Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mortals are fragile.

Xiao understands this deeply. It is why he is the one who slays demons, not them. They are capable of battle, yes, but very rarely can mortals face the wrath of a god, alive or dead, and come out unscathed. 

So he is not surprised to hear that the soldiers stationed in the Guili Watchtower are suffering from an unknown illness. The lingering hatred is all consuming, there. 

Many of the soldiers lay in cots, strips of fulu sticking unceremoniously to their skin as they whimper and moan. Four are restrained further by red rope. One floats in a giant bubble, unconscious as something viscous and black seeps from his mouth and several puncture wounds around his shoulder. 

"It's getting worse." 

Xiao blinks as the medic wipes the sweat from his forehead. A Hydro Vision pulses on his hip, shining bright despite the deep bags under the man's eyes and the tremors in his hands. Haoran, he recalls.  

"How?" he asks. 

"What do you mean, 'How?'" Haoran points at the bubble. The water ripples, and the viscous ooze almost seems to writhe in pain before retreating into the body. Within, the soldier screams, but all Xiao can see is the bubbles that escape his mouth. 

"You're killing him," Xiao says bluntly. 

"I'm not killing him, you fool," Haoran snaps, as if he isn't addressing an adeptus but a petulant child. "I'm trying to get the thing out of his body, but whenever I activate the water, it retreats." He crosses his arms, glaring at the bubble as the man trapped inside calms. "I would ask the people from the Wangsheng Parlor for help, but considering what they did last time a plague came about..." 

He remembers. Even he could smell the burning corpses from thousands of yards away. 

Xiao walks deeper into the room, the medic trailing behind him. Each breath feels thick and familiar in his chest. He recognizes this specific type of fulu, ones often weaponized by the Tianheng Thaumaturges for minor hauntings. Some are darkening around the edges, matching the fraying strings of red rope. 

He inhales slowly. Tainted, bitter...Xiao exhales and frowns. The pain caused by corruption is the same, no matter the source, but- 

"Have a plan yet?" Haoran asks. "Or are you just here to sniff at them like a streetdog?" 

"The corruption is different," Xiao says. "It does not match any source that I have faced or dispelled. Whatever is causing this is a demon recently killed, or one that is still alive and running amok." There haven't been any demons of note that he has slayed within the region as of late, and he stays far from the mortal soldiers to prevent accidental contamination. Did something manage to evade his detection? 

"Hmph." Haoran's frown lessens as he thinks. After a moment, he nods towards the floating man and says, "Captain Jinhai went with a group of five two weeks ago to check on a supply shipment when it never arrived." He stares at the bubble with something akin to worry. "The guards got infected right when they found them wandering around outside." 

"Where are the supplies coming from?" 

"North. Wuwang Hill." 

A location. It's a start. Xiao holds out his hand, and as the familiar weight of his spear falls in his palm, Haoran glares. 

"If you get corrupted, don't come back. I have enough to worry about as is," he says, the second half muttered under his breath. 

Xiao only scoffs. "Do not compare a mortal's strength to that of an adepti." 

"And don't act like you can't die, either," Haoran fires back. He flicks his hand, sending a small burst of water that easily dispels with a swat from Xiao's spear. "Now shoo. Go kill it so that I may get some rest." 

Xiao almost rolls his eyes. Instead, he disappears in a flicker, following the bitter scent of corruption in the air. 

When he lands, his grip tightens. Stagnate air and broken trees fill the landscape. The people here had long ago agreed to a contract with Rex Lapis, offering their land and supplies in exchange for his protection. They'd only left a handful of soldiers to watch the area. With the terrain protecting the region from marches or large-scale armies, Cloud Retainer had felt it safe to leave the people to its own devices. But now, Xiao wonders if there are any mortals even left in the region. 

As he walks deeper, the landscape begins to change. Healthy wood and grass turns charred and ashen. Concentrated columns of burnt earth stretch across the hills, disrupted by random craters too small to match Rex Lapis' meteors. What trees remain upright bare deep, beast-like claw marks. A single claw mark is wider than Xiao's entire body. 

He marches deeper until, in the darkness, he spots a ruined camp. The footsteps in the dirt are too messy to make out properly. Craters and burnt trees pocket the clearing. Somehow, one ruined lean-to still has a tarp from a Millelith standard kit, and there are small speckles of blood. Searching the remains reveals a journal. 

'Stopped to make camp. Been following the path for days now, but haven't found or made contact with the other base. Guessing maybe they had to move, but there's no sign of them anywhere. Not even flattened grass. Where are they?' 

'Something's in the forest. Thought Zixian was just joking, but I can hear it now. Howling Explosions. Maybe another demon or something. We haven't seen it yet, but maybe the other team has. If it did...I can't let it get further south. May Rex Lapis protect us. May Rex Lapis protect me.' 

'Zixian's sick. Almost left when he started throwing up and rambling about the howling in the woods. I want to take him back to the Watchtower, but it's too far. Our only hope is to find that village and pray they got a doctor with them. But I think I might be seeing things. I thought I saw a person watching us last night, but when I called out, they disappeared like a ghost. Please just let it be a ghost.' 

'Jun and Shilei now. I don't know what's happening. Only me and Young Li are feeling fine. The others refuse to leave the camp. The howling is getting closer. I have to take nightwatch and I swear I see it. Fire and fangs. What if it attacks? What do I do? There's only five of us. Rex Lapis, please-' 

The notes end there. Xiao returns the journal and examines the camp again. It is almost entirely decimated, and it is clear a battle had taken place here. Yet, somehow, the five soldiers in the party survived and returned to the Watchtower, with only Captain Jinhai sustaining external injuries. They'd been handicapped by the corruption, too. 

He combs through his memories of Rex Lapis' adepti, but none of their powers matched the battlefield around him. And, as far as he knows, none of the adepti or gods had been in the northern region. 

Two demons, then. They must have been too absorbed in their battle to notice the Millelith and they'd escaped in the chaos. 

Xiao turns, ready to leave. Freezes. His muscles tense, lungs stop. Something is watching him. He tries to breathe in, but smells nothing but smoldering ash. There is no wind to help him here. 

A deep growl rumbles through the earth, and he barely turns before instinct forces him to leap. A blazing comet flies underneath, flames licking the tip of his foot. It skids to a halt just as Xiao flings his spear. Jade cuts through the raging inferno, but the comet only turns and chases him into the air. 

Xiao plunges. Spear in hand, he spins and aims. A blast of fire obscures his sight. He darts back once, twice, then throws his spear up to block another blast. The force of the blast almost knocks him off his feet. 

When it clears, he's staring down the face of a demon. A miasmic, purple haze radiates off of orange and black fur, matching the viscous sludge dripping from its maw. Fangs the size of his arm snap at the air. Xiao can see his own reflection in its ruby-like eyes. It snarls, muscles rippling under the scarred fur. The fur around its lips flakes with dried blood. 

Xiao's feet almost take a step back, but the weight of his mask glues him in place. This isn't anything new. He is the Conqueror of Demons, and he will slaughter this, just like any other who gets in his way. 

He steps forward and sinks into his stance. The demon snarls and- 

Fangs snap around his spear and push. Xiao shouts in alarm, feet skidding back as the demon struggles to close its jaw. His hand slips from the shaft to its teeth. It roars and stretches its maw wider, wide enough to bite Xiao clean in half. The adeptus roars back. He tries to push forward, but when the demon lunges again, he flashes out of the way. It crashes into a tree and snaps it clean in half. 

He leaps and thrusts. This time, the spear drives through its mane of pale orange fur, and a spray of red and purple bursts from the contact. The beast twists onto its feet, the spear still lodged in its skin, and disappears. 

Xiao only turns halfway before he's slammed into the dirt. He tries to escape, to flicker out, but daggers sink into his chest and claw him into place. Globs of black ooze splatter onto his chest. Above him, the demon's maw glows like the sun. 

He braces himself, more out of reflex than a genuine attempt to ease the pain. The last of the Yakshas, burnt out of existence like the plains during a drought. 

Until something explodes against the demon's side. It's enough to force the beast off of Xiao, and while it staggers back, he summons back his spear and aims at the demon. 

"NO!"

Instead of striking, he's forced back by a pulsating blue orb. It whistles past him and strikes another tree, blasting a crater into the wood. The demon's eyes dart between him and the direction of the blast, then roars. With a flicker, it disappears into the woods behind it. 

Xiao almost gives chase. He manages one step before his knee buckles. He has to lean on his spear to stay upright. It doesn't make sense-he'd barely been hit. Just- 

Something wet drips on his knees and soaks through his trousers. Sludge dribbles from his chest, skin burning wherever the ooze touches and-Oh. The claws must have punctured his chest. He's bleeding filth. 

Distantly, someone yells. He thinks it's a soldier, but his vision is turning sideways and he hits the dirt with a thud. There's a blurry thing running towards him. He feels...nothing. Sees nothing. A fitting end for a monster to die like this: face down in the dirt. 

Until he doesn't. Something grabs his shoulders, forces him to roll on his back. His head rolls to one side. Things-fingers, he thinks-stab his body over and over, jabbing at sore and sensitive spots until his eyelid peels back. A figure moves over him. 

They're...shouting, he thinks. Yelling. 

Then the crushing pressure in his chest begins to ease. It feels like the first rains of the season, trickling through his veins and forcing the filth from his body. 

It doesn't cleanse everything, no. He has accumulated too much. But soon, his airways clear, and when he blinks, he can make out the face of the soldier above him. 

They aren't a soldier. When their eyes meet, their brows furrow, and they say something in a language Xiao does not recognize. It does not sound like any language he's heard in Teyvat. But they speak again, slower, before the adeptus manages to say something back. 

"Who..." 

Their brows jump. They babble on, this time lifting a hand. A soft blue light glows in their palm. Xiao doesn't have the energy to shake them off when they touch his forehead, nor when his eyelids droop in defeat. 

"Shh..." they whisper, and Xiao falls asleep to the sound of their strange tongue in his empty dreams and…

Screaming. Begging. Spare me, please, don't hurt her, just kill me-

So young, young boy, come here you must be cold, so bloody, don't cry, war is-

Mama, Papa, they said they're coming back but you'll help us right why is there so much blood-

I just want to go home. I just want to go-

Xiao screams. 

"AH!" 

He bolts upright. He tries to look around, but he's surrounded by trees and stone, not the walls of the Guili Watchtower. Where is he? What happened?

The demon hound. Xiao grimaces as the memories surface. He must have passed out after the fight. 

"Ah…" The stranger freezes when Xiao's eyes snap towards them. They're on their behind, hands raised in self-defense. When he remains still, they peek through their fingers with a smile. 

They begin to say something, then hesitates before pointing at him. They shut their eyes, tilting their head and snoring, then begin to squirm. When they point at themself, they pretend to reach out, only to point at him and scream. 

Xiao stares at them. They sigh and shake their head. He takes it as a sign to look around. 

They're in a makeshift shelter, partially-built in the remains of an abandoned hut. A small fire illuminates the space, where a hunk of bird meat and mushroom cooks on a skewer. There is a pile of leaves and straw for a bed, along with a bundle of parchment with illegible script painted on it. 

"Ah," the stranger calls. They hold up an apple, pretending to bite it before offering it to him. 

Xiao frowns. "I don't need food."

The stranger hesitates, then offers again. It takes Xiao shaking his head for them to relent and sink their teeth into the fruit. Each bite grows in aggression until only the core remains. They move on to another apple, but they only eat after Xiao denies their offer again. 

Now that they're not being attacked, Xiao takes in their appearance. Their outfit is made out of simple cloth, dusted with dirt and ash. Baggy trousers tuck into laced boots, and a long sleeve and gloves hides every inch of their upper body. He doesn't see a Vision anywhere on their person. Behind them, a hooded cloak dangles from the shaft of a-

His jade spear flickers and returns to his hand. The stranger lets out an offended cry as their cloak hits the dirt, shaking it out and glaring at Xiao. With how largely their cheeks bulge with food, he doesn't feel very threatened. After they swallow, they stand and shove past him, returning with the standard White Tassel of a Millelith foot soldier. 

It makes Xiao's skin burn in reminder. His hand reaches for his chest, but there is no burning ooze or bleeding wounds. Just the shreds of his shirt. 

"Mm." The stranger waves at him, their cloak now propped on the soldier's polearm. They pat their chest, point at him, and flash a thumbs up. 

"You…healed it?" he guesses. At their blank stare, he grimaces and slowly mimics their gesture. When he points at himself and gives a thumbs up, they beam and nod. 

It almost fills Xiao with dread. Communicating through human gestures is not what he is meant for. 

Still, he eyes the stranger. "Why?"

They repeat their gestures, then hesitantly add "Why?" with a thumbs up and tilt of their head. When he nods, they frown. After a brief scan, they grab the White Tassel, shaking it at him. They puff out their chest and glue their heels together, standing at attention with pride.

Then their face falls. They point at the fire and growl before dropping the polearm to the floor. The clatter echoes around the campfire and into the stagnant air. 

They hold up five fingers, point at the spear, then shrug. 

The five soldiers. Xiao's eyes widen in understanding. They must have found the soldiers that ventured up Wuwang Hill and saved them before the demon hound could kill them. It explains why they'd been corrupted but managed to return to the watchtower. The stranger had saved them. 

Xiao looks to the sky. It still seems incredibly dark. The demon hound can't have gotten far. If he leaves now, he should be able to hunt it down and-

"Ah!" The stranger steps forward, grabbing his spear. They shake their head quickly and babble in their strange tongue, like they know exactly what's running through his mind. 

Xiao only frowns and jerks his spear from their grip. As altruistic the stranger appears to be, he is not the same. The demon hound is running amok, and it is his duty to kill it. 

He turns to leave the camp, only for the stranger to intercept him again. This time, they stomp their foot and growl. He still doesn't understand what they say, but the sound "Renegade" keeps popping up. 

"Move," he growls. 

They scowl and cross their arms. "No. Renegade-" something. He doesn't understand. Xiao almost flickers away when their hands glow. They pinch their thumb to their middle and ring fingers, pretending to bark while their other hand glows with blue light. They slam their hands together, then flash a thumbs up.

"...huh?" 

They scowl and hold up the dog-like hand shape. "Renegade."

"...the hound?" Xiao slowly mimics the hand shape and asks again. Their scowl disappears immediately.

"Renegade. Hound." They nod to themself, seemingly satisfied as they pat their chest. 

"The hound…is yours?" he guesses, pointing at them. 

After a bit of hesitation, they nod, then reach for his spear. He jerks back out of instinct, but they swat at the blade when he does. There is a spurt of blood, the blade biting through the leather, only to disappear under a flicker of blue light. 

"Renegade, tah-dah!" They do a weird hand flick. The skin beneath is completely healed. Xiao's thoughts stall. 

They don't have a Vision. No mortal is capable of healing themselves in such a simplistic, unnatural way. He cannot sense the same inhuman presence that adepti or monsters radiate. 

What…are they? 

A flutter distracts him. The stranger slings their cloak around their shoulders, a pleased smile on their face. Snuffing out the fire with a stomp, they take the Millelith's polearm and twirl it with ease. They almost seem to forget he's there until they look up. 

"Ah…" They clear their throat and point at themself, saying…something. It sounds like a name, but all Xiao picks up is, "Tamer."

"...Xiao," he says. 

"Xiao. Xiao…" They repeat his name a handful more times before thrusting out their hand. He steps back in alarm. Their expression wilts before stomping a foot. Before he can react, his free hand is crushed in their own palm. They jerk his arm up and down. "Tamer. Xiao." 

Xiao frowns. He tightens the grip. He feels his tattoos flicker, and the light in the Tamer's eyes sparkle as they laugh, their own palms flashing. Somehow, it feels like he just signed a contract with the stranger.

But it's too late to back down now. They have a hound to find. 

Chapter Text

The Tamer, despite their smiles and cheer, marches with their shoulders squared and body tense, one hand gripping the polearm tight. Occasionally, they stop to sniff the air, but Xiao can't exactly tell what they're searching for. Everything smells of smoke. 

Still, they walk in silence for a handful of hills before they say, "Xiao."

"What?" he grunts. 

They lift the polearm. "No?" 

"No?" Xiao watches as they shake the polearm again. It takes him a moment to understand. "No. I am not a member of the Millelith." 

"Millelith?" they echo quickly. They hold up five fingers, then a hesitant thumbs up and tilt their head. 

"They're-" Xiao catches himself and growls. The gestures are easy enough to guess, but translating them back is a struggle. Especially since he's guessing what they even mean in the first place. He settles with a thumbs up and a nod. The Tamer seems to deflate with a smile, nodding to themself. They lapse into silence after that. 

They head west. There are claw marks and craters scoring the earth. Burnt grass and leaves crunch under their feet. Much of it matches the landscape Xiao had passed through earlier, and the Tamer doesn't seem all too bothered by it, either. 

Until they stop. There is a silent village up ahead. There is no smoke or smolders. For the first time tonight, Xiao feels the wind ghost against his skin. It smells of copper.

"Wait," Xiao says when the stranger steps forward. "Let me. There could still be something inside."

The Tamer frowns, but they allow him to take the lead. While some of the houses remain intact, many lay in a pile of stone and lumbar. A few scorch marks mar the ground. Most of the damage seems to have been caused by its claws. 

They make no move to search for any survivors. The damage is too great and the stench of burnt offal and copper clogs his senses. The Tamer mutters beside him, eyes shut. It almost sounds like the prayers Xiao has heard from the soldiers at night before deployment to the front. 

"Ren," they finally say. They approach some rubble, patting the claw marks in the stone. "Renegade."

It's obvious. Xiao doesn't say that, and the Tamer seems too preoccupied to care. They're still touching each claw mark and scorched dirt until he's sure they've touched everything. They circle back to him and only point west. 

They don't speak for a while. As they walk, Xiao picks up a heady scent of oil and filth. The Tamer's face scrunches at the scent, as if it is somehow stronger to their nose. After a few more yards, they outright stop. They stab their polearm in the dirt. "Renegade."

"What?" Xiao scans their surroundings. An open field. No cover. Just flat, open land for nothing to hide behind and everything to be razed in a rush of flames. If the hound is here, where-

The thrumming steps are all Xiao feels before the beast is upon them, flames as bright as the rising sun. He leaps back, but it isn't aiming for him. The Tamer dives out of the way before it can sink its fangs in, flipping onto their feet. 

"Ren!" they shout. The demon only snarls and disappears in a burst of fire. When it charges, Xiao throws himself, a surge of Anemo exploding under his feet. The collision knocks them both askew, but he lands on his feet and charges before the hound can recover. 

He manages two swings, but all they slice through is the fur on its neck. It rears back and swipes. Even when Xiao dodges, he can feel the power behind every rush of its claws. 

He ducks, flips back, dives, and the hound closes the distance each time, never letting Xiao move on anything other than defense. He leaps, tries to cycle past in a flicker, but the demon rears back and snaps its jaws around his ankle and slams him into the dirt. 

Xiao escapes with a singed boot and grimaces when he puts weight on his leg. Already, he can feel the prickling numbness from before creeping up his veins. At least he's still conscious.

"Xiao!" The Tamer shouts. They try to catch up to him, but the hound is relentless, rounding on them with flaming claws. They barely attempt to dodge the barrage, like they wanted to get hit. Underneath the roaring fire, he thinks he can still hear their shouts. 

He realizes, now, that they never discussed a plan. It would have been impossible, given their language barrier, but Xiao had come away with the idea of subduing the hound for the stranger to heal it. With how the stranger refuses to go on the offensive, he thinks he's right. But the demon hound still oozes corruption and trying to fight it head-on here is a death sentence. 

And now that he's staring, he realizes that they're unarmed. Their polearm still stands right where they left it. 

Xiao grits his teeth. He puffs out a breath and tries to stand, but the earth shudders and knocks him flat. Across the field, the Tamer shouts at him and nearly gets bitten for their efforts. 

"Bad dog!" they shout in their foreign tongue. The hound snarls and spits another ball of flames. They swat it aside with a glowing hand. "Bad!"

The demon doesn't seem to care. It charges at the Tamer, maw wide, and they only ground themself before catching the hound by its jaws. It is the hound that nearly goes flying from the force, hind legs lifting as the Tamer refuses to budge. 

With a shout, they jerk the hound forward, one arm catching around its neck. They hug the beast, and its claws digging into the soil does not stop the stranger from lifting it into the air and slamming it into the dirt. 

The Tamer huffs as the hound stills, hands on their hips. When the hound does not rise, they nod and turn to Xiao, a bright smile on their face. 

Xiao cannot tell if he feels unnerved or impressed. The tingling in his leg is not helping. 

But as the Tamer approaches, the demon stirs, and the adeptus can barely yell out a warning when the earth explodes.

Xiao rushes over as fast as his infected leg will allow. Where there the stranger and demon had been now lays a massive crater. He catches both the hound and the Tamer tumbling down the side. The hound scrabbles for purchase, clawing at the rock until it grinds to a halt. The Tamer isn't as lucky and continues to bounce until they finally hit the bottom. 

For a moment, neither one stirs. Then the hound bellows, and its claws begin to glow and expand. It takes a step forward once, then twice, then begins charging up the slope. 

Xiao leaps out of the way just as it breaches the pit, but it doesn't seem to stick the landing. Its front paw twists before righting itself. Although it snarls and snaps at the air, it makes no move to strike at the adeptus. 

A moment later, there is a soft woosh, and the Tamer lands next to Xiao, shaking rubble from their cloak and frowning, as if they hadn't fallen down the giant pit behind them. 

Speaking of which…

"What happened?" he growls. They glance at him, and he has to point at the pit and back at them before they understand. They hold up their hands and glow, light flickering and coalescing into a compressed blue orb. Across the field, the hound snarls in contempt. The Tamer dispels the orb with a flick of their hand and stomps the dirt. 

"Boom," they whisper, tilting their head at the hound. "Ren, boom." Nods. It makes no sense to Xiao, but they reach for his shoulder with a glowing hand, and sensation returns to his leg.

"...thank you," he grunts. 

"No thank you," they say. He assumes they mean 'you're welcome' and watches as they point at him and make a finger run after the dog-shaped hand. When the finger pushes the dog-hand into the dirt, it finally clicks.

The smile the Tamer gives him only grows when he nods.  

Xiao charges. The hound snarls and belches a fireball, but Xiao is quicker, and it barely turns before he is behind it. His spear grazes skin, just a thin angry line amidst a field of scars. The roar it lets out still hurts his ears. 

But he pushes through anyways. He doesn't aim to kill, and the hound's injury seems to keep it from flickering away like it did before. It still runs and sets the plains alight, but Xiao grits his teeth and tries his best to fight through the searing heat.

Even with the injury, they come to a deadlock. No matter how fast the adeptus is, he can't fully push the hound into defense, and while the hound can't lash out, its firepower only seems to grow with each second. Soon, there is nothing on the hillside that isn't burning into ash. Xiao can barely see through the smoke, let alone breathe.

But the hound can. And as soon as Xiao stumbles, he's rammed in the chest and sent back. Paws pin him in place, the beast snarls and mouth glows-

And the Tamer crashes into the beast with enough strength to force it away from Xiao and back into the depths below. This time, Xiao follows them down, down, down, ramming the flat of his polearm at the hound's claws when it tries to catch itself. Through the smog and fur, he can make out the stranger's arms, clinging to its neck for all their might. They're glowing, too.

Hitting bottom does not dislodge the stranger. In fact, their grip tightens even harder; even as the hound belches flames, they hold on. 

He isn't sure what they're doing until the hellhound's mouth unhinges. Wider, wider, its enraged roar turns pained, like a dog stepped on in the streets. The stranger screams back and shoves a glowing fist into its maw. 

And blue light floods the crater. 

When Xiao's vision finally clears, the corruption is torn from the demon's body. Formless, it almost escapes into the air, but the Tamer's hands claw it back to the earth, light burning whatever it can into nothing more than black vapor. The demon's body convulses, retching and spitting until a congealed mass splatters on the dirt. Tentacles writhe. Xiao does not hesitate and spears the creature into two. 

Everything stills in the crater. The demon staggers back before crumpling, falling onto its side. The Tamer slowly peels themself from the demon's mane, body shining a brilliant blue.

They sit up, chest heaving. The light flickers and fades, but the feral smile on their face is just as radiant. Atop of the demon, they don't seem the little bit out of place. 

"Xiao!" they cheer. "Woohoo! Yeah! Yea-" 

They collapse. Xiao catches them before they can hit the dirt, grimacing at the heat pulsating from their body. They're still breathing, thankfully, but he can't just...well, leave them. 

It takes some adjustment before they're comfortably on his back. They groan and writhe at the movement. 

"Ren," they mumble. "Ren?" 

Xiao turns to check on the demon. It's unconscious-Oh. It's staring at him. The blood-red tainting its eyes is gone, now just giant, brown orbs. Its tail starts to thump. 

"Renegade?" they call. 

The hound groans back. One by one, its limbs turn and push itself upright, listing painfully when its twisted paw touches the ground. It still towers over Xiao, but it remains a respectful distance and-He nearly drops the Tamer when it growls.

"Ren!" they scold. The hound flinches, like it'd been struck. It groans and snaps at the air, but the Tamer doesn't respond until it drops its head in…shame? 

The Tamer nods, then pats Xiao's shoulder. "Xiao, Renegade. Renegade, Xiao."

Renegade's ears perk up at its name. It sits back on its haunches, eyeing Xiao before growling again. The Tamer says something before yawning hard. 

"Mm. Ren-" They trail off in a mutter, slumping against Xiao's head. A moment later, their breathing slows, asleep. It's impressive just how little self-preservation they seem to have. 

Xiao keeps his grip on the Tamer anyways. When he steps back, Renegade rises to its feet and follows. He leaps out of the crater, Anemo buffering his landing to keep from waking the Tamer. A moment later, Renegade follows, although it crumples when it lands, twisted paw sticking out in the air.

It shakes its fur and rolls onto its feet, tail wagging. It doesn't look like it plans on stopping.

Haoran is in the middle of a very meager breakfast when Xiao finally returns with the Tamer. He looks a bit confused, then almost chokes when Renegade howls from the ground floor.

"What in the Archons is that?!" he shouts. 

Xiao walks up to an empty cot, depositing the Tamer with a grunt. "The demon."

The Tamer practically bounces on the cot. They yelp and sit up, flailing their arms. Once they realize they aren't in danger, they spot Xiao and glare. He doesn't understand what they're saying, but he can feel the annoyance in their tone. The way they hold up their middle finger also seems like it's meant to be an insult. 

Haoran just stares until he looks at Xiao. "Why did you bring it back?" 

The Tamer jumps, as if they're just now noticing the medic. Slowly, they take in the miasmic haze of the medical bay, annoyance fading into genuine concern. When they finish taking it in, they return to eyeing Haoran. 

"Millelith?" they ask. "Millelith-" They hold up five fingers, then point at Captain Jinhai. Thumbs up, head tilted-

"They're asking if he's okay," Xiao translates. 

Haoran gawks, but the Tamer is staring desperately, so he nods. "They're fine. As fine as they can be…" 

The Tamer seems to understand, anyways. They pat their chest quickly, then look around before pulling off their glove with their teeth. Haoran shouts when they chomp on their hand, blood dribbling from the corner of their mouth.

Xiao is familiar with this routine. This time, however, their glove is off, and he watches as a blue circle lights up on the back of their hand. A matching line disappears up their sleeve. 

"...so you glow," Haoran says. When they wipe away their blood, he sighs. "And you can heal. I don't suppose you can remove whatever is plaguing the soldiers, can you?" 

"...Uh." The Tamer looks at Xiao. Xiao points at the Millelith and gives a thumbs-up, then points. 

They thumbs-up and hop out of the cot, making a beeline for the nearest soldier while Haoran shouts at them to slow down. 

It only takes an hour. After some gesturing, the Tamer manages to convince Haoran to create another bubble, and it only takes a few minutes before they begin to extract the strange corruptive ooze from the soldiers. When they purify Captain Jinhai, the creature lets out an earsplitting screech before being bubbled. It makes Haoran green. 

“A plague in living form,” he mutters. He reels the bubble in, watching the creature writhe. "This doesn't look like any demons I've seen before. Stranger, where did you-"

"REEEEEEEEEEN!" The Tamer is half-dangling off the edge of the balcony. Haoran and Xiao share a glance before the medic joins them, dragging the bubble with him. 

"What are you-" Haoran peeks over the edge and screams. The bubble bursts in his alarm. The plague hits the wood with a splat, and Xiao spears it before it can run. It melts into a pile of goop. 

The Tamer continues waving. On the ground floor, Renegade continues to bark and whine. They continue to communicate, shouting and barking before the Tamer leans back. 

"Xiao?" they call. They point down at Renegade below, then at the balcony. This time, they gesture a dog head jumping, then point at the balcony again.

"They want to bring the dog here?" Haoran guesses, laughing in disbelief. "Sure. Why not?" 

The Tamer seems to understand what he means because they stick their fingers to their mouth and let out a shrill whistle. A burst of wind later, Renegade lands on the balcony with a thump. It towers over Xiao and Haoran, wagging its tail. 

Haoran takes one look at the giant hound before sighing. "We need Rex Lapis."

The doctor leaves to contact the god while Xiao monitors the Tamer and Renegade. They're checking over the hound's injured paw, running a glowing hand over the crooked joint as it waits patiently. It is far too intelligent to be a simple beast. It breathes Pyro as easily as the Regisvine to the West, and its speed rivals Xiao's. The Tamer even seems to communicate with it, listening to its chuffs and snarls before responding in their foreign tongue. 

Xiao tries his best to recall the other guardians around Teyvat, but he cannot pinpoint where the hound could be from. Perhaps farther West, where the heat grows intense.

Then what of the Tamer? They speak a very, very different language than anything Xiao has heard. Not to mention the strange light and markings they had on their skin. They could produce incredible forces behind their blows. Clearly, they are not mortal, and yet they bleed just like one. 

What…are they? And where did they come from?

Xiao gets an answer a few hours later when Cloud Retainer arrives at the watchtower. The soldiers (at least, the ones that can stand) rush to kneel. 

"I asked for Rex Lapis," Haoran says flatly.

"As amicable as ever, Little Haoran," Cloud Retainer says, ignoring the doctor's flustered yelling. "Rex Lapis is preoccupied. One arrives in his stead. Is that acceptable?" 

Haoran rolls his eyes, turning to Xiao. "You fill it in. I still have some experiments to run."

Cloud Retainer trills in amusement before bowing its head to Xiao. "One is glad to see you again, Conqueror of Demons. Has all been well?" 

"No," Xiao grunts. He's quick to sum up the events of the last week: a plague spread among the soldiers, he'd fought a giant, fire-breathing hound, and he'd found a human capable of healing them. 

"A healer?" Cloud Retainer tilts its head. "One assumes they do not possess a Vision? It would be unwise to call for Rex Lapis if they were simply able to cure a disease through their Vision."

Instead of answering, there is a soft shuffle on the rooftops. Xiao leads the adeptus onto the balcony, then leaps onto the roof, sending the Tamer back in surprise. It seems they'd been spying on them.

"Xiao?" they call. Renegade is snoring behind them, but Xiao sees the way their ears tilt towards him the moment he lands. Around them are piles of written parchment.

Behind him, Cloud Retainer lands on the roof. Almost instantly, the Tamer retreats to Renegade's side, the hound's eyes open and alert. 

They stare at Cloud Retainer. The adeptus stares back.

"Curious," it says.

The Tamer gasps. They mutter something to Renegade, who snorts back before nudging the stranger forward. They scowl and kick the hound back, then eye the crane again. 

They say their name and add, "Tamer," before pointing at Renegade. "Hound. Renegade. Ah…"

They say something. Xiao doesn't understand, but Cloud Retainer seems to catch it. 

"An…Ar-canine?" it repeats. 

The Tamer's face lights up. "Arcanine! Yes!"

Renegade barks in agreement. 

"Renegade…the Arcanine?" Cloud Retainer guesses. "Is that a title? Perhaps a clan name?" 

"They won't understand you," Xiao says when the Tamer stares. "Do you recognize their language at all?" 

Cloud Retainer shakes its head. "It does not sound like any language one has heard around Teyvat."

Xiao sighs, but the Tamer quickly draws his attention, waving them over. They hold up one parchment. On it is a small drawing of a stick figure and a dog. 

They tap the figure. 

"You?" he guesses and points. 

"Mhm." The Tamer taps the figure and dog, then begins to draw. Another dog, something that looks similar to a vishap, then…three other creatures Xiao does not recognize: a black blob, some kind of shelled thing, and a fat worm with wings. They tap the paper and pat their chest insistently. 

"Yours…" Xiao holds up six fingers and points at the Tamer. "All six are yours?"

"Sssssix," the Tamer repeats slowly. They hold up one finger, pointing at Renegade before adding five more and patting their chest. "Six." 

"A team of six beasts," Cloud Retainer guesses. 

"Beasts…" The Tamer tests, pointing at Renegade. "Hound Beasts." Then they point at Cloud Retainer. "Beasts?" 

Cloud Retainer's feathers puff in offense. "Does one look like a beast to you? The one before you is Cloud Retainer, an Adeptus under the service of Rex Lapis himself." 

The Tamer only stares and repeats, "Beasts." 

Xiao only waves off the word, eyeing the parchment. "Who are they?" He points at the weird creatures. Looking closely, the black blob actually has eyes. Odd. "Beasts? Yours?" 

The Tamer nods. They shuffle through their parchment, retrieving another. It seems like just random dots to Xiao, but Cloud Retainer leans in and examines it deeply.

"A star map?" it asks. It repeats the question, pointing at the sky as it does. 

"Star…map." The Tamer hesitates. They point at a single dot. "Star?" 

"Yes. That is a star," Cloud Retainer says. 

The Tamer smiles. "Star." They hold up the map, then point at the sky. It does not match whatever constellations Xiao knows, but then they pat their chest. My, they sign. 

My? 

They pat the parchment before finding another sheet. They draw a square, add a triangle-a hut, then repeat the gesture. 

My hut, they sign, then point up. My star. 

Then they point at Renegade and themself and the sky when it clicks. 

"You're not from Teyvat?" he asks. 

"Tey…vat?" they repeat slowly. 

"Teyvat is our continent," Cloud Retainer says. It pats the roof and stretches a wing to gesture to the horizon. "From the windy peaks of the East to the burning heats of the West. Currently, you are in East Liyue."

The Tamer grimaces, then draws a circle, surrounding it with dots. They point and ask, "Teyvat?" 

Cloud Retainer sighs. "Yes."

They nod, then grab the parchment with themself and the six creatures. They take it and make a "woosh!", floating it between the star map and the circle, then a soft "Boom!" when they land on the drawing of Teyvat. Their expression twists as they scratch out five of the beasts. 

They stare at the beasts before sitting back. The cheerful air sours with a miasma of pain and sadness, hands curling in their lap as their smile twists. Renegade resettles closer to them, licking their cheek before laying its chin on its paws. 

Xiao and Cloud Retainer share a look of surprise before the crane steps forward. 

"Do not despair, young one," it says. "You are among allies." 

There are no words that Xiao expects them to recognize, but the Tamer still nods. They collect the parchment before drawing. When they show it off, Xiao blinks. It's himself. 

"Xiao," they say confidently. Soon, they're drawing Haoran, a standard Millelith soldier, naming them before turning to the new words they'd picked up from this conversation. 

"They are a quick student," Cloud Retainer muses, only to glare when they draw the crane and call it a beast. "Ignorant, but quick."

And lost, Xiao thinks. A stranger in the purest sense. Teyvat is a land of many possibilities. To hear that someone had come from a different world is not as far-fetched as it should be. 

But to meet one is an entirely different story. 

Xiao watches as the Tamer and Cloud Retainer continue to communicate. Really, the adeptus is the one who speaks, defining whatever the Tamer happens to draw. Already, they seem to be picking up on their language, writing the pronunciation in their own script. Each time they seem to get it right, they smile at Cloud Retainer like they'd been given a gift. 

They seem kind enough, but Xiao cannot shake the unease in his chest. He has seen how they fight, how they produce some form of power unlike anything in Teyvat. The beast, Renegade, rivals an adeptus in power and strength. If they are telling the truth, then that means there are five other creatures that are currently in Teyvat, running corrupted and free. 

Beasts crawl free from the Chasm night and day, impossible to control or contain. All of Liyue's best are stretched thin along the borders, struggling to protect the land from the endless waves of monsters. To meet a stranger capable of unknown power, accompanied by equally terrible beasts...they need to meet with Rex Lapis at once.

Chapter Text

They seem to take to life in Guili Watchtower rather well. 

With another healer, Haoran can finally sleep longer than an hour. It is a process, introducing the Tamer to the rest of the Millelith stationed here, but the presence of Cloud Retainer smooths things along. They do not linger long once a soldier is recovered, and the soldiers do not try to interact with them any more than they have to.

Introducing Renegade is much harder. 

"That demon nearly killed us!" Captain Jinhai snaps. His shoulder is bandaged, arm set in plaster against his chest. “It is from the Chasm, I am certain of it!”

"And yet the Tamer rescued both it and yourself from the corruption influencing you both," Cloud Retainer says. Beside it, the Tamer glances between them, no doubt trying their best to keep up with their conversation. "Until Rex Lapis returns to pass judgment, both shall stay here for observation. Unless you would rather the beast return to the wild, free to roam and return to the Chasm, if it is truly where it dwells?" 

No one dare question the adeptus' order, but the Tamer must sense the tension, because they compromise. Renegade never enters the building, appearing only on the roof or the fields below. He never strays where the soldiers cannot see. 

Once most of the affairs are settled, Cloud Retainer leaves to return to the front. The Tamer, when not filling in for Haoran, takes to exploring the Guili Watchtower's floors when the soldiers are not around. All they request is parchment, which they seem to fill with notes and drawings of key items. Sometimes, when Xiao is resting, he can hear them practicing to Renegade on the roof. 

Still, Xiao can hear the Millelith's disgruntled muttering whenever the Tamer passes by. They are wise not to trust such a powerful stranger in their midst. Even the adeptus has trouble accepting that they mean no harm. And to have the demon that nearly incapacitated five of their men loiter around the base does not help the morale.

Many have fallen to demons like them before. Who’s to say they are not waiting for a moment to strike now?

The only one who seems to tolerate the Tamer's presence is Haoran. They loiter in the medical bay when there is no one to treat, and Xiao has seen the medic bring the Tamer food more than once. He assumes it is simply because the Tamer has lessened Haoran's workload, but he does not think too hard on the matter.

A week passes. Xiao continues his rounds. With the soldiers returning to the field, he no longer patrols nightly, but that does not stop him from staying up. He cannot rest for long. His memories will not allow it, and tonight is one of those nights. Normally, he can retreat to the roof, but when he arrives, the Tamer and Renegade are already there.

"Xiao!" they greet happily. The summer heat does not diminish, even at night, so they've shed their outer coat and long sleeves for a sleeveless high-collared top, an alteration of a burlap sack that one of the chefs had tossed out. A circle marks the back of either hand, connecting to a thick line that runs up their arm and over their shoulder. 

"Hello," Xiao grunts. He almost turns to leave, but they wave for him to approach, even patting a space beside them. They are surrounded by parchment as always, but it seems whatever they are drawing takes up the entire sheet. 

He does not sit too closely, however. Renegade is pretending to sleep, but his muscles tense when Xiao settles, like he's just waiting for the adeptus to try and attack. In return, Xiao keeps his polearm within reach.

The Tamer does not seem to care. "All okay?" 

"...I'm fine," he says. 

"Mm. Good." The Tamer nods to themself as they draw. "Xiao soldier, yes? Rest. Plenty of rest." 

Xiao recognizes that phrase immediately. It is what Haoran always uses against the soldiers whenever they end up in the clinic. "I don't need to rest."

The Tamer raises a brow. Renegade, with eyes still shut, snorts. 

"You should rest," Xiao says back. 

The Tamer laughs this time. They tap the parchment. "Busy work."

They spread the paper for Xiao. On it, he recognizes the seven Elements of Teyvat, organized in a neat line. However, there are eighteen additional symbols drawn beneath them. Seven line up to the Teyvatian Elements (and Geo, for some odd reason, connects to two symbols instead of one),  but the rest are left unmatched. 

"Look, look." The Tamer points to Pyro, then drags a finger down to a slightly different flame symbol. "Renegade use Pyro." Then they tap the other symbol, saying something that sounds, vaguely, like 'Fire-type.'

Xiao stares at the unknown symbols. "Are these yours?" 

The Tamer chews their lip, then points at the Teyvatian Elements. "Ssseven?" They point to the unknown line and look at Xiao.

"Eighteen," he says. 

"Eighteen," they repeat. "Eighteen…my home. Eighteen. Renegade use Pyro."

At the mention of his name, the hound blinks and yawns. He grumbles something, but when the Tamer responds, Renegade sits up and licks them. They shriek and smack the hound away, who only chuffs and resettles.

Xiao feels his lips twitch, but he focuses on the parchment once more. There is one with a lone wing, which connects to the Anemo symbol. 

The Tamer follows his stare and says, "Ah…Ah-nemo?" 

"Anemo," Xiao corrects. 

"Anemo." They tilt their head, smiling at him. "Xiao use Anemo?" 

Xiao nods. He is not recognized by any particular being, but he is capable of channeling Anemo well enough as an adeptus. He's more taken back by the eighteen elements on the sheet. Their world has people that can wield one of eighteen elements? In fact…

"You use something," he says, drawing the Tamer away from their parchment. "What is it?" 

The Tamer blinks. They point at the Teyvatian Elements, then pat their chest in confusion. "No element."

"No?" Xiao frowns. "That's impossible. What is it that you manifest then?" 

The Tamer flinches. "I don't know?"

"You don't-" Xiao stops himself when the Tamer stares at him. They've been doing well at learning Liyuean, but he's getting ahead of himself. It's only been a week and a day. They are still a stranger in a world that is not their own…allegedly. He sighs. "Never mind."

The Tamer returns to drawing. After a moment, they tap the Hydro. "Haoran use Hydro?" When he nods, they frown and point at one of the unmatched symbols. "Millelith use…no?" 

Xiao slowly shakes his head. Of all the soldiers stationed in Guili Watchtower, only Haoran has a Vision. 

The Tamer grunts. They start writing again, and Xiao can't help but lean over to read. Their language consists of characters, unlike Liyuean and their word-specific symbols, and there only seem to be a limited number. Sometimes, he sees them repeated multiple times in the same clump. 

They look up, then smile and quickly write something. It is only four characters long, but they point at it and say, "Xiao." 

Xiao looks at it. It doesn't look anything like how his name is written in Liyuean. 

He isn't quite sure what compels him, but he reaches for the charcoal. They hand it over, and they both hunch over the parchment as he writes his given name. 

The Tamer stares at it. They look at Xiao, then at the parchment, then says something he's heard them mutter under their breath that he still doesn't quite understand what it means: "What the fuck?"

Chapter Text

The heat is intense, but Xiao can almost smell an oncoming storm. It is common for it to roll in during the summers, and the Guili Watchtower is busy with soldiers preparing for the worst.

Xiao continues his patrols. Even though the soldiers have been rested and can return to duty, many are busy reinforcing the watchtower's walls. Any day now, the storm will arrive. They have enough supplies to last a few weeks, but that is not as important. 

No. During a monsoon, they are completely cut off from the world. They are far, far from Liyue. It will be almost impossible for soldiers to receive backup if someone (or something) were to attack. 

"Someone seems stressed," Haoran hums when Xiao passes through his floor. The Tamer is with them and-

"What is he doing in here?" Xiao asks as Renegade snores on two cots. His legs kick at the air as he dreams, tongue half-out and drooling onto a pillow.

"Haoran says okay," the Tamer says excitedly from the shelves of herbs. "Haoran says Captain Jinhai fool."

"I don't remember teaching you that part," Haoran mutters before flicking a hand at them. "Keep counting, brat."

The Tamer sticks out their tongue before facing the shelf. Many of the herbs and medicines are stored in porcelain, and they take extra care when checking them.

"Anyways," Haoran says, "what are you doing here, Conqueror of Demons? Sick?"

"Hurt?" the Tamer chimes in. "Hm. Dying?" 

Haoran flashes them a thumbs up. They grin and continue counting. 

Xiao frowns. "What are you doing?" 

The Tamer looks up in surprise. When they realize Xiao is talking to them, they smile and hold up a piece of parchment. "Counting."

"They're checking what we have in stock," Haoran explains when the adeptus looks to him. "We're going to Mingyun Village to harvest whatever we're low on before sundown."

That makes sense, Xiao guesses. But…"We?"

"Yes." Haoran shrugs. "The soldiers are preparing their defenses. You are busy conquering demons. The Tamer and Renegade will come with me." 

The Tamer looks back again. This time, they tense at Xiao's expression. "What hurt?" 

"'Wrong', child," Haoran corrects. "'What is wrong'. Hurt is different."

The Tamer frowns. "What…is w-wrong?" After Haoran's approving nod, they clear their throat. "Xiao? What is wrong?" 

Xiao ignores them, instead glaring at the medic. "Why?" 

Haoran tilts his head. "You don't trust my decision?" 

"No," Xiao growls, "I don't."

Rex Lapis is still preoccupied with the West, but he is the one who will pass judgment onto the Tamer and their beast. It is too dangerous otherwise. Xiao knows this and he is sure Haoran is, too. 

And yet the medic only rolls his eyes. "Don’t be childish. Trust me, if this one wanted to kill me, they would have done so already.” He flicks his fingers, a bubble of water rolling between each digit before he crushes it in his palm. “And if you are so worried, why not accompany us? I am sure a regular walk would do you some good.”

It…does not sound like a bad idea. Xiao could use the time to scout ahead, as well, and Haoran will be safe if the Tamer and Renegade can be trusted. If not, then Xiao will still have an ally in the medic, and they will be far enough from the tower to avoid injuring the other soldiers.

“Fine,” Xiao growls. Haoran smirks and flicks a bubble at his face, calling for the Tamer while Xiao swats it away.

“We’re going,” Haoran says. Then, in the Tamer’s tongue, he says, “Walk.”

Renegade stops mid-snore. He blinks awake and stretches his legs, then tumbles off the cots and barks. When the Tamer scratches his neck, most of their arm disappears into the tan mane around his throat.

“Good, Haoran!” they say. “Good boy, Renegade, almost same as Good Haoran.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Haoran rises to his feet. At Xiao’s stunned face, he smirks and flicks a bubble at the adeptus. “It pays to learn a foreigner's tongue, Conqueror. Now, let’s hurry. I don’t enjoy being out when it rains.”

When Renegade appears at the base of Guili Watchtower, one of the guards almost faints. It’s Zixian, one of the five that had encountered the beast on Wuwang Hill. Xiao almost worries for the soldier.

Haoran slaps him and tells him to stop being foolish.

The Tamer does not react to the commotion. They are carrying twine and burlap, and Renegade patiently lifts his legs and kneels for the Tamer as they tie it around his body. Once the satchels are in place, the Tamer scrubs at the hound’s face so hard his entire body sways.

“Good boy, good boy,” they coo. Renegade only grumbles and tries to pull away, but his wagging tail belies his emotions.

“They’re insane…” Zixian whispers as the Tamer climbs onto the beast’s shoulders. When they hold out a hand to Haoran, the guard pales. “You’re going to ride it?!”

“Do I look like I can walk that far?” Haoran asks. He approaches the sitting beast, then takes the Tamer’s extended hand after a soft sigh. The Tamer pulls him up with ease, Renegade rising once the medic is firmly seated on the hound’s back. 

“Xiao?” they call.

“I’ll follow,” Xiao says. 

The Tamer nods and, after forcing Haoran to wrap his arms around their waist, leans into Renegade’s mane, fists full of fur. Xiao cannot see their face, but he can almost sense the delight in their smile.

“Ren,” they shout, “mush!”

The force from the beast’s takeoff knocks Zixian off his feet. Xiao’s hair flutters in the aftershock. Haoran’s screaming is lost to the wind.

Xiao follows them south. The Tamer doubletakes when Xiao runs at their side, then flashes the adeptus a wide grin before kicking at the hound’s ribs. Renegade snorts and leans forward. He begins to inch ahead. The Tamer holds up their middle finger again as they pass.

They follow the coast east, sand and sea salt spraying as they run. Before long, a path and village appear along the horizon. Renegade skids to a halt at the entrance, Xiao just steps behind.

“Woohoo!” the Tamer cheers, punching the air. “Foolish Xiao! Hah!”

Xiao frowns, but the sound of Haoran’s groans distracts him. The medic lays over Renegade’s back, face pale. When the Tamer slips off, they catch Haoran in their arms. 

“Haoran okay?” the Tamer asks. 

“Guh…” Haoran groans.

“Halt!” a voice barks. Another Millelith soldier is running towards them, polearm raised. “State your business, n-Conqueror of Demons? What are you-”

“It’s…me, Qianfan.” Haoran lifts a bubbling hand to his head as the Tamer helps him walk towards the soldier. "Here for some herbs…Archons, that was a terrible idea." He jabs the Tamer. "Slower, foolish brat. I'm too old to be running around like that."

The Tamer processes the words, but Xiao guesses they don't understand because they smile and shrug. "Haoran all good."

"I-Wait, who is-" Qianfan gawks, torn between the presence of Xiao, Renegade, and the Tamer. A bubble to the forehead snaps him out of it. "Right! Come, the men are still preparing for the storm. This way."

The Millelith leads them into Mingyun Village, a quarry surrounded by sturdy rock walls. The sound of clanking metal and rattling carts bounce off the stone surrounding them and vibrate in his ears. 

Xiao slows to keep his distance from the mortals, eyeing the cliff faces around them. While the mines have been relatively secured, the height disadvantage does little to put him at ease. 

"I'm afraid you've come at a rough time," Qianfan says as they walk. "The miners are…a bit upset."

"Upset?" Haoran asks. 

"We were hit with a sudden rainstorm the other day. Normally, it would've been fine, but…" Qianfan grimaces. "Someone's also been taking supplies. Food's getting tight, and the usual caravans have stopped because the storms are coming." 

"You should have sent a message to Captain Jinhai," Xiao says. 

"W-We tried!" Qianfan says. "But our messenger birds disappear whenever we send out letters."

"Eaten?" Haoran guesses. 

"That's what everyone says." Qianfan shakes his head. "Lao insists it's a demon interfering, but that's coming from the same guy who likes staying in the mines even when the finches go crazy."

They walk uphill. A ring of huts sits under the trees, reinforced with bamboo and wooden slats. Miners rest in the shade, chatting amongst themselves. One is working over a fire, and they lift a spoon in greeting. 

"Hey, Haoran!" the cook greets. "Long time, no see! What's…" he trails off as Renegade appears over the hill. "Um. What's that?" 

"A dog," Haoran says while the demon hound looms behind him.

"...um." The chatter outright stops when Xiao and the Tamer join them. "Conqueror of-Are we in trouble?" 

"They're just here to help collect herbs," Haoran says lazily.

"Really?" one of the miners asks. "With a hound that big? Is it an adeptus? A demon?"

"No demon," the Tamer says. They pat Renegade's leg. "Renegade good beast hound." Their heavy accent only stirs even more whispers around the camp. The Tamer's face falls, brows pinching as the miners watch them with distrust. 

Xiao sighs. "They will not be a problem. Relax." 

"...if you say so." The cook returns to stirring his pot. "I'd offer some food, but it ain't exactly up to an Adeptus' standards." 

"I do not need to eat," Xiao says. 

The Tamer only shakes their head. "No food."

"Don't try me, brat." Haoran claps his hands, drawing the miners' attention. "Let's eat."

Xiao does not follow, instead finding shade on one of the surrounding peaks, but Haoran refuses to let the Tamer go without a bowl of porridge. While Haoran joins the other miners at their tables, the Tamer looks around before finally spying Xiao. 

The jump they pull off does not help gain any favors with the others. 

"Xiao?" The Tamer offers the bowl to him. The grain is watery and nearly see-through. 

Xiao shakes his head. 

The Tamer grimaces, then stares down at the bowl. "Food…low? Not many." Still, they begin to sip. After a swallow, they end up finishing the bowl in five gulps. 

Renegade grumbles as he joins them. The Tamer mutters something in their tongue, then scowls when the beast barks. 

"No food," they say. "No."

The moment they set the bowl down, Xiao hears a soft groan from their gut. They flinch and put a hand over their stomach. When Renegade grumbles, they frown and elbow his side. 

"Bad dog," they mutter. Renegade only growls and settles behind the Tamer. 

Xiao tries to ignore them, but the Tamer’s stomach growls again and he can’t help but ask, “Did you not eat earlier?”

The Tamer massages their gut. “I eat. Um…” They draw a lump in the dirt. “B-Bao. Bun?” They chuckle, a sheepish smile on their face. “Eat lots.” Renegade grumbles and rolls his eyes, but the Tamer ignores them in favor of pointing at Xiao. “You? No eat lots. Bad.”

Xiao frowns. “Adepti do not need to eat as often.”

“Adepti?” The Tamer frowns back. “Adepti. Millelith. Same, yes?”

“No.” Xiao mulls over his words. It is almost impossible to boil the differences down into words that he assumes the Tamer can understand. In the end, he cannot, so the Tamer settles back to try and figure it out on their own.

"Hm." The Tamer looks up at the sky. The clouds are drifting over Mingyun Village. Oddly enough, it seems rather clear in the distance. 

Before Xiao can dwell on it, someone yells at them.

“Hey! Outsider!” a miner below shouts. “Get down here! I got questions!”

From his table, Haoran sighs and massages his face. “Leave them alone, Lao.”

“Go back to bed, Lao!” another miner jeers.

“Yeah, go eat your damn mushrooms and fuck off, Lao!”

Lao does not seem to care. He marches up the path without hesitation, body swaying and eyes red. Xiao frowns, but the Tamer stands to meet the miner halfway. Renegade lays still. His muscles are still tensed.

“Who you?” the Tamer asks.

“I oughta ask you the same thing, outsider,” Lao snaps. He lists to the side as he jabs a finger at the Tamer’s chest. “I betcha that little demon’s your doing!”

“Oh, boy, here it comes,” a miner sighs. 

“Demon?” the Tamer repeats. They shake their head and swat Lao’s hand away. “No demon. Renegade good beast!”

“I don’t care about your damn dog, I’m talking about the little bastard that’s been stealing our food!” Lao throws his arms wide as the miners groan below. “I’ve seen it, I know it’s here!”

“Yeah, and Rex Lapis is in the mines, too,” the cook grumbles before throwing a balled up rag at them. “Just shut up already, Lao. Seriously!”

“Just you watch, Baiji,” Lao snaps. “Next storm, that demon’ll be back. I just know it!”

“And we still need to be preparing instead of wasting all your supplies building a trap,” Qianfan says. 

Lao begins to shout again, but a little bubbles whistles past, and he begins to gasp and choke. From below, Haoran wipes his mouth and rises from his seat. 

“That’s enough, Lao,” the medic scolds. “Renegade, come. Bring Lao with you.”

Renegade groans as he stands, but he grabs Lao by the scruff of his mining uniform and drags him downhill. The Tamer watches with a blank face, then shakes it off and smiles. It does not look right. “Haoran, go now?”

“Go now,” Haoran agrees before sending a pointed look at Xiao, The adeptus frowns and rises with them.

“I will go with you,” he says. 

The Tamer’s smile grows, this time crinkling their eyes. “Good. Come, come!”

They produce a list from their pocket and head out of Mingyun Village. Drawings of herbs and (what Xiao assumes are) numbers in their language fill the page. There is also, for some reason, a drawing of himself in the corner.

The Tamer hums as they eye the cliff wall. There are plenty of plants growing between the rocks, and after finding a specific wall, they roll their neck and throw off their coat, peel their gloves, and-

They remove their shirt. Xiao immediately shuts his eyes. Warmth creeps up his neck, but he grits his teeth and wills the blush away.

“Xiao?” the Tamer calls. “All good?”

Xiao slowly opens his eyes, embarrassment disappearing under his surprise. The ink from their arms run over their shoulders, connecting to a thick collar of ink around their neck. Three lines stretch across their chest, forming a crow’s foot with a single line connecting to a ring in the center of their pectorals. Although they wear cloth wrappings, he can almost see the ink line between their chest. It runs down the middle of their stomach and disappears into their trousers. 

Above it all is a strange necklace. The crystal shimmers in the light, similar to a crystal butterfly's core. 

The Tamer follows his stare, looking down at their body before laughing. The markings begin to flicker, the crystal glowing a soft blue. “Good, yes? Good.” 

With that, they tie their loose sleeves around their waist, hook their fingers into the near-vertical wall, and begin to climb. The markings on their back are identical to the pattern on their chest. 

Xiao steps back as they climb higher. Occasionally, they stop to double-check their list before shoving it back in their mouth. By the time they reach the first patch of violetgrass, Xiao has to crane his neck back to keep them in sight.

With one hand, they pluck the herbs and tuck it in their satchel. Even from down here, Xiao can hear them singing. They look like they’re having fun.

“Xiao!” they call as they continue to climb. 

"What?" he yells back. 

They kick off, latching onto a handhold above them. Pebbles rain onto Xiao as he looks up. "All good?"

Xiao huffs. He is the one on the ground and yet they ask him? "I'm fine," he still says. After a moment, he adds, "Are you okay?" 

"All good," they say. For added emphasis, they give him a thumbs up. He thinks. They are so far above him, he can't tell. For all he knows, they could be holding up their middle finger again. 

Time passes, Xiao's worries fading with it. Clouds float across the sky, cutting through the summer haze and providing some much needed shade. The Tamer climbs with the confidence of a lizard, and they do not slip once, even when using one hand to harvest. 

So he allows his mind to return to Lao's accusations. Another demon? Normally he can sense when a demon is nearby, but nothing seems out of the ordinary. Still, even a single mention of a possible demon cannot go overlooked. 

Xiao shuts his eyes and focuses. There is the soft pulse of the twenty-something miners in the quarry, the rushing waters of Haoran and his Vision…even Renegade leaves traces of heat as he pushes the carts around the mines. Overhead, the clouds crackle with Electro. There is nothing that Xiao is not expecting. No demons. Not even another living creature besides the mortals in the mines. 

His brows pinch as he refocuses his senses. That's right. He cannot sense anything strange there. 

But above him…

Thunder rolls through the earth. Above him, he hears a shriek, crumbling rock, and leaps. He catches the Tamer halfway, Anemo at his feet as they descend.  

The Tamer, curled tight, peeks an eye open, then gasps and beams. "Xiao!" 

The adeptus frowns. "What happened?" 

The Tamer's smile falters. "Aha…ah…" 

Light flashes, and the Tamer squeaks and braces themself.

Thunder. Xiao stares at the Tamer, the stranger capable of lifting Renegade and knocking him unconscious with one strike, as they clap their hands over their ears. "...seriously?" 

The Tamer pouts and wriggles out of Xiao's grip. They land in a crouch before throwing their arms up wide. "Boom! Bad!"

"It's just thunder," Xiao says as he lands. "It's not like it can hurt you." 

The Tamer's pout grows, but they focus on their satchel. Most of it is filled with violetgrass and qingxin. When they check their list, however, they growl and look back up the cliffs. 

"Qingxin," they say, rolling their shoulders. "Qingxin-Ah!" They scramble back as lightning flashes overhead. "No, no, no…" 

Xiao eyes the darkening sky. A storm is closing in. He turns, ready to head back to the village. After a few steps, he turns back around. They still have their hands over their ears. 

"Stop being ridiculous," he says. 

They only shake their head. Their eyes aren't even open. 

Xiao scowls. He almost leaves, but then he remembers that Renegade and Haoran are both waiting for them in the village, sighs, and grabs their arm. After a tug, they stumble after Xiao as rain begins to fall.

The miners are scurrying to get everything tied down and sealed off before the rain can leak through. Renegade is pacing at the end of the path. He trots up the moment he spies the two, outright butting Xiao out of the way as he nips at the Tamer's arms.

"Conqueror of Demons!" Qianfan calls as Renegade carries the Tamer towards a hut. "Haoran is waiting. Come!"

Inside the hut, Haoran is glaring out of the window. Renegade grumbles as he drops the Tamer in a corner, curling around them tight.

"Welcome back," Haoran says. "Now, leave us, Qianfan." 

The Millelith's eyes widen in surprise. "Haoran-"

"Shoo," the medic snaps. "I have business to discuss with the Conqueror of Demons." 

"...but this is my hut," Qianfan whines. It only takes Renegade's snarl to send him running. After a moment, the Tamer peeks an eye open.

"Haoran," they say, scrambling to their feet. "Haoran, bad, bad! My beast-"

"I know," he says. "I know, calm down-"

Xiao looks between them in alarm. "What are you talking about?" 

Haoran sighs as the Tamer flops back against Renegade. "The storm. Don't tell me you think it is normal, you fool." 

It isn't. The clouds had condensed only around Mingyun Village. And mentions of the demon and Lao's behavior…

"Where is Lao?" he asks. 

"Already asleep. I think." Haoran massages his face. "I searched him for some kind of corruption. If it is, it's nothing like the one that came from Renegade." He stops and sighs, then looks down at the Tamer. "Is it your beast again? Really?" 

The Tamer cringes as lightning lights up the inside of the hut. "Don't know." They stiffen, breathing only once the thunder ends. "No good. Bad. Hurt all." After another thunderclap, their ink glows, bright enough to illuminate the entire hut. They draw the stormcloud in the dirt, then cross it out and pretend to look around. 

"You'll look once the storm ends?" Haoran guesses. 

They draw the stormcloud again. "Storm?" Then cross it off. "End?" Once Haoran nods, they return the gesture. "Storm ends. Ren, me, look."

"...I see." Haoran frowns, but as the Tamer's light dims, Xiao can only make out the soft glow of the medic's Vision. "That's the plan, then."

Xiao shakes his head. "Then I will keep watch. If the beast is here, then it may try to attack while the others are sleeping."

Haoran hums in agreement. "Be careful not to get too wet. Wouldn't want you catching a cold."

Reminding the medic that adepti cannot get sick is a pointless endeavor, so Xiao leaves the hut instead, returning to the shaded hill he'd found when they arrived. It gives a clear view to both main roads, along with the entrances to the mines. 

And so the adeptus sits and waits. 

He passes the time, counting the silence between lightning and thunder. The winds are fierce, buffeting his skin while rain plasters his hair to his face. Every half-hour, he focuses and checks to see if everyone is accounted for. 

After the four hour mark, one is missing. 

Xiao gets to his feet and squints through the dark, alarm running through him. Haoran's hut. There's the rapids of Haoran's Vision and the crackling heat of Renegade. The Tamer is nowhere to be found. 

He scowls and throws his senses out again, but the storm is drowning out any trail they leave. The thunder must have covered any noises when they were leaving, too. He doubts Renegade would have let them leave alone. 

Xiao tries again, leaping onto the path. There are fading footsteps in the mud that lead south, and it only takes a few seconds of following for him to find the Tamer. They crouch behind a mining cart, staring ahead.

"What are you doing?" he says. Through the rain, he doesn't think they hear him. 

Then they throw a hand out, a clear sign for him to stop, then points to the village's storage space. Most of the non-perishables are there. 

He almost asks why they're watching it when, underneath the rolling thunder, he senses something alive. Like someone had captured a thunderstorm in a bottle and stored it inside the building. 

"...Delta," the Tamer says, barely audible through the rain. "My beast. Delta." 

Xiao tenses as the beast shifts inside. "We need to get it. Before it escapes." 

The Tamer only shakes their head. "Storm ends, catch him. No storm end, bad. Delta…electro. Delta Electro." Lightning flashes. For just a brief moment, it is the only light in their unfocused eyes. 

He reaches out, but his senses flare again, this time latching onto a lumbering figure coming from the village. They stumble and trip, half-sliding in the mud, but they're clutching a pickaxe. The bloodlust gives him away. 

"Lao!" Xiao shouts. 

And it is all the adeptus can say before the storage hut explodes. Thunder explodes in Xiao's ears as shrapnel whistles around them. The Tamer yanks him down just as a blur flies past them, cloak flung over his back. Their body trembles against his, cold and wet and frozen stiff. 

"Get up!" he yells. 

Their mouth gapes but they shake their head and Xiao forgets, for a moment, that they are mortal and there is blood trickling from their ears, but then they're pointing and shout, "Delta!" 

And standing there, over Lao's unconscious body, is another beast. It is almost laughable how small they are compared to Renegade, but there is the same unhinged, bloodthirsty glow behind scarlet eyes. A mechanism, some kind of beartrap, bites into its hind leg. Lao's trap. 

With another kick, the scrap metal falls apart, and the beast's yellow and white fur begins to crackle with electricity. The storm seems to howl in response.

It occurs to Xiao just then that they are standing, exposed, to an Electro-wielding beast while drenched in water. He is an adeptus, a yaksha. He can take it.

The Tamer behind him still bleeds. 

Xiao charges. He needs to get it away from the Tamer, away from Lao and Mingyun Village before it can kill everyone there. If he can lead it away, they could bring the miners to Guili Watchtower. He has to protect them. He has to-

Another blur flies at the beast from behind. It's Renegade, and it nearly catches the smaller dog in its jaws when it flashes out of the way. The Arcanine skids to a halt, the sun glowing between its fangs. The smaller dog only snarls and charges. 

It darts between the blast of flames, but when it tries to head for the village, Renegade catches it by the scruff. He flings it back. It flips midair and fires a pulsating black orb, colliding with flames halfway. Smoke and smog rains from above.

When it clears, there are twenty flickering copies of the yellow dog surrounding the hound. Renegade’s head whips back and forth and snarls, hunching over Lao’s body in some attempt to shield him from the rain. 

One copy charges. Renegade’s flaming fangs snap at the dog, only to cry out when the afterimage melts between its jaws. Another pulsing orb explodes against his flank and nearly knocks him off his feet. More and more charge in, each strike dispelling the afterimage and leaving another to take its place.

Xiao bares his teeth, polearm in hand, and charges in. He spears one afterimage before it can land on Renegade’s back, kicks another that aims for his legs. Just as he spins to strike one when it leaps for his neck, a blue orb shreds it in two. 

“Delta!” the Tamer shouts, scrubbing at their ears. “Renegade, Roar!”

Renegade bellows. A pit claws at Xiao’s chest, the instinct to flee stopped only by the weight of his mask at his hip. Around them, the copies dissipate in rapid bursts. The yellow dog’s eyes stretch wide, ears flat and body hunched. It snaps and snarls, but its entire body trembles, like it wants to turn and run.

It’s enough for the Tamer to land a blast against its bloody leg. It lets out a pained howl, but it snaps out of its stupor. Its fur begins to spark. The stormclouds ripple with electricity.

The thunder strikes. Xiao braces himself. The Tamer shouts. Renegade throws himself over Lao and roars. His body seizes as the stench of burnt hair fills Xiao’s lungs. His claws tear at the ground, maw open in a silent scream, but the lightning only grows in strength. 

Until a giant pot flies through the air and knocks the dog across the field. Qianfan’s chest heaves, clutching his White Tassel like it’s the Vortex Vanquisher as the dog bounces to a halt.

“Yeah?!” Qianfan shouts, pointing his polearm at the dog. “Come on! Try me!”

The dog snarls, but the sound of Renegade’s groaning distracts them all. He stumbles and lists, sidestepping away from Lao’s untouched body and collapsing on his side. Qianfan gasps and runs for Lao’s body. The dog’s fur sparks again, but the Tamer and Xiao charge at it before it can fire off another strike. 

It is a smaller target, though, and the Tamer still fights barehanded. Xiao cannot risk going all-out without striking the Tamer. Still, his attempts to hit the beast are thwarted. Its body continues to flicker, leaving fakes in its place. The Tamer never falters, punching straight through the copies with their teeth bared. If they are worried about hurting their beast, they do not show it.

Not until the hound’s eyes flash. The scarlet haze disappears, now a vibrant purple reminiscent of an Electro Vision, free of rage and corruption. Its ears droop and body cowers, and the fist the Tamer swings goes wide, their entire form falling apart as they twist desperately to avoid a fatal blow.

Then the hound blinks and the blood-red haze is back, and Xiao is not fast enough to intercept the barrage of needles that burrow into their skin.

Xiao grits his teeth as his muscles begin to burn. His knees give out, electricity numbing his limbs. Even when he pushes energy through his body, his limbs refuse to cooperate. Beside him, the Tamer falls, catching themself with a fist. The hound only gives them a final howl, then turns and flees.

“Wait!” The Tamer manages to rise to their feet. One step, then two, then they begin to run, chasing after the dog when it heads for the mines. “Delta!”

Xiao grits his teeth and tries to do the same, but the numbness is spreading. Just like before with Renegade’s corruption. Still, he manages to hiss the Tamer’s name, then yells for the Millelith to follow them.

He cannot tell if they hear him. The last thing he sees is the Tamer disappearing into the mines, and the last thing he hears is an explosion as the entrance caves in.

Chapter Text

Xiao awakens to needles being ripped from his chest and Haoran’s enraged face.

“If you weren’t an adeptus,” he hisses, “I would have strangled you myself.”

Xiao grimaces as he pushes himself upright. He can feel his limbs again, can feel the twisting pain of his karmic debt beneath his skin, but that does not compare to the sinking in his chest.  “Where’s…”

“The Tamer?” Haoran scoffs. “Missing. That foolish brat…” He grits his teeth, pacing around the small room. “‘Wait until the storm ends’, they said. I should’ve known. They’re just as ridiculous as you.”

The medic trails off in his angered swears as Xiao gets to his feet. In a floating bubble, translucent needles crackle with electricity. Another floating bubble-

“Corruption,” he whispers. 

Haoran pauses just long enough to look at the second bubble. A writhing mass of ink and tentacles squirms inside. “I had to fish it out of Lao’s brain. Crawled right out of his nose.” He grimaces. “It’d sunken in deep. That’s why I couldn’t find it at first.”

Xiao grunts. “And the others?”

“Unharmed.” Haoran massages his face. “Qianfan will not shut up about how he managed to hit the thing last night.” Despite the exhaustion in his body, his voice sounds fond. 

That does not ease the tension in Xiao’s body. He rolls his head, then his shoulders. “I’m going into the mines.”

“No, you’re not,” Haoran says immediately. 

“The Tamer is down there,” Xiao says. “Their beast is there, too.” 

The Tamer, for all their aggression and rage during the fight, had faltered. They’d been blinded by their beast’s soft eyes. If they slip up again while in the caves, then there is no telling what the beast might do. And Xiao will not know if it does do something, because he is above ground and they are not.

He emerges from the hut to a bustling village. Miners and Millelith loiter around the two remaining entrances to the mines. At the caved-in entrance, Renegade digs through the muddied rubble. If there is any pain from the thunder strike just a few hours before, it does not seem to bother him in the slightest.

“Conqueror of Demons!” To Xiao’s surprise, Lao is at the mines, pickaxe in hand. There is a bundle of tissue up one nostril, but other than that, he looks completely healthy. 

“Leave him alone, Lao,” another miner warns. "Be respectful."

"I am, I am." Lao waves off the warning. When he realizes the adeptus is still watching, he bends deeply at the waist. "Just wanted to thank you, is all. The guys were telling me I was…actin' up. Saying I was possessed or something." 

"You were," the other miner says. Lao only shrugs. 

"But don't worry, Conqueror of Demons," he says. "We'll get your partner outta there in no time. It's the least I can do as thanks."

"Partner?" Xiao echoes, but Lao is already chipping away once more. It is Renegade who stops, now, this time to eye the adeptus. He barks, waits, then barks again when Xiao does not react. 

He thinks the hound is talking to him. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he's saying. 

Renegade can tell, too, because he leaves the rubble and approaches. Xiao almost flickers away when the hound leans in and sniffs. After a few more sniffs, he leans back and barks, then-

Xiao's entire body shudders as Renegade drags his tongue from his neck up, leaving half of his hair spiked.

"Woof," Renegade woofs. 

Xiao releases a burst of Anemo, his hair resettling as he glares at the hound. He only barks again. 

"He's been waiting," Haoran says from behind Xiao. 

"So he licked me," Xiao drones. 

"He licked me, too. Don't act like you're special," Haoran snaps before shoving past them. "Now come on. We need to plan." 

Xiao grunts and follows the medic to the remaining mines. There is a map smoothed out over a table, detailing the inner tunnels of the mines. Based on the rain from the night before, some of their deeper tunnels will be flooded, which helps narrow down where they could be. Still, that leaves a handful of tunnels to explore. 

They plan quickly. Haoran and Renegade will stand guard at the remaining mines. If Delta slips past Xiao, then they and the rest of the Millelith will be waiting to capture it. If Xiao finds the Tamer, then he will bring them out and attempt to seal the tunnels to prevent the beast from escaping.

Haoran protests the last bit, but the presence of the Millelith and miners dissuades him. The priority is rescuing the Tamer and eliminating any threat. Even if it hurts the Tamer in the end, the lives of Liyue’s mortals are what matter here.

Xiao tells himself this, but he still feels a trickle of guilt in his chest. When the Tamer realizes that they’d killed their beast…well, he’s not sure they would smile. 

In fact, he’s sure the rest of Mingyun Village would not survive.

But that is only if the Tamer is alive. The Tamer knows his name. They only ever call him by his name. And yet when Xiao uses his senses, he cannot find them. Not even a trace of their energy remains. Are they…If they are dead-

Xiao grits his teeth and marches towards one of the cave’s entrances. No, they are not dead. It is his duty to keep mortals safe. And he will see to the Tamer’s safety as well.

It does not take long before the light disappears. Inside the tunnels, it is muddy and cold, air burning his lungs as he breathes. The lamps have burnt out, but the map of the tunnels is burned into his mind, and he focuses on the routed path instead of the flicker of worry he’d felt before descending. 

Left, right, then down. Nothing is there. 

The Tamer still bleeds. Xiao knows they do, having seen them hurt themself and heal the wound away with the same ease in which he fights. They heal corruption, they sink their fingers into it and shred it apart like paper. He should not worry for them, but he still cannot sense them in the tunnels. 

