Chapter Text
Lumine had travelled from world to world, near and far.
She had seen all sorts of places; countries, kingdoms, empires, cities. Plenty of strange organisms; slimes, monsters with different shapes and forms. But for her, the one thing that stood out the most from all her travels were the people who lived there—how they carry out their lives, how they handle the conflicts of their world, how they just simply exist with their mundane day to day life.
The attachment to their world—Something that Lumine never had.
Lumine lived her life (For as long as she could remember, the concept of time is something strange for her, she wasn’t even sure how old she was) travel to travel, battle to battle. There were times of peace, where she could watch the sunset of the worlds she traveled to. Yet she knew, it was not her world. It was another. She was simply a traveler. She does not belong there or anywhere.
The concept of a home, a mundane day to day life, a routine, watching the same sunset every day; They are all foreign to her. Well, almost.
Aether, her twin brother, older than her by a few minutes, her only kin, was always there with her, the only thing that remains constant regardless of how many worlds they traveled. They talk about random things, laugh and make fun of each other, she supposed it was a routine, a mundane day-to-day activity.
Aether was calm while Lumine was excitable. He would fall into episodes of broodiness and she would brighten him up with the “one-in-a-million, bright Lumine smile.” She would wake up from a nightmare, reaching and calling out for their Mother, a face neither could recall but could always feel, and he would rush to comfort her. They laugh and cry together, do silly sibling stuffs that seems to be universal in any worlds they traveled to.
They had each other. It was enough for her.
He was awkward and oblivious, always finding loopholes to avoid deep conversations that she initiates due to her own curiosity.
“Aether?”
“What?”
She looks up to the night sky, decorated with clouds and stars alike.
“Do you remember what our Mother looked like?”
Silence. He shifts and she waits patiently. They had all eternity, ‘forever’ would be a short time to wait for his reply.
Finally, he replies. “I do.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“What does she look like?”
He sighs, turning around to find a better sleeping position. “Like you.”
“We have the same face, you dummy.”
“No.” He replied with a sense of urgency. “Its different. I know. Your features are softer. Just like Mother.”
She wondered if that was true, or just another way to get her to shut up and sleep. She wanted to ask if he thinks he had inherited his sharper features from their Father, but then she stops. They never talk about their Father, they didn’t even know if they had a Father.
They could always feel their Mother’s presences, her existence in another plane of existence, yet they never felt their Father’s. Lumine thought it didn’t really matter, neither parent was present—one was dead and one’s existence is ambiguous. But still, she was curious.
In all the worlds she travelled to, children had parents. They were raised by them, they lived together in a house, eat shared meals and have a conversation. It was ‘normal’ for them and Lumine knew they were far from ‘normal.’
“Aether.”
“Go to sleep.”
“Are we ‘humans?’”
She could sense his discomfort, but she wanted to hear his opinion. They have existed for a long time and only had each other to rely on. They were outliers, one of a kind, strange beings that could do things that no other mortal can.
He clicks his tongue. “Does it matter?”
Lumine gives it a thought. “No.” But then she remembers their Mother, cradling them as young children. “But maybe … I’m bored of our existence.”
This time he’s the one who gives it a thought. “You’re sick of travelling from world to world.”
“Maybe.” She sighs. “Yes. No. I don’t know.” She longs for something—Something that cannot be satisfied with just the company of her brother and the presence and memories of their Mother. “I want to be like them. I want to be ‘human.’”
Aether seems to understand. They are twins after all. “It doesn’t matter if we’re ‘human’ or not. We laugh, we cry. We get hurt, we bleed and possibly die. The concept of time and life, worlds and dimensions may be different from ‘humans,’ but we’re the same as them.”
Lumine laughed, she doesn’t know why she laughs. “That’s weird.” She smiled, finding some comfort in his words. “I wonder why we exist, why we travel from world to world. Never getting attached to one, always moving forward.”
Strangely, Aether laughed as well. Maybe he found it humorous, or maybe something else. “Who knows? Maybe we’re secretly Gods or something. Destined to bring peace or chaos into the worlds we visit.”
She doesn’t like the sound of that, but she shrugs it away. “Well whatever happens, as long as we’re together I’m sure we’ll be fine.” She smirked. “I’m counting on you, Aeth.”
Her brother groans at the use of his nickname. He turns around, readjusting his blanket. “Goodnight, Lumi.”
