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Two days nonstop he'd been searching the Chasm. Two days checking every sign, footprint, and clue. The glow of the Lumenstone was the only thing keeping his bleary eyes from closing. His determination was near its end. Every Fatui he tried talking to either attacked him or ran away. Every Electro particle got his hope up, only to lead him to an Electro Slime.
As he climbed a ridge towards another Fatui camp, Aether waved his white flag. In the distance, a stir ran out amongst the campers. The traveler was infamous among their ranks, a ghost story whispered to scare new recruits. Now, here he came waving a white flag. The Fatuis turned to their captain for orders.
"K-keep your weapons down." Voice cracking, he called out, "What do you want?"
Aether replied. "I just want to talk. I'm looking for an Electro Cincin Mage. Her name is Katarina Snezhevna."
A Cryogunner started. This did not escape Aether's attention.
"Please, have you seen her?"
The Cryogunner swallowed. Those amber eyes were every bit as horrifying as the stories said. Forget Baba Yaga, forget the Boogieman, this was what monsters looked like. The captain gave the man an encouraging nod.
"Y-yes. I ran into her on patrol. She looked bad, like she'd been in a fight. I tried bringing her back to camp, but she said she was looking for Nikolay. She went off."
Aether smiled, daring to hope. "Where'd she go? And how long ago was this?"
"Three days, I think. She went that way," he pointed down the waterlogged pathway leading into the darkness. "Hold on! There're Shadowy Husks that way! A whole army of them."
"I'll be fine! Thanks for the help!"
Aether sprinted off into the darkness, leaving the confused Fatui behind.
He went in deeper and deeper. The rocky tunnel gave way to ore deposits, iron chunks, and limp, unmoving forms. All around him lay injured and dying Shadowy Husks. Their black forms lay about with fallen hillichurls and Abyss Mages. Activating his elemental vision, he detected violet waves of Electro energy. A crash rang down the dark corridor. Just up ahead, elemental energy clashed violently.
Aether raced ahead. The narrow pathway wound around an overpass that overlooked a plateau. Down by the plateau's base swarmed a dozen Shadowy Husks. Their Hydro arrows rained down on the ledge, aiming for two solitary figures sheltering behind an outcrop.
Electric moths darted about, shooting electric blasts at the Husks. They were minor annoyances at best. The Husks mostly ignored them, as they pressed onwards towards a bloodied Fatui soldier and an all too familiar Cincin Mage.
Aether leapt into the melee, hurling elemental blasts and slicing every Husk in sight. The soldier and the Mage gaped.
"Aether?!" Katarina cried in a raspy voice.
He dealt with those monsters, but more were on the way. The Fatui soldier, Nikolay he presumed, had a broken leg fixed in a splint. Katarina could barely even stand. No way could he fight off the soldiers while protecting them.
Aether jumped onto the rocky ledge, hoisted the pair over his shoulders, and ran like hell. Arrows fell around him, peppering the cave floor in violent spurts. One struck him in the back. An Abyss Mage sent out Electro blasts that shocked him furiously. Cryo, Hydro, Pyro, and Electro attacks cascaded him. Katarina begged him to go, just leave her behind, but her voice like the pain was all too distant.
He ran and ran, until the cave fell behind them. Away from the hoard, he whipped out the Serenitea Pot and entered. He probably gave poor Tubby a heart attack when she saw him. The adeptus shrieked. "Aether, what in the world?!"
He raced inside and deposited his guests on the couches. Heaving with ragged breaths, the traveler faced Katarina. She stared up at him, the awe plain upon her expression. Her cheeks tinged a slight red, she floundered for something—anything to say.
Aether just smiled, "Finally…found you…Tubby, call Baizhu. Tell him we have guests who need help."
He got exactly three steps before collapsing.
Katarina let this Baizhu tend to her and Nikolay. Then, he turned his attention to Aether. His little assistant brought the traveler to a separate room, leaving her alone with Nikolay.
Katarina glanced out the window, relishing the sensation of sunlight upon her skin. Well, that Tubby fellow made it clear that wasn't the real sun. But still, after all that time underground, she wasn't picky. Nikolay was beside her now.
Orphaned at a young age, trained as child soldiers, their lives were never cushy. They always knew they'd die on the field. Fatui operatives seldom lived to retire in peace.
