Chapter Text
"Steward of Time," Aether reads out loud to his pixie companion, eyebrows furrowed, "Is an unknown mutation roaming in the base of Dragonspine. The spirit who rests within is said to have been dead for some time now, but continues to haunt the nation she'd once loved in the place she died. A few weeks ago, stories of her have been going around the researchers, scaring scholars from nearing its area. Please take care of it for us."
"A ghost?!" Paimon yells in disbelief, "Why would they come to the Adventurer's Guild for ghosts? Shouldn't they call the exorcists?"
"Maybe we just have to defeat it." Aether shrugs, hastily pocketing the wrinkled piece of paper. It is the last commission he has left for the day, and he doesn't plan on doing anything after it. He imagines plopping down any of the beds in his teapot and never arising.
"Paimon's got a bad feeling about this." Paimon squirms, looking like she's about to block Aether from heading towards the spot.
"Maybe it's just your stomach rumbling," Aether helpfully suggests. Paimon glares at him, but she doesn't deny it. He chuckles, "Come on, we'll get some Sweet Madame after this commission."
"Sweet Madame! Sweet Madame!"
They made their way to the said place with Paimon motivated by the promise of food, Aether inhaling the sweet breeze of another afternoon in Mondstat. Something about the air in Mond is different from the other nations. Inazuma's air is always tinged with rain from the wet plants that maintain the scent after harsh thunderstorms, Liyue's air often blows in strong currents from the high peaks of each mountain slope, rather weak in low grounds, and Sumeru's air smells like that of nature, when one takes a leaf off its branch. But Mondstat has a constant soft wisp of wind that smells pure and comfortable, like one would feel in a home.
They arrive after thirty minutes of trekking through the path, and although they are only in the base of Dragonspine, the sharp cold within still pierced through Aether's skin, making him shiver a little. Hopefully they can get this over with quickly.
"What are we looking for, anyway?" Paimon asks, looking just as desperate to be out of Dragonspine's perimeter, "Let's go ask around!"
Aether nods, and they both head near the entrance of Dragonspine. Just as the note says, only a few research camps remain, about four or five, with three of them vacant. Beside him, Paimon makes a nervous noise, and Aether can't bring himself to comfort her when he's a little spooked out as well.
"Paimon's going to need more than just Sweet Madame." Paimon says, and Aether nods.
"Yeah, I think I'm going to need a shot after this."
"A shot?"
"Nothing."
Paimon shoots him a weird look before looking ahead. Her eyes widen at what she sees, making Aether follow her gaze, "Look! Is that a child?"
True enough, a young girl with pale blue hair sits on one of the boulders encasing the camp, swinging her legs idly. As if noticing their stares, she turns, golden eyes locking on Aether's own before smiling.
Aether feels a pang of wariness as he approaches, but he pays it no mind, "Hello, are you lost? I don't think it's very wise for children to be here during these times."
"These times?" The girl tilts her head with a slight frown, "Skee's been here for as long as she's known. It's my home."
"Skee," Aether tests, "Where are your parents? Guardian?"
"Hmm," the young girl hums, "Further in the forest. Will you accompany Skee there?"
"Sure! Although Paimon can't see why a family would live in the woods near Dragonspine." Paimon says. Skee giggles and runs towards the forest. Paimon and Aether look at each other and shrug, jogging up to the child to keep close.
Aether's never heard of families living near this area, and he isn't uncertain why. It was far too cold to live in comfort, and it would be hard to find a livelihood so far from civilization. He sneaks a glance at Paimon, but she seems to find nothing questionable about this at all, chanting food silently to herself.
"Here we are," Skee announces once they've reached the woods not too far from Dragonspine but not quite to the heart of it. Aether looks around in confusion.
"There's nothing he—"
Before he can finish his sentence, Skee's smile widens, and he notices fangs in her mouth in lieu of teeth, her skin stretching and morphing into something green— what the hell— before she's fully turned into something akin to a regisvine, but a face remains on the center, a lot less human and a lot more distorted and green, like a melted semblance of a person's face.
Archons, that has to be the most disgusting face Aether's ever seen.
Hearing Paimon's scream snaps Aether out of daze, hurriedly dodging when the regisvine-monster-something shoots green goo out of its mouth.
