The cold winds of Liyue swept across the golden rooftops of the city as the people gathered beneath the glowing lanterns of the magnificent Yujing Terrace.
At the center of the terrace stood Lady Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.
Her elegant white dress fluttered gently in the wind while her sharp crimson eyes observed the crowd standing before her.
The atmosphere was tense.
Merchants.
Officials.
Wealthy citizens.
Influential figures of Liyue Harbor.
All of them had gathered for one reason.
The death of Rex Lapis.
"The murderer must be punished!"
A middle-aged merchant stepped forward angrily.
"The people are restless, Lady Ningguang!"
Another man added loudly,
"The blonde traveler should be arrested immediately!"
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Yes!"
"He's suspicious!"
"He appeared right after the assassination!"
"He must be the killer!"
Despite the pressure rising around her, Ningguang remained perfectly calm.
She slowly raised one hand.
"Silence."
Her voice was neither loud nor aggressive.
Yet the entire terrace instantly fell quiet.
Ningguang looked at every person before her carefully.
"You all claim that the traveler is responsible for the death of Rex Lapis."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Then present your evidence."
The crowd froze.
Silence spread through the terrace.
People began glancing at one another uncertainly.
One man finally spoke.
"I… heard someone witnessed what happened."
Ningguang narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Oh?"
"And where did you hear this rumor?"
The man hesitated.
"…Among the people in the harbor."
Another citizen nodded.
"I heard the same thing."
"So did I."
"The rumor is spreading everywhere."
Ningguang folded her arms gracefully.
"A rumor is not evidence."
Her tone became firmer.
"The Liyue Qixing will not arrest anyone without proper proof."
The people fell silent once more.
Some looked dissatisfied.
Others looked uncertain.
Ningguang continued calmly,
"If any of you possess actual evidence regarding the identity of the killer…"
"…bring it before me."
Her voice echoed across the terrace.
"Until then, spreading accusations without proof will only create fear and chaos."
No one responded.
Ningguang slowly turned away.
"This gathering is dismissed."
The crowd gradually dispersed, whispering among themselves.
But even after they left…
Ningguang's eyes remained serious.
"…Someone is manipulating the people."
"And they are using Aether as the center of it."
Far away from the politics and unrest of Liyue Harbor, endless snowstorms covered the frozen lands of Dragonspine.
The night sky above the mountain was dark and cloudy.
Snow drifted endlessly through the cold air.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Crunch.
Aether walked slowly through the snow-covered path.
His cloak fluttered behind him as freezing winds brushed against his face.
But the cold no longer bothered him much.
His mind was occupied elsewhere.
"…Why are they accusing me?"
His golden eyes reflected confusion.
"I've never even met this Rex Lapis…"
The voices from Liyue Harbor echoed in his mind.
"Murderer…"
"Blonde traveler…"
"He killed the Geo Archon…"
Aether clenched his fists slightly.
"…Someone is pulling the strings behind this."
The thought refused to leave him.
As he continued walking through the snowy darkness, a strange feeling suddenly crept over him.
Presence.
Someone was nearby.
Aether immediately stopped.
The snowfall thickened around him.
"…Who's there?" he called out calmly.
Silence answered him.
But then—
A figure slowly emerged from the mist-like snowfall.
Golden eyes.
Dark green hair.
A cold expression.
The newcomer stepped forward silently.
Aether frowned.
"…Who are you?"
The young man looked directly at him.
"I am Xiao."
His voice was calm but sharp.
"One of the Adepti who served Rex Lapis."
Aether blinked.
"…Adepti?"
He had heard the word before from rumors in Liyue, but he still did not fully understand what it meant.
Xiao's gaze sharpened.
"You stand accused of killing the Geo Archon."
Aether immediately responded,
"I didn't kill anyone."
But Xiao showed no reaction.
Instead—
He summoned a jade-green spear into his hand.
The weapon radiated immense killing intent.
Aether's expression slowly turned serious.
Xiao pointed the spear directly at him.
"You claim innocence."
The snowstorm intensified around them.
"Then survive."
Aether slowly drew his sword.
"…I don't want to fight you."
Xiao disappeared instantly.
BOOM!
The ground exploded beneath Aether as Xiao appeared directly before him with terrifying speed.
The spear thrust forward.
Aether barely reacted in time.
CLANG!
Steel collided violently.
The impact sent powerful shockwaves through the snowy mountain.
Aether's eyes widened slightly.
"He's fast…"
Xiao launched another attack immediately.
One strike.
Two strikes.
Six consecutive spear attacks exploded toward Aether without pause.
Each movement was sharp, precise, and deadly.
Aether retreated rapidly while blocking the attacks.
Sparks flew across the battlefield.
Then suddenly—
Xiao vanished again.
Aether sensed danger instantly.
Above!
Xiao descended from the sky with a devastating plunging attack.
BOOOOOOM!
The snow-covered ground shattered violently.
A massive crater formed instantly.
Aether leaped backward using his wings, barely escaping the impact zone.
The freezing winds spiraled violently around Xiao.
