Rebirth of a Lost God: A Xiaolumi Series

Chapter 16: Xiao's Birthday

"Verr Goldet! Is the almond tofu ready?"

Verr Goldet peeked out from the corner. "Indeed! It will be out right away!"

"Hurry! I have to go meet him soon!" Then Verr Goldet came around from the corner, holding a box.

"Here you go! Almond tofu, cake sized!"

"Thanks Verr Goldet! See you around!"

I went into the Serenitea Teapot and ran to the garden with the cake where I found Xiao waiting for me.

"Hey! I'm back from my commissions!"

He turned around. "Finally." Then he noticed the box in my hand. "Hm? What's that?"

I blushed. "Well... I remembered today was your birthday so... I asked Ver Goldet to help me make almond tofu... but cake sized since you can't exactly digest anything else..."

His face showed surprise. "I-I do not exactly know of such... but... there was nothing for me to do today. So, I decided I would find a Crystalflies for you... to put in your hair. I thought that... I would look nice." At this he took a breath. I could tell that he was anxious. "The next thing I knew, I had caught several more than I intended. I hope you do not mind. I-I... do not care much for birthdays and celebrations. I hope you understand that. Just... to be able to spend some time with you is enough. I-I thank you. For not bringing a large group of people."

"It's nothing! I was actually going to ask you if you wanted to come with me somewhere... I just didn't know if you would be comfortable with the place I chose..."

He handed me the crystalfly pins as I put down the cake. "Oh? Name the place then..."

"I wanted to ask you... I wanted to go to Mondstadt for a little bit. You know... just visit some friends. I also need to check on Aether. Make sure he is being treated well there."

"If that's what you wish... then I'll accompany you there."

"Yay!" I jumped up and down. Then, I realized that I was about to trip over a rock that I was going to land on. There was no time to release my wings now. What was I going to do? Then a hand caught me.

"Be careful, Lumine. You almost fell there."

"S-sorry. I was just happy... can you follow me into the city though? The streets of Mondstadt are nothing like Liyue. It's much more peaceful than what you see in Liyue. I think you might like it..."

He sighed. "Fine. Don't jump again. You might hurt yourself again."

My heart skipped a beat. He agreed to come. "Yay! Thanks Xiao~!"

I was about to take Xiao's hand, but then he brushed some of my hair out of my face. He then placed the Crystalfly pin in my hair. I smiled and blushed a bit. "T-thanks..."

He smiled and responded to my happiness. "Let's go then. Walk or..."

"Oh! Don't worry about that. Here, just step through. But do watch your step."

We stepped through the portal, and found ourselves at the gates of Mondstadt. The knights at the gate, seeing us, bowed.

"Welcome back to Mondstadt! Please, go right in!"

"Thank you. No need for such formality." The guards nodded. We walked through. I looked around. It looked the same as it always looked. My eyes shone like rhinestones as I raced ahead. "Come on, Xiao! Let's go!"

The poor yaksha sighed and ran alongside with me. I ran all the way towards the Knights of Favonius headquarters. The knights at the doors bowed as we walked through and I burst into Jean's work room.