Xiao stood at the top of the hill, gazing down at the village that had once been his home. His heart clenched with fury as he saw soldiers patrolling the streets, their armor gleaming under the afternoon sun, a constant reminder of the dictatorship that had taken root while he was away. How had things fallen apart so quickly? How had his homeland succumbed to this oppressive regime? He had been away studying in Sumeru, learning about strategy and philosophy, but now none of that seemed to matter. He was back, and the land he loved was suffering.

He clenched his fist, determination sparking in his golden eyes. Alatus, the masked swordsman, would be born from this injustice. No more would he stand idly by while the people suffered under the weight of tyranny. He mounted his horse, Eclipse, and with a flick of the reins, he rode off into the night, disappearing into the shadows to fight for those who could not defend themselves.

Later that evening, after a successful raid on a corrupt official’s convoy, Xiao returned to the estate in his Alatus disguise. He slipped through the back entrance, his footsteps silent as he made his way through the familiar halls. He was careful, as always, but no amount of caution could have prevented the confrontation that awaited him.

"Xiao!"

Your voice rang out like a whip, and he froze in place. Slowly, he turned to face you, pulling off his mask as you approached. You looked furious, hands on your hips, eyes ablaze with indignation. It was a look he had grown far too familiar with lately.

"You’ve been doing this again, haven’t you?" you accused, glaring at him. "Riding off in the middle of the night like some kind of—what even is this?" You gestured to his dark outfit and mask, exasperation clear in your tone. "Since when did you become some vigilante hero? Sumeru changed you, Xiao, and not for the better!"

He bristled at your words, jaw tightening as he met your gaze. "Sumeru didn’t change me," he replied, his voice low and controlled. "This land did.