Good Evening Traveler

Chapter Four: To Work, or Not to Work?

As the sun set, Xiao stood atop the roof of the estate. He wanted to fight the demons that were lurking around every corner. Though disobeying Morax was the same crime as treason, Xiao desperately wanted to return to Liyue. Nevertheless, he was brought out of this trance by Ayaka's calls that somehow echoed over the rain. "Xiao? Xiao! Why are you on the roof? It's time to get some sleep!" She called. Xiao teleported back to the ground, and groaned. "Adepti don't sleep. You have no respect for the ways of the adepti," he muttered.
"Well, seeing as you're not that tired, may I talk to you for a moment?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Heh...Follow me," Ayaka led him back to the patio where they sat at the long table. Lanterns flickered as the night grew on, providing the only light. The young woman smiled, before gently setting her fan on the table. "You seem to care about the traveler quite a bit, correct?" she asked.
"What does my response mean to you?"
"It means that we have a common goal, and that we might be able to work together to accomplish it. Now, do you think the traveler should rest?"
"...Of course I do. It's common sense. Hmph - - you don't often see a mortal with that tendency."
"No need to be so kind, Mister Adeptus. Now, I am sure I already know the answer to this, yet I always like to hear things admitted myself. May you help me in letting the get much needed rest?"
"Only if you tell me why you are so adamant about helping the traveler."
"Very well then - Information for information I suppose!" Ayaka smiled, "I have gotten close to Lumine on her journey throughout Inazuma. Together, we took down the fatui and abolished the several decrees limiting travel and other restrictions on the freedoms of everyday life. Inazuma is not the land of freedom, it is the land of eternity. One would only want to spend that eternity in peace and joy."

Suddenly, before Xiao could respond, Paimon came flying outside. "Lumine? Lumine!? Where are-" she yelled, stopping as soon as she saw Ayaka and Xiao. "Spit it out Paimon. What is it?" He grumbled.
"Oh! Nothing! Nothing's wrong!" Piamon nervously smiled. The rain kept pouring, nearly covering her voice. Ayaka glanced at Xiao and gave a look of suspicion. "Why are you looking for Lumine?" She asked.
"Oh! Paimon just was wondering if the traveler was still out looking at the stars! Paimon wanted to join her!"
"Are you sure you're telling the truth?"
"Yep!"
"How can the traveler be watching the stars on a rainy night?"
"Oh!...Uh...Elemental sight!"
"Adeptus one, Paimon zero!" Ayaka giggled, "So, where is the traveler?" Paimon sighed, yet refused to admit defeat. After a glare from Xiao though, her perspective changed. "Well, Paimon was sitting with the Traveler when she said, 'Paimon? I don't like being all crammed up in here! I can't just sit on my bum!' And then she left while you were all talking!"
"We're going to go look for the traveler. Alright?"
"No! You can't!" Paimon protested. Xiao simply and turned around and glared at the floating pixie. His eyes were colder than Dragonspine and struck fear into her little heart. "You can't go....without Paimon!" She recovered. Ayaka giggled once more and walked to the adventures guild.

