The bitter cold of winter had passed, and the warmth of spring quietly arrived.
In Mondstadt, this land full of freedom and wind, the breath of new life flowed through every corner with the gentle breeze.
The sunshine was bright, the grass a dazzling green, and everything seemed so harmonious and peaceful.
By the tranquil coast, a blond youth sat alone on a rock, holding a simple fishing rod, his eyes revealing confusion and contemplation.
Having just awakened, he had lost many memories, knowing only that he had come from beyond this world.
When he attempted to leave this world, however, he encountered a divine being who called herself the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
That fierce conflict had left his memories fragmented and broken.
Aether shook his head, trying to find more clues within the scattered fragments of memory.
But each time he felt he was close to grasping something, those memories would shatter like a reflection of the moon in water.
Just as he was lost in thought, the fishing rod in his hand suddenly trembled violently.
He reacted quickly, gripping the rod firmly and beginning a struggle with the creature underwater.
After a considerable effort, Aether finally pulled the creature ashore.
Appearing before him was not a fish, but a small sprite.
She was petite and delicate, about the size of a human infant, with a pure and lovely face. She wore a snow-white, puffy dress and a golden circlet on her head, which sparkled with a charming glow.
(Surely no one would actually mistake her for a cup, right?)
She seemed to have lost consciousness from being submerged for too long. Aether dared not delay and immediately began performing first aid based on the emergency procedures he remembered from his fragmented memories.
He gently placed the sprite on a flat rock and performed several chest compressions, but the sprite remained unresponsive.
Time was critical, and Aether knew he had to make a more decisive move.
He took a deep breath, deciding to perform artificial respiration.
Just then, the sprite slowly woke up, opening her hazy eyes and gazing at the youth. "Thank you for saving me. I am Paimon, the best guide on the continent of Teyvat."
The youth's expression stiffened, and he replied with slight awkwardness, "Hello, Paimon. I am Aether, a traveler from another land."
After a simple exchange, Paimon decided to become Aether's guide and accompany him on his journey to find his lost sister.
Through Paimon, they learned that the world they were in was called the continent of Teyvat, a world ruled by the Seven Archons.
The land they currently stood upon belonged to the jurisdiction of the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, and was named Mondstadt.
Paimon enthusiastically explained, "As everyone knows, prophecies and poems drift on the wind, so there must be news of your sister in Mondstadt." As she spoke, she floated lightly in the air, leading Aether towards Mondstadt City in the distance.
"Okay," Aether nodded, then followed behind Paimon, heading towards Mondstadt City in the distance.
However, they did not notice that several pairs of eyes were quietly watching them from the shadows, observing their every move.
…
After a strenuous journey, Aether and Paimon finally entered the gates of Mondstadt City.
The sight before Paimon was quite unfamiliar; modern-style shops similar to those in Fontaine were spread throughout Mondstadt's streets, making her feel as though she was in Fontaine.
"Aether, let's first go ask the Knights of Favonius," Paimon suggested. "As the governing body of Mondstadt City, they should have relatively comprehensive information and might be able to help us find clues about your sister."
So, the two of them headed together to the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius.
To their considerable surprise, the Acting Grand Master, Jean, who was usually busy with official duties, personally received them in her office.
"Travelers from afar, I understand your purpose. But regrettably, according to our records, there have been no signs of your sister entering Mondstadt City in recent years," Jean told them in a calm tone.
A wave of indescribable disappointment instantly washed over Aether. He looked dejected. "Thank you, Acting Grand Master Jean. I will ask elsewhere."
"Uh... I know someone who might have news of your sister," Jean said, her expression slightly unnatural, like a novice actor on stage for the first time.
Aether didn't notice Jean's subtle expression. He eagerly pressed, "Who is that person?"
Jean tried her best to maintain composure and make her tone sound more natural. "It's Deyi, the owner of the Deyi Coffee Shop. He is very well-informed and possesses a lot of information that is difficult for ordinary people to obtain."
"Thank you very much, Acting Grand Master Jean. We will take our leave now," Aether said, then immediately turned and quickly departed.
After Aether left, Acting Grand Master Jean immediately felt a sense of relief.
She truly wasn't good at acting; the conversation just now had made her extremely nervous, leaving her feeling uneasy in every way, like being on pins and needles, a thorn in her back, and a bone in her throat.
Following that, she took out the "Knights of Favonius Script" from her drawer and began to memorize her upcoming lines.
Meanwhile, guided by passersby, Aether took Paimon to the coffee shop located in a secluded corner.
Pushing open the door, Aether found the shop utterly deserted, with not a single customer in sight.
At the counter, a black-haired youth was quietly engrossed in reading a novel. Under his golden-rimmed glasses, his eyes sparkled with a literary light, and his whole demeanor exuded an elegant aura.
Aether didn't hesitate. He walked directly up to the counter and inquired, "Hello, Owner Deyi. I am a traveler from out of town. I would like to inquire about my sister. Do you happen to know anything?"
Lin Yide looked up, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "I do possess some information about your sister."
"However, before I share this information, I hope you will sample a cup of coffee from our shop." Saying this, he gently pointed to the sign beside him. "That is the coffee price list. You can choose according to your preference."
"Okay, no problem," Aether readily agreed.
However, when his eyes fell upon the price list, he was astonished to find that the cheapest coffee listed was priced at a staggering one million Mora.
Paimon couldn't help but exclaim, "Owner, that price is too outrageous! How can any coffee be sold for that much?"
Facing Paimon's question, Lin Yide merely replied calmly, "The coffee is not valuable, but the information is."
Paimon still spoke with some indignation, "Even so, this price is still completely unreasonable."
Lin Yide spread his hands helplessly. "If you find that unacceptable, then I suggest you post a missing person notice on the bulletin board by the city gate. That is a completely free option."
Aether listened quietly. At this moment, he had made a decision. He said firmly to Lin Yide, "Owner, I understand. I will find a way to earn one million Mora as soon as possible."
After saying this, he turned to leave, intending to look for opportunities to work.
But Lin Yide spoke slowly from behind him, "Actually, if you can help me complete a task, I can also tell you the information you need directly."
Aether immediately turned back, eagerly asking, "What task?"
"I need you to help me steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel from the Church of Favonius," Lin Yide replied calmly.
Upon hearing this, Paimon exclaimed in surprise, "The Holy Lyre der Himmel? Isn't that the Anemo Archon Barbatos's divine artifact?"
Lin Yide nodded. "Precisely. You should be able to sense that the elemental flow around Mondstadt City is quite abnormal."
"I need to use the Holy Lyre der Himmel to summon the Anemo Archon Barbatos and quell these elemental anomalies."
Knowing the reason why Lin Yide wanted them to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel, Aether accepted the task without hesitation.