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Guardian yakshas barely find the need for sleep.
Centuries after the cataclysm, Xiao is still unable to get used to the peace. Yet, sleep does still come to him, very rarely so. And those moments are always taken very seriously by his lover.
The traveler, like most mortals, needed sleep at night. Too much or too little will make them ill. It was a strange biology Xiao never comprehended. Adeptus like himself rarely needed any rest, let alone someone as vigilant as he is. It's hard for Xiao to relax and actually fall into a deep slumber.
Yet, Aether is an exception. His presence tends to make the adeptus loosen up, it doesn't happen as often as Aether hoped, but every now and then, he would catch the vigilant yaksha dragging out a yawn while his fingers are deeply intertwined in the golden ocean of his lover’s half done braid. Aether had been talking about his ventures today, of ancient temples and hidden artifacts, his voice a gentle lullaby that beckons Xiao closer and closer into the embrace of sleep.
Aether giggles and take the brush from the adeptus’ hands.
“Let's go to bed.”
Moments where Xiao lets his guard down were rare, and that makes them all the more precious.
The yakshas would not resist, lulled by the gentle warmth of his lover’s voice, he would join his golden bird in bed and fall into a sweet dream with Aether in his arms.
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Xiao would always wake before Aether, many times, the blonde had complained about not being able to see him off. But Xiao was used to the early calls of his duty, and he did not want to disturb Aether's well needed rest.
The sky was still dark, and his lover ever so beautifully laid asleep by his side. Xiao moved soundlessly, like a cat, he got off the bed without even as much as causing a single movement in the sheets.
Xiao would get dressed, and before he left, he would always leave a gentle kiss on Aether's cheeks, unable to resist the tenderness.
Xiao smiled, as he leaned over the blonde carefully, making sure none of his armor and metal talismans brushed against each other or made any sound, his lips pecked Aether's cheek softly.
It was… cold.
Aether's skin was too cold. The way it felt on his lips sent dread rising in his chest.
This feeling was something Xiao was all too familiar with. The cold touch of a corpse.
Xiao immediately forgot about his duty, he pressed two fingers against Aether's pulse point and his worst fears were confirmed. What laid beside him when he awoke was the lifeless corpse of his lover, and he failed to notice it until just now.
He let this happen, he let Aether die within his arms.
He could hear his heart pounding in his ears, karmic debt ebbed and overflowed along with the emotions he long tried to suppress.
A fit of rage caused him to black out for a millisecond, and when he found the strength to regain control of himself, Xiao realized that he had made a mess of the room. The blanket and sheets were strewn asunder, and Aether was held tightly in his arms, his eyes closed, as if he was simply sound asleep. Xiao felt something wet on his face, but he had forgotten what they were called.
Yes, tears. Aether had reminded him what they were. Xiao squeezed the cold body tighter, unable to bear the pain in his chest. Through vision blurred by tears, he thinks he sees corruption lingering on the back of Aether's neck.
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Aether wasn’t sure how to react when he woke up. He did not wake naturally, but was bothered by the constant sound of dripping from somewhere distant. When Aether peeled his eyes open, he realized that he was no longer in his room. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t even sure where he was. It was dark, cold, and damp.The dripping sound did not cease, and now Aether could identify where it was coming from. He was in some kind of stone formation, and the dripping sound was rain water that seeped into the cave formation naturally, dripping slowly from the stalagmites on the stone ceiling above him.
With a calm mind, Aether assessed the situation, but soon bumped into something hard in front of him. He recoiled, and extended his hand to touch whatever it was he bumped into.
Which allows him to discover the second problem, he did not have any arms, or any body for that matter. Aether looked , or rather, perceived himself would be a better word, as he was pretty sure he did not even have a face. His current form was that of a yellow orb, his form flickering like a candle flame.
What he had bumped into earlier was glass, encasing himself in some kind of container.
Now Aether was starting to panic. No amount of adventurer experience had prepared himself for this scenario. Aether studied his surroundings, which started to look familiar to him, but the more it did, the more hope Aether lost. Because he thinks he knows how he ended up here. He was just here this morning, exploring forgotten ruins with Paimon. He knows what he’s stuck inside, an antique looking lantern that he stumbled upon. Aether had a bad feeling about the artifact when he touched it, so he had decided to leave it alone despite Paimon’s insistence on selling the lantern for mora.
It was the same lantern, Aether was sure of it. The bronze framing and rusted handle was exactly the same, and especially the malignant corruption lingering on it. It was even stronger inside the lantern. It did not hurt, since Aether was naturally immune to it, but the feeling of unease did not sit well with him.
“Xiao!” Aether called out, but lacking a mortal body, his form only flickered wildly with every attempt to yell. Not a single ripple in the ocean of silence Aether was trapped in.
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The rest of what happened was a blur, many tried to help, some even tried to coax him to let go of his precious golden bird. All of which underestimated his possessiveness. In the end, only one person managed to get through to him.
“ Xiao, please let go of the traveler.”
By instinct, Xiao obeys and loosens his grip only slightly, before reeling from the sudden loss of contact and pulling Aether’s body back into his embrace again.
Paimon was by Zhongli’s side, whimpering helplessly at the sight.
