Inspired by having a Mondstadt festival smack in the middle of Sumeru's arc.

Of all the places he'd been to on his journey through Teyvat, the Hypostyle Desert was definitely one of the most challenging. No… probably the most challenging, Aether decided on the spot, if he was already willing to go that far during his first trek through it. Honestly, not even the sudden lightning of Inazuma's Tsurumi Island could compete- after all, difficult as it was, he could at least avoid bolts from the gods.

But there was no such thing as avoiding the entire biome that the blonde found himself in now. Wanted to travel only during nighttime? Like all other deserts he knew of, the temperature swung wildly from "scorching hot" to "surprisingly frigid" when the sun melted along the horizon. How about using the cliffs and cactuses for shade and liquid? Well, one would have to step out into the light eventually- stretches of desert where there wasn't any cover occurred halfway through- and you would have to battle scorpions and sand lizards with the same idea. How about hopping from oasis to oasis? Aside from the same problem of limited quantity, there was also the fact that every Eremite group worth their salt thought the same, and that could lead to a rather vicious battle. So to 'safely' explore, one definitely needed experience and battle prowess, or at least a companion who had them both.

Luckily for Aether, he had both of those qualities in spades- but even if he lacked them, he could rely on the nearby General Mahamatra for assistance.

Yes, in yet another testament to how far the tales of a 'golden-haired traveler' had spread, it wasn't long after he and Paimon had begun their preparations for this trip than a young man had suddenly approached them. In direct contrast to his extremely unique attire- shirtless sans for a couple pieces of fabric covering tanned skin, with golden chains and a jackal headpiece for additional flash- Cyno was an extremely calm and collected man. Apparently he had gotten in contact with Tighnari and later, Katheryne, to find the traveling pair and not-too-subtlety made a point that he knew the desert better than them. If they wanted to survive, they had to allow him to come.

Naturally Paimon objected to this rudeness, but Aether saw the wisdom in what he meant, beginning their alliance.

"Drink this. We're approaching the most difficult portion, you'll need all of your endurance." And that was all the instruction Aether was given before a flask was slung at him. Before he could thank him for the precious water, Cyno was off to stamp out nearby Eremites at an oasis. To say the man was proficient at wielding a polearm would be a grave understatement, the golden edge never failed to make contact with an opposing weapon- or person. The sands were his domain, and may Archons have mercy on anyone seeking to disrespect it. After all, when Cyno harnessed his true strength for a brief time, he seemed to forget what the word "mercy" meant, huge claws excluding a lethal aura.

"You really looked like you were ready to…" Aether trailed off, catching up thanks to sliding down a sand dune. In the hazy distance, he could make out shrinking red figures running for their lives.

"Hmph. They're lucky that I'm here for an escort today. Maybe they'll flee back to the Akademiya before next time." Ignoring a certain fairy's complaint about the unwanted service he was providing for them, Cyno examined the surroundings. With vegetation, a cooling air that came from the oasis' water, and additional supplies from fleeing Eremites, this was a wise place to stop for the day, as the Mahamatra told the traveler. With a shrug and hesitant nod respectively, the party of three relaxed.

Hours later, Aether still sat deep in thought. Paimon, of course, had eaten like a Sumpter Beast and promptly gone to bed in one of the 'borrowed' Eremite tents. But the blonde traveler just couldn't do the same…even with the nearby water chilling the air, he still felt uncomfortable. And not solely because of the mysterious Cyno who sat across from him, but exploration was just tougher here… The waters of Inazuma, cliffs of Liyue, and grassy plains of Mondstadt had been much easier to handle. But the deserts were vast, harsh, yet could be eerily silent for miles…Aether suddenly found himself thanking Paimon and even Cyno for coming. If it was just him, he'd probably be drawing in the sand like a maniac, desperate for any form of entertainment.

Hmm, maybe I could try striking up a conversation…no, he doesn't seem like he'll be in the mood. …Maybe if he sees me fight instead…?

To interrupt this thought, Aether a light impact on his lap. Opening his eyes reveals an object very much at odds with the desert atmosphere. After all, it's a pure white, rectangular shape with a seal. AKA, a letter, one that Cyno had dropped on him if the boy's position was to be believed.

"…What's this?" Aether clenches the paper and looks up.

