Chapter Text
"Paimon."
Kazuha giggled when he saw the floating fairy sneakily eating the lotus seeds. He gestured his hand and called her in a low voice, careful to not attract the traveller's attention. "There are ingredients that caught my interest while coming here. I will go and see if they are edible."
"Oooh!? Does Kazuha need help?" Her eyes sparkled. More ingredients, more food—Paimon's belief.
"I'll be fine. Do stay here and keep an eye on Aether." Tender smile carved upon his face, masquerading the wariness he felt for a while now.
"That's what Paimon does all the time but okay."
Kazuha left while Aether was occupied lighting the bonfire. He picked up his pace and quietly ran. Maintaining his light feet on the ground without alerting the land. The winds are a blessing from mother nature as they carry tidings of past, present and even the unforeseen future. He was sure they were not alone within the vicinity of this forest. The scent of an unfamiliar man had been lingering around the area and was following them for the past few hours.
I doubt the shogunate would venture into these foreign lands just for my head.
Treasure hoarders are most likely but he had a feeling the intention was to observe and nothing more. Even so, Kazuha would not let the opportunity to strike first be missed. Aether's safety had somewhat become his responsibility and priority. Captain Beidou forewarned him of the traveller's future involvement in Inazuma might stir the meddlesome fanatics.
She was right. T'was no wonder she said nothing against me travelling before we embarked for Inazuma.
Swift as the autumn wind, quiet as the fallen leaf, Kazuha finally stopped his pace. Through the golden trees and branches, he saw a tall young man idly sitting on top of the hill. An unfamiliar figure to him but he was not blind to see such a person carrying the aura of a seasoned warrior. The man too was not oblivious as he knew he had a stealthy visitor behind him. A welcome smirk painted upon his face profile.
Kazuha came out from his hiding. Calmly walked forward while his hand rested on the katana's sheath by his waist.
"Oho, I see you have found me. Bravo."
The man turned his head around as those gingered hair fluttered by the evening wind. Eyes of bright blue but fathom with the depth of the cerulean sea. Kazuha peered deeply into the man. The unsettled breeze around him gave out a hint of unpleasant forthcomingness— A dangerous man.
"Friend or foe?" Kazuha spoke in a stern voice. "By thy answer will this blade be drawn."
Gently gripped his hand onto the katana's hilt. Hoping for a simple answer which might reveal the true intention of this stranger.
"Hmmm. I am itching for a fight," The man sneered as he stood up from his seat. "A foe."
Water emerged from the tip of his gloved hands as it enlarged and glowed until it formed a pair of water blades. Kazuha's eyes widened to see the tall man wielding an elemental vision.
"Hydro… and scent of burning spark—Electro. You… are the Fatui Harbinger he mentioned."
"Oh? Aether talk about me? Haha, I'm flattered."
The man chuckled, which surprised Kazuha but what came after was a deadly gaze of an unhinged man who thirst for bloodlust and the joy of triumph over others.
"Paimon, where's Kazuha?"
Aether finally noticed the Inazuma wanderer was nowhere in sight. He was too preoccupied trying to light up the bonfire and cleaning up the dinner ingredients they gathered. The hidden intention was to impress Kazuha of course—a one-sided rivalry feeling that Aether had in mind on who was better at wandering in the wilds.
"He said he wanted to pick up some extra ingredients!" Paimon answered while plucking the seeds from the lotus head.
Aether blinked. "Huh? We already gathered all the stuff we need for dinner."
Fresh meat, leftover hams, bamboo shoots, Jueyun chilis, cabbage, lotus seeds—ingredients needed for Bamboo Shoot Soup and Jade Parcels. It was Kazuha's wish to eat bamboo shoots when he saw bamboo trees at the ruin's outskirts. Aether offered to make a dish from it and Paimon started to brag about his cooking skills.
"Haha, well then. I look forward to our dinner tonight. Nothing grand. A simple dish will satisfy me, surely."
Aether was hyped more than usual. Nothing grand he said, but this would be the opportunity for Aether—the Traveller to flex his culinary skills in the wilds.
Hmmm.
Aether couldn't help but feel something off with Kazuha today. He seemed like a simple person with moderate needs. Or did Aether assume wrongly about him?
"What kind of ingredients did Kazuha say he wanted to add?"
"Paimon has no idea. Don't worry. Extra food, extra happiness! Paimon hopes Kazuha brings back a big find."
" Sigh. Big you say, the pot might not be able to… fit… a—whale!?"
"Whale? Can we eat them? Paimon wants to—woahhh!!!?"
Aether and Paimon's eyes popped out when they saw a huge translucent whale in the middle of the forest. A beautiful marine mammal sparkled through the sunset rays. Gracefully soared above an imaginary sea as it slowly twirled upon the hill on the west. Shocked, Aether caught a sole horn on top of the whale's head.
"Childe…?"
"Huh!? But that direction was where Kazuha went just now!"
