Chapter Text
Aether’s heels clicked against the marble floor of the grand ballroom, the dark silver hues were enough to take away Aether’s breath with their intricate designs. The air was thick with the natural chill of the Snezhnaya air, the open balconies allowing the freezing winds that graced the foreign trees that lay outdoor to reach the venue. Above it all, cryo crystalflies gathered beneath the brilliant aurora of light that danced under the night sky, a formation unique to this region that the traveler had heard so often about. Now seeing it with his own eyes, Aether was inclined to agree that those green lights were one of the most beautiful sights he had the grace of observing, enough to warrant the chilling frost that blew in from outside of the palace. Though he had seen many things in his lifetime, the blonde understood why the people of Snezhnaya looked up to those lights with the determination of life, and why those who dwelled outside the nation of frost longed to see the natural formation with their own eyes.
Yet, such a sight could only entertain his golden and worn eyes for so long…
The scent of expensive perfume graced Aether as he turned back towards the path that had yet to be traversed. Just down this hallway, would be the location of an event that the high society of Snezhnaya—no, all of Teyvat yearned to attend.
It was hard to believe that he was here.
His eyes scanned the ornate tapestries that decorated the walls of the corridor, embroidered with many motifs of cryo; the element being synonymous with the very archon that demanded mastery of it. Many of the designs were even made with that force itself, frozen sculptures decorating the frigide halls. There were no candles, no artificial sources of light there to welcome his arrival with open arms; only the cold embrace of the Snezhnaya winds and the natural light that shines into the building. Although Aether’s body was able to regulate the cold more easily than some of the inhabitants of this world, even the blonde could not justify traversing this corridor any slower. He began to hasten his steps, each one feeling like a momentous trudge through a billowing blizzard despite the clarity of such a falsehood.
As the blonde reached the end of the hallway, the loud clicking of his steps against the floor ceased. Before him stood two large figures who guarded a large door, their stature looming over his smaller figure. Judging by their uniforms and the familiar insignia engraved on them, it was very clear that the two were agents of the Fatui, the organization that carried out the will of this nation’s leader. While their presence may have been unsettling to others, they did little to intimidate Aether, who had already grown familiar with scuffles with the operatives of the Tsaritsa. But unlike previous encounters, this would not be a violent one.
“Please provide your invitation to gain entry into the main floor,” a gruff voice demanded from the operative on his left.
His hand had moved to obtain the letter in question, his mind conjuring the memory of how he ended up having it at all.
Aether felt a certain tension as he walked to the Sacred Sakura at the center of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Miko had requested to see him, and based on what he had been told, it seemed urgent. It wasn’t that he “distrusted” her per-sey but his experiences with her had made him realize to always keep his guard up around her.
“Ah, you’re here, Little One,” he shuddered as her sweet voice cooed to him from her usual position at the foot of the Sacred Sakura, her arms crossed over her chest, a smile on her face. Aether’s eyes looked at her curiously, while at first glance he didn’t see anything off about her, on closer inspection, he could spot subtle - easily missable if you weren’t looking - cracks in her facade: her shoulders were slumped ever so slightly, fingers gripping her arms instead of calmly resting on them and her eyes held a mix of emotions, one of which he recognized as disappointment.
“What’s wrong?” the words slipped out of his mouth, and cringed at the sickly sweet smile she sent him.
“My, so concerned for my well-being, what an attentive and caring muse I have,” she said, causing his skin to crawl as she stepped closer until she was right in front of him. He blinked as she produced an envelope and handed it to him, the ornate writing standing out to him immediately, but it was what was written that caught his attention: To our Esteemed Guest, We cordially invite you to attend the ‘Everlasting Masquerade.’”
He glanced at Miko questioningly, taking note of the pout slight pout on her face, “Every year, The Tsaritsa holds this, and while I would normally send a representative from the ‘Yae Publishing House’, the invitation came at the worst possible time, we’re experiencing a drought in readers right now, so the poor things have been working tirelessly to come up with new ideas.”
“And you can’t go, because…” he asked teasingly.
“Such an environment is bad for my fur,” she said matter-of-factly. “I need someone who is willing to travel and can sniff out exciting stories, and you, my darling muse fit both of those criteria, it also helps that the stories you helped create sold fantastically.”
“So go, enjoy a night of frolic and fun, and then be a dear and come back to me with all the details.”
