A New Star in the Starry Sky

15. Colorful Sky

"We'll leave him to you, mr. Zhongli!" Paimon waved goodbye as she left with Traveler.

'Why are you guys leaving me with him?!' Cale wanted to reach out and stop them from leaving him. He anxiously turned to Zhongli, who just stared at him.

"You haven't changed one bit." A small smile crept across Zhongli's face.

'Because we just met.' Cale stared at him, weirded out.

"Why don't we visit our child?" Zhongli asked. "He'll probably be happy knowing you're back."

'Our.. child...?' Cale's mentality broke as soon as he comprehended his words.

Zhongli dragged Cale without another word, taking him somewhere else.
(A/N: ah fuck, ik there's a place where Xiao hangs out, but i forgot the name and I don't play GI anymore :p)

Zhongli teleported Cale to the top of a building collided against a tree as if it were a part of it. "Xiao." He called out.

A boy stood at the edge of the railing. Short black hair with teal highlights, a skinny and small frame like a pre-teen.

"What is—" The supposed Xiao stopped in the middle of his sentence, his eyes widened as he saw Cale standing next to Zhongli. "Mother!" His face softened.

"..." Cale didn't know how to reply, he just out into this situation in a flash. "Hello...?"

Xiao rushed towards Cale, but stopped as he was blocked from Zhongli. "Let go of me." He bore his sharp teeth against Zhongli.

Zhongli's expressionless face didn't even change in front of his child. "What if you hurt Cale from your recklessness?"

Xiao flinched, retreating. "I forgot..."

Zhongli sighed.

Whizz...

Boom!

The three turned around, staring into the night sky illuminated by the crackling of firework displays.

"Look, mother!" Xiao pointed at one of the artworks up in the stars. "It's you!"

Cale looked up.

A portrait in the sky.

He gazed at it, feeling uncomfortable yet amazed.

That marked the end of the Lantern Rite.

The next day...

'Why am I even hanging out with them?' Cale wondered as he wandered around the streets with Zhongli and Xiao. Cale turned to Xiao, his newfound child. 'He reminds me of the kids.. except for that emo outfit.'

"Is something wrong?" Xiao asked Cale, noticing the prolonged staring.

Cale shook his head. "Nothing. I have to meet up with Traveler and Paimon."

"Why?"

The two stopped, waiting for his answer.

"Well they came here to help with the Lantern Rite festival, and I came with them. Since it already ended, we might be leaving soon." Cale explained.

"Just stay here." Xiao offered. "We'll provide everything you need."

'That sounds great, but that also sounds suspicious.' Cale thought, weighing the consequences. 'You proclaimed me as your mother, but I still don't even know you.' He frowned.

Zhongli nodded, agreeing with Xiao.

"Hey, comrades!" A ginger walked towards them, flexing off a shiny smile. He stopped in front of them, a bit surprised. "Who's this?" He bent down to Cale's height, observing him.

Cale frowned. 'Get away from me.'

"Hey. You're quite the beauty. Where did you come from?" He asked playfully.

"Get away from my mother, Tartaglia." Xiao gently pushed Cale aside, glaring at the ginger.

"Your.. mother...?" The man laughed. "Isn't he too young to be a mother?" Tartaglia teased.

"And aren't you too old to be flirting with someone?" Xiao blew back.