Chapter Text
Constellations embody the destiny of those they are linked to. This notion was a familiar refrain to Aether, yet it never quite settled within him.
Always attuned to their whispers, he listens intently. They speak to him, and in turn, he responds—seizing every opportunity presented. During his extended slumber, fraught with haunting visions, they were his sole companions. It was in those moments that the stars sang to him, a gesture he deeply cherished.
In Teyvat, the stars bore a different demeanor—subdued, so hushed. It required time for him to discern that they found solace in conversation only when united, when they coalesced into a constellation.
The first star he conversed with resembled a feline, its speech elusive, requiring him to climb to the rooftop of the Cat's Tail to discern its whispers clearly. Calling itself Feles, Aether noted its hues mirroring those of a Cryo Vision. Reluctantly, he departed after a while, mindful not to disturb the slumber of any unsuspecting Citizen.
Upon his return to their temporary abode, Aether found Paimon still peacefully ensconced in slumber.
The night's encounter led him to the realization that while the stars indeed spoke, comprehending their language proved challenging—it likely posed a similar difficulty for them to grasp his words. Constellations, on the other hand, offered a more accessible means of communication and understanding. What puzzled Aether was the stars' timidity and the potential significance of the Cryo hue; perhaps, he mused, Visions held a clue to this enigmatic connection.
The following night, Aether sought out another constellation. Sensing Feles' reluctance to converse and mindful of not disturbing the newly won trust of the city.
He ventured to one nestled near a grand tree and a Statue of The Seven. This constellation bore the hue of an Anemo Vision, taking the form of a youthful figure. Eager and willing to engage, they introduced themselves as Carmen Dei. Aether spent a considerable amount of time in conversation, even posing inquiries about the Teyvat's stars. Eventually, he bid farewell, his heart content and mind enriched.
With newfound clarity, Aether grasped the interwoven connection between the stars, the will of Teyvat's people, and the holders of Visions. Satisfied with the revelations gleaned, he continued his conversations with the constellations encountered on his journey. It was not long before he discerned that he had conversed with the constellations of Diona and Venti, respectively. Curiosity lingered as to whether they were aware of these exchanges. Certain cues led him to believe that Diona likely remained unaware, while Venti, possibly due to his status as an Archon, seemed to possess an understanding of these dialogues.
Apart from Venti, Aether kept his newfound ability a secret from all others. He also learned to distinguish the constellations of the Archons, deciding it would be peculiar to engage with them. This, in his view, was best avoided.
A sense of melancholy settled over Aether as he realized the stars that serenaded him during his slumber were no longer present. Nevertheless, the new constellations proved intriguing, revealing subtle patterns:
Geo Stars exuded perseverance and politeness.
Anemo Stars displayed dedication and a usual calmness.
Electro Stars were marked by their exceptional and unique traits.
Hydro Stars seemed fixated on particular conversation topics.
Pyro Stars emanated passion and energy.
Cryo Stars often struggled to open up, their demeanor closed off to Aether's attempts at conversation.
Dendro Stars, wise and full of wisdom, seldom allowed Aether the chance to speak, leaving him content to listen and learn from their insights.
While not every constellation adhered strictly to these observed patterns, deviations were so infrequent that they appeared as isolated occurrences. A notable instance took place in Inazuma, where Aether encountered a Cryo constellation resembling a Snow Crane. Startled, he yelped in surprise as the constellation swiftly approached him, drawing remarkably close. Despite this unexpected encounter, its appearance was nothing short of fabulous and delicately intricate.
The constellations were all different, but that wasnt a bad Thing at all.
In Fontaine, Aether engaged in conversation with a Pyro constellation named Felis Fuscus—an unmistakable feline figure. Curiously, he inquired if Felis knew of Feles, to which the constellation replied in the negative. Impressed by Felis' appearance, Aether couldn't help but compliment the stars on their artistry, noting how the constellation's pattern resembled a finely crafted hat.
As the time to return to his Serenitea Pot drew near, Felis requested his presence again the following day—a request Aether gladly accepted. On the next visit, he noticed an Anemo constellation trailing alongside Felis. The Pyro Stars introduced the companion as Felis Alba, and Aether immediately recognized the representation. Engaging in extensive conversation, Aether found himself spending a considerable amount of time with the two constellations.
Yet amidst the lively exchange, a twinge of sadness tugged at Aether's heart. The constellations stirred memories of his sister, a sentiment he kept close to his chest, unspoken yet keenly felt.
