Act 1, Scene 2

2nd of the 10th Cycle

As Aether resonated with the Statue of the Seven, he could feel a strange energy flowing into him. His outfit, specially crafted in the star forges, hummed as it adapted to his newfound power.

"You adapted to Anemo so easily… is it your outfit? Or is it you?"

Aether hadn't yet gotten over Paimon's sudden personality change after she told him she was a god. Were the two months we spent together before this all a lie? Aether couldn't help but wonder.

"It's the outfit," Aether replied, "It's specially made to adapt to new energies and environments, very important when world-hopping."

Paimon's eyes narrowed, "How… convenient."

Aether didn't deign to reply, but his mind was in turmoil. Contrary to his sister's belief, Aether was not stupid. Paimon had openly admitted to being a god, albeit a lesser one, and if Aether knew anything about the divine, it was that every one of them had an agenda. So what was Paimon's purpose with him? She told him she would act as a guide, but to what end?

Paimon saw right through him. "Now now, no need to be so cautious. Whatever answers you seek, this journey we set upon will surely provide them." Paimon laughed, as if mocking him.

"Look there," Paimon pointed, "west of here lies the City of Freedom, Mondstadt. There, winds from every corner of the… globe… converge. And many travellers from far and wide find refuge there, Mondstadt is accepting of everyone."

"If it is answers you seek, Mondstadt is your best bet."

Indeed, Aether could already see smoke wafting from chimneys in the distance. A feeling settled in his gut, but before he could make out what it was, an earth-shaking roar reverberated throughout the lands.

After ducking instinctively, he looked up to see a massive four-winged dragon passing overhead. He felt like walking in the opposite direction of the dragon's path, but Paimon had different ideas.

"It's headed to a forest, let's follow it. It may have the answers you seek."

"W-what!?" Aether didn't quite shout, but it felt like he did nonetheless. "It's a dragon, what answers could it possibly have?"

Paimon gave him a look that reminded him of the gaze his sister gave him when he was being an idiot.

"Great Dragon Lords once ruled Teyvat, long before the divine descended, long before humans walked this land. Their era has long passed, but if that dragon is even merely a descendant of those great dragons…"

Aether understood, dragons were intelligent, long-lived and far-travelled. It is very likely the dragon could have seen his sister, separated by time and space as they were.

They set off together.

Act α, Scene 2

Lumine cut down another beast with her star forged blade, and the people behind her cheered.

Even after travelling through the ash and soot of the besieged city for hours, her outfit was still as pristine as the day it was given to her. People flocked to her accordingly, uncaring that she was an outsider, so hopeful for a saviour they were.

And their trust was not unfounded, a sense of responsibility set in her heart, as Lumine cut down man, beast and lesser gods alike as they made their way to the Lunar Palace. Her followers, civilians and surviving men-at-arms, have taken up any weapons in sight and are following her lead.

They were making good progress, Lumine thought. But her parade was getting larger with each passing moment, and the likelihood of being spotted by one of the greater gods was getting more and more probable.

Speak of the devil, or in this case god, and he shall appear. A cooling breeze caressed her and flowed through the crowd behind her. Lumine looked up to see the most beautiful boy she had ever seen, a far cry from the stag god she had seen.

Blessed with a childish, fair face and long braided hair, he could be easily mistaken for a female. Furthermore, he was clad in nothing but a long cloth of linen, wrapping around him. Eight great pinioned wings adorned his back, each beat of his many wings sent raging gales far and wide, tearing houses from their foundations and sending them flying. Yet, she and her followers felt nothing but a slight breeze.

Indeed, she would have blushed, if it wasn't for the most horrifying sight she saw next. His wings opened, countless eyes embellished his eight wings, gazing everywhere and nowhere at a time. She could feel some of her followers stifling screams and stepping back as they followed her gaze.

One of them screamed, it was a little boy. "W-what is that!? Monster!"

Dread settled in her gut as two and ten thousand eyes snapped onto her. Everything fell silent as the god's eyes met hers. It felt like an eternity, but surprisingly, the god diverted his eyes and turned away.

Lumine let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Something in the god's eyes struck at her, a great sadness as he slaughtered thousands. He may not be orchestrating great slaughter out of his own will, she realised. He turned a blind eye towards her, to let as many people live as possible, and for that, she would be eternally grateful.

As they continued down the main avenue of the city, she could hear a peal of haunting laughter in the distance. Focusing her eyes, she could make out a red-haired woman dressed in loose cloth and warpaint laughing in manic glee as she weaved great firestorms onto the opposite side of the city. That one is killing on her own will, she thought grimly.

"Look! The Palace!"

"We are saved!"

"Eclipse bless you, lady!"

Lumine didn't know who Eclipse is, but she figured that they must be one of their gods. So where was this Eclipse, she thought, to be absent while their people burn.

"Alright," she spoke, "we will be parting here, good luck to all of you." Lumine couldn't afford to tarry any longer, she must continue the search for her brother.

"What? You're abandoning us!?"

"Quiet! All of you, did you all forget she is not one of us, and hold no responsibility?" A woman stepped up towards her as she spoke. A soldier, Lumine saw.

"Sergeant Aerea, ma'am. I thank you greatly for aiding us, and understand you have your own purposes… but can you help us with the city's defence? The Third Prince is in the Palace, and he would be sure to reward you greatly."

Lumine wasn't sure what this Third Prince could reward her with, considering the current state of his domain. She was about to decline, when something tugged at her skirt.

It was the little girl she saved, looking up at her with big watery eyes. "P-please, miss?"

Lumine relented, "Fine, after all of this is over, I will leave."

It looked like a weight was lifted off the Sergeant's shoulders. "I thank you greatly, ma'am, on behalf of the people, and the Eclipse Dynasty."

Eclipse Dynasty, so the people here either have no gods or treat their royalty like gods. She gazed at the Lunar Palace once more, it was pristine, despite the ruined city around it. Built out of grey stone, glistening with a bluish tinge in the fire's eerie glow.