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What's the best way to explain why you are always travelling and your strange attire? You're bards of course! Aether and Lumine, the travelling twin bards of the Universe.

Aether plays a violin and Lumine plays a banjo. They both sing. Other than doing any task they can to make money, they also can be found doing performances in town squares and taverns.

(following Aether)

After his first day in Mondstadt, Aether goes to the taverns in the town to find a place where he can hold a regular gig. He ends up at Angel's Share (this is the one Diluc owns, right?? if not pretend it is). He's somewhat popular for a newcomer, quite interesting.

Meeting Venti is very interesting. Aether doesn't trust him at first (because he is a god), but the moment they have a rhyme battle, he knows he can trust the other bard. They do duets together sometimes. Or more rhyme battles. Its a whole ordeal in Mondstadt, its absolutely wild.

Aether's title as the honorary Knight of Favonious is quickly changed to honorary bard of the Knights of Favonious.

This AU sorta changed into a different idea: the Wrong Bard AU
In which Signora's description of the Anemo Archon is that he is a special looking bard with one or two braids.

Signora after punching Aether in the gut: "Barbatos where is the gnosis?!"
Aether who has no idea what's going on: "Though you may think my answer is false, but my gnosis is a loss..."
...
Signora: "You lost your gnosis!?!?!"
Aether: "I dropped it while flying over the ocean a couple hundred years ago, they call me the weakest archon for a reason my foe"

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Rex Lapis has walked as the "human" Zhongli for many years, of course everyone and their grandmas would recognize the non-aging man fron their childhood.

Aka, in which the people of Liyue believe Zhongli is an adeptus of the Geo Archon.

After the death of "Rex Lapis" many people try to comfort Zhongli. An adeptus would surely feel the pain more of losing their god they've known for hundreds of years. People make "offerings" (home cooked meals) and ask Zhongli if he needs any help during these troubling times.

The man is clearly repressing his emotions

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When the traveller leaves Mondstadt it is a month before the Rite of Decension. Venti realizes they will arrive a week or two before the event so he tells the traveler about Rex Lapis's human form.

So when the traveller and Paimon does arrive early and can't find a cheap place to stay, they decide it is best to meet Rex Lapis a bit early. They set their course for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

The only description they have of Zhongli is "tall, as sexy as his statue, long brown hair, and a forgetful blockhead, you'll know when you meet him." Which was pretty accurate after they overheard him talk about Liyue's history.

The traveller and Paimon approached Zhongli after he finished his conversation.

"Mr. Rex Lapis sir" Zhongli looked up at Paimon, "Yes?" Venti was right about Zhongli being a blockhead.

(Zhongli is internally saying "fuck, why did I say yes")

Zhongli squares his shoulders and demands to know how they know who he is.

"Venti told us to tell you about that time he got you drunk and you..." Zhongli covers the traveller's mouth with his hand, "I should have known that drunkard bard was behind this."

The traveller then explains how they are looking for their lost sibling, but Zhongli tells them he will be able to help more after the Rite of Decension. The traveller is a little bit upset by this, but understands. So Zhongli sets them up with an inn room and gives them a tour of Liyue Harbor.

On that tour they meet Childe. "Ah, Traveller this is my good friend Childe, he is also a foreigner to Liyue, I think you'll get along well." Despite finding out Childe is a Fatui Harbinger, they get along well.

Childe and Traveller shenanigans ensue.

"Don't you sometimes think about how crazy it is that Zhongli is Rex Lapis?"
...
"ZHONGLI IS REX LAPIS???"

And that is how Childe finds out Zhongli is Rex Lapis.

Time for the Rite of Decension. Only one problem, Zhongli forgot to tell them about his plan.

So when the traveller, Paimon, and Childe see Rex Lapis, they're good friend Zhongli dead, they remorse. The Millelith fully believe they are not responsible for the death of Rex Lapis (they are literally greiving), but an order is an order and try to stop them, but they run away.

Childe goes with Paimon and the traveller to inform the adepti of what happened at the Rite of Decension.

Childe and the traveller are sitting at a teashop, reminiscing the good times. The travelled is writing a letter to Venti to inform him of the news, until Zhonhli enters the shop and approaches their table.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

"You mean Zhongli alive, approaching us??"
....

A nice little reunion happens, with Childe and the traveller hugging and crying in Zhongli, causing quite a scene. Zhongli asks them what's wrong and realizes, "sorry I forgot to tell you my plan"

Like that makes anything better.

So the three and a half of them plan Zhongli's funeral. "Is the wild glaze lillies thing really a requirement or are you just picky, Zhongli?" "Do you like the smell of old lady perfume Zhongli because you are also an old lady?"

Zhongli told them not to tell the adepti he is alive, so its a bit awkward to talk to them. Childe isn't the one to summon Osial. When Osial does appear, its like "Where tf is Zhongli?!??!" They find out about the deal with Rex Lapis and the Tsaritsa, and are disappointed in Zhongli.

Childe and the traveller continue to hang out with Zhongli. Zhongli meets Teucer too,
"You must be the old man my brother talked about in his letter!"
Zhongli is more touched about the fact Childe wrote to his family about him.

Venti does visit after hearing about his death, and then sees Zhongli, "You owe me more than ten bottles of Dandelion Wine for the shit you pull, Morax"

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The traveller is technically not human in Teyvat, an alien. So what if when Aether and Lumine enter a new world, they transform into the equivalent of what they are in that world. Given my theory of them being sorta half-gods.

That would make them magical beings, or adept, in Teyvat. Both of them get horns (like Ganyu) and tattoos (like Xiao) in Teyvat. They are used to these types of transformations.

(Aether-centric)

Paimon, in the beginning, is the only one who knows about Aether's adeptus form. She is the one that told him normal humans don't have horns or weird glower tattoos. When walking to Mondstadt and before seeing Venti and Dvalin, Aether figures out how to change his appearance to be "human" again. Venti senses some type of werid energy in him when they breifly meet in the woods.

Amber does know something is up with the traveller, but can't figure out what. Kaeya is highly suspicous of Aether.

Aether has to put somewhat of a concious effort into maintaining his human form. So when he and Venti steal the holy lyre, the flight to Angel's Share causes Aether to lose concentration and his horns and tattoos appear again. Venti realizes that Aether is probably some type of adeptus. Aether explains being from another world, and they create a cover story, realizing Diluc saw him when he entered.

When Diluc gets Jean and both of them see Aether, Venti steps in and explains that Aether is an adeptus. Diluc and Jean assume he is an adeptis of Barbatos, Venti confirms this (the cover story). Amber, Kaeya, and Lisa don't find out he is an adpetus until way later.

Being an adeptus means the traveller is much stronger than the normal human. More stamina, can run quicker, etc. The elemental burst for anemo is much stronger wind gust, that last for longer. Easier gliding. For geo, the geo construct releases minor pulses.

Its a bit weird in Liyue, meeting the other adepti. Meeting Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer confuses Aether because he's not an animal, is he? (Much much later he discovers he in fact can turn into an animal). Meeting Xiao and Ganyu clears that up. Zhongli also feels the strange energy from Aether.

Fighting Childe also leads to Aether accidently going back to his adeptus form. Specifically the Fowl Legacy Transformation fight leads to the adeprus form. Childe realizes there is something more to Aether, already seeing the use of two elements and the adeptus form. The fight is much easier than in the game, but not as easy as it could be because Aether doesn't know how to use his adeptal energy.

In the fight against Osial, Aether's horns and tattoos also appear, but is blamed on the adeptal energy he is given. When Zhongli hears about the horns and tattoos from Childe, he realizes that Aether could possibly be an adeptus and after the deal with La Signora, approaches him about it.

Aether, who is suspicious of someone who willing made a deal with the Tsaritsa and put his people in danger, tells Zhongli about waking up with horns and tattooes, but leaves out the fact about being from another world. He does tell Zhongli how he knows Venti.

(Once again including Teucer because I love him)
Teucer knows about Aether's adeptus form from Childe's letter. Teucer wants to see this form, Aether agrees because who could say no to that face (also because Childe was behind Teucer shaking his head and mouthing "don't").

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TD/Praxis Restaurant AU explained:

• Twins first came to Teyvat right before the Archon War
• They befriended the people and the non-mortals
• They traveled across the land, they really enjoyed the cuisine
• The twins are immortal (oldies) interdimensional/space travellers. They know how to create places that can exist in more than one location
• After the AW they wanted to document the cuisine (the people, memories, histories). They wanted to connect the regions that were divided in the fighting.
• They opened TD. For 1,500 years it served as a place of peace.
• Then the calamity of 500 years before present happened. They realized as aliens to this world they could not get this deeply involved. Maybe they were a little scared at something so similar. When trying to leave from the place highest in the skies (Celestia), they were stopped by the Unknown God. She sent them to the Abyss. They were stuck there for almost 500 years (originally separated, but quickly reunited). They had lost their wings, and a majority of their powers. They can still manipulate light to a degree.
• When they escaped the Abyss (possibly from Kh’areniah) they found themselves on Starfell Beach. The restaurant, although very run down, was still functional (to cook and as a building that defies all space laws I guess).
• The twins decided to open it once again. (Dang they would really need to go reactivate those teleportation points)

Around two months of preparing to open once again, both were fishing and caught a wild Paimon!

So the quest begins to find out who Paimon is!

Paimon as the Traveller/Protagonist AU Explained:

• Paimon is fished up by the twins.
• She doesn’t remember who or what she is.
• Note, she can not fly at the current moment
• The twins bring her into the restaurant. Paimon recognizes most of the traditional cuisine on the menu.
• Paimon realizes she remembers everything about Teyvat (maybe too much), but she doesn’t know about herself.
• She tells the twins and they promise to help her. She enjoys a nice sticky honey roast.
• The twins teach her how to use a sword and bring her to Mondstadt (meeting Dvalin in the woods and Amber)
• Paimon goes through Prologue and Act One
• Slight Paimon angst

This AU was originally gonna be about the miscellaneous adventures of owning a restaurant that is built with interdimensional magic. Now it has turned to Paimon traveller AU. I’m kinda disappointed with how little of the travellers are included in the bulk of this AU, yet I couldn’t stop with the Paimon stuff. Now I am slightly sad because of the angst :(. I am adding fluffy parts.
I’m making this AU into a series though! It’s gonna be called Teyvat’s Delights. The first part is gonna focus on the twins (pretty much Childe’s story quest spoilers I guess), and is gonna be a general introduction to the concept. Part one was my first and main idea. Originally it was gonna be a oneshot, maybe the twins would interact with other characters in other parts, but then I realized what about Paimon. And then it entirely diverged lol.

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SPOILERS for We Will Be Reunited Archon Quest

So to start off, Aether is the protagonist and Lumine is the Abyss Princess.

(In reference to we will be reunited) Aether and Paimon have already gone through all of Teyvat once, and have met Lumine and Dainsleif at the end. Aether and Paimon are on her side. Their battle against destiny fails, and Teyvat is destroyed, but since Lumine is the Princess she has the power to "erase their adventure log," yes this is a time loop au. Aether, Paimon, and Lumine remember the loop. The loop starts when the game start, telling Paimon about the unknown god and heading to Mondstadt.

Lumine decides to join Aether on his adventure through Teyvat once again. Since Lumine had, at the time of the loop, gone through Teyvat she already wields all seven elements and abyssal powers. In order to wage their war against Celestia, Aether must go through Teyvat. This of course leaves the chance to change how certain events go.

Characters they meet have some sense of what happened in the past. Instead of having deja vu they more or less notice the differences more. Ex: Amber being surprised (she doesn't know why) to see both Aether and Lumine. Or when the Liyue Qixing ask the travelers what they want in return, and are confused when they don't ask for help looking for someone. Once again confused why they would believe the travelers are looking for someone or something.

Mona (and maybe Albedo) somehow knows of the loop, but doesn't know what happened in the previous timeline. She is highly suspicious of the travelers. Venti and Zhongli know there is something suspicious about the travelers, especially Lumine. Aether and Lumine explain they had fallen into the Abyss before, to explain Abyssal energy. Dainsleif is also confused with the way Lumine is acting.

At some point in the first loop, Aether, Lumine, and Paimon wake up captured by the Unknown God. She remembers some parts, but not all. Lumine resets the world, and they are back at the beginning of their adventure. They change somethings, try to cover up their tracks, keep their aid in the shadows, etc through this loop (or multiple loops). Venti and Zhongli might start to remember some parts after a couple of loops.

A minor plot line would be finding out Lumine can go back to certain parts in the loop, instead of the beginning. Aether gets ticked off that Lumine is enjoying every time they have to loop and the more time it takes. He thinks she isn't taking it seriously, she does take it seriously, but she is enjoying her time with her brother (its been 500 years!!!). Some sibling reconciliation because at some point they need to address Lumine not coming to find Aether since she knew he was awake. The sibling reconciliation might take place sooner, though. Sibling bonding will ensue, with Paimon. Aether: "Oh Archons, please save me from the idiots that are my sisters"

Paimon is still tactless, so they need to make sure she doesn't spill the beans. This leads to Kaeya and Dainsleif catching on too, especially when Paimon almost mentions Kharen'iah. In some loops they are straight forward with Venti, Zhongli, and Dainsleif about the loop, but there is a 50/50 chance that they are believed.

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The basis of this AU is that the twins travelled through Teyvat after the Archon War and before the fall of Khaenri'ah. They didnt really meet the Archons, but befriended Madame Ping (she looked a bit younger at this time). Sometime during their journey Madame Ping gave them the Serenitea Pot as a gift and home while in Teyvat.

Somehow abyss twin sent traveller inside the teapot after they were hit by the Unknown God. The traveller spent their time asleep inside the teapot, with fretting Tubby. Tubby tried to channel adeptal energy into the traveller to heal them and to try to wake them up. The traveller didn't wake up until a certain guide accidently made her way inside.

-

Paimon's POV

Paimon had somehow found herself in water doomed to drown, until she found a floating object to cling on to. Strangely enough that object appeared to be a teapot of Liyuean style. So while holding on for dear life, Paimon somehow found herself opening her eyes to blue skies and solid ground.

