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2 years have passed since the renowned traveler left Liyue for Inazuma to continue his search for his lost sister. Childe, who is currently staying in Liyue for work, is jolted awake by the port's hustle and bustle, vendors yelling, and last-minute shoppers running around to buy what they need.
As Childe readied himself to go to work, his attention was taken away by a glimpse of flowing golden locks as he looked into a window. He slapped himself awake, making sure he wasn't daydreaming, and he hurriedly ran towards the door. As the door bursts open, he quickly scans his surroundings, looking for those golden locks he desperately yearns for.
Sighs
As he walked to work, passing through crowds, He caught a glimpse of a white fairy floating alone near Wangsheng funeral parlor. As he swiftly walked towards the fairy, someone suddenly tugged at his arm.
"Hey, Childe, what's the rush?" As he looks back to see who it is, a wave of relief suddenly hits him, turning around quickly to hug Aether, gripping him tightly for the fear he may vanish again.
"Missed me much?" Aether said as he chuckled in Childe's chest as he patted his back in reassurance. "I thought you died, everyone does," Childe said as he released him from his grip, and he grabbed Aether's shoulders instead.
"We were so worried, it's been three months since the Inazuma opened its borders, yet we still haven't heard from you. Do you know how many letters I sent so I can change my post to Inazuma to-"
"Maybe we should move to a less crowded space, were atrracting too much attention being out in the middle of the street," Aether said as he grabbed Childe's hand, guiding him to a more secluded area near the Jade Chamber.
"So… Where have you been exactly after the Sakoku Decree was abolished?"
"How do you- never mind, I almost forgot you're part of the Fatui," Aether said as he scratched the back of his head. "So, after helping the rebellion, I accepted a commission to go to Tsurumi Island to find an instrument. At first, I was just stumbling around looking for it because I kept getting lost in the fog the envelopes the whole island. After that whole fiasco, I visited friends from Mondstat and uhmm.."
Aether abruptly stopped furrowing his brows as he massaged his forehead. "And? what happened?" Childe said, waiting in anticipation, while Aether continued to mumble to himself.
"It's kinda hard to explain it properly without getting into the details… So let's just say that while up in Dragonspine, a whopperflower mimics one of my friends …..And tried to kill us all."
The silence that managed to escape his lips we're deafeaning, the face that hed manage to make was only made to make the other man chuckle to himself. He finally spoke, breaking the silence that stretched a little too long, while grabbing Aether's arms to assure himself that the other is in one piece. "I- How did you escape? Are you Okay?" The gesture only made him chuckle harder.
"I'm fine, really," he said, wiping away tears. "We managed to kill the imposter and went back down with the rest of my friends"
As the two talked for hours more or so, just Aether recounting his adventures within Inazuma's border, till as the sun's golden warmth enveloped the pair, Childe stared blankly at Aether's eyes, as it caught the golden light of the fading dusk, making them glimmer like stars at midnight.
"I had fun talking to you, as always," Aether said, leaning his head to Childe's shoulder.
"See you tomorrow." he says as his body fades with the fleeting light of dusk
Childe leans back starring at the horizon as the sun fades, hiding behind the mountains. As tears dampen his face, cold emptiness engulfs his body, quickly replacing the warmth of the sun, making him shiver as he quietly sobs, making him grip harder on a white scarf.
"I'll see you tomorrow, my comrade."