"What is that?!" Paimon shrieks in disgust, staring as the green goo slides down the leaf of the plant it landed on. Aether glances at it and spares it a disgusted frown.
But before he can make another commentary, the monster shoots towards Paimon while the pixie was too busy fretting over the goo. Panicked, Aether pushes her away and takes the blow, feeling the puddle of liquid spray on his skin.
He feels like barfing at the texture, but it smells surprisingly sweet, like Liyue's sugar delicacies.
He's barely able to entertain the thought when he feels his head go light, his knees suddenly too soft to support his weight. The forest's greens spin together in unrecognizable patterns, and his last thought before succumbing to unconsciousness is how he probably pushed Paimon too harshly.
—
Venti's winds tell him something has gone wrong.
He springs up from where he's been resting his forehead on Angel's Share's counter, all alcohol suddenly leaving his brain. In front of him, Diluc glances at him with a raised brow, "You seem sober all of the sudden."
"I…" Venti frowns, sensing that something is amiss, but he can't quite figure out what. Something in him feels like it's missing a screw, like he's lost a connection to something.
Diluc, realizing that it's serious, places the glass he was wiping on the counter and waits for Venti to speak. The bard struggles.
"I should go," is what he settles with, scratching his head, "I need to check something."
Diluc raises a brow, seeming skeptical. In the end, he lets it go, "Fine. Your bills today will be listed down."
"Ahehe, is there really a need for that? When can I ever hear a "it's on the house" considering I bring in the majority of the customers here with my fantastic singing?"
"It's been on the house ever since you got here," Diluc glares, "Your bill's enough to cover a year of Angel Share's land taxes."
Venti chuckles awkwardly, "Yeah, that's probably the case. Anyway, keep up the good work, Master Diluc!"
With that, he slips out of the bar before Diluc can change his mind, but all tones of lightheartedness leave him when the winds tug at his strings once more.
The winds are a witness to everything, and they are Venti's possession, but they do not have eyes, or at least, none Venti can see through. Only memories. He can only tell that something is off by the way they push him to a specific direction, urging his steps to hurry as the turquoise tips of his braids light in unison.
Venti calls forth the senses of Anemo and follows where it guides him.
—
It isn't the first time Albedo is stared down by a child, but it most definitely is the first time it isn't Klee.
"Hello," he greets with uncertainty. He takes a moment to look at the child from head to toe— he's wearing no more than a white robe embedded with golden lining, lazily draped around his shoulders. He's small enough that the little amount of cloth covers even his toes. The child looks eerily similar to a certain traveler he knows— but how could he… "Are you lost?"
The child tilts his head and waddles towards him, up until his feet. Then, he makes grabby hands. He wants to be carried, Albedo intelligently deducts.
He looks Albedo straight in the eye, and the alchemist carries him obediently. Up close, there's no doubt to it. This child is either Aether or Aether's relative. The Traveler speaks of a sister, but Albedo doubts his sister is a child seemingly no more than five years old. But as far as Albedo's concerned, there have been no other reports of a descendant in Teyvat.
When the child doesn't answer him, he tests, "Aether?"
The boy perks up from whatever he was observing to glance at Albedo, blinking once, twice, as if awaiting an order.
"Y-You—" Albedo stammers, careful not to drop Aether in his grasp. There is no other explanation for who the child could be, since the child's loose braids and lack of underneath clothing— assuming he only shrunk in size— gave the entire situation away, "Aether, how old are you?"
The child puts up three fingers on display and Albedo almost faints. Three. How can he have gone back in time this much?
"Do you remember me? Or where you are?"
Aether shakes his head, and as if the reminder sets him off, his bottom lip starts shaking, anxiously looking around, "Lumi?"
His sister, Albedo thinks, holding tight as the child squirms in grasp, "Traveler— listen, dear, we will find Lumi, but I need you to be good for me and not wriggle too much."
Aether stops and nods, though his eyes are teary and he looks a few seconds away from sobbing. Albedo softens at the sight, "Hey now, Traveler, there's this cute child I want you to meet. I think you two would get along very well."
There are a lot of questions brewing in Albedo's mind; a part of him tempts him to find the answers on his own, perhaps through observation of the area, because what is a three-year-old Aether doing roaming near Dragonspine alone?
