A Light in the Shadows | Xiao x Reader Lantern Rite (Comfort)
A retelling of the first year's lantern rite in a romantic light. Featuring scenes from Of the Land Amidst Monoliths, Butterfly's Dream.
Enjoy~ <3
He saw you one day, walking into Wangshu Inn.
You were lost on your travels, sent on a mission to find Liyue Harbor through a dark undiscovered section of your map when you happened to stumble there.
He, this mystery Adeptus of the shadows, wasnât used to getting himself emotionally involved with the mortal world, but there was something about your presence that had him instantly intrigued. Perhaps it was the unique, bright nature of your spirit and the way you ran around so unaware of the power you possessed. Or perhaps it was something deeper, something about souls being connected through lifetimes that not even he could explain.
He watched you, as you temporarily forgot about your mission to explore the place he called home. He never planned to interact. He had learned through all his years of suffering that beautiful things were best appreciated from afar.
And so, when you leftâtaking your bright spirit with you into the nightâhe didnât grieve. He didnât even wonder if he would see you again.
It was a few weeks later when he sensed itâyour presence coming his way.
His first reaction was to ignore it; to write it off as pure coincidence. But there was something different about you this time that made that much more difficult to do.
Yes, he could feel itâyou were now as aware of him as he was of you.
He tried his best to avoid the inevitable, but as it were, not even an Adeptus could toy with the plans of fate. And so, the next thing he knew there you were in front of him, addressing him with that kind voice that had caught his attention a few weeks before.
He struggled to wrap his head around how this was happening. Heâd spent so many years building impenetrable walls to put up against the lovely; to shade himself from those things which should not be tainted. And yet there you wereâone of the most lovely things of which his eyes had ever laid uponâreaching out to him.
It took him a moment to realize just what it was you were asking. He stared at your Sigil of Permission for a long time, and when it came his turn to respond he did so sharply and dismissively. He tried his best during your interaction to keep his walls up, to âshooâ you away as quickly as possible. But you were persistent, and when you brought him a bowl of Almond Tofu he found it very hard to remain impartial. He agreed to listen to what you had to say.
It turned out to be a less painful experience than he had imagined. You actually had some important news to share with him, and only wanted him to hear you out. Once you got the results you had come for, you left him alone.
After your departure, he found himself doing a lot of pondering. Maybe, it wasnât so bad to interact with the lovely every once in a while. No harm had come out of your interaction, after all, and he was finding himself feeling unusually light. He resolved to be kinder to you upon your next meeting, if fate would have you meet again.
And as fate would have it, you did.
It was only a few days later. He was out slaying some hilichurls that had gone feral when you came up behind him. He remembered his vow to himself and approached you with kindness.
Surprisingly, speaking to you this way was much easier, more natural, and the practiced recluse found himself rather enjoying your little encounter. Perhaps that was why, after much prodding on your part, he agreed to let you help him with the rest of his venture.
***
You were shocked. This man who had seemed so hard to get to know was being kind to you, letting you in on a little bit of his world. You werenât sure what to make of the Vigilant Yaksha upon your first meeting. He was an odd mix-up of personalities placed under one heavy mask of unconcern. You hadnât planned to pry too much. Xiao was a divine being, and probably not easily tempted by your mundane ways, but upon seeing that slip of kindness, you couldnât let it go.
For you, the kindness of the Yaksha was the most magnificent thing. Unlike the kindness youâd received a few times from strangers and friends, this was pure, true, untainted by the hidden desires of the human ego. You wanted to say that you were special, that there was a reason you felt it so strongly, but you knew, that such a power, such a brilliance would touch everyone in the same way. For there was no hiding your true spirit in the light of the Yakshaâs kindness.
Once you realized this, you resolved to cherish every moment you spent together. Such a gentleness was not to be taken for granted. You would make sure that each time Xiao opened up, every time he let a little bit more of his true spirit show, he would be met with an equal amount of loving acceptance. Being around him became a comfort, and as the moments got longer and longer, you began to appreciate them more and more.