Paimon pointed her little finger towards the forest road when suddenly a burst of wind gusts came forth and almost blew them away. The little fairy yelped while holding tight onto Aether's cape.
"Ah, great." Aether grimaced in annoyance. "Let's hurry and stop them."
"Not bad, not bad. I never had a chance to properly spar with an Inazuman swordsman. This is thrilling." Childe pulled out a twig that stuck within his collar.
The young Harbinger smiled in amusement. The hydro blades on his right hand merged onto the left hand and formed into a bow. Without a sign of forthcoming, he pulled the bowstring as an arrow made out from his vision pierced through the space between the two men.
Within a minute duelling with the Fatui, Kazuha had learned of his opponent's demeanour in battle. Merciless, daunting and cunning. Leaving no open room for a strike, eyes aggressively prey on foe's weaknesses. Kazuha breathed. The katana in his hand glowed and with a swift turn, the arrow slashed into two as the water dispersed from the anemo wind.
"I have no means to fight nor spar with you yet you are a man with a dangerous motive. I cannot let you off." Kazuha glared as water dripped from his wet hair.
"Am I?" He laughed.
Kazuha cringed. Seeking strong opponents seemed to be this man's excitement. For him to pursue the traveller—revenge? Or due to his line of duty? All the talks Kazuha heard about the Fatui dealings were never amiable. A contrary to what the traveller had been boasting about their Eleventh Harbinger. How did Aether find this Fatui man to be worthy of admiration?
"Come on. One more roun—" Childe paused and his eyes wandered off from his opponent.
A soft warm breeze passed through them. Mixtures of gloaming dust and leaves. Charcoal and salt. With an unknown fragrance of those burning gems—stars. Kazuha's eyes lightened up.
Ah, this scent.
"Oops. I guess we've been found out." Childe chuckled and relaxed his stance.
Both of them lifted their brows when the familiar footsteps came their way. The traveller was approaching together with his little companion flying by the side, babbling in a high pitched voice that made the crows screech in return.
Aether huffed from the running and he looked angry—especially to Childe.
"Comradeeee!"
The ginger-haired man put off his hydro blades as the water dissipated and ran forward to hug the traveller—much to Aether annoyance and embarrassment.
"Get off me—eh?"
Aether was about to push Childe away when Kazuha just struck the taller man off with his Anemo fusion blade. The infamous Snezhnaya's Harbinger which was rumoured to nearly sink Liyue Harbour—went flying down the hill's slope. Childe let out a long and almost clownish wail.
"Your new friend is scary~"
"I'm pretty sure you were the one who agitated Kazuha to fight you." Aether snarked while plastered a bandage on Childe's arm.
Kazuha ignored the half-wit cerulean glare that was thrown at him as he dried off his wet hair and clothes.
"Thanks, comrade. Much appreciated." Childe sounded happy. He inspected the bandages that were neatly wrapped by the traveller. "Amazing as always."
"You should start to take better care of yourself and think about people who cared and worried for you."
"Ohh?"
"I w—was talking about Teucer. Not me."
Aether's face bloated red as Childe laughed teasingly. The air between the two was nothing sort of acquaintances. Something deep had been laid upon the bonds they shared. Something of mutual beliefs and understanding. Something exceptional—Kazuha secretly stared.
An ocean blue porcelain cup, painted with the gaze of the faraway sun.
"Alright. I'll be going now."
"Eh."
Strong yet fragile.
Kazuha caught the look on Aether's face. The taller man patted the traveller's head. As large hands rustled the snow coloured hair, he smiled. A season welcomed by the autumn red.
Childe waved his goodbyes. Oblivious to the yearns and longing within the heart, Aether flustered and waved in return.
Yearning the unobtainable…
Kazuha closed his eyes. The scene reminded him of his dear friend. They—reminded him of a memory that had long gone.
There was so much he wanted to say.
So much he wanted from him.
But all he did was smile and bury the solitary pain deep within.
If only I—
Sigh.
"Why don't you stay for dinner?"
Aether, Childe and Paimon were surprised by the sudden invite from Kazuha.
"It was by my fault you were injured and that I ruined the evening stalking of yours."
"Hey, hey. (Keep the stalking part private please)" Childe squinted his eyes at the young Inazuman and was surprised when he felt a tug on his sleeve. Aether had pleading eyes which struck the Fatui man's heart.
"Yeah. You Fatui are always suspicious! Showing up and gone the next second." Paimon grunted.
Childe snickered at the little fairy and afterwards, he softly gazed at the traveller. "You want me to stay?"
" …not really." Aether flushed with a pout. "We're about to have dinner and we have plenty of ingredients to spare. W—won't you join us?"
Childe smiled. "Gladly."
So, it's true. The wind carried the rumour of a hero and his adversary.
I wonder—naive heart of kindness or blossomed heart of acceptance.
Which one are you, dear Aether?