Weirdly enough this place felt like a domain, with a multitude of buildings, trees, animals, and a mansion. Sitting up, Paimon began looking around for someone to explain what's going on. Her eyes then locked onto a blonde person seemingly taking a nap a few meters away. Huh, Paimon wonders if they own this place or just happened upon it just like herself.

Floating over to the person, Paimon ask noticed a strange floating teapot thing (???) next to them. Paimon has had a long day, so she doesn't really question it.

Paimon poked the stranger with her finger, "uh, hellooooo?"

The blonde stranger woke with a yell before looking around. Then a bird popped out of the teapot, panicked as well. The stranger's eyes swept the area once again, blinked a few times, before turning to the bird.

"Tubby? Where's, where's my sibling?"

Paimon didn't know what she was getting into.

-

(Sorry for the awkward dialogue and attempt at writing)

So the traveller only woke up when Paimon accidently entered the teapot. Tubby was also surprised. The traveller explained their encounter with the unknown god to Tubby and Paimon. Paimon promised to be their guide.

Mondstadt pretty much goes the same as cannon. The travelled had briefly met Venti on their first world tour of Teyvat. Venti didn't explicitly say he was Barbatos, but they knew who he was.

In Liyue, during the Rite of Decension, the traveller and Paimon did not run from the scene of the crime. The traveller was a bit distraught about seeing the Exuvia's body. They didnt personally know him, but Madame Ping considered him a good friend.

When the Millelith questioned them, Madame Ping came to the rescue. The traveller was a good friend of hers as well. At first the traveller didn't recognize her, then this interaction happens:

Traveller: Madame Ping you have gotten older! You have more wrinkles niw

Madame Ping: Isn't rude to call a lady old? You should look at yourself, you are still a baby in my eyes

Traveller: Just because you are a few hundred years older than me, doesn't make me a baby

Paimon (visibly confuesed): What is going on?! You (points to traveller) know mysterious old lady? And you! (points to Ping) What do they mean a few hundred years older??

And that is how Paimon finds out Madams Ping is an adeptus and the traveller is sorta immortal.

This time Madame Ping is the one to ask the traveller to inform the other adepti of Rex Lapis' death. The twins had briefly met the other adepti through Ping, so they agreed.

After they inform the adepti, they spend time with Madame Ping. They clear up her domain for her and have nice chat about what happened to the traveller's sibling. She then directs them to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, who are organizing the Rite of Passing. (She also knows Zhongli is Morax, but she doesn't believe he can help their situation. She also hopes that they can convince Zhongli to have a nice afternoon chat with her about not faking your death).

They aid Zhongli with preparations. They meet Childe in order to get funds. Everything pretty much goes the same from here. They defeat Childe, Osial, etc.

Meeting their sibling goes the same as cannin as well, maybe a few lines like "Why did you shove me inside the teapot?" Etc.

Sibling tells them to find the truth about Khaenri'ah, not necessarily to travel all of Teyvat. The traveller continues their journey to get information from each of the Archons now.

Or... It could be wildly different, ending with abyss sibling being sent to teapot timeout with Tubby.

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The Universe's Travel Guide: ???? Edition: Teyvat

Editors' Note:

When this edition of The Universe's Travel Guide was written, we the authors/editors were separated on our journey through Teyvat. Not only were we going through Teyvat at different locations, but we were also separated by a time period of 5 centuries (Teyvat Time, see pages 4 to 5). The rest is explained through each of our accounts in this edition.

Table of Contents:

• Editors' Note
• Location
• Time Measurement
• Map
• Inhabitants
• Flora and Fauna
• Lumine Edition
• Aether Edition
• Concluding Notes

Author's Note:

At the current time of my writing of this edition, my dearest brother and co-author, have been separated by an unknown god of this land. I will continue to write for the guide and once I get him back, we will compile our notes of Teyvat into one full book.

Sorry for any inconsistancies in this edition,
Lumine, the better writer

Author's Note:

I got separated from my sister and I think I accidently became a leader of a cult. They're kinda chill.

Please send help,
Aether (now) the Abyss Prince

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(Note: Tiger Li is an NPC child that is near a house on the southern coast of Ritou. She mentions how her brother is a merchant from Liyue. I an assuming her brother is Li Xiao, a merchant found at the docks. He mentions how he has been a merchant for ten years, and that his sister snuck on board a boat. Now both of them are stuck in Inazuma because of the Sakoku Decree)

Tiger Li enjoyed living with her cool businessman brother in Inazuma, even though she got in trouble for sneaking on to the ship with him. Her brother has been living in Inazuma for 10 years, going back and forth from Liyue. It was during his last voyage a year ago that she snuck in. Then the guards told them that voyage in and out of Inazuma was closed, but she has seen the weird mask people leave ti Narukami Island. While she did miss her parents, staying with her brother was much cooler! Although it did get boring, stuck in Ritou, there were rarely any new faces here now.

So when one evening, while Tiger Li was walking along the water by her house, she saw something interesting wash up shore. Finally something new and exciting!

It appeared to be a lump of white, until she approached the mysterious lump, she realized it was a person! She approached them quietly. She nudged the young woman with her foot.Is she dead??

Then she started coughing. Coughing up lots of water-ewwww was that sea grass? Tiger Li decided to help her out by hitting her back just like her mom would do when she would cough.

When the woman finally stopped coughing, she looked at Tiger Li and said- something. Tiger Li didn't know what she was saying, it didn't sound like Teyvatian at all. Maybe she spoke some dialect of she had never heard of, but that was pretty unlikely because she wpuld have at least understood some of the words. How strange.

The woman tries saying something again, she soumded a bit distressed. Tiger Li offered her hand to help the strange woman up.

"Hi, my name is Tiger Li, my big brother will surely be able to help you Miss!"

The woman still looked at her peculiarly, but seemed to realize she was offering help. So Tiger Li started pulling her hand to the direction of her house.

"My brother is a merchant here and will be home soon! Then you can have dinner with us, and he will probably be abke to understand you too!"

Tiger Li smiled, this is the most interesting thing to happen in weeks!
-

Hope you ejoyed that medicore writing, but that is premise for all three variations of this AU.

Lumine is helped by Tiger Li and Li Xiao in the beginning. Since she doesn't have any travel permits, she avoids being seen in public. Tiger Li and Li Xiao help her learn Teyvatian. After a couple weeks of staying with them, she saves Paimon from the ocean. Paimon says she will be her guide (Lumine knows enough of the language to be able say she is looking for her brother).

Eventually, with the help of all three of them, her Teyvatian is passable. Lumine goes around helping the people of Ritou, and yes she does get an Inazuman outfit so she doesn't stick out as much. Slowly but surely she gets a reputation. Specifically on how she is able to help discreetly.

(Also since to get to the Statue of the Seven normally, you need to go through the Kanjou Commission, Lumine initially avoids this, despite Paimon's insistence)

Now this is where the three versions start:

1. Thoma (closest to cannon)

Thoma hears about the traveller helping everyone out in Ritou. He is intrigued. He meets Lumine and offers to help her get the necessary permits to be in Ritou, only because she is known for being a huge help. Although, he does keep an eye on her.

At this point Lumine is finally able to enter the Kanjou Commision's premise with less concern. If she is questioned, she has the necessary papers. (I am assuming people are allowed to walk around the area, since its the least suspicious way to get to the statue). Lumine touches the statue and gets electro powers.

Later on she gets approached by Hiiragi Chisato regarding her letters. She knows the mysterious helper of Ritou can discreetly get her letter delivered. Things continue as cannon, delvering the supplies and Lumine uses electro powers to defeat enemies.

Thoma sees that she has used electro powers without a vision and believes she can help fight against the Vision Hunt Decree. So he confronts Lumine while she is on her way to Inazuma City and gives her the invitation to the Komore Teahouse.

Lumine goes to the city, gets the tracks permits, and meets Thoma at the Komore Teahouse. He explains the Vision Hunt Decree and how she can help,. Since this is the first nation the traveller is in for this AU, and the events of We Will Be Reunited has not occurred, she agreees. She understands how it feels to lose your powers, especially from a god.

She agrees to meet Kamisato Ayaka. She helps the three people who lost their visions as a test to see if she is trustworthy.
Then everything continues as cannon.

2: Hiiragi Chisato

Pretty similar to the first version, except Lumine doesn't meet Thoma first, but Hiiragi Chisato. She agrees to bring letters back and forth (mutlple times) in exchange for the permits to be in Ritou and a way to enter Narukami Island in order to get the rest of the permits to freely travel in Inazuma.

Thoma, whom knows about her, finds out she can weild electro without a vision, then the events proceed as version 1.

3: Fully Undercover (complete cannon divergence)

This one is probably my favorite.

Thoma knows of Lumine helping Ritou, but doesn't know she can weild electro without a vision until much later. Lumine is able to leave Ritou with same help from Hiiragi Chisato as version 2. She gets the permits to travel freely while in Inazuma City.

At this point she starts helping a whole buch of people (world quests). She starts to build some of a reputation.

(Person A: Did you hear about the traveller going around helping everyone? I heard they don't need a vision to control the elements!

Person B: Stop messing around. Don't believe stupid rumors like that, like anyone could use the elements without a vision)

The Yashiro Commission (Ayaka and Thoma) start to hear rumors of a travller who doesn't need a vision to weild electro. They begin to quietly search for this mysterious person.

During this time, Lumine meets Yoimiya when she sees someone''s vision about to be taken away. Proceed to Yoimiya's story quest. Yoimiya tells Ayaka and Thoma about Lumine.

At this point it's too late, Thoma is captured to get his vision taken away during the ceremony. Lumine sees him and decides to help this random guy out. Maybe she will finally be able to talk the Raiden Shogun. The with the Raiden Shogan goes the same as cannon (Travaller getting divine punished, Thoma saving them, etc).

Thoma takes Lumine and Paimon to the Komore Teahouse before sending them to find the resistance. They meet Kamisato Ayaka there, hear her out (Lumine had already helped the three people who lost their visions). They agree to keep in contact.

Lumine goes to the resistance, she has done world quests in the area, so she knows where it is. She meets the resistance amd helps as cannon goes.

(At the point of me writing this, only Acts 1 and 2 have been released for Inazuma)

After Inuzuma

Liyue goes the same as usually, remaining as the second nation visited.

We Will be Reunited happens

Cannon traveller's attitude in Inazuma happens in Mondstadt. She didn't ask to be a knight. She wants to meet their archon, who has been missing for the past 500 years (very suspicious considering what she learned about Khaenri'ah).

Diluc is glad that she doesn't join the Knights, until she is fed up with his bs too. She meets Venti in the Angel's Share, instead of outside. Lumine is pretty sure he is the anemo archon, Venti admits to it. They make an agreement once he realizes she can heal Dvalin's tears.

The Knights of Favonious are significantly less involved (Jean still is). Kaeya is very suspicious of this travller, who appears to be able to use multiple elements.

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Paimon was upset, really upset. The traveller has decided to leave her behind because Inazuma wasn't "safe," and now she's alone again...

At least the traveller made sure their friends would stay with Paimon ("No, Paimon does not need a babysitter, Paimon is not a kid!)

Paimon likes their friends, she really does, but... The treveller is Paimon's family (and maybe, Paimon is afraid, afraid of what will happen once the traveller finishes their journey and reunites with their sibling and leaves Paimon behind and Paimon will be alone, notagainplease)

Paimon is fine

-

So this AU would pretty much be Paimon interactibg with a majority of the playable characters. Paimon angst you know, Paimon feeling abandoned by the traveller and also hearing about their encounter with the Shogun

Pretty much everyone takes turns babysitting Paimon, and the traveller will regret leaving, evwn though it was to keep her safe

They reconcile, etc

A better idea would be Paimon somehow trying to find voyage to Inazuma. Either with the aid of Childe (fatui) or Beidou.

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As La Signora's body disintergrated, Lumine's eyes turned towards the Raiden Shogun. So this was the true power of an archon...

-

She found herself in the Shogun- no, Ei's mindscape once again. Still ready to challenge her, knowing what the Musuo no Hitatichi could do to her mortal body.

She was doing this for every person her lost their vision, their ambition, to the gods. For Teppei, for Aether (maybe even for Signora?). Lumine took the first swing.

then...

then...

Ei's sword struck her again, and she felt the terror that Signora must have felt, to truly know death, to taste it in her mouth.

And as her sight faded, she knew peace.

-

And just as quickly as she had a taste of death, she awoke to blue skies and a soft breeze.

Then the sound of a weeping child. She sat up and looked about. Where was she? Around her were sleeping hilichurls, cozied up in their (our?) encampment. She heard another sob and turned to her right. Another hilichurl outside the fence was awake, communicating with the weeping child.

"Human, what are you doing here?" They sounded nervous, a bit fearful.

The girl responded with a wobbly, accented "Let the wind lead," and what sounded like gibberish to her.

She sounded almost like-Ella?!

-

So pretty much, in this AU, Lumine gets reincarnated as a hilichurl. After so back and forth communication with Ella, they eventual start to understand each other better. Lumine does not speak the language of the humans of Teyvat, so time to learn it again. Ella does try to get the knights to meet her new hilichurl friend, who is extremely friendly!

Lumine does become friends with the hilichurls if the encampment she woke up in. She tries to get the rest of them to warm up to Ella.

After Ella figures out the hilichurl is Mondstadt's honorary knight, she gets to working on how to tell the rest of the knights. At first they believe its her coping with the fact that the traveler died, but eventual she convinces them.

Paimon, who at this point was stuck in hiding in Inazuma is somehow contacted by the knights and she is able to return.

Some other plot stuff happens and Lumine gets her body back, and returns to Inazuma to challenge Baal again.

Chapter Text

This Sir Kaeya of the Knights of Favonious has been looking at them strangely.

"What is it? Is there something on my face?"

"Is that a Treasure Hoarder uniform?" An accusatory statement, not a question.

Huh, so that was the problem. "Well, if they didn't want me to take it, then they shouldn't have lost to me. In one of the...places I have visited in the past, they have this saying: finders keepers, losers weepers"

Sir Kaeya's eye narrowed, arms crossed. "You stole their clothes?"

