Chapter Text
Sunlight pours into Aethers office as he types away at his computer, recalling his dream from the night before.
“A̴͓̪̰̥̓́̅̋̓̽e̸̡̡̤͙̺͖͚̬̟͑̉͐̉͊͠͝t̴̠̤̗̔̔͌̋͜͜ͅh̶̩͆͗͋͛̈̏̓e̷̺̺̫̺͚̟̾͂̕ȑ̸̠̙͔̣̣̖̫̂͊̃̕͝ͅ let’s go to Liyue! We might be able to find traces of your sister there!” The small travel companion of the traveller says excitedly as the pair make their way to the Mondstat and Liyue border. Their recent adventure has made them a hero of Mondstat, healing Dvalin from the darkness in his heart.
Aether lets out a small sigh, taking a bite of the almond tofu Lumine left for him. The tofu tastes of nostalgia, but he doesn’t understand why. It’s been his favourite food ever since a child, and the recipe has been a traditional Liyue recipe. Maybe it’s because he writes historical fiction, and his dreams make him feel like he’s lived in those times.
Aether starts writing about Sora adventuring through Liyue, taking down Hilichurl camps, and finding an inn on a tree.
Over the years, Wangshuu Innhas been passed down and has now turned into Liyue Harbours most well known Hotel. The top floor has always been reserved for some very important people, but no one has ever been able to figure out who.
“Let’s make his element change at the Liyue statue of Seven.” Aether pulls out a history book looking up the old Archon of Liyue. “Rex Lapis was a Geo Archon… I feel like the name Zhongli would suit him better,” Aether shrugs as he closes the book.
The statues of Seven still stand all around Teyvat, despite the Archons no longer being alive or around to give out visions. The people of Teyvat left them standing to honour the old archons and what they have done over time.
Aether lets out a small sigh. “I really wish I could have lived back during the Archons. I wonder what kind of vision I would have had.” The blonde opens a new tab in his internet browser, What vision element would you have uquizz.
He opens the first result answering questions he decided had no relevance to a vision.
“Aether, are you wasting time again?” His editor Lisa walks into the office.
“I was just taking a small break. I’m struggling with this chapter,” the author pouts.
“I can’t stay mad at you for long cutie~” she grins. “Plus I’m a character in your book, how could I?” She says with a laugh.
You would be blessed with the Anemo vision from Barbados
The screen flashes to Aether. The author lets out a small snort.
“What’s so funny?” Lisa walks around to look at his screen.
“I started off giving Sora the Anemo vision, but each land it’s going to change,” Aether explains. “This book does kinda feel like one giant self insert for me, but I guess that’s normal,”
Aether closes down the cursed tab and continues to type. His traveller reaches Liyue, Rex Lapis dies, he seeks the help of the adeptus, then his hands freeze up. Why couldn’t he write the name of one adeptus? He’s appeared in his dream so many times now, why couldn’t he write it?
Xiao I love you.
I love you too A̴͓̪̰̥̓́̅̋̓̽e̸̡̡̤͙̺͖͚̬̟͑̉͐̉͊͠͝t̴̠̤̗̔̔͌̋͜͜ͅh̶̩͆͗͋͛̈̏̓e̷̺̺̫̺͚̟̾͂̕ȑ̸̠̙͔̣̣̖̫̂͊̃̕͝ͅ
Aether’s head throbs in pain, the pain causing him to let his head drop onto the table . Lisa looks up from the pages in her hand. Gently, she closes the laptop and pours him a glass of water. “No more writing for you right now I think,”
“Sorry to be a bother,” Aether lifts his head, taking a few small sips of water.
“It’s no problem,” she gently smiles. “Take a break, and go get some fresh air,”
Aether gives a small nod as he stands up and grabs his jumper and shoes.
“I should have the first draft finished by tonight… if this headache dies down,” he gives his editor a sheepish smile.
“Don’t rush it, you’re ahead of schedule anyway,”
Lisa packs away her materials.
“I’ll come check up on you again tomorrow,”
“Thanks Lisa…”
“Of course cutie, anything for you,” Lisa gives the author a playful wink.
Aether grabs the glass of water and sees his editor out. Using the chance he has to go to his bed, instead of back into his office.
The young author lies himself down, closing his eyes.
Xiao places a gentle kiss on Aethers head. “Promise me that you’ll come back from Inazuma safe. I don’t know if I’ll be able to find you out there if you’re in danger. Don’t be reckless.”
Aether laughs. “You worry too much. I promise I’ll come back. I don’t think Paimon would let me die anyway. She needs me to provide food for her,”
“Hey! Paimon cares about you as well. Food is just an added bonus to Paimon!”
Aether bursts into laughter and Xiao rolls his eyes.
The traveller cups Xiao’s face gently, pulling his face in and kissing him on the lips.
Aether jolts awake, looking around his room. The tingling feeling of a phantom kiss lingering on his lips.
“I guess Inazuma is where Sora is going after I finish Liyue,” A confused sigh leaves Aether’s lips. Wasn’t that the adeptus in his dream? Why was he dreaming about kissing the adeptus? Sure his scowling face is cute, and his lips just seem oh so perfect to kiss, but this is just a version of Adeptus Xiao that he made up in his head… should he add the romance aspect?
Frustrated, the blonde got out of bed and went back to his study, finishing up his first draft.
Aether types out the rest of his manuscript for the second volume. As the time slowly creeps to 2am, he finally emails the first draft off to Lisa.
“Oh my, how unexpected. You have Sora fall in love with an adeptus?” Lisa wiggles her eyebrows at the young author.
“I think another few weeks and this will be ready to send to the printers. I’ll go through and fix up some things for you and we can get the advanced copies out before we proof the final draft,”
—-
“Hey Xiao!”
Xiao looks up from his book to the obnoxious voice that just entered his room.
The top floor of Wangshu Inn has always been too fancy for Xiaos liking, and too close to all his adeptus and Archon…friends.
“Aether, sorry Kong, released a new book, based on the Liyue adventures, and you’re more than mentioned in it,” Venti stands in the hallway of Xiaos apartment wiggling his eyebrows holding the new book.
“And he’s doing a signing for his new release,”
A giant grin plastered on his face as Xiao returns a horrified look to the Anemo Archon.