To Bask in a Ray of Sunlight: a XiaoAether fanfiction

Chapter 20

Aether.

"Aether," Paimon called. "You can't just leave like that; you're not fully healed from the aftershock of your pain either! Who in the right mind would run like nothing happened after getting shot on the leg and was healed instantly by the statue?"

As soon as she said that, I felt dizzy and fell down, the pain from my leg coming up despite the fact that it was healed already. "Oh no....." she flew towards me, panicking. "Can we just call Xiao?"

"Are you crazy?"

"No, Paimon's desperate." She rolled her eyes. "Why would you even pick a fight with him considering your state?" She kept saying various words that seem to be more like a noise rather than a coherent sentence as my vision started to blur. The scratches, minor injuries, and other wounds that I've got last fight seems to emerge back to my body.

This is bad, I thought, feeling my consciousness slipping away.

"Aether?"

I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting my sight from the change of the light. I sat up, trying to identify what happened.

I'm inside my room. My teapot.

"You're awake! Paimon was so worried." Paimon took a deep breath, relieved. She pulled my braid sidewaysmaking me look at the side table. "Here! Good thing we have medicinces packed up from the kitchen cabinet. These are painkillers--are you feeling all right?" She placed her hand on my back as soom as she saw me rubbing my temple. "Just a headache, but it's already subsiding. Anyway, Paimon.....how did I got here? You can barely carry me for a minute." I asked.

"What? Paimon's not that weak!" She was definitely irked by my question, but she continued to answer, anyway. "I-it was easy to pull out the teapot...a-and teleport you here, you know! Good t-thing Tubby can carry you." She explained.

Her stutter makes her explanation suspicious, but I paid it no mind. "If you say so," I said. "You must be tired from all the events that happened today. It's still a bit dark outside, so a bit of sleep won't be a nuisance." I patted her head as she yawned. "Yeah, Paimon's beat. You better sleep as well." Her eyes narrowed before dissapearing.

Sadly, I can't sleep with so much thoughts swirling inside my mind. Indeed, a lot has happened today.

"Brother." A voice called in a midst of darkness. It was distant, yet familar.

"Lumine!" I called. "Where are you?"

"Fear not, Aether. If my subordinates did told me the truth, we are supposedly to be right inside your consciousness." Suddenly, a body emerged infront of me. Lumine, herself, was made.

"What is happening?" I asked.

"We are inside of your consciousness. Our surroundings being pitch black is understandable since you're currently unconscious caused by your deep wounds and injuries. It hurts to see you hurt, but it is my only way to communicate with you, for I am somewhere that cannot be accessed by anyone easily. I thought this is the fastest way I can make contact with you." She said.

"And what if someone is watching us?"

"They cannot understand what we are saying, anyway. When I have spoken the language of our homeland, you had subconsciously answered me through the same language." She sighed. "This might be quite suprising for you, but I wish to tell you the truth."

"What is the truth, then?" I asked.

She held my hand, like we always do when we travel as stars in the sky. Her sunken eyes bore to mine, screaming for rest.

"Brother, let's run away—away from this world and from everyone else in Teyvat."

This should've been my relief, I should've been overjoyed because this is what I've been desiring for eversince.

Alas, it seems like time really changes a person.

I felt fear—fear of leaving everyone I have befriended during my adventure, and pain.

Pain—as I am aware from the very start that I can't stay here in this world forever.

"Aether...we have to leave." She pleaded. She read me too well. "I....I have learned the truth of the destruction of Khaenri'ah, the true mission of the Abyss. It's connection with Celestia. The Fatui have already made an agreement with the Abyss, promising them to share their eternal power over Teyvat. This—this isn't what I wanted!" She burst into tears. Instinctively, I grabbed her arm for support and gently pulled her for a hug.

"This world.......doesn't need us anymore. Our power will only turn them into wicked beings caused by greed and justice. Without us.......without me, the Abyss will surely fall. Everything here will be at peace as we leave."

"But—the Archons.......the Tsaritsa—" she cut me off.

"The Tsaritsa.....was a slave sacrificed by the people of Khaenri'ah to the gods of Celestia."

I was shocked. No words escaped from my mouth; I was downright speechless.

"They thought offering children to die in the middle of the Archon War will make the gods leave them in peace. Indeed, the land has become peaceful. However, it isn't because of their human offerings, but because they do not have a god for the other gods to slay to begin with.......they've only did such a thing solely out of fear." She took a deep breath and went silent for a while. I waited for her until she continued. "I thought that Khaenri'ah was destroyed simply because the Archons consider their existence as a threat to their power....but it seems like it's more complicated than that. I......we didn't know that Rhinedottir would do such a thing...and the people of Khaenri'ah to desire to be more powerful than the gods of Celestia. Even Dainsleif do not have any idea about this. I thought.....the people of Khaenri'ah, who lives where the gods' eyes cannot reach, just want to live peacefuly as a nation once again. The Tsaritsa have become an Archon only because she fortunately have found a way to protect a vast land, even as a human. Now, she may probably believe that collecting the Gnosis will give her power to end Khaenri'ah for good..... Aether, if we leave this world, the Abyss will perish and Tsaritsa will stop collecting the Gnosis."

Lumine had already finished talking, but I kept my silence. I don't have any idea what I should do.

"I know you're still confused. Do not worry, dear brother, there is always time for everything. Here," she took something from her pocket and placed it on my palm. "Break this pearl if you wish to meet me again. We'll both go back to this realm as soon as the pearl turns into dust. Now, your body is already healing. I must leave immediately." Lumine was about to walk away when I grabbed her by the wrist."

"Wait" I said. Once again, I pulled her to a hug. She hugged back, her arms wrapped around my neck. It was just like what we do whenever one of us feels upset.

When she was the only person I can rely on.

My eyes widened from the realization--I felt dissapointed at myself. My sister was the only one who had been with me eversince we were born. How could I think of such selfish thoughts of not leaving this world?

Even if I stay, nothing good will happen.

"Be careful, sister." I whispered before I regained consciousness, seeing the familiar ceiling of Wangshu Inn.

I fished the pearl Lumine gave me from my pocket. It really is here.

Despite the fact that I have concluded my decision, I felt like I lost a huge part of myself, becoming an empty void of negative emotions--anger, sadness, dismay, and contempt.