What is a Yaksha?
Yaksha are Liyue's immortal beast-warriors—fierce, relentless in battle, slaughtering in order to protect the law.
Among the countless races of Teyvat, the Yaksha clan held immense renown, rivaling even the fearsome Asura in combat prowess.
After pledging allegiance to Morax, the five strongest Yaksha followed him through war and conquest:
Bosacius — the Tengshe GeneralMenogias — the Mind-Ape GeneralIndarias — the Fire-Rat GeneralBonanus — the Spiral-Wave GeneralXiao — the Golden-Winged General
They became known as the Illuminated Yaksha.
Now, kneeling before Severin was Xiao—the last surviving Yaksha, Morax's protector.
The Fate of the Yaksha
Yaksha possessed a unique gift:
They could see and purify the hatred and resentment left behind by fallen gods.
Their foreheads bore a "third eye," allowing them to perceive corruption invisible to others.
But cleansing that hatred came at a cost.
Each purification polluted their own minds.
This burden was called karmic debt—业障.
Those afflicted endured ceaseless agony and terror.
Menogias and Bonanus succumbed to karmic corruption and killed each other in madness.Indarias' karmic debt erupted mid-battle—she saved civilians, then perished.Bosacius, seeing the fate awaiting him, journeyed alone into the Chasm and ended his own life, leaving behind only:
"A fleeting life—let all things be relinquished."
Of the five—
Only Xiao remained.
For centuries, he fought alone in the dark, purging hatred so that Liyue's nights would remain peaceful.
The people forgot him.
The adepti never did.
The Kneeling
And now—
Xiao knelt on one knee before Severin, in the same grand salute he reserved for Morax.
The adepti were stunned.
In Xiao's heart—
This Snezhnayan Prince stood equal to the Geo Archon.
Xiao's Request
"Why have you come?" Severin asked calmly.
"I wish to learn the True Immortal Path."
"Others may not dare. I do."
"Even without the Geo Archon's permission."
Silence fell.
Xiao continued:
"To defy the Heavenly Principles… to contend with fate."
"If your path is real, it may offer the Yaksha a way to break our destiny."
He had once believed—
If slaughter ceased, karmic debt would cease.
He was wrong.
Three thousand years after the Archon War, hatred still corroded the world.
He was treating symptoms.
Not the disease.
"If one day I fall into madness as my comrades did…"
"Then none will remain to cleanse the corruption."
"Liyue's nights will drown in demons."
"Even the Geo Archon cannot save every life."
His third eye glowed faintly.
"I am willing to learn."
"To overthrow the Heavenly Principles."
"To rebuild order."
The Adepti Object
Madame Ping stepped forward urgently.
"Xiao, you are Liyue's unsung hero."
"The people may not know you—but we do. The Geo Archon does."
"Do not mistake loneliness for destiny."
Others joined in:
"You fight alone too long—we pity you."
"Let Yaoyao keep you company at night."
"Or let Xiangling make you almond tofu."
"Learning auxiliary arts is enough. There's no need to defy the heavens."
"Even Morax never spoke lightly of such rebellion."
"And remember Khaenri'ah."
The implication hung heavy.
Defying the heavens had consequences.
Xiao's Answer
"All things are impermanent. All suffering is constant."
"A Yaksha's will does not seek pity."
Madame Ping sighed.
"Xiao, this decision does not match your calm nature."
"Tell me—what truly drives you?"
Xiao's gaze sharpened.
"Karmic burden."
"The most terrifying affliction in Teyvat."
"Touch it—and death follows. Even gods retreat."
Madame Ping's expression darkened.
"Has it grown so severe within you?"
Xiao shook his head.
"It is not mine."
He looked at Severin.
"I can see it."
"Because I bear karmic debt, I can perceive it."
"The karmic burden on His Highness…"
"…is deeper than that of our entire Yaksha clan combined."
A ripple of shock passed through the room.
Severin understood immediately.
Xiao had mistaken the Heavenly Curse upon him for karmic debt.
But in truth—
A curse from the Heavenly Principles was far more vicious than karmic corruption.
Xiao continued:
"That is why I believe him."
"The authenticity of the technique does not matter."
"His conviction does."
"To defy the Heavenly Principles is the only way to break destiny."
Long ago, Xiao followed Morax because he believed the Archon understood the suffering of the people.
Today—
He saw in Severin the same resolve.
And he was ready to follow again.
The room fell silent.
All eyes turned to Severin.
Would he accept the Vigilant Yaksha—
Or refuse him?
The fate of the last Yaksha hung in the balance.
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