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It had been two months since Xiao’s departure, and the routine of Aether’s daily commission work was the only thing keeping him sane.
The repetition with which he completed his tasks every morning was all but robotic. By now, he had experienced enough iterations of his conversations with Kathryne that he could easily match his usual tone, and so she suspected nothing. There was sufficient warmth in his demeanor to mask that anything in his life was amiss–that anything had changed from before.
In truth, there were many mornings when he only rose to his usual obligations out of sheer force of habit.
One day blurred into the next. He couldn’t recall anything significant that happened yesterday, last week, any time since then, even if he tried. Looking back, he had almost no memory whatsoever of that time. Was his life always this uneventful?
It was much like life before he had met Xiao–adventuring around Mondstadt with no particular purpose, satisfied only to greet the dawning of the next day.
Except now, he knew that there was something missing.
It wasn’t as though these times were devoid of happiness and enthusiasm. He still enjoyed mundane life, for all it was worth.
The familiar scenery of his home region typically brought him comfort when nothing else did. He’d find himself with the shred of a desire to go watch the sunrise over Falcon Coast, or poke around the ruins of the Thousand Winds Temple; without a second thought, he’d follow those desires until he’d seen enough of the area. They were all locations he’d visited before, but taking another look meant he’d often find something new and exciting about them.
But there were times when he thought he wanted to explore, only to realize that, as the day drew to a close, he couldn’t recall where he had been; his feet had carried him aimlessly across the region, merely wearing tracks into all the same places. Sheer force of habit.
No grand adventure would satisfy him then. He needed something he had no way of obtaining.
With loneliness weighing on his heart, he hiked up the trail across the water from the Dawn Winery. He had scarcely the energy to properly admire Dragonspine as it loomed above him, or even the great waterfall at the mountain’s foot. It was chilly, and he felt no desire to go swimming. None of the hilichurls he fought along the way were distinct enough to leave a mark on his memory. As he crested the hill, this particular view of the winery reminded him of when he first met Xiao; a tickle of longing flashed inside his chest, growing sharp claws in that brief moment that it stabbed at his soft insides. He let a sigh spill from his lips and kept hiking to dismiss the recollection.
A giant tree on the horizon came into view. It was a sight he had seen many times, and he always wondered whether someday he’d make the journey to appreciate its size up close. Perhaps the weeks of mundaneness were getting to his head, because today, the sight of the tree finally drew enough of his attention to coax him into an impromptu field trip.
Most mornings, the tree’s silhouette was shrouded in fog, and it looked even more impossibly far away than it already was. Even back when Xiao was with him, Aether could only admire it from a distance, looking down at the plains that extended beyond the sprawling cliffs of the Mondstadt region.
But today was somehow different. Before he knew what he was doing, his legs were carrying him south from the familiar mountains and fields into an unknown land.
It was a long journey down from the cliff; Aether, picking his way among the boulders, indeed felt that he had descended into another world entirely. The long grass under his boots transitioned into a stone path surrounded on all sides by golden foliage that amplified the sun’s brilliant glow. Deeper into the lowlands, sturdy bridges flecked with moss lifted him over meandering expanses of shallow water. Waterfowl drifted peacefully among the reeds and horsetails.
The scenery was dotted with a few delicately-constructed abodes–perhaps shops or stalls; Aether passed these hurriedly, dodging the gazes of whoever might be inside. There were people about, but they were all strangers–nobody with whom he’d want to start a conversation. His solo journeys were precious to him. When he was lonely and desired company, it was only ever that of a specific person–a person who was, decidedly, not here.
He kept his sights set on the tree in the distance, its enormity growing more and more evident with each step. As he approached, some abnormalities in its form became clearer; at first, Aether thought it had some defect that made it unusually wide about three-fourths of the way up. However, he soon discovered that this was no defect at all–it was a conglomeration of slanted roofs and wooden walkways circling the tree’s trunk.
Not only was the tree impossibly large; it had an entire building constructed directly into it.
