Twin Stars - Chapter 1
Aether | Unknown
My eyes shot open, my muscles tensed and my eyes dilated as I woke up with a gasp. The night sky greeted me as my vision cleared and focused, the stars twinkled in shimmering display with the moon filling the sky in bright bluish-white light. I quickly got up from where I had been laying, the feeling of the hard surface still on my head and back. It was almost as if I was asleep for a long time. My legs felt like they were about to give way at any moment. Confusion set over me in that instant.
What the hell happened?
A light wind washed over me, the air was cold and damp, like the edges of the river at the foot of Wyrmrest Valley. The atmosphere around me was noticeably thinner, I could feel the need for longer breaths. My vision cleared further, clouds and pillars drenched in the light of the moon filled my sights.
The Heavens? How did I get here?
It's been a while since I last visited the realm above. I was standing on one of the many stone bridges that led to all the different worlds. This one seemed endless on either side, shrouded in the moonlit clouds. Giant pillars like the one at the top of Dragonspine towered into the night sky. The stars were out, twinkling in their dance of light.
No...this isn't right. I was in Inazuma... at the Kamisato clan estate. So how am I here?
I couldn't place it. It didn't make any sense. I was alone. Surely my access to this realm was severed when that god stole my powers from me...and Lumine.
No, this wasn't the Heavens.
I reached for my sword as fast as I could. But I felt nothing. It didn't materialize. I then realized my clothes weren't glowing, my wrists were black, mimicking that feeling of nothing.
My powers were gone. I felt nothing of the elements from Teyvat. I couldn't manifest a single particle of Anemo, Geo, or Electro. It feels like the Unknown God all over again, stranded on that beach in Mondstadt. I chuckled a bit, contemplating all this.
At least I'm fully clothed, I thought.
"Well? You've got me! So show yourself! I know you're there!" I yelled into the dead of night, knowing full well this wasn't what it looked like.
"Hello, brother..."
My stomach dropped, and my blood went cold.
It couldn't be…
My hair swung around as I turned in the direction of the voice as a strong gust of wind crashed into me.
Lumine | Unknown
Was this really the way?
I gazed down at Aether, lying on his back, motionless. How fitting it was, to reunite in Heavens for a proper discussion, the place where we were separated initially.
However, I was conflicted on whether this was the right thing to do. Speaking with my long-lost brother like this, rather than in person. Still, I couldn't just show up in Teyvat and go unnoticed for very long. That would be much too risky, especially with everything we have in play thus far.
No, I need to do this, for his sake. It doesn't matter how.
I watched as Aether woke up from his slumber. Flashes of the brother I used to know began to show himself. The Abyss's strengths allowed for communications through another's consciousness on a plane of the abyss territory. He knew all this wasn't
.in the real world, I could see it. I had control over the environment where his consciousness remained, so I neutralized those new elemental abilities of his. I couldn't have him forcing his way to discover my location. Even I don't know what this place would do to him…no matter how powerful he had become.
"Your highness...the time has come," my attendant spoke. I turned to the mage kneeling before me, and I slipped back into the mask of the abyss once more.
"I won't be long, return to Teyvat and see your mission to completion," I ordered. "I am not to be disturbed, do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, your highness…" he says as he disappears in a flash. Better late than never I guess...
I lay down in bed and closed my eyes, feeling the power of the abyss enveloping me. My body dissipated and reformed in an instant within the dimension. I felt the ground under my feet shift and change, the air becoming thinner in this pocket of the abyss.
I opened my eyes. There he stood, his back turned to me, my dear brother.
The memory of me running towards the edge of that cliff in Mondstadt still lingered in my mind. I could still feel that same joy and happiness I felt seeing him alive, above all after everything, I still felt that even now.
I took one last deep breath.
"Aether." He turned, eyes wide with surprise. His face was one of mixed emotions, what was he thinking, seeing me all of a sudden I wondered. I couldn't expect him to be happy to see me, not after what's happened all this time. Not after the way we met last time, surely not. I didn't consider how he might feel with all this. Seeing me, like this.
The next thing I know, my brother runs up to me and throws his arms around me. He's...embracing me?
"We could go anywhere, see new worlds, do anything we want Lumine!"
The voice of my brother from long ago rang out in my head. Memories of adventures long past, before everything. Before the Sustainer, the thrones, when it was just me and him.
I…I didn't expect him to be there with…him, nearly killing my herald. Why he was there, why he was there with him, I couldn't understand. That was my reason for asking my brother what he was doing with him. I didn't know what to do…so I just played my part. To make sure he didn't try to follow me or try to stop me and the Abyss. Princess of the Abyss. Yes, that's who he met that day.
But…now, in my brother's arms again, I wasn't that princess. I wasn't after anything anymore. It felt as if nothing's changed between us. I…missed this. I missed having a sibling. I missed my brother.
I couldn't hold in my tears for much longer. I felt them flood out, streaming down my face. I grabbed him and embraced him harder than he did me. Burying my face into his chest, the old feelings of being in his arms came back. The feeling of being safe and looked after was something I haven't felt in years. Sometimes, I wish the Sustainer didn't pull us apart, I knew I missed him. I didn't realize just how much I really did.
"Lumine…" I hear him say, "Where are we…?"
Oh…right. I was the one who brought him here after all. I suppose I need to explain everything. I let go of my brother and wipe my tears away. The mask of the princess returning ever so slightly. I look up at Aether's face, at his tense expression. The moment was over.
"We are in a pocket dimension, created by the Abyss, this place mirrors the Heavens in appearance, though it's not the real thing."' I explained, "I brought your consciousness in here for a brief time." Aether's expression remained the same as he gazed down at me. I don't know what he was thinking.
"Is that so…?" he said, raising his head up a little, "Then that explains why my abilities don't work."
It's for your own good, dear brother, please believe me.
"Lumine. I'm happy to see you again but…why did you bring me here? What do you want?" he asked, looking slightly dismayed with a pained expression on his face. Well, here we go.
"I wanted to talk to you, Aether," I said, feeling the princess return, "About everything, I just want you to listen to what I have to say." Arms crossed, my brother looks down, blond strands of hair falling on his face. He appears to be contemplating my words.
"What is it?" he asked, returning from his downcast gaze, his golden eyes now serious.
I hope I'm clear in all this. This needs to come from Lumine, Aether's twin sister and not...her, Lumine, the princess of the Abyss.
I take a deep breath silently. "Brother, when I instructed you to finish your journey as I did, I really wanted you to see the true nature of this world, to at least somewhat understand my goals. And I still want you to do that, but now…now, you're stepping too far. I know what you're about to do. Where you are about to go."
Aether's eyes squinted at me ever so slightly. He knows what I speak of.
"You mean…Enkanomiya?" he asks.
"Yes," I reply. "That place is no ordinary region. It has been consumed by the Abyss. If you go there, who knows what could befall you. You have no idea, what you're about to embark on, Aether. So please, listen to me and stop this. As much I as am devoted to my goals and my battles, I will not see you get hurt."
Aether looks at me hard and then turns away, looking off into the distance. I can't make out the look on his face. Still, this was the reason for bringing him here, and I meant every word I said. I can't let my war with destiny cost me my relationship with my brother, I won't.
I just hope I got through to him.
Aether then turns back to me. His eyes ablaze. And my stomach dropped.
"No, Lumine, I won't."
