Before I Go ~ A XiaoLumi Story

Chapter 12

LUMINE WANDERED THE streets of Liyue Harbor, feeling the warmth of the sun on her back.

People nearby were chatting with one another, complaining about the weather or their lack of Jueyun Chilis, children were running, weaving through the crowds, and vendors were selling their products, shouting out prices and deals.

For a place to settle, Lumine thought to herself, this wouldn't be too bad. She grinned, watching two siblings play-sword-fight with one another. Her cheerfulness was quenched by this sight though in a matter of moments as Lumine thought of Aether. We used to do the same thing, she reminisced, a frown settling on her face.

Someone walked by her, bumping into her. "Sorry!" the person called out, shoving a pamphlet into Lumine's hand and jogging away quickly. Lumine glanced down at the pamphlet, slowly leafing through it.

"Ooh, the Lantern Rite? In just three days?" Paimon squeaked, reading over Lumine's shoulder. "I'm glad we got to stay an extra week!

Lumine smiled. "Oh, so we're going then? Overlord Paimon has spoken! We must go!" Lumine cried out in mock horror.

"We'd better be!" Paimon threatened, wagging a finger at Lumine. "All the food will be delicious, and there's bound to be some scrumptious samples, too!"

Lumine rolled her eyes. "Is all you care about really just food?"

"Heehee!" Paimon giggled and floated on up ahead.

Lumine looked over the Lantern Rite leaflet. Seems fun, she thought to herself and walked away to do some shopping.

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XIAO PACED AROUND his room at Wangshu Inn, the floorboards creaking with every step he took.

Lumine. Her beautiful blonde hair, her eyes that he could get lost in for years, the way that she looked at him whenever they were together -- why couldn't he get her out of his mind?

It aggravated Xiao that he was feeling this way. It made him feel vulnerable, weak, fragile, as though he were a pile of leaves about to be scattered in the breeze or a piece of precious china at risk of shattering at any moment.

"Xiao!" Verr Goldet screeched, marching up the stairs and into his room. "Quit stomping around my hotel! We are getting noise complaints!"

Xiao grumbled, "You have no re-"

"No respect for the ways of an adepti, I know." Goldet snapped, saying the line as though it were something Xiao told her daily -- which, to no surprise, it was. "Just go tell her already!"

Xiao's eyes widened. "Wha-what? Who-?"

Goldet groaned. "Lumine! Go tell her!"

"Tell her what? What are you talking about?" Xiao snapped.

"You know exactly what I mean! Go invite her to the Lantern Rite! Invite her here for almond tofu! Do something! By the Seven, you can be so dense sometimes." Goldet stomped out of Xiao's room, muttering angrily to herself.

"Foolish mortal . . ." Xiao grumbled, sitting down on his bed.

But he knew, deep down, that Verr Goldet was right. He did feel something for Lumine. The mortals had a word for it, but he couldn't place his finger on what it was.

Xiao groaned and placed his head in his hands. He was a Yaksha. An Adeptus. A protector of Liyue. He shouldn't be so stricken by this mortal girl. And yet he was.

He felt the same sinking feeling he'd first felt when Lumine helped him after his nightmare. He hadn't been able to recognize it then, and even still he was unsettled by it. Fear. But not fear for Lumine, nor Verr, nor anyone else . . . fear for himself. Xiao realized that he was terrified. He saw something in Lumine that he'd never seen before -- felt things he never had before -- whenever he was around her. Things he didn't understand, and things he never thought he would.

Xiao breathed shakily, rubbing his forehead. He had to stop getting so close to her. But Xiao knew that he couldn't. He couldn't stop wanting to be with her. She drew him in somehow, as though he were a fish being drawn to bait.

This is bad, Xiao thought. This is really, really bad.

Is it, though? another part of Xiao answered. Is it really too terrible that you feel this way?

Is it too terrible that you love her?