Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Observing a star, what does one see?

Observing Aether, what do you see?

---

“A dear friend,” Venti says, strumming his lyre, perched on the wall that surrounds the city he protects. “Aether is an outlander in which all stories trail after.”

Venti stops, his head tilts. He fiddles with a string, lightly twisting it between his fingers. “Tragedy follows in the wake of him,” he ends up saying, quiet enough that the wind could not make out the words. “I don’t think he’s been given much, here.”

“All in all,” Venti explains, facing the sky as the wind rushes past. “A star trapped on Teyvat, is the best way to put it, I suppose.”

---

Albedo’s head tilts. “He’s interesting. There’s something about Aether that just makes you want to investigate further.”

He shovels some snow into a bucket, setting it over a fire. “He’s an outlander, so his perspective on Teyvat is significantly different from us. The way he interacts with the world is significantly different from the rest of us.”

He pauses. There’s a flicker of Geo rolling across his fingers as a small flower forms in his hands. “He’s the only one to suggest that all life came from the sea, after all.”

---

Zhongli ponders the question, a teacup raised in his hand. “Aether is rather knowledgeable. He enjoys the natural sciences.” He ends up saying, gazing into his tea.

“He has no real interest in history, unless it concerns humanity. He holds no regards for gods and the immortals that surround them.” He then says, smiling slightly. “It’s a little blasphemous, don’t you think?”

He chuckles, as if laughing at some private joke. The earth beneath trembles only a little bit, as if laughing with him. “He’s the kind of boy to dig for any kind of loopholes in any contract given to him. I suppose that keeps him traveling, going further than anyone has gone before.”

---

“The traveler, Aether, right?” Ganyu asks you, her arms full of quingxin flowers. She takes a petal and nibbles on it thoughtfully, her eyes wandering. “He’s a great help around Liyue Harbour.”

She pauses in her nibbling, frowning suddenly. “Although I don’t think he knows how to ask for things for himself. He’s always moving, never stopping.” She says, crushing the petal between her fingers.

“Selflessness is a virtue, I’m sure,” Ganyu says, her eyes downcast. “But for someone like Aether, it is nothing more than a fatal flaw.”

---

“One knows of Aether, yes.” Xianyun says, legs crossed as she sets a tea cup down. “One believes that he would make an excellent student – he is always willing to learn.”

Her eyes flick to the side, question. “One knows that he does not offer himself much kindness. If he were one’s disciple – oh, one would have rectified it immediately!” she says, small bits of rage biting at the tail end of her words.

But then her feathers smooth out, and she steadies herself, straightening her glasses. “So if one could use that Suspensus Somnium Mechanism to bring him a nicer dream, then what is preventing one from doing so?”

---

Xiao pauses in his movements, spoon halfway up to his mouth. “Aether? What do you wish to know?” he asks, before sighing, and setting the spoon of almond tofu back into the bowl. “I suppose I can share a few things.”

Xiao stares at his bowl, considering his next few words. “He’s reckless. He gets into situations where he gets hurt too often. I sometimes think he should call on me more often – I offered my name to him so I can protect him, not for him to keep it as a last resort,” he ends up saying, before leaning back in his chair so he can crane his neck to stare at the wood grain of the stairs he’s hiding under. “He’s too kind for someone like me. That’s his greatest flaw and strength – his kindness.”

There’s a silence that settles over him, a blanket smothering the conversation. “I don’t think it is allowed of me,” he begins, “But I am willing to make exceptions for him – so, I just wish he would call for me for anything. I promised him I would arrive, after all.”

---

“Aether is an eternal being,” Raiden Ei says, her head tilted thoughtfully to the side. “But he resents everything that it brings him.”

She has her hands in her lap, fingers laced together, dango forgotten in the wake of an interesting question. “He opposes what he thinks is unfair. He will support what he thinks is fair. His will is unwavering in that sense.”

Her eyes drift to an open window. The storm outside subsides, lighting no longer cracking across the sky. “It’s not wise to mark him as an enemy,” she says, watching the rapidly clearing sky. “For often he will retaliate the same.”

---

Yae Miko smirks, a hand covering her mouth as she snickers a little bit. “The traveller? Well he and his friend are both very fun to tease,” she says, eyes glinting. “All you have to do is make sure that their questions are answered at the end of whatever you have planned, alright?”

A finch flies close to an outstretched hand, a fox formed from Electro chases it. “It’s not that he’s trusting – quite the opposite in fact.” She explains, as the fox snaps the finch up in an instant. “He has so many questions, and not all of them have easy answers.”

Her smiles softens a fraction, and the electro fox vanishes under her hand. “And when you don’t provide those answers, just be prepared for him to dig out the truth anyways with his own two hands.”

---

Nahida stares up at you from where she is crouched in the grass, as her hands hover over a sprout. “Aether? He likes puzzles, if that’s what you’re asking?” she asks, before grinning. “But I’m guessing that’s not what you’re asking about, is it?”

She returns her gaze to the shoot beneath her hands, Dendro pouring from her fingertips. “Aether is a lot of things,” she ends up saying, a finger coming up to tap on her chin. “He’s like bird who flies forever. He’s like a hypostasis who’s only purpose is to learn more about the world.”

She pauses, as she closes her eyes in thought. “He’s a bit lonely, I think.” She ends up saying, as she stands up from the grass, dusting her dress off. “He has so many friends, but I think he misses someone else as well.”

---

“Ah, Aether,” Neuvillette says, pausing in his paperwork. “He’s not one to run afoul of the law, if that’s any concern.” He ends up saying, setting down a page.

“He has a love for humans,” he further explains, leaning back slightly in his chair. His gaze drifts to the window, watching the clouds begin to colour themselves a dark shade of grey. “He wishes to see them thrive, no matter who they are. It is an…admirable trait.”

Neuvillette’s eyes close, as the first drops of rain begin to splatter against the windows. “He seems tired, these days,” he whispers, and you can hear the sadness that undercuts it. “I do not think he knows how to stop.”

