"You may come in."

My knuckles hovered in front of the door leading to Headmaster Dain's office. I hadn't even knocked yet, and his sudden invitation made me jump a little. How did he know I approached the door when it was fully closed? It wasn't just me here, either.

I scanned the potted plants and framed paintings decorating the hallway and found no signs of a detection device. Was he innately aware of when people visited his office? My determination to see Aether was momentarily thrown off by Dain's select omniscience, but I was reminded of that goal when Childe reached forward and turned the doorknob on his own.

"Don't mind if we do. Lumi, you first," he said and made way for me to enter.

I murmured my thanks and walked in, feeling more at ease compared to the first time I met Dain. Though the familiarity with his office helped, confirming with my own eyes that Aether stood in front of Dain's desk was an added bonus. Not to mention, I had backup with me in case Dain became cryptic again.

"Lumine, you came all the way here?" Aether turned around with surprise on his face, but there were also wrinkles of frustration there. "Why are they with you? You know what, that's not the most important thing right now."

I opened my mouth to explain, but not a single word escaped before Aether crossed the room and his face was in front of mine. The furrow in his brows deepened, and his lips pressed together in a thin line. My stomach sank at the sight of his displeasure.

"Is it true? Did you really strike a deal with Enjou?" Aether's jaw clenched at Enjou's name.

My eyes slid past Aether and connected with Dain's passive stare.

"Your timing is impeccable. I just finished briefing Aether on what transpired in his absence up until now," Dain said. "If you're wondering how I knew it was you at the door, well, your friends aren't the quietest bunch. Plus, I spotted you on your way here through the window."

Okay, that chased away some of his mysteriousness. At least now I could fully focus on a very upset Aether.

"I didn't have much of a choice," I said firmly.

"There's something truly fascinating about family dynamics," Dain said offhandedly. "This wasn't quite the reunion I expected between two siblings—especially twins. Bickering in an instant. At least I've spared you from this much."

Aether's mouth fell open slightly before curtly turning to face Dain. Slowly, he repeated, "Spared?"

"You really did adopt him, then." I pieced the unspoken information together and glared at Dain.

For him to casually allude to our separation as being spared from arguments, I was taken aback by how little Dain understood family values. I'd rather argue daily with Aether than never know if I'd ever see him again—that's for sure. It's no wonder why Aether nearly shut down when I brought up Dain earlier. Compared to Madame Ping, he hardly seemed like the loving and understanding type.

To his credit, Dain then sighed and slowly rose from his desk, gesturing to the seating area.

"It would be rude of me to require you all to stand there. This will be a long conversation since we will be starting from the beginning. The beginning of Aether's story, that is. It would take more than one meeting to delve into the intricacies of time itself."

"We really don't need to get into this," Aether said in a clipped tone, but he settled into the loveseat anyway. He seemed resigned to Dain's antics with a placid smile. "Lumine, there's enough space here for two."

The only other option was to sit on the couch. While the couch was even more spacious, I didn't want Aether to feel left on his own while the rest of us sat across from him interrogation style. After noticing a slight strain in his smile, it was a no-brainer that I'd join him on the loveseat. That left Diluc, Kaeya, and Childe to sit with Dain. Even with the four of them on one couch, they kept a considerable distance from the headmaster—who leaned comfortably on an armrest.

"If you asked me, I'd say Aether doesn't want us sharing any space with Lumine," Kaeya said with a tilt of his head.

Aether was quick to respond. "It's a good thing nobody asked you, then."

They really needed to get along. Without an ounce of subtlety, I jabbed Aether's arm just like when we were kids after he'd tattled on me for doubling up on dessert. He didn't react to the jab in the way I wanted, having the nerve to crack a genuine smile. I rolled my eyes and fought back a smile of my own. I had missed this.

Childe appeared to be the most relaxed of everyone and asked, "So, what is it about the Champion that we need to know? Did he always have an affinity for attracting the dangers of the Abyss Order?"

"That's not quite the topic matter to start off with." Dain shook his head. "Allow me to make myself clear, Ajax. Your attendance here is only permitted because I am aware of your close dealings with Lumine and, in turn, the Abyss Order. The same goes for you, Diluc and Kaeya."

"Understood," Diluc said.

Kaeya's eyebrows rose, and he directed his interest at Childe. Though he didn't speak out loud, his lips formed the name "Ajax" before closing with a smirk.

"No speaking unless spoken to," Childe said through gritted teeth. "Got it."

Dain didn't seem at all bothered by Childe's attitude. Rather, he completely ignored him and refocused on Aether and I. "Very well, then. I want to begin by clearing the air and stating that I had no intention to split the two of you apart at such a young age."

