[Golden eyes widen imperceptibly before narrowing a fraction as Lessa speaks, the tension hidden in Xiao’s lithe frame suddenly apparent. “I would watch them every day waiting for them to die,” the young man begins, “so that I could talk to them.” What an oddly ominous thing to say. The yaksha gazes at Lessa in cool silence for the duration of the answer, then eventually relaxes as he comes to a decision. Yes, it was ominous, but not necessarily the words of someone who delights in the deaths of innocents. Instead, he thinks he understands what Lessa is trying to explain—or, at the very least, imagines he understands. The young man is obviously not human. If Xiao is reading the situation right, he may even be conversing with someone of a divine nature. Perhaps Lessa is a god of the afterlife? It’s worth asking about, but only after he satisfies himself with their current discussion.]

No, I can’t agree. Not everyone is deserving of it. [The soft reflection in his voice is evidence enough; Xiao speaks of himself.] Or, at least… Not without proper penance. But what’s happened to our worlds…you’re content to call it nature’s course? [Lessa must be far older than Xiao, thinks the yaksha; for all his millennia alive, he doesn’t feel like he can confidently say what is or isn’t natural for the creation or death of a world.] I suppose… It goes against everything I know about my home, but I was never well educated on the decisions of the gods in the first place.

[Who’s to say? Maybe the Seven or Celestia did indeed plan on the destruction of Teyvat. Xiao is inclined to think otherwise, simply from knowing both Rex Lapis and Barbatos, but… Lessa’s calm explanation is grounding instead of alarming.]

What kind of world do you hope to rebuild?