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'Hmm. Where could she be?'
That was the current thought residing in Aether's head as he walked the streets of Fontaine while being accompanied by the best travel guide in all of Teyvat.
"Paimon thinks that she might be in the Opera Epiclese."
"Maybe. But we asked Neuvillette, and he said she took the day off. Plus, nobody said they saw her in the Palais Mermonia."
"But… that doesn't seem like something Clorinde would do…"
Aether had to agree with his trusted companion. The Champion Duelist didn't seem like the kind of person to take a day off. However, today was a very special day that overshadowed all other days.
"Hang on. Maybe she did take the day off?"
"Huh? What makes you say that?" Paimon asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Who else would be able to get Clorinde to take a day off?"
Realization settled onto the small girl's face.
"Navia!"
"Yep. And there's a handful of places where we could find her."
"Heehee! She probably took Clorinde to get something to eat for her birthday."
"Yep. So, they should be here in the Court of Fontaine," Aether suggested with a smile. "If anything, Navia probably booked a table for them."
"Ooh! Paimon also wonders if Navia would have a spot for us as well!"
*BRRR*
The sound of Paimon's stomach roaring could be heard loud and clear, leaving the two to go wide-eyed at one another. A second passed before they immediately burst into laughter.
"Haha! Yep. You're hungry."
"Eheheh…" Paimon couldn't help but blush brightly at her embarrassing tummy.
"Well, I wouldn't doubt Navia saving a spot for us. Besides, Clorinde probably expects us to show up as well."
"Ah! That reminds Paimon, did you manage to wrap her present?"
Flashing the floating girl with a thumbs up, Paimon nodded happily.
"That takes care of that. Now, let's get a move on! Paimon's tummy might not last much longer…"
A few moments later
Walking down the busy street, Aether and Paimon were on the lookout for where Clorinde and Navia might be, but to no avail; they did not see them.
"Huh. Where are they? It's not like they're hard to find in a crowd."
"Maybe they're inside a restaurant?"
Giving the Traveler's response some thought, Paimon continued to look around for any distinguishable visual of the purple and yellow duo, but could not find anything. However, that soon changed when she squinted her eyes and closely made the details of a certain birthday girl's appearance.
"Oh! There's Clorinde!"
Swerving his head to the direction Paimon pointed at, Aether could easily see the Champion Duelist sitting alone at a table while talking to a waitress.
"Let's go see her!"
Speedily walking towards her, Aether couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face as he got closer to her. Throughout his time in Fontaine after all the prophecy shenanigans, he had gotten to know Clorinde better. He got to see who she really was and spent time hanging out with her, and even being a part of an adventurous game with her. It was also during this time that he spent with her in the Teapot and got to see a side of her that he doubted many people could see.
Moreover, as time passed through Natlan and now Nod-Krai, Aether did all that he could to learn from her in the art of fighting. While he never thought of himself as a menacing fighter, the training sessions graciously given by Clorinde did help him improve his quick wit and thinking in a fight. Not to mention, he got to spend more time with her while sparing.
"Clorinde!"
Pausing from her cup of tea, the Champion Duelist smiled softly as her purple eyes turned to face her guests.
"Ah, I was wondering when you two would arrive."
"See. Told ya."
"P-Paimon already suspected that she'd save us a seat. Hmph!"
"Haha. Anyway… Happy birthday, Clorinde!"
"Happy birthday!"
A gentle look of appreciation flashed onto the Champion Duelist's face as a very faint tint of red appeared on her cheeks. It was a blink and miss sight, but Aether had managed to barely notice it.
"Thank you, you two. In the time that we've met, you two never fail to make someone feel special on their birthday."
"Well, we try our best to make sure all our friends feel appreciated on their special day."
"That's right! Paimon can't remember the last time we missed someone's birthday."
"Plus, you're a special friend of ours. There was no way we'd miss today."
Hearing all this praise, Clorinde's face gently displayed a sense of content appreciation while also showing genuine happiness. Even if she didn't show her true emotions publicly, it was still nice to see how she took all this positivity.
"Well, now, you two are continuing to make my day even more special. I sincerely thank you for that. And I also feel the same. We've gotten to be acquainted on a level that rivals Navia, and even then, we had a bit of a spacious time apart for a while."
As Clorinde said this, she couldn't help but hold a small smile on her face.
"Nevertheless, thank you, Aether and Paimon."
"Of course!"
"Mhm! Now… why are you here alone? Paimon would've thought that Navia would be here as well."
"Ah, about that. You just missed her."
"Eh? What do you mean?"
Shaking her head with a small smile, Clorinde explained.
"As you might have guessed, I didn't intend to take today off from my duties. However, when Navia showed up… there was no way I'd be able to escape her."
"Yeah, that sounds like Navia all right," Aether said, recalling his partner's determination when it came to something important to her.
