Burden of the Abyss: Internal Refraction [Genshin Impact x (O)OC]

Arc 6 - 6: Back to My Roots

Warping back to the top of the Spiral Abyss, Aether frowned seeing Ina waiting for him again.

"Took you rather long to return. Held up?" Ina asked.

"Not particularly. It takes a minute to get back into the swing of my old powers." Aether let a few stars twinkle in his palm.

"...Why are you back to that hideous mockery of a state?" Ina asked with disgust, appearing beside him and lifting up a familiar black cape.

She was right. His hair was back to a black and brown gradient, and his clothes were back to the simple grey shirt and black pants.

She picked at his hair and saw that her touch made it glow a faint orange where there was brown. She turned his face and stared into his eyes, making sure that he still held his previous powers.

"You know, this is a welcome change from trying to kill me." Aether commented in relief.

"I was never trying to kill you. You would've perished long ago had that been the case." Ina smirked smugly.

"Don't doubt it. Which begs the question: what do you want with me now? This can't be on Lumine's orders." Aether asked.

"Well, if I'm being completely honest, I'm through with your sister's convoluted plans and schemes." Ina shrugged.

"I like your direct approach more. Not the whole mediation thing you do. That's sickening. But if it gets you closer to the Gnosi, whatever works." Ina rolled her eyes.

"However... in your time in Teyvat. You've tamed a dragon. Defeat two Fatui Harbingers. Battled and tamed an Archon. Of course, last but not least, killed two Gods," Ina smiled wider with each feat, plastering a very menacing and sinister grin across her face.

"Yet all your sister has done, was seethe and mourn. She's barely taken any action. Even you've thwarted her plans... With no offense to my Abyssal Brethren, we simply aren't contenders in this war against the Gods..." Ina sighed as she pushed the wrinkles of her furrowed brow.

"Noticed. That curse clearly doesn't favor you all... Attacks on humanity is one thing. But against divinity is another. The power isn't there. And to you, neither is the leadership, huh?" Aether asked.

"Precisely. I think she still fears the power of whatever god did this to you both. Understandably so, but that gets us nowhere. Unlike you," Ina walked in front of him and knocked his chest with the back of her hand.

"Vengeance incarnate. That raging passion to cleave through enemies and take back what's yours, or even save the unworthy. Admirable. Useful." Ina commented.

"Don't tell me you wanna join the party..." Aether deduced.

"Again... Precisely. I've had my fun with Lumi's schemes. I want a more direct approach. Your approach. I wish to be your attendant." Ina offered.

"Did I need to be strong enough or something?" Aether wondered.

"No, I wasn't testing your strength. You're just fun to play with." Ina laughed, turning away from him.

"Well, I'm more than willing to accept. I feel bad now... I expended all my recovered power just in case we had to fight again..." Aether revealed.

Ina turned back around, and saw that the entirety of Aether's Party stood with their weapons ready, excluding the Archons he summoned before.

However, a surprising addition was Ganyu, who had her bow aimed square over Aether's shoulder protectively.

Ina smirked at his party and shrugged.