Once more, Ayaka was the one who asked to see the travelers commissions list. Somehow the list was already prepared, and Katheryne handed it over with grace. The list of the commissions were simple- merely destroying hilichurl towers and fighting an abyss mage. Plus of course, the time challenge. "Where do we start, Mister Adeptus?"
"It's Xiao, and we should start furthest from here and work our way back. If we come across the traveler, then problem solved. You can go back to your tea."
Ayaka laughed, before leading Paimon and Xiao to the furthest commission to Watatsumi Island. There, all they had to do was a simple time trial challenge. After defeating those opponents, it was off to fight eight hilichurls. They went down like flies. Next came the hilichurl towers. "I can handle this one," Xiao grumbled. Before anyone could protest, he had already blown apart the towers in two swift moves. It is also important to note that Xiao was now the one leading, making sure everyone had an eye out for Lumine. As they walked, not a stone was left unturned. Carefully, they made it to the final commission.
By now, it was midday. How all that time went by was a mystery, yet nevertheless, it didn't stop Xiao and Ayaka. Oh, and Paimon of course! They made it to the final commission where an Abbys mage appeared to be cursing a group of four hilichurls. The ancient and illegible text floated above as the mage muttered words of nonsense. "Paimon thinks we should start fighting!" Paimon burst out, instantly drawing the attention of the five enemies. Instantly, Ayaka and Xiao were on the battlefield.
Xiao's ruthless slashes, combines with Ayaka's dance, was no match. The hilichurls dropped dead. Finally, it was only the abyss mage. Though before she could kill it, Xiao grabbed the creature by it's next and stared deep into the eye-holes of the mask. "Tell me. Have you seen a blonde traveler go through here?" He asked, his amber eyes glowing with anger.
"I don't care about that! Ooga Sooga, Ooga sooga!" With the chant, the Abyss mage had regained it's shield. Thankfully, Ayaka was able to finish it off before there was any more conversation. "Well, that settles it. No sign of the traveler," Xiao pretended to not care, though it was clear he was disappointed. "Perhaps...Perhaps Lumine returned to the Kamisato Estate!" Ayaka smiled, "Let's check- it'll be worth a shot!"

With Paimon on their tail, Ayaka had led the group back to the Kamisato Estate. And the first thing they saw was nothing else but Lumine sitting on the patio, eating fresh egg rolls. "Lumine!" Ayaka called before running over. Xiao merely jogged, while Paimon flew at the speed of light. "Where were you? All three of us got so worried!"
"Oh? Didn't Paimon tell you?"
"She said that you couldn't sit on your bum all day, and you just left!"
Lumine looked shocked, and turned to Paimon. "Hey, don't look at Paimon like that! Paimon only repeated what Paimon had heard!"
"What I actually said was that I was feeling cooped up inside, so I decided to go for a run!"
"Oh- heh..."
Paimon looked away awkwardly before Lumine continued. "Well, where were you?" She asked.
"We did your commissions for the day. All you have to do is claim the reward," Xiao handed the slip of commissions to Lumine, all of which had been checked off. "Thank you both, but I could have handled it by myself, y'know. I'm not some helpless maiden locked in a tower of despair!"
"Well, how about this. This evening, the four of us go to Uyuu Restaurant, and Lumine can claim her rewards from the commissions on the way?" Ayaka stepped in. It seemed she was quite talented at changing the subject.
The rest of the group agreed to this, but all the problems were not solved. Xiao had followed Lumine inside the estate, fuming with anger. "I thought you said you were going to rest," he muttered.
"I did. I wasn't out doing my commissions, correct? I watched the rain fall before going out for a run."
"But you didn't sleep."
"I don't need to sleep.
"Yes, you do. If you don't sleep, you won't have the energy to do your commissions," Xiao was now nearly shouting- not a good sign for him or Lumine. "By the time I sleep in one night, I could have fought an Archon. I could have saved Liyue for a third time. Hell, I could have ventured into the chasm for the THIRD time!" She shot back.
"If you do not sleep, you won't have the energy to do those things. It's basic sense!"
"Oh, and you're acting like you know about sleeping? Mister 'You have no respect for the ways of the adepti'?! You haven't slept in your entire life, and look what you've done!"
"That's because I don't need sleep! Unlike the mortals, I do not need sleep."
"There is valuable time I could be spending doing much more!"
Suddenly, the door swung open before Xiao could come up with a quick line. "How about this; you both stop shouting, and we have a lovely evening together at Uyuu Resturant?" Ayaka sighed, "I don't want to be the voice of reason for two people acting like children! Both of you just realize what the other is saying, and take it to heart! I want to spend time with an old and new friend, but I know nobody will enjoy it if t said friends are fighting like the fatui!"
Lumine sighed, but didn't apologize. It was clear that she meant everything she had said. Xiao merely walked to his room. He didn't want to argue with the traveler. He just wanted her to get a good night's rest. Hopefully a visit to Uyuu resturant would turn it all around.