At last the wandering path brought him under a decorated archway. By now the uppermost branches of the giant tree were so far above him that he couldn’t crane his neck far enough to see the top, and he was decidedly underneath the ornate roofs that jutted out from its trunk. The murmurs of the crowds clustered around the tree’s base wafted to his ears on the breeze, but he paid them no mind. The awe-inspiring size and shape of the tree transfixed him.
And in reality–unbeknownst to him, of course–a visiting traveler was by no means an uncommon sight at this particular crossroads. He blended in perfectly. Had he paid any mind to sticking out like a sore thumb, it would have been an unfounded worry.
Fully immersed in this new, dream-like world, Aether followed the boardwalk to a ramp that wound back upon itself time and time again as it climbed the tree’s trunk. If at any moment he felt so inclined, he could rest his hand on the aged stone cliff that housed the tree’s roots, or even the massive water-wheel that practically brushed against the railing. The captivating scenery, unlike any he had ever witnessed before, kept his mind off the fatigue from the ascent. He didn’t even realize how far he had climbed until the road he had followed, now far below him, seemed no wider than a blade of grass.
Finally the boardwalk opened up to the entrance of whatever building was attached to the tree. Patrons of the business gathered in twos and threes just outside, too immersed in their own conversations to notice Aether as he poked his head sheepishly into the doorway.
The outside of the building, like the tree that housed it, was immense, but the inside–at least, this particular room– was quite cozy: narrow enough to traverse in just a few paces, with tight staircases spiraling both upwards and downwards to other floors. Standing in the entryway, or just to its side, would give anyone a good vantage point of the whole space.
He jumped as a voice caught his attention from somewhere to his left.
“Welcome to Wangshu Inn!”
Aether’s gaze snapped to the doorkeeper, yet he hardly registered her presence. He stood, frozen, in the entryway. Any onlookers might have guessed that her greeting had startled him–and, to be fair, they wouldn’t be entirely incorrect, but that wasn’t his primary concern at the moment.
“This is Wangshu Inn?!”
The doorkeeper remained almost motionless behind the counter, only giving a puzzled tilt of her head. Had Aether been fully attentive, he might have noticed the bewilderment glinting in her eyes.
“Um… yes?”
Now Aether’s eyes meandered about every inch of the inn’s interior, as though searching for a specific detail. “Xiao never told me Wangshu Inn was built into a giant tree!”
There was a beat of silence as the doorkeeper properly registered Aether’s words.
“Excuse me, did you just say Xiao?”
Aether suddenly met the doorkeeper’s gaze again, as if the utterance of the name had pulled him from a deep trance. His lips were still slightly parted in amazement.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I apologize.” He settled into a brief but polite bow. “My name is Aether, but most everyone just calls me ‘the Traveler.’ I would guess that since you work here, that must mean you know Xiao, too, then?”
“I–I do indeed…”
Aether ducked his head a bit, realizing the abruptness of this transition. He must have caught the doorkeeper off guard.
Or was it really so strange that he had met Xiao?
“But, pardon me…” the doorkeeper continued, the stammer in her voice still evident. “You said you've spoken to him?”
“He stayed with me for a good couple of months.”
Now it was the doorkeeper’s turn to be shocked. Even with a solid few meters and a counter between them, she practically flinched at the reply, raising her hands from where they rested at her sides. Only upon witnessing this gesture did Aether retroactively notice the matter-of-fact tone that had seeped into his voice.
“He stayed with you?” The doorkeeper gave a huff of disbelief and shook her head. “You must be talking about a different Xiao.”
“Maybe…”
Aether let his gaze drop to the floor. The entryway to the inn felt just a bit farther away–just a bit more unreal. He didn’t think Xiao was a common name by any stretch of the imagination, but he supposed it was not impossible that more than one person with that name existed. To be honest, the thought had never occurred to him before now. “He told me he was stationed here, but…”
“This Xiao you’re talking about–what kind of person is he?”
Goodness. How would I describe him?
