Rising Winds Festival Pt. 20

"In this final round. Rules are the same but the stakes are higher. The final contestants will be drinking our bar's most potent drink. It was crafted by Master Diluc and his colleagues. It is called 'Satan's Favorite Drink' " Charles announced. The crowd got chills. Especially Barbara, fearing that both of the contestants will become demons after drinking the beer. Aether and Barbatos however were not fazed.

"It's just a name. What's so scary about it?" They both thought. The waiter walked over to them with mugs in his hands. Aether noticed that both of his hands were shaking uncontrollably.

"Now I'm questioning my thoughts." Aether thought while sighing to himself. Barbatos didn't react at all.

"Now I must confess. No one has even dared to even try a sip of the drink before. Please think properly, if you want to forfeit you can do it now. This is your last chance. " Charles warned.

Aether and Barbatos shrugged and picked up the mugs. They drank it slowly. The crowd gasped but stopped themselves after seeing Aether glare at them while drinking the beer.

They finished the beer and put the mug down slowly.

"More." Barbatos ordered.

"But Mr Bard—

" Did you not hear him Charles? I don't want to repeat what he said and neither does he." Aether said while the surroundings around him got darker. Charles gulped.

" Y-yes sir! " He turned to the waiter and he immediately poured the beer in the mug. Aether yawned. The waiter served the mug of beer and Aether and Barbatos drank it.

They put the mugs down again, they were not affected.

"How are they not passed out right now?" One guy asked. No one had the answer to that question. Barbara was praying repeatedly while Rosaria just looked on at the competition.

Aether and Barbatos kept drinking and drinking. Eventually they are on their twentieth mug. And they looked like they weren't even affected in the first place. But suddenly, they both fell forward hitting the ground. The crowd gasped and some screamed in shock.

"Aether!" Jean, Amber and Lisa shouted worriedly and tried to went beside him but were blocked by the crowd.

"Huh.... Even a god can get drunk.... how funny...." Aether thought amused while trying not to black out.

"Wow..... Someone actually gave me a challenge.... I only have thirty more mugs of this drink left in me. Well done Aether. But remember, we still have to meet at Saturday night. " Barbatos said before fake blacking out. Barbatos didn't know why he fainted but he decided to be a sportsman in this competition for once.

"Oh.... wow....." Charles muttered to himself while some sisters of the church immediately went besides them and checked on them. He turned to Diluc who was beside him.

"What shall I do Master? We've never had a tie before." Charles asked lost in what to do.

"Then let it be a tie. They were brave to drink this after all. And they kept going for a long time." Diluc said. Charles nodded and turned to the crowd who were awaiting his decision.

" We have decided that it is a tie! " Charles shouted and the people clapped their hands and cheered softly. Aether and Venti were taken away by stretchers carried by men and were brought to the Cathedral with Barbara following them.

"I hope it does come true...." Diluc thought with some hope in his heart.

The next day, Aether got up. He looked around and saw Eula beside him sitting on a chair.

"Hi darling. Nice to see you here." He said smiling. Eula bopped him on the head. Aether decided to take it, besides it didn't hurt. It only stung.

"Do you know how stupid that was!? You should've quitted instantly!" Eula shouted angrily. Aether tried not to roll his eyes.

"The irony in this. " Aether muttered. Eula's eye twitched.

"How is it ironic?!" Eula asked.

"Well, I asked you to quit but you didn't and insisted to keep going. And where did that decision land you in? " Aether replied amused and ruffled her hair. Euka blushed in embarrassment realizing it. She looked away pouting. Aether chuckled , he got up and hugged Eula.

"Hey, it's alright now Eula. I'm alright, you're alright. And we got to sleep in the same patient room." Aether smiled. Eula frowned

"That's not funny Aether. What if you gotten hurt in the process of drinking?" Eula asked frowning.

"Hey. I'm alright now Eula. You don't have to worried about me now." Aether kissed her on the nose. Eula looked down shyly. Aether embraced her lovingly

" If you say so Aether....." Eula hugged back.

"This is wholesome.... " Lisa said walking in with Amber and Klee. Klee ran over.

"Papa! Papa! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Klee asked running over to the beside. Aether chuckled and petted her head. Klee smiled like sunshine.

"I'm okay Klee. I'm very strong remember?" Aether answered smiling.

" Di–Did Klee just called you papa!? " Eula asked in shock.

" Kaeya told her to. He also told her to call, Lisa, Amber, Jean mama. I honestly don't mind it at all." Aether said shaking his head.

" Papa? " Klee asked poking him. Aether turned his head to her.

" Yes Klee? What do you want to ask about? " Aether responded.

" Is she my new mama? " Klee asked tilting her head to the side. Eula instantly heated up.

"Eh... Whaaat!!!!" Eula shouted and fell back. Aether caught her and plopped her on the bed beside him.

"Mhm. This is Eula. You've met her before right?" Aether said smiling. Klee nodded.

"Yeah yeah! She's a very cool dancer! And she's very strong too! " Klee said smiling happily.

" Th-thank you Klee. " Eula said shyly. Aether got up and got off the bed. He looked around and saw his backpack and picked it up. Paimon appeared beside him.

" Yay! You're awake again! Paimon thought she was going to experience it again. " Paimon said happy but irritated at the same time.

" Trust me when that time comes you know what to do. We're setting off right now. " Aether said and Paimon nodded excited.

" Setting off to where Papa? " Klee asked running over to him.

" Yes. You just got out of bed and you're off causing trouble again. I don't know how the girls keep you in line. " Jean scolded a little bit.

" Relax. I'm not going off to fight Stormterror. At least not yet anyways. I'm going to Liyue, I have some business there. " Aether said stretching his legs and hands.

" What kind of business? " Amber asked skeptically while getting close to him and staring at his eyes.

" You know that umbrella business. I'm going there to expand. " Aether explained. Amber stared at him for a while before sighing.

" Fine. You can go. But if I see you on the front page of Teyvat Daily you're going to get it. " Amber said raising her clenched fists in front of him.

" Like I said. Not going to cause trouble. I'm going off for a week and I'm coming back on Friday. " Aether said kissing Amber on the forehead. She blushed a little.

" Okay.... I'm going to miss you.... " She said. Aether smiled and ruffled her hair sweetly.

" Me too. Actually I'm going to miss all of you. And yet that includes you Jean." Aether said looking at her. She smirked.

" But I don't miss you though." She replied snarkily. Aether rolled his eyes and went over to her. He whispered into her ear. She blushed like a tomato.

He then turned to the others. He went to Lisa and Eula and kissed them on the cheek. Klee ran over and hugged him which he returned the hug. He openythe door and exited it.

"So Jean.... what did he say to you?" Lisa asked curiously after some silence. Jean looked away.

"Nothing! Now get back to work!" Jean said rushing out.

With Aether, he got a map of Liyue from Katheryne and went out of the gates of Mondstadt.

"Let's just hope that dragon doesn't take the opportunity to attack Mondstadt while I'm gone." Aether muttered. He and Paimon were currently on the way to Bishui Plain, where Wangshu Inn is located and the first Geo statue as well. He traveled from Dawn Winery's Anemo Statue and went from there.

On the way he cleared out some hilichurl and treasure hoarders camps, found treasure chests and a lot of new enemies.

After hours of walking and unlocking teleport waypoints on the way, he and Paimon were in front of a Geo statue.

Aether walked to the front of the statue. He felt that the energy he lost was returned instantly. He raised his hand and looked at Paimon.

Paimon who was watching it all silently nodded. He took a deep breath and touched it.

"The world opens itself before those with noble hearts."

To be continued....

(Two chapters at once.)