Cold. Pure uninhibited cold. That's how it felt. Her eyes staring at him, with no ounce of the warmth he remembered so long ago. Her face twisted into a form which felt natural after so many years of seeing her apathy. Beside her was Dainsleif and a Fairy-like creature. How she'd met Dain he didn't know, but the Fairy was another matter, he knew what it was and why it would be one of the only beings she would take note of.

With a heavy weight on his shoulders and a tone he knew would infuriate her he called her name. "Lumine … "

She didn't say his name back, instead she scowled. She already knew what was going on, her intelligence was always a step above his. "Lumine, how did you meet Dain?" he asked.

Once again she didn't speak. The Fairy did however, muttering under its breath confused and wanting answers. It turned to Dain throwing questions in his direction in need of answers.

Aether gulped, he didn't want to do this again. Before his mind could think his mouth spoke for him. "Lumine, please. Don't try to stop the Abyss. Don't try to stop me. I–" His words were interrupted by a wave of energy, a force that pushed everyone in the vicinity back, throwing the Abyss Herald behind him to the ground as well as Dainsleif.

"So this is how it is." Lumine spoke. Her eyes didn't change one bit. "What was it this time?" she asked, but didn't let a second pass before speaking again. "Did the people of Khaenri'ah laud you as their hero? Did you finally find 'that place' to belong or that special girl there?" Lumine laughed, a laugh with no humor. "You never learn Aether."

He took a deep breath. He heard her continue recalling previous times, previous worlds. Be it a group of people or land in each world they'd visited he'd always connected with others, gotten attached despite the knowledge of their Mortality and his Immortality. Every friendship, connection or love would always end in tragedy. This always happened, and she was never wrong, but he couldn't be like her, as detached as her to have those same eyes as her. He was Aether and she was Lumine.

"Lumine … This needs to be done, you know why this world is different." He said.

"O, I know, but it makes no difference. It will all end the same and it will just be the two of us once again." She said matter-of-factly.

"Don't be like this Lumine." Despite the sight of the uncaring eyes that watched him he knew that they weren't always like that. When they shined as bright as his, fitting as twins. "I'm searching for a way all this can end. Like Him we can–"

"He was a coward who would leave us behind to follow his notion of Mortal Living … Do not speak of Him again." She growled and glared at him.

Beside her, her companion Paimon watched and listened with open eyes and ears. Their constant exchange was like being hit in the face. Their words held no meaning to her; anything they spoke of flew through and out of her mind. What she felt was more important. Lumine, her eyes, the way she spoke was so alien to her, so out of place. In the short time Paimon knew her Paimon would describe her as nice. She helped those around her without a moment's hesitation, no matter how small or trivial. Whenever she held Paimon in her arms it would make Paimon feel all fuzzy inside and when she looked at Paimon her eyes were always filled with warmth, but now they were different. Cold, Paimon didn't know why and huddled into a small floating form, shivering, hearing the twins speak words she didn't and would not understand.

Dainsleif watched on, already up from the strange force that threw him and the Herald to the ground. He and the Herald were tense waiting for the other to act, but as well listening in to what an Old Friend and Leader spoke of respectively with the previously unknown sibling. He knew from previous conversations with him in the past that Aether had a sister, but nothing of what the two were speaking of now. Worlds, never learn, Him … What is going on?

She couldn't bear to see his eyes. Eyes that watched her with pity, she didn't need his pity. Why couldn't he understand? It always ended up the same, what was the point of those sentiments he still held on to; and he mentioned Him. What made him think it was a good idea to try to do what That Man did? She would never allow him to become something he's not. She was Lumine and he was Aether and that would never change.

She felt a tug on her shoulder, she turned and saw her companion, teary eyed and shivering. Her eyes softened, any words she had towards Aether died in her throat at the sight. Paimon was different from all other beings she'd met on Teyvat so far, she could sense it, she was not human, not mortal and thus she was worth far more than everyone else she'd seen, a worthy companion. As so her tears hurt her in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.

She clutched the whimpering Fairy in a warm embrace. Aether watched her, his face showed his hurt and the same ever present pity she saw on his eyes whenever he looked at her. However, something else was there. She could see the ghost of a smile on his face as she whispered comforting words to Paimon like a mother would do to their child …

She could wait. Their reunion could wait, he'd tried this before and failed. His was a fool's errand and so she said "Go, whether you succeed or fail is pointless, you'll come back to me all the same." She was sure of that, be it in ten or ten-thousand years he'll come back to her, alone. Whatever his mission was she didn't care for it wouldn't matter in the end.

Aether, for a moment, was happy. Happy for his sister to find a companion that made her act in such a way, much like she was in the past. Still, there were things he needed to do and precious little time to do so. "Very well. Lumine, I hope when we meet again your companion is still beside you." he said while at the same time a light shined on his hand and a portal appeared behind him and the Herald. Both stepping back to disappear to the other side.

At that moment Dainsleif rushed forward running fast enough to go through the portal before it vanished leaving Lumine, clutching Paimon, alone in the area.

"It's fine, all is well now." She said softly, patting Paimon's head. It was time to go back to Mondstat. There were things she needed to do now.

Even if she knew she'd eventually reunite with Aether once his stupid campaign is over, she didn't want to wait. She needed something to lure him back, something to keep him put and make him understand her way of thinking. She'd found a companion in Paimon, now she'd find a companion for her brother.