Episode 1: Business Trip Gone Wrong
Within 3 months after the Evil God event, Aether is within a Liyue hotel with everyone doing their own thing with him and Paimon sitting in the main area to hear their bellies roaring. "Oh man, I am so hungry," Aether said.
"I know, Paimon is so beat," Paimon said as she is patting her belly as it sounds like its begging for food. "Aether, you should take Keqing's offer. We need money to get food," she said.
"Yeah, by the way. I am going to meet her again later," Aether said.
"You been seeing her for the past 3 months," Paimon said.
"So, I like her company. She is pretty nice when you get past that blunt edge of hers," Aether said as Paimon looks at him.
"Well, when you meet her. Go talk about the deal and I'll go out to get something to eat," Paimon said to go out the door. His mind wanders on Keqing as he remembers one of their lunch ins with Aether and Keqing sitting at a booth with her beside him.
"Hey Keqing, why are you sitting next to me," he said as she is quite close to him.
"Oh, I feel better when I am close to you. Is that a problem?" Keqing asked as her purple eyes match up to his golden eyes with Aether blushing from this.
"It's no problem," Aether said trying to dismiss it as Keqing catches that.
"He is cute when he is flustered like that," she thought as Aether catches a peek of her white silk dress forming around her curves to see she has a good amount of cleavage shown.
"Okay Aether, get your mind out of the toilet bowl," Aether thought as their meal came with Aether switching his attention to the yummy food. "Oh man, this is delicious," Aether said.
"I am glad you like it Aether. Enjoy as much as you want," Keqing said.
"Man, these breadsticks are so crispy," Aether said as he is munching down as Keqing is eating her buttery biscuits.
"Quite tasty, oh Aether I wanted to ask you something that always bothered me," Keqing said.
"Shoot," Aether said.
"Who taught you how to use a sword?" Keqing asked.
"Well, my master drilled it into me since I was a kid. Nowadays, I look back on those lessons and use muscle memory to pick up the slack," Aether said.
"Oh interesting, my father taught me how to use a blade since when I was little. He was strict with me along with other things," Keqing said as Aether looks at her funny. "What is a matter, do I have crumbs on my face," she asked.
"No, it just. You never talk about personal stuff before, let alone your family," he said.
"Well, we are friends yes. I feel comfortable talking about it with you," Keqing said to lean towards him to give him a pretty smile.
"Wow, Keqing needs to smile more often. It's very pretty," Aether thought as he likes her smile spreading across her beautiful face. He snaps back to feel the blood rushing to his face to grab a bowl to distract it.
Aether gets out of his memory to prepare to meet with Keqing who is coming soon. He is ready as he hears the doorbell ringing for he goes up to see Keqing waiting for him.
"Good Morning Aether," Keqing said.
"You look good today," Aether commented as she is wearing a blue frilly dress to show off her shapely figure.
"Why thank you, you look fine as well. Come on, I know this breakfast buffet which has very good tea. Let's go," Keqing said as Aether brighten up with excitement.
"You are speaking my language. Let's crack some eggs," Aether said sounding fired up for them to walk side by side to head for the buffet. Aether fixes up his black and orange jacket to put his arms behind his head.
"So Aether, how are things going lately?" Keqing asked.
"Boring and everyone is doing their own thing now. Paimon and I are alone in the inn," Aether said.
"Well, that is too bad but life goes on," Keqing said. "Anyway, the job I had for you has changed. Instead, I will make you my personal bodyguard for a while," she said.
"Wait seriously," Aether said.
"Yes, you will not only protect me at meetings and outings. You will live with me as well," Keqing said.
"Sweet, out of that dusty hotel," Aether said getting excited as Keqing adores his childlike excitement.
"Oh, you are such a child, I can't keep my eyes off of you," Keqing said slyly.
"It's who I am," he said with a goofy grin as Keqing giggles at this.
"Indeed, come let's go eat," Keqing said as they arrived at the breakfast buffet to take their seats and enjoy some good grub.
"Oh, my goodness, this is so delicious. Thanks for paying the bill Keqing," Aether said as he is chomping down on some sausages and buttered toast.
