Oath [BL; Book 2]

30

"Huh? Where are we?" Aether looked around confused and even Paimon had to scratch her head,

"Paimon's confused, this doesn't look like Sumeru!" She flew around a bit and went back to him, "Paimon can't tell."

"It looks like Liyue?" Aether took note of the flora and even the style of some of the buildings hidden within the cavern. "These houses look like they were made in Liyue Harbor, did they sink?"

"No way, houses don't sink!"

"Hahaha, I mean was there some sort of earthquake to make the ground collapse, Paimon. Sometimes big catastrophes like that have this sort of effect." He followed the rocky path going through the lost village they had stumbled upon, "To think this was in the Chasm all along. I was wondering what that crack was in the wall."

"Hehe! A little explosives go a long way!" Paimon grinned,

"You were right to ask Muning for that favor, who knew he could get his hands on that stuff so easily."

"Yeah! He was nice enough to give us some extra!" Paimon brought one out and the explosive suddenly sparked with life igniting the stem. "Waaah!! Paimon didn't do it!"

"Whoa! Paimon!! Throw it! Throw it somehwere!"

"Where?! Where does Paimon throw it?!" She panicked and right as the sparkling stem grew closer to the small barrel Aether grabbed it and threw the stick. The explosive shined and blew up making the entire cavern tunnel shake and suddenly begin to collapse. "Aaaah!!"

"Go Paimon!" Aether grabbed her and began running, "We have to get out!" As fast as he could go he saw the exit and went for it but the rocks falling around them became too many too quickly. "We won't make it! He shouted over the commotion,

"Aaaa!" Paimon shouted and closed her eyes,

A flash made Aether close he eyes, and stop, "Ah-?!" He let her go covering his eyes as the rocks fell around them, a strange liquid began pouring from the cracks and crevices of the cave.

"Traveler!" Paimon flew right to him, the exit was closing and their time was running out, she grabbed his hand and pulled him, "We have to run!" They hurried all while Aether tired to readjust his sight.

"Paimon, just go! I can't see!"

"Xiaaao!" She shouted pulling him, they were drenched and the liquid was chasing them now too.

"It hurts! I can't see!"

"Xiaaaaoo!!" Paimon screamed with all her might. The last rocks were closing the exit.

Aether realized who she was calling, "Xiao!!" He screamed too and a quick flash and a soft pull dropped him onto some grass.

"Xiao!" He heard Paimon say. Opening his eyes his vision finally cleared and he saw Xiao was there. He too had been drenched by the strange liquid as he was now examining it on himself.

Not minding it he looked at Aether and asked, "Are you hurt?"

"Ah, no, I'm okay." He reassured his worry and fixed himself, "Are you-tail!" Aether was shocked when he saw a tail sway behind Xiao who noticed it upon his pointing it out.

"?" Seeing so he knew it was his own as he moved it about, "It would seem so..."

"E-ears!" Paimon pointed out too and they stared.

"Aaah!" They both panicked.

Zhongli nodded understanding and opened his eyes seeing the result of their story. A small Xiao sat patiently on Aether's hands. "By the time we realized it, he was already this size." Aether said.