EN | An encounter she will never forget | ᴄʜɪʟᴜᴍɪ

39 - Forget me

𝗧𝗪 : 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

"Aether!"

The figure didn't move, merely letting out a chilling laugh. No doubt it was Aether, but he was... different.

When he finally turned to her, Lumine understood the reason. His eyes; they had that same red-blue-purple hue that Lumine's eyes had taken on twice.

"Lumi, you took your time."

His voice was husky, as if from beyond the grave, but nonetheless punctuated with the verbal tics and intonations of her oh-so-precious brother. Even though he didn't sound quite himself, Lumine was sure he was still there.

"Aether, what does this mean? Why do you want to destroy Teyvat? Why have you changed—or at least I should say, what has changed you?"

Lumine was desperate for answers after all this time, screaming these questions at him impatiently. She was on the verge of tears to see her brother alive again, but her survival instincts were running full force, screaming at her that he was definitely a threat.

"So many questions my little Lumi."

Aether took step after step towards his sister, passing through his army, indicating to them to stay still. This army, composed of Abyss Heralds, Abyss mages, as well as many Ruin guards and Ruin hunters, seemed to be guarding this imposing and gloomy statue. But at this moment, all of Lumine's attention was fixed on her brother, inexorably approaching her without her body being able to make the slightest movement.

When only two steps would have been enough to fill the distance between them, Aether was stopped in his tracks by the person standing at the sides of the young woman: Childe.

The one with the braid stared at the ex-member of the Fatui, glaring at him, before finally returning his attention to his sister again.

"Who is it?" he finally asked without deigning to look at him again.

Too obsessed with Aether's features, those features she had observed countless times since their childhood, the question didn't reach the area of her brain in charge of answering. As a result, she just stared at him stupidly without her body or her brain really working properly. The memories with her brother were currently confronting those of the almost complete year she had spent separated from him, unconsciously trying to pick a winner.

Fortunately for her—or unfortunately, depending on the point of view—, Childe answered in her place.

"Childe, the one who dries your sister's tears when she thinks of you again, while you play tea party with your army."

This answer, intentionally virulent, had the desired effect: Aether shot him a dirty look. The animosity between the two becoming growing, Childe drew his two water blades to skin, if he had the opportunity, this Prince of the Abyss.

At this gesture, Aether gave a mocking smile as he feigned innocence.

"Oh, you should think twice before attacking me. You see, hurting me is like hurting Lumi."

This remark finally brought Lumine out of her thoughts to focus on the present situation. Not understanding the extent of what her brother had just said, she glanced at Childe who seemed as confused as she was.

As if to confirm what he was saying, Aether gradually raised his left hand to the height of his face to expose it to the eyes of all. Or rather, to expose in broad daylight all the marks on his skin.

Burns.

Realizing what this meant, Lumine let out a soft cry as Childe grunted.

"Twin bonds are not to be taken lightly!" Aether laughed as he looked at his two opponents. He seemed deeply pleased by the surprise in their eyes, and for good reason: he had just shattered any possibility of getting arrested in the most drastic way possible without Lumine getting hurt.