"No problem, I don't do it for the sake of it," Keqing said as she looks at him longingly.
"What you said Keqing?" Aether asked as his mouth is filled with food.
"Oh nothing," Keqing said dismissively as she tries to compose herself for she gets a message via carrier pigeon from one of her workers.
"Mistress Keqing, we have found something quite interesting but we need your skills for this?" the employee said in the letter she is reading.
"So, they found the Zen Ruins?" she wondered as Aether stops eating to see how serious Keqing is.
"Yes, I need you here ASAP," she said the rest of the letter.
"Yes I understand," Keqing said.
"What was that about and what the hell is a Zen Ruins?" Aether asked.
"Well; Aether, you can go to your first job of being my bodyguard. We are heading for the Zen Ruins to the far west," Keqing said.
"Seriously what is the Zen Ruins?" he asked again.
"It's connected to a very old civilization that came before Liyue Harbor. Where do you think those machines littered all over the land came from," she said as Aether remembered one of the machine factories a few months back.
"I see, this sounds very dangerous," Aether said as Keqing shows a bright smile.
"That is why you are my bodyguard, it's nice to have a little insurance," she said as Aether looks down onto the table with a gloomy look on his face. "What is wrong Aether?" she asked.
"It's been three months now and my quest on finding my sister is stopped in its track especially with Inazuma closed off," he said as Keqing looks on with deep sympathy for him.
"Aether," Keqing said softly as she got close to him to grip his arm. "Yeah, I heard about that, pretty hard to that into that nation. Come on, let's pick up Paimon and head off," Keqing said as they finish eating to go to the inn to get Paimon.
"Hey Aether, Paimon got some tasty snacks for us," she said as she has bags of cookies in her hands.
"Paimon, pack up. We are heading out," Aether said.
"Oh finally, you got the job," Paimon said.
"Not exactly," said making Paimon feel confused.
"He is my new bodyguard," Keqing said holding onto his arm as Paimon feels uncomfortable with this.
"Okay, well at least we have an income," Paimon said. "So where are we going?" she asked.
"Zen Ruins," Keqing said as Paimon looks confused.
"Paimon doesn't know that place," she said.
"You shouldn't since it's recently discovered. My company is mining out the area but managed to find these ruins deep underground but there is a lot of machines down there. Some I had never seen before," Keqing said.
"Yeah, there is a bunch of those robots around the city outskirts and beyond. Very weird one too," Aether said.
"Well, get ready. Meet me at the northern gate," Keqing said to walk away back to her home to get her stuff. "Aether, it has been three months since you saved Liyue from destruction from the Fatui and their crazy plans. You are truly something else. You are kind, funny, brave, and handsome too," Keqing's mind is floored with naughty images of him. "Oh no, I got to get my mind out of the gutter," she said with a red flush on her pale white face.
She gets back to her family house which is very large and spacious for a maid to appear before her at the door to greet her. "Greetings Miss. Keqing, back so soon," her maid asked.
"Oh yes I am going to the Zen Ruins with my new bodyguard," Keqing is going up the stairs with her maid following her.
"Oh, isn't that boy you are smitten with lately?" her maid asked as this made Keqing glow in the face.
"Don't frame it like that," Keqing said as her maid is playfully teasing her mistress.
"Oh Mistress, you have been hanging around with him since he helped save the city. You two got pretty close, everyone in the city is talking about it you know," her maid said.
"Cut it out," Keqing looking embarrassed as she knows everyone is talking about her hanging out with her crush.
"You are so cute like that mistress, okay I will stop. You go change for your date," her maid said as Keqing sighs at this.
"Gee she is a handful, I guess everyone would be interested in that," she said to go into her room which is quite modest compare to the rest of her impressive mansion. She looks to her drawer to take out her travel outfit to be striping out of her dress.
She is in front of the mirror to be only in a silky white bra and silky white panties fitting her short shapely body especially her curvy rear, large chest, and long legs. "Gee, I am really filling out lately. I wonder if Aether likes curvy girls," she said to have happy thoughts about impressing her crush with some sexy undies she has in her drawers.