Chapter Text

Here, look – what do you see here?

Here, see – Aether was here all along, just fine.

---

“Oh! The Honorary Knight!” Klee exclaims, patting the dirt beneath her to hide away another stash of bombs. “Yeah, I know him!”

She jumps up onto her feet, not minding the new dirt stains on her knees. “He’s really cool! And sometimes he helps me explode things too!” She rocks on her heels, suddenly lost in thought. “Although last time he went fish blasting with me, it looked like he got scared of the really big explosions – so with him I have to use the smaller ones – which is still fun, because I get to hang out with him.” she says, grinning, her hands clapping together.

And then her eyes suddenly go wide and her hands slap over her mouth. “Please don’t tell Master Jean I went fish blasting again! Not only will I get in trouble, so will the Honorary Knight!”

---

“Hm?” Qiqi asks, fingers outstretched to collect a mint. “Who’s that…?”

She seems to ponder the question for a moment, before reaching for a notebook at her side and slowly flipping through the pages, before landing on a particular page and reading the words silently. “Oh. Aether – I remember now. He tried to find me a cocogoat. He also helped Doctor Bai.”

She hums, snapping her notebook shut. “He’s very warm – but it’s not a bad warm at all.”

---

“Oh, Aether, yeah?” Yanfei asks, her eyes wide. “I know of him! He hasn’t had a reason to use my services yet, but honestly, I’m a little bit glad for it. Means he’s not getting into any legal trouble, you know?”

She sets the law texts on the table in front of her, stretching her back out afterwards. “He likes reading – I gave him a bunch of textbooks once and every time I come to visit him, he’s always pouring through them. Guess that’s just how he likes to do things!”

She grins, and a flicker of flamer disappears around her fingers. “He’s clever, I’ll give him that! Always moving forwards, never looking back.”

---

“Are you talking about my homie, Aether?” Arataki Itto yells, grinning. “Of course I know him – he and I, we go way back! He helped me out of a jam, and I help him with everything he needs help with!”

Itto pulls out an Onikabuto, letting it sit still in his palm. “He even found this little guy, and he just gave it to me, just like that! Isn’t he just a swell guy?” He watches the beetle for a moment, entranced, before shaking his head out of whatever trance he put himself into.

“Anyways, if you see him, give him a holler from the Arataki Gang yeah?” he asks, setting the Onikabuto on his head. “Once a member, always a member!”

---

Kiara balances another box in her arms, her tails flicking behind her. “Aether? I know of him, everyone does, right? He gave me five stars for a delivery once – he really is great guy!”

And then she tilts her head, thinking. “He looks a bit tired these days though – like something is just dragging him down.” A tail flicks, as a thoughtful look passes her eyes.

“Maybe I should get all those delivery commissions people sometimes hand off to him!” she suddenly says, smiling. “Yeah! I’m going to help him out, however I can!”

­---

“You’re talking about that traveler, correct?” Kujo Sara asks as she neatly sets the bow back onto its rack. “He’s helpful, and he’s handy with a sword.”

She goes quiet for a minute, shutting her eyes in thought. “Although, I suppose you’re not asking about his martial prowess, are you?” Her eyes open, her gaze on a rack of practice swords on the far end of the training yard. “Then, if I am to be honest…” she begins quietly, staring.

There is a moment, two. And then: “I don’t think he wants to be on the battlefield, and yet understands that he must stand there, all the same.” She finally says, frowning. “I hope to never see the fallout from that.”

---

“Oh, that traveler, right?” Faruzan asks, looking up from the schematic spread across her desk. “Of course I know him – he’s quite the go-getting youngster, isn’t he?” She smiles, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “He often comes to find me when he’s stuck by particularly thorny ruin puzzles.”

She glances back down at the schematic on the desk, tracing a finger across a line. “I know he’s probably a lot older than me – he’s practically told me, with the amount of times something about Teyvat has thrown him off,” she murmurs, pausing along one line. “I told him that, once. Do you want to know what he did?”

Faruzan looks back up, her eyes searching. “He just laughed. And then, all he did was tell me that he’d rather prefer to be called a youngster then be treated as a senior.”

---

“Oh, him,” Umitsubame sneers, eyes narrowing. “What makes you think I know anything about that guy? It not like I go out of my way to hang out with him.” He then looks away, huffing. He rests his chin in a palm, staring out over Sumeru City.

“…He’s too forgiving, and keeps thinking everyone has the chance to change,” he says eventually. “And stupidly reckless. He’s going to get himself killed one day, and no one is going to be there to save him. Do you get it?” Umitsubame continues, tapping a finger against his cheek.

“Not that I care,” he adds, glancing back. “It’s just annoying, that’s all.”

---

Furina hums, picking up the dessert in front of her. “Aether…Ah, yes, I know of him!” she ends up saying, nodding. “He actually dropped by yesterday – said he wanted to drop off an experimental dessert he was trying out – something about upside down apple cake? It was delicious, I can tell you that much!” she exclaims, before pausing.

“He’s a bit like me, I think,” she says quietly, shadow passing over her face. “I think he gets it, 500 years of isolation. How much can change when all you can do is wait.” She continues, setting the plate in her lap.

She sighs, and turns her gaze to the cake in her lap. “Although for him, his waiting was mostly spent never knowing what could come next.”

---

Sigewinne tilts her head. “I don’t really know him that well,” she begins, setting her pen down. “But I guess I can give my first impressions when I first met him, would that work?” she asks, swinging her legs.

“He’s willing to put himself in harm’s way when he wants the truth,” she begins, her eyes drifting to the papers on her desk. “He doesn’t get angry very easily, and he always tries to dig into things nobody knew even existed.”

She drums her fingers against her desk, a thoughtful sound escaping her. “I think he’s not very good for studying humanity, but he’s very good for studying other, more complicated things,” she explains, pausing slightly. “Things like grief, and wanderlust.”

