"That's quite refreshing," Diluc sighed. The entire party had walked out of the cave and was enjoying the fresh air.

"I know, right? It feels like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders," Kaeya said.

"I wonder how long we were in there for this time," Keqing grumbled. "That was much longer than the previous trips. Four, maybe five months would've passed this time, I expect," she said.

"WHAT." Diluc said, staring at her. "Fuck. Jean's gonna be so mad at me. I can't- Where's my waypoint?"

"Calm down, Master Diluc. I'll take us back. I need to introduce Lumine to the Knights anyway," Aether said. He closed his eyes, and golden light shined around them. Then, the feeling of dispersing into nothingness took hold of them. They resolidified near the Statue of the Seven near Windrise, where Jean was on one knee, facing the tree.

"Dear Lord Barbatos, please bring Diluc and Kaeya back safely," Jean prayed. "I'd do anything to bring them back safely. Please, let your wind guide us."

She stayed in that position, silently praying, before getting up and scanning her surroundings.

Then she saw the group.

Her face flashed through many different emotions at once. Fear, gratefulness, happiness, and confusion all flashed through her face. Then it settled on anger. Diluc and Kaeya cringed.

"This isn't going to be pretty," Kaeya muttered.

"It really isn't," Diluc agreed.

Aether and Lumine faded into twin shimmers of gold and silver, and the two adopted brothers were practically cowering.

"So." Jean said, breathing heavily. "What do you two have to say for yourselves?"

"Miss… me?" Diluc asked, terrified.

Jean took a deep breath, and opened her mouth wide.

"DILUC RAGNVINDR AND KAEYA ALBERICH. DO YOU TWO HAVE ANY CLUE AS TO HOW WORRIED I'VE BEEN?! PRAYING FOR YOUR SAFETY EVERY DAY FOR HALF A YEAR, NOT KNOWING WHERE YOU'VE BEEN, NOT KNOWING WHERE LORD VENTI WAS, NOT KNOWING IF YOU'D DIED, NO REPORTS ON ANYTHING, EVEN LIYUE WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE MR ZHONGLI AND MS KEQING HADN'T RETURNED."

"Jean, please, we didn't really know…" Kaeya faltered.

"DIDN'T KNOW? DIDN'T KNOW?! IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW, YOU REPORT STRAIGHT BACK TO ME. IS THAT NOT THE RULE OF THE KNIGHTS OF FAVONIUS? THAT YOU REPORT EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM TO ME?"

"I forgot, I'm sorry. But we almost died. It was thanks to the Honorary Knight that we were saved," Diluc said. If he had been hoping to divert Jean's attention, it worked.

"The Honorary Knight? He's alive?" Jean questioned. "That's quite the pleasant surprise. Where is he?"

"Reporting, Acting Grand Master Jean," Aether said. He reappeared in a shimmer of gold, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.

"It's great to see you alive, Honorary Knight," Jean said. "I'm so glad you're alive."

"So, pledged your allegiance to a lady already, Aether? And here I thought you were an antisocial freak," Lumine teased. She reappeared in a shimmer of silver, and Aether shot his sister a glare.

"I'm only teasing," Lumine said, smiling.

"Ah, it's… gah, what was her name? The Honorary Knight's sister. Lumine?"

"Thaaaat's me!" Lumine trilled.

"It's very nice to meet you in person," Jean said formally. "Your brother has helped Mondstadt out quite a lot."

"Fixing my problems," Lumine muttered.

"It wasn't your fault, dear," Someone said behind them. They turned, and they saw Lisa and Amber coming towards them.

"It's so great to see you in person!" Amber said. "I can tell we'll be great friends!"

"Thanks a lot," Lumine said. Childe cleared his throat.

"Are we… really supposed to be here?" Lumine shrugged.

"I dunno. You guys do what you see fit," She waved her hand, and a portal of stars opened up. "If you step through that, it'll return you guys home."

La Signora stepped through immediately, and disappeared in a small whooshing sound. Zhongli stepped through next, and Keqing looked at Aether apologetically.

"Sorry, Aether, but… I think I gotta explain to Ningguang what happened," she said. Aether smiled.

"It's alright. I understand. I'll see you tonight." He kissed her on the cheek, and Keqing headed through the portal. Dainsleif headed through as well. Childe swayed near the portal and looked at Lumine.

"I'll be counting on that duel," he said finally. Lumine nodded.

