"But time is running out now. Even if Dvalin flies fast, would we really have enough time to travel back and forth between nations to ask for help?"
Aether glanced at the crimson-glowing Teleport Waypoint, then looked back at Su Yuan with a furrowed brow, speaking with concern:
"Should we… take the risk and try using this corrupted Waypoint anyway?"
"Yeah! The Traveler and I actually tried that before," Paimon chimed in.
"Even if a Waypoint has been corrupted by Eerie power, it still seems to work!"
"And the people using it don't seem to get controlled by the eerie either…"
Hearing that, Aether frowned in confusion.
"Paimon, when did we ever use a corrupted Waypoint? I don't remember that at all."
"Huh? We didn't?" Paimon looked surprised.
"I mean just now! The Waypoint in Fontaine was fine, but the one in Mondstadt was broken—and we still managed to teleport back here, didn't we?"
"That's true…" Aether nodded thoughtfully.
"Other than that strange pain I felt during teleportation—it was like being sliced into a thousand pieces—everything else seemed normal…"
"Well, the situation's urgent now. We can't afford to worry about the details!"
That's what Aether said aloud, but deep down he was thinking—even if something bad happens to me, it's fine.
If I die, I'll just return with my memories intact… and next time, I simply won't use a corrupted Waypoint again.
Seeing the unwavering determination in Aether's expression, Su Yuan couldn't bring himself to argue.
He nodded slightly and said, "Alright then, we'll just have to take the risk."
After a brief discussion and bit of planning, Aether, right in front of Su Yuan, stepped forward with Paimon and once again passed through the Eerie-corrupted Teleport Waypoint…
Su Yuan waited for a while—and soon enough, Aether and Paimon reappeared before him.
Aether looked pained, wiping the sweat from his forehead before stretching his arms and saying, "Yeah… aside from the sensation of being cut into a thousand pieces while teleporting, there doesn't seem to be any other problem."
Aether panted heavily, turning to look at Paimon beside him with a puzzled expression.
"Paimon… why do you look so relaxed? Didn't you feel it—the pain, like someone slicing your flesh over and over again? It was like being tortured by a thousand cuts!"
"I… don't know why, but I didn't feel anything like that," Paimon replied, shaking her head and waving her hands, just as confused.
"Forget it. It's a good thing you didn't feel it," Aether said with a faint smile.
"I'll handle that kind of pain on my own."
He took a deep breath, steadied himself, and looked toward Su Yuan.
"Su Yuan, I'll head to Fontaine first. Meet me there."
With that, Aether and Paimon disappeared into the glowing red light of the Teleport Waypoint.
After watching them vanish, Su Yuan glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward nervously, closed his eyes, and focused on the image of the Teleport Waypoint in front of the Palais Mermonia.
Slowly, he reached out his hand and touched the device.
In an instant, the teleportation activated.
Su Yuan appeared right before the Palais Mermonia, where Aether and Paimon were waiting.
However, Aether didn't look well at all—sweat poured down his forehead, tracing his cheeks as he gasped for air.
Paimon, looking worried, hovered beside him. "Traveler, are you okay? You're starting to scare me…"
"I'm fine…" Aether forced a strained smile.
"It's just… it feels like every time I use one of these corrupted Waypoints, that sensation—being cut into a thousand pieces—gets stronger…"
He lifted his head and looked at Su Yuan. "What about you, Su Yuan? You felt it too, didn't you? It's awful, right?"
But Su Yuan simply shook his head. "I was prepared for it—I thought it'd be painful… but it seems I'm the same as Paimon. I didn't feel anything at all."
"Uh… great…" Aether muttered helplessly. "So I'm the only one suffering? That figures."
"Well, considering your unique constitution, Su Yuan," he added with a wry smile, "I guess that makes sense."
After taking a moment to rest and recover, Su Yuan, Aether, and Paimon walked into the Palais Mermonia.
The guards and Melusines on duty immediately recognized them.
Instead of stopping the group, they smiled and greeted warmly:
"It's the Traveler, Su Yuan, and little Paimon!"
"You've come back to Fontaine?"
"If you're looking for Lord Neuvillette, he's currently in his office handling official matters!"
"Alright, could you please let him know we have something urgent to discuss?" Aether asked politely.
"There's no need," one of the Melusine officers replied with a smile.
"Lord Neuvillette has already said that you're heroes of Fontaine. If you ever wish to see him, there's no need for any formalities—just go right in."
"Hehe, looks like that old-fashioned Neuvillette has changed quite a bit, huh?" Paimon said jokingly.
Soon after, the three of them smoothly made their way to the office and met with Neuvillette.
After exchanging brief greetings, Su Yuan and Aether explained the current situation in Mondstadt and its urgent need for reinforcements.
"Su Yuan, Traveler, Paimon—I understand what you've said," Neuvillette replied with a nod.
"Fontaine has gradually returned to stability. There have been no recent incidents involving Eerie outbreaks, so sending Clorinde and Sigewinne to support Mondstadt shouldn't cause any major problems."
"That's wonderful news, Neuvillette!" Su Yuan and Aether said gratefully in unison.
Neuvillette smiled faintly. "There's no need for thanks. We've fought side by side against the Eerie before—helping each other in times of need is only natural."
Then Su Yuan suddenly seemed to remember something.
"By the way, what about the three little ones from the Hearth House—Lyney, Lynette, and Freminet? Are they still in Fontaine?" he asked.
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