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Name: Jeht.
Occupation: Mercenary.
Remains bright and cheery despite her traumatic life. Having experienced those hardships alongside the Traveler, their emotional connection runs deep. She's always longed for a place to belong. Therefore, being in the UHA surrounded by loving people is beneficial for her wellbeing. Unlikely to cause chaos in the group she sees as family.
Jeht lay beneath the tattered tent, staring at the night sky as the last ebbs of her life faded. Her throat was so dry it cracked whenever she swallowed. The hunger in her belly was a gnawing, all-encompassing pain. Her injuries from the Consecrated Beast had not healed properly and she'd lost too much blood.
This really was the end.
Life really did flash before your eyes. Now, she relived every moment. Her father Jebrael and her mother Ulfairah telling her stories of the Eternal Oasis. Her mother's murder. Her father's sacrifice. Being welcomed into the Tannit tribe by Matriarch Babel, only to be betrayed in the end. Wandering the desert homeless and alone, unwelcome wherever she went. Hunting down Masseira with a mercenary troupe, only to watch them abandon her when the Consecrated Beasts attacked.
Not the best life honestly. But it had its moments. Benben and Tirzad and Paimon and Aether…Sweet, kind Aether. She saw his face clear as day hanging over her. His voice calling out her name. She was grateful. At least, she'd die thinking of him. Her closest friend. The one man she could've loved.
His face came closer to hers, riddled with concern.
"Jeht! Jeht, I found you!" It seemed like such a funny thing to say. She would've laughed, had she the strength. Aether pressed a canteen to her lips. "Take slow sips."
She obeyed her mirage. To her surprise, water cascaded down her throat. Real and cold and revitalizing. She suckled the bottle, swallowing gulps of that life bringing liquid. Jeht blinked once then twice.
Aether and Paimon were here. This wasn't a dream.
She lacked the strength to speak. But she managed a dim smile. At least, he'd be here in her final moments.
She had spurts of consciousness where she saw the most remarkable dreams. Aether picked her up and carried her to a castle in the clouds, laying her on a vast bed. Black out. A green-haired doctor with a talking snake treated her injuries. He and his little zombie child stitched her wound closed and spoon-fed her a broth. Black out. Someone stuck a tube into her vein which pumped a crimson liquid into her body. So weird…
Her eyes blinked open. She was in a room she'd never seen. It looked like Sumeru style furnishings modeled after Gandhara Ville residences. She was in a bed. Jeht never slept in an actual bed before. It felt odd after all her years sleeping on the sand.
Her Eremite clothes had been exchanged for a silky nightgown. By King Deshret, she never wore anything even this remotely soft. The wound from the Consecrated Beast had been stitched closed and bandaged. Touching it now gave her only a slight pain.
Benben lay at the foot of the bed. As she sat up, her companion chirped and came awake. It let out a series of happy sounds, bouncing with uncontainable joy. She stroked her robot's frame. Odd. His old, rusted parts had been swapped for shiny parts. Benben sounded better than ever.
Benben wasn't the only one to change. Her hair had been let down and groomed clean. A bowl of stew lay atop the nightstand along with water in a glass. Maybe this really was the Golden Slumber.
The door opened and a sweet voice said, "Ah, you're awake." A blue finch in a massive porcelain teapot floated into the room. Her mom and dad never mentioned one of those in the Golden Slumber. Jeht gawked, totally speechless as the odd creature floated to her bedside.
"Good morning. I'm sure you have a lot of questions, so please let me explain. My name is Tubby. I am an adeptus who serves Aether, who is currently out working on commissions. This is the realm within, Aether's home, which is located inside a teapot. You've been asleep for almost a week. Yes, you can leave at any time, but I wouldn't recommend it until you fully recover. Did I miss anything?"
Jeht blinked. For several seconds, she didn't speak.
Finally, she said, "How are you flying?"
"Magic."
"Really?"
"Well, it's more complicated than that, but I'm not qualified to teach a class on aeronautics."
"Huh. Okay. So…we're inside a teapot. How does that work?"
"Magic."
Jeht nodded.
The adeptus reached into its pot and produced Jeht's garbs, which had been washed and sewed up in several places. Tubby gave her the clothing, bowed, and departed. Before closing the door, Tubby muttered, "Another woman…Perfect."
Jeht changed into her Eremite attire. She stumbled out into the foyer. There were kitchen tables set up around a fireplace, along with furniture and knickknacks from every nation.
She wandered outside. The mansion rested on one of six islands floating in a sea of clouds. Buildings from nations she'd never seen stood all around her: pagoda roofed temples, giant windmills, three storied courthouses… and that was just on this one island. Her mouth hung open. She didn't realize Aether was this rich.