And perhaps he wants, just a little, to be a little selfish and spend some time with the mini version of the Traveler, but he knows that the best next step would be to report this to Jean and see her verdict.
But if Albedo takes the long path and tours Aether around Mondstat's scenery, who will ever know?
—
Before Albedo can advance further near the City of Mondstat, they are greeted with a sudden surge of wind, making Aether grip tighter on the collar of his shirt. The former protectively shields Aether from the leaves and dirt that bellow towards them and forces his eyes open, trying to look for a perpetrator.
He sees no attacking enemy, yet from afar, he spots a boy clad in green running towards them, making him hurriedly activate his Geo, ready to plunge the enemy to the ground if need be. He has a child in his hold, meaning he can't be in control of whatever the force of his attack may be, and he isn't willing to put Aether down regardless of what happens.
"Aether, I need you to hold on tight for me, alright?" He whispers softly, gentle as to not reveal any harsh emotion and scare the child. He feels Aether nod against his shoulder, and he summons his sword, waiting for the person in front of them to attack.
All of the sudden, he loses sight of the boy in green. Panicked, he looks behind him then to his left and right, but when he turns, the boy is back, only a few meters from them.
Albedo squints and sheaths his sword back, "Venti?"
"Aether!" The bard ignores him, focusing instead on the blond clump tucked in Albedo's shoulder. At the mention of his name, the child perks up to see who called him just in time for Venti to steal him from Albedo's hold, enveloping him in an embrace, "Oh Archons, thank goodness!"
Aether looks confused at most, but not frightened nor pained, so Albedo lets it be. When the bard no longer seems to be in a tangled haze of relief, he turns to Albedo, suddenly serious, the sudden change shocking the alchemist momentarily, "How did this happen?"
Albedo shakes his head, "I don't know either. I was planning on getting him to Master Jean to see what she thinks of the situation."
Venti's glare examines him for a moment before Albedo calmly adds, "I did not experiment on him, if that's what you're suspecting."
Venti's eyes widen, seemingly catching himself, "Oh, that's not what I thought. Sorry if I came out accusing."
"It is no problem," Albedo reassures with a small smile. Aether looks resigned to his fate by now, being carried by adults he doesn't know. Albedo almost chuckles at the sight, but he makes a mental note to alert the others to keep the Traveler within their sight, seeing his blind trusting nature, "How did you immediately know it was the Traveler, anyway?"
"Just a hunch," Venti shrugs, not looking like he's going to elaborate, so Albedo just nods and doesn't probe further, "Anyway, hey Traveler Junior. I believe I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Venti the bard, your self-proclaimed babysitter!"
"Hi." Aether shyly mutters, cheeks red as he avoids their gaze. Venti coos, and Albedo holds himself back from doing the same, hiding a smile behind his hand.
"Well aren't you a sweet one," Venti grins, lightly pinching Aether's cheek. The boy reddens even more, making Venti laugh, "Oh my Archons, I don't even want to bring you to Jean. Whaddaya say we go consult that old blockhead in Liyue instead and tour around each nation? I've been wanting to meet you-know-who in Sumeru, I have great respect for her—"
Albedo clears his throat, smiling at Venti politely. It's not that he holds anything against the bard, but it's on his credits that he's an older sibling to the most chaotic child Mondstat has ever come to meet. He's experienced. He doesn't know Venti enough to know whether or not he has experience with children, but until he does, he's not sure whether or not he can trust Aether with the bard.
"Oh, right, Master Jean first." Venti wiggles his brows at Albedo and carries Aether to the city, back turned on him. It feels like a provocation. Albedo tries catching little Aether's eyes, that maybe Aether misses him a little bit, but the child is now fully immersed with whatever tune Venti's singing him.
Albedo silently huffs and promptly follows.
—
Upon arriving at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Venti asks for some clothes that fit Aether's size, getting him appropriately dressed. They're simple clothes that are still black with golden lining to not change Aether's palette too much, and he's even given a little cape to complete the look, but he wasn't given armor seeing as a child wouldn't really need them and to give Aether comfort. Only then do Kaeya and Jean discover the little Traveler dressed in Mondstat's clothes, with Klee right behind them.
