Rest

"So you remember when I said I would bring you to Monstadt to meet the girls?" Aether asked Shenhe.

"You mean your girlfriends?" Shenhe corrected. Aether nodded.

" Yeah. And somehow they know that I'm here." Aether answered. He looked to his left to see Barbara and Venti running to him.

"Aether!" Barbara ran over and hugged him. Aether smiled.

"Hi Barbara. I miss you a lot. How's Mondstadt?" Aether asked. Venti cleared her throat.

"Allow me to explain." Venti interrupted. Aether's eyes brightened even more.

"Venti! " Aether greeted. Venti smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Hello Goldie. I see you've met my friend." Venti looked at Zhongli who smiled.

"I brought Osmanthus Wine Zhongli. That's what you go by now right?" Venti asked to confirm. Zhongli nodded in confirmation.

"Nice of you come by, Venti. Are you also...." Zhongli looked at Aether then back at her. Venti blushed a little and scratched her head.

"Yeah.... I don't know how that happened but it did and I'm happy with it." Venti smiled. Zhongli shook his head in amusement.

"Always defying the odds Aether." Zhongli commented. Aether chuckled.

"If I didn't I'm not Aether." Aether replied. Cloud Retainer leaned into her brother's ear.

"How did he manage to bag her?" Cloud Retainer asked Mountain Shaper.

"A love potion. That's what it is." Mountain Shaper grumbled. Moon Carver slapped the both of them at the back of their heads with his feet.

"You guys need to stop immediately. Venti wouldn't fall for a simple trick. Unless the Tabibito used alcohol but I think Venti knows what beer smells like. " Moon Carver ranted to himself.

" Back to the question. Mondstadt is fully rebuilt. Thanks to your clones who are still there by the way, and the hardworking people in Mondstadt, the new city was rebuilt and things are back to normal again." Venti then described the situation there descriptively.

"Knew those clones are a great help. What about my store. You built it right?" Aether asked. Venti smiled.

"Alexia, the one who controls your business built more shops that now sell clothing and everyday products. I must say, those clothing designs are so pretty. And they have a section for the Adventurers Guild as well, like you wanted." Venti answered everything. Aether nodded.

"Glad to see things are back to normal again. Barbara. Are you sleeping?" Aether asked looking down at the smiling Deaconess. Oh and by the way, Xiao was not choking him now. Instead her head was on his shoulder and was observing the scene quietly.

"I was about to. Until you woke me up the last second." Barbara pouted at him. Ganyu yawned.

"Aether. I'm sleepy." Ganyu whined. Aether wanted to answer her but she immediately crawled up to his chest and hugged him. She then fell asleep after.

" That's what happens when you only eat flowers everyday. " Shenhe commented. Xiao smirked.

" Your daughter is still the same. " Venti mumbled while smiling feeling the nostalgia flowing through her.

" Yeah. So is everyone. " Zhongli answered. Lisa walked towards Aether.

" Hi cutie ~ Mua! " Lisa kissed him on the cheek passionately. Aether blushed a little.

" Not here Lisa." Aether replied. Lisa smiled caressed his cheek.

" Awww you're shy. You must've missed me a lot huh? Somehow, you became even cuter. Hihi." Lisa giggled and looked him in the eyes.

"It's like he became a different person." Zhongli mumbled. Venti chuckled.

"That's Lisa for you. She always somehow hypnotizes him when she's around him. I think it's very funny. It reminds me of you and Guizhong a long time ago." Venti reminded him. Zhongli smiled sadly.

"Yeah. Back then when things were normal and we went on with our lives. I always missed that time." Zhongli said grimly. Venti gripped his shoulder tightly.

"Hey man. She's in a better place now. When the time is right. You two can reunite again. For now, her memory will shine like gold in your mind. And please do not forget that you also have us. Remember that when you ascend. " Venti reminded him while looking at him with a serious gaze. Zhongli smiled and wiped a small tear in his eye.

" I know Venti. I know. I just miss her a lot. There are a few of our kind left. Most are turned to stone, some are with Guizhong now. I feel like I'm the only one left. " Zhongli muttered.

" How about this. You stop isolating yourself here and visit Mondstadt with me. Some of the people there send letters to me asking when Rex Lapis will visit us. How about that? You up for it? " Venti asked reaching out her hand.

" I faked my death in Liyue Harbor. If I visit Mondstadt—

"Then it'll be one hell of a prank. We visit together when you're ready. I'm sure you still have business here. " Venti said. Aether smiled at the interaction. It was a reunion between long time friends. Zhongli and Venti needed this.

"So, Aether. Please explain to us why you fought another god. And please answer truthfully." Lisa asked while small bolts of lightning zapped around her fingertips. Jean came over and glared at him.

"Yes. Please explain. We thought we told you to be careful. And what did you do?" Jean summoned her sword. She looked at Xiao.

" Tell me miss. Did he get injured? " She asked. Aether looked at Xiao with pleading eyes. Xiao smirked

" Please. I won't survive this. " Aether whispered to her. Xiao's smirk got wider.

"He suffered even worse. He died while fighting the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial." Xiao said faking sadness. Lisa gasped and let go of Aether. She looked at him.

" H-how are you here? " Lisa asked with a shocked and sad face. Jean widened her eyes.

" No, this is his ghost! " Jean commented. Aether held both of his hands up.

" No I swear I'm still alive. Keqing charged electricity in my body and Ganyu restarted my heart with her adeptal energy at the same time. I'm still here. " Aether slapped himself to prove his point.

" Chi Chi is dead!" Aether heard a child shout from a tree. He looked at the tree.

" Klee? " He called out. Klee came running out and hugged him.

" Uwaaaahhhh!!! Chi Chi is dead! Klee can't go fish blasting and adventuring with him again!" Klee cried while hugging him. Shenhe looked at the scene in shock. Cloud Retainer gasped.

" That's his child. She looks exactly like him as well! The pyro vision! But who's the mother?" Cloud Retainer stared at Jean in suspicion.

"Aether..... You didn't tell me you have a child.... Explain yourself before I slap your head off your body....

To be continued...