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"Can I...Hold your hand?"
""""What?""""
Aether couldn't help but gulp as he felt multiple death glares suddenly pierce through him from all sides, all of which came from Keqing, Ganyu, Hu Tao, Mona, and finally, Eula, all of whom were merely minding their own business.
They were generally friendly, heck he even thought that things were finally getting more amicable between them.
That was until they overheard the silver haired girl's proclamation.
Not helping the fact that the frostflake heron's flushed and earnest face as she expressed her desire, it seemed to fan the flames of searing hot jealousy, which to him, he honestly wasn't sure where it was all coming from.
Before he could even begin to explain why the eldest daughter of the Kamisato clan appeared to be professing her affections for him, when he was (probably) sure she meant all of it as a friendly gesture, he was instantly bombarded with the numerous maidens' barbed comments.
"You good for nothing, manipulative, deceitful, waste of space, how could you-"
"Aether, how could you deceive me like this, I trusted you. I even told you about my secret diet..."
"I think I might make an exception for using a coffin without selling one, today is a very special occasion after all~"
"It's the calls of fate that thereby revoke your right to live, traveler."
"Don't worry, I'm just here to wrap my coat around your shrivelling corpse, you conniving blond playboy."
And just like that, Aether was faced with not only threats from five beautiful ladies, which had proven that not even his many near death experiences with mighty foes could ever match their murderous aura alone.
They were so out of character too, he felt like they were possessed by something for them to lash at him like that.
He even felt like his entire being was at the risk of being wiped off the fabric of existence.
Right now though, all he knew that if he didn't explain himself (which he believes he really didn't have to), he'll surely be dead meat.
"Look, guys it's not what you think-"
"Be quiet, your flimsy excuses won't work this time." the yuheng hissed, cutting him off.
Pursing his lips, it was then, with great regret and sadness, that he decided he would resign himself to his fate.
He knew that trying to reason with them was now impossible as every single one of them looked like they wanted to literally rip him to pieces.
On the other hand, the shirasagi himegimi, who nervously looked on as tension permeated the spacious living room of the teapot mansion they all were currently in, she decided to speak up.
"U-Um, d-did I perhaps say something amiss? I-If so I d-didn't mean to-"
"Stay out of this, this doesn't involve you."
Unfortunately, Kamisato Ayaka's plea fell on deaf ears as she was immediately interrupted by the purple haired girl, who now began to electrify a stiletto in her hand.
Seeing this, Ayaka realized just then that her beloved traveler was in grave danger.
"T-Traveler! R-Run-"
She was about to stand in between them to allow for his escape, but found that she couldn't as she suddenly felt her entire body be held in place.
"Ah-"
Her body was then suspended in midair, she looked around her and saw that she was stuck inside a water bubble of sorts, silencing her in the process as well.
She saw from her peripheral view that it was caused by the Astrologist, who she guessed was the one responsible for binding her with Hydromancy.
Not only was it very potent, it also incapacitated her on all fronts, all she could do was flail her arms.
So in the end, Ayaka could only helplessly watch in horror as the women, who apparently also held some form of affection for the blond, were now ready to pounce on him.
A sword was drawn, followed by a bow, a spear, a grimoire, and a claymore.
All respective weapons then began to gleam with elemental energy.
"Nowhere to hide!"
"Glaze over!"
"Time to go!~"
"Fate is upon you."
"Vengeance will be mine!"
"AHHHH!"
That night, the tranquil realm of the Sereniteapot were filled with nothing but agonized screams, all coming from one dense, idiotic traveler.
Meanwhile, the other temporary tenants who were lounging just outside the mansion, watched in equal parts amusement and sympathy at the loud and destructive commotion going on inside.
And unbeknownst to all of them, they didn't notice that they were being observed by a certain princess of the abyss, dwelling from somewhere out of society's reach, how she did it though was a mystery as she gazed at them from a distorted mirror.
'What is he doing?!'
Lumine could only watch in frustration as her brother got sidetracked again instead of actively completing his journey, so that they could finally reunite properly, leave Teyvat behind and continue their own journey.
The more she watched the chaotic scene unfold before her eyes in their teapot realm, the more she noticed that these girls who "attacked" him, were not even trying to land a blow at him seriously as most of their hits missed.
She realized that they actually trying to slowly strip him of his clothing, whether they were conscious of it or not.
She saw a blade trying to swipe at his pants, as if to "accidentally" rip them, and even a spear that was trying to destroy the buckle that hid his crop top!
To make it worse, the way their hands were trying to cop a feel on him, she even saw that girl with the hat trying to subtly go straight for his nether regions.
Not only were they so desperate for his affection when he couldn't reciprocate them, because he wanted to be with her instead, but they couldn't even keep their own hormones in check!
The special clothing, one that represents their unique bond of opposing yet one of the same, were on the risk of being torn to shreds.
She scowled.
"One of these days, I will send an armada of Abyss heralds their way to deal with these nuisances, maybe then you would finally decide to stop frolicking around with these harlots, hehe."
Even the surrounding abyss mages present couldn't help but shiver as they listened to their leader's sinister laugh, and in her hands were her blade being sharpened as she watched her brother getting molested.