In Another World

Chapter Thirteen

  "I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to hurt her." Xiao snarled, his yellowish eyes trained on the man and his weapons.

  "X-Xiao!" The traveler called, "How did you-"

  "That is not the thing you should be worrying about, Lumine." He turned his head to face her, his shimmering spear held to the man's chest, "You should be worrying about how you could have died if I wasn't here in time."

  A maniacal laugh escaped Childe's lips and he nudged the pointed weapon away from him, "An adeptus is challenging me- Not even just an adeptus, but the last yaksha?!" He smiled insanely, "Such a shame I have to turn down your offer. Even I know fighting you would be beyond a death wish."

  The adeptus grunted, lowering his spear. He backed up, walking over to the girl and helping her up. Just as they were about to leave, a shattering noise rang through the chamber. Turning their heads to face the sound, they saw Childe in front of Morax's exuvia.

  "Y'know, I never technically surrendered." He sneered, his dull blue eyes flashing mischievously as he took in his prize, "You only have yourself to blame."

  Immediately after the words had left his mouth, he thrust his right hand inside of the beast--his fist entering it like wet tissue paper. Reaching around for a moment, Childe pulled his arm out, his grip coming up empty.

  "Where- Where is it?" He yelled, opening and closing his fingers as if what he was looking for would magically appear.

  "Where's what?" Lumine asked sheepishly, slowly making her way towards the large double doors.

  "The gnosis, obviously!" He shouted, anger welling up in his otherwise smooth voice, "You stole it, didn't you!?"

  "She did no such thing-"

  "Oh, shut up!" Childe sent an accusatory glance towards Xiao, "For all I know you could've stolen it. For all I know you want to be an archon, or something!"

  "Childe, you're insane!" The traveler yelled, Paimon yanking at the door handles behind her, "Calm down, there's probably a logical explanation-"

  "All logic was thrown out the window the moment I came to Liyue, Lumine!" His hand found it's way to his waist, finding a slip, or slips, of paper, "The only logical course of action now is to follow through with plan B."

  Suddenly, without any kind of warning, he ripped numerous slips of yellowed paper from the waistline of his pants, throwing them into the air around him. They began circling him, bending to his every wish.

  "Those are-" Lumine gasped, hand covering her mouth in shock.

  "Sigils of Permission..."

  "Guess who's a winner!" Childe laughed again, a hysterical sound making it's way from the depths of his being, "And with these, I plan to summon a certain someone."

  "He's going to summon Osial!" Xiao screamed, reaching for his polearm.

  "Two in a row, quite impressive! But, there's no use fighting." He smiled, the sigils disappearing into the sky with a mere flick of his wrist, "I'll see you on the battle field, my friends."

  And with those words hanging heavy as lead in the air, the adeptus shook his head in defeat.

  "I had hoped it wouldn't come to this." He looked at Lumine, urgency portrayed in his catlike eyes, "Hold onto me, I'm taking us to the Jade Chamber."