---

“The Traveler, right?” Tartaglia asks, wiping blood from his cheek with the back of his hand, as he drops the remains of a treasure hoarder at his feet. “Yeah, I know him plenty! He’s a good babysitter in an emergency – if he wasn’t there, I’d be lost at what to do when Teucer came to visit me in Liyue!”

A feral sort of grin creeps across his face. “He’s also extremely strong – I always get a rush fighting him.” he explains, before sobering. “Although I don’t think he particularly enjoys it. Fighting.”

Tartaglia sighs, scratching at the back of his head. “He doesn’t really fight for, like, the enjoyment of it.” He says, frowning. “It’s kind of just a means to an end, for him.”

---

Arlecchino’s eyes narrow as she considers the question. “The Traveler isn’t someone I know personally, but the Fatui takes great interest in his actions all the same,” she ends up answering, back straight in her chair. “My dealings with him, however, are far and infrequent.”

“The children do like him though,” she says, her gaze betraying nothing. “They think of him as a hero, or perhaps a kind person overall.”

“I do hope he’ll stand by us,” she finishes. “Although I am not naïve enough to believe that what he will certainly do, when the time comes.”

---

“He’s Paimon’s best friend!” Paimon exclaims, flipping in the air. She then looks behind her, where Aether was busy talking with a merchant on the streets of Sumeru. “But, if Paimon needs to be honest, he doesn’t take that many breaks.”

Her head tilts, her hands clasp together. “Paimon thinks he’s self-destructing, ever since…” she trails off, her gaze landing back on Aether. “Um, Paimon isn’t sure she should tell you…”

Her feet kick, her eyes are uncertain. “Paimon thinks…Paimon thinks you’re asking the wrong kind of questions.”

---

Dainsleif does a slow blink, trying to comprehend the question. “He’s willing to dig into the truth of this world, I’ll give him credit for that,” he begins, hands resting on the bar table. “He’s a good fighter too, despite what I’ve heard.”

He looks up at the ceiling, deep in thought. “His sister told me – he had a soft heart. That he couldn’t bear to hurt other living beings if it meant he could try and talk to them. To listen, to help.” He explains further, as if remembering a long-forgotten conversation.

“That information is probably outdated, anyhow,” he continues after a pause. “She hasn’t exactly seen him in the middle of a warzone yet after all.”

Chapter Text

So, what do you know of him?

You know, that strange outlander that appeared in Teyvat one day?

---

Amber fiddles with an arrow, thinking. “The Honorary Knight, right? Apparently I was one of the first few friendly faces he saw around here, which I think counts for something!” she says, grinning.

“He hasn’t dropped by Mondstadt in a while though,” she continues, closing her eyes in thought. “I think I saw him around at the last Windblume when Collei visited, but I think he kept mostly to the wild that time.”

“Well,” she finishes, shrugging with another grin. “I’ll be sure to treat him and Paimon to some sticky honey roast when they drop by again!”

---

“Ah yes, the Honorary Knight,” Kaeya begins, smiling across the table in Angel’s Share. “A reliable hand and always willing to help out is the knight’s official position on him.” he continues, before leaning forward.

“But that’s not what you’re after, is it?” he asks, before leaning back in his seat, fingers curling around his glass of wine. “You want to know what I think of him, don’t you?”

A moment of silence passes by, as Kaeya swirls his wine around. “He’s a good kid,” he ends up saying. “Just maybe we could all lessen the load on his shoulders, right?”

---

Lisa looks up from the book she was reading, a tea cup in her other hand. “Oh, the cutie, yes? He’s adorable, isn’t he?” she asks with a smile, taking a slow sip of her tea. “He likes to hide out in the library with his little fairy friend sometimes – it’s very cute to see them curled up in the corner with a good book.”

Her eyes drift to the aforementioned corner, where a steadily growing pile of blankets and pillows sits on an armchair. “Some days, he’ll get a migraine and he’ll take a nap in here. Paimon normally takes the opportunity to read quietly next to him.”

She has a fond smile as she leans back in her chair. “They’re always welcome in the library – I hope they’re getting all the rest they need.”

---

Barbara taps out a melody with her fingers, thinking. “He’s very kind. You can see him around just helping out, which I think is very nice of him.” she ends up saying, pausing in her melody. “Sometimes he comes around the church to scare off Albert when he gets a bit too excited.”

She presses her fingertips together, her head tilting. “He’s more prone to getting hurt these days, I think,” she says, her eyes downcast. “Sometimes he doesn’t come into the church to heal them either.”

“If you see him,” Barbara begins after a pause. “Make sure to tell him he’s welcome at the church for healing, anytime!”

---

“The Honorary Knight, right?” Noelle asks, her hands clasped in front of her. “I’ve actually had the fortune to meet him a couple of times – he’s such a kind man!”

A thoughtful look crosses her face, as she considers her words. “He’s always running about, never able to sit still. Always trying to help out wherever he can.” She explains further, smiling slightly. “I always make an effort to help him whenever I can!”

Her smile turns a little melancholier at the next words. “I know it might be a hypocritical of me to say this, but I hope he asks us for help in the future, too.”

---

“I do know Aether, yes,” Jean clarifies, setting the paperwork she was going over down on her desk. “Do you want to hear my opinion on him as the Honorary Knight, or as a person?”

She pauses for a minute, thinking over her words. “As the Honorary Knight, he’s brought a lot of good to Mondstadt. He’s willing to help out around here, and he’s always ready and able to lend a hand. If it weren’t for his shaky position, I would have inducted him into the knights if he wished.” She ends up explaining, reaching for a pen to fiddle between he fingers.

“As Aether, however…” she begins, trailing off. “…I suppose the best way to put it is that he has a place to stay, here at the Knights of Favonius, and yet he has never taken that offer. Not even once.”

