Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the new series. I noticed that some of you may have been slightly disappointed with the outcome of Ash and Mega Lucario's battle against Stormterror. However, fret not, as there will be a significant aftermath when Stormterror directly faces the full force of Mega Lucario's Aura Sphere. Additionally, Ash and Aether will share a bonding moment before they stumble upon a crucial secret later in the chapter involving Jean.

Traveler and Me

...

Several days had elapsed since the Stormterror incident, and tranquility had gradually returned to Mondstadt, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Knights of Favonius. Within the familiar confines of his temporary abode, Ash found solace in peaceful repose, the same guest room serving as his sanctuary once more. Yet, this time, he was not alone. Pikachu lay nestled atop the bedcovers, emitting endearing "chus" as it slumbered softly. Paimon, too, had succumbed to rest, perched atop the Pokémon Trainer with a playful snore, a solitary droplet of drool glistening on her lips.

Across the room, Lucario maintained a vigilant stance, its presence a silent sentinel against any potential disturbance. Meanwhile, by Ash's bedside, Aether sat in contemplative silence, his gaze fixed upon the tranquil visage of the sleeping Trainer. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Ash's collapse during the Stormterror encounter lingered in Aether's mind.

...

The Anemo mythical dragon closed in on Aether, who held an unconscious Ash tightly against him, his teeth gritted with determination. But just as the situation seemed dire, the Traveler's attention was drawn away from Stormterror by a brilliant blue light catching his peripheral vision. His gaze shifted downward, widening in astonishment as he beheld Ash's unconscious form, radiating a powerful blue glow—an occurrence unprecedented in his travels. The peculiar phenomenon didn't go unnoticed by the others; Paimon, Pikachu, and Lucario all observed the strange spectacle.

To Lucario's keen senses, the energy felt more potent than mere aura.

"What is this? Why is he glowing like that?" Paimon inquired, her voice tinged with concern.

Before anyone could offer an explanation, a thunderous roar shattered the moment, drawing their attention back to the sky. There, they witnessed Stormterror writhing in agony, the same mysterious light emanating from its body, seeming to impede its advance. The group watched in awe as the dragon struggled against the luminous force, its attempts to shake it off only intensified the radiant glow. Eventually, Stormterror relented, changing course and fleeing into the distance, leaving Mondstadt behind.

As the dragon disappeared from view, the group exchanged bewildered glances, grappling with the inexplicable turn of events. Though they couldn't comprehend the nature of the phenomenon, they breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful that Mondstadt was no longer in peril.

"Honorary Knight!" Jean's commanding voice echoed across the distance, prompting Aether's group to pivot their attention towards the source of the Acting Grand Master's call.

In swift pursuit was Jean, accompanied by Amber, Noelle, and Venti. As they drew nearer, Jean's eyes widened in astonishment at the lingering blue glow surrounding Ash's unconscious form. A sense of familiarity tugged at her memory, hinting at a connection she couldn't quite grasp. "Could that be..." she murmured, her thoughts trailing off in contemplation.

Yet, as Jean and her companions reached Aether's side, the enigmatic radiance surrounding Ash had inexplicably dissipated, leaving behind only lingering questions and a sense of intrigue.

"Good work, Traveler," Amber praised with a warm grin. "Whatever you did seems like it scared off Stormterror."

To the group's surprise, Aether shook his head, denying credit for Stormterror's unexpected departure. "Sorry, Amber, but it wasn't me," he admitted, redirecting their attention towards the unconscious Ash. "It was him," he declared, emphasizing the significance of Ash's inexplicable role in the event.

...

"Who are you..." Aether mumbled quietly, his gaze still fixed on the unconscious Trainer. At first, there was no response, but then a faint stir caught his attention—a subtle sign that Ash was beginning to regain consciousness.

A low groan escaped from Ash's lips as his eyelids twitched, eventually fluttering open to reveal a blurry image of the familiar ceiling above. Blinking rapidly, he struggled to bring the room into focus, his mind still clouded by the remnants of unconsciousness. For a brief moment, Ash lay still, his gaze fixed on the ceiling as he attempted to collect his thoughts. Then, in a sudden rush of realization, the memory of Stormterror's threat flooded his mind, jolting him into full consciousness. With a sharp intake of breath, he shot upright in bed, his heart pounding with panic. "Stormterror!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.