Aether felt his mouth go dry at her words. Attending a ball in Snezhnaya, the base of the Fatui, would be like walking into a lion’s den. There would, however, be an upside to it: he would be able to see exactly how things worked so that when Paimon and himself traveled to the distant region, he wouldn’t be taken off guard. It was also a formal occasion, so none of the Harbingers would—hopefully—try anything, but he knew he would have to be on his guard regardless, as they weren’t above underhanded means.
A sigh left his lips, not being able to say anything due to how overwhelmed he was, so all he could do was nod, causing Miko to smile a rare genuine one, before bidding him goodbye. As he left the shrine, the realization that this was a formal event dawned on him. He would need to get an outfit for the occasion as well as learn how to dance formally. Soon images of his friends in Fontaine began to enter his mind. He could stop by Chiroi's boutique to buy an outfit for the occasion, and then ask Furina if she could teach him the steps. His work had been cut out for him, but the most important thing was who he was going to have to watch Paimon.
Aether let out a breath as he walked up to Furina’s home, politely knocking on the door and smiling when he heard a cry of “coming!” He was met by the sight of his friend in a modest sleep gown, rubbing her eye as if she had just woken up.
“Oh… it’s you,” she said, her face tinged slightly red from embarrassment at her current display. His words were then interrupted by the impromptu slamming of the door in his face. A fond sigh left him as heard muffled movement, only for Furina to quickly reappear in front of him, donning her usual attire, gently adjusting her hat so it sat just right on her head.
“Ahem, to what do I owe the pleasure?” she asked, standing upright in a self-assured position.
“I was invited to a formal event and there will be ballroom dancing. I was wondering if you could help me practice dancing?” he asked, rubbing the back of his head. While it was true they had practiced before, he wanted to be as prepared as he could be.
The word “dance” caught her attention, her eyes sparkling with joy. “But of course, it would make sense you would come to the ‘Brightest Star’ in all of Fontaine,” she said smugly, taking him by the hand and leading him into her home, quickly requesting his help to move her furniture to give them necessary space.
After rearranging the room, Furina quickly departed, causing Aether’s eyebrows to quirk. She returned moments later, carrying a record player and a pair of dancing shoes.
The soft music from the player was the only noise in the room, aside from the soft clack of Furina’s shoes as she walked over to him and held her hand out, palm down, which he took with a smile. They swayed slowly, focused solely on the task before them, a sentiment somewhat muddled by Aether’s occasional missteps on her toes.
“Practice makes perfect,” she said through slightly gritted teeth, making sure to offer a smile to show she wasn’t angry with him, just… understandably upset.
“I think you’ve truly outdone yourself with this design, Chiori.”
“I can agree with that sentiment. This outfit is everything that I had in mind when designing it.”
Though the fashion designer was known for her usual stoicism and calm demeanor, there was a look of pride decorating the brunette’s face, fueled by the praise of her companions. Aether was certainly in no hurry to dampen Chiori’s mood, not when he was too busy admiring the fruits of her labor.
The full-body mirror within the boutique gave him a clear view of the outfit. A black gown clung to his sleek frame, the fabric cascading down his body before eventually reaching the floor. The billowing sleeves of the outfit were decorated in lace, and the dress’s back was open, laced with thin ribbons that criss-crossed over the window. It was the only part of the outfit that revealed any of his skin to the world—save for his face. The exposed skin shimmered under the vibrant light of the boutique interior, the scars on his back visible for all to see. The high slit of the skirt revealed the dark leggings that hid underneath the dress, the attire aligned with soft golden hues peeking underneath the skirt, alongside a pair of heels that added to the mature air of the outfit. The final part was the mask that would conceal his face. Its design was sleek and fitted neatly against his visage his lower face and eyes being the only parts easily visible. Its dark coloring was complimented by a lone butterfly wing on its left side, providing the only differing semblance of color with its golden embroidery.
“Still…” a voice came from behind him, brushing a strand of his blonde locks, no longer restrained by his braid. “It’s a shame we can’t do anything more for your hair.”
He chuckled at the disappointing tone of the perfumer behind him. “It can’t be helped. It won’t last the trip, so this will have to do, Emilie.”
His appearance was strikingly different from the way he usually presented, though this was a conscious choice on his part. It was an untraditional attempt at concealment, the outfit itself serving as a form of misdirection for those who may recognize the traveler at the masquerade. Those who would look in his direction during the event would see none of the distinguishing qualities of the multi-national hero. The individual before them did not have their hair braided, instead flowing and free, and their outfit conveyed a bold presence that was unlike the known figure.