---

Eula blinks slowly at the question. “He…doesn’t like crowds. That’s something I’ve observed about him,” she begins slowly, as if trying to savour the answer in her mouth. “If there is a crowd, he’ll hang back – as far as he can from pack as he’s able to stand.”

She traces the wood grain in the bar table. “The only time he’ll shoulder through a crowd is when his friends are the main show.” She continues. “If I were crueller, maybe I would have dragged him through.”

She suddenly scowls. “For him, vengeance doesn’t matter, and neither does status.” She says, her words sharp. “All he cares about is if you were a person worth witnessing.”

---

“Oh, um, the Honorary Knight, right?” Mika asks, fidgeting. “I don’t really know him all that well…I’ve only met him once or twice…”

“Um,” he starts again, wringing his fingers. “He’s really nice! He likes asking about my maps, which is pretty nice…he sometimes shares his own maps too!” he says, the words rushing out.

“I, um,” Mika stammers, trying to find the words. “I just think he’s really nice!”

---

Sucrose blinks once, twice before startling. “Oh, yes I know the Honorary Knight! He used to be a frequent visitor to the alchemy station in Mondstadt before he headed off to Liyue – but he’ll drop by from time to time to visit and check up on everyone.” She begins to explain, straightening her glasses. “He likes fiddling with the crafting bench sometimes.”

She finally dusts herself off, reaching for a flask on her desk. “Sometimes he’ll get frustrated when a reaction doesn’t occur in a way he thought would happen.” She continues, swirling the liquid in the flask around, peering at the contents. “Once I watched him hover over the crafting bench for a full hour, trying to get a certain reaction to occur. When it didn’t happen…” she trails off, pausing.

“He just got…a sad look in his eyes,” she ends up saying. “I overheard him asking himself why he even bothered to try.”

---

“I know him yes,” Diluc says, leaning against the bar of Angel’s Share. “Aether likes using my bar as somewhere to hide when it gets too much for him. He helps out by mixing drinks sometimes.” He explains further, before sighing.

“I think everyone else is putting too much of a burden on him,” he muses. “He doesn’t enjoy having to save a nation from ruin – whether it’s by themselves or by the Fatui. I stand by the reason that it shouldn’t have been his job in the first place.”

Diluc lets out another sigh, straightening himself back up. “But why would my opinion matter – I’m only just a winery owner,” he ends up saying, reaching for a glass. “All I can do these days is lessen his burden – and offer him a place to stay.”

---

Diona’s ear flicks once, twice, before she sighing, leaning back from her attempted capture of a frog. “Aether, right?, He’s visited the Cat’s Tail a couple of times.” She says, her head tilting. “He doesn’t actually play Genius Invokation though – you basically have to drag him into the game. He mostly just asks for whatever non-alcoholic drink I feel like making that day.”

She gets a grin, sharp and fierce. “Sometimes, he gives me ideas for really nasty drinks, especially for the ones made with alcohol!” she explains her grin growing wider. “Once, he even suggested frog spawn! The looks on those drunkard’s faces when they saw the glass was priceless!”

She rocks on her feet. “Sometimes he mentions weird things like some weird drink I’ve never heard of, or an ingredient that doesn’t exist,” she continues, returning her gaze to the former task of catching frogs. “It doesn’t really bother me, just as long as he never becomes one of those terrible booze hounds.”

---

Rosaria spins a knife around her finger, thinking. “He’s a bit soft, from what I’ve seen,” she begins, “Slow to anger, quick to forgive, that sort of thing.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” she says, sighing. “He’s good in a fight. Ruthless, and seems to want to end them faster. He’s got no opposition from me on that part.”

Her eyes narrow, as she finally catches the handle of her knife in her palm and studies the blade. “He’s just soft. That’s his only real issue.”

---

Bennett blinks, before grinning. “Yeah, of course I know him!” he says, before narrowly dodging a flowerpot that had just slipped from a balcony straight towards his head. “He’s an honorary member of Benny’s Adventure Team, and he doesn’t even mind my bad luck!”

He stumbles as he foot catches on the bottom step of the stairs, but he rights himself before his face meets the ground. “Even when it got really bad, he basically makes sure I don’t feel too bad about it!” he says, before he slips and lands on his butt. “Ouch!” he exclaims, before pushing himself back up.

“Well anyways,” he says, dusting himself off. “Even when we got stuck in that domain for hours last time, he didn’t even hold anything against me!”

---

Mona prods her astrolabe, thinking. “A murky future, that one,” she ends up saying, twisting the constellation between her hands. “You quite literally cannot divine his future the traditional way. His constellation has a thick layer of fog over it, as if hiding from our gaze.”

She pauses, considering her next words. “He doesn’t really consider it, the future. He’s said to me that all things must end one day, so he’ll concentrate on his present rather than his future.” She ends up saying, letting her astrolabe fade away. “It’s quite admirable, really.”

She smiles a little bit. “He also loves the stars,” she says, gazing up at a starry sky. “I think if he could, he would fly up there to lie among them.”

---

Razor blinks once. Twice. “Do you mean Aether? Razor knows him!” he exclaims, rocking on his heels. “He once helped my Lupical find more meat.”

Razor hums, thinking. “He also help Razor find out more about my mother and father. He also helps out in other places.”

Razor pauses in his rocking, watching a gap in the trees. “Razor hasn’t seen him lately though…wonder what he’s doing…”

---

“Ah yes, the knight from the stars!” Fischl exclaims, a hand on her chest, puffing up unlike a bird. “He has surely travelled across the celestial axis to arrive to this land, and I, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, the Sovereign of the Immernachtreich do readily welcome him here to this world!” she continues.

Oz, busts into existence beside her in a flash of electro. “My mein Fräulein means to say that we do know of Aether, yes. We’re quite good friends with him, we like to think.” He translates, landing on a nearby table.

Fischl nods in agreement, smirking. “Yes, it is as Oz says, and as fate decrees! Our meeting was decided, long ago!”