The traveler was beyond shocked by this accusation. "What! Firstly, I didn't steal these clothes, I won them. Secondly, its not like I stripped these off of them, I just ransacked their camp." Honestly, the audacity of these Knights of Favonious. It wasn't like they were a criminal.

-

The twins were the universe's most infamous treasure hunters. They stole priceless artifacts from each world they visited, and sold their wares at quite the high price. Of course, some of their new found possessions were imbued with magic, which eventually spread to them. Who were they to complain about an extra trick up their sleeve?

Of course, when the universe's law enforcers started to catch up to them, the twins decided to take a vacation.

"Go to Teyvat" they said. "It'll be easy," they said. The twins even had the wonderful idea of using their magic to reach Teyvat, the less traces, the easier their vacations. Plus, worlds unaware of the universe's connected societies tended to be taboo to visit, much less to be caught up in less than legal affairs.

Once they arrived in Teyvat, they were met with destruction and a god stripping of them of the very powers that let them enter the world. How troublesome...

-

A thief is what they are. They snatched the wind straight from the archon's statue. Paimon didn't need to point out the red crystal tear left by the dragon, they already were planning to steal it. If only they could find their sibling soon, then the real treasure hunt in Teyvat could begin.

Chapter Text

Spoilers I guess for the plot of the song this is based off of. Also no need to remeber the names in parentheses in the next introduction, they are just the vocaloid assigned to each role in the plot. I will be assigning genshin characters for those roles. Also major character deaths

(Also brief TW: Suicide mention and Necrophilia mention, and murders)

Introduction/ My understanding of the plot of the song:

Villager 1 (RIn) is the first to be found murdered, The Priest (Luka) annouces that the devil has arisen/pocessed someone, and will then start killing those with corrupted souls The remaining people/suspects gather to discuss about it, that being the Priest, Villager 2 (Meiko), Villager 3 (Miku), Villager 4 (Gumi), the Undertaker (Gakupo), and the Knight (Kaito).

The Knight says he will defend the people and goes after the devil. He is then murdered. When the Undertaker is checking his body, he finds a choker belonging to Villager 2, who is then executed under the belief she is the devil.

The remaining people are still wary. The Priest is killed in the night, after realizing that the devil was not Villager 2. In the morning, Villagers 3 and 5 find Villager 2, who possibly killed herself in the graveyard.

Villagers 3 and 5 have also found the Undertaker with the body of the Priest, it is revealed that he is a necrophiliac, and they believe that he must be the devil. The Undertaker is then executed.

Villagers 3 anx 5 rejoice, believing the devil is truly gone by having a drink together. Then Villager 3 collapses, her cup was poisoned by Villager 3, who was actually the devil the entire time.

Genshin Cast:

• Villager 1: Lumine
• Villager 2: Lisa /li>
• Villager 3: Amber
• Villager 4: Jean
• Villager 5: Aether
• Knight: Kaeya
• Undertaker: Albedo
• Priest: Barbara

Also I am changing the plot a bit to fit the Genshin characters better.

Both Aether and Lumine have been doomed to wander Teyvat together with their powers sealed. They both enter Mondstadt, gain the power of anemo, meet Vento, and help Dvalin. Of course all good thing coms to an end, when the Unknown God finds out about their herioc deeds.

The Unknown God murders Aether when he is out adcenturing by himself and pocesses his body. When Aether returns to Mondstadt, he meets up with Lumine. She is suspicious, but before she could confront him, she is murdered by Aether in an alleyway in the city.

Her body is found, and everyone is devasted. Who could do such a thing to one of their beloved honorary knights? Aether is 'devastated.' Members of the Knights of Favonious gather to discuss anf leads they have. Barbara is there in case they find someone they need to heal.

Kaeya says he has a lead, but refuses to share it. He heads off on his own at night to confront Aether. Unknown to Aether was that the night he murdered Lumine, Kaeya saw him wandering near the area with what seemed like blood. He tried following Aether, but ultimately lost track of him, but saw that he was fine the next morning before Lumine's murder was announced.

Aether quickly shows his true colors when Kaeya confronts him, and murders him. Kaeya's body is found the next day. Albedo, who had recently came from Dragonspine after hearing of the murder of Lumine, with Barbara have been put in charge of examining the bodies. They both find the rose that belongs on Lisa's hat. Lisa denies she was ever in the area with Jean being a partial alibi for part of the time. Lisa is jailed under suspicion.

Albedo is put on the night shift on monitoring Lisa. During this time, he is unable to control the corruption he obtained from being too close to Durin's remains jn Dragonspine. He loses control and kills Lisa. When Jean goes for her shift to watch Lisa, she sees what Albedo has done and both of them fight. With the corrupted power from Turin, Albedo is able to severely injure Jean. Jean escapes and believes she is no longer followed by Albedo. She is able to make her way to the Cathedral to get healed by Barbara and protect her.

Albedo has followed her there and kills both of them. Aether and Amber, the last knights that are a part of this case, find Albedo and the bodies of Jean and Barbara after finding Lisa dead. Albedo attacks them and dies in the fight. They figure out he has been corrupted and believe he has committed all the murders because he was no longer in control of his body.

Aether and Amber decide to share a srink after all that happened. And sitting next to Aether, Amber collaspes, poisoned. Aether, still in control by the Unknown God then goes a long and punishes the arrogant mankind.

Chapter Text

Jean respectfully clapped after the bard's performance in Mondstadt square. The bard had sang a story she had never heard before, a story about a star traveler who sat ever remaining on a rock at Starfell Beach, looking out at the sea. She wonders if she were to go right now, if the traveler would be there.

She wouldn't, it was mid afternoon and she would not be back until dusk. Her mother prioritized timeliness as an important aspect of becoming a knight. Of course her two friends had different ideas, and once again she was being pulled into another predicament. That is why she was being dragged a long the path through the Whispering Woods.

"Come on Jean, we better hurry or we won't make it back on time!" Kaeya had grabbed her hand and pulled her along once he realized she had slowed down.

Jean sighed, "Kaeya we won't make it back on time no matter what, we should wait for tommorrow." Diluc was on the path ahead, waiting for them to catch up.

"Jean does have a point. The sun will already be setting by the time we get back."

Kaeya smirked, "Well Jean, if you truly did not want to come along, you wouldn't have let me drag you with us," and darn was Kaeya right about her.

"And Diluc," Kaeya continued, "when has the night ever stopped you, your stubborness." Diluc sighed.

Truthfully they all did want to go. A traveler as still as a statue by the ocean, who supposedly was the wisest of them all.

They arrived on the beach an hour before sunset, Jean had already prepared herself for the troubke she will be in when she gets home.

In the distance the three if them could see a silhouette of a man on a rock, just barely touching the water. They quietly approached him, they got a closer look when they were right next to him. He sat legs crossed on the rock, a bit of his clothes seemed to be covered by vegetation, yet his long blonde braid of hair seemed in tact.

The man turned his head and looked down at them, the trio was silent, until...

"Are you the weird traveler the bard sang about? The one that can answer any of your questions?" Kaeya blurted out. Diluc lightly smacked him on the back of his head for that remark.

"Hey! What'dya do that for!?" And that is when Kaeya and Diluc started a little battle of who could hit the other. All Jean could do was sigh.

She gave the man a slight bow before introducing herself. "Hello sir, my name is Jean, I'm sorry for my friends and I disturbing your peace..."

Then the man laughed, it was a light noise that almost sounded ethereal. The boys stopped fighting. His eyes shone with amusement.

"It's alright Miss Jean, the three of you aren't disturbing my peace at all. Now what are your names," he looked towards Kaeya and Diluc.

"Uh, my name is Diluc sir, and this is Kaeya. Please ignore him, he did not mean to insult you by calling you weird." The man laughed again.

"Its quite alright, the three of you are forgiven. I feel that it is only fair that I intoduce myself," he stood up from the rock and stretched before continuing. "My name is Aether, and I am not sure I am the person of the bard's stories. I'm quite the opposite for I would not be able to answer any of the questions you ask of me."

-

Aether was a strange man to the trio of friends. As much as he had advice and traveling, he new little about any nations of Teyvat. When they asked him about visions, he questioned what they are.

Jean, Diluc, and Kaeya continued to visit Aether. The man did not have the answers to all the questions the curious children had. He did, however, give advice. How to master the sword, advice on traveling. When asked of the places he traveled to, he carefully avoided the answer. When they asked him why he never left the beach, he remained silent.

On one of the last visits the trio had with him before they stopped coming together, even at all, he answered the one question the three had been wondering since the beginning.

Kaeya, for he was the one that wanted to know the answer the most, asked the question, "Sir Aether, why do you insist on staying on this beach?"

Aether sighed, "I'm waiting. For my sister. We got separated a while ago, I don't know how long its been, but we have always had a plan. We planned that if we got separated, one of us would remain put until the other found us. Since I have a tendency to wander off, and my sister was good at finding me everytime, we decided I should be the one too wait. I am waiting, to give her enough time to find me. What if I were to leave this area, only for her to check here after I left? We would run in circles around each other. We have always had enough time to wait. Why risk it?"

-

In this AU Aether wakes up around 100-200 years before cannon. And since Aether and Lumine most likely have gotten lost on there travels before created the plan.

Lumine already searched all of Teyvat years before, and could not find him, and eventual becomes the Abyss Princess.

Jean, Diluc, and Kaeya started visiting him when they were around ten. They stopped visiting him when they were around 13.

(Spoilers for Kaeya's character story here)

The reason why Kaeya is the most curious about why Aether stays at the beach is because he was a spy. He was debating on whether are not, when the time comes and Khaneriah wants him back, if he should leave and betray Mondstadt or remain there.

He thought since Aether had remained on the beach for so many years, that he might be able to give him the answer. But similarly to him, Aether is also waiting, and planning to leave.

Kaeya was the one who visited Aether the most after the three stopped coming together. He also recognized, although in a different way, that Aether was an outcast to Teyvat. He stopped visiting after the incident with Diluc.)

(End of spoilers)

The trio stopped visiting because they started preparing to join the Knights. After all three them joined the Knights, they stopped visiting altogether. They simply thought since it had been so many years, that Aether's sister must have found him and both of them left.

The reason Aether stayed on the beach was because how traumatizing the encounter with the unknown god was. They clearly weren't welcome to Teyvat. He didn't want to risk leaving the isolated area, now powerless in a new world with at least one serious threat out there. How could Lumine find him if he was dead? (Or if she was dead)

Aether finally leaves the beach when he meets Paimon. Since Paimon was clearly not human and was in debt to him, he told her his story after two months. Paimon offers to be his guide, but he declines. She eventually convince him to at least walk to the city. Paimon convinces him under the guise that she needs to the city and how he should visit the three kids he talked about as well.

On the way there, Aether touches the statue and recieves anemo powers. He believes that the anemo archon must have given these powers to him for a reason, and he wants to know why. After the world had rejected him, why now does it help him?

Things proceed as cannon, he only tells Amber that he is traveling with Paimon to bring her to the city. After Dvalin attacks Mondstadt and Aether lands, he sees Kaeya again.

Kaeya, being the last one to visit, only seems a couple years older than when he last saw him. Kaeya was shocked to see him once again. Surely after all these years his sister would have found him. (insert brief moment when he thinks Paimon is his sister)

-

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Aether. Have you finally come to visit as in Mondstadt? Surely you have been busy traveling with your sister?" Kaeya approaches in typical Kaeya fashion.

At this moment Aether realizes that by now his sister would have found him. That it had been long enough in Teyvat time for his sister at least been to Mondstadt. That she is either out there, hurt or trapped, not dead because he would know if she were dead.

Kaeya noted Aether's silence and realized that he indeed has not been with his sister, and was simply waiting, alone, for those years. As the bards continued to sing their tales about the crytid on Starfell Beach, how everyone believed that he was a long gone tale, Aether had remained there.

Sensing the need to change the topic, Kaeya quickly ushered them in the direction of the headquarters, "Well, I do need to report this turn of events to Master Jean. I am sure she will be glad to see you again Aether."

Aether looked confused, "Master Jean? How is Jean doing these days?"

Amber glanced at both at them before pointing an accusatory finger at Kaeya, "You know him? And Master Jean? What are you up to?!" Kaeya simple rolled his eyes, "He's an old friend of ours Amber. Don't worry about him, I will take him to the headquarters, remain here and take care of clean up."

Amber narrowed her eyes at Kaeya before looking at the destruction to the square, "Hmm, alright Captain Kaeya, but Aether if he ever gives you a problem talk to me." She squeezed Aether's shoulder before heading to help Margaret.

-

Once they reached the headquarters, Kaeya led Aether directly to Jean's office. Jean looked up once she heard the door open, "Kaeya? How is the clean up going? Was anyone hurt? Did you find the person who fought Stormterror? How much-- Aether?"

Both Jean and Aether were shocked to see each other. Jean thought she would never see him again. Aether hadn't seen her since she was a kid.

"Jean? Jean look at you, you're -so-so much older now?? And taller. Kaeya referred to you as Master Jean... Are you now the Grand Master of the Knights of Favonious? I'm so proud of you! And Kaeya! Amber referred to you as captain and-" Aether was about to ramble on before Paimon interrupted.

"Is anyone gonna tell Paimon what is going on?!"

-

Things sorta continue as normal. There is much more bonding with Jean and Kaeya, and eventually Diluc. At first Aether is wary of Venti, espeacially after finding out he is the anemo archon. Jean and Diluc seem to trust him though, so he goes a long with it. They help Dvalin, end of prologue.

Liyue and Inazuma go as normal except Aether is more social inept because spending over 100 years insolated on a beach really does something to your social skills. There is a stronger feeling of betrayal in the events of We Will Be Reunited.

Miscellaneous tidbits:

Aether crashes landed into the crater that became Starfell Lake. He woke up, and only left to the beach because it was a clear area, before truly processing what happens.

Since the last time Kaeya saw him was when he was 18, and how in his early 20s, he isn't as shocked to ses the age difference. However, since the last time he saw Jean and Diluc was when they were 13 or 14 it was a complete shock. He waited for so long, and all three them were grown up, becoming Knights and vigilantes.

