Aside from the mildly ridiculous stakes, I wasn't sure what to expect from Childe and Aether's duel. Even as Aether led us to the training grounds, Childe wore an easy-going smile as if he'd already won. My brother's face remained stoic, and he didn't say much until we arrived at our destination.
Though it was the weekend, Instructor Xiao was in the field training alone. Childe immediately gravitated toward the weapon rack, but Aether cut straight to the Conqueror of Demons. From this distance, their conversation was inaudible. I watched as my brother made vague gestures. Instructor Xiao's lips barely moved with his short responses, then he nodded and switched focus to where Childe tested bowstrings for the perfect tension.
"Instructor Xiao has given his approval for the duel to be held here," Aether said once they walked within earshot. "He will supervise the duel to ensure campus rules are followed."
Childe decided on a bow and pointed the tip toward Aether. "As expected of Celestia Academy's prodigy. You, of all people, would play things by the book. Dain wouldn't be too happy if he heard that his son turned into a delinquent."
Aether only glared at him in response, not taking the bait.
"What are the rules?" I asked.
"No fatal blows," Xiao said.
A very reasonable rule. I wasn't sure if duels were commonplace around here, but parents would surely riot after receiving news that their gifted child died over a duel. I waited for Xiao to continue the list of rules, but he only stood there with his arms crossed, looking rather bored.
My eyes darted between the three of them. "That's all?"
"What more could I ever ask for?" Childe grinned and collected arrows from the supply. "Of course, even if sparing Aether's life wasn't a requirement, I would still keep him alive. I know how much he means to you, girlie."
"I'm so charmed," I replied monotonously.
Seriously, sometimes Childe had a way with words that convinced me that he was all I ever wanted. Then there were times like right now. I might just have to fight him after my brother's turn was over.
Now, Aether chose his weapon. He bypassed the bows, polearms, claymores, and even the normal swords. Strange. He didn't strike me as a catalyst user—probably because he wasn't. Next to the swords was an array of weapons that diverted from the traditional options. His movements precise, Aether plucked two short swords from the collection and flipped them multiple times in the air—easily catching them by the grips. His expression remained serious, but I had a sneaking suspicion that Aether was trying to show off.
With their weapons in hand, they both entered the field. Childe stopped halfway and jogged back to where Xiao and I stood spectating.
"A kiss for luck?" he asked.
Under close to any other circumstance, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. Even a peck on his cheek was tempting, but I didn't approve of the main principle of this duel. Why they were unable to settle their differences in words, I had no idea. Moreover, since the matter had to do with me, it was irritating that I had no say in it.
I stared him down and copied Xiao, crossing my arms. "I do not condone this nature of violence."
"A kiss for when I return victorious, then," Childe decided on his own and returned to where Aether now tensely waited.
I loosened a breath of annoyance and tried to imagine how the duel would play out. With Childe's bow and Aether swords, it wasn't a simple matter of pure melee or ranged attacks. It would be interesting to see how their elemental abilities influenced the fight. I tried to remain impassive and not get too excited as a witness.
Xiao remained silent next to me, and I realized that we had interrupted his solo training.
"Sorry about all this," I said. "They had this whole duel thing decided since last year, and the energy has only increased since…things. Hopefully, we don't take up too much of your time."
"No apology necessary. As a matter of fact, I'm intrigued by what Aether will be demonstrating today. I heard that he learned a new fighting style while in Sumeru."
While it was a relief to know that Xiao wasn't bothered, my curiosity grew with this new information. It became harder to dislike the duel entirely, and I subtly walked a bit closer to get a better view.
Childe and Aether faced each other at a distance. With his bow, Childe started off at an advantage, and he didn't hesitate to send a volley of arrows straight toward Aether. Shots landed consecutively at Aether's left and right, forcing my brother to dodge while also trying to close the distance.
The memory of my Physical Combat II midterm resurfaced. Childe and I had gone up against Instructor Xiao similarly. Except, there was no one to chase Aether down. If Childe were to lose his range, then Aether's favor would increase exponentially. Holding my breath, I watched as Childe swiftly leaped backward while firing shots.