---

Xiangling grins, ear to ear. “Yeah I know Aether! He likes to visit the restaurant sometimes, and share whatever recipes he’s managed to pick up on his travels!” she says, laughing lightly. “Sometimes he helps out with the food deliveries too if I’m out ingredient hunting.”

“He likes making food, you know?” she asks, setting down a bowl. “He really enjoys cooking for other people, and giving them food. It’s a comfort for him when others are fed.”

She hums a tune, tapping the side of the bowl. “He told me once that he doesn’t really need to eat,” she says, her eyes bright. “But that just means I have to introduce him to a whole host of flavours!”

---

Xingqiu looks up from his book, placing a bookmark where he left off. “Ah, yes, the Traveler – you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of him.” he says, snapping his book shut and letting it fade away in a shower of golden sparks. “Most around Liyue will say he’s a hero. And many more wouldn’t disagree.”

A thoughtful look crosses his face. “He disagrees with the notion though – he’s of the mind that anyone would have helped if they came along,” Xingqiu says, gaze wandering. “He’s quite the selfless one.”

“A hero of justice, and yet all he wants to do is find his sibling,” Xingqiu finishes, content to leave the conversation at that.

---

Chongyun pauses writing out another seal, brush hovering over paper. “The Traveller…I know of him,” he manages to say after a beat of silence, as if feeling the words in his mouth. “I’ve met him a few times, but I don’t know him personally like Xingqiu.”

He leans back, stretching out his neck. “He’s pretty quiet,” he ends up saying, setting his brush down. “Most of the time, he just lets Paimon speak for him – I think social situations just make him uncomfortable.”

His eyes wander, ice forming on fingertips. “He’ll always tell me what happens when I suddenly get too, uh, heated.” He recalls. “Something about how keeping memories from me was unfair.”

---

“Yes, of course!” Hu Tao exclaims, sitting upside down in her office chair, hair spilling across the floor. “The traveler has made himself a visitor of Wangsheng Funeral Parlour a couple of times! He’s quite the fun person to be around!”

He legs kick in the air as she thinks. “He did tell me he’s never going to be a customer though, which is a shame,” she ends up recounting, fingers locking together to rest on her stomach. “Not from a fear of death though. A bit too long lived for that; he told me.”

She suddenly swings herself upright, sitting proper in her chair. She leans forward, her chin in her palm as she grins, just a little bit. “Yes, no fear at all! Only the understanding that everything dies, one day.”

---

Xinyan turns a peg on her guitar, think. “Yeah, I know the Traveler,” she ends up saying, playing a chord and reaching for the pegs again when it didn’t sound right. “He was there with Red in that domain I got stuck in when I visited Inazuma.”

“Doesn’t really have an ear for music,” she says, striking another chord. “Say’s he’s no good at it. Rather listen then play a song.”

She huffs, turning another peg. “I’ve heard him play something once though, on a harp he got as a gift from some event in Mondstadt.” She says, grinning. “I think it was some of his finer attempts at playing it.”

---

Yun Jin looks up from the script she was editing, a brush spinning around in her hands as she thinks. “The Traveler…he’s an interesting person, I can tell you that much.” She ends up saying, setting the brush down in favour of tapping her fingers against the table. “He’s appreciative of the arts, I suppose.”

Her head tilts, her gaze wanders. “Although he’s never interested in stories about gods and monsters – they aren’t to his taste.” She ends up saying, laughing lightly. “No, those stories don’t really mean much to him.”

“He likes the mundane,” she explains. “The small intricacies of life that are…left behind by grander things, I suppose.”

---

Yaoyao hums, a finger tapping on her chin. “The Traveler, right? Streetward Rambler thinks he doesn’t eat enough, and I agree!” she finally says, nodding to herself. “Whenever he does, he’s always passing half of it off to Paimon!”

She fumes for a few minutes, before letting out a big breath and calming down. “Sorry, but I just want to make sure he eats well, you know? It’s important to keep that strength up!” she explains, hands on her hips.

Her head tilts, bells ringing from her hair. “Although…I haven’t seen him in a while. I wonder how he’s been lately…”

---

Gaming balances on top of a pole, thinking, Wushou head hanging from loose fingers. “Yeah I know him,” he says, shifting to sit on the pole. The Wushou head disappears in a shower of sparks. “He helped out with some stuff during Lantern Rite once – real stand-up guy, you know?”

His foot swings, gently knocking into the wooden pole. “Kind of a quiet guy – doesn’t really like talking all that much. Oh, uh, it doesn’t mean much to me though!” he says, waving his hands around at the last statement.

“He’s the kind of guy to have your back, and you can trust him with it,” he finally says, leaning back, to stare up at the sky. “So I’ve got no grudges against him.”

---

“He’s…” Shenhe begins, tasting the words in her mouth. “An odd one.” She finally finishes, nodding to herself.

“Master said that he’s trustworthy with everything but himself,” she explains, ice forming sigils in her palms. “And, I understand where she’s coming from.”

“He leapt into the firing line of Beisht’s attack.” She says simply, already turning to leave. “I don’t think I need to elaborate.”

---

“The Qixing recognise him as a valuable asset, and a great source of help,” Keqing says her eyes never leaving the complex city plan in front of her. “But I suppose that’s not what you’re here for, is it?”

“He is…a bit reckless.” She ends up saying, shifting her stance. “Other Millieth reports about him always include how he’s throwing himself into danger for one reason or another.”

“We could all stand to give him less work,” she finally says, closing her eyes for a moment. “His plate’s already full enough.”

---

Yelan rolls a die in the palm of her hand, her other one occupied with a tea cup. “He’s interesting. Worth keeping an eye on.” She finally says, letting the die roll across the table. She tracks its movement with her eyes. “Not entirely trustworthy though.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” she continues, letting the die disappear in a burst of blue sparks. “He’s saved so many people, how can be so untrustworthy?”

She huffs. “It’s simple – he’s got so many secrets it’s hard to tell where his allegiances lie,” she explains, another die appearing in her hand. “Betting everything on him isn’t always a good idea.”

