Chapter Text
Aether was so, so tired. It hadn't been long since the world turned upside down, since he’d traveled to Inazuma and saw the suffering, the devastation and the terror affecting the thousands of innocent citizens.
He’d seen men and women, eyes glossed over in the loneliness of death as their bodies lay still in the pounding rain, arrows sticking out of the sand around them. He’d heard screaming, sobbing, and the pained coughs of the injured who would likely never see their families again.
The cold purple eyes of the Raiden Shogun were burned into his mind, like someone had branded the image into him with a hot iron. He could still hear the crackling sound of electricity as she stood over him, preparing to deliver a fatal blow as he lay helpless on the wooden platform, pain coursing through his veins.
He’d heard it again and again after that day. Then there was the delusion factory, when the Balladeer’s tricks had sent painful memories and overwhelming anger into his mind.
When Yae Miko had trained him, he’d forced himself to go numb, to focus on the goal ahead, not the memories behind. It had worked at first, and he was able to face Signora, to stand his ground against the one who had hurt his friends and did her best to kill many more.
But then he won. He hadn’t followed the rules of the duel, hadn’t even tried to mortally wound her. It was against his honor, the values that he stood for time and time again. He wasn’t a killer. He wasn’t a murderer, not like her.
The Shogun, however, had no qualms against killing. Why should she? She’d done it many times before.
He hated Signora, despised the very thought of her ever since he’d met her. So why was her final scream still echoing in his mind? She’d gotten what she deserved, after all the pain she’d caused.
But no one deserved to die like that, not even Signora. Burned to ashes in a second, crying out in terror. It was a cruel, frightening end.
And it could have been him. At any moment, the Shogun could’ve killed him. He wouldn’t have even had the chance to defend himself. He would have been dead in a blink of an eye.
It had been a month since his final fight with Ei, when he’d finally, finally won against her. But even then, it was a close call.
What would Lumine have thought, if she heard that he died? If he couldn’t get back to her, what was the point of all this?
They’d been together for as long as he could remember.
And now?
He didn’t want to think about now.
He just wanted it all to stop, all of the thoughts, the fear, the pain.
And all of a sudden, it did.
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Thoma would like to think that after everything that’s happened, this week would be a breeze. A nice, relaxing break from all of the chaos that his life had proven to be. But alas, when did things ever turn out that way for him?
The traveler, Aether, had been staying in a spare room of Komore Teahouse ever since the Shogun had abolished the Vision Hunt Decree and life in Inazuma had begun to return (albeit slowly) to a new sort of normal.
Ayaka had offered him the room, and after a bit of convincing, the young man had accepted, saying that he wouldn’t overstay his welcome.
Thoma would be lying if he said he wasn’t concerned about his new friend. Normally, the traveler was the equivalent of the sun, the light from which his name originated. But over the past few days, that light was… different. Not completely faded, but dimmer, less warm and enthusiastic.
On one misty morning a few days earlier, Thoma had been standing on his own, breathing in the air and reveling in his newfound freedom. It was the crack of dawn, the stars just beginning to fade in the morning sky. Sure, he hadn’t gotten much sleep, but this time of the day was his favorite. Just a moment to himself, where he could pretend that everything was okay.
He had just been about to head back inside the teahouse when a flash of gold hair caught his eye. Aether was standing behind the teahouse, where the ocean was visible. The light breeze swung the traveler’s braid as he stared ahead, lost in thought.
Normally, Thoma wouldn’t think twice about someone watching the sunrise. It was beautiful in Inazuma, the sun’s rays hitting the waves at just the right angle, making the whole sea shine like gold.
But there was something in the traveler’s eyes that morning that he hadn’t seen before. Grief, and longing, but also a strange dullness. The normal life that was present in Aether’s eyes, the spark that he always had, was faded, almost cloudy. As he watched, a tear rolled down his friend’s face, sparkling before dropping to the ground.
Thoma had left him alone, not wanting to disturb him, but the image hadn’t left his mind since. Now, he wondered if he should’ve done something, should’ve said something to try to help as he stared at the spot Aether had been standing just a few days prior.
