Chapter Text
It's been a while since the Traveler and Paimon has visited Sumeru, not to mention Nahida too.
They made the decision to visit the bustling place of sumeru, the Grand Bazaar. There, Paimon stuffed herself with lots of goodies and snacks which made Aether itchy and want to vomit just by looking at the items that surrounded her like a tsunami, engulfing her whole but he was always reminded that she was his companion for so many years, maybe 4-5 years to be exact. He didn't realized it up until now, which flipped his frown the opposite way.
Aether kept on enjoying the look on Paimon's face as she munched meal after meal gifted by Nahida and others.
He had a bunch of conversations with some old friends, first was Kaveh. Speaking dearly about his new projects and unspoken things with Alhaitham about stealing his keys, it made Aether kind of pity him. Second was Nilou, after she was done with her perfomance, gracing the audience with elegance and dignified movements. She spoke with Aether about the theatre and how he should help out if he could, mentioning Paimon could becoming a singer by any chance which led to sharing a laugh with her.
Third was Dehya, Candace and Dunzaryard, it was mostly about how was things going for the both of them, Dehya would meet up with Dunzaryard to gift her goodies that Candace picked out for her in the desert whilst gifting Aether some treats for Paimon to eat on their journey forward.
Fourth and last was with Sethos and Cyno, it was honestly about the worst jokes that he has heard in his life plus a few rounds of TCG which led Sethos to send a watchful grin towards Cyno at what he did to one of his precious cards. Poor him.
Each conversation left a knife of nostalgia and warmth which left Aether content, he could see himself not being here for a long time and this place would blossom within time itself.
After a few more rounds of meals, it was clear to Aether that Paimon couldn't float or talk any longer, her legs were floppy on the floor like a busted balloon paired with her round stomach filled to the brim with meals and snacks that delighted her to the brim, leading her straight into a food coma. It led to Aether carrying Paimon on his back, it felt awfully heavy yet he was well-built which helped him in alot of areas.
Maybe he should consider hitting the hay early..
Before heading back to the hotel, Nahida called out to the Aether once more. Her footsteps rang in his ear, making him stop in his direction and turning around to see who was calling him, he saw nobody yet he reluctantly looked down to see Nahida.
"Traveler! May I ask you to meet at the Akademiya tomorrow?"
The Akademiya? It struck a thought in his head wondering what Nahida could've ask him for, he thought there was nothing to do since he helped with everything and everyone yet he knew some things could arise and need his helping hand, making him nod with a smile towards the little Archon below him. It couldn't be that bad, maybe it was just a simple task after all. He could maybe see some old friends on his way there as well.
"Oh alright, I'll be there in the morning. But what is it about?"
She gestured with her hands, trying to think back on what she was suppose to say. "You'll know once you arrive there."
It returned back to Nahida, receiving a warm smile on her face. Her eyes then shot up to his back, noticing Paimon sleeping soundly on his back without a hitch.
"Do you possibly need help carrying her back? I can help!" She spoke with an anxious but giggly tone gesturing her tiny hand out towards the towering traveler, Nahida haven't seen Paimon in this state before, not to mention how she couldn't even fly normally and needed the Traveler to carry her.
He shook his head.
"It's alright Nahida, you don't have to, I can handle her." He smiled sweetly.
"Sweet dreams!"
Nahida waved and cheered the Traveler on as he walked away into the vast market away from her keen sights. Whilst waving them a goodbye with a usual gleeful expression, she turned to the silhouette behind her - looming over her like evergreen, curious about what the conversation was about. She wouldn't be that surprised on who it was, their grey-green coloured hair never cease to amaze her.
"What about you? Did you have a fun time?"
The little cabbage spoke first.
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A loud rang echoed through the room.
It was time to get up. He fussed around the bed for a moment, allowing a ray of sunlight to seep through the window and gently touch his cheeks, giving him one final push off the bed. He then took his belongings and started to dress up. Aether pulled up his shirt, tucking his pants with one hand - it really didn't take much effort to get his outfit together. Slipping on either gloves, letting the iridescence glow of pryo flow through his outfit paired with a long yawn afterwards.
He stretched his arms with hidden cracks in between as he walked towards Paimon, to wake her up. He stood over her, giving her a gently nudge to wake her up but was pretty sure she had a food hangover from yesterday.
"blahroash...chachiken... W-whaaua..?"
She let out a loompy yawn. In a swift motion, she flew up immediately and stretched her arms in all directions yet still felt dizzy from a certain thing. She thought this visit was a trip so she could sleep for the entire day but it really wasn't the case.
"Aether... Why do we have to wake up so earrllyy..? I thought we were here for a little visit!" Letting out a few more complaints as the both of them walked out of their vacay home given by Nahida herself. The warm sunlight welcomed them with a bright greeting - illumating the nation below. He wanted to ignore her yet entertained her somehow.
"Well.. Nahida asked us a favor to meet someone at the Akademiya. I don't think it will take that long anyways."
"If you say so.."
On the way, both travelers spotted some folks waving at them with smiles filled with appreciation for their deeds in Sumeru which made Paimon grin confidently - while children constantly went up to Aether, asking if they could look at his sword and outfit which made Paimon talk about their adventures around Teyvat, it made this visit sort of worth it. The people recognition for the Traveler and Paimon made their hearts full with eagerness to continue on - to find his sister at the end of it all.
As they made their way through the bustling crowds, towards the Akademiya filled with scholars left and right - chatting about latest news, family, projects and how to even finish them in the first place. The place has gotten more populated with Nahida being the overseer of her nation, mostly everyone had the brightest smiles on their faces. Mostly. They were met with a familiar Rtawahist student, her golden eyes stood out to Aether first.
