Met you that one night~🌙💫⭐️

Almond Tofu ✨

The blazing sun showed no mercy, only the fortunate, who live in Dragonspine, could survive such heat.
Hu Tao had finally arrived at the Wangshu inn with a fresh plate of Almond tofu, a local specialty.

She nimbly climbed the stairs and had finally reached the top floor. Panting and gasping for air she took a step. When she opened her eyes, she was greeted with a long, green spear at her neck, said to have slaughtered thousands. The emerald crystal reflected in the light, blinding Hu Tao.
She looked up and squinted to see... Xiao?!
Was she finally here?
Without a second to waste, she quickly got out of the way and waved to him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in a threatening voice.

"Relax!" She replied "I just wanted to thank you for yesterday! And, I brought you some Almond Tofu!"

He took at step, pointing the spear to the floor. Xiao the placed the box on a wooden table and proceeded to walk away, each step longer than the last, echoing is Hu Tao's mind.

She watched him stare at the Silk flowers from the balcony, inspecting every petal, every shade of red...
The young director then walked over, trying to break the ice:

"So...." She said, trying her best
"How's it like, y'a know, being an adepti?"

The Vigilant Yashaka stared at her blankly, trying to find an answer.

"...it's-"
He stopped for a second, unsure if what to say.

"it's- ... the same."

They both stayed silent, Hu Tao trying to comprehend his answer. Even though she wasn't an adepti, she knew how it felt. Never was she truly at peace with herself, it was .... the same. A never ending cycle of pain, suffering, so much that she had nearly lost reason to live... alas, there was nothing she could do...

"I know..." she replied deep in thought
"I've been there and still am."

Xiao looked at her. She tried her best to smile but he could see something others couldn't. A trace of misery, sadness. A trace of restlessness in her soul. Was this why she spent so much time finding peace for others? Hoping, each day, to be in their place?

"Hm." He replied

"..."

They both went quiet.

Was their life really worth living?
But what for?

Xiao then got up and finally walked over to the table where he had placed the tofu. The floorboards creaked along the way, pulling her out of her thoughts.
He opened the container and carefully picked out a tofu. Walking over to Hu Tao who gazed at the clouds, he opened his hand offering a piece. This time her smile was more realistic, masking her worries and doubts. She took the tofu and started nibbling. Piece by piece, every bite, she had already finished it.

A hint of pure delight ran across her face, her eyes lit up at the taste of crispy tofu.

"Hey Xiao?"

Hu Tao looked up unsteadily, the wind brushing her crimson hair. After several efforts, she had finally regained her confidence.

"Will you- .. will you be my friend?"

She closed her eyes, expecting disappointment

"Never mind, it's stupid anyway..."

The young director turned around and quickly walked out to avoid embarrassment.
Just as she passed the door, she suddenly felt a tug on her arm.

"....Sure, I guess I could be your friend..."

At those words Hu Tao froze. Her scarlet eyes fixed on Xiao's face. This time she approached him slowly, she wrapped her arms around the adepti.

Had she finally done it?
Her only friend...

It was one detail that slowly lifted their burden

Author's Note

^w^
Hoping this one is better! <3