"Can I get lunch with you?"

"Oh! Paimon would never say no to lunch! Aether on the other hand might take some convincing. He knows so many different recipes but is sooooo lazyyyy to cook anything for sweet old Paimon!"

"Haha, common Paimon, you know that's not true! I'm just lazy at gathering all of the different ingredients. And my stomach isn't endless like yours!"

"However, I will happily have lunch with Amber! Come on Amber! It's my treat, okay?"

And just like that Aether grabbed Amber's hand and with a slight blush on both of their faces, began to make their way to the Good Hunter.

"Heyy! Wait for Paimon! Paimon is hungry too, you know!"

The main path to Liyue and the Wangshu Inn was surprisingly quiet and peaceful. Keqing explained to Amber that the Traveler and his companion had done a lot of work clearing the road of Treasure Hoarders and other nuisances. Combine that with the increased Millelith patrols that Keqing had put in place, the journey was for the most part had become a sightseeing tour for Liyue's beautiful landscape.

The pair had just crossed the stone bridge and was just about to pass the small teahouse when Keqing spoke up again. "So, why don't you tell me about yourself, Outrider? The Traveler speaks very highly of the 'Fire-girl' Outrider of Mondstadt you know."

That comment caught Amber by surprise, and made her blush. "Ohh, well I didn't know that Aether spoke about me to anyone at all. How do you know about that nickname of mine?"

During one of their outings, Aether and Amber had run into Razor and after some shenanigans Amber got stuck with the nickname of 'Fire-girl' from Razor. She didn't know that Aether used it around others.

I thought that name was reserved for when we were by ourselves Aether…..

Keqing let out a small laugh. "Well, that's a bit of a long story. Let's just say that we got drinks one time and we may have had a bit too much. By his 4th drink or so he just kept talking about you. It's clear to me that you have made a deep impression on him."

With comments like that, Amber blushed even more. "Well, I guess that's true. I was the first person he met when he arrived at Mondstadt. The look of wonder and concern he had in his eyes when we first met, I just knew that I had to do my best and help him out…"

"Hmm he is very good at doing that." Replied Keqing. "Having that look of wonder and helping others. You know, he was one of the only people I know that has stepped up and offered to help me with my work. And despite my resistance, he would not take no for an answer."

With a thoughtful look on her face, Keqing let out a small laugh. "Ha, most people would run when they see the amount of paperwork that I have to get through on a daily basis, but the Traveler always took up the challenge."

Oh, that sounds like Aether alright...helping out anyone who has too much on their plate. But does it always have to be a cute girl you end up helping…..you're making me jealous here you know!

By the way Keqing was describing things, it sounded like Aether was no different going from Mondstadt to Liyue. In Mondstadt he always helped around. Whether it was helping Noelle clean up around the city square, sorting books for Lisa in the library, or helping Jean with the paperwork for the upcoming Wind Festival. Aether did it all.

Much to the annoyance of Amber, everyone he ended up helping was a girl, a cute girl at that.

Maybe Aether was a womanizer after all? And that she was just a side girl to him?

The more she thought about it, the less sure she was about their relationship. She thought that she and Aether had something special, even if they had never defined it. However, Aether clearly had no problems meeting and helping out new people, cute girls to be specific.

And now that she knew that Keqing and Aether had a 'Lover's quarrel' at some point, maybe Amber really didn't stand a chance to win Aether's heart.

She needed answers, and the only way she was gonna get them was asking the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing walking right next to her.

"Soooo…" Amber wasn't sure how to start this line of conversation. "Ummm…. Just what is your relationship between you and Aether?" As Amber cringed at the awkwardness of her question, she was saved for embarrassment when Keqing replied with a light hearted tone.

"Oh, has the rumor made its way to Mondstadt as well? I swear that the Teyvat Times really has nothing better to do. Maybe I should see it finally be cancelled?" Keqing looked at Amber with a smile. It was clear to Keqing where Amber was coming from. Amber was clearly jealous.

"Don't worry about that. The rumor is simply not true. Me and Aether did indeed get into a shouting match a while ago, but that was over my refusal to not get any sleep during one of my non-stop weeklong work marathons." Looking at Amber, Keqing decided to add a little more.

"Despite my best and blatant efforts, it's clear to me and everyone that he has eyes on someone else."

"WHAT?! You admit to hitting on Aether?!" Amber could not believe what she was hearing, maybe she really didn't have a chance with Aether.

