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The sky is nice and bright that day above Fontaine as the residents of the large city go about their day left and right, minding their own businesses without any issues that day. While the mess in the courthouse opera just a few days prior is still, and will still be, the talk of the nation for quite some time, most folks have proceeded to go about their days while merely talking about it.
The Steambird have been all over the place with the news covering the 2 trials, the 2nd one especially that closes a very long running case of disappearances. Perhaps it is for the best that the main perpetrator is not in this world anymore, and it is likely that he’d be a target for many people if he stayed alive.
And one such person greatly affected by both cases happens to be sitting at the cafe at the bottom layer of the city, taking a sip of the cup in front of her before sighing and leaning into her seat again.
“Hmm. Lovely. I kind of see why this place is very well visited by anyone. Hehe.”
Navia leaned back on her seat, fixing her hat slightly as she drank there without worry. Now that the threat of Sinthe is gone, as it should be, she found it much less dangerous to be taking drinks in public.
“Maybe someday if I want to expand into baking, I’ll see if they want to have a partnership with a bakery. That’s one way to help Spina de Rosula’s economy.” She mused to herself, swirling her coffee cup as she talked to herself.
Her 2 usual companions are absent at the moment, as one is busy sorting with the recent influx of activity in Spina and the other, helping manage the aftermath of such a hit on Spina de Rosula’s upper echelons.
“Ah, I guess that’s one of our supports gone, but then again with the notion he had to be doing these experiments, it’s only fair he gets that to him.” She muttered to herself, before taking a sip in again.
“Speaking of, I haven’t fully read what Charlotte wrote about him. I know that he has visited several other nations and that the tales of the miracles he brought along are spread far and wide; even Fontaine isn’t spared.”
She paused before chuckling. “Oh, who am I kidding. I got to see first hand what he is capable of, and I see no reason to doubt it.”
Navia looked up, the sky clear and bright but not overly hot that day; she is comfortably shaded by the table umbrella above where she sat. “Hmm~ I have some time to kill. Luckily I brought those newsletters the Steambird published with me; let’s see what’s up about that traveler and his floating little magic girl thing. What was- ah, Paimon! Right.”
She opened the pages of the issues that centered around him. Luckily when the reporters from the Steambird came around and asked for several words from herself, Navia managed to secure several issues that had word of the traveler’s deeds, ranging from the windy plains of Mondstadt to the lush rainforests of Sumeru.
She hummed as she read the articles with amused eyes.
“A dragon when he just came in. Hehe, this guy is quite nutsy.” She commented.
She flipped the pages as she read on.
“Ah, this is straight out of an Opera for all I know. Marked as a criminal only to turn out as a hero in the end and request something…..almost nonsensical in return from Liyue.” Navia mused to herself as she chuckled. “And yet, it is what it is. I guess some people are just different in their principles of the world. All he is looking for is his sibling and yet, he’s scouring the world and saving nations. I’d say he can be too good.”
“Now that I think about it……I guess I can be to blame for roping him in too….” She paused, scratching her hair. “And yet he just went about it and agreed in the end, and solved the case with me as my partners. Ah, those 2.” She shook her head with astute amusement before she continued to read.
“Ah, right. Inazuma.” She paused. “I read about their decrees before and how closed they were to the outside world thanks to their archon. It’s quite difficult to get Inazuman goods during that time, but now they’re flowing freely. Hehe.”
She read the tale, before biting her lip slightly. “So that’s why he’s confident in his fighting ability huh ... .sheesh. This guy is much braver than he looks. And Paimon- pfft, hehe.” she giggled a little; finding it hilarious imagining what the little fairy is doing trying to dodge all the hell thrown at Aether when he’s on his flights.
“Ah, a unique duo, those two.” She admitted before continuing to read.
“And off they went to Sumeru after a quick dive into the Chasm. Hmm….must be quite dark down there from what I’ve heard. Also, didn;t they report the Chasm being closed for some reason? The Steambird sure are everywhere.” She giggled a bit to herself as she read. Sometimes, the range that these reporters reach sure knows no bounds.
As she read, she shook her head every few times. “Man, this guy’s just throwing his life here and there everywhere to do what others request. Heh, I can’t believe I got to find someone like him to be able to help me with the last 2 court appearances.” Navia mused to herself, equal parts amused and in awe at his abilities. “Then again, I do wonder sometimes why Aether choses to let Paimon do a lot of the talking for him. Must be a friend-thing for those 2 that they’ve done for quite a while.”
