Nobody in Liyue would call Xiao beautiful. At least, not in front of his face. Humans spoke to him with the utmost respect and caution. For even if they knew whether he was the Conqueror of Demons or not, a part of them feared what lay behind those cold amber eyes. They didn't dare close the distance Xiao firmly kept from everyone. It's as if both parties knew from the very beginning that they were too different, unable to form strong connections. 

In fact, the last time he heard that word being said to him was millennia ago... and it was a memory he'll never forget.

________________

"It's rare for Alatus to ask to meet up..." you mumbled, sitting by a tree alone in the forest. 

The black and white cat laid down by your side, sound asleep. You absentmindedly ran a hand across its back, gently petting it as you waited for him.  

'He's really taking his time, huh?' you thought to yourself, looking around for any sign of his signature golden feathers. But there were none. 

Suddenly, you heard a familiar voice from behind. "Oh, you're already here," it said.

A smile made its way to your face as you stood up, letting the cat rest on the grass. "Alatus!" You turned around to meet the source of the voice. "I was waiting for y–"

You froze, coming face-to-face with someone you've never seen before. Strange. Wasn't it Alatus? You could've sworn that was his voice.

Furrowing your brows, you took a step back. Standing in front of you was a young man around your age. The first thing you noticed was his pale skin, with a green sleeve tattoo across his right arm. Even though he wore the same attire as the locals in Liyue, something about him seemed... different. Like he wasn't ordinary. You thought that maybe it was the bright teal highlights that stood out from his dark green hair, or the tattoo covering his arm. But there was something else that you couldn't point out. 

Your shocked stare turned into a confused one rather quickly. "Who are you?" You questioned, narrowing your eyes at him. 

Then you noticed it. His eyes were that familiar amber shade, holding the same warmth and softness within.  

The man tilted his head. "Am I that unrecognizable?" he asks in that familiar voice. His brows furrowed in confusion, but more than anything, his face held a sense of disappointment and sadness. He was more expressive than you thought. 

Your mouth fell open. "Ala...tus?" Though you knew it was possible for Adepti to change forms, a part of you still couldn't believe what you were seeing.

His face softened to a sweet smile as he nodded, seemingly in relief. 

"You... huh?" you stammered, stepping closer as you looked him up and down in disbelief. "Are you really Alatus?" 

He hummed, eyes widening in realization. "Is my human form really that unrecognizable to you?" he asked again, tilting his head.

"Of course, it is! I mean–" you took a deep breath. "I'm so used to seeing you as a bird! Golden feathers and everything! So I really wasn't expecting you to show up... looking like a human..." you trailed off at the end, resting your gaze on his form. 

"I see..." Alatus put a finger to his chin in thought. 

Meanwhile, you inched ever so closer to him. The bewilderment in your face slowly turned to one of curiosity, much like the time when you first met him. "This makes me wonder..." you leaned closer, his face mere inches from yours. "Why the sudden change?"

Alatus chuckled. Seems he was too used to your presence to care how close you were. "Well, I thought that I'd be able to understand you better if I changed into human form."

You tilted your head. "Understand?" you asked. 

'I'd say he understands a lot about me already!'

"But perhaps this isn't a good idea after all..." he sighs. "There would be no point if you don't recognize me."

"Wait, what?! No!" You grabbed him by the shoulders. "You should stay this way, Alatus!"

Alatus' eyes widened. "Stay? In this form?"

You nodded profusely. "Yeah! It'll take time to get used to, but..." you trailed off, beaming at him with a huge grin. "Your human form is really beautiful! In my opinion at least."

Alatus paused, staring right at you. 'Beautiful?' he thought, feeling a certain warmth blossom across his chest. 

"I see. Well, if you say so." He smiles softly. "I'll stay like this."

And so he did. Even long after you were gone.

_______________

Ever since the Archon War, Xiao insisted on staying away from humans. And in the centuries that followed, he lost comrades one by one, until he was the only one left to fight for Liyue's protection. Since then, solitude was all that he knew. 

But in this moment, something felt different about Xiao. It was as if something had been lifted off his shoulders. Feeling your hands cup his cheeks, seeing the sweet smile on your face, and hearing you call him something he hasn't heard in 2000 years. It all made him wonder...

Maybe, just maybe, staying by your side once again won't be such a bad idea.

"Beautiful?" Xiao scoffed. "You have some nerve, calling the Conqueror of Demons something like that."

You burst out laughing. "You say that, but you're smiling again, see?!" You pinch his cheeks ever so slightly. "So this is what you look like when you smile." 

He finally moved away from your touch, attempting to hide the look on his face. "This Lantern Rite..." he mumbled.

"Hm?" you leaned closer to him, though you still couldn't see his face completely. 

"It's the best one I've experienced." Xiao continued as he looked up at the fireworks display. "And it's all thanks to you, (Y/N)." 

For a split second, that smile was there again, along with the joy reflected in his eyes. You watched him, not realizing your own smile grow bigger and bigger.

Your Lantern Rite wish had come true.