The true luminescence of his kindness shone through on the day he agreed to help you with the dream ritual. The whole process was magical, like something out of a fairy tale, and not just because of the witchy ritual you were performing. No, the most dreamlike part of it all was the fact that Xiao was there supporting you, lending you his wisdom.
However, not all wonderful things last forever. Shortly after that, you said goodbye to Xiao, leaving him in a state of hazy reminiscence over a Grilled Tiger Fish.
You couldnât stop thinking about him after that. You wondered in every moment of the day what it must be like for him, what it must be like to carry around all those years of karma feeling like he was responsible for it. You wondered how he spent his time, how he managed to remain so anonymous to the rest of the world. And then, most persistently, you found yourself wondering if you would ever see him again. Fortunately for you, it wasnât long.
You heard about Lantern Rite from some passing travelers, and since you were experiencing a slow dip in your missions, you decided to check it out. You had no clue that upon receiving the official explanation of the event, you would hear Xiaoâs name come up a million and one times. It certainly did nothing to help the thoughts that were already running through your mind about the Vigilant Yaksha.
Every time his name came up you found your heart growing warmer and warmer. The sweetness of the whole thing was really too much. The fact that all these people came together to show their respects, a week where everyone opened up their hearts to the hope and magic of the world. Even more than that was the fact that Xiao deserved it. He deserved a whole festival dedicated to him.
You wondered what he thought of it all. Did he spend the night sitting on his balcony, admiring the lanterns from a distance and taking a small, humble moment to recognize himself? Did it for but a moment lighten the weight he carried so heavily on his heart?
You got the idea to make him a lantern as soon as you knew it was possible. If the little gesture would brighten his day, you would make it your life mission. Unfortunately, you got tasked with many other things that week, and by the time fate had you meet again, you hadnât gotten the chance to make him one yet.
He was standing on the dock when you ran into himâ a quiet, majestic, shadow. Your heart flipped upside down when you saw him. You didnât expect the man in question to turn up so easily. So out of the blue too. Turns out he had been investigating something suspicious that had also caught your eye. Upon seeing you there, he decided to leave the matter in your hands. You were grateful for the faith heâd put in you, but a little bit bummed that you wouldnât be working together on this one. You decided to take this chance to ask him his feelings about Lantern Rite.
After he explained you immediately felt embarrassed. His feelings for the event were not what you had imagined. Actually, they were rather⊠harsh. In that moment, you felt trivial, human. Distant from him in a way that you couldnât explain. You realized that perhaps you were wrong for being concerned about him. Here was a man who had walked this world for so many years. Surely he had thought of all these things before, and surely he was right in the emotions heâd settled on.
But still, the fact that you wanted to make him a lantern remained. Even if he thought it was silly, even if it made him think lesser of you, you wanted to show him your appreciation the way humans did. And so, you found time in between your various missions, and this new task you he had trusted you with, to do so.
When it was time to return to Wangshu to give Xiao the results of your findings, you arrived with tingles in your stomach. You had brought the lantern you made for him, and you were beginning to question if it was the right decision or not. You eventually sucked it up and decided to go through with your plan.
You found Xiao on the balcony, updated him on the situation, and then proceeded with the embarrassing task of giving him the lantern.
He stared at the lantern with a very unreadable expression. After what felt like a lifetime, he sighed and said, âDonât you have better things to be doing with your time?â
That stung, and after he saw the expression on your face, he gave you a huffed, but somewhat sincere âthank you.â
You continued on with your quests, but the whole time you couldnât stop thinking about Xiao. What exactly was it that you were feeling for him? Was it worship? Or something else? And were you wrong to let your feelings get away with you?
***
Meanwhile, Xiao sat in his room experiencing a very similar dilemma. The lantern was on the floor in front of him, and he couldnât bring himself to tear his eyes from it. On the outside, he remained as composed as ever, but on the inside he was battling a handful of new, conflicting feelings.
