Contains all three books from my Xiaolumi series: Dark On Me, War of Change, & Everything To Me. All information can be found inside. It is advised and encouraged to read the prequal, "Thousand Years" before this mega book then move onto "Edge of Da...
Everywhere around Liyue the nation and its capital city of Liyue Harbor were swarming with people that had come from near and far to be with loved ones or just to witness the festivities. Lanterns and colorful décor filled the streets and even covered parts of the buildings. The smell of street food from vendors and the laughter of joyful playing children as music filled the air. But for the adepti this time of year was chaos outside the safety of the city and villages. But none more then Xiao Lumine had noticed. He had been returning injured far more often then usual and his mood had soured. It had gotten to the point she was noticing he seemed to be in far, far more pain now too...though he would not admit it to her face.
"It is most impolite to ignore one's conversation, Traveler."came a sharp rebuke across the stone table. Sitting across from her was a fair skinned silver haired woman with a sharp silver lilac gaze. Her dress bore the tell tale colors and markings of Cloud Retainer. Actually this was in fact Cloud Retainer out of her true form as an adeptus.
"Now, now, Cloud Retainer. Miss Lumine has been through a lot recently and has much on her mind."soothed the ombre burnette man between the two girls casually setting his cup down.
"Hmph. But one must wonder why did you call for this one and Lord Morax?"asked Cloud Retainer.
"Actually I've been worried and wanted to ask something."this got the attention of both adeptus and the geo archon.
"Is this about young Xiao?"Zhongli asked.
"Yeah, Lumine won't stop worrying about him. Paimon can't understand why cause now he seems so cranky, well crankier then usual."Paimon said from where she floated near by munching on some mora meat pie. Lumine turning fifty shades of red because of it.
"It must be because it is that time of year, this one does suspect. What do you say Lord Morax?"hummed Cloud Retainer with a sigh resting her chin casually in the palm of her hand while her elbow rested on the table.
"Yes, I would agree."stated Zhongli with a serious tone.
"What do you mean? What's so different about this time of year?"Lumine asked.
"I am sure you have witnessed that the lantern rite festival has began, Miss Lumine?"Lumine nodded at his words. "The Lantern Rite is an extremely busy time period as malice and corruption from vengeful spirits of those fallen surface far more often. This in turn makes adepti and exorcists extremely busy. In particularly for the young yaksha. In turn his karma is most certainly acting up far more then usual."
The girls gasped at this information as Lumine clenched her fists gripping her dress tight. "No wonder he hates the lantern rite...he's constantly in pain but this is making it worse and nobody but the other adpeti know it!"she thought sadly. No this was not sympathy she felt or pity but frustration the one she admittedly loved and cared about was hurting. She had witnessed at least twice what those negative karmic episodes did to him and hated he went through that.
"Paimon doesn't like seeing him hurt....even if he is a grouch."whimpered Paimon.
"You'd be cranky too Paimon if you were constantly in pain."sighed Lumine earn an amused chortle from Cloud Retainer.
"This one can see why Little Xiao speaks highly of you Traveler and holds you to even higher standards above other mortals."giggled Cloud Retainer in delight. "You remind this one much of the one whoms seat you now sit upon at this one's table."
"Indeed. To answer your question, as I have informed you prior human medicine does not work on Xiao's condition. By your words I must assume he has run out of his medicine I have been making for him since the karma inflicted him."Zhongli explained reaching to a pocket inside his coat.
"Medicine?"
"Yes it is a medicine the one has witnessed the Lady Guizhong create and has guided this one's lord most earnestly. It is most effective and notable to this one to work for the needs of the Vigilant Yaksha."explained Cloud Retainer as Zhongli set a metal bottle onto the table.
The bottle itself was designed to look like the Exuvia vessel slithered around a simple silver sphere. Zhongli opened it to reveal a large number of peach colored pills before closing it and carefully setting it into Lumine's hands. "Please ensure he receives these painkillers, Miss Lumine for me."he instructed.
"Don't worry, Mr.Zhongli I will make sure he gets this."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It burned.
His body felt like it was on fire as tears of pain stained the corner of his eyes from where he sat curled up tight where he sat in a tree branch after having for some reason opted to retreating into Lumine's serenitea pot domain. This place without warning had become his haven and the only place he could lower his carefully constructed shield. Nothing could hurt him here and being surrounded by the sweet scent of the cosmos and asters soothed his soul. He hated this time of year with a burning passion yet also enjoyed the sight when those lanterns full of wishes finally would be set free.
But right now he felt miserable as he body was a painful, burning birdcage of hell. Yet he had noticed around Lumine his pain had lessoned considerably and slowly becoming easier to bare. But not now however, no words described the shear agony as he clenched his teach taking a shaky breath. So why had he without a thought retreated here and was now in the very tree just outside his bedroom window? Not even he knew why.
"Xiao there you are."Xiao tensed and almost jumped out of his skin at the voice and sudden gentle contact. "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Tsk, sneaking up on me like that shows you have no respect for the ways of the adepti, Lumine."he hissed. Damn he couldn't sense her approach him at all anymore and with how comfortable he had become around her. It was an odd feeling but he knew it had to be because of his growing feelings for her he knew were genuine after what happened with Aether and that damn Fatui.
"Zhongli asked me to bring you something."Lumine said catching his attention as she pulled out a familiar container. She watched as Xiao grabbed it and opened it seeing a shine of relief as he grabbed a single pill and tossed it into his mouth and swallowed. Within minutes he relaxed and to her relief some color had returned to his complexion as he took to resting his head on her shoulder. "Feeling better now Xiao?"she soothed petting his hair.
"Thank you, Lumine and forgive me for treating you so harshly recently."he whispered wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"Its alright, you meant no harm by it. You were in a lot of pain weren't you?"she assured.
"No its not alright. I don't know how you can always be so patient and kind to me even now. These emotions I feel...I do not understand them well yet but I am trying to."he apologized softly burying his face into the crook of her neck. Her gentle strokes of her hands in his hair making a soft rumbling sound akin to a purr to sound as she hummed softly.
"Its alright. Take the time you need to understand. You did good today so just relax if not only for a moment."Xiao hummed nuzzling into her touch at her soft reassurance and praise. His heart no longer racing at this closeness but instead soared as he felt a soothing comfort, content to hold her and snuggle into her tender warmth. More then ever he was sure Zhongli's words before were correct that Xiao loved her and maybe she loved him too? Lumine's own thought reflecting the same shared thoughts. It had not been her fever talking back then after all. She truly had fallen in love with this amazing man here snuggled close in her arms. She made up her mind then and there no matter what she had to get Xiao to see the Lantern Rite.
