Lisa Mince was a gutsy woman in the pursuit of luxuriant knowledge. Especially those regarding documents and historical tragedies that were deemed scarce. Having immense memory and fabulous conciseness over the littlest details, the average Mondstadt citizen is led to believe the woman cannot be questioned until otherwise.
Then when they equip themselves with magnifying glasses scratching the most abrasive surfaces in a four-dimensional room, they'd later find out the knowledgeable woman had a, lack for a better word, lackadaisical nature to her. She wagged her hips seductively, spoke with a degree of maturity and playfulness that it was hard to be serious with her the first time you saw her.
Now she was in the library, as she always frequents it like how drunkards and burly old men visit the local tavern. She is the custodian after all. She'd rather engross herself in a book that was a thousand pages long than operate like how the Knights of Favonius do. Straightforwardness and simplicity wasn't her headline.
Inevitably, she faintly sniffed the newsprint she was holding in hand; destroying every single word that was considered murky by average folk. The bookshelves were gathering dust at all four cardinal directions but there was something aromatic about them that made the place a true archive of knowledge. To Lisa, the scent was enough to make her undergo a state of delight.
Always being here encouraged her to appreciate information more.
"L-lisa! Please evacuate from the library! Pronto!" Paimon's youthful but screeching voice laid the room's eternal silence into garbage and waste.
She floated here for a purpose. Lisa would offer her a grasshopper penalty if her excuse for screaming was valid. A grasshopper meant nothing was going to happen.
"Oh my... What arose in your hut?" Lisa asked.
Paimon's cheeks were red from the speed she gambled for in floating. Dashing madly from Mondstadt's iron wall gates to one of the sub-quarters in Jean Gunnhildr's territory was barbarous given the amount of obstacles. Numerous lefts and rights, getting past the plaza and marching all the way to her specifically can be accomplished by anyone. Paimon just had to exhaust herself.
"It's... Hah... It's Aether!" Paimon shrieked, his name a curse more than a blessing at the moment. She nevertheless went aboard on explaining to Lisa more about a recurring predicament in-depth. "Paimon, Aether, and Venti were just casually hanging out near Starfell Lake. Venti excitingly suggested a song to sing for us when we came back from a dangerous journey and for some reason, his song was an ancient ballad that hypnotizes people's hearts!"
"That sounds wonderful!" Lisa exclaimed, more interested in the hypnotic song than Paimon's radiating concerns. "Is it possible for that charmingly young bard to instruct someone like me?"
"No... No... No... Paimon's gotta tell you why Paimon came to you instead of Jean!" Paimon scratched her hair, "Gah! Even Diluc could've been viable but you just had to be the target! Goodness, this is making Paimon's head spin!"
"Ah yes. Even if this situation were completely unrelated for me, I do believe I owe Aether more than a dozen for all he's done in Mondstadt." Lisa was still curious why Paimon went to her. She wasn't hardworking in the frontlines, after all. She preferred being discreet with her strategies and movements when she set out.
"What is going on with Aether?"
"He's under this trance thinking you're his girlfriend!"
"Oh my! Songs really do move the heart!" Lisa chuckled.
Lisa could only laugh at that. Of all things, she just had to be the one who was subject in a song persuading people's minds. Aether was also the first person she'd been with on a date so the two weren't exactly new around the whole relationship fiasco. It was a get-together rather than anything romantic.
"No time to joke around! He's coming any minute now! Which is why Paimon jetted her way here to alert you!" Paimon waved her hands around, her legs shaking. "You wouldn't believe it! He was screaming your name the whole time, several knights had to restrain him!"
"Now I'm beginning to be fascinated about this whole situation than what I'm reading for today. Alright, you have officially taken my teacup. Question is, am I up to his standards?"
"Paimon can't believe you right now, Lisa..."
No sooner than later, the doors to the library opened once more. Lisa would normally attend to whoever entered, offering them her million-Mora smile. But now she was strapped to her seat, inclined to remain in her position. Paimon's expression gave the answer to Lisa's questions.
Aether was definitely the one who twisted the doorknobs like a madman.
"A bit hungry, is he?" Honestly, the temple of Lisa's head became a little moist. She had to admit to herself she was a little nervous. While no one dared to woo her due to her intelligence and high standard of men, not experiencing a situation full of pure lust was one of her Achilles' heel.
The lack of romantic experience contributed to a dreadful feeling of what was to come. How was she to deal with this?
