Aether paid no mind to the events unfolding back in Sumeru.
His focus was on something else entirely - he wanted to witness a trial at the famed Opera Epiclese. Come to think of it, he'd never seen a full performance from start to finish.
So, blending in with the crowd, Aether entered the grand opera house to watch. But his attention wasn't on the trial. Instead, his gaze drifted toward the judge's seat, where Neuvillette presided with quiet authority - and just beside him, Furina, watching everything unfold with those bright, ever-curious eyes.
As he looked at his old companions, a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
Tonight, he planned to give Furina a gift.
She looked tired. She always did, lately.
He hoped, at least for tonight, she could rest, truly rest.
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Ever since his return to life, Aether had begun to notice a subtle shift in how he viewed the girls who cared about him. Before his reborn, he had many close bonds across Teyvat; deep friendships with countless remarkable women. And if he had wanted to... yes, love and even marriage wouldn't have been out of reach.
But back then, he had never once crossed that line.
Something inside him had always held back; a quiet voice reminding him that he wasn't from this world. That he was a traveler from the stars. That staying... truly staying, was never an option.
To love someone here, knowing he couldn't remain, felt too much like a betrayal.
But now, reborn and walking these lands once more, that hesitation was gone.
When he looked at those familiar faces again, that voice no longer spoke.
And so, a curious thought began to take shape in his heart...
But in the end, that no longer mattered.
He still remembered what the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles had once told him; advice that lingered in his mind even now:
"You should try to build good relationships with as many people in Teyvat as possible."
"And when it comes to those who love you... There's no need to stay so tightly wound. This is your last chance. They've already taken so many steps towards you; if your heart is willing, then it's your turn to move toward them."
"Debts of the heart are the hardest to repay, hero. I hope you'll cherish everyone who holds love for you..."
Aether mulled over those words again, feeling as if he truly did owe something to each of them.
Come to think of it, if he were to be in a relationship with several people, marriage and all, were there any legal restrictions in Teyvat? Probably not, right?
Maybe he should ask Yanfei about it sometime...
And so, while his eyes remained fixed on Furina, his mind wandered off towards Yanfei.
Somewhere in that train of thought, Aether quietly solidified a rather scandalous decision:
He would become a heartbreaker.
Since things had already come to this, maybe it was time he actually did something.
Taking initiative wouldn't kill him, right?
So he began to think, what did each girl like? What kind of gift would make her smile?
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"Now, the final verdict shall be rendered by the Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale."
"According to the Oratrice's judgement... I hereby declare: Mr. Edward, guilty."
Neuvillette's distinct, resonant voice echoed through the opera hall. While Aether had been lost in his thoughts, the trial had already come to an end.
The defendant, Edward, stood with his head hung low, completely stripped of the will to argue. Everyone knew the Oratrice Mécanique d'Analyse Cardinale never made mistakes. There was no chance of overturning the verdict.
It was as if he could already see the gates of the Fortress of Meropide opening just for him.
Furina watched the scene with disinterest, letting out a quiet sigh.
But it wasn't out of pity for the criminal—it was disappointment. Her usual anticipation had gone unrewarded once again.
"Looks like it wasn't this one either. Another day, another fruitless trial…"
Aether had already snapped out of his daze and, upon seeing that hint of disappointment in her eyes, he felt a pang of sympathy.
After Furina exited the stage, he quietly slipped away from the crowd and followed at a distance.
He watched her make her way into the Palais Mermonia, carefully keeping to the shadows to ensure she was safe.
Once he confirmed there was no danger, he turned to leave.
This wasn't their first meeting—but from her perspective, it was the first time she'd ever seen him. And he thought… maybe he shouldn't show up empty-handed.
It would be better to give her a gift—something memorable—to leave a good impression.
And so, just as Furina sat dazedly on her bed, trying to catch a moment of rest, the door quietly opened—and in stepped a blond-haired boy holding a single rose.
Her first instinct was panic.
She didn't know who this stranger was or why he had come, but the rare sliver of peace she had carved out for herself vanished instantly.
Furina knew she had to always uphold the image of the Hydro Archon. Even in her sleep, she reminded herself of that responsibility. But no one could remain under constant pressure forever. In those brief moments before she fell asleep, she would sometimes let her true self show.
Aether's first reaction upon seeing her was pain—an aching, helpless kind.
Her eyes were dull and lifeless, like glass; her posture stiff, almost puppet-like. She looked nothing like the flamboyant, radiant "superstar" Furina that the world adored. No energy, no spark—just exhaustion.
But the moment she saw Aether, she straightened up, slipping into her role almost instinctively. She tried to appear composed.
"Who are you?" she asked, voice firm.
Yet Aether could see the sweat beading on her forehead, her hands trembling ever so slightly.
And in that moment, all he wanted to do was step forward… and hold her close.
Aether smiled gently. "I'm just a traveler who admires you, not from Fontaine. O mighty Hydro Archon Furina, please forgive my intrusion. I've come not with ill intent, but to share a secret with you."
Truth be told, Aether wasn't used to speaking like this—it felt overly theatrical, almost like something out of a Fontaine play. But he figured it would help Furina settle down. Playing to her strengths might help her regain some calm.
He stole a glance at her, and sure enough, the melodramatic cadence in his words brought a flicker of familiarity to her eyes. She straightened slightly, her confidence returning as she stepped into character.
"Is that so?" she said, raising her chin. "It seems the name of Focalors now echoes across all of Teyvat. Very well—your rudeness is forgiven. Now, I permit you to speak your secret."
She laughed, over-the-top and full of flair, just like she always did on stage.
Aether watched her, heart heavy. Furina had been wearing that mask for far too long. He couldn't help but wonder… once she learned the full truth about Fontaine, would her heart be able to bear it?
Still smiling, Aether gently took her hand.
"In that case, please—come with me."
Before Furina had time to react, the world shifted around them.
In the blink of an eye, the two now stood in a completely new place.
Furina instinctively looked around. It appeared to be a high tower of some sort, close to the heavens themselves. When she looked up, countless stars glittered above them, stretching endlessly into the night sky.
Looking down from the tower, one could see much of Teyvat spread out below—lush forests, rolling mountains, and not far off, snow-covered peaks gleaming white under the starlight.
"What… is this place?" Furina asked, momentarily stunned.
She didn't possess a Vision, but even she knew—no Vision wielder could teleport someone to an entirely unfamiliar place like this. Not even Neuvillette could do that.
Aether's expression had changed. The gentle smile he'd worn earlier faded, replaced by a calm, serious gaze as he looked directly at Furina.
"What I'm about to tell you," he said quietly, "is the secret of Fontaine."