He was startled out of his thoughts by a familiar high-pitched voice, and turned to see Paimon floating out of the teahouse. “Thoma? Thoma?”
Thoma sighed. She was a handful, that was for sure. The kid could eat anything, and often had high demands. He hoped that she’d already found breakfast this morning.
“Thoma? There you are!” She wasn’t as loud as normal, but there was a panicked quality to her words.
Thoma straightened up immediately. Something was wrong. “Paimon? What is it, are you alright?”
Paimon nodded quickly, the motion moving her from side to side. Her eyes were wide, tears threatening to spill over. “Paimon is fine, but you need to come help right away! Something’s wrong with Aether! Paimon is really worried!”
Shit.
“Alright, let’s go.” Thoma rushed forward, opening the door to the teahouse and quickly shutting it behind him.
The traveler was staying in a room at the back of the teahouse, and even though the place was small, it felt like an eternity trying to get to him. Paimon floated behind him the entire time, flitting from side to side anxiously.
He reached the room, pausing in the doorway when he saw Aether. The young man was sitting up, legs swung off of the side of his small cot. He was staring ahead at the wall, seeming to have not sensed Thoma’s presence yet.
“Aether? Are you alright?” Thoma kept his voice casual, trying not to betray his worry.
His friend didn’t respond, and Thoma stepped into the room. “Aether? Paimon said she’s worried about you, she came to get me.”
There was still no response.
Thoma walked slowly to the cot, trying not to accidentally startle Aether. But the young man didn’t seem to be aware of him. “Aether? You’re starting to worry me.”
When he finally stood in front of him, Thoma’s heart dropped. Nothing looked to be physically wrong with the traveler. What scared him was Aether’s eyes. The normally shining, enthusiastic gold was dull. Empty.
“Paimon, I need you to go get a medic. Tell them to come as quickly as they can, okay? Aether’s going to be fine, I promise, but he needs some help right now. Can you do that?” Thoma kept his voice from shaking, not wanting to scare the young girl.
“Paimon will go get help!”
He heard her zoom off, on her way to find help. Thoma sighed, crouching down in front of his friend. “Aether, you’re scaring me, buddy. I don’t know what’s wrong, but we’re getting help right now. You’re safe, we’re gonna help you get through this.”
Aether blinked, but there was still no awareness in his eyes. His face was neutral, emotionless as he stared ahead, unseeing.
Something was horribly wrong, and it terrified Thoma to his core. He’d seen soldiers come home from battle, the light in their eyes permanently tainted by the shadows of war. But this was different. Aether was completely unresponsive, like something inside of him had broken.
How had they not noticed how bad things were getting?
“Thoma? Paimon rushed by me saying that she needed a medic, so I sent someone to go with her. Is everything alright with the traveler?”
Thoma let out a shaky breath, looking to his side to see Ayaka standing in the doorway. “No, quite the opposite. He’s not responding to me at all. I don’t think he even knows what’s happening.”
Ayaka’s eyes widened. “But he seemed alright yesterday, he said his injuries had healed!”
Thoma shook his head. “I don’t think this is physical.” He paused, taking in a breath. “I should’ve noticed it was this bad. I knew something was wrong, he wasn’t acting like himself the past few days-”
“Don’t blame yourself, Thoma. The medics are on their way, they’ll know how to help him.” Ayaka’s voice was full of thinly veiled panic.
Thoma nodded. “I know. How far are they out?”
Ayaka looked around the corner, popping her head back in quickly. “They’re at the door, I’ll let them in right away.” She rushed away from the doorway, leaving a thin layer of frost where she had been standing.
Thoma stayed crouched in front of Aether, hoping beyond hope that there’d be a change, that Aether would look at him instead of seeing through him. But still, there was nothing. No recognition, no bright smile or even a sign of the frown that had been frequenting his face ever since the incident with the Raiden Shogun.
Thoma hadn’t even known him for a week when the traveler had risked his life to save him. He remembered the moment his vision had been ripped from him, the empty, hollow feeling that had washed over him.
The warmth of fire had been stolen away, and the resulting coldness was a punch in the gut. But then Aether had jumped in front of him, electricity sparking around him as he stood before the Shogun, the woman looking at him in shock.