"Mm. After that, I put in a request to take the day off, which was hastily accepted, and we came here to eat. The owner of Café Lutece just stopped by with a tower of pastries. Would you care to try one?" Clorinde asked, gesturing to the sweets on the table.
"Ooh! Paimon would like one!"
"And Navia?"
"She had a… as she called it, a brain fart and forgot the present she prepared for me. She instructed me to stay here and enjoy the sweets and tea while she ran back to get it."
"Ah. That makes sense."
"Mmhmm! These sweets are delicious!"
"Compliments to the chef. There were also a few other things left behind, supposedly part of a store promotion – or so I was told. Let's unwrap them together."
Glancing down at the store promotion, Aether couldn't help but suspect that there was something more to these items left on the table by the owner of the restaurant.
As expected, Aether's eyes connected with Clorinde's as she also shared the same sentiment on what these items left behind might truly be.
"Everyone did an admirable job keeping this under wraps… though, from my perspective, I might have a slightly different interpretation of where these gifts really came from."
"And with Navia involved, there are too many possibilities."
"Exactly. Rest assured, I appreciate the surprise. Moreover, I won't lie… It is nice to feel appreciated."
"That's how you should always feel! You do a lot for Fontaine, even if it's not the most recognized job," Paimon reasoned.
"You are aware that- "
"That aside, you also do a lot more than people might recognize. Plus, you're one of the most reliable people that we know. If we ever came across a problem that we needed help with, you'd be one of the first people we turn to for help," Aether replied.
Processing the Traveler's words carefully, Clorinde couldn't help but be touched by his words. Normally, she was seen as many things, but those were all misconceptions about her. Now, she knew that what was being said was true, as it came from someone who had gotten to know the real her.
Additionally, he was also someone that she had grown very fond of in the brief time that they had begun hanging out. Whether it was casual chatter, sparring, tabletop games, or simply just interacting with one another, she was familiar with the Traveler. And that also meant she had begun to form… certain feelings that she wasn't entirely accustomed to.
"Thank you for thinking of me as such a vital person. I also think of you two when circumstances tend to teeter on supernatural dilemmas."
"Yeah, we kind of get involved a lot with things that aren't normal," Paimon said while chuckling a little.
"Which makes you two quite the duo. A team that, when things can't be solved normally, you two are the next best answer to draw from. Not to mention, your deduction skills have improved drastically."
"Drastically? What do you mean by that?"
A smirk appeared on Clorinde's face.
"Call it personal interest, but after having gotten you two interested in tabletop games, your senses and thinking patterns have become heightened. It may not be a dramatically noticeable thing, but- "
"We may notice things that we couldn't before or catch onto things quicker," Aether finished.
"Precisely."
"Wow. Paimon never really thought of it like that."
"Granted, there's still always something new to learn. Taking it one step at a time is crucial."
"Huh, who would've thought the birthday girl would be giving us some deep kind of wisdom?"
"That's just how Clorinde is. Sharp to a point yet always caring."
A slight blush could be seen appearing on the Duelist's face as she tried to cover it up with her cup of tea. But it was impossible to do so as Aether was flashing her a smug grin.
"Oh yeah! Before we forget…" Reaching into his pocket, Aether pulled out a neatly wrapped box with a purple bow on it. "Here's your present!"
"We hope you like it!" Paimon added.
Feeling her face light up, Clorinde carefully took the gift and began examining it closely while taking in every little detail about it. She then began opening it and found herself wide-eyed at what she was seeing.
Handcrafted and molded into perfect pieces, she could see various parts and pieces that were clearly meant to be used for tabletop games. The materials used were unique to her and gave off a clear indication that they were made with care.
"Are these…"
"Yep! We knew the perfect gift to get you would be for your tabletop games. So, we went around Natlan as well as a bit of Nod-Krai and gathered as many unique materials as possible that we could to make these pieces," Aether explained while gesturing to the gift box.
"Wait. You made these yourself?"
"Yep! Paimon will also say, as a side note, that they took a lot longer than they should have taken. We… ehehe…. Kind of messed up several times."
"Don't remind me."
Seeing the shaken expressions on their faces, Clorinde couldn't help but ponder what sorts of issues they went through to get the perfect pieces made. Part of her wanted to ask, but that might have to be another day's question.
"In that case, thank you, Aether and Paimon. These are… beautiful. I shall use these pieces in every game and think of you two."
"Ahh. That's sweet!"
"Mm. Now then, I do have a request."
"A request? Sure, what's up?"
Tipping her hat and letting a sly smile grace her lips, Clorinde had a glint appear in her eyes.
"Seeing that today is one of the only days I'm ever allowed to request something so freely, I would like a match against you, Aether."
