~ 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙢'𝙨 𝙎𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙 ~ Xiao x Reader

4. ᴘʀᴏɢʀᴇssɪᴏɴ -- ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ɪs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ

"Now that we're all rested, shall we continue?" Ganyu asked. "We seem all fine, let's go." The light got closer. A shining red gem was laying on the ground in front of them.

"What is this?" Kuki observed the red object in front of them. "Don't know, looks valuable! Let's keep it!" Itto was about to pick up the gem, but Xiao stopped him. "Don't, it could be a trap." You looked down to the gem. "This looks..familiar," you said as you stared down at it. "Wait! Now I got it! This is one of the 3 gems that belong on the blossom's sword. The catalyst has 3 gems that allow it to channel insane amount of energy. There's a red, a yellow, and a pink."

"So it's not a trap?" Shinobu asked. "Nope," you answered and picked up the red gem and placed it in your bag. "Oh c'mon! How come she gets to keep the gem!?"

"Because she's the one who's studying the blossom's sword," Xiao said as he crossed his arms. "Alright, I think my work here is done, let's go back up." "Thank god!"

You searched for your spell book. You looked everywhere, but it's not there. "Ehe...bad news, I think I lost my spell book." You scratched your head nervously.

"YOU WHAT!?" Itto yelled as he looked like he was going to start panicking. "Please calm down! Do you remember where you last put it?" Ganyu asked.

"I put it in my bag, and now it's gone!" Xiao came closer to you to look for the book. "I see, someone stole it," he stated.

"Stole it!? But how!?" You looked at everyone suspiciously, especially Itto. "Hey! Don't look at me! I didn't steal it I swear!" He defended.

You could only let out a sigh. "Stay here, I'll look around for it." And just like that, Xiao vanished.

A few minutes have passed, soon, Xiao came back. "So, did you find anything?" You asked. He looked down. "No..." You dropped your head down disappointed. You then heard giggling.

"Hey, you guys hear that?" You all located where the sound was coming from and walked over there.

"Haha! Nice one! Now we can finally get out of this terrible place!" One treasure hoarder said.

"And we can also sell this! It would make a good price for mages!" They both laughed as they flipped through more pages. "Those thieves!" You cursed quietly under your breath.

Just as you were about to interrupt them, Xiao put a hand on your shoulder and went in your place instead. He approached the treasure hoarders as they looked back at him.

"Huh? Who is this small twerp?"

"Let's get him!" They charged at Xiao, but they were too slow. Xiao knocked them out in a second and took the book back. He gave it back to you as a smile was plastered on your face. "Thanks Xiao! I'm doubling your almond tofu now!" You exclaimed.

He looked down. "It's no problem, that spell book...must have been important to you." You looked at him in surprise. Xiao? Being considerate? That was new. "It is, I'm glad it's back in the right hands now, it's all thanks to you." You smiled at him.

"So uh...are you guys done flirting? Can we get out here now?" Itto interrupted. "We're not flirting!" You protested. "Yeah yeah, anyways let's go! This place gives me the creeps." A shiver went down Itto's spine.

"Alright alright!" You flipped through your spell book to search for a spell. You found one that could get you out of there. "Alright everyone, stand back." You stretched your hands out, getting ready to cast the spell.

"Darkness night of Lion's pride, seek the light of the outside!" A burst of energy blasted through again, and before you know it, you guys were outside. "I can't believe it, we're free!" Itto stretched his arms out, and for once in his life, he was happy to feel the fresh air of the outside. "Thank you, (Y/N), we should probably get going now, goodbye," Kuki thanked all of you guys before leaving with Itto.

"Well, I do have work I still must do, make sure to be safe, goodbye!" Ganyu waved you goodbye before walking away. "Bye everyone!!" You turned to look at Xiao who was waiting for you to complete your partings. "We're done for today, let's go back to Wangshu Inn!" Xiao nodded his head as he teleported you both back to the Inn.

"Sooooo, how did you like the adventure?" You asked. He sighed. "There was...slightly too many people." You forgot he doesn't socialize well at all, and that he hates crowds. "Haha, sorry, I didn't think other people would be there to join us," you apologized as you rubbed the back of your head. "It's not your fault, you gained something from this journey, that's what we came here to do." He crossed his arms.

You tapped your chin as you were thinking. "Wanna spend time together?" You asked. He looked at you with a confused face. "I do not put down my duties for my own pleasure, I cannot spend time with you."

"I'm sure it wouldn't hurt just to hang out with me for a few minutes! Plus, I'd like to get to know you better!" "For the second time, no." "Pretty please with a cherry on top?" "You won't leave me alone until I say yes, will you?" "You are indeed correct."

He can only sigh and nodded his head. "Only a few minutes." You clapped your hands once and quickly went to the kitchen in the Inn. You came back a minute later with two almond tofus in your hands.

"C'mon! Let's go to the table and eat!" You exclaimed as you led Xiao to the table in the Inn. You brought out the red gem that you collected during the journey. "I'm glad we earned something out of today's adventure," you said. Xiao nodded his head as he continued eating his almond tofu.

You looked at him with a serious expression. "Hey, you're not only joining me on this just for me to stop bothering you, are you? You have some other motive, don't you?"

Xiao nearly choked on his tofu, but quickly composed himself. Was it that obvious? "You speak the truth, I would've left long ago if I didn't have any other intentions," he spoke and you can hear the honesty in his voice. "But what would you gain out of the blossom's sword?" You asked.

"You mortals love asking questions about other's personal life." "But I still don't understand? Why would you need the blossom's sword? Not trying to come off rude or seem like I'm trying to keep the blossom's sword to myself because I really am not-" Xiao interrupted you with a raise of his hand.

"I cannot tell you, these are private matters, few minutes are up, I'm going now, farewell." Before you could say anything back, he was already gone. You sighed. "What's he hiding?" You wondered.

You put the gem back into your bag and exited out the Wangshu Inn. "He'll warm up to me, hopefully, oh well."

There's magic in the air, stronger than before, toxic and deadly, nobody saw it coming, but maybe one person did...

To be continued...