And then he’d disappeared, a barrier of darkness separating him from the world for just a minute, Paimon shrieking in worry when she couldn’t follow her companion.
When he heard the traveler’s scream, and the barrier dissipated, Thoma’s heart nearly stopped. He’d thought the young man was dead when he first saw him, lying unconscious on the wooden platform. But then Paimon had rushed forward, trying in vain to shake him awake, and Thoma had leaped into action, cutting his bonds and throwing the spear at the goddess.
It was practically a death sentence to attack the Shogun, but at that moment, he hadn’t cared.
He’d half-carried Aether to the teahouse, the traveler insisting he was fine but still stumbling, eyes clouded with pain. It took an hour to convince him to allow a medic to treat him, and an hour more for him to finally rest.
Thoma had sensed, in those first few days, that the young man was extremely overworked. He threw himself at every challenge, only showing hesitation when he’d reached Inazuma and the demands of the people threatened to overwhelm him.
At first, he’d refused to fight for the resistance, and Thoma had been disappointed. The savior of Mondstadt and Liyue, the one that had the power to lead them to victory, wasn’t going to help?
But then, he’d spent more time with him, had gotten to know him, and Thoma’s entire view of Aether changed.
This wasn’t a soldier, a warrior forged from the heat of battle. This was a tired young man, dropped from another world and separated from the only family he had. Aether had never intended to become a legend of Teyvat, he only wanted help to find his twin sister.
Instead, he was caught up in a war he knew nothing about, had nothing to do with. He could’ve refused, could’ve left as soon as he found someone willing to take him to Sumeru, but he stayed.
Thoma was eternally grateful for that, but he was also regretful.
If he hadn’t asked the traveler to join the resistance, would Aether still be like this?
___________________________________________________________________________
The medic was an old woman, face kind and eyes filled with an intelligent light. Her hydro vision hung around her neck. Thoma recognized her as one of the nurses that had worked on Watatsumi Island to help heal the members of the resistance.
“Your friend is in a catatonic state.” She said, voice neutral as she relayed the information to Thoma outside of Aether’s room. “I’ve seen this before in soldiers, often after a traumatic event. But I can sense that your friend is strong. This shall pass, and he will be alright.”
Thoma looked at her anxiously. “How- how long will he be like this?”
The medic sighed deeply. “I cannot be sure. This can last anywhere from a few days to months. It all depends on how severe his mental state is. He may gain awareness for small moments, but it’s really very random. But I can assure you, he will survive.”
Thoma let out a deep breath. “Thank you. Do you have anything we could use to help him? Any treatments for this?”
She shook her head. “There is no medicine I have to help him out of this state, unfortunately. All you can do is wait, and help him eat and drink. He is responsive to movement, and should be able to swallow on his own. Just make sure that he is getting all that he needs. I trust that you are capable of providing this?”
Thoma nodded. “Of course. He saved my life, I will make sure that he is okay.”
The medic smiled tiredly. “Thank you.” She looked at Aether, eyes sad. “They get younger every day, it seems. It never gets easier to see this, but I’m glad he has your support. I’ve heard of his accomplishments, the one who stood up to the Shogun herself. The savior of Inazuma.”
Thoma sighed. “He’s done a lot for us.”
She nodded. “That he has. And for that, I am eternally grateful. My wife was an early victim of the decree. She didn’t survive long after her vision was taken, though I put in my best efforts. That was when I joined the resistance as a nurse.”
“I- I’m so sorry for your loss, ma’am.”
The medic shook her head. “I’m alright, at least now. Now I know that the resistance was not in vain. My wife’s memory lives on, and her vision was given back. Even though it was not mine, it feels like a missing part of my soul was returned to me.”
Thoma put a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you for everything.”
She smiled again. “Of course. If you ever need me, just call. I live in the lower part of the city, just down the road.”
“I’ll update you on his condition.” Thoma said as she walked away.
Just as she disappeared around the corner, Thoma heard the distinct clicking of Ayaka’s shoes on the floor.
The young woman’s slightly panicked voice echoed down the hallway as she quickly walked towards him. “So, what did she say? Will he be alright?”