âIâve never cared for these things, so why?â he thought to himself. âWhy do I feel this way? So⊠happy.â
The truth was, he had been finding himself becoming continuously more happy the more time he spent with you. It was like each time you met, another weight was lifted from his soul. He didnât like it, because it happened so subtly that he didnât have the chance to stop it. He worried what it may mean, for if that load was no longer on him then who had it been transferred to?
He clutched at his warming heart. That tingle within him began to stir more violently, getting all the more difficult to ignore. He knew what that feeling was. He wanted to see you, and he was just beginning to accept that.
He left the lantern and moved out onto the balcony, where he stared out at the surrounding hills. He could sense you. In this vast, wide land he could pick up your presence anywhere. It seemed to him that you were out confronting some Treasure Hoarders, and you were about to get yourself into some trouble.
He didnât even have to think about it, he was there in a flash, saying the words that he knew would save your butt. He handled the situation with grace and was about to leave when you stopped him.
âWhat is it?â he asked.
You looked conflicted, as if you werenât sure if the words you were thinking were the right ones to say. Eventually, you said it. âThe next time we meet, can it be somewhere with a view of the Mingxiao Lantern?â
He realized at that moment, that you too shared the same feelings for him. A rush of emotions seized him at once, and his instant response was to fight against them.
âIâm not a fan of crowds,â he said. It was the truth, but not the whole of it.
The look on your face moved him to compromise.
âWhen this matter is resolved,â he said, âCome to Wangshu Inn. In the past, the Mingxiao Lantern has been visible even from there.â
***
Xiao disappeared just like that, but you held on dearly to his words.
He was giving you another chance, a big one.
You rushed through the rest of your tasks, excited for this rare opportunity to spend time with Xiao.
***
Meanwhile, Xiao was having a rough time. He paced around the Inn, attempting to suffocate the feelings of anticipation that threatened to arise. He hoped you would come tonight, but he knew better than to give in to that little bit of excitement. You were human, these little things like festivals were important to you. He was just him. He would let you down.
With not much to do, Xiao became uncharacteristically bored. At one point, he went out to slay some demons, but even that didnât do much to settle his increasing anxiety. Eventually, he settled on the thought that you werenât coming. That you would get caught up in the trivial beauty of the thing and decide to stay. It gave him some peace to think this, for he didnât want to deal with these feelings anyway.
Unfortunately for him, you didnât just come, but you showed up hours early.
âYou came after all,â he said, sighing at your stubborn resilience. âThough I canât say I know why you made this decision.â
It dawned on himâyou were probably just there to give him the news of your last quest. There was still a high chance you wanted to go into the city to view the lantern properly, and here he was embarrassing himself.
He recovered quickly. âSo, is the matter resolved?â
You blinked. Your expression watered over, as if you'd completely forgotten about the matter he referred to. âYes, butâŠâ you said. âYou sure you donât want to come? To see the Mingxiao Lantern?â
He drew in a breath. He knew it. The festival was all you cared about. You weren't here for him after all. âAs I said," he started. "I am not partial to crowded areas. So if you really are concerned about this short-lived spectacle, I suggest you head off now.â
âItâs not that,â you struggled, âItâs you Iâm concerned about. I think you should enjoy yourself every once in a while. You deserve it more than anyone, Xiao⊠to be happy.â
A bolt of lightning shocked through his heart. Once again, he was caught off-guard by your words.
He felt his pulse pick up pace, reaching a quickness it hadn't in centuries. âHappiness is an illusion of the human mind,â he retaliated.
And with that, he hoped you would leave him alone.
***
The moment Xiao said those words, you realized itâXiao, the all-knowing being that he was, was wrong about one thing. And it was the one thing you would not let him be right about.
You left him standing on the balcony to come up with a plan. With the unlikely help of Verr Goldet and Huaiâan, you thought of it. It was risky, to attempt to bring the festival to him, but it would give him a sense of what he was missing out on. And maybe, just maybe, you could convince him to go to the real thing.
When you went back to find Xiao he was still standing on the balcony where you left him.
âYouâre still here?â he snapped.
