Ever since his work with Wriothesley in uncovering the nasty plot of Dougier, Aether's nightmares only intensified, and now visions of the future begin to haunt him. He was used to dealing with all his troubles and pain on his own, but now it was different, right?

"Yes.. of course, 'home' is wherever we are together"

"But I cannot go with you to the next world to find a new home"

It happened again…He dreamt of her again - of Lumine…His eyes were bleary red. Ever since he touched that black stone in the Fortress of Meropide, dreams - rather, nightmares - of Lumine and the abyss began to resurface again. He wanted to rest but his mind was a constant adversary, ruining his needed sleep.

"I thought we were siblings, Aether…"

"Why did you kill me…?"

Scenes of a dead Lumine with his sword stabbing her heart had begun playing in his mind recently, interweaving with his trauma. Was it a premonition? Destiny? It all felt like some prophecy. Oh…there it was again. Prophecy. Oh, how he hated that word. Prophecy had always been related to tragedy and suffering. Look at how prophecy shaped Furina's life.

He sighed. What did he do to deserve this? Coming to Teyvat should have been a breeze like their previous adventures…Yet, here he was, with nothing about his sister except for a meeting cut short and nightmares.

Furina was sleeping soundly beside him. Her body rose and lowered according to her rhythmic breathing. He smiled wistfully. She looked so peaceful like her worries were no more. He caressed her cheek and then kissed her forehead before leaving the bed. He made sure to move carefully so as to not disturb her sleep as he made his way to his balcony.

He was eternally grateful for Madame Ping's gift, as having your own realm was such a luxury. He closed his eyes as he leaned on the railings, overlooking the sea. The sea breeze blew across his face - he could smell the sea salt in the air as it penetrated his senses. He loved feeling the wind on his skin, it felt soothing like a calming whisper telling him that everything was going to be alright, if only for a moment.

"I wonder how you're doing, Lumine. Do you still care? Has our journey finally come to an end?" He asked no one in particular. His eyes teared up. "I saw your eyes, sister…It's like I don't even know you anymore. What happened to us..?"

He had held up hope since their last meeting, yet each region he visited chipped away at his resolve - getting nothing that could help save his sister. His journey slowly felt meaningless now since the goal in the end was beyond reach. His visions of the apparent future only added fuel to his doubts, with visions of his blade through his sister's heart seeming etched in the stone that is his future.

He sighed. There was no escaping fate, and no amount of deception could avoid this future.

Aether was surprised when someone came from behind him and gave him a hug. He turned his head around, only to see a white-haired girl latching onto him.

"Furina?" Aether was surprised to see her awake.

"I'm sorry." Furina apologized. But why, he asked.

"I'm sorry that you're going through this," Furina said, her voice muffled since her face was stuck to him.

"Furina…" Aether slowly turned his body so they could hug face-to-face. "You don't have to be sorry."

"But you're sad…which makes me sad," Furina added.

"I'm sorry…for making you sad," Aether apologized. "You shouldn't be seeing me like this."

"Stop being selfish, Aether," She said softly, her head resting on the nook of his neck. "Don't say I shouldn't be seeing my boyfriend like this."

"I'm sorry for being selfish." He apologized, as he pulled on her body tightly.

"Then tell me how you feel, Aether. I know I can't do much, but I want to help the one I love as best I can." Furina urged him.

"Alright…" Aether acquiesced. "It's just…I'm tired…"

Furina didn't say anything. She rubbed his back running her hands in a circular motion, trying her best to comfort her love.

"You already know about my sister…I just can't get her out of my mind. She has been haunting me ever since I last saw her. Her eyes…I couldn't recognize my sister anymore.." Tears started to flow from his eyes. "I feel lost. As if all hope for saving her is gone. Like my journey's pointless." He cried.

"It's not pointless, Aether. Even though your future looks bleak, you've done so much good already…you've saved so many people, nations even. You even saved me…" Furina said.

"I…I know that. It's just…my sister… She's always been with me since the beginning, losing her feels like losing a part of me." Aether sobbed. Furina didn't say anything, electing to continue rubbing his back.

"Another thing is that I…I've been getting visions lately…showing what my future would look like." Aether managed to say. Aether took in a deep breath, not sure if he was strong enough to utter the words that were tempting to come out. "It showed me ending Lumine…killing her with a sword to the heart."

Furina gasped. "I'm so sorry to hear that. But you shouldn't trust visions like that. Seeing those things doesn't mean that they'll come true, right?"

"I don't know anymore, Furina… I don't know what to think anymore." Aether let his tears fall down.

"Aether…I'm here for you, alright? I love you, Aether. We're going to face this together, okay? Just like we did so against Fontaine's prophecy. We can learn more, do some research, or do something else that we know not for now, so don't lose faith just yet," Furina reassured him, "I want you to know one thing. When you change fate in the end, I'll be by your side every step of the way, no buts!"

"You remember what you said to me that one time, right? 'You don't have to be alone, Furina'. I'm going to say the same thing to you." Furina gave him a look of sheer determination, her eyes burning with love and passion. "You don't have to be alone, Aether. I'm here for you, always."

"If you've lost your purpose, then it will be I, Furina, who helps you find one."

Aether was stunned - his eyes wide in awe. Furina looked so brave compared to him. Every word of reassurance that came out of her mouth eased his heart and slowly but surely added fuel to his dwindling fire of hope. She looked just like the Moon, lighting up his heart during his darkest times, and guiding him through the foggy path of doubt. He didn't know what he did to deserve someone like her. She truly was the perfect human...

Aether felt a hand patting his head, finding it to be Furina's hand.

"F- Furina?" Aether was snapped from his thoughts.

"I-I uh…I love it when you do it to me, so I thought doing the same would help you…does it?" Furina chuckled embarrassed.

"...It does," Aether admitted.

"I'm glad." Furina smiled as she continued to pat his head.

"How did you know I was here, Furina?" Aether wondered. Furina stopped giving him head pats.

"You weren't as silent as you thought, dear Aether. I woke up to find you not by my side, so I decided to go look for you." Furina giggled. She was glad Aether was feeling better.

"Thanks a lot, Furina…Whatever will I do without you?" Aether said, a smile finally forming on his lips.

"Heh, you're welcome. Just be glad you have Fontaine's most beautiful lady falling head over heels for you, hehe." Furina smiled.

"You have no shame whatsoever, huh?" Aether sighed but it held no bite. He was lucky to have Furina by his side.

"None at all, my witness. Let's go *yawn* cuddle in bed, I'm feeling sleepy right now and I want you by my side." She yawned before finishing her sentence. She took his hand and pulled him back to their bedroom. The sight of a Furina with messy bed hair and in pajamas dragging him back was quite amusing.

Aether smiled. Thank you, Furina.

The visions the traveler is experiencing are just my own additions and headcanon.

I was tempted to write this chapter after scrolling through TikTok and watching Aether and Lumine angst videos, hehe, and I wanted to give Furina some spotlight too, by having her soothe Aether's pain. Like a healthy couple :3

Also, why the f*ck am I jealous of these two. I wrote them and I'm feeling envious :(

I really need a Furina in my life. I think everyone does. Thanks for reading :3