Two weeks later.
"Did Xiao ever say when he'd return?" You caught up to Aether at the front of the group. "I'm getting worried. And what about Mr. Zhongli?" The team had just entered Liyue Harbor to inspect three nameless treasure boxes that you'd found all over western Liyue.
"Nope. Not a clue. But we can stop by the funeral parlor to look for Zhongli if you want."
"Paimon thinks you worry too much. The Vigilant Yaksha can handle himself just fine."
"I-I know that!" You spoke a little too loud and a few pedestrians gave you the side eye. The tips of your ears burned red.
"I have some business to attend to regarding the winery. I'll meet you tomorrow morning." Diluc walked off without another word.
"He's not a people-person just like Xiao, don't you think?" Paimon nudged you suggestively.
"What're you saying, exactly?"
"It seems our emergency food forgot her place," Aether defended you despite his urge to tease your urgency over Xiao's return.
"Stop treating Paimon like that! I am not food!"
"She's not wrong though," Childe cozied up to you. "A little eager to see Xiao again, are we?"
"I already told you guys, it's not like that! I'm just antsy because he said he'd be back soon and it's been a few weeks now--"
"Sounds like you really like this Xiao person!" Bennett chirped. "I wonder what he's like?" He swung his arms at his side, completely carefree despite the soreness in his previously-broken arm. It had healed within a day because of his healing abilities.
"You guys are just teasing me because I'm the only girl on the team!" You pouted and crossed your arms.
"Oh come now, don't be like that." Childe put an arm around your shoulder. "What else did Xiao tell you before you left? How much he loves you and how much he'd miss you while you were away? If you want, I can tell you those things too, ojou-chan〰"
"Cut it out, Childe!" You snapped and pushed him away. That's when you noticed a few strangers were whispering and pointing at the Harbinger. "Hey--"
"Ah, don't concern yourself with them." Childe returned to a more serious nature and continued to walk behind Aether. "Let's just say I'm not as welcome in Liyue as the Traveler here."
"That's because he kicked your butt!" Paimon taunted.
"Do not forget that I've grown stronger in recent months. If you are so certain he could defeat me a second time, I'm more than happy to prove the two of you wrong."
"Why does it feel so tense all of a sudden?" Bennett whispered in your ear.
"They have a weird rivalry going."
"Ah."
"We're here--annnd it's closed," Aether's shoulders drooped once the group reached the antique shop. "'Open at 6p.m.' Great."
"That just means we have time to relax! Quick, Paimon wants to go eat some classic Liyue dishes!" She dragged Aether with her before he could protest.
"Uh...we'll meet here at six!" He called over his shoulder.
"I still don't understand how she could eat so much," Childe shrugged. "Well then, I'm off. I have some business to take care of at the bank. See you soon."
"Guess it's just you and me?" Bennett laughed nervously.
"Wanna eat lunch first?"
Your offer lit his eyes up. The two of you had practically become best friends during these past few weeks, and he found it a relief that you weren't phased by his bad luck even when it did backfire on you. To think he had found such a great friend and adventure team no less--was incredibly motivating.
After several hours of eating and checking out all the harbor had to offer, you and Bennett ended at the docks. The sun was nearly setting and cast an orange glow on its subjects. You dangled your feet over the edge and soon enough he did the same.
"I had so much fun today! Thank you for showing me around!" Bennett ate the dango you had bought for him.
"Mhm!" You didn't feign cheerfulness, but by now it was exaggerated. Bennett caught on.
"Hey, are you okay? You've been acting weird since this morning."
"I don't know. I just feel lonely without him."
"The Xiao guy? I get how that feels. I'm always lonely," he sympathized. "You can rant to me if you want. I'm a good listener."
"See, that's the thing. I'm not sure if it's safe for me to talk about it with anyone." There were brief moments in the night in which a gentle breeze would caress your skin, but they were briefer than the first and infrequent. Your heart ached and missed the comfort of knowing he was watching over you the longer he was gone.
Bennett quietly pondered your words while he swung his feet in the air. "If there's anything I know about thoughts and feelings, it's that they'll tear you apart the longer you keep them bottled up."
"Yeah...you're right." You let out a long sigh and lay your back against the cold wooden planks. "I want to get closer to him, but it feels like something bad will happen if I do."
"What do you mean?"
"He says we might be in danger, but he won't elaborate on it. I feel like unless that danger is eliminated, I won't have a chance to get to know him fully."
"I see." Bennett copied your position and reached toward the sky. "Well, I think--"
"There you are," Childe entered your field of vision. "We're all waiting for you. The antique shop is open now."