At the mention of our separation, Aether tensed by my side. Of course, it was a painful memory for both of us, but my sorrow paled in comparison to the joy of reconnecting. Aether didn't seem to enjoy hearing the past brought up at all, though. Was he more affected by it than me?

Instead of a harsh jab, I lightly nudged his arm until he relaxed and released a slow breath.

"You see," Dain went on. "The reason for Aether's adoption traces back to when I first became headmaster of Celestia Academy. This was never a title I personally coveted, but one left to me after the previous headmaster passed away—Halfdan. He was a good friend of mine, and he cherished this school deeply."

He paused at that, eyes trailing up the wall adjacent to us to where a regal portrait was hung. The inscription under the painting was too small to read from this distance, but I had no doubt that it was of the previous headmaster. Halfdan was painted with grace and a proud smile. When I looked back at Dain, I was surprised to see a wistful expression on his face.

"In honor of my friend, I accepted the role and aimed to be a headmaster that would continue Celestia Academy's legacy. The saying easier-said-than-done is most applicable here. While I had no issue with understanding the fundamentals of education, instruction, and otherworldly matters, there came one area where my expertise was lacking," Dain said. "The core of any institution lies within the members it values, in this case, its students. And so, I believed the best way to understand the mentality and ambitions of a student was to personally familiarize myself with one."

"You adopted a kid to be a better headmaster?" I summarized, though not quite understanding his logic. "Wouldn't it be better to, I don't know, talk to actual students? Being a headmaster and being a parent are two very different things."

Aether mumbled something incoherent even to me.

Dain wasn't fazed by my blatant judgment. "My point is, I only needed to guide one child into academia. If I had handpicked from the orphanage, there would be no point in my goal of understanding a natural course of growth. I've already said this to Aether, but I will also apologize to you, Lumine. I'm sorry for being the cause of your separation."

I hadn't expected an apology from him, especially not one so heartfelt. His aloof nature still put me on edge, but I couldn't deny that Dain was being sincere.

Dain looked between me and Aether and tapped a finger on his knee. "In the end, you were adopted not long after, correct? I'm sure no one could replace your brother, but you gained a guardian as well."

He wasn't wrong, but it didn't feel right to gloss over ten years of heartache in a couple of sentences. This time, it was Aether's turn to nudge my arm, and I decided to let my frustration go—for now.

"Okay," was all I replied with.

Satisfied with that, Dain continued to say, "Objectively speaking, my duties as headmaster have improved ever since I took Aether under my wing. On paper, we are father and son, but those are titles best saved for select circumstances. As a mentor, it's been a joy to see Aether thrive in success under my guidance."

Aether tensed again, and so did I.

I vividly remembered the moment Aether had left the orphanage. Besides longing for him, I had also been deeply paranoid that Aether found a family better than me. In my childish mind, I believed he would have forgotten all about his twin sister—being chosen first had to have meant he was more special and meant for greatness.

Except, Dain had apparently picked Aether at random, and Madame Ping had drilled it into my head that I was just as worthy as my brother. Moreover, Madame Ping showed me that family could be expanded, not replaced. The same considerate teachings couldn't be said for Dain. He only ever presented himself as a mentor to Aether.

Now, I understood why Aether was so cold toward Dain. As headmaster, he had no warmth to give. Aether must have been so alone.

"Unfortunately, there exists the phenomenon of too much success," Dain said as though this were a routine conversation and not an exposé of his wrongdoings. "Which brings me to the event that occurred during last year's Grand Tournament. As you already know, Aether was crowned Champion, but there was a mishap during the trials. The abyssal creature calling itself 'Enjou' infiltrated the competition grounds and erected a barrier after locating what is known as a Source. Do I need to explain what that is?"

All too familiar with Enjou's propaganda, I shook my head.

"We know about Celestia Academy's history with the Abyss Order," Kaeya said. "Dating back to its founding."

Dain rose an eyebrow. "Given your supposed familiarity, you'll know what I mean when I say that Enjou arrived one year early. We'd begun preparing for a retaliation from the Abyss Order, but movement from their side wasn't expected so soon. The task force was alerted of Enjou's presence once it became known, but we were all too late."

"What happened?" I asked Aether directly.

Aether's eyes narrowed, and both of his fists clenched. He was the one other person who has dealt with Enjou besides me, so I could relate to that reaction.

"He tricked me," Aether began bitterly. "Disguised as one of the organizers of the Grand Tournament, Enjou lured me into a barrier of his own making and lied about a set of instructions. By the time I realized my mistake, the deal was already made."

