Meraki

The Prologue Chapter 0: The Light Fades

Note: Chapter 0s will be a common occurrence whenever a new nation or part begins.

The three travelers climbed up the stone stairs, trying to leave the world known as Teyvat. The travelers were siblings, two of them were twins. The oldest was a boy named Aether. His sister was named Lumine. The youngest is their adopted sister Luna. As for why they were leaving, well, they had found the world of Teyvat to be a place of violence and constant war. Lumine suggested they leave since it was too dangerous for the three of them. Aether agreed, and that's how they had ended up on a floating heavenly looking place.

"Why are there so many stairs? If this goes on, I think my legs will fall off." Aether complained, following his sister who was a little bit ahead of him.

"Quit complaining, Aether! Don't be lazy." Lumine said.

"Yeah, Big Bro, don't be lazy." Luna agreed.

"What if I want to be lazy?" Aether retorted. Lumine stopped for a moment and looked over at him.

"Then, I'll leave you here." She replied.

"No! Don't leave me!" Aether cried out and ran past his sister. Lumine sprinted after him, not wanting to lose a race.

"Wait! I have tiny legs, and can't run as fast as you!" Luna cried out. In the end, Lumine won their little competition, but only because Aether went back for Luna. Once they caught their breath, they looked up to see a stone bridge in front of the platform they were on. Large pillars could be seen poking through the clouds. The sky looked like it was night and day at the same time. As Aether took a step forward, a red line appeared in the sky and changed into three stars. A woman walked out of the larger red star in the middle. She had long white hair and menacing yellow eyes with diamonds in them. She looked down at the twins with a sharp glare. She waved her right hand and the red star portal behind the woman vanished into thin air.

"Outlanders, your journey ends here." The woman declared. Lumine walked forward a bit with a determined look in her golden eyes.

"Who're you!?" Lumine questioned.

"The Sustainer of Heavenly Principles." The woman answered, forming a black and red cube in her hand. "The arrogation of mankind ends now!" The cube in the god's hand enlarged, forming a large square to appear underneath the three outlanders. They managed to jump out of the way, but in three separate directions. Lumine activated her Light Wings and summoned her sword in her right hand. Aether deployed his Light Wings as well, forming his sword in his left hand. The boy tossed it into his right, as Luna's Wings activated and dual swords appeared in her hands. Then, the siblings flew toward the unknown god. The Sustainer extended her hand and three pillars of cubes came at Luna, Aether, and Lumine. The siblings flew around the sky, trying to avoid them. Lumine turned around with her sword raised. Aether did the same and together with Lumine, attacked The Sustainer as Luna flew in from above. There was a large explosion, and when the smoke cleared, the siblings noticed their attack was blocked by a blue shield. The Sustainer glanced at Aether and flicked her wrist. Cubes swallowed his sword, as the outlander let go and flew back. However, Lumine and Luna weren't able to act fast enough. The cubes began to cover them, as they tried to back away.

"Lumine! Luna!" Aether called out, extending his hand as his twin gave him a worried look and was swallowed up by the cubes.

"Big Brother!" Luna yelled before disappearing. The Sustainer looked at the yellow cubes in her hand with a smirk. Aether gathered all the power he could and focused it on his fist. It glowed fiercely with Light energy, as Aether flew behind The Sustainer for a surprise attack. He let out a battle cry and swung. There was another explosion and once the smoke dispersed, Aether realized his attack didn't make contact with the unknown god. Instead, cubes had absorbed his attack. The Sustainer sent them toward the boy, causing Aether to get taken over by them.

"Wait! Don't go! Give my sisters back!" Aether demanded. The last thing the outlander saw was The Sustainer's smile as his vision turned black.