He stops at an intersection. The one to the left leads to the sealed tunnel. He heads right. 

Perhaps he is walking into a trap. The Tamer is an outsider-whether they are from the same land as the beasts from the Chasm or from another world does not matter. Is this just an elaborate ruse? One to kill the final yaksha and weaken Rex Lapis’ forces?

The moment Xiao thinks this, he shakes his head. He thinks of their strength, of the way they went into battle with only their fists and a feral grin on their face. 

No. If they’d wanted to harm the others, they would have done so already. They could have killed the five soldiers, could have ordered Renegade to destroy the tower and leave the eastern front undefended. Instead, they sit and learn Liyuean and try their best to communicate with them, despite the mistrust in the others’ eyes.

Xiao frowns. If they truly are an enemy, then they are the kindest enemy he has met in a while.

He is not sure how long he has walked, but he starts to think he's been in here for too long because he smells fresh air. He's deep into the mines. There shouldn't be any openings nearby.

And yet Xiao finds himself stumbling from the tunnel and onto an open field, a thunderstorm raging overhead. Pain laces up his shoulder as his body hits the wet grass. He needs to hurry. They've already sounded the alarm.

"Ren!" 

He flinches. It is not his voice, but it is familiar all the same. He whistles sharply, breathless.

Where is Renegade? He'd been scared off earlier, so he'd told the Arcanine to wait in the forest. Did they find him? He's a smart boy, he knows how to avoid patrols-

"You!"

Xiao freezes, rolling onto his feet. One of the royal guards stumbles out of the tunnel after him, just as bloody and furious as the rest of his men would've been if they had survived the explosion. Johannes, Xiao recalls blindly.

"You…you traitor!" Johannes screams. He hefts his greatsword. "I will have your HEAD!"

He charges. Xiao scrambles for aura, sinking his fingers in deep, but there is nothing. He'd spent it all breaking free from the dungeons. 

Johannes lifts his greatsword. In the metal's reflection, the Tamer's face fills with fear. 

Before he can behead Xiao, a little blur shoots from the tunnel and chomps right on Johannes' ear. He cries out and stumbles, and Xiao charges at him, shoulder ramming into his gut. The greatsword falls into his open palm and when he twists, he twists with his whole body and-

It's a clean cut. 

Xiao's chest heaves as he stumbles back, the greatsword and the body hitting the ground with a resounding thud. He feels sick. If it's from the sound of the head rolling on the ground or how empty his reserves are, he cannot tell.

"Eev!" A tiny brown fox yips, spitting out a chunk of flesh. It scurries over to Xiao's lap and sniffs at his chin. "Eevee, eev!" 

"I-I'm fine," Xiao gasps. He reaches up to scratch the fox's head before finally rising. "You need to go, little one." 

The fox yips and nips at his pants.

"You can't," he insists. "My path…it is dangerous. You are still young." 

It growls. It is not as young as Xiao thinks, he knows, but it definitely would be a bad idea to bring the Queen's Eevee with him on his mission. But…it is an Eevee…

"Arf!" Xiao looks up. Renegade is running for them. He is unharmed, thank the gods. 

Xiao looks down at the fox again. It has no owner to return to now. It is technically a free beast. And everyone only knows that Queen Rin had an Eevee… 

When Renegade reaches them, the little fox growls, unafraid despite being barely bigger than his paw. The lightning overhead only solidifies Xiao's decision. 

"How would you feel about evolving into a Jolteon?" he asks. The fox wriggles and yaps again. The idea of evolving must be exciting for it. After all, Xiao had heard that the Eevee had been bought to be the Queen's personal lap warmer, not a fighter. So a Jolteon it is, then.

Xiao picks up the Eevee and climbs onto Renegade's back. It'll need another name, too…

Renegade growls, waiting for directions. 

"As far as we can get from the palace." Xiao readjusts his grip on the fox as it climbs onto his head. "The delta is our best bet." He stops, then smiles. "Delta. That has a nice ring to it."

The fox settles on Xiao's head. Delta it is, he supposes. 

He drives his heels into Renegade's sides, and Xiao is suddenly ripped out of his body and back in the caves, further down the path than he should've been. At his feet shines a crystaline flower. 

Xiao swallows and kneels. It hums under his fingers, warming his palm when he picks it up, petals folding together until it resembles a flower bud. It matches the Tamer's necklace. 

Had those been their memories? It'd been their voice, their face. Renegade and…a younger Delta had been there too. The language sounds like the foreign tongue the Tamer speaks and Xiao does not recognize the Palace. And the Tamer had killed the soldier without a second thought. The bright-eyed, smiling Tamer. 

The crystal flickers in his palm. He looks down, then up in surprise as a hazy trail of light snakes through the tunnels. Quickly, he drops the crystal in his pocket and descends into the dark. The trail grows stronger and stronger, and he is all but running when the tunnel opens to a small cavern.

He finds them. 

The Tamer is unconscious. That is the first problem. They sit against the cave wall, head slumped and body lax. The only thing that reassures Xiao is the gentle puff of air he can hear echoing around the cave. 

The other problem is Delta. It's sitting directly on the Tamer's lap, whining and shaking as it noses their chin. One arm loosely cradles its body, almost as if they were just sitting together, sleeping. 

But the moment Xiao tries to enter the cavern, Delta's ears perk, and it darts out of their lap and growls at him. 

The Tamer lets out a groan. Delta looks back and whines, taking a step back. Yet, when Xiao tries to approach, its fur begins to spark. 

"It's okay…" he says, trying his best to sound softer. 

Delta is unconvinced. Its fur begins to crackle, stopping only when Xiao steps back. Once he is out of the cavern, it begins to step back, then crawls back into the Tamer's lap. After a moment of squirming, it flops its head against the left side of the chest, like it's listening for something. 

Xiao frowns. The beast lacks any signs of corruption. In fact, the black splotch under the Tamer's fist looks like the corruption's remains. Last time, the Tamer had woken up on their own, but Xiao can still see the needles sticking out from their stomach. Stuck in a damp cave for most of the night, soaking and alone…

It is almost admirable how the beast refuses to leave their side, but it does not help either of them right now. He needs to bring the Tamer to Haoran, quickly. 

Xiao's eyes dart from the beast to its Tamer before a plan forms. Slowly, he lowers himself, palms open, and braces himself. 

"Good boy…" he whispers. 

Delta blinks. Its growl falters as Xiao creeps closer. 

"Good boy, Delta," he repeats again. This time, its ears perk up. He hopes that's a good thing and reaches for the Tamer's shoulder, only to jerk back when it growls. It starts to yap, but after a glance between Xiao and the Tamer, the electricity fades. 

It's smart enough to know not to try and fight so close to its tamer. Good. "They need help," Xiao says. "If they don't get out of here, they'll get sick and die." 

For a moment, he worries that the shift in languages will upset it. Its lips curl back, but it slips out from under the Tamer's arm and yaps. 

Xiao touches the Tamer's shoulder. Their clothes are still wet from the storm. When he touches their skin, he nearly recoils from how cold it is. Delta must have been trying to keep them warm. 

He lifts their arm over his shoulder, grimacing as the water soaks through his clothes. He almost flickers away when the dog barks again, this time nipping at the fabric of his trousers. It sniffs the air, then charges ahead, stopping only when it realizes Xiao isn't following. It growls and yips again. 

…it wants him to follow? 

Xiao decides to follow. It's the safer choice. He doubts it will be very happy if he leaves with its tamer, and it does not seem corrupted, anyways. 

It darts ahead and laps back twice, growling at Xiao. When it starts nipping at his heels, he growls back and tries to step on it. He only steps on a copy. 

The journey back is far shorter than Xiao realizes (when he ignores Delta). When the light appears at the end, he sighs and tightens his grip on the Tamer. 

"Haoran!" he shouts. 

"Bring them here!" Haoran barks back. He's pacing by the entrance, practically tearing the Tamer from his grasp. "Qianfan, help me carry them to the hut. Be quick!" 

And then the Tamer is gone, spirited away to be treated, leaving Xiao standing there as the miners celebrate the recovery. He almost follows them, but a deep snarl distracts him. 

Despite the height difference, Delta does not cower as Renegade growls at him. In fact, the smaller dog's fur bristles, ready to fight. 

Xiao braces himself, ready to step in when the bigger hound lifts a paw. He steps directly on Delta, a single paw flattening the dog to the ground. Despite the yowling and sparks flying, Renegade does not let up. Instead, he reaches down and picks up the dog in his mouth. It thrashes, but the Arcanine only gives it a firm shake to stop it. Finally, it stills, and he trots over to Lao and drops it at his feet.

“H-Huh?” Lao scrambles back as Delta rises to its feet. It starts to spark, but Renegade snarls and lifts a paw again. 

Delta’s sparks fade. It snaps at the air, then turns to Lao, ears back and belly nearly dragging on the floor. It whines and presses its nose to the miner's boots. When nothing happens, it twists and rolls onto its back. 

"I think it's tryna say sorry," a miner whispers when Lao gawks. 

"It's a dog," Lao whispers back. He flinches when Delta barks. "Alright, alright! I forgive you! 'sides, I heard I got you pretty good with my trap." He reaches down to pet the dog's belly, only to jerk back when Delta curls in and nips his hand. "OW! You little-"

Renegade steps in first and drops his full weight onto the smaller dog. It screeches like a demon being exorcized, but it never fires off anything stronger than a tiny spark of electricity. Eventually, it stops thrashing and settles for glaring at Renegade with the fury of a thunderstorm. 

Renegade only woofs and sinks onto his stomach. 

"Archons, they remind me of my kids," one of the Millelith says as Delta yowls again. 

It's a strange comparison, Xiao thinks, but the longer he watches the two beasts, the more he realizes it is true. Renegade seems perfectly content crushing Delta under his weight, and Delta never seems to reach the same level of rage as it carried last night. 

"Renegade, Delta!" Haoran shouts from the hut. "Come! Conqueror, you too! Qiafan, get out, adeptus business only-"

Xiao is quick to enter the hut, Renegade and Delta are not far behind. The moment the three of them are crammed inside, Haoran seals the door shut with a flick of one hand. On one of the beds, the Tamer blinks and offers Xiao a wobbly smile. 

"Hi," they croak, then flinch when Haoran plucks another needle from their chest. "Xiao, all okay?" 

Xiao can't help but scoff despite the way his shoulders sag at the sight. "Worry about yourself." 

They process his admonition. He guesses they don't understand when they smile anyways. "All good," they say. 

"No," Haoran huffs as he rips out another needle, "not good." He chucks the needle into the bubble with the others. "You're ridiculous, you know that? Foolish brat."

"Not foolish," they mumble, only to jump again when he pulls out a needle. "Haoran fool. Haoran…jerk." 

Haoran's frown only grows. "Cursing in your own language is just petty." 

"Fuck you," they mutter, then cry out when Haoran stabs the needle back into their chest. "Hey!"

"I know that one, brat," he says. 

The Tamer pouts, but they ignore him in favor of the yellow dog climbing onto the cot. It wiggles and squirms, balancing on their hips before barking. 

"Hah, hello," the Tamer greets. They smile and lift a hand, scratching at Delta's chin. "Delta, Xiao and Haoran. Xiao and Haoran, Delta. Good boy. Jolteon."

The Jolteon yaps again, tilting his head back as they scratch his neck. After a few scritches, he swats out and nips the Tamer's hand, apparently overwhelmed. The Tamer only laughs and flicks the dog's nose. 

Once Haoran finishes, they yawn and sit up, then drop back when the medic smacks them upside the head. 

"Next time," he says, "stick with your plan, huh? 'Wait until the storm ends' my ass. What were you thinking?!"

The Tamer shrinks back. The language barrier is there, but that does not stop Haoran from scolding them with the fury of any enraged general. Not that Xiao doesn't agree with any of it, no. 

They'd been reckless. Stupid. Running headfirst into the cave and sealing it off when no one else followed? Just finding them unconscious had been proof enough for Xiao. 

By the time Haoran is satisfied, the Tamer's face is blank. They blink slowly, then grimace, and their voice cracks when they say, "Haoran…no wrong. I wrong. Bad." Their fingers curl as they shake their head. "No word."

Haoran's scowl falters. "'Sorry.' The word you're looking for is 'sorry'."

The Tamer nods quickly. "Sorry. I all sorry. Delta sorry, too." Delta's ears lift as it growls, only for the Tamer to squash its face and push it off the cot. "I sorry to Lao, too. Where Lao?" 

In their haste, they throw their legs over the side and try to stand. The moment they let go, their knees buckle, landing on Renegade's head before they can fall. Behind them, Haoran only growls and pinches his nose. 

"Apologize to Lao later," he says as the hound pushes them back onto the cot. "Rest first." 

"...plenty of rest?" they guess. 

"Plenty of rest," Haoran agrees. "And Xiao will make sure you do. Isn't that right, Xiao?" 

Ah. So that is why he was called here. 

The panic in the Tamer's eyes do not go unnoticed as the adeptus huffs. "If I must."

"Oh, you must." Haoran's Vision flashes as he smiles. "I have things to discuss with the rest of the Millelith because of the new…" He eyes the bubble with the writhing plague. "Beast."

He nearly shatters the door when he leaves, toting the two bubbles with him. The moment he's gone, the Tamer buries their face in their hands and groans, muttering under their breath. Delta tries to wiggle into their arms with little luck. It takes Renegade trying to climb into the cot for the Tamer to stop. 

"Down, Ren," they say. They mumble something as they swing a leg over. 

"You're supposed to be resting," Xiao says from the corner perch he'd claimed. 

The Tamer looks up, holds up their middle finger, then tumbles out of the cot and onto Renegade's stomach. He barely flinches, instead curling into a tight ball around them as Delta climbs into their lap. It looks comfortable. 

It also reminds Xiao of the crystal flower bud in his pocket.

The moment he retrieves it, the air stills. The Tamer's eyes land on the crystal, hands frozen in Delta's fur. Electricity crackles. The air begins to broil. Xiao nearly summons his polearm out of instinct, clamping down on the urge as he holds the crystal flower out to them.

"This is yours?" he asks. 

Their lips part, but no sound comes out. Eventually, it is Delta who retrieves the crystal from the adeptus. When the Tamer holds it in their hands, it blooms once more while their face falls. 

"Ah." Their eyes unfocus, only for a moment before offering Xiao a tiny smile. "Xiao look?" 

Xiao hesitates, nodding slowly. There is no point in lying. Not when they already seem to know. 

"Ha…" They eye the crystal again, then scratch Delta's head. "Delta good. Small, but good." 

Delta preens under the attention, leaning into their chest as they scrub at his neck. He looks and acts like a lapdog, but Xiao does not forget how he'd attacked the knight in the memories. A vicious beast. 

His thoughts bring him to the sleeping Renegade. Large, lazy, and yet the village in Wuwang Hill and the soldiers in Guili Watchtower tell a different story. 

Their outing to Mingyun Village had just been for simple supplies. Haoran had tried his best to make them appear docile and ended up with a brand new beast and another case of corruption. Captain Jinhai will not be pleased. 

And if dissent grows in the tower, it is only a matter of time before the adepti or Rex Lapis hears. 

Xiao frowns. No matter how the beasts act now, their presence is a danger. The Tamer is dangerous and needs to be…be what? Killed? Exiled? It will be his duty to carry out this task, but imagining the Tamer's face when he raises his weapon against them feels…wrong. 

"All okay, Xiao?" the Tamer asks. 

Xiao shakes his head. "I'm fine." 

The Tamer pouts. Their face scrunches, deep in thought before pointing at him. 

"I don't look like that," he says dryly. 

"Xiao look bad," they say with a shrug. They miss his affronted face, instead petting Delta's head. "Xiao…mad? Haoran mad."

"Because you were being reckless." Xiao scowls. "You almost died."

"Die?" The Tamer shakes their head, then pats Delta again. "Delta die. If…If Xiao look, Delta die. He hurt Lao-"

And it is Xiao's duty to protect the mortals, so they'd run in to get to the dog first. 

"Haoran say…" they continue, "say demons die. But Ren good. Not demon. Haoran say…'Prove it'." Their lips curl as Renegade grumbles. "Ren, Delta, no die. I say no." 

Their eyes darken, but Renegade drags his tongue over their face and wipes it clean off. They shout and gag, elbowing the giant hound away as Delta nips at their shirt. It devolves in a mess of wrestling and kicking with no force behind it. 

Children, Xiao thinks. Just like children. Like…family. 

He calls their name before he can stop himself. The Tamer looks up, surprised, and Xiao hesitates when their grip tightens on Delta. 

"If…" He frowns. Language barrier, he reminds himself. "If you are hurt," he decides, "call my name. I will come." 

The Tamer is still mortal. They have family to care for and protect, like any other person of Liyue. And it is his duty to protect them. 

The Tamer's brows pinch. They mouth his words, like they're trying to practice. After a moment, they frown and set Delta aside, then try to rise. It takes a few minutes, and when their knees give out, Xiao is there to grab them this time. 

It seems to be part of their plan, because they grip his hand and smile. 

"If you are hurt, call my name," they repeat, "I will come." Xiao's breath falters as their ink glows. "I will come." 

…of course. Xiao squeezes their hand back. Again, without fail, it feels like a contract, but the Tamer's smile is near-blinding this time. 

"Look, look." They release his hand and point at their beasts. "Ren, Delta will come." They whistle sharply, and their ears rise in sync, even though they make no move to answer. "Good, yes?" 

Xiao doubts they will answer to him. Renegade even grumbles quietly in protest and Delta glares at Xiao like he wants to electrocute him. The Tamer looks down at them and scowls. 

"Bad dog," they scold. Delta growls and whines, and the Tamer's face lights up when they look at Xiao. "Xiao say 'Good boy'?" 

"Is that wrong?" Xiao asks. 

"No, no!" The Tamer laughs and pats their chest. "My home…ah, my…" They tap their throat. "Good to-" They tap their ear. 

"Hear," Xiao guesses. It must be good to the Tamer to hear someone else speak their language. Is that why Haoran had learned some phrases? To help them? 

"Good to hear…" The Tamer's smile grows. "Say good boy." 

"Why?" 

"Say it!"

Xiao makes a face, then slowly says, "Good…boy." 

The Tamer gasps and claps, feet wiggling in delight. "Good! Ah…" They trail off in their own language, but he does catch Boy a handful of times. 

Haoran finally returns after some time, face tight. He's carrying a sealed pot, now, which screeches and squirms when he sets it down. "We need to go back to the watchtower."

He does not leave any room for complaint. Renegade helps the Tamer limp out of the hut, steering them away as Haoran whispers harsh instructions to the gathered Millelith to continue as planned for the storms and to send for their fastest messenger if another unknown beast appears. 

And if they notice any strange behaviors in their men, call for Adeptus Xiao. 

Haoran does not climb onto Renegade when they leave. It takes three hours for them to return to the tower. The entire walk back, no one speaks. 

The silence is only broken once the watchtower comes into view. Even from the distance, Xiao can sense the pressure radiating from the top floors of the building. Renegade stops and growls. Delta's fur sparks.

"...bad," the Tamer whispers. They look down at the medic, expression pained. "Bad?"

Haoran smooths a hand over Renegade's leg. "No. Rex Lapis protects us. He is not a man to be trifled with. Understood?" 

"I-"

"Understood?" 

The Tamer hesitates, then nods. "Understood." 

"Good." Haoran exhales slowly. "I will do the talking. Do not provoke him, do not do anything stupid. He is not like Xiao. He might kill you if you pose a threat. Understood?" They do not respond until the medic growls their name.

"Yes," they mutter. Xiao does not trust they will be complicit. 

The men at guard are tensed, crossing their spears when Renegade tries to enter the building. 

"Rex Lapis is waiting for us, you fools," Haoran spits. 

"C-Captain Jinhai says not to let you in!" Jun says. "He said you didn't even get permission to leave in the first place!" He almost continues until he spots Delta at Renegade's feet. "A-And who's that?!"

Haoran's lips curl, but the Tamer nudges his shoulder and pats Renegade. The medic steps back and grips the Tamer's hand while the hound picks up Delta by the scruff. In a flicker, the cluster disappears. Jun pales at the sight. 

"It can teleport," he whispers in fear. "Oh, Archons, it can teleport."

Xiao rolls his eyes and follows them to the top floor. The air almost seems to hum, a gentle buzz that rattles his very core. Even Delta stills at the sensation as they land on the balcony.

"Ah," a deep voice greets them from within, "there you are."

Rex Lapis. The Warrior God, the God of the Stove and of History and Contracts, the Prime of Adepti and the protector of Liyue. The little meteor that orbits around him dissipates with a flick of his hand as he turns to face them. 

Xiao and Haoran are quick to kneel. The Tamer struggles to follow. The adeptus can hear their breath hitching in their chest.

“Please, there is no need for formalities,” Rex Lapis says. “We have fought side by side in battle. Stand.”

Haoran complies slowly, but Xiao remains on one knee. The medic is quick to stand at the Tamer’s side, who still grips Renegade’s fur with one tight fist. 

“I suppose I should begin with introductions,” he says, only for the Tamer to shove him away. Their eyes burn as they bare their teeth. Xiao does not understand what they hiss at Rex Lapis, but it triggers the beasts. Almost as one, they growl and snap, heat and electricity stirring the air. 

Rex Lapis tilts his head slowly, face empty as he takes in the Tamer and their two beasts. The three do not bow their heads. In fact, the Tamer squares their shoulders and lifts their chin, like they're the one looking down on the Archon. 

"Interesting," Rex Lapis says. 

The Tamer puffs up and spits at his feet. "Fool."

Xiao bares his teeth. Haoran raises his hand, ready to strike them when Rex Lapis chuckles. 

"I see Haoran is teaching you well," he says. The moment his foot brushes the wooden floor, Delta's fur begins to spark. Still, the Archon looks down at the small dog in surprise. "And is this the beast that Cloud Retainer speaks of?"

"Well…" Haoran tilts his head towards Renegade. The giant hound's tail swishes in acknowledgement, but he never looks away from Rex Lapis. "That is the one it spoke of. Delta is new."

"New?" Rex Lapis eyes Delta again, this time in concern. After a moment, he says, "Report, Conqueror of Demons."

Xiao snaps to attention and does as told. He tells the Archon of the sightings, of the strange beast and the Tamer's powers and the writhing plague that infected his soldiers. Haoran retrieves the specimen when prompted, and Rex Lapis watches it writhe while Xiao describes his meeting with the Tamer and their beasts. He is careful not to mention their past, simply describing them as a foreigner. 

When he finishes, Rex Lapis' lips turn down ever so slightly. He turns to the Tamer, who only narrows their eyes in challenge. For a moment, the air ripples despite the lack of breeze. 

Rex Lapis approaches. With each step, the air thickens, and it takes Xiao a moment to realize it is coming from the archon himself. It is the same suffocating force as his spears when they hurtle towards Teyvat, all-consuming and crushing him into nothing but dust. 

Haoran pales, hand trembling as the Archon walks past. Xiao keeps his head bowed, but he keeps the Tamer in sight. So that is it, then. Execution. 

The Tamer, to their credit, stands their ground. They hold their head high. Beside them, Delta's fur sparks to life. Behind them, Renegade's lips pull back to reveal his wicked fangs. 

It is when Rex Lapis lifts his hand that Xiao is blinded. 

Living beings radiate energy. If Xiao focuses, he can sense them, can differentiate between mortals and Vision Wielders. It had been the same for Renegade and Delta, but for the Tamer…

The Tamer shines. 

Their tattoos burn like the sun. Air whips through the room, Rex Lapis unflinching as the aura clashes with his own oppressive power. The only outward reaction is the flickering of his own ink along his arms. Slowly, Rex Lapis’ eyes narrow, stepping through the invisible force until he is toe to toe with the stranger. They only tilt their head up and scowl. 

Something passes between them then. Xiao does not know what, nor does he even entertain the idea that he can. He is only an adeptus and they are gods. 

Nearby, Haoran lets out a pained gasp, Vision flickering, and the Tamer’s eyes break away. The pressure eases. They cross their arms as the light fades from their ink. "Foolish," they say casually as their beasts still. "Foolish Rex Lapis." 

Rex Lapis smiles. "Perhaps. It does not hurt to be cautious." 

The Tamer shrugs, but they reach down to smooth Delta's fur. "Good boys."

"As I've heard," Rex Lapis says as Delta growls. Wisely, he does not try to pet them. 

The Tamer still seems appeased. They start scrubbing Renegade's face and squish his cheeks so much his eyes nearly shut, back to the Archon like he is no longer interesting. Or a threat. 

"What…" Haoran swallows, color slowly returning to his face. "What was that?"

Rex Lapis smiles. "Just coming to an understanding, is all." 

"Mhm." The Tamer looks over their shoulder to eye the Archon, then returns to petting Renegade. "All okay." 

"Just like that?" Haoran asks. "Really? That's it?" He lets out a breathless laugh. “You just size each other up and decide, ‘Ah, that is a powerful opponent’ and leave it at that?” 

"There is more to it than that,” Rex Lapis says, smile growing bittersweet, “but I suspect it is not my story to tell.”

The Tamer's hand stills once more. It takes Renegade's whining to spur them into motion. They squish his cheeks together once more as they softly add, “Yes.”

Haoran watches the exchange with a frown, then flicks his hand. "Fine. You Archons…would it kill you to be straightforward for once in your life?" His face hardens into its normal scowl. "So I have permission to harass Captain Jinhai for his inhospitable attitude?" 

"Within reason," Rex Lapis muses. "And I trust the Conqueror of Demons will aid you as well?" 

Xiao nods immediately. "Yes, sir."

"Tch, lapdog," Haoran mutters, clapping his hands. "If that is all, then be off. I have some work to do. Tamer!" 

The Tamer startles to attention. At the medic's beckoning, they follow him to the stairs, pausing when they pass Rex Lapis. After a moment of hesitation, they offer a hand to the Archon. He eyes it curiously before taking their hand. 

They simply say their name, then introduce Renegade and Delta to the Archon. With a firm shake and another flicker of their ink, they let go and follow Haoran down the stairs. 

Rex Lapis hums once more. "Curious. Now…Xiao," he says, "a word?" 

The Archon strides over to the balcony, Xiao following behind at a respectful distance. Storm clouds blot out the night sky, creeping closer to the watchtower with every passing second. The soldiers are sleeping now, but tomorrow will be another day of preparing. After that, torrential downpour.

"What do you think of this stranger?" Rex Lapis asks after a moment of silence. 

"They…are a powerful opponent," Xiao says slowly. It is nothing but honest. The ease at which they had matched Rex Lapis' presence with their own aura is proof enough. "Their beasts possess elemental energy, as well, but they could be dealt with if the time comes."

Rex Lapis nods slowly. "I see. But…what do you think of this stranger as a person?" 

Xiao's thoughts faltered. As a person? "...confusing." 

"And do you believe them when they claim to have come from another world?" 

"...yes." Images of Johannes and the burning Palace flicker through his mind. "Do you not?" 

"I do," Rex Lapis says instantly. "With the current state of Teyvat, a visitor from another world is not as absurd as it could be. But it is concerning, nonetheless." Despite this, the Archon looks rather calm when he turns to face Xiao. "Do you believe them to be a threat to Liyue and its people?" 

It does not feel like a proper question. It feels more like a test. 

Xiao mulls it over. The Tamer is dangerous. Already, their beasts have killed or injured the people of Liyue while under the influence of corruption. And he knows they are willing to kill, if that memory is to be believed.

But when he thinks of the countless demons he has faced now, it almost feels wrong adding the Tamer to its ranks.

"No," he decides slowly, but he feels he'd already known his answer when he'd entered the tunnels. Rex Lapis seems stunned, but it disappears under his own pleased smile. 

"I see." The Archon nods. "Then I trust they will be of great help to you and your duties." 

"Sir?" 

A roll of thunder shakes the tower. Below, Xiao can hear the Tamer squeak in surprise. 

 "Do not be afraid of their assistance, Xiao," Rex Lapis says as he admires the storm. The lightning contrasts against the soft orange glow wreathing his frame. "The burden of karmic debt was never meant to be carried alone." As he says this, the light swells, air thickening with energy. "Be safe, Conqueror of Demons. The war is not over yet."

And with those final words, the Geo Archon flickers and disappears from Guili Watchtower. Xiao's shoulders slump as he stares to the horizon, lightning outlining the clouds. After everything in Mingyun Village, he'd almost forgotten that monsoon season is upon them. 

Another roll of thunder. The Tamer yelps again, only to choke on a sneeze. 

"I swear to the Archons, if you're sick-" Haoran snaps from below. 

Xiao exhales slowly. Right. Even if monsoons drown out the plains, he still has his duty to fulfill. 

The burden of karmic debt was never meant to be carried alone. 

It sounds too perfect. But if Rex Lapis speaks the truth-

"Xiao!" the Tamer shouts. 

Xiao is there in an instant and is swallowed by Haoran's bubble for his efforts. The Tamer is clinging to the walls behind him like a lizard, hands glowing. 

"Get back here, brat!" Haoran shouts. "I will not have another illness spread around my tower during monsoon season!" 

The Tamer sticks out their tongue while Xiao breaks free. He dries himself with a burst of Anemo and ducks when Haoran launches another bubble. It catches the Tamer before they can leap away. They thrash and shout inside, but Renegade and Delta continue to make themselves comfortable in a corner. 

"And just because the Conqueror comes when called doesn't mean you should abuse it," Haoran adds. "He is a busy man." 

Xiao looks up as the Tamer pouts. The water ripples as their skin begins to glow, and he holds out his arms right when it explodes, catching them with a grunt. 

The Tamer smirks and throws their arms around Xiao's neck, cuddling close and sticking their tongue out at the medic as he glares. "Xiao good boy," they taunt. "Get fu-" They tug their shirt over their face and sneeze, then yelp when Xiao drops them. "Ow! Hey-"

Another bubble traps the Tamer. They release a bubbly stream of swears that Xiao cannot hear, but the sight stirs something soft in his chest. 

"Complain all you want, brat," Haoran says as he hauls the bubble to a cot. "You were the one who went into the mines first."

The Tamer whines and flips in the bubble. Their face is a far cry from the one Xiao had seen in Mingyun Village. 

And it feels right, and as Haoran forces Xiao to help wrangle the Tamer into the cot to begin treatment, the rain finally begins to fall.

Chapter Text

"We're losing ground!"

"Come on, men, we're her last hope!"

"Put your backs into it! Stay strong!"

The Millelith let out a valiant cheer and pull with all their might. Renegade only growls and tugs harder on the other end of rope. 

Xiao has been watching them for twenty minutes now. His guess is that the hound had grabbed it when the soldiers were trying to repair a cart for a passing merchant. The Tamer and Haoran are still out with Delta for supplies and Xiao had been on patrol, so no one had been around to scold Renegade in the proper tongue. 

A chorus of shouts draws Xiao's attention. Renegade's paws scramble for purchase in the mud, body jerking back and nearly sending all six men flying. Two more jump onto the rope, the added weight stopping Renegade before he can drag the men away. 

"Ren!" 

The hound freezes. Even with eight men tugging on the rope, it does not budge. 

The Tamer and Haoran appear over the horizon, Delta trotting by with a fish clamped in his jaws. 

"Ren, drop it!" the Tamer snaps. Renegade's ears flatten, tail swishing in defiance. When he ignores their command a second time, they tsk and set down their basket, rolling up the sleeves of their Millelith uniform as they march over. They cram their fingers into Renegade's maw with little fear and begin to pry them apart. 

"Drop it!" the Tamer shouts again. "Ren, bad boy, drop it now!"

Try as he might, the rope begins to slip from his grasp. Renegade growls and tries to use his mass to nudge the Tamer away, but he only provokes his master, who begins to shove him back. Finally, after blowing harshly at the hound's nose, Renegade lets go and sneezes right in the Tamer's face.

"Fuck!" The Tamer gags as the men tumble back, victorious. "Ren, you little bastard-" They wipe their face desperately, then chase after the hound when he runs away. 

Haoran only sighs and bubbles their basket, then disappears in the shade of the Watchtower, Delta trotting after with his fish. 

It has been three months since the Tamer and their beasts first arrived in Teyvat. After a four-hour debriefing, Haoran had reintroduced the Tamer and the two beasts, claiming them as guests from afar in search of four other members of their team. The debriefing had also included a mandatory petting of the beasts to "foster a new friendship" between them. Once the soldiers had realized that Renegade and Delta really are just…dogs, they'd been accepted readily into the watchtower for pets and cuddles. 

It is almost terrifying how willing the soldiers had been to pet them once they realized they'd been tamed. The Tamer only laughs and says it is part of human nature. 

"Cute and soft. No man resists," they'd said wisely. 

It does not hurt that Delta is right at home when it storms. He does not go far, but he takes up patrolling like a fish to water, electrifying any strange creature that dares attack. If it is uneventful, he even returns with a fish or two from the waters nearby. It eases the soldiers' fears greatly and for that Xiao cannot complain.

In the fields, the soldiers return to their repairs while the merchant continues haggling with Captain Jinhai. Renegade rolls on his back as the Tamer scrubs away at his black belly, hard enough to nearly shove his entire body aside before finally releasing him. After some gesturing, the hound rolls over and scoops them onto his back, and they disappear in a flicker. 

A moment later, Xiao hears the loud thunk of Renegade landing on the balcony below. 

"Xiao?" the Tamer calls quickly. 

"Here," he responds. 

"Good." The Tamer's footsteps lead into the building. Renegade flickers away, landing on the field below and snatching one of the Millelith's polearms in the process. It becomes a game of fetch between them, stopping only after Captain Jinhai scolds them for playing while on duty.

An hour passes before the Tamer's head peeks out from the side of the roof. They beam when they spot him and jump up, hands clasped. 

"Close your eyes," they say. 

Xiao frowns. "Why?" 

They only shrug and smile. When they refuse to budge, Xiao sighs and shuts his eyes. He hears them shuffle close and drop before him.

"Okay," they whisper, "open."

He does. In their hands is a lizard. 

"...I don't need to eat," Xiao says. 

The Tamer gawks and clutches the lizard against their chest. "No eating! It's young." 

Xiao feels his skin prickle with heat, but he forces it down as the Tamer's hands glow. The lizard wriggles. Its tail is missing, like someone had cut it off. After a moment, the stump begins to stretch, tapering off until it forms another tail. Pleased, the Tamer sets the lizard down and watches it scurry. 

"They grow back naturally on their own," Xiao says once it disappears into the branches above. "Why did you heal it?"

"Accident," they say sheepishly. "I-" They mime stepping. "-on tail. Feel bad."

"You feel bad…for a lizard?" When they nod, Xiao makes a face. "Why?" 

The Tamer shrugs. "Little. My bad." 

"But it's just a lizard." 

"Still…live, though," they say. 

He supposes that's true, but to waste energy healing a lizard when it is in no real danger makes no sense. Xiao's confusion must show, though, because the Tamer hums and taps the tile in thought. 

"Hard to say why." They make a face. "Like animals. Bugs, too…I guess." 

Xiao watches their entire body shudder. "Haoran hates insects."

Their body shudders again. "Bugs scary."

"But they're just insects," Xiao says. 

"Scary," they insist. 

"...humans," Xiao mutters. Ridiculous.

The Tamer only laughs and perches at the edge of the roof to watch Renegade play. Their back is to him completely. If it had been anyone else, Xiao would have thought them foolish for exposing themselves so openly to attack. But when he focuses, he can feel the thrumming heat under their skin. 

It is like someone had carved out a piece of the sun and trapped it in a human body. Even now, sitting behind them, Xiao cannot believe such a person exists. Is this normal in their world? If it is, what state is their world in to create such dangerous creatures? 

"Xiao," the Tamer calls. When he grunts, they turn to look at him over their shoulder. "What animal you like?" 

Xiao frowns. “Why?”

“Thinking.” The Tamer lays back, smile just as bright despite the strange angle. “What animal?”

Xiao stares, then hears the chirping of birds in the branches above them. “Birds.”

The Tamer’s brow lifts. Their eyes drift up to the branches as the birds flutter away, then laugh and roll onto their stomach. Fishing a piece of charcoal from their pocket, they begin to draw on the roof. After a moment, they finish, then gesture for Xiao to look. It’s a bird. Some kind of raptor, he thinks, with a strange portion of feathers obscuring one eye.

“Staraptor,” the Tamer says. “Bird. Normal, Flying-type…ah, Anemo. Fight with Staraptors before.” They eye Xiao and shake their head. “Mm. Maybe no.”

They roll over and continue to draw on a new panel. It’s another bird, but its pose mimics the Tamer’s when they wrestle with Renegade. They call it a Hawlucha. After a moment, they shake their head again and draw on a new panel. 

“What are you doing?” Xiao asks.

“Thinking,” they answer. “Skarmory? No…Corviknight? Hm…no, no…” Their muttering continues as they draw. Soon, a portion of the roof is covered in charcoal drawings of strange birds, each in a dynamic pose. They must be beasts from their own world.

The Tamer finally stops after drawing something called a Braviary and sighs. “More animal you like?”

Xiao can’t help but scoff. “Seriously?”

“Yes!” The Tamer pouts and massages their temple, accidentally smearing charcoal across their brow. “It…No word.” They draw two stick figures holding hands. “This?”

It could be anything, Xiao wants to say. Instead, he eyes the drawing and guesses, “Partners?”

“Partners?” They mull over it, then draw Zixian and Jun holding hands. “Partners?”

Xiao hesitates. He has heard the word being used as a synonym for lover. He doesn't think they mean that, so he nods. “Yes. They are soldiers. Not related.”

“Okay. Partners.” The Tamer nods to themself. “My world, soldiers partners with beasts lots. Train, fight. Good partners fight lots. Live lots. Thinking partners for you.”

“I…see,” Xiao says. It sounds similar to the contracts between adepti and Rex Lapis, but the way the Tamer had gone about drawing the other beasts makes it seem like it is less a call to arms by their god and more of mutual cooperation. “Then you and Renegade are partners?”

“Ren?” The Tamer’s smile falters before they shrug. “Of a sort. Renegade…Um, two?”

“Second.”

“Renegade second,” they say. “Second partner. Delta three.”

“Third,” Xiao corrects absently. “Who was the first, then?”

“First?” The Tamer repeats.

“One,” he amends, then stops when the air ripples. In his peripherals, the Tamer’s smile falls entirely, only to reappear when he looks up. 

“First died,” they say softly, not quite meeting his eye. 

Xiao’s lips thin as they turn away. Distantly, he is surprised to learn that their beasts can die, but the information does not help the guilt that burns his chest when he sees their face. A partnership between a tamer and their beast must be severe in their world, he supposes. Like a contract.

"Xiao," the Tamer calls before he can apologize. 

"What?" 

"Adepti no mortal, yes?" they ask. "Adepti no die?" 

"No." Xiao frowns, pressing down his memories before they can rear their heads. "They can die." 

"...oh." The Tamer frowns before squeezing their eyes shut. Their ink flickers twice when they reopen. "But Xiao no…um…" They thump a hand over their chest. "This." 

Xiao looks at their hand. They pretend to thump it in beat to the pulsing of energy under their skin. He has no idea what they're talking about. 

The Tamer must realize this, too, because their eyes widen. Eyes shut, they mutter and whisper, then open and reach out to him. "Hand, please?" 

"Why?" he asks. 

They only frown and shove their hand forward. When Xiao complies, they pull off their glove with their teeth and begin tugging on his-

"What are you doing?" Xiao jerks his hand back before they can remove his glove. 

"Gah, look, look." The Tamer presses two fingers on their wrist, right below the thumb. "Thump, thump, thump. Xiao no thump."

"...What?" 

The Tamer growls and snatches his hand. They pry his fingers up and press his fingers onto their skin and…there is thumping. It pulses in time with the light under their skin, steady and…familiar.

"All mortal thump," they say as Xiao stares at their wrist. They move his hand to the opposite wrist, letting him feel it pulse under his fingers. “See? But…” Slowly, they reach over. He does not pull away as they tug his glove down, just enough to press against the silent space on his wrist. “None.”

Their fingers are warm. 

“How?”

Xiao blinks, refocusing. “What?”

“How?” The Tamer releases Xiao and mutters in their language before diving off the roof. They start digging through something underneath, yell at Haoran when the medic tells them to stop touching his things, then return to the roof with a scroll in hand. Spreading it open reveals a detailed drawing of a mortal body. “Look.”

They point at a oddly-shaped sac in the left half of the torso. 

"A heart," Xiao reads aloud.

"Heart," the Tamer says. After he reads all the other labeled sacs aloud, they nod. "Mortals here," they say, "same inside as my mortals. Heart is…hm. Not die word?"

"Alive?" he guesses. 

"Alive," the Tamer repeats. "No heart, mortal die."

"...that's it?" Xiao asks. 

"What mean?" 

"Attack the heart and a mortal dies," he says. 

"Ah, well…" The Tamer marks out several organs that, if attacked, could kill a mortal. It's a lot more than Xiao had realized. 

"Mortals are so fragile," he decides as the Tamer looks over the parchment. 

"Fragile?" they echo. "Like…weak?" 

Xiao nods and eyes the diagram. Really, there's so many weak points on their bodies. They aren't durable, either. He has seen soldiers cry over splinters. They've also cried over cockroaches getting inside their rooms. 

Mortals are ridiculous. 

"Why does it do that?" he asks as the Tamer rolls up the scroll. "Your wrist. Why does it do that?" 

"Why thump?" The Tamer taps their chest. When he nods, they grimace. "Heart thump. Um…fuck, no words. Lots no words."

"...your heart thumps?" he asks. 

"Yes?" 

"...seriously?" 

The Tamer laughs and sets a hand over their chest. After a second, they offer a hand, smile small. "Here." 

Xiao gives them his hand. At first, he thinks they’re going to bring his hand to their wrist again. Instead, they scoot forward, their knees nearly brushing as they bring his hand to their chest. They uncurl his fingers, press his palm to their chest and he nearly jerks back at the thump, thump, thump under their skin. The Tamer only chuckles softly and leans in. Their chest rises and falls with each breath while their heartbeat thunders beneath his hand, steady and alive. 

And it is then that Xiao finally recalls something. He’d felt it before, under his hands as he wrung his targets’ throats until it stopped. When he had been trapped, when the water would run red no matter how desperately he clawed at his skin-

So he tears his hand away and flees.

Chapter Text

"Dodge this!" 

The Tamer ducks. They snatch the blade from the air and spin, flinging the knife back at the thief. It nails him in the shoulder with a silence thunk. They swing their fist, only to hit a cloud of smoke.

"Huh?" The Tamer stumbles in shock. 

"Over here!" another shouts. 

The Tamer leaps back before the hammer can connect. "Delta, Shadow Ball!"

A black orb explodes against the hoarder. He flies across the field and flings down a smoke bomb before the Jolteon can finish him off. He growls and charges back into the fray. 

In the distance, Xiao keeps a hand on his polearm. He doubts he'll need to intervene, really. The Tamer has already managed to defeat fifteen of the Treasure Hoarders on their own, using Delta only when they are preoccupied and cannot follow through with their attack. 

Beside him, Renegade grumbles and groans, condensation puffing from his nose. Snow powders his fur, drowning out the vibrant orange and black in a layer of white. 

"Go back to the tower," Xiao says when the giant hound sneezes. 

Renegade only shakes out his mane. Most of it splatters against the adeptus. By the time the Anemo burst clears the snow, the camp is empty. The Tamer is laughing and hopping around, Delta in their arms. 

"Good boy, baby boy!" they cheer. Delta's expression is murderous as they cradle him like a baby. When they toss the hound into the air, he yelps and flails, managing to land on his feet. His fur sparks with rage, but the Tamer is already busy digging through the goods the Treasure Hoarders had left behind.

Xiao is only here because Haoran insists the Tamer will do something stupid if left unsupervised. The Treasure Hoarders had blocked the south road leading through the Guili Plains, cutting off a major supply line between Liyue Harbor and the Guili Watchtower. The snow and weather have hindered movement, and while the soldiers have been preoccupied dealing with the North and East roads, Captain Jinhai had sent them to sweep through the southern camps.

Renegade rises, drawing Xiao’s attention as he trots over to the camp. The Tamer is holding up a coat one of the Hoarders had left behind. After showing it to the Arcanine, they pull it over their uniform before securing a makeshift sled around his shoulders. One by one, they lift the biggest of crates onto the sled, humming all the while. 

They finally notice him when they’re sitting on Renegade’s shoulders. They only give him a wave and a tiny smile before urging the beast forward. 

Xiao takes it as his cue to leave and departs. He lands on the balcony of Guili Watchtower and finds Haoran sitting on a cushion nearby, steam wafting from his cup of tea. When he opens an eye, he sighs. 

"Still not on speaking terms?" he asks. 

Xiao scowls. "Why is that important?" 

"Because they've been annoying me for days about it," Haoran says. He takes a sip before adding, "and you've been scowling again." 

Again? Xiao's scowl nearly deepens before he realizes that the medic is right. 

"Seriously," Haoran continues with a sigh, "just make up already. Apologize. Or else I'll go insane trying to keep them inside the tower." 

"They're trying to leave?" 

"Boredom and cabin fever are a dangerous thing," Haoran says. "They've been bothering me about leaving the tower because someone here rejected their advances."

Xiao almost asks what he means by that, but Haoran seems more focused on his tea. He only scoffs and flickers onto the roof. From here, he can already see the orange blur running in the distance, weighed down by the crates tethered to him as Delta runs circles around them. The Tamer slips off the Arcanine's back and, once the soldiers begin unpacking the stolen goods, disappears into the building. It only takes a few minutes before they arrive at the highest floor. 

"Haoran!" they whine. "Liyue Harbor, let's go."

The medic smiles. "Absolutely not."

The Tamer scowls, plopping on the available cushion across the table. "Why?" 

"I've already told you. Liyue Harbor is a city filled with regular mortals and you will terrify them the moment you smile at them." Haoran pauses, then glances at the Tamer. They only stare back, waiting for a translation. He sets down the cup and points. "You're foreign, brat." 

"Foreign?" 

“Not of this world,” he amends.

The Tamer shrugs. "Not my world. So?" 

"Not just that, fool." Haoran shakes his head. "I've told you already. Mortals get skittish around giant beasts. Unknown giant beasts will make it worse."

"Renegade is good, though," the Tamer says. "Like big dog." 

"Pyro-breathing dog," Haoran corrects. 

"Yes."

"...that isn't normal in this world," Haoran says. 

The Tamer pouts and crosses their arms, glaring at the horizon. “All Teyvat not Liyue, yes? Want to see Teyvat.”

“It’s not safe,” Xiao grumbles for Haoran. The Tamer tilts their head back in surprise as he perches on the edge of the roof. “Liyue is under the protection of the Adepti and Rex Lapis. There is no guarantee that you will be safe once you leave the borders.”

The Tamer's eyes flicker between him and Haoran before finally settling on the medic, “Borders?” 

Haoran lets out a weary sigh. “Now you've done it, boy…” Before Xiao can ask what he means, the medic disappears into the building. After a moment of rifling, he returns with a bundle of parchment and spreads one over the table. “This is Liyue.” 

It’s a map. The Tamer gasps softly and leans over, tracing a finger over the ink before tapping a portion. “Guili Watchtower. Here, right?”

“Correct.” Haoran taps the northern hills. “Xiao found you here. Wuwang Hill.” His finger drags east. “And this is-”

“Mingyun Village,” the Tamer guesses. “Delta was here.” They poke at the map as Haoran lists off the locations, stopping when they point to the western portion of the map.

“The Chasm is…” Haoran frowns. “It was a mining quarry. Unfortunately, they’ve tapped into something much worse. Much of our men are there now, trying to contain it before it spreads further.” He stares at the map, then clicks his tongue when he notices the Tamer’s lost expression. “Chasm bad. Don’t go there. Ever. Understood?”

The Tamer stares at the swirling pit before shrugging. Their finger flies to the opposite end of the map, past Mingyun Village. “What this?”

“The Mondstaters call it Vindagnyr.” Haoran grimaces at his own pronunciation. “Bitterly cold, that place. I doubt even Renegade’s flames could melt the ice there.” He reaches down and spreads open another map. “Beyond that is Mondstat, land of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos.”

“Archon? Like foolish Rex Lapis?” 

Haoran leans over to smack the Tamer. “Stop calling him that. And yes. He hasn’t been seen in quite awhile, from what I hear.”

The lessons continue onward. From the islands of Inazuma to the frozen tundra of Snezhnaya, Haoran lists each Archon and their respective element, along with little tidbits of information he’s heard from other soldiers. Xiao himself has never gone beyond Liyue’s borders and finds himself listening as the Tamer asks whatever comes to mind. 

By the time the Tamer is satisfied, Haoran’s tea is cold, and the medic complains as much as they study the maps. Without looking up, the Tamer takes the cup and grips it. Their skin flickers until steam begins to drift from the liquid, then hands it back. 

"Many," they say as Haoran gawks. "Home have many, too."

Xiao looks down, but their back is to him, so he cannot make out their expression. Their voice is soft, however. 

"Seven…hm, nations?" they continue. "Home have many nations. No Archons, though." 

"No Archons?" Haoran says once his surprise fades. "Are there not elements in your world, too?"

"Elements, yes, but…" They frown, then scratch their head. "Hard to say. Archons but…not mortal-shaped. Beast-shaped. Mortals…" They mimic pressing their hands and bow their head. "To them."

"I see." Haoran frowns as the Tamer lifts their head. "Then who do you worship? If any, at all."

The Tamer hesitates. Their ink flickers twice before dimming. "Ah…hard to say." After a reassuring nod, they flip a map over and draw a tiny stick figure. "Like this?"

"A child."

"Child. Worship Xerneas, Life Bringer. Archon, like Rex Lapis, but…" Their ink flickers again, the air rippling as they shake their head. "No now."

"Why not?" 

The air ripples again. "Died." 

Haoran blinks. Xiao tenses above them, sharing a surprised look with the medic as the Tamed drums their fingers on the table. 

"My world has…had fight. War," they say slowly before patting their chest. "Life Bringer die in war. I soldier. When It die…" They hunch over and shake their head. "Lots happen. Now here." 

A soldier. Xiao had expected it, but their body curls inward like they're ashamed of the fact. Why would they be? To fight for one's people, to protect them from evil-

"You traitor!"

They had killed another soldier. A brother in arms. At some point, they must have been a righteous soldier, but now…

"Do you miss it?" The question escapes Xiao before he can stop himself. "Your home. Do you miss it?" 

The Tamer does not react. He almost believes they are ignoring him when they finally nod. 

"Home is home," they say, almost too soft to hear before their fingers curl. "Miss it. Here, Teyvat. Feels like…dying." 

A chill runs through Xiao's body at their words. The Tamer sighs and stands, scooping up the maps quickly. They dismiss themself with a bow, and Xiao can sense them heading for their assigned room while Haoran sighs. 

"Troublesome." He sets down his tea once more, this time twisting to face the adeptus. "It seems we are not the only world at war, hm?" 

"Mm." Xiao frowns, deep in thought. In a world populated by deific beasts, it is no wonder they have creatures such as Arcanines or Jolteons. And for mortals such as the Tamer, it would be sensible to alley themselves with the beasts for protection if a war broke out between their gods.

But even their gods perish. Had it been enough to cause them to turn traitor against their allies? If Rex Lapis were to fall, would Xiao have done the same? 

It is comforting how quickly he tells himself no. He is bound by his duty to serve Liyue. Rex Lapis had given him his name, his purpose. If the day were to come where the God of Contracts falls, the Conqueror of Demons will remain. 

But the Tamer does not serve Rex Lapis and Teyvat is not their home. To them, they are simply a stranger in a new land with no name or purpose to fulfill, and that fills the adeptus with dread.

After that, Xiao does not see the Tamer for some time. He catches Renegade and Delta around the tower, but never their tamer. The roof is silent, now, so Xiao does not complain. If he finds his irritation growing from their absence, he does not dwell on it. Not until a week passes and one of the Millelith appears on the balcony. 

"Beast Tamer?" It's Shilei, carrying a bowl of hot porridge. "You out here? You're gonna freeze your ass off if you-Conqueror of Demons!" He nearly drops the bowl as he tries to bow. "W-What are you-Um, aren't you-A-Aren't you on patrol?" 

"I finished." Early, Xiao adds mentally. For some reason, he's been clearing through his rounds faster than normal, cleaving everything in two before flickering back to the silent tower. "What do you want?" 

Shilei's hands shake as he clears his throat. "Heard they weren't feeling good. Had Chef Qing make some soup for them."

"They're sick?" Xiao asks. Is this the cabin fever Haoran had mentioned?

"Um…" Shilei shrugs. "Homesickness, more like. Or cabin fever. Haoran said it could be both. Just thought some warm porridge would…help…" 

Homesickness? Cabin fever? What kind of illness could mortals contract from a shelter? Is that even possible? 

"Um, I don't mean to pry, Conqueror of Demons, sir, but-um, did you two have a falling out or something?" Xiao blinks, mind still hung up on the idea that a building could give mortals a disease as Shilei adds, "I-If you did, I could give you some tips. If you need them, Conqueror of Demons, sir, I-I've had my fair share of messy breakups-"

"What are you talking about?" Xiao asks. 

Shilei pales. "I-I just-I dunno, forget I said anything. Sorry, Conqueror of Demons, sir!" He disappears inside. 

Sickness. Is cabin fever so severe that it can incapacitate someone as powerful as the Tamer?

…are they dying?

The next morning, Xiao finds Haoran while he is still bundled in his blankets.

"I need medicine," he says.

"For the last time, Adepti can't get sick, Tamer, stop worrying about him…" Haoran yawns and rolls over. "Let me slee-Xiao?" The medic sits up fully, rubbing his eyes. "The sun isn't even out yet…"

Xiao scowls. "I need it."

"You need medicine?" Haoran squints at him. "You're not even hurt. Why would you need medicine?" 

"...because."

Haoran lets out a sigh and sinks into the blankets. "Is it for the Tamer?" When Xiao nods, the medic pinches the arch of his nose. "Homesickness can't be fixed by a few herbs, Xiao. Just let it pass." 

Then why call it a sickness? Xiao wants to ask. Instead, he scowls and turns, ready to leave when the medic stands up.

"Were you really asking for medicine for them?" he asks. 

"The soldiers said they were sick," Xiao says. And he hasn't seen them in days now. It's been quiet. 

"Yes, and the only cure for homesickness is by going home," Haoran says. After a moment, he shakes his head. "And ripping open a portal is not in an adepti's arsenal, is it?" 

Xiao glares, but Haoran at least seems awake and willing to help. "Then what?" 

Haoran frowns. "Hm. Distractions help. And no sparring," he adds quickly. "I'd rather not the entire tower be destroyed because you idiots couldn't control yourselves."

"A distraction?" Xiao frowns in concentration. What could possibly work as a distraction for them? What do mortals even do to distract themselves? 

"Well, you seem focused." Haoran yawns and slips out of the cot, shivering in the winter air. "I'm going to get some tea. Don't bother me until you've finished apologizing." 

Tea. Heat. 

"I'm going," Xiao says. 

Haoran pulls on his uniform. "Don't kill anyone, please."

Xiao appears at the Tamer's assigned room. He can already sense the beat of their heart through the door, easing the tension in his shoulders. He reigns in the urge to flicker into their room and knocks. 

"Woof!" Renegade barks from beyond the door. 

"Shhh, dog," the Tamer says. When they open the door, they're carrying Delta with one arm and almost drop him in surprise. "Xiao?" 

Xiao frowns. The smaller dog's eyes burn with disgust. "Get dressed. We're going out." 

The Tamer blinks. "Mission?" 

Delta growls again. 

"We're…going," Xiao says as the dog’s fur begins to spark. "Hurry up."

The Tamer hesitates, then drops Delta. “Okay, okay. Hold on.”

They disappear from view, leaving Xiao to stand with the Jolteon as it bares its teeth at him. Further back, he can make out Renegade's glowing eyes, tracking his every move.

"Okay, here." The Tamer finishes buckling on their breastplate and whistles. "Ren, Delta-"

"They're not coming," Xiao cuts in. He turns just as the Jolteon barks. "Come on. Let's go." He leaves before they can even argue. 

Five minutes later, while Xiao is waiting at the bottom of the tower, the Tamer throws themself off the balcony, slowing their fall with a burst of energy at their feet. The moment they land, Xiao begins marching away, forcing them to keep up. 

"Xiao?" they call. "Is all okay?" 

"It's fine," he says. 

"...am I in trouble?" 

"No." 

The Tamer hesitates, like they want to ask more, only to sigh and shove their hands in their pockets. They follow Xiao at a respectable distance, silent. He almost wishes they would question him some more, just to talk.

He doesn't let that stop him. By midday, he can see their destination over the horizon. When the Tamer catches up, they let out a tiny gasp. "Woah…" 

Sparkling clear water reflects the noon sun, steam curling off its surface in whorls. Walls of rock curl around the waters, forming pockets of teal-blue pools as cliffsides surround the land. The waterfalls are still running despite the frost. It is one of the few untouched landscapes since the war began. Even before Xiao joined Rex Lapis' ranks, it had been like this.

"The Luhua Pool," Xiao says as the Tamer stares. "Most of it stays unfrozen because of the Ley Lines in the winter. Haoran sends soldiers here to recuperate."

The Tamer mouths along, then frowns. "Recuperate. Means healing, right?" 

"Yes." Xiao's jaw clenches when they look up at him. "They said you were homesick. The Luhua Pool can help." 

The Luhua Pool can ease aching muscles and wearied souls. That was what he'd been told when he had visited the place so long ago with…with the others. 

"Hah…" The Tamer's smile grows with every second, a laugh escaping them as they nudge Xiao. "Good. Come, come! Want to see."

They follow the path without waiting, sliding down the slopes before he can stop them. Each rim is wide enough to walk on, and the Tamer taps the surface of a pool with glee the moment they're close enough. 

"Wow…" They lean over and pull off their glove, testing the water with a pinky. They hiss and flick their hand, but their smile only grows. They're quick to unravel their boots and roll up their pants. Like their hands, circles mark the tops of their feet, connecting to a line that runs up their shins.

They don't even hesitate stepping into the pool. He's sure it is painful, with how their lips curl and their breath hitches, but they only laugh and wade as deep as their rolled up pants will allow. 

"Xiao, come on!" they say. Xiao only shakes his head. The Tamer pouts and wades back to him. "C'mon! No cold. Bad for health."

"Adepti can't get sick," he says. 

"So?" They pat their chest. "Good for heart." 

"Adept don't have hearts." 

"...fuck you." Still, they wade into deeper waters, smiling as they drag their fingers over the surface. "Still good for heart." 

Xiao grunts as he follows along on the rim of the pool. "I've heard." 

"Here before?" 

"...a few times." He pauses. The Tamer waits for him to continue, then hums when he does not. 

"Lavaridge," they say. "West my home, pools too. In Hoenn." They laugh and kick the water, sending droplets at Xiao. "Ren no like it. Never touch."

"The water?" 

The Tamer laughs again before patting their chest and saying, "I Ren." They take a trembling step, foot hovering over the water. The moment they graze the surface, they shriek and whine like a dog-

"Seriously?" Xiao asks as they burst out laughing again. "He's the size of a primovishap. How is he afraid of water?" 

"Ren is…overdramatic." They hum, searching for a word before settling on, "like Haoran."

"Hm. Delta is more like Haoran," Xiao mutters. He doesn't mean for the Tamer to hear it, but they laugh anyway and nod. 

"Yes, yes. Very true." They wipe a tear from their eye. "But good boys. Swear." 

They reach the edge of one pool. The Tamer sets a hand on the higher rim and pushes themself up, Xiao grabbing their bicep when they nearly slip back in. Once their feet are in the next pool, they settle for sitting on the edge, patting a space for the adeptus to sit. 

He does. 

"...about past. O-Or, before?" they say. "Sorry. Haoran say, um…worlds different. Culture different, too. Sorry if I hurt you." 

"Adepti are not as fragile as mortals," Xiao says, only to grimace when the Tamer wilts. "I was not hurt. I was just…" 

Terrified that the very hands that had slaughtered thousands had been so close to the organ that keeps them alive. That, if Xiao had simply sunk his fingers in, he could have pierced their heart and killed them. 

Terrified and…confused they had trusted him to feel it in the first place. 

How in Teyvat does he explain that to them? 

There is a soft laugh. When Xiao looks up, the Tamer is smiling at him like they can hear everything going on inside his head. It is too soft and understanding. It isn't something a monster like him deserves to see and yet-

The Tamer returns to admiring the water. Xiao feels like he can breathe again.

"Here before?" they ask as they kick their feet. When Xiao nods, they tilt their head. "Xiao only?" 

"...no." Xiao's reflection ripples, alone in the water. "...Bonanus and Indarius brought us here." 

The Tamer stills, tilting their head. "Adepti?" 

Xiao nods. The last time they had been here, Bonanus had said it would ease the pain of karmic debt, if only for a moment. Bosacius had immediately tried to dunk Indarius to 'cool her off', and she'd destroyed one of the pools throwing him off her back.

"Ah. Friends." The Tamer smiles when the adeptus looks at their reflection. "Eyes go…" Their eyes soften before wrinkling with their smile. "Bonanus and Indarius friends?" 

Xiao's jaw shifts before he finally nods. "We were comrades. Soldiers together." 

The Tamer nods slowly. Their reflection ripples, their faces broken by the waves. "They…died. Yes?" 

Xiao's hands shake as he grips his trousers. "Yes." 

They all did. It is the burden they carry and his eventual fate, and until that day comes, he will fight.

A gentle weight bumps his right shoulder. He flinches, breath hitching in his chest, but the Tamer is gentle. The ink on their feet flickers, his own lighting up as his body begins to warm. 

"Sorry," they murmur. 

His body twitches. The urge to stand and return to the tower swells in his chest, energy flickering under his skin like it wants to jump out and flee. Still, their warmth anchors him. "...I'm fine." 

They hum and lean further into Xiao. When he does not pull away, they swing their legs again, disturbing their reflections. 

"My home," they say, "beasts die. Always, always hurt. In war, many, many die. But Renegade, Delta…no die yet." They laugh weakly. "Live now. Stay now. For them, yes?"

Xiao doesn't know. It is different for him. For him, he is the last of the yakshas. Indarius had melted from despair. Bonanus and Menogias had killed one another, blinded by fear. Not even Bosacius had survived. It is only him, now, and his duty that keeps him here. 

"Xiao hurt." 

The words weigh on his shoulders, smothered by the Tamer's warmth. Their entire body shifts as they breathe, and he finds himself breathing along with them until he manages to repeat, "I'm fine."

"...Haoran say not true." The Tamer pauses, long enough for Xiao to see their confused expression. "Haoran say it…karmic debt. Hurts Xiao." Their ink dims before they shake their head. "Fight Xiao at Wuwang. Thought…um, corruption." 

Xiao turns, just enough to see them out of the corner of his eye. "You thought I was corrupted?" 

"Feels same," the Tamer admits. "After Ren fight, I heal. Try to heal corruption, but…" 

It didn't work. Xiao can still feel it under his skin. But they tried. They had just met, he'd tried to kill their beast, and not only had they saved him instead, they tried to heal his burden, too.

Mortals are ridiculous. Really. 

"I am used to it," Xiao ends up saying. "Don't worry about me." 

The Tamer rolls their eyes. "Foolish. Xiao friend." They nudge him and smile. "If hurt, call my name. I will come. Yes?" 

Friend…friend? Xiao rolls his eyes right back. "You would be wise to avoid me for your own safety."

"Because corruption?" the Tamer asks. 

Xiao frowns but nods. "I…cannot control what it does to mortals. It is not safe."

The Tamer only raises a brow. "So? Soldier. Powerful."

And he knows. Archons does he know. Instead, he scoffs and looks away, gritting his teeth as warmth tickles the tips of his ears. He does not need friends, he wants to say, but all that comes out is, "You're ridiculous."

The Tamer laughs and leans in. "Xiao no mean it." Their weight forces Xiao to lean back, their chest pressing against his shoulder. He can feel the thump-thump-thumping of their heart beneath their armor. "Xiao have heart too." 

"Adepti don't have hearts," he growls.

"But-"

Xiao flickers. The Tamer flops on their stomach as he reappears just feet away. He does not smirk. It is petty. He does cross his arms and watches as the Tamer flips him off. He's finally learned what the gesture means and does not return it. 

"Get up," he says. 

"No," they say. 

"I'll leave you here," he says. 

"Tower east," they taunt. "No lost. Foolish Xiao." 

Xiao raises his brow, then turns and begins to leave.

A moment later, he dodges a swing for his throat. He grabs their wrist and pulls, their weight drawing them forward. They fall into a lunge and spring forward. They flip and land delicately on their feet, smile bright. 

"Xiao fool," they say happily. 

Xiao only sinks into a crouch and braces himself.

In hindsight, challenging the Tamer to an unarmed fight is a terrible idea. If he’d had his polearm, he would have stood a chance. Instead, he’s immediately thrown onto the defensive, dodging wild swings and open-palmed thrusts with no chance to fight back. Their fighting style is unlike any form he’s seen, and the smile on their face when they swing at his open chest shows how much they know.

He braces himself, but all they do is prod him with one finger, then hop back to give him space. 

“One,” they say. “All okay?”

“Fine,” he grunts. “Again.”

The Tamer nods. This time, their foot swings right for his head. It bounces off his forearm. Before they can bring it back, he throws his fist. Their entire body drops and the swing goes wide, but Xiao shouts when his own leg folds, trapped between the Tamer’s own limbs. He is grabbed and twisted, shoved onto his back as the Tamer unravels and pins him. 

They beam and tap his neck before hopping back. 

“Two!” they cheer before unbuckling their armor. “Millelith bulky armor…bah, foolish Captain…”

Xiao rises, watching as they dress down to the undershirt and pants. They shudder and scrub their hands together desperately, but their smile never falls.

“Again?” they call.

“Again,” Xiao grunts. 

They meet halfway. By the fifth match, Xiao finally catches a break. The Tamer tries to strike his face. It almost clips his nose when he grabs their wrist. Another fists their shirt and his full body twists as he kicks their ankles out from under them. When they hit the rocks, it splinters.

Xiao freezes as their entire body goes lax. He releases them and stumbles back. The Tamer doesn't stir. He calls their name, focuses on the fluttering of their heart. They're alive but they're still mortal, Archons, did he just-

"Ow…" the Tamer gasps weakly. 

"Are you alright?" he asks.

Instead of answering, their skin glows. Slowly, they rise to their feet and shake out their entire body, then smile at Xiao. They show no teeth, but the challenge behind it stirs the adrenaline in his body. 

"Xiao one," they say. "Again."

Xiao huffs and sinks into his stance. "Again."

Xiao tries his best to be gentle. That ends the moment the Tamer wins the sixth round by kicking him so hard he lands in the lake several yards away. The points begin to even out after that.

They leap after one another, clearing pools in single jumps as they exchange blows. Each match grows longer and longer, the Tamer laughing and smiling as Xiao catches on to their movement. Neither of them speak, stopping only to announce their points before charging in again. This is better, Xiao thinks. This is far better.

Their spar takes them north, on solid ground and away from the waters after both are thoroughly soaked. His fist skims their ribs. Their knee whiff past his temple. He rounds and tries to strike but misses, punching the path that leads to a cavern. The Tamer sticks out their tongue and leaps back before Xiao can grab them.

He snarls when they lash out with their heel, nailing his shoulder. The momentum sends them up before he can dodge, their legs caging his head. The Tamer throws their full weight back and sends them both tumbling down the path.

Xiao struggles. For all his strengths, grappling is not one of them. Bosacius had known this and the Tamer has learned this, too, because they're already twisting around him until-

"Hah!" 

Xiao blinks. A different face blocks his view. Raven black hair tickles his nose, crystal blue eyes reflecting the Tamer's face.

"So?" the young man asks, calling their name and drawing Xiao back in. "You give up?" 

Xiao rolls his eyes. "It was a cheap shot."

"Uh-huh. Sure it was. Or…" Aaron leans in, nose brushing his as he smirks. "You just suck."

Xiao gags this time, but the warmth he feels in his face is undeniable. Aaron smirks and sits back, arms crossed. 

"I'm not letting you get up until you admit it," he says. 

"That you got a lucky shot?" Xiao asks. 

"That I'm stronger than you."

Xiao snorts and squirms, but it is futile. "Fuck you." 

"Only if you want to." Aaron chuckles, only to trail off awkwardly as Xiao glares. 

"You shouldn't talk like that, idiot," he hisses, sending a pointed glare at crystals blooming from the stone wall nearby. 

"Her Majesty can't use aura, she can't hear us," Aaron says as he rises to his feet. "And I was joking, my friend. Really." He offers a hand and smiles. "Another round?"

"Can't. I told the matrons I would help with the newest clutch," Xiao says, a yawn escaping him the moment he stands. "They've been popping out more to pad out the ranks. It's ridiculous."

"I can see that," Aaron chuckles when he yawns again. "Have you even slept since your last visit?"

"...fuck you."

"I will take that as a no." 

Xiao glares, but Aaron only smiles and spins. He grabs two matching staffs leaning against the wall nearby, polished wood with a gleaming crystal mounted at the top. Wrought iron circles the bottom and arches over the top, six smaller crystals embedded on the lower ring. Where they connect, a teardrop-shaped metal piece dangles. 

Aaron offers one. Xiao raises his brow. 

"Aaron.”

“Yes?”

“We’ve been knighted for…six years now, no?”

“We have. What about it?”

Xiao looks at the staff offered to him and sighs. “That’s your staff, idiot.”

“I know.” Aaron smiles and Xiao braces himself as he adds, “but I wouldn’t mind letting you handle my staff for a few minutes-”

Xiao snatches the other staff from his hand and drives the bottom into Aaron’s foot. He catches it on the rebound while the older knight swears and stumbles back. 

“That really is no way for the future King to be talking,” he says.

Aaron pouts as he uses his staff for support. “I only have a few more days. Just let me have my fun while I am still a free man.”

“I am,” Xiao says back with a shrug. “And I’m beating it out of you so that you don’t accidentally say something wrong during the ceremony and get executed.”

“You don’t want me executed?” Aaron asks in delight.

Xiao rolls his eyes. “I’m going now, Aaron.”

And he does. Well, he tries to. Aaron reaches out and catches his hand before he can leave. Even through the gloves, he can feel the warmth, the rough calluses from their spars and battles, the way it fits perfectly in his own palm. 

“At least…” Aaron hesitates as his grip tightens. “At least let me fly you to the tree. You still don’t have a mount of your own.”

Xiao wants to say no. He’s been getting along with one of the retired knight’s Arcanine recently and had planned on taking him there. Instead, he lets out a dramatic sigh. “If you insist.”

Aaron smiles and squeezes his hand before letting go. He taps his staff on the ground, one of the crystals on the side glowing in response. A beam of light escapes the smaller gem, reforming into a large Pidgeot.

“Fiero!” Aaron greets, scratching the bird’s neck. “Do you think you could take us to the tree? Dropping them off to the nest.”

Fiero shakes out her head and squints down at Xiao. When her feathers begin to puff in offense, Aaron intercepts and laughs. 

“Come on, Fifi,” he says, “they’re my friend. Don’t be mean.”

Fiero only pecks his hand. Finally, Aaron gets the Pidgeot to comply with promises of sweets when they return. He offers a hand to Xiao, hoisting him up with ease. Even though they’ve flown before, resting against Aaron’s back sends sparks up through his skin. 

“Ready?” Aaron asks. His voice vibrates through Xiao’s chest, and he can’t help but squeeze him as he nods. 

“Ready.”

The Pidgeot takes off and Xiao's vision is sucked back into his body with a gasp. He's half-buried in a cave wall. A crystal bud sits neatly on his waist.

"Xiao?!" the Tamer calls from somewhere. 

"...ow," he groans. 

The Tamer peeks out at the edge of the hole. They gasp and scramble inside, tensing at the sight of the crystal bud. When it blooms, their entire body glows before they shove it in their pockets and reach for Xiao.

"Sorry, sorry," they say. Warmth floods Xiao's veins as they mend whatever internal damage they'd caused. "Xiao all okay? Hurt? Dying?" 

"I'm…fine." Physically, at least. The weightlessness in his chest and Aaron's face swim through his thoughts, heart fluttering at his smile and Xiao wonders if Adepti can get concussions. He doesn't have a brain organ, not like a mortal, but this definitely feels wrong. 

The Tamer huffs and pries Xiao from the hole. "Uh huh. Less than half power next." 

Xiao's thoughts stall. That had been them at half strength. At half strength, they'd punched him hard enough to leave a hole in the wall he crashed into. If that is them holding back, he can't imagine what they're like when at full power. 

The air is humid when they emerge. Xiao grimaces. It seems their spar had carried them further than he thought. The sky is thick with smog, obscuring the sun and painting the snow gray. Untouched by the snow are several pillars, a familiar sight to the adeptus. 

"Where we?" the Tamer asks. 

"Cuijue Slope," he says before shaking his head. "Come on. We need to go." Xiao turns, then stops when he notices frost creeping up the Tamer's dripping uniform. "You're going to freeze."

The Tamer looks down and grimaces. "Oh."

They turn, ready to return to Luhua Pool when the earth trembles. A bellowing wail rattles Xiao's teeth. That does not sound good. And based on the way the Tamer tenses, he can assume it is a noise they recognize.

"One of your beasts?" he asks. 

The Tamer hesitates. After another wail, they nod. "Like…Kaiju." 

"Is that their name?" At their nod, Xiao frowns and reaches, his polearm falling into his hands. "I will investigate. Go grab your armor."

The Tamer pouts and shakes their head. "No armor. Bulky."

Xiao almost forces them back when he recalls their memories. Aaron and the Tamer's uniforms had just been cloth. Wearing cloth like this must feel better for them. 

"...fine." Xiao twirls his polearm. "Stay behind me." 

They head inland. The air thickens with heat, Ley Lines humming underfoot as he walks. Flaming flowers sprout from crags in the rock, illuminating the path through the smoke. 

The closer they get, the more Xiao's vision begins to flicker. He can feel it, the gentle tug on his senses, the soft calling to be swept into the Tamer's memories. His own tattoos begin to flare in protest, fighting through the haze. 