His sudden movement startled the slumbering duo of Paimon and Pikachu, who tumbled from the bed with clumsy thuds, roused from their peaceful rest. Meanwhile, Lucario turned its attention towards the commotion, a small bead of sweat forming on the side of its face as it assessed the situation.

"Ow..." Paimon winced as she floated upward off the ground. Clutching her head in discomfort, she shot a glare in Ash's direction as she shouted, "Hey, what was that for?!"

Ash held his hands up defensively, a small bead of sweat sliding down his face as he realized his mistake. "Sorry, Paimon! I didn't know you were there," he replied sincerely, offering a genuine apology.

Ash blinked in confusion, his mind trying to process the revelation. "Wait... Traveler from another world?" he echoed with disbelief in his voice as he stared at Aether.

"Oh, it's nothing, Paimon," Aether quickly responded, brushing off any humorous thoughts regarding the incident, though Paimon wasn't too pleased with his response. "I just find it a little amusing that you guys are already getting along."

"Jealous?" Paimon teased, a sly smirk playing on her lips.

The Traveler shook his head, a playful glint in his eyes as he retorted, "Why would I be jealous of what Emergency Food does in her free time when I'm not around?" He couldn't resist teasing her back.

"Hey, shut up!" Paimon shot back, her glare emphasizing her annoyance.

As the banter between Aether and Paimon ensued, Ash quietly observed the interaction, his gaze lingering on the blonde Traveler. A nagging feeling tugged at the corners of his mind, a sense of familiarity that he couldn't quite place. Try as he might, he couldn't recall where he had seen Aether before.

However, in a sudden flash of recollection, a fragment of memory pierced through the haze. Amidst the chaos of the Stormterror incident, just before he had lost consciousness, a fleeting image of a blonde figure had crossed his mind. It was a brief moment, but Ash remembered distinctly—a stranger appearing out of nowhere, standing defiantly between him and the formidable dragon.

As realization dawned, Ash's eyes widened with astonishment. "Wait, you're that guy from earlier!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with awe as he connected the dots between the blonde Traveler and the mysterious figure who had intervened during the Stormterror incident.

Ending their brief argument, Aether redirected his attention back to Ash, recognizing the need for proper introductions. With a friendly smile, he began, "Yup, that was me. Sorry if we weren't introduced before, but I'm-"

Before Aether could complete his introduction, Paimon interjected, seizing the opportunity to speak. "He's Aether, the Traveler from another world!" she announced proudly, taking charge of the introduction on behalf of her companion.

"Paimon..." Aether's voice carried a hint of irritation as he sent a sharp glare at the fairy girl for interrupting his introduction.

"You were too slow, Aether," Paimon retorted, unfazed by his glare as she playfully poked her tongue out at her friend.

Ash blinked in confusion, his mind trying to process the revelation. "Wait... Traveler from another world?" he echoed with disbelief in his voice as he stared at Aether.

Aether's smirk widened at Ash's reaction. "Judging by your reaction, it seems the same could be said of you, am I right?" he countered, prompting a nod from Ash. "That's right, I'm not from Teyvat," Aether confirmed before Ash could inquire further. As Ash seemed poised to ask about Aether's arrival, the blonde Traveler preempted the question with a sigh. "It's a long story," he explained, anticipating the inquiry.

Understanding Aether's reluctance to delve into the details, Ash decided not to press the matter further. However, one question lingered on his mind. "So, why do they call you Traveler?" he asked curiously, prompting a nonchalant shrug from Aether in response.

"It's just a nickname I adopted," Aether replied casually, a hint of amusement in his tone. "I figured it's better than being called an Outlander, that's for sure," he added with a chuckle, acknowledging the distinction between the two terms.

"Yep, that's right," Paimon chimed in, eager to contribute to the conversation. "Everyone here also calls him the Honorary Knight," she affirmed, emphasizing Aether's esteemed status within Mondstadt.

"Oh, that's cool," Ash said with a smile. When he realized it was his turn to introduce himself, he wasted no time. "I'm Ash, by the way, a Pokémon Trainer," he stated proudly. Noticing Aether's curious expression, Ash momentarily forgot that Pokémon were unknown in this world. Deciding to move past it, he continued with the introductions. "And this little guy here is Pikachu," he said as Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder, the Electric-type Pokémon offering a friendly squeak in greeting.

