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Aether and his flying companion strolled through the streets of Liyue Harbor, enjoying the vibrant sights and sounds of the marketplace. The sweet smells of street food wafted through the air, tempting his companion, always eager for a delicious meal, to indulge in the local delicacies.
Their journey through Sumeru had been exhausting, but it gave Aether a wealth of new knowledge about the world and his missing sister's whereabouts. With this newfound knowledge weighing heavily on his mind, he decided to rest before setting out on his next adventure.
The image of Yuheng, one of the Qixing, quickly came to him. It had been a while since he had last seen her in the Chasm, and he was eager to catch up with her. With a burst of energy, Aether used his teleportation ability to arrive in Liyue in the blink of an eye. However, his late arrival and her busy schedule only allowed for a short conversation before they decided to meet again the following day.
"Let's go to the Yuehai Pavilion. She's waiting for us." said the fairy after devouring the last of the twenty skewers.
Just as they were about to leave, a Millelith guard appeared out of nowhere, delivering an urgent message from Ningguang that required Aether's assistance. Without hesitation, he and his companion sprang into action, leaving the vendor behind as they hurried towards their destination.
What could have happened to warrant such an urgent summons from Ningguang? Was the city in danger? His thoughts were a jumbled mess as he ran, and he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out.
Finally, Aether burst into the grand entrance of the Jade Chamber, his chest heaving with exertion. "Ningguang," he gasped, "what's happened? Why did you call me here so urgently?"
"Aether," Ningguang said, her voice grave. "I know you've only just returned to Liyue, but there's something important that you need to hear."
"What is it?" Aether asked, his voice full of worry. "Is the city under attack? Are the Treasure Hoarders or the Fatui up to something?"
"It's about Yuheng," Ningguang said, her expression grim.
Aether's heart sank at the mention of her name. "What happened to her?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady despite the fear that was rising inside him.
"She..." Ningguang hesitated before continuing.
.
.
.
Aether and his fairy companion were taken aback by the news as their eyes widened in shock.
"Keqing has been turned into a cat!? Are you sure about that?” Said the Traveler who was still standing there, unbelieving at what the Tianquan just said.
Ningguang continued. "A few days ago, we went to the Chasm to investigate and Keqing made contact with an unknown stone in the mine. At first, we thought nothing since there isn’t any abnormalities on her at all. However, today, she was nowhere to be found at work, and when I went to her office, I saw a cat that looked exactly like her. As far as I know, Keqing doesn't have any pets, so it was quite a surprise."
"Yeah, she didn't mention having a cat to Paimon either." the fairy chimed in.
The situation left Aether and his companion with more questions than answers, but they knew one thing for sure: they needed to find the underlying cause of this.
Ningguang led Aether and Paimon to Keqing's office, her expression cautious as she walked. When they approached the entrance, she turned to Aether and warned him in a hushed voice, "Be careful. It doesn't seem to be friendly." Ningguang then lifted her sleeve, revealing a bandaged arm as a sign of warning. "This is what happened when I tried to approach it.”
“Thanks, I will be careful.”
With a deep breath, Aether steeled himself and forced his gaze to the door's knob, knowing that he must confront whatever lay ahead. The door creaking open with a sound that echoed in the quiet room. Peering inside, Aether was met with two sparkling amethyst eyes staring back at him.
But instead of a greeting, he heard a soft "meow" come from the room.
A small purple cat perched atop the Yuheng’s table. Its bright, curious eyes followed their every movement. Despite the initial shock of seeing a feline in such an unexpected place, its purple fur shimmered in the light, imbuing with some sort of magical essence that caught his gaze.
As he approached the cat along with Paimon flying by, it let out a soft hiss and swiped its paw at him, causing him to jump back.
"Hey, it's okay," Aether said softly, holding his hands up in a calming gesture. "We're not going to hurt you."