"All okay?" the Tamer whispers. 

Xiao only grunts. It feels like walking through snow. He can't afford to speak, lest he slip.

The noise echoes from a tunnel leading into the caverns below. When they approach, the bellowing is cut off by a strange whirr and groan and a string of explosions. Xiao squints through the smog. There's something glowing-

He shoves the Tamer back just as the missile explodes against his back. He tumbles onto his feet and flings his polearm at the orange dot in the smog. It skims off the chassis and lumbers forth. 

The Ruin Guard groans as it breaks through the smoke, metal scarred but intact. Its eye flickers as Xiao resummons his polearm, a strange noise beeping from its body as its shoulders hiss. 

"Xiao?!" the Tamer shouts. 

"The orb in the center!" he yells.

The Ruin Guard beeps and raises its foot. Xiao flickers as it kicks a crater into the earth, twisting to aim at its open back. Its torso spins a full 180. He flickers before its fists can catch him. 

A blue orb whistles through the smog and explodes against the machine. Its body seizes and sparks as Xiao lunges, burying his polearm through its eye. The force of the strike drives the machine until it collapses, Xiao standing on top, victorious. 

The Tamer's smile is short-lived as another Ruin Machine beeps. Explosives spark from its shoulders, only for great slabs of stone to shoot from the ground and pierce its body before it can fire. The light dies in its eye. 

"Stone Edge," the Tamer whispers as the stone retreats into the earth. The Ruin Guard groans before bouncing down the slope, the Tamer urging Xiao to follow as they charge into the cavern. A sheer drop connects to the central chamber. Normally, there is a Regisvine here, Xiao is confident of this. 

Instead, another Ruin Guard is being gored to death by a spinning drill. Stubby claws grip its legs as the machine is lifted. Wires and gears snap from its midsection until finally it rips into two. The bottom half flops back as the light fades from its eyes. With two swings, the upper half flies off the horn, revealing the untouched hide of a vishap-like beast. 

It stands on two legs, its paws reaching up to bat the embers off its shut eyes. At the end of its snout, a glowing drill slows to a halt. A familiar purple haze emanates from its hide. Once it is suitably clean, it snorts and waddles through the mud towards the center of the cavern.

The remains of a Pyro Regisvine still burns, pierced by giant slabs of crystals, each emanating the same strange light as the one from the Tamer's necklace. Between the crystals are the shredded remains of other Ruin Machines. The beast clambers into the nest with relative ease, disappearing from view.

"One of your beasts?" Xiao whispers again. It has to be. It'd killed the Regisvine on its own. And the crystals forming its nest must've been why Xiao's senses had been muddled.

"Lady Kaiju," they whisper. "Rhydon. Geo-"

The ground trembles. The Tamer swears and grabs Xiao before leaping. Underneath, sharpened stone stabs at the empty space. The Tamer grits their teeth as they cling to the cavern walls with a glowing hand, the other gripping Xiao's arm. 

Going closer to the crystals only worsens the strange pull. His vision almost seems to overlap, the Tamer's memories struggling against his own senses. In the nest, Lady Kaiju snorts and scratches at its face. Its head swivels, but after a moment resettles in its nest. Oddly enough, its eyes remain shut. 

"It's blind?" Xiao manages as he forces away the hypnotic pull. 

"No see?" they ask, nodding when he confirms the translation. "Blind. But earth…" They hum softly in what Xiao assumes is their sign for vibration. "See."

So Lady Kaiju can see vibration through the earth. Another terrifying beast.

As they lift him to grab onto the wall, the sound of another Ruin Guard echoes from a different entrance. It lumbers towards them, but it isn't long before Lady Kaiju charges out of the nest. With a roar, it drives its foot into the ground. Stone spears the machinery before it can even strike. 

"Is it protecting something?" he whispers. 

The Tamer shrugs and begins to creep across the ceiling, Xiao close behind. As they move, the occasional Ruin Guard stumbles into the clearing. It doesn't get very far before the beast destroys it. 

They're nearly parallel to the nest when the Tamer stops. When Xiao jabs at their ankle, they hush them and point at the nest. Inside, between torn leaves and Ruin Guard remains, dwarfed by Lady Kaiju's bulk as it returns to the nest, is a single egg. 

"Lady Kaiju…child protector," the Tamer whispers. They creep forward, squinting. "How did…why-" Their foot slips. 

The pebbles bounce off of Lady Kaiju's nose. Its ears raise, head snapping back as it sniffs the air. The Tamer holds their breath and glues themself against the ceiling. 

Lady Kaiju grumbles and paws at one of the cogs in the nest, and Xiao almost exhales when the Tamer plunges. A cog buries into the spot, just narrowly missing their bare foot. 

"Xiao!" they shout. 

Xiao kicks off and tackles them out of the air, another gear whistling by his back. He flips and skids to a halt on the mud, the Tamer in his arms. He can't even set them down before leaping again, dodging the stones flying from the ground. 

Lady Kaiju charges at them when he lands, horn spinning as it bellows. The Tamer squeaks and kicks Xiao before it can connect. It bores a hole into the wall behind them. When it tears itself free, it turns to face down Xiao and charges again. 

Xiao tries to leap. Tries. But on the ground, a few yards from the crystals, he cannot breathe. Lady Kaiju is charging, but he knows he can stop it. That is his beast. Isn't it? He, the Tamer, the strongest of the Aura Guardians-

The horn stops a hair away from Xiao's chest. Behind them, the Tamer growls and digs their heels into the dirt, body glowing.

"K-Kaiju!" they force out. "Listen!" 

Lady Kaiju only roars. Its tail begins to lift and, with a single flick, sends the Tamer into the wall. The entire cavern shudders as the Tamer rolls onto the floor with a groan, Lady Kaiju not far behind.

Xiao leaps to their side, ready to take the brunt of the drill when it tumbles to a stop. Its head swivels to the side, back towards the nest where another Ruin Guard looms. It is rooting through the nest, reaching for the unprotected egg. 

Lady Kaiju's roar nearly deafens him. Water bubbles at its feet, a giant wave swelling from the muddy earth and rushing towards the machine. Xiao throws the Tamer onto his shoulder and flickers into the tunnel they'd come from, just in time to see the Ruin Guard drown in the surf. 

The water eventually settles, leaving behind puddles and washed up junk as Lady Kaiju cradles the egg. It stomps back to the damp nest and, after gently stroking the shell, sets the egg down in the center. It does not take long before another Ruin Grader stumbles into the cavern, ready to strike. 

"Ugh…" The Tamer tries to wiggle out of Xiao's grip. When he sets them down, they nearly tumble back into the cavern.

"Can you stand?" he asks when he grabs them.

"One…" they trail off in a mumble. Their breathing slows. 

"Hey!" Xiao jostles them. They let out a grumble. "Stay awake. We're going back to the tower." 

"Buh' Kaiju-"

"It will be preoccupied protecting the nest," he says. "You are in no condition to fight. We're going."

The Tamer doesn't protest, this time, and Xiao hopes it's just because they agree and not because their heartbeat is slowing down. He readjusts his grip on them and flickers, softening the landing as the reform at the tower. 

Haoran, to his credit, only raises a brow. "When I said to apologize," he says when he takes in the Tamer's unarmored uniform, "I didn't mean to blow their back out." 

"They need healing," Xiao growls. 

Haoran blinks, Vision flaring. His expression shifts as he sighs. "I'm starting to sense a pattern here…" 

The Tamer groans as Xiao sets them in a cot. They barely manage to lie down when claws clack against the wooden floor. Renegade and Delta nearly crash into each other running inside, the latter leaping into the air only for a bubble to stop him. 

"Bad dogs," Haoran scolds. "Let me check them over first. Then you can sit on them."

Delta yowls from within. Renegade grumbles but sits a fair distance from the cot, grabbing the Jolteon by the scruff before he can escape.

Satisfied, Haoran returns to scanning the Tamer's body. A frown grows. "What in the world were you two doing?" he asks. "Why are your reserves so low?" 

"Fightin'," they mumble. "Fun…"

"We found another of their beasts," Xiao says for them. 

"Which one?" Haoran asks.

"...Lady Kaiju?" Xiao tries to say it with the proper accent. It must have been enough because Renegade's ears perk up. Even Delta pauses in his squirming to look at the adeptus. "They called it a Rhydon."

"Geo," the Tamer adds before switching to their language. Renegade drops Delta in alarm, whining in complaint.

"I'm fine," they insist, only to hiss when Haoran presses down on their chest. 

"Your collarbone is broken, brat," he says. 

"Then eat baos," they say. "Fine then." 

Haoran presses even harder. "Just because you eat for an entire army means nothing." 

The Tamer scowls. Their ink flickers as they try to sit up, forced down by the water bubbling under Haoran's palms. "Lady Kaiju has egg. Child. I go-"

"I'll go." Xiao crosses his arms and glares at them, silencing any argument before they can even start. "I will return to the cavern. If the Ruin Graders are trying to destroy the egg, it won't leave until it is hatched. I will distract the machines until you can return to purify it."

He doesn't want a repeat of Mingyun Village. Not if he can help it.

"But-" The Tamer stops themself. After a moment, they nod and slowly lower themself into the cot. "If hurt…" They whistle. "Come when called. Okay?" 

Xiao scoffs, but he nods. He doesn't need it, he tells himself. He has managed on his own against Ruin Machines easily. But the Tamer is the Tamer and he doubts they would stay if he'd protested. 

And…they trust him enough. It wouldn't be right to abuse that.

"Enough talking," Haoran snaps. He runs a glowing hand over the Tamer's chest as they hiss. "Go do what you must. We'll be there by sunrise."

Xiao nods, and after another reassuring smile from the Tamer, he returns to Cuijue Slope. 

And stumbles as he enters the birthing caverns.

"Are you alright?" Aaron asks, catching Xiao before he can collapse. 

"Yeah, I'm…" Xiao swallows. "I'm fine."

It is always overwhelming, being here. The constant hum of new life within their shells, the smothering warmth of the roots. Down here, it is the closest one can get to the Life Bringer.

But Xiao has come down here several times before and never felt something like this. 

The other matrons linger around, tucked away in their own caverns with the incubator beasts. A handful bow to Xiao as he passes, giggling to themselves when they notice Aaron dutifully trailing behind. 

"Your Highness," one greets. "Princess Rin shoo you from the Palace?" 

"Oh, you know how she is," Aaron says smoothly. "Getting everything ready for the ceremony and all that. You know."

The matrons giggle again. Xiao has to drag him away before they can hound him any further.

They descend further, Aaron standing closer as they go. Xiao almost wishes he had the energy to tease him, but the calling grows stronger with each step. When they approach Lady Kaiju's cave, he almost collapses. 

Most of the clutch is still incubating. Lady Kaiju sleeps dutifully around them, ears still raised and alert when the pair enter her cavern. She only snorts out a greeting and squirms to get more comfortable. 

Then something squeaks from the nest. 

Aaron gasps behind him. "Was that…" 

Xiao doesn't answer. He approaches the nest quietly. There is a tiny egg, already broken. A little bundle of black and azure fur squirms inside. Lady Kaiju does not stop him as he reaches out, and when his fingers graze its chest, the ink across his body flickers. 

"Quin," Xiao gasps. 

The little bundle squirms again. It is far too young to open its eyes, but Xiao can feel it. The feeble, weak pulse of its heart. It is alive. 

Aaron calls his name, only to gasp when he leans over the nest. "Another?"

Xiao nods. Slowly, he scoops the thing into his hands and Arceus, it's so small-

"And is it-Are you two-" Aaron cuts off when it nuzzles into Xiao's chest, then laughs. "Really? What're the odds?" 

"...low." Very, very low. Guardians and their chosen partners…to have similar partners often means the guardians are destined to be together-"Quin. I'm calling it Quin." 

"Quin," Aaron repeats. "Oh, gods, Decim's going to be so happy to have a baby brother." 

"Decim's coming nowhere near my baby."

"Excuse me? As future King, I think I have a right to find a friend for my partner," Aaron says before lifting his staff. With a tap, the largest crystal glows before ejecting a beam of light, Decim emerging with a bark. His nose immediately begins to twitch, tail wagging faster as he sniffs at their arms. When Xiao finally shows Quin, his eyes stretch wide. He turns and whines. 

"That's right," Aaron says with a smile. "A Riolu. A baby you." 

The Riolu squirms against Xiao's chest. So small. So…fragile. But Xiao can already feel the overwhelming warmth squeezing his chest, tied together in one firm knot in his heart. 

The Riolu is his. And-

An explosion knocks Xiao back. He snarls as the memories vanish. A Ruin Guard had found him while he'd been in the memory. 

Cuijue Slope. Lady Kaiju. Focus, Xiao growls at himself. He lifts his polearm and strikes, twisting it into the eye socket for good measure. Right. He needs to focus. He needs to…go…

Xiao snarls and shakes his head. Already, the memories are calling again. The pressure burns his chest, even without a heart to ache in the first place. 

A Ruin Guard beeps in the distance. Xiao smothers the calling and marches ahead. It's going to be a long night.

Chapter Text

And Xiao, unfortunately, is right. 

If there is not a Ruin Guard, there is the yearning pull from within the caverns, calling for Xiao to come closer. If not that, then it is flickers of memories that he really does not like to experience. 

The Tamer…feels far too much. Xiao does not have a heart, but he can feel each twist and twinge lingering in his chest every time he breathes. He craves a world that is not his, desires things that he can never have. He misses Aaron as if he had been a yaksha, as if he had fought alongside him for hundreds of years. He misses the Palace like it is Liyue.

And worst of all, he misses Quin. 

The Tamer had said he had died and yet Xiao watches as the Riolu opens his eyes and learns how to walk and channel his first Aura Sphere…whatever that is. The memories never go beyond that. He is not sure if that is a blessing or a curse. 

But fighting the Ruin Guards is his best distraction and Xiao pours everything he has into keeping them away from the tunnels. 

The sun eventually rises. With it brings the Tamer and their beasts. For some reason, Xiao's chest aches when he sees them. There are still lingering emotions from the memories, he guesses.

"Xiao!" they call.

"I'm here," he says. Delta gets to him first, sniffing at his shoes before barking.

The Tamer smiles and slides off Renegade's back before the beast even comes to a stop, a basket on their back. Inside are bread and foodstuffs from the pantry, no doubt stolen from the kitchen, and they shove a bao into their mouth before offering him the rest. 

Xiao only raises a brow. 

"'depti no eat, I know," they say once they swallow. 

"Then why-"

"For Kaiju, but..." The Tamer smiles and digs through the basket, offering a pale bun. "Sweet custard bao. Xiao like sweets, yes?" 

Xiao does not like food and is sure his expression says just as much. The Tamer only smirks, drops the bun and lets his reflexes do the talking. 

"Xiao likes sweets," they hum when he grabs it before pulling out a flask of hot water. They devour the simple meal in record speed, then scrub at their face. "Haoran, Millelith come soon. Um…Report?" 

"Your beast is fine," he says. "The Ruin Machines have been dealt with. For now."

"Good, good." The Tamer nods, expression slowing. Their hand moves to their chest before they add, "All okay?" 

"I'm fine," he answers instinctively. "Don't worry about me." 

The Tamer doesn't seem convinced, but they sigh and nod anyway. "Okay. I go look. Delta, come." They crack their neck and smile. "Be back soon."

They jog into the tunnels without waiting, Delta at their heels. Renegade groans and stretches out his legs. When he barks at Xiao, the adeptus rolls his eyes. 

"I'm fine," he says. 

Renegade's ears flatten. He stands and sniffs at Xiao. He almost thinks the beast is about to lick him, only to jerk back when he reaches for the custard in the adeptus' hands. When Renegade whines, Xiao frowns. 

"Bad dog," he says. 

Renegade whines and scoots closer. Xiao can see his own face reflecting in his giant brown eyes. 

By the time the Tamer returns, Renegade is licking custard from his lips while Xiao finishes his half of the bun. They only raise a brow before grabbing a stick. 

"These things," they say, drawing a rough outline of a Ruin Guard. "What this?" 

"Ruin Guard," Xiao says. "Aim for the eye sockets." He points at the circle in the center for emphasis. 

"Ruin Guard…" They click their tongue. "Not Liyue."

"No." Xiao crouches to join the Tamer as they sit on the dirt. When they draw a question mark, he sighs. "I don't know where they come from. Cloud Retainer might." 

All Xiao knows is that they have been appearing since the war began. There is another form, he thinks, that is capable of flight, and they are often found south of Cuijue Slope, around Lisha. He mentions this all to the Tamer, who only makes a face and-

"Did you steal this map from Haoran?" he asks when they spread out the map of Liyue on the dirt. 

"Shh," they hush him and scan the parchment before pointing. "This Lisha?" 

He takes their hand and pulls it south. "Here." 

The Tamer's frown deepens as they circle the mountainous lands surrounding Lisha. They ask about the Millelith and trace out the routes weaving around the earth, each answer only worsening their expression. And Xiao can almost hear their thoughts. 

How could so many Ruin Guards make it through the area without the soldiers interfering? And why here? Wouldn't they want to target the city first? 

Unless… 

Do they want the beast? Although they engage Xiao when he approaches, it seems they had been targeting Lady Kaiju and her egg for some time. If so, why? They appear to be mindless machines, which implies the presence of some mysterious controller sending them into the world for…some reason. 

The Tamer stands suddenly, patting the dirt off their pants. "Go look at Ruin Guard. Xiao come?" 

Xiao nods and follows. There are plenty of destroyed Ruin Guards around the area. Once Renegade and Delta are on watch, the Tamer climbs onto the chassis and sticks their arm directly into the eye socket. 

He isn't quite sure what they're looking for, but they start dismantling it as best they can, prying metal sheets up and away to expose its innards. Much of it is a tangle of things Xiao has no hopes of understanding. The Tamer doesn't seem to recognize them, either, but they do perk up when they find its core. After some prodding, they manage to dislodge it and offer it to Xiao. He can only shrug. 

The Tamer hums, then sets it back inside the machine. They wait, as if expecting something to occur, then huffs and peels off their gloves. The ink circles flicker as they prod. 

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"Shush, Xiao," they mumble. "Feels… weird. Like…like home?”

Xiao’s brows lift. “Your world has machines like this?”

The Tamer shakes their head quickly. “No, no. But, hm…” They grip the core, air vibrating as their hands begin to glow. A moment later, the orb begins to shine in response. “Hah! Look-”

The Ruin Machine lurches. Xiao appears behind them, jerking the Tamer back and ignoring their yell. He aims his polearm at the core, ready to strike, but the moment they let go of the core, the machine flops back. 

"Huh." The Tamer looks up at Xiao, one hand over the core. When he nods, they try again. This time, the machine's core beeps. Slowly, the insides begin to puff and hiss as if it were breathing. It only stops once they pull away. "Interesting."

"So it relies on some form of energy." Xiao watches as the Tamer flexes their fingers. "Whatever you channel seems compatible with it." 

The Tamer's frown grows. "Bad." Their ink flickers. "Energy not same as elements. Ruin Guard…relies? Relies on…" They mutter a swear. "Still no word for-" They show off the soft blue light, and the word jumps out of Xiao before he realizes it.

"Aura." It feels clunky in his mouth. He'd only heard the word a few times, only said them when he was in their memories and body. 

"...Aura," they repeat slowly. Their hand reaches for their chest, pressing a palm over their heart. "Xiao know? Know Aura?" 

Xiao shakes his head. "I only heard it from…the crystals." 

The air ripples, but the Tamer only offers a small smile. "Ah. See Aaron, then?" 

"And…Quin," Xiao admits. Just saying the Riolu's name hurts. Based on the way their smile twists, he assumes the Tamer feels the same. Even Delta and Renegade shift in their positions.

"First partner," they say eventually. "Dead."

Xiao nods, chest aching. He knows. 

The Tamer exhales slowly, then shakes out their head and reaches under their armor. They fish out their necklace and hold it up to the light. 

"So," they say, "energy in this. Looking for energy, maybe?" They point to the tunnels leading into the cavern. "In those crystals." 

"Possibly," Xiao says, "but can they sense energy so far from Lisha?" 

The Tamer tilts their head, and Xiao only has a moment to brace himself before their entire body lights up with energy. It dissipates as soon as it comes, but he is still left breathless at how easily they’d unleashed so much. Underneath their feet, the machine’s core glows, as if powering on from the mere second of energy they’d unleashed. 

After five minutes, Delta fires off a bolt of lightning at a different Ruin Guard as it stumbles towards them, drawn by the Tamer’s energy.

The Tamer leaves their beasts to deal with the machine, joining Xiao on the ground as they plan. So the machines are coming for the strange crystals, which contain the same Aura energy as the stranger. When the adeptus asks what the crystals exactly are, they hesitate.

“In crystals,” they say, “what you see?”

“Fragments,” Xiao says after a moment. “A castle…Cameran Palace? And the caverns with Lady Kaiju, in the roots.”

The Tamer nods and crouches, drawing once more in the dirt. At first, it looks like a bunch of squiggles, but once they finish, they point to a tree in the distance and ask, “What word?”

“A…tree?”

They frown at his incredulous voice, then remove their necklace. Gripping the crystal in one hand, they shut their eyes in focus before offering the other to Xiao. 

When he takes it, Cuijue Slope and Teyvat disappear. Towering before him is a beautiful tree, spanning higher than the peaks of Vindagnyr or Jueyun Karst, snow white branches reaching for the sun. He cannot move, but he can see the blurry outlines of hundreds of alien creatures darting to and fro around the crystalline wood. And, through the chattering and calls of the beasts, he can hear the thrumming heartbeat of energy traveling through its veins.

“The antlers of the Life Bringer,” the Tamer’s voice echoes from the strange voice around them. “The Tree of Beginning.” Xiao is sucked back into his body as the Tamer lets go. Their face is passive, watching as he reorients himself. “Fall with me,” they guess. “Energy in crystals.”

Xiao grunts, still half-stuck on the memory. The Tree of Beginning. A living, crystalline tree. If its crystals contain the same energy that the Tamer can wield…“They cannot fall in the wrong hands,” he says.

The Tamer only nods.

It takes some time before the Millelith arrive. The moment they do, Captain Jinhai splits his squads to protect the entrances while Haoran meets with Xiao and the Tamer. He only gives them both a fleeting glance before sighing. 

“Missed your chance for some fun, Tamer,” he says. 

The Tamer only cocks their head in confusion. “Fun?”

“Nothing.” Haoran claps his hands. “Are you ready? I’d rather be back in the tower in time for dinner.”

“You’re coming with us?” Xiao asks. 

“Did they not explain the plan?” When the adeptus shakes his head, the medic only sighs. “Of course.”

The plan, as Xiao finds out, is for him, the Tamer and their beasts, and Haoran to head into the cavern while the soldiers stop any Ruin Guards that might appear. While Xiao and the Tamer lure out Lady Kaiju to purify her, Haoran will go to the egg with Renegade and Delta. If the purification works, they will all return to the Guili Watchtower, unharmed. If not, then they will improvise. 

The Tamer’s suggestion, not Haoran’s.

Still, they prepare. Xiao summons his polearm while the Tamer pulls out a giant rope net from one of the Millelith's crates. Haoran flicks a hand, an Emerald Orb appearing with a shimmer. 

“A catalyst,” he says when the Tamer gasps in excitement. “Don’t touch.”

“Haoran soldier,” they say, shouldering a length of rope. “But never see Haoran fight.”

“Because I am retired,” he drones. “I’m just a medic.”

The Tamer pouts, but the sound of Millelith engaging a Ruin Guard alerts them. There is no time for them to play. They need to hurry.

Xiao leads them into the cavern, Haoran on Renegade’s shoulders and the Tamer bringing up the rear. Delta almost seems to march as he follows the Tamer, the humid air smothering his normal, carefree behavior.

Besides the scraps of food that the Tamer had brought, the cavern is the same as when they’d first found it. The alluring pull of the crystals tickles Xiao’s senses, but he forces it down. 

Haoran only swears. “Interesting home she has there.”

Halfway to the center of the cavern, the Tamer stops, the others following suit. Lady Kaiju’s breathing is slow, but Xiao does not allow himself to relax. He grips his polearm tight and shares a final glance with the Tamer. They offer the length of rope to him.

“Kaiju!” they demand. "Face me!"

The earth tremors. Slowly, Lady Kaiju emerges from the nest, eyes still shut. The purple haze almost seems to thicken as her horn spins in warning. 

"Like fight Rex Lapis," they whisper as her horn picks up speed. 

"Like fighting an archon," Haoran drones, "lovely." 

Lady Kaiju bellows, and the group splits as stones shoot from the ground. Xiao flings his polearm at the Geo Beast, sparking off her hide as she knocks it away with her horn. Her head swivels hard as they scatter before honing on the Tamer. 

"Raaaaa!" Lady Kaiju's claws sink into the stone around her and tears them from the ground. The Tamer manages to shatter the first two that fly their way. The third connects before they can recover and sends them bouncing into the wall. 

Xiao charges at the nest on foot. He can't flicker, not if he wants the beast to notice. And it works. Lady Kaiju lifts more boulders in her paws, but Xiao flickers through them harmlessly. He lunges into the air, polearm in hand. The blade grates with her spinning horn and sends tremors through his body.

"Delta, Shadow Ball!"

He releases his polearm and plunges as a black orb explodes against the beast's face. Side to side, he tangles her legs in rope, diving away before she can stomp on him. With a yell, he flings the remaining net over her head and watches as it snags on her horn. 

Across the cavern, Renegade grips the end of the net and pulls. 

Lady Kaiju tumbles out of the nest with a roar, thrashing within the net as Renegade and the Tamer haul her away. Haoran and Delta make a break for the crystals, and Xiao joins the others once they are safely within the nest. 

"Xiao, hold it!" the Tamer shouts. 

He does. The moment the Tamer lets go, Xiao nearly flies forward from Lady Kaiju's thrashing. Even with Renegade's help, she bucks and kicks with all her might, maw and horn tangled in the ropes. Her desperate roars echo around the cave, but with the netting and Renegade and Xiao's constant pulling, she cannot anchor herself for an attack. 

The Tamer pounces on the net without hesitation. Twice, Lady Kaiju nearly crushes them by rolling on her back, saved only by Xiao's forceful pulls the other way. They slam one bare hand before her horn, grab the other protrusion on her head, and let out a scream as their body begins to glow. 

"Kaiju!" they snap. "Listen! Listen to-"

"-me, Kaiju!" Xiao shoves the Rhydon back, teeth bared as she wails. Broken eggshells scatter the dirt around them. "It was a lost cause, Kaiju. Get a hold of yourself!" 

Lady Kaiju doesn't. She scratches at her face and stomps her feet like a petulant child, and it hurts Xiao because really, that's what Kaiju is. She'd been too crippled to work in the infantry and had spent her entire life tending to the military's eggs. She isn't a fighter. Not like the others.

But that doesn’t matter anymore. Xiao grabs her horn and hauls her onto her feet. “The egg wouldn’t have made it, Kaiju. It would only slow us down!”

Lady Kaiju only sobs. She rears her head up and swings. It rams straight into Xiao’s gut. He cries out as he falls to the ground, but he’s been hit with worse. Why does it feel like his stomach is-Ah. His stomach is torn open. 

The copper stench stops the Rhydon’s crying, horn stained with red. She stomps over and reaches out, but Xiao only waves her away and presses his hand against the wound, the other gripping the soil. It stitches itself shut, quick and clean. He almost throws up in the process.

Once it closes, he allows Lady Kaiju to lift him onto her shoulders. She snorts and begins running west, to the water. She gives Xiao’s leg a tap, and he only sighs. 

“I forgive you,” he grumbles. “Now hurry. We need to get out before they catch up-”

Rope entangles Xiao’s legs. His ankles nearly snap from the force. He flickers out before they can tighten, but without his added weight, Lady Kaiju manages to writhe free. Her horn drills into the earth. She burrows straight into the dirt before Renegade can pull her away and disappears.

The ground begins to quake, Renegade charging for the nest. Before he can climb inside, Lady Kaiju breeches the earth, horn burrowing deep in his fur as he roars.

“Delta!” the Tamer cries out, “Double Kick!”

Delta darts from the nest, hind paws glowing. He lashes out at Lady Kaiju, striking twice at her face and dislodging her from the Arcanine. Renegade stumbles onto his feet as Lady Kaiju lands some distance away. She does not hesitate and charges, leaping into the air and rotating into a spinning blur.

She rams into a solid wall of water, just inches from Xiao. Behind him, Haoran swears and swears before finally managing, “I can’t-”

She bursts free. Xiao throws up his spear before the attack can hit. His feet dig into the dirt just inches from Delta and the nest, the attack driving him back and back until his heels hit crystal. When Lady Kaiju finally slows, it’s to bare her maw at him, electricity crackling between her jaws. 

Before she can snap at him, the net flies over her again. It snags on her horn and jerks her head back, jaws nearly unhinging as she roars.

“Xiao!” the Tamer shouts. Their ink flickers, straining against the ropes as Lady Kaiju struggles to tear the ropes free. “H-Help!”

Xiao growls and releases his polearm. The Rhydon’s jaws snap shut around its shaft with a loud crack. Fists balled, he rears up and slams them down, driving it straight into Lady Kaiju’s head. It feels like punching pure rock and he can feel the strike rattle his entire body, but Lady Kaiju slumps over almost instantly. 

The Tamer flops forward from the lack of resistance, eyes wide. When the beast groans, they scramble onto her back and plants their hands on her head. After a few silent seconds, their body glows bright blue until the strange, crawling corruption pours out of Lady Kaiju’s ears.

It only manages to scurry a few feet before a water bubble swallows it whole. Electricity fries the corruption until it turns into goop. Within the nest, Haoran sighs in relief. 

“I remember you telling me that Lady Kaiju was the most docile of your team,” he drones as he emerges. “Or was I mistaken-Tamer!”

There is a loud thump. The Tamer lays face-first in the dirt, unmoving even after Renegade stumbles over. When he nudges them onto their back, they exhale slowly. Looks like they’re just sleeping.

“This is normal, right?” Haoran asks as Delta pounces on their stomach.

“Yes.” Xiao steps around Lady Kaiju to check on the Tamer. He can hear the soft beating of their pulse, but he cannot help but reach for their wrist. Once he feels the pulse under his fingertips, his shoulders loosen ever so slightly. “They’re fine.”

“That makes two, then.” Haoran disappears, returning with the beast’s egg in his arms. “From what I can tell, it’s perfectly fine. No source of corruption or anything.”

That’s certainly better than expected. Xiao’s eyes gravitate to the egg, its speckled shell almost shining in the low light of the cavern. He wonders if it will hatch into some sort of bird, or if their world’s methods of reproduction just happens to involve eggs for all beasts. 

He almost asks the Tamer as he shakes their shoulder, but they barely stir, let alone groan. When he tries again, their head only lists to one side. It seems that the purification process knocked them out cold. 

"I have a feeling they'll be out for some time," Haoran says. 

Xiao sighs and scoops them onto his back. "Fine. I will take them back."

"And I suppose I will be the one dealing with Lady Kaiju once she awakens?" Haoran asks. The beast in question is still unconscious. Xiao hopes he hasn't caused any permanent damage with the strike. "I doubt the Millelith will be able to carry her out of the cavern. Ren?" 

The hound whines, flopping on his side and exposing his stomach. Through the dense, black belly fur, there is torn skin from where Lady Kaiju's horn had struck. 

"Excuses." Still, Haoran sends a bubble to cover the injury and turns to Lady Kaiju. "I'll try to wake her up, as well. Go tell Captain Jinhai to-"

"Ah, those were your people out there, then.” The air ripples. Cerulean fingers emerge from nothing, gripping the air and pulling it apart as if it were an invisible curtain. Wider and wider, the sight buzzes in Xiao’s ears, a hum in his skull that swells as a boot and legs and a towering figure emerges from the opening. “They’ve been disposed of, unfortunately. My apologies.”

Xiao does not move. Quietly, Renegade rises to his feet, ears folding back. At their feet, Delta’s fur sparks. Its words swim in the adeptus’ ears, somehow foreign and familiar at once.

“Now, now,” the thing hums. Its feet lift off the dirt, drifting forward. “I mean no harm. There is no need for hostility.” 

“Who…” Haoran’s voice cracks, but he holds his head high. “Who are you?”

The thing stops a fair distance away, but it only sets Xiao on edge. It tilts its head in thought, then says, “In your language, I suppose one calls me a Herald.”

“A messenger?” Haoran does not waver. “Why are you here?”

This time, its voice ripples with mirth. “In truth, it had been to follow our Ruin Machines. We thought it odd so many ventured away from their preset paths." It tilts its head, as if examining them despite the lack of outward eyes. "And now I see why. Another stranger stands among you."

"Another?" Xiao repeats.

"Our leader, and a blessing to our people," another voice hums, this time behind them. When Xiao looks, there is another, swathed in purple robes with hands folded neatly at its waist. "Their presence does pose a few questions. Perhaps it will be best to return with them in tow?" 

Xiao tightens his grip on the Tamer. They are still unconscious. Lady Kaiju is still unconscious and the egg is nearby, unguarded. "You are not welcomed here," he growls. "Leave now if you value your life."

The Herald chuckles. "Your conviction is commendable, soldier." Hydro begins to bubble from its vambraces, forming wicked blades as long as Xiao's arm. "But it is not your will to decide. Lector?"

Electro sparks in the Lector's hands as a book appears before it. "It is the will of the Abyss, brother." 

The air begins to burn, flames building in Renegade's maw. Xiao's mind races desperately at the sight. If he is quick, he can send the others back to the tower. He cannot fight with the others so close. These creatures are an unknown threat and the others are still mortal. They still bleed.

"Haoran," Xiao growls. 

"Don't even think about it, boy," the medic snaps, fingers trembling despite the steel in his eyes. 

"The Tamer-"

"Would kill us all if you die." Haoran's own catalyst hovers under his fingertips. "Delta-"

The Jolteon snaps at the air, fur sparking. So it is settled. Xiao kneels and sets the Tamer beside the sleeping Kaiju and her egg. Ridiculous. All of them. At least they have the nest at their backs.

"There is no shame in fleeing, mortal," the Herald still says. "All we seek is the stranger." 

Xiao's polearm falls in his hands as Renegade bares his teeth. "And you will go home empty-handed."

No one dares move. Then everything rushes in all at once, and Xiao twists and charges for the Herald. 

Water arcs through the air, razor sharp edges cutting through the adeptus even when he cycles through. It barely slows Xiao. He thrusts his polearm forward, blocked by the Hydro blades. The Herald rips an arm free and swings for his side. He kicks back, twists, watching the blades carve through the air just breaths from his skin. 

Xiao lashes out, one leg at its head. It barely dodges the blows, simply jerks its head back, but Xiao plants his feet and drags his polearm in a wide arc. Blades tear through its front armor. When it bleeds, it bleeds a corruptive black ooze that glimmers like the night sky.

A sharp bark sends the adeptus back as the Herald reels from the strike. It tries to recover, shoving a hand into its chest, but multiple Deltas rush in. Electricity crackles from his fur, bolt after bolt striking the Herald before it can retreat. 

Xiao risks a glance across the cavern. Haoran is still at the nest, glowing barrier erected with one hand as the other slings water at the Lector. With Renegade's flaming jaws at its heels, it has no time to recover or strike back. 

Briefly, he wonders if this is what all battles feel like for the Tamer. Then the pained yelp of Delta is his only warning before water erupts from the Herald. Xiao catches him before he can crash into the cave wall.

"Resistance," the Herald seethes, "is futile!"

It unleashes a torrent of razor blades. It flies the exact opposite direction. When the Lector dives back, Renegade surges ahead, only for the water to crash into his hulking frame. Rubble buries the Arcanine and does not stir.

"Ren!" Haoran cries out, but the Lector is upon him in an instant. His barrier shudders with each blow. At the third, Delta springs from Xiao's arm and dives into the storm. He howls, body shining as the Electro spheres dissipates, like he'd absorbed the element into his fur. 

The Shadow Ball he fires back is twice its normal size. For a moment, the Lector disappears in the explosion, only to flick its hands free of invisible dirt.

"Fascinating," the Lector purrs, "but pointless!" 

Xiao ducks before he can watch further. The Herald laughs as he tears his blades free from the rock. 

"Distracted, soldier?" It flicks the rubble off its blade as Xiao snatches his polearm from the air. "How foolish. And here I thought I sensed the bloodshed of a seasoned warrior."

Blades slash downward, goring a giant X into the wall. Xiao rolls onto his feet and thrusts, jabs, swipes-everything he could to land another hit. Most times, it barely clips its armor. Often, it misses entirely. Its buzzing voice grows stronger with each miss, taunting and cooing like a disappointed man playing with a cat. 

Another flurry erupts from the Herald and knocks Xiao away. He snarls and kicks off before he can even reorient. The Herald throws its blades up, ready to cleave the adeptus in two when he cycles once, twice, and phases straight through the monster. 

"No!" the Herald roars as Xiao rears his polearm. He has the perfect shot of its back. He drives his polearm forward and misses. 

Purple lightning strikes the adeptus in the side, and he barely grunts before the Herald slams him into the ground with another razor arc. He tries to flicker away, but his body twitches and seizes, soaking in Electro-charged water. 

The Herald cackles, lifting its blades. It lines up with Xiao's throat, but when it drives it down, it swerves off the side, deflected by a shining dome of water.

"Xiao!" Haoran thrusts his other hand out, arm quaking as his barrier falls apart under the Lector's assault. 

Delta lunges at the Lector. It dodges his attempts with ease, graceful in the air. His doubles disappear as quickly as they form, and all they grant him is seconds at most. He is tiny compared to the Lector. He is fragile compared to Renegade. 

And that is all Xiao can think when another blast of water flies from the Herald. It cleaves a chunk of the crystal in two. 

"Haoran!" Xiao yells desperately. The medic throws his hands up out of instinct. The crystal shatters against his barrier, but as chunks rain from above, there is a strangled cry from the Jolteon and the medic before they are buried under the crystals. 

Xiao's body chills. There are weak, faint traces of life in the air. He latches onto each one and draws on his energy. He can send them out. He can still-

"Ah, ah, ah." A hand grips Xiao's chest, icy water searing his skin. "Wherever you flee, the Abyss follows." 

An anchor drops, dragging Xiao's entire soul with it. A strangled scream escaped his throat. He tries to summon his energy, tries to force the Herald away, but it refuses to come, only a trickle in the deep well of his power. 

And, Archons, Xiao feels empty but he still lashes out and tries to snap the Herald's blades as it traces his jaw.

"Such defiance," it muses. "Perhaps the Abyss will welcome you into its embrace." It flicks its blades and raises them high. "For now-"

"Don't…" The crystals shift. Somehow, underneath the rubble, there is a protective, soft blue barrier. It's parchment-thin and wavers under the strain, but it's the only thing keeping the rocks from crushing everyone beneath. As it shifts, the Tamer rises to their feet, quaking. Blood drips from their temples. Their ink flickers and fades, sputtering like a dying candle. "Don't…touch him."

The Lector tilts its head. "You seem weak, stranger." 

"Don't care." The Tamer bares their teeth. "Go now. Or else." 

The Lector only sighs and folds its hands, then softly whispers in a foreign, familiar tongue. The Tamer's face falls at the noise. 

"You…How?" The Tamer snaps. 

"It is only natural," the Lector croons. Its voice overlaps, as if speaking two languages at once. "No matter which world one hails, the Abyss is one with us all."

"...I am not you," the Tamer growls. 

"And yet corruption stains your skin," it continues. It floats forward without fear, towering over the Tamer. "You masquerade as a harbinger of light, a protector of peace and heavenly principle, but I understand you. Your spirit runs black with the blood of gods." 

A hand reaches for their head. They reel back, but the barrier shudders at the movement, the crystals caving in. Xiao snarls and claws at his reserves, but the Herald's blades dig deeper into his jaw. Still, he yells their name. It falls on deaf ears. 

"But do not despair," the Lector sings as a single claw graces their temple, "for the Abyss shall open its doors to you."

And the cavern is bathed in light as the Tamer screams in pain. The ink writhes on their skin until it begins to peel away, burning into floating embers in the air. 

This time, Xiao thrashes and kicks, slamming his energy against the seal and screaming through the pain. The Herald's blade tear through his skin, but it's enough space, and the adeptus twists onto his feet and rips free. The Lector throws up a crackling shield before Xiao's polearm can skewer its torso. 

"Patience, soldier," it says. "Your moment will come-"

A drill pierces its back. The Lector's hands flop, a gurgle escaping its throat as Xiao drives his polearm into chest. When he stumbles back, the drill begins to hoist the monster into the air. Behind it, an orange-plated beast growls, one arm cradling the unconscious Tamer. 

"Rhy…" Lady Kaiju snarls. She lifts her head, far taller than before, and flings the Lector aside, sending it bouncing across the cave. Behind her, her mace-like tail curls around the rubble, easily bearing the giant crystals' weight. Underneath, Delta, Haoran, and the egg are miraculously unharmed. 

But the Tamer isn't moving. Xiao reaches out to take them, to feel for their heartbeat. Lady Kaiju does not resist and, distantly, he wonders if its because she could easily crush him in his current state. 

"Gah…you…" the Lector seethes as the Herald appears at its side. Black ooze bubbles from its chest, somehow still alive despite the injury. "They shall not forgive you for your transgressions!"

Lady Kaiju only snorts and lifts her arms. Carved inside her palms are gaping holes, but as her claws flex, fragments of rock fly from the holes and coalesce in the center. Soon, a meteor glowing with red aura lands in her hands. She only needs one hand to fling the giant boulder across the cavern.

The Herald disappears into a starry portal, but when the Lector attempts to follow, Renegade sinks his teeth into its ankle. It cries out and lifts a crackling hand, but it is too late.

The boulder shatters against the cavern wall with a mighty crash. All that remains of the Lector is splattered beneath it. Lady Kaiju snorts and, apparently satisfied, begins clearing the crystals away.

Xiao only starts to breathe when Renegade stumbles towards him. He growls at Lady Kaiju-who only whirrs her drill back-then sniffs at the Tamer in Xiao's arms. When the adeptus presses an ear to their chest, there is a stuttering mess of a heartbeat underneath. 

Xiao pulls away, only to hiss when he notices the wet imprint he leaves behind. His own jaw is dripping from the Herald's blades. Haoran and Delta are still unconscious and Renegade is in no shape carry them back, and if their words are to be believed, then the soldiers are dead outside. The tower is defenseless without any leader to guide the remaining men.

The Tamer shudders in his arms. The ink pattern on their hand is in tatters, broken and fading with every pulse. 

They need help. 

"Rex Lapis," Xiao whispers. "Please…" 

He is an adeptus, the last remaining of the yaksha, but as the comforting orange glow of Rex Lapis' presence fills the cavern, he has never felt so weak. 

-

The markings burn. 

Circles along the backs of his hands, the tops of his feet, and on his chest and back, all connected by thick, unmistakable lines. It is not the mark of an Aura Guardian. It is the seal of a traitor. 

His aura writhes, but trying to reach full strength only makes the seals glow in protest. It feels like a cage, or like trying to shove a ball underwater. 

…really, he has to give Aaron credit. He might not have enough control to become a medic like Xiao, but his skills in sealing are incredible. 

But not good enough. 

"You look rough."

Xiao lifts his head, unamused. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

King Aaron's face falls. He says Xiao's name, stops, then sighs. Wreathed in fancy robes and jewels, he looks nothing like the knight Xiao had fought alongside for years. 

"I just…don't understand," he says. "Why would you…" He cannot finish, instead gesturing vaguely to the cavern ceiling. "Why?"

Why? Xiao flexes his hands. "Ask Decim. Then you will understand."

Somehow, his expression falls further. If it had been anyone else, he would have almost been offended. Instead, Xiao sighs and tries to rub his face. The shackles do not allow it.

"Leave me be, Your Majesty," he says. "I would like to spend my final moments in peace." 

"And not with your friend?" King Aaron clears his throat and tries to smile. "I'm hurt." 

Xiao only shuts his eyes and focuses. Hands, feet, chest. Aaron is not cruel, not enough to put a full seal on his body. Just enough to allow access to his aura, not enough for anything else. It will be his downfall. 

His and the kingdom's-

"Conqueror of Demons." 

Xiao flickers from the roof into the medical wing, Cloud Retainer tilting its head in greeting. Renegade and Delta are downstairs, unwilling to leave Lady Kaiju when they'd realized the staircases would not support her size. That had left the Tamer alone, silent.

"How are you feeling?" Cloud Retainer asks.

The Tamer blinks and looks down at the red rope wrapping around their arms. 

"To stem the flow," the adeptus says without prompting. "It seems whatever this monster has done, it has injured your ability to regulate your energy circulation."

Xiao doubts the Tamer fully understands what Cloud Retainer means, but they still nod and run their fingers over their neck. The ink splits apart like old leather.

Unwillingly, the sight of their body burning away flares in his memories. Xiao does not know what the Lector had done to them. In fact, much of his memories are blurry, lost between the haze of aiding Rex Lapis in bringing everyone to the watchtower and Cloud Retainer sealing his wounds. Whatever it had done, the Tamer looks as alive as the soldiers Rex Lapis had been forced to bring back on floating slates. 

"It is only temporary," Cloud Retainer adds when they pick at the fraying ends. "One is not familiar with the anatomical structure of your kind, and to attempt to seal the leaks may cause more harm than good. Of course, if you are willing, perhaps one-"

"Don't even think about it, Cloud Retainer," Haoran snaps as he appears over the balcony with Rex Lapis, pointing with his one good arm. The other is haphazardly tied in a sling. "We have bigger problems to worry about."

"Ever the impatient one," the Archon says. He sets a hand on the medic before he can snap, adding, "Beast Tamer, Conqueror, are you well enough to explain what happened?" 

Xiao nods, but the Tamer frowns and scratches at their neck. "Lady Kaiju all okay?" 

"She's made herself comfortable downstairs," Rex Lapis says. "The egg is still intact." 

The Tamer nods, then slowly adds, "Soldiers? Millelith?" After a stretch of silence, they simply say, "Oh." 

It is Xiao and Haoran who end up explaining what had happened, both due to the language barrier and the Tamer's drained demeanor. When Xiao mentions the Abyss, Cloud Retainer's feathers bristle. 

"Again?" it says. "To hear such mention of this Abyss once more-"

"I assume you'd heard something similar from the creatures spilling from the Chasm?" Haoran asks. 

"Indeed." Cloud Retainer shakes its head. "Although, one did not encounter much intelligent life. Many of the creatures there were mindless. Bloodthirsty."

"And yet the Herald and the Lector are about as wordy as you are," Haoran mutters.

Xiao frowns as the crane swats the medic with a wing. "They spoke of a leader, as well. One not of this world." 

Rex Lapis's brow lifts. Silently, he turns to the Tamer, who only shakes their head. 

"No," they say softly. "Not my world. O-Or…" They swallow and tuck their head low. "No."

"You were able to communicate with them," Xiao continues. "And that the Abyss exists, no matter the world."

"It…is possible," Haoran says. "Tamer, you said your world possessed Archons, not unlike ours. Perhaps there is something akin to the Abyss in your world?" 

The Tamer frowns, but it is Rex Lapis who speaks first, this time in their own tongue. It surprises the Tamer just as much as the rest of the gathered soldiers. 

"You-" The Tamer stops. For the first time that afternoon, their eyes flicker with emotion: annoyance. "Foolish Rex Lapis, you fucking-" They continue in their tongue, but the Archon only holds up a hand.

"I do not know much, unfortunately," Rex Lapis says. "But I do believe in you that these creatures do not come from your world."

The annoyance wanes, but they still mutter another "Fool" before glaring at the red rope on their arms. "Abyss not Teyvat?"

"No," Xiao says. "But this connection to the Chasm may be useful."

"One wishes to agree, but the situation in the Chasm has just barely been contained," Cloud Retainer says, "and with the current…loss of numbers, one believes the situation aboveground must be dealt with first before any forays into the Chasm can begin."

Xiao nods. "Fine. I will maintain my position here until then."

"And I suppose I will be here to help acclimate the other soldiers. I deserve a vacation…" Haoran sighs and massages his face. "What else, then? I was unconscious for some time afterwards."

Xiao nods again, this time to add whatever the Lector had been preaching when he stops. 'Your spirit runs black with the blood of gods,' it had said. It could have simply been lies, something to scare the Tamer, but they hadn't denied it. In fact, they'd seemed…scared.

"Nothing," he ends up saying. "Baseless taunting. Pointless words to unnerve us."

Rex Lapis does not seem convinced, but Lady Kaiju roars below. At once, weapons appear from thin air. The Tamer only freezes.

"The egg," they say. They stand from the cot and nearly fall in the process, Xiao grabbing the back of their shirt before they can. "I-Haoran, the egg-"

Haoran only waves a hand. "I need to speak with our guests, anyhow."

The Tamer nods and tries to walk for the door. After two weak steps, Xiao pulls their arm over his shoulder and brings them to the base of the watchtower. 

Delta's ears perk up, limping towards the pair. He gives them a cursory sniff and nips at the rope tied around the Tamer's waist in an attempt to drag them towards the nest. Renegade and Lady Kaiju are sitting there, the former blowing soft embers under the slab as the latter sniffs the egg. It almost looks like they are trying to cook it. 

Renegade shifts to allow the Tamer to sit back against his stomach. After a moment, Lady Kaiju grumbles and reaches over to try and stroke the Tamer's head. The hole in her palm prevents it, but the Tamer sighs and pats the beast's claw all the same. 

"I forgive you," they say before patting the space beside them. "Xiao, come. Meet Lady Kaiju." 

Xiao looks at Lady Kaiju's hands. He doesn't really want to. Still, he sits beside them, careful to avoid leaning into Renegade's injuries. Lady Kaiju leans down to sniff at his hair before patting it with a claw.

They fall quiet after that, watching the egg as it wobbles. Delta manages to wriggle onto the Tamer's lap at some point, then stretches out his entire body until his lower half spills onto Xiao's. It is not…uncomfortable. With Renegade at his back and Lady Kaiju nearby, it nearly feels as secured as the Watchtower's walls. 

So Xiao allows his mind to wander. He counts four strong heartbeats from the Tamer and their beasts, one rapidfire beat within the egg. A handful flutter from the tower (Haoran and the few remaining Millelith). Cloud Retainer and Rex Lapis, like Xiao, lack proper organs, but still pulsate with energy.

Beside him, the Tamer sneezes. 

"You should have put a jacket on," Xiao says. "It's still winter."

"Mm. No." The Tamer sinks into Renegade's fur. "I'm fine." 

"Hmph." Xiao's eyes land on the broken ink around their neck. When he focuses his senses, he frowns at the dimness of their own energy. Or Aura, he supposes. 

"All okay?" The Tamer waves a hand in front of Xiao. "Look tired. Need sleep?" 

Xiao stares, unamused. "You should be resting, not me."

"Psh, no. Egg first," they say, "then sleep." They yawn right after. When Xiao continues to stare, they frown and glare at the egg. "Shush."

They do. For a few minutes. The Tamer strokes Delta's fur slowly before calling the adeptus' name. He turns his head, just barely enough to show his attention.

"About Abyss," they start, "and…Lector. Why no say to Rex Lapis what Lector say?" 

"I did," Xiao says. "Pointless words. That was all it said."

The Tamer dwells on this for some time. He thinks they are falling asleep by the time they say, "Thank you."

Xiao almost asks why they're thanking him when Lady Kaiju snorts. In the nest, the egg begins to quiver until there is a loud crack. The shell begins to crack, thin lines spreading across its surface as the beast struggles within. Light begins to seep from the cracks, a soft white unlike the Tamer's own blue. When the egg finally cracks, the light envelops the entire shell before finally coalescing into…a bird? 

It's incredibly round, and much of its face is taken up by a pair of watery red eyes ringed by strange, black feathers shaped like machine gears. Stubby wings flap at its side while pink feet twitch and struggle to stand. When it finally does, it tucks one foot up and nearly rolls away when it falls.

The Tamer gasps. "A Hoothoot! 

"A what?" Xiao says. They named an owl after the noise it makes? Twice?

The Hoothoot fluffs its feathers and hoots, head swiveling around before zeroing in on Xiao. It hoots again and bumbles forward, freezing at the edge of the nest. Lady Kaiju reaches down to nudge it along, then outright scoops it out of the nest with a claw. It bounces and rolls, stopping only when it bumps against Xiao's heel. 

The adeptus pulls his foot in to let it pass, but the bird is relentless. It hoots and hops towards Xiao with remarkable speed for a freshly born creature. When it starts nipping at Xiao's pants, he scowls. 

"What is it doing?" he asks. 

"Shh!" the Tamer hisses. 

Xiao growls. The Hoothoot only hoots and flaps its nubby wings. Somehow, miraculously, it finds purchase and scrambles into his lap. With a final, victorious hoot, it plops down, shuts its eyes, and goes to sleep.

"...seriously?" Xiao whispers. He turns to the Tamer for help, only to bristle when he sees their elated smile. It almost makes his ears burn. "What?" 

"First partner!" they whisper-yell. 

First-"No." Xiao scowls and glares at them, but their smile only grows. "I have no need for a partner."

"Don't care," they say. "Partner choose you. You no say no. Like a contract."

"A contract can only be formed between consenting parties," Xiao says.

It just goes in one ear and out the other for them. "Name it!" 

"I'm not going to-" He stops before he gets any louder. The Hoothoot churrs and snuggles deeper into his lap. He does not have to look up at the Tamer to know that they are smirking. 

So…a name. He has to name it? A name is a powerful tool. It is everything. It gives someone purpose. Meaning. Xiao does not want to name a hatchling, a creature who only knows the warmth of his lap. It does not know how cruel the world can be. If it is to be named, he wants it to be something kind. Something innocent and untarnished. If not innocent, then something that speaks of happier days.

Xiao's eyes drift to the Tamer. 

"Bao." 

The Tamer's smile wavers before they laugh in surprise. "Bao? Like bun." 

Xiao can feel his ears warm as he nods. Short, simple, and…he wishes he could get up. The Tamer is leaning against his arm as they coo over the Hoothoot. It isn't unpleasant. In fact, it's the opposite. 

A panicked squawk that Xiao into motion. He lifts the Hoothoot up and away from Delta, who whines and tries to climb the adeptus to continue sniffing the bird. 

"Delta, bad," Xiao snaps. The Jolteon whines and flops in his lap. Above him, the Hoothoot wiggles and lands in his hair. Once firmly latched, it coos again and begins to snore. 

The Tamer laughs and, using Xiao's leg for leverage, push themself up to kneel. They're all but leaning on him to coo and pet the bird in his hair, and he has to stay very still or else he fears his skin with burn off his face. 

But yes, he thinks. For now...Bao is good.

Chapter Text

There are funeral rites performed by a man from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, letters written and signed by Haoran's own hand. They seek replacements, they need more soldiers desperately to maintain their position, but there are innumerable losses on the western front that prevent Rex Lapis from sending soldiers east. Even if the Chasm is sealed, it is only temporary, and they need as many men as they can in case the seal falls apart. 

Xiao returns to his patrols, but he is not alone. Nightly, when he parts, Delta follows without prompting. If not the Jolteon, then Renegade. Even when Xiao scolds them and tells them to return to the Watchtower, they rush ahead without him, already familiar with his patrolling pattern. It is a welcomed break, as much as he loathes to admit it. The priority should be the tower, but with the beasts, they are able to clear through the patrol faster than before. And having Lady Kaiju's hulking mass around the entrance does not hurt, either.

The Tamer, despite their insistence, is forced to stay behind. Whatever had been done to them cannot be fixed in a single night, according to Cloud Retainer, and much of their time is spent simply trying to regain their energy. And yet, no matter how much they rest, their strange aura remains faint. 

"I'm fine," they say whenever Xiao catches them yawning. "Just need sleep." They remain adamant on this. Haoran leaves it be, so Xiao forces himself to as well. 

Still, he catches them kneeling on the balcony at night, head bowed and eyes shut. He almost touches them, assuming they'd fallen asleep, but he stops when he recognizes their soft whispering. It is the same prayer they'd said when they found the destroyed village in Wuwang Hill. They end up praying the entire night. Xiao sits on the roof behind them and watches in silence.

Soon, the snow begins to melt. The days grow longer and the leaves begin to bud. Winter, a time of death and decay, is nearly at its end. And for some reason, Bao looks funny.

"Why does he look like this?" Xiao asks. 

The Tamer looks up, then reels back when he shoves Bao at their face. The Hoothoot flaps his wings excitedly and sends up a spray of feathers in the process.

"Hoo!" he says.

The Tamer strokes Bao's head, smiling when his entire round body shudders. "He looks fine."

"His feathers are falling out," Xiao says. He sets the Hoothoot on their table and watches as he balances on one foot. "He is sick."

"Hoo," Bao agrees.

The Tamer laughs and scratches Bao's head once more. He wobbles under the gesture, eyes closing with delight. "He is not sick, Xiao. He is…hm. Old? To become old. Or big?"

"Aging." 

"Aging, then. Feathers fall out when birds aging," they say. Bao coos as they tickle the underside of his beak. "He is fine, Xiao. No worry." Xiao nearly protests that, no, he wasn't worried, but the Tamer laughs again. "It's okay. All tamers feel this with first partner."

Bao's entire body ruffles as he says, "Hoo!" 

"Hoo, indeed," the Tamer agrees. "When Quin small, Quin always eat my hand. Hurt a lot." They set a hand on Bao and, by coincidence, stop when the bird rears up and nips at their finger. "Like that." 

Bao lets out a gurgled "Hoo!" and lunges, trying his best to devour their finger. He manages to get to their middle knuckle before Xiao decides to pull him away. The Tamer only laughs and wipes their hand against their shirt. 

"Hold on." They roll the parchment and, eyes shut, cradle it in their palm. Their ink sputters to life, only to fade entirely, expression falling with it. "Stupid…"

Xiao takes the parchment. "Stop trying to overexert yourself."

"I can do it," they insist. "Haoran showed me." 

"Hoo," Bao says. 

"I can!" 

Xiao does not doubt them. He has gotten random scraps of parchment sent his way during patrols before that always reads 'be safe!' ever since they learned how to do it. Still, he does not want them wasting their already little reserves on this. "For Cloud Retainer?" 

"Mhm. For the staff," they say. 

The parchment disappears in a shimmer as the adeptus frowns. "Will it be able to build it without you?" 

"Dunno. But who knows?" They shrug. "Tree of Beginning crystals work same here, I think. And if no, we go to adeptus soon anyways." They hold out a hand. "Help?" 

Xiao pulls them up while Bao struggles to climb onto his shoulder. The Hoothoot is almost the size of his head now, but it doesn't stop him from sitting on the adeptus whenever he can. Slowly, they walk down the stairs and into the kitchen, Xiao sticking to the doorway as the Tamer greets the busy cooks. They exchange pleasantries and chatter, some ruffling their hair or nudging their side when they realize he is watching. 

"You tell 'im what I told ya to say?" one cook asks. 

"Say what it mean first," the Tamer says. 

The cook laughs and pats their shoulder. "But that wouldn't be any fun now, would it?" 

By the time they finish, they end up with a basket of goods and a sweet custard bun for Xiao. To his relief (not that he would ever admit it), they only hand it to him once out of sight from the kitchen and save him from denying the food in the presence of mortals. 

It takes longer descending all the way to the bottom floor and it leaves the Tamer breathless when they arrive, but it is an improvement from the last few weeks. At the door, they swing it open and cheer, "Ren, Delta, Kai…ju?" 

Lady Kaiju snorts, lifting one hand in greeting. In the other, Delta dangles from the hole in her palm, hind legs in Renegade's mouth as he struggles to pull the Jolteon free. Watching them all is Haoran, who waves.

"I told Delta not to crawl inside," he says, "but he didn't listen."

Delta growls and grumbles as Renegade readjusts his grip. With a final tug, the Jolteon's head pops free, sending the two hounds bouncing while Lady Kaiju scrapes at the hole with her horn to smooth the sides. After a snort, she leans down to sniff and nudge at the Tamer's face as they laugh.

"Hello, hello," they greet. "All good, my fair Lady Kaiju? Say hi to Xiao, too."

Lady Kaiju's horn whirrs in protest. At least, Xiao thinks so. She begins to hunch over, trying her best to hide behind her tamer despite being triple their size. The Tamer only laughs and pats her nose.

"She is scared," they say. 

"Of Xiao?" Haoran asks. "Still? It's been weeks."

"Xiao is a warrior. Lady Kaiju is not." 

"Lady Kaiju flattened an entire horde of monsters two weeks ago when they tried to attack the tower," Xiao says. He'd been on the roof when the strange things charged. All she had done was slam her tail against the ground and form a crack, then stomp on them before they could get out. 

"Well, Lady Kaiju is my beast," the Tamer says proudly. "All beasts strong when trained right. Right?" They gesture to Lady Kaiju. The giant beast puts her hands to her cheeks like she's blushing. It unnerves Xiao just a bit. 

Although…training a beast seems interesting. According to the Tamer, a Hoothoot can learn several Anemo-like attacks, along with a handful that fall in other categories, much like Lady Kaiju's ability to use a thing called Surf, which uses Hydro. 

It is an enticing thought, yes, but Xiao also wonders if allowing Bao to train is even a good idea. He's still fuzzy and tan, like a dirty dandelion with eyes. He also cannot fly just yet. Of course, he will grow eventually, but…does Xiao, as his 'first partner', really want him to face Teyvat when he is so weak? 

But because Bao is weak, isn't that all the more reason to train him?

Xiao is saved from this distressing cycle by a dramatic sigh. "Tch, you and your beasts…" Haoran says. "And even the mighty Conqueror of Demons has one now. This is a Watchtower, not a menagerie."

"But I have see you sleep with Delta on bed," the Tamer counters. 

"Not by choice!" Haoran throws his hands up in offense. "That damned dog…cat thing takes up all the space on my bed and refuses to move when I tell him to." 

"Just pick him up and move him," Xiao says. 

Haoran looks at the adeptus with incredible disappointment. "Have you tried picking up Delta when he's upset? It's like sticking your hands into a barrel of thorns."

At the constant mention of his name, Delta trots over, white scruff indented by Lady Kaiju's hand-hole. He makes a bee-line for the Tamer's basket of food, only to miss when they hoist it in the air. After whining and receiving nothing, his ears fold before dragging himself to Haoran. He looks and acts and sounds like he is starving.

"Leave me alone," Haoran says. When Delta begins to whine and flops on his back, he sticks his foot underneath the beast and flips him upright. "No."

Delta growls and, with no other option, turns to Xiao. The adeptus only shakes his head. 

They settle for breakfast, Haoran and the Tamer sitting at one of the tables the former had forced a soldier to set up for them downstairs while Xiao claims a higher seat on Lady Kaiju's nest. Bao coos at the height, but he keeps a firm grip on the fuzzy beast before he can try to hop off and fall to his death. 

It's peaceful. He hears them talk about the night, about the changing weather and progress towards the Millelith. Just simple, menial chatter until he hears-

"Lantern Rite?" the Tamer repeats. "What is that?" 

"A festival to celebrate the new year," Haoran explains. "If I counted right, this next full moon will be it." 

"Will you celebrate here?" they ask. 

"No," Xiao says. At the Tamer's frown, he only stares at the sky. "It's dangerous."

"And we are still soldiers on duty." Haoran only shrugs when the Tamer pouts harder. "Even if it's been quiet, we can't celebrate much like they do in town."

"But can still celebrate quiet, no?" they ask. "What do they do?" 

"If I tell you, you'll just try to pull it off on your own, so no."

The Tamer's eyes narrow in challenge. "If you do not say, I ask chefs instead." 

And the cooks, unfortunately, love the Tamer. Xiao suspects it's because Delta and Renegade are capable of hunting down fresh meat for them to cook with. So Haoran sighs and tells them of the Festival, how the night sky fills with glowing lanterns to guide soldiers home. 

"Can we see from here?" they ask. 

"I believe so, yes." Haoran tilts his head up to eye the watchtower. "I recall watching them last year." 

They nod at that, although they still frown in displeasure. "Still have not see Liyue Harbor. Have stay here for almost one year." They tug on the red rope winding around their neck. "Can we go now?"

Haoran smacks their hand away before they can unravel it any further. "You told me yourself that your body is, and I quote, 'Sucking up energy like a Helioptile in rain.' Whatever a Helioptile is." 

"An Electro lizard."

"Fun," Haoran drones. "But until the weather is clear for us to visit Cloud Retainer to figure out some sort of seal, we're staying here." 

The Tamer sighs but does not argue, and they end up drifting to another topic that Xiao does not pay attention to. His mind is already elsewhere. 

When they end up retiring to their room for a nap, Xiao intercepts Haoran and says, "They're getting worse."

"I know, Xiao," Haoran sighs. "You are not the only one who can sense elemental energy." He massages his face. "But there is nothing we can do here. You know this."

"Then I will bring them to Cloud Retainer myself," Xiao says, only for the medic to scowl and glare. 

"Absolutely not." Haoran gestures to the tower. "I need to learn how their abilities function as well, Xiao. And I doubt their beasts will enjoy being left behind, either." Before the adeptus can argue, he narrows his eyes, Vision shining in challenge. "All they can do for now is rest. The same goes for you." 

"Adepti do not-"

"Need rest, and I do not care." The stern glare softens ever so slightly. "It is almost a new year, Xiao. The passage of time is different for adepti, I understand, but…after these past few months, you deserve to relax for a night." His expression softens further, but Xiao almost feels nervous at the glint in his eyes. "With company, of course."

Xiao scowls. Haoran knows his karmic debt isdangerous to mortals-

"Not the soldiers, you idiot!" Haoran snaps, as if he'd read the adeptus' thoughts. "The Tamer!" 

…huh. 

"Oh my-" Haoran pinches at his nose again, counts to five, then sighs. "See, this. This is why I told Rex Lapis to make the adepti interact with humans, so when they start experiencing human emotions, this doesn't happen." 

Xiao does not follow. On his shoulder, Bao titters like he is laughing. 

"Lantern Rite is one of the most romantic festivals out there, you idiot. You light a lantern with a person you love and start the new year together. It is a classic play for young suitors-"

"I-" Xiao's skin burns. He recoils and bares his teeth, but the medic only stares. "What do you mean? Why would I do that?" 

This time, Haoran claps his hands together and exhales so sharply that Xiao feels his hair ruffle. "Because. Do you want to keep staring after them like a kicked dog?" He points at Bao. "You two even adopted a pet together!"

"Hoo!" Bao flaps his wings. 

"He is not a pet," Xiao manages to say through clenched teeth. He knows he should not entertain the medic any further, but Haoran is Haoran. If he doesn't stop now, he would just bring it up the next time they are alone. 

"He is your partner, beasts and tamers have special links, whatever!" Haoran leans down to meet Xiao's eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, Xiao. On the roof, face the harbor, and figure. It. Out." 

It isn't a suggestion. It is a direct order from a high-ranking officer. Xiao thinks that his priorities are a bit…skewed. 

But, unfortunately, the words stick with Xiao for days. And by the time Lantern Rite rolls around, Xiao finds himself standing at the Tamer's door. They don't even hesitate when he tells them to follow. It only worries Xiao that they, really, have no sense of safety.

They sit together on the roof, Xiao helping them climb up when they nearly fall off. There are pillows there now. The Tamer looks at them in surprise and Xiao denies being involved when they ask him. So they settle down anyway, smiling at the adeptus when he joins them close by.

"Celebrating?" they ask. 

"You said you wanted to see the lanterns," Xiao says stiffly.

The Tamer laughs and cuddles a pillow to their chest. "I do." Their smile makes Xiao grateful for the darkness. "Thank you."

Xiao only grunts and focuses on Bao in his lap. The Hoothoot enjoys being petted under the beak, red eyes glued to his face. He is growing with every passing day. He wonders how long it will take before he can start flying. 

"We have festival at home, too," the Tamer says suddenly. "Banquet of the Hero. For the New Year." 

"Hero?" Xiao sifts through the collection of their memories he'd experienced. "Like a soldier?"

"Mhm. The first Hero grow the Tree of Beginning," the Tamer says. "Life Bringer choose him to grow seed." After a moment, they giggle and shake their head. "Old story. I…don't know words for it but…hehehe!" They hold up two hands and make a lewd gesture, then erupt into laughter as Xiao gags.

"Seriously?" he asks. 

"Only story!" they insist, still giggling as they gesture again. From what Xiao understands, the Life Bringer had descended from the skies to bring life to a wasteland, and the Hero had guarded the seed until it became the tree he'd seen in their memories. Another story gestures that the Life Bringer's antlers had snapped off during a battle, which then became the Tree of Beginning.

It's…a fascinating story, Xiao admits, but he is curious. "Are there others?" 

"Others?" 

"God Beasts." 

The Tamer stares for only a moment before their skin flickers and Xiao is incredibly grateful for the darkness. He is sure his face is bleeding red from the excitement in their smile. 

He ends up fetching parchment, charcoal, and a lantern for them, and he sits and watches as they draw. They often group them, from creatures that rules over the land and sea, time and space, even justice and order. They seem to hesitate before adding to the parchment.

"Life Bringer," they say, pointing to a stag. They drag their finger to a titan-like beast, eerily reminiscent of a Ruin Guard. "Zygarde, Order Keeper." There is another beast, a bird-like creature. When they point, their face twists before saying, "Yveltal, Oblivion Eater. Death." 

"Death?" Xiao echoes. In his lap, Bao has gone suspiciously quiet. He'd assumed their world would have something of that nature, but he is surprised to see them draw a handful of creatures above them on the hierarchy. Another stag-like creature with an eye-shaped ring, protected by three draconic beasts.

"The Great Beginning," they say when they point to the stag. "Um…hm. First."

"First beast?" Xiao asks.

"First all." They throw their arms wide. "No beasts, no world. Then…The Great Beginning. Well, and The Never Ending." They point at a serpetine dragon with six tendrils for wings. They're smiling, although it falls when Xiao stares. "Teyvat no have archon like this?" 

"...no." Xiao's brows pinch. "There are others, above Celestia. But I do not concern myself with such affairs."

"Mm." The Tamer nods. "Smart. Gods are…messy."

Xiao can almost sense the annoyed "Foolish Rex Lapis" on their tongue, but they simply return to admiring their chart. There are more beasts than he can recognize, each in charge of aspects of their homeworld. There must have been thousands of different tales of their abilities, of how they shape the earth and control the seas, and there must have been millions of people like Xiao, hearing these stories and soaking them in with rapt attention. 

And now, in Teyvat, only two know of their existence.

"Do you…" Xiao trails off, but the Tamer is already looking at him and it is too late to stop, so he says, "If you could…would you go back?" 

The Tamer had told him that staying in Teyvat felt like they were dying. Teyvat, Liyue, this tower is not their home and Xiao is not their people. He would not be surprised if they say yes, but the idea of them leaving…He cannot help but sink his hands into Bao's feathers, seeking some kind of comfort. 

"I…" The Tamer's face falls. They turn away, look up to the darkening sky. In the faint light of the lantern, their expression almost seems haunted. It takes Bao's quiet cooing for them to finally answer. "No. I…I cannot go back. Never. The Great Beginning-" They flinch and touch at the chipped ink collaring their neck. "Seal. Never can." 

Never. A seal. Xiao's brows knit, ready to ask what they mean when they laugh.

"But that is alright," they say. "Teyvat is not home, but…" They peek at him from the corner of their eyes and smile. "Xiao here. Beasts, Haoran here. I would miss you."

Miss you. 

This time, Xiao is spared of his embarrassment by a flickering lantern in the distance. The Tamer gasps and fumbles to shut off the lamp. Xiao swats their hand away and simply says, "Focus."

They pout, but the orange glow pulls them away. Distantly, the sky begins to alight with paper lanterns as they twinkle and dance with the stars. Fireworks whistle and pop, leaving vibrant afterimages in Xiao's eyes when he blinks. Through the faint blasts, he can hear the Millelith downstairs cheer and sing, clinking bottles and flasks as the new year comes in. 

Admittedly, Xiao does not remember the last time he had truly sat down to watch the lanterns ascend. Much of his time had been taken up by battle or recuperation. In fact, Lantern Rite often spurs remnants into action, but Xiao does not sense any malicious creatures as far as his senses can go. It is just the people he fights to protect, the beasts from a foreign world, and the strange Tamer that…

That is sleeping? 

Xiao leans over, listening to their slow, steady breaths. Their head tilts, chin on their collarbone and spine curving. It looks painful.

That is what Xiao tells himself as he sits beside them. It is what he repeats in his head as he nudges them closer and allows them to lean against his side while wrapping one arm across their back. Their head goes to his shoulder, curling tight like a cat and cuddling close and Xiao reminds himself, again, that he is doing this because the original position looked painful. 

-

Haoran is a very nosy old man.

Although he is not particular to romance for himself, he is more than entertained by the romances he sees around the tower. The passing side-eyes, the hushed whispers at night, the not-so-secret meetings in the bunks when everyone but Haoran is asleep. He's witnessed enough to at least write a few operas or so. 

But he doubts any of the stories he could write would be as entertaining as the one he sees now. 

Imagine this: an adepti and mortal, falling in love. It has happened before (twice now, if he remembers correctly), so it is not uncommon, but one coupling had been nearly a thousand years ago and the others are more based on rumors and the likes. 

So seeing Xiao-the mighty Conqueror of Demons, the strongest of the Yaksha and second only to Rex Lapis himself-acting so smitten is…incredible. 

Haoran had little hope when he'd first met the adeptus. He'd been aware of his existence, knows he is the last of the Yaksha and is trapped in a never-ending battle until he faces his inevitable end. 

(He remembers when he'd first heard this from the other adepti. He'd yelled at Rex Lapis for days, threatened to strangle and drown the Archon for his stupidity. He knows Archons and Adepti and all those creatures struggle to comprehend humanity, that humans are like ants to them, but...a contract. Really? Foolish Rex Lapis, indeed.)

Now, after…what, five years? Haoran feels there is a chance for the adepti to experience some form of love once more. 