She puts on her purple travel dress and her personal sword called Lion's Roar to magically put it away. She goes to the front door to be greeted by her maid. "Safe travel milady, have fun with your boyfriend," her maid said playfully as Keqing sighs for she goes to the front entrance of the harbor.
Aether and Paimon were waiting for Keqing at the gate to see his favorite girl approaching them. "Gee, you took your sweet time," Paimon complained.
"Anyway, let's get going. Show us the way," Aether said as Keqing nods her head to go off onto the dirt road. They have been walking for a while on the road as Paimon is shaking around in the air.
"Oh crap, Paimon needs to take a dump pretty bad. Paimon will be right back," Paimon said as she rushes to the bushes to relieve herself.
"You two are quite the pair huh," Keqing said as she is beside Aether waiting for the little fairy to do her business.
"Yeah, she can be a pain but she is a good friend," Aether said.
"Seems like it, I'm glad you're here with me. I feel a lot safer knowing you have my back," Keqing said.
"What are friends for," Aether said as Keqing laughs halfheartedly.
"Friends right," Keqing said. "After these few months getting to know him, I am past that point of just being friends," she thought.
"Hey Keqing, are you having a fever," Aether said as she didn't notice she was blushing.
"Oh, I am fine," Keqing said to try and brush it off as the ground shakes for them to fall onto the deck.
"Oh man, that was a nasty shakeup," Aether said as his hand is on something soft and round. "Wow, it's very soft like a marshmallow," he said.
"Oh Aether," Keqing said as she has a deep blush on her snow-white face. Aether realizes he is on top of her as his hand is on one of her breasts.
"Oh Keqing, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do that," Aether said as he quickly gets up.
"I know since it's you. I don't mind," Keqing said acting up fluttered as this made Aether blush harder.
"Wait what?" Aether looking confused as something out of the lake nearby erupts to reveal a large sea serpent to lock its gaze onto Keqing.
"What in the world?" Keqing questioned as the duo evade the lunging beast for them to summon their swords.
"Guys, what is going on. I was taking a leak but that monster showed up. Kill it already," Paimon said.
"Paimon can it, we can deal with this," Aether said to summon his personal blade called the Sword of Descension into his hands in a two-handed grip.
"Come on Aether, let's do this," Keqing wields her Lion's Roar in a reverse grip for them to dodge another tackle from the lumbering beast.
She lobs several lightning arrows into the hide of the beast with one lobbed into its skull. She teleports to the last lightning arrow to be in front of the monster's face. She kicks off the head to gain some air to start craving into the monster's thick hide with lightning fused slashes from her sword.
Aether infuses his sword with wind energy to let out several wind crescents at the monster. The Sea Serpent let out a blast of water from its body to knock back Keqing and block the incoming energy attacks with its tail. It gathers energy into its maws to prepare to fight back.
"Look out," Paimon screamed as the beast unleashes a beam of water to tear into the environment. Keqing tosses a Lightning Stiletto to strike at the water beam to vaporize it on contact.
Aether comes in swinging with his sword to crave deep into its head's hide. Blood spreads from every slash as Aether thrust his blade to unleash a beam of wind to knock back the monster.
Keqing looks on to see the monster emitting a weird black aura which shakes the ground around them. "Something is wrong with this monster," Keqing said to be spooked by its evil presence.
The sea serpent's blue scales are becoming darken and its red eyes become yellow. It lets out a powerful roar that blows the trio away into a tree. Aether regains his balance to catch Keqing in his grip to prevent her from hitting the tree.
"I got you," Aether said as Keqing felt his strong grip on her body which made her heart race and his scent putting her at ease.
"Thanks," Keqing said as she leaps out of his hands to block incoming energy beams with her sword. Aether joins in as they tag team to deflect and rush at the monster. "Time to end this," Keqing said.
"Let's," Aether said as he summons a big tornado to encase the beast within the sharp winds. Keqing lobs her electric spears into the lake to begin mixing within the tornado and water to cause an elemental chain reaction of water, wind, and lightning combining to gravely damage the monster.
"Hold my hand," Keqing said as she tosses a Lightning Stiletto into the head of the serpent. They both teleport above the monster for them to slice into the neck at the same time. They appear behind the monster as blood explodes with the monster's head severed from its now exposed neck slot.