Thoma nodded tiredly, running a hand through his hair. “He’s in a catatonic state. The medic said she’d seen it before in soldiers. Physically, he’s fine, but depending on his mental state, he could be like this from a few days to months.”
Ayaka exhaled heavily. “I- I don’t know what to say. I thought he was okay, but I guess I’ve been so busy that I didn’t notice.” She turned to Aether, eyes full of concern. “How can I help?”
“We just have to give him support, stay with him. Make sure he eats and drinks, things like that.”
Ayaka looked back up to him, and Thoma pretended not to notice the tear she wiped away from her eye. “Sorry, I just hate seeing him like this. I haven’t even known him for that long, but-”
Thoma finished her sentence. “But it feels like he’s been here forever.”
She smiled sadly. “Yeah.” Her voice turned serious. “But we need someone to stay with him.”
“I’m going to. For all that he’s done for us, it’s only fitting that I return the favor.”
Ayaka sighed. “Okay. I just wish there was more I could do to help. I’m so busy trying to-”
Thoma cut her off. “He would understand. You’re doing all you can right now to help Inazuma, and I can do all I can to help the traveler.”
She nodded. “I know.” Suddenly, her eyes widened. “He has other friends, we need to tell them something about this. This is a serious matter, why didn’t I think of contacting someone?”
Damnit. Ayaka was right. They’d been so preoccupied with what was happening in Inazuma that they hadn’t thought to ask the traveler if he wanted to reach out to his friends.
Granted, communication in Inazuma wasn’t exactly open, and through the chaos of the past month, the traveler likely wouldn’t have thought about sending a letter to his friends. But now, they had the opportunity.
“How are we going to contact people we know nothing about?” Thoma asked.
Ayaka’s eyes lit up. “Captain Beidou. Her fleet travels frequently, and they’re heading back to Liyue and the mainland soon. Kazuha is staying with her right now. I’m sure she knows some of Aether’s friends. They’re docked in Ritou now. I’ll go myself!”
“You’re going to Ritou?” He asked, surprised.
She smiled. “I am.”
____________________________________________________________________________
Kazuha’s new life was… hectic, to say the least. He preferred calm over anything, loving to watch the ocean waves wash up against the side of the ship he now called home. But alas, the Crux Fleet loved raucous parties, especially after a victory.
This morning, many were asleep, too hungover to prepare for the journey ahead. All except for Beidou, who, unsurprisingly, no longer got drunk. She was currently loading supplies into the ship, confidently lifting the boxes as if they weighed as much as a feather.
Kazuha watched from above, sitting in his favorite place on the ship. It was peaceful, without the crew members' constant chatter disturbing him. But he sensed that soon, the peace would be disrupted.
And of course, as soon as the thought came into his mind, Ayaka appeared, making her way down the port. Kazuha narrowed his eyes. What was she doing at the port? Surely it wasn’t only to say farewell?
“Captain Beidou! I apologize for disrupting your morning, but there is a slightly urgent manner that I must discuss with you.” Ayaka’s voice was filled with concern.
Kazuha slipped down silently from his position, landing quietly on the floorboards of the ship. He walked slowly forwards, wanting to hear the conversation more clearly.
“Ah, hello Miss Kamisato. What brings you to the Crux Fleet today?” Beidou’s words were less playful than usual, as if sensing the young woman’s worry in the air.
Ayaka sighed. “Unfortunately, not the best news. The traveler is unwell. I was going to ask if you knew of any of his friends that we could contact in Liyue, or even Mondstadt. I have a box of letters that you can use to relay the information.”
Beidou gave a nod, now completely serious. “Of course. I can deliver those.” She paused. “Is the kid going to be okay?”
Kazuha waited with bated breath for Ayaka’s answer. He hadn’t known Aether for long, but he liked to think of him as a good friend. In fact, he’d been worried about him ever since he heard of his encounter with the Raiden Shogun.
Ayaka nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Physically, he is in good health. I’m not sure I should discuss his condition in the open, however. Do you have somewhere more private to talk?”
“Definitely.” Beidou turned quickly, beckoning for Ayaka to step onto the ship. “Follow me.” As they walked forward, she called out to him. “Kazuha, I know you’re there. Come on.”
