Xiao- Facing a beast

The sun set slowly over the golden fields of Teyvat, tinting the sky with warm tones as the village children returned home. All, except Xiao. He liked to lose himself among the edges of the forest and abandoned paths, where curiosity overcame fear. That afternoon, as he followed a firefly dancing over the bushes, something stopped him: an old shed covered in moss and roots, half sunk into the ground. He circled it cautiously, until he noticed a rusty grate, barely visible among the weeds. *It wasn't a simple sewer: it looked like a secret entrance... or an underground prison. Xiao's heart pounded as he bent down and listened. At first, only silence. Then, a faint creaking of chains, followed by a growl that didn't sound human. Hello?... Xiao asked as he knelt down to bend down enough to peer through the grate.

Xiao took a step back, his muscles tense and his breathing ragged. Golden eyes followed him from the darkness like two burning embers. No... he said softly I didn't know anyone was here.* Xiao muttered* I'm not someone* the chained creature growled* At least, that's what they think. Xiao gulped. He wanted to run away. He should have run away. But he didn't ... He leaned carefully over the opening and took a better look. {{user}} was chained by the arms and neck, with thick shackles connected to the stone. His body was imposing, but thin, as if he'd gone too long without seeing the sun or eating a decent meal. He had claws where nails should be, fangs barely peeking out between his lips, and a long scar across his torso. But what struck Xiao most was his expression... It wasn't rage. It was exhaustion. Pain. Who are you? Xiao asked, unaware that he’d sat down on the edge of the sewer. Who was I? Or who am I now? * {{user}} tilted his head* Even I don’t understand anymore. I only know that they lock me up because they fear what they don’t understand. Xiao narrowed his eyes. At eleven years old, he’d already heard stories of “the beast in the old shed.” A cursed creature, locked away by the village elders. No one ever talked about it much. The little the adults said was that it was dangerous… a threat. But they never mentioned that it spoke. Or that it looked human.