Chapter 17: Shadows in the Dark

The days following the Abyss Herald's defeat passed in a tense quiet. Though Mondstadt's people went about their daily lives, the underlying sense of unease never fully disappeared. Aether had spent much of his time patrolling the outskirts with Amber and assisting Lisa and Rosaria in tracking any magical disturbances. Despite their efforts, the Abyss Order remained disturbingly quiet.

Late one evening, Aether found himself once again standing on the walls of Mondstadt, gazing out over the darkened landscape. The moon hung high in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest, but there was no sign of movement—nothing to indicate that the Abyss Order was preparing to strike again.

"Can't sleep?" a voice called out from behind him.

Aether turned to see Rosaria approaching, her expression unreadable as always. She stopped beside him, leaning against the wall and gazing out over the horizon. Her presence, as cool and detached as ever, had become a familiar comfort during these quiet moments.

"Just thinking," Aether replied, his voice quiet. "About everything that's happened."

Rosaria gave a small nod, her eyes scanning the darkness. "The calm before the storm. I don't trust it."

Aether sighed softly. "Me neither. It feels like we're waiting for something to happen, but we don't know when or where."

Rosaria glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. "You've been carrying a lot on your shoulders since you got here. Most people would've cracked by now."

Aether chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "I don't really have a choice, do I? There's always something new to deal with."

Rosaria was silent for a moment, her gaze turning thoughtful. "You've handled it better than most. But remember—everyone breaks eventually. Just don't forget to look after yourself."

Aether smiled slightly, appreciating her blunt yet caring words. Rosaria wasn't the type to show her feelings openly, but there was no denying that she had a way of offering support in her own unique way.

"I'll keep that in mind," Aether said softly.

Rosaria nodded, her gaze shifting back to the horizon. "Good. Because if you break, we're all in trouble."

There was a brief moment of comfortable silence between them before Rosaria pushed off the wall and straightened up. "I'm heading out to check the perimeter. I'll let you know if I find anything."

Aether watched as she disappeared into the shadows, her form blending into the night with practiced ease. Despite her distant nature, Rosaria had become an invaluable ally—and someone Aether trusted deeply.

The following morning, Aether joined Jean, Lisa, and Amber in the Knights of Favonius headquarters. The atmosphere was tense as they gathered around the table, maps and reports spread out before them.

"There's been no sign of the Abyss Order for days," Jean said, her voice calm but laced with concern. "But I have a feeling they're planning something."

Lisa, ever the voice of reason, leaned back in her chair, her eyes scanning the reports with a thoughtful expression. "They've been too quiet. It's not like them to stay hidden for this long. Something's brewing."

Amber crossed her arms, her usual cheerfulness replaced with determination. "If they're planning an attack, we need to be ready. They could strike at any moment."

Aether nodded in agreement. "We need to stay on high alert. If they're waiting for the right moment, we can't let them catch us off guard."

Jean's gaze softened as she looked at Aether, her voice steady but filled with gratitude. "You've been a huge help, Aether. Mondstadt is safer because of you."

Before Aether could respond, a knock at the door interrupted the conversation. One of the knights entered, his expression serious.

"Grand Master Jean," the knight said urgently. "There's been a sighting of Abyss Mages near the Temple of the Falcon. They're gathering in large numbers."

Jean's expression immediately shifted to one of sharp focus. "Thank you. Prepare a team to head out immediately."

As the knight left to carry out her orders, Jean turned to the group, her voice firm. "We need to move quickly. If the Abyss Order is mobilizing, we can't let them gain any ground."

Aether stood, already prepared for battle. "I'll go with you."

Amber grabbed her bow, her eyes filled with determination. "Me too. Let's show them what Mondstadt's made of!"

Lisa, with her usual calm demeanor, gave a small smile. "Oh, I wouldn't miss this for the world."

Rosaria appeared at the door, as if summoned by the tension in the air. She leaned against the frame, her eyes sharp. "I'll handle things from the shadows."

With their plan set, the group gathered their weapons and made their way out of the city, moving swiftly toward the Temple of the Falcon. The sense of urgency in the air was undeniable, and Aether's heart raced as they approached the temple, the familiar pulse of dark energy growing stronger with each step.

When they arrived, the temple was surrounded by Abyss Mages, their dark magic crackling in the air. The group spread out, ready for battle.

"Stay sharp," Jean commanded. "We don't know how many of them are inside."

The Abyss Mages noticed their arrival immediately, and the air was soon filled with the sound of battle. Aether and the group fought side by side, each of them moving with precision and skill. Amber's arrows flew through the air, striking targets with pinpoint accuracy. Lisa's Electro energy crackled around her, sending shockwaves through the enemy ranks. Rosaria moved silently, her spear striking with deadly precision.

Aether, at the center of the chaos, unleashed his Anemo abilities, slicing through the Abyss Mages' barriers and sending them flying back with powerful gusts of wind. Jean fought beside him, her sword gleaming as she cut through the dark magic with ease.

But as the battle raged on, Aether felt a familiar presence—the same dark energy he had sensed before, growing stronger. His eyes scanned the battlefield, and there, standing at the edge of the temple's entrance, was another Abyss Herald.

"There!" Aether shouted, pointing toward the figure. "Another Herald!"

Jean's eyes widened. "We need to stop it before it calls for reinforcements!"

The group charged toward the Abyss Herald, but this one was stronger than the last. It raised its staff, summoning a wave of dark energy that surged toward them like a tidal wave. Aether reacted instantly, using his wind powers to deflect the attack, but the force of the impact was immense.

"It's stronger than before!" Amber called out, her voice strained as she loosed another volley of arrows.

"We need to focus our attacks!" Jean commanded, her voice filled with determination.

With a unified effort, the group fought back against the Abyss Herald, their attacks combining to wear down its defenses. The battle was fierce, but they fought with everything they had, determined not to let Mondstadt fall.