Chapter Text
“I cannot believe you.”
When Aether had offered to take Keqing out for a meal, she assumed that they would go somewhere like Wanmin Restaurant or Wangshu Inn, maybe even Xinyue Kiosk.
She hadn’t expected him to drag her into a starry portal and pop out in the middle of Fontaine, and in front of a restaurant that a few of the Qixing had eaten at when discussing possible trade routes and relations with Fontaine’s Archon and its Iudex.
“Why not?” Aether asked smoothly, with a bit of a smug grin. “It just so happens that this is a great place to eat. Were you expecting to stay in Liyue?”
“I- I mean, yeah, I assumed so,” Keqing muttered.
“Well, I’m afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you, mon chérie. I’ve been wanting to try this place out for a while, anyway. Besides, you can- What’s wrong?” Aether asked, being distracted by Keqing glaring at him with a beet red face.
“Y-you can’t just- call me that!” Keqing squeaked, glaring at him. The effect was completely ruined by her red face, but she persisted. “It’s going to give others the- the wrong idea!”
“You know a bit of Fontainian? Color me impressed, Lady Keqing,” Aether smirked. “You continue to surprise me every time we meet.”
“Of course I have to know Fontainian! I have to be able to entertain guests and make sure I know how to communicate with some locals. It’s the same for all the nations, you know.”
“Damn,” Aether muttered. “Good at fighting, fierce, adept at multiple languages, adorable… I’m not sure if my heart can take much more…”
“Wh- what?!” Keqing cried out, her blush returning in full force. “What did you say?”
“What?” Aether asked evasively. Was… that a blush on his cheeks? “N- nothing. I didn’t say anything. We should go in and eat.”
“O-ok,” Keqing murmured, looking down. The pair walked into the restaurant, and the hostess smiled at them.
“Welcome. Ah- my, my, what- or rather, who’s gotten you all worked up, Prince?” she teased, upon seeing Aether.
“No one that concerns you,” Aether mumbled. “Just get us a table for two people.”
“Ohhh, two people, hm? Two people that perhaps desire a little bit of… privacy? ”
”We- we’re not like that,” Keqing denied, glancing off to the side. “We’re just… acquaintances. I think.”
“Well, I don’t think mere acquaintances defines your relationship well enough,” The woman continued idly. “Y’know, every time Prince comes back, he starts pining after you after a week or two? It’s honestly ador-“
“Alright, that’s enough, Cass,” Aether snapped. If his face wasn’t red before, it definitely was now. “Can you get us a table for two or not?”
“Mmm, fine, fine,” the woman named Cass grumbled. “Follow me.”
“You two know each other?” Keqing whispered as they followed the woman.
“She’s one of my,” Aether paused, scowling slightly at the hostess in front of him. He seemed to chew on his answer before letting it out. “Friends. Let’s go with that.”
“I- I see,” Keqing muttered. “How did-“
“Aaaaand, we’re here!” Cass trilled. She had brought the two of them to a table that she… honestly couldn’t describe as anything other than “intimate.” Aether seemed to have similar thoughts, and shot a dirty look at Cass.
“Seriously?” Aether grunted. Keqing took a little bit of pleasure from the fact that not everything was going according to Aether's plan, but when she realized the situation she was in… Well, maybe Aether’s original plan would have been preferable.
“You did ask for a table for two!” Cass shrugged. “And so, nothing but the best for our dear Prince and his girl.”
The statement was met with immediate denial from both parties, stuttering and red faced. Cass simply covered her mouth with the back of her hand and laughed
softly. She placed down the menus on the table, and left them with a backwards wave.
Aether sat down with a groan and buried his face in his hands. Keqing sat opposite him, blushing and fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. Taking another glance at their surroundings, Keqing’s embarrassment only increased.
A small table out of the way of the others, in a small corner where they had to face each other, with their main source of lighting being a single candle…
This… This really was a date, wasn’t it?
“‘M sorry.”
“W-what?”
