lumine is trying to gather information for her history midterm paper, and aether makes the great suggestion of interviewing headmaster dainsleif. other midterm prep takes place, like hand-to-hand combat for physical combat ii, but no one expects for aether's power to go out of control in vision studies. with a student and a courtyard as a casualty, lumine has more to think about.

"Are you ready?" Thoma asked.

Vision Studies was over in a flash that had also felt like a decade.

"I was born ready."

Professor Morax was gracious enough to allow the usual time in history to be a free period. That way, we could work on our midterm papers. This extra time coincidentally lined up with Dain's schedule, so it was now or never.

"Are you sure you don't want extra moral support? I can walk with you to his office."

"There's no way you'll make it to your next class on time. This isn't my first rodeo."

Who would have thought the interviews Kaeya and I conducted last semester would come in handy? Though, interviewing the headmaster of a prestigious academy in the quiet space of his ornate office was slightly different than a casual meetup in a tavern. Not to mention how hard it was to grasp Dain's intentions even when he was cooperative. What if he didn't appreciate me being so nosy and levitated me out of his office?

"If you get nervous, just remember you've always got a bit of luck with you." Thoma reached forward, his hand skimming my arm before grasping the omamori that decorated my bag. "Tell me all about it after. I'm sure you'll do great."

A small weight lifted from my chest, and I chased my nerves away with a slow breath. Thoma's presence brought me more peace of mind than any omamori could, but I took his reminder to heart.

"He's just a headmaster. It's his job to be responsible for student needs. This interview is well within reason," I said more to myself than to Thoma.

He smiled and wrapped me in a hug. "That's the spirit."

And that spirit stayed with me as I took the long route to the administration building. Once inside, I dug out my notebook and meticulously read the prepared questions. I even read a few of them out loud for practice—more of a mumble to not disturb anyone. It wasn't until I was halfway up the staircase that led to the second floor that my thoughts were interrupted.

I heard something strange. A choked shout. It sounded more questionable than dangerous and not at all fitting for a place like the administration building—or anywhere else for that matter. Curious, though also wary, I turned around just in time to see a blur of an object hurled straight for my head.

I ducked.

The object—a bag of ice—smacked into the stairs and split open. Ice cubes scattered outwards and slid across the marble steps, many of them rolling down back to the one responsible for the assault.

"Vlad?"

His arm was still outstretched from the throw, and his fist closed—save for the accusatory finger pointed at me. I could hear his labored breathing from here. Judging by the blooming black eye, singed eyebrows, and bandaged leg, he must have come running here straight from the infirmary. We'd never been on good terms before, but I racked my brain to pick out what could have happened for me to offend him this badly.

The rage in his eyes flickered as he stammered. "You dodged."

"I'll admit, it was a good throw," I said with narrowed eyes. "Explain yourself before I give you a reason to go back to the infirmary."

He laughed—cackled. Odds were high that Vlad had tripped and fell down these very steps. He probably bumped his head and turned more crazy than evil. Clearly, he still needed to receive his full treatment at the infirmary instead of antagonizing me.

"You sure talk big for someone who doesn't have her knights in shining armor around," he spat. "I'd like to see you try, but that wouldn't be very fair, would it? I've already suffered enough thanks to your brother."

I refrained from addressing the knights comment. Temper at bay, I tried to make sense of that last part. Vlad's sudden outburst toward me was because of Aether? My brother wasn't known for going around beating people up, so unless Vlad's injuries were unrelated, if I were to connect the dots…

"So, you were the student who got injured in Vision Studies."

Strange. I couldn't muster any sympathy for him.

"Got injured?" He laughed again. "I didn't get injured. Aether intentionally hurt me. It was no accident by him or a slip-up of mine. One second, everything was going fine, and the next thing I knew…completely unwarranted attacks targeted me. The Champion has finally shown his true colors, and I'm sure you've been just as manipulative. It's no wonder you've got everyone wrapped around your pretty little finger."

The longer I listened to his ranting, the less time I had with Dain.

"Do you have anything worthwhile to say?"

