Before anything existed, nonexistence dominated what would one day be called creation. For countless eras, nonexistence extended its reign as the antithesis of everything, but one day, a cataclysmic event occurred, giving rise to a small seed.
From the seed, a tree of immeasurable proportions sprouted, and its roots anchored themselves to the nonexistence in a symbiotic manner. This was the Imaginary Tree, the first thing to exist, the cosmic pillar that sustains creation, responsible for bringing forth everything that exists in the infinite worlds that emerged from its branches and boughs.
The tree was responsible for creating the first concept, the imaginary, and from this element, all others originated. The imaginary was a determining factor that, despite being opposed to nonexistence, ended up interacting perfectly with it.
Over an incalculable period of time, the imaginary and the nonexistence generated various concepts that structured reality and solidified it in a stable form. During this time, the Concept of Light emerged, being one of the most important ever created. Light was much more than a glow or a visible region. This concept was the foundation for the creation of other concepts, such as energy and life, and was one of the most influential in creation, with its domain extending over stars, planets, and living beings.
Another thing worth mentioning is that, with the emergence of living beings, some fused with abstract concepts, becoming Aeons. These beings transcended mortality and became one with the structure of creation, as the supreme entities of that concept.
Thus, one day, the Aeon of Trailblazing, Akivili, had an audience with the Concept of Light, and an agreement was made between the two entities. No one knows the content of the agreement, but after this event, both cosmic beings united to create two twin beings.
These two were named Aether and Lumine, and they were blessed with all kinds of gifts. The purpose of the twins' creation was unknown, but Akivili made a request of them: that they always stay together and that they make the most of everything the Imaginary Tree had to offer. They were free to travel to any worlds they wished and do whatever they desired, for both were the personification of a traveler.
Thus, the twins bid farewell to their creators and began their journey through the infinite realities.
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"That's the summary of my story," a young man said, looking at a small flying creature that was eating a grilled fish. This young man was Aether, the golden traveler, an ancient being who had journeyed through countless worlds.
Aether was someone of incredible beauty, with a body that seemed flawless. His blonde hair, kissed by the sun, swayed in the wind, and his golden eyes were filled with a mixture of pride, curiosity, and sadness as he recounted the adventures he had alongside his sister.
"So, you and your sister fought an unknown goddess and lost? Is that why you're without powers?" the small flying creature asked, with a thoughtful expression that quickly turned into one of determination and pride. "In that case, Paimon can help you. There's no better guide to Teyvat than Paimon."
Paimon was a small creature resembling a tiny human. She was like a cute fairy, with thick white hair cut just above her shoulders, dark purple eyes, and fair skin. She also wore a dark purple hair clip, almost black, and a rose-gold crown that floated above her head like a halo.
"Thank you for your help, Paimon. I really don't know much about this world, so a guide will be very useful," Aether thanked her with a smile as he began preparing more food. "In that case, I propose a deal."
"A deal? What kind of deal?"
"I don't like owing favors to others, so in exchange for guiding me through these unknown lands, I promise not to abandon you and to show you how amazing a journey can be." The traveler smiled at the small fairy. If there was one thing he was sure of, it was that he knew how to enjoy a journey, even if it was one in search of his lost sister, because that was his nature. Traveling, exploring, discovering new things, and enjoying the present were things ingrained in the very essence of the twins, and nothing and no one could change those facts.
"I approve of this deal!" Paimon exclaimed excitedly, floating in the air while flailing her limbs in euphoria. "However, I have one condition!"
"Go ahead," said the traveler as he began to eat a roasted fish.
"I want you to promise that, throughout our journey across the continent of Teyvat, you'll let me eat LOTS of delicious food!" Paimon exclaimed with excitement.
Aether made a thoughtful expression as if he were considering the proposal, but soon dismissed it. With a smile on his face, he extended his hand toward the fairy.
"I agree to the term. So, do we have a deal?"
"Deal sealed," Paimon said, shaking the traveler's hand, sealing the contract between them.
"You said this continent is called Teyvat, right?" Paimon nodded to Aether's question, not responding verbally because her mouth was full of food. In another situation, this might have been considered rude, but due to Paimon's appearance, the traveler couldn't help but compare her to a squirrel with a mouth full of food. It was a pleasant sight and slightly improved his mood.
"Teyvat is indeed the continent we're on, and it's divided into seven different nations, each governed by an Archon," Paimon responded after swallowing the food.
"Who are these Archons?" Aether asked.
"From what Paimon knows, the Archons are beings that represent the pinnacle of an element. Basically, they are the most powerful gods who dominate a specific elemental type," the small guide paused for a moment, placing her finger on her chin. "There are seven elements in Teyvat: Anemo, Geo, Electro, Dendro, Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo."
"So, the Archons are like Aeons but tied to physical concepts instead of abstract ones," Aether murmured, contemplating the nature of power in this world. "How powerful are these Archons? Do you know?"