He dotes on the three of them sometimes, as well as Paimon. The trio view him as a mentor figure. They already knew he didn't age, but really it had been like 10 years. When he doubted his journey in Teyvat, they encouraged him because really it had already been too long. They also make sure he doesn't become a recluse again.

Over the years Aether had spent on Starfell Beach, every now and then some adventurer will stumble upon him, see how weird he was, and then talk about him once they returned. After the story was told quite a few times over a 100 years, it eventually became a tale, which bards would sing.

Aether getting distractly easily is a reference to the traveler hoarding materials in game.

Chapter Text

(This begins in the middle of Yae Miko's story quest, when you go in the domain to get possessed)

Paimon looked at Lumine in worry, she really hoped nothing bad would happen during this weird spiritual possession. What if this spirit refused to give Lumine back?!

Then Paimon saw her all of sudden start talking, like she was in the middle of a conversation. Except this voice wasn't Lumine's, and it sounded very familiar, Paimon just couldn't put their finger on it...

"-Enjou, for the last time, no I will not- um" the supposed spirit in Lumine's body looked around in shock.

"How did I get here? What's going on, please don't tell me this is ab ambush?" asked the masculine voice coming from Lumine's mouth.

There was a brief flash of surprise on Yae Miko's voice before she calmly said "Hmm, interesting, I was so sure I knew who you were. But, given the circumstances I highly doubt you are the author of our mysterious light novel. Seeing that you have accidently possessed our little friend here."

"Very interesting, indeed, who are you may I ask?" Lumine's eyes widened in shock, "Wait I think you misunderstand, I am not a spirit or-"

Yae Miko looked even more intrigued, "if you not a spirit, what are you then? While rare, its been sometime since I last met a spirit who still thought they were alive, despite being able to possess a body." Paimon could feel the answer to who this was on the tip of her tongue. Oh where had they heard this voice...

At this point Lumine's body stood up, gesturing kinda wildly "Look Miss Head of the Shrine, please just kindly return me, I don't want to fight. And you!" A finger was accusiingly pointed at Paimon, "Where is she? I know she may be upset, but please continue your journey before-" he stopped in speech while staring at Lumine's hand in front of him.

Once he said 'journey' Paimon realized who he was, "It's you! Aether! Lumine's brother, Dain's old travel buddy, Mister Prin-"

"What the actual fuck"

-

"What the actual fuck," Aether looked at himself, or well his sister? Did he some how possess his sister's body? No this what not his intention, he was just in the middle of reprimanding one of his Abyss Lectors (damn you Enjou, he was probably involved somehow).

"Just so you know I didn't do this, this is something on your end." He huffed again, this is some of the weirdest shit that has happened on one of their worldly travels. Not the weirdest, though, that incident he wished to completely erase from his mind, alas he is cursed to remember.

He looked at the floating fairy, demon? Well, whatever Paimon was. "I have a strong assumption that this wasn't something on my end, so come on tell me. What did you do?"

Paimon looked just as confused as him, "Um, unless you recently died, I guess you some how possessed Lumine's body? I'm not sure, that is a question for Miko." She gestured to the shrine maiden.

Yae Miko studied him for a minute, "If you truly have not become a spirit, then there must be another way your conscious got tied along with the ley lines. I am assuming your sister's always present wish to see you overpowered her current wish to be possessed by the author."

His sister agreeing to get possessed is not a can of worms he would like to open, but of course it was the ley lines. Always those ley lines, and of course it was tied into Enjou. Enjou going on and on about ley lines and Enkanomiya, while both of them were next to a ley line opening. Aether thought both Enjou and Lumine had a lot in common, mainly being annoying.

"Yes, you could say that I was somewhat involved in the ley lines a few minutes, before my consious ended up here." He began picking at his nails, or well, his sister's nails. Then something dawned on him. "Does this mean Lumine is now in my body?!"

Aether can not have both her and Enjou team up against.

"Rest assured little one," the shrine maiden began, "it's only your conscious, if this is similar to a normal possession, she is still in there somewhere. Just not in control. So you need to do is wish and say the incantation"

He sighed in relief. Aether repeated the incantation just like how Yae Miko demonstarated. His sister in control of the abyss order, with Enjou by her side was a terrifying thought, in which a compelling wish for this to not happen came from.

Aether opened his eyes. He was still here, oh boy.

-

From here on out the rag tag group that is Yae Miko, Paimon, and Aether in Lumine's body left the domain. Seeing that Aether wasn't leaving anytime soon, research began.

The only way that they could switch back was if both of them wished to return at the same time, while in the vicinity of a ley line opening. Given the fact that Lumine does not have this information, it might take a while.

Now begins two separate journeys. The adventires of Aether, the Abyss Prince, with Paimon, Traveler's Emergency Food. As well as the adventures of Lumine, the Traveler, and The Thing Calling Itself Enjou.

Chapter Text

Ever since Paimon met the traveler, they always wondered why she collected so so so many things. The walk to Mondstadt took twice the time it would normally take due to them always stopping so Lumine could climb a tree to get eggs, or jump in water to get callilia flowers. One time Paimon stopped paying attention to her and Lumine was gone! Once Paimon finally found her, Lumine was about to walk off a cliff!

Of course Paimon had to create new methods to help guide this foreign traveler. Paimon had to make sure to follow wherever the traveler goes to make sure she does not get lost or enter an area she's not supposed to. While on their journey to Liyue, Paimon finally asked the big question. It was already late and they had just set up camp, a fire was burning.

"Lumine, ever since Paimon has met you, you have always collected everything in your line of sight. Paimon just wants to ask, why do you collect so much? We must have at least 500 sweet flowers by now!"

Paimon played it off as not serious, but really she was concerned. Lumine was always dead set on reaching their location, the only thing that distracted her was Paimon or mint! It was concerning how quickly the traveler will just turn off their path, climb a tree, jump down, and continue as if nothing happened.

Lumine blinked at Paimon in surprise.

"Oh, I didn't know it bothered you or anything like that," she started waving her hands in dismissal, "I just like being prepared, you never know when we won't have access to ingredients to make food. I have to fill you bottomless pit of stomach some how Paimon, plus it doesn't hurt to be prepared." Her laugh at the end eased the slight tension in the tent.

Even though Paimon is oblivious, they know when someone is lying to them. Or at least saying a half-truth.

"Oh, well, that's true. How will Paimon ever survive a time when we can't have sticky honey roast. Its getting late and Paimon is tired, good night Lumine"

"Good night Paimon.."

It was raining. Paimon and Lumine were in their tent. They had set up in a little aclove in one of the many mountains in Liyue. That day they had met Dain again. In the hidden domain, with the upside down statue. Lumine was laying down, with her back turned towards Paimon. Paimon didn't know what to say. Paimon was supposed to be the traveler's greatest guide, but how can she guide Lumine through this.

Instead Lumine's voice filled the silence. It was slightly hoarse from crying and a bit nasally.

"Paimon, do you remember when you asked me why I always collected so many items on our journey?"

Paimon focused on Lumine, who still had her back turned. "Yes..."

"Being prapred is part of the reason. Whenever... Aether and I traveled to a new world, we always collected a lot of materials when we first arrived. In case we need them later, or would be beneficial to us on our journey. We never collected as much as I have now... Teyvat is the first world that I am a bit afraid of. Our journey here started in tragedy. And when I started this journey with you, I didn't know where my brother was. Because if he was free, he surely would be looking for me as well. But when no one had heard of him, I realized he was missing out. And when I see him again, I must show him the wonders of Teyvat, even if its just mint or sweet flowers. And then it became a habit, everytime I see something, it shones in my eyes, and I feel that I must grab it. In case you need it, I need it, anyone we have met needs it, if if Aether needed it. And then our commisions and quests. Aether isn't here to spend it with us, so in order that I don't forget it, I keep trinkets from them for him. So I can share the story to him. I was afraid I would have forgotten him, and then turned into what ifs about forgetting everyone I've met of this journey. The old Teyvat I was in is gone, and I didn't remember how until today. I'm afraid I'll forget again.

I'm sorry, Paimon, if this has delayed our journey. If you feel obligated to just go with whatever I do, don't. Please tell me if you want to go our separate ways."

Paimon stared at the traveler's back. Out of all the things they have been through, and they think Paimon's resolve is weakened by a few sweet flowers! Paimon knows its more than just that, but they don't feel that they can efficiently address that just yet....

"Lumine. Paimon is not going to abandon you on this journey. Paimon is a guide through ans through, and will see this duty through. You are Paimon's best friend, and Paimon doesn't want to leave you even when your journey ends. Paimon has a good memory, Paimon will help you remember."

Paimon floated over and hugged Lumine's arm. "Paimon wants to help you in anyway, and Paimon wants to stay with you."
Lumine reached her other arm over Paimon. "Thank you"

Chapter Text

Aether finally woke from his who knows how long nap. It was chalk full of nightmares and the works. He sat up and stretched. But instead of hearing his wonderful sister's voice reprimanding him for napping so long, he heard a high-pitched scream then a language he didn't understand. A couple other voices joined in as well.

Aether turned around and saw two girls and a guy staring at him. He just realized he wasn't wearing clothes, and taking a look around him, there was a body on the table next to him. So he was in a morgue. He looked back at the people and waved.

"Hi I'm Aether... And don't worry I'm not dead! Also, where are my clothes?"

Xianling really wasn't expecting her day to go like this. She was getting some 'super fresh fish' for one of her new dishes when she heard some kids scream. Quickly she pulled out her polearm and ran towards the kids pointing at something in the water.

She was expecting some type of sea monster or other enemy, instead she saw a person floating face down in the water. The kids screaming had already caused a small commotion as one of the Millelith was approached the ledge.

After the body was hauled put and was determined to be no longer living, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was called. Xialing saw Hu Tao approach with a skip in her step with Zhongli following behind.

Hu Tao ran over to where the body was laid, "Ah, what an interesting case we have here, don't worry the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has it all under control from here, no need to worry!"

Interesting? Xianling thought. That was an unsual thing for Hu Tao to say about what appeared to simply be another victim of the oceans waves.

Curiosity compelled her to follow the director and consultant back to the parlor. She never expected to see someone rise from the dead.

Xianling let out a scream, Zhongli looked a bit surprised for once, and Hu Tao, well was Hu Tao...

"Aww he isn't dead!"

-

Aether wakes up in the funeral parlor! This is sorta like, starting in Liyue first. Aether, with the aid of Hu Tao, Xianling, and Zhongli learns Teyvat's language (mainly Zhongli). He starts working at the funeral parlor, mainly doing paper work and advertisements. Unlike Hu Tao, the Liyue people are kind to him, maybe pity him for he circumatances that led to him working for Hu Tao.

"I heard that guy that was found floating in the harbor started working for her as payment for reviving him..."

"Really! So is he a zombie like the girl from the pharmacy?"

Ensue Aether and Qiqi bonding! Qiqi thinks he's a zombie like her at first, Aether clarifies, but still remains friends with her.

Zhongli introduces him to the Fatui, their business partners, and this is how Aether and Childe meet. They have a somewhat passive-aggressive relationship. Aether just knows he's bad news, and Childe knows that he knows, but they played nice for Zhongli.

Aether hears tales of the dragon that endangera Monstadt, yet there is nothing he can do right now.

Aether actually goes to the geo statue for the first time with Qiqi. They are walking through because he promised to help her go pick some home. Qiqi reads from her notebook to explain what the statue is, and the Seven. She also witnesses him get his geo powers. They spend the entire day trying out his powers instead of picking herbs.

When he gets back to the parlor, Aether makes up a story on how he obtain geo powers. Hu Tao notes his lack of a vision, and Zhongli is very suspicious.

Soon enough the Rite of Decsension happens, and Aether still decides to run from the scene. He begrudgedly excepts Childe's help. Aether goes back to the parlor discretely to explain the situation to his boss, before making his way to the Adepti. Both Hu Tao and Zhongli work to prove his innocence as well as work on the Rite of Parting.

The thing is Aether has already been to Junyun Karst before, while herb picking with Qiqi. Childe just gave him the advice to send him there, without a sigil of permission because he knew that Aether will outright start plotting his downfall. When he makes it to where he meets Moon Carver the Millelith have caught up to him, a fight ensues. The fight causes Moon Carver to appear to kick out those who dare breach the Abode of the Adepti. Aether has defeated the Millelith right when Moon Carver appears.

It takes a lot of convincing for Moon Carver to believe him. There's just something about this outlander. Aether goes announces the news to the rest of the Adepti.

By the time Aether makes it back to Liyue, Hu Tao and Zhongli have already convinced the Qixing that he is innocent. He is not that involved with the Rite of Parting, but Hu Tao does leave him in charge for other clients. Yay promotion!

On one the days he planned to help Qiqi, he sees Hu Tao, Zhongli, and Childe inside. When he leaves with Qiqi, after Zhongli mentioned the location of the Exuvia, he notices the Fatui agent running away.

Finally done with Childe's suspicious behavior, he says bye to Qiqi, and heads to Northlake Bank to confront him. Childe is not there, he realizes where he is.

Golden House fight ensues. Childe explains to him what the gnosis is, and he then unleashes Osial.

Aether is an acquainted with Ningguang yet, but is able to meet up with the Adepti before they head to the Jade Chamber. All sides are still suspicious of him, but they have more important things to worry about.

Osial is defeated. He learns the truth about Zhongli, who later sends him towards the land of freedom because Barbatos is the only of the original seven left and might have heard something in the winds. Unfortunately that means he must quite his job at the funeral parlor. They have a goodbye party and everything.

While on his way to Monstadt, Aether saves a toddler? fairy? Whatever Paimon is from drowning. They tell him more about the Seven and Teyvat. Aether tells her about the 'death' of Rex Lapis.

He mests Amber out in the wilderness are she promises to show him around the city, etc. Of course he ends up in a fight with another supernatural (?) being.

The diplomatic situation between the Knights of Favonious and Fatui are dire. The knights had already dealt with Dvalin channeling powers from the domains.

Venti knows that this outlander will truly be able to help in this situation. And if he heard the winds right, Zhongli purposely sent Aether his way with that intent.