âCome with me, to Lantern Rite.â
He almost let it slip then, the tiniest bit of emotion. âWeâve had this talk. Donât make me repeat myself. Itâs best you go alone.â
You ignored his sharp tone and proceeded to tell him about what youâd set up for him. His reaction was the same as when you gave him the lanternâobstinate, devoid of any emotions, but you didnât let it discourage you.
You dragged him down to the bottom of the inn, where he eventually agreed to partake in your little experiment.
During your meal, Xiao watched you closely. He wondered why you were still trying, still being kind to him. You perplexed him. Not just because you were human, but because you were you, and he was learning that you were even more peculiar than he had first gathered.
Eventually, you asked him the question he knew you were going to ask.
âWill you accompany me to the city?â
He sighed. He could see right through your plot, but the structure that held him together had been falling apart, rock by rock, since the moment heâd met you.
âFine,â he said after you pleaded him further. âIâll accompany you. But⊠Iâll only go as far as the city.â
You tried not to show the excitement on your face. You knew better than to get your hopes up just yet. This was just one step, one step closer to showing him the truth about happiness, and you were grateful you were able to move him this far.
You took off together into the fading daylight.
When you arrived at the final hill leading into Liyue Harbor, Xiao paused. âThis is as far as I will go,â he said. âPlease see yourself into the city.â
You decided to give it one last shot. âYou sure? Everyone in the city really appreciates you. I saw it while I was traveling around. It canât hurt to get a little bit involved...â
He shook his head and proceeded to give his explanation of why he never got involvedâhow he could never interact with all of those carefree people.
While he talked you began to understand why Xiao was the way he wasâleft to his own defenses he became swallowed by the darkness. Worse than that, he convinced himself he deserved it, that it was his duty to lug all this unnecessary karma around.
All he needed was someone to show him to the light, someone to show him the kindness heâd shown you, and to show him that he deserved it too.
You didnât know if that person would be you, but you had to at least try. Besides, you had no intention of watching the lanterns without Xiao anyway.
âWell,â you said, âThis is the perfect view anyway. Letâs leave those trivial people to their trivia.â
âHuh?â He watched you, with a look of complete bewilderment on his face, as you walked over to the edge of the little grassy hillside and took a seat.
He didnât understand. What was the point of coming all this way if you werenât going into the city? Wasnât that what you wanted? Which one was it?
He sighed, the last few rocks of his structure tumbling loose.
He joined you at the edge and sat down next to you. He didnât say a word, but you smiled, knowing you had won.
The light show began. It was extraordinary, so extraordinary for a second you forgot to check to see if Xiao was enjoying himself.
You were not disappointed when you saw his face.
He looked up at the sky in awe, his normally tense expression relaxed into one of pure appreciation. His amber eyes shone with wonder, and the softest of smiles tugged at his lips. You werenât sure which sight was more enchantingâthe lanterns, or the look on Xiaoâs breathless, unguarded face. Everything you wondered about him to be true, you could see it all there in that moment.
You looked back toward the sky, allowing yourself to also get lost in the moment.
All those people's hopes, dreams, lighting up the night. Each wish carried with it, the love and care of one soul, and each shined beautifully in its own way. Everyone on this planet had something they cared for. No matter how trivial, or ridiculous, if a person poured their love and attention into it, it became the most powerful thing. Such was the beauty of humanity.
âI get it now.â Xiao sighed, while placing his gentle hand atop of yours. âThis is what it is to be human.â
He lifted your hands, intertwining your fingers together, watching as the motion stirred up emotions within him, allowing himself to feel each one that came up.
âFine then,â he said. âHave it your way.â
He collapsed his head into your shoulder and let go of thousands of years of vigilance.
You let him rest there, as you watched the last of the lanterns float off into the distance.
Xiao realized something as he rested his head on your shoulder and allowed a tear to fall onto his cheek. At the end of the day, anyone can be vigilant, but it takes true strength, true courage to be vulnerable.
*:ïŸâ§*:ïŸâ§
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