The scowling prosecutor that had interrogated him the week prior – she was different to the woman before him now. Aether stares at Keqing's back, growing more curious by the minute, drilling holes into the back of her person with his gaze.
"Is there an insect on my back?" she asks.
Aether straightens himself to an abnormally perfect degree. "No," he replies coolly, pulling his eyes away. Instead, he focuses on the area around them – a sprawling landscape filled with greenery at every turn.
They're on the route to Guili Plains, taking the path stemming from the north exit of the harbour. On his right is the Sea of Clouds, and on his left is an endless stretch of land between Liyue Harbour and Sumeru City.
"I'm glad you accepted my offer," Keqing begins, interrupting his internal musings, "It feels a lot less stiff journeying with someone I know."
"We've spent one day together," he chimes in.
"Well, not if you consider last week." Keqing points her index finger towards the sky matter-of-factly. "That makes eight days."
Aether sighs, crossing his arms. "I don't wanna remember the seven days before." His tone speaks of a hundred horrors even Barbatos' tunes will never soothe; a slight shiver runs up his spine at the thought of them, albeit the glaring sun above.
"I didn't go that hard on you, did I?"
"..."
They blurt out in sudden laughter – something Aether realises he hasn't done in a while. His face twitches and his laughter dies in his throat.
"...So," he clears his throat, "where are we going?"
Keqing moves her horse beside his and shows him a map of Liyue. "See those circles?" she points, "Those are villages – Qingce, Mingyun. You'd think they have a governor or the like since they're far from the harbour, but the Qixing manages everything."
He nods in understanding. "What about Rex Lapis?"
The mention of her nation's archon (previous-and-now-deceased archon) springs a dubious expression on her face. "You wanna know what I think?" she scoffs, "He was just an annual sales prophet."
"Not sure the Holy Church of Geo would like that."
"That doesn't exist," she chuckles, rolling her eyes. Keqing takes the reins of her mount and indicates it to speed up – and she swiftly advances, leaving Aether in the dust.
"Come on, slowpoke!" she calls out, "The sun never stops moving!"
Night arrives sooner than Keqing expects; the seasons are changing. Gales of wind frolic through the blades of grass around them, rushing in from the sea. She can hear the waves in the distance if she's quiet enough.
"Let's stop here," she says, bringing her horse to a halt. Aether follows suit behind her and watches as she dismounts.
"We're camping?" he asks, his expression as sceptical as hers whenever she talks about Rex Lapis.
"Is that a problem?"
He replies, "I didn't think the Qixing camped" – and after a moment, adds, "No offence."
An hour later, Aether is cooking. They've finished preparing for the night – a fire for warmth, two mats and blankets to sleep on, and hot food. Keqing tends to their horses a few meters away, tied to a nearby log.
"You sure this cave is safe?" he calls.
"You make it safe," she remarks.
"There goes my peaceful night." Aether wafts the food's scent to his nose and nods in success. "Food's ready."
"Great." The Yuheng heads over to sit beside the fire, accepting the wooden bowl he provides with a "Thanks." It was unbecoming of someone as well-mannered as her, but the sight of the food waters her mouth.
Aether watches her reaction from the corner of his gaze. "I know. I'm amazing."
Keqing takes a spoonful into her mouth, chews for a second, then nods.
"You could work as a chef," she praises, taking another spoonful. Keqing notices his gaze soften as a smile pulls the edges of his lips upward – but then he catches her (or she had caught him) and averts his gaze.
"I did; I helped out a little at Xiangling's restaurant – just the small stuff, though."
The fire before them crackles, sending a brief wave of heat that spurs a comfortable shudder in the two. Keqing crosses her legs, now in the mood for campfire stories; even the Yuheng liked such things – and she thought herself youthful enough for them.
"That reminds me," she starts, "what were you doing before the rite? Before Liyue, I mean."
Aether catches her intent and leans his back against the cave's walls. "I was running errands in Mondstadt under the guise of hero-ing."
"That's some bitter way to put it."
"But me saving the dragon?" he says, "I didn't mean that; I just wanted to ask around for my sister." Aether sighs. "In the end, no one had an answer, and now I'm here."
Keqing curtly nods with pursed lips. "So... nothing else about your twenty-odd years that you've lived before?"
"Oh, uh..." His eyes seem to wander at empty air for an answer – and he gives one of similar blandness. "I was... travelling. Us. Me and my sister." A hint of bitterness swirls within his eyes as he mutters, "Long ago, likely..."
Sensing a change in the atmosphere, Keqing tries to perk it up. She nudges the conversation and asks, "Travelling? Where'd you go?"
"Anywhere. All over." He stokes the fire and continues, "Sometimes there's a village, peaceful or violent – or there's no one at all, except birds and trees."
He has a far-away look on his face – of someplace Keqing can't picture or imagine. A tinge of pain seeps into his words as if he's telling stories of a bygone era. Desolate, forgotten.
Keqing stands up, feeling she shouldn't pry any further – for both their sakes.
"Thanks for the meal," she says, "We should get ready for tomorrow."
"Yeah."
Aether douses the fire and goes to sleep.