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The sound of battle filled the warm summer air, drowning out the rustling of the sea. I glared at Xiao, dodging his downward plunge by rolling to the side. My Cryo power coalesced into a freezing arrow which crashed down onto the place Xiao was standing just moments prior. His usually bored and stoic face was replaced by a look of complete focus - during battle, he was in his element.
I had a split second to react before Xiao unleashed a series of fast, brutal attacks which left no space for thought - all I could do was step backwards until I felt rough tree bark scratching at my back.
Xiao’s spear grazed my throat just slightly, drawing a tiny drop of blood.
I couldn’t help but think Xiao looked beautiful like this, his cheeks pink from exertion and bright sunlight bathing his dark green hair.
“I won.” he said, the slightest smile tugging at his mouth. “Is that really all you can do?”
I grinned at him, my smile mischievous. “I was just holding back. You haven’t seen my true power.”
He rolled his eyes to Celestia, stepping back from me. “You say that every time, as if it will make it come true.”
He began walking, and I matched his brisk pace. “You know, one day, I just might overpower you. And then we’ll see who’s laughing.”
He glanced at me. “What do you mean? I never laughed.”
“I saw that you wanted to.”
“Now you’re just making things up.”
We walked, side by side, the bright summer sunshine burning our backs. Xiao’s face looked harsher, more defined, in this lighting. I caught myself gazing at him - his turquoise eyes that glowed like emeralds, his dark green hair dipped in fairy dust - he was ethereal.
Xiao turned to me, looking suddenly serious. “I know you joke about these things, but you have to be strong. There will come a day when I won’t be there to save you. When I won’t get there in time.”
He paused. “Lord Morax needs his adepti to be ready for battle. Always. You cannot let him down. I will not let you.”
He walked away. I gazed after him, feeling somber. The sun’s glare set the beach aflame, the waves of the sea shining bright and blinding. There was something about this hot day that I knew I would never forget.
————————————————————————————————————
“You should try other things, Xiao. You can’t just eat this all the time,” I joked, nudging his shoulder.
We sat under a golden tree, on a small picnic blanket (which Xiao thought was redundant). The air was cool and moist, the darkness and quiet of night enveloping us like a blanket.
“The taste and texture of Almond Tofu is something I find the most pleasing. For adepti, there is little point for experimentation.”
“What do you mean? We, quite literally, live forever.”
Xiao gave me a look. “Not forever.” he said, his tone melancholy.
I sat in silence for a moment. “Not forever.” I agreed. “But much longer than a human. So why stick to the same thing?”
I grabbed a dumpling I made, putting it on Xiao’s plate.
“Try it.” I said, smiling at him.
“Why waste time on food when we don’t need it?” he grumbled, but bit into the dumpling anyway.
His eyes lit up, though he tried to hide it with nonchalance. “It tastes … better than I thought it would.”
I answered his previous question. “Why waste time? Because it tastes good.”
Xiao cleared his throat, frowning. “I still don’t understand. Food is not necessary to our survival - it is a mere hindrance to make food and eat it for no reason.”
“I enjoy cooking,” I shrugged, laying down on the blanket. “And, doesn’t everyone enjoy eating? You yourself admitted it tastes good.”
“I said it tastes better than I expected.” Xiao answered grumpily, lying down next to me. “Not good.”
“I saw it in your eyes.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
We lay together, gazing at the starry sky. My good mood evaporated into a thoughtful one. The sky was so vast and endless…
Sometimes it was hard for things to seem significant. No matter how much good I tried to do, how much stronger I tried to be, I couldn’t save everyone. It was a thought that made my heart sink into my stomach. Human lives were so short and fleeting, yet bright - like shooting stars.
I saw the weight of Xiao’s karmic debt weigh him down like chains - I saw Morax’s hunched shoulders when he thought he was alone, like he was carrying the whole world on his back. I felt the weight of crushed hopes and dreams, the weight of dead friends pull me down.
Xiao was right. We didn’t live forever, because we got tired of it.
————————————————————————————————————
“Xiao. What happens when… if my memory erodes?”
Xiao suddenly started, staring at me. His eyes were wild.
“Don’t talk about that. It won’t happen.” He said, his voice tense.
“What if it does? I’ve been losing control more often…losing chunks of my memory, forgetting hours, days, weeks.” I told him , leaning over the banister of the balcony. Wangshu Inn had a stunning view.
I looked over at him. He was standing stock-still, silent.
“I know you’ve noticed, Xiao. How much longer will you delay?”
“It’s…it’s not erosion. It’s just your forgetfulness.”
I huffed a laugh, a faint echo of my usual one. “Forgetfulness. Really, Xiao. Do you hear yourself?”
He said nothing. I saw the tenseness in his shoulders, the worried tilt of his mouth.
“I… I need to go. Somebody summoned me.” Xiao muttered. He disappeared in a flash of green.
I looked out over the nation of Liyue, the nation that has finally moved from the era of monsters to the Era of Humans. I looked at Liyue, the lady I saw flourish and bloom into the beautiful nation it was today.
And I knew I didn’t have long to live in it.
“You can’t run forever, Xiao.” I whispered, my voice lost in the winds.
———————————
I awoke, standing in a circle of corpses. My flashes of awareness have become few and far between - precious. I looked around, and saw nothing but death. It hung in the air, its taste metallic and suffocating.
I felt tears well up in my eyes. I stood up, feeling unsteady. I was covered in blood.
What have I done..?
I heard a faint whoosh, and I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.
“Xiao.” I said, my voice void of emotion. I felt cracked and broken.
“It’s gotten worse,” he said quietly.
“It’s time, Xiao.”
I turned around, looked him in the eye. “Can you indulge me?” I smiled faintly. “One final spar?”
“How could I refuse?” he answered, his voice wavering.
I spinned my bow so fast it blurred, before stopping and pointing an arrow right at him. He did a couple tricks with his spear before going into a fighting position, his face a mask of despair. This wasn’t like the countless times we’ve sparred before - this was serious.
And I wouldn’t let him win.
He lunged at me, but this time I was prepared. I grunted and dodged his unrelenting attacks - he was too emotional this time. I saw it in his eyes, in the tears that threatened to roll down his cheeks. His usually flawless and beautiful fighting style had transformed into something raw and primal. I smiled at him, my old and sweet smile, before releasing a torrent or freezing arrows down onto him.
He dodged, of course, leaving behind a jade impression of his figure, before jumping back towards me with a snarl. I have never seen Xiao so uncomposed.
He was still a skilled fighter - no, not a skilled one, a master fighter. I could see the change in his expression immediately - his face smoothed over, forming an impenetrable wall of frost, of focus.
“We can finally begin.” I whispered, and I felt my consciousness retreat. I felt like I was watching a show, retreating to the back seats of the theater. I couldn’t feel my hands or move my body. It was my instincts taking over.
Xiao must have noticed the change too. Before I completely lost control, I saw his face.
———————————————————————————————————-
The citizens of Liyue Harbour marveled at the flashes of colors that appeared near the top of Mt Tianheng - jade green and icy blue. They thought it must be a miracle, a blessing from their departed Geo Archon.
But at the top of that mountain, a lonely adepti cried. He kneeled over the body of a beautiful girl, clutching her hand as if it would bring her back. Dark red blossomed across the girl’s chest, and her body was littered with tiny scratches. However, her face was untouched - smiling one last smile.