Diluc cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the low clinking of cutlery and quiet chatter at the dinner table.
"We need to talk about something," he said, setting down his glass. His crimson eyes swept over the table. "It's about Aether."
Jean glanced at him, then turned to face the young man seated across from her. "We've been thinking," she began, her tone calm but purposeful, "about enrolling you in the Adventurer's Guild."
Aether blinked.
Diluc nodded. "Even though your powers awakened later than most, you've caught up quickly. That alone makes you a candidate."
Amber, Aether's adopted sister, who had been nibbling on a piece of bread, brightened immediately. "You've got what it takes! I say go for it bro."
Diluc gave a small smile. "Coincidentally, the guild is holding an aptitude test tomorrow in Mondstadt. If Aether hits the minimum threshold, he'll be officially recognized. Don't worry about what rank they give you, just focus on getting in, son."
Jean rested her hands in her lap. "But the decision is yours, Aether. This path—being an adventurer—it's more of Diluc's dream than yours. You don't have to follow it unless it truly calls to you."
Aether leaned back in his seat, quiet for a moment. His thoughts wandered— the only real concern for him was the Abyss and its connection with Paimon. Was it a real threat? Or just another glitch in the System. It was hard to ascertain something he'd only ever encountered twice in 20 years. But the involvement of Paimon forced him to take it seriously.
He looked down at his hand, flexing it slowly. If being part of the guild gave him permits to travel, to fight stronger enemies… he could level up faster. Build a shadow army from the foes he defeated. Prepare.
He glanced up. "I'll do it," he said simply.
Amber beamed. "Yes! I knew you'd say that!"
Jean smiled faintly, folding her arms. "Then it's settled."
Diluc raised his glass, the flickering candlelight catching the rim. "To the next adventurer of Mondstadt," he said, his voice warm for once.
"To Aether!" Amber cheered, clinking her glass against his.
Aether smiled to himself.
The morning sun had only just crested the hills when the carriage rolled out from Dawn Winery. The horses trotted briskly, steam rising from their backs in the morning chill. Diluc sat up front, speaking sharply to the driver every few minutes.
"Faster. We need to be there very early."
The driver flicked the reins, giving a slight nod, clearly used to his master's urgency.
Inside the carriage, Aether sat across from a crate of wine supplies, arms folded, his gaze locked on the window. The dandelion fields blurred past, but he barely saw them.
Diluc glanced back once through the small window to check on him. Seeing the lad quiet and still, he didn't say anything.
Aether's thoughts were far away—deep in numbers, ranks, and chances.
E rank. D rank. C…
He had read the guild's classifications before. The guild ranked adventurer's from S rank being the highest, to E rank being the weakest. E and D ranks were often seen running errands or collecting herbs. They were treated more like helpers than real adventurers. The kind of people you forgot existed unless they were in your way.
But C rank… That was where things changed and he hoped to at least reach this level. C-ranked adventurers could lead small teams, take on small threats like hillichurls, and access limited guild resources.
He leaned his head back, eyes narrowing.
Of course, S rank is the dream. The kind of power you read about in guild records. Monsters who became legends. But the chances of that? One in a million.
Then there was Archon rank. Higher than S. So rare it wasn't even included in the aptitude tests. Aether had only ever heard rumors—people who bent the laws of Teyvat just by being alive. Anomalies like Zhongli of Liyue and Raiden Shogun of Inazuma.
Diluc's voice broke through the silence.
"We're close. Ten more minutes."
Aether opened his eyes and gave a small nod.