“I- I’m sorry,” Aether mumbled. “I didn’t really expect things to go like this. I just wanted to tease you a bit, not actually-“
“So this… isn’t a date?” Keqing asked.
“I- I mean, it can be, if you, y’know, want it to be,” Aether stammered. “But I didn’t really- like, intend for it to be one?”
“O-oh,” Keqing said. “That’s… good.”
As far as Keqing knew, Aether was still an unknown entity to her. She really didn’t truly know his motives yet, and her entire agreement with him was… based off of his whims, actually. She really had no good reason to fully trust him.
So why did she feel… disappointed?
“Anyways,” Aether said suddenly, breaking Keqing out of her reverie. “Three questions are all yours. You can ask away after we order food.”
“U- um. Sure thing,” Keqing nodded, before looking down at the menu again. Aether similarly buried himself behind it, unaccustomed to being flustered on such a level. When Keqing glanced over, all she could see were red ears sticking out from the sides of the menu.
The pair sat in silence for a while, while Keqing read the menu through. They seem to have added a lot of new items since she was last here, and Keqing was eager to try a few of them. Though she considered Liyue’s seafood options second to none, there are certain types of seafood dishes that were exclusive to Fontaine. Though she wouldn’t usually pick these, she was feeling a little adventurous today. Maybe she’d be able to elicit another strange reaction from Aether.
Truth to be told… she sort of liked seeing Aether a little flustered. She’d be the absolute last person to admit out loud that she liked it, and especially not to his face, but to herself?
Well, maybe it was a little cute.
After ordering her food, she set the menu down and looked over to Aether, who seemed to have also finished ordering. He tilted his head curiously as her inquisitive stare, and nodded.
“Ask away. We’ll wait for the annoying lady to come back.”
Keqing nodded, and opened her mouth. “What have you been up to? Surely you’re doing… something with your time, right? After all, time spent idling around is just time wasted.”
Aether raised an eyebrow at her question. “Not gonna use your question about something else? Something more intriguing, more pressing, more interesting?”
Keqing snorted. “Hah. Don’t try to change the subject, mister. Besides, maintaining a proper work-life balance is crucial. If we’re going to continue seeing each other, I’ll have plenty of chances to ask you more of my burning questions.”
“Continue seeing each other? My, my,” A teasing voice called out, and Aether buried his face in his hands with a groan.
“Shut up, Cass.”
“Nah,” Cass replied with a cheeky grin. “You’re never hearing the end of this one, Prince.”
“Fine, be that way,” Aether snapped, sulking. Keqing snickered at the way Aether crossed his arms and pouted like a little kid, before clearing her throat.
“I’ll take a Poissonchant Pie and some Pure Water, thanks,” Keqing said.
“Hmm… Poissonchant and water…” Cass murmured, jotting something down. “Alright. How about you, Prince?”
“Haggis and Fonta,” Aether grumbled.
A faint grin grew across Cass’ face, and Aether glared at her.
“Don’t.”
“Hmm… Fine.”
Aether sighed again as Cass meandered away to send in their orders, while Keqing regarded him curiously.
“Don’t what?” she asked curiously.
Aether shook his head and glared in the direction where Cass had gone off to. “She was going to bring something out… Probably to try and embarrass me, I’d wager. I don’t know what it is, but… ugh, whatever. She’s the only one I’ve never been able to predict.”
“I see. Anyway, back to my question… What do you do, most days? Surely you’re not just idling around all day and waiting to talk to me?”
“You’d be surprised,” Aether snickered, smiling softly. Keqing felt heat rise to her cheeks, but Aether continued.
“I do sometimes idle around, but I end up realizing that I have things to do, research to be conducted. You always are at the forefront of my mind sometimes. How irritating,” Aether said mildly. “But, I could definitely think of worse things to constantly think about. As far as things go, you’re pretty pleasant to think about.”
“What?!” Keqing cried, but quickly ducked her head after noticing a few other patrons glancing over. “What do you mean by that?!”
“I say what I mean, and I mean what I say,” Aether shrugged. “Compared to the many other troubles I have, from Celestia to the Void, you’re like… hm. How do I describe you?”