It is with devastating observation that Albedo finds out Aether is smaller than Klee.
"Klee has a new friend!" Klee chants excitedly, running circles around Aether, who has been placed on the ground when Venti recognized excitement upon meeting another child, "From now on, you will be Klee's younger brother!"
"Looks like Aether got adopted." Venti mutters fondly, watching as Klee pulls Aether to her room, the smaller child following silently with an amused beam.
"Klee, no building bombs with the baby. No violent playtime. He's three years old. Be a good older sister," Albedo warns sternly, and Klee only half-heartedly nods at him before entering the room, pulling Aether with her. He sighs, not really expecting a child to be responsible enough for a toddler and turns to Noelle, "If you don't mind…?"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of them." She says, looking quite excited herself as she enters the kids' room. When all is done, Venti and Albedo look behind them, where Jean is staring at Klee's door in disbelief and Kaeya in interest.
"It's not everyday that the Traveler arrives as a toddler," Kaeya whistles, flicking a coin with his right hand, "And where is his little traveling companion?"
"I've thought about that too. She wasn't with him when I found him," Albedo answers, "He doesn't recall her either. It seems that his memories align to what he's lived as a three year old so far. He yearns for his sister."
"Huh, and how many years ago was that," Venti says thoughtfully, "Did he say anything useful?"
"He really doesn't remember much. Just his sister and waking up near Dragonspine." Albedo truthfully answers.
Jean hums, "The base of Dragonspine… I remember there have been some reports from the researchers in that area. Apparently a mutation was awakened and is scaring the scholars."
They turn to Albedo for any elaboration, but he only shakes his head. He's not quite updated with the issues of the other researchers in the area, and he's never heard of a mutation.
"Skee," Venti says suddenly, making everyone turn to him, "The Steward of Time. I'm only vaguely familiar with her. She's not someone you'd want to mess with."
Kaeya raises a brow, "Why's that?"
"She's a spirit possessing a mutation who spits out goo to melt her victims' skin, leaving only bone," Venti says, "She often disguises as Skee, a little girl who was one of her victims hundreds of years ago."
Albedo's shoulders tense. Was Aether attacked with that mutation while he was a child? Who was there to protect him?
"I don't think that explains why the Traveler is a toddler," Jean hums, "So I assume he never did encounter that mutation."
"I hope so," Venti says solemnly, "The Steward of Time is very vehement. She wouldn't let a victim go unscathed. If ever the victim does escape, she'd relentlessly find them."
"Why is she called the Steward of Time?" Kaeya asks, "Does it not relate to the Traveler being stuck back in his youth?"
"No. It's just that she sleeps for long periods and when she wakes, she's given only a limited amount of time to give offerings to her grave and maintain her vigilant spirit."
"I can send over some knights to deal with her," Jean announces, "But as for the Traveler's predicament, I fear I can't think of a reason nor a solution for his deaging. I've never heard of it."
"I know a friend in Liyue who I'm sure has heard of such a phenomenon," Venti suggests with an unreadable grin, looking at Albedo, "I think he can give answers, if you guys can trust me with Aether."
Albedo's eye twitches. It is a provocation. He feels like a father losing custody of his child. He can't exactly leave Mondstat to accompany them, seeing as he has Klee to take care of.
"You'll need supplies," he says begrudgingly, "Milk, food, clothes— do you know how to take care of a child?"
Venti laughs, likely finding the entire situation entertaining because he's gaining the upper hand, "I know more than you think I do! I've taken care of many children throughout the time I've lived."
"You may get some supplies from Master Diluc in the Dawn Winery," Kaeya says, "I believe our old clothes are still in there somewhere, and Adelinde always somehow has everything, including milk I'm sure."
Venti chirps a thanks to Kaeya before the latter sternly adds, "No getting drunk during your duration with Aether. Children tend to be very curious. The second you take your eyes off them, they're already half a mile away from you."
"You guys don't trust me at all," Venti weeps in fake despair, "Aether is so safe in my hands! Of course I know not to get drunk around a child. And he won't get lost."
He speaks of the last sentence with utter confidence; it leaves no room for arguments. Come to think of it, when Venti found Albedo and Aether, it was as if he was looking for Aether— which wouldn't make sense, because how would he have known that Aether was in a vulnerable state?