"He was like a cold, heartless, evil bastard with no sense of reason. No amount of power can make up for his rotten—"

Before his mouth could run on for any longer, I swiped a stray ice cube by my feet and pitched it at Vlad's face. It cracked against his teeth. Vlad fell into a crouch and whimpered in pain.

I walked a few steps lower just so he could hear me. "At least you didn't choke on it. Insult me all you want, but I don't want to hear another degrading word about my brother from you."

Before I gave into the temptation of honoring my word and sending Vlad back to the infirmary, I spared him one last glare and climbed the stairs once more. His words, the unbiased ones, gave me more to think about Aether going berserk. Since it was Vlad, there could be a very reasonable explanation for my brother's actions, so maybe I didn't have to worry so much.

"No remorse," Vlad moaned, deflated and weak. "Not even a hint of guilt. The difference was like night and day."

My hand stilled on the banister, and I gripped the smooth marble. Who was in the wrong here? Vlad or Aether? Siding with the proven bully gave me the chills, but even I felt that something strange was going on. Strangely familiar in the worst way.

Instead of fault, what mattered were objective facts. I needed to hear the truth of what happened directly from Aether. But first, there was another set of answers to gather.

"How long have you been the headmaster of Celestia Academy?"

Two glasses of water sat on the coffee table separating us. A small fire crackled in the nearby hearth, providing a comfortable ambiance more than actual warmth. Across from me, Dain sat with perfect posture and responded to my first question with no hesitation.

"Fifty years."

"Fifteen?"

"Fifty."

I noted the number and masked my wonder. I thought he had been joking when he mentioned being headmaster for a handful of decades, but since when has he been one to joke? Dain's youthful appearance only added to his mystery, and I couldn't wait to uncover the reason behind it.

"Why did you choose to become headmaster?"

"The previous headmaster left the position to me after he passed away. Of course, there was always the option to refuse, but he was a dear friend of mine. It's the least I can do to honor his memory."

I knew as such already, and it was nice to hear his story hadn't changed from before. There was no reason for Dain not to be honest, so we were off to a good start.

"What is your opinion on Celestia Academy's character? This can be based on traditions, beliefs, environment, and other factors."

"That's a loaded question," he said and fell silent for a moment. "I believe much of Celestia Academy's character stems from pride. Students entering the academy are honored to do so, and our graduates continue successful lives that improve the world of Teyvat."

"Do you see any of this changing in the future?"

"Well, as I'm sure you're aware, the near future holds an uncertain outcome. While I choose to believe that, as a united community, Celestia Academy can overcome the evils of the Abyss Order, we cannot let our guard down. Optimism rules that no, I do not see this changing."

I wholeheartedly agreed. Even though we've fallen back to our routine lives after Enjou attempted to seize power, the threat and promise of his return motivated me to train harder and be better every single day. I'd noticed the same attitude with everyone else, and the guidance from professors is something to forever be grateful for.

"How has Celestia Academy evolved in the fifty years you've been here?"

The figure sounded even more surreal coming from my mouth, but I focused less on Dain's age and more on the interview's main goal.

"Will you please remind me of your paper's topic again?" he asked.

"The beginning and end of an era."

"In that case, would you rather hear of my time as a student, or will my time as headmaster suffice?"

"You were a student here?" Though not unlikely, it was still surprising to hear. I hadn't thought much of Dain's life before becoming headmaster, but he must have had an impressive background. "Yes, let's start with that."

He stood and walked over to a small cabinet. Looking over his shoulder, he explained, "This conversation is going to require more than water. You'll soon understand."

Dain retrieved a bottle of wine, poured a glass for himself, and returned to his seat with a pensive expression. I sat a little straighter and prepared for a more serious interview. By the sound of it, he was about to lay a bombshell or two on me. Anticipation swirled with my curiosity.

"The beginning and end of an era," he began. "Would I be right to assume that the particular era of interest involves the Tournaments?"

I nodded. Dain already knew that the others, including myself, were aware of Celestia Academy's history with the Abyss Order and the Tournaments that transpired. What did that have to do with his time as a student?

