Regret (Aether's Story)

Chapter 1: The Last Flight

The world they once knew was no more.

Lumine and Aether stood on the remains of their crumbled home, the echoes of their planet's fall still ringing in their ears. The once vibrant skies, now darkened with smoke and ash, reflected the chaos of the world that had shattered. The planet, their cradle, was no longer a place to call home.

Lumine, her golden hair whipping in the harsh wind, gazed at the remnants of their civilization. Fires burned where cities once stood, and dust clouds rose from the rubble, all signs of their world's tragic end. Her heart ached, not just for the loss of their planet, but for the people who were gone-vanished into the void. Their families, their friends, their history-erased. Only two remained: herself and her twin brother, Aether.

She turned to him. His blue eyes reflected the same sorrow, the same sense of helplessness. They had both been caught in the struggle for survival, but it was too late. Their world had succumbed to destruction.

"Aether," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the howling winds. "It's over."

His face was stoic, though his heart was breaking. "I know," he replied, his voice heavy with grief. "But we're still here. We still have each other."

Lumine nodded, and together, they spread their wings-beautiful, ethereal appendages that shimmered against the dying light of their planet. They had always been a symbol of their freedom, of their connection to the stars and the universe beyond. But now, their wings seemed like the only thing that could carry them away from the devastation, away from the ashes of their former life.

The winds of their world's destruction pushed them forward, urging them into the unknown. They flew in silence, their wings cutting through the air, taking them farther from the land that had birthed them. The journey ahead was uncertain, but they had no choice but to continue.

The galaxy stretched out before them, a vast sea of stars and unknown worlds. There were no familiar faces here, no hope of return. Only the endless void and the promise of finding a new home-somewhere safe, somewhere that could shelter them from the darkness that had swallowed their past.

As they flew, the stars above them seemed to pulse with energy, almost as if the universe itself was watching their every move. But the tranquility of space was shattered by a sudden storm. Meteorites, fiery and brilliant, streaked through the dark sky like deadly comets.

"Lumine!" Aether shouted, his voice filled with panic.

Lumine's sharp eyes caught sight of the meteors, hurtling toward them. She acted instantly, her power surging through her as she raised her hands to the heavens. A shield of light enveloped them, shimmering and crackling with energy as it deflected the incoming rocks. The force of the impact rattled them both, but Lumine stood firm, her focus unbroken.

"We need to get out of here!" Aether shouted again, but Lumine didn't answer. She was focused, her energy crackling like a storm as she held the shield in place.

Her power was immense, but it was also draining. She could feel the strain in her body as she kept the shield up, each wave of meteorites testing her strength. The shield flickered, its brilliance dimming with each passing moment. Aether could see the strain on her face-the way her breath came in sharp gasps, the way her hands trembled as she maintained the barrier.

"Lumine..." Aether's voice was filled with concern as he reached out to her. "You have to stop. You're pushing yourself too hard."

But she didn't listen. She couldn't. She had to protect him. They had both lost everything, and the only thing they had left was each other. She couldn't afford to let him fall.

With one final, desperate surge of energy, Lumine expanded the shield one last time, pushing the meteorites away, but the toll it took was immense. Her knees buckled, and her wings faltered. The shield collapsed as her power was depleted, leaving her vulnerable in the vast emptiness of space.

Aether caught her in his arms before she could fall, his heart pounding with fear. "Lumine! No..."

Her golden eyes fluttered open, filled with exhaustion. "I... I'm sorry," she whispered weakly. "I couldn't let you get hurt."

Aether's eyes burned with frustration and helplessness. "I'm supposed to protect you," he said, his voice breaking. "I'm the older brother. I should be the one protecting you... not the other way around." His face was filled with regret, the weight of their journey bearing down on him.

But Lumine just smiled softly, though it was strained. "You are... you've always been my protector," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "And I will always protect you, too."

Aether's heart shattered as he held her close. He felt so powerless, so weak. He was supposed to be the one keeping her safe, yet here she was, the one who had saved them both, and now she was drained, weakened by the very power that had once been her strength. He felt worthless.

"I'm sorry," Aether repeated, the words coming out as a desperate plea. "I should've been stronger. I should've done more..."

Lumine's hand reached up, her fingers brushing his cheek. "It's not your fault, Aether," she whispered. "We're in this together. Always."

Aether's tears were silent, but they fell nonetheless. He had failed her. He had promised to protect her, but now she was the one who had saved him, and he couldn't bear the weight of that guilt.

But there was no time to mourn. He had to keep moving. He couldn't let her down. Not now.

With a deep breath, Aether took to the skies once more, carrying Lumine in his arms as he flew through the galaxy. The journey was perilous, with planets unsuitable for them to live on and dangers lurking at every turn. They encountered worlds where the atmosphere was toxic, where the gravity was too strong, where the landscapes were hostile to their kind. But he refused to stop, refused to give up on her.

Day after day, planet after planet, they searched for a new home. But none were suitable. It was a cruel, endless cycle, and Aether felt the weight of it pressing down on him with every failed attempt. His wings, once a symbol of freedom, now felt heavy with the burden of their survival.

But just when he was beginning to lose hope, something changed.

Aether saw it-an oasis in the void. A planet unlike the others. It was beautiful, vibrant, alive with potential. The sky was clear, the air breathable, and the land lush with green. It was a world that could offer them a new beginning.

Aether's heart soared as he descended toward the planet, Lumine still in his arms. She was barely conscious, but her breathing had steadied. He couldn't waste a moment. He had to find somewhere safe for her, somewhere she could heal, somewhere they could finally rest.

As his feet touched the ground, Aether felt the weight of their journey begin to lift. The planet beneath him seemed to embrace them, offering a sense of peace he had longed for. It wasn't home, not yet, but it was a place they could start anew.

With one final glance at the sky, Aether whispered, "This is it, Lumine. We're here. We've found our new home."

And as the first rays of the planet's sun bathed them in warmth, Aether's heart filled with a bittersweet hope. The journey wasn't over, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of something he hadn't dared to feel for so long: a future.

To be continue..