Note:
First Lumine = Abyss Lumine/Dead Lumine
Second Lumine = Traveler Lumine/Alive Lumine
Chapter 1
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was my brother desperately waking up me up.
Something isn't right with him. I had expected for a less violent welcome, but the way he tried to wake me up, with his face twisted into one that is filled with desperation and fear, I knew that I shouldn't just sit there idly and ask what's going on.
With no time to even talk, he grab me by the hand and starts running, as fast as we can. "We need to get out of this world," he said.
I just couldn't understand what's happening. All I know is that the world around is burning, hurting.
The land is covered in sea of flames, tall giant buildings crumbling all around us, and even the sky turns red as if the world itself is bleeding from all the chaos that happens.
Throughout the entire time, Aether never let go of my hand. He didn't say anything, nor does he bother answering any of my questions. Something big clearly had happened when I was still asleep, something that Aether probably had witnessed before waking me up. I don't know what it was, nor can I imagine what terrible things that brother have seen, but I know that it's anything but pleasant.
As I look into his face while we were running, all I could see is a sense of deep contemplations inside his eyes. All kinds of emotions are boiling and mixing inside his head.
Enmity, anger, confusion, sadness, and so much more.
"What kind of things have you seen while I was away?"
"Just what was going on before you woke me up?"
"What did you do?"
All of those are the questions that I would like to ask him. But given to what is happening around us, and the state that Aether was in at that time. I couldn't afford to voice all of these thoughts. Instead, I simply continue to ran, I followed Aether as we get as much farther away as possible from all of these chaos that rampages throughout the land, and by the time we finally avoided them all, it happen.
We were just moments away from leaving this world behind, by the urges from Aether who demands us to leave Tevyat as soon as possible, we were ready to traverse the universe once more, to search for a new world where we could live in, one that is far better than this world.
But then, someone suddenly appears, an unknown god, who calls herself the Sustainer of The Heavenly Principles.
The god blocked us from our way to leave this world, and engage us to a battle that only lasted for merely a few minutes. Without so much as breaking a sweat, the god effortlessly defeated us, us, who's powers are just as powerful as the gods here, or so we thought.
That unknown god with flowing white hair took away my brother, by imprisoning him inside these weird black cube things, before turning him into one myself.
I tried my hardest to fight back, but I ended up suffering the same fate as he did. The god captured me, and put some kind of seal that prevents me from using any of my original powers. And because of that, I was stranded here, alone, without my power or my brother to help me. I don't even know how long has it been since then. I had once again fallen into a deep slumber, that may have taken more than a few centuries before I woke up. I even suffered from a brief amnesia moments after I woke up. But then I started to remember some things, I remember that day when Aether woke me up, I remember his desperate face as he took me to ran away from all the chaos and leave this world behind, I remember when he was taken away from me, I remember when that God captured me and putting me to sleep.
And then...
I remembered... Some things that I wasn't supposed to remember.
What was all these weird flashes that appears inside my head? Is that me who sits on the throne inside the dark palace? Is that me who is being carried by several weird looking monstrous creatures? Is that me who... Battles Aether?
That can't be right... Why would she fight her own brother like that? I know that we would do some spars occasionally, but we wouldn't goes as far as shedding each others blood, or breaking each others bones. Stabbing each other with our swords, punching each others' faces till we cough out blood, aiming at each others neck to kill one of us.
What is happening?
What was all these visions?
Are they even a product of her imaginations? Her worse thoughts manifesting itself as nightmares?
No.
No, it was something else. It's not her imaginations, it's not her nightmares that plagued her when she sleeps.
It was her memories.
But at the same time, it wasn't hers as well.
Rather, it belongs to her that isn't herself. It belongs to Lumine, a Lumine that isn't me. It was a Lumine that came from somewhere else, from another world, another reality, another outcome.
A Lumine that... Somehow ended up inside her.
~o~0~o~
"I see... So... That's what happened."