Was the medic expecting said love to come in the form of a glowing stranger and their pets? No. But the Tamer, with all their language barrier and secrets, smiles and laughs like their soul depends on it. Is that just how everyone is like in their world? Is the way they light up like the fucking sun whenever they talk to Xiao a common thing in their world? 

If holding up a single finger could mean an insult worthy of death, maybe a smile could mean they thought the world of you. Maybe everything in their world is just taken up to extremes. 

No. No, Haoran is sure of it. There is no platonic explanation for their expressions. Now he just needs to make sure Xiso realizes this and he will die a happy old man. 

So Haoran sneaks towards the balcony. Lantern Rite is mostly over and most of the men have retired for the night. Renegade had volunteered himself to patrol the entire night in order to give Xiao a break and Delta and Lady Kaiju are on guard downstairs. No one is around to disturb the roof. It is the only way he knows to get Xiao to relax. 

He's not sure what to expect when he peeks at the roof, but he nearly falls to his death when he sees them. 

Because they're asleep, cuddling like a pair of cats in a small basket. Well, the Tamer is the one really curling into Xiao's side, and he suspects that the adeptus is barely awake to keep them both upright. He has one knee drawn in, supporting their weight while his cheek squishes against the top of their head. His eyes are shut and his breathing is slow. Haoran has never seen him actually sleep like this. 

"Hoo?" Bao hoots from his perch on Xiao's knee. He tilts his stupidly round head in surprise. "Hoo…"

"Shh!" Haoran flaps a hand at the bird. He only blinks, then hoots again. 

"Mm," Xiao answers sleepily. He starts to shift, head brushing against the Tamer's hair. "Bao?" 

"Hoo?" Bao's head twists as Xiao's eye slowly pries open. The adeptus grumbles and reaches out to pet the Hoothoot, a minuscule, soft smile on his face when he strokes his feathers. After a few pats, the Tamer mumbles, and Xiao closes his eyes once more, relaxing against the stranger in peace. 

Then it snaps open and zeroes in on Haoran. 

The medic flashes him a big grin and two thumbs up. The adeptus opens his mouth, stops when the Tamer nuzzles against his neck, then glares at Haoran with so much killing intent that he would have died had it not been for the domestic sight before him. 

Haoran lowers himself onto the balcony and smiles. A success, he decides and scrambles for some ink and parchment. Cloud Retainer will need to hear about this immediately.

Chapter Text

"Focus. Breathe." Warm fingers ghost over his hands. "Crystals are vessels between Tamer and Beast. Holds energy both ways." They curl his fingers around the crystal orb before releasing him. "When ready, charge energy in crystal, then reach out and touch Bao. Ready?" 

"Mm." 

"Okay. Go." 

Xiao holds the crystal. It saps at his reserves, glowing brighter with each passing second. Across from him, Bao hoots and hops closer. When he nudges the crystal, his entire body dissipates in light, sucked into the crystal in his hands. It feels warm. 

"And there it is!" The Tamer beams and claps. "Xiao just caught a Hoothoot! Woohoo!" 

Xiao raises a brow and looks down at the translucent crystal. If he tilts it the right way, he can almost see Bao sleeping inside of it. "How do I get him out?" he asks. 

The Tamer flexes a hand. "Push energy through. If Bao answer, they come out like-" They make a pop noise. "That."

"Hm." Xiao prods the crystal with his energy. It almost feels like he is knocking against an invisible wall, but only for a moment before something connects. In another shimmer of light, Bao bursts from the crystal with a cheerful hoot. He even manages to flap his wings for a few seconds before landing on the table. 

"Hoo!" he hoots again. Xiao pats his head and offers his arm for him to climb onto. 

"See?" the Tamer says as they polish their staff, a near-perfect replica to the one Xiao had seen in their memories. "Easy." 

Very. Xiao holds the crystal up and recalls Bao, then summons him once more. This time, Bao hoots and plops onto his lap. 

"What happens if they do not respond?" he asks. 

"They will not come out," the Tamer says before whispering into a crystal. It begins to glow, but no one arrives. "See?" 

Xiao's eyes widen. "They can reject your summons?" 

"Reject?"

"Say no."

"Yes. They can reject you." The Tamer shakes the staff. "Sometimes, they can-" Another crystal glows before they can finish, and Delta lands on their lap with an excited yap. "-do that. Come without call." Delta barks and squirms, nosing at their chin before returning to his crystal. "All depend on…hm. Connection between tamer and beast."

Right. Beasts are living creatures with their own temperaments (or Natures, as the Tamer had called it). Xiao supposes it is only natural. Renegade, Delta, and Lady Kaiju nearly remind him of humans in how they behave. Will Bao end up the same way? Xiao has heard him hoot with laughter before. He also seems to prefer bitter human foods and detests anything sweet. A heartbreaking discovery, but one he cannot change. 

Xiao reaches down, fastening the orb onto a strip of cloth at his waist. It is almost amusing how naturally it matches with the rest of his attire. 

"Cute," Haoran drones from his seat on one of the wooden crates. "Now, are you two done? Can we go now?"  

The Tamer snickers and taps their staff against the ground. "Ever the impatient one, Little Haoran."

The medic's eye twitches before he holds up his middle finger. The Tamer lets out an offended gasp, but Xiao can almost see a hint of a smile on their face. 

"Are you ready?" he asks. 

Haoran pats the crate he is sitting on. Inside, several things rattle. There is also the enraged screeching of the corruption they had harvested from Lao in Mingyun Village. “Yes.”

“Wait.” The Tamer lifts their staff, crystal pulsating until Renegade appears. He shakes out his mane and tries to lick Xiao in greeting. “Ren come with us outside. Be easier then.”

“What for?” Xiao asks as he holds the hound at bay. 

“Teleport, right?” they say. “Ren learns by looking.”

“Ah, right,” Haoran says when the adeptus looks at him. “It can teleport. Perfectly natural.”

“Arf,” Renegade barks. 

“...hmph.” Xiao shuts his eyes and focuses. One, two, three…He latches onto the energy around them, then flickers away. For him, it is only a single, fleeting pulse before he is on solid ground. When he opens his eyes, they are surrounded by clouds and mountain peaks in the distance. The others are already reforming from the wind. 

Haoran’s face is pale, but he only shakes his head. “Ugh. Never going to get used to that.”

The Tamer is not as lucky. They hunch over and groan, one hand over their mouth. Haoran is quick to run a soothing hand against their back while Renegade leans down to nudge their face. 

“Oh my,” a voice says, “that seemed like a rough landing.”

Xiao frowns, looking over in alarm. He’d brought them to the edge of the lake at the peak of the mountain. Mortals barely made it this far. Why is there one here? And why is he dressed in strange robes? In fact, the man looks foreign. His black hair is tied back in a low ponytail, gold eyes twinkling with mirth as he approaches. 

“Who are you?” he growls. 

The man stops, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. “I am a student here, young man. And…” He nods to Xiao. “I assume you are an adeptus? Not many creatures I know can come and go so easily as they please.”

Haoran makes a face as he squints at the stranger. “You’re the student?”

The man’s smile grows. It almost reminds Xiao of a fox. “I am.” He inclines his head in greeting. “Kamuna Harunosuke of Inazuma. Pleased to meet you.”

Xiao does not recognize the name, but the Tamer’s head lifts quickly. Their brows knit as they stare at Kamuna. “Kamuna…san?” they say slowly. 

Kamuna looks stunned before answering in an unfamiliar tongue. It is not like the Tamer’s, and their expression falls as they sigh. 

“Never mind,” they say. “Your words sound…familiar, like Kanto, but not same as home.” Still, they clear their throat and offer a bow in return. “But it is nice to meet you, Kamuna-san.” 

Renegade lets out a low whine, lowering his head stiffly only after the Tamer elbows him. 

“Likewise to you both,” Kamuna returns before gesturing to Haoran. “And I assume you are the medic that Cloud Retainer spoke of?”

“Unfortunately.” Haoran crosses his arms. “Where is the adeptus, anyhow? I told it that we would be here by noon.”

“This one is here.” The air shimmers as Cloud Retainer appears in the center of the lake, followed by the aromatic scents of fresh cooking. “One hopes you have arrived empty. Much of the food is still warm. Come, sit!”

They follow, gathering at the stone table. Steaming plates of food and utensils are arranged perfectly for seven, nearly spilling off the top. There are plenty of fruits, vegetables, and meats for everyone. Cloud Retainer must have spent quite some time preparing it all. 

"A feast for just the four of us?" Kamuna asks as Renegade sniffs a plate of raw meat. "I think you forget how little a mortal eats, Cloud Retainer."

"It is not just for you, Kamuna," Cloud Retainer scolds. "Although, one wonders. Where are your creatures, Beast Tamer?" 

"Oh. Here." The Tamer reaches for their staff. "Lady Kaiju, Delta, food is-"

Delta shoots from his crystal, nose twitching immediately. He darts for the table, only for Renegade to snatch him out of the air by his scruff. For a moment, electricity crackles in his fur, but the larger hound simply swings his head and chucks the Jolteon into the lake. 

"Ren," the Tamer scolds. Renegade sits and blinks innocently. When he makes no move to rescue Delta, they sigh and lift their staff again, releasing another beam of light. Lady Kaiju stretches her neck once she reforms, ears lifting as Delta screeches from the water. After a moment, she only whirrs her horn and sits. 

"...quite the beasts you have here," Kamuna says. 

"Indeed." Cloud Retainer lifts its beak to eye the Rhyperior before nodding. "One is pleased to see the staff is working properly. The properties of your crystals are unlike anything one has witnessed in Teyvat. To be able to emit and store such powerful energy could be useful in the future."

"Smaller words, Cloud Retainer," Haoran says when the Tamer stares. "You're going to hurt them if you keep talking like that."

"And the food is getting cold," Kamuna whispers. 

Cloud Retainer scoffs and sweeps a wing at the table. "Then eat."

Kamuna does so with glee, the Tamer only following once Delta hauls himself out of the lake. When the mortals are busy feasting, Cloud Retainer peers at Xiao. 

"Where is the bird?" it asks. 

Xiao raises a brow. "Who?" 

"Bao," Haoran says. "I told it about him. It was very excited to meet him."

"One was not excited," Cloud Retainer says, offended. "One simply wishes to…observe what is considered a bird in a world in which a creature such as an Arcanine is seen as a normal hound."

Xiao frowns, but he ghosts a hand over the crystal on his waist. After a flicker, light bursts free, Bao hooting as he flaps his wings. He manages to stay airborne for a few more flaps this time before landing on Xiao's lap. 

"Curious…" Cloud Retainer shoves its face in, nearly skewering Bao as he squawks in alarm. "It seems to resemble some form of owl. And it is quite small. Are you feeding it well, Conqueror of Demons? Is it receiving ample incubation and a safe nest for it to rest? Rearing hatchlings is far from simple-"

"He's fine," Xiao grunts. Bao hoots again and flaps his wings in agreement. "See?" 

Cloud Retainer squints, tilting its head to further eye the Hoothoot. "Do you wish to train it for combat in the future?"

"Soon," the Tamer says, laughing. "Bao is still baby. He still learning to fly." 

Bao coos. He begins to squirm and tumbles out of Xiao's lap, then begins to bounce towards the Tamer. He manages to fly a few paces, but not enough for the adeptus to truly consider it flying. Still, the Tamer cheers for him and scoops the bird into their arms. 

"Never trained Hoothoot before," they say as Bao settles in their lap. 

"Teaching a hatchling to fly is a challenging process," Cloud Retainer says, puffing up ever so slightly. "If necessary, one is willing to support your endeavors if such a process proves too challenging."

Haoran stops mid-sip to laugh. "You just want to adopt another kid while you have the chance."

This time, the adeptus tries to smack him. "One would never!"

"Ah, like how you did with Miss Ganyu?" Kamuna asks. 

Haoran bristles, rounding on the Inazuman as Cloud Retainer sighs wistfully. "Oh, Ganyu…One wonders how she is faring in her diplomatic venture into the harbor," it says. "Such a task is vital to reassure the mortals of their safety, and yet one misses her dearly. Just the other day, one-"

Xiao takes that as his sign to stop paying attention. It takes some time before Haoran manages to maneuver Cloud Retainer's attention away from its stories to more pressing matters. Once the tables are clear, he retrieves the sealed pot from the crate and sets it down. Despite the hissing, Kamuna leans in with little fear. 

"A strange black, living ooze that corrupts those it comes in contact with?" he says as Haoran pulls the creature from the pot with a bubble. "Are you sure this isn't from your…Chasm thing?" 

"One collected samples of the corruptive ooze from the Chasm upon exploring its depths," Cloud Retainer says. "However, none possessed locomotive limbs nor…teeth." 

"Normal in my world," the Tamer says suddenly. They pick up a jar of ooze from the Chasm, lifting it to the sun. Not a single ray of light seems to pass through it. "Called Shadow Beasts. Shut off all heart and mind, just rage. Like a…" They make a face and turn to Xiao. "Word for many sick?" 

"...Plague," he guesses. "It seems to spread like a plague between beasts and people. It happened before with Renegade and the soldiers."

After a nod from the adepti, the Tamer opens the bottle. It pulses and squirms much like the creature, but it does not seem capable of much else. It seems more like preserved jelly than a destructive, all-consuming plague.

"It could be an unevolved state," Haoran says, "like a caterpillar and butterfly, or…your beasts. They evolve, no?"

The Tamer clicks their tongue. "Maybe, but no beasts are like-" They stop and look down at the sludge, then give it a firm shake. "Maybe Ditto." The sludge lets out a weird squelch as they shake it, but nothing else happens. "Or…" 

They pull their glove off and return Bao to Xiao before reaching out. The ink flickers weakly as they focus, and when they poke a sample of the ooze from the Chasm, it promptly explodes and splatters the Tamer and Haoran, who'd been standing right across from them. 

The medic exhales slowly, wiping Chasm goo from his face. "Seriously?" 

"...sorry," they say. When they notice Cloud Retainer and Kamuna's confused stares, they hold up their hand, showing off their fraying ink. They attempt to explain their strange powers and their ability to purify corruption. After some time, the Inazuman nods. 

"Can I see it?" he asks. "The seal?" 

The Tamer undresses as asked, remaining in their undergarments. As expected, the fading ink circles their waist, lines stretching down their legs to connect to the circles upon their feet. They lift their arms and turn slowly for Kamuna to examine. He traces the lines with narrowed eyes, offering a hand to them to prod at their skin afterwards. He has them channel their aura and dampen it, even cuts his own hands to see them heal it shut. 

It continues on for some time before the stranger finally finishes.

"I'll be honest," he says, "I have no idea what these seals are-"

"So you're useless?" Haoran asks.

"-Let me finish." Kamuna pouts. When the medic only rolls his eyes, the Inazuman smiles and continues. "As I was saying, I have no idea what these seals are. Foreign work, really. However, I can piece a few things together. So, Tamer! What in Teyvat are you?" 

"...fool," the Tamer grumbles before shrugging. "Human. Simple."

"Cloud Retainer tells me you hail from another realm. Can all humans do as you do?" 

"...no." The Tamer's expression hardens. "Aura Guardian. Soldier of Cameran Palace." 

Kamuna nods. "And your seal? What was it for?"

The Tamer hesitates this time, then takes an empty bowl and scoops water from the lake. "Water is Aura. Bowl is seal."

"And it…contains your power?" 

They shake their head. They hold the bowl up, restating what it's meant to be, then set the bowl atop the surface of the lake. It floats by slowly. They gesture to that and, after checking that they all have seen their model, grab the bowl and crack it just enough for it to leak before setting it on the water once more. 

This time, water from the lake seeps in while the water tries to leak out. In a way, their body is leaking energy. In another, their body is soaking in the energy from a hidden, vast well residing within the shell they claim is a human's. 

A sun carved and trapped within a mortal shell.

It takes a moment for it to connect in Xiao's mind. He can't muster the strength to speak and looks to Haoran for an explanation, but he is staring at the bowl with a hint of terror in his eyes. Not even Cloud Retainer and Kamuna react much. 

"...and you say you're a human," Kamuna eventually says. 

"I am." The Tamer shrugs, eyes darting to Haoran's Hydro Vision before turning away entirely to reach for Renegade's mane. "Just…hm. Recognized by Archon, like Haoran."

Xiao tenses, but it is Haoran who snaps first. "Elaborate, brat," he orders.

The Tamer does not. When Haoran snaps their name, Delta snarls from his place by Renegade's feet.

"Woah, woah, hold on," Kamuna says quickly. He holds up his hands and steps between them, a commendable but pointless action considering who the two subjects were. "Listen. I will not pry, but I need information if I want to make a seal that won't kill you." When the Tamer turns to look at him, he sighs. "Is that normal? Your body leaking out energy like that?" 

The Tamer shakes their head. 

"Were you injured?" 

Another shake. 

"A birth defect?"

The Tamer looks to Xiao for a translation, then shakes their head again. 

"Then-" Kamuna frowns. "You know what, never mind. I'm sure I can make one that works...roughly the same as your old one."

"You better," Haoran mutters. His jaw shifts as he eyes the Tamer, who ignores his glaring. "Unless there's something else you would like to share with the class? Any other dangerous, unchecked powers?" 

After a moment, the Tamer asks, "What will happen? You will remove all seal? Put new seal on?" 

"That…is exactly my plan," Kamuna says slowly, stunned.

"One presumes attempting to add your own seals in tandem with the Beast Tamer's foreign marks will cause more harm than good," Cloud Retainer guesses. "However, one worries such a process may cause irreparable damage to your body, allowing such a surge of energy to enter all at once."

"All at once is fine," the Tamer says before waving a hand. "But…not here?"

"Would you prefer somewhere else?" Cloud Retainer asks. 

The Tamer frowns and eyes the peaks around them. After some time, they offer a location, which only confuses the gathered party even more. 

"A cave?" Xiao echoes. "Why would you want to do this in a cave?" 

"...safer?" they say sheepishly. 

Cloud Retainer hums before gesturing to the glowing seals that protect its domain. "One's domain should suffice. If an aversive reaction were to occur, one will seal it before any damage can escape."

"With us on the outside, correct?" Haoran asks. When the crane remains silent, he sighs and pinches at his nose. "Why did I even ask?"

With that, the three disappear into Cloud Retainer's dwelling as Xiao waits for the Tamer to redress. "No seal at all," they mutter, "very dangerous."

"How so?" Xiao asks. "Will your body be able to handle it?" Back when the Abyss Lector had damaged them, the entire cave had been flooded with their energy. Then again, they'd been weak from the fight against Lady Kaiju.

"Not worry about me," they say before eyeing the adeptus. "Worried about you, Xiao. You and others."

It surprises Xiao how little offense he feels. He wonders just when he'd accepted that the Tamer could probably end his life with their bare hands as he says, "I will be fine."

The Tamer's lips twitch. "Right, right. Adepti are strong. But Haoran? Kamuna-san?" They tug on their shirt, hesitate, then reach underneath and remove their crystal necklace. Without a word, they sling it around Xiao's neck before continuing.

Once they are fully dressed, Xiao guides them into Cloud Retainer's home. Rolling fog coats the endless expanse within, and more than once he has to tug them onto the translucent pathways and promise that they will not fall to their death if they do. The adeptus and two men are waiting for them on a circular stone platform, Kamuna busy drawing symbols into the dirt with a stick. 

"Undress," he barks without looking up, "and leave your beasts in the stick. Don't want anyone accidentally fusing together. Cloud Retainer, if you, Conqueror of Demons, and Haoran-san could please move?" 

Another platform rises from the clouds, Xiao begrudgingly joining them with the Tamer's staff in hand once they recall their beasts. Kamuna guides the Tamer around the geometric array, then forces them to sit in a circle at the far end.

"This is going to be a test run, by the way," he says as he stands in another circle at the opposite end. "I'll remove just a bit. Just to see what we're working with. Just follow what I do." 

He holds up both hands. Slowly, he sets them on the diameter of his circle where each point connects to the rest of the array. The moment the Tamer follows, the air burns and something stabs through Xiao's chest. He lifts the Tamer's staff out of reflex, but there is no present danger. Beside him, Haoran and Cloud Retainer seem just as frazzled, muscles tensed.

The Tamer is trembling. The circle on their right hand is completely gone. In its place, the strange crow's foot pattern stretches from their wrist and ends between each knuckle.

"...okay." Kamuna clears his throat and smooths his robes with shaky fingers. "This might be a bit worse than I thought." 

The Tamer grimaces. "Sorry."

"It's alright," he says quickly. "I just...was not expecting your energy to feel like I got stabbed with the Musou Isshin." 

"The what?" 

"Nothing." He waves a hand and turns to the second platform. "I may need three brave volunteers to help me with this one."

"No thank you," Haoran says.

"And I just heard the first one!" Kamuna says. "Anyone else?" 

The Tamer is moved to the center as Kamuna rearranges the array to include three more circles, lines connecting to form a four-pointed star. Their back is to Xiao as they kneel once more. Their staff sits on the second platforn, alone.

"So, I have two ideas," Kamuna announces. "One: we do this piece by piece and give ourselves heart attacks every time or-"

"We rip it all off at once and possibly die?" Haoran guesses. 

"Well, consecutive heart attacks can still kill a man," Kamuna says, ignoring the medic's glare. "But, if we are quick enough, we could activate the seal between the four of us and shut it off before any bodies hit the dirt."

"'If'," Xiao repeats. 

"Two adepti, a Vision Wielder, and a master of Onmyoudo should be more than enough."

Xiao almost wants to tell the Inazuman that the Tamer's power rivals that of Rex Lapis, but the subject in question raises a hand.

"Do the second," they say. "Just...can I have something to-" They chomp at the air. "-on?" 

They settle for shoving their uniform in their mouth. The others get into position. From what Xiao figures, they won't need to do much. All they will do is pour energy into the array once the original seal is removed. The backlash would draw the energy in and seal itself, like a ball rebounding off a wall or a bowstring snapping into place. 

At least, this is what Xiao assumes. This is foreign magic they are working with, after all.

"Do you have a second plan if this first one goes wayside?" Haoran asks as the Tamer massages their hand. 

"Of course I do," Kamuna says with a nervous laugh. "Let us just hope it won't come to that." Before Xiao can press the Inazuma further, he pushes up his sleeves. "Ready?" 

The Tamer lets out a muffled grunt. Xiao kneels and stretches out his hands. Cloud Retainer and Haoran follow. Kamuna counts down from three, and the moment he shouts, "Go!", Xiao blacks out. 

When he wakes, there is a half a polearm shoved through his chest and a dead soldier at his feet. 

"Fuck," he hisses. "Fuck, fuck-"

He grips the polearm and nearly faints again. It's-Arceus, it's all the way through. Fuck, how is he going to take it out? 

He thinks this as his body moves, shoving one hand between his teeth and using the other to-fuck fuck fuck-rip the polearm out with a sickening squelch. He flings it as far as he can manage and grabs the dead soldier. There is just enough for him to seal it shut, but his knees are still weak. He needs another. 

And another appears, suspended by the ankle by a writhing, teal vine. Fine golden powder dusts his armor. Beneath the visor, Xiao watches as his eyes dart frantically, begging for help.

Xiao only grabs his throat and squeezes. 

He feels much better after that, massaging his chest while the vine chucks the drained corpse somewhere. "Thank you," he says. 

The vine wraps around his wrist. When Xiao follows the path, he spots a tiny bundle with a pair of eyes peeping through, another vine lifting in a wave. He's absolutely filthy. Xiao wonders if he's ever even washed the poor creature since the war started. 

"Where are the others?" he asks the vine. 

The blob in the distance points just as a beam of ice shoots through the air, piercing the thick clouds above. Two blurs fall from the skies not long after, half-frozen. Lightning strikes before the fall can kill them.

Xiao sighs in relief. He is confident in his team's strengths (they cover most of each other's weaknesses thank the gods), but they've been fighting for days, now. Even with his master's help, the surrounding armies have wisened up. Powerful as it is, they exist as a trio for a reason: when one is killed, the other will appear to restore balance. It is called the Order Keeper for a reason, and now it has thousands of soldiers at its disposal to battle this new threat.

As he thinks this, a terrible shriek rips through the air. Through the darkened cloud, a giant beast soars across the sky as thousands of earthen arrows whistle behind it. They pierce its scarlet feathers and drag it from the skies, breaking through the clouds before it manages to right itself. When it screeches, the entire battlefield trembles.

Then the Y-like patterns spanning its underbelly begin to pulse. Tail and wings curling in, a small plasma orb forms in the center.

"Oh, shit." Xiao squeezes the vine on his wrist. "The others!" The vine wriggles as he grabs his staff from the sling on his back. One by one, the crystals light up, and the moment the sixth flashes, Xiao shouts, "Return!" 

The six crystals barely finish containing his team when the beast strikes. Scorching light erupts from its body and scars the forest below, gouging the earth and sending ash and dust into the air. The remnants spiral and disappear into its open wings, and the open, bleeding wounds begin to sear itself shut.

Another bellow erupts from the distant forest before a volley of arrows fire into the clouds. It pierces the beast's great body before it can attack once more and, with a pained, desperate roar, it begins to fall towards the earth. 

Xiao pales and shakes his staff. "Ren," he snaps the moment the Arcanine emerges. The hound wastes no time and hoists him onto his back, then charges for the mountains. 

Dragon and Ground, he thinks. He needs Tosca, maybe Mr. Wriggles, Delta and Renegade need to stay behind, worst-case scenario Levi will fight. Shit, if Tosca fights then she'll need water, so maybe Lady Kaiju first-Xiao's mind burns as he tries his best to prepare for battle. First the Life Bringer, now the Order Keeper. 

If he can survive this, he might just be one of the luckiest soldiers left in the region.

Renegade runs at full speed, even flickering between mountain peaks as they seek out where the beast had fallen. There is movement somewhere south, but it is only soldiers. Delta will be able to take care of them with ease, especially if Xiao convinces Tosca to bring the rain. He just needs to distract-

Xiao gasps as Renegade stumbles, flying off the beast's back and bouncing across the rough terrain. He twists onto his feet in time to witness a black and green blur slam into his Arcanine, sending them both tumbling across the path. Renegade manages to kick it away and opens a flaming maw. 

"Ren, run! Find Delta!" Xiao shouts instead. The Arcanine snarls at the order, but he turns and flickers away before the rolling wave of earth can ensnare him. 

The black and green hound blinks, geometric spots flickering as it rounds on Xiao. Internally, he runs through his options again and again, then swallows when it takes a step forward.

"You," a grating voice, like two stones grinding together, echoes from the hound. "Servant." 

Xiao grips his staff. "Order Keeper." 

Its head tilts. "You have disrupted the Cycle." It takes another step. "The order of this world has been thrown into chaos." Another step. "For balance to be restored, one's life shall be forfeit."

The crystals glow desperately atop his staff, but he refuses to allow them out. Instead, he slings it on his back and bares his teeth. "You are not the first to tell me this," he says, "and you will not be the last."

To his surprise, it stops and tilts his head again. It almost feels like it is appraising him. Judging…no, condemning him.

"No," it says. "Continue this path, and Judgement shall be passed."

And that is all Xiao hears before it rears up and slams its paws into the earth. 

The ground writhes below his feet, twisting and stabbing as Xiao turns to flee. It is only 10%. One Core. It's not at 100%, which is good, but that means that-

Another screech pierces Xiao's ears, and when he follows the sound, he finds a destroyed clearing and two beasts engaged in a one-sided battle. 

Xiao already knows that the Order Keeper will win. It is its duty. Its purpose. Restore order, preserve the balance of Life and Death, and destroy anyone who tilts the scale. 

But what his master lacks in strength, it makes up for in the humans it deemed worthy of its recognition. 

The battle is over swiftly. Perhaps it is the adrenaline that causes him to not remember it, or maybe it is the overwhelming heretical nature of slaughtering the Order Keeper that warps his perception, but when Xiao finally focuses, the Zygarde Cores are frozen and the Zygarde Cells are shattered. At some point, all of his beasts had been sent out. Even Renegade and Delta, despite their weakness to the earth, had returned to join the fray. Now, they rest deeply in their crystals, battered but alive. 

Unlike the Order Keeper, torn into its essential components until those, too, had been rendered useless. Numbly, Xiao kicks one frozen Core, then crushes it under his heel and listens to it shriek. 

"Servant." 

Xiao drops to one knee, almost thankful to rest his legs after such a lengthy battle. A grand shadow stretches over him as his master rises, wings dragging along the ground. Each Core and Cell that grazes its feathers dissolve into ash and disappear into its waiting wings. 

"I apologize, master," he says. "I had been…" His torso burns, imaginary pain of being skewered stabbing at his healed tissue. "...preoccupied. If I had come sooner-"

"Silence, servant." The beast lifts its head. "One recognized you for your desires for vengeance, not for your deprecating nature. Do not make one add a seal to your tongue as well." The air burns with disgust. "You are pathetic enough as is, allowing an Aura Guardian to seal one's power to you." 

Xiao nods silently as the shadow drifts across the clearing. 

"Rise."

He stands. The feathered beast towers before him, energy pulsing along the black, Y-Shaped veins spanning its underside. Wicked claws, each double his own body, twitch and curl along its wings and tail as a single, cerulean eye stares at the horizon. 

"North," Yveltal, Oblivion Eater, decides. "To the mountains. Retribution awaits." It spreads its wings. "Your revenge is almost upon you."

With that, it takes to the sky, leaving Xiao amidst the ruined fields. He looks down at his hands, at the circles that once formed the same Y-shaped patterns on his skin, then swallows. 

For Quin, he thinks. For Quin.

Xiao wakes and wishes he hadn't. 

Haoran is unconscious. Cloud Retainer is barely standing, feathers shedding from its wings. The seal burns bright, each circle pulsing with light and shooting towards the final circle where the Tamer sits. 

At least, he thinks it's the Tamer. The energy wreathing their frame burns an enraged, blinding red, and three-pronged lines span their entire body, crossing their face as they scream and scream. It is not the comforting warmth of their normal aura, nor the brilliant light from when they'd faced Rex Lapis. It is the crushing, all-powerful, consuming void that he'd seen in the memory.

And Xiao feels…empty. Dizzy. Not even the karmic debt remains. He can't open his mouth to yell their name, much less stand. When the seal pulses again, light travels from their circle across the star and up the Tamer's skin. It is absorbing their power and feeding the Tamer's reserves. 

It's killing him. Him, Cloud Retainer. Is Haoran even breathing? And where is-

Something blurs past Xiao and slaps against the Tamer's forehead. It looks like a piece of parchment, cut into the shape of a man with the character for Seal painted on its torso. It only sticks for a moment before it burns into embers, but a swarm of paper men quickly follows. 

For a moment, they disappear underneath the swarm. Some burn away, some combust into flames, but more slap over their skin until it becomes a writhing mass of white. 

Across the way, more paper men attempt to cut through the seal on the dirt. It takes dozens before one can succesfully fight through the burning light. A jagged, paper-thin line severs the line between Xiao and the Tamer, and he nearly falls back from his energy rebounding into his body. 

More fly to the remaining circles, and as Xiao struggles to breathe, he catches sight of Kamuna, protected by an electric barrier woven together by strange, purple weeds and cherry blossom petals. His own skin seems to peel from the force, paper men flying from his billowing sleeves. He's shouting something and raising both hands wide. 

Then he clenches them tight and silences the domain. 

The paper-covered Tamer collapses. Xiao falls on his back as Cloud Retainer drops to its knees. He shuts his eyes and reaches out, then sighs when he hears the faint but steady beat of Haoran's heart. 

"Well." The barrier around Kamuna falls. He reaches up and wipes blood dribbling from his cracked skin. "That was interesting. Is anyone still conscious?" 

Xiao forces himself upright. On his chest, the Tamer's necklace sparks and glows, filling his body with warmth. "Here."

"Excellent." Kamuna sits. "The seal should have stabilized them. Go check on the others. I feel…" He faints. 

Xiao sighs and pushes himself onto his feet. Cloud Retainer stirs when he touches its head, and he presses two fingers to Haoran's neck just to feel his pulse. When he turns to the Tamer, his throat clenches before he forces himself to approach. He calls out their name, then tries to sense their pulse. There is something, but it sounds…off. 

The paper men peel away when he reaches out, hovering above Xiao as the Tamer emerges from within the swarm. They're still unconscious and their aura gives off a teeth-rattling buzz, interrupted only by the occasional thump of their heart. 

Still, they are breathing, and Xiao sits back with a sigh. All that remains of their original seal is the circle on their sternum. Inside, a triquetra loops, identical to the symbol stamped upon the Mora. How this is meant to control the overwhelming power of the Tamer he does not know, but they are still alive and that is all that matters.

Although he's also the only one still conscious. That may be a problem. 

"Xiao?" 

"Here." 

The Tamer groans and tries to massage their face. Xiao tries to help, but when he reaches out to offer a hand, they flinch away. After some time, they manage to sit up on their own.

"Are you okay?" they ask. 

Xiao frowns, ignoring the nauseating emptiness, the stabbing fear in his chest when he'd seen the Tamer's seal fall apart. "I'm fine. You-"

"I'm fine," they echo. "Where is Haoran? My staff-" They try to stand. Xiao tries to force them down, to sit and take some well-deserved rest, but when he touches them, they freeze and swat him away. In that single, fleeting touch, he'd felt his energy waver, sapped into their fingertips like a dying flower during a storm.

It is only then that Xiao's rationality finally catches up to him. 

"The Order Keeper," he says, and the way their eyes flash with fear only confirms his thoughts. "You killed it." That had been one of their gods. They had said as much during Lantern Rite and yet, in those memories, he'd crushed a core (a brain? a heart?) under his foot like an ant. And the soldier, the one who's energy they had stolen to heal themself…He'd felt nothing then, in those memories. Only the desire for more. For revenge. "What did you do?" 

The Tamer's eyes widen. "Xiao-"

"And the Life Bringer," he continues as more and more begin to fall in place. "Your master, it was-" Xerneas, Life Bringer. It'd died, the Tamer had said. The balance, the Cycle had been ruined because of them-"You killed it. Your gods. You-"

"Stop," they whisper.

But Xiao cannot, because he'd believed them. He'd believed them to be innocent, to be of no threat to Liyue and its people, and yet the power they command, their desires for revenge…

Your spirit runs black with the blood of gods. That is what the Abyss Lector had meant. A god killer.

Something cracks. At first, Xiao thinks it is the platform, but when he looks up, the clouds of the domain have darkened, and the sky begins to splinter. Each crack sends spider webs across the domain. In between, something viscous begins to seep through. 

They hit the platform with a wet splat, bubbling where it touches the array. A dribble splashes onto Xiao's foot and, almost instantly, his ears begin to buzz. He flicks it away but more begins to rain upon them. 

"No..." The Tamer forces themself up and shoves Xiao. "Go, go! Get everyone, go!" 

Xiao doesn't have time to protest. Above, the black void melts together. A pair of burning red orbs stare through. 

"XIAO, GO!" 

He's forced out of the way just as the serpent demon emerges from the void. Golden horns frame its face and serpentine body, and when it screeches, the domain shatters around them, revealing nothing but an expanse of stars and emptiness. 

It charges. Xiao barely catches its afterimages as it slams into the platform. He braces himself, expecting for the platform to break under its charge, but its body phases through the stone, unhindered. Distantly, he hears the Tamer scream, but it is muffled the moment the demon clears through the stone. 

He catches a glimpse of their arm dangling from its maw when it rushes to the sky above them. When Xiao yells for them, the domain quakes in response. Another ripple cuts through the void above, and the demon flies through the open portal without looking back. 

The domain shudders again, this time raining boulders and shards of the sky. Xiao dives for Haoran and Cloud Retainer, ready to send them out of the realm when something snags on his ankle. A single, teal vine extends from the portal above.

More swarm from above and fasten around the others, and Xiao is suddenly reeled into the air at breakneck speed. He can barely open his eyes, but when he passes through the portal, he nearly gags. 

Because he is suddenly falling through the sky again, passing waterfalls that rush towards him and rocky platforms that float sideways. He should have been flying up, not falling…sideways. He's falling sideways. 

The demon screeches behind him. A blur rushes through the space, weaving through platforms until it lunges, maw splitting open at Xiao. He tries to summon his polearm, but the vine whips him aside before it can devour him, slicing through the waterfall and separating the adeptus from the others. 

When it lunges again, it cuts clear through the vine instead. The whiplash sends Xiao flying, and before he can catch himself, he slams headfirst into another platform and blacks out.

Chapter Text

Xiao does not possess a brain organ, but he imagines this is what a concussion feels like. His ears keep ringing and, no matter how hard he tries to focus, everything seems upside down and twisted. Plus, he feels absurdly light, like someone had hollowed out his insides and left him to rot. He's heard the soldiers mention 'puking their guts out'. He thinks this is what it feels like.

It takes him walking to the edge of the platform for him to realize that it isn't just his injuries. He's currently upside down. When he tilts his head back, he can see his reflection in a pool of water directly above him.

Where is he? All he can see are floating platforms, kelp trees, and random streams of water falling every other way than down. The sky around him is a toxic shade of purple. Below the platforms, a hazy vortex spins, spanning far into the horizon with no sign of slowing. He does not want to imagine what might happen if he were to fall.

But, as Xiao learns when he makes a jump to another platform, he might not even be able to. The gravity shifts as he jumps, his non-existent stomach twisting as down becomes left and right becomes down. The platform behind him is now a wall he would've had no hope of standing upon upright at this angle.

Definitely not Teyvat, he thinks before scouring his memories. Nor does it seem like the Tamer's world. Is it the demon that attacked them?
Xiao pauses and frowns. In fact, the Tamer had showed him a drawing of it before…

The Never Ending. The creature that, according to them, had been the first to exist alongside The Great Beginning. And a beast of such power being able to enter Cloud Retainer's domain-

Cloud Retainer. The others. His hand flies to his waist and grabs the crystal charm, then sighs with relief at the warm energy that greets him.

"Hoo!" Bao cheers when he pops out of the crystal. He perches on Xiao's offered arm before his head swivels to take in the strange world, then shrinks back in fear. "Hoo?"

"I don't know." Xiao looks around the strange dimension. "Do you see anything? Haoran? The Tamer?"

Bao pivots his head again. After a few moments, he looks downcast. Xiao reassures him and pats him for his effort before returning him to his crystal.

He shuts his eyes and scans the strange world, but even his senses seem warped. Nothing is alive here. Not even the plants beside him give off a trickle of life. Still, he pushes further and further until something catches-a thin, green thing that reminds him of Dendro in Teyvat.

When he makes his way over, he realizes that it is a chunk of the teal vine that had reeled him into this world in the first place. And, despite not being connected to anything, it is wriggling about like it is still alive.

Xiao kicks it. It wriggles in offense and starts inching towards his foot. It gives his shoes a firm slap, but all it does is make his skin prickle.

Still, it is a lead, so he shuts his eyes and searches once more. There are specks of vines scattered deeper in the twisting maze, and as he ventures forth, the vines begin to point and wiggle like they are trying to guide him itself.

Around an hour after waking up, Xiao nearly trips over something new. At first, he thinks it is some kind of rock, but a closer inspection reveals it to be a spiked gauntlet. Even worse, it is still connected to the wielder.

A dead Abyss Herald lies before him, body covered in a handful of wiggling vines. Although there are no visible injuries, it does not stir at any of Xiao's prodding, nor does it give off any traces of energy. When he reaches for its head, the nearest vine (which even has a flower budding from one side) wiggles in refusal. No touching, he assumes.

More corpses scatter the platforms, each swarmed with dancing vines that wave to him as he goes. With the water bubbling around him, it almost feels peaceful, but Xiao cannot shake the prickling on the back of his neck. The only comfort he finds is in Bao's crystal, still warm and humming at his side.

A deep bellow shakes the platforms another hour into his trek, and Xiao spies Lady Kaiju stumbling above him on another platform. He almost calls to her, but something within him hesitates.

She'd been there with the Tamer, battling the Order Keeper. In this isolated zone, would she-

Lady Kaiju roars again, trailing off weakly. Her ears lift and wait, but nobody answers. She tries again and again. When nothing calls back, she begins to whine and curl inward, hiding her eyes under her palms.

Xiao frowns. Just watching the beast shrink with fear is enough to dissuade his earlier thoughts. "Kaiju!"

Her ears lift before whirring her drill. When he manages to leap onto her platform, she is quick to sniff and pet his hair. He returns the greeting with slight hesitation.

"Where are the others?" he asks.

Lady Kaiju snorts and shakes her head.

"Do you know where we are?"

She hesitates this time, then turns and offers her back. He doesn't understand what she wants, not until her tail knocks him onto her. Once his grip is secure, she slips into the water and swims, fording through the waterfalls with ease.

"Do you know where you're going?" he asks after she swims up the fourth waterfall. Lady Kaiju lifts her head up just enough to shake it. Still, the comfort at which she navigates the area shows some sort of familiarity. Xiao decides to choose which way to go after that, and after some time, they hear a familiar crackle of electricity.

"Conqueror!" Haoran calls, standing perpendicular to Xiao and Lady Kaiju on another platform while Delta paces at his feet. They both seem unharmed, thankfully. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Xiao says. "What about you?"

"I am…" Haoran looks at his hands and sighs. "...as well as I can expect. I had my soul ripped out of me like it was the pit of a plum. And they say lightning never strikes the same place twice…" he mutters the last half to himself before clearing his throat. "Where are the others? Better yet, where are we?"

"I don't know." Xiao tilts his head back and regrets how badly his senses twist. "It could be some kind of Domain for The Never Ending-"

Delta growls, fur sparking.

"-the beast that attacked us," Xiao finishes.

"The Never Ending?" Haoran pauses when the Jolteon growls again. "Forbidden name, then. Fine. How? How could it access Cloud Retainer's domain, let alone Teyvat?" The medic flicks a hand when Xiao opens his mouth. "Rhetorical. We should look for the others, find a way out first."

Xiao agrees, and after some maneuvering, they set out once more. Delta sits as best he can on Lady Kaiju's face, barking directions and sniffing the air every minute or so while the adeptus fills Haoran in on what had happened in the cavern.

"So a beast appeared from a black void, phased through our platform, and carried the Tamer off," Haoran summarizes, "then we were pulled through by the strange worms I've seen laying about?"

"Vines." Xiao frowns. "They're vines. I saw-" His voice catches. He'd seen them woven between a field of dead bodies.

"...is it one of the Tamer's beasts?" Haoran asks. "Did you see it earlier?"

"In their memories," he manages to say. "It's the blob with eyes."

"I see." There is some shifting. He can feel the medic lean in. "If there is something important you would like to say, say it. I would rather not die because I lacked the information you possess."

Haoran chuckles, like he means it as a joke, but all Xiao can think of is the fear in the paralyzed soldier's eyes, the thud of Johannes' head when it hits the grass. Despite his Vision, the man behind him is still mortal in the end.

"The Tamer," Xiao starts, "do you…trust them?"

Haoran huffs. "I trust them to make a mess of things, that much I believe. But…" He leans just enough to appear in Xiao's peripherals, trying to meet his eye. "I assume you've seen something to make you question them? Should I be concerned?"

Xiao almost nods, because Haoran is a mortal and Haoran still bleeds. He is old by a soldier's standards, and his constant ventures into battle never seem to end well for him as of late. And yet, the medic is as sharp as he has been since they met. It would be impossible to remain quiet for long.

"The Tamer killed their archons.”

Lady Kaiju stills under them. Delta growls and bristles, turning on Xiao before Haoran sighs.

“Yes,” he says, “I had a feeling. Such power does not come without terrible actions."

Delta's ears droop, but he barks and snaps like he's trying to argue. While Xiao can only stare, Haoran sighs.

"Just because someone deserves death does not mean it is your duty to do so," he says to the Jolteon. "Much less a god. Killing gods are not normal."

The domain shudders. Lady Kaiju lifts her head, tensed, but nothing attacks. Slowly, she continues her ascent as the group falls quiet.

"Are you worried they might do the same to Rex Lapis?" Haoran asks after some time.

"I…" Xiao grits his teeth. "I don't know." He'd told Rex Lapis himself that the Tamer was not a problem, but that had been before Xiao knew the extent of their crimes. Threats to Liyue, to Rex Lapis or its people are meant to be exterminated. It is the purpose for Xiao's existence.

But then he remembers their insistence on trying to help him, trying to offer food and comfort time and time again. He thinks of the five soldiers they'd saved from a corrupted Renegade, how they'd just barely met Xiao and still tried heal his karmic debt. How they'd thrown themself into the cave first to save Delta, how they'd forced themself up to protect everyone in the cavern and faced down the Abyss creatures…

"Well, you could also turn against us at any moment," Haoran says suddenly, and the offense Xiao feels snaps him out of his thoughts.

"I would-"

"Never? Really? Forgive my callousness, but is that not what your brothers and sisters believed when they answered Rex Lapis' call to arms?"

Xiao bristles, baring his teeth. "The Yaksha served faithfully, upholding their contract until they no longer could."

"And do you think it would be better if the Tamer made a contract as well?" Haoran sighs and shakes his head. "A contract is just paper and words. What truly gives a contract power is the will behind the people who agree to it. Without conviction, morals, or trust, then what kind of person are you?"

Xiao frowns, mulling over the words. A person that is unable to uphold their end of a contract? "A weak one."

"Perhaps," Haoran says patiently. "But what of the other nations? Of those who operate outside of contracts? Are they weak people?" When Xiao does not answer, the medic hums. "Simply, think of this: if the fear of punishment is what humanity needs to be kind, do you believe that everything would fall apart without it? Or...would we simply continue to operate the way we always have, with our conviction, morals, and trust?"

Xiao frowns. He tries to imagine the chaos that could befall Teyvat without order, but…he supposes humans are capable of more. There are six other nations without the rule of Rex Lapis to guide them and they seem to be functioning without him.

"...Hm." Xiao turns to glare at the medic. "You mortals make things far more complicated than you have to."

The medic gives him a smile. "Such is human existence. We contemplate everything around us, then we die. Simple as that."

"Not all die," Xiao says. "Some become adepti."

"Which seems like a fate worse than death, in my belief," the medic counters. "Do you see how adepti are around mortals? How do you expect to protect the mortals beneath you when you cannot even begin to understand their ideals?"

Xiao scowls, almost tempted to argue with the medic before remembering what the medic had told him during Lantern Rite. He isn't wrong. Again.

Haoran clicks his tongue. "And, to return to your previous worries…Yes. I trust the Tamer. They've yet to give me a reason not to."

"But-"

"But nothing." Haoran leans back, tilting his head back to take in the pulsating sky. "A second chance is a second chance. To hold onto the sins of the past is to drown." He sounds as if he is reciting a passage, or something he had heard long ago. Whatever it is, it brings a frown to his face as he sits up. "Now, enough philosophizing. We need to find them first. My fair Lady Kaiju, if you could?"

The Rhyperior snorts and picks up speed. Soon, they're charging across rivers and falls in a blur, wind pleasantly rushing through Xiao's hair as they go. Delta seems to pick up on some scent and barks his orders, leaving the adeptus with nothing to do but think over their conversation.

A second chance. Is that what the Tamer views Teyvat as? What does that make him? Haoran? And what of Rex Lapis? The archon seemed to trust them, even after their display of power. Would his opinion shift if he knew what the Tamer had done, what they are truly capable of doing? For some odd reason, Xiao thinks not.

A familiar howl echoes across the void, drawing the group in.

"You look lost!" Kamuna shouts, perched atop of Renegade's shoulders. The hound joins them at the banks of the pool without prompting, giving cursory sniffs and licks while the Inazuman joins them. "I must say, I was not expecting this when I came to study in Liyue. Is this common?"

"I hope not," Haoran says. "I assume you've had no luck finding Cloud Retainer or the Tamer?"

"None." Kamuna shakes his head, but he still seems rather chipper as he holds up a wiggling vine. "I did find this worm, however. The dog kept playing with it, so I decided to bring it along with us."

"It belongs to one of the Tamer's beasts," Haoran explains when the vine inches up Kamuna's arm. "And it is a…plant. I think."

"A plant? Like a Whopperflower?" Kamuna watches the vine dangle from his finger. "I see. The more I hear of these beasts, the more I would love to dissect one." The vine freezes and drops, much to the Inazuman's delight. "I would be careful, beast, don't worry. Now, where is the Beast Tamer?"

The answer comes in the form of Cloud Retainer's blurring outline. It weaves and twists between the platforms almost frantically. Behind it, the Never Ending gives chase, the islands seemingly shifting out of its way as it flies. It snaps at Cloud Retainer's feet, where the Tamer dangles and screams with every part of their being.

"Ah," Kamuna says, "never mind."

"Delta, Shadow Ball!" Haoran shouts. The Jolteon is already charging the attack and fires. It explodes upon impact, but when the smoke clears, the Never Ending is unharmed and glaring directly at their island.

"And now you pissed it off," Kamuna adds.

"Shut up and move!" Haoran forms a barrier just as a shadow-y blast fires their way. Xiao leaps and spies Renegade hauling Kamuna away, landing on the island opposite of him. Through the smoke, a giant boulder flies free. It crashes against the Never Ending's head, and as it shrieks, rubble falls upward.

"Where were you fools?!" Cloud Retainer snaps as it tosses the Tamer onto another island. "One has been chased for nearly half a day by this-this-"

"Giratina," the Tamer forces out, still unclothed and trembling, "the Never Ending."

"Whatever!" Cloud Retainer throws its wings up in rage. "Not only has it given chase, it destroyed one's abode, which one has worked slavishly upon for a near century and only just finished after dealing with the Chasm and-"

The Never Ending bellows and lunges for the Tamer's island. They swear and leap off before it can connect, throwing their arms wide. Renegade catches them and skids to a stop on Xiao's island, but the Never Ending barely slows. It twists and launches itself with a shriek as a light gleams on its forehead.

And it vanishes.

Xiao tenses, trying to sense it, but everything is both empty and buzzing with noise. Beside him, the Tamer swallows.

"Ren?" they whisper. The Arcanine can only growl.

Xiao's ears buzzing is the only warning they get before the Never Ending phases through the island. With its body reforming inside, the platform explodes outward, launching Xiao, the Tamer, and Renegade into the air. The adeptus tries to right himself, but the god beast is upon them instantly, whipping the hound away as its maw glows with blue flames. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the Tamer throw their arms over their face in a desperate attempt to shield themself.

The blast never hits. Xiao and the Tamer are ripped out of the air, reeled and slammed into an island writhing with teal vines. It cushions the fall, but Xiao's skin still crawls at the sensation of it all.

The Tamer, on the other hand, peeks through their arms and gasps. "Mr. Wriggles?"

The vines shudder before a clump bursts free. Wide eyes peer through the tangled mass, blink twice, then begins to bounce on rubbery red feet.

"Mr. Wriggles!" the Tamer cheers. The beast bounces towards them and plops onto their lap, eyes crinkling with delight. Somehow, despite being a plant with eyes and feet (belatedly, he realizes that the Tamer's drawing of them had been completely accurate-it truly is a blob with eyes), he acts just like Delta, shimmying and shuddering when the Tamer pets its vines. "Still growing? In here, whole time?"

The reunion is cut short by a roar and an explosion, Delta fighting bolts of lightning at the Never Ending as Cloud Retainer snatches Haoran from the air. Mr. Wriggles' vines shoot out from the island as Delta and Lady Kaiju fall past, and while he catches the former with ease, the latter snaps five of his vines before he manages to tether her to the platform.

"What is that thing?!" Kamuna shouts from somewhere above them.

"My beast!" the Tamer says excitedly and lifts Mr. Wriggles up to show him off.

"I meant the dragon!"

"Does it matter?" Haoran fires blasts of water at the Never Ending and only seems to enrage it. "Out, we need to get out!"

Cloud Retainer takes off before he can say more, but the god beast does not follow for long. Its burning eyes zero in directly on the Tamer.

"Ah, fuck Delta Shadow-" The Tamer yelps as Mr. Wriggles flings them away. Xiao is sent flying right after them, and when the Never Ending charges, vines pour in from every platform and entrap it in a living cocoon. It does not hold the god beast for long, but it is just enough for Xiao to catch the Tamer and land on another island. They shove their way out of his arms almost instantly, adrenaline ebbing just enough for Xiao to catch the familiar prickle of his energy being siphoned.

"Don't!" they say. "It wants me. Cloud Retainer, you, take others out. I will-"

"You're not staying here," Xiao snaps.

The Tamer scowls just as the Never Ending bursts free from the vines. It disappears in a flicker of light, and Xiao tries to grab them just as it reappears, jaws snapping around the Tamer. His shoulders nearly pop from the whiplash as he latches onto one of the beast's spikes. Below, he can hear the panicked yells of the others.

The Never Ending roars, but its body writhes. Something bubbles deep within, and from its stomach the Tamer bursts free, body shimmering with Y-patterned ink. Xiao catches them and leaps for Haoran's platform while the god beast's skin seals the hole shut. It begins to growl, flames burning between its maw, but another blast of heat knocks it away. When it turns, Renegade latches onto one wing with a fierce snarl, dragging the god beast down.

"So how do we get out?" the medic asks as the Tamer tumbles from Xiao's arms. "This is something from your world, right? How do we get out?"

The Tamer grimaces. "Last time, there-Fuck, there were doors. Doors, rifts?"

"And how do we open them?" Kamuna asks.

"Can you open them?" Cloud Retainer adds.

"I don't know, I don't know!" The Tamer curls over, clutching their temples before freezing. "Rex Lapis." The gathered group looks at them in surprise. They're rubbing at the Triquetra on their chest. "This is sign for Mora, right? Rex Lapis!"

Kamuna frowns. "Why does Rex Lapis-"

"Doesn't matter," Haoran snaps before smacking Xiao. "Call him!"

"How?" Xiao growls.

"Don't care!" Haoran throws himself and Kamuna at Cloud Retainer, the three flying off the platform just as the Never Ending manages to dislodge Renegade. "JUST GET HIM HERE. NOW!"

The Arcanine teleports onto their island as the god beast disappears, and Xiao ends up flying through the air when it slams into the platform while the hound drags the Tamer onto his back.

"Scatter!" Xiao shouts.

Nobody argues this time and Xiao finds himself leaping through the twisting void with the others as the Never Ending gives chase. Somehow, it is Mr. Wriggles and Lady Kaiju who manage to distract the god beast the most, his vines and her boulders an effective distraction whenever it gets too close to the Tamer. When that fails, Haoran and Delta try their best to help. It seems that Shadow Ball is the only move that truly harms the Never Ending, but the Jolteon cannot aim and run at the same time.

It is almost fun, Xiao would think, but he is too busy struggling to find the faint, familiar connection to Rex Lapis to care. Normally, all he would do is focus, but his senses still hum like a plucked string, brain still buzzing between his ears that swells whenever the Never Ending grows near. Of course, it is some elder being of a foreign world. Just being in its presence is doing more harm than good.

But Xiao only grits his teeth and pushes harder. It is not Rex Lapis's domain, no, but that does not matter. He is still an archon. He is still…

"MORAX!" he shouts, a tinge of desperation in his voice. The buzzing stops, if only for a moment, and it is all the Tamer needs.

"There!" They point up (down?, they are upside down to Xiao), somewhere in the void. "Wrig, the others!"

Vines lash out, tethering whatever limbs the beast can touch, and the Tamer barely warns them all to hold on before Renegade teleports again. They fall in a heap on a large, isolated island. Somewhere in the empty void, the Never Ending screeches in rage.

"Ren?" The Tamer shakes his shoulders as he stumbles. "Too many people," they say when he falls. "Haoran, help!"

Haoran grits his teeth and shoves a glowing hand into his fur. Xiao moves to the edge of the island, polearm in hand, but the only thing below him is the swirling vortex.

Something bumps his ankles. Mr. Wriggles' vines jab at his leg, shin, thigh-

"What is it doing?" he asks when it starts prodding his stomach.

"Tasting," the Tamer says without looking up. Mr. Wriggles' eyes narrow as his body shakes. "He says you taste bad."

"It can taste us?" Kamuna says in surprise.

"Sort of?" The Tamer shrugs. "Tangela are…Dendro beasts, so. Weird." They watch as a vine pokes Xiao's forehead. "He says you taste like-Wait, Abyss monsters? Here?"

"Already dead," Haoran grunts. "Delta and I stepped on a handful earlier. I think your plant killed it."

"He…did. Huh." The Tamer watches as the Tangela bounces. "Good boy, Wriggles."

Renegade is on his feet the moment Xiao's ears begin to buzz. Mr. Wriggles is quick to tether them all to the Arcanine, and they land on another distant island just as the Never Ending appears from the void. This time, the hound almost crushes Delta under his weight.

"I would offer to help," Kamuna says as Haoran and the Tamer try to heal him, "but I fear much of my power is…well, eaten up."

"And who is to blame for that?" Cloud Retainer scoffs. "It was not one's seal that caused this mess in the first place."

Kamuna scowls. "Well, no one else was suggesting a solution!"

"Do you need more?" Xiao asks. The moment the Tamer nods, he latches onto their forearm and sits as his skin tingles. "Hurry, then."

The Tamer tries to argue, stopped only by a swift kick by Haoran. Their entire body begins to glow as they drain Xiao's energy, ink shimmering. Renegade is quicker to recover this time, but he still sways on his feet when they land on the next island.

"Just a few more," the Tamer promises. "I see it. It's okay…"

They begin the process again when Xiao's ears pitch. He opens his mouth, tries to warn them, but the beam of dark matter crashes into the island and obliterates it in seconds. Vines snap through the rain of rubble. It barely grazes Xiao's ankle before they teleport again.

When they hit the island, the Never Ending roars. Another blast destroys the island and forces them to jump again. Then again. Renegade's body trembles as Delta and Lady Kaiju try to hit the god beast, but it is not enough.

After the fifth, the Tamer points and shouts, "There!"

Far above them, shining like the first star in the night sky, is some kind of door. Even from here, Xiao can feel the pulse of Rex Lapis' power.

"Go, go!" they shout. Cloud Retainer snatches Haoran and Kamuna by the arm and flies, Delta covering their escape after the Tamer orders him away. Renegade doesn't bother teleporting and leaps instead, the Tamer on his back and Mr. Wriggles in his mouth as he tethers Lady Kaiju. Xiao leaps after them and nearly gets his leg eaten for his delay.

"Faster, Conqueror!" Kamuna screams from above.

"MOVE, XIAO!" Haoran adds.

Xiao does. He leaps, bounds, runs across each upside down platform and sideways waterfall as the Never Ending phases through without fear. It doesn't seem too interested in him, though, and that is what scares him.

It lunges after Lady Kaiju first, dodging each great meteor with ease. It phases through each vine, shreds it to pieces when it tries to tighten. The Tamer shouts and looks back, and from here Xiao can see their grip loosening, like they plan on letting go and allowing it to take them just so the others can escape.

And Xiao, body acting before he can stop himself, dons his mask and drives his glowing polearm straight into the Never Ending's back.

Its screech shakes the entire domain. Fractures appear around the gate above, spilling soft light into the void. The god beast roars and twists until Xiao recalls his polearm. When it rounds on him, its eyes seem to glow even brighter at the sight of his mask.

But Xiao is swift, and he lunges at the Never Ending with his polearm and strikes again. This time, the jade cuts through its side, carving a jagged line across its flank. It twists and roars, but he is already behind it and drives his polearm through its tail. It tries to catch him and again he is below, tearing a hole into its underside.

The Never Ending roars and swings its tail wide, clipping Xiao's arm as he cycles past it. He vaults onto his feet and aims for its head, but before he can fling his spear it disappears.

"Show yourself!" he snarls. He can already feel the mask sapping his already drained reserves, but he can't remove it now. The others are still running for the portal.

He throws his spear up just as the Never Ending reappears, feet skidding to the edge of the platform when it rams into his body. It darts past him before he recovers, and when he turns, its mouth is already alight.

The beam blasts Xiao into the air, mask fracturing as he snarls. He twists and plunges mid-fall, but the god beast twists, jade glancing off its horn as it swats him aside with its tail. The platform he hits feet-first nearly splits in half, then actually breaks when he launches himself.

It disappears again, this time ramming into his back the moment he draws too close. It snaps around his arm just tight enough to hurt and, twisting once, twice-

"Xiao!" someone screams as Xiao is flung into the void. The Never Ending chases after him. Each time he tries to right himself, it is there and strikes with its tail, rams its head into his chest, anything to keep him from escaping. It sends him down, down, down until finally, his mask shatters into light. His vision blurs, but he can see the way it disappears.

And he can make out the others, nearly at the portal. That is what matters. That is what-

"Hoo!"

Xiao's eyes snap open just as Bao materializes from his crystal, wings flapping valiantly. He's still falling. Not as slowly, no, but he's falling, he's falling with Xiao, and the Never Ending appears and its eye alone is double Bao's size.

It rears its head and charges. Xiao cries out and reaches for his partner, then watches as the god beast passes harmlessly through the owl.

"Hoo!" Bao rounds on the Never Ending, eyes glowing bright blue. The moment the god beast turns, its head snaps back, and the same shining light swallows its entire frame. Even when Bao's eyes return to its bright red, the Never Ending remains a shimmery blue.

When it faces Xiao, it looks unfocused. Lost. It sways its head side to side, like it can't see him. Like it's…confused?

"Now!" Vines unfurl above them, snatching Bao by his leg as more latch onto Xiao's arm. He grabs Bao the moment he's close enough, half-torn between shouting at him and squeezing the owl until it fuses with him, but the breakneck speed silences them both. In moments, he finds himself dangling next to Lady Kaiju, who's pointing Delta at the void. The Jolteon's maw is wide open and charging a pulsating Shadow Ball.

"Fire!" the Tamer shouts. Delta barks and unleashes the orb into the void. It collides with the Never Ending and obscures the entire landscape in smoke.

"Ren, go!" the Tamer shouts. Renegade, still clamping Mr. Wriggles in his mouth, springs upward. It is not a smooth ride and, more than once, Xiao has to kick Lady Kaiju to avoid slamming into her, but the orange light envelops them all at once as they breach the barrier. They bounce onto solid stone in one messy heap. It only takes a single glance around for Xiao to figure out where they landed: Luhua Pool.

"Archons, finally!" Kamuna reaches for Xiao. "Conqueror, are you alright?"

"Brat!" Haoran shouts nearly in sync. He snatches the Tamer by the shoulders and shakes them, head snapping side to side. "What is WRONG with you?! I told you-"

Somewhere below, the Never Ending cries out, shaking the ground. When Xiao checks, he can make out its outline charging straight for them, no longer tinged in blue. He almost warns the others, but the smothering presence of Rex Lapis silences him.

The Archon descends towards the rift, unarmed and at ease. He folds his hands behind him and peers into the portal, even as the god beast closes in.

To Xiao's surprise, it slows to a halt at the barrier, eyes flickering. Once more, something passes between the two gods before the Never Ending huffs. It slithers in a lazy circle, not once breaking eye contact with the Archon. When Rex Lapis only tilts his head, it shrieks, then turns and retreats into its realm.

Rex Lapis sighs and waves a hand, sealing the rift in blue light. A triquetra forms in the center, just as the Tamer had described.

For some time, all Xiao can hear is ragged breathing and bubbling water. Bao squirms in his lap and clambers free, hooting at the adeptus until he strokes his head. Across the way, Haoran splays on his back, arm flung over his eyes. Of the beasts, only Lady Kaiju manages to stay standing, and she quietly gathers the others together before sitting down with a groan.

"Well, now." Kamuna struggles to catch his breath as he laughs. "Was that an old friend, Rex Lapis?"

"Perhaps," the Archon answers.

Kamuna's eye twitches. "It was a joke, sir-"

"That's how!" the Tamer snaps. They try to stand, but their knees give out on them. It doesn't stop them from glaring at Rex Lapis. "You say before that Abyss could be the Distortion World. You know Giratina!"

"I do," Rex Lapis agrees.

The Tamer scowls, then drops their gaze. "Then…home world-"

The Archon holds up a hand. "Perhaps this is a conversation more suited indoors." He eyes the Tamer's near-naked form. "And with more clothes."

No one has the strength to move, and Rex Lapis sends them back to Mt. Aocang with a wave of his hand. Even there, much of the party remains sitting, gathered in a messy circle beside the lake while Cloud Retainer manages to find some spare robes for the Tamer in its inventory. It is only after the adeptus offers some tea does the Tamer speak.

"Order Keeper," they say slowly, "Life Bringer…you know? That I…um…"

"Killed them?" Haoran offers. When they flinch, he only sighs. "Yes. Well, I assumed so, and it seems Xiao saw it happen. How Rex Lapis knows, I am unsure."

"I have been told," Rex Lapis answers vaguely.

The Tamer does not press him, instead hunching over their cup of tea. "Oh."

"...would now be a bad time to ask who those are?" Kamuna asks quietly.

"Yes," Haoran says.

"They are Archons," the Tamer explains. "My world Archons."

"And you…" Cloud Retainer gestures vaguely, to which they nod. The crane tilts its head to eye them before sighing. "One hopes there is a reasonable explanation for this."

"I-Um…" The Tamer sets their cup of tea aside. "Long story, but not know most words. Can show instead, if…if prefer?" Their gaze drifts to their necklace, still dangling on Xiao's chest. He'd almost forgotten it was there. He removes the charm, shuddering from the sudden loss of warmth as he hands it over. They sigh when they grip it in their hands, then hold it up.
"…My memories," they say. "Ready?"

After a chorus of confirmations, their skin lights up. Xiao's vision flickers before he finds himself at the roots of the Tree of Beginning, trembling.

"Wh-What?" he gasps. "What do you mean you can't help him?"

His eyes are burning, staring straight at the glowing ball of light and heat woven into the stone around him.

"T here is nothing more that can be done, my child," it says. "It is simply his moment to return to the earth."

"N-No. No!" Xiao's hands clench as he rises. Even standing before It is an act of treason, but the heat burning inside is overwhelming. "It's been a year! Only a year! He hasn't even evolved yet, you can't just-" He grits his teeth. "He died protecting this land. This very tree. That girl had-she cut him down here-"

"Silence."

Xiao stops. A hoof steps from the stone, striding forwards as the Life Bringer emerges from the light. He falls to one knee quickly, but it is only out of shock, not piety, that brings him down.

"It is not one's place to alter the cycle of life and death," the Life Bringer states. "To live is to die. It is only through death that one understands, and thus cherishes, life." It lifts its head, its antlers as vast and interwoven as the trees above. "Do you understand, my child, why this young beast must die?"

No, Xiao wants to yell. Of course not. "Y-Yes, sir," he whispers instead.

The Life Bringer hums. It clears the space between them in three silent steps, and it takes its head brushing against Xiao's hair for him to realize he is crying.

"It is simply his time, my child," it whispers. "But understand that, while brief, you had given his life meaning." The nose grazes his head. "And that is the best gift that life can bring."

When Xiao blinks, the Life Bringer is gone. All that remains is the bundle of cloth that holds his beloved partner's body and his silent heart.

He is not sure how long he kneels there, eyes burning and shoulders trembling. He'd never been one for crying, no. It serves no purpose as an Aura Guardian and Xiao feels that Aaron had cried enough for the both of them when he'd received Decim.

It is only when the moon shines upon the cavern does Xiao realize how late it has become. The ritual to speak to the Life Bringer only works at dawn. It is…midnight, he thinks. It is forbidden to be here so late in the night. The Elders had forbidden it centuries ago.

Xiao rolls his shoulders, stiff with fatigue. There is much to do. He needs to prepare the…burial site.

"Strange."

Xiao freezes, hand over the cloth bundle. The voice had been in his ears, rattling his teeth, but he cannot sense the Life Bringer. He cannot sense any life at all.

"It has been some time since one has received a visitor," the voice hums. "And it seems the visitor is in distress." The air almost burns as Xiao tries to breathe. "If one were to venture, it seems you have received…distressing word from the Life Bringer."

"How did you-"

The voice chuckles. "One is more aware than the Life Bringer cares to admit. It is simply not often that one hears of a death as unjust as…this."

Xiao's gaze falls onto the bundle once more. "...is it truly unjust?"

"Is it not?" The voice ripples with disgust. "It would mean well if the words had come elsewhere, not an immortal beast. What would it know of your pain? Of loss? Of death?"

His breath hitches. Instinctively, he opens his mouth to defend the Life Bringer. Life and death are not so fair, yes, but-

"But what, child?" the voice says. "What right do immortal creatures, beasts who do not fight for survival like you, who do not live as you do, have any right to pass judgement? What right do they have to end one's life, simply 'because it is their time'?"

They do not. They don't. No one does, Xiao thinks. But-"They do not understand," he whispers and, gods, how strange is that, talking to the actual tree. "They say that it will heal with age, that I will get better, but...how? How can I heal when I feel so..."

"Empty?" the voice asks. "As if there is a hole within, consuming your very being with each waking moment?"

A strangled sob escapes Xiao as a sense of relief washes over him. Yes, he wants to say. Yes, yes, yes. To feel empty, void, like someone had taken part of his spirit and cleaved it in two. It burns and burns so deeply within his chest and yet-

"They do not understand," he repeats. Not Queen Rin, not the other soldiers, not Aaron. He still had Decim, his chosen partner of fate, his other half. Xiao...Xiao has nothing.

"They look upon you with pity," it says, "as if you are a lost child, not a grieving friend, not a human who has lost their other half."

Xiao only sobs harder, no longer able to muster the strength to speak. He feels pathetic, curled up on the dirt with tears and snot on his face. Still, the voice, whoever it is, does not mock or belittle.

Instead, once Xiao is able to breathe properly, it says, "Rise."

He follows, standing on swaying feet. He is still alone in the clearing, but his shadow cast by moonlight seems to dance against the crystals of the Tree of Beginning.

"One cannot return what has been lost, stranger," the voice says, "but perhaps one can grant you strength to heal." The shadow warps and twirls before cerulean eyes split open where his own would be. "To fill what has been lost."

The shadows beckon him closer. Without an order, Xiao lifts his unmarked hand up, out to touch the beast-

Xiao lurches upright, panting. His face feels strangely cool, and when he reaches up, his fingertips come away damp with tears.

"Hoo..." Bao squirms in his lap, eyes bright with concern. Xiao tries to pet him, but his fingers begin to tremble the moment they graze his feathers. The Hoothoot has been with him for only months, and yet simply imagining his death sends a stab of fear through the adeptus' chest. Even worse, he is not familiar with training these creatures. Before, with the Never Ending, he'd thought that it would-that Bao...

"I see..." Rex Lapis' voice startles him. He eyes the Tamer, expression stone. "And that is why you acted against your archon? For revenge?"

"I-" The Tamer stops and bows their head. "Yes."

Renegade grumbles, dragging his tongue across their cheek as the gathered fell quiet. Xiao wishes he could feel upset. He wishes he didn't understand the fear that pierced him when he saw his partner's life at stake, or the willingness he'd felt to don his mask to fight a god beast just to keep the Tamer and his companions safe.

"What..." Haoran clears his throat. "Was that what it gave you? Your power?"

The Tamer nods again. Their seal flickers, light traveling across their skin. Even from here, Xiao feels the strange pulse, like it is sapping energy from the air around them.

"Oblivion Eater's...um..." They try to think of a translation. "Signature move. Recognized power. Oblivion Wing eats....eats all."

In his exhausted state, Xiao almost chuckles. It would explain why they eat so much, he thinks. But then the choking sobs in their memories smothers his thoughts, and he wonders if the Oblivion Eater had done it on purpose. To fix them, it'd given them a power to consume and consume and never feel full. Never feel complete.

"But Aura Guardians," they say, "they do not eat. They give. Feed, heal, protect. When King Aaron saw what-what happened-"

"Your seal was put in place," Haoran guesses, to which they nod.

"I could use it, if push hard. Did not seal all the way." A tiny smile flickers on the Tamer's face. "Aaron was soft. And..." Their smile wavers.

Renegade tries again, but the tears fall too quickly for him to catch. He whines and shoves his head into their arms, then sits across their lap when they bury their face into his mane. Delta and Mr. Wriggles are quick to join the pile. It is only Lady Kaiju who remains upright, stroking the Tamer's head with a gentle claw.

It takes some time for them to compose themself. During that silence, Xiao could only tighten his grip on Bao.

"Guessing...cannot go to watchtower now?" they ask weakly.

"No," Rex Lapis says.

"Ah." The Tamer allows Mr. Wriggles to wipe another tear from their cheek. "Judgement. Choose what to do with me."

"...that is correct," he says.

The Tamer nods and scratches Delta's chin. "You have type-advantage, but...I kill archons like you, fool." Their eyes harden. "Will not go down without fight."

"Tamer!" Haoran hisses, only for Rex Lapis to chuckle.

"I would expect nothing less." The archon  turns to Kamuna and Cloud Retainer. "What has been done to their seal?"

Kamuna blinks, stunned. "Ah, well..."

There are several complicated words, theories, and hypotheticals offered. All Xiao catches is this: the seal stabilized their pathways. When the Abyss Lector had broken it, their consuming powers had eaten into their aura, but now?

"I...might have made it worse?" Kamuna says. "At least, depending on how you look at it."

"A person capable of killing archons now has access to their powers once more," Cloud Retainer says before swatting the Inazuman with one wing. "One does not see an alternative."

"On the contrary," Haoran says when Kamuna pouts, "I see his point. Somehow." He waves a hand at the Tamer. "What better way to prove one's devotion to helping the people than by having access to devastating powers and refusing to use it?"

Xiao's brows pinch, but Cloud Retainer tilts its head and trills. "Ah, one understands now." Its eye twinkles. "Little Haoran wishes to do what one has done for you-"

"First of all, it was not you," Haoran cuts it off, eyes narrowing. "I chose this path myself. How else do you think I got this?" He flashes his Vision at the crane, who simply trills.

"If memory serves, and one believes one's memory has served dutifully for centuries," Cloud Retainer says, "it is only due to one's intervention that you had been spared by Rex Lapis when he bested you."

"You fought Rex Lapis?" Xiao asks before he can stop himself.