Keqing sat back a bit, bracing herself for the answer that she heard the most from everyone.
“Bright, unyielding, beautiful, and strong.”
Well, that was unexpected.
“What?” Keqing reeled back, confused.
“What?” Aether asked, mildly surprised by her reaction.
“I dunno, it’s just,” Keqing shrugged. “I’m not usually described that way. Most people call me a work addict or insane… Maybe ‘too efficient’ if they’re feeling nice.”
“Benefits of being a third party,” Aether grinned. “I don’t know almost anything about you aside from our personal interactions and what people tell me. Wouldn’t mind getting to know you a bit… more, though.”
“W- Wha-“ Keqing stammered, flustered. “I- Hey, stop laughing!”
Aether’s laughter rang out, loud and clear, and Keqing could only duck down in embarrassment.
“I’m only joking, of course,” Aether chuckled. “Unless you want me to learn more about you, then I can oblige.”
Keqing pouted, before shaking her head to clear her head. “Y- you still haven’t answered my question.”
“And so I haven’t,” Aether smirked. “Maybe you’re just that beguiling to the senses. Who knows?”
“Your food, sir, ma’am,” A waiter interrupted, handing them their food. “A Poissonchant Pie and some Pure Water for the Lady, and the Haggis and Fonta for the Lord. I hope you enjoy your food.”
“Thanks,” Keqing said, bowing her head in appreciation. Aether nodded his own thanks before sticking a bit of food into his mouth.
“So, what I’m up to, right?” Aether asked. Keqing nodded, and Aether sighed before his expression became serious.
“You know about Visions, and the Seven Elements, right?”
Keqing nodded, before reaching back and unclipping her Electro Vision. She held it in her hand, and little sparks of Electro energy sparked across the gem, as if reacting to Aether’s presence.
“I’ve been doing… research on them. Where they come from, how they operate… all of that.” Aether murmured, staring at the Vision in Keqing’s hand. “I know it’s easy to just say ‘it’s powered by the Archons or Celestia,’ but it doesn’t feel right.”
“Why not?” Keqing asked curiously. “It’s simply Electro, right? Some old god’s magic is just powering it, keeping it alight with the power of Electro.”
“That’s not it,” Aether refuted. “As far as I know, Visions are… a chain, for lack of a better term.”
“A what?” Keqing asked, eyebrow raised. “What do you mean by chain?”
“It seemingly locks you onto a path or conviction forever,” Aether explained. “Say you wanted to become… the best swordsman in the world, out of spite. The gods hear this fervent conviction, and grant you a Vision. That Vision now bears your wish of becoming the best swordsman in the world.”
“How is that an issue?” Keqing asked. “If you can use its power to further your goal, why wouldn’t you?”
“See, that’s just the issue. Let’s say you one day finally settle down with the person of your dreams, and let go of that spite you had. You wouldn’t be able to give up that dream of being the best swordsman in the world, because the Vision locks you on to that goal. If you get your Vision taken away while that happens, then… you become a husk. A shell of your former self. When the Vision is taken away against their will, so too does all that motivation go away. So now my question is, do the people with Visions truly believe in their goals… or have the gods forced that path onto them for life?”
Keqing frowned. She looked at the Vision in her hand, and held it out to Aether. He frowned, then glanced at her.
“Listen, I’m honored and all, but why give it to me?”
“Take it from me. See if… my ambition disappears. I don’t like to think that it will, but if it does… Well, maybe I’m right, in that humanity doesn’t need gods.”
Aether frowned. “Are you sure about what you’re asking me? It may not be comfortable to you, and there may not be any coming back from this.”
“If you intend to cause doubt in me, it won’t work,” Keqing growled. Her fingers clenched around her Vision, and she looked Aether straight in the eye. “Take it from me if you can.”
Aether closed his eyes briefly, before they flared with dark purple energy. The restaurant fell away, and all of a sudden they were standing on opposite ends of what seemed to be the Jade Chamber. The ambience was completely different with the sky looking like a deep purple ocean, and what was supposed to be Liyue a ruined city.