Jeht sat down on the front step, doing her best to take it all in. Nope, still too much, and she'd seen the Eternal Oasis.
"Sure is something, huh Benben?"
Her companion let out a bunch of chirps and whistles.
"Yeah, I can't believe it either."
Benben bobbed up and down. Jeht had to giggle. Her buddy just had a way with words—well, with feelings anyways. Benben grew somber. His parts rattled in a more serious, grave tone. Ironically, he asked the exact question she'd been asking herself since Matriarch Babel. What will we do now?
Once more, she had no answer. At least, no answer that sounded remotely satisfying.
"We could get back to hunting Masseira…"
Benben squawked in alarm. Hunting Masseira got them into trouble to begin with. She'd followed his tracks, like a total idiot, into that cave of Consecrated Beasts. Perhaps, she could pick up the trail again. But she needed an army, and those cowardly traitors she called her troupe were probably all gone now—not that she wanted them back.
Masseira was a dead end.
Far off in the square, a fountain casted a rainbow refraction. She thought it beautiful. The desert never had anything like that. So many things she'd never seen—that she would never have seen if she died.
Maybe she'd stay here a while longer. Regather her strength and plan her next move. That didn't erase the big question. What next?
"Why, Benben? Why are we still going?"
Her companion whirred. The question was a little beyond her android's capabilities.
Aether treated her very well. Every night he'd make her a home-cooked meal and they'd just talk. As her strength improved, they'd spar. She knew he was holding back. Not that she could beat him even at full strength. Routine kept her mind occupied. She didn't have to consider the "What next."
He helped her find a little house in Gandharva Ville. There, she took up odd jobs helping the forest rangers wherever she could. At night, she'd visit Aether using that realm dispatch and he'd cook her a meal. Sometimes, his other friends would show up and share the meal. Everyone in Gandharva Ville and the Teapot treated her so kindly it surprised her.
One afternoon, Aether invited a fellow Eremite warrioress. Brown hair, crimson tassels, golden pauldron…and one seriously ripped body. She watched Jeht go through her usual sparring routine. When they finished, this woman got up and approached her.
"Name's Dehya. Interested in a job?"
Dehya took her out on an escort mission. They just had to protect a caravan traveling through the desert. Easy enough, and it would pay well. Plus, having people beside her was nice.
A few hillichurls attacked, but they were no match for the band.
Soon enough, they arrived in Sumeru where their client paid Dehya the agreed upon sum. The captain divided the Mora between her comrades. Once they got their share, each one raced to the tavern, ready to splurge. When Dehya gave Jeht her share of the Mora, Jeht counted the coins and went pale. This couldn't possibly be correct—this much?
"Take it," said Dehya. "Think of it as your advance for next time."
Reluctantly, Jeht pocketed the Mora. Dehya gestured to a café.
"Hungry?"
They split the tab for their meal. It was the single best thing she'd tasted in years. She belched, getting odd looks from the Academia students. Dehya let out an earthshaking belch. They both laughed.
Later, she returned to Aether's teapot. He had dinner waiting for her. He asked her all sorts of questions about her day. This was nice. After everything, the opportunity to just sit down and talk was honestly wonderful. She didn't have to think about her past or beyond the next day. Only here and now mattered. Honestly, she wouldn't mind if every day went like this. Actually, she'd love it if this were her life. Just the two of them, forever…
Jeht went to bed that night, relishing the idea.
On the day when Tubby Stopped the Second Archon War:
Jeht faced off against one seriously determined Kokomi. The katars trembled in her hands. Kokomi was always so kind to her. She gave her tea, talked with her, and treated her with respect. And here they were, seconds from brawling over him. She already slew one family. She couldn't go through that again. No matter how much she wanted Aether, she couldn't…
"Kokomi…I…"
She had started when Tubby floated into the center of the melee and made her speech. One by one, every woman laid down their weapons. Jeht and Kokomi threw down their weapons together. Then, Tubby made a truly radical proposal. Rather than battle and compete for Aether's affections, they ought to share him. Incredibly, every woman present agreed.
Keqing said, "Um, there's still a problem. Who gets him first?"
Tubby produced a box and announced, "You shall draw lots. Come up one at a time. You get one chance and no takebacks."
A dozen other girls went before her. Keqing and Ayaka stomped away, holding last place lots. Meanwhile, Amber and Collei got into the top ten. She knew she wouldn't get the first-place lot—the lucky maid Noelle drew that one—but she'd be satisfied just to be number twenty. Walking up to Tubby, Jeht felt a bundle of nerves. But Tubby, with a kindly smile, offered her the box. Jeht reached inside and seized the first item she touched. She pulled out the token, riddled with apprehension.
