Chapter 44: Unveiling New Powers

The group stood on the deck of the Alcor, their eyes scanning the endless stretch of ocean. The battle with the Hydro Beast had left them all worn out, but there was a lingering sense of accomplishment in the air. Aether could still feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins as they sailed away from Guyun Stone Forest, the taste of victory fresh in their minds.

"Not bad, Traveler," Beidou said, her eyes gleaming with approval. "I've seen plenty of adventurers fall short in these waters. But you and your companions? You handled yourselves well."

Aether gave a small nod, but his mind was elsewhere. As Beidou spoke, he felt something—something new. A pulse of energy deep within him, something different from the Anemo powers he had come to rely on. It was as if the very earth beneath the sea called out to him, urging him to tap into a force he had only begun to understand.

"Still with us, Aether?" Rosaria's voice pulled him back to the present, her sharp eyes watching him carefully.

"Yeah," he replied, shaking off the feeling. "Just thinking."

Rosaria raised an eyebrow, her usual smirk playing on her lips. "About the battle? Or something else?"

Aether hesitated. He hadn't told his companions about the Geo powers he had unlocked after visiting the Statue of The Seven in Liyue. He wasn't sure why, but the shift from Anemo to Geo felt significant, like a change he wasn't ready to reveal just yet. He decided to keep it to himself for now.

Before he could respond, the ship rocked suddenly, sending a ripple of alarm through the crew. "What was that?" Amber shouted, her eyes scanning the water for signs of danger.

"It's nothing major," Beidou said with a shrug. "Just the usual currents around these parts. But keep an eye out—we're not out of dangerous waters just yet."

Aether, still feeling the strange pulse within him, walked toward the edge of the deck. His hand brushed the hilt of his sword, and for a brief moment, he considered trying out the Geo powers right then and there. But before he could make a decision, Rosaria appeared at his side, her gaze focused on the horizon.

"You've been distant," she said, her voice low and private, so the others wouldn't hear. "Ever since we left Liyue."

Aether turned to her, slightly surprised by her observation. "I've just had a lot on my mind."

Rosaria's gaze lingered on him, her usually detached demeanor softening ever so slightly. "You don't have to carry everything on your own, you know. Whatever it is that's weighing on you, we can handle it together."

There was a flicker of something between them—a connection that had been growing since they first started traveling together. Rosaria's blunt, no-nonsense approach to things often kept others at arm's length, but with Aether, there was an understanding, a trust that had developed in the chaos of battle and shared goals.

Aether gave her a small smile. "Thanks. I know."

Rosaria's eyes flickered to the side, as if she were considering her next words carefully. "You don't have to pretend to be invincible all the time, Aether. I've seen you in battle. I've seen how much you push yourself. But you're allowed to let your guard down every now and then."

Aether looked at her, surprised by the rare moment of vulnerability from her. Rosaria wasn't the type to offer words of comfort, but when she did, they carried weight. He felt the tension in his chest loosen slightly, and before he could stop himself, he took a step closer, their shoulders almost touching.

"I appreciate it," Aether said quietly. "I didn't expect you to say something like that."

Rosaria smirked, her eyes narrowing playfully. "Don't get used to it. I'm not always this nice."

The ship rocked again, and instinctively, Aether reached out to steady himself. His hand brushed against Rosaria's arm, and for a moment, they stood there, the world around them falling away as their gazes locked. The tension between them shifted, not just from the battle but from something deeper.

"I don't mind if you are," Aether said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rosaria's lips curved into a half-smile, and for the first time, Aether saw something flicker in her eyes—something softer, more vulnerable than he'd ever seen before. "Don't push your luck, Traveler," she teased, though there was a warmth in her tone that hadn't been there before.

Aether chuckled, but before he could say more, the ship jolted violently. The deck tilted sharply, sending crates and barrels tumbling across the ship. Amber and Lisa shouted orders as the crew scrambled to regain control of the vessel.

"Brace yourselves!" Beidou yelled from the helm. "Something's coming!"

The pulse inside Aether surged again, stronger this time. Without thinking, he slammed his hand onto the wooden railing, and in an instant, Geo energy erupted from his palm. A barrier of stone shot up from the deck, shielding them from the incoming waves as a monstrous shape loomed in the water below.

Aether stared at his hand, eyes wide with shock. "Geo…"

Rosaria, still standing beside him, looked at the newly formed stone barrier, her expression unreadable. "So, that's what you've been hiding."

Aether's heart raced as he tried to control the energy still coursing through him. "I didn't mean to—"

Rosaria stepped closer, her voice steady. "Looks like there's more to you than I thought."

Aether exhaled, the rush of power fading, but the tension between them lingered. "We'll talk later," he said, his gaze meeting hers once more before turning back to face the looming threat.

"Count on it," Rosaria replied, her smirk returning, but there was a new depth to her tone, something unspoken that had passed between them in that moment of shared vulnerability.

As the battle unfolded, Aether knew two things: his powers were changing, and his relationship with Rosaria had taken a step into something uncharted.