It's quiet. But for once, I don't feel... lonely. The silence feels warms as it envelops my body. Do I even have one still ?

My eyes are gone but I can still see, my sense of smell has disappeared but the scent of flowers linger in the air, I've lost my mouth but this sweet taste is unlike any other.

I feel... calm.

But... I also feel like... I can't stay here.

I need to go back. Back in to his arms. Back to where I felt the happiest I've ever been.

Back in Xiao's....

———

My body shoots upwards. I look around to find myself in a gigantic room. The room has huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling, with expensive looking carpets and tapestries all around.

Even the mirror, despite being just a glass pane, looks more expensive than my entire existence...

Now I wonder... how did I get here ?

Oh no... I better not have done something bad... judging by the loo of this room, whoever I messed with must be filthy rich !

"Oh ! You're awake."

I shake my head to try and get rid of the panic, which helped for about a second or so before I saw who was taking to me.

It was Ganyu. Standing next to Ningguang and Keqing.

I've really messed up this time huh...

"Pardon me for asking but... have I done something bad ?"

"Oh no, silly. Some old man brought you here and as we were about to turn him away, we recognized your face... I don't know what that man did but it seems like he's fully healed you..."

"Healed ?"

"Ah, it seems they don't remember Lady Ningguang..."

"You were shot. Once in the stomach and once in the head."

"Ah... oh uh... you're very forward aren't you Keqing.."

"There's no point beating around the bush."

"Ganyu, I'll let you handle this traveler for now. Keqing, continue with your duties. I have a very important meeting with Beidou, I'll see you all later tonight."

For some reason Ningguang's smirk when she mentioned Beidou was rather suggestive... oh well, Ningguang and Keqing both leave the room and go on with their duties.

Ganyu, on the other hand, walks towards me and takes a seat by my bed.

"How are you feeling ?"

"I'm doing fine... I certainly don't feel like someone who's been shot twice..."

"Despite dying, you still are quite the energetic person aren't you ?"

I laugh awkwardly at her statement, still feeling uneasy... I'm trying to be careful with my actions... I don't wanna upset the Qixing after all.

"Well since it doesn't seem like you have any lingering pains from the accident I think I can let you go now. But please be careful ! We don't want you to get hurt again."

"O-Okay... I guess I'll get going now, oh and do you know where—"

"Xiao went back to Wangshu Inn. He should still be there if you wanted to go see him."

I nod and thank Ganyu, she says goodbye to me with a smile and I leave the room to enter an even bigger hall. I try to walk as carefully as I can in order to not break anything and successfully leave the house without losing any mora.

Now, how will I get to Wangshu Inn... eh I'll just walk there. But first, I'll get mora from inside our house.

I make my way over to our apartment and get a small amount of mora. I lock the door and I make my way towards Wangshu Inn.

I decided to buy a bottle of water before leaving since it's quite hot outside.

Now I'm ready to walk for an hour just to meet the love of my life !

———

By the time I catch a glimpse of Wangshu Inn, the sun was almost setting. I wanted to watch the sunset with Xiao so I ran as fast as I can to Wangshu Inn and took the elevator upwards.

"Hey ! Verr Goldet ! Long time no see."

"Y/N ! It has been quite a while since you last visited."

"Yep ! And a lot of things happened in the time I was gone... you know what, I'll explain later, for now, do you know where Xiao is ?"

"Oh he left a few minutes ago, he went off to Dihua Marsh looking rather satisfied."

"Ah thanks ! I'll be off then !"

Verr waves goodbye and I consider just jumping off of the stairs and gliding down but decide that doing so would be inappropriate.

I make my way towards Dihua Marsh but see a a bard wearing green clothing sitting at one of the tables, waving at me come over there and sit with him.

My dad always told me to stay away from strangers so I tried pretending not to see him but the man wouldn't stop. Uncomfortable I start speed walking away and looked behind me to see if he's still waving.

I notice that the strange man was gone and a sigh of relief escapes my mouth. I turn back around to see that man standing in front of me with a huge grin on his face.

Startled, I fall and land on my butt.

What is up with strange people randomly appearing behind me...

"Ehe, did I scare you~? I'm Venti ! Mondstadt's greatest bard ! And you're 'friend' Xiao asked me to fetch you !"

"F-fetch ? And you're friends with Xiao ?!"

"Yep yep ! He asked me to lead you to where he was but he didn't actually tell me where to get you so I just waited here at Wangshu Inn !"

"Okay, but how're you friends with Xiao ? Does that mean you're.."

"That's right ! I'm Mondstadt's beloved archon Barbatos !"

"Really ? I thought you'd look cooler than this to be honest... didn't really imagine a powerful god would take the form of a small petite boy..."

"Eheheheheheh... if you weren't Xiao's friend I would've blown you into Sumeru by now !"

"Well, anyways, could you take me to meet Xiao now ?"

"I want to talk with you first."

The sun is already setting and I can't even watch it with Xiao now...

"Listen Y/N, I've known Xiao for a while now, and like any good friend I would help him out anytime I can. Point being, I really care about him. I know the situation between you two and I just thought you should know that should you ever break Xiao's heart, I will personally come over and punish you. Got it ?"

Venti looks at me with a smile too wide and his head tilted to the side. I can usually handle threats like this but coming for the anemo archon himself... it's kind of intimidating.

"O-okay lord Barbatos."

"Please, just call me Venti ! Also Xiao is right over there."

I look over to see Xiao sitting in the grass like... 10 steps away from me.

"... Thanks ?"

"No problem Y/N ! I'm off then~"

Venti runs away but I can hear him faintly say 'gliding would be faster.'

What a strange archon... I make my way to Xiao to see him sitting in a field of Glaze Lillies, singing a song.

His singing voice sounds awfully different from his normal talking voice. It's soft and sounds like a lullaby. I listen for a few more minutes before I start creeping up behind him to scare him.

I reach close enough behind him and with a scream, I shake his shoulders.

Unfazed, he just turns around and smiles at me and says.

"You're finally here."

"Am I late ?"

"No, but I do wish you got here earlier... I wanted to watch the sunset with you."

"I wanted to as well but some bard kept me form getting here faster..."

"Ah Venti..."

I take a seat next to him and look up at the stars.

"Let's just sit here and stargaze."

"I was jus about to suggest the same thing."

———

We stargazed for a couple of minutes before we both decided to head back to Wangshu for the night. I climb on Xiao's back and say

"Onwards !"

He chuckles.

"What are you doing on my back ?"

"So that we can flash away into Wangshu Inn."

He laughs once more.

"But... I'm not an adeptus anymore."

¯\_(ツ)_/¯