Aether's eyes scanned the room akin to a slime's. He doubled over on all fours, crawling similar to a certain wolf. It didn't take him long to find Lisa observing him from afar the top floor of the library. She swore she saw him drool.
Lisa gulped, her smile still on.
In only a few seconds, Aether climbed all the way up without using the stairs, relying more on his canine instincts to get up over the ledge. "LISA!"
He attempted to hug her right away. Lisa managed to blink away faster than him, appearing from one side to another. This caused the young man to tumble towards a bookshelf. A neatly arranged stack of books threatened to erupt out of it. Only ten to thirteen books popped out bonking Aether's body consecutively. An unpleasant groan of pain echoed.
"Ugh... This was the result of Venti's newly modified harp... He knows all kinds of music so this is unbelievable." Paimon's head slugged.
Aether emerged out of the mountain of books, going closer to Lisa again. This time, she allowed him. He wasn't psychotic, he was just under a spell. A spell Lisa hoped was curable. When did she study about hypnotism in the academia before? It could've been useful but the frequency of it happening was slim.
It happened to Dvalin but that was an entirely different matter.
Aether cuddled against Lisa, whispering happily to himself.
"C-crazy..." Paimon muttered. Aether roared at Paimon. "Gah! He doesn't recognize Paimon!"
"I fail to understand how this flew past that bard's head. This level of manipulation is anything but severe." Lisa patted his head.
"You can tell by looking at it?"
"Magical auras waft or linger for a long period, whether it be a powerful shield or a hapless bind. While the effects are in full bloom, the spell itself isn't so disastrous. We might only need Venti to reverse the spell again."
Paimon slapped herself, "Why didn't Paimon think of that?"
"Speaking of, where is he now?"
Aether looked at Lisa, pouting, "Do you like Venti more than me?"
"Oh my! Such a cutie! Who knew this spell can uplift my spirits despite it being inherently ominous!"
Venti worriedly reflected atop the statue of the God of Anemo in Mondstadt. He was still trying to find a way to circumvent the effects of that dastardly song he played earlier. He played it just fine when he was singing by himself surrounded by nature.
Bless his soul for being unintentional. His friend had now become a mushy heap of goo-goo eyes for Lisa.
"Singing the song straight will replace the audience's conscience with one of lustful souls... Does singing it backward trigger the opposite?" Venti stared off into the nothingness, wishing the solution wasn't breaking one of his instruments. "I'm quite disillusioned with my lack of musical awareness... My skills of seeking truth have become second-hand... This is prickly..."
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Aether held Lisa's hand for a long time now. The townspeople looked at the both of them. Some were curious and some envious. Lisa was basically paws off. Aether was still young, too. He was honestly uninterested in the conquests of anything other than friendship and finding his sister.
"Uh... Lisa, are you fine with this?" Paimon asked.
"If I were to be polite of my word choice, I'd say this is... lopsided." She smiled, "I do wonder how the process of hypnotism goes. I haven't studied it in length."
"I'm sure you'll dislike it when you experience things like this." Paimon interjected.
"On the contrary, this is quite insightful. I have read before that when people are under an illusion, their real selves are blanketed by an enigmatic force." Lisa smiled, "I do still have one question, however."
"Oh? And what is that?"
"You mentioned earlier Venti sang a song for you two without knowing of the effects. The spell wouldn't be fully optimized if the user had not chosen a target."
"W-what?" Paimon tilted her head a bit, confused.
"It's similar to shooting an arrow but not aiming at any monster in particular. Venti was unable to control the arrow's line of direction. In other words, if he had known how to use the song to its fullest capacity, then you'd also be under the spell, Paimon."
"Ah. I see. He's going to get his butt kicked by Aether when this is all done and over."
"There is also one thing that befuddles me." Lisa tapped her fingers on her lips, her free hand of course, "When Aether was hit, Venti hadn't commanded him to do anything connected with the spell. This would mean the contract of the spell searched for anything remotely similar in Aether's memories as backup. This is a love spell, obviously... So..."
"You mean he has a crush on you?!" Paimon screamed out of wonder and bewilderment.
Lisa arranged her hat in place, pursing her lips, "Perhaps?"
"What do you mean singing it backwards won't work?!" Paimon urged Venti to tell her. Venti was raising his hands up, appearing defeated yet concerned for Aether.
Lisa preserved her stamina for this. Walking beforehand instead of dashing like Paimon was a good idea.
"There's probably this one other method..."
"I'm thinking of one myself." Lisa responded.
