Wind Makes Flames Rise But I'll Take You Higher (Xiao x Reader)

Chapter 1

 The clashing of weapons and the cries of battle rang throughout Jueyun Karst. With a huff, Xiao's spear pierced the heart of another demonic entity, it letting out a shriek as it dissipated. Next to him, Aether slashed away at several of them, while Paimon circled his head frantically. Their group had been fighting for what seemed like hours now, yet the numbers never dwindled. Xiao didn't know why the malicious spirits had suddenly come out in droves, but he'd had enough.

"Traveler, move!" he shouted, beginning to don his mask.

Aether looked up with a start and, seeing the glow, moved to take shelter behind some nearby mountain foliage. Once the Traveler and his pixie companion were out of his sight, Xiao allowed the corruption to fill his body, the azure aura causing the demons to halt in their barrage.

Their mistake.

He leapt in the air with a cry, coming down with all the force of his wrath. It was over shortly. Gasping for breath, Xiao leaned his arms on his knees as his mask broke away, returning to its place on his hip. "What in the world was that about..?" he ground out of gritted teeth. Aether had returned and clapped the young adeptus on the shoulder, as if to say 'don't think too hard about it.'

"That's Xiao for ya! You took all those guys out in no time flat! Pow!" Paimon pounded a fist into her other hand. Xiao stared at her with a critical eye before deciding not to entertain her whims.

"Hmph. In any case, this is an unusual situation. We should report this to Rex Lapis-" the yaksha was cut off as a sudden rumble shook the mountain and a crack split the ground beneath them. "What the- ?!" Xiao turned to grab Aether by the arm, picking him up and jumping to a higher plane of the landscape just as the earth began to crumble under their feet. Dust quickly filled the atmosphere, obscuring all vision, along with the deafening clacking of rockfall. The trio waited with baited breath as the rolling slowly came to a stop and the air began to clear.

"Yeesh, what's the big idea?!" Paimon crossed her arms, about to go on a tangent before Xiao held up a hand.

"Be quiet."

Aether gazed at the adeptus questioningly, concerned about the intense stare he was giving the previously occupied space.

"Xiao..?"

The cave-in revealed a portion of the mountain that had seemingly been sealed off beneath the rock, the shallow mouth of a cavern staring back at them from below. Xiao's heart pounded in his chest and he began to grow frustrated with not knowing the cause of his unease. He let out a grunt.

"Let's go. Be on your guard." Taking a step forward, he slid down the remaining slope of the collapse, skidding to a stop at the entrance. That grim feeling within him only grew as the darkness loomed overhead, but he pushed it aside as he heard the Traveler's footsteps behind him.

---

It didn't take more than a few minutes of walking before a dim light became visible from deeper inside. As they got closer, Xiao held a hand over his eyes to help adjust them to the orange glow but a moment later they widened in surprise. The den was filled with brightly shining crystals of amber, all differing shapes and sizes. The group's eyes were drawn to the largest one in the center.

"Eep!" Paimon yelped, "Is that a... p-person?"

Xiao took in a wavering breath. Indeed, the blurred outline of a humanoid body faced them from within the thick amber shell. Adepti seals that had long since peeled off littered the ground around it.

"What... is this?" Why was there someone sealed this far beneath Jueyun Karst? And more importantly, why had no one ever mentioned it? Snapping out of his stupor, the yaksha turned his gaze away to Aether's own shocked disposition. "This has to be the reason behind the strange behavior of the demons. I need you to return to the Harbor and alert Ganyu. And Rex Lapis, if he's available." The Traveler met his eyes and nodded, the pounding of his footsteps echoing as he began the trek back to Liyue Harbor.