Hello! Before starting this week's chapter, I would like to inform you that I am creating a Patreon. It is still being organized, but anyone who wants to support me, I would be grateful. Remember, Patreon is still being organized, so things can be changed and new exclusive stories from there have appeared.
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On Patreon I'm 'Gabriel M.D'.
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With the sun already gone beyond the horizon and the moon shining majestically in the sky, its silver light bathed the streets of Mondstadt in serene calm. Inside a grand noble house, Aether and Paimon were comfortably seated on a soft sofa, enjoying the quiet of the night.
The little fairy was sleeping peacefully, her head resting on the traveler's lap, with a delicate thread of drool trickling from her mouth, making the scene cuter than one could imagine. Aether, on the other hand, was focused, his eyes locked on the pages of a book. Beside him, a small stack of books, all by the same author, waited to be read. They were the renowned "Adventure Guides" by Alice, a writer whose work Katheryne had enthusiastically recommended. Although some parts of the books were rather extravagant, Aether found them quite valuable, as he was learning a lot about Teyvat—from its geography and history to the economies of the various nations that make up the continent.
For a moment, his thoughts drifted, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for having met Amber. If it hadn't been for the scout of the Knights of Favonius, he and Paimon might have taken much longer to reach Mondstadt. Moreover, they wouldn't have met Eula, and they would never have been able to rent such a comfortable place as the noble house they were in now, especially at such a cheap rate compared to what was typically offered. The softness of the cushions, the peaceful atmosphere... it was a true sanctuary.
'My sister would love to rest here,' Aether thought, his heart tightening slightly. It was impossible not to feel a constant concern for Lumine, his only family. He knew she was strong and perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but as a brother, the desire to find her and make sure she was okay never faded. This feeling fueled his journey but also wrapped him in a quiet sadness.
Shaking off those thoughts, Aether returned his attention to the book, deciding it was better to focus on the present. Besides, the meeting he had earlier with Amber and Eula replayed in his mind, bringing a slight smile to his lips.
Beginning of Flashback
After calming Paimon, who protested animatedly after Aether had playfully bitten her hand, it didn't take much to soothe her—just a few promises of delicious meals in the future and handing over some Mondstadt delicacies that were being sold at the street stalls in the city's main square.
While they waited, the bell of Barbatos' church echoed through the city, signaling the arrival of the appointed time, and soon, as promised, Amber and Eula appeared in the distance.
"Aether! Paimon! We're here!" Amber exclaimed, approaching the duo with her usual warm smile. Unlike her scout uniform, Amber was now dressed more casually: a white short-sleeved blouse, red denim shorts, and a pair of white flats, with her signature scarf tied around her head, resembling rabbit ears.
"Hi, Amber!" Aether greeted her with an equally friendly smile, then turned to the woman beside her. "And you must be Eula. Nice to meet you. I'm Aether, and this is Paimon."
Eula, with her noble posture, observed the traveling duo silently for a moment, while Aether returned the look. For the traveler, who had experienced various cultures throughout his life, it was clear that she was a woman of noble birth from the region.
She was an elegant woman with fair skin and yellow-purple eyes, with short light blue hair. Her outfit consisted of a black bodysuit with a silver symbol on the sides of the lower part, which Aether assumed was the emblem of her clan. She also wore a blue cape, where her Cryo Vision was attached.
"Nice to meet you," Eula replied, her voice firm but cordial. She quickly got to the point of the meeting: "I heard from Amber that you're interested in renting one of my properties, is that correct?" The noblewoman asked with seriousness, though there was a slight hint of curiosity in her voice.
"She's right; we're looking to rent one of your homes," Aether began explaining. "Paimon and I aren't from Mondstadt; we're travelers. Since we don't plan to settle here permanently, we're looking for a comfortable place to serve as our temporary base." He paused briefly before continuing, "So, Amber told us about you, and we decided to arrange this meeting."
"You're not from Mondstadt... now it makes sense," Eula commented in a nearly thoughtful tone. Her eyes gleamed with slight interest as she added, "Do you know anything about me? Or are you aware of my clan's reputation? Renting a property from the Lawrence family might make some people in the city look at you differently."
Aether smiled awkwardly but sincerely. "Well, as I said before, we don't plan on staying in Mondstadt forever. So honestly, I don't really care much about what people might think of me." He paused briefly, choosing his words carefully before continuing, "As for your reputation... if what I'm about to say sounds offensive, please forgive me, but I don't pay much attention to fame or what people gossip about. I prefer to get to know people directly and draw my own conclusions."
Eula watched him for a moment, seemingly reflecting on his words, and a small, subtle smile formed on her lips. "Perhaps this meeting wasn't the waste of time I initially thought it would be," she murmured with a mix of respect and curiosity in her voice. "You're smarter than most of the people in this city, so today, I won't need to declare my vengeance against you." Despite her eccentric statement, the noblewoman pulled a scroll from her Vision and handed it to Aether. "This is the rental contract. It details everything about the house you're going to rent, and if you need, I can take you there so you can have a better look."
