Diona

The windmill slowly spins and creaks, The moonlight slowly vanishing within the night clouds. There she was, gazing deep into the pond, waiting for something to happens, Calla lily in her hands, she keeps calling for someone. I took a step, and her Small calico ears twitched, and she looked at me. Even in the darkest of the nights, her sky blue eyes and her face is glowing with the fireflies. "What took you so long?"

What exactly are we waiting for? I ask her. She says it's a secret. The skies are getting darker; the clouds are getting thicker. But to be honest, her smiles and her hums are enough for me to enjoy this scenery. Diona is always soothing to be with; maybe that's because she reminds me with, no, they are not the same. She opens her pouch. "I was saving this can of fish for when I was hungry; stop looking at it like that! ...Ermm, okay, I'll let you have a little taste, but nothing more!" Teasing her is very amusing, her playful frown with her round pink cheek. She is as lovely and sweet as calla lily; no, she is even more beautiful and more adorable.

After a long wait, she gives off a disappointed sigh. "Aether" I look at her, she seems very sad, and I pat her head. She is usually going to get mad at me, but today she holds my hand and stares at my eyes, "Aether, the reason I called you here is that... " she blushed, and I can feel her hands shivering. "I am afraid, Aether." She lay her head in my chest. "What if one day you will leave me too." She holds my sleeve, "Before I met you, I was so lonely." "Several years ago, this exact date, I saw a fairy from the pond; she was my first friend. But one day, she disappears, and I never saw her again." "Will you one day leave me too?"

I don't know about that myself. What will I do once I found Lumine? I want to caress her hair one more time; I am not sure what I should do. Before I could say anything, water starts dropping at my cheek and hair, followed by a rumble of thunder, and rain starts pouring hard without warning. I pull my cape, covering her, and run toward Draff's house.

Water drips from my clothes onto the wooden floor; she gave me a towel and turning on the fireplace. Draff is drunk and asleep behind us. "Rain! I hate the rain!" "I am sorry, Aether, because of me, you are now wet," the rain is nobody's fault, and yet, she blames herself." The cozy and warm fireplace crackle and the sound of the rain warm my heart and clear my doubt.

During the storm, I do saw a fairy, "Really? How was she like!" Her face is now very cheerful. How should I describe it, she is still waiting for my answer, and her tail wagging in excitement. "She is adorable," "Eh?" "She got a cute pigtail and fluffy ears, a round face, and an awkward smile; I fell in love with her at first sight. And yes, that fairy's face is just as adorable as yours." Her face reddens, and she smiles with disbelief.

"I hate you; you always tease me it's not fair." She bit me. "again and again; you played with my feelings; it's not fair, Aether" I pinch her cheek; my feeling for her is sincere, and I am tired of playing games, "I love you, Diona, I always have, I want you to tell me how you feel." She releases my hands.

Her eyes filled with confusion, "Y-You're asking this just to make fun of me! Ohhh, you're awful!" but I look at her wholeheartedly. She finally realizes that I am serious; my heart tightens as I hold her hands. "I-I," She is unsure of herself. "I love you too, Aether. You are reliable, warm, and kind; I never dream of this day to come that you say that you love me. To be honest, I am not prepared for this sudden attack; this is overwhelming." She put her hand in her chest. "But Aether, I do truly love you!" "But," but? "promise me never to leave me."

Her last condition makes me suddenly feel down; Of course, I don't want to leave her, but I still need to find Lumine; she looks at me as if she knows what I was thinking "Of course, if you need to go on an adventure, just bring me around with you. It's okay because I know you will protect and take care of me." She smiled at me with her genuine, innocent, and wonderful smile; I hug her firmly, "Yeah yeah, I get it, Aether. I am happy too, but look behind you!"

My emotion and the scene deeply swallow me. I don't remember nor realize that we are still in Diona's house. I look at the shadow from my back, and Draff was looking furious at me. Diona explains what happens, and after a long talk, "I promise to make her happy!" He finally gives in and gives us his blessing.

The rains have stopped, and the dawn appears on the horizon. We hold hand at the bridge to mondstadt; "You and me... we're lovers now, right? I kind of remember having a dream like this before; here, give me your hand. Ahh... Hmm, nice and warm... Very nice... please don't leave me, and become another dream." The morning light blinds my face and hides her face, but her soft paws touch my face and pull it slowly to her lips. And one day, we will remember how sweet the rising sun was in this morning.