XLIII

Placing a slice of the flan in front of the excitable fairy had your lips twitching. "Get your head up off the table Aether."

Said traveler groaned, turning his head to his other cheek to soak up the coolness of the table. He sniffled and squeezed his eyes shut in what you could only assume was a reaction to his pounding headache.

"If you keep laying down, the sick won't drain from your body." You go behind the boy and gently lift him into proper posture by his shoulders. "Sit straight and it'll be gone in no time."

You busied yourself with finishing the hot tea you were making for Aether, squeezing some lemon in it before placing the cup in front of him. "Drink that."

"Why don't you just get him medicine?" Ariel drawls from his own spot at the table. He picked at the flan in front of him and ate it slowly, as if he were savoring it.

"It's just a stress cold Ariel, he'll be okay. Besides, I don't know how much the cathedrals will ask for cold medication." You saw Aether take the last sip of the tea you made him before flopping back down to the table. "Aether, what did I just say?"

You walk back over to the boy and pull him back up. You frown when you see his red face and put the back of your hand to his forehead. You sigh when you feel the unnatural heat against your skin. "You have a fever."

You pull away. "I guess I will head out to the cathedral. I'll get you some medicine to help you feel better. Okay?" You let Aether lay back down on the table, his face nestled in his arms. He nods his head. You rub your eyes and walk over to the window. Its hinges squeak as it opens. "Ariel, make him some more tea, would you? I don't want him to get a cough either."

"What's this about a cold?" You hear a cheerful voice chirp from.

You jerked in shock and turned around to see Venti lazing over the sill of the open window, a soft breeze ruffling his hair. "Venti! Don't do that!"

The bard only let out an amused giggle, a sound like little bells that made heat rise to your cheeks, but you only narrowed your eyes. "Aether's gotten sick after last night, so I was resigned to going down to the cathedral to ask the healers for some medication."

"Resigned? My cathedral is beautiful. It should be a pleasure to go there!" Venti's bottom lip stuck out in a pout.

"And any other time I'm sure it would be, but Liyue has already subjected me to medical related financial fear, and I don't have anyone to bail me out right now. I'm not the richest person in the world you know, and I'm not sure how much something as simple as cold medication would cost! God! I wish I had Tylenol."

I rub my hand across my forehead and sigh, annoyed. "You wanna come with me?" I ask blandly.

"Of course! I'd never turn up an offer, from one who is trying to help a poor cougher." Venti's little grin widened as your eye twitched.

"Coughing is the only thing he's not doing." I go over to Aether, giving him a peck on the back of the head. "I'm heading out to get your medicine. Paimon, do not eat the rest of that flan, I want some too and I haven't had any yet, Ariel-"

"Make some more lemon tea, I know." Ariel smiled gently at your somewhat flustered form. You felt yourself relax from his ease and a smile was on your lips before you knew it.

"Thanks, I can always count on you." You give Ariel a quick hug and are out of the door with a quick 'Love you all, be back soon'.

The cooling air hit you swiftly as you stepped out of the apartment, Venti fluttering by your side as you both began your walk to the cathedral. His arm slipped through yours and you chuckled as he pressed himself close to your side, shivering comically.

"I don't know why you are cold; you're making this breeze. Also, you're wind." You commented, but Venti only squeezed your arm, another pout on his lips.

"I don't control the seasons, I can't make the temperature warmer."

"But you can stop this damn breeze." You shook your head lightly to remove a piece of hair that had gotten close to your eye.

The two of you conversed lightly as you climbed the steps to the cathedral. The sisters were out and about along the steps and the base of the statue, speaking to people, listening to the music of other traveling bards, and patiently following any concerns a person came to them with.

You walked up to one of these sisters, and though her eyes squinted suspiciously at Venti, she looked at you with a sweet smile. "Can I help you?"

You smiled back. "Yeah, I was wondering if I can speak to a healer. I need medicine for my brother."

The sister perks up with something you could only see as pride. Her thin, pink lips pulled into a grin and the corners of her eyes curled. "Actually, Miss Barbara is available today. Would you like to see her? She's our best."

"I really only need some medicine. Can you tell me how much it costs and where I can buy it?" You waved off the sister's eagerness. You really didn't need to consult Barbara, who probably has better things to do, for a fever.

"Oh! Well, Miss Barbara is very good with healing tonics. I'm sure she can make you something very quickly. Come along." And without another word, the sister began to walk away, up the many marble steps of the cathedral.

"They really love her don't they?" You grumbled, following behind, Venti still glued to your arm.

The bard snorted, leaning up to your ear to whisper conspiratorially. "You don't know the half of it. With how many people love the girl, you'd think she's the god of this land. Hah!"

You scoff. "I couldn't think so, the people are already so loyal to you, they'd never take another as their god."

"And are you part of that bracket?" Venti teased, his eyebrow lifted and a smirk to his lips.

You stop in your tracks and turn to Venti. Looking him straight in the eyes, leaning forward, you emphatically said, "Yes."

Venti's eyes widened, the pink blush that decorated his cheeks due to the chilly air grew darker, until he saw your slow growing smirk and he frowned. "Teaser." He grumbled and began to walk forward.

You laughed and followed him, grasping his hand and turning him around to see his nth pout of the day. "Hey, I might not worship you, but you do have my loyalty, don't pout."

Venti's blush came back again but before you could continue, you made it to the doors. The cathedral was warm and inviting, the hanging orange lamps casting a soft glow over the stark white, intricate carved walls. The stained-glass windows covered the floors with colored light, and it had a distinct air, like that of an old book.