The lake becomes red with the monster's blood as a weird black orb escapes from the fresh corpse. "What is that thing?" Paimon asked as the black ink like orb has big yellow eyes to begin to float away.
"Oh no you don't," Aether goes up and slashes it in half to destroy it for it disappears into a black mist.
"Well, that was eventful," Keqing said dryly.
"We better get to the ruins," Aether said as the girls nod their heads to rush further on the road.
"Seriously what was that about. That monster was very strong," Paimon said.
"Indeed, we need to be careful here," Keqing said for she was curious about that weird black orb with yellow orbs. "I have never seen a monster like that before," Keqing thought for them to arrive at the Zen Ruins,
They reach the location to see a massive series of ruins with Keqing's personal securing the area and working on the mines.
"Madam, good thing you are safe. Our scouts were keeping watch and you were in danger from a vicious monster," the guard said.
"Don't worry, my bodyguard helped me defeat that vile beast," Keqing said.
"You must be pretty strong to be my mistress's bodyguard," the guard said as Aether feels proud of himself.
"I get around with a sword," Aether said as they hear noises coming from the deep insides of the ruins.
"Good thing you are here Lady Keqing. Some strong defenses within the ruins need to be cleared out first. A woman of your skill would be able to handle it," the guard said.
"Of course, we will secure the ruins. Aether let's go," Keqing said as they go into the building to see the beautiful symbols etched onto the walls.
"This is so breathtaking," Keqing said as Aether and Paimon look around to see flowing crystals on the side of the walls.
"Ditto to that," Aether said as they hear something within the walls.
"You hear that?" Paimon asked as Aether draws out his blade.
"Yeah, Keqing. We have company," Aether said as suddenly a small four-legged robot appears out of the wall. The bot fights its lasers with Aether blocking its shots as he destroys the bot with a single swing.
Then more bots appear from the walls to swarm them as they slash them into pieces with Aether shooting out orbs of wind to blast them into piles of scrap metal. Keqing unleashes lightning bolts to strike down groups of robots as she sees tons of robots coming through her way.
"Oh man, they keep coming," Aether said as he shoots a beam of gale to cut through a horde of robots.
"Aether, let's combine our powers," Keqing combines her lightning energy with Aether's wind Energy to summon a large twister made of sharp lightning to shred through the massive horde scattering the robot parts everywhere.
"Looks like the area is cleared," Paimon said to be relieved as they go deeper into the ruins.
"That was nuts," Aether said to be out of breath.
"Yeah but we make a good team Aether," Keqing said.
"Yep, good teamwork partner,"
Keqing, Aether, and Paimon are in a massive room filled with crates and machines with a lone energy beam in the middle of the room. "Look at all this," Paimon said.
"These machines are still active. It's a treasure trove of technology here," Keqing said.
"Insane," Aether said to look on in wonder at all this.
"This civilization was powerful in our region but due to some unknown disaster they vanished without a trace," Keqing said.
"Scary stuff," Paimon said as Aether looks at the weird energy beam to see something is inside it.
"Keqing, there is something weird inside," Aether said as Paimon can sense something quite vile within the beam for there is a small black orb stick inside.
"Interesting, it's a stasis field," Keqing said.
"What is that?" Aether asked sounding confused.
"It's a machine that holds a thing or a person frozen in place," Keqing said.
"This looks like that orb we destroyed from atop. That came out of that sea serpent," Aether said as something odd is happening with the whole room is shaking. "What in the Archon is going on here," he wondered.
The stasis field is weakening with the black orb emitting a powerful aura that breaks it. "Finally," the female voice echoed as the orb disappears. The trio looks on with confusion at this.
"Well; that was odd, seems like this is the end of the place. We cleared out the place, that is what matters most," Keqing said as their mission is completed to go outside to meet with the captain of the guards here. "We have cleared out the ruins," she said.
"Thank you, Mistress. You and your bodyguard are a great help to us. We will study on the ruins and see what is inside," the head guard said.
"Good, keep me posted," Keqing said as the trio walk back to Liyue Harbor. "Well meet me back at my house. Gather your things from the inn, see you there," she said to go ahead.
