𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐗𝐢𝐚𝐨 ―𝐠. 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭

16 || Hello, Traveler

It was late afternoon when you were sleeping at the base of a tree on a mountain overlooking Liyue Harbor. Although you weren't keen on being in large crowds, the muffled liveliness was nothing but a comforting background noise from far away. So, you liked to lay down from time to time and fall asleep to the jubilance of it all. Just as you were about to fall into a deeper slumber, you felt the presence of others walking toward you--presences that didn't feel human.

"....miss Xianglings cooking. It's been a while since we've come to the Harbor, so we should go visit her. I'm starv- oh my god there's someone here." Accompanied with this high-pitched voice was the rustling of a bush beside you, and out came a stranger and a flying mascot.

The said mascot hovered over you anxiously, wanting to check if you were awake or not but having no way to do so because of the large straw hat shielding your face from the sun.

"Paimon thinks they're dead. I can't see them breathing," she shrieked in a hushed whisper, flying back over to the stranger.

"Calm down," the female said, crouching next to your figure. "Excuse me," she mumbled as she gently shook your shoulder, "are you awake?"

Stirring from your nap, you took off the hat from your face and yawned. There was a gasp from the flying figure you assumed to be "Paimon," and you sat up with a lazy smile.

"Good evening. How may I help you?"

"Oh...phew! You were just sleeping! Jeez, Paimon thought we'd have to carry a dead body down this mountain...I'm too hungry for that. Hey, stranger, why are you even sleeping in such a hard-to-reach area??" the little being huffed, putting her two hands on her hips.

The girl shook her head and pushed Paimon away from you, sighing, "I'm sorry about my companion. We were simply worried."

"That's quite alright," you replied as you opened your bag. "I see that she's hungry...here. If you chew for a minute, this herb stimulates a sense of fullness."

"Wow, that bag is really mess-"

"Thank you," the stranger smiled, clamping a hand around the flying thing's mouth. You couldn't help but chuckle a bit as the two strangers bickered. You could tell that they were very close friends.

"No worries."

"Anyways," the floating being said after chewing on the herb, "I'm Paimon, and this is Lumine! You don't look like you're from around here...are you a traveler too?"

"(y/n), a traveling doctor. Though I've been staying in this area for a particular long-term patient," you replied, a small smile forming on your lips at the last part of your sentence. It'd been another few days since you've seen Xiao...at least, seen him face to face. He'd been visiting you ever so often if he thinks you aren't paying attention or aware of his presence (when, in reality, you would sense him immediately) watching you from afar. Was he that embarrassed about Cloud Retainer seeing an intimate moment between you two? Quite adorable. Maybe you should go see him.

Rising from the ground at the thought, you announced, "I must get going now. It was nice meeting you, traveler, and I hope the stars bring us together again."

Lumine smiled as she nodded her head, and Paimon shouted a loud goodbye as you walked away from the duo. You had never seen a being such as Paimon before, but then again, neither of them felt human. Not that it mattered--you sensed no malice from them, and their thoughts were sincerely looking for help when they found you. You wondered if you would ever meet them again.

⊱ ────── {⋆❀⋆} ────── ⊰

The sun had already dipped beneath the lands of Teyvat when you finished your quota of patients for the day. Slightly worn out, you sauntered into Wangshu Inn silently, coming across Verr Goldet mopping the lobby.

"Oh, doctor (y/n)!" she greeted, pausing her work. "Have you had a good day?"

"Indeed. Do you mind if I borrow the kitchen tonight?" you smiled back politely.

"No worries...is it for Adeptus Xiao? He rarely comes to the inn, but I see he's coming more often for you- ahem, for your food. I'm glad he likes it!"

You simply nodded your head and bade her goodnight before walking down the steps to the kitchen. Smiley Yanxiao was already in the midst of scrubbing the oven; luckily, he was quite fond of you due to your seasoning expertise and was willing to let you use his kitchen as long as you cleaned up afterward. Thanking him, you made a serving of modified Almond Tofu for Xiao and made your way to the top balcony. It was quiet save for the gentle rustles of the wind.

"Little Xiao, are you there?"

You set the plate on the table once the Yaksha appeared in front of you in whisps of black and green, his arms crossed and his expression blank. You motioned toward the food, and he sighed as he sat down, not hesitating to dive into the dish he came to love. Gracefully, you slid into the seat next to him.

"It's been a while since we've seen each other," you commented, resting your chin on your knuckles.

"...Time is but a mere concept to the Adepti," mumbled Xiao while he spooned another mouthful of tofu into his mouth. You chuckled and watched in satisfaction as he finished the plate. He glanced at you and looked away, his cheeks dusting slightly in pink. His urge to be close to you was growing by the day, although he would never admit this out loud. You, however, didn't need for that. You could tell what he wanted, and you weren't one to keep it from him.

Embracing his hand with yours, you smiled and whispered, "I've missed you."

The Adeptus froze.

You missed him? Xiao looked down at your hands and let his heart swell all over again. It was him who longed to see you day by day, constantly getting distracted from his duty at the thought of seeing you, your robe fluttering in the wind, a flower in hand just for him. And now, you were here beside him--oh, but, this wasn't enough. The sheer yet seemingly thick cloth of a glove acted as a barrier between the two of you, and he yearned to hold you just as he had under the moon that fateful day, sitting against a tree in the marsh as nothing but bared souls...

Despite these butterfly-instilling thoughts, his face remained impassive while you talked about your day. That was until the sound of footsteps neared and both you and the Yaksha looked towards the stairs, letting go of each other's hands.

"Oh? It's (y/n)...and Xiao?!"

Paimon was the first to fly out onto the deck, Lumine following close behind. Both had a look of surprise (especially Paimon) to see Xiao at the Inn with another person, moreover someone they just met that afternoon.

"Paimon didn't know you two were also friends...and hey! You guys ate food too! Was it good?" the flying being cheerfully babbled, hovering near the empty plate.

"Paimon, Lumine, we meet again," you greeted.

"It sure is surprising to see you so soon," the traveler smiled, sitting across from you.

"...Traveler, it has been a while," Xiao said as he nodded his head in acknowledgment. You glanced at him, wondering how he knew of the stranger you met. The world sure was small.

"Oh, right, we came here to visit you, Xiao!" Paimon grinned. "We came back from Inazuma and thought of sleeping here for the night! How is Morax?"

"Morax," she had said. Not "Zhongli," his mortal name. It was then that you clicked together that this was the traveler that your old-time friend had mentioned previously--the one who helped save Liyue from both Osial and Azhdaha.

"No wonder they didn't feel like a normal mortal," you hummed in thought, shifting in your seat as you looked up at the very stars that brought you together again.

Xiao, noting that you were unfocused, discreetly bumped his leg against yours under the table, garnering your attention. Golden irises met yours, and you gazed into them for a second before turning back to the person sitting across from you. You slipped your hand under the table and found his.

Noticing Xiao tense up, Paimon asked, "Xiao, are you okay?"

You smiled when he choked out, "I am fine," and the four of you continued to talk on the deck of Wangshu Inn.