Aether smiled warmly and returned the greeting, "Nice to meet you too, Pikachu."

"That one over there," Ash began, gesturing towards Lucario who was still leaning against the wall, though now aware of their attention, "-is Lucario." The Aura Pokémon offered a lazy wave to the pair.

"That's cool, so are they like your pets or something?" Aether asked, misunderstanding the nature of their relationship.

Lucario's expression soured slightly at the implication, glaring at the oblivious teen. However, Ash quickly intervened, chuckling as he clarified, "Not exactly. They are my friends and partners."

At Ash's explanation, Lucario's demeanor softened, a happy smirk crossing its face in acknowledgment.

"Oh, okay, that sounds cool, too," Aether responded with a smile, understanding the bond between Ash and his companions.

Ash and Aether fell into an awkward silence, their gazes locking as they struggled to find a way to broach the topic of the recent events. However, before either could speak, a loud growl reverberated through the room, startling them both. It was Ash's stomach, demanding attention with its hunger. Ash's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he realized the source of the noise. Aether couldn't help but chuckle at the situation. "Hold that thought," he said with a grin. "How about we get some food for you first? It's been a few days since you've been out. You must be starving."

"Sounds like a plan," Ash agreed sheepishly, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Ooh~! Paimon wants some food too, Traveler," the fairy girl chimed in eagerly, her eyes sparkling with excitement, which caused Aether to let out a sigh.

"Paimon, I'm just treating Ash, not you," Aether replied, trying to gently remind the fairy of the situation.

Paimon's expression turned into a pout as she placed her tiny fists against her hips, glaring at her friend. "You're such a cheapskate!"

"And you eat too much!" Aether retorted, unable to resist teasing his feisty companion.

"How dare you!" Paimon shot back, her voice rising with irritation.

Ash chuckled nervously as he observed the playful banter between Aether and their fairy companion, finding their dynamic both amusing and endearing.

...

As the group left the Knights of Favonius Headquarters and made their way towards the nearest restaurant, Good Hunter, Ash couldn't help but notice the curious stares and hushed whispers from the bystanders as they strolled through the streets. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were murmuring about the recent incident involving Stormterror and him.

Aether took notice of Ash's uneasiness and leaned towards him, whispering softly, "Don't mind them, they're still a little on edge." Ash simply nodded, appreciating the reassurance as they continued their way to Good Hunter.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Sara, the main waitress, noticed their approach from behind the counter. Her warm smile greeted them. "Ah, Traveler," she began before her gaze shifted to Ash, her expression registering a hint of surprise. "Oh, it's you!" she exclaimed, catching Ash off guard. "You were with Amber the other day, I believe," she declared.

Ash blinked in confusion, trying to recall the encounter. "Yeah, that was me," he replied awkwardly, earning a smile from Sara.

"You're the talk of the town," she added, confirming Ash's suspicion about the murmurs from the bystanders.

Indeed, more bystanders had gathered behind the group, muttering and whispering among themselves as they cast curious glances in their direction. Lucario, sensing the attention, grew annoyed and let out a slight growl, causing the bystanders to hastily scatter in the opposite direction. The Aura Pokémon couldn't help but smirk at the reaction.

"You can say that again," Ash said with a nervous chuckle, noticing Lucario's actions from the corner of his eye.

"Don't worry, it'll pass," Sara reassured with another smile, her warm demeanor putting the group at ease. However, she quickly refocused on their main purpose. "So, what can I do for you?" she asked, ready to assist with their dining needs.

"Let's see here..." Aether began, counting heads before turning back to the waitress. "Table for four, please?" he requested, holding up four fingers and inadvertently leaving out Paimon.

"Hey!" Paimon protested, clearly unhappy with being excluded from the group's meal. Shooting a sharp glare, she placed her tiny fists on her hips, a pout forming on her lips.

Aether sighed, realizing his mistake, and quickly corrected himself. "Fine, make it five!"

"Yay!" Paimon cheered as she was pleased to be included once more.

"But you're paying, Paimon!" Aether added with a mischievous grin.

"What?!" Paimon growled in response, clearly not thrilled with the prospect of footing the bill.

Sara chuckled at their playful banter and responded, "Please take your seats over there. I'll bring your menus," she said to the group, gesturing towards an available table.