"I'd like to see the place."
"Great. Then follow me."
End of Flashback
"I think I need to rest." Closing the book, Aether stretched gently before carefully picking up Paimon and carrying her to one of the bedrooms, where both would sleep. Placing her in a corner of the large bed—so big it could fit five people—Aether finally decided to take some time for himself.
He headed to the bathroom and enjoyed every second immersed in the warm water. Aether wished the flow would wash away his worries and negative feelings, offering a temporary sense of relief. Part of him boiled with rage, eager to avenge himself against the unknown goddess who had separated him from his sister and stripped him of his powers. At the same time, another part of him clung to his concerns about Lumine's safety and well-being.
Aether knew that dwelling on these emotions wouldn't be productive, but letting go of them was a challenge. Amid this whirlwind of thoughts, frustration bubbled in his chest until he ended up taking his anger out on himself, slamming his head violently against a wooden pillar. The instant pain shocked his mind, and he felt a trickle of blood running down his face. Oddly, that small moment helped clear his thoughts, offering a brief sense of clarity.
With a deep sigh, Aether allowed himself to relax. Using Anemo energy, he healed the wound, letting the power flow gently through his body. A soft laugh escaped his lips during the process. Throughout his life wielding the light element, he had always relied on the brute force of his powers, never fully exploring the nuances and subtleties of this innate gift. Now, forced to start from scratch, Aether realized how ignorant he'd been in his journey and how much potential he'd wasted.
Exiting the water, Aether used Anemo energy to dry off. At first, he almost caused a small explosion in the bathroom, scattering water droplets everywhere, but after a few seconds of concentration, he managed to control the wind, drying himself without making a mess. Now dressed, he began doing something that, if Paimon were awake, she would likely think of as child's play: Aether was creating small Anemo platforms in the air and jumping on them, avoiding touching the ground as if he were playing a game of "the floor is lava."
Paimon wouldn't be entirely wrong. In a way, the traveler was indeed playing, but there was more to his carefree action. He had three clear reasons for doing so. The first was to relax his mind and maintain the momentary clarity he had achieved after hitting his head earlier. Aether wasn't keen on returning to thoughts of his sister or the unknown goddess; if he let those thoughts creep back in, he knew he wouldn't find peaceful rest.
The second reason was that the more he practiced using Anemo energy in everyday situations, the faster he would become familiar with it, making it easier to wield in combat. After all, this new power wasn't just a tool but an extension of himself, and he knew that true mastery would come with constant practice.
Finally, the third reason was the simple need to burn off the energy still coursing through his body. Despite his mental fatigue, his physical self remained active, and he knew that if he didn't tire himself out a bit more, he'd likely toss and turn in bed, unable to sleep.
When Aether finally returned to the bedroom, he slipped into bed quietly. The mattress seemed to embrace him with its softness, and at last, the traveler managed to fall asleep.
...
Far from the city of Mondstadt, yet still within the domain of the Anemo Archon, a creature crawled out from a portal. Its appearance resembled a beetle, but it was the size of a dog. Its body glowed with a faint purple light, and thick foam dripped from its mouth. The insect moved slowly toward the nearby forest, lost and disoriented. Throughout its life, it had been connected to the hive, to the swarm, living in harmony with its kin. But everything changed when an imposing figure, clad in metallic armor, appeared and incinerated all its brethren.
It was the sole survivor, spared by fate. In the chaos of battle, instead of being reduced to ash, the insect was flung into a rift in reality, transported to a new world. This strange, unfamiliar place left it confused and uncertain. It needed to return to the swarm! It had to go back to its god!
But then, something shifted. Why return to the swarm when it could bring the swarm to this new world? In that instant, a spark of rationality appeared in its primitive mind, something unprecedented for a creature like it. As simple and confused thoughts swirled through its mind, intense pain surged through its body, and its form began to twist.
Within moments, the insect grew. It became larger, more robust, and its limbs elongated until it stood on two legs. The transformation wasn't just physical—its mind was now clearer, its thoughts more organized. It could think!
And then, it understood what fate had intended for it. Fate hadn't spared it just to return. No. Fate wanted it to devour this new world! To bring the swarm here, to become the new herald of the hive!
In that moment, Tayzzyronth, the Aeon of Propagation, bestowed his blessing upon one of his lost children. The creature, in its transformation, had not ascended to the level of an emanator—it was infinitely far from reaching such heights. It did not possess the qualifications to be the champion of Propagation, nor was it worthy of carrying the greatness of its god. However, something had shifted within it.
Though still far from being the ultimate herald, what it had become was significant: one of Tayzzyronth's strongest offspring. It now bore a fraction of the immense power of Propagation within it. The blessing flowed through its being like a seed ready to sprout. Its instincts to devour and consume were no longer just about survival—they were to propagate Tayzzyronth's will across this new world.
The creature gazed at its newly imposing limbs and felt the purpose Tayzzyronth had bestowed upon it. It no longer needed to merely survive. It had to grow, multiply, spread chaos and corruption, devouring every form of life until the entire world was consumed by Propagation.