The bard he now knows as Venti, looks at him while tilting his head,

"Wait a minute... You're that guy that was supposedly found washed up in Liyue Harbor!"

That's it, Aether lamented internally, I will forever be cursed with that title.

Dvalin is saved! Although Aether was never titled the Honorary Knights of Favonious. Jean had already heard of his deeds in Liyue from her correspondence with Ningguang.

Aether, while heavily suspicious of the Fatui, never had a reason to really form an opinion on Signora. Even if she was snobbish, she made a deal with Zhongli, not that bad right? No epic battle like with Childe?

That was until she shoved her hand into his friend's chest and stole his gnosis. When he later meets Venti under the tree, he learns more about gnosis and the situation in Inazuma.

Before he leaves though, he meets a stange man named Dainsleif. Dainsleif quests ensue as well as We Will Be Reunited.

Inazuma continues mostly as normal.

Chapter Text

Lumine and Aether really did not plan to land on their home planet. And who would have expected after their hundreds upon thousands of years traveling as stars would lead to them coming home after a few years time. As well as to witness the mass destruction of their home nation's allies.

Seriously time was so messes up. Because not only did a ridiculously short amount of time has passed while they were on their ever long trip, they just had to, well Lumine, got stuck with a 500 year nap.

Of course Lumine didn't realize this until she met a somewhat familiar face in Mondstadt.

-

Lumine had just floated her way down from her airfight with that dragon attacking the city. Her new acquitance, Outrider Amber, quickly made her way over.

After assuring Amber of ber safety, both of them turned around to the sound of clapping approaching.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A gentle breeze are a new storm?"

"Calvry Captain Kaeya!"

Kaeya?

She turned around to see a man towering over her with a hint of suspicion in his eye, which quickly turned into recognition

Lumine found the recognition reflected in her own eyes. It couldn't be, not after this long, not here, but

"Holy shit Kaeya??? Like little Kaeya," she gestured like a meter off the ground, "the seven year old pri-"

Kaeya quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. "Wait a minute, I was not that short at seven! And what about you? You haven't grown taller from when you were 14!"

Amber looked between the two in shock. "You two know each other?"

-

AN: Sorry for putting this right here, but it's been months since I wrote the beginning part and I wasn't sure what my original plan for it was so, sorry about that.

So Lumine and Kaeya know each other, yay! (I love a good Kaeya and Lumine friendship).

In this, Lumine and Aether are from Teyvat, maybe one of the civilizations that we know disappeared (seelies, dragonspine, enkanomiya, and the city in the Chasm). I am personally leaning towards the Chasm city, mainly because we don't know much about it. Their home was destroyed by celestia and they were part of the group who escaped. Whether that be royalty, your average people, alchemists, whatever you want.

They seek refuge from a fellow nation scorned by Celestia and the surface; Khaneri'ah. And they meet little ol' Prince Kaeya who wanted to meet these group of people. I have Lumine and Aether as 14, so they remeber a bit more from that time, and Kaeya is 7 because I think its from like 7 to 10 that he ends up in Crepus's care.

Aether and Lumine left Khaneri'ah probably around a year or so to go traveling other worlds. Under this I am assuming their people can somehow create the wings (alchemy or whatever type of machinery). Possibly connected to Teyvat's weird time shennagins. If we are going the route of the Chasm city, the fountain does have some restoration or at least calming things. I am assuming weird time things happen in Teyvat, which allows them to essentially return within a year of leaving, but have still traveled for a while. Kaeya also being sent away lead to weird time things, which allows him to be almost 50 years in the future.

And since Khaneri'ah took in their people and they stayed with them for at least a year and already knew then before that, there is a much deeper connection to them. Which also makes Abyss Prince Aether more passionate about Khaneri'ah and getting revenge on humanity.

Kaeya is initially suspicious of Lumine. Thinking she may either have connections to the Abyss Order (haha) or his father (with Kaeya being Khaneri'ah's last hope).

But once the air is cleared they try to get to know each other again. Its kinda weird for them because for Lumine it has been much longer since she last saw him and Kaeya because not only is it 500 years after the Cataclysm, he didn't think they would come back.

Also since Amber was listening in and accidently spread some gossip, people believe they were friends as kids. Do around the same age, and now the traveler can drink (#letthetravelerdrink2k22).

A lot of people are curious about how Kaeya was like before he came to Mondstadt, and of course, Lumine lies. She makes up embarrassing stories about him and all that and Kaeya does the same to her.

Does Kaeya know the hilichurls are Khaneri'ah's people? I don't know. If he does, he doesn't tell Lumine because he doesn't want her to feel guilty for killing them (like Dain, he believes no cure). Lumine does tell him after finding out from Aether. There is an argument because Kaeya reveals he did know. If he didn't know, well, more angst I guess.

Lumine does recognize part of the Chasm. Since the Chasm city was probably not all of it, and other pieces were thrown around in there, it was almost unrecognizable. Dain is intrigued by Aether's idea of using the fountain to heal the people of Khaneri'ah, still skeptic, but not as much because after finding out from Lumine that it was part if their home, he assumes Aether has a reason to believe so. In the end it does cause pain and they had to stop it.

I am debating on whether or not Kaeya should join the exploration of the Chasm with Lumine. Because they are closer friends here and I think after finding out its Lumine's home, he would want to see it. Who knows.

I am getting more and more into genshin lore and theory-crafting, so this is what it resulted in.

Chapter Text

Home was gone. And the rest of the nations around seem they might receive the same fate. Whispers were shared long before the twins' home's destruction, when the first fire reigned, about a safe haven for them in Teyvat. One of the nations, Khaneri'ah accepted outsiders from the other side of the Dark Sea. What better idea than to hide in the nest of their home's destroyer. This idea was ingrained in their minds ever since it seemed home would be the next casualty.

The continent of Teyvat and its eight nations were somewhat of a mystery to them. They knew the journey across the sea was not only dangerous, but near impossible due to the fear of the repercussions from the continent's leaders making almost no ships to give the trip a chance.

An acquaintance of sorts aided them in their escape as buildings around them turned to rubble. A small ship about to leave the port was partnered with pirates from Teyvat. The twins' last chance to leave to safety. Their was no one left for them here and their acquaintance bestowed upon them a gift of two flowers, something to guarantee their acceptance into Khaneri'ah, walked back into the destruction.

Hiding on the ship was easy. The crew was making haste, other boats in the port were leaving with those who survived the destruction. The crew was in no place to double check for intruders, and not that heartless to throw anyone off even if they did catch them. They hid in the ship's cargo. The crates were full of products from home, probably the last of it as well. They hid their for a few days until they heard some members of the crew enter below deck and the shifting of crates. Each of them got in one of the crates and did not make a sound, this was their chance to escape.

Aether felt himself being jostled around, he heard muffled yelling, something about Mondstadt and Inazuma? Whoever was carrying him lost their hold on the crate and Aether yelped in surprise. Shit The voices stopped and the lid was pried open, and Aether did the first thing that came to mind and punched the pirate in the face. The pirate stumbled back and he jumped out of the crate. He realized he was up on the deck still. He looked around and saw a sandy beach enveloped by cliff sides. Aether looked toward the water and saw a small boat in which the crates were being lowered onto. All talking had ceased and the crew hesitated a moment before beginning to run after him. He proceeded to jump off the side of the ship and swam as first as he could to shore. He saw a thick forest that opened up into the beach and ran there for coverage. The pirates had simply decided to not follow after him after he jumped off the ship and continued the transfer of cargo. Another ship with an emblem on the side approached the original ship.

After Aether collapsed in an alcove hidden by bushes and larger rocks he failed to notice other crates being loaded onto the second ship.

-

Aether was expecting his sister to join him soon, she was smart enough to stay hidden in her crate despite the commotion and that's why she hadn't left the crates on shore. They were guarded by part of the crew, so she was just being careful. He unfortunately left his small bag of his little remaining belongings in the crate, so he had no money, not as if their money would work here, and his phone, which he also doubted would work here either. He waited until he saw a truck drive through the dirt path in the forest. He realized then that he needed to make his move.

He quickly fought off then people guarding the crates and the driver as well. He knocked them unconscious and began searching through the crates and did not find Lumine. Not even a bag nothing. Aether realized this must have been the pirates' first stop and he and his sister get separated in the exchange. He was so screwed.

The first part of his plan was to leave the scene of his crime. He would have taken the truck, but if these smugglers were already wanted, using their truck could get him in trouble. He walked through the woods, avoiding the path until he came upon an empty parking lot. It was most likely the middle of the night and it appeared the forest and beach were part of some type of park. He slowly made his way to the entrance, finding the gate open, most likely the truck driver. The sign in front read Starfell Hiking Trail and Beach, Aether and Lumine had began to study Teyvat's Common Language months before, hopefully he was right. He did not recognize the name Starfell. He and Lumine had studied a little about the nations of Teyvat, the 8 nations, their capitals and climate. Smaller cities like this would be a mystery to them. Given the time they spent of the ship though, Aether assumed they were still on the east side of Teyvat, so either Mondstadt or Liyue. And the nice breezy weather and greener grass made him believe this was probably Mondstadt.

The road leading to the entrance of the park was along a small cliff, going down. And walked to the edge and saw the light pollution of a city peaking out from hills and treetops. That was his goal. He needed to find Lumine, and if that meant traveling the entire continent, he would.

-

Aether had already made it to another road as dawn approached. These roads were definitely scenic, surrounded by trees and many plants. He was walking along the side of road hoping for at least one car to pass by so he can get a ride. Lights began to approach from behind him and he realized it was the truck from the beach. He quickly ducked into the thicker bushes as it passed him, surely going above the speed limit. He looked around to see if another car was going to approach. He heard a noise behind him and saw a squirrel darting a long a narrow path he did not see.

He followed it, this might lead him somewhere he can find directions. The path led to a clearing with a small lake. In the lake was a small island with a massive statue on it. The sun was shinning on the water was the morning approached. Aether then head splashing. And he saw a small creature in the water drowning. He ran toward it and grabbed it out the water. It appeared to be some type of ferret-mouse thing?

The thing looked up at him and seemed to give a squeak in thanks. It then shook in his hands before jumping down on to the ground. It carefully avoided the bank of the lake. He watched as the creature used its paw to spell out something in the dirt. "P-a-i-m-o-n? Paimon? Is that your name?" The creature chattered in excitement before climbing up his leg to rest on his shoulder.

Aether side eyed it. Lumine would not believe him if he could tell her that he just found a super intelligent ferret. Paimon huffed and with a flick of their tail, gestured towards another path by the lake. Maybe Paimon knew what they were doing, the situation could honestly not get any worse, so he decided to follow their directions. And as they walked, Aether told Paimon about everything that happened.

They led him to another park. Surrounded by trees again, but it seemed much more up-kept. Possibly a city park? This is when trouble began for him. As he was walking, he stumbled over a tree root and into some nearby bushes. He of course made a lot of noise. And then he heard someone shouting at him.

"Hey you! You just scared Dvalin," the man dressed in green vigorously gestured to his quite abnormally large bearded dragon hiding behind his legs, "You paparazzi have no sense, I'll have to call the Knights of Favonious if you don't leave this instance!" Aether could barely catch all of what the man said, but given Paimon's panic and the words "call" and "leave," he made a run for it.

He left the area into one that looked more into a public park. Sidewalks, benches, people, and playgrounds. And as he made his way around, with Paimon guiding him, he recieved odd looks. Maybe the dirt and the unfamiliar design of his clothes was the cause. A woman approached him with a concerned look. She pulled out an ID and began to speak to them. "Hello, strange yet respectable traveler! I am Outrider Amber with the Knights of Favonious. I noticed your concerning appearance while patrolling the park, do you need help?"

Oh she must be part of the people the man from before mentioned calling. Aether needed to try to not act suspicious. Hopefully she will believe he was some guy messing around. He cleared his voice and hoped his words sounded clear, "Hello ma'am, my name is Aether and this is my pet ferret Paimon," he gestured to his shoulder, "I had just gotten lost in the woods after trying to catch some of the animals, please forgive my appearance," he bowed his head a bit.

Amber didn't seem even a bit fazed at his weird explanation. Although she gave him a thoughtful look at their names, "Aether and Paimon... You're not from around here are you?" Aether gave a small nod. "Then I'll like to welcome you to Mondstadt! Would you like some help finding the welcome center. It is located by the Knights of Favonious Headquarters, I'll lead you there, alright? Then I can help you find a place a stay here as well!"

Aether liked Amber, she was very nice, unlike the guy he accidentally ran into. At least she didn't presume he had bad intentions. So he and Paimon followed her to her car and she drove them into Mondstadt City.

-

They had made it to the headquarters and as Amber was leading them inside a tall man stopped them. "Well, well, who do we have here Amber?" Amber let out a groan, "Ugh, Kaeya get out of our way, I know you like to shove your nose in other people's business, but I won't allow you to do it this time!" Kaeya gave Amber an obviously fake frown, "no need to be so mean Amber, think about how you look in front of our guest."

Aether widened his eyes when Kaeya mentioned him. "Hello, my name is Aether, Amber is helping me to the welcome center..." he nodded his head toward Kaeya. Kaeya smirked, "Well, welcome to Mondstadt. Say, I haven't heard an accent quite like yours before, do tell, where are you from?" And while Aether was stumbling his words for an answer, he heard a familiar voice in the distance.

"Hey Kaeya! Amber! The paparazzi are at it again and harassed me and Dvalin in the park!" The man in green approached them and there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He pointed at Aether. "Hey its him! The guy creeping up on Dvalin and I!" And before Amber and Kaeya could step in, Aether bowed his head towards the man and said "I am so sorry sir! I did not mean to disturb you and 'Dvalin,' I was just lost in the park and tripped...I am not paparazzi, I don't even know who you are!."

"Well, that clears that up, right Venti?" Kaeya looked at all the members of the group. Aether appeared to be on the verge of tears at the end of the apology. Aether was screaming at his mind not here, not here, please don't cry here Its been a stressful couple of weeks for Aether and he was almost at his breaking point. The man, Venti, looked a bit apologetic for yelling at Aether. Amber ushered Aether inside and waved goodbye to Kaeya and Venti.

