Authors Note: This is my first time writing a story outside of the mandatory stories we had to write in school. So it's been a few years since I lost wrote something other than text messages. Please tell what you think about this story, thank you.
Aether POV
We finally reunited. I finished my journey and finished her role as the Abyssal Princess. Right now, Lumine is passed out from her battle with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles she had yesterday. That unknown god that had sealed away my powers and separated us. Lumine won, having her original and the abysses power. I simply stood and watched. Watched as Lumine and that god exchanged blows back and forth. Both of them receiving critical damage, until only one remained. It was a stunning showcase of two powerful beings going head to head. But I couldn't do anything. That god was able to take away my elemental powers, since they're from Teyvat. Twice I lost to her. But now I have my original powers back. Once Lumine had dealt the final blow I felt them return in a rush. Quickly Lumine had started to fall unconscious. I ran towards her and managed to catch her. As I was about to set her down and began healing, Celestia began to make this horrid groaning noise, as if Celestial itself was a living organism. Everything around me started to break and crack. I tried my best to bring out my wings and fly away but it proved to be quite the challenge. Having been separated from my powers for so long had made my body and mind slowly forget their full potential and how to use them. I somehow managed to bring out my wings and fly away from the withering Celestia. It was difficult controlling my wings. I ended up lazily flying towards the coast that was northeast of Mondstadt, where my journey had begun. And now here I am taking care of Lumine to the best of my abilities. It doesn't seem like my elemental powers will be coming back though. My current healing powers were enough to heal all her wounds, but not exhaustion. I'm ready to start world traveling with Lumine again once she wakes up and is in good health. I'll have to thank her and think of some way to make it up to her. I have to be a good brother! Maybe I'll cook all our meals for 10 years, let her pick what to do in the worlds we visit, wash and dry her hair whenever she wants? I remember how she would enjoy it when I played with her hair, so do I.
"Hmmm….agh!" Lumine seems to be having a nightmare, tossing and turning and yelling. I quickly grasp her hand right hand with mine and use my left hand to gently stroke the top of her head. "Shhhh…. It's okay Lumine, everything will be fine, I'm here for you." A few minutes pass and she seems to calm down. She's been sleeping for a whole day now. Meanwhile I haven't slept since yesterday. I can't bring myself to sleep, a lot of things are going through my mind right now. Lumine did all of this to get my powers back, so we could travel through worlds again. She made Teyvat look like this, the same way it did 500 years ago when Khaeri'ah fell. I'm happy that I have my powers back, though weaker, but I'm also upset at her. Was this really the only way to get them back, to reunite, to travel together again? The fires are still burning but they've calmed down a lot. As I flew here yesterday I had noticed the burning grass as the smell of ash permeates throughout the air, destroyed buildings which once stood tall and mighty, Statues of the Seven obliterated not showing an inch of their former glory, how the sky was a sickeningly vibrant orange and red, the smell of blood of normal humans and the blood of vision holders, some who were my friends, and nothing to show of the abyss and hilichurls since they just disappear into thin air when defeated. The only signs of enemies were the ruin hunters and graders, bits and pieces scattered everywhere. We've both been alive for thousands of years now, but I can't be expected to get used to seeing the death of humans. I had to kill a few people during my journey in Teyvat and every time I always did I felt disgusted at myself. How do you feel Lumine? Knowing you took the lives of so many via the abyss just to return one persons powers? To be honest, I would have done the same as you Lumine, taken the same actions and path. There were no monsters at all, not even slimes. I used this chance to walk to Mondstadt city, fully taking in the scenery around me. Not that there was much to look at anyways.
Once I reached the city, I saw no human life, none at all. These beautiful streets that used to be teeming with life had been reduced to dust. The Knights of Favonius were no more. No more Albedo and Sucrose working on experiments while discussing with Timaeus, no more Klee and Diona running around flashing their sunny smiles, no more Jean and Lisa patrolling the streets waving and smiling at all, no more Kaeya getting under Diluc's skin at the bar, no more Amber, Noelle, Barbara, Fischl, Mona, Eula, Rosaria, Bennet, Razor and no more of the carefree bard known as Venti. No more Paimon. Oh Paimon, I'm sorry. I wasn't able to find you while looking through Mondstadt. I wasn't able to find any bodies, human or animal. I'm not sure if you're alive or dead after we parted ways before I went to Celestia for the grand finale of my journey. I fell to my knees and cried my eyes out for hours. "I'm so-sorry ever-everyone, I'm sorry….." I was like a broken record, murmuring out their names and 'I'm sorry.' But I needed to leave, to return to Lumine, I needed to take care of her. No matter how much my soul and heart were in agonizing pain, I had to leave. Being Lumine's brother was my number one priority. I turned my back on the city and left. "Goodbye everyone. It's a shame that things had to end this way." And so I slowly walked away from the city of wind and freedom, the city which once soared high in the sky now sleeping for all of eternity on the ground.
Lumine seems to be doing better today. Hopefully she wakes up soon. This time I truly am alone, seeing as how the abyss had fully taken out all life on Teyvat, other than plants. I looked at her sleeping face. It looks like she hasn't slept this well in years. "Haah….." I let out a loud sigh. Looking at her and thinking about her time and experiences in Teyvat brings me so much anguish and sadness. I'm sure about it now. No matter what horrid things Lumine may do or say, This feelings of love will never dwindle. I can't bring myself to hate her, not now and not ever. Am I a bad person, a bad brother? Normal people don't let their loved ones suffer for so long alone and let them stray from normalcy. Normal people don't accept the deaths of their friends so quickly, though I know I won't be able to move on from there for a long time. Normal brothers are there for their sisters when they need it. Normal brothers share the pain their sisters feel and aid them along their journey. Yet I didn't. I'm sorry Lumine. Because of me you had to become the enemy of this world. If I were physically stronger that god would not have separated us. If I were mentally stronger I would have had the courage to face you when you were the abyss princess, and maybe all this devastation to Teyvat wouldn't have happened. Maybe another option could have been found if we had worked together. Exhaustion has finally caught up to me. I lay down near Lumine and look at her one last time before closing my eyes and entering dream world. I dream a lovely dream, where Lumine and I and all my friends and Paimon have fun around Teyvat. What a wonderful dream. But once I awake from it, only the truth will remain, burning me in its grasp as it refuses to ever let go of me.