Chapter 1: A New World

The sun rose over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the vast, unfamiliar landscape. Aether opened his eyes, blinking against the light as he tried to make sense of where he was. His muscles ached, and his thoughts swirled in confusion. The last thing he remembered was standing beside his sister, Lumine, on the shores of another world. They had been preparing to leave, to move beyond the bounds of that realm, when everything changed.

Aether's brow furrowed as he recalled the appearance of the mysterious figure—a powerful goddess. Her aura was overwhelming, her words ominous, and before he could react, she had torn them apart. Lumine had been pulled away from him, and no matter how hard he had struggled, Aether couldn't reach her. Now, Lumine was gone, and he found himself stranded in a strange, unfamiliar world.

"Where am I?" he muttered under his breath, trying to make sense of the situation.

A soft splash nearby caught his attention. Aether turned, surprised to see a small, floating figure beside him—a tiny being with wings, hovering just above the water's surface. She looked at him with bright, curious eyes and a grin that seemed both innocent and mischievous.

"Hey, you're finally awake! Paimon's glad you're okay!" the little creature chirped, her voice cheerful and filled with relief.

Aether blinked. "Paimon?" he echoed, trying to recall if he had ever seen such a being before.

"That's right! I'm Paimon, and I'll be your guide in this world. You're in Teyvat now!"

Aether slowly stood, stretching his stiff muscles. He glanced around at the beautiful, unfamiliar surroundings. Teyvat? He had never heard of such a place. Rolling hills, towering trees, and distant mountains stretched out before him, an almost dreamlike landscape. There was no sign of Lumine, no sign of the world they had left behind.

"All right, Paimon," Aether said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in his chest. "I need to find my sister. Will you help me?"

"Of course! Paimon's got your back!" she replied with a confident grin. "First, let's head to Mondstadt. It's the City of Freedom, and maybe someone there can help you!"

As they began their journey toward Mondstadt, Paimon floated beside him, explaining bits and pieces of the world. She spoke of the Seven Archons, each of whom ruled over one of the elements. Each nation revered their Archon, and Teyvat's people gained their elemental abilities through something called a Vision. But Aether did not possess a Vision, and Paimon sensed his curiosity.

"How do people gain these elemental powers?" Aether asked.

Paimon grinned. "Oh! Good question! People who gain Visions are chosen by the gods, but you'll find out more about that soon! Actually, before we reach Mondstadt, there's something important I need to show you!"

Paimon led Aether toward a hill where a towering statue stood at its peak. The Statue of The Seven overlooked the land, its stone form radiant under the sunlight. It depicted a figure with wings outstretched, gazing over the surrounding landscape as if protecting it.

"That's a Statue of The Seven!" Paimon explained, her voice filled with excitement. "Each region has these statues dedicated to the Archons. This one's dedicated to the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, the god of wind who protects Mondstadt."

Aether was drawn to the statue, sensing a strange energy coming from it. As he approached, he reached out instinctively, placing his hand on the stone surface. The moment his hand made contact, a surge of energy rushed through him. The wind around him seemed to come alive, swirling gently at first before gathering strength.

"Whoa, what's happening?" Aether asked, stepping back in surprise as the wind began to respond to him.

Paimon hovered closer, her eyes wide with amazement. "Looks like you've connected with the statue! It's granted you some of the power of Anemo—wind! That's incredible, especially since you don't even have a Vision!"

Aether glanced at his hands, feeling the energy of the wind at his fingertips. He could sense the air shifting at his command. It was strange, but there was a sense of familiarity, as if this power had been waiting for him to unlock it.

"So… I can control the wind now?" Aether asked, still processing what had just happened.

Paimon nodded enthusiastically. "Looks like it! You must have some special connection to Teyvat. This will be super helpful on your journey!"

With newfound power flowing through him, Aether felt a flicker of hope. He might not have answers yet, but this power—this connection to the world—could be a key to finding his sister.

Hours later, the towering walls of Mondstadt came into view. The city, nestled in a lush valley, looked peaceful from a distance. Its windmills turned lazily in the breeze, and the gleaming walls spoke of a city well-protected and cared for. The sight of it brought a flicker of hope to Aether's chest, but that hope was short-lived.

As they approached the gates, the air shifted. The breeze grew stronger, harsher, and a deafening roar split the sky. Aether looked up just in time to see a massive dragon streaking across the heavens. Its wings, impossibly large, cast a shadow over the city, blocking out the sun. The dragon let out another roar, this time a sound of rage, before vanishing into the mountains.

"That's Stormterror!" Paimon exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear. "Mondstadt's been under attack for weeks now because of that dragon!"

Aether's eyes narrowed as he watched the dragon disappear. A city under siege by a dragon? This world was more dangerous than he had anticipated.

Before Aether could ask more questions, a voice called out from the city gates.

"You there! Traveler!"

Aether turned to see a woman approaching. She was clad in armor, her movements graceful but strong, as if she carried the weight of leadership on her shoulders. Her cape fluttered in the breeze, and a sword rested at her side, a symbol of authority and readiness for battle. There was a commanding presence about her, but as she drew closer, Aether noticed a softness in her eyes, a warmth that seemed out of place given the city's dire situation.

"I'm Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius," she said, extending her hand. "You must be the traveler everyone's been talking about. We could use your help."

Aether shook her hand firmly, nodding. "I've come looking for my sister, but I'll help where I can. What's happening with that dragon?"

Jean sighed, glancing up at the sky where Stormterror had vanished moments earlier. "Stormterror used to be a guardian of Mondstadt, but something has corrupted him. We've tried to protect the city, but it's been difficult. The dragon's power is far beyond what we anticipated."

"I see," Aether replied, his mind already racing with possibilities. "I'll do what I can."

Jean smiled, a small flicker of relief softening her expression. "Thank you, Traveler. Meet me at the Knights' headquarters. We'll need all the help we can get."

As they walked through the gates of Mondstadt, Aether couldn't help but take in the sights around him. The people moved with a quiet sense of urgency, aware that peace was fragile. Yet, there was a resilience in their faces. Despite the dragon's attacks, they continued with their daily lives, unwilling to surrender to fear.

The city's beauty was undeniable, but Aether's thoughts remained on Lumine. Helping Mondstadt might lead him one step closer to finding her. He didn't know how or when, but he was certain that the answers he sought were somewhere in this world.