"And, is my assumption that this interview holds a second purpose also correct?"

My eyes widened, and I gripped my notebook. By "second purpose," could he possibly be referring to…

"I'll take your silence as a yes." He sipped his wine. "I imagined you'd have questions after seeing a spectacle like that, which is why I did it—why I showed you what I can do. At least, that was a fraction of my power. What you're about to hear is a story that few individuals are aware of. Considering the future we discussed earlier, it's time to show my cards. This is knowledge that I hope to be beneficial, not just for your assignment, but for your greater understanding."

Dain drank more of his wine, prompting me to do the same with my water.

"My time as a student at Celestia Academy took place one thousand years ago."

Too stunned to write, my attempt to record his words on paper immediately failed. Again, he has never been one to joke around.

"The final Tournament to occur yielded a Champion, one that was nicknamed the 'Twilight Sword.' In an unprecedented course of events, there was a tie. A second Champion also arose, and the two winners were equal in many regards. While some would duel for the title, they instead chose to share it."

More wine was drunk, and I processed the information.

"Since the Tournament's occurrence was so seldom, my peers and I knew little of what to expect. We were naive to believe in a grand prize, not knowing there were strings attached—strings tied to an ancient agreement. The administration crafted an elaborate cover story to disguise the truth of what happened to the Champions. That truth being, in return for offering the Champions to the Abyss Order, they would receive riches beyond their imagination."

Dain closed his eyes.

"Streaking star against the skies,

Shadows kiss the edge of light;

Blood and power reward a prize,

Ties of yore bloom into sight."

Though it wasn't my first time hearing it, a chill ran over me after he recited the haunting verse. Blood and power. Those Champions lost their lives because of others' greed. I understood that much, but where did Dain come into all of this?

"By the time we learned of the trickery and discovered our fate, it was too late for escape."

We? Our?

"Wait a second." I leaned forward in my seat. "Are you saying that…you were one of the Champions?"

"And Halfdan was the other."

As he promised, the wine made sense now.

"There are many differences between Teyvat and the Abyss, but they do have one thing in common—balance. This balance is kept in check by none other than Celestia, and this balance is the reason why the Heavenly Principles never intervened during the previous…exchanges. Except, Halfdan and I were not one Champion, but two. Celestia could not allow the Abyss to gain such a surplus in power, regardless of the amount awarded to the academy. And so, for the first time in the agreement's history, Celestia stepped in to break us free."

What should have been a joyful statement sounded like the opposite.

"According to Celestia, we also posed a risk to the balance on Teyvat. The Heavenly Principles purposefully waited for the transferral process to begin before swooping in with their 'rescue.' Typically, the sacrificial Champion is absorbed into the Abyss, their essence being added into a reservoir of a sort. It was only after Halfdan and I had established a connection with the Abyss that celestial powers interjected—reversing the process."

That would mean Dain had abyssal powers. What allowed him to levitate wasn't something of this world at all. If that was true, how was he still sane? Did abyssal powers inherently turn someone evil? That was another can of worms to think about. As crazy as the story was, I believed him.

"We lost just as much as we gained." Dain looked at the portrait of Halfdan that hung on the wall. "Our bodies were not suited to host abyssal energy, and we suffered with the agony of it. As the years of trying to cope with the foreign entity drew on, we soon realized that our aging had slowed until it stopped completely. The Abyss kept us alive, and we could not die until the Abyss did."

Except, Halfdan had died. There had to be a way for Dain to find his own peace, too.

An idea popped into my head. "Enjou once told me that the Abyss was barely surviving without their Source from a thousand years ago. If you wait for a little while longer, then maybe…"

"I appreciate the thought, but the Abyss is more resilient than Enjou makes it out to be. His pitch to you probably didn't include other, minor sources that the Abyss draws power from. Teyvat is vast, so the options are nearly limitless."

"Yet the Abyss Order still insists on having the Champions?"

