Corrupted Love| XIAOVEN

Chapter 19: Goodbye

With shaky knees, Xiao arrived at the tower's entrance, where there was a heavy storm. The wind whipped everything around that was not protected from the strong air.

Xiao was almost struck several times by a flying rock. The storm howled between the many stone ruins, destroying everything in its path. And the wind was only getting stronger.

Soon this place would be enveloped in a huge hurricane and probably destroyed.

However, as destructive as this storm was, it also was beautiful. An impressive force of nature and Xiao knew the originator of exactly that.

He could barely walk as his legs were riddled with many deep cuts and the wound in his side throbbed painfully, feeling quite dizzy from all the blood loss.

With blurry vision, he limped further into the huge tower while leaving a trail of blood behind him.

Without question, he was in no condition to fight anymore, since he could barely walk or stand, but still he had to look for Venti. Luckily, it was not particularly difficult to find him.

Venti had to be where the wind was strongest, and Xiao suspected that this storm also had an eye of a hurricane where there was no wind. So, he fought his way through the increasingly stronger getting winds.

Even from a distance, he could see the god. From afar he looked like an angel. Snow-white large, elegant wings moved gracefully in the air, holding his holy lyre in one hand.

Xiao couldn't help but stare. Not only because Barbatos was half naked, but because he was simply such a beautiful if not tragic, sight.

To see a god in his true form was a very rare privilege, and even the Yaksha had seen Zhongli in such a state only a few times. It was like looking at the night sky and being overwhelmed by such beauty and majesty.

It was only a few more feet, but Xiao collapsed, drenched in sweat, holding his aching wound. Even if the cut had not been fatal, his blood loss soon would be. Trembling, he leaned against the stairs directly below the archon and breathed slowly. Painfully, he closed his eyes.

"What do we have here? Xiao, may I take it?" a sudden voice came from a young man with glasses and black hair.

He looked kindly at the Yaksha, though Xiao quickly realized there was something sinister behind this facade.

"Columbina is dead, if I may ask?" he questioned coldly, but without reproach.

Since Xiao was sure that the young man wanted to know about his previous opponent, he nodded curtly. Weakly, he continued to lean against the wall as he nearly lost consciousness. ,

"I took her...to
a...safe...place...maybe...she...survived...not...likely." Moaned Xiao hoarsely.

"You're going to die." Pantalone then said to his counterpart, unaffected and purely matter-of-fact.

The latter nodded again.

"I know..."

Pantalone looked at him with acted sympathy. "Please...don't...do...anything...to...him" Xiao pointed weakly at Venti, who now looked over to the two.

His eyes were completely purple, as was the former light blue of his hair. When he saw Xiao, no feeling stirred up inside of him and he only looked curiously at the yaksha like an interesting stranger.

Pantalone smiled kindly as he said, "I can't do that. However, I shall grant you a gift." He turned back to Venti, "This young fellow is an arch-enemy of mine, which is why you must eliminate him immediately."

Xiao's eyes widened and he cowered even further against the wall, startled. He could neither sit up straight nor would he be able to defend himself in any case.

"Please don't do this..." he muttered weakly and he looked up at Venti sadly "He would...never...forgive himself for this."

Pantalone nodded sympathetically, but then for a few seconds his face was not a facade,

"That's exactly why." He said sadistically.

"In a way, I still have a score to settle with the Archon, and my order was not to hurt him, but whether he is happy or in pain, of course, I have no control over that. Understandably, not even if his beloved boy-toy died before."

Anger arose in Xiao, his heart raced faster and his breathing was sharp. Though he could barely move, he looked towards Venti with stern eyes.

The Archon in all his power sat bored on the stone floor of the tower, his two legs dangling over the edge.

His figure could hardly be seen from behind, as his huge white wings covered his body. He enjoyed the night without a single thought of the other two.

Sullenly, he came flying over and landed softly in front of Xiao when Pantalone called him over to them. The yaksha now looked at him angrily.

"Damn it, Venti, listen to me! You know me! We met three weeks ago, and we even met before that!" he thought for a while and then said, "I don't care what happens to me but you better not regret what you did."

Venti turned his head in confusion. "We know each other?" he murmured with curiosity and came very close to the yaksha.

He looked him straight in the eye and then rolled his eyes. "I don't know what you want from me, but I don't know you."

Xiao gripped Venti's wrist uncomfortably tight. He looked at him seriously and then grumbled, "Fine, if you don't want to listen to me, then-"

He didn't even have to finish his sentence as he kissed Venti lovingly on the mouth.

Xiao suddenly felt something wet running down his cheeks. However, it weren't his tears, but Ventis.