On the token was a single number. 2. Jeht had to rub her eyes. 2. This must be a mistake. These other girls had visions or were literal gods, but somehow, she—a nobody from nowhere—got second place? She couldn't believe it. But there it was: 2.
Jeht staggered away, lost in shock. Everything else flew by in a blur; Yae Miko's very public outcry at getting last place, drafting the Constitution, and returning to her room. All the while, Jeht could barely think. All she could do now was hold the token to her chest and try not to squeal.
Jeht woke up to the smell of Aether's cooking. She rolled out of bed and pounced on him, nuzzling her cheek into his wonderful, broad back. His chest was rock solid, and his skin was so warm. She would've been happy just holding him forever.
"Hey, easy!" he chuckled. "I don't want to drop the pan."
She gave him a quick peck and hastened to her seat. Aether served her fluffy pancakes that just melted in her mouth. They were incredible—more delicious than anything she'd ever tasted in the desert.
"So," he said with a smile, "what do you want to do?"
There were two things she wanted to do with Aether—three if you counted sex. Fifty if you counted how many ways she wanted sex. But those two things had to come first.
"Aether? I want to visit dad."
So, the pair made the trip through the desert back to the Eternal Oasis. It remained just as lovely as she remembered. Blooming green, with waterfalls and animals frozen in place.
Hand in hand with Aether, Jeht walked atop the pond, which was neither wet nor solid. On the solitary island, they paused before the three wooden seats. Out of respect, Jeht bowed to all three chairs. She knew the stories. King Deshret had preserved this single moment in eternity as a cemetery for the Goddess of Flowers. Hopefully, the King wouldn't mind their visit.
"Um…Jeht… do you want some privacy?"
"Not yet."
Onwards, they crossed until they stood before her father's axe laying against a tree.
"Hey dad," she said. "It's been a while."
She placed a goblet before the axe. Aether handed her a wine flask. Crimson liquid sloshed out in bubbles, filling the goblet up to its rim. There it settled, growing as still as the Eternal Oasis. She knelt, folding her palms in supplication.
Jeht told him everything: Babel's betrayal, her hunt for Masseira, her close touch with death. She told him about her new tribes—her Gandharva Ville neighbors and the UHA. Then, she gestured to Aether who knelt beside her. He adopted her prayer stance.
"Hello, Jebrael," he said. "I wish…I wish I could've asked for your blessing in person when I had the chance. Just know that I will protect your daughter, and make sure she has a happy life."
He bowed, pressing his forehead to the grass.
"Thank you for making Jeht. She's someone I love very much. Thank you for raising her to be a strong, selfless person. And thank you for saving my life." He raised his head. They knelt there in silence for a long time. Nothing stirred in the Eternal Oasis. Save their breaths, everything was silent. Finally, Aether got up.
"I'll give you two some space."
"Fine, I'll meet you at Gurabad."
Aether winced. A sorrowful look crossed his face. He knew what she wanted him to do. Wordlessly, he bowed to Jebrael one last time and left the Oasis. Jeht smiled.
"He's a good man. I'm really happy with him."
Her dad's voice seemed to respond. Well, he wouldn't have been my first choice for you, but your man seems good enough. Even now, she felt him, like she felt the sun on her neck. Always bright and warm, always watching over her with pride.
She traced the handle of her dad's axe. Her eyes glistened. "I love you, dad. I hope you and mom can see me. It's been a long, hard road, but I'm still here."
She studied her reflection in the axe blade.
"And dad? I know what comes next now. I'm going to live a full, happy life with my new tribe."
She started. There, reflected in the axe's metal blade, a second figure stood beside her. Jeht wheeled around. The Oasis was empty. The axe showed only one pair of eyes reflected at hers. And still, still she swore her dad's voice rang out over the Oasis. She wasn't alone. Not anymore.
Jeht knew she'd find him here. The traveler always stopped at the Ruins of Gurabad whenever he visited the desert. Always with a single Sumeru Rose tied to a falcon's feather. He knelt, placing the rose beside the black stone.
She came out from the ruins. Without a single word, Jeht lowered herself beside him and clasped his hand. Despite the somber expression, he managed a dim smile. His head came to rest on her shoulder. He let her hold him.
So many times he came here, and so many times she'd followed. Grief hurt, but nobody had to face it alone—that's what she learned from him.
There were no tears. Only the wind howling across the canyon. As the shadow of a falcon's broad wings fell over them, for just a moment, there was a third person beside them. The falcon's proud caw echoed, defiant to the cruel desert, and the falcon ascended, up across the vast blue sky.
Aether and Jeht returned to his Serenitea Pot. They spent the remainder of their day, not caring about Masseira or mourning all they had lost. Now, they made love and celebrated everything they had found in each other.