---

Ningguang taps her a clawed finger against her desk, considering the sheets of paper in front of her. “He’s a valuable asset for Liyue,” she says after a period of silence, her eyes scanning the page. “He’s acted in her service many times.”

The shuffling of pages, a narrowing of eyes. “He doesn’t throw himself into every conflict, but he can’t stand to watch someone get hurt.” She explains further. “A kindness that could kill him.”

She pauses, finger stilling in the air. “A valuable asset – one that doesn’t quite know his own value.”

---

Baizhu crushes plants into paste as he thinks, frowning. “He’s quite healthy, if that’s what you’re asking,” he ends up saying. “Runs a bit too warm for my liking, but he’s assured me that it’s normal for someone like him, so I’ve left it alone.”

Changsheng hisses, her tongue flicking about. “He’s reckless. He keeps coming in injured for whatever reason.” She complains and hisses when Baizhu flicks her on the nose and quietly tells her to behave.

“There is some truth to Changsheng’s words,” Baizhu concedes after a moment, returning to his medicine making. “I do hope he takes the steps to take better care of himself.”

---

“He’s a good kid,” Beidou says, leaning against the mast of the Alcor. “Pretty good in a fight too – he’s got a good head on those shoulders.”

She sighs, knocking her head back against the mast. “He’s pretty selfless though – the kind of person who cannot see someone be hurt, or afraid, or alone.” She remarks, smiling slightly. “Heart of gold and nerves of steel.”

“So keep an eye on him for me,” she finally says, pushing herself off the mast and heading to the stern. “Make sure he keeps himself safe, okay?”

---

“I’ve met him, yes.” Kazuha says from his perch in the crows nest of the Alcor, staring out to sea. “He smells…interesting, is one way to put it. Almost metallic in nature, but. Mostly just travel weary.”

“He walks the world like he’s looking for something,” he continues, catching a stray leaf out of the air and twirling it between his fingers. “Something that no one else can find but him.”

Kazuha lets out a breath, and the leaf is released to float along the breeze again. “I cannot begrudge him for it though,” he says, smiling lightly. “We’re both wanderers. It’s not strange for me to feel a kinship now, is it?”

---

Ayaka sits on the tatami, legs folded neatly under her, whetstone in hand. “The Traveler…yes. He’s done a great service to Inazuma and her people.” She says, her eyes never leaving the edge of her blade. “We of the Kamisato Family are grateful for his service.”

She pauses in her sharpening, thinking. “On a more personal level…he’s never paid much attention to things like status and clan politics. He helps because he can. It is an admirable trait.” She continues, before a look passes over her face, dark and fleeting.

“I can only apologise for what we have done to him,” she says, her fingers slightly trembling. “He doesn’t deserve what has happened to him.”

---

Ayato looks over his paperwork, silent as he ponders the question. “I assume you have already asked my sister?” he asks first, before huffing. “Then you already know that my answer will be the same. He has done Inazuma and her people a great service.”

“Of course, on a more personal level,” he continues, tracing the words on the page with a finger. “He’s an interesting fellow. Cares little for politics – he’d rather be in the thick of things, pulling up the foundations with his own fingers.”

“A valuable pawn, if you know how to use him,” Ayato finishes, gazing out to the gardens of the Kamisato Estate. “He just doesn’t appreciate trickery, that’s all.”

---

Thoma leans his forward on the broom in his hand, humming. “I’ve met him, yes. Kind of quiet, doesn’t like to do small talk very much,” he finally settles on. “Always willing to give a helping hand.”

Then Thoma goes silent, fingers tightening around the handle of the broom. ‘When…when I had my vision taken, he was the one person who jumped into the fray to get it back.” He says, frowning. “When the Shogun released him the first time, it didn’t. Look good.”

“He was so still,” Thoma stresses, standing back up straight. “I honest to the archons thought that we had gotten him killed, somehow.”

---

“Oh yeah, Aether!” Yoimiya says, grinning. “He’s been a real great help around Inazuma – he even helped out when I visited Sumeru!”

“He’s not one for talking,” she continues. “But that’s fine. He likes to listen anyways – that’s what he’s told me.”

She frowns, kicking her feet. “He’s not really a fan of the bigger fireworks anymore,” she says, but then shrugs. “But I got plenty of sparklers that we can enjoy together anyways!”

---

“Yes, I know Aether,” Shinobu answers easily, spinning her blade around in her hands. “He’s pretty good at keeping the gang out of trouble when I’m busy. I appreciate it.”

She has a moment of silence as the handle of the blade lands neatly in her palm. “When the Boss and I got trapped in the Chasm with a bunch of other people, Aether was there too. Seemed to hate being in that situation.” She remarks, her brow furrowing.

“Well, I’m not one to get all fussed about other people’s hang-ups.” She says, shrugging. “Say, if you see him around, tell him to come visit, alright?”

---

Sayu gives a slow, sleepy blink, visually processing the question. “He’s kind of tall,” she says finally sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “But…he doesn’t pat me on the head or anything like that, so he gets a pass.”

She yawns flopping over the branch again. “He should get more sleep. He’s always walking around, doing things.”

She shuts her eyes, ready to drift off again. “Yeah…he’s tiny compared to the other guys I’ve seen…”

---

Heizou gives a bemused look at the question, a takoyaki in his hand. “The Traveler…he’s got a thirst for digging for the truth – something I can get behind for sure.” He ends up saying, smile still plastered on his face. “Very reliable, often will get the job done.”

He continues down the street of Inazuma City, only pausing on the bridge to peer at the cherry trees. “He’s the kind of person to not take things at face value. Always asking if there’s a catch or a condition to anything.”

His gaze turns, the pink petals landing in his hair. “Quite a hard man to read though. You never truly know what he’s thinking.”

