Return of The Maid-Knight (A Genshin Impact Fanfiction)

Opulent Date

Noelle walks away from the Third-Round Knockout, and began her search. Her best bet was to find records of this mythical Shan Dian, or asking more information on it from other Adepti.

Zhongli on the other hand, sipped on his cup of tea as he watches Noelle left.

"I wonder if what you said all those years ago is true..."

Elsewhere, Aether is pretending to drown in the middle of a lake in Mt.Aocang, until he was saved by Xiao.

"I told you it won't work, Aether!" Nilou shouted worriedly.

"Paimon, the next time you sacrifice Aether with your ideas, you won't feel mercy from me."

"P...Paimon gets it! Sorry!"

As it turns out, during Aether's trip to gather the bamboo shoots, he and the others encountered a Fontaine musician named Dvorak, who is in search of an Adeptus that once saved his ancestor. Paimon's brilliant idea is to make a fake drowning scenario which made Xiao to come out of worriedness, as well as the enigmatic Shenhe, who was in the area at the time.

After explaining the entire thing to Shenhe, who mistook music as the voice of nature surrounding her during her time cultivating, Ganyu begins to speak of some folk tales and songs.

"There are lots of folk tales surrounding Liyue, as well as songs. Ranging from myths like Shan Dian and lullabies derived from some tales."

"Hold it, Qilin. Did you just say Shan Dian?" Ayaka asked Ganyu.

"Indeed, what of it?"

"Don't you mean the legendary Tenshou-Ryu? The serpentine dragon that once lurked the skies above Teyvat long before The Almighty Shogun-Sama became the Electro Archon?"

"Yes, it is. I'm not surprised that Inazumans also have the folk tale in their own version, since Shan Dian was a candidate for Electro Archon before it was brought down to Teyvat by Rex Lapis after he defeated it."

"But the body was never found..."

"Indeed, and during the recent years, during the assassination of Rex Lapis, and whatever has happened in Sumeru recently, I overheard Cloud Retainer and the other adepti mentioning Shan Dian has returned, although it laid dormant within a human body."

"So One is indeed correct, that you have eavesdropped on an important meeting amongst us Adepti." A mature female voice is heard.

The group looked up to a hilltop to see an adeptal crane, standing and watching over them.

"C-Cloud Retainer!? Pardon my insolence, but--"

"Although if you spoke on it only to the traveler and his party, then it is alright. Now one dare ask, what is the purpose of your arrival in Shenhe's usual training grounds?"

Ganyu and Aether begins to talk about the music problem to Cloud Retainer, whereas Ayaka asked Aether if she could leave for an investigation.

"Where are you going, Miss Ayaka?" Nilou asked.

"Looking for Tenshou-Ryu, what else?"

"It may be too dangerous, even for us!"

"If we can defeat it before it even manifests again, we might as well save Teyvat altogether."

---

And so, Ayaka and Nilou went on their own investigation like Noelle to find who is currently the person who became the host of Shan Dian. Although they find nothing, until the night of the music event.

At one point in the streets, Noelle bumps into Aether and Paimon.

"Oh, Aether!"

"Hey there, Noelle. So, about that talk with Zhongli..."

"I am looking for signs of Shan Dian. Where are Lady Ayaka and Miss Nilou?"

"Ayaka gets all riled up after Ganyu mentioned this Shan Dian, and now she along with Nilou is searching for it as well." Paimon replied.

Aether himself just visited Zhongli, and got a serving of his special bamboo shoot soup which Paimon devoured. Now with nothing else to do, Aether went to the area where the music event is held. There he meets a familiar sight.

"Keqing! You've finished your work already?"

"Yes, Aether. So I am free for the night."

"If you have nothing to do... Want to have a little walk together, before the music event start?"

"W-what? Aether, don't tell me you're a-asking me out on a date?"

"Something like that, Keqing. If you can't, then I can maybe ask you out another time."

"N-no! It's just... It's not like I'm rejecting your offer and all! So yes. Let's get going."

Keqing is a blushing mess by now. Before she knew it, Aether grabbed her hand, and walked away from the event area, enjoying the sight of the skies and stars above them. Aether then took her out for dinner, in which they stopped by at Wanmin restaurant where Aether ordered a serving of Golden Shrimp Balls for the both of them to share, since Aether is not that hungry.

"How is it?"

"Magnificent. Xiangling really knows how to whip up the best dishes, especially this."

"Glad to know that you liked what I ordered."

"Y-yes... Thank you. And Aether..."

"Hm?"

"Y-you don't have to ask me out, you know."

"The others are busy, and as a result I couldn't hang out with them."

"I-I see..."

"Keqing, listen to me. I love you, like I loved the other girls in my group. You were there for me during the battle for the Jade Chamber, and against Beisht after all. Both me and Noelle were very grateful for the support you gave."

"It was nothing, really! I was just doing my job in protecting--"

Before Keqing knew it, Aether presses his lips against Keqing's. After that surprise kiss, he pulls away again, and told her.

"You talk too much."

Afterwards, the both of them closed their eyes as they enclosed each others' distance, and kissed again. All the while a certain young master-chef has her eyes covered by the hands of a small bear-like being behind her.

-----

"I still can't find the body nor the shadow of the legendary Tenshou-Ryu...!"

"Maybe it really has stopped giving out it's presence? Miss Ayaka, this is a complete waste of time looking for a myth. Maybe we should get back to the harbor to celebrate the Lantern Rite."

An Adeptus Portal opens, and Noelle motioned the two of them to get in. When they got through, they found themselves back in the harbor.

"Noelle. Are you trying to beat me into finding the legendary Tenshou-Ryu?"

"Lady Ayaka! So you were also trying to search for Shan Dian as well, I presume?"

"I will surely find and defeat the legendary Tenshou-Ryu before you, Noelle. That's a challenge."

"Here we go again." Nilou sighs as she smiled at their antics again.

"Oh, that's right. How can I forget!?" Noelle widened her eyes.

"What is it?" Ayaka raised a brow.

"Out of all the adepti that I have talked to for information on Shan Dian, there is still one left out!"

"Who is it?" Nilou asked further.

"The person who gave Aether the Serenitea Pot."

Noelle then opens an adeptus portal again, this time it opens a rift to Yujing Terrace, where they are immediately met with an old woman in front of a table, in which on top of it is a tea set.

"Excuse me, are you Madame Ping, by any chance?" Noelle's voice asked her.

"Indeed, I am Madame Ping. Who is it that is calling out for--" Ping turned around to face the caller, and her eyes widened.

"What is wrong, Madame?"

"Y... You look just like her..."