Wings of Wind and Visions of the Gods

Like a quiet and gentle camellia, a nimble fawn in the woods, or a pale-red mountain peach—a sweetness that is both mature and unripe.

It was effortless to make one’s heart flutter.

Aether suddenly felt a twinge of regret.

She was truly a wonderful girl. It was a pity, though, that he could no longer let her go off to find her own happiness.

As for himself—ha! What a joke.

He was a Star-Traveler with a long lifespan and slow growth, while Nana Pei? She was merely a mortal. Even if she had no other immortal origins, the hundred years of her natural life would likely feel as brief as a single day in the grand scale of his own existence.

How could a human dream of being the companion of a mayfly that lives in the morning and dies at dusk?

(What a shame that such a beauty is destined to see her years wasted in vain.)

He sighed with regret in his heart, yet strangely, a sense of pity and tolerance welled up within him.

Aether looked her up and down, smiling with praise, "Very beautiful. Intellectual, elegant, and poised." Compared to the exquisite dress, however, her bare hairstyle seemed a bit perfunctory.

He looked left and right, and suddenly, two fresh flowers appeared in his hands. He asked Nana Pei to lower her head, tucking one flower into the base of her braid and weaving the other into the plait itself.

The pale purple flowers were cool and mysterious, like the deep thoughts of a quiet night, echoing the pinkish-blue of her dress. Finally, it no longer looked so empty.

Paimon watched him adorn her, looking thoughtful. "Tomorrow, let's go help Nana buy some daily necessities. Nana is so pretty; we have to get her some jewelry."

The Traveler nodded and said, "No rush on that for now."

He was not a truly wicked person, after all. Having imprisoned another’s life for the safety of himself and his sister, he felt a lingering guilt, and Aether did not mind compensating her where he could.

"Albedo hasn't arrived yet, but many of the things he designs are intended to be portable accessories. We can look at those and coordinate then. Tomorrow, we’ll go look at properties. After so many days, Charles should have found a suitable listing."

"Anything is fine with me. Are we going out now?" Nana Pei looked downstairs, where a crowd of heads moved, noisy and chaotic. She couldn't help but frown, her expression filled with resistance and disgust.

She disliked chaotic, noisy crowds; they often concealed danger.

The Traveler glanced at her and said, "Yes, but not this way. Follow me."

He led Nana Pei back into the room, all the way to the balcony, embraced her, and leapt off into the night wind.

"Ah!" Nana Pei let out a short, startled cry, instinctively pressing down on her hem. Before she could finish, a pair of dark brown gliders appeared behind the Traveler, carrying them down in a gentle descent.

Landing smoothly, she felt foolish for having cried out.

Nana Pei silently closed her mouth, curiously reaching out to touch them. "Is this your Wind Glider? It’s so magical. Where was it hidden just now? I’ve seen them many times in the city these past few days and have been wanting to ask, but I was too embarrassed."

The two landed, and the gliders vanished as if by magic, leaving the two long scarf-like ribbons behind Aether to flutter down.

Aether let her go and walked ahead with his arms crossed. Paimon caught up, flying beside them, tugging at those ribbons to answer first, "Actually, it's a cape! They say a cape blessed by the Anemo Archon can transform into the shape of a Wind Glider!"

Nana Pei was astonished and curiously gave them a tug. "Didn't they say Lord Barbatos disappeared a thousand years ago? How are there still capes blessed by the Anemo Archon? And... so many of them?"

The Traveler: "..."

Aether looked back, casting them a faint, lingering glance, and silently pulled back his "cape."

"Ah, this, this..." Nana Pei didn't know what she had touched upon, but little Paimon suddenly began to stammer, her eyes darting left and right, her soft, bun-like face filled with guilt.

Nana Pei’s gaze grew increasingly sharp.

The Traveler said as if nothing had happened, "It’s just a legend. Perhaps the original Wind Gliders were truly like that. But now, I simply channel elemental energy into the cape, and it becomes a glider. As for how it transforms, perhaps only the Anemo Archon himself knows."

Little Paimon nodded hurriedly. "Yes, exactly! As for others, they might have a Vision, or some sort of device containing elemental energy. Hehe."

Nana Pei: "Don't you not have a Vision?"

The Traveler: "I have a substitute. Look at the gem on my body; isn't it the same as everyone else's Vision?"

As he spoke, he deliberately shook the gem on his earring. The greenish-blue stone looked like a transparent cat's-eye, clear and beautiful, making his already fine features look even more exquisite.

"It glows, you know~"

Nana Pei: "...That's so nice. If only I had a Vision, I certainly wouldn't be so useless. Hey, tell me, if I had a Vision, what element would it be?"

Aether: "..."

Aether: "What do you want to eat? How about we go to the Good Hunter for some Fisherman's Toast and Steak? Paimon loves this and has recommended it to many people."

Nana Pei: "..."

"Oh, right! That's true!" Paimon perked up at the mention, instantly casting the matter of the Vision to the back of her mind. "We made a pact to try it together when we first met; now is the perfect time to fulfill that promise!"

Nana Pei: "Then let's go to Good Hunter. ...Is it really impossible for me to obtain a Vision?"

The Traveler: "Do you really think it’s possible yourself?"

...That stung.

Nana Pei fell silent.

Seeing her discouraged once again, little Paimon hurriedly flew in front of her, looking concerned, and clenched her two chubby little fists to cheer her on. "Don't give up so quickly, Nana! You're different from the Traveler; maybe a miracle will happen! How would you know if you don't try?!"

Hope rekindled in Nana Pei’s moist, almond-shaped eyes as she looked at Paimon with expectation. "Then, if I want to have a Vision, what do I need to do?"

"Uh... I don't know that either." Paimon scratched her head, swaying with her hands behind her back, glancing sideways at the Traveler and silently sending a distress signal.

(Say something! Traveler!)

The Traveler sighed, crossed his arms, and said lazily, "First, you need to have a firm heart, don't you? All the Vision-holders Paimon and I have met seem to be people with dreams and firm goals..."

Nana Pei: "Ah... then aren't I disqualified immediately? I seem to be the type of person who just lets things slide!"

...Besides, what dreams could a couch potato have?

If she had any firm dreams, would she still be a lazy fish rotting at home?

Paimon fumed: "So can't you just work hard? Miracles don't just happen for no reason!"

Nana Pei: "But is hard work really useful? Given my background, it's almost impossible, right?"

The Traveler's gaze grew increasingly tender, looking at these two silly gooses.

Talking and laughing for over half an hour, the Traveler led them through half of Mondstadt City to the legendary Good Hunter restaurant.

Good Hunter was the most popular restaurant in Mondstadt, as famous as Angel's Share, located on the busiest central street near the fountain square in the heart of the city.

Even past nine in the evening, Good Hunter had not closed; there were still a dozen or so guests sitting at the outdoor tables, drinking beer and eating grilled meat.

However, unlike the taverns, which were mostly filled with solitary men and women, Good Hunter's patrons were primarily families and couples.

Under the dim, warm lights, the smoke and aroma drifting on the breeze brought with it the fullness of human warmth.

The Traveler, Paimon, and Nana Pei arrived at the restaurant, and the waitress, Sara, was the first to see them. She greeted them happily, "Hi! Traveler! Little flying cutie! Long time no see! Have you been busy lately? It feels like it's been ages since I last saw you!"