"Then, I'll trust the Honorary Knight in Venti's hands. Shall anything happen, please don't hesitate to contact us." Jean concludes just in time before Klee's door busts open, little Aether in tow as they chase after Noelle, who looks… quite frightened. Albedo takes it as a cue to intervene.
—
Parting Klee from Aether is no simple matter, but luckily, Albedo finds a way to convince her to bid him goodbye, to which Klee reluctantly follows. Albedo reminds Venti one more time not to be rash with a child, and Venti feels accomplished when Albedo watches him walk away from the headquarters, Aether in his arms.
It's quite fun, teasing the alchemist. Venti can tell that Albedo feels a hitch of attachment towards the child Traveler, perhaps because he is the one to find him in such a state, or maybe it's his instinct as an older brother coming naturally. As much as Venti trusts him as a caretaker for Aether, he genuinely does believe that Zhongli knows much more about the situation than anyone in Mondstat.
"We going meet… old lockheath? In Liyue?" Aether innocently asks out of nowhere while Venti is humming him a tune as they walk through the path to Dawn Winery, making Venti snort out loud, surprising Aether.
"You- you remember me saying that?" Venti cackles, looking at the toddler's wide, golden eyes gazing at him in confusion, head tilted. Venti smiles fondly, "You've really been smart since birth, my little dandelion. Yes, we're going to meet the old blockhead in Liyue, Morax. Or Zhongli, I guess. But before that, we're going to Dawn Winery to meet Master Diluc so we can get some food and milk for you."
"Master Duck."
"Yes."
They arrive at Dawn Winery before the sun has completely set, welcomed by who Venti assumes to be Adelinde. According to Kaeya, Adelinde has worked for the Ragnvindr family even before he was taken in. She retains her youth in her features, looking timeless despite how long she's been there. Venti wants tips.
"Master Diluc will be down in a short while," Adelinde says warmly, "I assume the milk and small clothes are for this sweet little one?"
Venti beams and checks Aether's reaction, whose chubby cheeks have turned red. Venti wants to squish them.
"Yup! It's for this cute dandelion, isn't that right, Aether?" Venti prompts, slightly shaking Aether up and down.
"Yes," Aether mumbles, "Thank you Master Duck."
At that, Venti bursts, putting Aether down in fear of dropping him, and because his arms have gone numb. He attempts to compose himself, wiping a tear off his eye.
"T-This is Adelinde, my kindest dandelion. Adelinde. Say thank you to her too." Venti lets out as calmly as he can. Aether nods.
"Thank you, Andedind…" the toddler attempts, whispering the last part of Adelinde's name. Adelinde chuckles fondly, ruffling Aether's hair.
"Oh, what a sweetheart. I'll go fetch the milk for you later. As for the clothes, I think Master Kaeya's old clothes would fit him more. He was a small child back then, you see." Adelinde says, making Venti's brow raise.
"Tell me more." Venti prompts, suddenly interested in blackmail material. Adelinde smiles, gesturing the way to Kaeya's old room.
"Well, when Master Kaeya first arrived, he hardly spoke," Adelinde opens a door to their right, only a floor above the ground floor, "It was Master Diluc who first got a word out of him. It was a big estate, and he didn't have anyone else, so he was thrilled at the idea of a little brother."
The inside of the room is, surprisingly, very well-kept. Each surface is clean and free of dust, the bed sheets seem like they get replaced every so often, and no book on the shelves seem out of place. But its neatness doesn't take away the homeliness of the room, like how there is a pair of slippers that lay abandoned in a random corner, or the random to-do list pinned on the wall in front of a working desk.
Venti takes a glimpse at Aether who's roaming his wide eyes around the room, mouth forming a small 'o'.
"I know Master Diluc looks stoic now, but he was… quite energetic as a child. I've never won a game of tag with that one, but he's always one to be serious when the time required it, even when he was young. But he never had to put up that facade with Master Kaeya. They were two birds from the same nest, headaches, as I would refer to them. They'd pull pranks and wreak havoc all over the estate. More than one servant resigned from those kids' antics."
Adelinde pulls out a pile of clothes from the back of Kaeya's closet, all in different shades of blue, only a number of it in other colors, "Although they made me grow a couple of white hairs, I do miss having children around here. Dawn Winery's so quiet now. Here, sweetie, try these on and see which ones you like."
