Chapter Text
At the House of the Hearth, Lyney and Lynette were tinkering away at a new magic trick, jotting down any ideas or methods they could think of on how they wanted to approach it. Except for anything mechanical related, especially involving Lynette, they learnt that the hard way last time when a pulley system failed and sprayed water all over them.
Sitting nearby was the Knave herself, indulging herself with a speciality Fontaine tea blend with an earthy aroma, hints of chestnut and chocolate as it touched her lips, leaving a deep taste on her tongue and calming her. Reading through a deep, philosophical novel, enjoying the moment.
It was a rarity as a harbinger that she wasn’t whisked off somewhere far and stay there for an ungodly amount of time. For the peace and serenity that came from looking after her children, this was a pleasure that she would love to cherish and just relax.
Yet this relaxation was short-lived. Bursting through the thick oak doors was Freminet, heaving and drenched in his own sweat, looking like he just ran a marathon, clutching a newspaper from the Steambird.
“Freminet! What happened!” Lyney cried, running over to support the pale Freminnet, looking like he was about to topple at any moment.
“Who did this to you?” asked Arlecchino, a quiet fury lacing her voice, swearing vengeance on those who dared to attack the House of the Hearth and its children.
“The news! Look at the news! Read the headline! Read it out loud!” Freminet gasped, trying to breathe between each word, sticking the newspaper onto Lyney’s chest.
Carefully settling the exhausted Freminent into a chair, Lyney rushed to bring him a glass of cool water. He then smoothed the crumpled newspaper on the table. As he read the shocking headlines, his heart raced, and disbelief widened his eyes.
“Breaking news. World-renowned traveller, future husband and father?” Lynet repeated out loud, at a loss for words, as he read through the main body and looked at clear-as-day pictures of their friend, Aether, holding hands and caring for a pregnant silver-haired lady.
“Teyvat itself has been shaken to its very foundation as the world-renowned traveller and hero of the seven nations has been photographed with his believed to be wife and unborn child.” Lyney continued, speaking out loud for everyone to hear. “After no word from him in over four months, he reappeared in Mondstadt last week, sporting a shocking new look and giving even more shocking news. Not much is known about his supposed wife. Eyewitness accounts suggest she is from an ancient civilisation. No comment has been given from the couple.”
Passing the newspaper around the room, Lynette’s tail drooped to the floor as she read it with her eyes, both in shock and sadness, wanting nothing more than to hide in her room and cry.
When Arlecchino herself read it, she felt a tinge of sadness. “So Aether finally found someone to settle down with? Good for him,” she muttered to herself, her stoic face falttering, the edges of her lips quivering in sadness.
Dumbfounded by the astonishing news, the quartet didn’t hear a certain battle-crazed harbinger slamming on their front door until he crashed his way through the thick oak doors, nearly ripping the door off its hinges.
“Childe… Why did you do that?” A startled Arlecchino huffed, rising from her seat, glaring at him with anger in her eyes.
“Arlecchino, my comrade. Please, I’m not looking for a fight,” Childe nervously replied, putting his hands in the air as a sign of goodwill.
“Interesting. You’re not here for a fight? State your interest,” she demanded, curious about why the usual battle-crazed maniac isn’t being a battle-crazed maniac at the moment.
“You’ve seen the news of our comrade and the pictures,” Childe explained, snatching the newspaper out of the Knaves' hands and pointing towards the slivered-haired women.
“You know her identity. Don’t you?” Arlecchino added, catching the interest of everyone as they circled the pair, wanting to hear more.
“She’s my master. That’s Skirk,” he articulated, excitement in his voice, ready to bounce off the walls. “Anyway, I’m heading to Mondstadt now! Make sure to inform our Tsaritisa about my leave of absence,” he exclaimed, bolting out and heading towards the nearest and earliest boat to Mondstadt, leaving everyone in a frozen state of disbelief.