Shenhe: "Why is that a problem?"
" You've eaten. You pay."
Paimon turned to her.
Paimon: "Shenhe, 40,000 Mora is a huge amount!"
Shenhe blinked.
Shenhe: "It's a number."
Ganyu chimed in quietly.
Ganyu: "For someone who lives in the mountains, maybe."
"But in the city, it's a considerable sum."
Eula remained upright.
But a slight blush began to appear on her cheeks.
Eula: "I... thought I was paying my share."
Paimon stopped abruptly.
Paimon: "Huh?"
Aether looked up.
Aether: "Do you have the money to pay?"
Eula hesitated.
For a second.
Two seconds.
Then she looked away.
Eula: "...No."
Silence.
Paimon: "....."
Ganyu: "....."
Aether: "....."
Paimon: "YOU DON'T HAVE ANY MORAS?!"
Eula: "I left Mondstadt in a hurry." "
Aether: 'Urgent to... buy fish?'
Eula stiffened.
Eula: "Yes."
Paimon crossed his arms.
Paimon: "This is getting more and more suspicious..."
The receptionist coughed politely.
Receptionist: "Would you like to pay separately?"
Aether sighed deeply.
Aether: "No... I'll pay."
Paimon: "Aether!"
Aether: "We're not going to make a scene here..."
He took out his purse, looking resigned.
Eula watched the scene in silence.
Then, from a lower voice:
Eula: "Don't worry, I'll handle this."
"And revenge will be mine."
Aether: "What's that got to do with anything?"
Eula: "It means I'll pay you back.'"
Aether looked at her.
Her expression wasn't angry.
Just tired.
Aether: "It's alright."
These simple, sincere words struck Eula harder than she expected.
She looked away.
Ganyu watched the scene gently.
Shenhe, however, was still staring at Eula.
Shenhe: "You're being reckless."
Eula met her gaze.
Eula: "I'll do what I want."
The atmosphere seemed to grow tense again.
Paimon slipped between them.
Paimon: "Okay!"
"It's paid for, now we can go!"
Aether gave the Mora to the receptionist.
Receptionist: "Thank you for your visit."
The five of them finally left the restaurant.
The cold night air of Liyue enveloped them instantly.
For a few seconds, no one spoke.
Then Paimon broke the silence.
Paimon: "Eula... seriously... three bottles?"
Eula crossed her arms.
Eula: "I was curious."
Aether sighed.
Ganyu gave a small smile.
Shenhe, silent, continued to observe Eula with a cold stare.
And in that night silence, one thing was certain:
Shenhe: "..."
Eula: "....."
The tension between them was only just beginning.
A few minutes later:
Night gently enveloped Liyue Harbor.
The lanterns hanging along the railings cast a warm light, reflecting off the calm harbor water.
The air was cooler now, a welcome relief after the hearty meal they had just shared at the Xinyue Kiosk.
Tap tap tap tap
The steady sound of their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones.
Eula walked in the lead, slightly to the left. In each hand, she also held a carefully wrapped bottle of liquor, the two remaining from the famous trio worth 24,000 Mora.
The third, already opened during dinner, had left a slight warmth in her chest, but her mind was perfectly clear.
Eula: "When I return to Mondstadt… I'll remember to pay him back the 24,000 Mora."
Her gaze flickered briefly to Aether, who was walking a few steps behind her.
They advanced in this precise order: Eula, Shenhe, Paimon, Aether, and Ganyu.
Shenhe walked straight, silent, attentive to the slightest movement around them.
Paimon floated right next to Aether, as always, while Ganyu brought up the rear, her peaceful gaze wandering over the illuminated docks.
After a few minutes of silence, Ganyu spoke.
Ganyu: "Paimon... how was Inazuma?"
Paimon turned to her, surprised, then smiled.
Paimon: "Oh!"
"Inazuma, well... at first, it was a little chaotic."
Aether nodded slightly.
Paimon: "There was the decree confiscating Visions."
"People were losing their powers... some were even losing a part of themselves."
Ganyu listened attentively.
Ganyu: "That must have been difficult."
Paimon: "Very difficult!"
"But thanks to Aether and the resistance... everything worked out in the end."
Aether raised a hand, slightly embarrassed.
Aether: "I didn't do it alone."
Paimon modestly ignored this remark and continued enthusiastically.
Paimon: "We made lots of friends there!"
Eula, who was walking in front, slowed her pace slightly, discreetly listening.
She already knew some of the names.
At the library, Paimon had told her several anecdotes, sometimes in far too much detail.
Author's note: "This takes place in chapters 2 and 3."
Paimon: "There's Thoma!"
"Always ready to help, even when it's none of his business."
Aether smiled slightly.
Paimon: "Ayaka too, she's super kind and elegant, very elegant."
Eula frowned slightly at that.
Paimon continued:
Paimon: "Sayu, the ninja who's always sleeping, Yae Miko… she's a little scary sometimes, but she's intelligent."
Shenhe listened silently without reacting.
But in her mind, a thought was forming.