"Celestia Academy is where the greatest gather, after all. You cannot see reason with the Abyss Order—remember that." His tone was soft yet serious. "I've had a millennium to figure that out, so I can't blame you for being hopeful. Halfdan's death…that was a miracle. We spent centuries searching for a solution that would rid us of the abyssal energy until, one day, a discovery was made. Our uniquely similar constitutions meant that the energy could be transferred between us. After experimenting with the idea and finding success…"

Though I was on the edge of my seat, I patiently waited for him to continue. His wine glass had emptied, but he didn't pour another.

"Against his wishes, I took ahold of Halfdan's abyssal energy and harbored it all unto myself. It was the only way for one of us to be completely released. He deserved to be free. My only regret is that I cannot meet him again to properly apologize for robbing his choice."

Now, I glanced at Halfdan's portrait with a new lens.

"As for the additional abyssal energy that burdened me, well, it manifested in much of my appearance."

His masked face.

"Before his death, Halfdan and I had returned to Celestia Academy as professors, and he later became headmaster in preparation for the upcoming Tournament. Together, our goal was to cut down the Abyss Order when they returned by the light of Comet Paimon. With him gone, that responsibility solely lies with me."

Which brought us to now.

Dain looked at me. "Does that answer all of your questions?"

I had Professor Morax to thank for the opportunity to learn Dain's story, but how was I supposed to write about any of it? Would it be wrongful to expose his backstory and involvement with the Abyss for the sake of a grade? The dilemma occupied my thoughts until I realized Dain was waiting for a response.

"I have a couple more, actually," I said after considering everything. "My next question isn't entirely related to your story, but hearing your answer might change that. What about Dream Aria captured your attention?"

The mention of the piece drew both of our gazes to where it hung on the wall. Not for the last time, its beauty left me breathless.

"That's an excellent question. I may have left this detail out, but it was Halfdan who first tried to bear my portion of the abyssal energy. We can both be quite stubborn, and I hadn't realized what he was attempting to do until he had nearly succeeded." A small, reminiscent smile played on his lips. "When I was close to meeting my end, what I saw was Dream Aria. The same columns. The same path. The same door. I can only hope that Halfdan also witnessed such a sight when he crossed over."

"Do you think it's Celestia?"

"I cannot say, for I do not know. The notion is quite possible."

"Where did it come from?" I asked, knowing we were slightly off-topic.

"At an auction. It was in the sorry state that you saw before restoration. Even then, I was compelled to make the highest bid. The mysteries of its origin is something I'm looking into, but there have been more occupying matters as of late."

Understandable. I could follow up with him on that later.

"If you have abyssal energy, what keeps you from acting as the Abyss Order does?"

"You mean, why aren't I succumbing to evil plots and terrorizing the people of Teyvat?" He chuckled as though the idea of him as a villain was entertaining. "That conveniently relates to the upcoming Welkin Festival. You may know it as an opportunity to socialize and have fun, but there is a deeper purpose. The Blessing of the Welkin Moon is a highly potent event that keeps the balance within me steady. As long as I witness the celestial spectacle and recite a small prayer, there's is nothing to worry about."

Despite failing to physically take note of Dain's story, though it would be impossible to forget any of it, I wrote that last part down. If my suspicions were correct, Aether could make good use of the Blessing of the Welkin Moon as well.

"Is there anything else?"

I shook my head. "No, well, not right now. I have more than enough to write about for my paper, and I hope Professor Morax will believe it all."

"He will."

"You sound pretty sure of that."

"I did say there were a few individuals aware of my story. Morax is one of them."

I wanted to ask how Professor Morax knew and who the other individuals were, but that was none of my business. For now. Enough prying had been done today, and I doubted the full effect of Dain's story had entered my brain just yet.

"If there's nothing else, I hope you don't mind that I take some time for myself now. Though the events had transpired long ago, I did not expect them to feel so fresh." His face did not betray any of the unease in his honest confession. "And, when you inevitably relay my story to your confidants, do prepare them a drink."

Dain's flippant comment amidst serious conversation must be the consequence of living for a thousand years. After all that he went through, I didn't know whether to judge him more or less for it.

Remembering the academy's motto before leaving, I said, "Ad astra."

"Abyssosque," was his reply.