The kingdom of Khaenri’ah had always been a land of paradoxes—flawed yet resilient, forgotten by gods yet thriving in defiance of them. Dainsleif, as one of its protectors, had dedicated his life to its survival and prosperity. But even as the kingdom grew under his watchful eye, one figure stood apart from the rest: the outsider, the man of mystery and miracles, Aether.
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The first time Dainsleif met Aether was in the grand halls of the royal laboratory. It was shortly after the stranger had been appointed as head alchemist—a position granted by the king himself after Aether’s knowledge brought remarkable advancements to the kingdom. At the time, Dainsleif was skeptical, his protective instincts warning him against trusting an outsider with the fate of Khaenri’ah.
Aether stood out, even among the greatest minds of the kingdom. His golden hair and otherworldly aura marked him as something beyond this world. And then there was his knowledge—unfathomable, decades, perhaps centuries, ahead of anything Khaenri’ah had ever seen. Automatons of unmatched precision, energy sources that defied explanation, even concepts of biology and alchemy that revolutionized the kingdom's medical and agricultural systems.
Khaenri’ah was flourishing, and Aether was at its heart.
Dainsleif had been assigned to oversee the security of the laboratories, often bringing him into contact with Aether. Their interactions were cordial but distant, each man aware of the other's importance yet reluctant to bridge the gap between them.
One evening, while reviewing the security of a newly developed automaton, Dainsleif finally voiced the question that had been troubling him.
“Aether,” he said, his voice steady but sharp, “I’ve seen what you can do—what you’ve given this kingdom. But why? Why go to such lengths for a land that isn’t your own?”
Aether paused, setting aside the complex blueprint he’d been working on. He looked at Dainsleif, his golden eyes unreadable. “I’m not doing this for Khaenri’ah,” he said simply.
The honesty of the statement struck Dainsleif like a blade, though he had expected it.
“I’m doing this for her,” Aether continued, glancing toward the stasis chamber at the center of the laboratory, where his twin sister, Lumine, lay suspended in a timeless sleep. “Everything I’ve done here—the knowledge I’ve shared, the advancements I’ve helped create—it’s all been for the chance to heal her. To wake her up.”
Dainsleif’s jaw tightened. “You would use us, then. Use Khaenri’ah’s resources, its people, to serve your own ends?”
Aether’s gaze did not waver. “I would. But don’t mistake me—I care about Khaenri’ah. This kingdom, its people… they’ve become a part of me. I want to see it thrive. But if you’re asking where my loyalty lies, it will always be with her. My sister is my everything.”
The words lingered in the air, heavy with truth. Dainsleif respected Aether for his honesty, even as it solidified his doubts. Aether’s dedication to Khaenri’ah was undeniable, but it was secondary, always overshadowed by his obsession with his sister.
Over time, Dainsleif came to appreciate Aether’s contributions to the kingdom. He could not deny the prosperity that Aether had brought to Khaenri’ah, nor the hope that had spread among its people. In many ways, Aether was a hero, a symbol of progress and defiance against the gods who had forsaken them.
And yet, Dainsleif could never fully trust him. Aether’s heart was not bound to Khaenri’ah. It was tethered to his sister, and Dainsleif knew that one day, that tether might pull Aether away from the kingdom entirely.
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The Calamity
When the calamity struck, Dainsleif had been at the forefront of the battle. The Archons, sent by Celestia to punish Khaenri’ah for its defiance, descended upon the kingdom with divine wrath. The skies burned with celestial fire, and the land was torn asunder by their power.
Dainsleif fought valiantly alongside his soldiers, his blade cutting through the chaos as he shouted orders to his men. The automatons and weapons that Aether had helped create stood as their greatest defense, but even they faltered against the overwhelming might of the gods.
Amidst the carnage, Dainsleif caught sight of Aether. The outsider stood near the ruins of the royal laboratory, his wings shimmering faintly in the smoke-filled air. But Aether was not fighting. Instead, he was retreating, his gaze fixed on the distant stasis chamber where Lumine lay.
Dainsleif’s heart twisted with a mixture of anger and understanding. He knew why Aether was leaving the battlefield. He knew that Aether’s loyalty had never truly been to Khaenri’ah.
But still, he could not bring himself to resent the man.
“You’ve done enough, Aether,” Dainsleif muttered under his breath, his voice drowned out by the chaos around him. “More than enough. If you can’t stay, then go. Save her. Save yourself.”
As Aether disappeared into the smoke, Dainsleif turned back to the battle. He could not afford to dwell on what had been lost. His duty was to Khaenri’ah, and he would fight until the end to protect it.
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A Silent Farewell
As the calamity reached its peak, Dainsleif stood at the head of the last remaining soldiers of Khaenri’ah. The kingdom was falling, its people scattering, its walls crumbling. But still, he fought, his resolve unbroken.
In his heart, he carried a silent gratitude for Aether. The outsider had given Khaenri’ah so much—prosperity, hope, and the tools to defy the gods themselves. And though Aether had left the battle, Dainsleif could not begrudge him for it.
“May you find peace, Aether,” Dainsleif thought as he raised his blade against the divine forces once more. “And may you and your sister survive this cruel world.”
As the skies burned and the earth trembled, Dainsleif fought on, his heart heavy with the weight of the kingdom he had sworn to protect.
To be continue..
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Regret (Aether's Story)
FanficStory of my theory how Lumine and Aether go to Teyvat. And more.
