The gentle morning wind drifted through the grassy plains outside Mondstadt City.
Birds chirped peacefully near the nearby trees while the sunlight slowly illuminated the stone pathways leading toward the city gates.
Near the glowing Statue of The Seven, two figures stood facing one another.
One was the mysterious traveler, Aether.
The other was the vigilant Yaksha Adeptus, Xiao.
The atmosphere between them was calm, but there was still tension lingering after their brutal battle in Dragonspine.
Aether looked at Xiao seriously.
"I didn't kill Morax."
His voice was calm and direct.
"I've never even met him before."
Xiao remained silent for several seconds.
The cold breeze moved through his dark green hair as his golden eyes carefully observed Aether's expression.
"You expect me to believe that so easily?" Xiao finally asked.
Aether sighed softly.
"You don't have to trust me immediately."
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"But I'm telling the truth."
Xiao folded his arms.
His mind remained conflicted.
As an Adeptus who had served Rex Lapis for centuries, he naturally distrusted outsiders.
Especially someone surrounded by rumors and mysteries.
Yet…
After fighting Aether directly…
Something felt different.
Aether had opportunities to kill him.
Multiple opportunities.
But he didn't.
Instead, he carried Xiao through a snowstorm and protected him.
That single action contradicted the image of a ruthless assassin.
"…Troublesome," Xiao muttered quietly.
Aether blinked.
"Hm?"
But before Xiao could answer—
Growl…
A strange sound interrupted the conversation.
Both of them froze.
Aether slowly looked toward Xiao.
Xiao's expression stiffened slightly.
It was his stomach.
Aether stared silently for a moment before letting out a faint laugh.
"…You're hungry?"
Xiao immediately turned his face away.
"That is irrelevant."
Aether smiled lightly.
"There's no need to be embarrassed."
He pointed toward Mondstadt City.
"Come on. Let's eat breakfast at the Good Hunter."
Xiao immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Hm?"
"I would rather eat at Wangshu Inn."
Aether blinked.
"I've never been there before."
Xiao glanced at him briefly.
"You don't need to worry about feeding me."
Then his expression became serious once more.
"But listen carefully, Aether."
The playful atmosphere disappeared instantly.
Xiao stepped closer.
"I still do not fully trust you."
Aether quietly listened.
"If you are truly innocent…"
"…then stop hiding yourself in another nation."
Xiao's golden eyes narrowed sharply.
"Return to Liyue."
"Stand before the people."
"And prove your innocence."
Aether fell silent.
Before he could respond—
Green Anemo energy surrounded Xiao's body.
"Wait—"
But Xiao had already vanished.
Only drifting wind remained behind.
Aether stared at the empty space silently.
"…He's gone."
The traveler slowly sat down beside the Statue of The Seven.
His thoughts were heavy.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
Liyue accused him of killing their God.
The Adepti distrusted him.
Someone was clearly manipulating events behind the scenes.
And now…
Even Xiao was telling him to face the accusations directly.
Aether closed his eyes briefly.
"…What should I do?"
The wind gave no answer.
After sitting there for a while, Aether eventually stood up and headed toward Good Hunter.
The familiar smell of freshly cooked food drifted through the streets of Mondstadt.
Unlike the cold treatment he received in Liyue, the people here still greeted him warmly.
"Morning, Aether!"
"Back from Dragonspine?"
Aether nodded politely to a few adventurers passing by.
Inside Good Hunter, Sara greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome!"
"What would you like today?"
Aether sat quietly near the window.
"Just something simple."
A few minutes later, a warm plate of food was placed before him.
For a while, he simply ate in silence.
His mind remained occupied.
Even the food barely distracted him.
"…I don't feel like taking commissions today," he thought.
After finishing breakfast, Aether began walking back toward Springvale.
But halfway there—
"Aether!"
He turned around.
Near the Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne waved her hand toward him.
Aether walked over.
"You were looking for me?"
Katheryne nodded.
"You forgot to collect your rewards yesterday."
Aether blinked.
"Oh…"
Katheryne placed a long wrapped object onto the counter.
"This was included in your reward for completing the commission in Dragonspine."
Aether carefully unwrapped it.
Inside was a beautifully crafted sword.
Its sharp blade reflected the sunlight brilliantly.
"...A sword?"
Katheryne nodded calmly.
"Prototype Rancour."
Aether held the weapon carefully.
Even without testing it, he could immediately tell that the sword was far superior to the dull blade he had been using until now.
"…This is incredible."
Katheryne smiled slightly.
"You have performed many difficult commissions successfully."
"The Guild considered you worthy of receiving it."
Aether looked at the sword silently for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"Thank you."
"Ad Astra Abyssosque."
Later that afternoon, Aether returned to his rented house in Springvale.
He placed the new sword beside his bed before slowly lying down.
The room was quiet.
Only the sound of the wind outside could be heard.
Aether stared at the wooden ceiling above him.
"Go back to Liyue…"
"Prove your innocence…"
Xiao's words repeated inside his mind endlessly.
He knew Xiao was right.
Running away would only make him look more suspicious.
But returning to Liyue also meant walking directly into danger.
Aether closed his eyes briefly.