When she'd finally found him in the Chasm, hostage to those Husks, she hoped they might escape. Then those things surrounded them. Katarina had been prepared to die, taking comfort in the fact she would perish beside her comrade.
Then he came in, like a hero from one of her childhood fairy tales. He barreled through the army and rescued her, even though she was a Fatui, even though all her life nobody saw her as more than a tool. He nearly died for someone like her. An unfamiliar feeling had taken root in her chest.
Nikolay got up on his crutches.
"You're not seriously leaving like that?" she asked.
"Someone's got to report to Father. Besides," he said with chuckle. "I don't want to get in your way."
"My… excuse me?"
"Katarina, ever since we were kids, you've never cracked so much as a grin. Now, look at yourself. I've never seen you so radiant."
Katarina twirled a green strand of her hair, feeling her face heat up more and more by the second. "I'm sorry, Nikolay. I do care for you, but…"
"To be honest, K? I swing for the opposite team if you get my meaning."
He laughed, seeing her shocked expression. Then, she laughed too. Seems she didn't know her childhood friend as well as she thought.
"I'll be sure to write," she promised.
Once he departed, Katarina paced about the room. What did she do with all these new feelings? It would be so nice, just to take Aether and… Tubby came floating along. The adeptus gestured she sit on the couch. Tubby took out a journal and a pen.
The adeptus asked her several questions: her name, age, occupation, hobbies, life goals, any allergies. Katarina answered them each honestly—or as honestly as she could. Then Tubby asked, "How do you feel about Aether?"
"Huh?"
"Let's not beat around the bush. Do you love him?"
"I…I suppose so…"
"I thought so," said Tubby with a sigh.
"Is that a problem?"
"Yes and no. No because there is already a long list of women who love him, and yes because that means one more member to the UHA. I honestly have no reason to refuse you. If Aether agrees, you may become one of his girlfriends. But you must abide by this constitution."
The Adeptus handed her a document titled The Constitution of the United Harem of Aether. She read through it all. What particularly impressed her though was that among the women in this organization, it included Ningguang the Tainquan, fellow House of the Hearth agent Lynette, and even the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma. The traveler really got around.
Katarina got a little nervous. "Um, Miss Tubby…how do you know Aether even likes me?"
"Because he's never stopped searching the Chasm for you."
"But … would he even want me in this… harem… thing?"
"If you want in, that's enough. Believe me, Aether can act all noble, but the truth is he can't say no, especially when a beautiful woman is involved." Tubby took on a serious tone. "But if you do join, understand that his happiness is your priority. That's the promise all the women agreed to."
His happiness…The thought of making him happy gave her a warm feeling.
At that moment, Baizhu returned, his eyes narrowed with concern. Katarina's heart clenched in fear.
"I have good news and bad news, Tubby."
"What's the bad news?"
"The excess elemental energy has contaminated his body. It's poisoning him."
Katarina jumped to her feet. Baizhu raised a calming hand, motioning she sit back down.
"The good news," he continued, "is that there is a cure and it's easily attainable. But that leads into more bad news. This cure is not something I can prescribe."
"What does he need?"
"Sex. A lot of it."
Silence. Baizhu adjusted his glasses, clearly uncomfortable.
"I can arrange for some 'help'. I'm sure someone would be willing to assist."
"That won't be necessary," said Tubby.
"But…"
"Trust me, Dr. Baizhu, it won't be a problem whatsoever. Why don't you go home? I'm sure you have lots of patients who need assistance."
More than a little confused, the pharmacist left the Teapot. Tubby extracted a wooden token from her sleeve. She rubbed it. The black line indentations around the token flickered a golden hue.
Tubby then turned to Katarina. "They'll be here soon. Just a warning: stay away from a pink-haired shrine maiden. She's the most dangerous one."
"Is she really that strong?"
"I said the most dangerous, not the most powerful. There is a difference. But on that note, you should also generally try to avoid angering the Electro Archon and a white-haired woman who wears red ropes. Just, trust me on this one."
Katarina lay on the foot of the bed feeling moderately disgusted with herself. Maybe that was because she just participated in an orgy with 44 other women. Maybe it was because those 44 other women now slept all about her. Maybe Katarina was disgusted by the fact she let a Mirror Maiden sit on her face or that against her better judgement, she let that Miko shove something up her butt.
