Oath [BL; Book 2]

39

Hot, an insatiable thirst. Standing top the balcony Xiao was covering his mouth. A pain he couldn't drown, fighting the urge he let out a hard sigh doing his best to keep it together. Thankfully Aether had yet to suffer from the karma he ingested from the liquid. Taking the medicine Xianyun had crafted seemed to work for him in leasing the nightmares that ailed him too. However, it was no cure.

He staggered a bit trying to think of something else, but the thoughts all singled to one thing. A craving for blood, the taste, the texture. He had to fight it, there was no need to fullfil such an urge. Taking his spear in hand he vanished to deal with some pests lurking by the Inn. He was quick in his line of work and even quicker to leap back up to the balcony.

"Grr.." the battle did him no justice as the urge was growing. He had to keep it under control no matter what.

Fixing himself he calmed as best he could and sighed again, there were no excuses. There was no redemption. Xiao closed his eyes to meditate for a while, hopefully that would do it.

With the commotion followed Aether and Paimon who ran from the hilichurl camp having stole their precious sunsiettas. "Run Paimooon!" Aether held their treasure stuffing the many into his endless bag.

"Waaah!" She flew as fast as she could. Barely managing to escape they feasted on the snack worthy loot sitting under a treat to enjoy the savory taste.

Cutting the sunsiettas for her Aether set them on a plate as they both enjoyed the scenery looking out at Cider Lake. Paimon stretched being sat on Aether's lap, his legs crossed under her for maximum chair comfort.

"Traveler, are we going to Liyue today?"

Cheeks stuffed with sunsiettas,  Aether answered, "Hm, I wasn't planning to." He chewed and swallowed then asking, "Why? Did you want to go adventure in Liyue?"

"Yeah! Paimon also wants to eat some of Xiangling's cooking!"

"Haha, ok, we can pay her a visit."

"Yaay! Paimon can't wait! Yummy food, mmm! Paimon's drooling already!"

"Do you want to stay in the harbor then? With the mora we have left we can get a small room for us at one of the inns. It shouldn't be too costly."

"Hm, Paimon likes staying at Wangshu Inn better!"

"Really? It'll be a hike to the harbor staying that far."

She shook her head, "Paimon doesn't mind, we get to scavenge for ingredients to cook on the road! Oo, and Paimon knows there's treasure to be had!"

"Hahaha, ok, ok. We can stay at Wangshu Inn then. Just don't spend all our mora on snacks again or we won't have enought to buy food at Wanmin Restaurant."

"Hehe, ok!"

"We can finish these and then head that way. Sounds good?"

"Yeah!"

After enjoying their morning snack they made their way to Liyue fighting hilichurls and some fatui along the way. Beating bad guys and taking the their treasure made it all the more worth it. Having saved up some more mora along the way they counted their blessings. Jumping from rock to rock, Aether teased Paimon for hitting a tree branch and nearly falling in the water.

Placing a bandage on the small bump on her head he kissed it better making her giggle. Along the way they stole some more sunsiettas and berries to eat on the road. By the time they got to Wangshu Inn they were full on stolen snacks. "Ugh, Paimon's full on sunsiettas."

"Haha, are you? We'll wait a while before have dinner then. Why don't you take a bath first?" He paid Verr Goldet for their stay and went up to their room giving her the key so she could get in.