Then—
Knock knock.
He opened his eyes immediately.
"…Who could that be?"
Aether stood up and walked toward the door.
When he opened it—
He froze slightly.
Standing outside was a young woman with long purple hair and sharp violet eyes.
Behind her stood multiple armed soldiers.
The Millelith.
The woman spoke calmly.
"I am Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing."
Aether immediately understood that something was wrong.
Keqing looked directly at him.
"Aether."
"You are under arrest for the assassination of the Geo Archon."
Silence filled the doorway.
Aether's eyes widened slightly.
Behind Keqing, some nearby villagers and neighbors had gathered.
They whispered nervously while staring at him with fear.
"…They actually think I'm a murderer," Aether realized.
He quickly spoke.
"I didn't kill anyone."
"I've never even met Morax."
Keqing's expression remained cold.
"You may explain yourself later."
"But you will come with us."
Aether clenched his fists slightly.
He could escape easily.
The Millelith surrounding him were nowhere near strong enough to stop him.
But…
If he fought back now…
Everything would only become worse.
Slowly, Aether turned around.
He locked the door of the rented house.
Then handed the key to the owner nearby.
"Sorry for the trouble."
The old man accepted the key nervously.
Aether finally faced Keqing again.
"…I'll come peacefully."
Keqing nodded.
"Wise choice."
The journey back to Liyue Harbor was miserable.
As soon as the people recognized him—
The streets erupted.
"It's him!"
"The murderer!"
"How dare he return here!"
Rotten vegetables and eggs were thrown toward him.
Some people even tried to attack him directly before being restrained by the Millelith.
Aether lowered his head silently.
Every insult struck harder than any weapon.
"I didn't do it…"
But no one listened.
No one cared.
To them—
He was already guilty.
Eventually, the Millelith escorted him deep into the city prison.
The iron cell door slammed shut behind him.
CLANG.
Aether slowly sat down inside the dark prison cell.
The cold stone walls surrounded him.
For the first time since arriving in this world—
He truly felt alone.
About an hour later—
Footsteps echoed through the prison hallway.
Three figures approached his cell.
Ningguang.
Ganyu.
And Keqing.
Ningguang observed him calmly.
"So…"
"You are the traveler called Aether."
Aether stood slowly.
"…And you are?"
"Ningguang. Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing."
Beside her, Ganyu quietly observed him with concern.
Keqing, meanwhile, remained stern.
Ningguang folded her arms.
"Tell me."
"Why did you kill Morax?"
Aether immediately answered.
"I didn't."
"I've never even met him."
Keqing frowned.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"I'm telling the truth."
Ningguang narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Then explain why rumors across all of Liyue point toward you."
Aether shook his head.
"I don't know."
"But someone is manipulating things."
Keqing stepped forward angrily.
"Stop lying!"
Aether looked directly into her eyes.
"I'm not lying."
Silence filled the hallway.
Ningguang carefully studied his expression.
But eventually—
She turned away.
"…I see."
Then her voice became colder.
"If words are insufficient…"
"…perhaps force will reveal the truth."
Aether's eyes narrowed slightly.
Ningguang looked toward the guards.
"Make him confess."
Then she walked away alongside Ganyu and Keqing.
Ganyu hesitated briefly before leaving.
The heavy prison door closed once more.
Several Millelith soldiers entered the cell.
Their commander cracked his knuckles.
"Still refusing to confess?"
Aether slowly lowered his head.
He already understood what was about to happen.
The first punch struck his stomach.
Then another.
And another.
The soldiers beat him repeatedly.
But Aether never fought back.
Not once.
Because he knew—
If he lost control…
If he used his powers…
These men would die instantly.
So he endured everything silently.
Day after day.
For an entire week.
No proper food.
Barely any water.
Constant abuse.
The bruises healed quickly because of his abnormal physique…
But the exhaustion accumulated slowly.
Even then—
Aether never confessed.
Because there was nothing to confess.
Meanwhile, deep inside the luxurious halls of the Northland Bank—
Childe sat comfortably in his chair.
A grin spread across his face as one of his subordinates knelt before him.
"So…"
"They finally arrested him."
The subordinate nodded.
"Yes, Lord Harbinger."
Childe chuckled softly.
"Perfect."
His eyes gleamed dangerously.
"Now comes the important part."
He stood up slowly.
"If I rescue Aether from the hands of the Millelith…"
"…he'll owe me."
"And once he owes me…"
"…I can use him however I want."
His smile widened.
"Prepare the operation."
The subordinate immediately bowed.
"At once."
At nearly the same time—
Inside the Jade Chamber, a secret message arrived before Ningguang.
She read the contents carefully.
Then her expression darkened.
"…The Fatui are planning to attack tonight?"
Keqing frowned immediately.
"What should we do?"
Ningguang stood up.
"Double the security around the Jade Chamber."
"And strengthen the prison defenses."
She turned toward another subordinate.
"Arrange a meeting with the Adepti immediately."
The soldier bowed.
"Yes, Lady Ningguang."
As everyone hurried to carry out her orders—
Ningguang quietly looked toward the distant night sky.
A storm was coming.
And at the center of it all…
Was the mysterious traveler named Aether.