Looking tired as ever with deep purple eyebags - I guess she never gotten a good night sleep in forever yet stood beside her was a energetic archon which welcomed both the Traveler and Paimon with a friendly greeting.
"Good morning Nahida!" Paimon shouted at the top of her lungs - she never missed an opportunity to humiliate Aether with her volume.
"Morning Traveler and Paimon! The reason I called you today is to ask you a favor about research, since your here, maybe you could help us out." She immediately started to chatter amongst the flowing crowd.
"What's this research even about Nahida? It is about scrolls and whatnot?" Paimon quickly giggled and stretched her arms in the air freely, floating over towards Layla.
Nahida summoned a scroll in front of them out of thin air, pointing towards a thick section filled with words and complicated loopholes. Paimon's mind went black as soon as she saw words that popped right in front of her. Aether on the other hand, glanced at Layla - seeing how sleep-deprived she was, he pitied her. Meanwhile Paimon was stuck in a loop of reactions and decrees, it was flipping her mind around like cooking pancakes.
"How about you tell them Layla?" The little archon quietly nudged the sleepy student beside her, making her wake up for a brief moment. Layla shot her head up, glancing both sides and front, blinking her eyes constantly letting her look the Traveler and Paimon - she hasn't seen them for so long. She nodded towards Nahida and fidgeted with her fingers eagerly.
"W-well..! I was told to catch up and study on the environment and alignments in Teyvat, yet I couldn't even finish up on the last one.. It was like as if someone stole the copy from the library and never brought it back..! I asked everyone here and before I knew it, I was talking to Miss Nahida.." She kept twisting her fingers which ended up making Paimon even more confused somehow.
"Wheres this place that you need some info on? We could help with that!" Paimon gestured, floating around in the air like a free spirit.
Layla somehow felt reluctant to decline yet she knew Nahida did this for her in order to complete her project, it made her pity Nahida mostly. Sinking in her own hollow heart whilst being spun around in the carousal of evernight itself. Swallowing her into the depths of misconception and guilt until she felt another tap on her waist - waking her up. Her golden eyes met with her Sharmock green eyes, filled with excitement and warmth.
It reassured her.
"U-uh..Let me think. The place is called ... Nod Krai. Do you know that place perhaps?" She managed to fumble out some words. It immediately caught Aether's attention in one swoop, he didn't know why, out of all the regions. He took a quick glance at Paimon then to Layla.
"We actually have been to Nod Krai recently, we even just travelled back from there." He replied with a reassuring tone paired with a soft smile. It kinda made Layla's stomach turn with butterflies, they actually wanted to help her - that raised her morale even more.
"We could help to get you there safety, it's a trip!" Paimon cheered with both hands in the air happily, filling with excitement of this new quest. While there was happiness and enjoyement flowing their veins, it left Layla with worries and guilt, pretty much only thinking about the negative parts.
"A-alright.. Thank you for your help.. I'll do my best.!"
Layla fumbled out her thanks with a slight tone of eagerness, worried if she should continue or not. She took a quick glance over to Nahida, seeing her brimming with ease and poise. It made Layla smile wider than before, her cheeks puffed up in a tone of a Zaytun peach.
"We'll do whatever we can to support you!" Paimon continued on and on with her words of gratitude and admiration that filled Layla's head like sweet honey, it kind of made her dizzy but she appreciated it very much.
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"....! ..? !!"
A light tap on the head was all it took to wake up.
"Flins.? Flins!"
A lighthearted voice full of curiosity echoed through his head like an insect, repeating every few seconds demanding for a response. It made him not want to get up because of it yet couldn't bring himself to, lifting his head up for was the only option. His dull lifeless golden eyes sparkled through the little child as she took a sigh of relief - she almost thought he wanted to go back into the afterlife. After all, Aino was worried - he was one of her biggest snack donors, she couldn't lose him so soon.
His vision was still quite blurred, unable to distinguish his surroundings. The only thing that helped him was her voice, it was pretty loud to be honest.
"Ah.. My apologies for my absence.. What is it Miss Aino.?"
"Gosh- You scared me! I was about to call Ineffa for help! I looked away for just a second and saw you drop dead on the table, I didn't even know where to begin on waking you up. I'm just glad that you didn't like. uhm..uh-" Just as she was about to finish her sentence, Flins pat her on the head as he got up from the chair he snoozed on.
"It's alright Miss Aino, I'm grateful for your words of kindness and company, but I must be off. I have something to deal with."
"Huh? Y-You're leaving already? I made a game to try out with the bots.."
Her small pitter patter on the iron planks brought her to Flins, where she begged him to stay, as if she didn't believe he had died just a moment ago. Her face pleaded with eagerness for him to stay, maybe it's because she didn't had anyone to accompany her at the moment. Her dew purple eyes stared deeply into his lifeless mind, pressing everywhere to find a weakness to let him stay with her. But then again, she was reminded of his duty as a Lightkeeper which was a significant job here in Nod Krai, it was deeply important.
"Okay, fine... Pinky promise. Come back some other time!" She sighed with defeat, extending her hand towards the large gentlemen.
He chuckled lightly, finding innocence at it's very core. He returned the favor as he lended his hand to her, overlapping with her tiny hand - her hand felt really soft. It felt like feeling a newborn baby's hand and skin for the first time, he usually doesn't get to feel this.
"I will do my utmost best to treat you some other time, maybe with cakes perhaps?" Finding her lit-eyes amusing, sugarcoating his words with a warm sincere smile.
"I'll look forward to it! Oh and.. Don't tell Ineffa."
Aino glanced around the both of them, trying to find if someone was eavesdropping.
"You have my word Miss Aino."