"No problem, Solnishko. Contact me when you're ready. Just send the letter to my brother, he'll send it to me." Lumine said. Childe nodded.

"Alright. See you soon, Printsessa," Childe said. He leaped through the portal with a smile.

"So what do you guys wanna do?" Amber asked. "We have a lot to do! The Knights of Favonius always have something to do!"

"It'd be cool to see their worlds. They said it was possible," Diluc said. Jean, Lisa, and Amber's eyebrows shot straight up.

"It's possible? Of course, we'd love to visit!" Amber cried.

Aether bobbed his head. "It's possible, but there are many variables. Personally, I suck at calculating everything. My sister is better at that," he said.

"Gimme a couple weeks. I should have everything ready by then," Lumine said.

"Where will you stay?" Aether asked. Lumine shrugged.

"Dunno. Maybe I'll live your life for once and live outside," she joked. Jean frowned.

"I can't allow that," Jean said. "You can stay in the Dawn Winery. Diluc has many spare rooms, and I'm sure Klee would love to have you around."

"Alright, sure," Lumine agreed. "I might be a bit nocturnal here though. Nighttime is the best for me to calculate the route back home."

"Take your time, sis," Aether said. "No hurry."

"I beg to differ," Amber said. "Make it as quick as possible. I can't wait to see another world!"

"Did the ears of mine deceive me, or is it true that the Traveller shall bring us to his universe?"

"Hey, Fischl," Aether said. Lumine looked at her strangely.

"She talks like that," Aether muttered. Lumine nodded slightly in understanding.

"Yes, that's true," Aether said. "We'll have to wait on Lumine to make any decisions."

"All the waves of the sun and the moon shall be with you." Fischl said.

"She means that there's no rush," Oz said, appearing next to Fischl.

"Thanks," Lumine said. "You guys can go back to… whatever you were doing. You can notify your friends about this as well, if you like. I've got to catch up with my brother."

Everyone nodded, and Jean growled.

"Mr. Ragnvindr and Mr. Alberich. I want you two in my office, now." The two sworn brothers looked at each other and gulped.

"Let's go to Liyue," Aether said. Lumine nodded.

"That excited to go back to Keqing?" Lumine teased. Aether shook his head and blushed.

"I still have to introduce you to the people there," he said. Lumine nodded teasingly.

"Suuuuure," she said. Aether grumbled.

"Why must you do this to me?"

He grabbed Lumine's hand, and a bright golden light enveloped them. They reappeared in the middle of Yujing Terrace, where Zhongli was facing an irate Ningguang. Zhongli, it seemed, was calm. Ningguang, on the other hand, was beside herself.

"-have any idea, do you?!" Ningguang was shouting. "I thought I lost you for the second… time?" Ningguang's brow creased, and she stared off into the distance. Zhongli's gaze focused.

"The second time, Ningguang?" he asked carefully.

"Yes…" Ningguang muttered, staring into nothing. "No." Coming back to earth, she started yelling again.

"You caused me so much trouble! I've been so worried that I haven't even been working for some days, just worrying and praying! I've had to catch up on SO much work!" At this point, Zhongli seemed to be getting uncomfortable and looked to the side where he noticed Aether and Lumine.

"Ah, Traveller! You've seemed to have caught me in quite the tight spot here," he chuckled. Ningguang turned to them reluctantly, as if still eager to chew Zhongli out. Her expression cleared when she saw Aether and Lumine standing there.

"My god, is that her? The Traveller's sister?" Ningguang asked. Lumine raised a hand in greeting.

"That's me! My name is Lumine," Lumine said, curtsying. Ningguang walked forward and shook her hand.

"It's very nice to meet you. I must talk with you later. We'll go outside for tea, perhaps. There is much to talk about."

"Alright. Why not ask Aether though? Near as I can figure, he went through a lot more than I did" she said, gesturing to her brother. Ningguang shrugged imperceptibly.

"Well, you seem to be more social than he is. Additionally, I don't think Keqing would appreciate me taking him away," she said, smiling slightly. "Speaking of her, Traveller, she may be coming home very late for a few weeks. She has a lot of work to catch up on. Yanfei and Ganyu, well, they're seriously overworked," she chuckled. Aether nodded.

"Sure. I still have a promise to keep to her, anyway," he said.

"Alright. That's good. Now Mr. Zhongli, meet me in my room. I wish to speak with you further." Zhongli nodded slightly, and patted Aether on the shoulder.

"Hope to see you in the office," he whispered. He then trekked up the stairs to Ningguang's chamber.