-

Aether lied to Amber, and he felt really bad about it. Paimon would keep giving him reassuring looks, it was for the best to keep his true story a secret. Who knows he involved Teyvat was with his home's destruction as well as their opinions on their neighbors across the sea. Aether told Amber that he and his sister were from a small town in another nation that spoke their own dialect of the Teyvat Common Language. He and his sister wanted to leave home after their parents' death, but got separated after their belongings were stolen at a small airport in Fontaine. He explained how he was looking for her in all of Teyvat. Amber believed him and helped his get set up with the Church of Favonious, which provided housing to those who needed it and helped them find jobs in the city.

At the Church the sisters welcomed him. They helped him get a job at the Adventurer's Guild, a place where people can hire anyone for a quick job needed done. And while not religious, he did enjoy participating in the Church's choir. That is where he met Deaconess Barbara. Apparently she was a famous idol In Teyvat and was surprised he didn't know her. She told him he had an amazing voice and would do well at a records agency. She had recommended some companies in Mondstadt City as well as some international ones. Barbara told him if he got with the right agency, he'll be able to travel all across Teyvat to try to find his sister as part of his job. And the possible popularity and paycheck would really be helpful. Aether considered it. He always loved singing with Lumine, but when things started going really bad at home, they stopped. They used to do small shows at local bars and diners and really enjoyed doing so in their free time. Maybe this was the key to finding Lumine.

Aether had begun practicing by himself in the church. The choir practice would always be occupied by Barbara or Aether when it was not in use. On one of the days Aether was practicing with Paimon, he got interrupted by none other than this Venti.

"Hey! You..." Venti's words trailed off when he recognized Aether. "Hey Aether, right? I just heard your singing from the hallway... You're exactly what I'm looking for!" Venti's eyes' were beaming with excitement. Paimon let off a nervous chitter. Aether was confused. "What?" Venti continued rambling on.

"You see, I'm the composer for 4nemo. Maybe you recognize that name? And I've been looking for someone with the right voice to complete my compositions, and you're the perfect one! I apologize for a first encounter, I admit I was a bit brash then, ehe." Aether blinked in surprise, Paimon scoffed at Venti's chuckle. Now that Aether thought about it, he did hear about 4nemo. A group that was currently in Mondstadt, known to travel to all the nations in Teyvat for each of their albums. And here is where he saw the opportunity Barbara mentioned. He was already unsuccessful with finding his sister in Mondstadt, this was his chance to leave and to look elsewhere.

Venti looked at him, a hand reaching out him, "so what about joining 4nemo?" And Aether nodded, taking his hand.

"Yes."

Paimon was not amused.

-

So long introduction done. Aether joins 4nemo in Mondstadt. The group consists of Venti, Xiao, Kazuha, and Heizou. When Aether joins, the group changes their name to 5wirl, and become even more popular with him. Venti is kinda like the leader and manager of the group. They become popular in Mondstadt and then go to Liyue. Kazuha actually was not with them in Mondstadt and was traveling with Beidou. He joins them again in Liyue and seems to know something about Aether. They get up to shenanigans and Heizou tries to figure out where Aether is from. Aether struggles to hide his true origins, fearing that not only his friends, but the rest of the world will find out and hate him. He learns that Khaneri'ah is gone and no one utters a word about it, while Venti seems to know more about the truth. They meet other idols and groups and then make their way to Inazuma.

In Inazuma Aether hears more about his sister. Apparently she had joined a gang and was actually back in Liyue. He insists on going back, but Venti prevents him, saying according to his contract he can't leave while they are working. Tensions rise, etc, etc. Aether finally makes it back to Liyue, only to find out Lumine has already left. On to Sumeru and so forth, while discovering more of the truth about Teyvat and its involvements in his home's and Khaneri'ah's destruction.

-

Lumine, sitting a table, drinking with the rest of the Arataki Gang. Itto makes a joke about how she looks like she is a gender-bent version of a member of the famous 5wirl. The gang's growing fans appear to be making edits with her and Aether. Upon seeing him, she spits out her drink. Kuki scolds her.

Chapter Text

The more he thought about it, the more Aether realized. He was pretty content with having to search for his sister, finding next to none clues was better than waking up the day after he, along with friends, saved Dvalin surrounded by Abyss Mages. And some weird tall humanoid Abyss Mage? Looking concerned for him??? And calling him Princess Lumine???

Kaeya's discovery of there being an Abyss Princess, immediately came to mind, and unfortunately Aether connected the dots. To any other person this might have been a relief, a comfort to at least know their sibling is at least alive. But to Aether, this meant devastation. Not only was his sister the leader of the group threatening his friends, if he was in ger body now, that meant his sister was in his. And while he doubts she will do anything, knowing they were his friends, the only logical conclusion both of them would do in this situation was...to pretend to be each other. At least they alike in that way because switching places would really fuck up whatever is going on in Teyvat's history, he just knows it.

Upon arising from his bed, Aether took a deep inhale and embraced his inner Lumine. "What the hell are all of doing in here?" The Abyss Mages and Abyss Dude (name still unknown) looked taken aback. And that was strange.

A cryo mage peeped up, "Our Princess, we are just concerned! You were asleep for the last three days, quite unusual... We were worried we loat you." The other mages all tittered around him telling their concerns and worries. Aether was very confused. "What are you guys talking about? Did you not think to wake me before this?" He heard one of the mages in the back whisper something along the lines of maybe they should have tried that.

The Abyss Dude then spoke up, "And not only was your sleeping unusual, but your behavior is too? Are you sick Princess? We can get Enjou to make his world famous scalding soup!"

Aether was now extremely confused. Were the Abyss Mages and Dude trying to take care of him? Well, his sister? This was completely unexpected behavior from the Abyss Order. And from what he understands, his sister didn't act this way anymore? Unbelievable. Maybe he should go along with the sick notion.

"Ah, I apologize for my behavior. I do feel quite sick, and I don't know why. I would love Enjou's soup." It was so weird to speak and hear his sister's voice instead. "I would also like to be alone for the time being."

There were different chimes if "yes, princess" and "of course, princess," and "right away, princess Lumine." And soon all of them filed out his sister's room.

Aether felt tired. While he would never pray to Venti, or other gods fro that manner, but he hopes some god out there will have mercy on him.

-

Paimon was very confused, and slightly worried. Maybe that fight with Dvalin really tuckered Aether out. First he slept for a couple of days, and that was very concerning. Paimin got Barbara to take a look at him, for her to determine he was just sleeping and maybe the fight with Dvalin really wore him out. Or maybe it was Signora? Paimon wasn't sure what happended to him or if something do this to him, but Paimon was a bit afraid.

At first Paimon thought he was being extra nice after the incident with Signora. Maybe he was so tired he couldn't put more effort into refusing to indulge Paimon or to call Paimon emergency food. And then shit really hit the fan.

Paimon had just made their reappearance after Aether saved an adventurer, Pallad specifically. The first concerning part, was that the hilichurls were still alive and Aether had only run away. Then Aether was nice to Pallad. Given Pallad's facial expression, he was just as shocked as Paimon.

Aether loomed at both of them in confusion, "what's the matter you guys?" Pallad nervously chuckled, as if his next sentence would lead to the inevitable, "it's just you- you usually reprimand me, Traveler!" Aether looked a bit shocked at the notion, before quickly shaking his head.

"Well, you've had quite a scare already haven't you! I didn't find the need to reprimand you again, since I had to save you once again. Some adventurers never learn..." Then Pallad gave a quick thank you and a promise to not get in danger again before running away. What the fuck was wrong with Aether?

Paimon almost dragged him by the ear towards Windrise. This problem was surely beyond anything Barabara could do, only a, albeit former, archon could help them.

-

Aether and Lumine have switched bodies! Of course after a day or two they wake up in the correct body again, leaving their companions highly fucking confused. I also like the idea of the traveler adopting the personality of their sibling, or at least how their sibling used to act.

After the second time they figure out whats going on and start leaving notes in their pockets for the other to know whats going in. They meet up a couple times in secret and determins fate is interesting in Teyvat. If they stray too far from their duties bad things will happen, so both of them have to keep up with the bit.

Dain is completely confused. On of the days he met the traveler, he was harsh and just wanted know about his sister. Reasonable and expected. And then the next he was at his throat, with Paimon pulling him back to prevent Aether from killing him. He didn't expect them to be so alike. And then when the traveler meets his sister again for the "first" time, Aether seems pissed at him. And Lumine is nicer about it? What is going on?

Paimon figures it out pretty quickly because Paimon is the best and deserves two siblings to spoil them. Paimon also helps them keep the secret. "Don't worry Aether here is only hungry, that's why he is nice today. Hungrice?"

Also Enjou figures it out and finds it hilarious. When Aether fights him, its with so much anger. Partly because his siter is too nice to say no to drinking boiling hot soup and because Enjou is annoying. Enjou realizes it is a personal issue. He's just like that you know.

Chapter Text

There were a lot of things people noticed about the traveler, that were, well, strange. The slight and unidentifiable accent, his exotic clothing, his ability to wield elements, but the one that went unnoticed the most, was how he sat in chairs. It seems insignificant, but as others around him got used to his other oddities, it became obvious that Aether was uncomfortable in most chairs.

It was first noticed by Paimon, like most things are about Aether. The Dvalin Squad had down time before they were to try to steal the Holy Lyre back from the Fatui. They were in the Angel's Share, sharing drinks and stories. Jean had her back firmly against the back of her seat, Venti slouched in his, and Diluc not quite pressing against the back of the chair. Paimon had taken a break from floating and was sitting on Aether's lap. That's when Paimon first noticed. While Paimon was sitting facing the table, Aether's body was completely turned to the side, his left side resting against the chair.

Paimon thought it was a bit weird, but a one off thing. But then it kept happening.

If he wasn't sitting perpendicular to the chair, he would be straddling it. In more formal settings, Aether would sit the proper direction, but at the edge of his seat. And if he had any choice at all, he would sit on a stool or the floor.

Whem more people noticed, it was first thought as a cultural difference. Maybe where he's from, most chairs were stools, or maybe it was similar to Inazuma? But the traveler denied being from any nation.

While Paimon just boiled this down to just Aether things, Albedo boldly asked "Are you uncomfortable in chairs due to your anatomy, or your otherworldliness?"

Which wasn't necessarily a surprise, give Albedo's apparent urge to study Aether.

And Aether just chuckled and asked "What do you think, Mister Chief Alchemist?"

"Hmm," Albedo began fiddling with his tree branch again, "while new to Teyvat, you were not unfamiliar to all aspects of it. It is quite clear you are familiar with most types of chairs and seating in Teyvat. Which leads me to believe it is an anatomical issue; however, from my previous questioning, you also admitted to having the same amount of organs and extremities of humans. Unless that was a lie..." Albedo gave a small smirk at that.

Aether grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "Well, is it really a lie if I don't know the normal anatomy of Teyvatian human. I mean Paimon has more then one stomach"

Flustered, Paimon shouted "Hey! Paimon never said that was normal! That's just a Paimon thing..." Albedo gave a glance that promised more questions.

"You are right about this being an anatomical thing. The chairs back home would compensate for this." Aether's face became solemn, "Its just, what I had is also locked away with the rest of my powers..."

Both Albedo and Paimon went quiet as Aether continued.

"I used to have wings. We loved to fly, my sister and I. it was one of the first things we do when arriving in another world. Soaring through clouds and colors, seeing everything from above. Gliders can only give you a glimspe of that feeling." Aether shifted a bit in his chair. "That's why I sit differently, its out of habit. I would need extra space for my wings in chairs. They serve as an odd reminder for what I lost."

The group's silence was broken by Paimon, "You used to fly like Paumon?" Aether nodded, "Well, when we get your wings back, you and Paimon will have a flying contest! And then Albedo will make us do a whole bunch on tests for 'science' and you will do it because you like to please everyone!" Aether chuckled at that.

Paimon then flew over and hugged Aether's head. "So don't feel sad, because as your bestest guide, Paimon will help."

Albedo gave a small smile, "don't hesitate to contact me was well, Aether. I'll be here in Dragonspine, if not then at the Favonious Headquaters."

"Thank you."

Chapter Text

It was stupid, really. Because when she was falling off the Jade Chamber, she couldn't think. She was too focused on the fact that she felt scared of falling, to realize hitting the water from that height and this speed would lead to her death. She might die this time.

So instead of twisting around so she could deploy her glider, instead of reaching out to one of the many teleportation points she has logged in her mind, instead of calling out for anyone to help. She decided to turn the clock.

She closed her eyes, she always gets dizzy looking as everything moved backwards, and didn't even pay attention to how far she turned.

Lumine opened her eyes and found herself amongst the crowd, waiting for the Rite of Decension to begin, Paimon happily chatting away beside her.

Fuck.

-

Her brother and her were strange beings. Some of the very few of their kind left. Stars born to travel, with seemingly endless lifespans, three sets of wings, the power to control light and dark, and a clock in their minds. An endless life to ensure they have traversed the universe enough. Wings to travel with. Powers to offend or defend. And a clock to keep track of it all.

Their encounter with the Unknown God left Lumine, hopefully her brother is safe from this, with one of those things. Presumably one of those things. Their longevity came with experience, strength, and a bit of immunity. And whether this was changed because she was laid on the ground for who knows how many years, decades, centuries, or the Unknown God figured out from their lack of debilitation from wounds, all Lumine knew was that when she accidently sliced her had on a rock, it . She could still feel the clock ticking in her head. Quite annoying when it didn't even help her when she tried to use it. At least she still had it. The God probably didn't realize it exsisted because she never used it against her.

Lumine did try to use the clock when she woke up. To go back to that fight, she desperately wanted to change anything about the encounter. Whether it be to save Aether, have him join her, or simply give him a hug one last time, she had to try. Theoretically there was no limit to how far back she could turn the clock. They were limited from going beyond the present time logged in their brains. It just eventually became more detrimental to go back. Both to her health and to her timeline's wellbeing. Changing one thing, major or minor, could lead to catastrophes in the present. Going back and saving a companion after they won the war, coming back to the present to see it all razed to the ground. Going back too much made their bodies deteriorate because their bodies still felt the time, even if it past too quickly Which wouldn't have been a problem if in that time period they were healthily active, not under or over.