"You tried to kill your archon?" Kamuna lets out a barking laugh. "And here I thought the Beast Tamer's actions were ridiculous-" An orb of water flies into the Inazuman's mouth and chokes him before he can laugh any further.

"Anyone else?" Haoran threatens, hand glowing. When the Tamer raises a hand, he scowls. "What, brat?"

"Um...translation, please?" they ask. "Talk too fast."

Haoran stares, sighs, and waves a hand at Rex Lapis, who'd watched the entire exchange with a bemused smile. "You talk. I'm old."

"You are barely over fifty," Cloud Retainer says. "Bemoan your age when you are feeble and decrepit."

"Ahem." Rex Lapis folds his hands behind him, nodding once the others had fallen silent. "Good. Now, Beast Tamer-"

The Tamer tenses, sitting up as the rest of their team follows suit.

"-your powers are not welcomed here. In fact, the possession of such abilities would often warrant immediate execution." Delta's fur sparks, but Rex Lapis continues on, undeterred. "But you have proven your willingness to protect the people of Liyue, and by extension the people of Teyvat, from harm, be it corruption or the monsters of the Abyss." He tilts his head. "As it is so, do you plan to continue this path of justice? Of peace?"

The Tamer stares. Their brows pinch, mouthing the words, before shrinking back and sending a helpless stare at Haoran.

"Do you plan on killing anyone with your strange, parasitic powers?" he translates.

They make a very disgusted face, like he just slapped them. Haoran gives Rex Lapis a rather cat-like smile. "I rest my case."

Kamuna's head snaps between them, but it is clear that whatever just occured has finished. "So I won't be witnessing a signing of one of Rex Lapis' famous contracts?"

"There will be no official contract," Haoran says. "If he were to offer one to a god killer and they went off and murdered a god anyway, the rest of the Seven would not exactly be pleased to know he was aware of their power and did not take them out immediately." He sips his tea, the action alone somehow radiating smug victory. "This way, they are proving their devotion while also allowing our dear Rex Lapis to get away with his hands clean. Granted one of us doesn't tattle on him like children."

Kamuna blinks, then eyes the three faithful servants of Rex Lapis before laughing. "Fascinating. You Liyueans are a strange sort. The Raiden Shogun would've simply beheaded us and been done with it already." He holds up a hand, pressing the other to his chest. "I will not speak of this event, I can assure you."

"Then it is settled." Rex Lapis nods to himself, seemingly satisfied. He moves to leave, but the Tamer stands.

"That is it?" they say. "Just…that? No seal? You just…trust?"

"I do. I do not condone what you've done," Rex Lapis says, "but am I to pass judgement upon one when I have killed gods for the sake of Liyue?" His expression softens ever so slightly. "Already, you have been banished into a foreign world, alone with nothing but your beasts and your sins upon your shoulders while never allowed a moment's rest. That is enough." His form begins to glow, a telltale sign of his departure. "And if not, then the Conqueror of Demons is still here."

With that, the archon departs, and Xiao finds himself at the center of attention. In his lap, Bao flaps his wings and hoots at their stares.

"...well, would you?" Haoran asks.

"Would I what?" Xiao growls.

"Kill me?" the Tamer asks.

Xiao is almost too quick to answer. He stops just before he can, clamping his jaw shut and turning away. Language barrier, he reminds himself. A flimsy excuse, he tells himself.

"It is my duty to protect Liyue from the…dark," he forces out. "If there is a day where that comes, then…yes."

He cannot see the Tamer's face and does not want to. He worries he might feel something else if he does, something far too complicated for an adeptus, a weapon like himself to understand.

"Then I won't," they say suddenly like it is that simple. Xiao looks at them and tenses under the severity in their gaze. "If any danger I not handle, I call Xiao…right?"

If you are hurt, call my name. I will come.

Another wordless contract, formed by convictions, morals, and…trust. They'd trusted him before, had let him feel their heartbeat and now, they're trusting him to keep them safe, to never face any danger that might force them to break a wordless contract. Archons, they really trust him.

"Right," he agrees because they trust him and he wants to be deserving of such faith. "Call my name. I will come."

Chapter Text

Xiao comes to a rather annoying discovery a week after the "Sealing Incident" (a name given by Kamuna just before he departed for his home nation. The Tamer had insisted on trying to see him off, but since that meant entering Liyue Harbor, they'd settled for watching the ship leave from afar). 

The Tamer does not...touch him anymore.

Not in that disgustingly intimate way, the mere idea of which makes his skin burn, no, but in the innocuous, 'look, look' kind of way. They would tap his shoulder to get his attention, or tug on his hand or nudge his side with his elbow, or just...anything. Anything.

Of course, Xiao will not die. He managed for centuries before without it, he can manage again. He will be fine-

"Can you please stop scowling at the floor? You're scaring away the dustmites." 

Xiao fixes Haoran with the same dark expression, but the medic merely returns to reorganizing his office. On his desk, soaking in a basin of water, is Mr. Wriggles, who waves at the adeptus when it realizes he is staring. He is the only beast in the tower at the moment. The Tamer is currently at Mingyun Village, aiding the miners in reopening the caved-in tunnels from their visit several months ago.

"I don't think the men can handle Mr. Wriggles," they'd said. "Plus, he is just a baby."

"Then why call him a 'Mister'?" Haoran had asked. "Is that not a title in your land for a young gentleman?"

"It just feels better. Like Lady Kaiju." 

Hence, the Tangela's presence. The sun is nearly set, however. The Tamer will be home soon.

"Why is he in water?" Xiao asks suddenly. 

"He is bathing. I think," Haoran says. "The Tamer says that he drinks through his feet and this makes him easier to keep an eye on, so..."

Keep an eye on it for some form of corruption. The Tamer had said the Tangela is constantly shedding its vines, so they doubt it can be corrupted, but Haoran is still unsure and, truthfully, Xiao does not blame him.

The adeptus returns to staring. Mr. Wriggles is wiggling side to side, flexing his boots and two primary vines to an unheard beat. He stops, wiggles some more, then ends with a flourish before deflating into the basin.

"So," Haoran says, drawing Xiao's attention away, "is there any reason why you are here in my office?" 

Xiao frowns and focuses on Mr. Wriggle's new dance. It seems to be to a different beat. 

"Should I be worried?" Haoran continues. "Did you do something?" He stops and tilts his head back to squint at the adeptus. "Is this a Tamer issue?"

Xiao tenses. "What?" 

"Ah, so it is." The medic opens a crate and peers inside. Whatever he is searching for, it is apparently not there, so he closes it and moves on to another. "What happened now?"

If anything, Xiao can appreciate the man's bluntness. Still, his ears burn at the mere idea of trying to explain his unease, so he simply glares at the ceiling instead. "It's nothing."

"If it's nothing, then why are you in my office?" Haoran asks. "Communication is a two-way street, young man. I cannot help if you do not talk."

Again, blunt, but the discomfort at the idea only grows. How in Teyvat is he supposed to explain this to him? He'd been perfectly fine before. It is not like he will die because of this.

"Hoo!" A solid weight lands on his chest, Bao puffing up with delight. Xiao reaches up to pet him out of habit. The owl has nearly doubled in size since he first hatched, and after a few scratches, he hops off the rafters and confidently flies around the room before landing next to Mr. Wriggles. "Hoo?"

Mr. Wriggles makes some strange noise and pokes Bao. When the owl remains upright, he wiggles his vines in glee and begins jabbing at different angles, trying to knock him over.

"Gentle," Xiao warns. 

Mr. Wriggles jabs Bao in the side. In return, Bao chomps on the vine. It pops off and squirms in the Hoothoot's mouth, and-Xiao leaps off the rafter and yanks the vine from Bao's beak before he can try to consume it. 

"No," he scolds, tossing the vine behind him. "Bad. Both of you."

"Hoohoo," Bao coos dejectedly. Mr. Wriggles also makes some kind of noise, but Xiao cannot even begin to describe it. 

"My, my, such a stern father," Haoran hums. When Xiao bristles, the medic's amused expression fades. "Wait, is that the problem? Is one of you pregnant-"

"No!" Xiao snaps. 

Haoran holds up his hands. "Then tell me before I assume the worst!" His brows pinch. "Can the Tamer even carry children?" 

"I-Why would I know that?" 

"Rhetorical question, just wondering aloud," Haoran says before waving at Xiao. "Now, go on. What is bothering you so?" 

Xiao almost leaves out of instinct, but he forces himself to stay, focusing on Bao as the owl sways in time with Mr. Wriggles' new, inaudible beat. 

He has been…trying. Trying to better understand the complexities of mortal conversations ever since they returned from Mt. Aocang. Somehow, for creatures with such short lifespans, they make everything rather complicated. But he, an adeptus, had felt the same terror, the same powerful drive to protect the others from the Never Ending in the Distortion World. He wishes he could claim it is just his duty, but a buried part of himself knows better. 

Really, mortals are ridiculous, but Xiao still tries.

"The Tamer..." he forces out, "doesn't...touch me anymore."

He cannot see Haoran's face, but he can almost imagine the expression on it. There is some rustling, followed by a soft clearing of the throat.

"I wasn't aware you two were intimate-"

"Not like that," Xiao growls quickly. "They..." His anger dissipates, confusion swelling in its place. "They were not afraid before. Even with my...karmic debt, they were willing to approach me. But now..."

Are they afraid of him now? Ever since the incident, Xiao has felt less burdened by his debt. It still exists, yes, but it does not sear his skin, clawing at his very being as it did before. He'd simply assumed it to be an aftereffect caused by the Tamer's unstable powers, but now that he contemplates, he cannot help but wonder if they'd taken on his debt and avoid him out of disgust. 

Because of him, they are now settled with an even heavier burden than before. If Xiao had been in their place, he would have avoided the source of the debt at all costs. 

"But now, they steer clear?" Haoran guesses. When Xiao nods, the medic sighs. "Well, if it is any consolation, they are less affectionate to me, too. Not that I am complaining, of course, my body is too old to handle them sometimes, but it still is unusual." 

"But why?" Xiao asks. Are they still afraid of him? Do they think he might harm them even after their oath to Rex Lapis? Of course, he'd said he would act if they broke it, but...it is the Tamer. He doubts they would ever do so unless there was no other choice. 

"That is the problem, isn't it?" Haoran asks. "Like I said, communication works both ways."

'Go ask them yourself,' Xiao translates. It is the obvious solution, but..."Will they even tell me?"

"You never know until you ask." Before Xiao can doubt him, the medic laughs and reaches into the crate. "There you are, you little bastard." He reaches in and retrieves a strange device. When he flexes his fingers, the red orb in the center begins to swirl and pulse as the rings light up around it. 

It takes a moment for the adeptus to recall its name: the Blackcliff Agate. 

"...why were you looking for that?" Xiao asks. 

"Nostalgia. The Tamer's new not-contract made me think," Haoran says. The catalyst hovers over his outstretched hand. Despite his age, it looks like an extension of himself. "I may be a doctor now, and I may have sworn an oath of non-aggression against humans, but...I always kept it."

"As a precaution?"

"As a reminder." Haoran flexes his hand and watches as the catalyst spins. "I carry great power, and yet this catalyst, collecting dust in my office, reminds me that I have a great deal of trust riding on my shoulders to protect the people around me." Bubbles form around his knuckles, rolling between each digit like a set of marbles. "It is a burden and strenuous at times, but just seeing how dirty and unused this thing is...it is reassuring. That I am capable of holding great power and yet choosing to use it to save…I plan on showing the Tamer once they return."

Vines inch out and try to poke the catalyst, only for Haoran to snatch it from the air and return it to its crate. 

"And," he says as he covers the weapon, "it is not a toy." 

Mr. Wriggles blinks, pointing at Bao. The owl cocks its head in confusion. Neither seem particularly innocent. 

A loud 'thunk' sounds from the balcony, followed by a confused, "Xiao?" It is the Tamer, absolutely coated in dirt and carrying a basket across their back. Renegade is no better, dirt and mud clinging to the leather harness one of the villagers must have made for him. He barks in greeting before shaking out his frame, leaving a cloud of dirt in its wake.

"You better sweep that up before coming in," Haoran grunts as Mr. Wriggles hops out of the basin. The plant waddles over to the Tamer and takes the basket from them while the medic adds, "and what is that?"

"Gifts!" the Tamer says. "Lady Kaiju and Delta are stay…staying tonight. They give this as apology."

Inside are several packaged stones and other trinkets that, really, serve no purpose for the soldiers in the tower. However, there are also a handful of carved Tree of Beginning crystals in the shapes of all kinds of animals. How someone at the mine managed that, he does not know, but Mr. Wriggles happily takes two and begins to shake them in the air like they are toys. There are also several packaged berries and fruits, one of which the Tamer throws at Xiao before he can refuse. 

"Dirt," Haoran warns again when Renegade tries to slink inside. 

"But-"

"Roof or bathe," he snaps. "I am not letting you in here while you're both filthy."

The Tamer pouts, and for all the incredible, dangerous powers they wield, they cannot suddenly wash themself of the dirt. "Fine. Ren?" 

Ren whines, ears folding back. When the Tamer fixes him with a glare, his head drops in defeat before offering his back to climb onto. 

"Going to the river," they say with a wave. "Be back!" And then they are gone in another burst. 

"...what are the odds they come back dripping wet because they forgot a change of clothes?" Haoran asks. It is very high, but Xiao doesn't have to say that for the man to sigh. "Bring them some. Please."

So Xiao does, carrying a spare uniform as he appears at the riverbank below the Watchtower. The Tamer is already wading into the water, but Renegade refuses to follow, digging his paws into the mud when they pull on his harness. 

"You dirty bastard-" they grunt. "Come. ON!"

Renegade tumbles into the river with a mighty shriek and disappears a second later, no doubt fleeing back to the Watchtower as the Tamer is doused in water. By the time the water stills, they are staring blankly at the sky, the current carrying them towards deeper waters as they float away. 

"You forgot your clothes," Xiao says. 

"...let me sink," they sigh. 

Xiao rolls his eyes and, after setting aside the clothes, strides into the water and reaches for them. "Stop being dramatic and hurry."

They are tense under his grip. Even when he pulls them upright and releases them, they don't actually start washing until he steps away. He tells himself that it does not bother him as he sits on the rocks nearby, no. It doesn't. It really doesn't. He is waiting because the Tamer is vulnerable, Renegade is gone, and they do not have their new staff yet from Cloud Retainer. He is just being precautious.

He is fine, he tells himself when the Tamer remains silent. He is fine, he insists as the Tamer wades out of the river. He is-"Do you not trust me?"

The Tamer jerks back and Xiao entertains the idea of teleporting to the Watchtower when their face twists.

"What?" they ask.

And it is too late to act like he didn't say anything, so the adeptus frowns and says, "You are avoiding me."

The Tamer's eyes flicker. Slowly, they reach for their clothes, changing when Xiao does not speak up, but he knows their vocabulary has expanded since they first arrived a year ago. (And, Archons, a year is nothing for an adeptus, but when he truly dwells on this, on how so much has changed, he is terrified. How is it that mortals can handle so much change in so little time?)

"I…am sorry," they offer once they are fully dressed and dried. They sit on the boulder next to him, but there is still a sizable distance between them. 

And it is not an answer. Xiao frowns and glares, thinking of Haoran's insistence about communication. "Do you not trust me?" 

"I-" The Tamer cuts themself off this time. Xiao scowls. Patience is a virtue, he thinks he's heard before. And communication is a two-way street. Often, it is easier to just be blunt, so he repeats it again. 

And then watches as the Tamer's eyes water. 

He tenses, unsure of what to do now. Crying, according to Haoran, is a natural human function. They'd cried before when they spoke of Aaron to the others. So…a reaction to sadness. He didn't mean to upset them. He just wants to know why. 

"I don't…" The Tamer grimaces and rubs their eyes with their sleeve. "Sorry."

"Why are you apologizing?" he grunts. 

The Tamer sniffles, but their brows pinch as they look at Xiao. "Did Haoran say this?" 

Yes, Xiao thinks, but the Tamer is already looking down at their hands in concentration. He follows a droplet of water as it falls from their hair, tracing their jaw and the muscles in their neck before forcing his gaze away when it dips below their collar. 

"He told me to ask," he says. 

"I assumed so," they say, more to themself than to him. Their hands move to their head, then grab the spare towel and ruffle their hair while they fold their legs beneath them and bounce one knee. Their jittering almost tempts Xiao to move, but they drop their hands in their laps with a heavy sigh. "I do trust you, Xiao. I just…" Their mouth twists. "...don't want to hurt you."

It is Xiao's turn to look confused. "How?"

The Tamer lifts their hands. Even in the fading light, he stares at the blank skin where the circle seal once was. "The power is through contact. I control it, yes, but what if..."

They flex their fingers, the trident-like pattern shimmering and sucking warmth out of the air. The ink on Xiao's shoulders flicker in response, which only worsens the expression on their face.

What if they hurt him? Xiao scowls and crosses his arms. Is that really all? Ridiculous. "Do you think I am so fragile? That I am helpless?" 

The Tamer shakes their head.

"Then do not treat me as such," he says. "I am an adeptus. I am not so weak as to break from a single touch."

Granted, the Tamer is the Tamer. He is not a fool to think that he could best them if they truly desired to kill him. But with how worried they'd seemed over the chances of accidentally hurting him, he doubts they would ever raise a hand against him in combat. In the same way the Tamer seems to trust him…he trusts them.

There is another flicker of light, but when he glances at them, their face is unreadable.

"Xiao." 

"Mm."

The Tamer turns to him fully, their knees almost brushing his thigh. "I know a trick. Can I show you?" 

He almost denies them, annoyed. This doesn't sound like it has anything to do with their conversation. "What trick?" he asks anyway, because it is strangely challenging trying to ignore them.

"I can fit whole world in my hands."

Xiao stares."...what."

They reach up and cup their hands around his face, cradling his cheeks. He nearly jerks back from the sudden contact, but their hold on him is surprisingly firm and their stare is pinning him in place. For a moment, Xiao cannot think. 

"See?" they say softly. "Whole world."

It doesn't click. Not until they smile at him and he feels his entire body set alight. He jerks back and nearly flickers back to the Watchtower. The only thing stopping him is the sudden flash of fear in the Tamer's eyes. 

"Sorry, sorry!" they say quickly, tucking their hands to their chest. "Too much?"

"I-" Xiao exhales sharply. He does not feel the numbness of their consumption, just the raging heat on his face. They hadn't hurt him, but it still scares him just how easily they unnerved him. "Yes."

"Sorry," they repeat again and shove their hands in their lap. "It was...ah, fuck. Old line from my world." 

Xiao almost growls again, this time at the idea of the Tamer doing something so...intimate with another. He only knows so much of their culture through their shared memories, but he cannot imagine that a gesture like that can be done between acquaintances. 

And doesn't that just muddle things? They are soldiers in arms, Xiao thinks, not mere acquaintances. But mere acquaintanceship does not feel appropriate, either. Is this friendship? Or-

Communication, Xiao reminds himself. 

"It felt fine," he grumbles and refuses to meet the Tamer's eye.

The Tamer tilts their head and leans over to look at him anyway. "It is fine?" 

Xiao barely manages to nod. 

"...can I try again?" they ask. 

Instead of answering, Xiao turns his head, just enough to glance at the Tamer and see their hopeful expression and open hands. He sighs because, really, there is no other option, and leans over. 

The hands press against his cheeks and cradle his chin. Xiao's body is still tense, ready to pull away at any moment, but the Tamer is smiling again and their palms are calloused and warm against his skin. 

"All okay?" they ask. 

"...mm," he grunts. He follows their eyes as it drifts, taking in his facial features before finally meeting his gaze. This time, they smile before gently pressing his cheeks up and giving his face a slight squeeze. 

"Still okay?" they ask again, this time voice rippling with laughter. 

Xiao debates with pulling away, but the new angle has pushed his eyes slightly shut, and he ends up closing his eyes entirely with a sigh. The tension in his shoulders seems to go with it as his head tilts to the side, pressing into their palm. 

Belatedly, the adeptus understands now why the beasts allow the Tamer to hold their faces like this. 

A soft red glow seeps through his closed eyes. When he opens his eyes, the Tamer's entire body is radiating with light. He doesn't even think they notice until he shifts. They dim almost instantly, but Xiao is more taken with the fact that he still does not feel that draining burn of their powers. 

"Ah, Xiao?" they say.

"Mm."

"My hands hurt."

Begrudgingly, Xiao lifts his chin, and the Tamer shakes out their hands before smiling. 

"You should sleep more," they say. 

Xiao scowls as he stretches out his neck. "Adepti do not sleep."

"But you fall-ah, fell asleep during Lantern Rite." The Tamer wiggles their brows at him. "We can do it again. I was happy."

Xiao fears his ears will stain red forever, but it does remind him of Haoran's warnings. Communication involves both sides. Does that extend to...physical contact? He does not want to harm the Tamer, but with how easily they seem to handle dangerous energy...

The Tamer must notice his contemplation, because they sit and smile patiently and only barely react when Xiao lifts his hand. He wants to do the same-hold their face, feel their heartbeat again, anything to just...feel them under his hands. 

He ends up gripping their shoulder, and the Tamer's smile grows just a bit. "All okay?" they ask. 

Xiao grunts, jaw tense. 

"...can I?" they ask, holding up their hands. He does not know what they mean but nods anyways, then tenses even more when they stretch their arms out and wrap them around his torso. At first, he thinks they might try to crush him, or even lift and slam him into the floor, but they just...hold him.

It takes some time for Xiao to figure out that this is what they'd wanted to do. Just hold him...

"All okay?" they ask softly. Their voice makes his body vibrate. 

"Mm." Xiao leans in. They're starting to support his weight, now, but they don't seem bothered. In fact, their grip on him tightens and even sways side to side. When they start to hum, he feels like he is melting. 

He does not know how long they stay like this, but he does not try to move. His head sits comfortably on one shoulder, forehead nearly pressed against their neck as they stretch one leg behind him. The Tamer's hand reaches up, sometimes resting on his shoulder, sometimes stroking his hair.

He allows the Tamer to hold him, to hum and sing to him, to cradle him like he is fragile. Like there is nothing else in the world but him and them and the summer breeze. 

It is too soon when they stop humming. 

"Still okay?" they ask. 

Xiao nods, forcing himself to lean back when he feels the Tamer pulling away. There is a slight imprint from where their cheek had rested against him, but they seem unbothered by it. In fact, after eyeing his face, they simply hold their arms open and hold him again, readjusting for comfort. He wonders what they'd seen, but they begin humming again and sweep his thoughts away.

"What..." His throat feels slightly dry. "What is that melody?"

"Oracion," they say. "A...song to help sleep. The story is that a...hm...an adeptus beast came and plagued Alamos City with...uh, a word for bad images in sleep?"

"Nightmares."

"Nightmares. It gives humans nightmares." They tilt their head, pressing against his temple. "A woman sings this song, and the adeptus beast heard it. It liked the song so much, it becomes a man. The two wed, make children." Their chuckle rings in his ear. "An old story. I do not believe it."

Xiao frowns, even though they cannot see it. A woman singing a song so enchanting it turns a god-like beast into a man? It sounds utterly ridiculous, so unbelievable, and yet there is something tiny and pointless fluttering in his chest that finds it...He does not know what he finds it. 

But he does think of reciprocity once more, so when their song ends, he begins to hum his own melody he'd heard once long ago. They tense only for a moment in his arms before relaxing. He does not need to see their face to know they are smiling.

The song is too short for his liking, but it is also getting rather dark, and he ends up wrapping his arms around them when they yawn. 

"Come on," he says, lifting them up with ease. He's forced to wrap one arm under their thighs while the other supports their back, and the warmth that spreads across his skin when they lock their arms around him does not help. "You need to sleep."

"...mhm." The Tamer tilts their head and bumps his jaw. "Could sleep...together..."

"Adepti do not need sleep."

Hot air brushes his skin as they sigh. They almost sound disappointed. "M'kay then...good night."

"Good night."

They are quick to fall asleep, this time, and Xiao makes the decision to simply walk to the tower. No particular reason, he thinks. He just doesn't want to disturb them. 

In the silence of the night, his mind wanders. The melody the Tamer had hummed sounds familiar to Xiao in the same, strange way that he feels when he sees the Watchtower in the distance after patrolling, or when he stares at the night sky when all is quiet. 

An adeptus-beast that becomes a man…Xiao tightens his grip on the Tamer. How ironic, he thinks, and impossible. It is not a life he is meant for.

Still, he recalls a time when a caravan had stopped at the Guili Watchtower. Among them had been a family, a husband and wife with a small son and another on the way. Xiao had kept his distance, insisted upon it for the humans' safety, but he could not ignore the woman's screams or the son's panicked sobbing later that night. 

Then, the son had come running to the balcony and, for some strange reason, tried to climb onto the roof. 

"Keep an eye on him!" Haoran had snapped, and Xiao was suddenly stuck watching a human child while the parents were busy delivering the offspring. A very loud, crying child, who'd turned to Xiao while the adeptus was watching the horizon and asked if his mother was dying.

Xiao does not remember exactly what he'd told the child then. He thinks it is something along the lines of: "Childbirth is dangerous for any mortal." He does remember that he'd made the boy cry even harder after saying whatever he'd said. By the time the birth was over, it was dawn, and Haoran made sure to give Xiao and earful when he heard.

"Children are fragile! You can't just tell them that their mothers are dying! What in Teyvat is wrong with you?!" 

Children are fragile, he repeats. Everything is fragile to him. Again, it is not a life he is meant for.

In his arms, the Tamer shifts and nuzzles closer. His mouth twitches as he readjusts his grip. Everything to him is fragile, but if there is someone who can…handle him? Have patience for him? What then?

This thought weighs heavily on his mind when he approaches the Watchtower. There is something happening at the base, and when he approaches, he finds Mr. Wriggles and Bao struggling to wrestle Renegade to the ground. The giant hound snaps and rips any vine that comes close, but the Hoothoot dives in where he can and pecks at his head in rage. Somehow, despite the two beasts being no bigger than the Arcanine's paw, it appears that he is losing. 

"Bao," Xiao says anyway. The three freeze, Mr. Wriggles retracting his vines quickly while Bao releases Renegade's ear from his beak. 

"Hoo?" he hoots innocently. Mr. Wriggles waves a vine before Xiao can scold him, then points at the river that they'd just left from. 

"...you plan on washing him?" he asks. When the Tangela nods, Xiao sighs and shakes his head. "Be back before dawn." 

Renegade lets out a dying wail as Mr. Wriggles ensnares him once again. With Bao nestled atop the Arcanine's head, the Tangela makes way for the river with a skip in his step and a thrashing, writhing cocoon dragging in the dirt behind him. Watching them go, Xiao wonders if Delta is this dramatic when it comes to bathing. 

Inside, Xiao lowers the Tamer onto their bed, a slight chill on his skin when they finally let go. Their face still twists, and they paw lazily at the air when he drags the blanket over them.

"Cold," they whine. 

"Stop moving," he says. They pout, ready to argue when another terrified wail echoes from the lake. 

"...is that Ren?" they ask. When Xiao nods, they snort and begin to laugh. "Oh, poor baby…"

"Baby?" Xiao lifts a brow, unamused. 

"Just because Ren is leader does not mean he is not baby," they say with a shrug. There is another terrifying wail, like the beast is being meticulously dissected, but they only laugh again. "Sounds like he is drowning." 

"Hmph." Xiao rises, waiting until they have settled before turning to leave. 

"Still out to patrol?" they ask. When he nods, they sigh and sit up. "I will wait then." 

"Go to sleep," he says.

"Will wait until then," they repeat. "Need to be up if you find trouble." Xiao almost argues against them, but they're already stretching and smiling at him. "Then we sleep when you come back." 

We. Xiao struggles to ignore the way his ears burn. He grumbles out, "Ridiculous," and feels the warmth spread the longer the word We bounces around his mind. Even after he leaves, the word lingers. They are waiting for him, he thinks. They are willing to wait for him before they can relax with him. 

It is ridiculous and pointless, and yet Xiao selfishly clings to the warmth, soaking it in before locking it away. He needs to focus. Patrol first, then…maybe a few hours of rest. Maybe.

Chapter Text

"This is a terrible idea."

The Tamer pouts at the ceiling, where Xiao is hiding among the rafters. "Why?" 

It's Liyue Harbor, he wants to say. There are too many mortals around and, even if Xiao's karmic debt is not as potent as it once was, he cannot walk through their streets beside them, rubbing elbows with every mortal that passes by.

"They said the phenomenon occurs at Guyun Stone Forest," he says instead. "Why do you need to stop in the city?"

"Because." Haoran adjusts the fasteners of the Tamer's civilian clothes. "We will be taking a boat to the islands and I want them to shut up about letting them see the city." He gestures for the Tamer to turn in a circle, then hums. "You look nice."

Xiao peers down, watching as the Tamer brushes a hand over the trousers, cropped shirt, and detached sleeves. Then they throw a few punches and hike their knees before nodding. "Feels good," they say and smile at Xiao. "Opinion?" 

The sleeves extend well beyond their hands and the trousers seem to hug their thighs too tightly, and Xiao blinks when he realizes he is staring. "It looks fine."

The Tamer stares, then activates their seal. Xiao's eyes automatically follow the line of ink down the expanse of their stomach to where it disappears under the waistline of their trousers. 

"Just fine?" they ask when his ears start to burn. 

"...you are ridiculous," he mutters.

"That is not a no."

"Give the poor fool a break," Haoran scolds. "He has the emotional capacity of a worm."

Xiao growls this time, but the Tamer shakes their head and nudges the medic. "He is a good boy. Do not be mean."

"Uh-huh." Haoran roots through his closet. "Still, this does not scream 'One who Tames Wayward Beasts and Guards Eternal Aura.'" He rolls his eyes. "Which I still think is a terrible adeptus title."

"Tell the Big Bird, not me," the Tamer says, flapping their sleeves at him. "So many words! All beast archons use just two. Never Ending, Great Beginning…so much easier."

"Why do you think I call it Cloud Retainer?" Haoran mutters before retrieving a garrish set of robes. He only holds it up for a moment before they both shake their heads and continue their digging. 

"You are overcomplicating this," Xiao says when Haoran rejects the fourth outfit. "Just wear whatever Cloud Retainer sent."

"Have you seen what it considers proper clothing?" Haoran asks while the Tamer perks up.

"Big Bird sends-ah, sent clothes?" they add, clapping. "Lemme see."

"No."

"Please?"

"I-" Haoran stops. Xiao peers down just in time to catch the Tamer's pleading stare before the medic sighs. "Fine. One moment."

Whatever it is, they gasp in delight before slipping behind the changing screen. Xiao, at an angle where the screen effectively does nothing, politely looks away instead.

"Huh," the Tamer says after some time. "Big Bird's clothes are…tight."

"Exactly," Haoran says. "I have no idea where it decided that this would be considered fashionable."

"Fashionable?"

"To look pleasing," he translates.

"Hm." Something rustles. "Xiao? Opinion?" 

Xiao looks down and blinks. It is some kind of hanfu, with sheer billowing sleeves cinched under the bust and split skirt flowing beneath it. Gold embroidery and red rope dangle from their waist, swinging as they twist around. Normally, there are layers of fabric to form a dress, he thinks, but…it is a sleeveless, black bodysuit instead. Just a simple, black bodysuit with a diamond cut in the chest to reveal their triquetra seal.

"I feel like…" The Tamer makes a 'swish' noise and pretends to slash at the air. "Soldier at sea? Uh, I do not know if you have word here."

"A soldier at sea…" Haoran taps his chin in thought. "A pirate? They sail at sea, steal treasure, drink booze."

"Pirate!" The Tamer laughs in pure delight. "You have pirates, too? Fascinating!" They spin, the fabric rippling behind them like an open flame. They end the twirl with a deep bow to Haoran before flashing a smile at Xiao. "So? Opinion?" 

"...It looks…" Fine? Functional? Like a burning candle in the night? For all of Cloud Retainer's engineering and mechanical prowess, Xiao should not be surprised that it could capture the Tamer's…light in fabric. 

"You've broken him, brat," Haoran mutters. 

The Tamer's ink flickers as they eye Xiao, this time in concern. 

"It looks…nice," he finally manages to say.

Another flicker ripples across their skin, their smile settling into something soft and sincere. "Thank you. Haoran!" They turn to the unamused medic. "Can I use it?"

Haoran slowly looks up at the adeptus. Whatever he is about to say, he must decide it is not worth it and sighs. "Fine. But, please, they assume you are an adeptus. You cannot do that-" He points at Xiao-"in front of the Tianshu."

"Tianshu is just mortal," the Tamer says flippantly. "Why do I…ah, why must I be tame?" 

"He's the one in charge of the Millelith when Rex Lapis isn't around, brat," Haoran scolds. "If you have any hope of acclimating to Liyue and life here, you have to prove you're harmless to him first."

"Acclimating?"

"Becoming used to."

The Tamer frowns, tucking their hands into the opposite sleeve of the hanfu. "A stranger's opinion should not mean much."

"And normally, I would agree with you," Haoran says, "but if you don't want the entirety of the Millelith sent after you, you will behave. Understood, Beast Tamer?"

"Yes, sir…"

Xiao returns to staring at the ceiling, this time mulling over tomorrow's journey. The Tianshu, the man in charge of Intelligence and Security of Liyue, wants to meet them regarding a strange phenomenon in Guyun Stone Forest. 

How he'd learned of the Tamer's activity, Xiao is unsure. It isn't like they are trying to hide their presence. In fact, the Tamer has befriended most of the Millelith and staff in the Watchtower already, and playing with their beasts is a popular way to pass time here. But what the Tianshu knows of the Tamer's true nature, no one knows, hence the need for the 'adeptus' persona Haoran is attempting to cultivate. 

"Everyone already thinks of you as otherworldly," he'd said. "No point in pretending you are normal."

As for the strange phenomenon…

"It could be my beast," they say when Xiao asks. "You say Guyun Stone Forest is land? Ah, island?"

"Just off the harbor, yes," Haoran says. "It is the final resting place for another god that Rex Lapis killed, so the chances of it being a remnant of its power manifesting is possible."

"Maybe. Tosca and Levi like the water," the Tamer says. After a moment, they grimace. "Although, if they are corrupted…they are very dangerous."

"Is there anything in your world that isn't dangerous?" 

"Uh-"

"Rhetorical." Haoran reaches for a pitcher of water. "So long as we take care of…whatever it is, we should be fine." 

"Then we look at Liyue?" they ask. "I want to try the food. Oh, and get clothes!"

"You have clothes here," Xiao says. Plenty, in fact. He's seen their overflowing trunk in their room. 

"Only Millelith clothes," they whine. "I want something…uh…Fuck. A word for 'look nice'."

"Beautiful? Although, in terms of clothing or for something lesser, you can say 'pretty'," Haoran offers. 

"Huh?" The Tamer tilts their head. "Then…what does 'pretty boy' mean?" 

Xiao looks down just in time to see Haoran choke. The medic slaps a hand on his throat, massaging out the spasming muscles until he can croak, "Huh?"

"The chefs tell me that Xiao is pretty boy," they explain. "They said to say it to him-ah, his face." Their head tilts innocently. "Is it bad?" 

"It…is…" Haoran grimaces. "Just say 'handsome' next time. For men."

"Oh, okay." The Tamer tilts their head up to smile at Xiao. "You are very handsome."

He should have expected that, but he still feels his skin burn anyway as he forces himself to look away. "Do not be ridiculous." Then, because he can feel their eyes on him, he adds, "...thank you."

"Alright, I've had enough courting for one night," Haoran says. He scoops up Cloud Retainer's clothes and shoves them into the Tamer's arms. "Pack up already. We have to leave by first light."

"But I am not tired," they whine. 

"And I am." Haoran shoves them to the door. "Stay up if you want, I need my sleep." As he forces them out, he glares at Xiao's rafter. "And aren't you supposed to be on patrol?"

Xiao scoffs but leaves the room in a flicker, reforming in a near identical spot in the Tamer's room. Much of their team and Bao is lazing about in Lady Kaiju's nest downstairs, leaving just himself, the Tamer, and their soft humming as they prepare for the morning. He does not recognize this one. 

"You will still follow, yes?" the Tamer asks when they finish. 

"Not closely," Xiao says. He and Haoran had agreed that it would be better to avoid causing a disturbance and to simply meet at the meeting hall. But that still means leaving the Tamer to walk through the streets, under the mortals' judgemental gaze. They will have Haoran, a trusted soldier often considered an envoy to Adepti, at their side, but Haoran is not Xiao.

"But still coming," they argue. There is some rustling. "Do you like jewels? Necklace?"

"What?" Xiao supposes he shouldn't be surprised by their questions anymore, but they are the Tamer, with their strange beasts and habits. "I have no use for material possessions."

He expects some form of rebuttal, but because they are the Tamer, they only laugh. "Okay, okay."

Which is…even stranger, and the interaction lingers in his mind long after he goes on his patrol. Jewels? Why were they thinking of jewels? He could ask Haoran, but it is already late and the man truly needs his rest. He also doubts any of their beasts would know (and Xiao, for all his skills, doubts he will be able to understand the creatures like how the Tamer and Haoran can). 

So he decides to put it aside and returns to his post in silence, watching the sunrise through the fog. 

The Tamer eventually emerges from the tower, chatting away with the handful of soldiers who'd come to see them off. In addition to Cloud Retainer's clothes, they happily twirl their new staff in the air. It is eerily reminiscent of the Vortex Vanquisher and Xiao's own Primordial Jade spear, carved with iridescent crystal like glimmer in the dawn. 

"-great, Beast Tamer," a soldier says. "Trust me, Wangmin Restaurant's got some of the best dishes in the town."

"I'm tellin' ya, it'd be better to buy a ring or somethin'," another argues. "Adepti don't need to eat, yeah? Get somethin' that'll last. See this?" He holds up a jade pendant which dangles from his neck. "Husband got this for me from Mingxing Jewelry before I deployed. It means good luck here."

The Tamer leans in to admire the charm, only to light up when Xiao joins them at the bottom of the tower.

"Good morning!" they greet. Soft, teal powder frames their eyes, a near perfect match to his hair. "All okay?"

Before he can answer, a loud "Hoo!" sounds. He holds his arm up automatically and grunts when Bao perches, the Hoothoot scooching up his arm to nuzzle into his face. Molting now finished, the owl is covered in sleek brown and tan feathers, with small yet powerful wings. 

"Hoo, hoo…" Bao coos in delight before taking off, circling the Tamer and Haoran before finally perching on Renegade's head. "Hoo!" 

"No," Xiao says flatly. "Return."

Bao hoots in alarm, but he dissolves into light and disappears into the crystal. A moment later, it quavers and releases him. Ever since he figured out how to do it, he's refused to remain inside his crystal. 

"Hoo!" he hoots. This time he latches onto the Tamer, who smiles and presses a kiss between his eyes. 

"You will not be quick enough to fly with Renegade," they chide. "Stay with Xiao."

Bao's head rotates, refusing to face Xiao when the adeptus frowns. Even when the Tamer starts turning them, he simply twists his head the other way. 

"I wasn't aware beasts could go through a rebellious phase," a soldier says as the Tamer threatens to throw the bird. He lets out a laugh and sends Xiao a pitying look. "It seems you have a rough year ahead of you, Conqueror."

Xiao clicks his tongue and holds out his arm, drawing on the familiar authoritative voice he'd used so long ago during the Archon War. "Bao, return."

Bao tenses. He hoots sadly and flutters to his outstretched arm, sending the Tamer a pleading look. 

"Listen to him, Bao," a soldier says. "The Tamer can't save you this time."

Bao titters and flaps his wings, but it seems to be enough. This time, when Xiao returns him, he remains in the crystal.

"You'll get used to it," the same soldier adds when Xiao sighs. "When they figure out how to run, they're a nightmare to keep an eye on."

Xiao frowns. "You kept birds?"

"Nah," he says, "but I got four kids at home. Just be glad you got your partner here to help out." He grimaces. "Can't imagine how he manages sometimes…"

Xiao tries to imagine four mortal children and internally winces. For all his peculiarities, he is forever grateful that Bao rarely screams. He doubts his ears would have been able to handle it. 

"Alright!" Haoran strides out of the tower, carrying a basket overflowing with rolled parchment. "Any last-minute letters? Gifts? Remember, the address you wrote on here is where I will deliver them. You cannot hold me accountable if I hand them to the wrong person." 

As the soldiers crowd around Haoran to check their letters, Xiao joins the Tamer as they begin fastening a harness around Renegade's torso. Delta is tousseling with Mr. Wriggles while Lady Kaiju sharpens her horn with a stone he is confident belongs to one of the soldiers. 

Once all is settled, they mount the Arcanine and return their beasts to their crystal. Atop the flaming beast, dressed in embroidered silks with their staff in hand, Xiao is suddenly reminded that the Tamer had once been a soldier of their old world. It is not too hard to imagine them as a true adeptus of Liyue, if Celestia permitted. 

"Ready?" they ask Haoran once he is seated. 

"Yes." Haoran grips the Tamer's torso. "Remember, brat-"

"Go slow, go slow," they repeat before smiling at Xiao. "Ready?" 

Xiao nods, and with a loud "mush!", they take off for Liyue. 

The road to Liyue Harbor leads south, the sea to their left as the sun climbs steadily into the clouds. It would have been easier for Xiao to simply meet them at the port, but he keeps pace with Renegade as the hound charges through Guili Plains. Wind billows through his ears, the Tamer's silk billowing like embers of a raging fire. 

Even with Renegade's reduced speed, the port appears in the distance an hour into their journey. Polished lacquered tiles and paved stone streets wind through the mountainside as ships bob in the harbor. 

Despite the early hour, Xiao can already hear faint hawking of vendors, having risen with the sun like soldiers from their barracks. It is how Liyue has always been, from the moment the first stone was laid to now. Xiao had never given the city much thought. The Tamer's smile at the sight makes the harbor seem like the gateway to Celestia. 

"Fuck…" they gasp when Renegade stops on the crest of the hill. They stand tall, balancing on his shoulders and shielding their eyes with a hand. "A city. An entire city! C'mon, Ren, mush-"

"Hold it." Haoran drags the Tamer down. "You can't just charge in on your stupid dog. You'll give everyone a heart attack." Renegade growls and snaps at the medic, who simply drives his heel into the hound's flank. "Remember, you are posing as an adeptus with control over wild beasts. Act like it."

The Tamer pouts and crosses their arms, deep in thought. After a moment, they twist around and ask, "Can I be scary? Like Xiao?"

“No." Haoran massages his face. "Just…behave."

They move. Four Millelith stand guard at the paifang that connects to the northern road. The moment Renegade begins stalking towards them, they each lift their polearms in alarm.

It has been a year and a handful of months since the Tamer and their beasts arrived in Teyvat. In that time, Xiao has seen Renegade play tug-of-war and roll in mud and prance about like he is nothing more than a dog on the street. Watching the beast walk forward now, muscles rippling under scarred fur and each step making little noise, he is reminded of the flaming demon he'd seen in Wuwang Hill. 

A creature worthy of the title of adeptus, much like the owner riding upon his back. 

Xiao lands on a hill closer to the gate, smothering his presence as Renegade comes to a stop before the guards.

"State your business!" one guard shouts. His eyes dart to the Tamer, grip faltering before he bravely steps forward. Renegade does not react, save for a single flick of his ear.

"It's me," Haoran says as he dismounts. "Put your stupid weapons away before you poke an eye out."

"Doctor Haoran?" the lead guard gasps as the soldiers quickly fall into a salute. "I-But-"

"But nothing." Haoran folds his hands behind him, shoulders set and Hydro Vision radiating on his hip. "Did the Tianshu not tell you that he is meeting with an adeptus today? What reason do you have to delay us?" 

"None, sir!" the four bark in unison until one wilts.

"A-Ah, well-"

"Out with it!" 

"Lady Ganyu told us to tell you that she moved the meeting to the courtyard before the Qixing Main Hall!" he squeaks out in a single breath. 

Haoran only lifts a brow. "Why?" 

"We don't know, sir," the lead soldier admits. "It was…rather last minute. A messenger told us just moments before your arrival."

"...I see." Haoran's voice is thick with displeasure, but he waves a hand and strides ahead. "Fine then. Come along, Beast Tamer. I understand this is your first time truly seeing Liyue Harbor in quite some time."

They pass through the city. Xiao follows from the shadows, watching as the merchants and dockworkers falter at the sight of the Tamer and Renegade. The hound keeps his head high and the Tamer does their best to keep their face stern, but he sees the way their muscles twitch when a mortal strays too close. Their eyes dart between stalls and faces and masts of a ship like they're trying to take it in all at once. 

The side-eyes and murmuring only grows as they walk through the town. Haoran talks of military affairs-obscure, unrealistic events that still sound important to the civilian ear, and the Tamer nods along whenever they can. It seems to go well, until a ball rolls directly in Renegade’s path. The children chasing after it nearly topple each other over when they see where it stops.  

"W-Woah…" one gasps.

"It's an adeptus!" another whisper-yells. He starts shoving one of them forward. "C'mon, go get the ball!"

"B-But adepti are scary!" she whines. 

"What if it eats our ball?" the other girl adds. "Mama says adepti eat bad kids…"

"Well, I'm not a bad kid," the boy says. 

The girls grab his shoulders. "Then go get it!"

The boy stumbles forward from the group. He turns, ready to shout when Renegade's shadow engulfs him. The boy only reaches the hound's chest.

Xiao crosses his arms, thousands of years of instinct telling him to intervene. He only hesitates when he sees the Tamer's tiny smile. 

"This is yours?" they ask. With a nudge, Renegade drops the ball at the boy's feet and proudly woofs. "He says 'hello'."

The boy gawks. "H-Hello…"

The Tamer smiles again, then tugs on Renegade's mane when Haoran clears his throat. As they continue their walk, Xiao watches as the same children start to follow after the soldiers, one trying to push the other into touching the Arcanine's tail as it wags. From the way the hound twitches the tail away whenever they get close, Xiao guesses he is playing along. 

They arrive at the courtyard before the administrative building for the Liyue Qixing. Millelith stand at attention around the perimeter, stone-faced even as Renegade strides by. In the center, a grand display of foods sit on a long table, steam wafting off its surface in grand whorls. Hovering over one pot is a horned woman, who jumps when Renegade barks.

"Ganyu!" Haoran calls. "What on Teyvat are you doing?"

"Ah, Doctor Haoran!" Ganyu clears her throat, offering a shy smile. "I apologize for the sudden change of venue. Cloud Retainer had suggested that an outdoor setting would be better suited for the meeting." She sets down the ladle and nods to the Tamer as they dismount. "And it is a pleasure to finally meet you, Beast Tamer!"

The Tamer blinks, glancing between Ganyu and Haoran before finally looking down at their attire. With a barking laugh, they bow to the adeptus. "Nice to meet you," they say. "Cloud Retainer has told me much."

Ganyu's head snaps up quickly, but Haoran coughs out a laugh and waves the conversation away. "For another time. Come, bring out your beasts. Introduce yourself."

One by one, the Tamer introduces their beasts with the smile and grace of a seasoned merchant while they sit, prim and proper. It is a far cry from the usual antics that Xiao has seen from them, but he understands the necessity. Even though they are meant to prevent outsiders from witnessing, the Millelith still stare and gasp and whisper when all four beasts appear.

"I see now why Cloud Retainer said to go outside," Ganyu says when Lady Kaiju stretches out her neck. "I don't think the second floor would be able to hold our weight."

Lady Kaiju's ears flatten as she hides her closed eyes with her hands. Embarrassment, Xiao recalls. 

Ganyu's eyes widen. "O-Oh, I mean-"

The Tamer snorts as Mr. Wriggles reaches up to stroke the Rhyperior's head. "It is okay. Thank you for…bringing the meal outside."

"Of course!" Ganyu quickly gestures to the food. "I was unsure of your preferences, so I hope it is all to their liking."

"We can test that." The Tamer turns to Delta. "Meal time-"

The Jolteon dives at the table and snatches a large portion of meat. It slaps against the tiles, too heavy and large for Delta to carry it properly, and when he turns around, he yelps and stumbles away when Mr. Wriggles' vines shoot after him. He leaves afterimages in his wake, copies of himself scattering around the courtyard while the Tangela tries to catch him. 

Renegade ends up stopping him instead, grabbing the meat and hoisting both it and Delta into the air. Even with his mouth full, Delta yowls and snarls, but the Arcanine begins chomping, devouring more and more with each grand bite. Then Mr. Wriggles wraps a vine around Renegade's throat and begins to choke him while Delta's fur sparks.

The only one who remains composed is Lady Kaiju, who sits in the shade with a basket overflowing with radishes. 

"So much for appearances…" Haoran says while the Tamer laughs. 

"It is only a matter of time. Let's eat!"

They eat, Ganyu polite in her questions while the Tamer does their best to answer. There is no point in fooling a fellow adeptus, but the Tamer evades any prompting about their origins, only smiling and shrugging where they can. 

"What of you?" they ask. "You are an adeptus, right? Like Big-Ah, Cloud Retainer and Conqueror of Demons?"

"I am," Ganyu says before shrinking back. "But…I am only half."

"Half?" The Tamer's brows lift as they turn to Haoran. "Adepti can-" They whisper something Xiao cannot hear. Haoran lets out a powerful sigh and massages his face, but nods. At that, the Tamer's skin lights up brilliantly before they begin to sip on their tea intensely. Xiao almost wonders what they'd asked, but the meal is finished and they begin discussing what they'd actually come for in the first place.

"The Tianshu had an emergency meeting with some Snezhnayan dignitaries," Ganyu says, "hence me filling in for him."

"That is alright," Haoran says. "You're preferred company, if anything."

"Foreign dignitaries?" The Tamer makes a face. "Like other leaders?" 

Ganyu nods, but she seems displeased. "Yes. Unfortunately, all I'd found was a letter and the Tianshu missing when I heard this morning. It must have been important."

"And I assume we don't know why?" Haoran guesses. "The Tianshu has always been so cagey about these things."

"If it helps, I heard it was something involving their Archon, but there is not much else I know. And I doubt he will return any time soon." Ganyu sighs before smiling. "But I am willing to help with whatever is occurring in the Guyun Stone Forest." 

"You say something is haunting it, yes?" Haoran asks. When the adeptus nods, he scoffs. "How exactly is this any different than the average anomalous activity?"

"I…am not sure," Ganyu admits. "All I know is that several fishing vessels have gone missing."

"Fishing boats?" The Tamer frowns. "It is also where a…an Archon died, right?"

"Osial, yes. But this is the first time ships have disappeared when passing by the islands," Ganyu says, "and it only occurs at night." 

"Hm." The Tamer rubs their chin in thought. "Do mortals see anything during the day?" 

"None."

"That is why we need to go at night," Haoran mutters to the Tamer. "Unless you want to wait and see if any survivors appear…"

"It will take too long," the Tamer says.

Ganyu nods in agreement. "Your rooms in the Baiju Guesthouse are already prepared, if you would like to rest. We have quite some time before the sun sets."

The Tamer gasps, turning to Haoran with a bright grin. "Clothes!"

"No-"

"Clothes," they insist before pouting at Ganyu. "Are there shops for clothes? Do you know good shops?" 

"There are boutiques open if you are interested," Ganyu offers, much to the medic's ire. 

"And I will have to pay for it, they're on my payroll!" The Tamer beams and sidles up to Haoran's side, resting their head on Haoran's shoulder as he scowls. He shoves them away and flings a bubble at their face for their efforts. While they sputter, Ganyu covers her mouth and giggles. 

"I can pay for it, Doctor Haoran," she says. "This is being financed by the Qixing, anyway. They consider this a business expenditure."

And Haoran tries to dissuade them, but the Tamer is quick to argue against him. They need clothes, they want to interact with the people of Liyue, they want to befriend Ganyu and doesn't Haoran have letters to deliver? Haoran should go deliver the letters, they argue. 

Haoran finally caves when the Tamer reassures him that they will maintain their adepti persona and that-"Xiao will intervene if something happens," they say before turning to smile at Xiao's perch on the roof behind them. "Right?"

Xiao frowns, expression worsening when Ganyu follows their gaze and pales. "Has he been here this whole time?" she asks. 

"Like a guardian angel," the Tamer sighs before laughing. "He helps control beasts. He is here to help investigate Guyun Stone Forest."

"I…see." Ganyu shifts in her seat, smile thin. "The boat will head out in the evening, since that is when the phenomenon tends to occur."

"So more time to shop," the Tamer declares. 

With that, Ganyu leads the Tamer back into Liyue. Renegade remains outside of the staff while others return to their crystals, and while Haoran is busy delivering letters and gifts, the Tamer and Ganyu eye up the material goods for sale. They return to their quiet, 'adepti' facade, but Xiao catches the light in their eyes each time the shopkeep shows off their goods. Despite the language barrier (and the flaming giant hound that sits patiently in the background), they take to socializing with civilians with the same graces they did with the soldiers in the tower. 

And when the children from before appear, this time with several dozen others, the Tamer urges Renegade to lay down and roll over to allow them to pet his belly. It isn't long before he disappears under several tiny, grabbing hands. Xiao almost pities him, but the hound seems to fall asleep amidst the chaos. Either he is used to it, or…or he enjoys it.

Xiao frowns and scours through his shared memories with the Tamer. None are very pleasant, but that only confuses him further. They'd been mortal…well, as close as an Aura Guardian could be for their world. Is this what their life had been like in their down time? They must have spent time with civilians, with the mortals. They look right at home around them, even now. 

Is this what life will be like for them when they become fully settled in Liyue? Mornings in the market, chatting with sailors and gossipers while the beasts play with children. It seems mundane. Boring. Safe.

He tucks that line of thoughts into his mind for later. By the time Xiao returns from his patrol to check on them, the hound's baskets are weighed down by brand new clothes and other things adepti have no need for. Haoran and the Tamer are already in the Baiju Guesthouse, finishing their dinner with another cup of tea. 

"'Xiao will intervene' my ass," Haoran mutters with little heat. 

"You could handle me," the Tamer says.

The medic smiles. "No. No, I could not." He finishes his cup and rises. "And now, I will rest. It's your turn to babysit."

"Babysit?" 

"Ganyu suggests to listen to a…storyteller? A storyteller at Tiger's Bowl," they explain. When Xiao lifts a brow, they add, "It is a tavern-"

"And a hotbed for rumors and the like," Haoran adds. "Even if it's only for a few hours, it will leave quite the impression."

And that is how Xiao ends up in a tree in the lower end of Liyue Harbor while sailors and drunkards spill out of the door. Their slurred, unintelligible singing grates on Xiao's ears, but Mr. Wriggles is somewhere among the crowd, dancing along to the beat as the men cheer him on. He draws far more attention than the Tamer, who sits alone at a table right underneath his perch.

Which is good for Xiao, until he hears, "Y'know, it's usually better to drink with company."

A young man in a rich azure suit and matching hat is sitting in the empty seat beside the Tamer. Darker locks fall across his flushed face, a charming smile on his lips that sends needles up Xiao's skin. The adeptus hadn't even sensed his approach and, from the stunned expression on the Tamer's face, neither had they.

"Mind if I join you?" the man continues, lifting a bottle of baijiu. 

"...you already sit here," the Tamer says slowly. 

The man blinks, looking down at the stool before chuckling. "I guess I am!" He stands and tries to bow, only to stagger and fall back into his seat. "My apologies, then, mighty adeptus."

And the Tamer lets out a breathless laugh that only worsens the needles in Xiao's skin. "You are forgiven."

Xiao stares at the man as he slumps against the table, balancing his cheek on his fist. He is obviously foreign, from the accent in his Liyuean to the suit, slacks, and strange hat, but there is something about him that seems…familiar.

It takes Xiao looking at the golden necklace on his chest to realize why. The metal forms a trident-like pattern with a circle where all three points connect. It is almost similar to the Tamer's seals. And when the stranger turns to them, Xiao's shoulders hitch. 

He looks just like Aaron. 

"The name's Riley, by the way," Riley says, tilting his hat. "An' you…are an adeptus, right?" 

"Correct," the Tamer says. 

"Good, good." Riley nods slowly, more due to his inebriation than out of contemplation. "I'll be honest, I'm a Mon'stater. We don't have adepti."

The Tamer hums, eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Why are you here, then?"

"Research!" Riley throws his arms up and out. Droplets of baijiu nearly splatter on the Tamer, but the seabreeze redirects them away. "I'm a bard. Traveling bard, mind you. I was hearing some incredible stories recently from Liyue, so I decided to visit for some inspiration!" 

"Stories of what?" 

"Oh, y'know." Riley waves a hand. "Giant fire-breathing hounds, tiny dogs that summon lightning, giant lizards that hurls meteors." After a moment, he giggles and swirls his bottle. "That last one mighta been about Rex Lapis, though."

The Tamer's brows twitch. Xiao forces himself to focus on their shoulders and not the building offense he feels at the outsider's lack of respect for the archon. 

"You mean one's beasts," they say. 

"Indeed." Riley swallows several mouthfuls of the alcohol before continuing. "An', recently, I heard there was something stirring on the island nearby." His smile turns bitter and sharp, far too sharp for a man so inebriated. "You're gonna go check it out soon, right? Wanna fill me in on what you find? I hear the beast's singing is to die for."

Xiao growls, ready to step in when a raucous cheer erupts from the crowd. Apparently, while they'd been busy conversing, someone had set up an arm-wrestling table, and  Mr. Wriggles is currently wrestling with a muscular sailor. The sailor is losing. 

"Oh, dang, I gotta see this!" Riley stumbles out of his stool, winking at the Tamer. "Look forward to hearin' about it soon!"

He joins the throng of cheering drunkards. Xiao doubts the mortals will notice and slips out of the tree. 

"Are you okay?" he asks. 

The Tamer swallows, smoothing a hand over their thigh. "I am fine." Their hand stops before curling into a fist. "No…he looks like-like Aaron." 

The waver in their voice draws Xiao to their side. He does not sit, nor does he reach out for them, but their shoulders still relax. 

"We should go," they say eventually and stand. "It is time. Wrig!"

Mr. Wriggles blinks, then slams the sailor's hand into the table and scurries over as the men jeer and laugh at their beaten comrade. Together, they make their way to the docks in silence. Xiao cannot shake the feeling that he is being watched the entire way.

A small boat waits for them at the pier, Haoran and Ganyu whispering quietly about the Abyss and the Chasm. When they board the vessel, Haoran conjures up a current and pushes them into the sea. 

"There are hundreds of beasts," the Tamer says softly, as if to preserve the silence of the waters around them. "We are lucky it is only my beasts so far."

"Do you know which?" Haoran asks. "You've said you have two left."

The Tamer nods and tilts their head. "Tosca…she is Ice-Water-Type. Ah, Cryo, Hydro beast. Lapras. She is very soft-hearted."

"So is Lady Kaiju," Haoran says, "and yet she nearly killed you both under corruption."

"But why destroy fishing vessels?" Xiao asks. "Is it defending something?" 

"The only thing here are the remains of Osial," Ganyu says. 

The Tamer shrugs. "Maybe that is why." 

Before Xiao can ask, the ship lurches. Ice chokes the water, growing larger with each passing moment. Haoran is forced to slow their movement to a crawl while the Tamer's skin glows with light for warmth. 

"I did not see any ice when we were in the harbor," Haoran grumbles. "Or mist."

"Cryo beast," the Tamer repeats. 

"But why only visible now?" Haoran pauses as another iceberg drifts by. "We can see Guyun Stone Forest from land, and it certainly did not look like this while we were traveling. Furthermore, we should have already hit land."

"It could be an illusion," Xiao says. His ink flickers, sending out a pulse of energy, but his breath still fogs and the air still bites. Not an illusion, then. When he shuts his eyes, he can still sense the world of Teyvat around them, so it is nothing like the Never Ending's world-

Xiao's head snaps to the side. Somewhere in the fog, between frozen slates and swirling mist, someone sobs. 

"My son…where is my son?" 

Haoran halts the boat, sharing a concerned glance between the others. When the Tamer nods, the boat drifts towards the source. There is nothing there.

"Johannes…" the voice sobs behind them. "Why…why?"

A tremor runs down Xiao's neck at the noise. The Tamer's hands squeeze when Ganyu looks to them for some sort of translation.

"Run, RUN!" The boat shakes violently, nearly tossing Ganyu overboard into the empty fog. "Leave it, Queen Rin, there's no time, hurry!"

"But-"

"GO!" 

Something slams into the side of the boat. Mist pours across the seats, ghosting through Xiao in a desperate bid to run away from whatever is chasing. Haoran conjures up a shield around their bubble to stop the surge, just it only causes the mist to solidify. It slams into the bubble, claws at the water in some vain attempt to escape. All the while, the air is filled with their desperate, terrified wails. 

Xiao grits his teeth as Ganyu mutters a prayer to Rex Lapis for guidance. When Haoran asks the Tamer for information, they swallow.

"Perish Song," they say. "It is Tosca's favorite move. For beasts, it…is very dangerous to hear. But this is new."

"What does it normally do?" Ganyu asks after a child's screaming is cut short.

"Beasts faint after hearing it," they explain. "It is…a cursed song that sings about deaths. Or betrayal."

"How poetic," Haoran mutters. 

"Quin!" The familiar clash of metal on metal rings through the air. A flurry of quick blows follow, stronger and faster like they're both desperate to gain the upper hand. "Hurry, go! Find Aaron!"

For once, Xiao cannot see the scene, but he recognizes the voice anywhere. Even through the overlapping chorus of screams and sobs, the Tamer's voice cuts through it like an arrow. Their words fade in and out, but from his own lack of knowledge of their language or not, he cannot tell.

"Please…" another voice begs. "It doesn't…be like this."

"Oh, fuck off," the Tamer's voice snaps. "We…you in…as one of our own, and you…destroy the Tree in return. How else…end?"

"...letting us go!" a third voice shouts. There is a rush of blows, bursts of light in the mist with every clang and crash. "You want…gone, right? We're going!"

"They don't…gone, they want you dead," the Tamer says. "And it is my duty-"

A loud clang splits the air, the mist parting to form a path through the sea. Haoran follows slowly. 

"Care to translate?" he whispers at the Tamer. 

"...it is Quin's final battle," they explain as the voices continue to shout. "He will go to find Aaron. When he returns-"

"Quin, NO!"

The Tamer's ink flashes, mist sucked into their skin as they shudder. "He died."

"-I-I didn't mean-"

"-mine, we…go!"

"The outsiders left. Then…" They wave a hand. "You know what happens next."

They bring Quin to the Tree of Beginning, Xiao thinks. The Life Bringer refuses to resurrect him, they receive unfathomable power, and they decide that, if the world could take Quin from them, they would make the world pay in retribution. 

The ship lurches once more, but there is still no land in sight. Instead, something massive slithers against the skin of the water and sinks out of view. 

"Perhaps the mist drew the fishermen in," Ganyu suggests softly as the mist falls silent, "and something attacked them. Or they even collided with the ice and sank?" 

"The ice, maybe," the Tamer says. "Tosca never liked hurting people. But there is also…Osial, you called it? He lies here, dead."

"But his remains could be bleeding through," Xiao says. 

"Yes. The one night I spent here, I could barely sleep due to the…" Haoran falters, looking at the Tamer with understanding. "…nightmares."

The Tamer nods again. "That is probably why."

Ganyu gasps. "Your beast is singing to Osial to comfort it?"

He does not feel surprised in the slightest. Like beast like Tamer, Xiao assumes. But a beast working with a slain god, one who'd held Rex Lapis and Liyue in contempt even in death? He only hopes that they can handle the mist and find the fishermen without-

"You."

The bubble shielding them shatters, falling back into the water with barely a ripple. The group reaches for their weapons, but the mist congeals around them, smothering Xiao's thoughts and body until his knees tremble. He refuses to kneel, not now, but his ears are beginning to buzz. There is something here.

It towers in the distance. At first, Xiao thinks it is just the stone pillars, but it begins to drift, stepping through the sea of mist. A strange, golden wheel encircles its torso, plates floating between the gaps in a never ending dance. Distantly, it reminds him of a qilin, but he knows better. 

"For crimes against creation, thou must face judgement."

Its words are unfamiliar and yet fill Xiao with dread. 

"For the death of Life, for the death of Order, thine own life must be forfeit."

Its eyes shine. The golden wheel begins to burn, the plates locking into place.

"And for the destruction of one's realm, thou must pay in blood."

A brilliant light erupts from the sky, pulsating and towering far above them as mist and ice swirl into the air. Whatever had cast the qilin silhouette is gone. All that remains now is a floating beast. A gray, knobby shell protects its back. Even worse is the pulsating red gleam in its eyes.

"Tosca," the Tamer gasps.

The beast's mouth parts, a ghostly warble escaping its throat. "Go away…" 

"It talks?" Ganyu mutters as the Tamer stands. 

"Tosca, we need to go," they say. They add more, some kind of plea that Xiao cannot translate, but it only causes Tosca to sway her head and groan.

"It hurts…" she moans. "He hurts…"

Something slithers again, skimming the side of their small ship with its scales. 

"Tosca, it is not safe here!" the Tamer says, voice breaking. "Please, we-"

"Safe?" Tosca's head sways. "You are no better." The water begins to bubble. "Children of Morax. You are no better."

A shape emerges from the water, rippling and morphing like it can barely hold itself together. Still, Xiao recognizes it the moment it lets out a hiss. 

"Osial," he growls. 

"Go away…" Tosca cries as water rises beneath her. "Go away!" 

The tidal wave shatters Haoran's hasty barrier, sending the ship careening back as Osial roars. It charges the ship, but a glistening arrow pierces the gap between its eyes and shatters its head. 

"It's only one head!" Ganyu shouts as she takes aim. "Doctor Haoran-"

"I know!" Haoran flings his hands out, Emerald Orb whirring to life beside him. Osial's body writhes as the water begins to churn, torn between its control and the medic's own hands.

The Tamer lifts their polearm, crystal shining. Delta appears in moments. "Thunder!"

Xiao barely manages to cover his eyes when the Jolteon fires, brilliant light searing his eyes as the thunderclap echoes around the island. Osial wails, waves jostling the boat as its body falls apart.

"It hurts!" Tosca wails. Between her maw, something frosty grows. "Go away, go away!"

Ice blasts from her mouth, freezing the waves and entrapping the boat in a near-vertical tilt. Delta tumbles out with a panicked yelp. The Tamer dives after him. They land on a passing slab of ice, nearly sliding right off as the waves surge around them. 

In the scramble to regroup, Xiao catches Osial as its body and head begin to reform behind Tosca. It never tries to strike them, instead dodging Ganyu's arrows when it can. 

"It's using her as a shield!" he shouts.

Haoran, heaving himself into the ship, scowls. "Then get her first!"

"I don't want to go back…" Tosca cries. Another wave rises, blotting out the moon as she screams, "Just die already!"

The wave swallows the ship whole. Xiao lunges, grabbing Haoran by the arm and teleporting them both away. He tosses the medic on a nearby ice floe and turns, but a floating ice lily freezes a platform for Ganyu. The Tamer, although dripping wet, rides upon Lady Kaiju's back, Delta replaced with Mr. Wriggles. 

"Giga Drain!" they shout. Mr. Wriggles unleash a glowing beam from its vines. It latches onto Tosca with a sickly glow before she can escape. When she manages to bite through the beam, her body shudders while the Tangela glows with health. 

"It hurts," Tosca sobs as Osial screeches, "Go away!"

The next surge doubles the last. Haoran flings his hands out, the waves splitting under his command as the force rocks his floe. Arrows whistle overhead, two flying wide while another draws a thin line across Tosca's neck. Her head droops and Xiao takes aim, then launches himself at Osial. 

His polearm drives into the water as if it were stone, and the screech Osial lets out rattles Xiao to the very core. 

"Killers," it screams as it flings Xiao away. "Always killers. This is not your home. Go away!" 

Xiao tumbles to his feet and recalls his polearm. With no weapon in the way, the wound seals itself shut with a squelch. He won't be able to fight either of them head-on, not with the waves and two monsters protecting the other.

In the distance, through the haze of ice, a horn blares. Several more join in, a dreadful wail that would rouse even the dead from their graves: an evacuation alarm. 

"What's the plan?" Ganyu looses another volley, two freezing Osial's neck as Tosca tries to freeze the adeptus solid. Another wave rushes towards them, forcing the archer to leap for another ice floe.

"Separate them," the Tamer gasps as Lady Kaiju fights against the surge. "I can clear the corruption, we just need to get her away!"

"And Osial?" Haoran snaps. 

"Kill it!" Xiao snarls. 

Tosca roars in tandem with Osial, and Xiao glances between the gathered soldiers as they ready themselves for battle. Two adepti, a vision wielder, and a god-killing mortal. They need to end this quickly, before Osial can reawaken any further. If they don't, then he will have failed as a yaksha, and there will be no more harbor for the mortals to call home. 

Chapter Text

Torrents of rain and sleet fall from above, a thick curtain of white as Xiao is flung across the sea. Anemo buffers his feet, suspending him over the lapping waves, but he only has moments to recover before a bolt of lightning flies through the storm. 

"Xiao!" Lady Kaiju lunges out of the water. The lightning shoots towards her spinning horn as she absorbs the hit with ease. On her back, the Tamer lifts a pulsating blue orb in their palm and fires it into the storm. Osial dives in and takes the attack with barely a hiss. 

"Shit," the Tamer gasps as Osial's mouth pulsates. "Return!" 

Lady Kaiju disappears with a roar, drowned out by the blast of hydro. Xiao flings the Tamer into the air before it can hit, and as he follows, a frosted arrow halts the attack. 

"Come on!" Ganyu shouts from below. She takes aim once more, but Tosca rears up and fires lightning from the tip of her horn and knocks the adeptus off her floe. 

"Stop running," the Lapras hisses. Ice coalesces between her jaws. A bubble swallows her face before she can fire. It shrinks with a clench of Haoran's fist, only to burst when Osial charges the medic. Vines entangle his torso and reel him to safety as the float disappears under the water. 

"This," Haoran snaps when he lands on a released Lady Kaiju, "isn't working!"

He swings his hands wide, splitting the rapids around them. His uniform clings to his skin, hair flat against his face as he flings the water back at the beasts. It does nothing but draw their rage. 

Better them than the harbor, Xiao thinks, but he also hasn't landed a hit on either beast since their battle started. The only one who has drawn blood is Ganyu, and between them all, they will not last very long against the weather or the beast. 

"Xiao!" 

He catches the Tamer in the air as Lady Kaiju disappears under the waves. Tosca's horn begins to glow again. She rears her head back with a scream, but Lady Kaiju surges forth and clamps down on the Lapras's neck, sparks flying from her mouth. 

"Delta!" The Tamer's staff shines as Delta springs free from his crystal. The lightning he fires twists, drawn towards Lady Kaiju's horn as the two giant beasts roar. The Rhyperior's body almost seems to glow with strength as she thrashes, dragging Tosca deeper into the surf. At that angle, she can do nothing but roar until they disappear under the waves.

Mr. Wriggles switches with Delta and swarms Osial when he tries to dive after the pair, tying its maw shut. Its body writhes and sweeps the beast into the air, and with a violent twist, snaps the vines in half. The Tangela is sent flying across the water with a scream. The fog swallows him whole. 

A bubble catches Xiao before he hits water, Haoran's arms trembling as he fights to keep the barrier up against Osial's wrath. Behind him, Ganyu takes aim at the god and fires.

The arrow pierces its jaw and freezes it shut.

"We need a plan!" Haoran gasps. "Weaknesses, now!" 

"Electro, Dendro-" The Tamer flinches as thunder booms. "Uh, Rock, Fighting! Delta, Wriggles is our best chance but-"

"Delta might electrocute us," Xiao snaps.

"And the other is halfway across the harbor by now!" Ganyu adds. Above, Osial tries to charge an attack, but the archer quickly seals its mouth shut with a volley of ice arrows. "What else?"

Before the Tamer can answer, a blur escapes the water. It's Lady Kaiju, and half of her body is frozen in ice. She lets out a roar and fires a meteor into the water, only for a beam of ice to shatter it halfway. Below, Tosca's body begins to glow a shimmering blue as frost coalesces in her maw. 

"Sheer Cold?!" The Tamer lifts her staff. "Kaiju, RETURN!"

Light erupts from Tosca and swallows the ocean in frost. The force sends Haoran's bubble spinning. By some miracle, he manages to keep it in place even after the others bounce off the now frozen walls. He thrusts his hands up, stabilizing the bubble before they can be sent away.

"Is she okay?" Haoran asks. 

The Tamer grips their staff, then nods. "She's alive, but weak. She can't fight!" 

"Fuck." Haoran slams his hands against the ice. It cracks, but does not fall. "A plan. Someone!" 

Osial roars, a bestial screech compared to Tosca's gentle lullaby. Somehow, it is her singing that unnerves Xiao more. Through the ice, he can feel the beasts circling, their waves rocking their tiny shelter.

"Tosca is an aquatic beast, right?" Ganyu asks suddenly. "How does she fare on land?" 

"Not good," the Tamer says, "but the land is gone! O-Or-"

"Or something kept us from getting to the island," Xiao says for them. 

The ice around them cracks. At first, Xiao thinks it is Haoran, but the loud, reverberating growl of Osial stuns him. Through the ice, he can make out its watery jaws crushing the walls around them. 

"Just die," Tosca wails. "Just die already!" 

"If we distract Tosca for long enough, do you think we can get to the island?" Haoran asks. 

"I don-Probably!" the Tamer says. 

"Good enough. How fast is Ren?!"

Crack. 

Orders are given, short and direct. Ganyu's hands shimmer as Xiao lifts his spear. Softly, the Tamer whispers prayers and promises to never bathe him again if he can pull it off.

Crack. 

Water seeps in from above, Haoran's hands trembling. "Ready?" 

The three soldiers nod, too tense to speak. Another crack, another fissure, and the medic shatters the dome himself. 

"Glaze over!" A Sacred Cryo Pearl bursts into existence, forming a disc of ice underfoot. Xiao dives out from Osial's frozen jaws, mask cutting through Tosca's fog. For all her power, she is too slow against his polearm, and with a roar, he cracks the flat of his blade against her throat. 