"Thank you, Adelinde," Venti says, choosing a few clothes that are either black, yellow, or gold, but also sneaking in some green ones for Aether to try, "You must be really great with kids now, huh? You learned from the most intense training!"
"Well, I would say I'm quite experienced," Adelinde chuckles, helping Aether put on some of his and Venti's chosen clothes, "Infants, toddlers, teens— I know all their outbursts."
"What would you say is the worst to take care of, among all the stages?"
Adelinde hums in thought, "I guess… when they're in their teens. They start getting really emotional and sensitive. They're discovering themselves, and whatever they go through in their teens would be how they'd sooner see the world in their adulthood. That means you have to be extra careful on how you treat them, you have to have the right words to say throughout their worst days, and you need to remind them that they're still children. There's no rush."
She sighs, looking sentimental, "I feel like that's one thing I never got to do for my young masters— remind them as teenagers that they're not adults. They've been through so much. They had to let go of their childhood so early. I know that with the world we live in it's hard to do that for any teenager, but I wouldn't wish that upon any child."
Venti sees her sadness in the way she looks at Aether with much care, gentle as she buttons the shirt on the boy. He looks down to his hands, reminded of a friend barely in the prime of their life, yet having to fight in a war, give their all to a fight where they'd eventually lose their life.
"I understand," Venti says quietly, careful not to shatter the moment. He's never really had a moment in his 'teens'. He's the last 'person' to be familiar with the concept. But he does know that he wishes not for his children to suffer the way his friend did.
He looks at Aether and promises the boy an escape from the violence he's had to be greeted with ever since coming to Teyvat.
"I see you both have arrived." Diluc's voice intervenes from the doorframe, making everyone in the room turn to him.
"Master Diluc, we have started picking clothes from Master Kaeya's cabinet." Adelinde informs, stepping aside to show Aether in Kaeya's white collared shirt as emphasis. Aether looks at the red-haired man with his usual curiosity.
Diluc, to his credit, looks like he's trying as hard as he can not to rest his face into its usual sharpness, apparently trying to look approachable. Venti thinks it makes him even scarier.
"Thank you, Adelinde. Venti, I have been made aware of the situation. You must be Aether." Diluc says, tone a little softer when he addresses Aether. The child nods.
"Master Duck?"
Venti turns away, hand covering his mouth. Oh Archons. He's going to die. He's going to fucking die.
"Bard." Diluc says sharply, but Venti is too far gone. He fans himself, trying to keep himself together.
"I didn't teach him that!" Venti says in his defense, cackles escaping his mouth, "Names are hard! Would you give him some credit for trying, you evil quack?"
If looks can kill, Venti would have been long gone, soul already processed for reincarnation. Thankfully it is not, and Diluc takes a calming breath before he turns to Aether once more, "It seems that the clothes are still too big for you. Are you comfortable?"
Aether adjusts his arms back and forth, similar to a penguin, before smiling, "Comfy."
Venti practically sees the way Diluc melts. Master Diluc has been reduced to a puddle. His eyes have gone entirely soft, the corners of his lips flinching.
"T-Take as much as you like," Diluc stutters. Stutters. Aether is that powerful, "No one needs them here, anyway."
"We'll only take a few. I'd love to see Aether in Liyue's clothes." Venti winks at Aether, and Aether nods solemnly, blinking both eyes.
"Do you need mora?" Diluc asks, and if Venti still had his gnosis, that would have shocked it out of him. He gawks at Diluc who only shrugs, "What do you plan to feed him if you don't have mora? You are not feeding him your radioactive stuff."
"That would be so very kind of you, Master Diluc!" Venti answers enthusiastically, hands up in the air. Diluc glares at him.
"If you use it to buy anything that isn't a necessity for the Traveler, I will know." He warns.
"Only for Aether? What if I'm starving?"
"Don't care."
"Master Diluuuc~!"
While they're arguing, Aether's stomach grumbles, and only Adelinde is quiet enough to hear it. The toddler blushes with a silent gasp, covering his belly button and muttering something about it being too noisy. She chuckles, leaning closer to Aether, "Are you hungry, little one? Come, let's eat."