Venti laughed nervously, putting his hand behind his head, "Well, you see... This'd require a lot of time on your hands... A day at least?"
"Why didn't you say that the first time?!"
"Hush now Paimon. Tell us how. I don't want to tend to a younger boy for long."
Aether kissed the the top of Lisa's hand gently. A jolt fizzled on Lisa's back upon the physical contact. No one had gotten that close before.
"Why you..." It caught her off guard. Her cheeks blushed though.
"In order for the spell to be broken... You must... satisfy it?"
"Why do you have to be so mysterious about it?" Paimon asked.
Venti waved his hands at the both of them, "That's really it! I managed to find out more of the spell in the time I was given. I'm sure there's more precursors but this is the faster way."
"You want me to act like his girlfriend for the day?" Lisa sighed.
"T-think on the bright side, you have bragging rights over Jean." Venti said.
Lisa wanted to slap her forehead. She did.
"I love you, Lisa..." Aether said looking straight at the purple-cloth donning woman. She was reading a book in hand, the brown strands of her hair beautifully folding in curls at the sides. Her bangs hid her blush well.
While she didn't like the boy that much, his words got her out of her comfort zone.
Still, this was Aether's true feelings in a spell. She was getting it out of him in a way she didn't need.
"I kinda... really love you."
"Eat your Sticky Honey Roast if you really love me." Lisa had kept the young man occupied by feeding him food straight from Angel's Share. That was going to keep him from touching her without permission.
This would hopefully reverse the effects.
"Hey Lisa, I was actually pretty happy today holding your hand. It felt nice." His honesty was killing her. "Right! Come with me! I wanna show you something I've been working on!"
Working on? What did he make?
He hurriedly tugged at her hand, forcing her to join him on his run.
Lisa had not anticipated for this entire thing to happen. Normally, she'd disapprove of this. Lisa turned down confessions like they were romance novels. There was just no hope for her there given her way of dealing with things.
With Aether, however, the horizon didn't look like the end.
Approaching Windrise where a big tree inhabited the meadows of flowers and cryo slimes, Aether ushered Lisa to sit down on the grass. She complied, still panting from the run they did.
"Close your eyes!"
"Oh... Do I really have to?"
"Yes! Otherwise, this'll all be for nothing!"
There was something about his happy expression that made her want to join in all the childishness too. He'd never seen someone happy around her like that before. Only a few wanted her for something obvious. Aether was no exception but he was very verbal with his thoughts despite being in a hypnotized state.
This was all him though. His innermost emotions are the ones communicating for him.
"A-alright then... Hurry up, okay?"
"It'll be quick."
Aether sat down as well, kissing Lisa on the cheek slowly. This, however, did not startle her as she expected him to do something perverted.
He hugged her after.
"I really like you. No, scratch that. I think I love you."
She couldn't answer him honestly if he was in this state.
"You're a really daring young man." She sighed, leaning into him. He felt nice and comfortable. It made her feel warm inside. She reveled in the cold air enveloping the library too many times devoid of another warm body. This wasn't anything new, it was just... nice.
He felt taller despite the height difference.
"I'm only Aether's feelings. I can't really do much for him if he doesn't confess himself." Aether said, his true self hidden in a mist in which he must navigate to return back to the real world. "The spell will wear off eventually. I will move on. When Aether comes back to his senses, please let him down gently. I can only do this much."
Lisa stared at him before finally saying, "I will."
"Also, if possible, don't make him cry. He doesn't take too well with denial."
"I'm not that harsh... I'm sorry."
"Thank you. I love you."
She couldn't say that to him. That would be unfair.
Lisa was writing the newest report to be issued in Mondstadt. Recently there had been sightings of bandits assaulting transporters of their imported goods, she was going to punish these evildoers by establishing their names in the tabloids. Notoriety doesn't prevail. She was proficient in this kind of thing, as always.
Jean entered the library, walking over towards Lisa. "Just checking up."
"I'm under the assumption you have no faith in me writing these down." She joked. Jean gave off a tired smile.
Lisa asked her, "Another tough day?"
"When is it an easy day for me exactly?"
"You could use a break once in a while. The knights will gladly sacrifice their time for you."
"As do I. Have you seen Aether by the way? I was going to request something from him."
Lisa paused, thinking of where he might be.
"I have no clue. He left so suddenly without a note."
Jean's eyebrows raised upwards, "Is that so? I'll probably ask for Diluc-senpai's assistance then."
Aether was not going to return for a long time.