The Object of My Unholy Desire (Xiaoaether)

Has Aether Finally Defeated (defeated our boy xiao?)

Xiao Pov
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I leave Aether's apartment feeling angry, but not at Aether. At Rex Lapis. Why did he let Aether have a dream about our reality? Am I going to have to explain it?

I used an excuse to go talk to Childe, so I'd better go find him in case Aether looks for proof.

I begin to run down the street as fast as I can run.

Well, it's not really my fastest. In my version of Teyvat, I'm known for my speed and agility. Since I've lost my adeptal powers in this world, I'm not as fast as I used to be, which is a little disorienting.

As soon as I reach the end of the street, everything turns a shade of deep purple.

I look up to see that the sky has been split into two, leaving a crack in dimensions.

Footsteps behind me make me turn.

Aether runs up to me. I glare at him.

"Did you tell someone about your true identity?" I ask.

He doesn't meet my gaze.

"Aether?" I ask, fear growing inside of me.

He finally meets my gaze.

His normally bright amber eyes are dark and filled with coldness.

"Aether?" I ask again, this time cold all over from his sudden mood change.

A blueish purple portal appears behind him and an Abyss Herald steps out.

"Are you an idiot Xiao? How could anyone fall for someone like you?" Aether says coldly. "I did a good job playing you, I guess."

I try not to let his words sink in, but I fail.

He played me?

He...

He doesn't love me?

Everything he's said to me...was a lie?

"I'm the Abyss Prince. Everything I do ties back to my war with destiny, Xiao. My sister couldn't understand, so I left her behind. We'll be reunited at the end of my quest." Aether says.

"Well I don't understand either!" I shout, tears streaming down my face.

I attempt to step towards Aether, but find myself tied by my karma once again.

Aether steps towards the portal, obviously about to go through it and leave me.

"Aether! Wait!" I shout, nearly severing my hands from all my attempts to break free of my karmic chains.

He smiles at me, but without any warmth.

"It'll be fun killing everyone I've ever interacted with." He steps partway through the portal. "Have fun with the Abyss Order, O Vigilant Yaksha."

He leaves and the portal disappears.

I break free from my karma as Abyss mages and controlled Hilichurls surround me, prepared to rid me of this life once and for all.

I try to summon my polearm, but come up short.

No polearm.

No anemo abilities.

No defense, no way to attack.

Am I done for?

I push through the circle of monsters, my only wound being a bad burn on my arm. I run further and further.

When I finally look up, I find myself in front of our school. Our in quotation marks.

It's burning and destroyed. I'm fully sure everyone inside is now dead, or burning alive.