His master’s gloved hand encircled XIao’s wrist, the grip authoritative, but gentle. And this time, he managed to pry Aether out of the yaksha’s hold. Distraught with panic now that his lifeline was taken away, Xiao jerked violently, pulling his hand out of Zhongli’s grip and wildly lunging at anything nearby. He wasn’t even aware that cloud retainer was there, Aether was in her hands now and she was taking him away.
“ GIVE HIM BACK!”
Xiao wailed, and Cloud Retainer’s face wrinkled with deep sorrow, his voice must have sounded so broken for her to make that face.
“ Alatus, listen to me.”
There was power behind those words. Zhongli hated using his contract to bind XIao, but in dire circumstances, he had to use it, as an absolute control. Xiao immediately felt his throat clamping up and his muscles freezing in place. Zhongli’s amber eyes glowed faintly as he spoke with a pained expression.
“ I apologize for binding you, please bear with me.The traveler is not dead.”
Xiao could not react due to the binding contract, but Zhongli could feel a sharp pull of disobedience from the young adeptus.
“ I need you to listen to me…”
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“ XIao! Xiao! Please can you hear me?”
Aether cried again and again, but his form only flickered ever so slightly with each effort. He dared not cry too much, for the more his flame flickered, the more daring the corruption became, encroaching into his space the dimmer he gets.
Aether was scared. He wishes he knew how to get out of this by himself, or how he ended up here in the first place.
“The soul devouring lantern.”
Zhongli explained. XIao had calmed down enough to have a civil conversation. Cloud Retainer had taken Aether’s body to her abode to be encased in amber, preserving his physical body from harm.
XIao had been listening to Aether’s stories before he dozed off, and he recalled Aether speaking of encountering a similar artifact.
“Despite not taking it into his possession, I believe he did come into contact with it. I believe you are familiar with the result.”
Xiao clenched his fist tightly. The artifact belonged to his previous master, and much like it’s owner, it was whimsical and terribly greedy. Taking whatever it liked and toying with its prey. Once it consumes something, it never lets it go.
He believed it had long been destroyed, along with his previous master’s territory and followers, but it turns out that aside from Xiao, another thing managed to survive from his time of reign.
“I know what you’re thinking, but do not act rashly.”
Zhongli had caught Xiao tensing his muscles to stand, and had quickly stopped the young adeptus with a single sentence.
"There is a way to save him."
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Aether whimpered softly and his form flickered again, his flame was much smaller than before. The corruption trapped in the lantern with him did not scare him before, but now it had grown much larger and hungrier. Aether dared not cry out louder than a whisper now, for the harder he tried to resist, the faster his flame diminished. And he feared that eventually, he would be put out completely, swallowed by the darkness.
“ Xiao…”
Aether whispered, and the corruption devoured even more space.
“ Aether! I’m here!”
There was light, and the corruption in the lantern did not like it, they squealed and lunged at the glass walls violently. This time, Aether was not afraid to call out loudly.
“ Xiao!”
The glass lantern shattered, and Aether was sure he was going to extinguish the moment he left its confines, but none of it came to fruition.
Aether was quickly whisked and placed into another vessel. It was not made of glass, so Aether was once again dropped back into darkness. He could hear Xiao growling somewhere outside, the sounds of metal slicing against formless souls. Aether grew concerned, but was quickly comforted by a familiar voice,
“ Please bear with it for a while,You will have to remain here until we can return you to your body.”
Aether could not answer either way, so he obediently stayed, his flame was so small now that he did not have any strength left to argue anyway.
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When Aether opened his eyes again, he was in his room. The smell of Qingxin and sandalwood comforted him, he knew he was in Xiao's embrace. Aether wouldn't admit it but he really did love the way Xiao smelled.
There was a blanket draped over their bodies and it feels so soft and warm, Aether was sure he just woke up from a bad dream, but he can’t seem to remember what it was.Not that it matters, he nuzzles deeper into Xiao’s embrace and his gaze is met with his lover’s sharp stare.
“ S-orry, di-d I wake you?”
Aether can’t believe how dry his throat was, his voice broke just from saying a few words. It felt like he just died and came back to life.
Xiao did not seem annoyed by the scratchy voice at all, instead his eyes widened and his brows furrowed. The arms wrapped around Aether’s waist tighten and pull their bodies closer together. Xiao buried his face in the crook of Aether’s shoulder.
“ Please, never leave me again.”
“Huh?”
Aether questioned, but was not against the intimate behavior of his clingy yaksha. He simply hugged Xiao back and stroked the back of his head, he knew the adeptus loved it and it always helped ease his worries away. Aether would normally hum a tune to accompany his head pats, but his throat was too dry to do that now, he really wanted some water. But that will have to wait until his clingy lover decides he is free to go. For now, Xiao is his highest priority. Aether felt like he deserved that much.
“ I’m not going anywhere.”
Aether comforted softly, and before he can say anything else, his lips were sealed with a deep kiss. Xiao showed no restraint, his possessiveness loud and clear. When he parted his mouth from Aether’s, Aether was bright red and quite fairly, a little upset with his lover.
“ Wha- huh?”
‘ My golden bird, you’re too fragile and small’
Xiao did not allow Aether any time to argue before kissing him again.
‘ I won’t let anything happen to you again. I promise’
“ Mmfghh!!” Aether threw his cute little tantrums while his lips were sealed in Xiao’s, he didn't need to know what happened, Xiao would make sure nothing of such will ever happen again. He swears it.