Meraki

A Dream Yet to be Dreamed Chapter 4: We Will be Reunited

"Lumine!" Aether called out, looking at his twin, who stared at him with a small smile.

"Aether." Lumine said her brother's name quietly, observing him carefully.

"I've finally found you. Let's get out of here, it's dangerous." Aether suggested, holding out his hand. However, the female didn't move to accept it.

"Aether, she blocked an attack against the Abyss Herald." Sying reminded his friend gently.

"Why is your sister with the Abyss?" Venti wondered, even though no one could answer his question.

"Aether, why are you with Dain and Astral?" Lumine asked.

"What?" Aether questioned. "You're asking about Dain and Sying?" Dainsleif let out a sigh and looked over at the girl.

"Lumine. We meet again." Dainsleif replied.

"Hm? You know her Dainsleif?" Sying inquired, getting no response.

"You shouldn't team up with them. They are my enemies." Lumined warned her twin.

"Hold on a second! Stop saying things that don't make sense, Lumine!" Aether yelled.

"It must be said, don't try to stop me. Don't try to stop the Abyss." The female ignored her brother as she continued. "That man, Dainsleif, was the "Twilight Sword," one of the royal guards of the final dynasty of Khaenri'ah. And Astral is the Nova Archon and King of Khaenri'ah. 500 years ago, they failed to prevent the destruction of Khaenri'ah. A curse of immortality was laid upon them, to forever wander the wilderness, while they watched the people they were supposed to protect turn into monsters of the Abyss."

"That's not true! We fought to protect Khaenri'ah until the very end!" Sying snarled. Aether extended his hand to his twin once more. He wanted to reunite with her.

"You can tell me all this later. Come with me, Lumine! Let's go home!" Aether pleaded.

"Home." Lumine breathed. "Yes, of course. Home is wherever we are together. But I cannot go with you to the next world to find a new home, at least, not yet." His sister refused the offer again with a sad smile. "Until the Abyss has engulfed the thrones, my war with destiny will see no end."

"Destiny?" Venti repeated confused.

"Listen to me Aether." Lumine spoke. "I have already traveled through this world once. Once you reach the end of your journey as I did, you will see for yourself the true nature of this world." After her speech, the Herald opened a portal behind them. Aether stepped forward, silently asking his twin not to leave. "So, we'll meet again. Though we need not rush, brother. I have more than enough time to wait for you." Aether ran toward Lumine, desperate for his sibling to stay. Venti, Sying, and Dainsleif followed the Outlander, as his sister turned away and began walking through the portal. "We have always had enough time." When the female disappeared, Dainsleif burst through the portal in a blue flash as Aether approached. The Traveler jumped, reaching his hand out, as his body passed through the portal. He landed on the other side of the room, failing to follow his sister.

"They left." Sying sighed as Aether held back tears.

"Don't look too sad, Aether. We'll find her again!" Venti said, trying to cheer up his friend.

"I'm not sad." Aether lied. The boy looked at the two gods and gave them a wobbly smile as tears ran down his face. Sying pulled him into a hug and Aether broke down sobbing into the Archon's shirt. "I-I don't know what to do! I feel so lost, an-and...all I want is to go home with my sisters!!" After his outburst, Aether fell asleep in Sying's arms as they returned to the surface of Liyue. That was when the adeptus made a silent promise. The promise to save Lumine and Luna and reunite them with Aether.