The bow attacks were a mix of physical and Hydro damage. A quick slew of wooden arrows whizzed by Aether and embedded into the ground. Then, the ground at Aether's feet glowed a blue that brightened the closer a specialized Hydro arrow nearly hit its mark. Despite being on the defense, my brother's speed never faltered, and he was close to reaching Childe.
"Is that the Champion fighting with Tartaglia again?" I heard a bystander ask.
"Looks like they have real weapons now. Even Instructor Xiao is observing. This could be interesting. Let's stick around and see what happens."
Though the field they fought in was flat, the vast majority of the ground was covered in snow. Where Childe stepped, the snow muddled with the earth and created a slick patch of mud—making it difficult for Aether to follow without slipping. I heard Childe's delighted laughter as he fired directly at the snow with Hydro. Though the water didn't do much to melt anything, it muddied the area even more.
Aether wasn't getting closer anymore. With his energy spent chasing down Childe, my brother slowed momentarily before his grip on the short swords changed. There was still too much distance between them. Throwing the weapons would be unwise, so what else could he be planning?
A flash of blue answered that question, and my eyes widened at the sight of two ribbons made from Hydro that extended from the blades. Aether whipped the short swords forward, causing the ribbons to arc across the field and curl at Childe's legs. The move nearly succeeded in pulling him off balance, but Childe skidded to the side at the last second.
With Aether's swords activated, this was no longer an unbalanced match. They both embraced ranged attacks, and Childe had a more difficult time now that his offensive strategy was compromised.
My attention was so focused on their match, I didn't notice someone approach until Kaeya's breath tickled my ear.
"They're finally going at it. With Thoma healed, it was only a matter of time."
To my surprise, Diluc joined in next. "For a cause so trivial, they're certainly fired up. At least this means entertainment for the rest of us."
"I wouldn't call it entertainment," I mumbled. "And the cause isn't so trivial anymore. Now, Aether's said he'll either give Childe his blessing or forbid him from approaching me ever again."
"I like those stakes," Kaeya said. "Just because it's amusing, I'm betting that Childe will lose."
"I bet the same."
"That's not how this works, Diluc. If we both make the same bet, then who gets the winning pot in the end?"
Diluc sighed. "It would be foolish to bet against Aether. He's someone even the Abyss Order covets. Besides, any sum you throw into the ring ties back to me."
"Are you saying what's yours is mine?"
"The Dawn Winery funds extend to family, so yes."
A smile tugged at my lips while listening to them. It was banter between brothers, through and through. What's more, I couldn't help but notice that Kaeya and Diluc had arrived at the same time.
Kaeya brushed back a lock of hair from my face. "For someone not entertained, that's quite the look on your face."
"What were you two doing before?" I eyed them. "Since you came here together…were you hanging out together?"
Diluc sighed.
Kaeya grinned.
"You were?" My smile spread wider. "Someone pinch me. I must be dreaming."
Kaeya leaned in, his gaze alluring. "Will a kiss do?"
Diluc cleared his throat and jutted his chin in the direction of the duel. I blushed at Kaeya's closeness, but his distraction didn't last long—not when one of Aether's Hydro ribbons wrapped around Childe's bow. The weapon was yanked away and tossed out of reach.
The growing crowd gasped, and so did I.
Childe wasn't laughing anymore.
Stalking forward, Aether guided the ribbons to gracefully flutter at every opening Childe dared to offer. I expected there wasn't much time left in the duel and worried about what Aether planned to do now. Defeat was fine, but I dreaded witnessing a painful beatdown. Amazingly, Childe held his own and evaded Aether's attacks.
"How long do you think he'll last?" someone from the crowd wondered.
"Tartaglia's toast."
"The Champion is so intimidating. It's no wonder how he won last year."
"Do you know if he's dating anyone? More importantly, do you think I have a chance?"
I itched to turn around and identify who said that last part, but Childe did something that made me pause. Right as Aether flicked his short swords, causing the Hydro ribbons to billow forward at an alarming speed, Childe did the unthinkable and grabbed them with his hands.
Confused, I squinted and wished I had a pair of binoculars.