Apparently for the past 200 hundred years, and probably more, Lumine was still, unconscious. 200 hundred years was as far as she could go back before she thought she might actually die because of how weak she was. And it was clear that nothing much had changed around her for that time, and probably not much before either. Going back to their last fight would be too detrimental for Aether. He would probably have to save her, again. If not, she wouldn't survive her plummel from the Heavens.

Lumine remained 200 hundred years in the past simply because she could not move. When she first opened her eyes her head was pounding, amd then she immediately started heaving. This went on for a while. Nothing but blood dripped from her mouth. Next thing she knew she was passing out. She woke up again. Maybe years later at this point, but she was rested enough to travel back to her present. She would need to rest again when she got there too and then she would figure out what to do.

-

Mondstadt, in retrospect, was quite easy. She had gained a new power, gained access to teleportation points again, leanred more about this world, and just in general had no need to use the clock again. Maybe when she was falling after the flight with Dvalin, but the dragon had quickly come to their aid.

Liyue was not. Frankly she should have used the clock as soon as she got accused of murdering their goddamn archon. Then she would have not have to deal with any parties involved and eventually figure out the dead archon was alive, and probably Zhongli. Paimon and her already had a bet going on about how Zhongli was an adeptus. Paimon bet crane, she bet quilin. Oh how both of them were so wrong, yet so right.

Lumine didn't expect to fall off the Jade Chamber. And maybe her mind was too caught up on how she had power that felt an inkling similar to her own, that she didn't realize she should be afraid of falling. Without her wings to save her.

Falling shocked her, so she quickly turned the clock, not caring to check how much she did. Surely she wouldn't be fartehr back from when she fought Childe.

Lumine was back at the Rite of Decension. Suddenly an oppurtunity arose.

-

Lumine had mentioned to Paimon before that she had the ability to go back in time. It was to explain why she was still a bit wobbly on her feet when they first met. Paimon found it cool and a bit scary, but it never really came up again.

She had not needed to use it since they met, so of course she wouldn't know how to approach past Paimon with that fact she just came back from the future.

"Come on, we're going to be late!" Paimon wqs tugging her arm. Lumine stopped, and without a word, walked over to a potted plant and vomitted what was probably just her lunch that day. Hopefully just lunch, she didn't want to fathom a situation in which her body became weak to its own powers as well.

"Oh no! You're sick!" Paimon floated over and started rubbing her back.

"Paimon, do you remember when I told you about my clock?"

"Your clock? Hmm... Your clock!" Paimon paused in rubbing her back and grabbed Lumine's face, "Are you telling Paimon, you're from the future?" Lumine nodded.

"That's so cool! Wait, did something bad happen? Are you okay?" Paimon frantically started floating around Lumine to check to see if anything was wrong.

"Not necessarily," Lumine lied, Paimon narrowed their eyes. "We don't need to go to the Rite of Decension anymore."

"Oh, did you already meet Rex Lapis?"

"Nope, but we are going to see him right now." Paimon was starting to look confused.

"How are we going to meet him now if he's going to be at the Rite of Decension?"

"He doesn't show up this year," Lumine started making her way to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. "Woah really? That's unheard of!"

They continued talking while walking to the Parlor. Outside of it was Zhongli and a woman she hasn't met before.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me to the Rite of Decension this year Zhongli? You always say no..."

"I'm quite alright, Director Hu Tao, I've seen the Rite many times during my years. This year my answer remains the same." So she was his eccentric boss.

The woman laughed, "Sure you have, probably got a front row seat every year as well!" She was so right and Lumine had to resist the urge to tell her so.

"Well, goodbye Zhongli! Have fun!" And when she turned around she noticed them, "Oh customers? As much as I would love to help you at the current moment, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor js closed during the Rite of Decension. If you are interested you can look at our sales on the board over there!" She pointed towards a sign board that was right outside the Parlor.

"Ehhh??" Paimon's face was scrunched up in confusion.

"I can help them Director Hu." Hu Tao looked back at Zhongli in surprise, "Huh, don't you have somewhere to be soon Mr. Zhongli?"

"It's quite alright, I'll help them quickly. It shouldn't take me too long." Hu Tao narrowed her eyes at him, "Alright," she turned back to the duo, "my wonderful consultant here will help you then. Toodaloo!"

Hu Tao then presumably made her way to the Rite.

Lumine and Paimon approached Zhongli. Zhongli gestured for them to enter the Parlor with him. Once they were seated in a private room did the questioning begin.

"How may I help you today?"

"Did you set up the body in advance, Rex Lapis? Or do you have to leave soon to drop it in front of a crowd?" Lumine couldn't help it, she was a bit annoyed. Maybe more than a bit. She was accused of murder, alright? And then she had to save this entire city because Zhongli decided it would be fun or something to fake his death? She wasn't thinking clearly, he probably did it to get the Fatui off his back.

Paimon could feel the anger radiating off Lumine and decided it would be smart to keep their mouth shut, bit their facial expressions told all.

Zhongli seemed a bit speechless. This had confirmed Lumine's suspicions. He had assumed the bard had told the outlander about his identity, but he never uttered a word about the specifics of his plan to anyone.

His silence fueled Lumine's anger. "Honestly, do you know how hard it is to deal with being accused of murdering a god? On one had, the entire city is out to get you. On the other hand the adeptus assume you are a poor weak and fleshy human. All I wanted to do was ask you about was if you knkw anything about my brother? About the god that attacked us?"

She could hear a commotion outside. It seems that the Rite of Decension happened. She wonders if they will accuse anyone else of the crime. Hopefully they accused Childe, hitting two birds with one stone.

"I apologize, but I do not know anything about your brother nor the god you speak of." Lumine just sighed at that response.

"Can you at least tell me about Inazuma's Archon?"

"The previous Electro Archon has been dead for the past 500 hundred years. The Electro Archon is also the God of Eternity. Currently pasage to Inazuma is closed due to her decree."

"Thank you." That's when Hu Tao barges in.

"Zhongli! Why- You!" Hu Tao notices that Lumine and Paimon are still there and pauses.

"Don't worry, I already know he's Rex Lapis. And that he just faked his death." Hu Tao grins and Zhongli sighs.

Lumine gsts up to leave, with Paimon floating beside her, "By the way, the Fatui and Childe are after your gnosis. And when Childe finds out that you faked your death, he summons Osial to drown the entire fucking city. In fact, I had to convince the Adeptus and Humans to work together on this problem. So have fun with that."

"Yes, that was part of my plan." Lumine just turns around and walks out. She's happy to hear Hu Tao yelling at him.

Good Riddance.

-

-

After this Lumine tries to find pasage to Inazuma. She meets the Crux Fleet and Beidou promises she will take her, for a price, on their next trip. Meanwhile she does commissions and eventually meets Dain. And then her brother.

She goes back multple times to see if anything she says or do convinces him. Nothing does, so she goes back and recreates the first time she saw him to ensure timeline stability. And then gets sick for a while. She also explores the outskirts of Sumeru a bit, meeting the Forest Rangers before goung back to Liyue to catch her ship to Inazuma.

Inazuma involves a lot more going back and forth. In fact, Lumine uses the clock much more to try to defeat the Raiden Shogun the first time, and just in general with battles. She tries to save Teppei which is very sad because it never works out.

In Sumeru is when it gets confusing. Time travel amisdt, time loops (kinda?) gets really confusing. And Lumine gets severely ill at some point because yeah.

Chapter Text

Aether quickly realized maybe his fall from the heavens did something to him because he can now see the ghost of the small fairy? child?!? he just fished up. He even shed a few tears for them.

Given that the fairy turned ghost was also a bit shocked, this might not be so normal for this world like he originally assumed. (Paimon is serious, imagine one second you fall into water and the next you wake up dead making direct eye contact with person who found your body)

At least he is able to know that his sister is not dead, probably. She would always say she would haunt him until the day he died too, if she died first at least. Yet again, he couldn't see ghosts at that point, so who knows if she even stuck around. Lumine was probably not dead. The fairy though, very much was, and now was frreaking out over being dead.

-

The one thing Aether quickly realized about ghosts is that they tended to think outloud. It appears in the after life, its much harder to keep your thoughts from floating around.

Which posed a problem. Not only was Aether constantly hearing voices, whether that be ghosts talking to one another or trying to talk to him once they realized they could see him, but also their thoughts.

The most consistent ones he heard were obviously from Paimon. Paimon thought about a lot of things. Often about food, but other things around them as well. He knew when they were confused, but chose not to speak on it, when they were concerned, something Paimon absolutely denied, and when they were angry, but Paimon would soon voice their grievances if Aether brought it up.

As it turned out, like him, a lot of people had at least one ghost following them. And these ghosts were either gossips, trying to continue conversations as normal, or desperate. Aether tried not to think about the woman, half turned into a monster, crawling and calling out, more like gurgles, desperately to Monstadt's own Calvary Captain. He never mentioned it to anyone, Kaeya had just assumed Paimon hid behind Aether whenever they met because Paimon was scared of him. Paimon could see her too.

For the most part, these ghosts looked like normal humans. Except for whatever killed them, if it was not natural causes. He's seen many ghosts with oozing wounds, he tried his best to advert Paimon's attention from those ones.

-

Sometimes Aether would recieve strange looks when he talked to the ghosts. He tried to avoid talking to them around other people, but there would always be at least one person who might see. Especially given the frequency he talks to Paimon.

He wasn't expecting Barbara posting a commission for him to go to the Cathedral to be an intervention including most of the friends he made already, but here they were.

"Aether..." Barbara began, "Me and a lot of your friends here have noticed some concerning behavior." Amber, ever the subtle one, interupted, "Aether we think the fight with Dvalin knocked a couple screws in your head and now you are talking to people who don't exist!" Jean proceeded to rest her head between her hands, Barbara coughed in shock, Kaeya just sighed.

Somehow, after a long conversation and plenty of excuses, he convinced them that be was only talking to himself. Aether still thinks Barbara doesn't believe him.

-

-

-

Aether can see dead people, hence how the traveler can find out about a character's backstory through the character screen. Just playing upon game mechanics.

Hu Tao and him have a blast together, poor Paimon is frightened. Aether can even see the dead people following archons, quite a few of those guys want revenge too.

Dain is also dead too, and guess who killed him? That's right, Lumine! Which is unfortunate because she can also see ghosts.

Aether might casually mention sonething from a character's past, garnering a lot of suspicion.

Chapter Text

Dainy Boy Made a Big Mistake

Summary
SPOILERS FOR 3.2

When you, when you add your boyfriend to the computer system and then he breaks up with you

(Not really shipping, mostly platonic, just doing this for shits and giggles)

Abyss Prince Aether-centric

Original A/N: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR 3.2 I am in a bit of a goofy mood today I have not played 3.2 so all this is from what I have seen online and from the genshin lore subreddit (What if Dain's betrayal to the Abyss sibling is changing them from a descender to part of Khaneri'ah)

-

Aether felt a shift in his mind. Waking up was hell. He felt his entire head has shifted off his neck. Everything was dizzying and he felt as if reality was warping around him. Yet, everything remained the same. The grass was still scorched from that fight not so long ago, and destruction was still about the few structures of Khaneri'ah that weren't completely razed to the ground.

Dain was not there, interesting, but not unusaul. He tended to disappear at times, but always came back at oppurtune moments of the day. He should have really questioned why on this particular day he disappeared

-

Original A/N:
The whole "boyfriend" thing comes from what I thought the traveler's sibling's relationship with Dain was.

Dain: *talking vaguely about Aether*
Lumine: *eyeing him suspiciously* did you fuck my brother?

Aether: *refuses to acknowledge any relationship with Dain and calls him his enemy while Lumine is asking him to come home*
Lumine: holy shit you guys used to fuck
Aether: NO-

A/N: Honestly I had no idea what was up with me when I wrote this. Also any relationships in this fic are also up to your interpretation, whether platonic or romantic.

Don't Worry, Paimon Will Catch Me

Summary

"Traveler what in the archons are you doing up there?!?!"

"Don't worry, Paimon will catch me! If not, at least they'll break my fall!"

"WHAT?! Paimon can't catch you- AETHER!!!"

-

Aether has the tendency to jump off cliffs and high builldings, much to Paimon's concern and terror.

OG A/N:
Emergency Food? More like Emergency Parachute

-

The first time it happened was when Paimon was guiding Aether to Mondstadt. There was a small cliff from which they could admire the valley Mondstadt laid in. A nice breeze flowed around them, the sun shinning. It was a nice contrast from their converation on the beach.

Both of them stood there, well, Paimon floated there, for a few minutes, taking it all in.

Then Aether jumped off the cliff.

This quickly became a trend, with Aether scaring about everyone he traveled with.

And it became worse when Amber gave him a wind glider. He would jump off a cliff and then eject the glider at the last minute.

Paimon has picked up a book before Alhaitham!

Summary

"Yes, Paimon is in fact a genius,"

"I wouldn't go that far..."

"Hush, you!"

-

I mean, if you think about it, Paimon not only looks like a child, but has the mental maturity of one. So the fact that they essentially know all this information about the history of Teyvat, wouldn't that make Paimon a genius and candidate for the Akademiya. And just in general, Paimon taught the traveler how to speak and read a new language almost fluently in almost a month soooo

OG A/N:
In order to get an insider within the Akademiya, Paimon is sent in as a new student.

Paimonial situations occur

Paimon is also a part of the traveler's family in my heart, okay? So this counts as traveler centric chapter

-

Paimon stood out amongst the other students in their class. It was rare for students to enter at such a young age, but Paimon was especially noticeable given the floating.

Paimon was Teyvat's best guide, having an extensive knowledge into each nation's history. And with their adventures with the Traveler, now extensive knowledge on history most scholars dreamed of knowing about. With primary sources too!