Aether felt a jolt of surprise at an unexpected interruption. He had spent countless nights conversing with the stars, confident that his solitude was undisturbed. Yet, as fate would have it, it seemed that tonight was the night when someone else stumbled upon his secret.
"Traveler?" The voice, belonging to Neuvillette, resonated from behind the Fountain of Lucine. In an instant, the constellation resting in Aether's palm trembled and vanished. Aether turned to face the newcomer, feeling a nervous energy coursing through him.
"Oh. Neuvillette," he replied, his hand instinctively moving to rub the back of his neck in a gesture of unease.
"I mean not to doubt your abilities, Traveler," Neuvillette began, stepping closer to stand beside him. "But is it not dangerous to your sleeping schedule to be up this late?"
Aether hesitated, his mind scrambling for an excuse. However, he knew he was a terrible liar, and his voice trailed off before he could conjure up a convincing response.
"Hm," Neuvillette continued, observing the quiet surroundings. "I believe that I heard your voice as I approached. Were you speaking with someone?"
Aether sighed, realizing that it might not be such a terrible thing to share his secret with Neuvillette.
Aether's gaze shifted to the constellation hovering above them, its ethereal presence casting a gentle glow upon the scene. With a calm gesture, he raised his hand, imbuing it with elemental energy, reaching out to the constellation that watched them from above.
"Don't worry, he means no harm. Can we keep talking?" Aether spoke, addressing both Neuvillette and the celestial being that gazed down at them. Slowly, the constellation descended from the sky, landing once more in Aether's outstretched hand.
Turning to Neuvillette, Aether explained, "I was conversing with this constellation. You startled me."
Neuvillette stared in disbelief, clearly taken aback. "This is rather unusual. I have never seen such an ability," he remarked, his curiosity piqued.
Aether chuckled lightly, motioning for Neuvillette to draw closer. "Its name is Leviathan. I'm not sure if you'll be able to hear it..."
Neuvillette fell silent, his gaze fixed on the constellation now resting comfortably in Aether's palm. Aether noticed the change in Neuvillette's demeanor.
"Is something wrong?" Aether inquired, his voice filled with curiosity as Leviathan shifted contentedly in his hand.
"How long have you been talking to this one?" Neuvillette asked, his tone contemplative.
"Since I first arrived in this part of Fontaine. Leviathan is quite polite," Aether replied with a warm smile.
Neuvillette hummed thoughtfully, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "I'm sure it appreciates your company. Say... would you be so kind as to keep talking to it?" His voice held a softness that surprised Aether.
"Oh, sure, no biggie," Aether responded, touched by Neuvillette's unexpected request.
Neuvillette smiled warmly and stayed for a bit longer, the atmosphere now filled with a sense of shared understanding. As he eventually bid his farewell, Aether couldn't shake off the feeling of the strange yet comforting interaction they had shared.
Later on, Aether discovered whose constellation was that.
=========================================================================================================
In the serene ambiance of the Grand Narukami Shrine in Inazuma, Aether found himself conversing with a familiar constellation. He knew exactly to whom it belonged.
"Vulpes, that is a beautiful name for a beautiful constellation like you," Aether remarked softly, using gentle strokes of electro energy to pet the fox-like constellation resting in his hand.
The constellation seemed to revel in the attention, its form shimmering with a pleased aura.
"You also seem to be very imposing. I haven't spotted any other constellations around the Shrine's sky. You're the boss around here, huh?" Aether continued, offering praises that seemed to be met with gratitude.
The constellation nodded in agreement, its presence exuding a sense of authority and majesty. Before Aether could say another word, a voice interrupted from behind.
"Well, well, well, what are you doing around here at this hour, little one?" The voice belonged to none other than Miko, and Aether could sense the peace of the moment about to be disrupted. However, the constellation remained unperturbed, and Aether turned to face Yae Miko, holding the celestial being in his hand.
"Hm? What is that?" Yae asked, her gaze fixated on the constellation resting in Aether's palm.
"Oh. It's... It's a friend," Aether replied, deciding to keep the details vague.
Yae chuckled, her amusement evident. "A friend, you say?" she cooed teasingly.
"A friend," Aether affirmed with a playful smile, the constellation shimmering softly in his hand.
The tranquility of the night was soon replaced by Yae Miko's flood of questions. She seemed intrigued by the idea of Aether conversing with the stars, even hinting at using it as inspiration for a novel. Aether found himself bombarded with inquiries, a mix of curiosity and amusement in Yae's eyes.
