The Final Chapter

Memories

Chapter 22

Once we were hailed as stars.

Twin gods in perfect harmony and balance. One bright, one dark, but still both good and gentle. Ancient and forgotten entities watching over the world and being the guiding light of their world. Living among other divine entities watching over other worlds. Teyvat's people called our home Celestia, the realm of the divine. The gate to our world being disguised as a flying city over their world. And even though all of the divine lived here, there were still gods among humanity guiding and ruling them. But Teyvat was a special case. This world was oversaturated with gods leading them into a war, that caused massive destruction in this world.
"It's unfair... They suffer so much...", my brother once said. Sitting on the edge of our godly residence looking down on the raging war between the gods. "I know... But you know what the laws are...", I had answered and my brother had accepted it at the time. He just looked back at the world below them with sadness in his eyes. And I believed it would be fine. And it was fine for a while.
The archon war ended and seven of them emerged as the winners and ascended. We watched in hiding as the gods arrived in our home. An honor to them, but we knew better. All of them got a heavenly object. The gnoses. A key to their realm that only functioned together. A way to ensure they never came back again. Because the Heavenly Principles knew the archons wouldn't get along. They counted on that. Pulled threats from behind to manipulate them into mistrusting each other. Driving them apart.
After that we fought a lot. "You know what they're doing is wrong! How can you just watch that without doing anything?" Aether was always angry with me for keeping quiet about the problems. "What are we supposed to do? You know they are far more powerful than we are!" But I feared them and what they were capable of. "We are patron gods! It's our duty to protect our world, Lumine!" Still, I knew he was right. And the longer I saw what happened to our world, the readier I got to oppose the Principles.
But my motivation got hindered one day when of the gods of our worlds made a mistake. She said something against the Principles. Floating in front of them making an angry frowning face. Her name had been Paimon. And after that incident the Principles banished her from our home, into one of the worlds. Like an old story we once heard about a goddes who intervened in the developement of one of the worlds. Aether's eyes in that moment said what I thought. This was not the punishment we had to face if our rebellion failed. Ours would be far more cruel. But even a little thing like this caused a big scene like this and we did not dare to think about what expected us if we got caught.
And our world developed further. Peace came to Teyvat. And aside from all of that, something new established itself. A dorn in the Principle's eye. A nation without a god. Evolving fast and far beyond every nation down there. Both of us knew what would happen soon. And we were prepared to oppose the Principles. And we did.
"We are the patron gods of this world! It's our decision to make!" We held our ground. At least we tried to. We really did. "Foolish little stars. Trying to oppose us. Our will is the law! And you insignificant entities can't do anything about that!" But we failed.
We were banished that day. Not being able to return because of the Sustainer, the unknown god, guarding Celestia's entrance. Dividing us. Taking our memories and sealing our powers.

She felt something else entering her mind. Memories that weren't hers. Her brother's.

When Aether woke up there was just one thing in his mind. Khaenri'ah. He didn't know what it was, or why it was so important to him but it was of significant importance to him. The next thing he remembered was his sister. Not like a memory but a feeling, a connection. And her name.
He set out to find what ever Khaenri'ah was and believed it had a connection to his sister. Soon he found it. A nation so prosperous and peaceful it was like a dream. And although nobody had ever heard of his sister he stayed there. Maybe she was searching for him and Khaenri'ah too and some day she would come here. If he wasn't here for that, they could get lost again. At least that was what he told himself.
Life was peaceful for a while. He found friends and hobbies there. Even love.
But than that day came. That fateful day. Everything went up in flames and destruction. He tried to protect his love but she died in that cataclysm. And as he saw the Sustainer up in the sky watching over the deed from up up above something in him stirred. Strange whispering rushing through his mind bringing flashes of memory with it. He hid behind some rocks, the archons passing him. Each and every one bringing new voices and pictures with them. And then he remembered.
"Please stop this madness! Please! If we work together we can oppose the Principles!" He pleaded. But the red haired archon he spoke to just looked down at him filled with pity for the boy she saw: "Im sorry kid... Both of us know that we have no choice..."
"You do! Use your power against the Heavenly Principles! Not the innocent lives you swore to protect! You are so powerful!"
"That's not how it works kiddo..."
Something in him broke that day. He swore to take vengeance against anyone who called themselves an archon without taking action for their people.

So when she came to him, he was ready to take the deal.
"I will give you the revenge, you desire... The power to take on the Heavenly Principles..."
"What do you want in return?"
"In return?"
"Your kind never gives out anything for free..."
A chuckle. "You're quite right... I have a mission. In return for your powers, you give me control over your body from time to time... So I can restore my nation"
"Your nation? Khaenri'ah never had an archon..."
"They had one. But the Principles banished me..."
"Deal."

But her methods were too violent. Aether wasn't able to allign her goals with his morality. However, they had made a deal. And in order to get to her plan working she stole his body permanently.
And all he could do from there was watch. But once he saw Lumine...

Rage fueling him, she commanding his body to loose his morality. Using him to execute vengeance for Khaenri'ah he never wanted. Like a puppet, who's strings were cut, he had gained back his mind in that final fight.