Chapter 74: Plan
"Hah. This is nice." Aether marveled at the scenery. The night sky, millions and millions of stars shining all over the place. Diluc chose a great spot to build Dawn Winery. Aether looked at Barbatos who just appeared holding a small crate of wine on one hand and two wine glasses on the other.
"I feel like it's the perfect time to have this. We will face our enemy tomorrow. " Barbatos explained and sat down on a rocking chair that was beside Aether's rocking chair.
"You said it. " Aether said taking a bottle of beer and looked at a picture on the beer. He gulped a little.
"Barbatos. You do know what you've taken for us to drink right?" Aether asked Barbatos who was opening his bottle of beer. Barbatos nodded.
"It's the new version of 'Satan's Favorite Drink' that we drank at the drinking competition. This new version of the beer is called 'Satan's Tear Drink. ' If you only put the first letters of each word, it says S.T.D." Barbatos snorted in amusement before taking a big gulp of the drink.
" Let's just hope no one puts that together. But will I get an STD with this drink? Ah to hell with it it's just the name of the drink." Aether muttered and drank the whole bottle in several swallows.
"Hey Barbatos. After this can you teach me The Dark Wind?" Aether asked. Barbatos looked at him while opening another bottle of S.T.D. He nodded.
"How do you know that technique?" Barbatos asked curiously. He was curious as to how Aether found out about the technique.
"The book that you wrote. '1000 Techniques Of Wind Magic and Their Uses.' I learned it from that book." Aether explained and Barbatos nodded in understanding.
"So you found the book. It's a good thing you learned it from there and not from a random book lying on the grass. The things I wrote in that book are very descriptive. You will understand those techniques easily." Barbatos said while drinking.
" Did you read everything about The Dark Wind? " Barbatos asked. Aether nodded.
" Obviously it's very powerful. But it also has its consequences. So I want to learn from the guy who created the technique. " Aether said. Barbatos took a deep breath before he started to explain.
" As you know, The Dark Wind is the evolved version of the mortals normal Anemo Element. You use your own anger and evil to 'corrupt' the normal Anemo Element. And overtime it will change into The Dark Wind. You know the rest." Barbatos said.
"You saw me absorb the evil from the teardrops. Now one fifth of my Anemo reserves is now evolved to The Dark Wind. And i also found out something new while training with the technique. You can combine the Dark Wind with the normal Anemo Element." Aether said. Barbatos nodded.
"It seems that you have found that out for yourself as well. Do you feel pain as well? " Barbatos asked.
" Yes. " Aether answered.
" Well. I suggest you to combine the two together immediately. Or else the consequences will occur. " Barbatos warned.
" I'll do that first thing in the morning. " Aether said.
" Be balanced. " Barbatos advised and drank the S. T. D. Aether didn't understand since he was intoxicated a little now.
"Okay." They kept drinking until there was nothing left in the crate except for empty beer bottles. Barbatos decided to call it a night and went to sleep.
Aether got up and walked to his guest room that he was staying in but he walked in the wrong room.
"I'm so tired." Aether said and got onethe bed. He turned to the side and hugged something he thought was a pillow.
"Why does it feels so squishy. Oh don't tell me." Aether muttered and lit on the candle beside him. He looked back to his side to see a blushing Jean still wearing his clothes.
"Oh hi Jean." Aether said and put down the small fire on the candle with his two fingers.
"G-get out now before I shout." Jean threatened and smelled Aether's scent
" You reek of alcohol. Did you drink this late at night?" Jean asked angrily. Aether sniffed her hair while she was asking that question.
" Smells like Dandelions. " Aether muttered and pulled Jean closer.
"Let me go!" Jean said angrily.
"Nah it's too late now. Just go to sleep Jean. Or do I have to force you to sleep?" Aether asked while his dark red eyes shone in the darkness.
"Hmph!" Jean blushed and hugged back.
"I'm cold. Nothing more." She just spoke and fell asleep. Aether fell asleep as well.
Morning came, Aether kissed Jean's forehead and got out of the bed. He trained a little, today's the day they confront Stormterror.
"You're already hard at work." Barbatos said sitting on the ledge of the balcony.
"Mhm. Just for a little while before we go and fight." Aether said concentrating on his combined Winds. It hurts but he's getting used to it overtime.
"Yeah....." Barbatos stayed silent watching Aether train. Occasionally he gave pointers towards him on how to control his combined elements better.
After a while, Aether had gotten used to the pain when he used the Combined Winds. He felt more in tune with them now. Diluc and Jean came out of the door.
Aether walked towards them.
"Today's the day huh. Where are we going to get it's attention?" Aether asked them.
"It must be as far away from civilization as possible. We do not want casualties. " Jean suggested.
" I..... don't have any suggestions to think of. " Diluc said sighing. Now it's Barbatos' turn.
" The wind that blows at the sea or in high places should be able to carry a bard's words far far away. It's never going to work if the air is too dry or suffocating." Barbatos suggested.
" Paimon understands. Sea and high places, right? The best location to play the lyre should be a cliff near the sea." Paimon simply said.
Diluc now had a thoughtful look on his face.
"If you go east from Starfell Lake, there are mountains south of the beach." Diluc said. Paimon turned to Aether.
" Oh! Paimon remembers! You mean that beach we were on when you told Paimon about your sister!" Paimon realized.
" If you head to where the cliff juts out — that place is known as Starsnatch Cliff. What do you think, bard? Meets the requirements,no?" Diluc said and asked Barbatos.
" Let me think..... Starsnatch Cliff..... Alright, let's do it there. " Barbatos thought about it and agreed.
" Very well, then let's meet at Starsnatch Cliff when it's exactly noon. " Jean said and everyone nodded. Aether went off with Barbatos.
" Listen. It might be rude to ask right now but, can you teach me a simple to learn but hits very hard technique? I promise I'll get it down in an hour since before we meet at Starsnatch Cliff." Aether asked Barbatos. Barbatos thought about it.
" Promise? " Barbatos asked. Aether nodded.
"I don't break promises from friends. " Aether said smiling. Barbatos smiled.
" Do you know that when I was Barbatos I had wings?" Barbatos said mysteriously. Aether smirked.
"I'm interested.....
To be continued.....
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