Chapter Text
(A/N: just a preface here. This IS an Aether x Ayaka story. I didn't forget that in this chapter, just a heads up for anyone who may think otherwise as they read this.
I'm just focusing on building characters)
Good byes were something he still wasn't particularly used to. Usually he never had to say good bye to the people of Monstadt or even Liyue. Even when he would leave those places, he could always return. He always had the option to see his friends when he pleased. Sometimes they even went on adventures with him.
Even when he did say good bye, it was nothing like he meant now. This kind of good bye was one that hinted of a long departure and possibly never returning.
But he had no choice. He needed to go to Inazuma and question the dictative Shogun of his sister's where abouts.
It's the only lead he has, it would be a shame to waste it now.
So he took sometime to say good bye to those he cared for deeply. From the citizens of Monstadt to the people of Liyue.
Some knew he was leaving before he announced it.
Venti and Zhongli both need not words to know where the traveler's next journey was to. Perhaps, it was because of their age as gods that gave them both wisdom.
Then again, Paimon would easily disagree at the thought of Venti and wisdom being used in the same sentence.
Jean had no problems with the Honorary Knight of Favonious pursuing his goals to reunite with his sister, Limunie, and to obtain all of the 7 elements. And in turn, all other knights and citizens respected Aether's decision to leave. Even if it means he will no longer be able: aid Lisa with past due books, Amber with her patrols, Eula with the Lawrence clan, or even Diluc at the Dawn Winery. The citizens understood the hole that would be created when Aether would leave for a period of time.
But, all of Monstadt understand what it meant to him to find his sister. That it meant everything to reunite with her.
Liyue was a similar experience.
Saying goodbye to some was harder to do than it was for others.
For someone like Qiqi it was as simple as:
"Paimon and I will be leaving for sometime Qiqi"
"Okay"
Paimon got frustrated by the simple response.
"He means we are leaving for a long time! Don't you have anything to say?"
Which Qiqi then stared for a mere minute before simply saying
"Goodbye."
And returning to her work at the pharmacy.
It was enough to make Xingling laugh, who was nice enough to cook Paimon her favorite food.
But for some others it was a little difficult to say good bye to.
Was it the bonds that he has built with those people?
Or was it that they needed him more than others?
Maybe it was the time he spent with them?
One of the hardest things to do was say goodbye to Ganyu.
When Aether often spoke to Lady Ningguang, she was troubled with how much time Ganyu spent in her office. As Ningguang's secretary, she obviously found this very valuable. But it raised concern for Ganyu's health and well being. A bit ago, Lady Ningguang offload some of the paper work from Ganyu. From time to time Ganyu began to have more free time; coincidentally then Aether tended to be around when this happened.
And it happened enough to raise suspicion from the traveler that Ningguang had anterior motives.
Alas, it meant that they would spend more time together. She often went with him on quests and adventures. Some of those task given by the citizens of Liyue or even the Tiquian herself.
Aether was happy to have a good friend aid him in his quests. Ganyu was very skilled in combat, not to mention her Cryo was great when used with his Anemo.
Being together did more to the latter than it did him though.
Ganyu always treated Lady Ningguang and her staff with the upmost respect.
But she always struggled with her roots. Ganyu never felt that she fit on with the world, especially among the life of humans.
Her adeptus blood was enough for her to believe that she wasn't welcome or liked by many of those who lived in Liyue.
Hence why she ran away from her duties one fateful day. In fear that she was no longer wanted by even the Tiquian. She felt like nothing more than discarded trash left to eat away at her own hatred for carrying the blood of the adepti within her. She felt like an outcast.
The horns she had were a curse to burden her of that reminder.
But that changed when Aether climbed the highest of mountains to reach her. To let her know she wasn't discarded trash.
And for a human to go to such great lengths just to tell her was enough for a warm feelings to begin developing.
She began to realize as she journeyed with him, they were not so different.
Sure she was an adeptus and he wasn't; but they both were alone. They both felt out of place with nobody to help them fill that loneliness. The Traveler doesn't belong to Tevyat, despite Ganyu's happiness for his existence in the world.
The only person he has to relate to was his sister. And with her missing, he was left to face the abyss.
This was something that first made Ganyu become even more grateful for her time away from the office. He treated her as an equal. As friends
And as if she wasn't different.
As if she was completely human.
This has more affects on Ganyu than either one of them could have possibly imagined.
It wasn't even Ganyu who first noticed.
It was Lady Ningguang.
Ningguang didn't directly tell Ganyu what Ganyu was exactly feeling, but put her on the right path.
So when Aether told Ganyu of his decision to leave for Inazuma, it hurt.
Inazuma was an extremely long and dangerous trek. Not to mention it would be a long time before he could comeback to Liyue. If he could come back to Liyue.
Ganyu felt a complex amount of emotions all at once. Anger, sadness, and deep deep down she felt happy.
Aether was finally given an opportunity to pursue his goals, which made her happy.
But it was overshadowed by the grief thought of him leaving her. One of the only people that she cared for so much was going to face possibly the most dangerous thing Tevyat has to offer.
It may have been greedy, but she wanted him to stay. She wanted to eventually express how she felt for him, despite him not knowing or showing anything more than friendship back.
She didn't know it was due to the fact he never had the time to process what she was to him.
When he told her she could feel her heart sink and tears threatened to come out.
She sang a long silence and her own thoughts ran rampant.
She wanted to go with him to Innuzuma. She wanted with all her heart to go if he could not stay. She wanted to tell him to take her with him.
But she wouldn't.
She knew despite all of Ningguang's efforts with Ganyu and how she felt for the traveler, that she could not leave Liyue. Ganyu was to far valuable to Liyue and Ningguang to leave.
Ganyu finally realized that she was needed. Ganyu was a vital part of Liyue and it's success.
She has to stay.
When she came back from her own thoughts, she had not realized she had moved. She had moved onto the traveler and hugged him tightly.
He didn't exactly understand at the moment, but he welcomed her. All in the means of comforting his friend.
It was a long hug and the air filled with silence.
. . .
Aether said his final good bye to Ganyu and made his way to the Crux Fleet.
Lady Ningguang was a busy lady, but she still set aside time to help Aether.
Time is money and money is valuable.
But alas, she still helped Aether by giving him valuable information on Innuzuma and even told him about Captain Beidou. Despite Beidou's lack of regard for Liyue's laws and Ningguang's growing temper for that regard, Beidou was Aether's best shot at getting into Innuzuma.
Little did Aether know of the literal and metaphorical storm that awaited him and Piamon.
Nor did he know that a women of Innuzuma would win his heart.
(A/N: next stop Inazuma!)
Also yes Ganyu's feelings are one-sided. I can't wait to get to Ayaka's character!