"Paimon heard that, long ago, at the height of the Archons' power, each one of them had the strength to destroy the continent without difficulty. They could make mountains fly for hundreds of kilometers, create meteors, and tear the earth along with the skies." The explanation of the Archons' power made Aether frown for a moment. They were strong, but based on what Paimon said, it seemed that the Archons were much weaker than any Aeon.
"Paimon, do you know which nation is the closest to where we are?" Aether asked.
"Of course, I do! We're in the Starfell Valley, the territory of the Anemo Archon, and a few days' journey from the main city of this region, Mondstadt," Paimon replied, floating around the traveler. "Shall we leave now? Don't worry, I'll guide you to the city."
"Sure! Lead the way, I'll be right behind you." Aether smiled, gathering his belongings and storing them within a small pocket dimension he created using the last sparks of imaginary energy still within his body. ... A few hours had passed since Aether and Paimon began their journey. During that time, the traveler collected various fruits he found along the way and also shared stories of worlds he had previously visited with his sister.
"What a crazy world! I never would have imagined there'd be a dimension where a blue hedgehog and a plumber were fighting," Paimon commented, surprised by the story. "Who won?"
"Neither of them," Aether replied, leaving Paimon confused. "It turns out that two enemies of the plumber and the hedgehog teamed up to defeat them. So the fight became a battle where the hedgehog and the plumber faced a fire-breathing turtle and a scientist who looked like an egg with a mustache."
"What a strange world," the small guide commented again on the strangeness of that world, but soon her attention was diverted. "Aether, look at that statue over there." Paimon pointed to a pillar with a statue of a winged figure at the top.
The pillar was in the center of a lake, and in the traveler's view, the statue seemed to emit a bluish-green glow. Upon closer inspection, Aether noticed that the winged figure appeared to be wearing a hood and heavy robes that covered its entire body, and it was holding a sphere that seemed to be the source of the glow enveloping the structure.
"Paimon, do you know who the figure in the statue is?"
"Paimon thinks it's the Anemo Archon," the fairy replied with uncertainty, but soon corrected herself. "No! The right thing to say is that Paimon is sure this is a statue of the Anemo Archon, one of the seven rulers of Teyvat, and this is one of the Statues of The Seven." She then turned to Aether with an enthusiastic expression, as if she had a great idea. "Aether, we could ask the Archon if he knows anything about your sister."
"That wouldn't be a bad idea." The traveler began to reflect on this possibility. "If he's as powerful as you mentioned the Archons were, then he might be able to help me." At that moment, a spark of hope ignited within Aether. "Thanks for the idea, Paimon." With a smile of relief and hope, the male twin thanked his new friend.
"No need to thank me, Aether," Paimon replied. "I'm your guide, so I have to come up with good ideas."
To reach the statue without getting wet, the traveler began to assess the environment and concluded that, since the lake was small, he could jump across the water. Even though his powers had been lost, Aether's physical attributes were naturally superior to most intelligent species in creation, so a jump of at most 6 meters would be feasible.
After successfully crossing, the young man felt the statue's energy and noticed a familiarity with it. Before jumping to any conclusions, Aether touched the pillar and felt the world around him disappear. At that moment, he understood the familiarity he was sensing: that bluish-green energy was something similar to him, a concept born from the Concept of Light, with the major difference being that Aether and his sister were living concepts representing the traveler, while that energy was a concept without its own consciousness.
"The Anemo energy is surrounding you, Aether." The traveler heard the voice of his guide, but he maintained his concentration, determined to better connect with the Anemo energy emanating from the statue. He felt his body energize as Anemo coursed through every cell.
"I think that's enough," Aether commented, disconnecting from the pillar, which caused the world around him to regain its colors, allowing him to see Paimon, who had a concerned expression. "I'm okay, Paimon." A sphere of wind appeared in Aether's palm. "I think I've figured out how to regain my powers."
"You can control Anemo? Could you do that before?"
"I could, but I never did because I wasn't aware of this energy," Aether's response left his travel companion confused, so he decided to explain: "The Anemo energy, I felt, has the same origin as me, light. My sister and I are natural users of light energy, so we could create Anemo as a byproduct of our powers. The problem is that I had never heard of this derivation, so, since I wasn't aware of its existence until now, I didn't use it."
"Maybe it's because Anemo is something exclusive to this planet?..." Paimon commented thoughtfully, but her statement was also full of doubts, almost like a question.
"It's no use thinking too much about it now. Let's continue our journey, and we'll find the answers to these questions in due time." The traveler shrugged and turned his attention to the path they should take. As he crossed the lake to leave the islet where the Statue of The Seven was, Aether began to play with the Anemo energy, creating spheres of wind around him.
"Aether, look over there, there's smoke coming from behind that hill," Paimon shouted, pointing to the trail of smoke. "Where there's smoke, there are people. We can ask for some information."
"And if they're hostile?"
"It's not a problem, you're strong. You'll protect Paimon if they're aggressive."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Aether smiled. "Since you think that way, let's go to them."
"Great! Follow Paimon, Aether."