"A letter."

…

A rare breeze sweeps some nearby sand. The traveler blinks.

"U-Uh…"

Cyno raises a brow. "You asked what that was. I told you what it is. A sheet of stationary that has the common language imprinted on it, most likely by another individual. It has been directed to you. In normal terms, we refer to such objects as a letter."

"…W-Wha…."

"Is there a problem? I can explain it to you again, if you'd like."

….

Aether sits, absolutely speechless. Was…was this Cyno's idea of….a joke? Could that be it? There's no other way he took the question that literally, right? From such a serious guy too….

"It appears a repeat is necessary. You see, most people don't literally mean 'what is the actual object you just gave me called' when they ask the question of 'what is this', as you just did. They instead really mean something akin to 'Do you know the contents of this' or Where did you get this' or similar. So despite the fact we typically get that and will answer the implied question, the joke here is that this time I answered the actual words that you used and not what you meant."

…

"Not even a twitch? Seriously? A pity, I viewed that as one of my better attempts. The art of joke craftsmanship is a difficult one indeed….perhaps more studying is in order."

After he nods, looking strangely pleased with himself, Aether finally finds his voice again. "I-I'm going to read this letter now."

"Please do."

Turning his attention away from Cyno's mumbling now, the blonde immediately recognizes the handwriting, and with it his heart leaps. Excitement, interest, and a tiny amount of worry swirl around in his mind as he starts scanning letters.

Dear Aether:

Bet you didn't except to hear from me! Happy Weinlesefest!

Did I surprise you with this letter? I did, I just know it! I wanted to send you something while you were in Inazuma too, but I couldn't really…do that with everything going on, heh... But now that you're in Sumeru, it's much easier to write to you AND know that you'll receive my letters! Lisa has been a huge help in that regard, she knows a bunch about Sumeru and the Akademiya.

Well, I say that I know you'll receive my letter, but I have no idea if you're in the forest or desert. But either way, I hope you're doing ok! And of course Paimon too~ Make sure both of you look out for each other and make plenty of friends while you're there. In fact I already know of one friend you made- Collei! She wrote to me shortly after the two of you first met, and I can tell you made quite an impression on her. She may be a bit shy at first, but she's an awesome person, trust me! I'm so proud of her and happy FOR her and happy for you and…agh, I want to go over to Sumeru right now and see you two! Time to request some time off! (Kidding of course~)

But really- take good care of Collei if you can. I know she's not a kid anymore, but I do still worry, you know?

Now you probably want to know how I'm doing huh? Well, there's actually been a lot of stuff happening recently. Let me think for a sec…

I guess I can start with this. You've heard about Varka right? The official Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius before leaving on an expedition with his team? It's why Jean is only the "Acting" Grandmaster after all. Anyway, in a sudden surprise, one of his team members actually came back to Mondstadt with a letter from him! I've included a separate copy of his message along with this, hopefully it doesn't get lost somehow- you should definitely read that after.

(At this point, Aether looks up and asks Cyno if there was another letter alongside Amber's. Much to his relief, the desert-dweller pulls out a separate sheet with more professional-looking handwriting on it. After denying that he wants it now, Aether returns to the message in his hands.)

And the person that came back from the journey. It was none other than Mika! …That probably just makes you confused huh? Well Mika actually worked on Eula's team before as a cartographer. He's amazing at that, but he's also quite shy, so it's a bit tricky getting him to accept that fact, heh. Oh yeah, Mika was asking if he could meet :ahem: "the legendary Honorary Knight", so I'll have to set up a meeting with you two when you return! You'll like him a lot, I know it~

Also, as you probably noticed from my introduction here, it's currently the Winelesefest! Varka's letter goes into it as well, but as I understand, it's dedicated to harvest season, when we all pray to the Anemo Archon that Mondstadt's citizens abroad will safely return home for the festival…

…Ah sorry! I know your mission is important, so only come back when you can, m'kay? Besides, just because it's a festival, that doesn't mean I've been slacking! Eula and I have been working hard to ensure everyone's safety- we've even gone to Qingce Village a few times for supplies. A big part of the Winelesefest is the charity for Mondstadt's kids and elders, so everyone has to pitch in! It's at times like these that I feel the most proud of being a Favonius Knight!

