Chapter Text
After showing Albedo his room - and offering Diluc a teleport home, which he refused - Aether finds Bennett.
“So, is that sword working better - and less cursed - than your old one?”
“Yeah! It feels really different… I don’t know why, but it feels like a weight lifted from my shoulders.”
“Good. You can keep that sword, by the way - I fight better with this one.”
“This… is an Archon-blessed sword. And you’re just giving it to me?”
“I don’t use god-blessed weapons. I prefer to rely on my skills, and not the blessing of a god. In any case, I can see that this sword works well for you.”
“Cool! By the way, how did you know - or suspect - the sword was cursed?”
“Actually, Kaeya told me that. Apparently, his grandfather used the same sword - and it killed him horribly. I recognized it, and decided to test it, before it killed you as well. Avoid Diluc for the time being, by the way.”
“Kaeya… He’s not the kind of person to know these things, normally. He spends all his time on people. And why avoid Diluc?”
“That he does - he is quite involved in politics. Albedo is the only one who consistently manages to get him to take breaks - which is strange, as he has the same problem. And Diluc is… even more grumpy than normal, due to him getting beaten by Childe.”
“I wouldn’t’ve thought Diluc could lose. I’ve seen him fight, he’s scary.”
“He is indeed scary, but Childe is a master at creating weapons with his Vision. Much like you, Diluc relies on his weapon - which I made everyone leave.”
“I can see how that would work.”
“Yes… In any case. I believe you should test your new sword. I have… other matters to attend to.” And with that, Aether disappears.
Bennett sighs and stumbles towards a log to sit down. Aether always disappears too quickly for him. He’s gone to all the trouble of breaking his curse - and giving him a god’s sword - but still didn’t seem to realize how much he meant to Bennett. When they first met, he was mostly just a fanboy, and still cursed. And yet Aether took the time to run a domain with him, and he had become one of the Traveler’s most reliable adventuring companions. Being shown respect, despite his curse - and from Aether of all people - had led to him falling in love. The worst part is, he can’t tell whether or not Aether truly cares for him, or if it’s just what he does for everybody. Aether is such a good person, he would do this out of pity, but why focus so much on him?
Gah… He really needs to do something about this soon. Continuing to lust after Aether like this can’t be good. In the past, he’s had to stop any feelings for someone - sometimes quite brutally, pushing them away from him. Royce, Razor… Too much happens around him for anyone to stay with him for long.
Since he’d never found a way to lift the curse - despite nearly a decade of trying - he’d almost convinced himself that the curse was a good thing, that he could live with it. He had forgotten how carefree he could be without the curse. No need to always assume the worst will happen, no need to keep away the people he cares about… A weight has been lifted from his life, one that he’d been carrying for far too long.
Now that he’s thinking about what he can do about what he can do without his curse, he could reform Benny’s Adventure Team! Aether once asked about joining, for that matter. He wonders who else would join, now that he’s free of the curse. The reason the original was… disbanded, really (despite Katheryne not telling him, he knows that most of his team left) was that they were in danger from him…
Standing, he decides to go to sleep, and decide what to do about all this tomorrow. He finds that almost everything is clearer after a night’s sleep, and he certainly needs clarity right now.
After a night’s sleep - Aether had teleported him near his current camp - nothing has really changed. He’s still surprised that the curse was lifted, not to mention that he was given a god’s sword. He also still wishes that Aether would do something other than solve everyone’s problems, then leave. If Aether could stay around longer, people could get to know him for a change… That is Aether, though. He’s been traveling for… probably longer than anyone in Teyvat has been alive. He’s not going to give up traveling for anyone. Perhaps he should try to join Aether, travel with him on his quest through Teyvat. He once said that traveling was a lonely life, that he wished for someone to join him. Perhaps Bennett could join him…
Walking towards one of his daily commissions - his Adventurer’s Handbook automatically updates somehow - he decides to ask to travel with Aether. He can’t abandon the Guild - his dads - with no warning, so he can’t leave now… He wonders what Aether’s plans are. He’s been traveling between Monstadt and Liyue for a while now, but has been complaining about not having a way into Inazuma for a while now. That must be where he’s planning to go next, when he can find a way in. This means he won’t be leaving soon - there are very few ways into Inazuma. Perhaps he could find one. Then he could join Aether…
That comes later. For now, he needs to concentrate on battle. It’s not wise to be distracted while fighting.
Another commission of the day is to clear out a hilichurl camp. They were dragging in another person from one of their raiding missions. Bringing out his new sword, Bennett starts attacking the hilichurls, calling his Inspiration Field, to both strengthen his attacks, and to provide healing for whoever this group has dragged in.
After clearing out the hilichurl camp - the Skyward Blade suits him - he asks who the captured person is.
“Since you just saved me, I suppose I can tell you. I’m Vile.”
“Well then, Vile, why were you captured by those hilichurls? I don’t want to have to save you again.”
“I had heard of a treasure near here. I was looking to gather more information, as people pay more for better information. I was then ambushed by those hilichurls.”
“You trade in information?”
“Yes. I don’t suppose you need any knowledge? I could be persuaded to tell you where the treasure I was exploring is… for the right price, of course.”
“I prefer finding my own treasure, thank you. I don’t suppose you know of a way into Inazuma, though?”
“There are several ways that I know of, but it will cost you. I need to know where you got that sword.”
“The sword was a gift from the Traveler. Any more you wish to ask, you will have to ask him.”
“Aether had it… Interesting.”
“And a way of entering Inazuma?”
“Oh, yes. You probably want to talk to Manager Xiao in Liyue, they can get you anywhere you need to be. He may not look like it, but he’s one of the leading smugglers in Teyvat.”
“I see. Will he take two people?”
“He should, depending on where you need to go. I can’t truly speak for him though.”
Vile walks off, while Bennett goes to fight the next group of hilichurls that just came in - this time without a prisoner.