Kazuha followed with silent footsteps as they entered the captain’s quarters, which were free of people. He closed the door behind them, and made sure to mask his expression, keeping his normal calm face so as not to worry the others.
“Alright, give me the breakdown.” Beidou stated. It was unusual to see her this serious, and if he was being honest, it made Kazuha even more worried.
Ayaka took a deep breath. “Aether is catatonic. It began this morning, Thoma was the first that Paimon alerted. We got a medic right away, but it isn’t easy to help. All we can do now is wait for him to become responsive again. Like I said, he isn’t injured, but when he becomes aware will depend on his mental state.”
Beidou nodded, eyes full of concern. “Right. Kazuha was similar after we rescued him, wouldn’t talk to us for days. Is he completely unresponsive?”
“Almost. He’s awake, just doesn’t even seem to see or hear us. He doesn’t move much on his own, either.”
Kazuha spoke up. “How long do you think? Until he recovers.”
Ayaka looked at him, eyes tired. “We aren’t sure. Hopefully it’ll only be a few days, but there’s no denying that what he’s been through was traumatic. Thoma is staying with him right now.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, I would like to visit. The crew shouldn’t be ready until tomorrow, anyway.” Kazuha said, trying to keep the worry from his voice.
Ayaka smiled at him. “Of course, as long as Captain Beidou approves.”
Beidou gave him a false glare, but her normal playful attitude wasn’t behind it. “Leaving already, kid?”
Kazuha tilted his head. “Yes?”
“You’re adorable.” The captain laughed, tossing a tan cloak to him. “Just make sure not to get arrested in Inazuma City.”
Kazuha nodded. “I’ll be careful.”
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“How is he?” Ayaka asked, as soon as they entered Komore Teahouse. Kazuha stood awkwardly behind her, fidgeting with his sleeve. He didn’t normally come into town, even before he became a wanted fugitive. He preferred the less busy islands of Inazuma to the bustling atmosphere of the city.
Thoma stood outside Aether’s room, looking exhausted from worry. “The same. I see you brought a visitor.”
Kazuha gave a small wave. “Hello, Thoma.”
Thoma cracked a smile. “You can come in. You know you’re always welcome here.”
Ayaka nodded enthusiastically. “Drop by anytime. I must get going, I have many duties to attend to today. I’ll be back tonight, Thoma.” She turned around, walking briskly down the hallway.
Kazuha smiled, but it quickly dropped as he stepped into the room. Aether was sitting up in his cot, arms folded in his lap. Paimon had fallen asleep there, but instead of the traveler’s normal amused smile, his face was perfectly blank.
He didn’t react at all to Kazuha’s presence. Still, Kazuha kept himself composed, and calm, in case Aether could hear him. He wouldn’t talk about him as if the traveler wasn’t there. “Hello, my friend. I’ve heard you’re feeling unwell, but unfortunately I cannot stay long.”
Kazuha sat down on the window ledge, making sure to stay in the young man’s line of sight, just in case. “What have you been doing, Thoma?”
Thankfully, Thoma caught onto his silent prompt. “Mostly reading up on the books we have in store here. Paimon found the children’s books quite entertaining.”
Kazuha chuckled. “I would assume. I myself prefer poetry to novels, though I’ve found Beidou is more of a fan of illustrated works herself. We don’t have many books on board that I enjoy, unfortunately.”
“I’ll have to pick up some for you next time you visit, then.”
Their conversation continued, until eventually, the sun began to set. “I must get back to Ritou. It was nice to see you, Thoma.”
Kazuha stood, walking to the traveler. “And you, Aether and Paimon. I will miss both of you during my stay in Liyue. Thoma will send letters updating me on Inazuma. I would love to hear from you as well, friend.”
Aether didn’t respond, but his eyebrows furrowed slightly. For a split second, Kazuha saw a hint of awareness, of a dim light in his eyes, but it was gone as soon as he saw it.
Kazuha remembered the first time he’d met Aether, before all of the chaos of Inazuma. The young man had come onto the ship, golden eyes curious and slightly nervous while Beidou spoke. He’d been surprised, at first, about the traveler’s desire to go to his former homeland, the place that had caused Kazuha so much pain, the place he’d worked so hard to escape from.
