Heart of Stone (Xiaolumi) Genshin FF

五

Xiao heaved a deep sigh as he finally sat on a flattened rock to rest, panting as he gazed around him at the defeated hilichurls and samachurls. These particular ones had been overtaken by an evilness that Xiao quickly got rid of. The stillness of the waters was now the only thing sounding around him as he turned his attention to the mountains and their peaks. It'd been an entire week since Lumine had gone and everyday the yaksha thought about her. How was she faring? Had she met with the Raiden Shogun yet? Had she been arrested? Knowing that he wouldn't be able to come to her if she called was eating at him in the worst way. He could only hope that she wasn't in any danger.

Maybe he'd be lucky enough to run into that same man that welcomed them if he teleported back to Ritou again and he'd be able to take him straight to Lumine. What was his name? Thomas?

No...he just needed to be patient and trust her. It wasn't as if he didn't know of her capabilities; he has watched her tame the Primo Geovishap from afar dozens of times whenever it got too antsy, sometimes using Geo energy to create armor plates and other times completely defenseless. She even took on Childe during that entire 'drown Liyue' fiasco - Xiao knows that they still meet up for sparring matches too. She was strong and if anything happened he knew she wouldn't go down without a fight.

Still, he just wanted to be next to Lumine. Was that normal?

Even on his way back to Wangshu Inn he was thinking about her. He was so in his own head that he failed to notice Ganyu standing at the entrance. "Um... Adeptus Xiao?"

Xiao stopped in his tracks, spear still in hand as he raised his head. Immediately, he brandished the weapon away and stood straighter. "Ganyu."

"Um..."

He watched her eyes flicker as she assessed him and that was when he remembered he was still covered in blood and muck. And what was he even doing going through the main entrance? He never does that. Gods, he needed to get himself together. "My apologies."

"No! It's fine! Um... I was just... we were supposed to train a few hours ago. I couldn't find you and no one else knew of your whereabouts. I only just showed up here to ask Ms. Verr Goldet if she'd heard anything."

"Ah... I forgot," he cleared his throat slightly, "sorry. I'll just wash up and be right out." "It's okay if you would like to rest instead of-" "No," he cut her off and shook his head. "I gave you my word. I will help you. Please, wait just a moment."

It served as a good distraction, training and mentoring Ganyu. By the time they were done the people of Liyue were all nestled in their beds, turning in for the night after a long, hardworking day. Unfortunately, the yaksha could not do the same. Evil spirits were more active at night as this was the time mortals let their guards down, making their minds easy to persuade and possess.

Not feeling any disturbances in the air, Xiao teleported to the top of the inn and say cross legged on the wooden floor as he brought out his spear for a much needed cleaning. Dried blood and demon matter stuck to the blade, and just as Xiao was about to wave his hand over it to use his power to burn it away, Zhongli appeared in front of him.

The adeptus stood at attention instantly. "Sir."

"Ah, Xiao," he said, slightly exasperated, "please, call me Zhongli." "Right. Sorry... Z—Zhongli." Xiao frowned at the way his name came off his tongue. It just didn't feel right to him but he had to follow Morax's request. Besides, he was a mortal now. That was the life he had chosen and Xiao had to respect it. "Is there anything I can do for you?" "There is, actually," Zhongli hummed and wandered over to the railing, raising his head to observe the night sky for a few quiet seconds. "The Qixing has informed me of a disturbance in the Chasm."