Oath [BL; Book 2]

78

The battle had ended in sorrow. Zhongli made quick work of the demon condemning it to rest beneath the earth. Had he come sooner, no, Xiao knew better than to put blame on anyone but himself. Had he tried harder, had he done better, he wouldn't be standing here like this. In the mass of people, faces he didn't even recognize, but faces Aether knew.

Dead inside, he stood away from them, his karmic debt was acting up immensely now and the excruciating pain had grown worse over the few days that had passed. He attended the funeral, as did many others. So many came that he lost count. The registry was full and names were written all over the pages.

He didn't dare move from where he stood.

He didn't dare look as he knew it would send him spiraling out of control.

With Zhongli beside him they welcomed all who came to pay respects. The body had been laid in the finest coffin, though Hu Tao wished this wasn't a customer she would ever see. She, too, stood beside them having hosted the party of parting. She wasn't as lively and certainly wasn't as open as usual with her jokes about death and all the such.

The changes in many of the people he knew grew quickly. The tears didn't stop, the sobs he heard were growing to be too many. He couldn't handle it much longer and a pat on his head did him in. Zhongli was trying to be kind, but Xiao couldn't hold it back vanishing to hide himself from the shame and dishonor. He knew where he went insisting they would return.

At the Statue of the Geo Archon that floated within the sight of all the mountains, Xiao stood staring at where it all transpired. Looking at his hands he could still feel how warm he was. The frightened look on his face. Touching his chest, he begged to know as he fought the urge to scream and give up. The same pat on his head as before didn't surprise him, it made him fall apart.

The tears formed and Xiao couldn't hide them from him. His entire world fell apart. "I failed." Xiao spoken, his voice trembling, "He's gone." He couldn't even bring himself to believe it hoping it was all just a horrible nightmare and that he would wake up any minute.

"You did not fail, Xiao." Zhongli comforted him.

"But Aethed.." lowering his face into his hands he sank down into a squat. "B-because of me... I couldn't-I was there and yet-"

His sobs filled Zhongli's heart with sadness, but he did not shed a tear having already accepted a day such as this. Whether it was Aether finding his sibling and leaving or death, he had come to terms with remembering Aether as a golden memory. He knew better than to project this onto Xiao however, the pain he felt was unlike what the others who attended the funeral felt.

What he suffered from now was a pain greater than anyone could describe, yet he himself understood greatly. Losing the person you lay your heart to. Zhongli sat formally beside him and stared at the scenery, the mountains. He knew Xiao didn't blame him, but the thought must have crossed his mind once. Not asking, as he knew that too was a sensitive topic, he instead spoke warmly saying, "There is nothing wrong with holding onto good memories. There will always come a time when they days grow longer and harder to pass, but one must continue their journey until the very end." Xiao raised his head from having it tucked in his arms and looked at Zhongli. "This was the path he chose, the journey he embarked on. We should not belittle it by embracing the negative side of things. Aether would surely tease us for it, no?"

Xiao knew that, Aether often found a way to make him happy even if he wasn't. In times like this he would appear with almond tofu or simply hug him to cheer him up, however those were only memories now. Xiao easily calmed down, but the tears refused to stop so Zhongli gave him a handkerchief.

"Many lives pass us, as we lack the mortality many have, we often see our friends come and go. I, too, once wished to reset time. Yet only a mere fantasy, one is not without faults. You will find hardships, Xiao, but there will always be light to guide your path." He hoped that helped, "Go see him, even if it's painful, see him before it's too late. That privilege alone is priceless."