Her song cuts short, the blow sending the entire beast skidding away. Around them, the storm thins out ever so slightly, and it is all Xiao needs to spy the peaks of Guyun Stone Forest behind them.

"Go!" he demands.

On the ice formed by Ganyu's burst, the Tamer grabs Haoran by the shirt, hauls him onto their lap, and shouts, "Ren, mush!"

Xiao barely catches a glimpse of Renegade before the hound disappears, running faster than he's ever gone before. Ganyu chases after them in grand leaps, leaving glazed lilies in her path as Osial breaks free from the ice. 

"No, no!" Tosca rasps. She rounds on Xiao, eyes alight. "You monster! What have you done?!"

Xiao doesn't bother responding. He spins on his toes and flees. 

Enraged roars chase him as he follows Ganyu's lilies through the storm. He darts through the air, cycles through the waves until he matches Renegade's strides. Haoran is flat against the hound's mane, the Tamer pressed against him to try and protect him from the whiplash. 

"Hi!" the Tamer shouts, voice nearly lost to the wind. Somehow, they manage a smile despite Osial's roaring behind them. 

"FOCUS!" Haoran snaps.

Xiao twists and aims his polearm. Osial weaves between the waves, but he focuses on Tosca and flings the polearm wide. It misses, obviously, but the island does not disappear, and Xiao recalls his polearm and aims again before the beast can recover.  

"Stop…" Tosca dodges another attempt and aims her horn at them. Lightning crackles in the clouds above. "You monsters…stop!" 

An arrow glances off her horn before she can strike. Her head reels back as the electricity cuts off, blood trickling from her broken skin. Ganyu takes aim again, but Xiao sees the water twisting underneath her. 

“Ganyu, below you!” he shouts. 

The archer leaps up as Osial chases her into the air, maw wide. Her glowing arrow disappears down his throat, but gravity takes control and Xiao sprints towards them as Ganyu plummets into the god’s jaws.

Before he can leap up, a teal vine shoots through the air and tethers her ankle. Another entangles Xiao’s arm, and he is suddenly being dragged through the surf like a hooked fish. For a brief moment, he removes his mask and hisses at the salt water searing his eyes. When he finally slows, Mr. Wriggles gives him a little wave, floating along on a boat made entirely of his own vines. 

“Are you okay?” Ganyu asks, hanging from another vine and completely dry. Xiao only scowls and glares at the Tangela, who innocently wiggles in return. 

“You-” Xiao stops when Osial roars. “Come on!” He takes off running once more, this time dragging Mr. Wriggles behind him. In the distance, he can see Renegade’s bright orange fur closing in on the island. 

One hand on the vine around his arm, he zeroes in on the water and flickers, reforming in the wind just above Renegade. The hound stumbles when the trio lands beside them, but returns to his full speed with two bounds. 

“Almost there!” he shouts. 

“Where are the others?!” the Tamer asks. 

The sound of a bowstring snapping answers them. Ganyu’s arrow flies through the void, lightning up the distance like a firework in the night. Osial and Tosca are still chasing them and closing in with every passing second. 

“High ground,” Xiao says, “hurry!”

His stride does not break as his feet hit sand. Mr. Wriggles unravels himself and rappels ahead, Ganyu sprinting up the near-vertical rockwall right behind him. Renegade is quick to follow, claws glowing bright like it once had so long ago at Wuwang Hill. 

“Come back…” Tosca wails. “Don’t leave!”

Nobody stops. Not until they reach the apex of the nearest stone peak. With nowhere else to run, Renegade circles and stops, panting hard. He’s completely drenched, fur flat against his scarred skin.

“I know, I know,” the Tamer says and squeezes his face tight. “Thank you so much. Return. Delta!” Delta switches with Renegade, the smaller dog perking up at the thunder rumbling above. The Tamer kneels and scrubs his face just as quickly. “Delta, baby, listen-”

“Xiao, over here!” Haoran shouts. He’s standing with Ganyu and Mr. Wriggles, watching the archer as she aims at the horizon. The Tangela’s vines are glowing, sucking what little light is left from the sky, but with the rain and sleet, it goes on at a sluggish pace.

Ganyu fires, piercing Osial’s neck. With a twist, the god sheds the frost before it can spread any further and continues their charge towards the island. 

“You’ll be fine, right?” Haoran asks. “I know you can walk on water, but even adepti need air-”

“I’ll be fine,” Xiao says. “Are you sure this will work?”

“Absolutely not.” Haoran holds out his Emerald Orb, watching as it spins to life under his command. “Unless you have a better idea?"

"...no." Xiao rolls his shoulders. "Be safe."

"Pot meets kettle," Haoran mutters before dispelling his weapon. "It is only one head. The bigger problem is Tosca."

As he says this, mist begins to creep towards the island, a cloud of frost obscuring the world around them. Like before, terrified screams fills the air. Xiao tries to ignore them, but a new voice in Liyuean stuns him. 

"You bastard!" Haoran's voice echoes through the island. "Don't act like you understand! Don't pretend like you gods understand anything about us!" 

Beside Xiao, the true Haoran scoffs. "Really? Using my own words against me?" He cups his hands around his mouth and shouts, "Fuck you!" 

Thunder rumbles through the mist in response. 

"What did you tell it?" Ganyu asks nervously when Osial's silhouette rises in the fog. 

"A challenge." Haoran steps back and pulls out his catalyst once more as Ganyu fires a warning shot into the mist. "Xiao?" 

Xiao scowls and reaches for his waist. A flicker of energy later, Bao pops free from his crystal, flying circles around his head. His eyes practically glow through the storm.

"You're staying with Haoran," he says.

"Hoo?!" The Hoothoot puffs up in alarm, dodging Xiao's attempts to grab him. 

"Bao, listen." The owl blinks and flutters, then lands on Xiao's offered arm with a subdued hoot. "You need to help Haoran. You're the only one who can see through the mist. Okay?"

"Hoo…" Bao's wings flutter as his head twists. When it spots Osial's massive shadow, he shrinks back. "Hoo?"

"Not him. Look for the one with a gray shell." Before the Hoothoot can take off, Xiao plants a hand between the arrow-like feathers around his eyes. "Do not engage. Understood? If you get hurt, return immediately."

Bao blinks and churrs, then leans forward to bump his head against the bridge of Xiao's nose. It startles the adeptus, but by the time he reacts, the Hoothoot is perched on Haoran's arm and learning a strange whistle. Around them, the fog congeals, thick and dizzying. 

"Not much time left," Ganyu says. Beside her, Mr. Wriggles shivers, glowing. "Conqueror of Demons?" 

Xiao grits his jaw and turns. The Tamer is staring out into the mist with an empty expression. One hand grips at their chest, where he knows their crystal necklace hides. 

"You're staying here?" he asks. 

The Tamer nods stiffly. Their other hand reaches up, hesitates, then brushes the jade ink along Xiao's shoulder, light flickering under their fingertips. "Be safe." 

Warmth dances under their touch, but Xiao can only manage a nod before they are on the move. 

As should he. So with his mask in place, Xiao leaps into the waves.

The goal is simple. Separate the beasts and keep them away from each other. They work too closely, too intertwined for any weaknesses to be found. It is commendable, but not when there's thousands of lives at stake. 

So he drives his polearm forward, carving gaping wounds into Osial as the god gives chase. The injuries mean nothing, pointless when its entire body is made of nothing but the water around them, but it still screeches and writhes whenever Xiao strikes. With the grace and flow of the raging winds, he twirls the jade and attacks. 

Of course, he is not alone. Ice pierces Osial's side, freezing wounds before they can seal shut. He attacks anywhere that solidifies-its body, its jaw. One arrow pierces a glowing eye, and Xiao drives his polearm so deep the god's head almost seems to explode from the force. 

"No…no!" Tosca screams. Xiao cannot see her through the mist, but her voice rips through the storm in rage. "Stop hurting him! You murderer!" 

Xiao launches back before Osial can fling him away. The moment his feet touch the waves, something pierces his lungs, and he feels that nauseating twisting of his senses until he is on solid ground again, surrounded by corpses again, listening to the screams of the innocent as he leads his beasts into the fray-

When he inhales, he breathes in a mouthful of water instead. Anemo explodes around him as he launches out of the waves, but there is no land to greet him. 

Instead, he is greeted by the sweet smile of his sister. 

"Brother Alatus?" Bonanus calls, voice slow and smooth in his ear. Her head cocks to one side, hair spilling over her shoulder as she hovers over him. "Are you alright?" 

Xiao cannot answer at first. When he opens his mouth, all that comes out is a weak, "Huh?" 

The adeptus sits back, a small hand upon Xiao's back as he sits up. "You were moving in your sleep. I was worried you would fall right into the water and hurt yourself."

Water? Xiao frowns and blinks, then finally looks around. It is…Luhua Pool. There is Luhua Pool, with its steaming hot springs and detached atmosphere, far removed from the battlefield. He doesn't remember falling asleep here.

"Where…" Xiao swallows and schools the tremors in his hands. "Where are the others?" 

Bonanus gestures vaguely to the northeast. "Exploring. Brother Menogias believes he has found something of interest and took the others to study it." She gives Xiao another smile. "I opted to remain here, seeing as this is meant to be a day of recuperation and not study."

…Recuperation. Right. The Luhua Pool can heal aching muscles and wearied souls. Xiao doesn't have either of those things, but it'd been hard to say no to the idea when Bosacius had carried him all the way there. 

But this doesn't feel… 

"Is something wrong, Brother?" Bonanus asks as Xiao flexes his hands.

"I'm fine," he answers reflexively. He does not need to look up to see her disappointed face.

"As you always are," she sighs. A hand rests on his shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. "But the others are not here, and I am rather skilled in keeping quiet when I must." 

Xiao almost brushes her hand away, but the earnest light in her eyes crushes any resistance he feels in his chest. He looks down at his hands. Then his eyes drift to his lap. He's missing something. 

"Where is Bao?" he asks. 

Bonanus blinks slowly. "I…am afraid Brother Bosacius ate all of our food-"

"No, not food," Xiao growls as his ink begins to glow. "Bao. Where is he?!" 

"B-Brother Alatus-" Bonanus jerks back when Xiao stands, eyes wide. "Please, calm down-"

He doesn't. He can't. And when Xiao turns, he is gripping the staff of his polearm and burrowing it deep into Bonanus' chest. A choked wail escapes her throat as her mask begins to disintegrate. Behind them, somewhere, Xiao can see the broken remains of Menogias among the mountaintops. 

"A-Alatus?" she gasps. A trembling finger reaches for Xiao. "Wh-Why…"

Xiao's throat shuts. Slowly, Bonanus' body begins to melt. Black karmic energy and fresh spring water begin to pool around him, swallowing his ankles and his waist until his body is being ground into nothing and-

He doesn't even get to breathe when Tosca's lightning strikes him. And by the time the attack ends, Xiao barely has the energy to keep himself from sinking into the waves below. 

"Conqueror!" Ganyu cries from above. He thinks she's about to leap for him, but a chilling song dances through the storm, and through the mist bounds a graceful qilin. "H-Huh? Father?"

Xiao fights to stand straight, stumbling against the waves like a drunken sailor. "Snap out of it, Ganyu! It's not-" 

A torrent of water smothers his words. The world spins around him as jaws tear at his leg. He charges energy into his free leg and twists, exploding the current and launching himself out of the water in a single strike. Osial charges after him, unharmed. 

Xiao snarls and springs back and back, and when Osial lunges, the adeptus calls forth his polearm and charges in. Instead of water, his blade pierces Haoran's stomach. 

"Xiao?" the medic whispers. 

Xiao's grip falters, and Osial drags him under the surf as the medic dissolves into mist. This time, when Xiao tries to escape, the currents curl and drag him into the void. Down here, all he can hear is his own desperate thoughts.

"Child of Morax," the water hums around him. He thrashes, ink glowing, but the currents ensnare him and refuse to let go. "Leave us…just die!"

The water seizes around him. What little air Xiao has escapes him in a stream of bubbles. He claws at the water as they crush his torso, each blow giving way to even stronger current. Through the void and his own darkening vision, he sees the old god's massive head drifting towards him.

Before it can swallow him, an arrow pierces through the waves. A shaft of pure ice explodes, sending shrapnel into the currents. The moment the pressure eases, Xiao's ink erupts with light, and he flings himself at the surface.

He breaks free with a gasp. Around him, the broken bodies of the Tamer's beasts lay among the waves. 

"It's not real," Xiao snaps even as his body seizes. "It's not real, focus-"

"Xiao!" 

His body flickers out of instinct. Instead of the Tamer, he lands right before Tosca's horn. 

She charges with a roar, her cry a terrible mix of the Tamer's voice and animalistic scream. He twists, his back absorbing most of the blow as he skids across the waves. Mist still obscures the surrounding islands, a heavy curtain that even muffles the sound of battle around them. It is just him and the beast. Xiao does not favor his chances alone. Especially if he is meant to keep her alive-

Xiao's eyes widen in alarm as Tosca begins to sob in a mockery of the Tamer's voice. "You're hurting him…Stop hurting him!" Her head sways dangerously. "It's my fault…my fault!" 

"Stop," Xiao hisses. It feels pointless, but hearing the Tamer cry feels like a knife in his ears. "Tosca, stop it!" 

The Lapras only sobs harder. "Cursed. Can't stay here, have to go…" Her head rears back, red eyes ringed by her own blood. 

It is nothing terrifying, Xiao has seen worse. It is the voice of Morax and Bonanus and the thousands of dead that spill from the Lapras' throat that freezes the yaksha to the core.

"The sustainer," Tosca sobs, "is coming."

Then the Lapras roars and charges at Xiao, and he throws up his polearm and screams, "BAO, RETURN!" 

The familiar warmth zips through the mist. For a single breath, it wraps around the crystal at his hip, then stubbornly bursts free. Once again, Bao flies between him and an enraged beast. And after a elated, "Hoo!", the Hoothoot lets out a terrible, wicked shriek. 

Waves erupt around the adeptus and Tosca before Bao even finishes. Xiao barks out "Return!" and dives through the wall behind him. Tosca rushes to follow, but the waves begin to twist and pull, drawing the beast into a violent whirlpool as tall as the peaks of Mt. Aocang. 

"GOT YOU, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Haoran screams from above. Through the lightning and sleet, Xiao sees his hands outstretched towards the sea, robes flapping valiantly in the wind. When he clenches both hands into fists, the whirlpool begins to curve. 

A bubble begins to form, the insides a raging vortex illuminated by moonlight as it sucks in the waves from below. It grows and grows, bigger than the ships of the harbor, bigger than Morax's own meteors, and Xiao can only stare in awe at Haoran as he begins to laugh. 

"Out of the water, boy!" he orders.

Xiao leaps. In a flicker, he is once more on the peak of Guyun Stone Forest. His knees give out the moment he lands, but his eyes refuse to look away from the medic as the bubble rises to meet them. He can hear the beast sobbing within, but the water muffles her lullaby until it is barely audible.

"Mocking me with my own voice, hah!" Haoran spits as Tosca thrashes within. "Resorting to using our own voices against us? How pathetic!"

The vortex begins to still, and Xiao barely hears the patter of footsteps before the Tamer flings themself into the bubble. Currents throw them right into Tosca, and the telltale glow of their seal begins to shine through the water. 

"No…no!" Osial rears its head as light glows between its jaw. "Stop, let her go!" 

A blast of water fires towards their island. Ganyu tries her best, but her arms begin to tremble and the water moves too fast for her ice to freeze. 

"No!" Ganyu cries out. 

Xiao stumbles to his feet and tries to reach out to send the others to safety, but his body is drained and they cannot just flee. If they run, then Liyue will perish. If they run-The water sprays upward, surging up and back as if crashing into an invisible wall. 

"And you!" Haoran seethes, clenched fist trembling as he halts the blast mid-air. "Just. Stay. Dead!" 

His arms are quaking as he pushes the torrent back and back. The bubble with Tosca and the Tamer nearly bursts. There is a black ooze leaking from the Lapras' mouth. 

"Almost there!" Xiao shouts.

"I'm concentrating!" Haoran snaps back. "G-Ganyu!" 

Ganyu's hands flash, a Sacred Cryo Pearl coalescing in the center of the blast. It is just enough to dissuade Osial, but Haoran immediately returns his focus to the bubble. The black ooze grows thicker. Some clings to the Tamer as bubbles escape their lips.

"Foolish humans. Selfish humans!" The ice wall shatters, Osial's jaws snapping the barrier in two. "You're hurting her!" 

It drops the wall above them. Xiao forces himself upright and shatters it with his polearm. This time, he can't even land on his feet, knees folding beneath him. "How much longer, Haoran?!"

Haoran only lets out a strangled groan. His fingers uncurl as he forces his hands apart. The bubble bulges and twists in kind until another begins to form, a tumor filled with writhing corruption that tries to cling to its bestial host. Within, the Tamer moves frantically as Tosca begins to stir. 

"She's mine, mine!" An arrow pierces straight through Osial's jaw. Frozen shut, it rears its head and-"Do not take her from me!" 

-batters its jaw straight into the cliffside, shattering the ice and crushing Ganyu underneath. 

Haoran lets out a strangled cry and Xiao surges forward. Through the falling rubble, he catches a glimpse of ruby red horns and pushes his empty self faster and faster. He only has enough left to grab her, then flings himself into the nearest cliff wall, using the rock and his own body to keep Ganyu upright. 

"Wake up!" he snaps. "That's an order!" 

She does not. Something wet and warm and sticky dribbles from her forehead onto his skin. 

Half-adeptus, his mind hisses. Another who still bleeds. 

Xiao grits his teeth and sinks his fingers into the cliffside. She needs Haoran. Another adeptus cannot die here, not while Xiao is so weak and useless. 

"Children of Morax." 

But Osial is already there. A dead god is still a god, and Xiao is but a lowly adeptus beneath its piercing stare. Its head twists as light begins to glow from its throat, another attack that will leave Xiao and Ganyu nothing more than a smear of filth against the rock. 

Osial's jaw falls, hydro swirling. All Xiao can do is brace himself. 

It never comes. The god's body is completely stiff. Not even a single ripple. The only thing that can move is its eyes, and it is currently locked on the peak of their island where a single, Hydro-wielding mortal stands.

"I said," Haoran snarls, "STAY. DEAD. NOW!" 

For a moment, Xiao's world is swallowed in light. He thinks that, somehow, the sun had broken through the storm, piercing the storm with a beam of pure light. Then, when his vision finally returns, he recalls the present company and forces himself to look up. On the peaks, between the stones, the beam of light grows ever stronger. 

Solar Beam, the Tamer had called it. Figures that the Tamer's beasts could harness the sun within its own veins.

Above him, boulders rain from the cliffside from the sheer force of Osial's terrific shriek. Steam billows from his body like water dousing a raging fire. Below, the ocean is no safer: the sunlight burns straight through the waves, filling the air around the adeptus with scalding smoke. 

He cannot let this go to waste. Xiao climbs, Ganyu dangling from his shoulder. By the time he reaches the top, the sunlight peeters out with a sizzle. He finds Mr. Wriggles in a ditch several feet away from where he'd been, as if his own attack had nearly blasted him off the island. The Tangela lifts a wobbly vine in greeting, then deflates with a groan and returns to his crystal. 

"Is it dead?!" Haoran asks.

Xiao lays Ganyu across the now-dried dirt and glances at the sea. Osial's body isn't reforming. 

"I don't see it," he reports. 

"Good." The doctor lets out a breathless laugh and refocuses. The second bubble is nearly pitch black with corruption, just as large as the one containing the Tamer and Tosca. "Delta!"

The Jolteon yaps. His fur begins to spark in time with the lightning in the clouds. Haoran's laughter only grows stronger as the Tamer grips Tosca's neck and flashes a thumbs up.

"Safe landings!" he cheers and releases the first bubble. "Delta, Thunder!" 

Xiao doesn't even bother trying to cover his ears as the thunderclap rocks the entire island. The corruption fries within the bubble, screech drowned out by the thunderstorm and the ringing in the adeptus' ears. Brilliant bursts of light explode in his eyes with every blink until the bubble and corruption are nothing more than steam. 

For a moment, all that moves is the raging storm overhead. Then Haoran drops his arms to his side, lowers himself to the ground, and lays down with a groan. 

"Ridiculous…" he gasps. Delta yaps and trots to his side, then climbs onto the doctor's stomach and stretches his paws across his chest. Haoran only sighs and sinks his hand into the Jolteon's fur. "You creatures are ridiculous…"

Xiao only huffs and uses his polearm to drag himself to the edge of the cliff. Down, down below, he spots the Tamer stretched out across an unconscious Tosca's shell, their chest heaving. 

"Xiao?" they shout. 

"'m here," he manages to say. Even from here, he can see their smile. 

"Give…Give me a second," they say. "Will be right there."

Xiao nods and shuffles back to the others. Ganyu is stirring, face pinching. Haoran is asleep, with Delta whining loud-

Xiao stops, then stumbles to Haoran's side. His eyes are shut. His chest is moving. Underneath it all, the beat of his mortal heart is growing faint. 

"Haoran," he says, only for the medic to laugh weakly.

"Is everyone…okay?" he asks, voice soft. 

"I'm fine," Xiao says automatically. "Ganyu sustained minor injuries. The Tamer is coming, so don't-"

"Don't try to lecture me, young man," Haoran cuts in. He lifts a hand, like he wants to strike, but his elbow stiffens and keeps his arm at his side. "Ganyu?"

"I-I'm here, Doctor Haoran," she says and stumbles to his side. Her expression falls the moment she sees his face. "Your body-"

A bubble hovers slowly and presses against the archer's head, smoothing the open wound shut. 

"Hush," Haoran breathes. "I am…fine-"

"We need to get you to shore," Xiao growls. "Or the Tamer can-"

"Don't." Haoran tries to sit up, but his shoulders tremble and his elbows give way. "They-Where are they? I need to…"

"I'll get them," Ganyu offers and leaves before Xiao can, leaving the adeptus with the medic and the terrible silence. Xiao cannot help but listen to the mortal's fading pulse, straining harder to hear it like it isn't getting weaker with every beat. 

He should have known, Xiao thinks. Haoran is a mortal. An older mortal, at that. No single mortal has enough energy to control the tides like he did and live. Maybe he should call for Rex Lapis. Maybe then Haoran will listen to-

"...do you know why I came to Guili Watchtower?"

Xiao blinks, meeting Haoran's curious gaze. Despite standing over him, the adeptus feels laughably small.

"No," he answers anyway and kneels besides the medic's head. 

"I was running away." Haoran's smile turns bitter. "I'd lost my family. My town. Everyone I'd loved…I lost. When I came home from my deployment…no one told me the village had been destroyed." His voice wavers, and Delta squirms under his hand to try and remind him that he is there. After a few strokes, the medic sighs. "And I was so…angry that I…"

"Tried to kill Rex Lapis," Xiao guesses. 

"No. Worse." Haoran's gaze turns vacant, like he is remembering something far worse. "Many…have died by my hand, Xiao. Nothing, perhaps, to you, but to me? A mortal?" 

The older man lets out a wry laugh. Xiao can only stare at the doctor and wonder how a mortal is so fragile that they can die without a single drop of blood upon his uniform.

"Only after Rex Lapis stopped me did I understand the truth." Haoran pets Delta's ear, eyes glassy as they bore holes into the adeptus' face. "The world, Celestia…it is cruel. It takes because it can, inflicts suffering because it could…" His eyes begin to water as the hand reaches out to Xiao. "That cannot be you. Please, Xiao…you are better than that. I know you are." 

Before the adeptus could try to respond, the Tamer slides to a stop at Haoran's side, hands alight with aura. They reach for his chest, but he simply grabs their wrist and squeezes. A silent exchange passes between them, and the Tamer lets out a weak, "No…"

"It is alright," Haoran says. "I am…far too old to keep up anyhow." 

"But-" 

"But nothing." Haoran squeezes their wrist again. "I…I will die on my own terms, not on borrowed time." Then, softer, he adds, "And I cannot protect you forever." 

The Tamer makes a pained noise and grips Haoran's hands tight. Xiao cannot tell who is trembling more. They press their intertwined hands to their lips, pressing their lips to his knuckles as he chuckles. 

"Remember…" Haoran almost whispers. "You are One who…Tames Wayward Beasts. Guards Eternal Aura. You are powerful." He shakes their hands. "Which is why…you must protect those who are not. Understood?"

The Tamer only nods. They squeeze their eyes shut and press his knuckles against their forehead, rocking on their knees before choking on a laugh.

"But it is so many words," they say. "Can I use just two?" 

They wait. 

"...Haoran?" 

Delta begins to whine.

Xiao's hands grip his pants as the Tamer repeats Haoran's name. In his peripherals, he sees Ganyu bow her head and whisper to Rex Lapis for guidance. 

When the Tamer's voice starts to break, Xiao takes their hand and pries it from Haoran. With one hand, he sets the medic's arm across his chest. The other, he keeps a firm grip on the Tamer's as their tremors grow worse. 

Then they fall against him, bury their face into his shoulder, and Xiao holds them close as they begin to sob.

Chapter Text

Despite Liyueans being so…uptight, Riley has to admit: they know how to fucking celebrate. 

The booze is flowing, the people are singing. The air is a bit humid from…whatever the fuck happened over at the island, but Riley doesn’t care. He’s having an absolute blast right now. 

Currently, he's semi-walking, semi-tripping his way down the slope towards the eastern docks. The celebration is still raging on its fourth day, so much of the docks are completely empty, save for the handful of Millelith that seem just as unfocused as Riley feels. The wind feels fresher here, and he lets himself savor the sea salt in the breeze when he hears a quiet sniffle. 

"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" The notes drift through the air, a wicked blade that pierces through the drunken haze in his mind. "I didn't mean-I just-"

"Shh…" another voice whispers, faint. "I know. I know…"

The winds urge Riley forth. He walks down the pier, feet light against the wood as a pair of blurry figures appear at the very edge of the docks. When he draws closer, he almost turns and walks away. 

The Beast Tamer is there, nearly blending in with the night in their all-black robes. Before them, a blue creature Riley can only describe as a strange turtle burrows its head into their stomach like a lost child. 

"I didn't mean to…" a voice warbles from the docks. "Please…I'm sorry." 

"I know, Tosca, I know." The Beast Tamer strokes the creature's skin with one hand. The other summons a polearm, the crystals flashing when it brushes against the beast. It disappears in a flash of light, and Riley feels the winds shift as they turn to face him. "Hello, Riley." 

Riley blinks, then grins and lifts the bottle of baijiu he'd 'borrowed' from one of the taverns. "Thirsty?" 

And so he finds himself sitting at the edge of the docks, feet barely grazing the water's skin as the Beast Tamer wipes at the lip of the bottle with a sleeve. Then, with the grace of an adeptus, they tilt the bottle back and begin to chug. 

"Woah, hey! Save some for me!" Riley whines.

The Beast Tamer finishes with a quiet gasp and shoves the bottle back at him. It had been mostly full when Riley took it. When he swirls it, it sounds half-empty. 

"Huh. Impressive." Riley opts not to drink the rest, setting it between them as they massage their face. 

"Sorry," the Beast Tamer mumbles. 

"It's fine." Riley gives them a gentle pat on the shoulder. "I'm sure even adepti deserve to have a little drink every now and then, yeah? Especially after that whole incident over at Guyun Stone Forest."

The air plunges just a few degrees, and Riley is very very grateful that he'd pulled away right before their skin flickered scarlet. The Beast Tamer snatches the bottle of baijiu and downs the last several gulps. 

"...that bad?" Riley asks when they slam the bottle against the harbor. He doesn't expect them to respond, really.

Then they fling the bottle into the ocean and say, "My friend died there."

Which…well, all Riley can really say to that is, "Oh." 

The Beast Tamer snorts and draws their knees up to their chest, curling into a neat little ball. "Yeah."

And Riley tries to recall the facts he has about Liyue customs before saying, "I thought adepti had a whole ceremony for when they died." 

Another flash of scarlet ripples across their skin as they burrow deeper. "He was mortal."

And that, Riley feels, is a sign that he should just shut up and leave. He'd come to Liyue for leisure. Fun. Inspiration, even. 

Instead, he draws his legs up and folds them under his thighs. "He must have been incredible."

"...he was." The Beast Tamer squeezes themself tighter. "He taught me Liyuean." 

"Did you not know before?" Riley asks. When they shake their head, he hums in surprise. "And here I thought the adepti knew all there is about their nation. Weird." 

"...why do you say that?" 

Riley stops in his humming to look at them. There is a calculative light in their eyes, like an archer aiming down a mouse several worlds away. 

"You are not mortal," they say slowly, like it's obvious. "You know I am not adeptus, but you play along. Why?" 

It takes a surprising amount of control for Riley not to laugh. He channels most of it into his shrug. 

"Well, you were the one who started lying first," he says. "Figured it'd be easier if I just went along with it." 

The Beast Tamer's eyes glimmer again, but they simply turn away to stare at the horizon. The stars are out, the skies are clear, but Riley recognizes the glazed, unseeing light in their eyes. 

"Wherever you're from," he says suddenly, "do you miss it?" 

"Of course," they answer, then curls deeper. "But I cannot go back."

"I see. Quite the predicament." Riley traces circles into the fabric of his trousers. “Kinda jealous. Wish I could just pack up and leave.”

The Beast Tamer scoffs. “I did not leave because I wanted to.”

“But if you’d never left, you never would have come here,” Riley argues. He waves a hand to the stars. “Never would’ve gotten this incredible view.”

“But Haoran would’ve-”

“Your friend was mortal, wasn’t he?” he cuts in. “And, riddle me this, but he was a soldier as well, was he not? Shouldn’t you be celebrating his longevity, instead?”

The Beast Tamer’s mouth falls open, but they do not manage to speak. After a few more attempts, their face begins to contort, and Riley recoils and reaches out once more. 

“T-That means not crying, too!” he adds desperately. It only makes the Beast Tamer sob harder, so he resorts to something he knows will get them to at least stop. 

He clears his throat and leans into the wind, then brushes back the Beast Tamer’s head.

“Still crying over me, brat?” Riley says in Haoran’s voice.

It works. The Beast Tamer’s head snaps up so quickly Riley worries they pulled a muscle, but then he’s launching himself into the air and dodging the fist aiming right for his nose. When he’s confident that they won’t chase after him, he slowly lowers to the docks, where the not-adeptus fixes him with a disappointed glare.

“It is taboo to imitate the dead,” they say, turning away with a frown. “When…when they are dead, they are gone.”

Riley watches as their expression turns pensive, carefully lowering himself down once more. “Is that part of your culture?”

The Beast Tamer's hand massages their chest before they finally nod. 

"Then forgive me for my insolence," he says. 

"It is…fine." A tiny smile twitches on their face. "I did not keep with my archon's teachings all that well." 

"So I've heard!" Riley chuckles, mentally celebrating when the Beast Tamer laughs along with him. Still salvageable, then. "But what do you think of it? Ignoring your archon's teachings and what not."

It is a loaded question and he knows it, so he settles for soaking in the ocean breeze as they figure it out. 

Eventually, they say, "I cannot just forget him." Then, weakly, adds, "I cannot just forget."

Forget everything, he thinks for them. Forget the people, the battles, the dead. It is impossible to ask that of anyone, let alone a soldier. He should know this better than anyone.

Riley smiles, even if they aren't looking at him. "And nobody expects you to, either. Your memories are what make you…well, you. Whether it is mistakes you've made, people you've met…What matters is that you carry what you can with you, not drown under their weight. You deserve to be free."

The Beast Tamer's eyes twinkle, but they simply sigh and wipe at it with the back of their hand. "You are strange."

"I get that a lot." 

They chuckle again, and Riley savours the sound before letting out a heavy sigh. 

"But," he says, "I do have a pretty surefire method of immortalizing memories, if you'd like." He jumps to his feet, beaming at their confused face. "You've got an entire other culture in your memories, right? I'm sure I could make a few ballads to help carry on their legacy in Teyvat. Of course, if you don't mind paying for my next round of baijiu?"

He offers a hand out to the Beast Tamer. A god killer, an adeptus, a person with terrible strength and speed and power that could level all of Liyue if they wanted. And yet when they accept his offered hand, they are careful to keep from squeezing it too tight.

"...can you write for Haoran first?" they ask. "He deserves to be remembered." 

And Riley smiles as the wind picks up speed. "Of course."

-

Riley learns something rather fascinating that evening.

One: The Beast Tamer is incredibly bad at holding their liquor.

Two: they are incredibly good at reciting nonsensical poetry while drunk. 

"-SKRRRREEELP! Alakazam, Patrat. Woobat, Swoobat, Crobat, Golbat, Zubat. Poochyena, Carracosta, Teddiursa, Umbreon! Alomomola, Chikorita, Gothorita, Druddigon! Snorunt, Tyrunt, Charjabug-"

There is a ripple in the air, and Riley gives the second adeptus a polite wave before watching as the Beast Tamer continues to sing. They're surrounded by a ring of drunkards, all of whom bounce to the beat and cheer them on with a strange phrase in the Tamer's tongue whenever they point.

"...what are they doing?" the adeptus asks. 

"They're reciting a famous song from their homeland," Riley explains. "Apparently, it was something written by a court jester after the King challenged him to recite the near-800 beasts discovered in their world."

The adeptus expression turns at the mention of the Beast Tamer's foreign world, but Riley ignores it in favor of memorizing whatever words fly out of the stranger's mouth. Some of them sound like regular words or animals here in Teyvat. Some sound completely ridiculous. 

"Medicham, Mamoswine, Slurpuff, Flabébé. Feraligatr, Eevee, Sigilyph, Elekid, Anorith, Inkay-" 

"GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL!"

"Rowlet, Golett, Honedge, Archen, Croconaw-"

"GOTTA CATCH 'EM ALL!"

"Sentret, Pignite, Bergmite, Mantyke, Kakuna-"

The adeptus moves to intervene, but Riley gestures for him to stop. 

"Let them have their fun," he says. "They lost someone important tonight." 

This time, the adeptus scowls and rounds on him with such ferocity that it's a miracle Riley doesn't combust into flames right there.

"Who are you?" the adeptus growls. "You're not Aaron. Why do you look like him?" 

Riley squirms on his stool, lazily waving a hand. "I have no idea what you're talking about, O Mighty Adeptus." 

"-PILOWSWINE, CARNIVINE, ILLUMISE AND REMORAID!" the Beast Tamer shouts before holding out their hands to silence the crowd. "I think we are done with the triplet rap, so now let me sing to educate!" 

They begin making a beat with their mouth. The sailors gasp and cheer as they begin to bang their fists in time to the beat. 

"They'd make for a good performer," Riley says as the Beast Tamer begins to sing. After a glance at the adeptus, he smirks and adds, "and for a good partner. Maybe I should propose and bring them with me-"

The tiny smile on the adeptus' face disappears as he glares once more. He doesn't even speak this time. Just glares with enough hatred that Riley almost feels threatened. 

The Mondstater holds up his hands placatingly. "Joking, adeptus. Joking." 

It takes some time for the adeptus to decide he isn't worth being torn to bits. The moment he returns to watching the Beast Tamer, Riley almost laughs at how quickly the tension in the adeptus' jaw disappears. 

"...Haoran was important to you, too?" Riley asks. The adeptus gives him another dark glare, but the Beast Tamer's cheering distracts him, and he simply nods. The stranger smiles and lifts his cup in salutation. "I wish you both the best in healing. Sometimes the weight of the world is lighter when another is there to help hold it."

Another side-eye glare. Riley has a feeling he is the stoic one of the pair and giggles. He can't imagine having to be a creature so far removed from human emotion and then having to learn and understand someone like the Beast Tamer. Although, he has a feeling the Beast Tamer feels just as lost when it comes to the adeptus. Lost, but still entertwined.

Riley decides to keep that in mind for later. It sounds like it could be a wonderful love song.

"Where were you, anyhow?" he asks the adeptus. "I know you two are tied at the hip. Saw you watchin' over them when I first said hello." 

Sitting in the tree like an owl, Riley almost adds, but he really shouldn't be pushing the guy's buttons. Not when he already looks like he wants to leave every time someone in the tavern breathes. 

"...Observing funeral rites," the adeptus finally says. 

"Ah, I see." The wind of the tavern tickles Riley's nose as he smiles. "I'm not quite sure how these things work, but I'm sure he will be happy wherever he ends up." 

"-it's time to Throh in more names. Come on, gimme a-Xiao!" the Beast Tamer gasps, drawing the men's attention. At some point, they'd climbed onto a table, and when they try to hop off, the adeptus is there to catch them before they can smack into the floor. 

"Aw, no, keep on goin'!" a sailor whines. "Next verse, next verse!" He waves his hand and spurs the rest of the men into chanting, but the Beast Tamer only waves a hand and leans into Xiao's chest. 

"T'morrow!" they promise. "T'morrow…good night! Riley sings now. Riley!" 

"Must I?" Riley whines. The Beast Tamer only waves and slings their arms around Xiao's shoulders. He looks pained when the gathered drunkards coo and aww at such a public display of affection, but he makes no move to let them go.

"Don' teleport please," they say. "I feel bad."

Xiao sighs and readjusts his hold on them, then begins to carry them out of the room. "Then we're going to the inn." 

The Beast Tamer's face wavers. "...but Haoran is gone."

The adeptus pauses, shifts again, and sighs. "He is." 

"...but you're still here?" they ask weakly.

"...I am." 

Riley catches a glimpse of a smile on the Beast Tamer's face as they leave the tavern. A rush of warm air runs through the tavern as Xiao nudges the door open. Through it, the bard hears, "Can we go home?" 

And, even weaker still, he hears a soft huff and the smile in Xiao's voice as he says, "Yeah. Let's go home."

The night blurs from there. Riley indulges himself, downing whatever drink comes his way. The sailors are already drunk enough that he doubts he needs much to entertain them, and they leave him alone in favor of trying to replicate the strange, rapid rhymes that the Beast Tamer had spit. Many of them fumble and fail, much to the others' (and Riley's own) delight. 

Soon, when Riley thinks he has had enough, another stranger slides onto the stool beside him. With a wordless wave his his hand, he procures a cup of-

"Osmathus wine?" Riley teases. "Really, Morax?"

"Your ability to identify my choice of drink by scent alone is as impressive as always, Barbatos," Morax says, face obscured by some random mortal disguise while taking a sip.

"It wasn't by scent." Riley smiles and nudges his own cup towards the elder god. "You just never order anything else."

They share a drink in silence. 

"Who's that face you are wearing now?" Morax asks.

"I believe it is the stranger's old love," Barbatos says. In truth, many of the faces he wore were ones he'd never seen nor understood their significance. The winds simply favored the ones that would bring the subject the most closure, and now he looks like this. 

"And did it work?" 

"I hope so." Barbatos giggles and swirls his mug. "Because I doubt the Conqueror of Demons will let me get any closer even if he knew who I was." 

Morax hums, nodding in what Barbatos can only describe as fatherly approval. "Good. They will need each other after…all that has happened."

"And what will happen, huh?" Barbatos watches the archon as his jaw tightens, then lets out a weary sigh. "Are you sure this was a good idea? Letting someone like them…exist?"

"It is too late to have regrets," Morax says. "What is done is done." 

"But that won't matter if they continue making this much noise." Barbatos jabs a finger at the archon's face. "You know what they think about someone with that much power. They will be-"

The earth rumbles beneath them. The merriment is silenced in the same moment the air turns bitter, and the mortals begin the scurry out of the tavern until only the archons remain. It is only then that Barbatos' sheds Riley's face. It only feels right to face the archon as he normally looks.

"That upset, you old brute?" Barbatos asks. 

Morax's own disguise crumbles, his eyes narrowing into slits. "When my decision is repeatedly called into question, yes."

"You of all people…" Barbatos massages his face, hovering off the stool now to match Morax's glare. "Inevitability, you fool. Even you understand that time cannot be stopped because of something as human as sentimentality." 

"But is that not all the more reason to let it go?" he asks. "The mortals have a saying for this, Barbatos. It is better to have loved than lost-"

"Than never to have loved at all, I know." Barbatos huffs, the sigh fluffing his bangs. "Did you really just try to quote something sappy to me, a bard?!"

"A drunkard," Morax corrects and promptly dodges the liquid flung at his face. "But that simply means you should understand better than anyone how important this is for them both." 

Barbatos huffs once more, arms crossed. "And when it inevitably falls apart?"

"Then, as archon of Liyue, I will do what I must to keep my people safe." 

Barbatos scowls and hovers closer to Morax. Morax only sips his wine and refuses to yield. 

The Anemo Archon finally scoffs and plops back onto his stool. "You're terrible."

"I am being responsible." Morax sets his wine down. "Unlike you." 

"My people have managed just fine without me, thank you very much," Barbatos says. He snatches his mug off the table and drains it of its suds, then spins to eye the stock of bottles on the shelves behind the counter. "As for you and your adepti? Emotionally compressed. Just one poke and-" Air rips through the empty tavern, ruffling Morax's hair. "They'll explode."

And Morax, simple as he is, shrugs and finishes the last of his wine. "Such is inevitability."

Chapter Text

It still takes time. 

The Tianshu comes to the Watchtower a week after Haoran's passing. He meets the Beast Tamer, puts on airs, and is shut down the moment he implies that he wants them to sign a contract. 

"I mean no harm," the Beast Tamer says when the Tianshu tries to get them to reconsider, "but I work on my own terms."

The Tianshu eventually acquises, gives his condolences about Haoran's death once more, makes plans to send for new soldiers, then leaves. In the future, he holds true to his word and sends a handful of new soldiers to work in the Watchtower. They all seem to be rather excited to work with the Beast Tamer, who does their best to learn from them as well. 

But it still takes time. 

Tosca does not emerge from her crystal for months. Delta refuses to sleep anywhere that is not Haoran's bed. He growls when any soldier enters the office and even nips the Tamer when they try to lift him off of the desk. The other three beasts try their best to comfort him, but the Jolteon barely reacts to their prodding. 

Then he refuses to eat. Move. His fur begins to lose its luster, his sleep lasts for days. Xiao watches over him one night while the Tamer is away and hears him whimper and cry until finally jerking upright in alarm. 

He guesses he shouldn't be surprised. They are intelligent creatures. Of course they're capable of having nightmares. 

So he decides to take matters into his own hands. He takes the Tamer's staff, grabs Delta by the scruff, and leaves for the waters that morning. The Jolteon yowls and sparks, but it doesn't hurt Xiao at all, and that only worsens his concern. 

He tosses Delta on the dirt and points their staff at the water, then forces energy through each crystal like a hammer against steel until the beasts are forced out in beams of light, Bao included. The moment Tosca and Delta meet the other's eyes, Xiao takes a wide step back, grabs Bao from the sky, and waits for them to fight it out. 

Communication is key, Haoran had always said. Maybe it works with the beasts as well.

By the time the Tamer catches up to them, Xiao is reminded that Renegade is the leader of their team, because he is busy snarling and snapping at them both. He nips at Delta's ears and bats Tosca's snout with his paw. When one tries to shy away, Mr. Wriggles drags them back to the center. 

Eventually, the Tamer says, "Renegade is talking about the village on Wuwang Hill."

Xiao frowns as Renegade continues to growl. Right. The village had already been razed to the ground by the time he'd found it. "He still remembers that?"

"Of course he does," the Tamer says softly. "He always has."

Renegade's growls trail off. His jowls, scarred and graying, settle over his fangs as he lowers his head to sniff at Delta. When the Jolteon does not react, the larger hound drags his tongue so heavily across his face it nearly knocks him aside. 

This time, Delta yaps and swats at Renegade's nose. The Arcanine simply backs away and gestures to Tosca. 

Tosca shrinks back, head low as she churrs. After a moment, Delta's ears lay flat as he grumbles again. They speak in chirps and whines, not quite meeting the other's eyes until Tosca lowers her head to his. 

She grazes his head. His body begins to tremble. She lowers even more as he sprawls across her snout, supporting his entire weight with ease. His whines buzz in Xiao's ears. 

The Tamer eventually approaches their cluster of beasts. They kneel and whisper something, then finally rise once Delta slips off Tosca's head. He staggers on his feet but brushes off their hand. 

Then his head whips towards Xiao and snarls. Bao hoots in alarm and flutters out of his grip.

"What did I do?" he asks. 

"You stole my staff," the Tamer says. The other beasts round on Xiao as they smile. "And you stole Delta. He's mad at you." 

"He would have died if I didn't," he says before sidestepping a volley of needles. "Hey-"

He vaults over a burst of water and has enough time to hear Tosca giggle before Renegade lunges for his throat. He flickers to the opposite side of the clearing with a scowl. 

"Childish," he says as Lady Kaiju snorts with delight. 

"You started it," the Tamer says before pointing. "Get him, boys!"

Xiao spends the rest of the night being chased. He doesn't teleport back to the Watchtower and the beasts never tag him, and the Tamer traps him in a tight hug hours later after the beasts return to their crystals and whispers, "Thank you." 

Inevitably, time moves on. 

The soldiers (finally) meet the Beast Tamer's team. There are plenty who gush over Renegade, Delta and Bao. Some take rides on Lady Kaiju and Tosca up and down the surrounding rivers like it is a ferry system. Mr. Wriggles takes great pleasure in leaving pieces of himself in the soldiers' beds and poking them in the middle of the night. 

(The Tamer is forced to intervene when a soldier ends up breaking his ankle in his attempt to flee from the 'snake' in his bed. When Xiao hears this, he cannot help but chuckle at how ridiculous it is, then is treated to the Tamer hiding their face as their seal glows with embarrassment.)

During one Lantern Rite, the Tamer offers to join Xiao in battle against the demons rearing their heads tonight. He doesn't want them to, he remembers how much they enjoyed it, but they insist.

"I like fighting beside you," they say excitedly, "and you should never spend the new year alone." 

It is one of the most romantic festivals for mortals, Xiao thinks with reddening ears. He wonders if, by mortal standards, battling demons is considered romantic. 

But he allows them, anyway, and they spend a week battling demon after demon, cycling between beasts and taking hour-long breaks every dawn before returning to the fray. At one point, they are forced to separate when the demon comes apart and scatters. The entire time, Xiao keeps himself alert on the off-chance the Tamer calls his name. 

By the time the Lantern Rite is over, the Tamer passes out and does not stir for an entire day. When they do wake up, Xiao is standing over them with a frown. 

"Next time," he says, "you're staying here."

"...yeah," they groan. "You do that every year?" 

"I must," he says. "Lantern Rite draws too much positive energy, which attracts monsters and the likes."

"Sounds painful." They try to lift a hand, then let it flop uselessly to their side. "I just…I did not want you to carry that burden alone. Sorry…if I made you worry." 

Alone? Xiao exhales softly and decides he probably shouldn't tell them he'd barely left their side since they fell asleep, even leaving Bao behind to watch them while he was away. Instead, he rolls his eyes. "You would not have fallen from something as simple as exhaustion."

"True." The Tamer rolls their head to the side and laughs. "I am very hard to kill." 

The terrible memory of the cavern and the Abyss Lector's touch slithers through his mind, and Xiao frowns and reaches for his pockets. The Tamer is still laughing to themself when he ties something around their wrist. 

"You won't be killed," he growls (to himself or to them, he cannot tell). The Tamer's arm is too heavy to lift (he says to himself), so he holds their hand to show them what he'd tied to his wrist. "Remember, if you find yourself in any danger…"

"Call your name and you will come," they answer and admire the red twine around their wrist. "Is this the rope I had to wear when my seal was broken?" 

"No," Xiao says and focuses on their hand. "It was…from the Harbor."

"From the…" The Tamer lets out a laugh. "You did pay before taking it, right?" 

No, he almost says. It'd been from one of the women he'd seen the Tamer talk to before during their visits. One who, upon seeing Xiao standing across the way, had immediately waved him over, mentioned the Beast Tamer by name, then told him to take the bracelet as a Lantern Rite gift for them with an incredibly unsubtle wink. 

Red twine. The meaning is not lost on him.

"Of course I did," he says instead. 

The Tamer snickers before another smile overtakes them. They give Xiao's hand a firm squeeze. "Then I will treasure it. Thank you." 

For emphasis, they tug their hand closer and press a kiss to Xiao's knuckles. It sends pinpricks up his arm and lights up his tattoo. And maybe, perhaps, the battle has taken a toll on him as well, or Haoran's spirit is taunting him by reminding him of reciprocity, because he returns the gesture with a brush of their knuckles to his lips. 

Neither of them breathe. Both of their markings are shimmering like the stars in the night sky. He feels…dizzy. Light-headed, almost. He thinks he might be sick, but he knows better. Adepti can't get sick.

"Go to sleep," Xiao finally says. "You still need to rest."

The Tamer stares, mouth falling open before they chuckle. "Do you?" 

An invitation, he thinks. It makes him feel even stranger. "You are ridiculous."

And Tamer (ridiculous, impossible them) nods in understanding and gently squeezes his hand before letting go. He drags the blanket over them and makes sure they are comfortable, and as they drift off to sleep, he returns to his vigilant post at their side for the rest of the night. 

-

It is some time before they encounter the Abyss Herald again. 

Xiao cannot tell if it's the same one they'd met during their fight with Lady Kaiju, but that doesn't stop him from charging in with polearm raised. He beats Renegade to the monster and drives his polearm straight through its chest, and when it tries to escape, Bao hits it with Confusion and lets the rest of the beasts tear it to shreds. 

The Tamer is busy across the camp. There are several cages clumped by the fire, but there is only one that actually contains a prisoner. His body is drenched in blood. He almost assumes the man is dead until he lets out a quiet moan.

“Is he alright?” Xiao asks. 

The Tamer frowns and runs a glowing palm along his skin. Fabric clings to the oozing welts across his back, a disgusting pulp of purples and reds that sours the air. When their hand ghosts over the open wound, the man gasps and twitches. Within, something writhes.

“Oh, ew.” The Tamer grimaces and pulls away. “We should take him back. Xiao, can you get a bed ready?”

Xiao grunts and returns to the Watchtower. There isn’t much he has to do, but he still double checks the cot and retrieves their standard supplies, setting it on the bedside table just as Renegade appears on the balcony. 

Once the man is bedded, Xiao steps back as the Tamer begins to work. It does not take long before the twitching corruption is extracted from the man’s wounds, and while Xiao is busy capturing the creature and sealing it inside of Haoran’s old pot, they begin to mend the welts as best they can. 

“Why would they take a human hostage?” he mutters once the pot is sealed. “They didn’t the last time they appeared.”

“Maybe they wanted to see the corruption?” the Tamer guesses. They frown and drag their fingers against the freshly sealed skin, drawing another strangled groan from the man. “But, before, they spoke my language. They broke Aaron’s seal.”

“And they wanted to bring you to the Abyss,” Xiao adds darkly. They’d failed, obviously, but it still stirs something dark in his chest. “And their leader…”

The Tamer only shakes their head. “I do not know who. When I…fell through,” they say, “it was only me and my team. No one else.”

Then an unknown outsider. Xiao crosses his arms in thought, following the red cord bracelet on their wrist as they work a salve into the man’s raw skin. He should investigate. The Abyss Herald appearing again only means disaster. Especially if-

“Are we thinking to go investigate?” the Tamer asks before pausing. “Are we…thinking about going to investigate?”

Xiao grunts in approval at the correction, then nods again when they actually look up from the cot. “Their reappearance is abnormal.”

“Agreed. But we cannot leave him,” the Tamer says.

“You aren’t coming with me,” Xiao grunts and stalks past them before they can do that strange, pouting face that always works against him. “Stay.”

“I’m not a dog!” the Tamer shouts, but he ignores them and returns to the camp. A handful of destroyed lean-tos and notes scatter around the campground, each marked with symbols that Xiao does not recognize. The damage must have been caused by the Abyss Herald, based on the muddied dirt and waterlogged tents. 

“Hoo?” Bao hoots when Xiao summons him. He flaps his wings like he is ready for battle, but the adeptus gestures to a set of tracks hidden in the grass. 

“Can you follow these?” he asks. “If you run into danger, return to me, understood?”

Bao hoots again and takes off with a flutter, leaving Xiao to examine the remains in silence. The papers themself are mostly illegible and drip with watery ink, the supplies are standard perishable goods that can be purchased from the harbor or any wandering merchant. However, there are no marks of the average Millelith camp, and Xiao is sure he would have known if they’d been traveling with a prisoner.

Travelers from another nation, then? He’s heard of adventurers who explore the world, discovering lost relics and whatnot. Perhaps the man is one of them.

"Hoohoo!" Bao calls in the distance. When Xiao holds out his arm, the Hoothoot perches with a small pouch lodged in his beak. He drops it into his open palm and churrs when the adeptus scratches his chin. He recognizes the script printed onto one side: OMR, in Simple Inazuman.  

Bao leads Xiao down the path he'd followed. There are several more bodies, each dressed in Inazuman garb and wounded beyond saving. Based on their positions, it seems they’d tried to flee and failed. Still, there is nothing on their corpses that reveals the motive behind the attack, so Xiao returns to the Tower with a frown. 

The Tamer is examining the corruption in their hand when he arrives. The man is no longer moaning in pain, but Xiao recognizes the scent of sleeping medication. 

"I knocked him out," they say anyway and hold up the corruption. It seems to be equally sedated, laying limp in their hands, and when they lift a tentacle-

“It has an eye?” Xiao frowns as the Tamer nods. 

“It is like…it evolved,” they say, “and…I don’t think sedatives would have worked before.” They tuck the creature into the pot and reseal it, face pinched in thought. Whatever they think, it must not be pressing, because they shake it off and smile.  "What did you find?" 

He informs them of the camp and the separate area Bao had followed. It seems that the man had been attacked there, dragged back to the assaulter's camp, and locked in a cage when the Abyss Herald appeared. 

"So it killed the others and tried to keep the man?" 

“Seems like it,” Xiao says and glares down at the cot.  He looks Inazuman, at least, but he does not sense anything else about them that would warrant his capture. “Wake him up,” he decides. 

The Tamer gawks at him, slapping a hand against his shoulder. “I’m not going to wake him up, he needs his rest.”

“Then he can rest after we get our information,” he says. After a moment, he glances over his shoulder to see the Tamer smirking at him. 

“”Oh, so now it is ‘we’?” they ask. 

Xiao scowls, ears burning pink. “Just wake him up already.”

The Tamer sticks out their tongue in response and reaches around him, pressing their fingers to the man’s temples. It takes only a brief flicker of soft blue for the man’s face to scrunch with discomfort. He lets out a pained groan. The Tamer hushes him and ghosts their fingers across his forehead. 

“It is alright,” they whisper, “you are safe now.”

The man groans again before slowly opening his eyes. Hazy gold irises drift from the ceiling to the Tamer’s face. For a moment, there is something akin to reverence that stirs something in Xiao’s chest, which then boils into satisfaction when the man meets his eyes. 

“H-Huh?” the man gasps and tries to sit up, only to groan and freeze. “Ow, ow, ow…”

“Please do not move,” the Tamer says. “Your body is still healing.”

“I-I can feel that,” the man groans. He shuts his eyes, sucking in sharp, painful breaths before opening again. “I…where am I?”

“The Guili Watchtower,” they answer. “The Conqueror of Demons found you earlier. You were very hurt.”

Very hurt is an understatement, Xiao thinks, but the Tamer shoots him a glare that warns him to shut up before he can react. The man’s face twists further. 

“I…I was captured,” he rasps. “I just-I didn’t-” His throat begins to bob as tears build in his eyes. “Why…”

The Tamer is quick to wipe them away with a wet cloth and a soft smile. “You are safe now, friend. You are among allies.”

It takes some more gentle words of encouragement and a glass of water before the man finally pulls himself together. He keeps on squinting at his surroundings, puffing out air to blow chunks of his bangs from his face. It gets to a point that the Tamer offers to tie it back for him. 

“T-Thank you,” he says when they do. “I…I don’t suppose you found my glasses, either?”

The Tamer glances at Xiao, who only shakes his head and offers the small pouch he’d found earlier. “This was all that I found there.”

He holds it close enough for the man to see, then sets it down when he lets out a broken laugh. “You know, I’d ignored the shrine maidens who told me that I would need it,” he says. “The only reason I bought that was as a joke to bring back to Watatsumi Island. But look at me now…” He trails off in a painful groan. “Maybe those Shogun worshipers are onto something about those things being lucky.”

“I would say so,” the Tamer says and smiles. “You are here now, after all.”

“...I am, aren’t I? As much good as that is.” The man seems to grimace more so than smile, then sighs. His eyes seem to unfocus, hazy and watery until he blinks it away. “Ah, forgive me. I should be thankful…My name is Enjou, and I am in your debt.”

“Think nothing of it.” The Tamer sits back and tilts their head at Xiao. “It is part of his contract, anyway.”

Xiao scowls at them as Enjou chuckles. “Yes, yes. You are…the adepti, yes? I have heard of you from Harunosuke-shishou.”

Harunosuke? It sounds distantly familiar to the adeptus, and the Tamer lets out a gasp. “Kamuna-san? You are his student?”

Enjou chuckles again, the sound growing in strength. “The one and only.” He tries to smile once more, this time more wry and amused than pained. “But I am starting to regret that entirely. He’s the reason why I’d decided to come here and why I am now…bedridden, I guess.”

“He sent you here?” Xiao asks. 

“He’d…suggested I stop by,” Enjou says. “I am...on my way to Sumeru from Mondstat to conduct research, but when I told Harunosuke-shishou, he’d…he’d suggested trying to talk to the adepti for help.” He tilts his head to the pair. “And now…it seems that I was lucky once more. You came to me instead.”

“How is being tortured lucky?” Xiao mutters, ignoring the swift elbow jab from the Tamer. Enjou still manages to shrug anyway. 

“It isn’t,” he says, “but it saves me the effort of trying to find you.”

…Xiao can’t fault him for that logic. Still, he frowns and eyes the Inazuman warily. “Why were you searching for the adepti, then?”

“Research.” Enjou’s hand twitches, like he means to do some kind of waving gesture. “I doubt you are familiar with the legends of Watatsumi Island?" 

When neither adepti answers, he clears his throat and does his best to explain. From what Xiao understands, the island had not been part of the original chain that forms Inazuma. Instead, it had been formed from the coral of their god's body, which served as a ladder for their ancestors to escape from a 'warped, twisted realm of the dark' and into the light.

"Supposedly," Enjou says, "the entrance to this realm of Enkanomiya opens every thousand years or so as part of a ritual and, unfortunately, I was born in a generation that will not live long enough to see it happen." He rasps out a laugh. "Which is why I want to see if I can access it now. While I am still young and spry and whatnot." 

His laugh trails off into a cough, and as the Tamer offers him another glass of water, Xiao steps back to soak it in. Another realm of darkness. He'd heard of the different realms, the ones of Celestia and the Archons and the one further below, far beyond the Mortal Realm, but it'd never meant much to him before. 

But now he eyes the Tamer's cord bracelet and frowns. "You wanted to research potential entrances to another realm?" 

After draining another cup, Enjou nods. "Of course, the world is in a bit of disarray…but that just means I should go, right? Who knows when the world will fall apart again?"

The Tamer hums and sets the cup down. In his peripherals, Xiao sees the way the fingers begin to curl. 

"The monster that attacked you," they say slowly, "did it explain why? Or…say anything at all?" 

Enjou's brows pinch before he shakes his head. "I was…unconscious for much of my capture. I only remember feeling something…cold. And wet.” His entire body shudders as his face turns a deadly shade of white. “It was inside me. I-I could feel it.”

“Ah. Worry not.” The Tamer points at the sealed pot. “It has been removed. You will be safe.”

Enjou stares at the pot, lips trembling. His mouth opens, but he seems to decide against it and sinks into his cot. “I see…now, forgive me, but I have had a terrible evening, and I would like to rest.”

The Tamer hums, then ghosts a hand over Enjou's temples with another grateful smile. "Of course. Please rest now. I will wake you in the morning." 

"Don't have to tell me twice…" Enjou's eyes shut. It only takes seconds before he is breathing deep, asleep. The Tamer sits back. Their fingers curl, pressing their fists to their lips as they try to calm their breath. Their heartbeat begins to spike faster and faster, and Xiao sets a firm hand on their shoulder. 

"Come on." He tugs them away from the cot, guiding them toward the tea table on the balcony. "Sit." 

The Tamer complies, then squeezes his hand before he can pull away. He drags a seat over with his foot to avoid letting go. “The Abyss is collecting information on breaking seals,” they murmur, half to themself. “Do you think they plan to access the Distortion World?”

“Perhaps.” Xiao sits beside them, frowning. He checks the gate at Luhua Pool daily, and he’s yet to pick up any trace of tampering besides some stray thieves seeking other goods around the pools. “But would an Inazuman scholar’s knowledge be enough to open it?”

“No.” The Tamer tugs on their red cord bracelet. “But he was also infected. Maybe he was a test subject for something else.”

Like an incubator, he thinks. His jaw clenches at the thought. The last human corruption they’d encountered was Lao from Mingyun Village, who’d displayed mild symptoms at best. But it wasn’t like they planted it within Enjou before tonight-the man had even experienced it crawling inside just hours ago. 

It doesn’t make sense. No matter what he and the Tamer suggest, what little pieces they have do not connect. They will need outside help, which means interacting with anyone who could possibly be involved. 

Under the Tamer’s hands, Enjou recovers well enough to stand by the morning, and he seems ready to leave by noon. “I can’t waste any time,” he explains. “My friends were…killed. It would be safer to find a ship in the harbor to take me back to Inazuma. The Tenryou Commission needs to know.”

“Of course.” The Tamer pats their chest with a confident smile. “I will escort you, as well. The Millelith will want as much information as they can before they begin an investigation, and there are merchants along the road as well. It will be safer with me."

Which leaves Xiao to continue investigating around the Watchtower. He’d wanted to protest the moment the Tamer suggested the plan, but it wouldn't make any sense to go with them to the Harbor. Now that the Abyss is trespassing upon Liyue, he is needed here now more than ever. That doesn't stop him from scowling the entire time, and Enjou steers clear of the adeptus as he gets ready for the trekk. 

Xiao follows the Tamer into their room as they do the same, tucking clothes and whatever basic goods they will need. He doubts they need to bring much (he knows that many of the boutiques are happy to give them free clothes based on the amount they have pouring out of their cabinets), but he still checks that they have the proper supplies while the Tamer summons Renegade. 

"You already know what to look for, okay?" they say as they scratch the hound's neck. "Just be careful and listen to Xiao."

Renegade's ears flattens. He whines and chuffs in annoyance, to which the Tamer simply flicks his nose. 

"Don't be rude! He is in charge now." The Tamer scoops up the Arcanine's face and tilts it to face Xiao before doing the same. "Right, Xiao?" 

Xiao ties their pack shut with a nod. Everything is arranged, they have a set plan-

He tenses as the Tamer grips his shoulders, eyes narrowed in focus. He knows exactly what they're looking for and is unable to pull away in time. 

"Stop frowning," they order. 

"I'm not-" Their hands squeeze his face, silencing Xiao. He feels ridiculous (like always), but it makes the Tamer smile. 

"If anything happens, I'll call for you, remember?" they say. "The harbor is only a few hours away and I'll be at the guesthouse if you want to visit at night. Is that okay?" 

Xiao tries his best to scowl, but with their hands pushing at his cheeks, he doubts he looks very threatening. He doesn't really feel it, either. Still, he narrows his eyes. "Will you be safe?"

"Of course." The Tamer loosens their grip, just enough to allow him to slip away if he wants. "I promise, Xiao, I will be fine. And if not, then you are free to eat my dessert for the rest of the year."

"Adepti do not eat," he grumbles out of reflex and pouts at their twinkling laughter. 

"And they do not have hearts, and yet here you are," the Tamer muses. Their gaze softens as a thumb ghosts over Xiao's cheekbone, like they're trying to wipe the dirt off a precious jewel. "So, all okay?" 

"...hmph." Xiao channels all the strength he has and lifts his face from their hands. His skin feels cold. "Stop being ridiculous." 

"Then no goodbye kiss for you." The Tamer rolls their shoulders and turns to Renegade, miraculously missing the way Xiao's entire body seizes. The hound bows his head and allows them to pepper kisses all along his forehead. "Ren, be a good boy and listen to Xiao, please!" 

Renegade barks in return, and with their farewells settled and pack on their shoulders, the Tamer steps onto the balcony rails, salutes, and jumps off. Xiao only remembers how to breathe when the Arcanine drags his tongue across the back of his head. 

He looks…eerily amused. Like he can hear everything going through Xiao's mind at that moment. 

"Stop it," Xiao growls before summoning his polearm. "Come on. We're wasting time."

Renegade chuffs and rises to his feet, and the two take off for the hills to continue their investigation. 

Unfortunately, there is nothing. For two days, Xiao and Renegade scour the mountains, but no Abyssal creatures ever appear. Scents vanish mid-air, camps are ransacked and abandoned. They find nothing that could lead them back to the Abyss or their leaders. 

Normally, Xiao would be annoyed. He isn't. Because it has been two days and the Tamer has not returned. 

He tries not to worry. Perhaps the meeting with the Tianshu is taking longer than expected. It is involving a national threat, after all, and a plan for something like that can't just be whipped up in two days. But he is sure he would have received some sort of message, be it from the Millelith or the Tamer themself. 

He knows he could just teleport to the city, but he trusts them. He knows they will be alright. They have to be.

It isn't until the third morning without them that things fall apart. 

Xiao is awoken by a dreadful howl that sets his instincts alight. He lands on the floor of the Tamer's bedroom with his polearm in hand the moment Renegade crashes through the doorway. Blood cakes his paws and belly, but he is more distracted by what is clamped in the hound's jaws: the Tamer's crystalline staff, covered in pulsating, black seals. 

"Drop it!" Xiao orders. The moment it brushes his palm, his skin broils and writhes, and he stabs the end into the floorboards and stumbles back before he can collapse. It has been some time, but he recognizes the burning corruption all the same. 

Renegade snarls. For a breath, Xiao braces himself for battle, but the hound isn't red-eyed and frothing. He's snapping at the Tamer's staff, almost like he's trying to pry off the floating seals with his own teeth. 

"Ren, stay back," Xiao orders. When the hound growls and inches away, he continues. "Are you hurt? What happened?" 

Renegade's ears flatten as he growls. He wastes no time in disappearing from the tower, and Xiao follows after ordering the rest of the Millelith to be on high alert and forcing Bao to stay behind to monitor the staff. 

When he arrives, all he sees is red. Red dripping from tree branches. Red splattering the mountainsides. Pools of murky water shimmer in the early morning light. Xiao grits his teeth and tries to ignore the sour stench in his nose, but the sight of limbs and organs and human flesh isn't any better. 

A massacre. Plain and simple. 

But Xiao sees the craters, sees the giant holes with a center made clearly by a fist. The cowards must have tried to ambush them, the only method that would have given them a chance against someone like the Tamer. And it worked.

His jaw shifts, heat broiling in his chest. It worked. The Tamer is nowhere to be found among the carnage, but that just means they were able to subdue them and take them away. They took them. 

They-

Renegade barks. In one crater, a smaller creature thrashes underneath his claws, black ooze dribbling from the puncture wounds. Xiao leaps into the crater after him, and the hound hauls the thing into the air by the fur choking its neck. 

"Ghk!?" the creature groans when Xiao grips its face.

"Where did they go?" he snarls. 

"W-Wait, I don't-ACK!" The creature screams as Xiao's fingers sink into its mask. "WAIT, STOP!" 

Xiao releases it just as Renegade begins to snarl. The hound tosses the creature into the air and lunges, this time catching its entire head between his jaws. Flames begin to glow in the back of his throat. 

"WAIT, NO, I DON'T KNOW!" the thing screams. "All I know is that they planned on releasing the dragon if the God Killer refused!" 

Xiao's eyes narrow. The dragon? What dragon? He shouldn't be surprised the Abyss had something like a dragon in their ranks, but that doesn't matter. "You don't know where they are, then?" 

"N-No," the creature squeaks. It pokes its fingertips together sheepishly. "So…uh…you'll let me go, right? I told you all I know!" 

Xiao rolls his eyes and pats Renegade's snout. "Kill it."

The Abyss creature lets out one final scream before the hound crushes its head. It melts into black ooze, Renegade hacking up a ball of flaming ooze in the process. He grumbles and paws at its remains, then lets out a low whine. 

Xiao can't help but agree. They're no closer to finding the Tamer than they were before. He reaches out and strokes the hound's snout. "It'll be fine."

It has to be. They just need to call for him and…no matter where, he would find them. No matter how far or how faint…

The winds drift past the adeptus. With it, he hears the faintest voice whisper, Xiao…

His ink flashes. Xiao tries to latch onto the sound, but the wind is fickle and slips through his grasp. Their voice, however, draws his head up. 

Xiao…

"Ren," Xiao calls distractedly, "go back to the tower."

Renegade whines. His ears fold back as he nips at the adeptus' hands, but Xiao shoves him away. 

"The tower!" he orders. "NOW!"

XIAO! 

He chases the cry into a dark cavern, Anemo energy lashing at whatever it can reach. Whatever poor creatures that cannot flee are torn into shreds, sludge splattering the far walls and the only remaining monster left: an Abyss Lector, overflowing with Pyro energy and cradling Enjou's bloody body.

No…not just them. There is another figure, slowly rising from a defensive crouch along the way. Golden light shimmers along the blade in his hand as he flicks the black ooze away, matching the soft light of his hair. 

But when Xiao examines them, all he senses is the same terrible, alien power of the Tamer. Another person from another world. 

The Abyss' ruler. 

"...Xiao?" 

The adeptus freezes, then drops to his knees. The Tamer lays beneath him, skin covered in pulsating runes similar to the ones ensnaring their staff. Just grazing their cheek sends numbing pinpricks all along his fingertips. They've been sealed. Again. 

"I'm here," he says, more out of instinct than reassurance. Their face is wet with tears, and it takes far too much effort for him to wipe them away. "I'm right here." 

The Tamer's lips twitch as they lean into his numb palm, eyes twisting with effort. Each breath rattles in their chest. "...it hurts." 

"It was a safety precaution," another familiar voice calls. When Xiao forces his gaze away, he finds the Abyss Ruler staring. "It was the only way we could get them to listen-"

Sparks fly from where jade clashes with gold. Xiao twists his polearm, knocking the sword aside and driving it at the ruler's chest, only for him to thrust an open palm. A vortex of Anemo erupts from their hand and sends the adeptus back. 

"Your Highness!" the Abyss Lector shouts. "Are you alright?" 

"I'm fine," the boy says. His eyes narrow at Xiao for only a moment, lowering his sword to his side. "I don't mean to hurt you. I'm only trying to help."

"Help?" Xiao echoes coldly. "How are you helping?"  

The Abyss Ruler frowns before he eyes the sealed Tamer. "I'm trying to protect them." Xiao's lips curl, but the enemy shakes his head. "I wouldn't expect you to understand. You're an adeptus, right? One of Morax's soldiers." 

"How dare you speak his name," Xiao snarls. This time, the Ruler parries his lunge, twirling the polearm up and over as he dives in. He tries another Anemo vortex, but Xiao snatches his wrist and lands a blow to his stomach. Another fist strikes his side when he retreats, and they end up in a head-on clash once more. Blow after blow, the Ruler deflects and dodges with the grace of a weathered soldier, using stances both foreign and familiar to the adeptus. 

It takes the Ruler's body rippling with Geo energy to disrupt Xiao's barrage. When his fist strikes the ground, a shockwave knocks the adeptus back, nearly crashing into a jagged wall sprouting from the earth behind him. 

Xiao bares his teeth, ready to throw himself at the enemy when the Tamer cries out. The runes are pulsating now, creeping across their skin like filthy mold. 

To his surprise, the Abyss Ruler shouts, "Stop it!" 

Across the way, the Abyss Lector hesitates, lowering one hand. "But, Your Highness-"

"There's no point in torturing them," the Ruler says. "Take the host and go!" 

The Abyss Lector's fingers curl. "I…As you wish, Your Highness." With a grand wave, a starry portal splits open the air, and it disappears into the opening with Enjou's body in tow. Xiao nearly gives chase, but the Ruler is still standing there, sword raised to block whatever blow comes. 

Neither man moves. If he truly is from another realm, then Xiao doesn't know what to expect. His fighting style, his abilities…If he is anything like the Tamer, then does the adeptus even stand a chance against him? 

It only takes a pained whimper from the Tamer for Xiao to reach his conclusion: it doesn't matter. 

Xiao reaches for his mask. The Abyss Ruler follows his hand, and his face shifts from calculative to something akin to disappointment so quickly it stuns the adeptus.

"Please," the Ruler whispers, "it doesn't have to be like this."

And Xiao stops, fingers hovering above his mask. It sounds familiar. Far too familiar. It takes a moment for his memories to stir, but then it hits him like a wave of ice cold water. It'd just been in a different tongue. 

"You were there," Xiao says, his own memories clashing with that of a different world. "You…You tried to destroy the Tree of Beginning." 

The Abyss Ruler's grip falters as he says, "I…I was." 

His voice had been in Tosca's song. It was him, the Tamer, and another…Cold, calm fury courses through the adeptus. "And you killed Quin." 

"She didn't have a choice," the Abyss Ruler counters like it is instinct. He lifts his sword again, this time glaring down the adeptus in challenge. "We were only trying to leave. They refused to let us." 

It only extinguishes whatever hesitation the adeptus has left. He flies towards the Ruler, mask in place and polearm raised. There is no thought to his strikes, no plan in his attacks. All that drives him is the frozen, burning fury overtaking his mind. If it comes from the Tamer's memories or his own, he does not care. He only attacks, attacks, attacks. 

It takes the Abyss Ruler's fist pulsating with the azure glow of the Tamer's aura for Xiao to falter, and he cries out as the orb explodes against his chest. He tumbles across the cavern, landing just beside the Tamer.

"I'm sorry that it's come to this. I never wanted someone to feel this sense of loss," the Abyss Ruler says as a portal opens behind him. The pity in his eyes makes Xiao sick, but it disappears with a blink, replaced with hardened conviction. "But you leave me no choice."