The sister you followed led you through the wide hall and towards a small room to the right. There, you saw Barbara, hair pulled into pretty, gently curled, blonde pigtails, ribbons decorating her unorthodox deaconess outfit, and her mary-janes tapping on the marble floors. Her catalyst hung near her hip while her hydro vision glowed a powerful blue.

"Miss Barbara?" The sister called. The deaconess looked away from the other nun she was conversing with to speak.

"Yes, Sister Sophia?" Her smile was sweet and easy, her voice held a friendly tone and was two steps away from being shrill, but instead was comforting.

"I brought this young traveler here and their... friend, because they require some medicine, and I told them you were the best at making it!"

Barbara nodded and turned to the nun she was speaking with, asking to be excused for a moment. The nun nodded with an adoring smile and left, letting Barbara bound over with simple cheer in her step.

"Oh, Sister Sophia, you're too kind. I only try my best, but I'd be happy to help." She turned to you. "So, what is it you need exactly?"

"Just some medicine for my brother. He's got a cold and a light fever. I've been giving him some tea with lemon to keep his throat soothed so he doesn't stop coughing and to help with the headache he had been complaining about."

Barbara nodded approvingly. "Very good, but I have just the perfect thing to get him right into shape!"

Barbara scurried around her room, pulling out different boxes of herbs. You could hardly follow along as she swept through the room, an intense focus on her face that could rival Xiao's, and then she was right in front of you, that cheery smile on her face, hands cupping a box on small tea bags.

"These are made from herbs with medicinal properties related to colds, sore throats, and fevers. I made the medicine as a tea rather than a kind of tablet as during these kinds of sicknesses it's important to keep hydrated as the body loses quite a bit of water sweating out the virus. Just make this like a normal tea, let it steep long, and serve it morning, noon, and night for the next few days."

Taking the box with a bit of shock, you nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Miss Barbara. So how much is it?"

"Oh no," Barbara waves you off. "I always keep the medicine free. I could never withhold such a thing when someone needs help, and it isn't like the church needs any more money." She giggles and gestures to the wide halls. "We get enough in donations anyway."

"Really?" You felt your eyebrow twitch as you looked at Venti, who was already pointedly looking away from you. And here you were freaking out over another Baizhu... "Thank you very much, Miss Barbara."

"It's no problem! Let the wind guide you!" She fluttered away and with the dismissal, you and Venti left the cathedral.

-

"New tea." I place the cup in front of Aether.

He groaned. "I've been drinking tea all day."

"This one is medicine. If you drink this one, I won't make you drink the lemon one."

Aether sighed and took a sip of the steaming tea. His nose scrunched and lips curled, a furrow between his eyebrows.

"Not good?" You asked, mirth obvious in your voice.

"Laugh it up. When you get sick, I'll make you drink the most disgusting medicine around, but the worst part is, it'll be the best you can get so you'd have to drink it..."

You let Aether grumble until he finished the cup before swiping it. While you cleaned the cup and other dishes that had piled in the sink, you spoke. "So, I was wondering if you still wanted to go to Inazuma after your encounter with Lumine."

"Just Inazuma?"

You shrugged, "Your journey in general but the next stop was Inazuma, no?"

"I don't know..." Aether went quiet. You waited patiently. "It just seems like it doesn't even matter anymore. It's like she already chose this place and is leaving me behind." You heard his head flop onto the table. "The whole point of traveling across Teyvat was to find her, but now, she doesn't even want to be found."

"Maybe we can find answers about her why rather than her where in Inazuma." You tried to sound as encouraging as possible.

"I guess... have you had any visions of Inazuma?"

You nodded slowly. "I have."

"Has there been some bullshit happening over there too?" You turned to see the most deadpan expression you've ever seen on a face.

"Yes," you succeed. "But you know I'd never make you involve yourself in something like that."

"Are you going to involve yourself in that conflict if we go, hero complex?"

"Why would you think that?" You mumbled.

"Are you forgetting how you got kidnapped in the first place?"

"Everyone was helping at the Jade Chamber Aether. I could do something, so I did."

Aether stood up from the table. "Going up to the Jade Chamber was reckless and it got you severely injured and kidnapped! You don't have any abilities that let you stand alongside the immortals that were up there!"

"I can take care of myself, Aether. I don't need a vision to go up against difficult opponents." You glared.

"It wasn't a difficult opponent. It was a god!"

"I wasn't even fighting Osial! I was attacking the Fatui that showed up just like you and Keching!" You were beginning to grow frustrated. You weren't a helpless child. Yes, you got hurt and kidnapped, but it wasn't due to your skill. "Besides, the only reason I got hurt was because the platform broke, not because I was injured by any specific entity."

"The platform broke because of Osial." Aether paused. "Did you know about the platform breaking?"

Aether must've seen something in your face because he scowled. "You did, and you went up there anyway."

"It's not like I intentionally let myself fall." You groaned. "It was the heat of the moment, and I forgot it happened, okay?"

"Uh no, not okay." Aether sputtered. "If you're going to involve yourself in dangerous stuff, you can't forget vital information that you have!"

"I'm sorry Aether! I can't say sorry enough! I know it was stupid and reckless and you and Ariel already lectured me at the hospital. I told you I would try to do better. Believe me, please?"

Aether huffed but relented, his shoulders dropping from their tense position. "We can go to Inazuma for information only."

"Cool." You smiled, but it felt weak. The argument took more energy from you than you thought it would've. "Can we see the cherry blossom trees? I've heard they're beautiful."

"Yeah." Aether sagged, his tiredness on full display. "That would be nice."