The wind in the Valley of Fallen Jade carried the faint rot of grass and trees, swirling past the rough stone walls of the cell, circling around Aether and Yun Jin. Bound tightly to the cold stone pillar with coarse hemp rope, their backs pressed together, each breath letting them feel the rise and fall of the other's chest. The damp ground seeped cold, creeping up Yun Jin's robes until she shivered involuntarily.
"Hmph. Some backbone you have. Burn our granary and then dare flee into the mountains?" Yuan Tan's voice was like ice-tempered iron, steeped in the arrogance of his noble clan. He twirled a tung-oil-soaked whip, its tip scraping the ground with a sharp hiss. "You thought the Valley of Fallen Jade was a place for your mischief?"
Aether gritted his teeth and said nothing. At the back of his head, he could feel the faint tremble of Yun Jin's hair. They had wandered here by chance while searching for a missing caravan, stumbled upon the secret supply depot of Yuan's army, and set fire to it in desperation—only to be hunted down by Yuan Tan himself and his guards.
Crack!
A sharp slap exploded in the cell. Yuan Tan's strength was brutal; Aether's left cheek went numb at once, the coppery taste of blood spreading from his lip. Before he could recover, another blow landed hard across Yun Jin's face. She let out a muffled groan, her loose bangs flying askew.
"Speak! Are there any accomplices?"
Yuan Tan kicked the pillar, sending a jolt of pain through both of them. When they still refused to answer, he raised the whip high.
Swish—
The tip sliced through the air and struck Aether's back. His linen robe split open at once, a burning agony crawling up his spine. Yun Jin felt the shock clearly through their pressed backs, tensing instinctively, only to hear Aether's suppressed gasps.
The next lash landed on her shoulder. She shuddered violently, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
"You should have expected this end for burning our supplies."
Yuan Tan's voice held cruel amusement. The whip fell again and again, leaving crisscrossing red marks on their skin. All that filled the cell was the sharp crack of the whip tearing air, and their tightly restrained breathing.
After an unknown stretch of time, Yuan Tan finally stopped. He tossed the whip to the ground and looked down at the two bloodied figures as if they were mere livestock waiting for slaughter.
"Don't think this is over. Once my army resupplies, I'll chop you into paste and feed you to my men in dumplings."
His footsteps faded. The cell door slammed shut with a clang, and silence returned.
Pain welled up like a tide. Aether could feel his back bleeding, the fabric sticking to his wounds. He turned his head slightly, catching a glimpse of Yun Jin's pale face, her lips still swollen.
"You alright?" His voice was hoarse.
Yun Jin breathed softly, her tone trembling yet forcing a smile. "I'm fine… When I was training my posture, Master's ruler hurt far worse." She paused. "Your back…"
"Just a scratch." Aether smiled, trying to sound light. "Compared to being chased by Hilichurls, this is nothing. Speaking of which, you looked far more imposing when you sang Divine Heartbreak in Liyue Harbor."
At the mention of the stage, Yun Jin's eyes lit up. The pain seemed to dim for a moment. She recalled the bright glow of the lights, the thunderous applause from the crowd. "I was so nervous my palms were sweating back then. What about you? When you carried me up that high cliff in The Chasm… I still get scared thinking about it."
"You were the one chasing that glowing butterfly." Aether shook his head helplessly. "You nearly fell. Lucky I reacted fast."
"But it was so pretty." Yun Jin giggled, only to wince as the movement pulled at her injuries. Still, she went on. "Truly, though… you're amazing in a fight. Back in Inazuma, when all those samurai surrounded you, you still protected everyone and broke through."
Aether's cheeks warmed slightly. "You were brave too. When we fought against the Archon in Liyue, you were trembling with fear, but you still stood on stage and sang to lift everyone's spirits. Back then I thought… heroes from opera really do appear before your eyes."
"You flatter me too much." Yun Jin's voice softened, a little shy. "My legs were shaking the whole time. I only kept going by reciting lines. But you… you're just a Traveler, yet you always take other people's troubles as your own. On your journey to find your sister, you've helped so many."
"Because everyone I've met is kind." Aether thought of his companions along the way, of all the warm moments. "Like you, Paimon, and so many others. There are times I feel tired, like giving up… but when I see you all, I know I can't stop."
"We feel the same." Yun Jin's voice was gentle but firm. "You don't walk alone. As the operas say: fortune favors the bold on the narrow path. Even if fire and blades lie ahead, there will always be someone by your side."
The wind outside the cell seemed to soften. They talked on and off, of Liyue's temple fairs, Inazuma's cherry blossoms, the wonders of The Chasm, and the rainforests of Sumeru. Their wounds still throbbed, but their hearts slowly warmed. They laughed as they recalled dangerous yet joyful memories, as if they were not prisoners, but friends chatting by a campfire.
"Speaking of which… once we get out, I'll treat you to Glaze Bag pastries." Yun Jin smiled. "There's a new shop in Liyue Harbor. I heard they're delicious."
"Deal." Aether agreed. "Then I'll take you to the Windblume Festival in Mondstadt. The windmills and flower fields—you'll love them."
Just then, several dull thuds echoed from outside, followed by guards' screams. The two exchanged a glance, hope flaring in both their eyes.
The cell door was kicked open violently. Wind scented with desert sand rushed in. Candace stood at the entrance with her halberd, Cyno holding his Electro staff, behind them fallen guards.
"We're a little late." Candace stepped forward, her curved dagger slicing cleanly through the ropes. Cyno scanned the area warily, ensuring no ambush remained.
As the ropes fell away, Aether and Yun Jin staggered, catching each other to stand. Their wounds still ached, but seeing their companions and hearing one another's laughter, they knew they had pulled through another crisis together.
"Come on," Aether smiled at Yun Jin. "Let's get out of here first. We'll have those pastries later."
Yun Jin nodded, her eyes sparkling. "And we'll go to the Windblume Festival too."
Sunlight streamed through the doorway, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The four figures faded into the dense forest of the Valley of Fallen Jade.
Only the empty threat of being chopped into dumpling paste lingered in the silent cell, slowly dissolving into the wind.