With that, he turns and disappears into the void, plunging the cavern into silence. Xiao grits his teeth and forces himself to his feet, then stumbles to the Tamer's body. The runes pulsate when he draws close, but at least he retains sensation in his hands when he lifts them into his arms. 

Xiao finds Renegade pacing around the Tamer's staff when he returns, Bao perched on his head. The hound barks quickly, shoving his face into the adeptus' arms, only to scurry back and whine. 

"I don't know," Xiao says. He sets the Tamer down on a cot, squeezing their hand as he tries to think. He knows rituals for banishing demons, for exorcizing landscapes and purging evils, but as he examines the runes searing his skin, the same creeping fear he'd felt in Cuijue Slope's caverns return. They're foreign magic. And he doesn't have Haoran or Kamuna to help. 

“I-I will be fine,” the Tamer rasps. “I can consume it. I…think.”

Right. Their power eats all. Xiao brushes a hand over the scarlet Triquetra on their chest, then settles beside their cot as the runes begin to corrode. “What happened?”

The Tamer grimaces. “I…I don’t know. They swarmed us and took us…somewhere. And when I woke up, I saw him.”

“The Ruler?” Xiao asks. 

“Aether,” they correct, voice laced with disgust. Their seal falters, and they force themself to take a deep, steady breath before continuing. “He’d…he wanted me to join them. They…want to destroy Celestia.”

The air stills, stifling Xiao’s thoughts. Destroy…Celestia? The Ruler of the Abyss seeks to destroy the home of the Archons, the controller of the divine? Just thinking about it sets alight every nerve in his body. His instincts smother the idea of such blasphemy, but the Tamer shifts on their coat and his fear grows when their memories overtake his mind. 

“They will keep coming,” they mutter, more to themself than to him. “They took Enjou, too. They’re…What if-”

“Don’t,” Xiao growls. He can almost hear their thoughts, and he jabs their forehead when their expression starts to fall. “If you are ever in any danger, I will find you. No matter where you are or when it is.”

“I just need to call your name,” the Tamer says. They breathe again, shutting their eyes as the runes continue to burn. “Maybe we should call Rex Lapis. Or the Qixing. Shouldn’t they know?”

“They might.” Xiao grips their hand, waiting until they squeeze it back before rising to his feet. “I will retrieve Cloud Retainer. Ren?”

The Arcanine doesn't react. His entire body stands at alert, ears upright and muscles tensed. Xiao calls his name again, but when he goes unacknowledged, he turns to repeat the order to Bao, only to find the Hoothoot's feathers puffed.

"Hoo…" He scoots closer to the Tamer, head glued to the horizon. "Hoo, hoo…"

There is a buzz. Deep within Xiao's ears, he feels the familiar, fear-inducing buzz grow stronger and louder, and he flings himself over the Tamer and Bao just as the Watchtower explodes. 

Xiao skids across the fields below, the Tamer clinging to his shirt as Bao wriggles free. 

"What happened?!" they gasp. 

"I don't-" Xiao curls over their head as the earth trembles. When he turns, his breath escapes him. 

Half of the Watchtower is gone. The roof, the balcony, Haoran's office and the kitchens and the Tamer's room: gone. Jagged slabs of the foundation disappear under a cloud of dust and rubble, and Xiao's hands twitch when he hears the frantic screams of the other residents of the tower. 

"Bao, stay here and watch them!" he snaps. Before the Tamer can protest, he dives into the rubble. There are bodies scattered amongst the wooden beams and stones, several that lay completely still and many more that pass before he can free them. Crushed, pierced, broken…Xiao only manages to rescue seven of the original one hundred and fifty occupants.

"I can't-" The Tamer gasps when he sets the seventh (a chef, he realizes from the uniform) at their side. "My aura, it's not working!" In the center of their chest, Kamuna's seal flickers desperately, but the rest of the seal along their body refuses to respond. 

Xiao squeezes their shoulder tight. "Don't force it. Bao, help me look for-"

A bellowing roar explodes through the air. A giant blur darts through the dust cloud, crashing head first into another blur and sending it flying. Renegade bounces across the field in the distance, fur flaked with dust. Clamped firmly in his jaws is the Tamer's staff. 

"Ren!" the Tamer cries out. Renegade's ears lift, but his eyes never leave the rubble, even as he tosses the staff aside. He steps forward and roars in challenge, embers flying from his maw. 

A burst of wind scatters the dust. From it rises a bipedal creature. Orange scales reflect the sunlight like shards of glass, disrupted only by the smatterings of blood on its hands and feet. Its features are strangely smoothed and bulky, nothing hardened or dangerous like he'd expected from a draconic beast.

The Tamer lets out a weak whimper. “L-Levi?”

Leviathan. The Dragonite. Xiao summons his polearm as the beast’s head swivels to face them, eyes glazed with scarlet. It’d been years since any sign of another beast appearing; the Tamer had all but given up on their final teammate ever returning. 

And now it is here, covered in pulsating runes and a strange mechanism crossing over its carved open chest. Glass tubes, burrowed so deep into its scales it leaks, clink with every breath. Somehow, its small wings easily keep its hulking frame aloft. 

“Dragon, Anemo,” the Tamer whispers as the Dragonite stares. “He hates Cryo, Rock. But they’re still-” 

The air explodes. Leviathan’s fists crash into Renegade’s face, crackling with electricity. The hound roars and sinks his claws into the dirt before the dragon could send him flying. A shimmering aura flashes across his great head, orange streaks spiraling from his temples. Before Leviathan can retreat, Renegade rears back and drives his head straight into its gut, and the pair disappears into a giant crater in the earth. 

“Move!” The Tamer scrambles to their feet. Xiao outspeeds them easily and snatches their staff, tossing it to them as he rushes to the edge of the crater. Within, he only catches blur chasing blur, bouncing off the crater walls and leaving holes in their wake. He doubts intervening now would be of any help.

Xiao grabs the back of the Tamer’s collar before they can dive in. “You need to get somewhere safe, now!”
“But-” The Tamer stops, jaw tight. They grip Xiao and haul him back to the survivors. "To the harbor, hurry!" 

Xiao doesn't even hesitate. They land in a messy pile in the courtyard of the administration building. Guards shout in alarm, but the adeptus bares his teeth and orders, "Alert Ganyu and the Tianshu! The Guili Watchtower has been destroyed!" 

And in the early dawn, the entirety of the harbor is thrown into chaos. Ganyu appears just moments after their arrival, hair mussed from sleep and ink staining her cheek. She orders the soldiers to take the injured within and to prepare countermeasures, stern expression faltering the moment she takes in their appearances.

“What’s going on?” she asks. “Is it Osial? Another beast?”

“Another beast,” Xiao says. “It’s at the Watchtower, but if it makes its way here-”

“Ganyu, you have the best chance of hurting him!” the Tamer adds. At Ganyu’s stunned face, they shake their sealed staff and scratch at their inked skin. “Until I can break it, it will just be us fighting.”

Ganyu’s face falls even further before she nods. “What about the other adepti? Should we get them?”

Before Xiao can answer, Bao lets out a panicked screech. His head snaps to the sky as he summons his polearm, distantly hearing the others do the same. In the distance, a tiny orange dot grows larger and larger, splitting apart into several smaller orbs that fall across space like a meteor shower. It is beautiful. 

And then it is upon the harbor, shattering centuries old infrastructure and carpentry painstakingly maintained by mortal hands, drowning the city in dust. For a moment, when Xiao opens his eyes, he wonders if he’d been dreaming just now. Meteors, screaming, dust…he must be back on the field, reeling from Rex Lapis’ barrage against a rival god for territory. There is even a dragon stirring in the cloud, right across from them and crawling on all fours.

“Levi!” The Tamer’s voice pierces Xiao’s ears. Leviathan snarls and slams its head into the concrete, wings beating frantically as its blood smears against the stone. Its claws catch on the leather harness around its chest, but it only seems to dig deeper and cut into its already broken scales. 

There is a quiet hiss. One of the tubes empties its content into the Dragonite’s flesh, and the beast stops only to breathe before the entire courtyard quakes from its shriek. By the time it finishes, Xiao’s ears are ringing, and the demon’s wounds are sealing itself shut. 

Its wings lift as its body twists to face the Tamer. Their ears are trickling with blood and their knees have buckled beneath them. They are in no shape to fight. Xiao needs to get them as far, far away from here as he can. He reaches his hand out to send them away.

Leviathan flashes past him and drives the Tamer straight into Yuehai Pavilion. A sonic blast knocks Xiao and Ganyu across the courtyard, but the yaksha is on his feet and flings himself at the dragon’s back with a scream. The Primordial Jade carves into Leviathan’s shoulder with a squelch. When the dragon turns, it only snorts before claws envelop Xiao’s face. His body cracks stone and flies deeper into the hall until shattering the far wall. 

A pair of trembling arms catches Xiao before he falls to the ground. His ears still pitch and whine, but he recognizes the Tamer's warmth anywhere. 

They aren't looking at him, though. They're watching Leviathan stalk towards them, bloodied and bulking without a hint of recognition in its eyes. This is not some gentle beast that the Tamer had described, one who would rescue drowning humans and paint rainbows across the sky just to make its tamer smile. 

This is a dragon that has killed gods, and it is here in Liyue Harbor.

Chapter Text

Dragonite, the Dragon Beast. Although rarely seen, it has been recorded to travel at supersonic speeds, rivaling even the swiftest of the Arcanine. With a kind heart, it rescues drowning sailors and guides those lost at sea home. 

It is also a dragon, and there are currently a handful of mortals hiding in the corner behind Xiao. 

Leviathan charges. Xiao moves to intercept, but the Tamer strikes first. Their arms aren't wide enough to wrap around his torso. Their feet scramble for purchase as the Dragonite roars, and they turn one filth-covered face to shout, "Get them out!" 

Xiao doesn't bother trying to be gentle with the mortals. When he lands at the edge of the city, two are tossed over one shoulder and another is dangling in his hands. Millelith struggle to herd the fleeing citizens, and Xiao dumps his rescuees before grabbing the nearest soldier.

"Make for Jueyun Karst!" he orders. "Send any adepti our way, immediately!" 

He leaves before the soldier can even speak, driving his polearm into Leviathan's side the moment he lands. This time, he feels jade grate against bone, and Leviathan stumbles just enough for the Tamer to land a strike into his jaw. He trips backwards just as an arrow pierces his hind. 

"Move, move!" Ganyu shouts from outside. Xiao hauls the Tamer back into the courtyard as ice seals the lower building shut, the archer's brows pinched in focus. "Are you alright?!" 

"I-" Xiao grips the Tamer as they double over, choking. Without their aura, they aren't healing. He lifts them higher before they can collapse. "You need to get out of here!" 

"N-No," they gasp. "I can't leave him-" 

"Don't be ridiculous!" he snarls. "If you stay, you'll-"

A blazing fist punches through Ganyu's ice. Leviathan shatters the remains and snorts, oblivious to the arrow and polearm sticking out of his hide. His head sways between the Tamer and the half-adeptus before stomping his feet. Again, again, his body begins to sway and twist until his scales ripple a soft blue.

A roll of thunder rumbles overhead, storm clouds choking out the morning sun. Xiao shields the Tamer as rain begins to fall. It almost feels refreshing until Leviathan's mouth begins to spark. 

"Inside!" Xiao shouts. Ganyu leaps into an empty building as he dives into another with the Tamer. Behind him, the ground explodes under the force of a thunder strike almost equal to Delta's own power. The courtyard shudders from the thunderclap. Even the building they're under seems to tremble, just moments from caving in. 

"B-Beast Tamer?" a man gasps behind them. His arm twists unnaturally as blood drips from his leg. "I-It's you! What's going on out there?!" 

"Don't ask!" The Tamer rushes to him, hands outstretched. "Are you alright? Can you stand?" 

A panicked scream overtakes the thunder. Xiao and the Tamer only exchange looks before the adeptus leaps into the open. In Leviathan's claws dangles a young woman, her uniform bloodied and soaked. 

Xiao flings himself forward in the same breath as he shouts, "Bao, Extrasensory!" There is a proud "Hoo!" from behind, and he lunges to catch the woman just as Leviathan is enveloped in multicolored rings of light. 

"Thank you, oh, thank you!" the woman sobs, just barely audible over the dragon's roaring. She is sticky and cold against Xiao's skin, but he grips her tight and dives back when the light explodes. 

The Dragonite's shoulders heave as his eyes lock onto Bao. He swings an electric fist and catches only light, the beam disappearing into Xiao's charm. With the woman's leg and Leviathan charging, the adeptus' instincts override his senses, and he lands at the peaks of Mt. Aocang with a grunt. 

"What in-" Cloud Retainer's wings flare in alarm. "Conqueror of Demons, what in Teyvat is happening in the harbor?!"

Xiao sets the woman down as the adeptus continues to fret. His priority is the mortals of Liyue, his mind hisses. There are so many still left, still trapped in the rubble or bound to get swept up in the crossfire. And between himself and the others, he is the only one who can travel such long distances. 

It makes his chest burn with fear that something will happen and he will be too late to save them, but it doesn't matter. His priority is Liyue. 

Xiao cuts Cloud Retainer off with a harsh glare. "There are mortals heading to Jueyun Karst. Tell Mountain Shaper to disable its plants and send Moon Carver to the Harbor!" 

"What-" Cloud Retainer's head snaps towards the harbor. "Ganyu!" 

The crane disappears in a flicker, leaving Xiao to swear to himself before landing at Mt. Hulao. Mountain Shaper is already outside of his domain and waves away Xiao's warnings. "To the harbor, child!" it snaps. "No doubt Cloud Retainer will join the fight to protect Ganyu. Moon Carver and I will keep the mortals safe!"

Sure enough, Xiao returns to the harbor in time to find Cloud Retainer driving its foot into Leviathan's chest. The Dragonite skids across the stone and charges forth, wings a blur, but the adeptus lifts its own wings and screeches with rage. It launches into the sky before he can land a hit, and the two disappear into the clouds as the Tamer shouts, "Over here!"

They are with Ganyu, the pair retreating down the stairs leading to the lower half of the terrace. Xiao joins them as they take shelter under another building. Half of the lobby is completely caved in, and the Tamer's grip on the unconscious man from before almost slips when they spot an arm underneath the wood. Their throat bobs before they shake out their head.

"It won't be enough," they say as they set down the injured man. 

Ganyu grimaces as she nods. "Cloud Retainer is quick, but it isn't a fighter. The others-"

"Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper are already aiding the evacuation," Xiao reports. There is no Haoran to help extract the corruption, the Tamer's aura is sealed. What can they do? What-

"Fuck, come on!" The Tamer grips their staff tight. The runes pulsate. Instead of burning up, it simply transfers over their skin, and they drop the staff with a shout. "Ow, ow, ow-"

The roof explodes, Cloud Retainer shattering several wooden beams under its weight. Leviathan drops onto it before it can recover, and Ganyu's panicked shout draws his enraged glare. Then his eyes land on the Tamer. 

The Tamer snatches their staff off the ground. A crystal begins to glow as the runes infect their skin, and Mr. Wriggles escapes from his crystal just as Leviathan charges.

"Wrig, Sunny Da-" Leviathan crashes into the Tamer and hauls them into the sky. Xiao rushes after them. Outside, sunlight breaks through the storm clouds, growing brighter and brighter until his eyes burn when he tries to look up. He shuts his eyes and locks onto their faint pulse, then flickers thousands of feet into the air. His hands catch Leviathan's horn and a stray antenna. The dragon screeches, both hands flying to his head. Below, the Tamer swears and plummets. 

"Bao, catch them!" Xiao shouts as Leviathan thrashes. Everything spins and blurs the more the beast tries to shake him off, but he refuses to let go. Not until he finds himself plunging towards the nearest building. He lets go before he can be crushed under the beast's bulk, landing on a nearby rooftop. Leviathan tailspins, pulling up from the dive with a snort. 

Something whistles past Xiao from behind. White light shatters against Leviathan's side, another against his head before he snarls. The third he strikes back with a Hydro-coated tail, sending the orb flying across the harbor. A final projectile streaks through the air-Ganyu's arrow, which pierces the leather harness choking his chest. 

For a moment, Leviathan's body seizes. He claws at the harness and snaps a single strap, groaning as sunlight hits the raw scales underneath. The needles still burrow deep, even as his clawing draws blood. 

Another arrow pierces the dragon's arm, coating it with frost. Whatever daze he'd been in from peeling the leather disappears, and Leviathan charges after Ganyu.

The Tamer drops onto the roof beside Xiao, knees buckling as a wet cough dispels blood from their lips. Bao squawks and tugs on their hair, but they can barely stand. 

"You need to get out of here," Xiao growls. He reaches to send them away, but they latch onto his arm and shake their head. 

"I'm the only one that can remove the corruption, right?" they rasp. After a shuddering gasp, they stand and drag a dirty sleeve across their lips, leaving a scarlet smear. "Can you remove his harness?" 

Leviathan's enraged screech cuts him off. Frost coats one leg, but it doesn't seem to slow him down as he punches and punches his way through another building. Underneath the noise, there are even more panicked screams from the mortals trapped within. Before he can fight his way inside, Cloud Retainer sinks its talons into his arm, twisting its entire body to send them tumbling towards Feiyun Slope.

"I can try," Xiao says, summoning his polearm. "But you-"

"I'll try to pull out as many people as I can," they explain. "I-I'll stay out of the way, try to get my team out. Don't worry about me." 

"Whenever you say that, you end up doing something stupid," he says. The Tamer tries to protest, but his eyes dart from their red cord bracelet to the Hoothoot. "Stay with them, Bao. Keep them out of danger."

"Hoo hoo!" Bao hoots. 

The Tamer snorts, and with a final wave, they spring off the roof and shout, "Grassy Terrain!"

The rooftop ripples before the sweet, earthy scent of petrichor fills the air. Grass blades and strange flowers erupt from the ground, drowning the harbor in a field of green. Xiao's ink sparks as energy trickles through his system, faint but refreshing. Around his ankle, another vine tethers itself like an anchor.

"Find and save anyone you can!" the Tamer orders as a forest of vines uproot the rubble. "Go!" 

Xiao dives into Feiyun Slope. Cloud Retainer sails just inches from his nose, shattering another store under its body. Leviathan charges after it, but the adeptus is faster and drives his polearm straight into the dragon's tail. He barely slows, simply ripping a chunk of his tail free, but it does get his attention. 

Xiao bares his teeth and hisses. Leviathan's nostrils flare, and he rushes in with fists ablaze. 

It is almost terrifying how similar the Dragonite's swings are to the Tamer's. He strikes with wild abandon, using any joint he can to try and shatter Xiao's chest. An elbow clips his hair. A foot nearly catches his arm. Even his tail, which draws a thin line across his stomach despite its blunt tip. 

Xiao sees an opening when Leviathan nearly gouges out his eye. He dives inside and rams his polearm into the dragon's chest. As blood sprays, his fingers latch onto the harness. He means to rip it away, but with the blood slicking his scales, all he latches onto is the closest glass tube and crushes it under his fist. 

In hindsight, it is a terrible idea; the effect nearly brings Xiao to his knees. Corruptive ooze infects his arm, his ink flaring before his entire limb flops uselessly to his side. He throws up his other arm before a wild swing can behead him, but it still sends him flying. Before he can crash into a clothing store, the vine on his ankle tightens and hauls him into the air. 

Another ripple courses through the limb. The corruption froths, then drips off of his skin like rainwater. Where droplets touch the vine's skin, another vine bursts free and catches Xiao, leaving the infected piece to fall away.

"Thanks," Xiao says and perches on the vine. It gives him a comforting squeeze before pointing behind him. 

Leviathan stumbles on all fours. Every muscle in his body constricts, and with a heaving retch, a black blob splatters against the floor. It barely twitches before exploding underneath the dragon's fist. He claws and tears at his chest, bashing his skull into the ground as desperate wailing fills the air. 

Xiao grimaces at the noise. "Do you think you can heal him?"

The vine shudders. Following the vine into the city, Xiao can see the rest of Mr. Wriggles' vines work through the rubble, combing the city with Bao for survivors as best he can. A handful entangle the Tamer's body, feeding them energy as they struggle against the Abyss' runes. Even more are pointing every which way in an attempt to direct the surviving Millelith. 

Occupied, the vine seems to say and wiggles. Moron. 

Xiao almost retorts when his body moves on its own. A loud SNAP! pops in his ear as Leviathan's jaws tear into the vine on his ankle. The vine bulges and swarms the Dragonite, cocooning him in a wriggling mass as the adeptus lands on a nearby building. Flames burn through the vines with ease, but the moment Leviathan carves his way free, Xiao is upon him. If he can't beat the demon in a head-on fight, he has to aim for the next best thing.

He lunges for the harness' tubes. 

There are four vials still filled with corruption. One is empty, having likely injected itself while Xiao was preoccupied. He drives his full weight into the Dragonite, but the beast boxes him away with each swipe. When he's flung aside, the adeptus darts back in without hesitation. He has to be faster-he must. 

Down, back, right. Xiao dives under an arm, feels a blast of flames lick his back. His fist misses by a breath, and Leviathan's claws ghost his shoulder blade before he darts behind. The dragon's head snaps neatly around, unleashing a beam of ice at Xiao's afterimage. 

Electricity, fire, ice, water. Underneath the rush of dodge dodge dodge, Xiao can't help but feel impressed. Beasts are often restricted to certain elements, but Leviathan seems to wield everything but Dendro. When he parries, the mere force behind its swings makes his body tremble. In a fight of raw power, Xiao doubts he would survive. 

But it isn't, so Xiao rams his elbow into Leviathan's chest and shatters another tube.

"Wrig!" This time, Xiao retreats the moment he feels his arm go numb. The vines catch him, swarming his arm as Leviathan screeches. He expects the dragon to double over. His head rears back and locks onto Xiao instead. 

The vines just barely finish removing the corruption when claws clamp around his skull. Ice freezes vines in place, and Leviathan tears Xiao away before it can try and swarm him. For a moment, Xiao catches a flash of teeth, like the dragon plans to tear his head off himself. Instead, the dragon-

Xiao's entire body goes stiff as the world goes silent. When the dragon releases him, the world spins and dances even when he crashes through the building below. His ears are ringing. His eyes are vibrating in his skull. Each breath feels sticky and warm in his chest, and when he tries to speak, all he can hear is static. 

Vines try to cover the hole, but Leviathan comes crashing through the ceiling right after him. There are four of them now, warping in and out of his vision, and all four are lifting an electric fist at him. He cannot even brace himself. He can only stare as the fist flies towards his face. 

It connects with a sparking yellow body instead. Dozens and dozens seem to flood the room they're in, firing a barrage of needles into the dragon's scales. Leviathan's roar is muffled to Xiao, but he can feel the ground tremble all the same. Soon, he is chasing the yellow blurs out onto the street, and another face fills his triple-vision. 

Blue hair, horns-Frost bites Xiao's temple, the sound of Delta's barking and Leviathan's roars hitting him all at once. Ganyu scrambles back as he turns and gags, spitting up nothing. 

"Are you alright?" she asks. 

"I-I'm fine," Xiao growls. He forces himself to rise, polearm returning to keep his body upright. The Tamer must have released Delta. They just need Lady Kaiju. "Cloud Retainer is unconscious. Take it and run."

Ganyu's eyes widen. "But-"

"That's an order!" he snarls. Outside, he hears the same supersonic screech rip through the air, adrenaline overtaking his body. "NOW!" 

Delta's body comes flying at Xiao the moment he steps outside. The Jolteon groans in his arms, but several more copies continue to dart across the harbor, luring the Dragonite close behind. 

"Where's the Tamer?" Xiao asks.

Delta growls, ears slapping his face as he shakes out his confusion. His copies are dwindling, and the pair meet Leviathan's eyes before he drops the dog.

"Charm!" Xiao shouts over a deafening roar. 

Delta sits and bats his giant eyes at the dragon, lifting one paw. 

Leviathan skids to a halt, fist still raised. He towers over the Jolteon, but he continues to stare as the smaller hound rolls onto his back, exposing the pettable fluff on his stomach.

"Grr…" Muscles spasm. Leviathan's jaws snap at the air, but his arm begins to tremble, like something is holding him back. 

Or hesitating, Xiao realizes. Under corruption, the beasts still remember what happens. Renegade remembers Wuwang Hill, Tosca remembers Haoran. Does Leviathan recognize Delta? 

He grits his teeth and flickers out of range. It doesn't matter. "Discharge!" 

Leviathan disappears in a surge of light. Somehow, through the paralysis, his wings carry him out of range with little trouble. His eyes dart between Xiao and Delta before plunging towards the earth. Shockwaves erupt through Feiyun Slope.

His entire body trembles from the earthquake until he dives for Delta and flings himself high, high into the air. The building he'd been on shudders before outright collapsing, leaving a plume of dust in its wake. Several more fall in quick succession. 

Xiao finally lands on the rough waves of the harbor, jaw tight. The smoke provides just enough cover to take stock of his injuries. The Grassy Terrain had been enough to mitigate his injuries, but it had barely reached Feiyun Slope. In his arms,  Delta's body trembles, breaths coming out in rough, wheezing pants. 

Ground beats Electric, he recites mentally. It is Delta's only weakness, according to the Tamer. 

"Are you okay?" he asks. Delta groans and kicks his legs. He can't really tell what it means, but he holds the Jolteon tighter and tries to think. There are still three tubes. His energy is starting to wane, but Leviathan must be just as weak. Not to mention his hesitation fighting against Delta. 

But it is only a guess, and if Xiao was wrong, he doubts the Jolteon would last long against a dragon.

As Xiao thinks, Leviathan rises from the city, wings dispelling the rising smoke. He seems to squint hard but makes no move to strike. The harsh sunlight reflecting off the waves must not be helping.

Still, Xiao has to move. If he doesn't, Leviathan will return his attention to the town, and-

Another roar erupts from Yujing Terrace, and Xiao's eyes widen as a draconic mass of pure energy crashes into Leviathan's back. The two beasts careen towards the harbor, crashing into the water and nearly capsizing the adeptus. He springs over the waves before it can swallow him, then flips to see Lady Kaiju shatter a tube under her giant fist. 

"Kaiju!" Xiao shouts. Lady Kaiju roars, the waves carrying her to his side. She holds the infected arm away from her body, where a length of Mr. Wriggle's detached vine coils. After a moment, the vine begins to darken before falling away, bringing the corruptive ooze along with it. 

Lady Kaiju snorts and rolls her shoulder, then reaches down to nuzzle Xiao's hair. 

"Hello," he greets, a flicker of relief running through him. If those two are free, then only Tosca remains, then the Tamer could work on healing themself. 

Delta clambers onto the Rhyperior's back just as Leviathan bursts from the waves. Steam wafts from his sealing wounds, his eyes barely visible under the purple haze. Only one vial of corruption remains. 

Xiao grits his teeth and reaches for his mask. Lady Kaiju and Delta. He can work with that.  "Delta, keep her charged," he orders. "Kaiju, drive him back to the harbor."

Lady Kaiju whirs her horn. Delta snorts like he is offended. Somehow, Xiao feels that distinct sense of trust that only comes from a soldier who would follow his every command to the end of the world. 

He wonders if this is how the Tamer feels. As he dons his mask, he realizes it is no different than fighting alongside Menogias and Bosacius. 

Leviathan clashes with him head on. Xiao bares his teeth in a roar rivaling the dragon before him. Blow after blow, he twirls and dodges, jade clashing against scales in brilliant bursts of lights. Whatever hits he lands are nothing more than a glancing blow, but not once does Xiao feel his skin break. 

When he leaps back, Lady Kaiju charges in, horn shining from the constant stream of electricity fed by Delta. Her Ice Beam is a mockery compared to Tosca's (the Tamer calls her a Physical Tank for a reason), but Delta directs her where to aim and it works. At long range, he faces ice. At close range, he faces Xiao. 

And Xiao can see the dragon waver, just like before. His swings go too wide and frost is creeping across his wings, and when he tries to take flight, the muscles seem to cramp and he falls into an Anemo-laced Primordial Jade polearm. 

Leviathan plunges, screech half-swallowed by the waves. Xiao leaps after him and carves his polearm into the beast’s shoulder, nearly driving him below the surface until claws sink into his shin. 

The dragon breaches and lunges for the adeptus’ throat. Xiao slams his elbow into Leviathan’s jaw, hearing a resounding pop from his jaw and his own hip as he winds back. With a shout, Xiao kicks the demon and sends him straight into the docks, shattering the pier in two. 

Ice freezes Leviathan to the surface before he can recover. His roar is cut short by Lady Kaiju’s mace-like tail cracking against his skull. On the second strike, Leviathan latches onto her limb, the momentum ripping himself free. Delta yelps as Lady Kaiju flies into Feiyun Slope, then outright chokes under Leviathan’s grip.

Xiao snarls before he can stop himself. “DROP IT!”

Leviathan flinches and drops Delta, tucking his hands behind his back innocently. It looks far too childish for such a bloodied beast to do, and he seems to realize it from how quickly he shakes out his arms and takes to the skies. His body starts to spark, enveloped by sparkling orange light. 

It is the same light he'd seen just moments before a meteor shower destroyed the harbor. Xiao sprints towards the pier, polearm tight in his grip. Another shower would ruin the pier beyond repair. If he takes out the harness, it wouldn’t knock out the dragon, but it would distract him. 

He skids and lifts his polearm. He isn’t the best at aiming, but…

Something cracks. At first, Xiao thinks it is the pier, but then a beam of light pierces through the air and skewers Leviathan through the back. He seems to choke on his own charging energy as he plummets to the earth. Dust obscures his form, but the stench of blood and corruption still reaches him from the water.

By the time Xiao catches up, Leviathan is just barely on his feet. Piercing through his chest is a ballista bolt, pulsing with adepti sigils and Cryo energy. His eyes drift northwest. Even from here, he can see the faint outline of the Guizhong Ballista, glowing from Cloud Retainer and Ganyu’s power. 

“Gah…” Leviathan whines, breaths coming out in weak pants. Around his chest, the harness slowly peels away, hitting the floor with a wet slap as his chaffed scales begin to ooze. There is still corruption within, but he doesn’t seem to move.

Xiao removes his mask. Delta and Lady Kaiju rush to join him, but he gestures for them to wait and approaches the Dragonite on his own. 

“Levi,” he calls. The Dragonite flinches, eyes darting to him as he lets out a warning growl. He still makes no move to attack, and Xiao lifts his hands placatingly. “It’s okay. Calm down.”

He remembers, Xiao thinks. He must. Underneath the corruption and the murderous demon is a tamed beast, the Tamer’s beast, and Leviathan’s growl wavers the more he speaks in their old tongue. 

It is too optimistic, but Xiao still tries. He reaches a hand out, fingertips nearly brushing Leviathan’s snout when the beast snaps.

Even with the bolt in place, he moves faster than Xiao can dodge. His fist strikes Xiao’s chest, one foot planting directly in his torso as flames build in his maw. In the same breath, Xiao braces himself, ready to escape and order Delta to paralyze the beast, but there is no need.

A gentle melody drifts through the wind. 

Leviathan's eyes widen. He stumbles back, claws twitching before latching onto his head. His nostrils flare as a pained whimper escapes his throat, but it only seems to spur the melody on. 

Its sweet notes ease the aches in Xiao's body. His muscles refuse to work with him as the melody fills the air. He recognizes this song. It is the Tamer's favorite, one that they hum whenever neither of them can sleep: Oracion. 

Leviathan…hiccups. His shoulders tremble as tears begin to drip from his eyes, and when he tries to wipe them away, all he does is smear his face with blood. The warmth of the liquid must surprise him, because he rips his hands away and cries out. His breaths pitch and grow until he drops back and wails. 

It reminds Xiao of the young boy who'd asked if his mother was dying while she was giving birth. It makes his skin crawl with fear at how…childish it sounds. 

Vines swarm Feiyun Slope, bringing Mr. Wriggles, Tosca, and the Tamer along with them. Xiao nearly calls out to them, but another brown blur tackles him over and knocks the words right out of his mouth.

"Hoohoo!" Bao hoots and churrs, nearly vibrating as he nuzzles into the adeptus' chest. Not a single feather is out of place, and Xiao allows himself a moment to just squeeze his partner as tight as his body permits.

"Hey, hey!" The Tamer skids to a halt before Leviathan, tugging his hands away from his face. "Levi, it's okay! I'm right here, don't worry-" Blood and filth leak from the beast's chest with each hiccup, but the Tamer barely reacts as they press their hands to his scales. "Shh, baby, it's okay. I'm right here. Just breathe."

The clearing the bathed in azure light. Slowly, the scales begin to shift. Like worms writhing from the dirt during a storm, the corruption seeps from the gouges in his chest. The Tamer crushes it with their bare hands and flings it aside. Each time, they whisper and sing to the Dragonite with a shaky smile. 

It takes six extractions before the Tamer finally focuses on the bolt. Their lips curl in disgust, and they mutter something under their breath before pulling away. 

"Wriggles," they call, then turn to kneel before Xiao as vines begin to swaddle the dragon. "Here, give me-"

"I'm fine," Xiao says. "Focus on Levi."

"Mr. Wriggles can handle it," the Tamer grumbles and takes his hand. Their red cord bracelet slips down their arm, knot loose, and as they work to repair Xiao's injuries, he reaches down to tighten the string. 

Xiao frowns as their seal sputters to life. Much of their torso is still covered in the Abyss' runes, but they barely seem to react to its presence. 

"...How are you feeling?" he asks. 

The Tamer hesitates, one hand rising to massage their Triquetra seal. "Tired. Empty…" They crack a tiny smile. "Hungry."

Xiao rolls his eyes, but Bao hoots in delight and flaps his wings. The Tamer scratches the Hoothoot between the eyes. 

"You were incredible, Bao," they add. "Very good boy. You saved so many people."

Bao puffs up from the praise, then settles deep into Xiao's lap with his eyes shut. It doesn't take long before he begins to snore.  

Soon enough, the bolt is removed from Leviathan's chest with a loud squelch. Mr. Wriggles' vines bloom with a garden of flowers, its aromatic scent wafting through the air and mingling with the ocean behind them. His hiccuping breaths ease, and he leans into the vines as they wipe the blood from his eyes. 

He starts to whine. The Tamer sighs and continues to work. "We're in Liyue. Teyvat. Are you okay?" 

Leviathan blinks slowly. His eyes drift over their shoulder, meeting Xiao's own gaze. His paw reaches up to scratch at his chest before chirping. 

"This is Xiao," the Tamer says. After another chirp, they laugh weakly and squeeze Xiao's arm. "You scolded him?"

"He was holding Delta," Xiao says. Somehow, his body has the energy to turn his ears pink. At their exhausted smile, he adds, "It was out of instinct."

The Dragonite's antennae twitches, gaze this time focusing on Bao. Xiao tightens his grip on the Hoothoot, but the larger beast simply continues taking in his surroundings. When he spots Tosca, his antennae lifts in surprise. He points and shouts, and it feels like a dam breaks. 

Tosca shuffles forward as fast as she can, her flippers almost useless on solid ground. Leviathan meets her halfway, struggling free from Mr. Wriggles' vines, and the way he cradles the Lapras' face feels too intimate for Xiao to witness.  

"They are mates," the Tamer whispers when Xiao looks away. "Levi and Tosca almost had an egg together before…"

"Before the war began?" Xiao guesses. At their nod, he watches the beasts again. Leviathan is sniffing at Lady Kaiju, and after her own snort, she scoops him up in a tight huh. His antennae twitches again as his head turns, like he is searching for something. 

…or someone. There are only five beasts here. Renegade must still be at the Watchtower. Surely, he would have woken up and joined them by now, right?

"Xiao?" 

"Yes?"

The Tamer's hands slip from Xiao's arm. They're watching their team as they continue to exchange hugs. Mr. Wriggles is bouncing angrily, jabbing at Leviathan's barely healed injuries while Delta barks and nips at his legs. The Dragonite picks up the small dog and cradles him with one arm like a baby, then returns to nuzzling Tosca's side. 

Just like a family. 

The Tamer does not meet his eye when they turn. "I'm sorry. I'm…" Their hands begin to tremble, heartbeat climbing. 

Xiao reaches out, gripping their hand tight. He almost asks what they mean, but he is silenced by a tremor in the earth. 

The air congeals, bearing down on Xiao's body. Ahead of him, the beasts let out panicked shouts, gathering together in a protective shield as the tremors grow stronger. The Tamer tries to stand, seal shining in defiance. 

They only manage two steps towards their beasts when a stone stele erupts between them. Three others burst from the ground, forming a translucent wall of jade, penning the creatures within. Lady Kaiju bellows and rams her horn into the nearest wall, but nothing happens. 

Xiao cannot breathe. He clutches Bao tight when he tries to take off, gasping out, "Return!" with all his strength. He recognizes this presence, had felt it the day he'd been freed from captivity. 

And as Rex Lapis descends from the skies, the Tamer refuses to yield. 

The Archon does not speak; the broken remains of Liyue Harbor are loud enough. The Tamer forces themself forward and throws their arms wide anyway, teeth bared. They are unarmed, coated in dirt and dripping with blood, looking nothing like the adeptus they'd pretended to be.

“Don’t touch them,” they snarl. 

Rex Lapis only frowns. “They have destroyed the Guili Watchtower and my harbor-”

“They were being controlled!”

“-And they have killed my people.” Rex Lapis’ eyes seem to glow brighter than the midday sun behind him. “Do you believe it right that I spare them when they did not do the same?”

No, Xiao answers in his mind. There is justice to be had. He is meant to protect the people of Liyue, seek vengeance when their blood is unfairly spilt. But he meets the Tamer’s eyes, sees the way they shimmer with unshed tears because they are them and can almost read his own thoughts. 

“They…They did nothing wrong. They are my team, under my command.” They swallow and lift their chin. Their hands are trembling. “I will not let you hurt them.”

For a moment, Xiao thinks he sees the archon’s stone mask falter, and a traitorous hope blooms in his chest. After all, the Tamer’s beasts had been influenced by corruption, and they had been able to evacuate much of the harbor before Leviathan could destroy it all. And they are the Tamer. They'd sworn an oath to protect the people. They would never, they would-

Four steles erupt from the ground, this time around the Tamer. Their head whips side to side before banging on one of the jade walls. Their beasts roar and struggle within their own pen.

Xiao recalls his brothers and sisters. He feels the mask at his side, the crushing presence of the archon he serves. It does not matter. His duty is to Liyue, no matter what he thinks. Or…or what he wants. 

Morax did not prevail by showing mercy. Xiao could not, either. 

But when Rex Lapis crosses his arms, Xiao's feet are moving. His energy is low, near empty from fighting so long, and yet he feels it pulsing. In his throat, in his wrists and ankles, even deep in his chest, something within him beats harder and begs him to reach the Tamer in time. They do not have Renegade, they cannot teleport away, but if he could just touch one-

It takes the Tamer's eyes meeting his through the impenetrable jade shield for him to realize that he could never bypass Res Lapis' shield. It also takes their terrified face for him to realize that the frantic pulsing of his energy feels too much like the heartbeat in their ribcage. 

Then the meteor befalls and Xiao is sent hurtling away by a shockwave of pure energy. Pieces of meteor rain around him as he skids across the clouded field, tumbling onto his feet. In the sky, meteor fragments spark against Rex Lapis' shield. The archon lifts a hand and, with a flick of his wrist, dispels the cloud of dust left by the explosion. 

It terrifies Xiao how unsurprised he is by the Tamer's glowing fist as it drops to their side, coated in meteoric dust. The final remnants of the Abyss' runes burn away, consumed by the endless void that is the God Killer's power. Even Rex Lapis' presence seems to weaken, as if the seal around their skin is sapping his energy from the air.

They drive their fists into the steles around them, reducing the constructs to mere dust. The ones around their beasts fall just as quickly, and they rush to flank their tamer as they turn to face Rex Lapis.

"I…I have killed archons like you," they declare, but tears spill freely from their eyes and their voice wavers as they choke out, “Please. Don’t do this.”

For minutes, nothing stirs. Not until footsteps pound over the horizon. Despite the torn ear and claw marks carving one side of his face, Renegade appears with fangs bared and eyes ablaze with fury. It stirs the rest of the beasts into action, each rounding on the god in the sky. Above, Rex Lapis summons the Vortex Vanquisher and brandishes it with a twirl.

It's their chance to run. Renegade is with them, he can teleport away. It does not have to end in a fight, Xiao pleads, but he knows better. A fight would be better. Fighting would end with a victor, but the moment they flee...is the moment they become the enemy.

Their eyes meet again. The ridiculous, impossible them swallows, then throws their arms out. "DOWN!"

Renegade skids to a halt before he can leap for the god. He snarls and snaps at the air, but the Tamer slowly lowers their gaze. Their seal fades into the skin until all that remains is their plain, mortal self.

"I'm sorry," is all they say. Their knees buckle, and they bury their face in their hands as they sob. "I'm sorry..."

Chapter Text

Xiao is not allowed to see the Tamer afterwards. 

He understands why, of course, but that doesn't stop him from waiting outside of the domain after every patrol. The one who'd set it up (an adeptus who calls herself the Streetward Rambler) had given up on trying to send him away days ago, and it is not as if he has anywhere else to go. Cloud Retainer is still busy rebuilding Guili Watchtower with the mortals. 

Still, it has been five days. Mortals can last three days without water or sleep. Perhaps they'd gotten something while he was patrolling, but that doesn't make Xiao feel any better. Especially when the Streetward Rambler refuses to answer any of his questions.

"Just be patient, young man," the adeptus scolds. "I doubt your lover's in any danger. If Rex Lapis truly wished to be rid of them, it would have been over by now."

Xiao is too busy thinking of the Tamer's ability to shatter Rex Lapis' meteor to argue. They have all six of their beasts with them now. In an enclosed space with no risk of harming any mortals means they could fight without any restrictions. 

Seven on one. Each beast designed to cover the other's weaknesses, led by the consuming void disguised as a human. Rex Lapis is powerful, but not even he could escape a battle like that unscathed. 

"Hoo?"

Xiao looks down. Bao has yet to leave his lap since the 'meeting' began. He seems content, at least. 

He runs a hand over his partner's feathers, throat tight. If the meeting ends with the beasts' eradication, does that include Bao? He is, after all, another beast from the Tamer's world. He is Xiao's, but…

"Hoohoo!" Bao wiggles, climbing onto Xiao's thigh. After some maneuvering (and a few sharp nips), he settles underneath his elbow and shuts his eyes, snoring just seconds later. He is far too big to be sitting under his arm like a hatchling, but Xiao doesn't bother trying to move. 

It may be his last moments with him, after all. 

Another hour passes before the teapot rattles. The Streetward Rambler perks up, tilting her head to one side before humming. "Conqueror of Demons? Your presence is requested." After a moment, she adds, "You can bring your bird with you. Now, don't move."

And, with a snap of her fingers, Xiao finds himself surrounded by towering, white stone walls and translucent, blue crystals. A clocktower chimes in the distance, a resounding Bong! filling his body with a crippling sense of longing that does not belong to him. When he stumbles back, the Tree of Beginning stands tall against the horizon, glowing with life. 

"Hoo?" Bao's hoot echoes down the hall. His eyes glimmer, and after another, louder hoot, he takes off and flutters through the hall with glee. "Hoohoo! Hoo!" 

"Groah!" 

Bao shrieks and darts behind Xiao just as Leviathan rounds the corner. Delta and Mr. Wriggles ride on his back, howling with delight while Renegade chases their tail. Despite missing one eye and half an ear, he seems as youthful and springy as ever. 

"Hey!" Xiao snaps. "Heel!"

Leviathan skids to a halt mid-air, Delta tumbling off his back with a yelp. Renegade catches him by the scruff before he hits the floor, then lets out a muffled bark and approaches the adeptus. When Delta tries to swat Xiao's hair, Renegade tosses him aside and licks his cheek instead. 

"Stop it," Xiao grumbles. As he tries to shove the hound away, another vine tugs on his wrist, and he finds Mr. Wriggles pointing at Leviathan urgently.

The Dragonite's antennae lift in alarm before he begins to flap his hands. Whatever he says, the Tangela seems to ignore, because he begins to dance and drag the beast closer by force. It takes Renegade biting the vine for him to stop. He barks once, twice, and Delta ends up barking at Xiao when Mr. Wriggles begins to strangle the Arcanine. 

Delta points down the corridor and trots. Xiao follows along as Leviathan struggles to break the others apart, Bao fluttering behind. 

Entering Cameran Palace fills Xiao's chest with…something. It is both foreign and familiar. He recognizes the oil portraits on the walls, but he struggles to put names to the faces. He knows the stairway to his right leads down into the ballroom, but can't remember what it looks like. 

And it is empty. Cameran Palace had always been busy, halls clogged with knights or servants or beasts visiting from the Tree. Queen Rin had loved performers, requesting personal bards and jesters in every main hall to fill the castle with noise. Xiao had hated it once, but…

The adeptus blinks, then slowly sorts through his mind until the Tamer's memories separate from his own. Bao hoots and pecks at his hair in concern.

"I'm alright," he says when Delta whines. "Keep going."

Delta grumbles, but he continues up another set of spiral staircase before entering a smaller, yet lavishly furnished bedroom. Much of the walking space is choked with furniture, and the pink walls are barely visible under the decorations.

The solar, if he remembers correctly. More specifically, Queen Rin's and King Aaron's shared room. 

Delta weaves through the furniture and leads Xiao to a set of doors. When he opens it, he finds himself on a parapet walkway overlooking the surrounding lake, where Lady Kaiju and Tosca float. Obscured by the mist, the Tree of Beginning looms in the distance. 

Before him, Rex Lapis and the Tamer turn, the latter smiling softly. Their crystalline staff leans on the parapet behind them, free of its runes.

"Welcome to Cameran Palace," they say. "Madame Ping said to choose a place the beasts were familiar with, so…here we are."

Xiao grunts, eyes drifting over their uniform. In shape and style, it is Cloud Retainer's old silks, dyed a deep azure and decorated with gold embroidery similar to the uniform of an Aura Guardian. Their crystal necklace glows over Kamuna’s Triquetra seal. When they face the horizon, he spots his bracelet tied tight around their wrist. 

"It is a beautiful place," Rex Lapis says as Xiao joins their side. "You said we are south of Sinnoh?"

"The place you speak of is in the Coronet Highlands." The Tamer's lips purse. "We were stopped before we could reach the peak."

The words are lost on Xiao, but Rex Lapis nods before facing him, face stern. "Conqueror of Demons, report?"

The rebuilding effort around the harbor is running smoothly, monitored closely by the Liyue Qixing. The Tianshu has requested support in repairing Guili Watchtower, to use one of Rex Lapis' own pillars as the base. There have been no sightings of the Abyss or its ruler, but Bao has discovered several traces that disappear in thin air. Despite their best efforts, however, they have been unable to locate their main base.

"Some have…also requested the Tamer's assistance," Xiao adds slowly, "from them and the beasts."

Apparently, Lady Kaiju would be of great help with the miners collecting usable stone, and Xiao has caught wind of Millelith wishing Mr. Wriggles was around to help move rubble. Tosca and Renegade are needed to transport goods. As for Delta, the children miss having something soft to pet while the fishermen lament not having the hound around to herd fish. 

The Tamer hides their face at that. Delta, sitting on the parapet, whines and paws at their hand until they pet him. 

"What about Levi?" they ask after a deep breath. 

Xiao hesitates, answering only when Rex Lapis nods. "They think he is a rival god, like Osial." Many have praised the Beast Tamer and the adepti for protecting them from such a monstrous demon. He decides not to mention that part to them.

"...oh." The Tamer's hand hovers over Delta. His bark distracts them, and as he rears up to push into her palm, they let out a sigh and set him on the floor. “Delta, can you give us a moment?”

The Jolteon’s ear twitches, but after a glance between Rex Lapis and Xiao, he barks and leaps from the parapet. Leviathan appears around the bend as if he'd been waiting, catching Delta in his arms. He gives the Tamer a delighted wave and plunges for the lake. 

A quiet breeze ripples across the walkway. The only noise comes from the beasts splashing in the water. At some point, Xiao catches Mr. Wriggles attempting to throw Renegade into the water. He succeeds after assistance from Lady Kaiju, and Tosca ends up carrying the giant hound on his back as he trembles from the cold. 

Over eight hundred different species of beasts live in their world. Only seven survive in Teyvat. 

"Does Bao want to play with them?" Rex Lapis asks suddenly.  At mention of his name, the owl hoots and glances between them.

"It would be…good for him," the Tamer says slowly. "Hoothoot do not live in…hah. What is the word for a group of birds?"

"A flock," Xiao says.

"Right. They do not live in flocks," they say, "but they normally have siblings. It, ah, helps learn the right behavior."

Bao puffs up as Xiao scratches his head. It makes sense. The bird had grown up surrounded by people. Teaching Bao to fly involved Cloud Retainer's guidance, and he had to re-adjust to eating 'traditional' meals for beasts. It would have been better to grow surrounded by beasts of his own kind, but they did not have much of a choice.

"Do you want to play with the others?" he asks. Bao hoots and tries to eat Xiao's finger, gurgling around the digit. "You can practice flying with Leviathan."

"Ghoo!" Bao flaps his wings in protest. He's larger than Xiao's own head, stubby wings small yet powerful.

"Levi knows how to play gentle," the Tamer says. "He is like Lady Kaiju. Very shy. He even taught Aaron's Pidgeot how to fly when she was younger."

Bao only gurgles, then dislodges himself and tries to climb onto Xiao's arm. His talons threaten to break his skin the more Xiao attempts to dislodge him. 

"Prince Adeptus!" Tosca's voice calls from the lake. Leviathan is thrashing in Lady Kaiju's grip, trying to grab the Lapras. "Lover asks to play with Bao! He thinks he is very-"

Leviathan breaks free and tackles Tosca, shoving both her and Renegade into the water. The hound wails and paddles to Mr. Wriggles, who floats on his vines with Delta as Lady Kaiju snorts.

"Hoo…" Bao still long enough for Xiao to untangle him. His head swivels between his partner and the river. 

"I'll be here," Xiao promises. Pulling away, Bao takes off for the water with a loud hoot. He is incredibly tiny compared to the rest of the beasts, but Leviathan is the one who backpedals when he emerges from the water. He shrinks away from the owl, and Bao begins to chase him around the lake when he realizes that he can tug on the Dragonite’s antennae without fear. 

Rex Lapis lets out a quiet sigh, filling the space between the three. He makes no move to look at Xiao or the Tamer, but they still tense at the sound. 

“All has been decided,” he says, “I will begin the preparations now. And…” 

Xiao glances at the archon. There is a miniscule pinch in his brow, a slight downturn of his lips that make the God of Contracts seem anything but godly. It disappears when he turns to face them. 

“It is a shame it has come to this,” he says, “but…such is inevitability.”

The Tamer’s shoulders slouch as they glare at the archon. “That is not very comforting.”

And Rex Lapis simply chuckles. “Unfortunately, providing closure is Barbatos’ area of expertise."

With that, he departs in a flicker, the tension in the Tamer's body disappearing along with it. They slump against the parapet, exhaustion weighing down every inch of their body until Xiao fears they might topple over. 

"Are you okay?" he asks. 

"Tired. He is very…um. Wordy." The Tamer nods slowly, massaging their face. "What about you?"

"I'm fi-" Xiao stops, hands clenched at his side. "I was…waiting."

"...for me?" The Tamer smiles when he nods. "Sorry for taking so long, then." They offer a hand. When Xiao takes it, they squeeze it tight and return to watching the beasts in the lake without letting go. "It was a lot to work through."

Xiao can imagine. Destroying the harbor would have been grounds for death. And he would have gladly helped if it had been anyone else. 

That thought still unsettles the adeptus. If it had been anyone else, Xiao would have been the first to hunt them down. Instead, he'd hesitated-no. He nearly helped them try to escape when Rex Lapis had appeared. How ridiculous.

He shakes the thought from his mind. "But it has been decided?" 

Instead of answering, the Tamer releases his hand and caresses the crystal they’d worn ever since they arrived in Teyvat. Whatever they contemplate, they seem to find the answer, because they pick up their crystalline staff and offer it to him.

It hits Xiao like an arrow through his chest. 

"No," he snarls. 

The Tamer's face falls. "Xiao-"

"You're not-" He gnashes his teeth and storms towards them, shoving their staff into their chest. "You're ridiculous. How is-What are you thinking?"

The Tamer grips their staff, face a mess of emotions before smoothing over. "They don't deserve to be sealed away forever, Xiao. If I give them to you, at least they could still-"

Xiao doesn't catch the rest. All he manages to say is, "Sealed?" 

And the Tamer stops. Their grip loosens, and they set it back down as they nod. "Rex Lapis wanted them sealed. I…" Their own ink flickers. "I refused. Instead, I offered to have them serve Liyue under your control. They listen to you, and it is better than just letting them run free."

They would only be captured and corruption once more, his rational mind realizes. At least, if they are kept in the staff, released only under his control, they could still live in Teyvat. 

"Then what about you?" he still asks. The Tamer is their master, not him. Handing over ownership means…

The Tamer's fingers curl, this time playing with the red bracelet on their wrist. "It is too dangerous for me to stay. My abilities-no. My presence will only draw attention."

Xiao scowls. "The Abyss is nothing-"

"Not just them, Xiao," they say quickly, grabbing his hand again. "There is-Rex Lapis says there is worse. Beyond his own control."

Celestia. 

Xiao swallows and tries not to glance at the sky. Even in this sub-space, it feels as if something is watching him. He'd never given much thought to the beings that ruled over the Archons, but he doubts they would allow the presence of a god killer and their beasts to survive in Teyvat. 

"I…see," he forces out. "But what then? What about you?"

The Tamer smiles and squeezes his hand before he can continue. "My memories will be removed."

It only takes their tiny smile for him to understand. Erasing memories erases existence. If they remove their memories, they would no longer be the Tamer or the God Killer. They would no longer remember Cameran Palace or their eight hundred beasts, or Haoran and the Watchtower or-

Xiao grips their hand tight. Removed. Not erased. The crystals store memories, like the Ley Lines to Irminsul. "It…won't be permanent?"

"No. I doubt I could ever fully forget...everything. Maybe, w-when it is safer, I can remember, but..." The Tamer's face falls as they release his hand. "But after that…I cannot tell you. N-Not because I don't want to, but…it is safer."

Safer? It is safer for him? They aren't telling him because-Xiao wants to laugh. He almost does, but he is too busy glaring at the Tamer. How many years has it been, and yet they still hesitate with him? "Are you serious?"

The Tamer's eyes waver, a brief flicker to their usual bemused self before it sinks into something more despondent. Empty. "I just don't want anyone else to die."

Because it would be for nothing, he thinks. Because, if something goes wrong, someone will come for them. Someone will force them to fight, and they would just be the demon they'd been in the past, devouring life and killing gods, drowning in the blood of innocents until they couldn't breathe. 

And Xiao doesn't want to understand. He wishes he didn't understand so deeply, so painfully. He wishes his mouth would work then and tell them that he knows what they mean, that he is just as terrible and monstrous. 

But he can't, and he settles for the only thing he can think of to do. 

He cradles their face and kisses them. 

It is...strange. It only lasts a moment, and yet in that brief touch, Xiao feels all of his energy disappear. His knees almost cave and his chest is close to exploding, his skin is on fire despite the breeze around him. He thinks he might be dying. If he is, he is not sure if he minds at all. 

When he pulls away, the Tamer is frozen stiff. Their mouth falls open and their eyes dart all across Xiao's face. Had he done something wrong? He...doesn't regret it, no, but they'd looked hurt, and he'd just assumed they would understand because they're them. The Tamer. The impossible, ridiculous them. 

Xiao swallows. "I-"

Their smile is blinding. Their laughter sings in his ears as their hands cradle his face, callused and alive. When he finally meets their eyes, he feels like they are staring at the dawn after a terrible monsoon. Like he is their entire world. 

The Tamer is faster than him this time, pressing kiss after kiss to anywhere they can reach. Each time, he can feel their lips curl into a smile, muttering their thanks against his skin. They end with a final kiss to his lips once more, and this time Xiao melts into them until he can barely stand. 

"Thank you," they whisper when he finally pulls away. There are tears building in their eyes, even after he brushes them away with his thumb. "Xiao...thank you. I-I..." 

They don't finish, chest heaving as tears spill faster and faster down their cheeks. It is weakness to cry, but Xiao presses his forehead to theirs and holds them tight. 

He understands. He wants to say it, but he is still an adeptus and mortal words are never enough. So, this time, he settles for sending his energy through his skin, their ink flickering in tandem with his. A silent, wordless contract between the Vigilant Yaksha and the Beast Tamer. 

Xiao feels empty when they pull away. The crystalline staff is impossibly heavy in his palms, each empty of their respective beasts. Another cord slips around his head, and he feels the warmth of their own necklace seep through his skin. It overlaps with his vajra.

"Looks good on you," they say, smile bright. 

"It is…" Xiao hesitates when the Tamer tightens his bracelet around their wrist. "Adequate."

The Tamer lifts a brow. "I can take it back-"

"No." Xiao grits his teeth, forcing himself to meet their tender stare. "I will keep it safe until you return."

It can't be forever. It won't be. 

The Tamer's smile wavers before they reach out. He presses his cheek into their palms, melts into their hold as their lips graze his forehead. 

"And I will," they promise, so faint that Xiao wonders if it was meant for him. He feels their chuckle against his skin, and they smile sheepishly when they sit back. "It might take some time, but I will."

Xiao hums, eyes fluttering shut as their fingers card through his hair. He slips between their arms and comes to rest against their collarbone, their heartbeat thrumming in his ear. It will not be forever, but he does not know when 'next time' will be. 

The next time the Tamer tries to pull away, Xiao reaches up to kiss them again, soaking in their warmth until he is aflame. The fervor only grows when they finally break away to breathe. 

"You learn fast," they say between gasps. They almost continue when Xiao cuts them off with another kiss.

"Shut up," he growls. It isn't enough. He wraps his arms around their torso, burying his face in their neck. It has to last. The warmth will have to last until next time. Even when they do not remember him, it must last.

The Tamer laughs and buries their face in his hair. "I am not complaining." 

Xiao growls again, but a kiss to his head silences him. Wrapped in their arms, he doubts his body would allow him to move. He will have to, eventually. He has his duty to fulfill as the Vigilant Yaksha and…as the master of their beasts.

But for now, he shuts his eyes and simply admires how loudly their pulse thunders in his ears. For now, he allows himself to savor their presence and rests. They will leave, but it will not be forever, he tells himself. Until then, he will wait.

Chapter Text

Commission: Researching a Lost Legend

Seeking a research assistant for a new story to perform in time for this year's Lantern Rite. If interested, please contact Iron Tongue Tian of Third-Round Knockout for more information.

Lumine's brows pinch as she rereads the short summary before finally looking up. "A…research assistant?" 

"Huh? That's it?" Paimon says over her shoulder. She reaches for the paper and flips it over, but there is nothing on the back. "Paimon feels cheated! You told us this was a request of the utmost importance, and that we should finish it immediately!" 

Behind the Adventure Guild's counter, Katheryne nods. "And it is. It was put forth by the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, who had specifically recommended that you two complete it."

Lumine looks up in surprise. "Keqing asked us to do it?" 

"Huh?" Paimon pouts, hands on her hips. "Paimon bets she's just doing that because she's working super hard and doesn't want us to try and stop her!" 

"That does sound like something she'd do," Lumine mutters before shaking her head. No, that wouldn't be right. Considering everything they'd done last Lantern Rite, she's sure Keqing had her reasons for asking. It must be important. "But a commission's a commission, I guess." 

"Excellent." Katheryne hands the ink pen to Lumine, continuing on as the adventurer signs off on the paper. "Iron Tongue Tian should still be at Third-Round Knockout now. Happy Lantern Rite, and ad astra abyssosque!" 

Third-Round Knockout isn't that far from the Adventure Guild's desk, so Lumine takes her time to walk down the streets of Liyue Harbor. Lanterns dangle from every available hook, colorful streamers and fragrant foods drifting in the seabreeze. The actual event itself is still more than a few weeks away, but that does little to tame the excitement buzzing in the air. Foreigners are already trickling in, and she's even spotted a few Snezhnayans in the mix.

"Paimon wonders what the theme will be this year," Paimon says when a handful of men pass by with a cartful of crates. 

"Well, each Mingxiao Lantern is based on a hero from Liyuean history, right?" Lumine says. 

"Oh, right! Hm…" Paimon's face pinches, deep in thought before sighing. "It's no good. Paimon doesn't know a lot of heroes from Liyue." After a moment, she lights up. "Wait, maybe it'll be about Xiao!" 

"I…think the hero has to already be dead, too," Lumine adds slowly. 

"...uh oh." Paimon covers her mouth. "That would be pretty rude if they had a whole festival honoring fallen heroes for someone still alive, huh?" 

Lumine snickers, reaching back to pat Paimon's head. "Well, we could hold it for you, if you want."

"Hey!" Paimon swats Lumine's hand away. "Paimon is still alive and kicking, thank you very much!"

The traveler laughs and dodges the little guide's attempts at tugging on her hair, jogging up the steps to the Third-Round Knockout. She's heard from the locals before that it's been around for the past five hundred years, although its name was changed after the original building was demolished. It carries the same air of history that the entire nation seems to have. 

Iron Tongue Tian is sitting near where he always is, surrounded by stacks of books and papers and muttering under his breath all the while. Lumine decides to see just how long she can stand right behind him before he notices. The books are written in traditional Liyuean, but she sees a handful in Teyvatian Common scattered around. 

'A Catalogue of Elemental Beasts', 'The Modern Dog and its Wild Ancestor', 'The Domestication of the Human Companion'...Lumine makes a face. What in the world is he-

"Heelloooooo?" Paimon calls. "Mr. Tian?"

"GAH!" The storyteller jumps, nearly knocking over his ink. He whips around in surprise, hand on his chest. "Oh! It's you two. Apologies, I was a bit…preoccupied."

Paimon snickers and floats over the cluttered table. "Paimon can see that! Is this all for that new story you're working on?" 

"It is, indeed." Tian nods and massages his temples, shooting Lumine an exhausted smile. "And I suppose you accepted the commission I put out for Katheryne?" 

Paimon beams. "We are, indeed! What're you looking for, anyway?" 

The storyteller laughs and gestures for Lumine to sit. As she does, he begins reorganizing the books and offers one to her. 

"Tell me, Traveler, how familiar are you with the adepti of Liyue?" he asks. 

Lumine accepts the book as she reflects on the entire event that led to her battle against Osial and a handful of other, less life-threatening encounters. "Pretty familiar, I'd say."

"We've met a whole bunch of them!" Paimon says. "Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, and…well, I guess Ganyu still counts as one, too, but she works in the Harbor so it's not that hard to see her."

"And Yanfei," Lumine adds as she opens the book written in Common. It's something about the shared mythical creatures between nations, citing Azhdaha and his connection to both Liyue and Sumeru. 

"The adepti who have survived to modern day, then," Tian says. "Then I'm right in assuming you've never heard of the Beast Tamer?" 

Lumine continues to scan the book. "Who?" 

"One who Tames Wayward Beasts and Guards Eternal Aura," he repeats, "or the Beast Tamer, for short. They were an adeptus who'd fought alongside Rex Lapis some time ago." Tian frowns and crosses his arms. "Or fought against him. There are conflicting accounts." 

"There were adepti that fought Rex Lapis?" Paimon gasps. "Paimon thought the adepti worked with him to defend Liyue!" 

Tian frowns further. "Well, if the records are to be trusted, I hear that there have been two who tried to best him, which is far higher than one would expect for the adepti."

"But why ask about them now?" Lumine asks. A quiet voice in her mind worries that his research is for something nefarious, if it has anything to do with finding said adepti to force them into siding with the Fatui. Even if Rex Lapis is 'dead', Liyue is still standing strong, and having allies in rebellious adepti would make sense. 

"Simple." Tian waves a hand towards the busy streets. "The Liyue Qixing have commissioned me to perform a story about them. They are, after all, the chosen hero for this year's Mingxiao Lantern."

This time, Lumine looks up and shuts the book. "Why?" 

"I have no idea," Tian says and slumps in his seat. "From what I've gathered so far, they're a bit of a…controversial figure. I've seen them described as a bloodthirsty demon in one book and then a benevolent medic in another. Some say they transformed into animals and consumed human spirits, but then others claim they saved Liyue from a mysterious plague that would have destroyed the entire nation." He throws his hands into the air with a wail. "And some even claim they were never an adeptus to begin with!"

Lumine watches as Iron Tongue Tian buries his face in his hands. All she can really say in consolation is, "Sounds complicated."

Paimon gives the Traveler her best disappointed pout before patting the storyteller's head. "Well, if it helps, the Traveler is really good at piecing together old stories!" 

"I have a bunch of achievements to prove it," Lumine agrees. 

Iron Tongue Tian laughs and lifts his head. "I would hope so, or else I would've been doomed." He clears his throat, sitting up. "Having said that, I have a few key locations that we could split between us."

Lumine eyes the list he offers, mouth set. A handful are within the Harbor itself (which she assumes Tian will take), and the other markings are places she's passed through several times before. After a moment of memorization, she nods and sits back. "What should I be looking for?" 

"Oh, the normal things: dilapidated monuments, broken statues. Things like that." Tian drums his fingers against the table. "As far as I am aware, the Beast Tamer lived for some time in the area around Dihua Marsh. Perhaps the Wangshu Inn might have something for you."

With that, Lumine leaves the storyteller to his research, turning to Paimon as the guide hovers at her side. 

"Do you think we could ask Xiao or Ganyu for help?" Paimon asks. "They're both adepti, and they've been alive for a really long time!" 

"Maybe not Ganyu," Lumine says. "I'm sure she's busy helping everyone set up for the Festival."

"Oh, right…Aw, and Xiao's said before that he always gets super busy fighting those demons that appear when Lantern Rite starts." Paimon huffs, face pinching. Lumine has to turn down the suggestion of finding Yanfei ("She doesn't have a contract with Rex Lapis.") and Shenhe ("She's the same age as Beidou, Paimon.") when they run right into the solution. 

It feels like running into solid rock. 

"Ah, Traveler, Paimon." Zhongli grips Lumine's shoulder to steady her, an amused smile on his face. "I hope you two have been enjoying the festival so far?" 

"Zhongli!" Paimon waves in delight, kicking her feet. "It's been so cool so far! Paimon's been getting a bunch of free samples, and there's this one stand that sells candy shaped like Cor Lapis. It was reeeally good." 

Lumine regains her bearings just enough to poke at her guide's side. "And just why are you getting so many free samples?" 

Paimon blinks innocently. "Because…Paimon is super cool?" 

Lumine stares, only for Zhongli's chuckle to draw her away. He looks just the same as he always been, which she supposes is just one of many-

"Wait," she says, "can you help us with something?" 

Zhongli cocks his head. "What do you need?" 

Paimon takes over from there, relaying the request to the former Archon. The further they go, the more Zhongli's face begins to shift into something weathered and pensive. It only stops when Paimon mentions 'two adepti that tried to fight him but obviously lost because he's, well, Zhongli'. 

"Well, there are some inaccuracies to that." He chuckles and gestures for Lumine to follow. "But that tends to be the case with many of the stories that mortals create over the centuries." 

"But the Beast Tamer still is an adeptus, right?" Paimon asks. 

"...in a sense," he answers. 

"That doesn't make sense," Lumine says, to which Zhongli simply laughs. 

"Much of their story did not." 

They arrive at the courtyard in Yuehai Pavilion. There are plenty of people bustling around, setting up decorations and stalls for the festival, but Zhongli bypasses them in favor of a table underneath the shade of a tree. There is a tea set waiting for them, and Lumine pours the warm tea as the ex-archon thinks.

“They were a soldier,” he says once all three cups are filled. “Unfortunately, they did not have a contract with me.”

“But they still fought on your side?” Lumine asks. 

“They did.” Zhongli cradles his cup, seeming to savor the warmth seeping through the porcelain. “They were a powerful ally to have, one with control over elemental beasts.”

“Like other adepti?” Paimon asks, “or…like, slimes?”

“Think of vishaps or…Andrius, of Mondstadt.”

Lumine recalls the giant, ice-breathing wolf in Wolvendom and shudders. That doesn’t sound quite pleasant. “What about the stories of them being a medic?”

“Also correct,” Zhongli says, although his brows lower at the statement. “Do you recall the strange substances discovered in the Chasm?”

“The Dark Mud?”

“And do you have your Lumenstone Adjuvant?”

Lumine retrieves the gadget from her pocketspace. The crystals glow faintly, barely visible in the midday light. When she offers it to the ex-archon, he smiles and shakes his head. 

“I was only curious,” he says. There is a strange twinkle in his eye, almost fond. “Those crystals and their ability to purify such dangerous substances…you have the Beast Tamer’s presence to thank for.” 

"But…about the other things?" she asks. "Tian called them controversial."

The fondness turns bittersweet. "Understandably so." Zhongli admires his tea, watches the steam waft off its surface in whorls. "Unfortunately, there is not much else that I can say regarding that. It would be better to learn on your own."

Lumine raises a brow. "Why do I feel like you're just saying that because you don't want to talk about it?"

Zhongli lifts the cup to his lips. "Whatever do you mean?"

“Sounds like Zhongli doesn’t want to tell us the rest,” Paimon sighs as they leave the ex-archon to drink, “and Paimon thinks that everything he told us doesn’t really help. They did good things, but…he didn’t deny any of the bad stuff we asked about.”

Lumine nods along, brows furrowed in thought. From the way Zhongli spoke, it almost reminded her of his friendship with Azhdaha: an old friend turned foe, forcibly sealed away for the greater good of Liyue. 

"Well-" Lumine rolls her shoulders. "-only one way to find out." 

"Agreed." Paimon claps her hands. "Let's go check out those places Mr. Tian mentioned!" 

And so she sets out and lands on Wuwang Hill ten minutes later. The skies dim and the air turns bitter, but Lumine squares her shoulders and tries to think. There is an abandoned village here, one filled with spirits and ghosts from long ago. If she recalls, its populace had been lured away by some monster's song until all the youth were gone, leaving the elders to pass on with no one to survive them. 

It's a start. She treks up the slope and allows Paimon to grip at her shoulder, the warmth an anchor amidst the frigid atmosphere. The normal moans and sobs bounce around the hill, and when Lumine could see the broken ruins of the village, a chilled breeze sends tremors through her core. 

"Do you think the monster that took everyone away was one of their beasts?" Paimon whispers. 

"Maybe." Lumine regrets not asking Zhongli about what the elemental beasts could do, but she presses on and enters the village. Nothing seems to have changed since her last trip here with Hu Tao. Everything is still preserved under layers of overgrowth. 

In the darkness, Lumine extends her senses and watches as her Elemental Sight washes over the town. Once more, she finds nothing of note. Whatever had life has long passed on. She does, however, see a handful of strange indents in stone, along with felled trees overtaken by weeds.

A single gouge mark is wider than her hand. And there are four in a row. 

"Claw marks?" Paimon guesses. "Do you think it was a monster?" 

"Maybe." Lumine frowns. "It would make sense. This kind of damage doesn't happen when a village is just abandoned." A fight happened, she guesses, and all of its inhabitants were…

She continues her search, but what little she finds only affirms her theory. Broken doors, shattered stone. More than once, she almost trips and falls into strange pits that pocket the surrounding land. It doesn't paint the Beast Tamer in a positive light, if this really had been caused by them. 

Eventually, Lumine takes Paimon and teleports to their next location of interest: Mingyun Village. Just like before, the village is abandoned, but she recalls the notices about moving to the Chasm since the mines had been tapped dry. 

This time, it is Paimon who finds something. She points at a dilapidated hut and, once Lumine lifts most of the wood out of the way, retrieves a crushed basket with a note attached to it. Much of it is written in ancient Liyuean, but she can make an educated guess.

"A schedule?" Paimon repeats in surprise. 

"Yeah, look." Lumine points at the numbers in one column, followed by different signatures next to it. "They must have signed off doing…whatever at certain times." There is writing at the bottom that she cannot read, unfortunately-

"Hey! Paimon recognizes that character!" Paimon says excitedly and points. "That says 'eat'."

"Of course you would recognize that," Lumine mutters. 

"Of course Paimon does." Paimon leans in to scan the paper. She points at a few more words. "'Fish', 'meat'. Paimon recognizes a lot of it from the Wanmin Restaurant! Maybe it's a menu?"

"But then why would it have a timesheet on it?" 

"Maybe…it's a feeding schedule?" Paimion guesses. "Maybe they kept cats to scare away mice!" 

Lumine hums, scanning over the paper once more. That would make sense, but this is also a place marked on Tian's map. "Or maybe it was an offering to a beast to keep it happy."

Paimon's smile falls. "Oh…that might be it, too. But they can't have been all bad, right? They must have done something good. Maybe even just a little thing, like helping out an old man!" 

It's wishful thinking, Lumine wants to say. Every location they travel to, they find little scraps of civilization. Much of it never gives them much information-at best, they can make inferences, but nothing concrete. By the time they finish searching Guyun Stone Forest, the sun is beginning to set, and the traveler feels less than satisfied. 

"It's like they've been erased from history," she mutters. Not fully, of course. There are written tales of their deeds, and they're being recognized by the Qixing as this year's hero, but there isn't much else to be found. 

Lumine nearly takes off when Paimon tugs on her hair. "Look!"

There's a man standing at the edge of the beach, muttering to himself and rooting through the sands. His clothes are completely drenched, like he'd gone swimming without taking it off. 

"What's someone doing here?" Paimon asks. "Isn't this area off-limits?" 

"It is." Lumine frowns as the man kicks at the sand. "Maybe he washed up on shore." 

Paimon gasps and tugs on her hair. "Then we should go bring him to the harbor! Come on!" She flies off without waiting for a response, waving her hand frantically. "Hey! Mister!" 

The figure does not react at first. Not until he turns and nearly bumps into Paimon head-first. 