Several adjectives appeared in Aether’s mind at once, all adorned in flashing lights and vying for his undivided attention, but none of them were ones he would dare speak to a complete stranger. Should he describe Xiao’s personality? Appearance? He was so busy fishing for something appropriate to say that he never considered the question from the perspective of someone interrogating him for useful information.
“Doesn't like being around people, carries a lance... really good at fighting demons. Athletic.”
Aether heard the shuffle of light shoes against wood, as well as a barely audible sigh of relief, as the doorkeeper settled back into her original position. “That sounds like him, all right.”
Aether resented the glimmer of hope that began to rise in his heart. Even as he looked back up to the doorkeeper, certain that anticipation was shining in his eyes, he tried to stifle it, firmly press it back down to where it came from. It was much too soon in the conversation to start feeling optimistic. Just because this person knew Xiao didn’t mean he was here, or even that he had been here recently.
“I apologize for being so incredulous,” the doorkeeper continued. Her voice seemed warmer and more familiar than it had been just a moment before. “It’s just as you said–Xiao hardly speaks to anyone, even to us, much less with any regularity. I’m impressed that anyone could get him to do more than that.” She gently crossed her arms in a gesture that Aether hoped was one of cordiality. “If I may ask, are you an acquaintance of his?”
“With all due respect, I'm in love with him.”
Aether only had time to blink before he realized what he’d said. With a gasp and a squeal, he screwed his eyes shut and rushed to bury his face in his hands, certain that its current temperature rivaled that of the surface of the sun.
“Goodness, did I just say that out loud?! Oh goodness–I am so sorry! That was so rude of me!”
He spouted this string of apologies, not even thinking that his gloves might muffle his voice. Thankfully, his meaning seemed to get through to the doorkeeper, and she gave an affable giggle.
“It’s quite alright–pay it no mind. Actually, that answers just about every question I had just now.”
She straightened her posture. “By the way, I should introduce myself, too. My name is Verr Goldet, and I’m the boss here at Wangshu Inn. You can just call me Boss, if you’d like.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Aether squeaked halfheartedly, not moving from behind his makeshift shield.
“You’re always welcome to stop by, especially since you and Xiao know each other.”
He peeked between his fingers just in time to catch the final traces of a friendly smile on Goldet’s face.
“And who might this be?”
Aether stood properly as another man emerged from somewhere inside. The newcomer drifted close to Goldet’s counter; his gaze never moved from Aether, but his eyes were clear with curiosity, rather than narrowed with suspicion. Still, Aether couldn’t help but feel his strength waver.
“Ah, you’re just in time!” Goldet directed her smile to the newcomer. “He’s a companion of Xiao’s.”
“A companion of Xiao’s?” The man’s eyebrows rose practically to the ceiling. “Do my ears deceive me?”
“It’s true! They know each other well, I’m told.” Goldet punctuated her claim with a confident nod.
“Is that so?” The man rested his hands on his hips. “Well, then, you’re especially welcome to visit us here any time.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.” Even as he shrunk away from the tall newcomer’s presence, Aether tried his best to offer a polite response.
Goldet gestured to the man. “This is my husband, Huai’an, the innkeeper.”
“I’m Aether. Or you’re free to call me ‘Traveler,’ if you’d like.”
“Traveler it is, then.” If Huai’an took offense at Aether’s timidity, it didn’t reflect in his posture. “Since you’re a friend of Xiao’s, I’d wager you’ll be stopping by often?”
“Actually, about that…” Aether’s shyness fell to the back of his mind as a more pressing matter occurred to him, and he managed to look both Goldet and Huai’an right in the face. “Do you happen to know where he is right now?”
Goldet shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t say I do. If he’s here, you might find him on the rooftop terrace. Just take those stairs all the way to the top.”
Aether followed Goldet’s gaze to the stairwell before turning back to the couple with a nod. “Thank you for your help.”
The conversation with Goldet gave Aether enough of a break from his initial climb, but after that tense exchange, his heart still pounded against his ribs. He couldn’t stop himself from hurrying to the stairs, and he despised himself for getting his hopes up. If Xiao was really so easy to find, he reasoned, they would have crossed paths again by now.
