Heart of Stone (Xiaolumi) Genshin FF

一

You admired and had a deep sense of respect for Xiao; he worked tirelessly to defend Liyue - his home - and its people, and never showed or voice a hint of complaint. When he told you the story of his past, you felt a great sense of sympathy for the Yaksha. You couldn't even begin to imagine going through all that he did, having to shoulder that heavy burden as you continued to live for thousands and thousands of years. Xiao claimed it was his duty, yes, but you wondered - did he ever want to just... stop? Had he thought about stepping down from his position, just as his mentor did? Was that even possible? Would he even do it, considering he was the last Yaksha left?

He told you that if you ever needed him to simply call his name and he would be there by your side. However, it seemed that even just simply thinking about him, your mind quietly wandering ever since you'd sat down on the railing that lined Yujing Terrace to watch the beautifully lit night sky of Liyue, would summon him as well. For some reason, this year you felt as if there were a ton more xiao lanterns floating away into the night sky than last year, harbering wishes and hopes of Liyueans.

They were so beautiful... sometimes you wished you could cry, because it felt like that would be the only way to let this world know that you truly loved the beauty and kindness everyone here had to offer. A multitude of different aromas attacked your nostrils from all the vendors and restaurants arround and below you, and you knew that Paimon was somewhere out there eating to her heart's content. Hearty laughs and childlike joy were carried across the entire harbor with the wind. Liyue was truly unique in all aspects. You missed Mondstadt, yes, but Liyue was your home away from home. You had many friends here - inlcuding the one who was quietly standing by your side.

You turned your head slightly to see him perfectly balancing on the rail as he stood and gazed out over the harbor, arms crossed. Smiling softly, you greeted him. "Xiao... you're here."

"Yes," he murmured, nodding once, his golden eyes slithering over towards you before gazing back out over the brightly lit festival. "I noticed you were sitting here alone. Do you not wish to partake in the Lantern Rite this year?" He questioned. "Oh, it's nothing like that," you reassured him before following his actions. You inhaled deeply as your eyes landed on the Shadow Lantern booth, currently being played by a boy and girl. They giggled as they raced against the clock to make the correct shadow. "I just... I just wanted to take a step back and take it all in today. Last year, I didn't really have time to truly appreciate the Rite and was running around and... you know, helping to try and save Liyue," you said in a funny tone, to which Xiao mutedly agreed with, "So, this time, I wanted to first bask in the beauty of Liyue, and then I'll stuff my face and play games." Xiao hummed acknowledgement to your response and said nothing afterwards.

At first, you used to feel anxious around Xiao; he was an Adeptus after all, tasked with keeping away evil spirits and demons, taken in by Rex Lapis himself. He had experienced more than you, knew more than you, done more than you. Surely, he wouldn't want to associate with an Outlander that did so little compared to him. But, instead of trying to distance yourself, you sucked it up and tried your best to be your (somewhat) social self. You figured since he had already been alive for over 2000 years, and since his fellow yakshas were sadly no more, why give him a cold shoulder when he was already constantly alone?

"Liyue is constantly changing and will continue to do so," he finally spoke, his voice as quiet as the wind. "The more happiness and joy that is poured into the world, the more evil comes to try and conquer it, and I shall be there to defeat it. I will always have time to do this. A fleeting moment for me is a lifetime for you mortals," he looked down at you again, "It is best to experience the most of what you can while you are able to do so." "I promise, I will." You emphasized, and he silently took you at your word. "Will you watch the fireworks tomorrow? I heard they were imported from Inazuma and that Yoimiya personally helped in their smelting. I'm sure it'll be amazing." "I...think I'll pass." Xiao's gaze harded after looking over in the direction of the plains. "My line of work is particularly busy during this time of year. I do not have spare time to watch gunpowder explode."