Wait a minute, she just said that he has eyes on someone else. Does that mean…

This time, Keqing let out a full laugh, taking in the amusement of Amber's reaction. Keqing continued. "I admit, I did try and woo Aether, but it's clear that even I the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing don't stand a chance against who Aether currently has in mind. You need not worry about me."

With that, Amber let out a small sigh of relief that she didn't know she was holding in.

"But what about you and Aether, Amber? It's clear to me that he likes you a lot, you know."

Amber looked at Keqing with wide eyes, before looking away shyly. "It is? I know that people joke about it but I never want to jump to conclusions….."

Hearing this, Keqing stopped and paused for a moment. The two of them had just arrived at the main archway, marking the Wangshu Inn. They were more or less at the Wangshu Inn. They were a bridge away. Literally.

"Come, let's take a quick break Amber. There is something I want to show you. I think you will be pleasantly surprised." Keqing led Amber to a small bench that was set up just past the archway, and the two of them sat down.

Once the two of them had sat down, Keqing jumped straight to the point. "Have you ever read what Aether writes inside his Archive book?" Keqing made a point to look at and point out Aether's Archive book, which Amber had sticking out of her back pocket.

"Ohh!" Amber took out the book and placed it in her lap. "Well, Aether told me that he writes down about everything he can, so that he can have a quick reference for everything in this world. After all, he woke up with no memory so long ago. He doesn't want to forget again."

"That's what he told me as well. But you would be surprised about the amount of stuff he writes down. Go on, take a look inside the book. I've already done so myself…."

Deciding to not ask Keqing when she had the chance to read Aether's Archive, she flipped open the book and began to skim around.

What surprised Amber was the amount of detailed information that Aether had compiled. There were entries and drawings on everything, from different elemental reactions to the (apparent) total number of cats that were present in Mondstadt. All and all, it was quite impressive.

What really caught her eye though was his entries on everyone he had met. They were by far the most detailed sections.

Wow Aether is really thorough. Everyone is in here. A little bit on Klee, some about Lisa, Jean, and a big chuck on that bard Venti too. Huh, there's a bit on Keqing and someone named Qiqi too. I wonder if he has anything written about me…..oh?

Quickly flipping and skimming through the pages Amber finally arrived at the meat of the book. It was all about Amber.

' The view from the Cathedral's clock tower is amazing, you should check it out! '

' Ohhh... Do you have any idea how to make a decent Moon Pie? '

' Remember that I don't go easy on anyone, even you! '

Aether had written everything about Amber, EVERYTHING. There were photos of Amber taken with his Kamera in all sorts of situations, short paragraphs about Amber's life story and even what artifacts she liked to carry with her when she was on duty.

As far as Amber could remember, she had never told him any, if not most of this stuff.

How the heck does he know what artifacts I like the most?

Amber was so engrossed that she almost didn't hear Keqing speak to her. "Hmm, having fun are we?"

Amber jumped in surprise, she was so engrossed that she almost forgot that Keqing was sitting next to her. "Oh! Yeah I guess I am" Amber let out a small laugh of embarrassment. She flipped through more of the pages. They were all still about herself. "I don't even remember telling Aether half of this stuff that he has written here. How does he know so much about me?"

Keqing let out a laugh. "Like we talked about, The Traveler has that look of wonder and that just makes you want to open up to him. You probably have told him all of these things without even realizing it. I know myself I have said quite a few private things to him without even realizing it."

Keqing paused for a moment, before continuing. "What you should be focusing on Amber, is the details he has written about you. You clearly are someone important to him, and he wants to remember everything about you."

Amber looked at Keqing, nodding. She was right. Amber's section in Aether's Archive was by far the longest and most detailed. It was not a stretch to assume that Amber meant a lot to Aether just based on all of this.

"The question Amber, is what do you plan on doing about this information?"

Amber looked up back at Keqing, who now had a smirk on her face.

A knowing smile, just like everyone else's in Mondstadt when she and Aether were together doing something.

"Come Outrider, let's head on inside the inn and check up on the two. Hopefully at this point Paimon is awake."

With that, Keqing got up and began to cross the wooden bridge towards the Wangshu Inn. Shaking the look of surprise off her face, Amber quickly put away Aether's Archive and got up as well, following Keqing's footsteps.

As the two of them greeted the Inn's staff and made their way to the elevator, Amber wondered to herself.

What am I going to do about this?

AN /

I'm trying my best to capture her character, but Keqing is really hard to write, and I don't know why. Though she is really moving things along isn't she?

Also RIP Teyvat Times. Lasted 4 issues before being cancelled by Mihoyo. Or in this case, by Keqing.