Aether reached out again, attempting to touch the golden light above Zhu Zhuqing's head—but as before, it remained utterly untouchable, completely ethereal.
What the hell is going on?! They were already shocked by Zhuqing's boldness, but now it turned out His Excellency was just as daring?
He straight-up dashed forward!
Off to the side, Shui Yue'er had already been clutching her sister's arm from the moment Aether approached Zhu Zhuqing. Now, watching the two draw even closer, she couldn't help but scream internally.
The Increasingly intimate proximity between their bodies was too much for her overactive imagination. Her eyes sparkled as her face turned feverishly excited.
"Hiss~!"
Shui Bing'er felt a sharp pain in her arm, like it was being clamped down by iron claws. She gasped instinctively, sucking in a cold breath.
But the scene before her had left her too stunned to even shake her sister off. Her wide eyes were locked onto the pair in front of her.
"Your Excellency…"
Suddenly, Aether felt a soft breath—fragrant and warm—brush against his face. Snapping back to reality, he found himself staring into a pair of wide, autumn-tinted eyes full of tension and shy anticipation.
In the next instant, his figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he was standing a full three meters away from Zhu Zhuqing.
"Ahem."
Noticing how impulsive his actions had just been, Aether coughed into his fist, trying to mask the awkwardness that lingered in the air.
Zhu Zhuqing also snapped back to her senses. Her face flushed a deep red as she lowered her head, biting her lip in embarrassment.
What… what was he about to do?
We were so close…
Because her head was lowered, her gaze unconsciously dropped to her chest. The sensation from earlier—yes, it was strongest there…
"Eh? Traveler, something's fishy about you!"
Paimon's voice rang out, slicing through the thick awkwardness.
"Wha—What do you mean, 'fishy'?!" Aether stammered, sneaking a glance at Zhu Zhuqing, whose ears were now pink all the way to the tips.
Honestly, he'd only moved because that strange energy had drawn him in. He hadn't had any indecent thoughts!
Still, Paimon's tone made him feel incredibly guilty.
"What were you doing just now?" she pressed relentlessly, delivering a soul-piercing question without mercy.
For reasons she couldn't understand, seeing Aether and Zhuqing that close just filled her with an inexplicable wave of irritation.
Granted, little Paimon didn't yet understand the true nature of such emotions. But if it had been big Paimon… that might've been another story.
"Uh…"
Aether scratched his cheek and leaned in to whisper, "There's a really important commission on Zhu Zhuqing."
"Hmm???"
That only made Paimon more confused, but oddly, her annoyance began to fade. She tilted her head and asked, "What kind of commission? Don't tell me she's going to be traveling with us now?"
Her words made Aether pause, blinking as he stared at her.
Wait. No way. That's way too on the nose…
But sometimes, the most impossible things are exactly the ones that come true. Some people call that a miracle.
Aether gave Zhu Zhuqing a complicated look and asked cautiously, "Zhu Zhuqing, what is it you most want to do right now?"
"I—I'm willing… Huh?"
She had instinctively responded halfway before realizing what she'd said, then let out a small yelp in embarrassment.
"I meant, what do you really want to do right now?" he repeated, pretending not to notice her flustered reaction.
"To… to follow Your Excellency," she said without hesitation, blurting out the words from the depths of her heart.
"…"
Aether's gaze grew complicated. He activated Elemental Sight, trying to confirm something.
"If that's what you want… then come along."
Whoosh!
"!!!"
As soon as Aether finished speaking, the golden light above Zhu Zhuqing's head burst apart into stardust, spiraling into a long, flowing stream that surged toward him.
Though he didn't sense any danger, he instinctively went on alert as the stream of starlight poured into his chest, burrowing deep into his body—straight toward one of the seals within.
Crack…
A faint, glass-shattering sound echoed from within.
And just like that, he could feel it—his power, returning in force, more potent than ever.
So that's what this is…
Aether had suspected as much when the seal first began to loosen. But now, he'd finally seen it with his own eyes: the strange energy helping him unseal his power was drawn directly from this moment of resonance.
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, stared at him in disbelief, her voice trembling.
"Y-Your Excellency… what did you just say?"
"I said, if you want to follow, then follow."
Power coursed through his limbs and bones, rejuvenating him. He felt whole again. But along with the power… came another addition.
"Really?!" Zhu Zhuqing's voice quivered with emotion as she sought his confirmation again.
He met her gaze and gave her a firm nod.
Since he'd said it, he'd stand by it.
Especially with a vow like that—one that triggered such a mysterious, divine reaction—who knew what consequences might come from breaking it?
Anyone who could help him unlock the seal placed by that version of Celestia in another world… was likely of equivalent power.
Had he and Lumine not lost half their strength before arriving in Teyvat, maybe he could have traced this mysterious force back to its origin…
"Hnn… hnnnn…"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes welled up with tears. Overcome with emotion, she covered her mouth with her hand and began to sob softly.
"Big Sister Zhuqing, welcome!"
Yu Keke stood on tiptoe, one arm dragging the fire-spitting cat beast and the other wiping Zhuqing's tears with a handkerchief.
She was genuinely happy for her. She knew better than anyone the overwhelming joy of being accepted by him.
After all, she too had once experienced this very feeling—and had been living joyfully with it ever since.
"Keke… I really did it…"
Zhu Zhuqing pulled her into a tight embrace.
She had truly gained the attention of a god!
Turns out Paimon was right. If your wish is strong enough, the gods will notice you…
"…"
Wait, did what?
Aether exchanged a look with Paimon, both of them equally confused.
"All right, that's enough. You all should head back to the Academy now."
Waving his hand, Aether motioned for the girls to leave.
If he couldn't figure it out, he'd just stop thinking about it.
He'd learned that from Paimon.
After a round of goodbyes, the Shui sisters and the rest reluctantly left the residence.
Once they were far enough, Shui Yue'er glanced around to make sure they were alone, then pulled Zhu Zhuqing aside with an impish grin.
"Zhuqing, I've been dying to ask—when you said you 'did it'… what exactly did you do?"
Zhu Zhuqing just laughed and gave her a meaningful look.
Among girls, especially ones this close in age, some things didn't need to be spelled out. A single glance could say it all.
"No way…"
Shui Yue'er's jaw dropped.
Oh no. She actually found a way to capture His Excellency!
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing nod without hesitation, Shuier grabbed her arm with excitement.
"Good sister, teach me your ways!!!"
_
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