Once the group settled into their seats and received their menus from Sara, they wasted no time in placing their orders. After a brief wait, the waitress returned with their fresh meals, thanking them before returning to her position at the front counter. They eagerly dug into their food, enjoying the delicious flavors and engaging in light conversation.

However, it was Paimon who seemed to be enjoying her meal the most. With tears of joy streaming down her cheeks like a waterfall, she savored every bite of her food, clearly delighted with her choice. Despite Aether's warning about the cost, she had opted for the most expensive item on the menu, and it was undoubtedly worth every penny.

"This is so good~!" Paimon hummed happily, her cheeks adorned with a big, cheeky smile as she continued to indulge in her delicious meal.

Ignoring their fairy companion, Ash and Aether resumed their conversation about the Stormterror incident. "Wait, so Stormterror just took off right after I passed out?" the Pokémon Trainer asked in disbelief, pausing in his meal and staring at the blonde teen.

"Yeah, it was pretty sudden," Aether confirmed, his expression serious as he recounted the events. "Stormterror seemed to be affected by some strange light emitting from your body. It started to recoil and eventually retreated," he explained, recalling the unexpected turn of events.

Ash listened intently in disbelief as he processed the information. "So, the light from me somehow repelled Stormterror?" he mused, pondering the implications of his newfound ability.

Meanwhile, Lucario remained engrossed in its own meal, seemingly unfazed by the conversation unfolding around it. Similarly, Pikachu continued to nibble away at its food, content to enjoy the meal in silence.

Aether took a bite from his meal before continuing, "It was so strange that even Jean found it weird. Once we took you back to the Knights of Favonius building, Jean locked herself in her office for days doing some special research."

Ash blinked in confusion. "Huh, that is weird. Why would she do that?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

To Ash's surprise, Aether simply shrugged in response. "She never explained," he admitted.

His response left Ash deep in thought as he mulled over the situation. Why would Jean go to such lengths to study the strange phenomenon surrounding him? Was she truly that intrigued by the mysterious light emanating from his body? The questions swirled in his mind, leaving him with a sense of unease.

Soon, a new yet familiar voice interjected, catching the attention of both Ash and Aether. They turned to see a Knight of Favonius with an eyepatch approaching their table. It was Kaeya. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Kaeya greeted with a smirk, his tone laced with amusement. "If it isn't our esteemed Honorary Knight and the special guest," he added, his smile widening as he acknowledged Aether and Ash.

"Hey, Kaeya!" Paimon greeted warmly with a bright smile. "What brings you here?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Hello, Paimon," Kaeya greeted in return before turning his attention back to Ash and Aether. "I was just in the neighborhood, hoping to try one of the latest specials until Master Jean contacted me to bring Ash to her office," he explained, his expression hinting at a mix of curiosity and amusement.

Paimon couldn't resist teasing Ash upon hearing this. "Oooooh~! It sounds like you're in trouble, Ash," she chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she teased the Pokémon Trainer.

Ash couldn't help but frown slightly at the teasing from the fairy, feeling a tad embarrassed.

Kaeya chuckled and quickly reassured the group, "No, no, no, nothing like that." He made it clear that Ash wasn't in trouble with the Acting Grand Master. "Master Jean found something interesting in her research and thought Ash should know about it, too," he explained. Ash raised an eyebrow at his response. "It could be related to the strange light phenomenon we all witnessed," Kaeya added, offering a possible explanation.

"I see..." Ash pondered for a moment before making up his mind. "Sure, I would like to hear what Jean found," he agreed, signaling his interest in the matter.

Kaeya smiled at Ash's response as he was pleased that the teen was willing to learn more about the mysterious phenomenon.

"Very good. Whenever you are ready, we should go meet with Master Jean," Kaeya said to the group, signaling the next course of action.

Ash nodded in agreement and stood up, prompting the rest of the group to do the same. Just as they were about to leave and follow Kaeya back to the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, they were abruptly halted by Sara's voice behind them. "Ahem!" She pretended to cough to grab their attention.

Turning back, the group saw Sara, tapping her foot impatiently, arms crossed tightly as she held the bill in her hand. Her sharp glare made it clear that she wasn't going to let them leave without paying for their meals.

"Oh, right... I forgot about that," Aether said sheepishly, scratching his head in embarrassment.