The cat continued to hiss and growl, its fur standing on end as it backed itself into a corner of the room. Aether noticed that there was a small, golden hairpin attached to the cat's ear and an electro vision on its neck, which he recognized as Keqing's signature accessory.
"Keqing, is that you?" he asked tentatively, hoping for some kind of response. The cat simply stared back at him; its eyes unblinking.
He reached out his hand slowly, letting the cat sniff it, hoping to gain its trust. After a few moments, the cat seemed to relax, and it even let out a small purr as Aether began to pet it. Paimon, meanwhile, was in awe, watching her friend handle a cat so skillfully.
"I had no idea you were good with animals, Aether!" she exclaimed “I think she still recognize you.”
Aether just smiled, happy to see the cat calm and content for the moment.
“She looks so cute even in this form.” As her curiosity got the better of hers, the fairy floated closer to take a look. "Ningguang said she has asked Ganyu and the Adeptus since then if they can help us, and we only have to stay here to look after Lady Keqing in the meantime." she said.
Aether thought for a moment and turned to Paimon, sighing. "Well, that’s the only choice we have. She also told us to keep it secret too. Thing will go crazy if someone find out."
As time passed by, Aether and Paimon slowly began to get along with the cat and enjoy playing with her.
Aether glanced around Keqing's office; his eyes fell upon a small Rex Lapis rubber toy sitting on the desk. Without a second thought, He picked it up and handed the toy to the cat which was curled up on the floor. The feline eagerly accepted the gift, batting at it playfully with its paws. It was amusing to see it enjoy playing with them so openly, and Aether couldn't help but grin at the thought of it as he knew that Keqing had bought many of them in secret for her own collection.
“It seems to like it a lot.” The fairy said “Pamon wonder what thought she is having right now?”
“Well, I’m not sure” Aether shook his head “But seeing it look so happy right now mean she enjoy it.”
“Meow~, Meow~”
The little feline eagerly padded over to Aether, its tail swishing back and forth as it began to paw at his leg. It seemed like it wanted something and wasn't afraid to make it known. Aether looked down and noticed the cat was hungry, as if it were trying to tell him so with its actions.
“Let’s try with Golden Shrimp ball then” The fairy suggested.
He reached into his inventory and pulled out a Golden Shrimp Ball out of thin air, knowing that it was a favorite of the feline's. The cat eagerly took the offering and began to playfully roll it around with its paw before finally devouring it in a few quick bites. Aether chuckled at the cat's antics and was glad to see that it was enjoying the treat.
Aether and Paimon spent the morning playing with the little feline, tossing it a ball of yarn, and watching it chase after it. The cat seemed to be having a fun time, rolling around and playfully biting at the yarn. The adorable sight made his mood lighten up a little, feeling a sense of warmth and contentment in his heart.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, Aether realized that it was already noon, Aether and Paimon were both starting to feel a little tired. He gently scooped up the feline and placed it on the desk, watching as it lazily stretched and then curled up into a ball.
"Well, I guess it's time for a nap." Aether said, rubbing his eyes.
Paimon nodded in agreement, stifling a yawn. "I'm feeling pretty tired too. Let's take a break for a while."
Though he wanted to take a nap but seeing Keqing in this state like this made him unable to do so at all, his golden eyes couldn’t stop staring at the cat in worries. What if there wasn’t any solution to make her turn back to human form? How could she live the rest of her life like this? He wanted to see her smile, her caring for him,…He had never felt so scared of losing her like this before.
Suddenly, he felt something soft on his arm. Looking down, he saw that the cat had curled up beside him, its head nestled on his chest.
Aether stroked the soft fur and whispered: "I hope you can come back soon... I miss you so much."
He closed his eyes, trying to push away his worries and find some rest, but the weight of his anxiety kept him awake.
A few hours later
Aether had trouble taking a proper nap as his mind was consumed with finding a way to help Yuheng. The soft and comforting weight of the feline on his arm did little to calm him, and before long, he was awakened by the sound of Paimon's voice.
