From dust dry, to soaking wet

The Fontaine vessel took the next open berth with clean, precise docking.

The women who stepped onto the boards were almost entirely unknown to the existing pride. Leading them was Navia, golden hair catching the light, carrying herself with an easy, high-and-mighty confidence that reminded Aether strongly of Ningguang — the same natural assumption of space and attention, yet without the sharper political edge. She surveyed the beach, the half-conscious Tianquan, and the general state of undress with open interest rather than judgment.

(https://im.ge/i/QMJeeyM)
(artist: miyu)

Close behind her came Chevreuse, posture upright and watchful, clearly present as protection more than guest, although her attire did not show it.

(https://im.ge/i/QMJe448)
(artist: miyu)
Emilie followed last, already studying Aether with bright, analytical curiosity. She had read enough scattered reports to form a working theory, and the chance to examine whether the Passion Claimer carried some measurable scent or subtle chemical signature that affected women so consistently had her visibly excited at the professional possibilities.

(https://im.ge/i/QMJeGsh)
(artist: miyuka)

A small ripple of recognition passed through the Fontaine group when they spotted Lynette still kneeling in the sand a short distance away, lips slightly swollen and tail curled in residual contentment. One or two of them exchanged brief glances; the former casino prize turned resort attendant was not entirely forgotten in certain circles back home.

Navia offered a polite, confident introduction for the group while Chevreuse scanned the surroundings with professional thoroughness and Emilie already seemed to be taking mental notes on every woman standing near Aether. Another nation had just added its contingent to the growing crowd on the beach, and the harbour showed no sign of emptying.

Navia produced the formal invitation with a small, knowing smile and held it out.

Aether took the heavy cream paper, scanned the elegant script, and felt an involuntary smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. Ningguang had not written a simple holiday invitation. She had composed something much closer to a glossy advertisement. The letter praised him in terms so lavish they bordered on the absurd — his skill, his stamina, his apparent effect on every woman who spent more than a few hours in his company, the new title from Natlan, the trail of thoroughly satisfied and frequently pregnant partners left across four nations. In his own estimation it was wildly out of proportion, the sort of exaggerated sales copy a merchant might use for a product they were determined to move.

He glanced back toward the sand where Ningguang was finally beginning to stir under Barbara’s continued, confused ministrations. The Tianquan’s eyes were still unfocused, but a faint, self-satisfied curve had already returned to her mouth.

Aether passed the letter to Rosaria without comment.

She read it in silence. Her expression darkened with every line. By the end a visible flush of renewed irritation had risen across her cheeks. She exhaled hard through her nose, the sound somewhere between a sigh and a growl, and flicked the paper with one finger.

“Of course she did. Of course she wrote this and mailed it to half of Teyvat.”
The frustration in her voice was real, yet it never quite crossed into genuine anger.
“This was supposed to be your vacation. Quiet. Private. Not a continental open invitation.”

None of the heat was directed at the newly arrived women, nor even truly at Ningguang. It sat in the space between resignation and protective annoyance on Aether’s behalf. Rosaria shoved the letter back into his hand, turned the silver ring once around her finger, and muttered something unflattering about Liyue’s most powerful woman under her breath.

The Fontaine group watched the exchange with polite interest. Navia only looked faintly amused, as though the contents matched exactly what she had expected when she decided the journey was worth making.

A Sumeru vessel had already dropped anchor at a polite distance from the main berths. Instead of waiting for a proper slip, a small rowboat was lowered and began making its way toward the beach. Three figures sat inside.

Candace and Collei were the first to become recognisable. Both of them looked openly pleased to see familiar faces again; Candace’s gaze, however, locked onto Dehya the moment the lioness became visible among the pride, the reunion clearly weighted more toward her old friend than toward Aether himself. Collei waved with both hands, already a pciture of excitement.

The third woman in the boat was new to most of the group. Nilou rose with liquid grace as the rowboat grounded in the shallows, offered a small, apologetic bow, and spoke in a clear, soft voice.

(https://im.ge/i/QMnXTCP)
(artist: miyu)

“Please forgive the sudden arrival. I received word of the gathering only recently and… did not wish to miss it entirely.”

She simply stepped onto the sand with the same elegant composure she might have brought to a stage, already glancing around at the growing collection of women from half of Teyvat with polite curiosity rather than surprise.

Candace pulled Dehya into a firm, familiar embrace while Collei hovered nearby, clearly torn between greeting Aether and staring at the sheer number of people already present. Another nation had just added itself to the beach by the most understated route possible, and the arrivals showed no sign of slowing down.