A Tune For You [Xiaoven]

Chapter 3 | A Familiar Tune

TW!
Mentions of blood and suicide
Read with caution

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Pain. It was all I felt that night. I was covered in my own and enemies blood. The voices in my head started to speak all at the same time. It was so loud. Why was it so loud?..

The yaksha's mask covered my face as the corruption started to grow. I clutched the clothes on my chest as I try to fight the feeling. The voices were fighting over each other, getting louder and louder every minute. The feeling of strings pull all over my body trying to tear me apart. I could feel pieces of my body start to break. To shatter into small pieces. I was breathing heavily, the corruption started to spread more, I gritted my teeth as I started to lose hope.

'I guess my time here is almost over.'

I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, to let it all out. But I can't. I could feel the lump in my throat. The need to release the pain. I fell on my knees and shut my eyes.

'If I were to die might as well speed up the process.' I lifted my pole arm and pointed the blade at my neck. I was shaking, I didn't want my life to end. But if it did, it meant freedom. I would be free from the shackles of torment and constant bloodshed. Liyue is now capable on defending themselves, they wouldn't need my help.. Still I feel as though this was too early, it feels as if I still have unfinished business. Something I haven't done. So if possible..

'I don't want to die..'

The voices got louder and louder and louder. My chest started to tighten and my breathing was uneven. Everything got worse and worse.

Until it all vanished. Everything was silent. The voices disappeared, the pain in my chest started to disappear, it was all.. gone.
The corruption stopped spreading, my mind was at ease, as if it wasn't even there in the first place.

I heard a tune.. A familiar tune. I snapped back to reality and glanced to the direction of the coast of Guyun. I stood up struggling to get on my feet, I lowered my pole arm and used it for support as I started to walk down the beach. As if I travelled back in time, there I saw a figure sat on the rock in the middle of the moving waters. But this time it was different, it was green. No wings spread wide to feel the ocean breeze, instead it was a cape.

The tune that was being played was as beautiful as the one I remembered the first time I heard it. Calming, peaceful, free.. I glanced at the instrument, it was the dihua flute.

'I see, so you're the one who have it.'

I wanted to walk towards them and take it, but I didn't want to interrupt, I didn't want them to stop.

Before I knew it liquid started to form in my eyes, it ran down my face. I brought my hands to wipe it up and realized the the mask was disappearing half way into crystal like particles. Not only that but my hand was covered in deep red, I can't even recognize if it was my own or to those souls. The music stopped suddenly and I looked back up, I didn't bother to wipe my tears away as I saw the figure glance at me.

The wind started to blow, I tried to see a clear vision of the figure but everything became blurry, all I could catch was a green cape and hat. And so I collapsed on the sand taking in my last moments as I closed my eyes. The world disappeared, I was at peace.

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I opened my eyes to see a familiar ceiling, I got up and looked around my surroundings. I was in the spare room that Verr Goldet let me stay in.

'I'm.. alive..? When did I get here?'

I got out of bed and searched the area one more time. I sighed.