Inside a mysterious space where all that exists is a shallow sea of knee deep water and a thin layer of white mist that filled the air. Two girls whom each has a perfectly identical appearance to each other stood there facing one another in silence. Both of them are naked due to circumstances that both don't know how to explain, but the mist in the air, though thin, did a pretty good job at giving them some privacy. Ignoring the fact that they are an identical copy of each other, and looking at each other is akin to staring into a mirror.
"I... I honestly can't believe it." One of the identical blonde girl said after a while, shaking her head. "I... I was dead. Aether killed me, he rightly executed me as payment for the sins I have committed. I even already anticipated for my soul to go to hell, if it's even exist. But... Being transported into another body... And... It was "Me" of all people... Just what the heck did I do to deserve this? Or for more a complicated question, how is this possible in the first place?"
"Don't ask me." The other blonde girl shrugged. "I know nothing about all these ordeal you're having. It was all normal when I woke up, aside from me losing be both my powers and Aether, of course. But then, I suddenly starts having all of these weird visions in my head, or memories to be exact, but that wasn't correct either. These memories I having, they're not what I have experienced before in my life, at first I assume that it's just me having a series of nightmares because of the trauma of getting separated from my brother, but as I look deeper into it, I realized that there must be something else, some outside force that made me recieve it."
"And that's how you are able to find me here?" The first girl asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. Though I must say, meeting you here is not something I expect at all." The second girl shook her head, crossing her arms across her chest. "I am as shocked as you are. Finding out my own body is inhabitated by another me is beyond the realm of possibilities. At this point, those visions being my nightmares seems like a more plausible explanation than this. Tch, what a headache." She muttered with a heavy sigh.
"Hmph, that's nothing compared to what I experienced." The first girl huffed, also crossing her arms on her chest. "The fact is, I was supposed to be dead. Aether... My Aether, killed me. He executed me for the sake of mandkind, or what's left of them anyway, because I was the enemy of the world. I am responsible for the thousands and millions of death of the surface people, all for the sake of tearing away the chains of destiny of this world. Though I have succeeded in fulfilling my duty, it is not without a grand sacrifices. One that is never can be forgiven, one that is only punnishable by death, and he did just that."
The two girls continue to stood there in silence, glaring at each other with different emotions on their faces. One girl look at the other with a mixture of an uncaring and also a somewhat spiteful glare, while the other girl look at her counterpart with a confused, sad, and a slightly curious glare.
The silence between them starting to becomes unbearable, as each of them knew full well that they each have some questions for the other, though it is well hidden, their curiousities for each other can be felt in the air around them, they have so much to talk about.
"So, Back when I was reciting my past..." The first one to spoke up between the two was the second girl: the Lumine who's life in Tevyat so far is that being her being awakened by her brother to leave, only to get stranded all alone with no of her power remains. "You repeatedly said that what I've experienced... Differs heavily from yours. Mind telling me what you mean about that?"
At her other self's question, the first girl: the Lumine who's life in Tevyat has been nothing but pain in despair, which led her to the path of destruction that eventually resulted on her own demise, she opens her eyes to look at her counterpart, seeing how the other Lumine is looking at her in curiosity and confusion, her question is nothing but genuine, and she supposed that it won't be a pain to tell her, she's already dead after all, she has no other purpose here.
"Well, then let's start from the beginning." The first girl sighed, looking away slightly. "You said that your first ever memory of being here is that of your brother waking you up, right?" Lumine asked, to which the other Lumine nods her head. "Well, that's different from what I remember. Because in my past, it was the other way around."
"Huh? What do you mean?" The second girl asked in confusion, tilting her head to the side.
"I was the one who wake Aether up. He is the last to wake up, I wake him during the destruction of Khaenri'ah, the nation that you saw burning to the ground in the past." The first Lumine answered, recalling her own past memories, feeling like it has been a really long time since then, not to mention that it is far longer since she stayed in the Abyss too, who's flow of time is about thirty times faster than in the surface world.
"So it was like our positions are being switched in our respective worlds." The second Lumine muttered, putting a hand on her chin. "Then... Since you are the one who is awake first in your world, does that mean you know the reasons behind the chaos? Why is that nation being burned down to the ground?" She asked, eyeing her other self in curiosity.