With the mention of a deal, dread weighed on my chest.

"In one year, I would be bound to join him in the Abyss," Aether finished.

The impact of that statement was not lost on me, but it's not like I didn't face the same fate. In my case, there was a condition that had to be fulfilled and a link that connected me to Enjou. Though the odds were grim, the deal I made with Enjou could end favorably. For Aether, it had to be the same.

"What was the exact wording of the deal?" I asked. "If we can find a loophole or get rid of Enjou's leverage, then you can stay here."

Aether said nothing, staring at the floor.

"That's all he is allowed to say," Dain replied in his stead. "There appears to be an additional oath of secrecy in place. Enjou—he's a crafty one."

Dain had mentioned something like that in our first meeting. At the time, I was confused why Enjou would lock the Champion in an oath, and it didn't make sense even now. Enjou took no such precautions for me. Was it because Aether was the only viable Source at the time? Regardless of the reason, this was an inconvenient hurdle.

"I never swore an oath," I stated.

"Really?" Surprise colored Dain's voice. "Why did you not say so earlier?"

I shrugged. "You never asked. You just assumed."

That was the truth, but the bigger reason was that I was still hesitant on trusting Celestia Academy. With how the situation has turned out, it would be easier for me to confess everything once and for all. Even though I'd done this multiple times before, revealing my biggest secret felt more daunting than ever. I'd have to work my way backward.

I lightly touched the friendship bracelet that covered Enjou's mark before tugging at the fabric and exposing the runes underneath. By now, everyone in the room had already seen the mark—everyone except Aether.

He sucked in a breath, quick to use elemental sight, and flashed eyes of worry. "Enjou put a bind on you?"

"The deal I made with Enjou was simple enough. He'll remove the corrosion from Thoma's body and ensure his survival as long as I agree to join the Abyss. I was given seven days to make a decision, and this mark is for insurance. It's a guarantee that I won't slip away."

Aether frowned. "Thoma…is he the other student who was attacked by the rifthounds?"

I nodded.

"His condition is that serious?"

"It's fatal," I said. "If we don't find a way to cure him soon, then I'll have no choice. See how there are five runes? That's five days left. Today is basically over, so that makes four."

His frown lightened slightly as I explained, but it didn't vanish completely.

"Might I ask why Enjou has eagerly accepted you as another Source?" Dain asked. "In Aether's case, he exhibited extraordinary powers without the use of a Vision. The ability to wield three elements with no conduit has never been recorded before."

"Hydro, Pyro, and Cryo," I recalled Aether's elements from what I'd witnessed in my dream and remembered from the interviews.

"Anemo and Geo," Aether said with wide eyes. "From that dream—it really was you. Those powers were real?"

I nodded.

Dain cleared his throat. "And you've kept this a secret because…?"

I sighed. "I heard Professor Minci say that any student with a power of this caliber would be secured under extreme captivity—for safety."

Kaeya chose that moment to add, "There's more to it than that. We've known for quite a while that the Champion's existence was wiped from everyone's minds and sent away. Obviously, that was the last thing any of us wanted for Lumine."

"Why did the Academy go to such extreme lengths?" Diluc pressed on. "Aether obviously has control over his powers, and there's no avoiding his deal with the Abyss Order with memory erasure. I certainly did not consent to my mind being tampered with. To inflict mass amnesia on the students you supposedly strive to lead—it's reprehensible."

"The Abyss Order has taken their precautions, and so have we," Dain said. "It was a difficult decision to make and by no means an easy feat. However, so long as Aether was remembered by his peers, that would leave an opening for the Abyss Order to strike."

None of us appeared to be convinced by that, and Dain sighed upon facing our doubtful expressions.

"Think of it this way, had Lumine openly displayed her powers of Anemo and Geo from the moment they became known—yes—she would have received a similar treatment. You would have forgotten her existence for the time being. However, removing Lumine from the equation would ensure the safety of everyone else. Thoma would not be in the state he is today."

He was right.

I'd put all of them in so much danger, and it's because of me that Thoma was lying in the infirmary right now. There was a time when we were hopeful that our small group would find a solution on our own, but that was wishful thinking. Losing me temporarily versus losing Thoma permanently—the choice should have been obvious.

"Don't," Diluc suddenly said. "Don't blame yourself, Lumine. We all made this decision together."

Diluc spoke the truth, but that decision wasn't made so easily. "Thoma was against it at first," I said. "He once said he couldn't think of a reality where we all come out unscathed without the Academy's help. If I had just listened to him—"

"Think of everything that's happened since then, Lumi." Childe was next to interrupt my train of thought. "None of us knew what to expect in the future, and while this wasn't the outcome we wanted, it hasn't all been awful."

