anything along those lines," I muttered, rubbing my temples.

"Just go along with it! The bird looks like he could eat Paimon any moment now," Paimon said, flustered by the stern gaze of Mountain Shaper.

"I wonder why," Aether muttered nonchalantly causing a small snicker to exit his mouth.

"Go. You have already disturbed the sanctuary of Mount Hulao enough. I will discuss this issue with the rest of the Adepti. Take you leave," Mountain Shaper announced before departing to Celestia knows where in his mountain.

"Let's make our way to Mount Aozhang. Cloud Retainer abides there. She is very, very hot headed. Don't annoy her or I can't save you this time. I'm not going in that maze of her house again," I made a clear statement. But of course, Paimon was confused.

"Why? So your not coming with us?" Paimon asked innocently, her head tilting to the side.

"I've been in there many times. Especially to accompany Ganyu when she was younger. I'm not going in there again. I also wish to meet someone. You two will continue without me for this part of the...trip,"

•••

Pairs of eyes averted my gaze as I walked through Wangshu Inn.

"A...Harbinger," Verr Goldet looked me up and down, "How interesting. The only other Harbinger that's been here is Tartaglia..."

"Childe? What has he been here for?" I muttered quietly.

"Miss, is there anything I can get you thought?" She asked politely.

"No thanks you. But a friend pointed out to be that a certain Yaksha spends his days here? Do you know where he is right now?" I asked, looking around the grandly decorated lobby.

"You mean Xiao? You know him? Well you probably already know he's hard to please. I think he left Wangshu in a few hours ago, said something about a few demons being his to kill," Verr Goldet explained.

"Oh, thank you anyway," I bowed slightly in thanks before making my way to the too balcony. Even thought Liyue wasn't mind to protect anymore, it can hurt to admire the beauty of the land I once held as my home.

My eyes wandered across the horizon, following the shape of the mountains before stopping at faint wisps of black.

I shifted my gaze to the darkening clouds, Cloud Retainer must be having a mood swing. Or Paimon and the Traveller did something to annoy her.

I felt a small pat of a rain drop on the back of my neck before using the small particles of water and ice floating in the air to teleport closer to the black wisp.

I opened my eyes to find spears retracing from the ground before reappearing with each plunge that shook the earth. I caught waves of green between the black.

Xiao.

I could see the pain from the fight since it was written all over the Yaksha's mask Another fight to get my fingers dirty in again.

I felt my polearm materialise before summoning a wave of cryo, freezing the drenched hilichurls.

I kept my mouth sealed through the fight, making sure the opponents were reduced to nothing but a few chunks of ice.

"You...again. Why did you get yourself involved with my matters?" The adeptus growled, his mask disappearing off his face. His golden eyes shone with anxiety and pain.

I deliberately took some time to inspect my spearhead before answering his question, "Not a thank you? You seemed to be tiring yourself there, so I decided to help out. And not a single word of gratitude. How disappointing young adeptus. You could have killed yourself there," Then again...why did I care that he could have died?

I've mercilessly killed so many people, including my own, throughout my lifetime. Why would I intervene in another one being lost...