But then he’d learned about why, and everything began to make sense. The young man had lost the only constant presence in his life, and was dropped into a world so different from his own. Kazuha knew how that felt. When he lost his former best friend, when the Raiden Shogun declared him an enemy, his whole world was turned upside down.
However, in as many ways as they were similar, the differences between them were clear. The pressure on Aether was immense, even though he had barely been in this world for a year. Kazuha, well, he had always been a wanderer, his clan’s name slowly beginning to fade away. Though he carried heavy burdens, they were his own.
Aether was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. It didn’t surprise Kazuha that the young man had reached this point. It surprised him that it took this long in the first place. He was strong, but even the strongest people weren’t gods.
And even gods could break.
“Get well soon.” He whispered quietly, giving the traveler a small smile.
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Yoimiya knew Kamisato Ayaka well. They’d been friends for a long time, as she often worked with the Yashiro Commission for festivals. Therefore, she knew when the young woman was acting strangely, and today, she was definitely off. Currently, she had just finished speaking to one of the nearby shop owners.
“Ayaka! Over here!” Yoimiya shouted, jumping and waving to get her attention. Ayaka startled, but smiled softly when she saw her.
“Yoimiya? Is something wrong?” Her friend's soft voice sounded tired, and Yoimiya’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Well, not with me, but clearly something is up with you! You look exhausted, are you alright?” Yoimiya knew her words were blunt, but she couldn’t stop the worry from bubbling up inside her.
Ayaka sighed. “I’m alright. Today has just been stressful. I had a difficult morning, if I’m being completely honest with you.”
Yoimiya frowned. “Did anyone give you trouble? I know it’s hard for everyone after, well you know, but that doesn’t give them the right to be rude!”
Ayaka shook her head. “No, nobody was rude. You know the traveler, Aether, correct?”
“Of course!” Yoimiya grinned. “He’s great, helped out a lot around here. He and Paimon were so sweet, they didn’t even treat me weirdly like everyone else does.” She paused. “Why are you asking? Are they leaving already? I didn’t even get to say goodbye, or make a gift!”
Ayaka chuckled softly. “No, they’re still here. But the traveler is unwell. Thoma is staying with him currently, but I’m just upset that I couldn’t help him more.”
Yoimiya put a hand on her shoulder. “Ayaka, you’re one of my best friends. You have so much work to do, you can’t be in a million places at once! He’ll understand, I know he will.”
“Thank you for your reassurance.” Ayaka gave a small smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
Yoimiya tilted her head. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
Ayaka’s smile fell, and she nodded. “It is. He’s almost completely unresponsive. But he will recover, with time.”
“I’ll make sure to visit soon, if that’d be alright? Komore Teahouse, correct?”
Ayaka exhaled deeply. “Yes. You can visit in the next few days, I’m sure they would appreciate it.”
Yoimiya grinned, but if she was being honest, she knew it probably looked fake. “Goodbye, Ayaka. Please get some rest!”
“I will!”
As the young woman walked away, Yoimiya let her grin slip away. The spark of worry in her gut had grown to a fire, like the vision that hung at her hip. The vision that she no longer had to hide. All thanks to the traveler. She owed a lot to him, and she suspected that she wasn’t the only one.
Yoimiya was often taken as only a bubbly, carefree person, but she was truly quite good at reading people. When she’d met Aether, it was immediately clear that he wanted to help, to aid the people of Inazuma in their resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree. But something else was weighing on him.
She didn’t like to prod, so she left it to him, and eventually, she learned more about him. When they watched the fireworks together, the sparks lighting up the sky with bright colors, she’d glanced over for just a split second.
His eyes were wide with wonder, but there was a mix of emotions hidden within them. What surprised her the most was the clear grief swirling in the bright gold. Yoimiya hadn’t said anything, but she suspected that he’d experienced more than he let on.
She couldn’t imagine what it’d be like to lose your only kin, the family who’d stayed with you for your entire life. The traveler had said he came here to find his sister, but from what she’d seen, barely anyone had tried to help.
Yoimiya vowed that when her new friend was feeling better, she’d be sure to help as much as she could.