...........................................................
"--These markings are those of Liyue," Linlang of the antique shop continued to explain as you approached the rest of the group. "You can see inscribed here is the anecdote of Azhdaha. They say Azhdaha was a dragon spawned by a convergence of the spirits of Geo in Liyue, and that even Rex Lapis could not easily subdue it. Rex Lapis thus summoned three adepti to his aid, and together they created a cavernous realm. Rex Lapis then battled the creature, luring it into the cavern, before ordering the adepti to seal the entrance, trapping Azhdaha within.
"The patterns on the things you brought seem to describe the three adepti joining hands to create the cavern. This crane must be the adeptus Mountain Shaper, and this deer might be Moon Carver...But this last one...huh? It seems like this pattern has been intentionally ground away by someone to the point where I can't make anything out. Who was this third adeptus? Eh, no matter; this is beyond me. Regardless, it is a complete set. Would you like to sell them or keep them as keepsakes? I can make a generous offer."
"We'd like to sell them!" Paimon nearly yelled with excitement over the potential mora.
"Wait! May I see the third artifact?" The clerk held it out to you, and you examined the damaged box in your hands. Something about this box called to you, though you didn't know why you felt that way. You were mesmerized as you rubbed the ground-out etchings in the material with your thumb.
"Do you know something about these?" Childe suddenly became much more interested in the conversation and leaned toward you.
"I've never seen these before, but...I feel like this one is familiar."
"But there's nothing readable on it," Bennett remarked. "How can you think it's familiar if there aren't any distinguishing features?
"I...don't know..." She said these were depictions of three adepti, right? Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper...Could it have been a depiction of Cloud Retainer? But why would it be scratched out if that were the case? Maybe it's one of the yakshas? W-wait a second--
"Do you want to keep it?" Aether pulled your head out of the clouds and you lost your train of thought.
"No, that's okay." You placed the box on the counter, mind wondering once again as LinLang explained her offer to Aether. Hopefully you'd get the chance to look at the artifact set again. Maybe you could ask Xiao about it when he returns--wait. Your eyes locked onto the damaged box again.
Was it possible that he was the one depicted on the box?
The theory made sense...The Guardian Yaksha worked in the dark, and he wasn't really known in the mortal world. Festivals were thrown for the adepti, but no one mentioned or prayed to him. He could have scratched the box himself, or it could have been Rex Lapis's doing. Your hands curled into determined fists and you walked away from the group before anyone could notice.
Xiao! You silently called his name once you returned to the docks along the harbor. Xiao! I know you can hear me. No response; the wind was absent. Why is it that I'm running into more things relating to adepti ever since you departed? You dunk your hand into the ocean and traced a figure-eight in the water as you thought to yourself. We found some interesting boxes with three adepti etched into them. It's strange; one of them is scratched out, but I feel connected to it, almost like it's connected to you. Weird, huh? You shook your head at yourself. What a silly idea, to think that one of the mighty yakshas could hear you. I'll leave you alone now. I'm sure you're getting tired of listening to me ramble every day. Or maybe you can't hear me at all in the first place.
A hand suddenly landed on your shoulder.
"Xiao?" Your head snapped behind you in high hopes that the adeptus had returned.
"Ouch," Childe winced and grabbed his chest as if he got hurt. "It's just lil ol' me." He took the liberty to sit next to you.
"A-ha, you scared me there. Sorry."
"You really like him, huh?"
"I guess so. I don't really know what to do with myself since he left." You watched the moon rise over the horizon.
"Do you know where he was headed? I can go find him for you." You shook your head. "I'm surprised he didn't take you with him. The two of you were practically attached at the hip."
Hm? The hair rose on the nape of your neck. Something about his words was off.
"Childe, do you know something about why he left?" Your eyes left the moon and locked onto your questionable teammate.
"Whatever do you mean, ojou-chan?" He was good at feigning ignorance, but you didn't fall for it this time.
"Tartaglia."
"Now why would I be interested in the adepti? Why are you so suspicious of me all of a sudden?" His eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you're looking for a reason to fight me, all you have to do is ask and I'll say yes. I'd love to fight you and go all-out. It's been awhile and I could use the exercise."
You opened your mouth and shut it. You couldn't throw around accusations like they were Childe's Fatui money, after all. If your suspicions were unfounded, it would cause strain in the team. And he was true to his word on fighting; he could take you out in a single blow if he thought it was necessary. You thought carefully about this and decided to drop it.