xiao felt her presence before he ever saw her, but he’s still not sure this is real. he’s just a few steps before her, and she looks just the same as ever, like her image had been pulled from his memories. he’s walking towards her before he realizes, eyes watering before he can stop himself, shoulders shaking when he finally speaks.
oh, the yaksha had missed her more than he realized, it seemed, standing before her feeling vulnerable, but not afraid of it. she’s been a safe place as long as he can remember, the conqueror of demons has no place here now.
the /you came home/ goes unsaid.
unprompted. || always accepting
─「归终」─ the second chance at life, one that even the LORD OF DUST herself couldn't quite explain the experience of it. the cold and dark feeling of death still rang so clear within her mind, and the slumber she had taken within the memory of dust remained locked for thousands of years. so much had changed, now that she had carried the last remnants of geo archon's power, it made home in her core. to breathe, to live again, it was both new and nostalgic all at the same time.
however, the PRESENCE was sensed even before he made himself known, and the sight of the vigilant yaksha standing before her took her back to the years long gone. the time of the past that would be forgotten should it be mortal's memory, not with them, however.
the way her name was uttered, and those normally unwavering golden hues quivered uncontrollably. his BODY seemed worn-out, even the goddess was able to tell without getting close to him how the KARMIC DEBT he carried was seeping more prominent than ever. after all, this was more than two thousands years of karma he shouldered.
and he shouldered it all alone.
quietly, she approached him, shortening the distance between them and instead of a normal greeting one would give, her arms gently came around his form to pull him into a tender embrace just like how she had always done so for him prior to her demise. her fingers were gentle as they slid to his neck, then guiding his expression to her chest only for her other hand to stroke his back. soothingly, calmly.
" alatus ... " a name almost forgotten through time uttered in the SOFTEST WAY possible, unlike how his title was said with utmost fear. delicate arms wrapped themselves around his strong form, enveloping him in her WARMTH that had been absence since that fateful day. she heard the tales from the sand and dust, how other yakshas had perished with time, leaving only him to be the sole survivor.
" it must've been lonely ... thank you for holding on for this long, and for staying by his side all this time. " to stay rooted by rex lapis' side even after the CONTRACT was released, this was who he is. he's loyal to a fault, and he'd sooner exhaust the last of his very being for others. the SACRIFICE he's willing to make, as long as the only one who suffered was him.
" it's okay now ... you're alright. " the weight upon your shoulders, the pain and agony you carried all this time, it's alright to let it out. to put it down for a moment. it had been far, far too long for someone to endure it ALL ALONE, human or not. and she rubbed his back, gently, assuringly.