He was simply another guest, enjoying the spectacle of the night.
The extravagance of the ballroom was nothing short of breathtaking—blowing Aether away as he took in the architecture. A pale glow cast into the room from the chandeliers that decorated the ceiling, the walls reflecting the shine coming from the nearby candles. They were joined by the same star-light sky that the blonde had taken the time to admire previously from the many open windows and balconies.
The floor beneath his feet was stunning in its own right, the main highlight of the ample space. A vast expanse of polished stone graced his visage, frost-like patterns etched into its texture to represent the element associated with its nation. There were additional symbols that joined such imagery, though Aether found it difficult to discern their purpose, for he was not familiar with the culture. Every step that he took on the material was followed by loud clicks which filled the air, though they were quickly drowned out by the constant noise of the crowd, and the orchestra that had set the mood for the evening.
Of course, at the center of the ballroom, beneath the highest chandelier, was the main dance floor, the area cleared out specifically for the many guests to mingle together. His eyes could make out many elegantly dressed figures who moved with grace, their steps synchronized with the performance that filled the room, and their masks hiding any discernible traits of their faces.
Aether wandered past the edge of the ballroom, his eyes carefully scanning the sea of figures before him. Despite how guarded he was with the presence of the many nobles and Fatui agents, he let out a resigned breath, as he still had a job to do at the behest of his benefactor. She had requested that he enjoy himself, yet here he was, acting as though any of the Fatui agents would recognize him. Even at that point, it wasn’t as though he would be deemed an immediate threat. His relationship with the group was tumultuous, but it was not always a hostile one, and he was sure there would be no need for violence on such an occasion with this many civilians. Perhaps he could converse with one of the locals to learn more about their culture, enjoy a dance with one of the many guests and engage in some flirting, or observe a heartfelt union between two shrouded figures? Whatever the case, there had to be something worth noting at the ball that would satisfy Yae’s concerns.
Then, as Aether took a step forward, a voice as soft as a lullaby reached his ears. “Oh my, you’re certainly not someone I was expecting to attend this event.”
With a quick turn, Aether’s eyes met with the owner of the melodic voice. The woman before him carried a presence that made him feel both safe and in danger, an unsettling serenity surrounding her figure. She was clad in a pale gown that almost made it seem as though she were dressed for a funeral, though her ever-present and calm smile implied nothing of the sort. Unlike the rest of the guests, though, her face was on full display, her eyes remaining ever shut underneath the white ribbons that decorated her face. The only trace of color that failed to match the ghastly pigments of her attire, was her dark hair, which faded into magenta highlights.
“Do you recognize me?” Aether asked, his voice steady as he addressed the mystery woman.
The woman giggled softly at the question, a hand covering her lips as her head tilted in response. “Of course,” she replied matter-of-factly. “No matter how you change your form, there are still things that are impossible to hide from me, traveler.”
His breath hitched at the confirmation that the individual did indeed recognize him. “…And you are?”
“Columbina.”
Aether’s eyes widened at the name, his mind immediately recognizing just who was standing before him. Columbina, for her part, remained ever serendipitous, her step forward being as light as air. “You’re quite the surprise tonight,” she continued. “I don’t believe any of us would’ve expected such an esteemed guest.”
He remained silent at her playful remarks, his body tense at the unexpected presence of such a high-ranking harbinger. Not only was he advised of the danger that Columbina carried, but she had effortlessly recognized it despite the lack of any distinct indicators to latch onto.
As if sensing the unease filling Aether’s body, the damsel spoke once again. “There’s no need to worry, your secret is safe with me.”
His eyes blinked at her remark, his mind unable to conjure a response to the unusual behavior of the surprisingly intimidating figure before him.
“I merely wanted to observe you with my own eyes,” she began, as though aware of Aether’s inability to respond. There was something so assured about the way she spoke as if Columbina was already aware that Aether would be here, the idea completely contradicting her initial remark that their meeting was by chance. “For now, entertain yourself. You came to enjoy the ball, didn’t you?”
It was a simple question, but he could tell that she had far more that she wanted to say, the enigmatic smile she wore giving it away. He didn’t get to answer–though perhaps the silence was preferable in this case–as she quickly glided away from him, her body becoming mingled in with the other guests, as a soft, haunting hum followed her.
The night was only just beginning, yet Aether could tell that this occasion would be more complicated than a simple dance.