Without hesitation, Xiao activated his Elemental Skill.
His body lunged forward like a green comet.
WHOOSH!
Aether crossed his sword defensively.
CRASH!
The impact sent him flying backward across the snow.
Aether dug his feet into the ground to stop himself.
"…So this is an Adeptus."
For the first time in a long while—
Excitement rose within him.
Xiao charged again.
But this time Aether spread his golden wings.
The air exploded beneath him as he accelerated forward.
Their weapons collided again and again in the middle of the snowstorm.
Spear.
Sword.
Wind.
Shockwaves.
The entire mountain trembled from their battle.
Aether quickly realized something terrifying.
Xiao was becoming stronger as the battle continued.
The longer he fought—
The more dangerous he became.
Xiao suddenly leaped backward.
Then—
Dark energy surrounded him.
A terrifying Yaksha aura erupted across the mountain.
A demonic mask formed over his face.
The atmosphere itself became heavier.
Aether narrowed his eyes.
"…What is that?"
Xiao's voice echoed darkly beneath the mask.
"Bane of All Evil."
The snow around him exploded outward.
In an instant Xiao vanished.
Aether barely managed to react before Xiao struck him from above with overwhelming force.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground shattered.
Aether crossed his arms defensively but was still blasted through multiple frozen rocks.
Before he could recover—
Xiao attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Every plunge attack shook the entire mountain.
Aether's body crashed through the snow repeatedly.
But slowly—
His eyes began adapting.
Reading.
Analyzing.
Predicting.
His natural combat instincts awakened completely.
"…I see."
Aether wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
"You're not invincible."
Xiao rushed toward him again.
But this time—
Aether moved first.
His wings burst open.
Using gravity manipulation, he instantly changed the force surrounding his body and accelerated unnaturally fast.
Xiao's eyes widened slightly.
Aether appeared directly behind him.
SLASH!
Xiao turned quickly to block—
But Aether was already moving again.
His swordsmanship evolved with every movement.
Each strike adapted perfectly to Xiao's attacks.
Xiao attacked with overwhelming aggression.
Aether responded with overwhelming adaptation.
The battle escalated further.
Mountains cracked.
Snowstorms split apart.
Huge rocks were shattered by their impacts.
At one point, Xiao launched forward using multiple stacked Lemniscatic Wind Cycling attacks.
The speed was monstrous.
But Aether suddenly manipulated gravity around the battlefield.
The snow beneath Xiao's feet collapsed inward.
His movement faltered for a split second.
That single moment—
Was enough.
Aether unleashed a devastating aerial combo.
Sword strikes rained down like a storm.
Xiao blocked several attacks—
But not all.
Cracks spread across his spear.
Aether descended rapidly.
CRAAAAASH!
Their weapons collided one final time.
Then both shattered simultaneously.
Fragments of steel scattered across the snowy battlefield.
Both fighters stood breathing heavily.
Xiao's Yaksha mask slowly faded.
But despite his exhaustion—
He attacked again barehanded.
Aether responded the same way.
Punches.
Kicks.
Martial arts.
The fight became brutally physical.
Xiao struck Aether's ribs with a powerful kick.
Aether responded with a gravity-enhanced punch to Xiao's abdomen.
Shockwaves erupted around them.
The ground trembled violently.
Finally—
Aether saw an opening.
He stepped forward instantly.
His fist struck Xiao directly in the chest.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact shattered the frozen ground beneath them.
Xiao's eyes widened.
Then his body collapsed into the snow unconscious.
Silence followed.
Only the sound of falling snow remained.
Aether stood there breathing heavily.
"…I won."
He looked down at Xiao quietly.
For a moment—
He considered leaving him there.
But the freezing storm around them was growing worse.
"…No."
Aether sighed softly.
"I'm not leaving someone to die in this cold."
Carefully, he lifted Xiao onto his back.
Then he spread his wings and flew toward Springvale.
The next morning—
Warm sunlight entered Aether's rented house.
Xiao's eyes slowly opened.
For a moment, confusion crossed his face.
"…Where…"
Then he immediately sensed someone nearby.
He turned sharply.
Aether stood beside the bed calmly.
Xiao instantly tried to move into a defensive position.
But pain shot through his exhausted body.
His breathing became heavier.
Aether raised one hand peacefully.
"Relax."
Xiao stared at him cautiously.
"…Why am I here?"
Aether replied calmly,
"You lost consciousness in the middle of a snowstorm."
"So I brought you here."
Xiao remained silent.
Aether continued,
"I don't know why you attacked me…"
"But we can talk this out instead of trying to kill each other."
Xiao quietly observed him.
Then slowly—
He lowered his guard slightly.
"…Fine."
But inwardly—
Xiao was disturbed.
After such a brutal battle, his own body felt weak and exhausted.
Yet Aether stood there completely fine.
No visible fatigue.
No serious injuries.
The realization unsettled him deeply.
"…What exactly is this traveler?"
For the first time in centuries—
Xiao felt genuine caution toward another being.
And standing before him…
Was the mysterious traveler named Aether.