Let the Wind Guide You| xiaoven| Royal AU

18

Venti's POV

We were on our way to Dunyu Ruins along with Xing Qiu, Chong Yun and Xiangling. 

We had visited them earlier on and they agreed to help.

"Consider this as an apology." Xing Qiu said.

We walked fast, no one saying a word. 

I was worried sick about Xiao, I just kept my cool for the others.

They didn't need more devastation than they already have.

After some time, we reached our destination.

The ruin seemed deserted. My little hope that Xiao would be here was shattered.

I knew it was unlikely, but it didn't hurt to wish for it right?

"Alright, Zhongli and Ganyu, you two look over there. Xing Qiu, Xiangling and Chong Yun, you three look over there. I will go with Venti and Hu Tao over there. We will meet back here in 1 hour. Keep your guards up, look after each other, don't wander off too far. If you happen to encounter any danger, scream for help loudly." Keqing said seriously.

We all nodded and went to our specific spots.

Me, Hu Tao and Keqing fast-walked to the front of the ruins, all of us eager to find some clues.

We checked everywhere, even the dirt ground and the walls.

For the first half an hour, we found nothing.

I wandered around.

Will we really be able to find Xiao?

What if he's already dead before we find him?

Worse, what if we can't find him?

What if we'll never get to see him ever again?

It's the Fatui we're talking about.

I squeeze my eyes shut and shook the thought off my head.

Hu Tao could survive, why can't Xiao?

Suddenly, I walked into something.

I winced and opened my eyes to look at it.

It was a bar door that led to a passageway.

I tilted my head.

I grabbed the door and tried prying it open but it wouldn't budge.

"Keqing! Hu Tao! Come here!" I called out.

The two immediately ran to me.

"What's wrong?" Keqing frowned.

"There's a locked bar door that leads down somewhere." I explained, pointing to the door.

Hu Tao gasped.

"This is where they took Xiao!" She yelled.

Keqing walked up to it and examined the door. She caught sight of a lock underneath.

She bent down and picked up a rock from the ground, then started hitting the lock harshly with it.

I made a mental note not to mess with her in the future.

I slowly walked up to her and stopped her from hitting the poor lock, which didn't even have a dent from all that hitting.

She looked up at me.

"I know how to pick a lock." I winked.

I took out a pin from my hair that I coincidentally wore today. Then, I inserted it into the lock and turned it around. With a click, it unlocked and the door slid open.