Divinity

17

By morning, Kaili, as a snake, worked her way up into Xichen's tunic and some of her body draped over him. Her head was still in the crook of his neck. When Xichen woke up that morning, he was not expecting her to be this invasive so suddenly, but he liked it. Her cool scaly body lay flush against his skin but it felt oddly nice.

"Kaili, are you awake?" He asked calmly.

Kaili moved her head and was now moving so she can look more into his eyes, "I am awake, I have been meditating for most of the night instead of sleeping. It helped me a bit more."

"Well I am glad you are getting your energy back but when did you slip into my tunic?" He asked.

"Ugh, I am not sure actually...but now that you are awake, there are a couple things that I want to discuss with you," she said.

"We can talk about everything today, but can I get up and dressed first?" He asked.

Without saying a word, Kaili slipped into his tunic and moved to exit the way she entered. Xichen could only laugh. Once Kaili was out of his tunic and off his body, he got out of bed, took a bath, and dressed into fresh robes. Luckily, Kaili took all of those talismans out of his robes so they we okay and safe to wear.

Xichen then went to make him and Kaili breakfast. Kaili maneuvered around the Hanshi in her snake form and saw that all her little sleep spots and the places she'd lay to keep warm were all gone. Kaili hissed in frustration. Xichen noticed that she was looking for her spot on his desk and he quickly grabbed the bedding he used and placed it back on his desk. Kaili then curled up on her spot again.

After breakfast, Xichen placed her designated spots that were to keep her warm, back in there correct spots and put a fresh pot of soil for when she needed to cultivate a plant. It was still winter but it was almost spring so it won't be long before she could go outside again. Kaili meditated or slept most of the day as she was trying to gain some of her energy back.

"A'Huan, where do you normally get your robes from?" Kaili asked that evening.

"We get a lot of our fabric from Lanling and even here in Gusu, but once we order the fabric, the robes are made and tailored here within the sect," Xichen replied.

"Who do you think would want to alter your memory of me?" She asked.

Xichen looked at her as he wasn't sure himself, "I am not sure, and Jin Guangyao is still hiding. I feel like it has something to do with him. He knows you do not trust him and you caught him in the act of trying to poison me. A part of me thinks it has to do with him. I sent a letter to Da-Ge explaining the situation. He and Huaisang have men looking for him too."

"It will probably take time to figure it all out," She said.

"I promise you, we will get through this together and we will not fall for that stunt twice," he said, "I do love and care about you, Kaili, I want you to know that."

"I love and care about you too, A'Huan," She said.

"Where did you go when you were not with A'Yuan?" Xichen asked.

"I went to Paradise Manor in Ghost City. It is where Hua Cheng lives from time to time, and his husband was with him. Wei Wuxian has also been staying here as he has been training," Kaili answered.

"How is Wuxian doing?" Xichen asked.

"He is doing well, his training is almost done," she answered.

Kaili was not wanting to be distant from him anymore and she slithered closer to him. Xichen extended his arm and let her slither up his arm and coil around his waist. Her head was resting on his right shoulder. She even nudged her head close into the crook of Xichen's neck.

Xichen raised his hand and light pet her head. Kaili felt so much more at home again. This was her favorite spot, being wrapped around Xichen like this and her head draped over his shoulder. She could then nuzzle up close to the crook of his neck if she wanted. Kaili adjusted a bit so she looked as if she was propping her head up on Xichen's shoulder and she was now at eye level with Xichen.

"I almost forgot, if there was ever a time that I bit someone, and you need an anti-venom, I should give you some to collect," she said.

"You do have a point, is it only when you are a snake that it is a venomous bite?" He asked.

"No, I can show my fangs as a human and that could cause venom to spread if I bit someone," she said, "it also has no effect on you as I am bonded to you. You are immune to my venom. So is A'Yuan as he has a scale to protect him."

"That is important information to know, so how do we get venom safely so we can get an anti-venom?" He asked, "do I want to know what happens to a person if they get bit?"

How good are your healers? She asked.

"They are good people, why?"

"They will know what to do if you bring me to them," she said.

So Xichen did just that. He didn't like that she didn't answer her question that if she bit someone, how bad or deadly would it be. He let it go for now. He put on a warm coat to keep Kaili and himself warm and walked to the infirmary to speak with the main healer, Healer Lan Fei. Healer Fei was older and wiser and she was good at her job as master healer. When she saw Lan Xichen enter she was curious as to why he was there.

"Healer Fei, do you have some time?" Xichen asked.

"For you, Sect Leader Lan, I always have time," she said kindly and led him to a room, "what can I do for you?"

Kaili then popped her head out, "this is Kaili, my spiritual snake companion. She does have a human form but she wanted to have her venom collected for an anti-venom for safety reasons."

Kaili turned into her human form, "I can extract venom as a human but I just need to get it to a healer so it is in safe hands."

"Do you know how it is done?" Healer Fei asked.

"I do," Kaili said.

"I will get it prepared then, as you are a celestial being, if there are special provisions to be used can you write them down for me?" She asked.

"I can," Kaili answered, "and if you need any herbs upon short notice, I can cultivate nature and plant life."

"Thank you," Healer Fei said and prepared a cup for Kaili, "I have the lid on it so you just need to extract the venom."

Kaili nodded, "do you have water? I am going to need it when I am finished," she asked taking the cup.

Healer Fei prepared water for her and let Kaili extract her venom. Xichen watched in curiosity. The cup the venom was flowing into from Kaili's fangs was clear, so the color was actually a lavender hue. Xichen noticed that the lavender color was a running theme for her. It also suited her well.

The cup was filled and it was only a few ounces. Though it was only a few ounces, it is very deadly as is right now until it is made into the anti-venom. Kaili then handed it over to the healer, "this should be enough for at least the entire sect. I can only extract that much every couple of months or I will run myself into exhaustion. My venom is my number one defense mechanism, so I can only give so much at a time. I will give more in a couple months."

"Thank you," Healer Fei said and handled the venom with extreme caution and care, "and I know just this little bit can make a good amount of made properly."

Kaili nodded and then drank the water that was given to her, "my mouth will taste a bit bitter and feel a bit dry for a couple days. So I need to consume extra fluids," she informed Xichen.

"Alright, and since I know how it is done, next time we can have stuff set up at the Hanshi and I can have it delivered here," Xichen said, "that way you are in a more comfortable environment."

"Thank you," she said and shifted back to her snake form. Xichen chuckled and knelt down to let her slither up under his coat and they went back to the Hanshi.