The Puppet

Scars

The sunlight was slowly dimming. The last light of the day faded away from Windrise, not knowing whether they will touch the leaves of grand tree again. Aether didn't have a huge army, considering that he didn't know that the knights knew about his plan. The Abyss Herald walked next to the ruin guard that was carrying the twins, carrying Diluc like a sack of potatoes. Lumine was still tied up, holding onto Paimon. She looked over at Aether as they drew closer to the tree. "Please don't do this, Aether..." She pleaded.

Aether ignored her. He was back in his normal outfit. Since Lumine now knows who he is, there was no point in hiding anymore. "When we get there, Diluc... I want you to be the first to set fire to the tree." He said. "After that, you can hunt down Kaeya and the rest of the Knights."

"You promise?" He huffed. The Herald jostled him.

"Mind your manners, human." It growled, moving his head to the side just enough for an Electro powered arrow to miss its face.

"Halt there, evildoer!" Fischl's voice cried out. Aether looked up and saw the army of the knights and the vision holders in the adventure's guild standing guard in front of the tree.

"How did you-!?" He went to glare murderously at Paimon.

"P-Paimon didn't leave!" She curled up against Lumine in fear.

"Aether, please stop th-" She began before Aether shoved a rag into her mouth.

"Shut it!" He growled as the Ruin guard set him down.

Jean took a few steps forward. "So, you are the Abyss Prince." She said, arms crossed. "And Lumine's brother..."

"Look," Aether said, summoning his sword. "I know what you are going to say, lady. 'We don't have to fight, give us back grape juice batman and Lumine, blah blah blah.' Sorry, bitch, but that tree is going to burn to the ground."

"No." She summoned her weapon along with all the vision holders minus Kaeya. "I saw going to say if you wanted to get to the tree, then you'll need to get through us first."

"Yeah!" Bennett yelled. "Lumine's brother or not, we will stop you!"

Aether stared at Bennett before bursting out laughing. "Wow aren't you desperate! You are bringing the guy who is the biggest liability in the history of forever?!"

Bennett faltered a little bit. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked at Jean, who gave him a small smile. "Do not underestimate us, Aether."

Aether laughs some more as Kaeya locked eyes with Diluc. He knew that it was poison that is making Diluc act like this, he saw the affects it had on Dvalin... but he had a hard time convincing himself that it was just the poison talking when he was screaming at him yesterday. For a split second, Kaeya could see what Diluc, not the poison, but DILUC was feeling: pain, fear, sadness, and despair. It was then swallowed up, leaving only pure hatred and rage as he began thrashing in the Herald's grip while Aether got his mirth under control. "I needed that. Now..." He turned to the Herald and Diluc. "Forget what I said before. The tree can wait. Kill them all."

Diluc, not wasting a heartbeat, shrieked in sadistic glee. The Herald, rolling its non-existent eyes, let Diluc go. Diluc summons his claymore and charges at the knights with the rest of the Abyss Order, with Aether, the Ruin Guard, the Abyss Herald, and Lumine staying behind. "You will burn, bastard!" Diluc screamed at Kaeya as the Cyro user summoned his sword.

"DO NOT KILL DILUC!" Jean yelled. "He isn't in his right mind!" With that, the two armies collided.

Kaeya had to instantly sidestep Diluc to avoid getting sliced in half. "Diluc, I don't want to hurt you!"