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Pain. That was the only thing on Keqing’s mind as she lay facedown in the dirt. Her head hurt, aches pulsated throughout her body, and only the Gods knew how many bones were broken or fractured. But that was nothing. Her knuckles tightened around the hilt of her sword, propping it up like a cane. Keqing dragged herself off the ground with a herculean effort and rose to her feet. Her knees creaked, and her heels hurt, but she had to keep going. Keqing wouldn’t, couldn’t, forgive herself if she fell there.
Her eyes rose to the scene in front of her. Metal screeched against metal as the nearby combat raged on. A blinding flash of gold flitted across her vision, bouncing off the Abyss Herald with a resounding clang . That same golden streak rebounded with astonishing speed, driving itself into the Herald’s defences once again. Each impact that the fighters made drove into her mind like wooden stakes, forcing the headache that was tearing at her skull to grow even louder. The sickly sweet taste of iron settled in the back of her throat as she swallowed. Her body screamed at her as she attempted to straighten up to rejoin the battle.
Just… a little… more…! Through sheer willpower, the Yuheng stood fully erect, poised and ready for combat. However, her body had other plans for her, as her knees buckled and Keqing collapsed back onto the ground in a purple heap.
“No!” she grunted through her teeth. Her legs were rendered deadweight, as her muscles and ligaments were exhausted to failure. Keqing cast a weak glance upward as the battle continued to unfold. Aether was holding his own well enough, but he was showing signs of slipping. His posture faltered and he left himself vulnerable to more and more attacks. His movements lagged behind his intentions, as his arms would only just barely come up in time to meet an oncoming attack. He may be one of the most powerful beings on Teyvat, but even the ethereal demigod had his limits.
Panic welled up in Keqing’s throat. She had to do something. What could she do? Could she even do anything? She tried once again to move, but her legs still refused to cooperate. They grew heavier and heavier, and she wished she could just chop them off to keep moving. Though a futile effort, Keqing arduously dragged herself forward in a vain attempt to assist. The desperation mounted as Aether bagan to absorb hit after hit. He couldn’t stay up for very much longer; the battle had run its course on him. One more time, Keqing attempted to prop herself up with her sword, but a swift and wordless kick had knocked it far from her reach. The Yuheng collapsed back on the ground, her only hope of stability taken away from her.
A heavy foot had placed itself square on her back and Keqing was powerless to resist. Her muscles spent, Keqing laid limp on the ground, her cheek pressed to the cold concrete as she watched the final moments of the battle unfold. Each slash was a blow to Keqing’s crumbling hope. Despair reared its ugly head, bloating the stones that she began to swallow.
No, this… this can’t be happening, she thought. Her breathing accelerated and Keqing’s consciousness began to feel trapped inside of her own body.
“No…” she groaned, clenching her fists. The brick floor was impossibly cold through her tattered gloves. Keqing reached out hoping that someone, anyone, would come to their rescue. The foot ground into her back, sending white hot tendrils of pain through her. Her eyes glazed over as the golden streak was sent flying back into a nearby wall, landing and slumping over.
“Aether…!” she groaned again, knowing full well that he was too far away to hear her. The traveller painstakingly stood up, gritting his teeth and growling at his opponent. He haphazardly swiped at the Herald who swatted his sword aside like it was but a mere toothpick. It clattered away, and the last light of hope drained from Keqing’s eyes. The Herald took foreboding steps toward Aether, who could do nothing but gaze death in the face. Raising his fist, the Herald prepared to sever the traveller’s immortality with one fell swoop.
“Aether!”
Her voice rang out across the battlefield as the Herald’s fist came crashing down with deadly force. The last thing she heard was a sickening crunch before Aether-
Keqing shot up, hyperventilating where she sat. Her pulse thundered in her skull, shaking her entire body like her own personal earthquake. It was as if someone had taken a mallet and was battering her ribcage with reckless abandon.
Aether? Aether!
The only thing Keqing’s mind could think of was Aether as her head whipped around the room, looking for any sign of him. Anxiety barreled through her senses as she made her frantic scan of their bedroom.
I have to find him! It didn’t take very long, however, to catch a glimpse of beautiful gold shimmering in the silver moonlight. She carefully observed his chest, watching for the rise and fall of his breathing cycle. There was nothing amiss; Aether was breathing normally, just as he did every other night. Relief washed over her like a tidal wave.
It was just a nightmare…
“Mngh…” The traveller stirred in his sleep, blearily blinking away the sleep. “Keq…ing?”
Keqing sighed in relief, laying back down next to Aether. He was so warm, and he felt so safe.
“Didja’ have a nightmare?” Aether mumbled into her shoulder.
“Y-yeah…”
“S’kay now…” Aether reassured her. He squeezed her arm, then flopped over on top of Keqing, throwing his other arm across her. His weight settled on top of her, tethering and anchoring her to reality.
He’s alive. He’s okay. He’s with me right now.
“You’re okay…” Aether mumbled into her neck. “‘m here.”
She felt Aether’s pulse through his chest with her own. One. Two. Three. Four. Each steady beat was a gentle reminder of his presence, of the life flowing through his veins. He was safe. She was safe.
“S’okay…” came a final murmur before Aether’s breathing evened out once again. “Love ya…”
Keqing’s throat squeezed, nearly forcing a tear out of her eyes.
“I love you too…”
She hugged onto him like he’d float away if she were to let go. His hair threaded like silk through her fingers as his warmth sang a lullaby to her. Slowly but surely, Keqing would follow Aether back to the land of sleep, bound together by his embrace and grounded by his scent.