Oath [BL; Book 2]

22

Swift, silent, taking them down one by one. Xiao swept through the camps of hilichurls, pristine focus. Determination like no other. He slammed his spear down and brought up the anemo spears. Darting off for the next area he came in like a falling star. The spears wiped out the camp with ease and he moved on.

A strange gaze alerted Aether but when he looked there was no one there. Confused as he came into the camp of hilichurls he saw nothing but the ready-to-collect treasures.

[A/N: I'm personally referring to how my Xiao wipes hilichurl camps clear... LOL I use Aether to collect them after.]

He couldn't help but wonder what happened seeing the mess of defeated hilichurls. Even Paimon was confused putting her hands on her hips. "Huh, where's all the hillichurls?" She had to ask now as she glanced around not seeing any.

"Uh, you're guess is as good as mine Paimon." Aether laughed collecting the reward, "Something must have happened."

"Well it doesn't matter! Let's collect the treasures and leave!"

"Yeah this is pretty easy!" Aether agreed.

"Lament!" Xiao cleared another camp. Then vanished keeping track of where Aether was going. Thankfully they stopped to rest after this last area, but he couldn't rest as Baizhu had told him Aether went out to adventure without fully recovering from his injury. Though seeing it now, it looked like it had already healed. There was but a small cut where a large gash in his side was.

Having learned of the healing properties the spring water held, he wondered if the Sumeru doctor was able to make any sort of medicine with it. Thinking so he decided to send a letter and began his own investigation. Aether and Paimon seemed to take it easy now since they were camping by the beach.

Xiao took this opportunity to write the letter and send it and also decided to take a trip back to the ruins. All the while Aether changed into some swimming trunks and hopped into the cool water. Paimon was tempted and changed too both splashing about until near evening when they finally settled down to have a meal.

"Paimon come eat! Food's ready!" Aether called and she flew over still in her swimsuit as he was.

"Yay, grilled tiger fish!" She drooled anxious to eat her servings as he handed them over. "Aether's cooking is the best!"

"Haha, is it? I think Xiangling has me beat professionally!"

"Mhm! Xiangling's cooking is great too! Oo~Paimon loves all the food she eats!"

"Really? Even the weird stuff from our mystery meals in prison?"

"Eek! Yuck! No way!" She shook her head quickly denying it, "That stuff was just... not edible."

"It was Sigewinnie's gift, don't say that." He ate his food cleaning her face as she ate with terrible manners.

"Uh, Paimon won't ever make her angry." She then remembered and looked at Aether asking, "Traveler, does your injury hurt?"

"Hm? Oh, no, not really. It's actually almost all better." He showed her to ease her worry.

Paimon gasped, "Oh my goodness! It's already almost healed?!"

"Pff, guess I'm just a fast healer!" Aether teased and said, "It doesn't even bother, and Baizhu said it won't leave a scar either. So that's good."

"Huh, Paimon's curious," she said then asked,"how did you even get it?"

"Mm? Oh, I thought they told you." He found another opportunity to tease her but let it slide saying, "There was a ruin grader aiming for Wangshu Inn, I tried to deflect the beam but-ahaha, I slipped!"