𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦

Dreaming

   I was careful to follow you without being seen, however after going into the trees, you had disappeared completely, leaving me as I searched quickly. I fought every urge to not speak loudly and yell out your name. The rain washed over as whispers consumed me.
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Xiao awoke to the sound of light talking.

"Don't go-"
Aether spoke squeezing his hand.

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But after what felt like years of walking I happened upon a field. However, the sight I saw was not what I had hoped for.

"It's you-"

There stood the unknown god who separated Lumine and him.

She stood in a field of flowers, the flower that was in Lumine's hair to be exact.

The flowers began to wither, their once blue and white colors faded to brown.

"Why'd you do it? Why did you have to stop us?!"

The god looked back at him, "You are the reason for your befall, I am but the one who handed you the sword. You reek of pain and suffering, it follows your every trace.

"You're lying. There's no way I would do anything that would harm any-"

The god interrupts, "Tell me, outlander, would I stop those who pose no threat?"

"....What?"
Aether asks in a shaky breath.

"Your memories I did not take, you are stopping yourself from remembering."

Aether's eyes widened in horror.

"N-no that's not true."

"You come to this world bringing ill-intention?"
The god asks.

"W-we were just passing by, we wanted to leave when we saw the destruction."
The god stays emotionless.

"You don't deserve the celestial power that was given to you. Not only that but your immortality is taken for granted."
And with that, she vanishes.

• Wake up •

Aether wakes up, breathing heavily.
"What-what just happened?"

Xiao looks up at him, "You were dreaming."

"Oh."

"Your friends are here to see you."
Aether looks at Xiao.

"I-I don't want them to see me like this."

Xiao looks at Aether, a cold look worn on his face. "Understood."
Xiao got up, walking out of the room.

Aether wanted to break down, cry himself to sleep, he wanted to understand, get his powers back, his memories, what happened 500 years ago? Or more.

Suck it up Aether, crying will get you nowhere, you have to travel this world and find your twin, then leave this place.
Aether thought to himself.

Oh, how he wished he'd wake up from this horrible nightmare.

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"He's not talking to anyone?"
Zhongli holds a puzzled face.

"Perhaps he's still recovering?"
Chongyun adds.
"What would he recover from?"
Xingqiu raises his eyebrow.

"Aya, you guys make this sound too hard, just ask Paimon what happened."
Hu Tao squeezes the bridge of her nose.

"Paimon can't say why Aether is acting this way, but we saw some weird stuff in those ruins."
"Like what exactly?"
Zhongli asks.

"Well, Paimon thinks we should wait for Aether to say-"
Paimon continues.

"Aether doesn't want to talk to anyone at the moment."
Xiao adds.

"Speaking of why are you the only one talking to him?"
Hu Tao asks with a wide grin on her face.

Xiao glares at Hu Tao, crossing his arms.

Hu Tao shrugs.
"Welp, I'm going to go get some dinner at Wanmin whoever wants. Come with me~"
"PAIMON WANTS!"
Paimon hurries after Hu Tao.

Xingqiu makes eye contact with Xiao, giving a small smile, before leaving with Chongyun.

Leaving Zhongli and Xiao.

"You know something don't you?"
Xiao looks at his master, searching for any sign of knowing.
"I believe so, although it's not best to assume."
Xiao turns to go back to the room.

Zhongli looks out the open exit.
Facing Sal Terrae.
A gust of wind blows through.

"Hey old man."
Venti smirked.
"Good evening Barbatos."
Zhongli replies.

Venti makes a repulsed expression.
"We're not archons anymore, no need for the formalities."

Zhongli tilts his head, "Are you no longer an archon?"
Venti nods his head.
"That tall scary woman stole my gnosis."

"Yet you didn't try to stop her."
Zhongli sighed.

"She kicked me."
Venti said with a pout on his face.
"She kicked you?"
Zhongli didn't look impressed.

"Doesn't matter now, how's the traveler?"
Venti asked leaning on the wall on the inn.
"The traveler is fine, say, Venti, do you know of a place where the wind doesn't blow?"

"I'm not sure what you mean?"
Zhongli's expression did not change,
"Venti, do you know of a place where the wind does not blow?"

Venti's eyes widened his smile turned into a small one, "Would you like to accompany me to Storm-terror's lair?"

"Gladly."

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Notes!
Finally finished this chapter after what felt like years of brainstorming :')