Consider this story a more planned out successor to Quaesitor. Because I actually have a semblance of an outline and not just writing from the seat of my pants this time.

Disclaimer: I don't own Genshin Impact.

Prologue

"The next time we meet will be as enemies, mother." Aether declared coldly as he stared down at me from the ledge he stood down. "Celestia will pay for their transgressions and so will the rest of Teyvat and their gods."

And with that statement Aether had declared himself the enemy of the current world order and mankind.

The enemy of Teyvat.

I snorted, shoving down my own conflicting emotions at my son's declaration of war towards the natives of this world and myself. "Quite a statement to make considering the seal that I placed on you and the fact that you didn't even come close to beating me in combat."

It was a seal meant to specifically lock away one's abilities. One that I had perfected specifically for this day, no matter how much I hoped I was wrong. But my confrontation with Aether ended with the two of us exchanging blows with one another and had made it clear that it was necessary regardless of my wants.

My son had gotten stronger since I last saw him. Though it was to be expected considering who knows how long it had been since I had seen him and his sisters. He was no longer the teary-eyed child who had been forced to leave the Sky Realm in the midst of a war that painted the skies red, but a young man who appeared to be in his teens. It was natural that his skills would improve in the time I hadn't been around to watch him or his sisters grow.

But I still had thousands of years of experience over him and it had proven to be quite the advantage when we fought. Eventually he was down on his knees, at my mercy and dead to rights. Had it not been for a sneak attack from one the more humanoid Order of the Abyss members to no doubt separate the two of us, we wouldn't be having this discussion right now.

(That was a lie. I knew that I would have never been able to kill Aether. Even if what he was doing was wrong he was still my son. But if the day that he goes too far ever comes, then I would strike him down myself.)

If he insisted on going down this path, then I was damn well going to make it difficult for him.

Had it been Lumine or Serafina in his place, then I would have done the same to them.

Aether scowled. "We will meet again. And when we do, things are going to be different." A dark purple portal appeared behind him. "Good-bye mother."

And with a tone of finality, he left. Leaving me behind along with the disintegrating bodies of all the Order of the Abyss members I had slaughtered and the survivors behind. As if their leader vanishing into the darkness was some sort of signal, the Abyss mages and a few of the higher ranked members lunged, no doubt wanting to avenge their comrades that I had massacred. Just as before though, their attempts were futile and I made quick work of them.

When all the bodies had vanished, I finally sheathed the SkyBlade, certain that my son was not going to come back or that I would be attacked by any more of the Order of Abyss monsters. I looked at the spot that my son had last been standing in before he vanished through the portal before taking my leave.

"Good-bye, Aether." I said, even though no one could hear me.

The next time we meet, he would not be my son.

He would be the Prince of the Abyss, the leader of an organization of monsters that wanted the world to burn.

But as the one who brought him into this world, it was my duty to stop him.

Even if it shattered my heart into a million pieces.

So Aether declares war on Celestia and Teyvat. And declares his mom as an enemy.

Mommy shoots back that he didn't come even close to touching her.

Anyways as mentioned above this is a more planned out and refined version of Quaesitor. I hope you like it! Also reviews give me a lot of inspiration and will in all likelihood inspire to write more and plan out the next chapters faster! So please review!