The ribbons didn't remain in Childe's hands for long. Bending to Aether's will, they spiraled up Childe's arms, undoubtedly causing pain along the way. Still, Childe's hands embraced the offensive Hydro and crackled with a new energy. Bright purple. Electro.
"How is he doing that?" I asked no one in particular.
"He's using his Delusion," Kaeya answered.
My heart stopped. "What?"
Diluc tutted. "A foolish move."
"Aren't Delusions dangerous? Childe said they drained the lifeforce of the user and could even backfire, so why would he…" I already knew the answer. Childe fought to win.
"As I said, foolish. At least he's only using it lightly this time."
While part of me prayed Childe wasn't about to self-destruct, the other part clung to Diluc's words.
"What do you mean 'lightly this time'?"
Before I got a response, Childe's Electro grew from a few sparks to a connecting network. What used to be Aether's greatest weapon was now a severe handicap. The Hydro ribbons became Electro-charged, and the energy connecting Childe to Aether buzzed directly for my brother. If he continued to fight with the ribbons, Aether would take serious damage.
A second before his body got zapped by the Delusion's power, Aether dispelled the Hydro and was once again left with regular short swords. Childe recovered from my brother's attack and regained his pompadour—now sporting two Electro blades.
Diluc began to speak again. "If Childe wanted to fully use the Delusion, then he'd transform into Foul Legacy."
"But he said Foul Legacy had nothing to do with his Delusion," I said while frowning. "That's the only reason why I was okay with him transforming to destroy that hidden Domain."
"Exactly. That's why he lied."
My jaw dropped. "He what?"
"It was the only way."
"And both of you knew?
"I only realized after he transformed," Kaeya chirped in. "Childe's body ended up in poor shape afterward, remember? A price he was willing to pay."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. The past was in the past. Childe had made a successful recovery. If he hadn't destroyed the Domain when he did, we could have been in bigger trouble. It was better to make peace with this information than to dwell on it. Except, Childe disregarded his well-being yet again with that Delusion. Unbelievable.
Childe duel-wielded the same as Aether, now. The ranged style flipped to melee in an instant, and Electro blades clashed with glinting metal. Electro wasn't just a weapon, though. Childe's speed became enhanced—he dashed forward faster than Aether could fall back. Though my brother was able to block most hits, Childe landed a few of them.
Worse—while still being a better option than Hydro—metal was an excellent conductor of electricity. Any form of contact with Childe meant damage to Aether. The tables had taken an unexpected turn thanks to the Delusion, but the development didn't end there.
Right as Childe combined both Electro weapons into a singular polearm, Aether's hands began to glow from orange to red. The two swords were ablaze with Pyro, and another round of gasps sounded around me. Flaming swords were impressive, but the Pyro's heat continued to grow. The metal began to melt, and murmurs erupted from the onlookers.
"Does he have two Visions? That's not possible."
"Now that I think about it, I've never seen the Champion with a Vision before. He hangs out around all the dining hall tables, too. What House does he belong in?"
"Visionless."
"What? That's ridiculous."
"I'm certain of it. Visionless House, just like his sister."
Right. Like me, Aether had no Vision. Like me, he could still use multiple elements. Unlike me, he brazenly showcased these powers to the entire school. A trickle of envy seeped under my skin over the fact that Aether didn't have to keep his powers hidden. All this time, he fully embraced the elements and master them with no worries.
"It must suck to be the dud twin."
"Dude, be quiet. She's right there."
I wanted to laugh. Dud twin. If only they knew.
Wait.
They could know. The days of keeping my powers a secret were over the moment Aether returned to campus. Now that the Abyss Order was too unpredictable, and now that it's more beneficial to use every source of power in our arsenal to fight back, there was no reason for me to pretend anymore.
As this revelation hit me, Aether deliberately melted the swords together until they molded into a molten rope of flame. Childe hesitated, watching as Aether cracked the Pyro whip in the air. Then, he threw the Electro polearm, and it spun like a wheel in Aether's direction. Even after it was evaded, the polearm continued with momentum, curving back around at Aether for a second time.