The first Lumine release another sigh at this, finding her other self's curiosity pathetic and laughable. That was her once, but the world had taught her an unforgettable lesson in the past, wiping away any trace of innocence from the once bright cheerful star. Since this other version of her doesn't suffer the from the same beginning as she does, Lumine wonders of how will this other self of hers will come to learn of the same cruel reality like herself.
"Hmph, and exactly why should I tell it to you?" The first Lumine asked with a scoff, turning her body to the side and giving her counterpart a side eye.
"What?" The second Lumine exclaimed in surprise. "What do you mean "why?" Haven't I told you already? Aether is missing, and I intend to find him. But as of now, I am nothing but a husk of my former self. I just woke up from hibernation, and I have no idea of where I am and how long has it been since the last time I see Aether. Please, you gotta help me! If you really are a me from another world that is identical to this one, and you are many years ahead from this point in time, then I really need all the intel you got. For the sake of helping me in my journey and to find Aether. Please... I need your help."
It's really weird to hear herself pleading to... herself... like this. After all, the dreadful Princess of the Abyss Order no one who bows down to anyone, nor does she begged for someone to help her. Though they are technically different persons, having different backstory and fate in stored for them, the fact that they share the same face still irks her, to see herself being this weak and pathetic.
The Abyss Order does not need a weakling to lead them, they require someone strong, who can guides them towards victory, someone who can control the Abyss itself, and that someone is her, not this other Lumine she's facing.
But... The world that she knew is no longer here, she had left it, so she guesses that it should be fine. But still though...
"Even if I'm about to tell you the truth, you know that it might do no good, right?" The first Lumine said with a sigh, causing the other Lumine to look at her in confusion. "The simple fact that our positions with our respective twins have been switched is just enough proof to say that my world and your world, is completely different."
"Well, I..."
"And it's not like you have any other proof to deny my point." The first Lumine shook her head. "With how our positions with our Aether is different, it could only means that history itself could also be different. The things that I've experienced and I know, might as well be different with the ones here. Get it? I can't help you, telling you everything I know here will be useless, not to mention that laying it all out in an instant might cause you to lose your mind too."
With that said, the first Lumine turn her body around, with her back facing her counterpart.
"I am just a lost spirit now, who somehow landed upon this world, knowing nothing what to do. For all I care, what I really need right now, is to somehow find a way to rid myself from this world, I shouldn't have delay my death any longer than this."
With that said, she starts to walk away, heading towards the opposite direction of where her other self is standing motionlessly. She doesn't know where she's heading, or what will it cause by her attempting to get out from this place which likely has no exit whatsoever, what even is this place anyway? Her counterpart seems to know more, but she didn't bother to ask about it, not when she has the slightest care about where she was or why she's even here. All that she care, is for her to get out and die.
"Don't you want to see him again?" The second Lumine spoke up, creating a pause that made the first Lumine stopped on her tracks. "To see Aether?"
The first Lumine glanced back to her other self, finding her counterpart is looking at her somewhat somberly, as if pitying her. What is she up to?
"What?"
"You said before in our conversation that Aether... Your Aether, is the one you killed you. Why?" The second Lumine asked.
"It's because I took a path that he completely disagreed upon. The same path that your Aether is currently walking. Or not, depending of how similar or different your world is compared to mine." The second Lumine answered, closing her eyes as she does so.
"So that's why I saw you squaring off with your brother... You have fallen so far down, to the point that death can only be your salvation, to the point that it must be your own twin to be the one to end you." The other Lumine muttered softly, full of melancholy.
"Exactly. There's no turning point for me anymore at the time. So all I could do is accept death at the hands of my own brother." Lumine answered with a nod, sighing a little as she recalls that day when she and Aether fought for the first and last time. "Is that it? That's what you wanted to ask? Just remind me of all my past misdeeds?"
"N-No! That is not my intention! Rather, I just wanted to learn more about you, that's all." The second Lumine denied with a violent shake of her head. "Look, I can see now of how your world is responsible for straining your relationship with your brother, so much that you ended up like this. But deep down... You still love your brother right, right?" She asked, looking directly into the other Lumine's eyes.
