Aether's birthdate is unknown, his origins unclear, and even the manner of his arrival in this world remains a mystery. The Fatui, an antagonistic organization opposing the United Nations in Teyvat, refer to him as the "Descender." According to his own account, he seems to be a Descender similar to the United Nations itself. Aether's earliest memory is waking up on a beach, embarking on a journey with his flying companion Paimon to find his lost kin. In Mondstadt, one of Teyvat's seven nations, he encounters the Anemo Archon. There, he makes many friends and, alongside the Anemo Archon, helps free the East Wind Dragon, Dvalin. Dvalin is one of Mondstadt's Four Winds guardians and the closest companion of the Anemo Archon Barbatos. In the past, Dvalin aided Barbatos in overthrowing a tyrant, bringing freedom and renewal to Mondstadt. However, during the Cataclysm of Khaenri'ah five hundred years ago, Dvalin was tainted by the poisonous blood of the dragon Durin during their battle. Combined with being forgotten by humans and corrupted by the Abyss Order, he fell into torment, his mind eroded, transforming into the "Stormterror" that began attacking Mondstadt. Through the combined efforts of Aether, Barbatos, and the people of Mondstadt, Dvalin was liberated from his curse and regained his freedom. Unfortunately, just before Aether was set to travel to the next nation, Liyue, the Fatui Harbinger known as the Eighth Seat, "La Signora" (Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter), stole the Gnosis from Barbatos. The Gnosis is one of the most crucial elements on the Teyvat continent; without it, elemental power cannot be harnessed, leaving only basic physical attacks available and preventing the development of advanced mechanical technology.
In Liyue, Aether confronts the Fatui alongside Liyue's leader Ningguang, though Liyue paradoxically permits the Fatui to operate banking industries. The people of Liyue highly value economics and contracts, leading to significant economic development. Liyue also holds the minting rights for the entire Teyvat continent, a legacy of the protection provided by their former Archon, Morax, which propelled Liyue's economy to become Teyvat's largest. Geographically well-positioned as a trade hub, Liyue faced challenges after Morax's death, forcing the nation into a human-ruled era—the only one of Teyvat's seven nations not directly governed by an Archon. Morax's death triggered severe economic issues, as Teyvat's common currency, Mora, was exclusively produced by him. With no one else able to mint it, his passing caused a massive economic upheaval. Liyue, lacking production zones, lost its minting rights to Fontaine, the most industrially advanced of the seven nations. During this time, Aether immersed himself in Liyue life, gladly assisting residents with their problems, seemingly unaffected by the economic turmoil. He later traveled to Inazuma, which was under a strict isolationist policy at the time, limiting interactions with other nations to commerce alone, with no ordinary citizens permitted entry.
Inazuma's system was highly conservative, with its leader pursuing a vision of eternity. Though Aether's intervention prevented the nation from descending into true eternal dictatorship, it later reverted to authoritarianism amid subsequent divisions. Inazuma's administrative structure includes the Inazuma Shogunate, the Tenryou Commission, the Kanjou Commission, and the Society of Sages, with the Shogunate as the highest authority and the others sharing equal power to oversee various aspects of the nation. During the pre-dictatorship era, administrative efficiency was slightly lower than now, and the lack of free trade, combined with the death of Liyue's Archon, caused a significant economic decline. The pre-dictatorship leader, Raiden Shogun (also known as Baal), believed eternity could solve all problems. Aether's arrival changed Inazuma, with a turning point sparked by an uprising on Watatsumi Island to the south. This rebel group's political demand was the repeal of the Shogunate's policy of confiscating Visions. The confiscation stemmed from the leader's belief that Visions would drive civilization's progress, disrupting the eternal order she sought to maintain, likening the nation to a perfectly functioning abacus (a local term for a computer-like device). This policy directly led to the Watatsumi Island uprising. Aether's involvement facilitated peace negotiations between the rebels and the Shogunate forces. Beyond this, he pushed for systemic reforms in Inazuma, first battling the Raiden Shogun, then advocating for the reform of the three commissions, and finally convincing her to step down and live among the people, recognizing the errors of her authoritarian rule. The United Nations suspected ulterior motives, noting from reports that her transformation seemed unnaturally swift compared to her previously unwavering resolve.