While Aether dodged the Electro polearm, Childe used the distraction to charge forward with two new blades—one Electro and one Hydro. The Pyro whip lashed out and steam billowed from the Hydro weapon. A small explosion threw back both fighters when the inevitable overload reaction occurred.
They went back and forth like this. Butting elements and flourishing attacks.
What would everyone's reaction be once they find out I could use Anemo and Geo? Based on the duel's commentary, they'd easily accepted the fact that Aether could wield the elements with no Vision. Was it assumed he had special privileges as the headmaster's adopted son?
How would I even go about revealing myself? There were two options: pretend I only recently gained these powers, or reveal that I've been lying to everyone the whole time. I didn't want to lie anymore, so the first option was out. Then again, my friends might be upset to learn that I hid this from them. After telling them about the whole Signora fiasco, it was obvious that they didn't like being kept in the dark—who did?
There was also Ellin to consider.
Ellin—who I'd only recently begun to patch things over with—still remained on the fence when it came to our friendship. The whole idea of us Visionless need to stick together was to make up for the fact that we had no elements to level the playing field. It was too easy to imagine the look of betrayal on her face once she learned the truth.
I wouldn't be able to avoid this forever, though. As a matter of fact, it was in my best interest to reveal my powers as soon as possible. That way, I could focus on elemental training in Vision Studies and make legitimate progress instead of trial-and-error on my own time.
The internal dilemma made me sigh, and that's when a warm hand lightly touched my back.
"If you're stressed and need to take time for yourself after this is over, we can postpone chess for tomorrow," Diluc said.
My mind blanked momentarily before I realized that the weekend meant chess with Diluc. We hadn't had a game together in quite some time. I'd completely forgotten and felt equally guilty and excited.
"Chess today works," I blurted. "I just have to…"
Have a few words with my brother. Make sure no one was gravely wounded after the duel. Confront Thoma about this morning…or maybe I could put off that conversation for tomorrow. Not because I was worried about how humiliatingly awkward it would be to explain myself—or that I dreaded Thoma committing to an indefinite vacation in Inazuma.
Diluc's hand then brushed my shoulder. "Are you sure?"
"Tomorrow," I agreed reluctantly. "Thanks for being patient."
"It's only chess. I'm always willing to wait for you."
I didn't expect his reassurance, unrelated to my original predicament, to calm me as much as it did. Diluc's presence continued to soothe, but the effect dampened when a flurry of activity drew my attention back to the field.
Childe took advantage of overload, tossing an infinite supply of Electro daggers at Aether's Pyro whip. Each moment of contact knocked Aether back, and the force was far from light. Their attacks held the same vigor as the start of the duel, but how much longer would that last? Physical stamina, a collection of wounds, and dwindling elemental energy might do both of them in before either would be crowned as the victor.
They had to be aware of this, which was probably why Childe unleashed his largest attack thus far. A gush of Hydro emerged from the ground, and a massive whale—a narwhal breached directly over Aether. Its back gracefully arced in the sky before falling at a speed too fast and covering an area too wide to be dodged.
Aether had no shield to protect him from the blunt attack, and he visibly struggled to recover once the narwhal returned to the earth. The Pyro whip was now reduced to a steaming line of brittle metal—unusable.
If there was ever an opening to end the duel, now was the time. Childe launched back into action while my brother was down, the tip of a Hydro spear aimed for his head.
I pressed a worried hand to my chest, my heart beating fast.
Aether had barely gotten back on his feet when Childe's attack landed. My brother lifted both arms to block, but doing so was about as effective as using tissue paper as a barrier against rain.
Upon collision, an explosion of icy-blue light temporarily obscured them from view.
Billows of frost permeated the air, and once the dust settled, my eyes grew wide at the sight before me. Childe's weapon had completely frozen over and crumbled to the ground. Turns out, Aether didn't block the attack with his arms alone. They were protected by gauntlets made purely from Cryo.
My brother aimed a right hook for Childe's jaw. Next was a freezing punch at the ribs. Then an uppercut. Aether's punches landed heavy, but most notably, they were swift. Childe was given no time to recover, no time to think, and barely enough time to dodge.
