Untold Stories: A Genshin AU Tale

Chapter 4: Not Your First Time?

-A couple of weeks later-

Aether and Paimon were halfway through with the Archon quest in Natlan, and during their trip around the Capital, Aether swore he saw a glimpse of the Capitan.. he followed the figure, and Aether saw his cloak, he gripped his Silver Sword on standby. He lunged forward, and sure enough the figure resembled the Capitan himself.

"Ah.. you found me," the Capitan lookalike said, while Aether stood back, gripping his sword. But he lowered his blade in shock and confusion as the Capitan disguise was turned off-and it was just Astreal. "Looked pretty cool huh?"

"H-how.. how did you do that?!" Paimon asked, her mind also blown by the trick. "Its.. a projected disguise, so basically anyone i know, or interacted with, either good or bad.. i can copy their looks down to the small details and use the disguise. But to be the character.. yeah thats the hard part." Astreal replied, feeling a bit giddy that his disguise worked.

Aether sighed, and looked at Astreal. "Back at Natlan i see.. whats your buisness here?" He asked, putting away his sword. "Ah well, nothing really. Just came to say hello.. but either way, im heading to Sumeru to do.. delieveries, apprently." Astreal said the last part with a bit of a shocker tone. "Delivery? You're helping Kirara?" Paimon asked, her eyes lighting up at the information.

"Yeah, i do long distance deliveries while she does more short distance deliveries. I mean, its better for her and for everyone else no?" Astreal added, and Paimon agreed. Aether was also intrigued by Astreal's fun fact, but his thoughts kept him from a proper comment. Astreal sighed, and walked back to his motorcycle, and started it again. Paimon headed over to Astreal, tugging Aether along too.

"Where are you going?" Paimon asked. Astreal glanced at the two. "Just going for another delivery.. you two wanna join?" Astreal returned the question, Paimon agreed, while Aether was a bit reluctant but still followed through. The trio start their journey again, and through the desert they rode through. Astreal took a pit stop at a rundown warehouse, while Aether and Paimon were a bit confused on what he was doing.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Paimon asked while Astreal headed inside. "Just meeting some associates, that's all." Astreal replied, his words stoic and strange.. something was off, and Aether could feel it. Who would just simply want to take break at a warehouse that had been abandoned for god knows how long. However, a sense of curiousity sparked within him too. So, biting his tongue and letting his curiousity take over, Aether followed inside along with Paimon.

The two of them hid behind some crates as Astreal was talking to some mysterious figures. He handed them a package, which was when Aether starts to suspect it was a trap.. he not only noticed the three figures conversing with Astreal, but also hidden figures under the cover of shadows in the corners of the warehouse. Then, as Astreal was about to leave, the figures aimed at him, their intent to kill Astreal visible on their faces. Aether's eyes widened.. but he wanted to see what would happen next. Suddenly, Paimon sneezed, "Achoo!" And alerted the other figures within the warehouse.

Aether and Astreal were dumbfounded and Astreal quickly threw down a smoke grenade before retreating to cover. Bullets and arrows zipped by their heads. In a loud and frustrated tone, "I told you two to stay with the motorcycle!" Astreal grunted, readying his revolver and gripped it tight.

"I-i'm sorry i-" Paimon tries to apologize, but the sound of bullets whirring past their heads were obvious to them that they were in a troublesome situation. Astreal quickly stood up, firing off six shots towards the figures standing along the shadows, taking down the enemy's main shooters. Astreal went for a reload, while Aether grips his Silver Sword to take down the other three figures. Aether managed to take down the leading figure, wounding the others. Before Aether could finish the job, Astreal called out to retreat from the warehouse. The trio mounted the motorcycle again and continued their journey.