"Aether, wake up!" she exclaimed.
"Let me sleep, Paimon..." Aether groaned, waving his hand to shoo her away.
But Paimon persisted, revealing an important piece of news that caught Aether's attention. "Lady Ningguang has found a way to turn Lady Keqing back to normal!" she exclaimed.
Hope surged through Aether at the prospect of being able to help his friend. "How?" he asked eagerly, his mind racing with possibilities. Finally, they had a chance to help their dear friend.
“The only way to get rid of this is to…” The fairy went close to his ear and whispered.
Aether's heart raced as he listened to Paimon's instructions. Did Paimon say “Kiss?”.
"I-I can't do that." he stuttered, looking down at his feet. "There must be another way."
"It's the only way, Aether. You have to do it." Paimon urged “Because it only works if the kisser is from someone she loves.”
Sure, they had expressed their inner most feelings ever and had almost kissed during the Lantern Festival until Ningguang showed up. The idea of kissing her made his stomach twist in knots as he had another chance again. But not in an awkward situation like this.
Knowing that he had no choice but to go through with it.
He carefully cradled the small feline in his hands, marveling at its soft fur and delicate features. He could feel its little heart beating rapidly against his palm as it looked up at him with wide, curious eyes. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.
“Here’s go nothing.” He thought.
“Aether…”
A familiar voice echoed in Aether's mind, interrupting his train of thought. He recognized it immediately - but he shouldn’t have heard it, right? He still felt the cat in his hand, which meant he hadn't yet completed the transformation spell. He must be hallucinating from missing her so much.
“Aether…”
“Keep quiet, Paimon. I’m trying to concentrate.”
“What are you doing to my little kitten?”
Just about when his mouth was about to touch the cat. The blonde Traveler felt a hand laid on his shoulder and turned him behind. To his surprise, he inadvertently let go of the little feline he had been cradling in his hands. It twisted in mid-air and landed on its feet without any trouble, demonstrating its remarkable feline instincts. Aether breathed a sigh of relief that “Keqing” was safe.
And the sight of the person he wanted to see was right before his eye.
“Keqing is that you? Is that really you?” He asked while slowly approaching her.
“Do I look like someone else?” Keqing still seemed confused.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Aether didn't hesitate to pull her into a tight embrace, holding her like he would never let go.
"Keqing! You're back! I was so scared...Are you alright?"
Keqing was surprised to see the relief in Aether's face upon her return, but she quickly embraced him back.
"I'm perfectly fine..." she reassured him “Can you tell me what happened?”
"You were turned into a cat." Paimon interjected. "And we tried to help you."
“I turned into a cat!? What are you talking about?” Keqing replied in confusion.
Aether proceeded to recount the story to her. As he spoke, Keqing’s eyebrows twitched several times as her irritation grew increasingly, realizing that Ningguang had fed Aether an outlandish story that even a child could recognize as a poorly made-up fairy tale. And yet this blonde Traveler who had lived for good how long and gone through countless thing still fell for it.
"I was out with Ganyu overseeing the construction in the nearby village, not the Chams" Keqing clarified. “And such stone doesn’t exist.”
“But then the cat?”
”Meow?”
Aether's confusion was evident as he looked from Keqing to the desk where the exact feline he held earlier was still sitting calmly, seemingly unfazed by the conversation. He blinked several times, as if trying to wake from a dream or dispel an illusion.
"That's my pet I just recently adopted" Keqing said, her voice softening slightly. "I was in a hurry so I couldn’t introduce her to you."
“But the bandage on Ningguang’s arm.” The fairy said.
“You didn’t see her injury, right? Just the bandage.”
Aether and Paimon exchanged a sheepish glance, feeling dumb for having fallen for Ningguang's teasing from the very beginning without a single doubt at all. Meanwhile, Keqing let out a low groan, frustrated that she too had been made fun of.
