Don't leave me || Xiaoven ff

Chapter 14

On the way back, Xiao was way more nervous than before. He tried thinking about a possible explanation but didn't come up with anything he hadn't thought about before.

Leaving the Windwail highlands, he noticed storm clouds over Liyue in the distance.
Well that's new.
He hurried even more. There was tension in the air, like right before a huge thunderstorm.
Something's happening. I gotta get back!

While running towards the city, it started to rain. The storm was becoming more intense with every second and lightning struck all around the Yaksha.

He passed beneath Mt Tianheng and ran towards the bridge, connecting the two sides of the river. What he saw, was five gigantic, snake like creatures, seemingly consisting of water, raging in the tides around Guyun Stone Forest. Or rather- one creature.

Osial- how is he awake?!

Xiao saw the Jade Chamber floating towards the creature. He was too far away to teleport up so he kept on running towards the docks.

The city streets were full of panicking people, running away from the shore as fast and far as they could.
How is this possible? How did this happen?
He could sense the presence of other Adepti.

They must be up there.

Fear overcame the Yaksha.
I cannot lose them too. Not after all this.

Xiao never really cared about the others. About Cloud Retainer with her weird mechanisms, Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper with their proud attitude, Ganyu with her calming and reliable personality. Well at least he would never admit it.

He felt as if it was his task to protect them. His duty. They were the last ones he could consider family in some way.

Just as Xiao came in teleporting range, the Jade chamber flew over the sea, away from the city.
He immediately teleported up. There were the Adepti, as expected, even Madame Ping was there. Aswell as Lady Ningguang, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing and some Millelith soldiers.
And there was that peculiar Traveller that visited Xiao at Wangshu once.

Ganyu noticed Xiao and looked at him. They exchanged looks, both worried and hopeful.
A whole conversation without saying a word.

The others were discussing the situation, Xiao stood beside and just listened. Cloud Retainer mentioned the Guizhong Ballista and Ningguang seemed to have an idea.

She used her geo vision and controlled elemental energy to create a glowing, translucent platform in front of the chamber. On top of it three ballistas.
Mountain Shaper, Moon Carver and Cloud Retainer all stepped forward to one of them and began powering them with adeptal energy.
Until suddenly rifts appeared and Fatui came out of them.

They started attacking the ballista but were soon enough stopped by the Traveller and the Yuheng.

What have the Fatui to do with all this?

However, just as the three Adepti continued shooting at the creature raging in front of them, Osial began charging energy.
The glowing energy collected in a gigantic sphere exploded into the sky and elemental missiles started raining onto the platform.
It shattered, leaving nothing but air behind and sent everyone standing atop of it flying down.

Immediately, Xiao catched the Traveller and teleported back onto the safe ground of the Jade chamber.

"Be careful now."
The Traveller nodded.

Cloud Retainer spoke. "The Guizhong Ballista is destroyed... without it's covering fire, retaliation shall be difficult."
Ganyu looked desperate. "But the Jade Chamber is our last line of defense. We can't give another inch. No matter what!"

"I have another idea."

Everyone looked at Ningguang.
"What do you mean, Lady Ningguang?" Ganyu asked. She hesitated before responding "I'll sacrifice the Jade chamber... what is the meaning of this?"

The Jade chamber floated directly towards the sea creature. The Adepti looked at each other.
Finally, Xiao spoke.
"I understand." He put on his mask and him and the others gathered in a circle around the Traveller.

"Traveler, lend me a hand." Ningguang said as the Adepti started transferring energy.
"Farewell old friend... Goodbye for now, let us meet again in the future."

The Traveller struck their sword into the ground. The Floating chamber started falling apart and lost in high. Then it crashed down, exploding in an enormous explosion that shook the ground.

Xiao was looking at it from the docks. He teleported away quick enough and everyone else was fine too, saved by the other Adepti.
We did it.
He felt exhausted after transferring so much of his energy. The others talked for a while but he couldn't stand all the people that were approaching them so he left without paying any more attention.

He just wanted to go and see Venti. To listen to his music and forget everything that happened. Now that it was over, he just wanted to be in his company. And for once, he just gave in to what he wanted and left for Mondstadt again.

————
Ngl, i don't really like the chapter. I didn't really go into detail with the fight because you all probably know the cutscene.
The next chapter is going to be better, i promise!