When Aether had said that he was planning to leave at the crack of dawn, he imagined it to be a peaceful affair. Walking down the dirt roads, starting to ask around with the people he came across, enjoying the breeze for what it was, and taking in the sights this world had to offer. The map he had studied suggested he had ample daylight to reach the city, after all – might as well enjoy the brief moments of calm for what it was before he got busy.

When Paimon threw herself into his plans, he figured it would be a bit noisier but that much more companionable. Maybe a bit of bantering, maybe talking about what he could expect from Mondstadt and its Archon.

"Come on, Aether, hurry up! I guarantee that you don't want to miss this!"

But instead, he found himself climbing down a cliff, the full moon and the gentle waves there to witness his painfully slow climb towards the ground.

"I think that- woah!" Aether slipped, his dislodged foot flailing wildly for a long moment before he found purchase. The straps of his bag dug into his shoulders, even if they had packed just two days' worth of supplies for the one-day journey.

Things felt a little heavier when he was hanging onto a cliff with nothing but a rope tied around his body. Not to mention how every breeze felt like a gale, and how he could almost lose himself as he traced the pebbles he had just dislodged, their clacking unnaturally loud as they tumbled against the cliff and descended into the dark sands below.

He should probably stop looking down.

"Okay, so… Why are we scaling down this cliff?" he shouted, since of course Paimon had shot down like an overgrown white lizard. "I basically woke up from a coma last week, remember?"

Sure, he was well on his way to recovery, but this wasn't the 'easing into regular routine' he had imagined. The sea fog wasn't helping, either – the easy footholds and marked grips were all slick from the sea breeze, requiring him to grasp around while adjusting his grip, again and again, to make sure he wouldn't slip and fall.

Well, considering how he was attached to a bronze anchor at the top of the cliff, he probably wouldn't fall. Flailing about ungracefully for a minute or two was the most likely outcome here. Still, only the stars would know just why Paimon had practically thrown them off the cliff.

"So much for Mr. I'm-Heading-Out-By-Myself, huh? I admit though, I kinda didn't think about that when I planned this all out. …but still, come on! You're almost there, might as well suffer for a bit more, right?"

Correction – only Paimon would know. He was pretty sure that even the stars would have a hard time figuring her out. He risked a glance towards the bottom again to see if she was any closer.

She was closer, in fact. He could see that Paimon had finished shoving her own ropes back into her midnight-blue bag and was gesturing at him to hurry up. She had changed into her self-declared perfect outfit for all-weather traveling – a white jumper and black shorts, but his eyes immediately dragged themselves to the night-blue scarf glimmering with stars around her neck. She had materialized it with the now familiar shimmer of Blade Arts just as they had left her house, dragging him along a beaten path without so much as a look back.

The tattered old thing wouldn't have caught his interest if not for the absolutely insane amount of starlight it was radiating. Sure, it was only astonishing because it was in the world of Teyvat, but he judged it to be a similar amount to a small, young star around two millennia old. Enough to power Dawn for twenty seconds, even.

Aether already planned to ask her about why she had bonded to it, what it was, and if she knew about the starlight woven so very tightly into it. He just wished he knew how to ask it without sounding like he really, really wanted it.

And maybe, sometime when he wasn't climbing down a cliff would be a better time for that.

"You're telling me that this wasn't a last-minute idea?" he called back instead, hissing quietly when he nearly slipped again. "You dragged me out the door the moment you finished packing, without even sweeping up that mess. I can already imagine it: you'll return, all tired and worn-out from our long journey, just to see that your hair is still there after all this time-"

"Nope! That's a problem for future me. Present me is too busy enjoying just how terrible you are at this. Hehe, you absolute slowpoke~"

Alright, Aether decided that if he was close enough to see Paimon's smug smile, he was close enough to jump for it. He tightened his hold on the rope with one hand and undid the knots preventing him from free falling with the other. Its free side snapped upwards, his own weight pulling it up while he fell down. He spun outwards, bracing for impact.

He landed without issue and stood up, stretching. Ugh, his poor legs and shoulders. "Alright, since we're finally here where you want to be, will you tell me why we came this way?"

Paimon was already pulling out his rope from the anchor, snapping it to the side with practiced ease so that it wouldn't fall on them. "I always come through this way whenever I go to Mondstadt! So, we're at Storm's Rest, a famous beach where young Mondstadters come to figure out how to use a wind glider. They climb up this cliff, throw themselves off it, and follow the footsteps of the first birds that learned to fly." She paused, tilting her head. "Eh, not footsteps. Bird steps? Flight patterns? Whatever, you know what I mean."

Huh. He had read that story at Paimon's house while he had been avoiding her – ahem, recovering from his time in the fishing trap. "Please tell me they don't do it during a storm."

"Nah, the Knights make sure to post a guard around here to keep an eye on it during storm season. Besides, wing gliders are safe! A must-have for any budding adventurer. It's more of a trust exercise, really, to show that with or without wind, the wind gliders are more than capable of working. Hmm…" Paimon tossed the rope to him before pausing, eyeing him, and smiling mischievously. She spun away before he could ask why.