Hmm, I'm running out of space, so let's wrap this up. Everyone misses you Aether and can't wait for you to visit again. Jean, Lisa, Kaeya, Noelle, Razor, Klee, everyone. Even Eula, as much as she'll threaten you with "vengeance" if you ask (Don't tell her I said that though!). And of course…I do too. It feels like just yesterday you and I were exploring the archipelago together… Those days where we can just…be with each other are precious memories, you know what I mean?

So when you return, I'll be waiting…to make a lot more! You better be ready!

Love,

Amber

(There's a simple drawing of Baron Bunny's smiling face right next to her signature….)

Upon realizing he's read the last word, Aether exhales deeply…then reads the whole message again. He imagines Amber saying each word- a surprisingly easy thing to do, he realizes with a smile. Looking up, the Honorary Knight is instantly taken in by the moon, a light shimmering in the clear desert sky. Wondering if Amber is looking at the same sky right now-

"Good news? Or not?" Cyno's voice cuts right through the silence, and puts a finger up to eye-level. Aether realizes what's he's saying and wipes away the sudden mist from his eyes….

"Good news, sorry. Heh." After a pause- "Can I have the other one now?"

"Mm."

An identical process occurs as the blonde is soon staring at another letter- it's hard to believe that it comes from the actual Grandmaster, after knowing Jean for so long… Amber's handwriting is largely hidden behind the copied style, but there are a few swirls of brushwork that Aether can tell it's actually her work. If the original letter is still in Mondstadt, it's likely it has something important….this should be interesting…

As Aether's reading, Cyno remains focused- on telling a better joke next time. He really thought he had a winner before…maybe if he doesn't explain it, provoking a delayed response? …Never. The General Mahamatra sternly shakes his head. What's the point of telling a joke if nobody gets the punchline? The explanation, especially a timely explanation, is crucial. Mark his words, one joke will grant him the reaction he craves….one day….

Oblivious to the potential crisis his ally just faced, Varka's letter fills Aether with brand new emotions, and not necessarily good ones either. On the one hand, it's helpful to at least have some idea of who the man behind the title of "Grandmaster" is, and his writing style does start to paint a picture in the adventurer's mind. The written boisterous laugh and bragging provides some association, but Varka clearly cares deeply for the Winelesefest and Mondstadt as a whole. And yet…apparently he and his team is in Snezhnaya…and they met a Harbinger. The Captain…andwith a name like that, Aether guesses, the leader? Quite a meeting if so… While there clearly was no confrontation between them, Aether can't help but feel uneasy…

Thanks Amber… he whispers, barely audible. I think…it was good that I learned this…the Balladeer, the Doctor, and the Captain huh? Talk about whiplash….he might have just learned of another enemy.

"Bad news this time?" Cyno notices the slight frown.

"Mixed, I would say…" He doesn't mean really mean to, but there's an uncomfortable pause here.

So that's precisely when the adventurer is offered something else. Namely, an opportunity. "Want to write a response?"

"I can?"

A pen and paper appear from nowhere and get shoved into Aether. "I wouldn't offer if you couldn't." And, as if he knows that there'll be some hesitation at the chance, Cyno removes the possibility with a 'I'll keep first watch.' walking to the oasis' entrance before Aether can say anything.

"The Traveler" is no moron, he knows Cyno clearly wants him to write a reply. After debating (and rejecting) the idea of waking up Paimon for help, Aether goes over to some empty crates, puts the sheet down, and begins to scribble:

Dear Amber,

Thank you. It's been a hectic few weeks, and I really wasn't expecting a message while out in Sumeru, so reading your letter gives me a needed boost. We're currently in the Hypostyle Desert (well Paimon's asleep as I'm writing this) and it's a difficult trek. Unfortunately, we have to just deal with the crazy heat most of the time, as food and water are limited. But don't worry, I'm making sure to keep cool however I can. Still I'm already looking forward to the gentle breezes of Mondstadt's wind.

I wish I could tell you more about what's going on in Sumeru right now, but it wouldn't be good if this letter was intercepted somehow. It's not that I don't trust Katheryne or anything, but the people I'm up against…well, let's just say they have incredible technology at their disposal. When I get back to Mondstadt and tell you everything, I guarantee you won't believe me at first, it's that insane. Again though, please don't worry about me too much, I've met a lot of allies during my time here, even one who delivered this letter. We'll be fine, I promise.

