Oath [BL; Book 2]

16

"Waaah!" Paimon floated quickly taking cover.

"Hahaha! Paimon come back!" Aether ran away from the hillichurls they had stolen the veggies from. "Don't hide, just run!" As a thief he ran away first and Paimon hurried to float after.

"What made you think this was a good idea?!" She ducked as some ice arrows were shot their way. "They're clearly mad at us now, Traveler!"

"But we got some stuff for dinner tonight! Just keep running!"

He couldn't understand it. Watching eyes from afar continued to simply watch. Curious at to why he had to take from an enemy when the harbor was full of food and opportunities for them. Xiao was in a tree watching Aether and Paimon nab their way to a good meal that he watched them prepare and enjoy.

When night fell he continued his close watch seeing they chose a place away from anyone. Even the Inn was too far to walk to so late at night. Though, that isn't what he hoped they would do anyway. Studying their life from afar he kept his distance.

"Traveler's injury has healed." He narrowed his eyes getting a look at Aether's side seeing the bruise was already gone. There wasn't anything out of the ordinary then. "It has been some time since they began adventuring again, he has grown stronger. The liquid he drank had no affect. He was left unbothered." Disappearing to appear on the mountain overlooking the harbor Xiao noticed Zhongli walked with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor director, Hu Tao. They seemed to speak business of some sort.

There was no reason for him to intrude nor get any closer to the harbor. Vanishing, Zhongli's keen sense looked up where Xiao had been, he smiled and walked on. Once more on the tree he was before moving he sat down now realizing Aether wasn't in the camp they had made.

"Traveler.. where has he gone?" Looking, listening, he heard a sound and went to investigate.

"Urgh!"

"Traveler!"

Aether was hunched over the small river, he vomit the meal they had eaten managing to calm down right after. "Ugh.." his stomach hurt from the violent rejection and he sighed then seeing it was Xiao who came over, "Mm-" he covered his mouth, "Xi-blegh!" Once again,

"Are you unwell? Was it something you ingested?"

"Uhh," he sniffled, "I think so... that meat might have gone bad."

"Will you be alright? I can fetch medicine from the Inn."

"I'll be fine, thank you." He smiled feeling better, "I should really be careful when stealing food from others!" Still he found reason to smile, this too Xiao didn't understand.

He had been met with a misfortune, yet smiled as though it didn't bother. "Why did you not purchase ingredients from the harbor? Surely there is a variety you can choose from."

"Haha, there is, but Paimon's been eating a lot recently so I didn't have much mora to get any." He sat down letting his stomach settle, "I'll try to get something later."

".... Hm, perhaps hunting is an option as well. There are bountiful forests near." He didn't leave making sure Aether was fine.

"Really? Ahh, but I don't want to hunt if it hurts the environment. Xiangling was lecturing me about that the other day."

"You should do well to keep a healthy stock of the necessities. Non-perishables are key to survival in the wilderness."

"Huh, actually that could come in handy, maybe I should do that." He thought about it getting up and following Xiao who was to leave. "Do you usually hunt, Xiao?"