"Ugh, that woman." she muttered under her breath.
In Ningguang's office, the Tianquan herself chuckled in amusement at how easily she had been able to make fun of the two love birds. Aether and Keqing were always such an easy target for her teasing. She enjoyed nothing more than watching them squirm under her playful jabs.
"Seems like my little joke has gone a bit far." Ningguang leaned back in her chair while taking a sip of tea from the delicate porcelain cup in her hand, savoring the flavor before placing it back on its saucer. "Perhaps it's time to give them a break" she said to herself, making a note to apologize to them later.
Keqing's office was quiet, save for the sound of Yuheng's voice as she gave a lecture to the blonde traveler. The subject of the lecture was how innocent and childlike Aether could be at times, which seemed to be a source of amusement for the Tianquan.
“Why did come into this...I thought you are a much sensible person.” Keqing sighed, looking at Aether “Hey, are you even listening?”
Keqing's attempts to get Aether's attention seemed to be in vain. His eyes solely focused on the little feline in his lap, enjoying the sensation of its soft fur under his fingertips. He felt a sense of relief wash over him as he realized that the cat was not actually Keqing, and that she had been safe all along. It was just a harmless prank, and he could now fully enjoy the company of the adorable creature in his arms.
Feeling ignored, Keqing sulked for a moment before taking matters into her own hands.
"Okay, you're taking my spot there, you naughty cat." she said as she lifted the cat from Aether's lap. The feline protested with desperate struggles, clearly not wanting to leave Aether's side as it gave Keqing a plaintive "nyaaa~".
Aether chuckled at Keqing’s reaction. "Are you jealous?"
Keqing rolled her eyes. "What? That's my chair, and you're illegally occupying it."
“Oh, my bad.”
Despite Aether's offer to move from the chair, he knew that Keqing had other plans in mind. She quickly walked over to him and sat between his lap, pulling both of his arms around her waist and relaxing her back against him. A contented sigh escaped her lips as if she had just released all the stress from a long day of work.
“That doesn’t mean you are allowed to leave either.”
Aether smiled to himself as he looked down at the little feline, now replaced by a much “bigger one”, and he wondered how he had managed to get so lucky to have Keqing in his life.
“How’s your business trip, did it go well?” he asked.”
“Yeah, but it was so tiring.” She said sheepishly “But as long as I can see you, it was nothing. How’s you’re doing in Sumeru?”
Aether held her closer, enjoying the feeling of her snuggling against him like a contented cat. He smiled at her question about Sumeru, realizing he had a lot to share.
"It's been quite a journey." he said, his voice laced with excitement. "I met some fascinating people and visited some incredible places. But the best part was discovering new elemental abilities that I never knew existed."
Keqing's interest was piqued, and she leaned back slightly to look up at him. "Can you tell me more about it?”
Aether grinned, eager to share his discoveries with her. As he began to recount his adventures, he felt Keqing relax even further into his embrace, both of them content to spend the rest of the day like this - talking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. His journey through the desert, his encounters with the local tribes, and the various artifacts he had found. Keqing listened intently, occasionally asking questions, and making comments. As he spoke, she realized how much she had missed him, and how much she enjoyed spending time with him. When he finished his story, she leaned back and looked up at him with a smile.
"I'm glad you're back safely." she said softly. "I missed you."
Aether leaned down and kissed her forehead. "I missed you too." he replied, holding her close.
They sat there in silence for a while, enjoying each other's company and the warmth of their embrace. The little feline, now forgotten, curled up at their feet and fell asleep.
As for the fairy, she was happy to see Aether and Keqing reunited and enjoying each other's company. She might also be content to see the little feline sleeping peacefully at those two, indicating that the atmosphere is calm and peaceful.
Until Paimon's stomach started to grumble loudly…
At that moment, Aether knew his wallet was going into trouble for real this time.
End…