Corrupted Love| XIAOVEN

Chapter 16: two monsters (2/4)

Her movements were so careful, like a porcelain doll that could break apart at any moment. When she saw the Adepti, she did not slow down. No, without reacting, she continued walking towards him.

Her small body was wrapped in a snow-white cloak with a thick black fur hood. A gentle smile was on her lips and now Xiao realized that the person was a young girl.

The air around her was cold, leaving little clouds behind every time she exhaled. Although she looked good and friendly on the outside, the aura that enveloped her was colder than winter.

It was as if she was encased in invisible layers and layers of thick ice. She was surrounded by that cold, icy, freezing wind that causes the body to slowly go numb and eventually die.

Xiao focused. Concentrating, he watched every little movement of the young girl. She was in fact the one he had perceived as a threat before. Swan-like elegant yet cold, she walked across the grass until she stood just a few feet from Xiao.

"Who are you?" asked a gentle sweet voice that almost sounded like it was singing. The question was addressed to the Yaksha, but he did not answer.

Slowly, in a soft voice, she said: "Well, I just wanted to be polite. Hm... I was told that this is the way to be polite. That's right, isn't it? Ah...I still have a lot to practice."

She was silent and looked up at the moon calmly, "Well, I don't want to be rude, honestly, since I like people who are also nice. But I'm supposed to take you with me." The way she said this was so calm and innocent, like a little girl who was too smart for her age.

"Take me with you? Where to?" growled Xiao sternly. "Well, to my colleague..." She was silent for a while and now looked gently at the yaksha.

With a calm face, she smiled kindly, "This Archon, your friend I pressume? I think you are of the same age - but no, of course not, how stupid of me..." she murmured softly.

Xiao's heart stopped and rage coursed through him. He pointed his spear at the small figure, who stood there calmly and dreamily even as the sharp edge was just at her throat.

"If you don't tell me right now where you have taken him, I will kill you or torture you until you tell me." Her gestures portrayed no reaction to his words. She smiled softly and put her cold hand on the spear, gently and delicately without resisting.

"You want to kill and torture me?" she asked so calmly that it startled Xiao, "If I must, then I will." He growled seriously. "Huh." the girl murmured, putting a finger to her lips as if she were seriously considering, while the tip of the spear was still at her neck.

"Go ahead," she said sweetly, "kill me."

Xiao looked at her in honest surprise.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't want to die, but if we are killed by someone else, then we were not worthy enough to live anyway and deserve to die. So defeat is not an option. But you should expect that I will kill you otherwise, okay?" with a friendly tone like an innocent child she looked at him gently. Her eyes were as empty as he had never seen eyes before and as cold as ice.

When she kept her eyes closed she seemed like a kind girl, but with them open she was only an ice-cold shell, no longer a human being.

With childlike innocence, she looked kindly at him while her body radiated infinite peace. "But since you asked so sweetly...they are both in Stormterror's Lair. In the broken stone tower. " she smiled childishly,

"Why are you telling me this?" said Xiao coldly, "You wanted to know," she said politely. Her small fingers delicately grazed the sharp edge of the spear, causing drops of blood to run down her hand.

Xiao watched her emotionlessly as she continued to harm her body.

"This spear is wonderful," she said calmly with genuine fascination, like an art lover looking at a masterpiece by his favorite artist. "It is so sharp... Impressive." Xiao pulled the spear away from her fingers and neck.

He had no time to lose. He was about to run when the young girl stood in front of him. "Shall we go now?" she asked kindly. The Yaksha looked at her in confusion. She could not be serious.

He pushed her aside and the short touch made him freeze. At the place where he had touched her, his body was momentarily paralyzed by cold.

He ran, not wanting to waste any more time. The young girl stood there peacefully and looked happily and dreamily into the enchanting starry sky. She hummed to herself.

But Xiao did not get far before the young girl suddenly caught up with him. He remembered that Zhongli had once warned him about the Harbingers and that the top three could almost match the powers of the gods. He would not be able to shake her off easily and if they fought, it was not unlikely that he would die.

He had no other choice, though, and so he slowly turned to the young girl and then said,

"I'm not coming with you. We will fight. The winner will decide what happens to the other." Xiao's tone was bitter, while Columbina nodded gently and smiled sweetly. "Agreed." She murmured tenderly.

I thought we'd have more time together. Sorry.

Xiao thought sadly to himself and walked towards the girl.