Oath [BL; Book 2]

45

"Haaa, dancing is hard.." Aether complained defeated, Paimon too as she lay on the floor KO-ed.

"P-Paimon needs fooood, so hungry!"

Xiao was still ready to teach them more, but they were obviously tired. "Very well, you should have a lunch break, I have some things to take care of so I'll be back."

"You're leaving? Why don't we eat together?" Aether smiled asking, "We can have jewelry soup, and I can make you some almond tofu!"

"Yaay jewelry soup! And jade parcels?"

Aether chuckled, "Sure, will it take you long?" He asked Xiao who wanted to join them but he had to meet with Ganyu for her training soon.

Telling him, "Ganyu's training is important, she has made good progress recently." He got ready to go and said, "If there is time I will join you, but don't wait for me."

With that he was gone, "Ah, we tried Paimon."

"Yup! It can't be helped!" They went on but both stopped and looked at each other.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking Paimon?"

"If it has to do with Qingxing flowers then yes!"

They laughed and ran on leaving the Inn for their crazy ideas. Aether and Paimon ran right to the mountains gathering sweet flowers and mints as they went along. Finding the few violetgrass they did they grabbed it too. With a detour here and there they even gathered some Jueyun chilies for their stash of ingredients.

Fighting their way through they made it into Huaguang Stone Forest where they climbed the hightest mountains searching for Qingxing flowers. Picking a few bundles they stayed atop Mt. Hulao watching Ganyu's training from high above nearly being noticed they quickly ran off to hide.

Now making their way back Aether smiled eating a sunsietta a strange tingling in his back made him stop and look over his shoulder. "Mm?"

Paimon stopped too and asked, "What is it Traveler? Is something wrong?"

"Huh? No, it's fine. My back just stings a little." Aether wiggled a bit feeling as though there was an itch he couldn't reach. "Ugh, it bothers."

"Hm," she gave a nod deciding, "let's get back quick. You can take a bath first and we'll apply the ointment like Tighnari said!"

"Yeah.." they walked on and he continued eating his sunsietta.

"It's really weird it hasn't healed yet. All of your other injuries healed really fast!" Paimon pointed out, "I wonder why this one isn't."

"Huh." Aether noticed it now too since she said something about it. "I wonder too." Taking it easy because of the strange sensation, Aether sighed feeling more and more uncomfortable as they went on.

Though, he said nothing of it to her knowing she would worry. Getting back to the Inn they were caught having gone out to adventure. Xiao had returned before them surprised they had just been returning.

"You should be resting." He scolded them, "Your muscles will be sore from the excerise, it's imperative you get sufficient rest and eat proper meals." Arms crossed disapproving of their lack of judgement, "What do you have to say for yourselves?"

Both were as guilty as charged, "We're sorry." Sat properly on the wooden floor they both hung their heads apologizing.

Aether quickly said, "It was Paimon's idea!"

"Wha-Paimon had nothing to do with it! Paimon was dragged into it - yeah! It was all Aether's idea!"

Now listening to them go back and forth Xiao sighed, "Alright," getting them to stop he said, "for the rest of the night, get some rest."