Childe was…also right.

I'd made memories that wouldn't have been possible if I was taken away like Aether. Not everything had been doom and gloom. With Childe, I saw just how much he was willing to risk in his Foul Legacy form, and we grew even closer together because of it. If I'd turned myself in, I wouldn't have known that Kaeya rejected himself—not me. He'd continue to self-loathe in silence while Diluc lived in his own version of solitude. They'd forever be at odds.

Winter break filled me with so much love and assurance. Would I have ever seen Madame Ping again? Would I have had the chance to lightheartedly joke with my friends?

And Thoma. Thoma—the person most affected—would he have regretted the decision we made? The gifts we gave each other, the meals we ate together, and the kiss shared on the beach—wouldn't have happened.

If I could turn back time, would it be selfish to choose the same path?

"Pondering the what-ifs won't do any good," Dain said. "I only meant to shed light on my reasoning. If we focus on the present, the situation has since escalated beyond the effectiveness of wiping memories. You'll notice that those memories have since been restored and any lingering confusion is negated."

"How?" Aether asked. "You never did explain it to me."

I couldn't bring myself to wonder the same. My mind was still occupied by the consequences of the choices I'd made.

"The details are unimportant, but never underestimate the power of elves," Dain summarized. "In any case, the cover-up story is that Aether studied abroad at the Akademiya in Sumeru. There is some truth to this, so do not feel burdened by deceiving your peers."

"Believe me, I have bigger things to worry about," Aether replied dully.

"You've been in Sumeru this whole time?" Childe asked.

This particular change in subject held some of my attention, and I found the strength to raise my head again. For the time being, I had to remain focused and present. There would be an opportunity to wrestle my thoughts later.

"My time at the Akademiya was brief," Aether said with some hesitation. "I was only taken there after exhibiting some…influence from the Abyss Order. The scholars there had research that could help, but they also had valuable resources. With their input, the issue was resolved."

"Influence?" I frowned. "What kind of influence?"

Aether opened his mouth again, ready to explain, but then he stopped and watched me with concern. The shift in attention was instant, and all eyes were suddenly on me.

I looked between everyone. "What is it?"

"It was because I'd made a connection with the Abyss Order—specifically the fact that I've become bound to the Abyss—that its influence darkened my mind," Aether said. "Over time, I saw and heard things that were a manifestation of negative energy. Lumine…have you experienced any of this?"

Negative energy, yes, but not in an overly sinister amount. Thinking back, of course, I've been feeling the gravity of the situation. The influence Aether spoke of sounded serious, though. It should be something particularly troubling that stuck out to me.

"Oh," I gasped softly. "There was something strange that happened yesterday."

Kaeya sat forward on the couch, placing his elbows on his knees. "Was this when we were in the library looking at material on treatments? I remembered there was something that spooked you."

"I saw the word 'dead' repeated over and over," I confirmed. "I thought it was my imagination. Aether, is that what the influence is like?"

He nodded solemnly. "It gets worse."

"How worse?" I paled.

"It got to a point where I couldn't trust the people around me anymore. Anything they said could have been words twisted by the Abyss. I'm convinced Enjou was behind it all—a ploy to get me on their side."

For the second time, I gasped as I realized another moment of influence.

Huffman.

I had some apologizing to do.

"What did the Akademiya give you, Aether?" Diluc asked urgently. "How can she fight it off?"

"Meditation with a special incense," Aether said. "It's called spirit borneol, and it's used to calm the mind before entering a state of deep rumination. Luckily, that sort of thing is used abundantly within the Akademiya, so it shouldn't be difficult to obtain."

Thank the Archons for small favors.

"But," Aether paused and his throat bobbed. "When the abyssal influence became especially strong, I needed a physical object to ground me. The Akademiya could only provide information on how to obtain it, and extreme measures were taken to retrieve just one. With its extreme rarity, I keep it on me at all times."

Instead of providing a description of the object, Aether reached up to his collar and pulled the string of a necklace that I hadn't noticed before. As he lifted it from under his shirt, a small pendant dangling at the end of the necklace was revealed.

The first word that came to mind was ethereal. I'd never seen anything like it. The pendant was more of a crystalline stone, and the level of craftsmanship was exquisite. No—it had to be natural—there was no talent in this world that could create such a smooth, four-pointed star. Aether held the crystal delicately between his fingers, and I marveled at the iridescent colors shifting in the light.

"It's called a primogem."

one of my biggest fears happened & i got laid off from work ;-; i thought i could double down on this story to distract myself/cope...turns out i am too sad LMAO