GNOSIS | Xiao

CHAPTER 8 | Stubbornness Can End In... (Y/N)

I rubbed my wrist where it was burned red from the sheer speed the wind rubbed against it from the 2 times I teleported. 

I walked over to Verr Goldet, keeping my hand out of sight, "Is...is Xiao back here? The doctor said he was fine but I'd rather check on him myself. That man spits nonsense,"

"Oh? You're looking for Xiao? Yes, I must say he did return and he looked quite normal. No cuts like the usual. He should be back where you first found him," She nodded to the upmost balcony.

"Cuts like the usual? What do you mean by that?" I asked a slight tone of worry that was not supposed to be there managed to creep in.

Verr Goldet rose an eyebrow smiling, "How interesting. We don't meet many Harbingers let alone one that cares about someone that is not their queen. Come to think of it, I don't think you Harbingers like each other either way. Strange that someone as cold as you can warm up to someone like him,"

"Excuse me? He has taken some of my responsibility. If I manage to make Morax lose another one of his Adepti he's going to come for me," I muttered.

The boss of Wangshu Inn nodded understandingly, not saying anymore. I continued to apply some cold to my wrist as I made my way up to the balcony to see the Yaksha with his head cushion by his arms, on a table, his eyes closed. 

"Hmm, I thought I remember someone saying that Adepti are much stronger than regular mortals. Either I underestimated what that injury took out of you or...?" I tilted my head to the side, bending down slightly.

"I stay true to what I said. I am simply thinking," I saw his golden eyes open, quickly flicking to where I held my wind-burned hand close to my vision, "Your hurt,"

"This?" I held up my hand has he sat up, "It's nothing major though I don't usually get wind burned from teleporting," I let out a small laugh, "And you're the one that caused it too,"

The corners of his mouth tugged down slightly, "I did not do anything to you," 

"Who was the one that brought you to Liyue Harbour? Hmmm?" I watched as realisation crossed his face and he let out a small 'Oh,'

"I'll be fine. But you are not fine. You were in no condition to travel from Liyue Harbour all the way back to Wangshu Inn," I chided.

Xiao folded his arms and close his eyes, "I'm fin. I heal quickly. You don't need to worry about me,"

I spied a half-eaten plate of Almond Tofu on the table, "Almond Tofu? Is this what you came back for?"

Xiao reopened his eyes a small tint of pink flushing his face, "I..."

I smiled a little. The sole surviving Yaksha, apart of Rex Lapis' adepti, Conqueror of Demons, decided to take a journey kilometres away from Liyue Harbour just to have some Almond Tofu- the sickly sweetness of the dessert that reminded him of the torturous act of devouring mortal dreams. Even word of the famous Yaksha had made its way to Snezhnaya.

"Interesting...I'm not one to judge-" My sentence got cut off by Xiao slowly inching the plate towards him before shooting me a look.

"You don't judge people? You are one of the most judgemental beings to walk Tevyat," He muttered, taking a spoonful of the dessert. 

I rolled my eyes and decided to leave him to his treat, "Don't let me find you with a brand new injury the next time I see you,"

I wandered around Guili Plains before making my way into Dihua Marsh. The Statue of the Seven that resided there was one of the happier memories that I made before I was crowned an Adeptus. The times before the war where I would play in the comforting and warm aura of the statue.