"Well, we are going to live the high life now. Living in one of the Liyue Qixing's private mansions, it's going to be amazing," Paimon said sounding pretty excited about it as Aether is happy to be able to live under the same roof as his favorite girl.
Soon enough the trio arrives at Keqing's estate with the duo amazed by what they see. "Wow, Keqing. You are loaded," Paimon said.
"Tell me about it," Aether said as they see a large mansion on a small hill beside the ocean with gates surrounding it with guards positioned everywhere.
"It's just a summer home my family owes. So, it will suit our needs," she said to go into the building to see luminous decorations spread on the floors and the walls.
"Good to see you Lady Keqing," a guard steps up to her to bow his head.
"Give me a status report. Was there anything wrong in the past few hours?" Keqing asked.
"No madam why?" he asked.
"We were attacked by a group of weird machines trying to kill me," Keqing said.
"Yeah, I heard about the situation at the Zen Ruins. Thank goodness, you are okay. Relax here and I will get the report from the ruins," the guard said.
"Right this way Aether and Paimon. I will show you your room," Keqing said as she guides them to their room which is close to her room.
"Wow fancy," Aether said.
"The beds look so fluffy," Paimon said as she bounces on the bed to feel the springs feeling solid.
"Get comfy here. Aether I need you to come with me to show you the perimeter of my estate," Keqing said as she has a smile stretch across her face.
"Sure," Aether said as they go through the hallways with Keqing being very close to him.
"How do you like my house?" she asked.
"It pretty nice here," he said.
"I am glad it's up to your taste," she said.
"I was pretty worried about you being hurt by that monster," Aether said as Keqing glows in the face.
"Thank you for worrying about me. Fitting for a bodyguard," Keqing said looking into his eyes to give him a bright smile which made Aether's stomach feel fuzzy.
"Well, I should get my stuff into my new room now," Aether said to enter the room with Keqing feeling exhausted as she goes to the bathroom to take a shower.
Soon enough she gets out of the shower to have a towel wrapped around her body. "Oh yeah that was good, so fresh," she said with a smile on her face.
She is about to get on her clothes as the door slides open with Aether appear at the doorway as Keqing freezes up in place. "Oh crap," Aether said as he wants to look away but can't resist looking.
Her body is wet as the towel clings to her shapely curves especially her ample 32F Cup breasts and her curvy backside.
"Aether," Keqing said to use a kick to knock him out of the door to press into a wall. Keqing goes up to him as she goes to check on him to quickly change into her new dress. "I'm sorry, I overreacted but still you should have knocked," she said.
"Sorry, I wanted to use the toilet," he said.
"Oh, go now. I'm done anyway," Keqing said as Aether goes inside with Keqing waiting outside.
"I'm sorry Keqing, really," Aether said.
"It's okay," she said as she felt the heat in her cheeks. "I don't mind if it's you are looking," Keqing said sounding a little sheepish.
"What was that," Aether asked not hearing the later stuff she said as she shakes her head.
"Oh nothing," Keqing said acting dismissively.
"You look great in that?" Aether said as she is wearing a black dress that forms around her hips and chest.
"Thanks, it's new," she said as they down the hallway to see a big painting of a man with a little girl on his lap.
"Hey, is that you Keqing," Aether said to point to the little girl.
"Yes, that is me when I was little and that is my father," she said.
"May I have asked; what happened to him?" he asked.
"He recently passes away a few months ago," she said to have a frown on her face with Aether placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry about that," he said showing sympathy.
"It's okay, thanks for your concern. I recently took over his company, it's a very big honor for me to keep our business going. Anyway, you must be tired, you should retire for the day," she said.
"Yeah you are right, I am going to take nap. See you later," Aether said.
"Sweet dreams Aether," she said as she stares at his broad back with a flush on her face. "This is going to be interesting," she said softly as she is going to enjoy the company of her favorite guy.
Elsewhere a woman is on top of a mountain to overlook Liyue Harbor with a vicious smile on her face. "These machines can't contain me and I will have my revenge on this place. Claiming it for myself with my Shade to help spread chaos across Liyue," the dark woman said to disappear into the shadows.