Corrupted Love| XIAOVEN

Chapter 5: a suffering archon

Xiao and Ganyu had been waiting for the archons for several hours by now, and the sun had already set. A clear sea of stars lit up the sky. The two Adepti lingered by a fountain in the center of the square, which adjoined the steps of the entrance gate. 

On the stone rim of the fountain stood decorated flower tubs in which bouquets of various flowers grew. The clear water of the fountain splashed peacefully. 

Ganyu had sleepily leaned against the edge of the fountain and quickly fell asleep there. She slumbered peacefully on the pavement so that her body slowly rose and fell. 

The white stars shone down on her cool hair and a light summer wind blew gently across her face. 

Xiao looked up at the distant planets. 

Millions of tiny lights. 

A three-quarters moon was up in the sky, and white moonlight illuminated Xiao's watchful eyes. He would have liked to go to sleep too, but his sense of duty stopped him. 

The square was empty except for the two of them and warm light shone behind the windows of the city. On the other hand, the cool light of the stars was reflected on the fountain's water. 

Xiao gazed at the clear surface of the water, which was only ever destroyed by light puffs of air. Slowly, he settled down at the edge of the fountain. 

His body was heavy, infinitely heavy. For he had not yet slept since their arrival. Even if he had, his dreams would probably have been riddled with nightmares again. He sighed wearily. His eyelids fluttered slowly. 

His eyelashes rose and fell like butterfly wings. It did not take long for his eyes to close. He fought against it several times, but against his body's heavy tiredness, the young Yaksha had no chance, so he also fell asleep restlessly.

Two dark figures approached the well and the two beings lying there. Since it was already very late and the moon had reached its highest point, one could hardly recognize who came there.

 But probably no one would have been able to identify the two figures as two of the most powerful beings of Teyvat. 

Venti chuckled softly. "Looks like those two are out for now." Zhongli nodded gently. He looked down on the two sleeping figures as peacefully as he looked down on sleeping children. 

"Let's go. It has been a long day," murmured Zhongli softly. Venti was about to go to Xiao to wake him up when Zhongli suddenly called out, 

"Don't!"

 But it was already too late.

 Xiao jumped up within a second and pushed Venti to the ground. He pressed his emerald spear against his neck, which glowed in the darkness. 

This whole movement had taken only two seconds, as Xiao was able to accelerate his body with his anemo and adeptic powers. Only now did he even have a chance to see whom he was attacking and, startled, he jumped up from Venti, who was lying on the ground.

 Panic and guilt flooded through him abruptly and he quickly reached out his hand to the Archon and looked at him distraught. Venti took his hand and smiled in surprise. 

"Sorry for startling you, Mr. Yaksha." Venti made a teasing bow. 

Xiao opened his mouth, but he could not say a word. His lips trembled and he looked down guiltily at his spear. 

"Let's go. Surely we are all very tired." Zhongli said wanly, he did not seem to be bothered by the whole situation. Ganyu, meanwhile, had woken up and looked around in confusion. 

The group stood together in the middle of the square and for a few seconds nothing happened. Then the four figures disappeared together in the darkness and the square became dead silent.

Xiao woke up drenched in sweat. His breathing was fast and shallow. He had dreamed of Bosacius as the two of them had searched Liyue for flowers for Bonanu's birthday. A beautiful, yet tragic memory. 

The sun had not yet risen, and Mondstadt lay shrouded in a deep thick darkness. His room was black as the deepest night. He had naturally good eyesight, as well as night vision, and so he found his way around the wooden room, which was only sparsely furnished.

 In the small common area, there was still a burned-down lantern, in which glowing ashes were the only thing that could be seen. They had sat in the medieval room the night before and then all went to bed tired. 

Xiao flinched in shock, his eyes having spotted Zhongli in the darkness, sitting silently on a wooden chair at the table in the center of the room. When the latter saw the yaksha, he only put his finger to his lips as a sign to be quiet. 

Xiao followed Zhongli's gaze, which led to an open balcony. At first, Xiao could see nothing there, but he now heard something. It was the voice of the Archon, Barbatos, who seemed to be talking to someone else. With a questioning look, he turned to Zhongli. 

His face was a grim mask. 

"This has been going on for almost two hours now," he whispered grimly. Xiao continued to look at him in confusion. "He's been talking to someone there all this time, and I think he's very fond of him too, but..." 

Zhongli was silent for a while and then said in a somber tone, 

"There isn't anyone there." 

His words fell heavily in the room and hit the yaksha. 

"It is just an imagination. There is no human or other being to talk to." Zhongli looked bitterly at the balcony. The room was silent again and only Venti's voice flew into the room from far away.

 Xiao felt cold. He felt uncomfortable listening to Someone who was just talking to a hallucination. The fact that Venti was so friendly with his talking partner made the whole thing even eerier. 

He had also hallucinated about the dead a few times in the last few weeks, but not so long and intensely. All of a sudden, a strong breeze was heard, and Zhongli stood up anxiously.

 Xiao could see that by now there was no one on the balcony and the clear starry sky was the only thing left out there. The two of them ran out onto the balcony and saw Venti just making his way up the stairs to the large cathedral.

"Follow him." 

Said Zhongli seriously, "I'll get Ganyu." Xiao nodded, jumped off the balcony, and ran into the cold night.