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CHAPTER III - STARS IN THE WIND, PART II

"Yes! I can't believe it worked. This is amazing! Thank you, stars, thank you, thank you!"

The palace in the sky - the one Rebecca had visited when entering Teyvat before - stood lonely above the clouds. The Sun shone brightly so that the Moon could rest, its golden rays stretching across the celestial blue and creating an explosion of warm hues. The sound of a melancholy melody reverberated in her ears, quiet as a whisper carried by the wind. But there was no one around to play it.

Ethereal is the word Rebecca would use to describe the scene.

I feel stupid for not thinking of it before, but it makes sense now. This place is Celestia, or part of it. This is where Aether and Lumine fought Asmoday.

Rebecca realised, wiggling her fingers in nervousness. The stars answered her prayers, sending her to Celestia in a confirmation that her time in Teyvat had not just been a lucid dream. It was real, all of it. But it also meant that she could be in danger for venturing into the domain of the gods without an invitation; for being a mortal toying with heavenly principles on a pure whim.

What would happen if some god noticed her and decided to punish her for her arrogance? Even worse, what if Asmoday came to kill her or seal her away as she did with Aether?

Just the thought of it sent shivers up her spine.

She ran to the door, wanting to get out of Celestia as quickly as possible. The melody grew louder. She turned the knob.

...

Blinking, Rebecca sat up. She was on a makeshift bed, made of thick but soft sheets. Aether's cape, folded carefully, served as a pillow. She found her glasses on the floor, the blurs taking shape as she put them back on.

Just ahead, at the entrance to the cave, Aether was meditating facing the sea. She sighed with relief at seeing him again, approaching quietly to watch him closely.

"How long are you going to stare?"

"I'm not staring. It's just that there's something on your face."

"Oh, yeah? What is it?" Aether asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Beauty." Rebecca said, laughing at her own joke. She supposed Aether didn't think it was funny, because he squeezed her cheeks tightly. "Ouch, ouch, ouch! What's with all the violence?"

"You suddenly collapsed last night. Do you have any idea how worried I was? And you wake up and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is this?" Aether complained, but there was no real anger behind his words. "Idiot. You deserve this as punishment."

"It's not my fault. I don't even know what happened." Rebecca retorted, pulling his hands away and massaging her sore cheeks. She went to all the trouble of begging the stars to return to him and this is how she was received? How unfair.

From a distance, she heard Paimon's voice. Aether informed her that Loki and she had gone out to collect fresh ingredients for breakfast, as they would need energy to begin their journey.

Spotting them, she waved. Paimon quickly flew towards her, nearly dropping the fruit she was carrying in the process.

"Rebecca! That stupid squirrel is so mean! He tried to steal my tiara! My tiara!"

"It was you who tried to steal his nuts first." Loki revealed, exasperated.

"Paimon and Alvin fighting? I can't believe I missed that." Aether joked, amused at the pixie's expense. "It must be the fight of the century. So, did you lose or win?"

"Is that what matters to you?" Paimon asked, crossing her arms in dissatisfaction.

"She won, more or less. When she said it was for Rebecca, the squirrel gave up and gave us some nuts. Here." Loki said, handing the fruit to Rebecca. "Eat."