Su Yuan looked at Aether and Paimon before him, wondering what to do next…
Although Aether's behavior earlier had indeed been a bit strange, that alone wasn't enough to prove he wasn't the real Aether…
Should he start by subtly probing for information, or be upfront and lay everything out?
Aether seemed to notice the doubtful expression on Su Yuan's face and spoke up:
"Su Yuan, is there something you want to say?"
"We've been through life-and-death situations together—if there's anything on your mind, just say it directly."
Aether had finally recovered from his earlier shyness and now looked at Su Yuan with a sincere gaze.
"…Alright, since you're being this straightforward, I won't beat around the bush either."
Su Yuan nodded, then looked up, locking eyes with Aether.
"To be honest, both Xiao and I feel that there's something… off about you."
"But the strange thing is—we can't quite put our finger on what it is exactly."
Aether's expression darkened slightly.
"Su Yuan… what are you trying to say? Are you suspecting that I've been corrupted by an Eerie too?"
Aether showed a confused expression as he looked at Su Yuan and asked,
"Weren't you the one who told me that people like us—those from another world or Descenders—are less likely to be corrupted by the Eerie?"
Su Yuan nodded...
It was true.
He had said that during a private conversation with Aether back at the hospital in Fontaine.
The fact that this Aether remembered it at least proved he was really Aether…
"But you also told me," Su Yuan narrowed his eyes, watching Aether closely, trying to catch any hint in his gaze, "that it was only your personal, unconfirmed speculation…"
"And Eerie beings can disguise themselves. They can even retain the host's memories… So the fact that you know that doesn't mean much."
"…Sigh, what a headache…"
Aether scratched his head and let out a sigh, speaking helplessly:
"Never thought we'd reach a point where even we have to prove our identities to each other…"
"Su Yuan, since you've come here, I'm guessing you've found a way to confirm whether I'm really me, right?"
"Yes." Su Yuan nodded.
"Xiao told me that if you're truly yourself, all you have to do is call his name—and he'll be able to sense your call."
"But didn't I already explain earlier?" Aether seemed hesitant.
"Xiao just went through a major battle and needs to rest. Should we really disturb him over something so small?"
"Aether!" Su Yuan suddenly raised his voice.
"What are you hesitating for? What are you afraid of?"
"I just saw Xiao earlier—he's perfectly fine! He doesn't need that much rest!"
"You only need to call his name right now, just once, and have him show up to meet you. That alone would settle everything perfectly!"
"But you… why won't you do it?"
Su Yuan stared warily at Aether and Paimon.
By this point, he could no longer shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong…
Aether, however, gave a faint smile, looked at Su Yuan, and spoke:
"Su Yuan… if—and I mean if..."
"If I have been corrupted and taken over by the Eerie… and yet you still appear before me so openly, without any defenses…"
"Wouldn't that mean you're as good as dead?"
"Everyone only has one life..."
"Aren't you... afraid of dying?"
Looking at Aether's faint smile and subtly strange expression, Su Yuan suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
There was no doubt about it now—this Aether was definitely not acting normal.
Could it be… that terrible suspicion Xiao and I had really turned out to be true?
And yet, in the next moment, something completely unexpected happened—
"Hahahaha, Su Yuan, you should've seen your scared little face…"
Aether burst into laughter, holding his stomach as he laughed.
"I was just messing with you again, and you got all nervous like that?"
Su Yuan stared at Aether, utterly dumbfounded.
What the hell? Aether, you're joking around again?
No matter if it was in the original game's storyline, or when I met him after arriving in Fontaine—he never seemed like the kind of person who liked to joke like this…
"It's just calling Xiao's name, right? What's the big deal?"
Then, Aether raised his head, looked up at the ceiling, and shouted:
"Xiao—are you there—?"
"I am."
Immediately, along with the sound of his voice, Xiao appeared in the room in an instant.
He looked calmly at Su Yuan, then at Aether, and slowly spoke:
"That summoning… there's no doubt. You're the real Traveler."
With those words, Xiao disappeared again in a flash—seemingly off to take care of something urgent.
Hearing Xiao say that, Su Yuan finally let out a long breath of relief…
Although Aether was still acting a bit strange, since even Xiao had confirmed his identity, there shouldn't be any major problems…
After apologizing to Aether once more, Su Yuan left his room.
Back in his own room, Su Yuan mulled over everything that had just happened…
Even though Xiao had acknowledged that Aether was the real one…
In Su Yuan's eyes, Aether's behavior still didn't quite sit right…
Could it be…
A terrifying thought suddenly crossed Su Yuan's mind—
Could Xiao have also already been corrupted and controlled by the Eerie?
And has just been pretending this whole time…?
After all, Madame Ping had mentioned before that even among the Adepti, there might be a traitor…
And the very first one to discover the illusion barrier set up between Liyue Harbor and Guyun Stone Forest… was Xiao!
Thinking about it that way, it all started to make sense…
If both Xiao and Aether had already been corrupted and were simply working together to put on an act to lower his guard…
Then if that's the case… things might be a lot worse than he had imagined.
Xiao was already powerful to begin with, and on top of that, he carried karmic debt, along with the remnants of fallen gods and lingering resentments…
If he had truly become corrupted by the Eerie, his strength would surely be nothing to scoff at.
And as for Aether, that went without saying—he was a Descender, the main character of this world.
If he had fallen to the Eerie as well, then dealing with him would be far from easy…
Su Yuan thought to himself, since he already had this suspicion, he had to find a way to verify it.
Tonight, he would make full use of his last stable rewind…
Starting tomorrow, he would attempt to go without using any rewinds at all—to see if something special would occur.
And so, Su Yuan left his room once again, heading to the top floor of Wangshu Inn, where he called out Xiao's name:
"Xiao? Are you there?"
But Xiao didn't appear…
That was strange.
At this hour, if he wasn't at Wangshu Inn, where else would he be?
Could Xiao have gone out on patrol again?
After all, as night falls, the demons and monsters grow restless…
If that's the case, then Su Yuan would check around the Dihua Marsh area…
He had to be sure—just what was Xiao's current condition?
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