Aether's POV

Jala kindly picked me and flew to Master Diluc's mansion. While me and Paimon wait, he quickly comes back out with a little bag, and a troubled smile.

"I forgot to ask." he makes himself little and continues: "My prayers are long- actually is one prayer divided in 19 sections and it last hours. Are you ok still with it?"

Well, if that isn't devotion and dedication I don't know what is. I nod to him. He saved people and helped with my commissions, no matter how long they took, he never complained, nor left. Doing the same for him is the least I can do.

"Thank you!" he deeply bows once more, before slightly lifting himself up in the air and extend his hand for me. "We need to go somewhere more private."

I take his hands with a jump, my body hanging as he gently flies across the sky, searching for a suitable place for his ritual. And when he finds it, he descends slowly so that my feet reach the ground first, then he fully lands and begins to pull out stuff from the bag.

I stand aside to observe. Silently, he makes a circle with torches, that later are set on fire. The next step it seems to be his own appearence; he undresses until only a sleeveless shirt and tight pants are what remains.

I thought he was slender compared to the rest of the party, but I was wrong. He has some muscles hidden. I think between myself as I study what the owl does.

One last check and sits in front of me to explain what I need to do. I listen attentively, and for how difficult I thought this would be, I only have to play the drums with a simple tempo. He also explains that we need to be silent while he stays on the ground; the moment he stands, I play the drums and he will dance to honor his gods.

I nod, and demostrate if I can deliver what he needs. Once he's satisfied he bows to me and returns inside the circle.
I sign to Paimon to be quiet while Jala sits on his knees, joins his palms to let them touch his forehead before bowing until that forehead touches the soil. His wings are spread flat, his hands now intertwined and raised enough to be seen as he murmurs his prayers in a language I do not know, yet sounds delightful.

- Hours later -

He keeps doing that nonstop, I literally see the casted shadows moving as time pass, but I promised to help and so far I've being doing nothing.
I actually do not know how I'm managing to keep Paimon this calm through such stillness. I guess if I give her enough food and make her understand is very important for her friend, she can behaves pretty well I must say.

Once the sun begins to set and the dark hours are approaching, Jala finally raises his head and repeats his first step one last time.  
When I see him standing, I take the drums and wait for a sign. He summons two long daggers on which he tags tiny bells and let a little fuming stick go up and down the weapons.

It's impressive how despite those claws he has, he's careful but effective in tying such thin thread to sharp blades without failing once. I observe with an amazed expression on my face. I must admit, the Noble's servants are divine at crafts; Ahlstarr holds the crown, but the others are not falling behind.

"By the light of the moon and the strength of the sun, I call upon ancient powers, let protection be done." he whispers so low it would be impossible to hear if not in a sacred silence. "Wrap me in a shield of radiant light, guard me from harm day and night." he draws a circle with the fuming blades above his head, showing a maaterful control of his hands and weapons. Although I expected nothing less from who was trained by the Noble. "With these words my will is spoken, protect my spirit and keep me unbroken. Blessed be..."

By now, the sun is fully set, there's no light if not for those torches. However, one single bow that made those bells jingle, gives me the signal. The second I beat my hands on the drum following what Jala taught me, he dances and sings his prayers, displaying alluring but precise and pristine moves.
It's hypnotizing...
He has his eyes closed, how the blade cut the fires so gently, how his body turns with power hidden within each graceful action.

"Are you wandering what those odd words mean~?" a mischevious whisper travels to my ears and makes me jumps out of my skin.

Silently, of course. This is Jala's praying time. When I see Venti bent with a smirk, I guess he got scolded by the Noble and wandered around until he found us.

Paimon shushes him, remembering to be quiet during a ritual. To our surprise, the bard sits next to me and claps his hands following the tempo of the drums. He even whispers the same words and now that I'm this close and can get a good earful of how they sound, it makes me curious, not gonna lie.
For how quirky he might be though, Venti still remains an Archon, and as such, one glimpse is enough to read my mind. Swiftly he switches language, granting my untold wish.

"♪Oh! daughter of the mountains, who is worthy of all the praise. The whole Universe fills with joy at your presence.♪" he doesn't miss a beat, as he sings the translated version of the prayer. "♪On top of the Hlæjaheimr mountains is your home, the one who The Great adores and the Lord Undarligrfold worship.♪"

Without noticing, Paimon pulls my scarf and when I follow her tiny finger, I spot a group of bandits coming towards us. My first instinct is to defend Jala and the others, but a familiar jingle echoes in the quietful wind. My mind forever linked this specific sound to Lady Y/n, especially after Venti explained that it comes from her rings whenever she walks, so I sit back down and continue with my duty.

"♪Oh! Loved timeless goddess, mother of all, protector of all.Victory to you who killed the demon Asger, Goddess with beatiful hair, daughter of the mountains.♪" Barbatos' hums and gestures with his head to look ahead and when I do so, I spot Ahlstarr and Arius coming to the light, bowing to the torches in sign of respect and then face the direction the bandits are approaching.