So when it was determined in order to save Nahida they needed to send someone into the Akademiya, to the Traveler Paimon was the obvious choice. Paimon protested, but the points the Traveler brought up were pretty fair. Paimon was not only a master in Teyvat's history, but language as well. Paimon can also read and write Teyvat's common language well, while the Traveler was fluent speaking, writing was a different story (and their handwriting was atrocious).

At least now Paimon can prove to Alhaitham they can in fact read!

(I might actually continue this one, but I don't know when I will get back to it, so I'll put it here. Its a companion piece to the previous chapter)

Not Dead or Alive, but a Secret Third Thing; Paimon

Summary

Amber was giving her a crazy look after she introduced Paimon, before gently explaining the situation in Mondstadt. It appears that there was a dragon probably, but to not worry, the Knights could handle it. And that the sisters at the church there would take care of her through it?

Interesting how Mondstadt treats travelers.

-

Or Paimon is neither dead or alive, but does exist and Lumine is the only one who can see them.

-

-

Meeting Paimon was one of the best things to happen to Lumine. After her rough beginnings with Teyvat, Paimon was such a nice and friendly face after falling from the heavens. Even if they were annoying at times, the banter was familiar.

And once they decided to head to Mondstadt, the journey became weirder. Animals would not run away despite how loud Paimon was or how close. Lumine had jokingly said it was because Paimon was so small and not scary the animals assumed she was food. Paimon's scream of annoyance was worth it and the fact that not even a squirrel was startled was even funnier to Lumine.

Then the duo met Amber. Amber was interesting. Lumine just assumes most people from Mondstadt are like this. Amber's questioning of Lumine was a bit offputing because if her complete ignorace of Paimon. But that could be boiled down to Paimon being obviously not human. Still rude

It went completely downhill when Lumine introduced Paimon. And when asked what Paimon is, she obviously responded with "emergency food."

Amber paused and narrowed her eyes at her before a look of understanding came to her. "Ah riiiight, nice to meet you Lumine and... Paimon." She sounded unsure about Paimon's name, but maybe that was because it also wasn't a common type of name in the region?

Amber went on to carefully explain the situation in Mondstadt. It appears that there was a dragon probably, but to not worry, the Knights could handle it. And that the sisters at the church there would take care of Lumine? Maybe the church also served as a resting place for travelers like her and Paimon.

After they encountered and cleared a hillichurl camp. Amber began to fret over her. Lumine smiled and reassured her, "you don't have to worry about me, I'm an experienced fighter, Paimon can atest to that."

Paimon, who had reappeared after the fight sent them a thumbs up. Amber only seemed more frazzled. Maybe Paimon's kind was some sort of a bad omen to Monstadters.

Chapter Text

After things went to shit during the Rite of Decension ceremony, he met the Traveler. It was almost as he originally planned, meeting her after ceremony, hopefully during a fight after he stole Rex Lapis' gnosis. Semantics really, things are just more complicated now, with Rex Lapis dead and this traveler fleeing the scene. As if they committed the crime. This was bound to be interesting.

Childe caught up to the Traveler and saved her from being arrested by the Millileth. And upon turning to face her, he had to pause. Childe's first thought upon seeing her face was, wow, she looks very similar to Skirk. If I didn't already know she was looking for her twin brother, I would think Skirk was her sister.

The Traveler simply raised an eyebrow at his mild gawking. Something so similar to what Skirk would do. There was no doubt in his mind now that she could have killed Rex Lapis. He had already heard of her deeds in Mondstadt and wanted to fight her as a strong opponent, but now that urge was even stronger.

-

Ajax was 14 when he fell into the Abyss. It was soon after his fall when he met Skirk.

He had just encountered his first Abyssal monster, no wherr to run and cowering in fear, when she stepped in and slayed the monster in one strike. She was his height, with a long blonde braid and sharp golden eyes, wielding a sword. Yet, when she noticed his youthful face, her gaze softened. Something akin to sympathy in her eyes.

All she simply said was "follow me," in a gruff voice. Ajax listened.

Skirk didn't talk much. He often found her reminiscing, when he asked her about it, she would simply dismiss him. The most she would ever say on that matter was another expression of sympathy. "I understand what its like to be separated from family," she said.

Skirk trained him the best she could. Ajax doesn't think he could ever reach her level of strength in his lifetime, yet he felt himself change under her training. Or maybe it was just the Abyss. He would like to think that he might eventually be able to keep up in a fight with her, even if he still lost.

It had been months in the Abyss, and Skirk decided to impart him with one last skill. A transformation that allowed him to harness the power around him for a fight. It was the first time he had ever seen her so proud of him.

Then he promptly left the Abyss. He doesn't remember exactly how, he knows Skirk was involved. And possibly that damn whale.

-

It wasn't a surprise to both of them that their brief collaboration would end like this. Childe faced the Traveler within the Golden House. Her gaze was as sharp as Skirk's, and for a split second he doubted he could defeat her. In the end, this would be the closest he would ever be to truly challenging Skirk to a fight.

As expected, he was forced into his Foul Legacy transformation. He barely even noticed the Traveler's shock upon seeing the transformation. Not shock out of surprise, but out of recognition.

After an arduous fight, she was able to knock him down. Being able to weild two elements.... He didn't have time to idle now. Rex Lapis' gnosis wasn't here, so he must be alive, and now he needed to enact the finale part of the plan.

-

After the fall of Khaneri'ah, Aether wondered the Abyss. His sister was who knows where after their encounter with the Unknown God. The Abyss would be the first place he searched.

It was full of creatures beyond any he had ever seen on the surface. But he was skilled, and he had his trusty sword to strike them down. He soon became pretty good at that.

There wasn't any sentient life in the Abyss from what he could tell, so it was quite interesting to be hearing yells for help. If anything, it was a probably a monster who developed a voice in order lure prey in. On the other hand... He hoped there wasn't another person here.

Aether chased after that yell. And he saw a person trying to run, only to stumble, as a monster was about to descend upon them. Aether stepped in and defeated the monster.

He turned toward the person, only to realize this was a child. The boy looked at him in fear, so he tried to give a more comforting look.

He told the boy to follow him, and he listened. He had a good head it seems, he might actually have a chance at surving.

"What's your name?" Aether's voice echoed throughout the tunnels.

"Ajax," the boy answered hesitantly, "...what's yours?"

Aether gave the first name that came to mind, "Skirk." The name of an old friend of his and Lumine. It wouldn't be safe to give his real name to a boy from the surface.

"Thank you for saving me Miss Skirk." Miss? It must be some type of honorific where he's from, Aether thought.

Ajax was quick to fill the silence. It must be his nerves. He talked about his mother and father, and younger siblings. His life in the small village he was from. How much he missed it all already.

Aether shared the sentiment.

Once he found his sister, they would enact revenge on Celestia for what they had done to this world.

-

It had been a while since Childe had seen the Traveler. The last time they met up was when he made her babysit Teucer. And that sure did end spledidly, didn't it? He had finally completely recovered from his transformation. He was meeting her again for a spar at the Golden House.

After the fight, both of them laid on the ground for a bit. He could tell the Traveler was itching to ask him about something.

"What's up with you, Traveler?" She scoffed at his callousness.

"I was just wondering," her harshness reduced, "where you learned your Foul Legacy Transformation?"

She gave him a look. He knew she wouldn't accept any lie he gave, it didn't matter because something in him felt obligated to tell the truth.

"I learned it from someone named Skirk." Her eyes widened at that name. He had to ask, "Did you know he-"

"Skirk was the name of an old friend of my brother and I."

-

-

So Skirk is Abyss Prince Aether! This is kinda based on an old theory from Childe's release, and thus character story, that Skirk was the Abyss sibling. More specifically Lumine because the character stories referred to Skirk as "her." Even though this didn't change to "he" if you played Traveler Lumine, so that nipped that theory in the bud. People who believed in this theory were kinda hoping this was a translation error, but nope! Skirk is Skirk, not anyone else.

This AU is inspired by that fact and was an attempt to explain why Childe would still refer to Skirk as "her" even if she had been Aether (pre-Abyss Prince).

This also makes the transformation a thing the Traveler can possibly do in this AU, presumably after gaining more of their powers.

Given the light and dark motif the traveler twins have, the transformation is based on absorbing energy around you (how dark absorbs light). Another transformation would br reflecting the powers around you, (light/color is just a reflection). I kinda imagine this is how the traveler can weild the elements of Teyvat, absorbing it from the statue and reflected it to use it.

Chapter Text

That description of the whale reminded Lumine of something. During the brief time she had after Childe's trial and her subsequent imprisonment at the Fortress, she explored Fontaine and met the Melusines in Elynas. The Melusine had told Paimon and her something strange.

What she saw each of them as. Paimon a bright and colorful balloon with a string connecting to the skies. And Lumine, a dark mass who could devour the entire world.

Lumine was surprised by this description, just a bit. She and Paimon already discussed Paimon's possible connection to the heavens, but her own description? She didn't dare bring it up last the Sustainer strikes her down. The powers she had before she lost them had been described as something similar to devour. That her and her brother ate the powers of others. In actuality it was similar to absorption. Its part of the reason why she thinks she is able to weild the elements so well. Her body is empty and in order to recoup, it naturally consumes the elemental energy around her, the Statue's taking the cake. She is then able to use that power as if its her own.

Here she stood in front of the All Devouring Whale, staring down its gaping mouth, wondering. Neuvillette had told her she needed to get devoured in order to destroy from the inside. Why he thought she wouldn't be completely digested as well was unknown to her. Yet, all she could keep wondering was if she could devour this creature instead.

As the whale approached at frightening speeds, Lumine felt herself slowdown. Becoming still, inhaling the Abyssal energy in the air. Yes, she thought, this could work. She hadn't had the desire to consume energy at this scale in centuries, certainly not on Teyvat. But the realization that she could and the fact that this would objectively be a good thing, made Lumine ever so aware of the emptiness inside of her. She looked at the whale.

The whale snapped its mouth shut, as if realizing it wouldn't want to digest a creature such as her. But it's momentum couldn't have been stopped so easily, as Lumine braced herself, hand outreached.

The whale slid gently into the palm of her hand, and for a second it felt as if the world paused. She wonders if Paimon did so in panic upon seeing the whale about to slam into her. But the whale was struggling, as if it couldn't escape the hand that was gently laid upon its snout.

It seemed almost innocent this way. A poor animal following its natural instincts, not realizing that trying to sedate its eternal starvation would lead to its downfall. It bellowed, the sound seeming to vibrate in Lumine's head for an eternity as well.

"I'm sorry," Lumine apologized, for I must sedate my hunger through you. The whale bellowed once more, in fear she thinks, as Lumine tried to reassure it with a gentle pat. I'm sorry you can't help it, but you will not feel a thing. She felt the saddness, the fear, radiating off it in waves, yet there was a tinge of understanding there as well. Two creatures meant to devour, only one of them knew when to start or stop.

Lumine could barely hear Neuvilette and Paimon behind her, calling out for her she thinks. She could feel the ichor rushing in her ears, not helped by the whale's echoing bellows. She felt the whale beneath her hand shrink, her stomach starting to feel an inkling of satisfaction.

And then, all that was left of the whale was a ball of Abyssal energy in her hand. She decided not to turn to face Paimon, maybe she feared what her companion would think of her. She devoured the remaining energy in one bite as a portal cracked open in front of them.

A woman holding Childe by her side. This must be Skirk. Her eyes widened upon seeing the whale gone, looking towards Lumine.

"You ate my pet." Neuvilette and Paimon came to Lumine's side, after all this woman was as much as a mystery as the whale. No less dangerous if she considered it her pet.

Neuvilette sent a questioning glance towards Lumine upon Skirk's statement.

"Yes, it seems I did. It was going to devour me." Lumine simply said. Skirk scoffed at her response, "as if you wouldn't have survived that."

"I would have, but your whale suffered from a hunger that would always be unsatiated. I put it out of its misery before it could do more harm." Lumine felt guilty for acting as if absorbing the whale was some type mercy from her. After all, the whale satisfied her own hunger, a selfish act. Her and her brother were witnesses, they shouldn't be so involved already. Nature was about to take its course, and Lumine interupted it.

Skirk paused for a moment to think. "In that aspect you are correct. The whale seeks primordial water, after the Fontainians it would be the entirety of Fontaine. Then it would go after the all of Teyvat, consuming the entire world and eventually the worlds around it."

That last sentence really peaked Lumine's interest. A whale that could devour other worlds, a creature such as that rarely emerges from one planet. It could only be birthed from the darkess between worlds, or the speckles of light interrupting that. Just as her and Aether were created.

"That was my Master's project anyway. If he didn't want it gone, he should have stepped in. It didn't make a good pet to begin with." Yet, Skirk still looked at Lumine strangely. As if she was unsure what to do about her.

This is when Neuvillette stepped in, "Who is your Master then?"

Skirk started giving a list of names, then, "The Foul. Surtalogi. He's similar to Gold and the like." Paimon, ever the subtle one, gasped, "we know of Gold!"

Skirk waved her hand in dismissal, "Yes, The Foul created this creature. To think one of his larger creations could have been so easily defeated like this, no less in the same manner in which it seeked to destroy..." Skirk turned towards Lumine, studying her features, "I wonder what created you."

Lumine hummed again, "the stars." Skirk gave a slight chuckle at that, "definitely not the ones here. I can see why my student desires to fight you," she lifted the hand holding Childe slightly, "I better send him off now."

With that another portal opened behind her as she chucked Childe into it. She gestured for the rest of them to enter.

Neuvillette remained behind as Lumine and Paimon left.

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This kinda goes back on what I think the traveler twin's powers were last chpater. This is an AU because the traveler ate the fucking whale. I might make this a seperate fic and turn it into a two-shot, after all I feel there are a lot of things that could change because the whale is gone now. Also how the Abyssal energy possible affects the traveler, if their original powers return, etc.

Also when Childe learns Lumine at the whale he wants to fight her again. And Lumine wins every damn time because now she has whale powers (I don't know, okay?).

I find in interesting that in canon it is said whale would begin eating other worlds. It wasn't commented on, but I feel that is so important because there being other worlds is rarely brought up, or if they have relevance to canon other than through the descenders and the Traveler. Gold is actually one of the descenders, maybe?