"But anyways, Storm's Rest is famous for another reason! And luckily, since you have me by your side, I can confidently tell you that you've arrived in the nick of time!"

When Paimon held out her hand to point at the sea, the horizon beginning to become brighter as they talked, it was hard not to guess what she had brought him for. But still, he found himself transfixed by the sight.

It was the orange that first bled into the sea.

Slowly, the brilliant orb of yellow peeked out from behind the waves, growing bolder by the second. The sea and sky split into so many dazzling shades of colors as starlight, the ocean's waves and the seafoam, the lazy clouds and fleeting night sky all intersecting and dancing with one another.

The first dawn of their journey. Paimon couldn't be any more symbolic if she slapped him with a fish.

"So, how's seeing your first sunrise in Teyvat? Wasn't that climb totally worth it? Eh? Eh?"

Aether hesitated.

Truthfully, he had mixed feelings about it. There was still the slight sting of betrayal he felt whenever starlight refused to be drawn into him, no matter how irrational it was when it was her that had sealed his powers in the first place. It felt even colder when he was staring at the sun, feeling its warmth but not its embrace.

It wasn't all doom and gloom, though. It was beautiful, that was a given, but it was even more than that. It was a promise. That no matter what, the sun would rise again.

With Paimon proudly showing the sunrise off as if it was her own creation with a beaming smile and stars in her eyes, Aether laughed.

"Very much like a dream. Thanks for the view, Paimon."

"Alright, I knew you would like it!" Paimon cheered. She scribbled something onto a little notebook he hadn't noticed she had, checking it before continuing. "We'll stay here for a few more minutes, and then we should start following that road. Next on the agenda is Starfell Lake!" She didn't notice how he had stiffened at the name. "Legends say that it was formed when a star fell from the sky and crashed onto the earth. Though of course, Teyvat probably wouldn't be existing right now if that was true. It's just like that little drunkard to make up legends just to attach a cool name to it, artistic liberty my-"

But, wasn't every legend based on something? If there was any chance it was the truth, any chance at all-

"Come on, let's go already!" This time, it was him that was dragging Paimon along.

"Eh?! I thought we were having a nice moment- wait, wait, it's that way! Follow that road – and I can walk by myself, you know!"

Screw the sunrise, he had more important things to investigate!

-o-

"What sort of desecration is this," Aether rasped.

Paimon laughed awkwardly. "Um, wow. I agree he's an idiot and it's sad to think someone thought a statue of him was a good idea, let alone several, but isn't 'desecration' going a little too far?"

In front of him was a small lake, complete with an island and a statue in the very middle of it. Sure, the backdrop of Mondstadt city looked impressive, and the golden birch trees surrounding them were a sight to behold, but all he could really focus on right now was how the entire area was carpeted with a light blue, wispish energy.

"If this area really did have a star drop from the sky, then this would easily become… something special. Something more. The celestial heavens don't offer gifts to the earth very often, but when it does, you can bet that something spectacular will come from it. Not this…" Aether waved his hand around in frustration. "…glorified fountain with anemo leaking out of it."

"Um, you are tracking that stars don't fall from the sky like that, right- woah, your eyes are really shining right now. Wait, you have elemental sight? Just how many rules and preconceptions of Teyvat do you plan on breaking?!"

"Something like that," Aether replied absentmindedly. He was too busy trying his best to peer into the lake below, looking for any signs of starlight, stars, or any other celestial object. But no, the orb within the statue was the nexus of the entire thing, drawing out energy from the earth while radiating the light blue anemo.

He didn't even realize that he had swum across the lake, but there he was, right in front of the statue and peering up to get a better view. There was a dull throbbing that was progressively getting worse when he reached the dregs of his starlight again, so with a shake of his head, he stopped focusing starlight into his eyes.

Damn it. He really should stop hoping for an easy and quick solution to everything – it would hurt less when everything fell through. He took in a deep breath, and exhaled slowly, calming his thoughts. Eagerness and frustration melted away, and he was left with deep curiosity as to just what the statue was hiding with all of the anemo. Or, if it was hiding anything at all.

Maybe if he could absorb it all, he could see whatever that had been before it.

"Wait, I wouldn't touch-"

Aether's hand touched the statue. The moment he did, the orb shone a brilliant bright blue, even without his star vision.

For a moment, he was soaring the skies, being buffeted by winds from all sides yet without feeling the slightest bit of fear. He heard the prayers of a thousand souls and the wishes of so many more. He was the breeze, the wind, the tempest, the hurricane, he was free, utterly free-

No. He wasn't. He was bound by duty and responsibility, and he had something that he had to do. He was Aether, and he had to look for his sister.

That was all the distraction he needed to pull himself out of the vision. As he took his hand off of the statue, he felt something being pulled along with it.

"-that. Wow, you really need to stop doing that. The whole… act before you think thing. You okay there, Aether?"