When they also come under the light of the torches, I can see they're astonished by Jala's dance and mastery, but they do not dare to take a single step closer. And I swear to the Archons who govern this world, I see even with this weak light and distance the exact moment fear strikes; which is when Izel appears, escorting Lady Y/n as usual.

Izel doesn't have his hood, so not only his height is intimidating, but that almost evil glow his eyes has with this darkness, is surely not holy. Terrified, the bandits withdraw and this time I witness what until now I only had the privilage to read.
A god spectating a ritual thrown for itself.

The servants step closer to me and Venti, only Lady Y/n remains facing Jala as she watches with attention and with lovable features. She looks at the owl with a smile so soft it barely deforms her lips, but after a second of reflecting, the deity shocks us all.

She snaps her fingers and her voluminous dress changes under my very own eyes.
After one single blink, the true essence of a godess stands before me.

The act of walking, makes the metal ornaments ring in the air. Jala himself halts to bathe in such divine sight and he's not the only one. Barbatos and Paimon are almost drooling with heart-shaped eyes as they gaze upon the Noble.

"Your prayers have been heard, boy." she speaks softly, and moving her hand as suavely, the torches are floating thanks to the aid of the wind.

Jala's feathers straightened up with joy when he sees her walking inside the circle with a spear behind her back. Izel politely takes over my job, and I'm so thankful, my arms where asking mercy after all these hours, so I let him have the drums without resisting.

While Izel plays, Arius and Ahlstarr fills the melody with sounds by clapping their hands or stomping the ground, letting the bells and the duo's steps be the main source of noise audible in the ritual.
First I thought Jala's dances were odd yet pretty, now I understand why he was moving like that.
That dance was projected to be delivered by two people, and now that Lady Y/n fills that vacant place, they both radiate with such ancient and graceful aura it makes me smile and feel calm from within.

"Same as the statues, huh? Sensei can spoil so much when she wants." Venti's words makes my head fall to a side in question.

"What statues?" inquires Paimon reading my mind.

"The ones from Jala's world. They worship Sensei, remember? So of course they built statues to adorn their kingdoms, and that dress is the same they chose for the art, since it was told that she appeared to them with such appeal, non minding the unforgiving freeze that kept the mountains hostage."

"I see~" Paimon chuckles, keeping it low with the help of her hands over her mouth. "Lady Y/n really cherishes pious people."

"...Sure." I see that light in Barbatos' eyes. He hides something about the Noble, but I wonder what it could be.

"So they came up with that pretty dance because they expected to do it together with her, right?" Paimon wiggles her feet as she floats closer to the god and his worshipper. "They fit the empty spaces so well, like a crafted clock."

After a few more hours, the torches have died down and when the last flame is about to vanish, Jala and Lady Y/n face each other, the latter crosses her legs, swiftly moves the spear to rest on her spine and bows to the servant, who at the same time holds his weapons tighter and opening slightly his arms that rest on his sides, he lows his head deeply.

Once more, after I blink, Lady Y/n's dress is back to her usual plain white one and the lance is nowhere to be seen. Jala picks his stuff up and trots to us, only to thank us to the bottom of his heart with his really strong hugs that spear only Paimon due to her sizes.

As the lattest floats around the servants and chats with them, my eye tracks the goddess who took distances. My inner bells start to ring when she leans on the tree for support and her eyes struggle to stay open. Izel's purple orbs meet mine and the second he does, he realizes what's going on. He quickly diverts Paimon's attention to assist his mistress, although a single comment freezes my feet on the ground.

"Sensei~ Should we eat outside or shall we go to Angel Share?" Venti happily marches and time slows down for me only.

Izel shakes his head no, his body fully hides the woman. I know she passed out and Barbatos must not see it, not until Lady Y/n tells me otherwise. So I act.

I don't know for how long I'll be able to lie to him like this. I mean, he acts stupid but he is not one, that's for sure. "Venti, would you like to join me for dinner? My treat, I'd like to try new dishes that are famous here. Any reccomendation?"

"Yes please, my friend." Arius comes to my aid, and I thank the gods for his attentive eyes. "I'm curious as well, since I yet had the chance to taste your people's specialities."

It took even Jala's presence and Ahlstarr's threats to change the bard's mind and head him back to Mond. Izel and Ahlstarr will stay behind to aid their master and if she recovers they will join us.
Jala and Arius are great to seal Barbatos' attention on them, so I slow down my pace to have the solitude I need to just look back to The Noble.

Izel nods, signing me that my help is not needed, so I can focus to keep Barbatos busy until his dear mentor recovers.
I hope she has the whole night at her disposal to rest, after all tomorrow there's a concert that last 3 whole days and it's going to take a huge toll on her.

"Please hear my wish, Noble...." I whisper so low, only my inner voice can hear it. "Take care of yourself, for your sake and for your pupil's too."

If Jala has such blind faith in her, I believe I can rest mine in her hands too. I have faith in Lady Y/n that despite she's not awake now, my words can reach her the same...