---

Kokomi worries the edge of a page between her fingers, thinking. “I appointed him the Captain of Swordfish II because I thought that if there was a safety net for him to rely on, maybe he wouldn’t throw himself into so many battles.” She confesses, her gaze sad. “When Teppei died, it was like a switch was flipped for him.”

“He doesn’t like it – being angry.” She continues, flipping the page. “He says it makes him more prone to mistakes and acting irrationally.”

Kokomi runs a finger down the page, staring at the page. “I only wonder if he knows that there is the rest of us to rely on, as well.”

---

“The Captain of Swordfish II, correct?” Gorou asks, his tail slowly swinging side to side. “He submitted a formal withdrawal from the Watatsumi Army some time ago – said he’s not really in any position to tie himself to any formal military.”

“He was a good captain, in the time he was with us,” He continues, an ear flicking. “A good leader, and a good fighter.”

His tail stills, stiffening. “He hates fighting though,” Gorou finally finishes, crossing his arms. “And I can’t blame him. No one really can.”

---

Chiori drapes fabric on the mannequin, pinning it in place. “The traveler, correct?” She asks, not looking away from her work. “He doesn’t really have a good head for fashion – says he prefers to wear whatever’s comfortable over whatever’s fashionable.”

She pauses, arranging a fold. “It’s a sentiment I can get behind.” She says, pinning it place. “He’s attached to his travelling clothes – something about it being the only thing he had since he came here.”

“All in all – an interesting person whose interests just happen to coincide with mine in one way or another.” She finishes, content to leave the conversation at that.

---

Collei scrunches up her nose at the question, needle held high above a tear in her Cuilein-Anbar. “He’s nice? I don’t really know what else you want me to say…” she begins, trailing off. “I’m not that good at talking about other people you know.”

She returns to her sewing, making neat stitches in the fabric. “I guess he’s always moving about – never staying still and all that.” She ends up saying, tying off the stitch.

“Pretty hard to catch, actually,” Collei says, shrugging as smooths out her stitching. “Master keeps complaining about it.”

---

“Yes, I know Aether,” Tighnari begins, dragging a crate of empty mine cases towards him. “He at least listens to me when I tell him about the dangers of the rainforest and what he can and cannot eat, so I appreciate that about him at least.”

He sighs, and picks up an empty mine case, opening it up. “He’s very prone to headaches and migraines however. Said it started after the incident in Sumeru City.” He explains further, packing the explosives.

“So if you manage to catch him,” Tighnari continues, sealing the mine. “Make sure he takes his medicine, alright?”

---

Dori chuckles, a mora coin flipping between her fingers. “He’d be a pretty good investment, if he stayed in one place,” she says, grinning. “Unfortunately, he’s always running off somewhere, so I never get the chance to ask.”

She leans back, pushing her glasses further up her nose. “Doesn’t mean he doesn’t bring me interesting things sometimes.” She continues. “And some of those things be brings can be sold for a pretty sizable sum of mora.”

“He doesn’t really care much for it, business.” She says, closing her eyes. “I guess that’s where the two of us would disagree.”

---

“Lonely,” Candance begins, her gaze never leaving the horizon of the desert. “It’s the first word that comes to mind about the Traveler.”

“Don’t misunderstand me,” she continues. “He’s got many friends in many places, and I am glad for that. There’s just this…distance. Something about him that none of us understand.”

Her graze stretches into the desert beyond, a danger only she can see. “Something that the rest of us haven’t managed to reach yet.”

---

“Yeah I know him,” Dehya says, scanning the street. “Good fighter, quick on the uptake. Always handy to have in a fight. I’ve also offered my services to him once or twice, but he never takes them.”

She shrugs. “I mean, it’s not my place to make him accept my offer, I just wonder if he’s been taking care of himself, you know?” she explains, her fingers tapping against her upper arms. “Traveling with just Paimon must be hell on his nerves, with how much they camp outdoors.”

“He needs a friend that can keep up with him,” she finally says, sighing. “And unfortunately, a lot of us just can’t keep up.”

---

“Good fighter,” Cyno says, shuffling his cards. “Good at investigations. That’s what I’ll say about him in the professional sense.” He continues, setting his deck to the side.

“In an unprofessional sense, he doesn’t play enough Genius Invokation,” he says, drawing cards. “But I’ll get him to play more. He needs another hobby anyways, and I think he’ll like it.”

“All in all, a good guy,” Cyno concludes, placing three character cards onto the mat. “Just not an appreciator of my jokes, that’s all.”

---

Layla frowns, brow furrowed. “Um, the Traveler, right?” she asks, trying to make sure. “I know him. He…uh…likes stars a lot.”

“He comes to me sometimes,” she continues, wringing her fingers. “and just asks questions about Teyvat’s sky. I don’t know why he comes to me when there are others who are better at it, and I did ask him about it.”

Layla fiddles with the edge of her skirt, wobbling slightly. “He told me he just like hearing his friends talk about the sky.”

---

Alhaitham doesn’t look up the book he’s reading from. “He’s an interesting person,” he says, turning a page. “He’s not really interested in ancient languages beyond translating ruin puzzles, so we don’t talk much outside of that.”

“Kaveh would tell you that the Traveler is overworking himself,” Alhaitham continues, gaze never leaving the words on the page. “And as hypocritical as it is for him to point it out, he’s got a point.”

“Always running about, solving one problem or another,” he concludes. “He should learn how to say no.”

---

Kaveh swirls the coffee in his cup. “He overworks himself,” he ends up answering, peering into the dark liquid. “And I know it sounds hypocritical coming from me, but it is the truth of the matter.”

“Alhaitham would tell you that he’s always running about, unable to say no,” he continues. “And as self-centred as he is, he’s got a point in all that.”

“A building is only as good as it’s foundations,” Kaveh finishes, setting his cup back onto the table. “Who knows in what condition Aether’s foundations are?”

---

“Um, I don’t know what to say,” Nilou says, tapping a finger against her cheek, siting on the edge of the stage in Zubayr Theatre.  “He likes stories and songs about mundane things? He’s not really a fan of things like, um, creation stories and stuff.”

