Chapter Text
“Aether.”
There was that voice again. Her voice. He looked to his right, then his left, trying to find the source. He wasn’t going to find her, that he knew, because in all of his dreams, he never
did. It was only him, standing in a barren landscape. From the looks of it, he wasn’t in Teyvat, but in some other unknown land he must’ve gone to with his sister during a time before. There was no life to be seen for miles. No grass, no trees. Just dust and rocks and little hope.
“Aether.”
He wanted to shout out to her. He wanted to scream, “Lumine! I’m here! Please come find me!”
But like in all his dreams about her, his throat felt as if someone had stuffed cotton into it, and it remained lodged there. Then, a bright light forced itself into his line of vision, and he could no longer see. Try as he might to still search for his sister in the barren wasteland, the light always became too much for him in the end, and he woke up in sweat.
It was the same as always. The same routine. He sat up straight, rubbing his temples as he groaned. Headaches always appeared during those kinds of dreams about Lumine. It was almost as if someone was manipulating them to get inside his head, forcing those painful memories of their separation to come back.
Aether sighed, breathing deeply to calm himself, and he gathered up his bearings, focusing on the matter at hand. He’d chased away some treasure hoarders last night and decided to reside in their camp for a while. Not a smart idea, but he was unusually tired that night, wanting nothing more than to sleep.
As always, he was alone. His solitude never allowed him to forget about his sister, try as he might to push those thoughts away. The only thing that brings him hope is the day he might reunite with her. There are few others in this foreign land who could make him feel as happy and at home as his sister did.
Bothered by these intrusive thoughts again, Aether shook his head furiously before clapping his hands on his cheeks loudly. Luckily, his stomach did the distracting for him. Man, he was hungry. How much did he eat last night? Ah, just an apple. Perhaps he should head to Liyue Harbor that wasn’t too far away to get something to eat at Wanmin Restaurant.
Xiangling and her father were many of those who’d taken pity on the poor foreign traveler. Though, he’d have to somehow fork some money over to afford more than a skewer. He couldn’t take advantage of their pity by begging for a discount, no matter how hungry he was. Maybe, he could try ransacking the treasure hoarders camp for forgotten Mora...
—
“How are you these days, Aether? It’s been a while since I’d last seen you!”
Xiangling was as friendly as eve. She had set down a dish of Jueyun Chili Chicken before him, and he was all too happy to take in the sweet, spicy smell of it.
“It has,” Aether agreed, though he wasn’t paying much attention to her.
“That’s it? Tell me more about your adventures!” Xiangling said, setting her hands on her hips.
There was a chuckle, followed by, “Give him some space, Xiangling. He looks like he could eat that whole chicken in a bite.”
Xingqiu had peered over the book he was reading to look at the two in amusement. Aether still had no idea why he, Chongyun and Hu Tao had decided to sit with him while he was eating at Wanmin, but perhaps they were there to give Xiangling some company.
“How long have you gone without eating, Aether?” Xiangling asked, taking the seat beside him. “You know, you can’t just go on a journey without eating first! It’s the most important rule.”
Aether merely let out a small laugh that died down quickly. Xiangling’s nagging reminded him too much of his sister’s own nagging for his liking.
“Only you would think such hot dishes would be vital for a journey,” Chongyun added in coolly.
Aether was glad of Chongyun’s little comment because it took Xiangling’s attention off of him, at least for a little while.
“Aiyaa~ Aether, how far along have you gone in finding you sister?”
Aether looked up from chewing on a chicken leg to see Hu Tao’s smug face staring back at him. He knew she didn’t mean any ill will. That was just her neutral face, but he still felt annoyance.
“I’ve been seeing all those posters around Liyue,” Hu Tao continued. “I wish there was something I could do, but aiyaa... I have a business to run.”
“It’s fine, Hu Tao,” Aether said, wanting her to desperately just shut up.
“You know, if something were to happen, the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor will always be willing to lend a helping hand! We’ll even give you our services free of charge~!”
Aether dropped his chicken leg, and suddenly the table went silent.
Hu Tao, despite her usual obliviousness and lack of sensitivity towards others, even seemed to notice. “Aiyaa... Did I say something wrong..?”
“Hu Tao!” Xiangling exclaimed, in utter disbelief.
“She means well, my liege,” Xingqiu said, looking sorry. “You know how Hu Tao is... She’s insensitive and—“
“Hey!”
Stop it, Aether thought. He just wanted them all to stop looking at him with so much pity like he was some kicked puppy.
“Hu Tao, that wasn’t right to say,” Chongyun added.
“What did I even say that was wrong?” Hu Tao asked.
“Hu Tao! You literally implied his sister was dead!” Xiangling shouted over everyone. The table fell silent again, and Xiangling in another bout of shock, clasped her hands over her mouth. She looked slowly to Aether, gauging his reaction.
But he gave her none. He gave them nothing. Instead, he placed the exact amount of Mora for the chicken on the table and stood up, not even looking back at the barely finished chicken.
As he walked away from the group, he could hear Xiangling trying to call him back.
“Aether...! I’m so sorry! Aether!”
But he didn’t look back. He didn’t need them. All he needed was his sister, and sitting around chatting with the people of this foreign land wasn’t going to get him any closer to finding her.