Shenhe: "An entire nation… with so many individuals capable of fighting."
"There must be some very powerful people there."
Paimon continued:
Paimon: "There's also Kazuha, Yoimiya, Kokomi, Kujou Sara…"
With each name, Aether nodded gently, as if reliving the memories.
Ganyu walked calmly beside them, attentive to every detail.
Then Paimon paused for a moment.
She thought of a name.
An important name.
But she chose not to say it.
She knew that mentioning the Electro Archon would open a complicated discussion.
So she continued:
Paimon: "Anyway, lots of incredible people."
Aether smiled.
Aether: "In any case… the war is over."
"Everyone was able to regain their Vision."
He looked up at the night sky.
Aether: "And thankfully, Ei was more understanding than expected."
Silence.
Ganyu turned his head slightly.
Ganyu: "Ei?"
Aether replied naturally:
Aether: "The Electro Archon."
Paimon froze.
Paimon: "Aether… I deliberately didn't mention her…"
Eula stopped almost imperceptibly.
Shenhe slowly turned her head toward Aether.
Ganyu remained calm, but his eyes betrayed genuine surprise.
Ganyu: "You... call her by her name?"
Aether blinked, suddenly realizing what he had just said.
Aether: "Well... yes."
A slight awkwardness settled in.
In the nations of Teyvat, Archons were rarely mentioned with such familiarity.
Paimon tried to smooth things over.
Paimon: "It's... because we went through a lot there!"
Eula folded her arms, the bottles still in her hands.
Eula: "You seem close."
Her voice was neutral, but a subtle nuance crept into it.
Aether replied honestly:
Aether: "Let's just say we've learned to understand each other."
Ganyu observed his expression.
There was no arrogance. Just quiet sincerity.
Shenhe, silent, reflected.
Shenhe: "An Archon… and yet, he speaks of her as if she were a friend."
She felt a strange pressure in her chest. Not jealousy. Not exactly.
But something.
Eula resumed walking.
Eula: "To survive a war. To earn the trust of an Archon."
"You never do anything halfway."
Aether smiled faintly.
Aether: "I just do what I think is right."
Paimon puffed out his chest.
Paimon: "And Paimon helps him!"
Ganyu chuckled softly.
Ganyu: "I see you've grown a lot during this journey."
The group continued walking along the docks.
Lanterns reflected in the water, and a few ships bobbed gently in the distance.
Eula, still in the lead, thought briefly of Aether's words.
An Archon.
She lightly gripped the bottles in her hands.
Eula: "He really does attract some extraordinary people…"
"Especially women with large breasts."
Behind her, Shenhe observed Aether's profile in the lantern light.
Shenhe: "If he can stand up to an Archon… then maybe the ones in Inazuma aren't such a threat."
But deep down, another thought whispered to her.
What if these people… became too attached to him?
Paimon spoke again, breaking the growing silence.
Paimon: "Anyway, if you ever go to Inazuma, you'll see!"
"It's magnificent!"
Ganyu smiled.
Ganyu: "Maybe one day I'll make time to go."
Aether gazed at the horizon.
Aether: "There's still so much to discover."
Eula glanced up at him slightly.
Eula: "Yes… a lot."
Their footsteps continued to echo through the night.
Tap tap tap tap
But in each of their thoughts, something had changed.
The mere mention of an Archon.
Of a name.
Ei
Meanwhile in Inazuma:
In the silent heights of Inazuma, far from the bustle of the streets and the murmur of the inhabitants, lay a room bathed in a soft, soothing light.
Located in the heart of the Tenshukaku, the Shogun's residence, this room alone embodied the elegance and serenity of the nation.
The floor was covered with perfectly aligned tatami mats, their soft texture absorbing the slightest sound of footsteps.
The walls, made of dark wood and sliding rice paper panels, filtered a dim, almost ethereal light.
Through the windows, the cherry blossoms of Inazuma could be seen, their pink petals floating slowly in the night air, carried by a light breeze.
In the center of the room stood a low, finely carved table, upon which were arranged several tea utensils.
A purple ceramic teapot, delicately decorated with lightning-like patterns, still emitted a light mist.
Next to it lay two cups, filled with a light tea with golden highlights.
Seated with perfectly straight posture, Ei, the Electro Archon, held her cup with almost mechanical precision.
Her gaze, calm and deep, seemed lost in the meanders of her thoughts.
Every gesture she made was slow, measured, as if time itself were adapting to her rhythm.
Opposite her, Yae Miko sat with a much more relaxed air.
Leaning slightly to one side, an amused smile constantly playing on her lips, she watched Ei intently, as if every micro-expression of the Shogun was a source of amusement.
Yae Miko raised her cup to her lips, slowly savoring the tea.
Yae Miko: "Still so quiet… even for a simple cup of tea."
Ei didn't reply immediately. She took a sip, briefly closed her eyes, then gently placed the cup back on the table.
Ei: "Silence is soothing."
Yae Miko smiled more broadly.
Yae Miko: "Or boring, depending on your perspective."
