Winter Moon | Xiao x Fem Reader

Ashes

"You need to be able to endure more than this! This is a pathetic display of your godhood!" The voice of Nuwa boomed, ricocheting inside the lit up cave, "In all my years as the Moon God's teacher I haven't seen such low endurance. You should be ashamed of yourself." She yelled as she brought down the electro-charged whip one more time and hit your back with force enough to split your skin and make it bleed.

This far into your training you didn't even have the strength to reply back but only whimper as Nuwa brought down the whip again and again. Your submerged body twisted in on itself as the electric waves danced across your skin, burning it.

"Get a hold of yourself, how are you gonna wield all seven elements at once if you can't handle only two?" She brought down the whip even harder and you saw the water around you stain red. "Hmph, you endured only 5 hours today, better than last time but not the best. Yin-" she nodded her head towards the red-headed girl "- clean her up and get her dressed. That's enough for today." Your teacher said with a stern voice and headed out of the cave, each step echoing.

Yin waited for just a second until Nuwa was out of view before her schooled features turned into panicked ones as she rushed towards you. "My lady! Are you okay? You're bleeding really badly!" She gently held your shoulders and lifted you out of the water before putting your usual white robe around your beaten body. You felt bad it was now stained with blood. "We should go to the Moonlit Lake for your wounds to heal." Her hands were barely pressing on your skin as she led you out of the cave.

"You worry like this every time, you should be used to it." You tried to laugh but it led to you clutching your sides and coughing out blood. Ah, now she was gonna worry even more, you thought to yourself as Yin began fretting.

"My lady, please don't joke at a time like this!" She scolded you as you finally reached the lake. It stood in the middle of your domain, surrounded by blooming glazed lilies that lit it up. The Moonlit lake had stood for millennia, soaking in the moonlight and energy of the moon, attaining regenerative properties. It had served for thousands of years, healing the handful of Moon Gods that have existed since the beginning of time.

As you soaked in it, you allowed the warmth of moonlight to seep into your bones and wash away the blood coating your back. You sighed out in bliss as the pain faded, replaced only by the sting of the water as it healed your body and prepared you for yet another day of training.

You laid back onto the water, floating on its surface as you opened your eyes to stare at the full moon above you, surrounded by the glittering stars and dark sky. It was truly beautiful. The moonlight felt warm on your skin, warmer than the sun itself as you basked in it.

Suddenly a fading light caught your attention at the corner of your eye. Was it a falling star? As you sat up in the water you turned your whole attention to it just to see the light floating up, instead of falling like a star usually would. You stared at it as it reached even higher before falling down. Reaching out, you caught it in the palm of your hand, feeling its warmth.

Another light caught your eye as you looked up and stared in awe. It wasn't just one light in the sky, there were so many of them! They resembled the stars you wished you could reach, but unlike the stars, it stood in the palm of your hand. You gazed back at the light you were holding.

I wish Mingmei could love me back.

It was written on the thin paper in black, streaky ink. You looked at it quizzically, tilting your head in question.

"Do you not know what these are, my Lady?" Yin asked with a kind smile on her face, having witnessed your swirl of emotions and fascination.

"Why are there so many lights in the sky? Who's Mingmei?" You were enchanted by the millions of lights. As they floated by, you noticed all of them had something different written on them.