Sara's eyebrow twitched as she clicked her tongue in annoyance, her patience clearly wearing thin. With a swift motion, she held out the bill, displaying a staggering total of 15,000 Mora. Aether's eyes widened in shock, his jaw practically hitting the floor. He couldn't comprehend how the bill had ballooned to such an exorbitant amount, especially considering that Ash had been sharing his meal with Pikachu and Lucario.

Kaeya chuckled at the Traveler's reaction and replied in a light tone, "Don't worry about it, Traveler. We can just put it on a tab."

Sara stared at Kaeya in disbelief, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. With a defeated sigh, she glanced down at her feet and muttered, "You Knights are so cheap..."

Kaeya merely flashed Sara a charming grin in response, unfazed by her remark, before turning back to the group. "Shall we?" he asked, gesturing for them to follow him.

...

"Fascinating..." Jean muttered under her breath as she pored over the ancient texts, her gaze fixed on the worn and torn pages of the old book titled "Rota." The Acting Grand Master stood behind her desk in her office, fully engrossed in deciphering the cryptic symbols and faded text. Each page turned revealed more enigmatic passages, challenging her efforts to unravel their meaning.

As Jean flipped to the next page, her eyes widened slightly at the sight of sketches adorning the margins. Though the descriptions were smudged and difficult to discern, she could make out the figures depicted. One appeared to be a young man clad in a peculiar wizard-like knight outfit, wielding a staff, while the other resembled a creature resembling a small dog standing upright on two legs. Intrigued by their significance, Jean pondered their identities, a distant memory tugging at the corners of her mind as if she had encountered them in tales from her childhood.

Her reverie was interrupted by a knock at the door, prompting Jean to quickly shut the book and compose herself. "Oh, yes, please come in," she called out, eager to greet her guests.

The Acting Grand Master watched as her door swung open, revealing Kaeya. Their eyes met, and the Cavalry Captain greeted his leader, "Master Jean, I've brought your honorary guests."

Entering one by one were Ash with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, Aether, Paimon, and Lucario. Jean's face lit up with a bright smile, recognizing the familiar faces. "Ah, Honorary Knight, Paimon, it's wonderful to see you," she said warmly, though Paimon seemed a tad confused.

"Huh?" The fairy scratched her head. "But didn't we just see each other a few days ago, Jean?" she asked, her tone conveying her perplexity.

Jean chuckled softly, agreeing with her fairy companion. "You're right, Paimon. I must admit, being cooped up in my office for several days has left me a bit disoriented," she explained with a light laugh. Turning her attention to Ash, she felt a wave of relief seeing him up and about. "It's good to see you're doing okay, Ash. You had us worried."

Ash scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry for causing concern. It all happened so suddenly," he apologized.

"Well, do take better care of yourself," Jean gently scolded, to which Ash nodded earnestly.

"I will."

Interrupting the moment, Paimon couldn't contain her curiosity any longer. "So... what exactly did you want to see Ash about?" she inquired eagerly.

Jean offered a small smile before approaching her desk and gently placing the weathered "Rota" book down, allowing the group to examine it. With Kaeya excluded, Ash and the others gathered around Jean's desk for a closer look.

Paimon's expression turned slightly sour, seemingly underwhelmed by the reveal. "What's so special about an old, wrinkled book, Jean?" she asked, prompting Aether to sigh and shake his head at her impulsive question.

"Paimon..."

"What? I'm just curious... What's so special about it?" Paimon asked again, her pout becoming more pronounced as she crossed her arms defiantly.

Jean chuckled at Paimon's adorable reaction and explained with a gentle smile, "Well, you see, Paimon..." She paused, gaining the group's attention before continuing. "...this book could potentially provide us with valuable insights into Ash's connection to the strange light that halted Stormterror."

Ash blinked in confusion and asked, "How so?"

A slight smirk graced the Acting Grand Master's lips. "Have any of you heard of the legend of the Lost Kingdom of...Rota?" she inquired, capturing the group's interest.

...

Dum dum dum...! That cliffhanger! Hope you guys enjoy Ash's interactions with Aether. It wasn't anything special, but it was a start. Aether and Paimon's chemistry's always amusing especially Aether's friendly bullying on her. The next chapter will focus more on the Lost Kingdom of Rota's backstory so hopefully, it won't be too much of a filler chapter.