“He’s also pretty terrible at dancing,” she says in a whisper, leaning in. “Although I have a feeling he’s only acting that he’s bad at it so he never actually has to come up on stage.”

She leans back grinning. “And that’s okay! I’ll dance enough for the both of us!”

---

Sethos rests his chin on his fist, eyes closed in thought. “I don’t know him all that well – I only really met him one or twice. He seem like a pretty interesting guy.” He says, frowning.

“He saw through all of the Temple of Silence’s tricks,” he continues, his eyes opening. “And he never drags out a fight longer then he needs to.”

“Silent,” Sethos sums up succinctly. “And ruthless.” he concludes, content to leave the conversation there.

---

“Ah yes, the Traveler!” Charlotte says, grinning. “Of course I’ve heard of him! Wherever he and his fairy companion are, there’s sure a story that’s sure to follow!”

She sets the newspaper she was reading down, spreading it flat across the café table. “See, this headline here – ‘Outlander helps sniffs out the truth of Fontaine’s most elusive perfume!’ – you’ll always find a headline with him around.” She says, pointing to the headline in question. She taps it with a finger once, twice. “Seems like anything interesting is always happening around him.”

Her eyes are bright as she folds the newspaper back up. “I can only wonder what he’ll get up to next time!”

---

Lyney tips the hat back onto his head, bowing to an invisible audience. “Ah yes, the Traveler,” he says, producing a deck of cards from thin air and fiddling with them. “Ever reliable, and a good friend. We’re lucky to know him.”

He pauses on a single trick, a card caught between his fingers. “He hates confrontation.” He mumbles, quiet and unsure. “He doesn’t like lies, but he hates getting into fights with friends.”

“So it’s not really a surprise,” he continues, vanishing the card up his sleeves. “That instead of confronting Lynette and I, he just…slipped away.”

---

Lynette sips her tea, an ear twitching. “He’s quiet. So it’s nice to have a cup of tea with him. He doesn’t expect small talk when I’m with him,” she says, setting her teacup back onto it’s saucer. “And he defended Lyney and I in court, so it’s very hard to hate him.”

“The cats don’t like him though,” she says, her gaze turning thoughtful. “Something about him makes them hiss, and I can’t figure out why. My instincts just say he’s perfectly fine to be around.”

“I guess it’s nothing,” Lynette concludes, raising her tea cup again. “It’ll be a bit too much effort to look into something that isn’t all that important anyways.”

---

Freminet pauses in his tinkering of Piers, staring at the automaton. “He…likes to find a quiet place at the bottom of the lake,” he begins, words coming out unsure and unsteady. “And just kind of. Sit there I guess?”

“I kind of get he wants to be alone when I find him like that,” he continues, returning to his tinkering. “It just. Looks a little sad. That’s all.”

He falls silent after that. Evidently, he doesn't really have much else to say about the subject at hand.

---

“Oh yeah, the Traveler,” Wriothesley says, absentmindedly stirring the tea in his mug. “He got locked up in here for a bit – something about eating a cake? I have no real idea what that was about.”

He frowns. “He did get sick in here once – mold had gotten into his cell, and I just hosted him on the couch in my office whilst it got cleaned out.” He says, finally picking up his mug and sipping the tea. “The kid was so still, I thought he somehow died and the Chief Justice was going to come down on my head for it.”

“His little friend assured me that he was fine,” he says, sighing. “Honestly, gave me a scare. I get sleeping a sickness off, but at least give me a sign you’re still alive, you know?”

---

Navia looks over Poisson, leaning against a railing. “You’re talking about my partner, right?” she asks, grinning. “He’s ever the reliable one! He’s helped me with a bunch of things now, and I always him back on time.”

Her grin drops a little, as she returns to staring out over passion. “He’s a little bit reckless – but I guess me saying that is a little hypocritical,” she confesses with a quiet chuckle. “Melus and Silver would have agreed.”

“Well, he’s always welcome to visit, anytime,” she suddenly says after a momentary pause. “So make sure you tell him that, okay?”

---

“A law abiding citizen who is a valuable asset in investigations,” Chevreuse rattles off, cleaning out parts of her musket. “That is the official position of the Maison Gardiennage’s Special Security and Surveillance Patrol.”

“Of course, that’s not what you want to know,” she continues, snapping the musket pieces back together. “You want to know what I think of him personally – as a person, right?”

She sighs, as the last piece locks into place. “He’s selfless, and has a strong sense of justice.” She ends up saying, leaning back in her chair. “He hates seeing people hurt, no matter who they are.”

---

“He’s a talented fighter,” Clorinde says, peering down the edge of her blade. “And he’s quick on the uptake. A valuable skill for any duellist.”

She is silent for a moment, as she lowers her blade to sharpen the edge. “I couldn’t help but notice – when we invited him to take part of a script for a table top game,” she begins, whetstone gliding against steel. “He took the role of a healer. To stay back, to not join the fray.”

“Just made me think,” she says, as she raises her blade again. “That perhaps all he wants to go through one incident without having to take up arms.”

---

Emile hums, swirling liquid around in a flask. “His favourite smell is that of a grassy field and icy winds,” she begins, setting the flask down in favour of a glass stirring stick. “He hates lavender, and the smell of Spirit Borneol.”

She taps the stick against the flask, reaching for a jar of dried flowers. “He’s not aware of it, but he’s got a particular scent around him.” she says, tipping a portion of flowers into the flask. “This sour, metallic scent, with an underlying smell of gunpowder and burnt food.”

“I asked him about it, once,” she says, sealing the jar back up. “And he had only laughed and told me that was the smell of a place far from here. I never did figure out what that meant.”

Chapter Text

So, the traveler. Who is he?

---

Lumine is silent for a good, long while.

She doesn’t say anything. Just stares, a golden gaze over ruins.

“He’s my brother. Who else does he need to be?”