Further Into The Dark

Aether sat, tapping his finger on the throne. An Abyss Mage hurried forward, bowing to him.

"Your Highness," the creature started in an annoyingly nasally voice. "The process has begun."

"Speak clearly," Aether replied calmly. "Which one?"

The Abyss Mage chuckled lightly. Aether watched as the other Abyss Mages exchanged worried glances at the creature's expression of delight. "Well, Your Highness - we have poisoned the blood clots on Stormterror."

"Stormterror - the dragon, correct?" Aether asked, getting off his throne. The Abyss Mage in front of him froze on seeing the Prince was moving, then regained his composure. "Yes, Your Highness." Another bow. Aether could see this one was eager to get away, but he wouldn't let him just yet. He wanted to keep him a little longer.

"Dragons. I read about them in fairytales." For a moment, Aether had a memory of him and Lumine playing a game where they pretended to be mythical creatures. Lumine would be a dragon, and Aether himself would be a phoenix. The face of Lumine flashed in his mind, and Aether faltered. His calm demeanour broke and for a moment, he looked terribly lost.

"Your Highness?" The Abyss Mage asked, regarding him warily.

Aether regained his composure, shoving the memory of Lumine to the back of his mind. "Launch an attack on Mondstadt. And uh, that traveller. Any news?"

"We regret to inform you that they have escaped our clutches many times, Your Highness." The Abyss Mage went to bow, but Aether stopped him by lifting him up by the collar.

"You still haven't captured them yet?"

His dangerously quiet voice sounded loud in the utter silence that had fallen over the court. Terrified, the Abyss Mage nodded. Aether raised an eyebrow, then shoved the Abyss Mage to the ground. He turned away, and opened his palm. His constellation powers came to life in his hand before he shut it. Still not facing the Abyss Mage who had angered him, Aether spoke.

"Leave this court. Get them. Stop them. Do you understand?"

"Y-Yes, sire," came the small voice.

"Then get out."

Aether heard the door slam behind him. When he knew he was truly alone, the Prince collapsed onto the throne and closed his eyes.

Maybe Lumine was out there. For a moment, Aether wondered whether the traveller he'd heard of could be her, then shook his head. Ridiculous, he told himself. Impossible.

There was an inner voice that chanted he was wrong, that he had sent the Abyss Order to hurt his sister - but Aether pushed the thought down. He would have that Traveller bow to him like the Abyss Order and the Fatui did, and he would fulfil the destiny of bringing the world to its knees.