Still, Aether was more than worth it. Gods, her body still hummed delightedly, remembering his touch. As the latest member of the UHA, she came last. By then, she didn't see how the poor man could go any further. But miraculously, he took her gently by the hand, guiding her through all the motions until it felt good.
That, she would never regret.
Best of all, he was more than willing to go another round with all of them. He made love with them in the ways each of them liked best until the trash can overflowed with condoms. Aether loved them all, with all his being—not just as lovers, but as his friends. Genuinely, he treated each of them with so much tender compassion it honestly scared her.
Love. Katarina wasn't sure she'd ever truly known it until now.
"Kat?" he whispered.
Shyly, she inched her way up to him, slipping through the other sleeping women. She found a comfortable nook where she could lie down beside him. His chest touched the swell of her bosom. He would've slipped his hands around her, except both were being cuddled by Ayaka, Keqing, Nilou, and Furina. So, she snuck her arms around his neck and brought herself in closer. He gently kissed her forehead.
"I never stopped looking for you. Somehow, somehow, I knew you were still alive."
"Why?" she whispered. "Why did you come back for me? I'm your enemy."
He frowned, confused by the question. "If someone needs help, you help them. That's just common sense. Your life is important, Katarina."
Such simplistic naïve bravery… Once again, she fell for him.
"I love you," she said before she fell into a deep sleep.
The UHA Grows, Article By Charlotte
This morning, the UHA formally inducted its newest member Katarina Snezhevna, an Electro Cincin Mage who works with the House of the Hearth. Tubby held the initiation ceremony this morning, with Justices Neko, "Painter" Deniro, Aeval, and the Duel Saint of Cats Prince.
Aether rescued Katarina and her friend from the Chasm, putting his own life in jeopardy. This act of heroism, for many in the UHA, demonstrated his sincere affections for her. Moreover, this rescue mission set up the UHA for a wonderful evening with Aether. As such, the women were more than pleased to welcome her into the UHA.
A slight point of contention came up when Xianyun mentioned Katarina's previous relationship with Aether last night violated a provision of the 23rd Amendment barring non-UHA members from intercourse with the traveler. However, Tubby dispelled this concern by explaining she had informally invited Katarina to the UHA before said relationship took place. Xianyun retracted her objection, though not without concerns.
Soon after, a Cryo Cincin Mage joined the UHA. Like her Mirror Maiden counterpart, nobody knows her name or how she got in the Teapot. Some expressed concerns, but Yae Miko simply laughed, stating, "More Fatui foot soldiers in the UHA? I see this as an absolute win. Oh, the things we can do."
Shortly afterwards, President Tubby signed an executive order banning Yae Miko from having a four-way with Aether, Katarina, the Cryo Mage, and the Mirror Maiden. "I'd rather stop a disaster than clean up the aftermath," explained the President. Yae Miko has filed a lawsuit alleging this law unfairly targets her as an individual and that the President overstepped her authority by signing it. A panel of judges shall be assembled next week to deliberate.
Nikolay had been sweating at the door for a long time. When at last his leader bade him enter, he limped inside on his crutches. The boss sat in her chair, facing the window, her countenance grim.
He recounted the mission and the last-minute rescue by their unexpected ally. The Knave listened, not saying so much as a word. He told her about his correspondence with Katarina who had taken the traveler as a lover, about the bizarre group of women who shared him. Her face did not stir even once, so he couldn't tell if she was angry, upset, or just bored. By the time he finished, his voice had gone hoarse. He swallowed his own spit to parse it. The resulting sound was something like a gulp.
The Knave arose from the desk, affixed him in her crimson gaze, and surrendered a slight smile—the greatest admission of affection she could muster. "You and Katarina have done well. I'd expect no less."
In an unprecedented sign of warmth, she lay a hand upon his shoulder. "I'll have the cook prepare you a meal. Get some rest."
"What would you have me do next, Father?"
"Nothing. You've earned a vacation. Dismissed."
With a bow, Nikolay departed.
Alone, the Knave paced about. Once again, the traveler saved her children. Seems she really did owe him a debt of gratitude. Well, never the matter, there were larger concerns now.
She stroked her chin, a wicked grin forming on her lips. The United Harem of Aether… intriguing, most intriguing indeed.