It's a common question among players as they adventure through Teyvat: just how old is Aether, the male Traveler, in Genshin Impact? You might see him exploring the world and assume he's a teenager, but the truth is far more complex and interesting.

Aether, the male protagonist in Genshin Impact, appears to be around 15 to 17 years old. However, in terms of actual age, Aether is at least over 500 years old, and potentially even thousands of years old, due to his nature as a world-traveling being who has witnessed countless celestial events.

Aether, along with his twin sister Lumine, are not ordinary humans. They are celestial beings who have journeyed across many worlds before arriving in Teyvat. This explains why they look so young but have lived for such a long time. The twins even witnessed the destruction of Khaenri'ah, an event that happened 500 years before the current storyline of Genshin Impact. While one of the twins was put into a deep sleep during this time, they both still look young despite waking up at different times.

I remember playing through the early quests in Genshin Impact and thinking how relatable the Traveler felt, like a fresh-faced hero. Then, as I delved deeper into the lore, finding out Aether had witnessed "the birth and death of stars" really blew my mind. It's a cool way for the game to show how ancient and powerful these characters truly are, even when they're just gathering Cecilia flowers for a quest.

Interestingly, Aether is considered the older twin. While they are twins, the Chinese version of the game, which is the original language, has Aether referring to Lumine as "妹妹" (mèimei), meaning "younger sister," and Lumine calling Aether "哥哥" (gēgē), meaning "older brother". This small detail confirms their birth order.

The Traveler's Mysterious Past

The true age of characters like Aether adds a lot of depth to the Genshin Impact story. It explains why they might have knowledge of things beyond Teyvat or react to certain historical events with a wisdom that seems out of place for someone who looks so young. Many characters in Genshin Impact have ages that don't match their appearance, which is a common theme in the game's fantasy world. For another example of a character whose age is often debated, check out our post on How Old is Paimon in Genshin Impact?.

Even though Aether is ancient, he's often treated as if he's not old enough for certain things, like drinking alcohol. There are even in-game moments where he (or the player as the Traveler) declines drinks, or bartenders comment on his youthful appearance. It's a funny running gag, showing how his physical form doesn't really reflect his long life.

My own experience with games like Genshin Impact, where characters have secret ancient pasts, always makes me think about how much they must have seen. It adds a layer of quiet strength to Aether's journey. Like, when I'm struggling with a tough boss, I sometimes imagine him just casually recalling some cosmic battle from eons ago and then focusing on the task at hand with that ancient wisdom guiding him.

Ultimately, while Aether appears to be a teenager, his real age is a testament to his origins as a celestial traveler, having lived for well over five centuries, if not millennia, exploring countless worlds before his unexpected stop in Teyvat.

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