Speaking of which, I'm very glad I met Collei too. She's a great person, so curious and friendly. Definitely just like a certain somebody I know…although, now that I think about it, you DID have a smile on your face when I told you I'd be going to Sumeru, huh? Ahhh, now it makes sense…it definitely was a surprise when she told me about the two of you! She really loves being a Forest Ranger, but maybe one day we can all meet up in Mondstadt.

(Just wondering though, what did you tell her about us? She asked some weird questions…)

Moving on, thanks for writing out Varka's letter. I have no idea if getting permission to do that was easy or not, but it's appreciated nonetheless. I wonder if they're still doing ok in Snezhnaya, so I'll keep my ears open for any news, however scarce it might be.

(Aether thinks of including a line about looking for her grandfather too here, but ultimately declines to do so, figuring it wouldn't lead to anything positive.)

But meeting Mika sounds like a great way to know more about the Grandmaster, so I guess that's one more thing to look forward to. I don't think everything will be wrapped up here by the time this Winelesefest (probably) ends, unfortunately, but I'm glad you're keeping busy Amber. It really inspires me to work even harder. Say hi to everyone in Mondstadt for me please!

…He takes a moment from writing and looks over his work. The main topics have all been at least touched on, 'how are you', 'what's going on', Collei, Varka, the Winelesefest…he'll be running out of paper soon, like she was. Sadly, it's probably for the best to finish writing, even when there's so much left to say.

Seriously, thank you for sending this….I can't begin to describe how happy it made me feel. Sometimes on a long journey like this, when you say goodbye to so many people, you start to wonder if that's just your destiny. To just drift from place to place, never really finding a "home".

…I'm not immune to this feeling either, even with Paimon by my side… but with you, it just feels different. Like I have somewhere to belong to, no matter what.

Heh, now I'm glad Paimon's asleep.

I'll see you back in Mondstadt.

l

Aether pauses with the letter incomplete…he was going to write "Love" of course, but an unexpected thought hits. Is that lone word, too tame at this point? Should he try for something more extravagant, more romantic? Maybe something like "Forever yours" or "The moon is beautiful"?

Hm, was Amber also debating this when she finished writing hers…? He stares intently at the original letter to check…

"Love,

Amber"

There's no sign of scribbling something out, or any extra marks that look even a little out of place. In fact, it's almost too perfect, like she practiced religiously for just such an occasion.

Well, if she put that, I can relax.

Love

Aether

With surprising amount of relief flowing through the traveler, he almost stands up to give his reply to Cyno…but there was something else that briefly got his attention as he re-read Amber's letter. A quick addendum is added:

P.S: It's funny that you mentioned Razor. I'm actually with somebody who kind of reminds me of him.

And now he's completely done, as the reply sheet is gently folded in typical fashion. No less than a second after Aether gets up than Cyno begins walking back, sharp ears hearing the ground shift.

"All done?"

"Yeah." After handing it back, Aether continues. "Cyno, where did you get the letter from?" Question worded that way on purpose, of course.

"Katheryne called me over yesterday and said 'a colleague from Mondstadt wants you to deliver this to Aether.' Apparently for her friend."

Yup, everything adds up…thanks Lisa. The blonde wears a nostalgic smile before continuing.

"I'm sure I don't need to say this, but please take care of my letter. The person who wrote that is very important to me."

"Naturally." Cyno grows the faintest smile before taking off the bright violet orb attached to his waist. "I'll be as quick as lightning, faster than the shock I gave those Eremites."

"…"

"Did you get it this time? …it's because I have an-."

"I…got it." Aether pinches the top of his nose. "Thanks for doing this Cyno."

That's the last word of the night as the General Mahamatra begins to walk off, intent on delivering the written message. Aether considers arguing that he should wait until tomorrow, but he knows that Cyno will be fine… With sudden tiredness overtaking him, Aether has a random thought before he rejoins his sleeping companion:

How does Tighnari put up with these "jokes"? They're more vile than any mushroom…

I just learnt that this site has a Twitter- fictionpress. Hopefully they can give Sumeru characters if asked.