=========================================================================================================
"WHAT?! Why have you never told Paimon that you can talk to stars?!" Paimon's voice rang out suddenly, breaking the flow of his current conversation.
Aether chuckled at the unexpected outburst. "I just never thought it mattered," he replied with a shrug.
The last one to know his secret was Paimon, who seemed both surprised and offended at the revelation.
"What do you mean?! Paimon would have never guessed!" she exclaimed, hovering closer to inspect the constellation on Aether's hand “Is it talking to you right now?”
"No," Aether chuckled, gently holding the constellation out for Paimon to see. "Why would my constellation talk to me?"
Paimon seemed genuinely taken aback. "Well, if I had a constellation, I would talk to it all the time!" she declared.
Aether's interest was piqued by her enthusiasm. "What if I make you a constellation?" he offered with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Paimon's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can do that?!" she gasped, clearly amazed.
"Come closer, let me see what I can do..." Aether said, his voice filled with a sense of curiosity.
With a gentle touch, the constellation in Aether's hand dissipated, and he set to work on crafting a constellation for Paimon. If he had access to his sealed powers, the task would have been simpler, but he relied on the elemental energy available to him.
"There you go," Aether said proudly, presenting the newly made Paimon-looking constellation to the floating companion.
"Oooooh!" Paimon exclaimed, delightedly grabbing the constellation. "Hi, little Paimon! Paimon's name is Paimon!" she said with excitement.
And yet, to Paimon's dismay, the constellation remained unmoving and silent.
"Uh, Aether? Paimon thinks it didn't work..." Paimon said with disappointment evident in her voice.
Aether chuckled at her reaction. "Of course you would say that... This constellation is simply an amalgam of many kinds of elemental energy, so it does not know how to act," he explained.
Paimon hummed in understanding. "So... What Paimon is holding right now is just a... Farse of a constellation?"
"I guess you could say that," Aether replied with a grin, the two of them sharing a moment of lightheartedness.
As the night wore on, Paimon eventually gave up on trying to interact with the constellation and returned it to Aether.
"Paimon is tired! I don't need to talk to any constellation anymore!" she declared, clearly distressed.
Aether laughed softly, dissipating the elemental energy he had used to create the constellation.
"Oh? And why is that?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Because!" Paimon started, her voice a mix of playfulness and sincerity, "Paimon knows that they disappear once the night goes away."
Aether's expression softened at her words. "But Paimon won't need to talk to any constellation as long as Paimon has you," she continued, her tone earnest.
Aether felt a warmth spread through him at Paimon's words. "Hey, Paimon?" he began.
"What is it?" Paimon asked, floating closer to him.
"Thank you," Aether said simply, his voice filled with gratitude.
Yeah, maybe he wouldn't hear the stars that sang to him during his nightmares anymore. But that was okay. There were people willing to stay by his side, and that was better than any song he could ever hear. With Paimon beside him, Aether knew he would never truly be alone.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In ages past, when stars were young and bright,
A god of light emerged from cosmic night.
With hands that wove the tapestry of space,
He birthed the constellations, each a grace.
Upon the canvas of the velvet sky,
His artistry in twinkling lights did fly.
From Orion's belt to Draco's winding tail,
His celestial children, a timeless tale.
But fate, capricious as the swirling stars,
Cast shadows on this god, his realm and ours.
A curse befell him, deep and dark as night,
A slumber filled with nightmares, endless fright.
For five long centuries, he lay in chains,
In dreams of sorrow, where no light remains.
Yet through the void, his constellations wept,
Their shimmering songs in silence kept.
Cassiopeia's lilt, a mournful sigh,
And Lyra's melody, a soft goodbye.
The Pleiades in gentle harmony,
And Ursa Major's roar, a symphony.
Each night they danced across the inky dome,
Their radiant forms a celestial poem.
A chorus for their fallen god of old,
Their love and loyalty, a tale untold.
Then one celestial eve, a spark of dawn,
A glimmer in the dark, a hope reborn.
The god awoke from slumber's heavy chain,
His constellations' love his strength regained.
With radiant light, he broke the curse's hold,
And filled the heavens with a blaze untold.
Once more he weaved the stars in cosmic flight,
The god of light, returned from endless night.
Now in the night sky, his constellations gleam,
A testament to love that reigns supreme.
For even gods may fall, yet rise again,
And in their darkest hour, find a friend.