A light breeze drifted a few petals across the room, adding an almost ethereal touch to the already peaceful atmosphere.
The tea ritual continued.
Ei lifted the teapot and slowly poured the tea into Yae Miko's cup.
The subtle sound of the tea flowing was almost hypnotic, enhancing the tranquility of the moment.
Then, suddenly—
Ei: "...Achoo."
A quiet, but unexpected sneeze.
The silence that followed was...unusual.
Yae Miko slowly set down her cup, raising an amused eyebrow.
Yae Miko: "Oh?"
"That's unusual."
Ei remained motionless for a moment.
As if something had just disturbed her inner peace.
Yae Miko tilted her head slightly.
Yae Miko: "Apparently, when someone sneezes like that...it means someone is talking about you."
A mischievous smile stretched across her lips.
Ei, meanwhile, gently closed her eyes.
For a second.
Two seconds.
Then she opened them again.
Ei: "...I see."
Her tone was calm.
But different.
As if she had just grasped something obvious.
Yae Miko watched her reaction closely.
Yae Miko: "You seem to have a pretty good idea of who this person is."
Ei put down her cup.
Her gaze, usually detached, took on a slight intensity.
Ei: "Yes."
Yae Miko stared at her, intrigued.
Yae Miko: "Oh?"
"And who is it?"
A brief silence fell.
The wind stirred the cherry blossoms once more.
Ei stared straight ahead.
Ei: "Aether."
The name echoed softly in the room.
Yae Miko couldn't help but smile wider.
Yae Miko: "How interesting."
She sat up slightly.
Yae Miko: "The famous traveler... even from a distance, he catches your attention."
Ei remained impassive.
But deep in her eyes, an almost imperceptible glimmer appeared.
Ei: "He tends to provoke this sort of thing."
Yae Miko let out a soft laugh.
Yae Miko: "This sort of thing, really?"
"You're being rather vague."
Ei didn't answer immediately.
She stared at her cup.
The tea was perfectly still.
But her mind wasn't.
Ei: "He's talking about me."
It wasn't a guess.
It was a certainty.
Yae Miko crossed her legs, clearly amused by the situation.
Yae Miko: "And does that bother you?"
Ei paused.
Then simply replied:
Ei: "No."
Silence.
Then she added, more softly:
Ei: "But that means he's still thinking about Inazuma."
Yae Miko tilted her head slightly.
Yae Miko: "Or maybe... about you."
Ei didn't react outwardly.
But her fingers tightened slightly around her cup.
A tiny detail.
Almost invisible.
But Yae Miko missed nothing.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face.
Yae Miko: "That makes this tea much more interesting."
Night continued to spread over Inazuma.
Meanwhile in Liyue:
Tap tap tap tp tap
The nighttime stroll was gently coming to an end.
The lanterns of Liyue still illuminated the streets, but the city was becoming quieter.
Merchants were closing their stalls, the last customers were leaving the restaurants, and conversations were becoming more subdued.
After walking together for a few more minutes, the small group arrived at an inn located not far from the port.
The building wasn't as luxurious as the Xinyue Kiosk, but it was still elegant and welcoming.
The inn was built in the traditional Liyue style: a dark wooden building with a curved roof covered in glazed tiles.
Red lanterns hung at the entrance, casting a warm light on the stone steps. Inside, a few customers could be heard chatting quietly over a last cup of tea.
Aether stopped in front of the door.
Paimon floated beside him, visibly tired after the long day.
Paimon: "Paimon is exhausted..."
She stretched in the air.
Paimon: "Between the walk, dinner, and all that walking... Paimon wants to sleep!"
Aether looked at her with a small, amused smile.
Aether: "You say that as if you've been walking."
Paimon puffed out her cheeks.
Paimon: "Hey!"
"Floating takes energy too!"
Ganyu let out a quiet chuckle.
Ganyu: "It's true, it's been a long day."
Aether turned to her friends.
Aether: "I think we'll stop here for the night."
He put a hand behind his head, a little embarrassed.
Aether: "See you tomorrow?"
Ganyu nodded gently.
Ganyu: "Of course."
"I still have a few files to finish for Qixing tomorrow morning, but I'll be free after that."
She thought for a moment.
Ganyu: "Maybe late morning."
Aether: "That works for me."
Meanwhile, Eula folded her arms.
She gazed thoughtfully at the inn.
Eula: "Hm..."
In her mind, she quickly recalculated her plans.
Eula: "Perfect."
Tomorrow morning, I can talk to him alone.
And tell him that Jean needs him in Mondstadt.
She looked up at Aether.
Eula: "In that case... I'll also find a place to sleep."
Paimon looked at the two bottles she was still holding.
Paimon: "You're really planning to sleep with these?" "
Eula looked down at her hands.
She had completely forgotten she was still wearing them.
Eula: "..."
Then she replied calmly.
Eula: "They're souvenirs from dinner."
Paimon whispered to Aether:
Paimon: "Souvenirs worth 24,000 Mora..."
Chapter 14: Ei end Yae Miko
The End