Visions, they're said to be proof of Gods' recognition for only those dared to define the wheel of fate could obtain. With it, they gained the elemental abilities based on the element of their given Vision. However, there was an exception.
"Lady Lumine, please come back!" A maid despairingly called out as she and several others chased after a six years old blonde haired girl down the corridor. Yet instead of stopping, she used her Ameno power to send them flying without considering what might happen in the process. Then just when she thought she was home free, someone grabbed her from behind and lifted her up. The moment she saw it was none other then the dark purple haired young man, her face darkened as she wiggled none stop.
"Let me go!" She shouted, but that person paid her no mind and took a look around. Beside one with a serious deep long cut on her right arm, most of them escaped with only a couple of bruises here and there due to the impact. "Hey, didn't you hear me?! Put me down this instant!"
"Oh, sorry. I'm afraid I don't speak bugs." He smirked.
"YOU...!!!"
"I don't think provoking her--" The maid was cut short as the girl froze the young man to the bones using both her Hydro and Cryo powers. Though it was fun and all for her, it was terrifying for them. However, her laughter didn't last for long as he simply forced his way free with his Electro power. What he did next shocked them all. Without any sight of hesitation, he raised his hand up and gave her the first slap of her life.
"Y-you..." Hugging her red swollen cheek, she looked at him with watery eyes.
"Hurt, doesn't it? Maybe now you'll understand the pain you inflicted on others."
"I-I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Oh? Then tell me, what's the first rule written by the founder of your family?"
"That..."
"Hmph, like I thought. You don't deserve my respect or anyone else for that matters." He then tossed her to one of the maids and walked away with his left hand in his pocket. "Misbehave again and it won't just be a slap next time."
Once he was out of sight, the dark purple haired young man pulled his sleeve up revealing multiple cracks on his arm and they were getting worse each movement he made.
"Just my luck, tsk."
As such, he decided a trip back to his room was necessary. The second he pushed the door in, he spotted a ginger haired young man in a simple tailor suit gazing at the horizon. Upon noticing him, he smiled and waved his hand.
"Yo!"
"..." He immediately closed the door and walked away. However, the young man rushed out and blocked his way.
"Come on, just admit you're happy to see me. I won't tell a soul. Cross my heart~"
"Sounds to me someone has a death wish." His left eye twitched. "Move before I turn you into today's main dish!"
"Oh, oh! Does that mean we're going to spark?" His eyes lidded up in excitement.
"You f*cking masochism!" After realized there was no point getting so work up over an idiot who chosen the life of a punch bag himself, he took a deep breath and calmed himself down. "Just what are you doing here, Childe? There better be a good reason for leaving the other twins unattended."
"You mean Aether?" He let out a small laugh. "That boy will only do as he's told like a puppet waiting for its strings to be pulled. Quite boring compares to yours, so--"
"No."
"I haven't said anything yet."
"Exactly. The answer would still be "no" either way. If I agree to switch place with you, this whole place will be gone in the snap of the fingers."
"Hey, I can be serious too, you know!"
"Somehow, I highly doubt it. Regardless, since you're here, make yourself useful."
"Hm? What do you mea--" The second he saw the young man's arm, his cheerful face turned serious. "I see. So you too will soon..." He clenched his fists. "Wouldn't it be better if you go see mo--"
"DON'T YOU DARE MENTION THAT WOMAN!" Electro energy started leaking out from his body as the Vision hanging around his waist glowed bright. "She ABANDONED me! I'll never forget her! NEVER!!!" At that moment, a shockwave pushed Childe back as the air became electrified. Just one spark and thing could turn ugly very fast. However, before he could even get another word out of his mouth, a rain of lightning came crashing down.
"It's just like hers..."
Despite being fast on his feet, the Ginger haired young man still failed to dodge them all and was paralyzed at the spot. As another wave was upon him, he took a deep breath as his eyes slowly turned lilac.
"Guess I have no choice."
Yet, half way through, they suddenly stopped and vanished all together. As a reflect, he shifted his gaze toward him who was holding his left looking a bit irrigated. There was also a few pieces of wood next to his feet.
"It finally broke?"
"Hey, what's with that idiotic look on your face? It's like you've seen me lost control or something."
"Well..." He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Trying looking down if those eyes of your still work."
"Down?" Despite the huge confusion, he lowered his gaze. Laying quietly in between his legs with its belly showing, a cockroach came into view. "Then...!"
"If you weren't in the way, it would have en--" He then fell on his knees.
"Balladeer?"
"Tsk, it's my legs now?" His whole body wouldn't stop trembling. "I don't have anymore time to waste! Are you going to help me or not?"
