Oath [BL; Book 2]

32

Gasping awake Aether sat right up, heart pounding his entire body ached, covered in bruises and scratches he touched his head, "Wh-what happened?" Feeling as though he had fought something strong he touched the bruises lightly, "What did I...?"

"You're awake." Appearing in a cautiously squatted position, Xiao spoke, "How is your head?" His spear was in his hand.

"What...?" He wondered if he had just come from fighting something. Recalling his visit to the pharmacy he remembered Changsheng's words. "She-why would she-?" Heartbroken. Confused he touched his chest, his heart rate was speeding up again.

"Traveler, listen to me." Xiao was calm, he lowered his spear and reached for Aether but the malign energy spewed from his very core, "Traveler! You must calm down!" He shielded himself.

"Kill them!" A monstrous voice wailed, "I'll kill them all!!" From deep within this face he never expected to drawn his spear to he was blasted back by the karmic debt that spiraled out of control. The roar of a monster, insanity at its finest, "Diiie!!"

There was no time to reason with him, the karma consumed him, Aether's strength was increased, his speed, his senses. Lunging for Xiao who quickly dodged he crashed into the ground.

"AAAARGH!!" Dazed eyes, sharpened teeth, nails sharpened into claws.

"!" He did well to dodge and keep his distance but Aether grew more and more aggressive. Difficult to subdue, but nothing Xiao couldn't handle. He used his spear only to keep Aether at a distance. The bruises came to be as he kept crashing into the trees, the ground. Crawling from the dirt he shrieked as the karma ate him.

Unable to handle the consecutive battles, Aether's body was weakening, slowing down, it was easier to knock him unconscious. Pushing him back Xiao vanished and appeared behind him. In a single hit to the back of Aether's neck he took him out once again. Holding him before he fell to the ground Xiao sighed and lay him down.

Appearing from the shadow to quickly treat any of his open wounds, Belliol frowned as she carefully opened the ointment and applied it to the bruises and scratches he recieved now. "...." she lowered her eyes to Aether who was out again thanks to Xiao's efforts.

This subject was too hard to discuss, and she knew she held no importance in giving her opinion as Xiao had to make it himself. He stood by watching her closely. Narrow eyes, spear still in hand. He watched, waiting, alert and clear minded. Even for all this, he still felt pain. His own karmic debt was acting up but years of suppressing it kept it from running amok.

Closing his eyes to calm down for a moment he looked over hearing a sound too close by for comfort. However the prescence he felt was surprising. "Rex-" he paused and corrected it, "Zhongli."

Zhongli gave a smile and a nod right after. "You're doing well I see."

"...." He wasn't sure what he was referring to, but felt he needn't answer.

"Ah, a new friendly face." He was quick to acknowledge Belliol who quickly stopped what she did and stood bowing respectfully. "Please, do as you were. There is no need for formalities, I am merely a passerby."

"Uh.. She is.. aware." Xiao said so he knew, "Belliol is not of this world. She is.. not a mortal."

Going back to treating Aether she smiled and gave a nod approving of what he said, "I am Belliol, I know of your true identity. It is an honor."

"Hm... I see." Zhongli didn't mind and said, "How is the situation? Has he calmed down?"

"No." Xiao shook his head, "He wakes and immediately turns." Still with his spear he gripped it tightly and went on, "I cannot reason with him. Something happened to agitate the.. karmic debt that has tainted him, but I don't know what." A sense of uselessness filled him, "Traveler.. is suffering at this rate.."