But at the same time, Aether did desperately want to see him again; that part of him was willing to take any chance he could possibly get.
The top of the staircase opened to a platform with a splendid view. Beyond the right side of the balcony was a landscape of tall mountains blanketed in greenery, and on the left, jagged plateaus and hills stretching out over rolling grasslands. The two halves were separated by a crystal-blue waterway–an extension of the marsh that rested below the inn. Closer to the doorway, the giant tree’s branches hung low over a gently sloping roof that sheltered part of the boardwalk from the elements. This place did indeed give the impression of a protected haven, and Aether marveled that no other visitors seemed to have found their way up here.
Aether spared only a moment to admire the scenery at the railing before turning a full circle.
He held his breath. The only sound was the wind rising over the wetlands and whispering through the tree’s highest branches.
He remained there for probably several minutes, his back to the railing, his eyes intently searching the balcony, the rooftop, anywhere he might find someone standing.
To no avail.
The view from the terrace should have been inspiring, and part of him did enjoy observing it, but looking back at it, he could only sigh in defeat, his heart heavy like a rock in his chest.
He knew from the beginning the effort would be futile. Logically, he knew that. On that evening back then, Xiao had departed to fulfill his duty–the same obligations he attended to every other night–he said as much upon their parting. Only now, there was some matter so pressing, so unpredictable, that he couldn’t return to Aether’s side the following morning, as he had grown so accustomed to doing. Xiao didn’t know when he would be back, only that he would, someday, find enough respite from his obligations to spend time with Aether again.
I will come back, Xiao had insisted, the palm of his hand resting firmly against Aether’s chest, his bright golden gaze burning into Aether’s eyes. I promise.
At that point, Aether already trusted Xiao with his life. But his faith in Xiao blossomed in his heart even more vibrantly as Xiao sealed his promise with a kiss, so gentle and yet so sincere and assured and dependable that, for a minute, Aether forgot his hysterics at the thought of Xiao leaving him behind; all he knew in that moment was the tender touch of Xiao’s fingertips on his cheek, guiding his face to his own, and the softness and warmth of Xiao’s lips resting on his. He craved that feeling of comfort and security so fervently that, in the present moment, recalling the instant of Xiao’s promise, he found himself pressing a finger or two absently to his lips in a vain attempt to recreate the sensation.
He dropped his hand to his side and shook his head to dispel the memory.
The point being, he had no reason to doubt that Xiao would return to his side when he was ready, and no sooner. Had it been possible to seek out Xiao and reunite with him any earlier than that, Aether was certain that Xiao would have mentioned as such before his departure.
So he had no reason to suspect that he ever would have found Xiao sitting idle at the top of Wangshu Inn, twiddling his thumbs rather than attending to his duty, just waiting for Aether to come running up the stairs and greet him.
And frustration scorched his heart at the thought that there was a minuscule part of him somewhere that had honestly hoped this would be the case, against all odds, defying all reasoning, just because he so dearly wanted it to be true.
His shoulders sank with yet another rough sigh as he made his way back to the staircase.
“I’m guessing, from the looks of it, you didn’t find him?”
Goldet’s voice rang with concern as Aether trudged back down to the entryway. He tossed a half-hearted glance in her direction as he paused at the bottom of the stairs.
“I’m sorry. It’s possible he just doesn’t want to be seen right now. Sometimes adepti just don’t want to be visible to humans.”
Aether blinked. “Adepti…?”
“Yes, adepti. …Is something the matter?”
“...What’s an adeptus?”
Previously the gloom of the conversation had reflected in Goldet’s face, but now her expression was completely blank. She said nothing for several seconds.
“I’m sorry!” Aether hastened to wave his hands in front of his face, alarmed that he might have offended his new ally. “It’s probably a stupid question. I’m from Mondstadt, and I’ve never been here before. Xiao did say something about being an adeptus once, but… I thought it was just a title, or something.”