He finally escaped the first barrage of attacks and donned Electro once more. The polearm glowed brighter than before, and it continued to do so until a sudden black spark broke the weapon apart in two. Childe caught the pieces before they disappeared, making do with the leftovers.
Aether lunged again, swinging forcefully.
With the amount of Electro and Cryo mingling on the field, there was enough superconduct to impede both of their defenses.
Childe dodged better this time but still took a few hits. I chewed at the inside of my cheek when he doubled over and clutched his waist. Except, Aether had struck Childe's shoulder just now. What was wrong with his waist?
"His Delusion is backfiring," Diluc said.
Cold ran through my blood. If Childe didn't stop, he'd die.
"If he yields, then Aether wins," Kaeya murmured. "Yielding isn't in Childe's nature."
If Childe was too stubborn to stay alive and Aether too determined to let up, then I knew who would put a safe end to the duel.
It took a lot of willpower, but I stopped spectating and searched for Instructor Xiao in the crowd. He stood off the side, as far from the onlookers as possible while still close enough to monitor the duel.
Rushing over to him, I said, "Xiao, you have to stop them. Childe's Delusion is about to go berserk and break the singular rule of no deaths."
"Actually, the rule is that no fatal blows are allowed to be dealt to the opposition. If Childe incapacitates himself, then it is his consequence to face."
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Have I ever been the type to joke around?"
He wouldn't lift a finger to save Childe. I was tempted to throttle Xiao because of this, but a move like that was no less idiotic than Childe continuing to use his Delusion in this state.
Defeated, I peeled away from Xiao and found my original spot next to Diluc and Kaeya.
"Xiao won't help," I reported dully.
Kaeya's brow arced in question, but then he pointed to the field. "Not yet, he won't. Look."
My eyes trailed to where Aether pushed himself off the ground.
From this distance, I couldn't make out how bad their injuries were, but the blood soaking through their clothes was hard to miss. Besides blood, there was a three-pointed sigil made from Electro placed on Aether, presumably left from one of Childe's attacks.
"What is that?"
"I don't know the specifics," Kaeya said. "But its Electro nature means the power is connected to the Delusion. Childe might not be the only one to succumb to the unstable power."
It was terrifyingly impressive how Aether and Childe could still fight each other. What they lost in strength and stamina appeared to be backed up by sheer emotion.
Another black spark pulsed from Childe's waist—the location of his Delusion. In response, the sigil marking Aether also flashed black. No intentional attacks were made, but they stumbled in unison all the same.
Surely, with the Delusion's faulty power affecting Aether as well, that counted as a fatal blow.
With pleading eyes, I sought Xiao once more. Even after scanning the crowd and the surrounding area, he was nowhere to be found. My panic over his disappearance subsided the moment it surfaced when I heard people around me gasp.
"Is that the Conqueror of Demons?"
"He's fighting, too?"
"No, it looks like he's…"
Rushing back to my perfect viewpoint, I caught the final moments.
Aether had a Cryo gauntlet wrapped around Childe's neck, but then a well-placed Hydro blade dug into my brother's thigh. They struggled against each other, and dark energy flickered between the two of them. The dangerous power was so strong, even I was compelled to take a step back.
Then, a familiar streak of Anemo dashed between them. Xiao's blurry hand reached for Childe's Delusion, snatching it from his belt. Even in Xiao's possession, the Delusion continued to crackle with black and purple power. The Conqueror of Demons summoned his jade polearm, tossing the Delusion in the air and expertly slicing the device in two.
A blast followed, and I shielded my eyes as the Delusion's destruction created a shockwave. For a moment, the air tasted like acid.
When I looked again, Xiao was gone.
Aether's Cryo gauntlets had disappeared, and Childe was completely weaponless. They both looked ready to fall over, but that didn't happen. After a few more seconds of nothing, I realized that they'd been speaking to each other—all insults, I was sure—and the conversation lasted until one of them began to sway.
Childe's legs may have been the first to give out, but that didn't stop him from snaking an arm out and grabbing Aether's collar—taking him down, too.
After landing with no grace, neither of them rose or moved a muscle.
The duel was over.
brawler aether goes brrr (get it bc cryo is cold ahahaha)