𝙰 𝚆𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝙱𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝙻𝚎𝚏𝚝 𝚄𝚗𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 - 𝚇𝚒𝚊𝚘 𝚡 𝙵𝚎𝚖!𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙰𝚛𝚎 𝙼𝚢 𝙵𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 ~ 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹𝟻

Your POV

The seconds sift by slower than I know is realistically possible allowing me to feel a burdening surge of regret; I've done so many things I wish I could take back, I don't want to die knowing I can still change them.

Blazes of frigid winds sting against my cheeks and I know I don't need to worry because familiar arms wrap around me in a matter of moments. Everything still feels as
if it is playing through in a slower manner. Xiao sets me down, one hand on my arm and suddenly I collapse in writhing pain. Pulsing aches surge through every bone in my limp body like an icepick is being jousted into each one, hollowing it.

Before I fall, the Adepti throws his mask to his side and immediately tries supporting my body upwards. My eyelids heavy, I hear Xiao's familiar voice urging me to use my wish and return the Gnosis. Suddenly, an acidic feeling rushes up my throat but rather than forcing it's way up in a burning manner, my throat feels tighter and icy. I cough until a splatter of black and turquoise lies on the rocky earth in front of us. Patches of red are evidently mixed in and I can feel Xiao stiffen. He knows that his energy is the cause of it but nonetheless, he takes a gloved hand and seemingly unfazed, wipes the sickening fluid off my lips. "We're getting close and I know you aren't going to fail me now." I strain to focus my vision but there it is, a large crystalline tree glowing in shades of lilac and golds to blues and pinks. Lengthy branches stretch and intertwine themselves in such a manner, that they resemble a glassy cloud with scintillating miniature stars hanging from each one. In the center of its trunk, lies a carved out silhouette of a star, lined in the same glowing gold.

"Y/n, we need to hurry" Xiao states firmly before grunting as he carries me forward. The shrieks of whatever creature we encountered earlier are still audible from above us and I cringe at the occasional ringing that ripples through my ears. "You know," the Adepti starts, "Initiums are usually hidden within a temple of sorts but I guess she's been weakened so much, that hers has cracked." We get close enough that the tree becomes clearer and the colours, brighter.

He gingerly loosens his grip on me so I can stand on my own, but still rest a fraction of my weight on him. Xiao strokes my hair and presses a kiss to my forehead. "Xiao..." I murmur; his flaming amber eyes rest on my e/c ones, my eyebrows furrowing. He lightly picks up one of my hands and places a kiss on it. "I spent so long convincing myself I could let you go, that this moment was inevitable and fated." He inhales and his breath hitches. "I told myself I didn't love you and that I could not and would not but I know that I still do and I hate myself for that." Xiao gently holds my cheek in one of his hands as I lean into him.

"I just love you so much Y/n L/n." My lips part as I watch him do something I would never have imagined; soft and full tears roll down his face. "You deserve the world and one day, I swear by the Archons, I will ensure you receive it." Xiao smiles weakly as I hold onto his hand tightly, the tears I'd willed to hold back fall mercilessly.

" Xiao.." my voice hiccups and he holds me closer, pulling me warmly into his embrace.

"Go on, Y/n." I squeeze one of his hands before turning away, his presence suddenly suffocating and tormenting. Dragging myself towards the Initium in front of us, I take a breath, then two, and slip the Gnosis I carried for so long into its place. The glassy tree erupts in colours more vibrant than I thought possible; the hanging stars swirl in a comet-like manner, weaving through its branches.

Then, Sakkaku emerges from a sliver of starlight. Her complexion pale and unnaturally slender, she glares at myself and then the Adepti.

"I have to say.." she begins, with a hint of impertinence , "I thought rather lowly of you; incapable as most would say." The celestial being smirks at Xiao. "And you, who would have ever imagined that a Yaksha, one of loyalty and eternal service, would set such principles aside for a pathetic mortal; even under direct orders from Morax himself."