everlasting lament | Aether

002

"Those that hurts others with that intent, will feel the effects later on."

—

The night was so silent that Aether could hear a tune playing in the air, it was a tune that felt awfully familiar to him in a way. With each note, it started to get slower and it sounded more sad with each passing note.

He had never heard this melody play out in the open anywhere in Liyue. Was someone who knows how to play traveling the land as well like him?

"Aether! Look we're almost there at the location that Ganyu gave us!" Paimon calls out to him, completely back to focusing on the quest at hand.

He was somewhat relieved that Paimon had forgotten about this jingwei being since it's been almost a month and half since Xiao refused to say anything else to her but would sometimes tell him a few things to him about this person.

"Let's prepare and then let's head in!" Paimon says as they come to the entrance of the hidden domain.

—

"Come, I was able to gather some information about the Abyss Harold in Liyue." Dainsleif tugs along his partner who waves her hand at the group of small children who say goodbye.

The woman looks at him before telling him to let go of her which he does, she brushes the dust off her clothing and hurries along with him.

"Maybe after this, we'll see if the abyss princess wants to talk or wait another hundred years." She says with a gravelly tone, her eyes give off a cold look as she thinks about meeting with a person she thought as a friend....as family.

But that was reduced to nothing, nothing but pure hatered and distrust.

The intent to kill.

Dainsleif glance at her, before seeing that they would be arriving soon at the area. "[Y/n]." He calls out to the woman and she looks at him, waiting for him to speak.

"You do know if go with this plan, you'll end up reuniting with him." He's carefully with his words, not wanting to make her more into a sour mood.

She says nothing at this and the two stood at the entrance, "I'll go in and have a look, leave with them if you have to. Make sure they don't come back, I'm not in the mood to deal with non important things at the moment."

"Alright, we'll meet when we can." Dainsleif says, waiting for her to head in side before the pair come back outside. "Be careful in there."

She lets out a grin at this, "Dain, you know something like this nothing to me. You know that." She disappears as she steps into the domain, leaving the blonde to his thoughts.

"Stubborn as always." He mutters to himself.

—

While [Y/n] went out to scout this abyss hideout, Dainsleif met up with Aether and Paimon, leading them away from the cave so the [H/C] woman could do her task.

After defeating some hilichurls, abyss mages and ruin guards, the three managed to find themselves in Mondstadt, specifically the cathedral to gather any Intel about the first ruin guard.

—

Rubbing your two fingers together, you study the dirt for any tracks of what could be in that area.

Well, one thing for certain, Dainsleif was right about an Abyss Harold being here along with a few hilichurls, and what not. Also a track of human footsteps but you weren't sure if it was the one you were looking for or someone else who may have stumbled in here by accident.

"Guess I should go in deeper." You mutter to yourself, getting off your knee and standing up. Walking inside, you enter a room where you spot a few hilichurls dancing around a small fire place and you decide if taking them out is good or bad in this situation.

But Aether and that flying fairy were to some how come back, they'll see the dead bodies and think someone else was here.

Deciding that it was best to just talk to them, you open your own personal space bubble and pull out a few cooked steak you stored for later.

"Olah!" You greet with your hand up, a sign of no hostility, no weapons at hand only the steak in your hands.

"Gah!?" Your voice seem to have startled the hilichurls as they jump up and turn to face you, they were surprised to see you standing there as they had no time to get their weapons. One points their finger at you, "Dada upa ya!"

"Ika gusha, Muhe mita." You say, holding the meat up for them see, you kneel down and slowly hand it over to them. They seemed hesitant but the smaller one slowly crawls towards you and grabs the meat before running back.

As if in shock, the hilichurl holds it up to the other still on guard, "Dudu mita!?"

"Da!"

They circle around the stack of meat before looking back at you, "Muhe?"

Successfully seeing that you won the hilichurls over, you smile at them. You asked them if they saw anything strange, like a tall figure with a smaller one.

"Unta nunu! Dada upa sama oya!"

They answer while eating more steak you gave them seeing that they were still hungry, placing a hand on your chin. You're in thought for a bit before asking them one last question, "Du ya zudi dala?"

They all look at each other, one answer given, all the same.

"Aba mosi dada, mosi aba nunu!"

Your ears pick up footsteps heading your way and you quickly get into hiding only to realize that the hilichurls could get kill if it was Aether and Dainsleif, so you jump back down and grab ahold of them.

They all seemed to trust you so they didn't say a word and continue to eat, you watch from the shadows as Aether and Dainsleif pass by without suspecting but Dain seemed to have sent a glance in your direction, meaning to follow them.

Waiting for a more minutes, you jump down and put the hilichurls back in their place before quickly following Dainsleif but not without saying bye to the hilichurls who wave back.

"Da!"

Staying up in the upper structure, you watch as Dainsleif and Aether made their way to the upside statue of the seven which you immediately recognize who it was.

Barbatos, also known as Venti.

You would need to pay him a visit sooner after all this, Dainsleif seemed to have signal you to stay up there a little bit longer and you nod your head.

A voice rang out and you knew who it was, the abyss herald. You had no interest of what it wanted but you still wanted to defeat it in battle.

Seeing that Aether and the herald went into battle, you brought out your pistol and aim down on it. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike it down.

—

"Even those that they love you, will always manipulate you with their sweet lies."