"Hmph, and what do you know of me? We aren't experiencing the same thing. You don't even know what was going on that day, how could you expect to know how I feel?" The first Lumine asked, glaring back at her counterpart.
"I know it because we are the same." The second Lumine answered, putting a hand on her chest. "Deny it as many times as you want, but the fact is, you are me, and I am you, we may not belong to the same universes, but we are still "Lumine" in some way, so I can know how you feel, it's not much, but still, I can, I can understand you if I try to."
The first Lumine stared blankly at the second, feeling ridiculous in seeing herself acting this way. But still... The words that she spoke... It has some truths on it.
"If the difference between my world and your world lies in the positions that me and Aether have... Do you think you can bear to see Aether suffering from the same fate as you do?"
"And why should I care? He's your Aether, not mine. It's none of my business." The first Lumine said with a huff.
"Because... Ultimately, he's still Aether." The second Lumine answered, gaining a look from the first Lumine. "Just like how we are, maybe my Aether and you Aether aren't so different to each other too. If he really is walking in a similar path that you took in the past, with you here, then maybe we can save him, we can prevent anything bad from happening."
Her words finally gain a wide eyed stare from the first Lumine, who looks at her with a mixture of surprise and also curiosity and confusion.
"You... You don't want to see Aether dead, are you? Even after you took the mantle of being the great enemy of mankind, you still loved him dearly, like always, even till your last breath."
Not saying anything as she listened to her counterpart's words. Lumine's mind fell into deep contemplations, many thoughts came and colliding into each other, as her minds turned into shambles as more seconds passed.
She is dead, she's just a lost spirit now, she shouldn't have stayed any longer to meddle with the world of the living, much less one that isn't her own. But still... The other Lumine's words sparked some long buried emotions inside her. She may have been a spirit, of a cruel and ruthless princess no less, but even so, the love of her for her dear brother shouldn't be an exception as to why she turned out that way.
Even back when she was still alive, Lumine still dearly loved Aether, even when she became the leader of the notorious Abyss Order.
"Goodbye Lumine, I love you sister, always."
Remembering the last words her brother spoke to her. The deceased blonde haired girl put her hand on her chest, gripping her fist tightly, as she clearly remembers his words, one that continuously rings inside her head.
"I... I love you too, Aether. It's just... For someone like me who has been stained by the sins of the world, I don't deserve to be you anymore, nor does I have the right to be your sister."
The fact is, the former Abyss Princess had long been longing for death. Every day and every night, though she remains blank and emotionless on the outside, she has been constantly being tormented on the inside by the awareness of how much sins she have committed, how much blood that stained her hands as she and her army march off to fight against the impossible, trying to ignore all the billions of cries of the spirits of the dead that deafened her ears, one that almost made impossible for her to sleep at nights.
For all these reasons, the princess had hoped for someone to come and take her life away, to remove her dark existence from the world to finally put an end to all her torment, while she was still alive at the very least. That's why she dueled her brother that day, that's why she ask him to kill her, for the Heavenly Principles of her world has been taken down, all of her life goal has been completed, and there is nothing left for her to do except for her to die as payment for all her past misdeeds.
The Heavenly Principles...
So it turns out that that thing exist even outside of her world too.
Just by thinking about it again makes her blood boil. She had sacrificed everything in order to take that damn thing down. And now, she is stuck in a world where it exist too. How annoying, how truly unacceptable!
Is this how the gods punished her? By putting her in another world where that wretched thing still exists? After all she had done to tearing it down?
Lumine sighed heavily, putting her hand on her face. She could feel her other self is staring at her back expectingly, waiting for her answer. And after seeing that, Lumine finally decided.
"Alright..." Sighing, the first Lumine turn around to face her other self, seeing her counterpart brighten up slightly. "I guess it wouldn't hurt for me to stick around for a little while. And it's not like I'm the one who is in full control to begin with."
"Wait, really? You're really willing to help me?" The second Lumine asked in disbelief.
