The Final Chapter

Reunion

Chapter 18

Roaring echoed from the stone walls. It sounded far away but also somewhat near. Her pace had not slowed down and Childe found it quite difficult to keep up with her. He followed Lumine through towards the roaring and the light at the end of their way. Shortly before they reached their supposed destination Lumine slowed down and then stopped to stand hidden from the folks in the room in front of them. Behind her she felt Childe coming closer towards her to stay hidden. "Wow comrade, you got quite the speed...", he whispered while catching his breath. She just let his comment unanswered and looked into the bigger cavity in front of them. Torches hung at the cave walls lighting the big room full of hilichurls and war machines. A row of portals summoned from Heralds let them into the cave. On the side of the cavity was a stone plateau, like a balcony, where some wodden stairs were constructed that lead onto it. On the plateau something like a door seemed to hide another 'room'. Just a moment after she got a grasp of the situation someone stepped onto the plateau. He had blonde hair tied into a braid and he wore similar clothes to her. "Is that-?", she heard Childe asking, before she started to sneak to the stairs.
The man on the plateau began to speak: "My people! The day has come! Our final attack is today against the Tsaritsa!" He waved his hand and some Heralds opened portals. The mass began to storm through. As she arrived at the stairs the man turned his back on her. She drew her sword. "Brother..."
She hesitated. No this was wrong. The man up there wasn't her brother any more. Her brother would have never done something like that. The man before her stopped in his movement and turned to her. "Lumine?" His words sounded surpised and she swore, she could hear the sweet and gentle Aether she used to know. But she shook that feeling. This was not her brother, not the sweet and gentle Aether that she knew. She thought to know. The loyal brother who fought side by side with her. She tightened the grip on her sword. His eyes filled first with joy, then with surprise. He stepped closer towards the stairs but stopped again.
Lumine sensed that Childe came up behind her.
"Who is your friend?", the Abyss Prince asked now colder than before. Something in his eyes changed and replaced the gentle aura her brother had for a moment. It was almost like someone else was talking through him now. "Do you really try to distract me from the serious questions with some small-talk?", Lumine countered, staring at him with hate. No answer. "A war?", she asked again. For a slight moment her wall of hate broke. War. This word had so many emotions accompanied with it. The fear, the loss, but worst of all the betrayal of her brother. She lost both Venti and her brother and maybe so many more of her friends. "The Aether I knew, wouldn't start wars...", she said coming back to her senses. Her brothers expression darkened. "Well the Aether you knew didn't know what the current one knows..." His voice was harsh and full of anger again. Like it was back then. In the cave with Dain. "And what would that be?", she asked again stepping foot onto the stairs. "How cruel the gods and the Heavenly Principles are. Killing thousands of innocents just like that...", he answered. His eyes cruel again. Almost if the Aether she knew just had been there for a second, before the hateful man in front of her had returned. Lumine snapped: "And that justifies you doing the exact same?!"

"You don't know what they did! The foundation of this world is blood and sorrow! The countless wars of the gods and the people they took with them! They deserve to die! And this war was the only way to lure them out and balancing the losses", he answered. His eyes burning with rage. Why wouldn't she understand what they were fighting for? The gods deserved this and whatever they destroyed with the archons, couldn't be more than what Khaenri'ah was robbed of. His goal was greater than this world and whatever it took to accomplish it, it was worth it. If she had her memories, she would understand that. She would understand what danger the Heavenly Principles meant and how important it was to stop them. She still held on to her relationships here, which was pointless. The Principles destroyed everything, everywhere they went. Aether knew the pain in her heart. He had felt it that day 500 years ago. When he lost them and gained his memories back. He wanted to spare his sister from that grief. That's why she was here. But her emotions were still too strong. Too strong to be open for his cause. "Open the portal", he said more calmly to the Herald behind him and stepped away from the stairs.
"You're going to leave me with that?! No I will not accept that!" With one last look he mustered his sister. She had always been so caring and sympathetic to others. He remembered a time, where he was like her. Before turning around he answered: "No. But I need to leave now and you two may come with me,if you want..." He nodded at the Herald and then left the cave.

Childe had been watching them this whole time. Had heard the pain in both of their voices. Seen the pain and deciveness in her brother's eyes. He knew that, this battle between them had to be fought, but for the first time, he wasn't hungry to see a battle. This hit too close to home. This, right before him, was his biggest fear. He couldn't help but imagine this being him and his siblings, once they were old enough to interpret the signs that had been there the whole time. One day it wouldn't be any painfilled eyes, it would be Tonia's, Teucer's and Anthon's.
"...You two may come with me, if you want...", Aether said before stepping through the portal. In a split second Lumine chased after him with out thinking twice. Childe followed her. He had to. He knew she was strong, but if it was needed she wouldn't be able to go through with her vengeance.
On the other end of that portal it was warmer than it that cave. Tartaglia looked around and paused. That maniac had been serious when he said he would go against the Tsaritsa... They stood in a gigantic room with a painted ceiling that was held up by several columns, left and right from them. In front of them was a large staircase guarded by several large Fatui henchmen. From the throne on that staircase two icy blue eyes fixated the three of them. A shiver ran through Tartaglia's body. A soft but menacing voice greeted them: "Finally some visitors. I feared you might not come at all..."

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Ah yes we're now in the final act of 'The Final Act' (i will not apologize for that bad joke. Keep it :P)

I'm very exited and I hope you are as well ^^