Aether felt helpless and lonely when he expressed everything that he could. He could have said more details to Keqing but left them for the time being as he was still hurt and confused because his sister, Lumine, should be now considered as an enemy, right? Given that she leads the Abyss Order, the enemy of humanity. However, he doesn't feel any contempt from her, recalling from her words that she has a war with 'destiny' and home is always the place where they are together. She actually sounded lifeless. It is as if she must do something before joining him again.
There is also that matter about completing the journey around Teyvat. What does she want him to know about the world that couldn't be said at that time? The commission, instead of resolving one problem, gave more problems and questions to the traveler.
Being deep in thought, he just remembered that Keqing was beside him, listening to what he has said in the past ten minutes. Paimon was there too, looking down at the pavement, trying to comfort Aether by patting his head.
"What should I do..?" Keqing thought to herself, thinking of some way to comfort Aether. She didn't want to see Aether being down. He might be a source of inspiration for her, but she did not know what to do. As the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, she doesn't know how to properly deal with relationships aside from business relationships. Her work was more important as she was devoted to protecting and developing Liyue Harbor as Rex Lapis had already fallen. She even turned down every suitor that came to her, asking her hand in marriage. This is possibly the first time that she wanted to reach out to someone, not as a business partner nor a colleague, but as a friend and perhaps, even more.
Without thinking, Keqing also patted Aether's head as a way of comforting him. "There, there… it'll be alright, Aether. I'm here for you." Keqing said warmly, with a hint of blush on her face.
Aether was slightly taken aback by the sudden head pat but found it comfortable, showing a slight smile to the purple haired beauty.
"I- uh- thanks, Keqing…." Aether said in a low voice, albeit awkwardly. "Thank you for being here for me." Aether added, also with a hint of blush on his face.
Keqing could feel her heart flutter a bit hearing those words from him. It's as if she felt that she was slowly but surely becoming that shimmering beacon of hope that Aether can look up to, even just for this moment. That was enough to strengthen her feelings for Aether.
She could only hope that she could always be by his side, but knowing her position as the Yuheng and his next goal of travelling to Inazuma and the rest of Teyvat, it would eventually boil down to either abandoning him or abandoning Liyue. She assures herself that when the time comes that she will face that difficult decision, she hopes that she could find a way that could benefit her, him, and Liyue.
"No problem at all, Aether." she said with a smile.
As long as I can lend a hand and be there for you in these times, I'm happy. Drowning in the intimate atmosphere, these were her thoughts at that moment.
However, little did she know that said thoughts were actually heard by the traveler.
"Did she mean that? Like, did she really mean that?" Aether thought to himself. Any person would be glad to hear those words but it actually feels melancholic for him.
When Lumine and Aether traveled many worlds, they did not mingle much with the people living in them. They made friends, but not to the point of it being any closer to them. They visited many worlds and wondered if the friends they made along the way missed them or at the very least remembered them, but it could not be possible. They were and still are travelers, surely the people they met have forgotten them already. They would simply jump from one world to another, simply outliving their friends. They would just come and go in their lives.
Aether has been in Teyvat for five hundred years due to unforeseen circumstances. Well, he was asleep for most of it and only waking up after the incident with the Unknown God. Ever since beginning his journey in Mondstadt, he has met a lot of friends that he looks up to. Even that one ginger-haired Fatui Harbinger who almost killed him back at the Golden House. After months of travelling back and forth between Mondstadt and Liyue for commissions, festivals, or simply hanging out with his friends, he could almost safely say that they are his second family.
Being stripped of his wings might have been beneficial to him as he slowly wants to settle down here at Teyvat, but he needed to find his sister first and he is very determined to do so.
Brushing off the previous train of thought, seeing that it is starting to get late, Aether and Paimon needed to rest in their apartment at Chihu Rock. On the other hand, Keqing's place was nearby so it was easy for her to go home. Keqing, as flustered as she is, broke the silence.
"I-It's getting late now, don't you think? I think it would be best if we call it a day and get some rest. I-It would even help sort out your thoughts! " Keqing blurted out.
"You're right, Lady Keqing! Come on Aether, it's time to rest. We got stuff to do tomorrow!" Paimon said, tugging Aether's scarf.
"Alright, alright, you." Aether pinches Paimon's cheeks for tugging his scarf. "Thank you again for listening to me, Keqing. I really appreciated it." Aether smiled as warm as the color of his eyes.
Keqing felt butterflies in her stomach. She was happy to help him yet sad that this could be the only time they could talk like this. "I'm glad I can be of help. Goodbye Aether and Paimon!" Keqing said.
Aether and Paimon waved goodbye to the Yuheng. The two of them started to walk towards the direction of their apartment. Keqing waved goodbye to the pair, but not without a lingering thought.
Is there anything that I can do for him, even for a day?
Believing that she could do more for Aether and not wanting to end the night in a sad tone, she suddenly called out to the pair.
"Hey, come to the Yuehai Pavilion first thing in the morning!. Don't be late, alright? I'll force the Adventurer's Guild to make this as a commission if I have to!" Keqing shouted, forming a blush on her cheeks and waved goodbye again to the pair and left.
Aether was puzzled at the offer. He had to guess that it was something important. Did he have to pay back Keqing for listening to him? Does he have to be her personal assistant for the day? Or is it work related to the Qixing? Oh well, it did not matter. He would still find out tomorrow.
"Paimon thinks that Lady Keqing likes you Aether." Paimon said.
"Are you serious, Paimon? There's no way Keqing would like me. She's the Yuheng and I'm just a traveler." Aether said.
"Didn't you hear what she said earlier, Aether? Lady Keqing said she's happy whenever she's there for you." Paimon said.
Aether paused for a moment and thought about what happened. He would be repeating himself if he's going to think if she did really mean that. Aether is not that dense, he could sense the sincerity behind Keqing's words. Aether kept it in mind but he still has doubts.
"I believe you, Paimon. It's just that I'm doubting myself whenever it comes to these things. Love is… well it's a complicated thing isn't it? Given my… unique nature." Aether said.
"Paimon agrees! Love has many different meanings and it's up to you to determine what it means, Aether." Paimon explained. "Alright then, let's hurry back to our apartment! Paimon's getting sleepy." Paimon added.
The two of them hurried back to Chihu Rock where their apartment was located. They settled in after a while and slept afterwards.
Meanwhile, a certain purple haired girl has trouble sleeping thinking of what she said to a certain golden eyed boy. Even though she blurted out her thoughts loudly, she meant every little thing that she said to him. After some moments later, she finally drifted off to sleep.