She shrugged before she carried on reading, idly taking some sips of her drinks as she went by.
After a while of reading, she looks up at the sky. Some soft clouds are here and there, providing a cooler shade to the sun’s heat over the region. “Hmm. A perfect day out if I’m honest.” She said to herself, before going back to the book at hand.
After a while, she sported a small frown. “Huh. Archons in other nations are really seen differently, aren’t they. Looking at it now, the people of Fontaine do treat the hydro archon much better than how the dendro archon is treated there; not at least until those 2 goofs step in and do it all over again.” She noted, taking a look at the higher levels of the city.
“Maybe someday, when I have some spare time, i can take a peek outside the region. I wonder if any ships serve between Liyue and Fontaine. Oh well, one day.” She mused before going back to reading her book.
After a while, she closed it with a fond smile on her face.
“Ah, I have met a pair of very interesting individuals indeed.” She said to herself, drinking her coffee down before putting her cup down with a satisfied sigh. She looked at the large collection of newsletter she obtained from the Steambird. “Maybe I should think about getting a subscription. It seems that wherever they go, more interesting things happen.”
She paused for a moment.
“Though Paimon is a fascinating person, I’m actually kind of curious about Aether.” She admitted to herself. “A lone traveler going around the nations looking for lost kin sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale, but here we are.”
She placed the book down on the table as she looked at the people roaming by the streets; idle sounds of chatting and walking filling her ears with the occasional happy noises coming from kids as they passed the area.
‘A really nice day. It was raining for quite a while some days ago but this is a nice change.’ She thought to herself, before her thoughts shifted again. ‘I wonder what he’s up to. Maybe being dragged around with Paimon again. Speaking of, I do wonder if he has a permanent place to stay or he opts to just stay in whatever place he is provided with in each nation.’
“Hmm. What do I have on my schedule today?” She asked herself, bringing a small booklet out. After taking a peek and confirming her day today is, admittedly, rather empty, she had a smile on her face.
“Alright, maybe I can find something good to do before diving into some more cases. And maybe I can see if my partner is up for more cases to help me later down the line. Hehe.” She chuckled before pausing.
‘Huh. I’ve been thinking about him a lot more than I normally do.’ She thought to herself, scratching her hair slightly. ‘That’s odd….though is it really a bad thing?’
After a while, Navia shook her head. She eventually decided that perhaps thinking of him isn’t a bad thing in the slightest. In fact, perhaps it actually is a good thing too; her life is already interesting enough as it is but add an entity like Aether into it, and it would be a ton more interesting for her.
Paimon’s a very nice bonus too. That little thing can make things very hilarious indeed, though maybe…..just maybe, how would things be without her in between them for once?
That’s actually a good question now that Navia thinks about it. Paimon talks a lot for them both; can’t blame her as Aether’s not the talkative type, but it does leave Aether’s personality in a small cloud of doubt,
She knows he is nice, considerate, and devoted to his goals, but is that all there is to it?
Navia sat there thinking for a moment, the time passing by slowly.
Slowly, she came to a conclusion. ‘No, he must be more interesting than that.’ She thought to herself. ‘He’s a good guy, but that can’t be all there is to Aether. Perhaps……I ought to learn more about him before I can truly say that I actually know him. Besides, ain’t it common courtesy to know your work partner inside and out in all scenarios to ensure a good relationship?’
‘And who knows how it will go from there. Hehe.’ She giggled with her own thoughts before looking up.
Oh, and speaking of him.
Aether is a few meters away by one of the newspaper stands, taking a peek at the morning issue. It seems he too has some interest in reading.
Navia blinked a few times, making sure it’s him. “Huh, what a coincidence. I guess the odds are with me then.”
Looking back again to make sure her schedule is indeed free, she smiled wide once more as she got up, making sure to pass a tip or two to the cafe as she pushed her seat back and walked over.
The sun is out, and the air is warm; not too cold or hot. A perfect scene to have an enjoyable day out, no?
“Hey, Aether!”
“Huh? Oh, Navia. What’s up?”
“Nothing, I’m curious, are you free right now?”
“Yeah, I am. Just did my commissions and Paimon chose to spend her time taste testing the food here.”
“Oh perfect!”
“Eh?”
“Wanna hangout?”