"A match? That's what you want for your birthday?" Paimon questioned with a somewhat bewildered look. "Then again, you're not our only friend who would request something like a match on their birthday."
Not about to turn down the birthday girl's request, Aether smiled confidently.
"Alright then! It's settled. I'm game."
"Excellent! Thank you for accepting my request."
Turning her attention to an incoming waitress, Clorinde politely waved to her.
"Excuse me, miss."
"Hello! How may I help you?"
Pulling out some Mora, Clorinde kindly handed it to the waitress.
"Thank you for the meal. Could I also ask you to relay a message to someone who will be stopping by soon?"
"Of course! What would you like me to say, and who will I be looking out for?"
"A young woman in black, white, and yellow clothing. She'll be wearing a large, stylish hat and may be looking for me here. Could you tell her that I will be with the Traveler in the Teapot?"
"In the… Teapot? A-Alright. I'll be sure to relay that message to her."
"Thank you. Her name is Navia."
Excusing herself, the waitress left to tend to other orders, leaving the trio alone again.
"Well then, shall we get going? I believe the Teapot will suffice for our sparring session."
"Sure. Let's get going!"
With a plan in mind, the trio made their way back to Aether's magical Teapot to prepare for her birthday wish to come true.
Not that long after
After getting themselves settled and prepared for the duel, Aether found himself in the training grounds that he had helped build within the Teapot. He could see Paimon sitting off to the side, chowing down on what appeared to be some Natlan sweet. However, next to him was Clorinde, who was brandishing her blade and giving it a close examination.
"Every weapon deserves to be treated with the utmost respect. The process begins with a simple gesture: brushing away the dust, just as one would clear distractions from the dueling ground. Then comes the gentle polish, wiping the blade clean with a soft cloth, smoothing away the marks left by past battles. Finally, a coat of protective oil is applied. The process may be meticulous, but it steadies the mind, like the moment of stillness before a decisive duel."
Listening to her speak, Aether couldn't help but smile and take her words to heart. He also couldn't keep his eyes away from taking her entire persona into mind. Deep within himself, he couldn't deny the feeling that continued to grow in his heart.
The truth of it all is that he wasn't sure when it happened, nor did he realize it in time, but he could not deny that he felt attracted to the Champion Duelist. Better yet, he knew he had a crush on her. He would not stop his heart from feeling this way.
"You've traveled far, Aether, and your sword has surely borne countless trials. Just as people grow weary, so too do the blades we carry. To grant it rest and care is only fair – a small tribute to the silent companion that has borne your burdens without complaint. Once we finish our spar, allow me to maintain it for you. Perhaps the supplies I have will lift the dust of your journeys and restore its edge and clarity, so it may once again deliver judgment upon all that is unjust."
Glancing down at his blade, the blonde-haired boy hadn't given it much thought, but his weapon had served him well. Granted, he didn't start off with his current blade, but even still, there was quite a bit of history with the one in his hand.
"I'd like that very much, Clorinde. I haven't given my blade much maintenance. This will be a first."
"It's important to take care of your most trusted companion. Excusing Paimon for a moment, your blade is the deciding factor that will determine whether you and she make it through whatever challenges lie in wait."
"I will. And before that, I'll be sure to give you a fight that pushes you to your limit. It may be your birthday, but I won't hold back."
Clorinde's face morphed from a calm and friendly one to one of determination and tactfulness. It was also added by the fact that she still offered a small smile.
"And I greatly appreciate that. Besides, you've already given me an unmatched gift."
"You mean the tabletop pieces?"
Turning her head so he could not see her face entirely, Clorinde's cheeks donned a very faint red tint. It also looked like she was nibbling on her lip slightly.
"No… I mean, you're spending time with me. I cherish our time together greatly. And… forgive me. I'm not exactly experienced in this… admission of feeling. But I- "
"Clorinde. I know. I… know what you mean. I feel the same."
A look of realization appeared on her face as her purple eyes stared right into his to search for any sort of deception or misunderstanding. Alas, all she found was pure-hearted truth and emotional strength.
"…Then, after our duel… I'd like to talk some more. If that would be ok."
"More than ok."
"Thank you, Aether."
Before he could say anything else, Clorinde began walking to the other side of the training grounds and summoned both her blade and her pistol. Spinning the gun in her hand, she swung her blade in formation at an astounding speed before holding it at the ready.
"At your ready, Traveler."
Getting into his own battle stance, Aether readied himself for a difficult fight.
"Ready!"
*BOOM*
*SWISH*
*TING*
*BANG*
*BANG*
*DING*
*WHOOSH*
*FWOOSH*
*SCHING*
*BANG*
*BAM*
*SWOOSH*
The sounds of combat could be heard clearly, all while Aether and Clorinde gave it their all in this friendly spar, which was beginning to turn into something else. A waltz of emotions.