Chapter Text
Xinyan didn’t know what was going on, but she was pretty sure it was at least partially her fault. Chongyun’s, too, but he couldn’t really be blamed in his current state.
“Xinyan?” He mumbled, getting up from the bench he’d collapsed on. “What happened?”
She hesitated. “Nothing too bad,” she finally said, avoiding his eyes.
Chongyun looked skeptical, but before he could press further, Xiao flew down from the mansion’s roof. “Where are Qiqi and Hu Tao?” The adeptus demanded.
Xinyan was glad he hadn’t asked about Chongyun, who was still looking pretty out of it. He’d eaten a dish the Traveler had made in preparation forhis expedition to Tsurumi Island, and apparently the dish had contained Jueyun Chilies.
“They haven’t come back yet,” Chongyun offered. “So they probably got held up somewhere. I’m sure they’re fine.”
“Yeah, Aether’s fought an Archon before,” Xinyan reassured the adeptus. “A little fog should be nothing to worry about.”
Xiao frowned. “I suppose. But if they got hurt…”
Chongyun was the one to break the silence. “So, what did I do last night?”
—
The Stella Fortuna had just dissolved in Aether’s hands, and Qiqi was passed out in Hu Tao’s arms, miraculously not struggling. It was definitely not a time to be hungry. But for some reason, Aether was really intent on getting a snack.
“Hold on a minute. I just need to find where I put my Teyvat Fried Eggs,” he mumbled over his shoulder, digging through his backpack.
Hu Tao didn’t get it. Wasn’t Qiqi more important?
“Oh no. Ohh, this isn’t good,” Aether whispered. “Hu Tao, you had the backpack last, right?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Where are my Acquaint Fates?”
Hu Tao’s confusion must have shown in her face, because Aether continued, “You know, blue, swirly, about the size of my hand. I had four of those yesterday, and now they’re gone.”
Hu Tao thought back to the previous day. She hadn’t seen anything like what Aether was describing. But… “Chongyun might know. Remember, he said he wanted to give us a parting gift?” The gift had turned out to be a handful of shiny rocks, but he’d acted like they were the most useful thing an adventurer could want. “Actually, he might not remember either. He didn’t seem like himself.”
Aether sighed. “Great, so you think Chongyun took my wishes?”
“It’s possible,” Kazuha offered. “I did see him carrying something out of the kitchen. I didn’t mention it at the time because Thoma was showing me the new kitchen layout.”
Aether started digging through a different part of the backpack. “Well, then, into the Serenitea Pot.”
—
As the party materialized outside Aether’s mansion, Qiqi slowly opened her eyes.
Eula was the first one to approach her. “Qiqi, you’re awake. Are you alright?”
Qiqi nodded wordlessly. She didn’t recognize her surroundings at first, but the giant finch was pretty memorable.
Qiqi wasn’t sure when she’d started to remember Tubby. Maybe it was because the teapot spirit took the form of a large finch, or maybe it was just a result of seeing Tubby almost every day. Whatever the case, it was nice to remember faces she liked in addition to faces she didn’t.
Speaking of remembering faces… Qiqi could actually remember several of the people who were surrounding her now. The tall, blue-haired woman was called Eula. She was nice, even if she didn’t look it. She’d helped Qiqi build a snowman once. Next to her was an angry-looking man. Qiqi thought his name was Xiao, although she wasn’t quite sure. But she knew he looked out for her and the Traveler when they went on adventures.
Qiqi looked around some more, trying to gauge her surroundings. She was being held in someone’s arms. Qiqi couldn’t see the person’s face from this angle, but that was okay. She’d never once forgotten what their face looked like.
Hu Tao.
This should have been terrible. Qiqi would normally have tried whatever she could think of to break free. But this time, she decided to let it slide.
Fragments of unwanted memories were still stuck in her mind. Qiqi wasn’t sure if they were real, but if they were…
Maybe Hu Tao had a conscience after all.
—
Aether crossed his arms. “Chongyun.”
“Hm?”
“Where are my wishes?”
“I have no memories of anything I may have done last night, but if I hurt you in any way, I am deeply sorry.”
Aether sighed. “This,” he said, holding up a swirly blue orb, “this is an Acquaint Fate.”
Chongyun took the orb from Aether’s hands, inspecting it from all its angles. “Hm. It does look somewhat familiar.”
“I think you might have taken some of these last night” It wasn’t said as an accusation, exactly, but Chongyun clearly took it as one.
“I’ll make up for it. I can pay you in Mora, or if they’re really expensive I can do favors instead, but-”
Aether cut him off. “Can you catch a finch for me?”
Chongyun frowned, puzzled. “I… I suppose I could.”
Aether smiled. “Qiqi will be happy to hear that.”