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The street lamps of Mondstadt began to dimly illuminate the streets covered on scarves of mist from the leftover rain. Its civilians had taken shelter hours ago, with most refusing to leave their positions even after the sun reappeared gleaning over the clouds.
Aether sat alone overlooking the scenery from a window of the second floor of the Angel’s Share, sharpening his sword after a long day of doing bounties and commissions. He knew that running errands for the Knights of Favonius and the Adventurer’s Guild wasn’t the most ideal way to spend his birthday, but it was the best thing he could do to take his mind off his ongoing battles with his sister and the Abyss Order.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching him.
“Working late?” Rosaria said.
The Traveler looked up to see the scantily dressed sister of the Church pull down a chair to sit in front of him. He continued to sharpen his blade.
“Aren’t you?”
“I want to know if you’d like some fruit juice, tea… whatever it is you drink.”
He chuckled. “That’s thoughtful of you.”
Rosaria smiled slightly. “I never had the chance to treat the people around me. It was always the other way around.”
“Even then, you never liked saying or hearing thanks.” Aether responded as he laid down his whetstone in exchange for a napkin to shine his blade.
Her smile faded away as her face turned solemn.
“I… was never one to express and accept gratitude… affectionately.” Rosaria said as she looked contemplatively towards the window. “I remember when Kaeya paid for our tab whenever we drank. I would just say ‘thanks’ and enjoy my drink. I never looked at him afterward, not once. My mind was always focused on numbing the thoughts of blood spilling onto the ground. The look of fear in the eyes of my enemy before delivering the final blow.”
She glanced at a couple walking out of a building, elated to see the sunset together. “I cared more about detaching myself from the cruelty of reality than the wine in front of me… or the feelings of the man who always offered the bill.”
“Mm.” Aether hummed as he continued to polish his blade to a shine.
“You’re not listening.” Rosaria sighed frustratingly.
“I am.” He replied.
Rosaria placed her hand onto Aether’s palm and looked him gently in the eye. “Then listen to me, Aether,” she whispered as he put down the sword and looked at her in return. “Your deeds may outlive you. The people around you might not. One day, you’re going to wake up… and realize that the world is a very different place than the last time you remembered to look at it.”
His eyes softened as he fixated on her gaze. He sees the pain still lingering in her eyes.
“Eventually, you will soon regret the absence of something as small as the drink given to you by the person you love the most.”
The two sat quietly for a while.
“So… what would you like to drink?”
“Dandelion wine,” Aether replied as set aside his sword by the wall. “It’s my birthday today. Kaeya promised to treat me to a glass when I can finally drink.”
Rosaria smiled gently. “Very well. Let’s drink on it together.”
“Rosaria?” Aether remarked as she got out of her seat to get drinks. “Thank you.”
She looked at him with soft eyes once more and chuckled dryly. “Of course. It’s what Kaeya would have done.”