[ He nods. He and Haruka have come this far already, and since Haruka had shared some intimate details about his past, Xiao feels that he should do the same.
He summarizes how he was owned by a malicious god, and the deeds he was forced to carry out by them; how Rex Lapis saved his life, and how he became a yaksha because of it. What he details, however, are his experiences in the Chasm, going down there to find out what became of the Nameless Yaksha – ]
...I had a plan to sacrifice myself to let the others escape. None of them were in favor of it. Yelan had insisted that there were other options that we should explore before it came down to that...and thankfully, there were.
[ Fast forward to the Compass, going up to the surface – ]
In the end, I couldn't maintain the energy flow long enough for all of us to emerge. ... I was willing to lose my life to save all of theirs. I almost did, but Rex Lapis stepped in and brought me to the surface. I was spared because of him.
[ ... ]
When you've gone through certain experiences, you start to learn what you can and cannot handle. Up until that day, I had believed that I was destined to have a life of misery, but it was one I was willing to live to atone for everything I'd done. Death was something that I had prepared myself for, and it was a consequence that I was ready to accept. Then, the Traveler and I had a chat that shifted my perspective. I began to realize and accept that there were people who cared for my safety...that we were heroes, and that we would look out for one another.
[ He shakes his head. ]
I don't know if I could call myself one now, after this experience. Still, I can at least say that being here, talking to others, meeting you – it's added more value to my life than I thought it would.
[ Xiao softens. His shoulders relax. He looks at Haruka, and he reaches for his hand again. ]
And for that reason, I will fight until the bitter end, and I will only lay down my weapon if there are truly no other options. Rest assured, however, that I have zero plans on doing just that...and you are one of those I must thank for it.
no subject
He summarizes how he was owned by a malicious god, and the deeds he was forced to carry out by them; how Rex Lapis saved his life, and how he became a yaksha because of it. What he details, however, are his experiences in the Chasm, going down there to find out what became of the Nameless Yaksha – ]
...I had a plan to sacrifice myself to let the others escape. None of them were in favor of it. Yelan had insisted that there were other options that we should explore before it came down to that...and thankfully, there were.
[ Fast forward to the Compass, going up to the surface – ]
In the end, I couldn't maintain the energy flow long enough for all of us to emerge. ... I was willing to lose my life to save all of theirs. I almost did, but Rex Lapis stepped in and brought me to the surface. I was spared because of him.
[ ... ]
When you've gone through certain experiences, you start to learn what you can and cannot handle. Up until that day, I had believed that I was destined to have a life of misery, but it was one I was willing to live to atone for everything I'd done. Death was something that I had prepared myself for, and it was a consequence that I was ready to accept. Then, the Traveler and I had a chat that shifted my perspective. I began to realize and accept that there were people who cared for my safety...that we were heroes, and that we would look out for one another.
[ He shakes his head. ]
I don't know if I could call myself one now, after this experience. Still, I can at least say that being here, talking to others, meeting you – it's added more value to my life than I thought it would.
[ Xiao softens. His shoulders relax. He looks at Haruka, and he reaches for his hand again. ]
And for that reason, I will fight until the bitter end, and I will only lay down my weapon if there are truly no other options. Rest assured, however, that I have zero plans on doing just that...and you are one of those I must thank for it.