Untold Stories: A Genshin AU Tale

Chapter 3: Past Beginnings

It had been a while since Aether and Paimon took shelter in Astreal's Cabin. And sundown dawned on the vast land when Aether and Paimon were ready to leave. Astreal let out a silent grunt as he escorted the two out to the door of his cabin.

"Well.. You two were surely very lucky i was around.. Those rogue bandits are tough to fight alone, especially in large numbers." Astreal said, getting onto the Ketnova. He places his vision onto the slot between the handlebars again, and started the motorcycle, the engine roaring to life. Paimon clinged to Aether, as the two boarded the sidecar attached to the right side of the Ketnova.

"Who were those bandits.. and why are they so.. violent and bloodthirsty?" Paimon asked, her worried expression still plastered across her face.

"Yeah, i agree with Paimon." Aether added, looking at Astreal.

"Ah, well.. lets just say theyre old associates turned sour.. and leave it at that." Astreal said, and he starts the journey towards Natlan. As the trio rode through the windy desert, Aether thought of the statement just now. Old associates.. turned sour? It didnt make sense but it sounded like maybe a buisness deal gone wrong or friends turned to foes. Either way.. the rogue bandits were not good people to stick around with.

"Hey, Astreal, speaking of Natlan, have you heard about their gizmos? Paimon thinks your.. motorcycle fits in with those mechanical stuff!" Paimon says, her expression changed from worried to eyes wide open. Astreal let out a small scoff, as he kept his speed while travelling through the dunes.

"Yeah, i did think of those.. the region itself is kinda like a racetrack, doesn't it?" Astreal chuckled, and sped up a little. "Yeah, Paimon also wondered if you ever raced before?" Paimon added, her curiousity now at full capacity with Astreal's statement.

"Mmm, sometimes. The Ketnova's not really built for racing, per say.. its more adventuring or long distance travelling. And its capable of some neat defenses!" Astreal smirks, as he flips a switch on the left handlebar, and Aether saw a contraption resembling a miniturized light machine gun sprouts out from the bottom the engine, with a few clanks and some clinks, a full blown turret was now formed on both sides of the engine of the motorcycle. Astreal slipped his index fingers onto the triggers between the clutch and brake levers, and the handlebars. Once he pressed down, streams of bullets spewed out of the barrels with an audible bang and visible muzzle flashes. Aether closed his ears, watching the fixed turrets fire rapidly with a gaze of terror mixed with excitement. Meanwhile Paimon just disappears the moment the turrets fired. Astreal however cackled and howled with joy as the turrets fired, seeing his modifications had worked as he had expected. Another flick of the switch folded and retracted the turrets back and away, as Astreal looked at Aether with a grin.

"So! How was it?" Astreal chuckles, and Aether slowly puts his hands down. "It was.. very loud!" He said while Astreal slowed down, and arrived at the border of Natlan. It would a little longer when the trio arrived at the Capital of Natlan. Astreal and Aether dismount, and Paimon pops out again.

"We're.. here now?" Paimon asked, and Aether assured her so. The trio walked around the Capital, greeting the locals. But Aether observed something.. some of the locals dont respond to Astreal, some even avoided him out of.. fear? Astreal was also pretty bugged by it, but he shook it off, trying to not have his awkward interactions ruin his day. Aether, like the the brother he was, decided to approach Astreal and question about said awkward interactions.

"Ah.. well, uh i.. have history with the locals." Astreal said in a lower, quieter tone.

"Yeah.. a murderer!" Aether glanced at a rather elderly man, as he pointed at Astreal. "You killed hundreds.. slayed many lives just for your reign!" The man continued to point out. At this point.. Aether could connect some dots slowly.. Astreal, a mercenary, kills people but.. by the hundreds? Question after question flooded his mind, but before he could spit out a word, Astreal pulled Aether towards somewhere else. "You A.R.I.E.S. piece of-"