The familiar smile returned to Goldet’s face. “It’s all right. Adepti are the mighty and illuminated beasts that have protected the nation of Liyue for thousands of years.” She yielded a particularly inspired look out the inn’s entryway to the scenery beyond. “There are a good many adepti out there, but Xiao is one of them.”
“Mighty and illuminated beasts…”
“In other words, you were fortunate enough to befriend a divine being of sorts.” Her nod of approval didn’t fail to stoke some confidence in Aether’s heart. “You must have caught him in a good mood when you met him.”
Aether scratched his head. “I guess I did. Anyway, that makes sense. Thank you.”
A divine being… The more Aether learned about Xiao, the more he marveled that Xiao would so much as tolerate the presence of someone like him. But perhaps it really was just as Goldet said, and Xiao happened to be in a good mood around him; Aether’s singing, something he was usually so bashful about, must have soothed Xiao’s soul more than he realized.
Still… how in the world did we end up together? It really is a miracle that I even met him.
As much as it made him wonder, Aether knew better than to question Xiao’s line of reasoning–the reasoning of a divine being, apparently (that was certainly something far beyond his realm of comprehension). He didn’t have anywhere near enough brain function to dive into the implications of that right now.
“Do you happen to know if there’s any way I can contact him?”
Goldet shook her head. “We never know for sure where Xiao is at any given time. But next time we see him, we’ll let him know you were looking for him.”
“Thank you. …It means a lot. I appreciate it.”
“Knowing him, he’ll already be aware you stopped by. He does keep a very close eye on this place.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Goldet folded her hands. “So Xiao doesn’t even tell you where he’s going to be…” Her tone was gently intrigued rather than patronizing, and indeed, her gaze rested on some point in the space beyond Aether. “Though that does sound like something he would do. He is the secretive type, after all.”
“Yeah.” Aether started to feel disheartened again; his nod in response was practically automatic. “He just told me he would be back someday.”
“Well, I hope you two can see each other again soon, then.” Goldet mirrored Aether’s nod. “I’m glad he’s found a good companion.”
A blush ignited in Aether’s cheeks. Nevertheless, he met Goldet’s gaze again.
“Thank you for your assistance today. I… might be back. I don’t know.”
“You’re always welcome here. Like we said, feel free to come back anytime.” She sent him off with a cordial tilt of her head. “Safe travels.”
Aether started the long trip down the meandering staircase, hardly aware of the knocking of his boots on the boardwalk. He should have been more tuned in to the sound, given that his eyes were on his feet the entire time, but his mind was elsewhere.
On a curious whim, he continued to the wooden bridge at the south end of the inn–opposite from the direction from which he had come–and paused where it once again met the stone path.
The landscape of Liyue looked gorgeous. Its fields varied in hue from green to warm bronze, the leaves of its trees anywhere from almost-teal to fiery orange. The sheer cliffs, the smooth hills and the bright blue sky were so inviting to the part of him that wanted to explore further, to see what the nation that Xiao called home was like–a nation he had never seen with his own two eyes beyond the glimpses he could catch from Mondstadt.
But to the other part of him, the much more prominent one, the one that ached and chipped away at his core until only a sad speck remained, the one that only wanted Xiao to be with him, an invisible wall kept him contained to the places that were familiar and known. He couldn’t think about venturing into a strange new world without thinking about how dearly he wished for Xiao to be by his side to see it with him. He could only see something for the first time once, after all, and he had no desire to experience such a thing alone when he could instead experience it with his beloved.
There was simply no point.
Today, his curiosity permitted his trip to the giant tree that turned out to be Wangshu Inn, a place he was certain would remain significant to him in all of his future adventures, whenever they might happen. But it permitted him to go no farther.
Staying here wistfully observing the scenery drew tears to the corners of his eyes, his heart weighing in his chest with loneliness like a pebble on a riverbed, so, with one last look at the blue sky above Liyue, he turned around and began the trek back to Mondstadt.