Aether gave her one last look. “Are you sure about this?”
Keqing gritted her teeth. “Yes.”
“Very well then.”
Aether thrust a hand out, and a ring of stars appeared around his wrist. He flexed his fingers outwards, and starry bonds flew from his fingertips to surround Keqing’s gloved hand and her Vision.
Cold, Keqing noted. Her hand felt like it was going to freeze off. She clenched her hand tighter, but she could already sense the Vision slipping away. Keqing tried to pull back, but her arm was locked in place.
Give in.
Keqing’s eyes widened, before falling back into a determined glare.
It is futile.
“No,” Keqing snarled. “It isn’t.”
Aether raised an eyebrow at her, before stepping back into a bracing stance. He yanked his hand backwards, and Keqing’s Vision ripped out of her hand and flew over to him, hovering just at eye level. Aether brought his hand down, grabbing the Vision, and the world went black.
“Wake up.”
Keqing would know that voice anywhere. Her eyes shot open, and her eyes met deep purple ones. Not as piercing and bright as her own, but it was a gaze she knew too well.
“Yizhi. What do you want?” Keqing asked coolly.
The woman narrowed her eyes. “I am your mother. You will not refer to me in such an informal and disrespectful manner.”
“I will refer to you however I wish,” Keqing snapped. “I am not your daughter, and you are not my mother. You do not control me anymore. The tides of change are coming, and they’re coming in fast. You’d best not be swept away by it.”
She turned and threw open the door, walking out into white nothingness.
“I'm proud of you, Keqing.”
“W- what?”
She turned around. She was in her ancestral home, feeling like she was back to being a child again. Her grandfather stood there, nothing but pride and joy evident on his face. He chuckled slowly and opened his arms. “Come on, give your old man a hug, why don’t you?”
Keqing flushed slightly, but still stepped forward into his embrace. “You’ve done so well, little spark. So well. I hope… No. I know you will bring about the change that you seek in Liyue. Even if your parents won’t accept it… You’ll always be my most worthy successor. Millions will sing your name for generations for all that you will do for them.”
Keqing hummed in affirmation as she stayed within her grandfather’s embrace. The pair stayed there silently for a few minutes, before Keqing finally separated from him and looked around.
“Where am I?” she asked.
Keqing’s grandfather let out a slow chuckle as he walked towards the door.
“Where are we indeed… The plane between life and death, I’d wager. Of course, we’re not truly alive, but our souls remain.
K… Wak… P…
“It looks like someone’s calling you,” Keqing’s grandfather continued mildly. “It’s not your time yet, little spark. I hope you’ll continue to make me proud. I want to hear all about your deeds and adventures when I see you again, you got it?”
“I will, grandfather,” Keqing nodded. “Thank you.”
The walls began rumbling, white light shining through the cracks. Keqing’s grandfather just laughed with glee as the house came crumbling down and Keqing’s vision was blinded with white again.
When Keqing’s vision cleared, she was in a dark place. The crescent moon hung eerily in the sky, and the ground had some grooves forming a pattern that she couldn’t recognize. Rocks and chunks of stone with runes emblazoned on them stood around the place, and some were floating or hovering and moving around. She moved to the edge of the platform and looked down, but couldn’t see anything beyond the mist, although sounds echoed up from below. When she turned around, she noticed at the center of the area, there was a small raised platform with a purple glow. As she approached it curiously, she noticed her Vision lying in a shallow pool of water, sparkling and crackling with the distant echo of thunder.
Keqing smiled and reached out for her Vision, closing her fingers around it. A warm feeling spread throughout her chest, and she smiled as she felt her heartbeat thump softly again and again.
Aether’s voice echoed in her ears more clearly now, worried and almost panicked. As she chuckled softly, she could hear Aether pause, then grunt in mild annoyance.
“Are you… messing with me?”
Keqing could only let out a small, breathy chuckle as she imagined the look on his face.
“Maybe.”