"Yes." The first Lumine nods her head. "I have worked myself to the bone, sacrificing everything I have to took down those damn thing floating above the clouds. I can't just put myself to rest yet, knowing that they're still exists in this world, even though it wasn't mine."
The second Lumine smiled and then breathed out in relief.
"I see. I understand." She said with a nod of her head. "Then we have ourselves a deal then. You can help me in any ways that I need to while I was on this journey. And in return, I'll help you in fulfilling your life goal, as well as giving you the opportunity to reunite with Aether. Do you agreed, other me?"
"Sure. But first, I would like to ask you something."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"We're both here are Lumine. We're not only sharing the same name, but our appearance is exactly the same too." The first Lumine pointed out, putting a hand on her chin as she think. "So I thought, perhaps we could give ourselves some differences, so that we can distinguish ourselves between who is who."
"Hmm, that is great idea, but I don't know how. Do you have any ideas?" The second Lumine asked, giving the other Lumine an expectant look.
The deceased Lumine didn't say anything as she was immersed in her thoughts for a moment. But then, she got an idea, and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Well... I guess I have one." The first Lumine replied after a moment, sighing as she looked downwards to the water below. "This might sound silly... But... Since you played the role of the Aether in my world, then I guess you can be called "Traveler Lumine.""
""Traveler Lumine?"" The second Lumine asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. That's what my brother is famously known for, the illustrious Traveler who saved all the seven nations." The first Lumine explained with a nod of her head. "And as for me... Well... Since I was the leader of the Abyss Order after that man passed away. I guess you could call me "Abyss Lumine" or "Princess Lumine.""
"Pfft, really? That's what you want to be called?" The second Lumine snorted, trying to hide her chuckle.
"Hmph, well, if it's too much for you, then I guess you can call me "Spirit Lumine." I am dead after all." The first Lumine said with an unamused look.
"Nah, I think the former two are better." The second Lumine said with a shake of her head.
Sighing in slight annoyance at her other self antics, but she supposed that it's fine since she was... Her.
"So then, I am Abyss Lumine, and you are Traveler Lumine. Agreed?"
"Yeah, that definitely sounds better. And it's a lot easier for the readers to read too."
And so, now that two Lumines have finally reached an agreement with each other, their coexistence begins now.
"So then, first thing first, what is this place, and how do we get out of here?" Abyss Lumine asked, putting her hands on her sides.
"Hmm... To be honest, I'm not really sure." Traveler Lumine said with a shake of her head. "I was supposed to be in the outside world before, but after a moment I closed my eyes and thought about all the weird visions I've seen, I ended up here."
"So... You fell asleep basically?" Abyss Lumine raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe?" Traveler Lumine shrugged. "If that's really the case, then perhaps this place might have been somewhere inside my mind, my subconsciousness, the place where you are right now, which explains why those weird visions are appearing as if it was a part of my brain, because it was coming from my subconsciousness." She explained, scratching her chin with her fingers.
"Hmm, that makes sense. But still, that doesn't explain one thing." Abyss Lumine muttered.
"What is it?"
"Why are we naked?"
The instant Abyss Lumine asked that, everything gone silent. The Spirit Lumine merely stared at her other self in wonder and confusion, while the Traveler Lumine went silent, before a faint shade of red slowly crept up to her cheeks, as she began trying to avoid her other self's gaze.
"I... I uh... I'd rather not talk about it." Traveler Lumine stuttered, gaining a snort out of Abyss Lumine. "A-Anyway, since now we know that we are inside my own subconsciousness, I should be able to bring us out of here in a moment, I just need to concentrate."
Nodding her head in understandment. Abyss Lumine watched as her other self closed her eyes and began to work. At first there was nothing happening, but after a while passed, a small spark of light appeared between them, which turned into a small orb of white light, which began to consistently expand with each passing second.
Until eventually, the orb becomes larger and larger and swallows up both girls, transporting them out of this place.
To be Continued...
So, that's it for the explanation. Hopefully, you can understand the basic premise of this story now. About how Abyss Lumine getting reincarnated into Traveler Lumine, but instead becoming self aware, there are two souls inhabiting the body now. So there.