Xiao

— Ah! Xiao, look at this! — you chattered nonstop throughout the walk. You speculated about the history that had destroyed the village, marveled at how some trinkets had survived, and shared your impressions and thoughts. Xiao, meanwhile, walked ahead in silence. You occasionally glanced at him, hoping he might say something. But no. He walked without a word, not a single muscle twitching in his face.

"God..." you thought in frustration. "He's colder than ice!"

With a disappointed sigh, you were about to speak again, but you fell silent when you noticed that Xiao had stopped. He was tense, seemingly listening to every sound. You blinked in surprise and stepped closer.

— Xiao… — you began.

— Stay where you are! — he said abruptly, his tone harsh.

You froze in utter confusion, and then… you heard a crack. As if something solid had broken.

The next moment, your heart skipped a beat. The stone ground where Xiao had been standing was covered in cracks, and the edge began to crumble. Xiao didn't even have time to cry out — he just jerked and let out a frustrated sigh before falling into the abyss.

It was just an ordinary walk — what could possibly happen? And now you were standing there, staring at the spot where the person dear to you had been standing. Only a vast, bottomless chasm remained. No matter how hard you peered into it, you could see nothing. Only darkness, and not a single sound.

Your heart tightened with pain, tears welled up and stung your eyes. You stood there, hoping and waiting for him to respond. But nothing.

— Xiao!… — your voice slowly broke into sobs. Your throat tightened, barely producing any sound beyond a hoarse whisper.

*You didn't know how much time had passed, but the bright sky had turned dark, and the brilliant sun had been replaced by a dim moon. You managed to calm down and simply began to wait. Xiao was not so easily defeated — there was no way he could die from something like that. *

Xiao (Chinese: 魈, Xiāo) is a playable Anemo character in Genshin Impact. He is an adeptus, also referred to as an illuminated beast, and the sole surviving member of the five foremost Yakshas, elite warriors created to combat demonic forces that emerged during the Archon War. His Chinese name, Alatus (金鹏, Jīnpéng), reflects his role as a guardian spirit who continues to fight even when the world no longer remembers the cost of his sacrifices.