"Well then. Lumine, if you would be so kind, could you meet us here at seven in the evening? There are things I'd like to discuss with you."

"Sure!" Lumine chirped. "I'd also like to talk to you about something. Aether, wanna come along?"

"Maybe," Aether said. "I'll see if I can make it."

"Sure. You mind if I…?" she began, gesturing around. Aether nodded, getting her message.

"Guess we're going back to our old cycle," Aether smirked. "Sure. Knock yourself out. Dawn Winery is there," he said, marking her map. "And you can teleport to any of those waypoints."

"Can't I fly?" Lumine complained.

"I mean, you could? But it's not exactly the most inconspicuous way of travelling, now is it?" Aether joked. Lumine grumbled silently.

"Fine. I'll contact you later!" Lumine said, waving to Ningguang. In a puff of silver light, she disappeared.

"Is Keqing inside?" Aether asked. Ningguang nodded.

"The door's marked Yuheng. Can't miss it," Ningguang said. Aether nodded his thanks and practically ran up the stairs.

He pushed open the door to find Keqing sitting at her desk, sorting through worksheets, and muttering curses to herself. She looked up, startled, when Aether came in.

"C'mon Aether, you gotta learn to knock," Keqing said playfully. Aether smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, Keqing," he said. Keqing spread her arms.

"C'mere," she said. Aether sank into Keqing's arms, and she sighed contently.

"I've missed you way too much," Keqing whispered, squeezing him tighter. Aether hummed in agreement, relishing in her warmth. "Please don't…" she choked out. "Please don't do that again. I don't think I'd be able to take it a second time," she cried into his shoulder.

Aether held Keqing and rubbed her back, feeling slightly guilty. If only he had got back faster…

The couple stayed in that position for a while, cuddling and enjoying each other's warmth. Aether could've fallen asleep if not for the fact that it was noon. After a couple more minutes, Keqing stretched and sighed.

"Ahhh. Thanks, Aether," Keqing said, blushing slightly. Aether nodded.

"So, what's in store for today?" he asked, peering at the piles of paper. Keqing returned to look at the papers, and Aether heard a small groan come out of her mouth.

"It's really just my work," she muttered. "Except for the fact that Ganyu and Yanfei organize everything differently than I do, so now I have to reorganize everything," she grumbled. Aether nodded along.

"Well, what if I…" He held his hand over the desk, and a bright golden glow enveloped it. Keqing scooted backwards in surprise. The stacks of paper hovered off of the desk, and Aether slid a folder underneath them. As Keqing watched on in interest, papers flew off the stacks one at a time and went into a sector of the folder. Aether dropped his hand, and all that remained was a file folder, stuffed with papers. Aether frowned slightly.

"Lumine's typically better at this than I am," Aether chuckled. He pulled out a sector of papers and flipped through them.

"Taxes," Aether pronounced, holding up the stack of papers. "Lumine has this knack of getting the papers to organize themselves by deadlines as well. This'll do for now," he said. Keqing wrapped her arms around him.

"You're the best assistant I've had so far," she said. Aether smiled warmly.

"I'm glad to hear that," he said. "Let's get things done, shall we?"

Aether pulled a golden pen out of thin air and began to write. Keqing riffled through the pages until she found the land requests and read through them. The pair sat there, working diligently and efficiently. Aether often had questions to ask, and Keqing was often quick to answer them. When the clock chimed 7 oclock, Aether looked up at their papers, and realised that they had gone through almost a third of them.

"Wow," Keqing said, impressed. "Even Ningguang with Baiwen, Baishi, and Baixiao couldn't have gotten this far. How did you manage?"

Aether got up and stretched. "You'll see when we get to the Solar Kingdom. I expect a lot of work awaits me there," he sighed. "Wanna go along with my sister? She's gonna be talking to Ningguang and Zhongli about archons-know-what. If it is about other worlds, then I think it'd be useful for me to tag along."

Keqing smiled. "I'd love to," she said. "Where are they meeting?"

"They said they'd meet down at Yujing Terrace," Aether said. Keqing nodded.

"Sounds good to me."

Aether held out his arm to Keqing. "Walk with me?" Keqing smiled warmly and linked her arm with his.

"Sure."

Okay, maybe not introducing their homeworld in this chapter. I realised a bit later that if I did, it would be too rushed, and I want to improve from my beginning chapters. So it'll probably be in a chapter or two. Thanks for supporting me so far!

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