Aether's Path(s)

'From the language to the breeze'

Welcome to the next episode.
I lost motivation for a hot sec 💀 anywayss.. sorry for the lost hold up, enjoy the episode. (His location in the teapot is the floating islands :) for anyone who was confused with that-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aethers POV:

Slowly, he woke to the Permanent sunset through his window. The bags in his eyes felt like another reason, another excuse.
He hadn't a wink of sleep, he pushed his hands over his eyes feeling a storm in his head.

He leaned forward over the blankets feeling the catch in his throat, he glanced in the mirror across the room peering back in his golden reflection.

Aether sighed carrying out and fixing his face and putting on his outfit tugging at his cape which he gripped tightly.

Piamon would join him when she woke, for now he left the teapot welcoming himself into the early breeze of liyue. He took a deep breath; the sun hasn't risen yet and he carried to the harbor to meet Katherine.

Once there he accepted his commissions leaving early to complete them, fulfilling the tasks the psychopaths still awake had for him as he was passing by.
Coming back to the harbor, double checking his commissions flipping through the pages with a hum~ Aether could feel his eyes flutter as the streets began to wake with the common folk.

"Traveler~" a familiar voice called out behind him.
Aether could feel his teeth clench. He turned slowly to meet an aqua gaze.
"Childe... hi." Aether said reluctantly.
"Awh are you still mad over that?" Child crossed his arms.
"No. Not at all" traveler sighed, putting his hands to his waist.

"Well... in any case what are you doing so early?" Childe smiled.
"Even if it is none of your concern..." traveler cleared his throat. "Just finishing up some work." He assured.

"Right, but why so early?" He raised a brow.
"Like I said, None of your concern. I have to go visit Katherine and then make my way to the chasm." He sighed, calming himself.
"I see..." childe rubbed his chin.
"Mind if I join you?" He smiled.

Aether chuckled. "I do." He smiled, turning and waving as he excused himself.
Childe raised a suspicious brow, narrowing his gaze to the traveler. "I wonder what he's doing in the chasm..." child whispered Under his breath.
Traveler briskly heard his words but shrugged them off.

Aether took in his breath after returning his early commissions. He'd already alerted piamon of his location later should she need him, the day before.
He chuckled to himself feeling the morning breeze on his skin.
He smiled, leaving the harbor heading for the chasm, catching the eye of the passing archon who eyed him leave.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Piamon POV:

Piamon woke up and happily helped herself to the leftovers the traveler left for her. Once she exited the teapot, she remembered hearing him mention going to the chasm.
She wasn't sure why, but she wanted to find him.

Piamon made her way to liyue to look for anyone who might help her get into the chasm, as it's not the safest place without an everlasting blade at your disposal. 

"Piamon, do you have a moment?" Piamon heard a familiar voice near her, quickly turning to meet the stone gaze of a man in a long ponytail.
"Zhongli~ hi!" piamon greeted cheerfully. "Hello piamon, i was just curious as to why you're not with the traveler." he brought his hand to his chin, slightly swaying his waist. 

"Oh, well piamon was actually about to go find him! he's in the chasm... buuuutt Piamons not really sure how to get there unscathed." he pointed out. "I see." Zhongli pondered for a moment. "Well then, how about i come with you? Perhaps you and I can find him ourselves." Zhongli added, observing piamons movements.

"Ohhh~ Piamon thinks that's a good idea! Zhongli is like... SUPER strong. so Piamon trust's you!" she smiled brightly; Zhongli only nodded as they both made their way to the chasm.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aether's POV:

Aether could travel quickest when her was alone. he didn't have anyone looming over his shoulder telling him what he can't do, and where he can't go. 
He could jump of any cliff, chase any seelie, leap into any river. get into any fight he needed. 

Aether quickly made his way to the chasm, slipping down the ramp further into the looming pit below him. though dark and riddled with secrets, he found it somehow comforting. throughout all his journeys he's found. the darkest of places his secrets yes. but it's the shiniest of places that hide the darkest ones.  so, he had no reason to fear a place that only time has lost to.

He made his way through the chasm, surprisingly not much trouble came to him. perhaps when he is alone, he makes much less noise. much less to alert a nearby opponent. saying through the cobble and iron he finally found his way to a most familiar tent.

He smiled to himself and made his way inside to be greeted by the most peculiar of frenemies. 

"Katrina!" he smiled; it was always so nice to see her after a long day of work. "Oh! Traveler, welcome. please make yourself at home, it's always so nice when you come to visit way down here." she welcomed Aether in, to which Aether obliged rather easily.

"How have things been? hope no more dramatic separations." he chuckled. "Oh, nothing like that. but nobodies said a word about my station, or why I'm down here." Katrina looked down in disrepair. 

"Don't worry, I understand what it's like to be locked away, to feel trapped." Aether comforted. Katrina's Familiar purple, black coat and ominous black mask was threatening. yet the tone and smile on her face said nothing of the sort. She may have been Fatui, but her felt at home with her. Perhaps he was reminded of himself through her predicament.

Trapped

Alone

Scared

unable to be set free.

"For an enemy of the fatui, your far to kind." she mentioned. Aether merely smiled back. "Enemies on the field we may be. but deep down, we are all just people in the end. When the sun set's we will all realize there is no side. just belief." he smiled. "Well- in a way i suppose your correct. but I'm still curios of why you visit me, an enemy." she glared. Aether looked sarcastic almost. "Isn't it obvious? I haven't taken a side. I just happen to be closer to the people you disagree with." he smiled.

"You're so strange my friend." she smiled right back, tilting her wooden cup to him.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Piamons POV:

"Zhongli! I think I hear his voice, come on!" she ushered. "I'm right here Piamon." Zhongli approached, pausing before he came around the corner of what the pair of Aether and Katrina lurked. 

Piamon froze, her voice turned to a hush. "Zhongli! that fatui scum is holding traveler hostage!" she panicked. "Not quite..." Zhongli took a few more seconds to analyze the situation.

"It seems our dear traveler might not be as open as we thought." Zhongli narrowed his sharp gaze, ducking back behind the corner as Aether's gaze almost met his. Aether felt a needle in his spine, he knew he was being watched. 

Zhongli paused, Aether's gaze returned to Katrina, continuing their conversation.

"Z-Zhongli? does this mean he's a traitor? I- he's conspiring with the fatui!" piamon ushered in a hush tone. "Not quite... there may be more to this, but i don't think we should rule the possibility out quite yet." Zhongli suggested. "Piamon, I think we should go."

 Zhongli turned to leave. "What? where are we going?" she zipped Infront of Zhongli. "Well, first off we are going to leave. perhaps the traveler will inform us of his little conspiracy here. If not, we may need to report him to the mililith for enemy conspiring." he nodded.

"What? but- we aren't even sure if he's broken any laws!" piamon waved her hands. 

"Exactly." Zhongli finished.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Words: 1343

(your welcome)

Goddamn- its like.. fuckin 2:30 in the morning. damn. alight loves, quick question.

Long chapters, slow updates. 

or

Short Chapters, quicker updates?

Anyways hope you enjoyed the chapter, beginning to shed light on the whole ordeal.

Tell me who you think She is in the comments!