"…yeah," he eventually replied, still staring at his hands. Tufts of blue energy blew this way and that alongside his fingertips, in constant motion and with childlike enthusiasm.

What was this? Why… was it that this anemo thing, a foreign element from a different world, was more attuned to his body than the starlight of the celestial heavens? His empty reserves were slowly filling with anemo with every breath he took – no, that wasn't correct. It was with every passing breeze.

Wait. His eye widened. If he became saturated with anemo, then would starlight never be within his grasp again?!

Paimon was next to him, grumbling. "Great, just absolutely perfect. There's no way that didn't catch his attention. I was hoping to put this off for a little longer, or maybe just meet up with Dantalion instead..."

"Paimon, I'm sorry about this."

"Yeah, you better be. E-eh?"

She stuttered to a stop, mostly because of the interruption that came in the form of him hugging her tightly. Carefully, he 'reached' out for the starlight radiating off of her, cupping it with his metaphysical hands but without taking it in, asking for permission as late as it was. Paimon inhaled sharply, but eventually 'pushed' the starlight towards him. That was all he needed before absorbing it.

Aether sighed in relief when the anemo gathering inside of him shifted easily, making room for starlight. Then he yelped as he was abruptly shoved away.

"This lady demands an explanation as to why you have done that." Paimon was stalking closer to him, her face hidden by her bangs. There was no hiding the malevolent energy pouring off her, though. Nor were the daggers she was suddenly twirling in her hands any less visible.

"Um, wait, wait, I have a very logical reason as to why I did that, it's a bit of a long story though-"

The daggers gleamed in the sunlight. "This lady demands an explanation right now."

"Now, now, what's this? Trouble in paradise, methinks?"

Aether whirled around when an amused voice sang from behind him. Behind him, he could hear Paimon hiss 'we'll talk later' under her breath.

One moment, there had been no one besides the two of them. The next, there was a young man in front of him, studying the two of them. He was wearing a black vest with a white top; the teal green of his shorts, hat, and cape accentuated with golden embroidery. One thing that caught Aether's eye was how the feathers in his hat moved in perpetual slow motion, even when his cape and black hair swayed gently with the wind.

For a moment, something flashed in the stranger's eyes, far too quickly for Aether to read. Then he grinned.

"Really, what an amusing duo in front of me! Is this the fabled strange woman of the woods, the vengeful ill-wisher of all bards gracing us with her divine presence? And what about our newest curiosity, whose sudden arrival brings turbulent winds of change to the current present?"

The lyrical and melodious way he spoke did nothing to blunt the mocking in his words – mostly directed at Paimon. A small glance at him, and then the stranger had focused entirely on her while ignoring him.

"Oh, what a surprise!" Paimon drawled back. The amount of sarcasm dripping off her words had Aether wincing, but the stranger's smile didn't change. "The drunkard isn't black-out drunk yet. For once. Go get lost inside a wine barrel or something, Eighth, we don't need you just yet."

"Ah, be careful there, old lady! Even the best dandelion wine would turn to nothing but vinegar with anemo and time – and right now, you're souring rather swiftly. Need I remind you whose city you mooch off for your supplies and vices, or will the mere implication of this reminder suffice?"

"What the hell are you implying-"

"Hi!" Aether interrupted the two, very much wanting to avoid a confrontation when he had an inkling as to just who was standing in front of him. Judging from the unimpressed huff from Paimon and the easygoing grin the stranger sent his way, he was being as subtle as a supernova. "Hello. Nice to meet you, I think. Um, who are you?"

"Ah, so dear Paimon had the courtesy to not ruin my name despite the opportunity she beheld?" the stranger asked rhetorically. For the first time, a genuine smile seemed to ghost on his lips. "Well then, let me introduce myself!"

He clapped his hand together. With that simple innocent gesture, all the trees nearby swayed, the leaves danced and flung themselves up into the air, and a gentle breeze played with their hair. Aether couldn't look away from the being's eyes in front of him, green and blue split like the sky upon a meadow. He bowed grandiosely as if he was an actor before an audience.

"I am the song that seeks the heart of the wronged, to those unsatisfied, to the ones imprisoned by an unjust cause. I am the whisper that guides the lost, the fragile flicker of hope, the prayers for change and growth. I am Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, one of the Seven."

And not unlike Paimon, he winked and did a victory sign.

"Or, you can just call me Venti~"

And that's a wrap!

TLDR; Expect slower updates. Read below for more details.

Sumeru was amazing. Wandering around the jungles and forests reminded me again of what caught my attention in Genshin Impact in the first place – the different cities, the breathtaking views, the implied lore, the storytelling, and the wonderful music behind it all. This time, I feel like everything was kicked up several notches in quality.

That pretty much decided it for me, actually. If I let my schedules dictate when I update, that means I'm sacrificing quality and settling for mediocrity. Someone kindly took the time to remind me of that – in much kinder words, no less – and I thank you so much for it.

So, since I want this story to be as amazing as possible, I'll update when I'm satisfied with what I've written. Hopefully, you all can understand my heel-turn decision.