Before his question, a big smile appeared on Childe's face.
"Of course. Everything for you, dear brother."
~~~~~~
"Just who he think he is? I'm the one in charge here!" Hugging the pillow while the maid applied medicine to her swollen cheek, Lumine mumbled. Then, her gaze landed on the one from before standing by the door. After some thoughts, she raised her voice and called her over. As she came closer confused, the blonde haired girl grabbed her wounded arm and slowly healed it with her Dendro power. Though the result wasn't as good as she would hope, at least it stopped bleeding.
"That should do it."
"Tha--"
"Don't get the wrong idea." She turned away. "I just didn't want you to ruin my favorite carpet."
"Regardless, thank you."
"Hmph."
"Um... Are you perhaps still mad about what Scaramouche did?"
At that moment, ice spikes dropped from the ceiling missing them just by inches. However, unlike others, she was able to remain calm.
"His method might be a bit...rough. But he's a really nice person once you get to know him."
"You talk too much. Leave, all of you!"
"Lady Lumine..."
"LEAVE!"
"A-as you wish. But please, if you need anything, we'll be right outside."
And the door closed.
"They are all the same...every last one of them." Pyro energy burst from her palms and set the pillow on fire. As she panicked trying to put it out with her Hydro power, two figures outside the window caught her attention.
"Scaramouche and...who is that?"
A few minutes ago...
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Asked Childe. He didn't expect the young man to suggest a duel right after his "little problem" was deal with. "It's not good to stress your body--" A cut appeared on his left cheek.
"Instead of standing there quacking, why don't you show me what you got, pretty boy." He smirked.
"Don't say I didn't warn you then!"
Under the cloudy sky, with the trees as their audiences, two young men clashed with everything they got. Despite covered in wounds here and there, they showed no sign of slowing down. Perhaps it was the feeling of thrill that kept they going. Yet just when they were about to unleash one final ultimate to settle the battle, Childe suddenly stopped midway and his head hung low. Since it was too late to stop, Scaramouche directed his attack onto the trees in the distance before directing his razor sharp gaze back to the ginger haired young man.
"Who are you?" He asked. After all, he could see the disorder elements coming from his body. The next thing he knew, "Childe" lifted his head and answered with a smile on his lips.
"I'm Aether. Nice to meet you."
"For you to go this far, to what do I owe this honour?"
"You don't seem surprise."
"Because of her weak body, Lesser Lord Kusanali rarely goes outside. But like a bird, she desire freedom, to see the world with her own two eyes, so from time to time, she would occupy living being's' consciousness just long enough for one little adventure. As one of her descendants, I would expect that much from you."
"You must really adore her to remember that much."
"Adore?" The end of his lips curled up. "You're wrong. It's my greatest regret not being able to kill them off, every single last one of them!"
"...I see."
"You still haven't answered my question."
"I just thought it was time I met the one in charge of my sister. To be honest, I was afraid you would turn out being exactly like Tartaglia--"
"An airhead unable to keep that "thing" in his pants for more than 60 seconds?"
"...I was going to say not acting his age, but that description works too, hahaha." He then turned his attention toward the second floor. "It's ashamed that I won't able to see her even after coming this far, rules are rules. But then again, there's no point in us bonding in the first place. Only one will remain in the end... Am I right, Scaramouche?"
"Who told you that?" Though he seemed calm, electro energy was sparkling from his palms.
"Who knows." He smiled. "It's probably just something I dreamt up on a moonless night." The ginger haired young man then raised his hand up, wiping the blood dripping out his noses. "Ah, looks like my time is up."
And he left after saying his goodbye.
As Aether opened his eyes, there was a knocking at the door. Pushing himself up, he adjusted his posture before raising his voice.
"Come in."
The next second, a mask figure appeared before him.
"And here I thought you've forgotten our little date."
"How could I? Making you upset is the last thing I want, Doc." He smiled.
"You said that but weren't you asleep just now?" The man glanced at the red imprint on his cheek to with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "It seems my favorite book was a little...too plain for a child like you."
"You misunderstood. This happened because I just killed a mosquito. Beside, I've already finished the book."
"Oh? Then tell me, what do you think about the logic behind the author's conclusion?"
"Before that, are you ever gonna show me your face, Doc? "
"We talked about this, Aether. Curiosity will get you no where."
"Then, how about a trade? I tell you something new, in return, you take that mask off for a day."
"Tempting, but what make you so sure I haven't heard of it before?"
"Because..." Flowers started blossom around them as an ancient symbol appeared on his right eye. "...it's from another world."