"Huh?" The man steps back in surprise, then frowns. He says something that sounds like Liyuean. When that garners no reaction, he clears his throat and tries again, this time in thickly accented Common. "This island is dangerous, child. Go home." 

"I-Huh?" Paimon plants her hands on her hips. "I was about to tell you that, mister! You shouldn't be here alone. Especially at your age." 

Lumine almost asks what Paimon means until she focuses on his face. Fine wrinkles crease his forehead and cheeks, peppered with sunspots and thin, greying hair. When he stands straight, his face pinches with strain, but he sets his shoulders back like a well-trained soldier.

"Learn your manners, brat," he snaps, "and I can go wherever I please. Now, if you'll excuse me..." He slips past Paimon and moves to head deeper, only to stop when his eyes land on Lumine. She only frowns. 

"What are you doing here?" she asks, careful to keep her voice even. "Do you need any help?" 

The elder man's eyes flash. "And don't patronize me, either, young lady. I..." He trails off, hesitates, then scowls and glares at the sand. "I am..." 

He doesn't finish. Paimon sends Lumine a nervous glance before clearing her throat and floating closer.

"It's alright," she says softly. "We can help you, if you want. Paimon is an expert in all things Teyvat, and the Traveler is an expert adventurer!" 

"I am," Lumine agrees. Sure, they have another commission to work on, but it's not like she can't multitask. And the old man...really looks lost. And he's still dripping wet. They need to sit him down somewhere and dry him off, maybe find whatever family he has on the mainland. They must be worried sick. 

Thankfully, the older man seems to relax under Paimon's sweeter tone. "If you insist." He clears his throat and looks into the distance. "I am looking for something."

"What for?" Paimon asks. 

"A weapon. My weapon," he says. "It is very important that I find it." 

"A weapon?" Lumine echoes. Why is an old man running around with a weapon out here? "What kind?"

"...a Catalyst," he says after a moment. "A Catalyst, yes." 

Paimon makes a face and clears her throat. "Okay, then! We'll go look for your weapon. You just sit tight and dry off, okay? Oh, actually..."

And so Lumine is stuck setting up a small camp for the man. She makes sure to sit him on a flat enough rock and builds the fire just close enough to keep him warm. The entire time, Paimon tries to chat with him, but his answers are clipped at best, and the traveler can feel his eyes boring into her neck the entire time. 

"Is it almost time for Lantern Rite?" he asks suddenly. 

"It is!" Paimon says. "Are you visiting the harbor to celebrate?" 

The man scoffs and leans towards the fire. "No. I'm waiting for my child to finally propose to someone." His eyes seem to sparkle despite his annoyed expression. "I told him before-the Lantern Rite is the best time to do it. If he doesn't, then they'll be snapped up before he even realizes it." 

Paimon giggles, pressing her hands to her cheeks. "Oh, Paimon understands! Lantern Rite is a reeeally romantic night for couples. Where is he now?" 

"He is..." The man's eyes lose focus, if only for a moment before returning with a fury. "He is a soldier, so he must be deployed right now. Poor idiot, he has trouble making friends with the others." 

"And does he know you're here?"

"He's busy," is what he says for an answer. "I wanted to find my..."

"Catalyst?" Paimon offers helpfully.

"My Catalyst, yes," he says. "I wanted to find it before the year begins." 

"Why would showing him a weapon help?" Lumine mutters under her breath. 

The older man still hears anyways and scoffs. "Because it would remind him that idiots like him can still have feelings." 

It makes no sense to Lumine. Paimon looks equally as confused, but she smiles and nods and floats a little bit away, promising to come back once they find the weapon. The moment they're out of earshot, the little guide grips her hair and hisses, "What is up with that guy?! Paimon felt like she was talking to a brick wall!" 

"He's an old man washed up on the shores of the final resting place of a dead god," Lumine says. "I'm not surprised he's a little off."

"Paimon guesses, but..." Paimon frowns and glances wearily over her shoulder. "Paimon feels a little worried. How did he end up all the way over here? Shouldn't someone have noticed?!" 

Lumine shrugs, jabbing her thumb towards the harbor. "It's prep season for Lantern Rite. Maybe they've all been too busy to notice." 

It seems reasonable to her, but it still sours her mood. She, admittedly, has little patience to deal with the elderly, but he is still a person. If they run into his son, she'll be happy to knock some sense into him before leaving. 

For now, Lumine tries to focus. Logically, his weapon should be somewhere on the beach, but after two full laps, all she finds are traces of water and her own footprints. There is a chance that the currents had washed it to a different beach, or that it sank before ever reaching the shore, but she doesn't want to return empty-handed. 

Then she remembers that Catalysts are meant to be used by Vision users, and Vision users tend to leave traces of Elemental Energy wherever they go. 

When Lumine activates her Elemental Sight, her confidence swirls into confusion. Footsteps lead straight up a cliffside. As in, the old man somehow managed to climb up a cliff face with the catalyst and then proceeded to lose it somewhere. 

"What the fuck?" she mutters. 

Paimon gasps and pokes Lumine's head. "Swear!"

So she climbs. She climbs up in intervals, far far from the sandy beach, and when she finally reaches the top, the trail weaves further up the peaks of stone until finally coalescing at the very top of the central island. 

"Paimon..." Lumine gasps and points, too winded for words. 

"Right!" Paimon rolls up her sleeves. "One hole, coming right up!" She hovers close to the ground and begins to paw at the dirt. It doesn't take long before she gasps. "Look!" 

Lumine stumbles over as Paimon pries something from the dirt. It's a heavily rusted ring, but it still tingles under the traveler's fingertips the moment she grazes it: an Emerald Orb, damaged beyond repair. 

"It's missing the inner piece," she says.

"Paimon doesn't see anything else," Paimon says with a shrug. "But that has to be it, right? How'd it get all the way up here?" 

Lumine's lips purse, but she shrugs right back. "I'm not sure, but at least we can bring it back." 

The old man is still sitting there when Lumine comes floating down on her glider. His clothes are still dripping wet.

"Mister!" Paimon calls, waving her hand. "I think we found your weapon!" 

The old man sits up, eyes sparkling. "Then give it here, child! I don't have much time." 

Lumine bites back on the urge to taunt him and offers him the rusted Catalyst. When it touches his shaking fingers, his face falls as he huffs. 

"I see." He runs his fingers along the rim. "It's...been a while." 

"And it was all the way up there," Paimon adds and points to the apex of the island. The old man follows her finger, and while the guide giggles and nods to herself, his face darkens even further. "You must've had a really good throwing arm to get it all the way up there!"

"...perhaps I did," he mutters. His voice crackles as he holds up the outer ring. "But it is missing a piece."

"We couldn't find it," Lumine says. "Sorry."

She almost expects him to snap and order her to go back and search, but he merely chuckles and slips a hand into his sopping robes. "It is alright. Here, your payment."

Paimon gasps as Lumine holds out her hand. The old man's fist quakes when he reaches out. His fingertips are deathly cold as they brush her palm. 

"Thank you for your time, young lady," he says. "And tell the others I miss them dearly."

Lumine blinks as a crystal falls into her open palms. Her face reflects in its opaque surface, dancing in the soft light of her office. 

Across the room, the Tamer smiles and squeezes their hands nervously. "Crystal of the Tree of Beginning. For you." 

Lumine's grip tightens on the crystal. It matches the one dangling from their neck. "Why?"

"It is Lantern Rite," they say. "Time for new year, yes? Good time for...things. Uh, no word."

"A gift?" she offers. "Gifts are to give things to others, often as signs for thanks or appreciation."

The Tamer nods slowly, then smiles again. "Then a gift for Haoran. Do you like it?" 

"I do," Lumine says and presses the crystal to her chest. It is warm and tickles her skin, like it is pulsing in time to her heartbeat. She knows the crystals are fragments of their tree, that they had once fought to protect it so long ago. But now, here... 

Lumine hums and smirks at the Tamer. "Do you have a gift set for Xiao, then?" 

The Tamer's seals sputter. Even in its broken state, it still manages to shimmer red. Internally, Lumine jots down the observation to tell Cloud Retainer for later. "I-Uh-"

Lumine snickers as they aggressively sip at their tea. "Oh, young love. How disgusting." 

"Disgusting?" the Tamer echoes. 

"Well, to me," Lumine says with a wave of her hand. "It was simply never appealing."

"Oh." The Tamer's face shifts. They set their tea down, fingers drumming against the surface before saying, "No family?" 

Flashes of the ruined village taunt Lumine's mind, but she only exhales softly and nods. "Only very distant cousins left. Why?" 

The Tamer stares long and hard at their hands. "I do not, too."  Their fingers curl before they smile at Lumine, eyes crinkling. "We are alone together!"

"I, truly, would rather die," Lumine says, gasping in mock offense when the Tamer holds their middle finger to him. "And how dare you! Respect your elders, child."

The Tamer laughs and apologizes, and Lumine takes the moment to examine their face. They seem young, she thinks, but when they fall silent, Lumine can see the emptiness behind their eyes. She'd seen it plenty of times before in the soldiers fresh from the front lines. 

"But..." Lumine says, "I suppose having you for an heir would not be insufferable." 

"Insufferable?"

"Painful." 

The Tamer lights up and beams. "Really?" 

"You already run my office without my permission," Lumine drones. The Tamer somehow smiles even wider. It is nearly blinding. 

"So you are father of a father." 

"That would be a grandfather," Lumine says and lifts a brow. "To be a grandfather requires a grandchild. So if you or Xiao can bear children-"

The Tamer flashes again and buries their face in their hands. "Stop." 

"Adepti of whatever gender are capable of reproducing-"

"Stooooop-" 

"And your beasts do not count," Lumine finishes with a sip of her tea. "And I am sure Xiao has incredible stamina-"

The Tamer bangs their forehead against the table, burying their face in their arms. "Evil old man. Evil." 

"You're the one who started it," Lumine hums, draining her cup. The moment she sets it down, they are quick to refill it. How polite. That doesn't stop her from asking, "What do you see in him, anyway? The adepti are horrible when it comes to humans." 

She expects the Tamer to glow red or maybe shrug, but their face turns pensive. They tug on the red ropes entangling their torso again, then finally sigh. 

"I think...he is like me," they eventually say. "And...if he is, then...I want to help." 

Whatever amusement Lumine feels fades quickly. "You know, love does not fix everything."

"I know. But I think it does help make...everything easier," the Tamer says, smile soft. "Even if he does not feel same."

Lumine watches as the Tamer loses themself in their thought. She almost tells them that Xiao has been busy collecting pillows and blankets when the soldiers aren't looking, meticulously storing them in a basket in her office to try and surprise them for Lantern Rite. Instead, she says, "You deserve as much love as you're giving, you know." 

The Tamer's smile twists into something painful. "Not always." 

Before Lumine can correct them, there is a telltale ripple of Xiao returning from his patrol. He's holding a container with a scowl, but it vanishes the moment the Tamer sits up. They barely get a word out when he thrusts the container in their face. "Here." 

"Huh?" The Tamer accepts the container and opens it, eyes lighting up. "Mandarins!" 

"Why do you have a basket of mandarins?" Lumine asks as the Tamer plucks one from inside. 

"A merchant insisted I take it after I rescued him from bandits," Xiao explains. He gives the Tamer a rather intense stare while they are busy peeling it open, then immediately turns when Lumine smirks at him. "Eat it. Or else it will go to waste."

"Mm, I will." The Tamer chucks an unpeeled one at Xiao's back. He catches it without turning. "Stay safe, Xiao."

"I will," he says. He takes another step, hesitates, then adds, "Good night," before flickering in a hurry. 

Lumine's eyes dart between the Tamer and the empty space where Xiao had been and buries her face in her hands. She is no fool. Xiao had stopped in the middle of his patrol to bring mandarins to the Tamer. Mandarins from a traveling merchant that, if memory serves, rarely gives away his prized mandarins during peak selling season that is Lantern Rite. 

They think he doesn't return their affection? Lumine sighs and massages her face. She is surrounded by fools.

When she opens her eyes, Paimon is in her face, gripping her cheeks. "-up! Are you okay?!" 

Lumine groans. Her head is throbbing, and she allows the little guide to hug her face as she tries to collect herself. "What…happened?"

"You blacked out!" Paimon gasps. "When the old guy gave you the thing, you tensed up and wouldn't respond to Paimon! Paimon tried to wake you up, but then the old guy just disappeared and Paimon didn't know what to do…"

Disappeared? Lumine pries Paimon from her face and checks the camp. Sure enough, the old man is nowhere to be found. All that remains is her Catalyst on the rock. 

Her? Lumine swallows, hand tight around the crystal. "I don't think that man was alive."

"Huh?" Paimon goes pale, hands gripping her dress. "D-Do you mean he was a…ghost?"

"Yeah." Lumine holds out the crystal he'd given her, her reflection pensive. This must be one of the crystals Zhongli mentioned. Those images must have been his memories that she'd experienced just then. And the person…that was the Beast Tamer? They looked so…normal.

"Oh…" Paimon hovers over the Catalyst, frowning. "Should we bury this? If it was his, it feels wrong to leave it out like this."

Lumine frowns, then picks up the broken Emerald Orb. Her shoulders ache at the idea, but she rises to her feet and sighs. "Yeah. After that…I think we should go visit Wangshu Inn."

Chapter Text

Wangshu Inn is overflowing with guests from afar, and when Lumine appears on the balcony beside the waypoint, she hears a panicked yelp.

"Oh, Traveler!" Verr Goldet clears her throat, hand over her chest. "Sorry, I'm still…not used to you using that thing." 

"Sorry, Miss-wait." Paimon blinks and cocks her head. "Huh? What are you doing by the balcony, Boss Goldet?" 

Verr lifts a brow. "Am I not allowed to stretch my legs once in a while?" 

Lumine lifts a brow right back. "I just thought you were permanently stuck behind the desk." 

Verr doesn't even crack a smile, but Paimon distracts them both with a loud gasp. She darts towards the wicker basket balancing on the balcony rails, sniffing around its cover like a rifthound. 

"Woah, this smells great!" She reaches a hand out, nearly opening the top when Verr shoos her away. 

"It's not for you," she says. 

"But Paimon just wants to peek!" 

"No." Verr sets a hand over the top. "They're special cakes. Also, they're very bitter." 

"How bitter?" Paimon asks. 

Lumine frowns, claps a hand over her guide's mouth, and jerks her away from the basket. It smells fresh. "Who for?" 

"I-Actually…" Verr's eyes dart between Lumine and the waypoint behind her. "Would you like to meet him?" 

And that is how Lumine finds herself in the middle of Jueyun Karst, basket tucked firmly under one arm. Apparently, the person Verr had been waiting for is off on a commission around here, and as the humble manager of Wangshu Inn, it is no place for her to be walking through. 

Lumine thinks she really should learn to say no to people's requests. 

"Verr said we just had to whistle, right?" Paimon asks. At Lumine's nod, the guide smiles. "Alright!"

Neither girl moves. 

"Do you…not know how to whistle?" Lumine asks. 

Paimon flushes. "Paimon thought you knew!" 

"I don't. My brother always made fun of me because of it." 

"Ugh…" Paimon tugs on her hair, chewing on her lip. "Well, if we can't whistle, maybe we should just yell? Miss Boss Lady said he's got really good ears, right?"

Lumine thinks it is a…terrible idea. They are in Jueyun Karst, home of the Adepti, and screaming would disturb the peace. Or, at least, accidentally summon Moon Carver and Cloud Retainer and be scolded for the rest of the day. But, as Paimon sucks in a deep breath, she decides to sit back with a bemused smile. 

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!" Paimon screams. "WE HAVE YOUR LUUUUUUNCH!" 

Her scream echoes through the mountain range, startling a few birds into the sky. Paimon glances around expectantly, then pouts when nothing appears. 

"Should Paimon try again?" she asks. Lumine's ears are still ringing and do not hear the question, so Paimon clears her throat and cups her hands around her mouth. "I SAID-"

A howl silences her, and Lumine tackles Paimon out of the sky before a Riftwolf can cleave her in two. 

Lumine tosses Paimon behind her, her sword falling in her palm as the Riftwolf rounds on her. There are deep gouges all over its body, leaking filth onto the grass, but it still bares its teeth and growls. 

"What is a Riftwolf doing all the way here?" Paimon whispers, clinging to Lumine's shoulder. 

"I don't know." Lumine tenses as the Riftwolf snaps at the air. Last she'd heard, they'd only been in Mondstadt. Then again, she's seen them teleport...

She readjusts her grip, Geo energy crackling under her heel when the Riftwolf flinches. Its head snaps back, and whatever it sees in the skies sends it running. 

"Wh-Hey!" Lumine shouts. She nearly takes off after the monster, but a shadow passes over her. 

"HOOHOO!"

A shimmering pink orb shatters against the Riftwolf, blinding Lumine with a burst of light. By the time her vision clears, the Riftwolf is gone, and another beast bends in its place, pecking at the remains. It bubbles and hisses under the beast's touch before evaporating.

"Huh?" Paimon scrubs at her face. "Woah…is that an owl?" 

The bird's head twists, tawny feathers rippling as it straightens. With its antler-like feathers protruding over its red eyes, it stands taller than Lumine. Triangular spots dot its stomach. Dangling from its neck is a crystal, firmly secured by a red cord.

The longer Lumine stares, the more her memories stir. "A…Noctowl?"

The Noctowl freezes. It hoots, head twisting until its antler-like feathers nearly brush the ground.

"Ew…Paimon doesn't think owl heads should do that," Paimon whispers from the basket. 

"It's not an owl," Lumine says. "It's…that's…" The more she tries to recall, the faster the memories slip away. She grits her teeth and massages the throbbing behind her temples. 

A tiny palm soothes her hair. "Are you okay?" 

Lumine sighs, waving Paimon away. "Yeah. I just…was thinking." 

"Oh, was it one of your old memories?" Paimon asks. 

"Mhm." Lumine has enough trouble remembering what happened before she'd been separated from her brother, but she swears she'd seen something like this beast before…

"Well, I'm sure they'll come back to y-GHK!"

Lumine peels her hand away in surprise. "Paimon? Wh-Hey!"

The Noctowl gurgles, Paimon firmly lodged in its beak. With a harsh yank, the little girl pops free, and the two stumble back as the owl hops after them. It lunges for Paimon's fingers, blocked only by Lumine's blade. 

"Hey, back off!" Lumine snaps, cradling Paimon to her chest. The Noctowl puffs up and flaps its wings, but the traveler only scowls, poking the bird back. "She's mine, so-"

She trips. She braces herself, tossing her sword aside to wrap both arms tight around Paimon. She expects the Noctowl to pounce now that she's down. 

Instead, there's a delighted "Hoo!", followed by aggressive gagging. In Lumine's haste, she'd knocked over the basket of cakes from Verr, and the owl is busy shoveling as many bundles as it can down its throat. With each swallow, it lets out a little trill of delight.

"Is…is it over?" Paimon croaks. "Is Paimon safe?" 

Lumine huffs and allows the little guide to slip free, careful to catch her when she wobbles. "Yeah. You're undigested."

"Good…Paimon really doesn't want to be emergency food…" Paimon scrubs one sleeve over her eyes, then shrieks. "Wait, that's not for you!"

The Noctowl hoots and devours another cake. 

"Well, no saving it now," Lumine sighs. She brushes out her dress, already thinking up excuses to tell Verr when a twinkle catches her attention. The crystal must have fallen from her pocket when she tripped. 

She bites her tongue in focus and snatches the crystal, forcing back the soft allure of the man's memories. The memories are not her own, and she'd rather not pry into the thoughts of the dead. 

Lumine moves to tuck the crystal deep in her pocket when the Noctowl hoots. It is staring once more, this time at her hand. 

"Hoo…" It stomps, head twisting side to side. On its chest, the crystal sparkles, a hypnotic pendulum slowly disappearing in its plumage as it begins to bristle. Its hoot grows into a hiss. 

"N-Nice owl," Paimon squeaks as its wings lift in challenge. She dives behind Lumine when it eyes glow a bright red. "Paimon thinks it's still hungry!"

"Then it can go eat something else," Lumine snaps, sword at the ready. There is no way she is losing against an…

"Hoo!"

When Lumine wakes up, Xiao is looming over him with Bao perched on his head. Both are dripping with blood. 

"Can I help you?" she asks slowly. She's seen enough blood and viscera that the smell does little to her senses. Unfortunately, she's also dealt with Xiao enough times to know he's about to ask her something that will take several hours to explain. 

"How do you cook a boar?" he asks. 

Lumine exhales very, very deeply. She massages the tension from her face as she mutters, "Please tell me you left the boar outside."

"I did."

"Okay, good. Second question: Why?"

Xiao frowns as Bao hoots again. "The Tamer said they wanted pork. Bao found boar and killed it." 

Lumine buries her face even deeper in her hands. "Why didn't you just ask the chefs to make-" Her head jerks up. "The sun isn't even out yet, Xiao. Why did you…"

Delta growls from the foot of her bed, stretching his legs out with a groan before resettling. Lumine almost kicks him (he isn't allowed to sleep on her bed and yet he does it every night), but the sight of the beast jogs her sleep-addled mind. 

Beasts catch food to bring home to their mates. It helps to prove to their mate that they are capable of providing food and safety. And, if Lumine remembers correctly, Xiao's animalistic form is that of a bird. 

She sighs, this time to smother the exhaustion in her chest. "Xiao, that is a very noble gesture, and I am confident the Tamer would enjoy it, but there is pork in the kitchen. Why not just ask the chefs to prepare the dish next time?"

Xiao frowns, but it looks more petulant than angered. "They are asleep."

It is a lazy excuse, but Lumine knows why, of course. Asking the chefs is far out of the adeptus' ability when it comes to interacting with the mortals. 

She hums and sinks back into her blankets. "Then I will ask for you in the morning. Just…leave the boar in an ice box, please." She hears the floorboards shift, and she mumbles out, "And take a bath, fool. You're filthy."

Xiao huffs, but she hears a soft, "Fine." all the same. Bao hoots and nips at the adeptus' hair, steering him out of the room.

Lumine chuckles. Poor fool-

Lumine jerks up and nearly headbutts Xiao in the process.

"What the-ow…" Lumine groans, gripping her temples. It feels like someone had taken her brain and tossed it in Xiangling's frying pan. 

Xiao looks the same as he always is: neutral face, flat voice. There is a tiny flicker of concern in his eyes as he sits back. "Are you okay?" 

Obviously not, Lumine thinks before hissing out, "Yep."

"Traveler!" Paimon tackles Lumine's head, clinging tight to her hair. "Oh, Paimon was so worried you weren't going to wake up!" 

Wake up? Lumine pries the guide from her face, squinting at the clearing around them. The Noctowl is standing next to a tree a fair distance away. While his torso faces him, his head is turnt a clean one eighty to stare at the trunk. "What happened?"

"Bao used-on you," Xiao says. 

Lumine grunts. "Used what?" 

Xiao repeats himself, but the word means nothing to the traveler. The adeptus must realize it, because he simply says, "He put you to sleep."

By the tree, the Noctowl-Bao hoots and shakes his head. Xiao speaks again in that strange tongue, but the Noctowl refuses to look at him. 

"He knocked Paimon out, too," Paimon whispers. "When Paimon woke up, he was carrying us to his nest!"

Nest? Lumine scans the clearing again. They seem to be in a garden of some kind, surrounded by towering stone and crystal chunks. A gentle breeze carries the scent of freshly cut grass and flowing water while sunlight tickles her nose. 

"Where…are we?" she asks. It looks like Mondstadt, but nowhere she'd ever been through since she arrived. Everything here seems untouched by mortal hands, undisturbed for the past millennium. 

"My…domain," Xiao says. His hand moves to his vajra, where the crystal on its hilt sparkles. "I do not use it often."

"Explains the lack of decorations," Paimon mutters. Beside the tree, Bao lets out a choppy hoot that sounds eerily like laughter. 

Xiao ignores them both. "What are you doing in Jueyun Karst, anyway? The festival is in the harbor." 

"We were looking for you, actually!" Paimon says proudly. "The Traveler and Paimon were given a very special task to help out with this year's festival. We came to the Inn to ask Boss Goldet for help, but then she sent us here with food, and then Bao ate Paimon…"

"He ate you?" Xiao echoes. The Noctowl bristles and snaps his head around, flapping his wings in protest. When the adeptus glares, the owl chokes and returns to sulking against the tree while he sighs. “What did you need help with?”

Lumine opens her mouth, ready to relay the commission to Xiao when the crystal in her pocket burns. Xiao had been in the man’s memories before, and from the way they interacted, they must have been friends with the Beast Tamer. Or allies, at least. Another friend that the adeptus outlived. 

“Do…you know the Beast Tamer?” she asks. 

The wind around them seems to halt. Xiao’s brows pinch, a miniscule wrinkle on his skin. Bao hoots lowly, watching the adeptus warily. 

“Why?” is all Xiao asks. 

“One of the storytellers asked us to do some research on them,” Paimon says cheerfully, somehow oblivious to the tension in the adeptus’ muscles or the way the Noctowl’s talons sink into the dirt. “They’re going to be the subject of this year’s Mingxiao Lantern!”

The tension in Xiao’s shoulders disappears instantly, and Lumine thinks she might catch a tiny smile on the adeptus’ face when the Noctowl tackles him over. He starts hooting and trilling, nipping at Xiao's hair while one foot claws at his pants like it plans on climbing the adeptus like a tree.

“Woah,” Paimon gasps as Xiao struggles to fight off the beast. “He’s like a giant cat.”

“Well, owls are just cat-headed hawks,” Lumine mutters. 

Bao lets out a valiant hoot before Xiao manages to shove him away. He lets outs an excited trill and hoots, overpowering the adeptus’ attempts to silence him in his strange tongue. It almost seems like they’re arguing with each other before the beast chirps and points at Lumine. 

When they both stare at her, she feels a bit too much like a mouse out in the open. 

“You have a crystal?” Xiao asks. 

Lumine swallows and covers her pocket out of instinct while Paimon nods. “Some old guy gave it to her at Guyun Stone Forest. Paimon thinks he was very rude.”

Their stares turn even sharper as Xiao holds out a hand. “May I?”

No. Definitely not. Lumine forces her hand to move, retrieving the warm crystal from her pocket. When she hands it to the adeptus, his decorated arm flickers in tandem with the crystal in his vajra. For a brief moment, the light in his eyes vanish, watching the memories within. Paimon gasps and moves to intercept, but Bao nuzzles into Xiao’s neck and hoots. 

The adeptus’ eyes flutter before he grips the crystal tight. “I…see."

"You do?" Paimon asks. "What the heck is in that crystal?" 

"Memories." Xiao's lips twitch as he stares at his fist. "These were Haoran's memories before he fell."

"Haoran? You mean…" Paimon gasps when he nods, face falling. "Oh, Xiao…"

Xiao scoffs. "I'm fine. Haoran died an honorable death." He shakes his head after a moment. "But the Beast Tamer…"

"We asked Zhongli what he knew," Lumine says. "He told us it was better to learn on our own."

"Apparently, there's a lot of controversy about them…" Paimon adds. 

Bao hoots quietly under his wing. Whatever he says, Xiao scoffs and plucks a feather out of his chest. The beast nips his hair back.

"There is…too much to explain," Xiao  says. He holds up the crystal, falters, then turns to Lumine. "What is he looking for? The storyteller?"

Lumine glances at Paimon for help, but she only shrugs. All Tian had asked was for them to look for evidence about the Beast Tamer, and everything they'd found could be interpreted both ways. "Something to make a good story, I guess."

Xiao frowns just as Bao trills. He reaches down and nips at the crystal in his vajra, hooting when the adeptus retrieves it. A dark look passes over his face, but it disappears just as quickly, and Lumine's brows jump when he offers it to her. 

"You can show this to the storyteller," he says. "It should be enough."

The crystal shines brilliantly in his grip. Even from here, Lumine can feel the gentle tug on her senses, calling for her to reach out and witness whatever sits within. Her mouth is dry as she says, "Is that yours?"

Xiao shakes his head. "It's theirs." 

The Beast Tamer's. Lumine swallows, fingers curling as Paimon gasps and shies away. "A-Are you sure? That must be really special…"

"It is." His expression falters once more, unnaturally soft as he admires the crystal. When he sighs, Lumine nearly flinches at how…human he sounds. "But it does not matter. Their memories are what make them the Beast Tamer. If the storyteller hopes to understand, then he will need this." 

Paimon and Lumine share a glance before the traveler reaches out. She sinks her teeth in her tongue, the pain grounding her to her own memories as she accepts the necklace. It numbs her fingertips, but she grips it tight and nods. 

"I'll keep it safe," she promises and bows. "Thank you." 

Xiao grunts, running a hand through Bao's feathers. "He will take you outside. I still have some things to take care of." 

The Noctowl hoots excitedly and reaches for Paimon. She squeaks and tries to fly away, but the owl begins to chase her into the air, and Lumine deigns not to intervene when Xiao tries to hand back the other crystal.

"I…already saw his memories. You can keep it," Lumine says. They must have been good friends, the three of them. It doesn't feel right to just take the other crystal when it'd come from the spirit of his friend.

Xiao huffs, but the tiny quirk of his lips belies his annoyance. "Why was he even there?" 

"Maybe he wanted to celebrate Lantern Rite," Lumine offers. She reflects on her conversation with the man and grimaces. "He also mentioned looking for his son, but he must have passed long ago."

Xiao makes a face. "But Haoran…" He hesitates, then shakes his head. "Never mind. Bao!" 

The Noctowl hoots and plunges, hauling Paimon behind in one foot. He pulls up from the dive and tosses her up, then catches her by the cape in his beak. The poor little fairy is as green as the grass under Lumine's feet. 

"Hoo!" Bao offers Paimon to Lumine, then bows to offer his back to her when she scoops the fairy up in one arm. He rises with ease, waddling over to Xiao to nip at his hair. His face barely emotes, but he does scratch a spot on the owl's neck that makes his entire body vibrate.

"Be safe," Xiao says as Bao spreads his wings. 

"I will." Lumine feels something prickle in her lungs and resists the urge to touch the Beast Tamer's crystal. "Happy Lantern Rite."

Xiao's eyes flicker between the crystal and her face before he nods. "Happy Lantern Rite."

It takes a single flap of Bao's wings to launch them into the sky. Despite the wind howling in her ears and the tiny shriek she let out, Bao moves in silence, carrying Lumine and Paimon into the clouds of the domain. Condensation ghosts over her cheeks as the sky bleeds red. Underneath, the rolling fields of Liyue glows with a blend of lanterns and sunset light.

"Paimon," Lumine whispers. Paimon groans, squirming in her arms, then slowly peels her head up in awe.

"Woah…" Paimon keeps one hand on the traveler as she peeks over Bao's wings. "It's so pretty from up here…It definitely beats gliding."

Bao banks in a wide circle before diving for the balcony at Wangshu Inn. Many of the foreigners gasp and point, but Verr Goldet is waiting for them with another cake in hand. She tosses it to Bao, and after a gulp and a hoot, the beast disappears in a flicker of Anemo.

"So," she says, "found everything you needed?" 

The way her eyes drift to the crystal on Lumine's chest is all the answer she gets. 

The pair spend the night at the Inn. At first light, they head straight for the teleporter and hunt down Iron Tongue Tian. 

"You want me to…watch this?" he says when Lumine offers it to him. 

"Yeah!" Paimon says. "Paimon isn't really sure how long it'll take, so maybe we should do this inside. And you might want to have some pen and paper ready for notes."

"That sounds…highly suspect," Tian says. 

"Do you want the crystal or not?" Lumine snaps. 

And so, Tian leads Lumine into his room at Third-Round Knockout. Books and scrolls overflow from every surface available, and the man has to clear off several annotated novels from his desk for somewhere to write. 

"So, I just…touch it?" he says once he is ready. 

"Yep!" Paimon hovers over Lumine's shoulder and beams. "Don't worry. We'll be right here to help!" 

Iron Tongue Tian makes a face and readjusts his glasses. "Well…if you're sure." He reaches out and accepts the crystal, then seizes.

Lumine doesn't know what Tian sees, nor does she want to know, so she busies herself by keeping watch as he…watches? the memories pass by. At times, she hears him giggle. Other times, he chokes out a sob. 

It doesn't sound very pleasant. It gets to a point that Lumine and Paimon decide to leave him to his own devices, ordering meals under his name and slipping it through the door. 

By the time he emerges from his room, they are finishing their dessert from dinner. His face is puffy, red, and soaked with tears, and Lumine offers him a flask of water while Paimon forces him to sit down on a nearby stool. 

"Are you okay?" the guide asks softly. 

Tian drains the flask first, sighs, then chuckles. "No. Not really." He sniffles and scrubs at his eyes, which only seems to make them even more red. "I wasn't expecting to…feel so much. It felt like I was going to explode."

"In a good way or a bad way?" Lumine asks. 

"In…in a way." Tian smiles, but it slides off just seconds later. "I was so, so happy, then afraid, terrified. My heart felt like it was being ripped right out and sewn back into place and-" He inhales sharply and massages his sternum. "And I felt like I was just floating…" 

His expression grows muddy, eyes staring into the distance. Lumine shares a look with Paimon before the fairy strokes the storyteller's head. 

"You don't have to push yourself," she says, but Tian shakes his head and stands.

"No, no…" he gasps. "I need to contact the Qixing. I have…oh, there are some decorations that need to be changed. The design of the lantern is all wrong!" He dives into his room, returning with a giant stack of notes. He stumbles past the hall and shouts, "T-Thank you for completing the commission! Your payment is on my nightstand!" 

And then Iron Tongue Tian is gone. 

Paimon and Lumine stare at the swinging doors, speaking only after the door finally shuts. 

"Uh…" Paimon scratches her head. "Commission complete?" 

"I guess so?" Lumine peeks inside, spying the Tamer's crystal discarded on the desk. Its surface still shimmers, even in the low light of the room. "Come on. Let's go tell Katheryne we finished. After that, we have to return this to Xiao."

"And after that, we should go swing by the Wanmin Restaurant!" Paimon says excitedly. "Paimon heard that Xiangling is making this new dish using green noodles for the festival and Paimon really wants to try it."

"Sure." Lumine picks up the crystal, forcing down the surge of energy burning in her chest. "Adventurer's Guild, Jueyun Karst, then Wanmin Restaurant." 

"Yaay, let's-huh?" Paimon hesitates. "T-Traveler…"

"What?" Lumine blinks, the flinches when something wet hits her chest. Tears drip from her eyes, falling faster with every attempt at wiping them away. She tries to breathe, but there is a hole where her trachea should be. 

"Woah!" Paimon grips Lumine's head when her knees give in. "Oh no, oh no! Traveler, can you hear me?" 

"I-Y-Yep. Just fine," Lumine gasps and paws at her pocket. "I think…we should give this back. Right now."

"Right!" Paimon grips her hand, hauling her upright. "To Jueyun Karst first!"

-

Childe rarely visits the dungeons. 

There's not really much of a point. Prisoners trapped within the Zapolyarny Palace are usually kept there because they're slated for execution, which also means they're too weak for Childe to get much out of sparring. Sure, he could also just kill them, but that was boring. 

Well, there is one prisoner it wouldn't be boring against, which is precisely why he's here.

"Knock knock!" he sings cheerfully. He shifts the heavy basket in his arms to one side and raps his knuckles against the metal. "Guess what I brought this time?"

The door rattles. As it swings open, the Harbinger is greeted with the healthiest prisoner he's ever seen. They're dressed in comfortable attire, face fat from a consistent diet, and their eyes sparkle as they smile at him. 

Inside the cell is no different. A soft bed covered in thick blankets takes up most of the space, but there are plenty of shelves and trinkets on the walls around them. It almost reminds Childe of his siblings' room at home-cluttered, but lived in. The only thing detracting from it is the rattle of a chain dragging against the floor. 

"So, want to hear something funny I just realized?" he asks as he sets the basket aside. "After all the practice we did, we forgot to work on using chopsticks." 

The prisoner's brows jump as they laugh. It would've been unnerving to hear echoing off the prison walls, but Childe smiles at the noise. 

"Hey, hey, don't laugh at my plight," he teases. "It was a real issue! I was starving over there because I couldn't eat anything."

At that, the prisoner snorts. "You are…use fork, yeah?" 

"Can, comrade," Childe corrects. "And yes, I can use a fork. But that would just make me stick out even more than I already do."

"Because you are red?" 

"Red-headed, yes."

The prisoner laughs again. "What about sound? Do you impress with sound?" 

"Why, as a matter of fact, I did." Childe puffs his chest with pride. "I had an āyí offer her daughter's hand in marriage when she heard I was rich and fluent in traditional Liyuean." 

"Good!" The prisoner reaches over and ruffles his hair with a smile so bright Childe nearly squints. "See? There is hope yet, Childe. Who knows?"

Childe smiles back and waves their hand away. "Not for a while, comrade. But, nice try."

They perch on their bed as he retrieves the basket of goods. The inside overflows with various preserved foods from all around Liyue, along with jewelry and fashionable silks that serve no purpose for a prisoner underneath the palace. It'd been some of the only things they would request whenever Childe told them he was leaving for a mission.

Still, they seem to enjoy Liyuean gifts despite having little memory of the world, and-

"Woah, hey!" Childe shields his eyes politely as they begin removing their coat. "Indecency!" 

"Bah, you see me bare before."

"Yes, when you were dead on the floor at the doors of the palace," he says dryly. "Getting naked in front of a man is scandalous."

"Scandalous?" 

"Inappropriate," he translates and peeks through his fingers. They are already redressed in a bright green hanfu, flapping the sleeves with delight. A red bracelet dangles from their wrist-the only item they've kept with them since their arrival. "And it looks good."

The prisoner beams and bows. "Thank you." They begin unraveling the outfit, already reaching for another to try on. "Now tell. Any good fight you face?" 

"Oh, absolutely." Childe regales his latest experiences to the prisoner, careful to skirt around exact numbers. He'd come out of most of them relatively unscathed, but he accidentally lets slip of an injury to his leg that has yet to properly heal. 

"Your leg?" they echo, face twisting in concern. 

"Ah, nothing that a few days of rest can't fix," he says. He tries to continue with the battle he'd had against three giant lawachurls when a hand ghosts over his kneecaps. After a soft tingle and a flash of light, the painful knot behind his right knee disappears, and he carefully brings it up to fold it beneath him. 

He doesn't need to look up to know the prisoner is frowning. 

"I know, I know," he sighs. "I'll be more careful." 

"Hmph." The prisoner jabs his forehead. "Or avoid fight." 

Childe can't help but gasp in offense at that. "You do remember I am a Harbinger, right? Fighting comes with the contract."

"Then quit," they say. "Go marry. Live happy." 

"I doubt I would be very happy off the battlefield." It's an old argument. They have it every time Childe visits. They tell him to live a happy life, he tells them he is content now fighting for the Tsaritsa. They pout and tell him he is still young, to which he will say, "I'm older than you."

And he is rather confident he is. He isn't sure how old they are, but the way they act reminds him of Teucer. 

The prisoner frowns, though, poking Childe in the forehead once more. "Not happy, maybe. But duty. The strong, Bǎohù zhě."

Protectors. Childe sighs, sinking back in disappointment. "I understand, really, but that isn't possible for me. You know that."

He is a warrior, through and through. Of course he has those he protects, but…it is few and far between. 

The prisoner only shakes their head and continues rooting through the gift basket. The cheerful atmosphere is gone, the air now far more befitting the prison cell that they are in.

This is also part of the process, he supposes. The prisoner insists that he quit, then seems...disappointed in him when he says he can't.

If Childe were any more human, he thinks he would feel upset.

The Harbinger huffs instead and nudges the prisoner's basket. "You know, if you were like me, they would have let you out by now."

Somehow, the air turns even colder as the prisoner throws on their normal attire. "No."

"Oh, c'mon." Childe waves a hand at the ceiling. "They've told me what you're capable of. If it's all really true, you would've been a Harbinger. You could go wherever you want, do anything you want…" He catches the way their eyes flicker to the door and pounces. "You could even go visit Liyue, if you really wanted."

Granted, the Fatui are still in a bit of hot water after his stunt with Osial, but it isn't like the prisoner needs to know that. They've stopped moving. Even if they aren't facing him, he knows they are listening.

"You said you remember Liyue, right?" he says. "You have someone waiting for you. If you just worked with us, I'm positive Her Majesty the Tsaritsa would let you go."

"...let me go?" the prisoner echoes coldly. "For how long?" They lift their fettered ankle and shake their head. "I hurt no one. Ever. So I stay."

It has been this way ever since they arrived. Her Majesty the Tsaritsa kept them fed but trapped, comfortable yet cold. All because they simply refused to injure any human they threw their way. Had it not been for his archon's explicit orders to leave them unharmed, Childe is sure the Doctor would have done something to them by now. 

Honestly, Childe kind of respects it, but he has his orders. He presses his foot down on the chain. "Then what if I say you could go visit if you beat me in a spar?"

"I hurt-"

"No one, I know," he says, "and you won't have to hurt me! You just have to touch me." 

There is a little twinkle in their eyes, but they scowl and sit on the floor, arms crossed. Very Teucer-like. "Why?"

"Simple: Her Majesty the Tsaritsa believes you deserve a bit of freedom," he says, and he easily meets their mistrustful glare. It is the truth, after all. "I'm glossing over plenty of details, of course, but if Her Majesty believes you will see reason to join our cause if you visit Liyue, who am I to judge?" 

Now, he needs to be careful. He had not been around when some of the Fatui tried to drag them out, but he has heard the stories. The ten men survived the ordeal, but they'd been knocked unconscious and left a rather giant hole in the wall across the door. 

"And," he says, "I hear it is also Lantern Rite. The festival is starting soon, if you wish to experience it for yourself." 

The prisoner's jaw clenches, a hand gripping the bracelet on their wrist. The end of the rope is fraying, but it is in remarkably good condition. "...I only touch you?"  they ask slowly. 

Childe's face splits into a smile. "Yep."

Hook, line, and sinker. 

The cuff falls away with a slash of his blade, and the prisoner hesitates in the doorway before following Childe down the hall. There is an empty courtyard nearby, rarely used by prisoners unless they needed to put on a spectacle before their execution. When they arrive, he gestures for the prisoner to stay while he walks to the opposite end.

"Now!" he shouts as he bounces on his toes. "All you need to do is tap me in the chest, okay? But if I get you first, you lose. Understand?"

The prisoner shrugs off their coat and flashes a thumbs up. He has (accidentally) seen them in their undergarments several times already, but the strange ink all along their skin always surprises him. 

Childe chuckles and sinks into his stance, the prisoner doing the same. "When I say go, comrade! Three-" 

Hydro blades form around his knuckles. He doesn't plan on making it easy.

"Two!"

Her Majesty the Tsaritsa had told him to push them to their limit, just to see if they truly are capable of what they claimed. 

"One!"

Because, if they are, they would be an incredible asset for their mission. They only need their memories back and then they would be more than willing to join.

"Go!"

Childe charges. Electro laces his blades, leaving a blinding flash in his wake. The prisoner moves slowly, too slowly, bringing their hands up to block, but he drives the blades at their torso with a grin. 

Too-

The blades disappear. His momentum keeps his body twisting, and when he reforms his blades to try and thrust them into their stomach, it vanishes on contact. 

Childe only has a moment to marvel at the scarlet glow on the prisoner's skin before he is pinned to the floor. Somehow, despite their grip on his arms and the knee in his chest, it doesn't hurt. 

"Hah…" Childe squirms, cheek against ice as the prisoner leans over to stare. "I should have expected that, huh?"

The prisoner's lips twitch. "Sorry."

They release him and squeeze his hand, pulling the Harbinger to his feet. They look him over, like they are checking him for any damage, then smile and hold out their hand.

"To Liyue?" they ask. 

Childe glances at their face. For someone supposedly capable of killing gods, there is not a hint of deception in their smile. 

He takes their hand and gives it a firm shake. The Tsaritsa will be pleased. "To Liyue."

Chapter Text

The Festival is in full-swing the next time Lumine visits. Lanterns and paper figures of beasts decorate every storefront and stand while the air is filled with sweeping music and lyrics that make no sense to her. At one stall, she spies containers of Bao-decorated bao. Another sells strangely-shaped hard candies, similar to the shell of a pointy turtle. And, as always, Xiangling's strange, teal noodles are an absolute hit. 

Lumine isn't sure how to feel about the radishes cut to look like eyes floating in the mix, but Paimon reports that it tastes good all the same.

They are in Feiyun Slope now, watching a pair of lion dancers leap and spring across nine pillars in a pool of water. Its bright orange and cream tassels flap with each jump, and when it passes the traveler, the giant black nose pretends to sniff her and Paimon's third bowl of noodles before springing away. 

"Paimon wants to try," the guide says as the crowd cheers. "It looks like a lot of fun!"

"D'you wanna be the back legs?" Lumine asks.

The pair watches as the back dancer hoists the head dancer into the air, balanced on a single pillar as the head kicks her legs in a myriad of poses. 

"Uh…" Paimon gulps as the back dancer begins to kick in time with the head. "Paimon doesn't think she has the muscles to hold you like that." 

Lumine snickers and pats the fairy's hair. "Then you can hold up the giant head."

"T-That seems even heavier!" Paimon whines before burying her face in her noodles. "Never mind, then. Paimon is just gonna stick to clearing out the restaurants!" 

The performance wraps up just as Paimon finishes slurping up her noodles, and the pair continues to wander around the Harbor as the sun begins to set. They catch glimpses of Xingqiu and Chongyun at Wanmin Restaurant with Xiangling. On her stage on the second level, Yunjin and Xinyan extend their own warm wishes for the new year. Even Yanfei greets them, although she is quickly dragged into some dispute by a couple nearby.

They climb the steps to Yujing Terrace, waving to Qiqi and Baizhu along the way. There is an elaborate banquet in the courtyard, swarming with the wealthier merchants of the harbor. Ningguang is embroiled in a conversation with some Snezhnayan diplomats, but Lumine does spy another friend at the fringe of the crowd. 

"Ganyu!" Paimon cheers. 

The archer perks up, waving as the pair join her. "Traveler, Paimon, it's good to see you! What brings you up here?"

"Oh, we're just taking in the festival," Paimon says. "Iron Tongue Tian asked us to help look for information on the Beast Tamer, and Paimon really wants to hear what kind of story he comes up with for today!" 

Ganyu's brow lifts. "That…wouldn't happen to be the storyteller from Third-Round Knockout, right?" 

"It is! Why?" 

"Aha…ah…" Ganyu flushes, clearing her throat. "We got into a bit of a debate when he submitted his story to us. His accuracy had been somewhat…"

"Concerning?" Lumine guesses. When the adeptus nods, the traveler frowns. "Did you know the Beast Tamer, too?" 

"We met a handful of times," Ganyu says as her face pinches. "Unfortunately, many of our encounters did not end well."

"Really?" Paimon says. "You don't seem like the kind of person to butt heads with someone else."

"It was more than that." The half-adeptus clears her throat once more, this time plastering a small smile on her face. "But he was incredibly persistent with his story. We only came to a compromise because Zhongli decided to intervene on his behalf.”

"Figures he would," Lumine grumbles before glancing at the darkening sky. "Speaking of which, we should probably go find some seats." 

They bid the adeptus farewell, but as the pair head back down the stairs, a hard shoulder nearly sends Lumine tumbling. Paimon catches her before she can fall and raises her fist, ready to shout when the perpetrator gasps out an apology. It is the Snezhnayan diplomat they’d seen talking to Ningguang. She looks pale. 

“Apologies,” she rushes out. She seems to double take at Lumine’s face, but another masked man grabs her elbow and hisses something in her ear, and the woman scowls and follows him. “Send Kostya’s group west, those idiots can’t have gotten far-”

They run out of earshot. Lumine’s gut instinct tells her to follow them-whatever is happening sounds urgent-but Ningguang is standing at the top of the steps, lips purse. A wave of her fingers summons her own sect of minions, and she begins to mutter something under her breath before sending them away.

“Uh…” Paimon leans down to whisper in Lumine’s ears. “Should we be worried?”

“I…” Lumine frowns. “I doubt it. The Fatui wouldn’t try anything here. Again.”

Hopefully.

After another deep breath, Lumine forces down her thoughts and heads down the stairs to Feiyun Slope. The crowd seems to have thickened as the sun sets, filling the harbor with even more noise as she heads for Third-Round Knockout. She worries that she may not get a good seat, but the sight of Zhongli with his tea and two empty seats greets her when she arrives.

It pays to have so many friends, she thinks.

“I hear you met Bao,” he says in lieu of a greeting. 

“He tried to eat Paimon!” Paimon shouts as Lumine slips into her seat. “He was so rude!”

Zhongli hums. “Interesting. I was told that he disliked sweets.”

Paimon scowls and lifts her tiny fist when the compliment catches up to her. Her cheeks turn a dusty pink. “Hehe, well…Wait, are you trying to say Paimon isn’t sweet?!”

“Of course not,” the ex-archon says with a tiny smile. After pouring the pair their own cups, he adds, “I also heard you received the Beast Tamer’s crystal.”

The bemusement Lumine feels fades as she nods. Transporting the crystal back to Jueyun Karst after Tian had used it was a challenge-no matter what Paimon tried, the traveler could not stop crying. In the end, she’d called for Xiao and practically threw the necklace at him.

“I didn’t even see the memories inside,” she says. “It was…intense." She shudders at the rush of emotions in her chest and glares at the ex-archon. "And I heard you helped Tian out with his story, anyways."

"Only made a few suggestions here and there," Zhongli says and sips his tea. "I have a contract to abide by, after all."

Lumine can already feel her head ache at the thought of trying to dissect that. Paimon bites for her. "A contract with who?" 

Zhongli's eyes flash as he smiles. "Who else?"

"And are you going to elaborate?" Paimon asks. "Or is this another 'contract to end all contracts' problem?"

"It needs no elaboration," Zhongli says. "Certainely you did not think I would relinquish my Gnosis without receiving something in return? Besides the opportunity to step down, of course."

Before Paimon can pry, Iron Tongue Tian struts onto his stage. 

"Good evening, everyone!" he greets as the crowd applauds. "I trust we have all indulged in the festivities of this year's Lantern Rite. As always, I thank the Liyue Qixing for allowing me the opportunity to deliver this story to you."

Another round of applause, and Lumine catches a flash of Yelan's white coat at the fringe of the crowd. When she checks, the agent is already walking away. A man dressed in a common Snezhnayan coat seems to tail her at a distance.

"Oh, there's definitely something going on," she mutters. She moves to follow, already bracing himself for the worst when Iron Tongue Tian's fan grounds her with a snap.

"Our story begins under a wide river scratched into the sky," he begins, "when a stranger stumbles upon a peculiar sight on Wuwang Hill…"

…

A demon laid there, ensnared in a trap of red twine and blood. Heart filled with pity, the stranger set the demon free, only to find themself trapped under its claws. 

"What do you want, fool," the demon snarled. "You capture me, humiliate me. What more do you want?" 

But the stranger felt little fear. They only smiled and brushed the blood from the demon's face. "You must be hungry," they said. "Come! I have food at my fire."

Stunned, the demon could do nothing but follow. Surely enough, the stranger offered the demon a meal, and as they ate, the demon's confusion only grew. Was the stranger stupid? Did they have some plan in mind? 

When the demon voiced its queries, the stranger only laughed. "Do you have any plans, demon?" 

The demon did not answer. It had never given its future much thought, existing merely as a byproduct of mankind's suffering. Freed of its bonds, it could now do as it pleased, but…what pleased it? What brought it joy? Purpose?

The demon's worries only grew, but the stranger merely laughed and offered a hand. 

"If you've no plans," they said, "then help me kill this monster lurking just south of here. Almost killed me while I was walking." 

It was not an order, the demon thought, merely a request, but when the stranger descended from the hill, it followed along in their footsteps. 

And thus their adventure began. Every day, the demon found itself joining the stranger as they wandered aimlessly around the world. With every sunrise, the demon watched them face the sun with their arms wide, like they hoped to embrace it. At night, they regaled it with songs and stories of worlds beyond its stars.

On a quiet night, as the stranger sang a song of beasts becoming men, the demon asked, "Why did you free me?"

The stranger frowned, eyeing the demon from across the fire. "No one deserved to be trapped like that. Seemed painful."

The demon could only scoff. It had been sealed away for its destructive potential. All mortals knew to avoid Wuwang Hill because of it.

"Tell me this, friend," the stranger said suddenly. "Why do you think I was upon that hill?"

The demon pondered the question for some time. "Were you lost?"

No. What the stranger tells them was much worse: They were a wanted criminal, and had come to the mountainside to make it their final resting place before they were caught. 

"Or," they said with a smile, "I am just another demon who'd hoped to make the hill my home."

And although the stranger smiled, their heart was burdened by sorrow all the same. The pain sparked something non-existent within the demon's chest, and it met the stranger's eye with little fear.

"You cannot be as evil as you claim," the demon decided. "After all, you saved me."

To that, the stranger had no retort. They only smiled and continued their song. 

Soon, months became years. Years gave way to centuries. Side by side, the stranger and the demon fought, saving humans and beasts alike from the monsters plaguing Liyue. To the mortals, they became an inseparable pair. To their enemies, they became an unstoppable force. 

Until one night. As the pair laid together under the stars, the stranger asked the demon, "What would you do if someone came for me?"

"I would fight them," the demon answered. 

"And if they were unstoppable?"

"Simple. I would fight until I could no longer."

The answers came easily to the demon, and when it turned to the stranger, they could only smile. "I would be very sad if you died."

"And I you."

The next evening, the stranger led the demon to the highest peaks of Jueyun Karst, where a fearsome dragon descended from the heavens. The demon braced itself for battle, but the stranger embraced the beast with open arms. 

"It seems I have finally been found," the stranger said cheerfully. 

The demon did not share their cheer. "What do you mean?"

The stranger smiled, holding the demon's face like they had the first night they met. "It is my time to face judgment, friend. Beyond the river of stars. If not, then…well, I doubt either of us would survive. And I would be very sad if you died."

And the demon could not understand. For so long, they had been at its side. Without them…

"What will I become in your absence?" the demon begged. "I am nothing. Without you, what have I done but-"

And in the light of the morning sun, they graced the demon with a kiss as sweet as the morning dew. And in that moment, basking in the light of dawn, the stranger never thought their companion could look so human until now.

"Simple," they whispered. "You have given my life here meaning. You have become my savior."

When the sun rose, the stranger was gone, and as the dragon carried them to the heavens, he settled on the grass without hesitation. 

If I am their savior, he thought, then I shall do in kind, for they shall be my new meaning. Until they return, I shall wait.

…

Far, far above, nearly muted by the lanterns of the festival, a sea of stars twinkle against the night sky. It takes the ocean breeze against Lumine's cheek for her to realize she is crying.

"There is much contention to how their story ends," Tian says, shutting his fan. "Some say that, moved by the demon's devotion, the beasts of the world formed a bridge between the sky and the earth to reunite the lovers. For others, the demon continued his vigil until he, too, perished."

Or he is still waiting, Lumine thinks. In the corner of her eye, she thinks Zhongli looks rather pleased with himself.

"Of course," Iron Tongue Tian says, "it is not my place to decide which ending is true. But I shall leave you, dear listener, with a simple question-one that I believe takes precedent above all else…" The storyteller smiles. "Between the stranger and the demon, tell me: who saved who?" 

-

Despite the strengthened base of the building, the Wangshu Inn's roof cannot manage their entire weight. It is a tragedy, but Xiao doubts the Cloud Retainer would be very pleased if they broke the roof. Again. 

Even if it happened nearly four hundred years ago. 

Xiao huffs at the memory as he lands on the mountain range north of the harbor. A stone nest sprouts from the earth, arranged in neat spikes to form a semi-circle facing the water. Even from here, the adeptus can hear the bustle of the festival. 

"Hoo?" Above him, Bao perches on the nest, eyes sparkling. "Hoo, hoo!"

"Be patient," Xiao grunts. The staff falls into his palm, familiar and completely impractical as his ink begins to glow. One by one, the six crystals flicker in return, then flood the clearing with light.

Lady Kaiju reforms first. Her nose twitches before she hunches over to sniff at Xiao's hair, horn spinning in delight. 

"Hello," he greets, smoothing a hand over her snout as something tugs his wrist the opposite way. When he looks, Mr. Wriggles waving several vines his way. "And hello, Wriggles."

The Tangela's vines droop. His eyes begin to water, and Xiao begrudgingly opens his arms and braces himself. 

Delta and Renegade appear to find Xiao suspended midair, crushed in the Tangela's hug. While the Jolteon simply ignores the duo, Renegade nips the vines and catches the adeptus on his back. His tail swishes as Xiao scratches his mane, hind leg thumping against the floor.

"Where are Tosca and Leviathan?" he asks. 

Delta grumbles, climbing into a nook underneath Bao. 

"What?" Xiao makes a face at the news. "Why?" 

The beasts let out various grumbles of confusion. 

Xiao clicks his tongue, but the final two beasts appear in a shimmer. Tosca greets the adeptus with a bow, and when Leviathan turns, he plants his hands on his hips and brandishes the harness strapped across his torso. Swaddled in cloth and Bao's own plumage sits a shiny, speckled egg. 

"Why?" Xiao asks. 

Leviathan shrinks back, scratching at his neck sheepishly as he grumbles. Bao hisses the moment the Dragonite points at him, then flaps his wings in offense when Lady Kaiju joins in. 

The adeptus only sighs. "Bao, did Tosca tell you to sit on it?"

Bao's wings tense before he hoots sadly. 

"Then stop trying to sit on it."

Delta snickers, then yelps when Bao stomps on his face. The two tumble from the top of the nest, tousling on the stone as Leviathan waddles out of the way with a hand on the egg. When they trample on Mr. Wriggles' vines, Xiao decides it is a lost cause and joins Renegade at the edge of the peak. 

The Arcanine is already laying down, eye twinkling when Xiao leans against his side. He woofs and curls in to rest his head against the adeptus' lap. His graying fur is still as soft as ever. 

"The Tamer is the subject of this year's lantern," Xiao says quietly.

Renegade's ear perks. He grumbles and sniffs at the sky, then wags his tail. The entire team had been hard at work for weeks, clearing out Liyue of demons to prepare for tonight. Xiao is still on alert, of course, but he could handle whatever appears on his own. The beasts have earned their break. 

Another large mass shuffles behind them, Leviathan patting his egg as he sits. There is an erratic pitter-patter beating from within the shell, and when it shakes, the Dragonite pokes the shell back with his claw. 

Once more, Xiao is grateful for Lady Kaiju's presence. He doubts he could handle another hatchling without the Tamer. 

A loud squawk distracts him. Tosca and Lady Kaiju join the rest of the team, the latter carrying Mr. Wriggles and Delta in her arms while Bao struggles in a bubble. The Lapras pops it after a sharp glare from the adeptus, and the bird splatters against the dirt with another squawk. 

"Sorry, Master," Tosca says. Bao flaps his wings and scales her shell, perching between her ears as she laughs. "And Bao. Sorry." 

Xiao rolls his eyes and sinks against Renegade's fur. Dramatic, all of them. 

Soon, the harbor falls quiet, the beasts hushing with it. Xiao imagines they are doing their final speeches, talking about a new year and their well wishes. Maybe they will mention the Beast Tamer and their abilities, or the beasts and their terrible power. He'd hid nothing from the storyteller, and he is sure Ganyu would act if he spoke of anything involving their actions. 

Still, the God Killer and Beast Tamer are one and the same. To deny one would deny the other. At least now…they keep Liyue safe. Wherever they are. 

Xiao's hand drifts to the crystal in his vajra. Until it is safe…

Renegade barks, and a bright light springs from the harbor. At first, it is nothing more than a glowing orb, but in a blinding flash of fireworks, a tiny blue and black biped bursts free. As it springs and twirls, Xiao feels his chest ache. All that escapes his mouth is, "Quin?"

The little Riolu bounds into the sky, each step flashing blue. Before long, he is joined by another hound, then another…

Renegade sits up as his own visage sprints into the sky, chased by a lantern of Delta and Mr. Wriggles. Another of Lady Kaiju and Tosca follow them into the air, surrounding Quin as he dances amongst the stars. 

All save for one. Xiao glances at the Dragonite, the beast that had destroyed the harbor so long ago. Leviathan is watching the sky, hand still resting on his egg. He seems content, as if he'd expected it, and when Tosca nudges his side, he croons and bumps his snout to her cheek. 

Another bark alarms them, and Xiao glances up just in time to see a seventh lantern join the team. Leviathan's lantern flies in wide circles. Perched on his back, dressed in flowing blue silks and shining like the sun, is a lantern carved in the form of the Beast Tamer. 

Renegade's howl breaks Xiao out of his reverie. Delta and Lady Kaiju are quick to join in, and the adeptus' thoughts are drowned out by baying as hundreds of lanterns follow the Beast Tamer and their team into the night sky. Soon, he cannot differentiate the plaustrite from the stars. All he can follow is the Beast Tamer's lantern as it rides Leviathan to the moon. 

He wonders if they can see it, wherever they are. When he grips their crystal, he finds himself…hoping. Praying that a lantern will make its way to them and bring them home. 

Xiao's smile wavers. Only when it is safe-

"Caw!" 

The entire team is on their feet instantly, Xiao returning Leviathan and Tosca's egg to their domain in the same hand flick that summons his Primordial Jade polearm. Bao is already airborne, his alarm screech the only sound he makes as he flies north. Leviathan picks up Mr. Wriggles as the hounds chase after the owl, and Xiao returns Lady Kaiju and Tosca before following. 

His jaw tightens. Bao's screech is reserved solely for human-led attacks. The roads should be empty of merchants by now, and no mortal is stupid enough to strike during Lantern Rite. 

But Bao dives anyway, talons outstretched, and Xiao readies to yell at Delta to paralyze the enemies when the owl squawks in surprise. He pulls out of his dive, and the flash of a Hydro Vision forces the adeptus forward. 

He only catches a glimpse of orange hair and a red scarf before his polearm slams against a Hydro-formed blade. He sends a foot at the man's chest, then twirls his entire body when he tries to step back. The jade knocks his blades to the side, and Xiao catches the Harbinger's smile before he lunges.

Each swing is neatly parried, each strike countered by Hydro blades. The Harbinger's laughter escapes him with each hit, but he makes no move to go on the offensive, even dispelling his blades when Xiao lands a kick on his sternum.

"You're an adeptus," the Harbinger gasps. His eyes dart around him, smiling wide when the beasts surround him. "And you have pets!" 

Renegade snarls, but Xiao keeps his polearm at the ready. "Leave. Now."

The Harbinger laughs again, ignorant to the way Leviathan's claws twitch or Delta's sparking fur. "Aw, c'mon, I just got here today, and I thought we put the whole Osial problem behind us. Besides, I got tricked too-" A vine tethers around the Harbinger's neck and slams him to the dirt. "Ghck! A little tactless. Sorry."

Xiao scowls as the Snezhnayan holds up his hands in defeat. He hasn't met with any of the Millelith in some time, but even he is aware of the tenuous relationship between Liyue and Snezhnaya since Rex Lapis' 'death'. As much as he avoids dealing with mortal politics, he would rather not have anyone bothering the people in the Inn. 

"Let him go," Xiao says. He may have to deliver the Harbinger back to the harbor. No doubt there are other Fatui looking for him.

He turns his back when the sky rumbles. Leviathan and Renegade are staring at the Harbinger like a cut of meat, and the man's relaxed expression starts to shift when Mr. Wriggles' vine tightens. Delta's fur bristles when he pulls his leg in. 

"Calm down," the Harbinger says slowly. Bao hisses as he shifts his other leg. "Listen to your master-"

The noose cinches, and Xiao lunges to slice him free just as the beasts attack. Leviathan's claw catches on the Harbinger's scarf and tear him from his arms. He hits the ground with a wheeze, choking on a laugh when the Dragonite lifts a thundering fist. 

"Return!" Xiao summons the Tamer's Staff, slamming energy through each crystal as the beasts struggle against the pull. It takes far too much to drag them back into their domain, but he forces them down and back as the Harbinger massages his neck. 

"Yeah, they always told me this was a hazard," he wheezes. 

Xiao scowls as the Harbinger rises to his feet. Just being on his feet makes the beasts in the staff thrash, even after he cuts off their access to the exit. '"Go back to the Harbor."

"Can't." The Harbinger grimaces when he swallows. "I'm actually looking for someone. They managed to escape our little party, and I should probably get them before we lose them in the mountains."

Another Fatui, Xiao assumes. He crosses his arms and nearly tells him to leave it and just go, but the Harbinger spots something over his shoulder and beams. 

"Guess my luck turned around," he says and waves. "Hey! How was the view?"

The adeptus' eye twitches. Does the Harbinger think him a fool? He wouldn't fall for something so juvenile-

"Incredible!" 

Xiao's head snaps up. He scans through his body internally, checking for some sign of infection or injury. There is nothing, but that can't be right. He must be injured. Or sleeping. 

Because the Tamer is right there, smiling and breathing and there. 

They're speaking in a blend of Slavic and Common and dressed in Liyuean clothes. A thick, golden collar chokes their neck and wrists, but that doesn't matter because Xiao recognizes that bracelet. It is frayed but still knotted, like they'd never taken it off since thet received it. 

And when they meet his stare, their expression falters. Their brows pinch, a miniscule wrinkle in their skin. Xiao can feel their crystal beating, growing stronger with each passing second. 

Their lips part, and a quiet whisper escapes them. "...Xiao?" 

Xiao doesn't know who moves first. All that registers in his mind is the thundering of their heartbeat in his ears and their warmth under his arms. Their laughter rattles his teeth and when they try to pull away, he nearly growls until he feels their lips against his hair. Again and again, they pepper kisses into his skin until his arms grow weak.

"Xiao, Xiao…" they murmur against him, voice thick with emotion. 

Xiao squeezes them tight, one hand against their head as their body begins to tremble. "I'm here. Don't worry."

"Call your name and you will come," they repeat with a laugh, traditional Liyuean accented from years of disuse. Their face is streaked with tears when they pull back. "I-I knew someone was waiting here. I just-Your name…"

"You didn't remember?" he guesses. 

They nod, burying their face in his neck. "M-My memories aren't-I still don't, but you're here…Fuck, you're real. You're alive." After a few more mutters, they pull away and look down at his waist. "And you have a Vision!" 

Xiao huffs. "I don't even remember when I got it." Which is the truth, but the Tamer's unimpressed stare still burns his ears pink.

"Too cool to even remember being recognized by the gods, huh?" they tease. Just hearing their old world tongue sends sparks through his skin, and he is too distracted by their smile when he hears their staff practically explode. 

Delta sinks his claws into the Tamer's legs and Mr. Wriggles hauls them both into the air, and Leviathan sweeps up all three of them before Lady Kaiju manages to drag them back down to earth. Their laughter is smothered by Renegade's entire body and Bao's hooting, and Tosca forces the others off to avoid suffocating their master before she starts nuzzling into their side instead. 

"Huh, so that's why they kept asking for a pet…" The Harbinger tilts his head, once more oblivious to Xiao's glare. "Are they yours, comrade?"

The Tamer groans and wrestles their way free from the pile. "Yes, yes! They're…" Their smile wavers, and their laugh sounds on the verge of sobbing as they paw at their chest. "I don't remember. I don't know, but I can feel it. They're mine, right?"

Renegade drags a tongue across their face in response, sinking his chin against their head. The rest of the team crowd close, and Mr. Wriggles does a little skip that makes them laugh.

"That is Childe," they say when the Tangela points at the Harbinger. "He is a friend."

"He brought you here?' Xiao asks as the Harbinger waves. The clothing, their interaction with the Harbinger…A sliver of alarm runs through the adeptus. 

The Tamer nods. "He convinced the others to let me visit."

"And is also going to have to deal with the others you tricked while running away," Childe adds cheerfully.

"Worth it," the Tamer says and smiles at Xiao once more. "I got to see my Xiao." 

Somehow, after five hundred years, they still manage to stun him with just their words. The adeptus blinks through the shock as they continue, proudly adding that they'd managed to avoid the Millelith as well. 

"But you do remember our agreement, right?" Childe asks. "Just for tonight, then we have to head home immediately." Xiao's growl blends with the rest of the beasts. The Harbinger only holds up his hands placatingly. "They agreed!" 

"And the night is still going, right?" the Tamer argues. "I will be back in the harbor by day. Now, shoo!"

Childe almost argues, but one glance at Leviathan and Tosca's glares convinces him otherwise. He turns and waves a hand lazily, calling, "Don't be late!"

He is barely out of sight when Xiao rounds on them. "You aren't leaving."

"I have to," the Tamer insists, but they sound just as upset. "They said I could go for Lantern Rite, but must be sealed and leave once it is over."

Sealed? Xiao's eyes dart between the gold collar and cuffs. He almost entertains the thought of breaking them off himself, but the Tamer shakes their head before he can even suggest it. 

"What are you doing with a Harbinger, anyway?" he asks. "Or with Snezhnaya?"

"I am unsure," they say. "I just remember waking up in their cell. They didn't hurt me," they add quickly when Xiao's fingers twitch, "but…they tried to make me fight. A lot."

"And did you?" 

"Not to the level they wanted," they say. Their eyes darken before a smug smile breaks through. "They tried their best. It never worked."

Xiao nearly copies their expression. He simply settles for gripping their soft hand. Even without their memories, they'd held firm to their beliefs. "You're ridiculous." 

"You love me anyway." The Tamer blinks, then shrinks back. "I-I think. My memories-"

A kiss silences them, and Xiao is the one who has to support them when he pulls away. He can hear a smug hoot from Bao and he is rather confident his entire face is pink, but it is worth it to see the bright smile on the Tamer's face.

"That feels right," they decide. "That is-" They break out in laughter and press their forehead to his. "Fuck, why did I leave…" 

Xiao swallows, smothering the hint of fear in his chest. "Do you want to remember?" When they look up, he rests a hand over his vajra. "You told me before, 'only when it is safe'."

And it isn't. The Abyss is still active, the Fatui are now at large (and Xiao decides it is not the best time to mention Osial's second revival). And Celestia-

"I…I do." The Tamer rests a hand over his, eyes hardening with determination. "I need to remember. T-The Harbingers must want something from me. They keep asking about the beasts or my powers. If I remember, a-at least then I can plan ahead. Or use it against them."

"And if they harm you because of your memories?" Xiao asks.

"Then…I would just call for you," they decide and peck his cheek. "Right?"

"It would be easier if you stayed," he says with little bite. "It still seems like a bad idea."

The Tamer leans into another kiss, this time smiling when they pull away. "Then I will take responsibility when I remember-"

Their body crumples in Xiao's grip the moment their fingers graze the crystal. He scoffs and lifts them into his arms, a ripple of raw…something in his chest. Five hundred years and he is still the one carrying them around like he is a pack mule. How ridiculous.

It takes Xiao noticing the entire team staring (even Lady Kaiju, somehow) at him to realize he is smiling. 

"Return," he growls. None of the beasts are intimidated by the noise, but they still willingly return to their crystals. With a kick, he dispels their staff as well, then turns to the road that leads to the Inn. Really, nothing has changed.

"You should have told me you had a lover."

Xiao frowns at the familiar voice. When he turns, Yelan is resting against the trunk of a tree, eyeing the Tamer in his arms with a smirk.

"It would've made convincing you to not be reckless down there so much easier," she adds as she stalks forward. She barely comes within arms reach when Xiao tightens his grip, and her smirk morphs into something a bit more genuine as she stops. "I'll keep my distance, then. Are they alright?"

"Fine," Xiao says. Against his chest, the Tamer twitches and curls tighter against him. "They need rest."

"Must've partied too hard, huh?" Yelan chuckles and tilts her head towards the road leading to the harbor. "Are you aware that there are some covert Fatui looking for them right now?" 

Xiao only tightens his grip. He isn't stupid. Nor is he careless. Yelan's presence only means one thing.

The adeptus almost commends them for the effort. How clever that the Liyue Qixing would dedicate this Lantern Rite to the very same mortal that finally returned to Liyue in the clutches of a Fatui Harbinger. And now they are restoring their memories, and it is only a matter of time before one faction gains the upper hand.

Mortals make things so complicated. How ridiculous.

"I'm leaving," he announces. 

"Mhm." Yelan purses her lips. "And I'm sure we'll be seeing them in the morning, right?"

Xiao stifles the growl in his throat, simply facing the woman with his neutral expression. "It is not for you to decide."

The Civil Affairs agent merely smiles. "I see."

The two words feel like a knife against his throat. He can only feel impressed by her brazen threat and nods in farewell before parting. 

When he lands in the depths of the beasts' domain, where the rest of the beasts gather excitedly to wait for their master's return, Xiao decides that it will not matter. Fatui or Qixing, Harbinger or mortal. It will not matter in the slightest.

Leviathan rushes to bring his mate's egg to their side and Renegade offers his stomach as the Tamer's pillow. The moment they are down, Delta wiggles his way under their arm while Lady Kaiju and Mr. Wriggles pet their hair, and when Tosca begins to hum the opening notes of Oracion and Bao begins to hoot along, Xiao swallows the swell in his throat.

It will not matter. No matter what comes their way, no matter who tries to hurt them, Xiao will not falter. He is not weak, nor is their team or his own partner.

When the Tamer's eyes finally open, they immediately groan and massage their face. He imagines receiving a wealth of memories after five hundred years would be rather painful for anyone. 

"Fuck, ow…" they grumble. "Xiao?"

"Here." Xiao kneels and offers his hand. Their palm is warm and soft, calluses no doubt fading after five hundred years of pacifism. Five hundred years with no memories, trapped in a foreign land, surrounded by those who sought to turn them into a weapon of war…How ridiculous. "Do you remember where you are?'

The Tamer's eyes drift from his face to the beasts. Not once do they move to the stone or crystal behind them. A laugh bubbles from their lips like a flowing brook. "I'm home."

But they are here now, and when they smile, Xiao feels his pulse quicken in his chest. Five hundred years and yet they are here now.

"Yeah." His hand cradles their face, and Xiao brushes the tears that spill from the Beast Tamer's eyes with a miniscule smile. "Welcome home."