Maybe she was at the ‘existential crisis’ phase of life, where she wasn’t sure what exactly she wanted. Travelling had always been fun, but lately it was just wearing her out.
A part of her envied the simple lives of the mortals that live there. She wanted a bit of their simplicity—She wanted to settle down.
During those times she would hold the flower she kept in her hair and look into the depths of its soul. Their Mother gave it to her, just before their parting. She clung to it, a memory, the last piece of the woman whom she remembers as her Mother. A proof of her existence, a proof of something.
“Do you think its possible for us to remain in a world forever?”
Aether looked at her knowingly. “You do want to settle down.”
Lumine shrugs. “Maybe I do.” They continued walking, on their way to their next world. “I … want to know what it feels like to be ‘normal.’”
A part of her was worried he would get angry at her, but when she looked at his expression, she was surprised to see a sad smile on his face.
“Even if it meant we’ll lose what we have now?” He looked at her meaningfully. “Our wings, our powers, our ability to travel from world to world.” His eyes grew distant. “Everything that Mother gave to us.”
Lumine’s eyes widened. “I …”
She didn’t think that far. She didn’t realize the consequences of being ‘normal.’
Understanding the meaning of the lack of her response, Aether sighs and pats his sister’s head.
“Let’s give it a try.”
“What?”
“Let’s try a ‘normal’ life in the next world we travel to.”
“But …”
“Like you said. ‘As long as we have each other, we’ll be just fine.’” He ruffles her hair affectionately, reminding her that he is indeed her older brother that had a few minutes of maturity than her. “Or maybe the next next world. We’ll talk about it. Okay, little sister?”
Lumine rolls her eyes, feeling lighter. “You’re older than me by like 5 minutes.”
“10.”
“Sure, sure.”
The two of them laughed. The last laugh they shared before an unknown God attacked them and forced them apart.
“AETHER!!!”
Lumine yelled, desperately, reaching out to him. She had to save him. Her twin brother, her only kin, the only living existence that she could count on to keep her sane.
She watches, helplessly, her hand reaching out a she cries and cries his name. She watches as his figure disappears, swallowed by the powers of the unknown God. Lumine cries, tears falling as she continued to struggle.
“Aether—AETHER! NO!”
Her brother, her annoyingly precious twin brother, Aether, little Aeth. Gone. Taken. Swallowed by darkness.
“NOO!”
The darkness—It wraps around her—dark—so dark—Don’t take him away—The only light in her life—
“Give my brother back! AETHER!!”
---
Lumine gasps, waking up in her small rented house in Mondstadt, in the dark of the night, without her brother.
Blinking, she takes in the air around her, slowly regulating her breath and calming down. Another dream. How long has it been since that day? Glancing to her side, she takes note of her slumbering companion’s snores. Paimon is cute, bubbly and energetic, she reminds her of herself before she was trapped in Teyvat, but she knew Paimon wouldn’t take away the pain she felt. The suffocating loneliness she suffers from the loss of her brother.
With careful consideration to her sleeping friend, Lumine gets up from her bed, grabs her sword, a cloak and tiptoes out of the house.
Ever since the many trials and turbulences she had to face during her stay in Teyvat, ranging from stealing the holy lyre to fighting a corrupt dragon to being an errand woman for the members of the knights of Favonius (Kaeya straight up used her while Lisa seemed to have fun playing around with her), Lumine had finally grown adjusted to the concept of time.
She now follows the day and night cycle of the people of Mondstadt and had grown better at estimating time without a clock. Right now, based on the moon itself and the general atmosphere of the town, it ranged from 1 to 2.30 AM. Quiet and still, except for perhaps the tavern where the drunkards chugged their glass until they get kicked out.
I wonder … where are you now, Aether? Are you safe? The reflection of the moon was clear on the surface of the river. A full moon. Lumine suddenly feels envious of its completeness. I miss you so much. If only on that day …
Kneeling, she looks at her own reflection. Mother. After that conversation with her brother, she begun looking at her reflection more often, thinking that it was their Mother that stared back to her. It brought her comfort. Even if just a little bit.
Crack!
At the sound of snapping wood, Lumine immediately jolts and draws her sword out.
“What … Hilichurls?!”
To the south, a group of hilichurls were heading towards Mondstadt. Small and large, with axes and with shields. Gripping her sword, Lumine bites her lips. It was late, most guards would be dozing off at this hour. There was no one in sight, she could only depend on herself.
The group of hilichurls notice her and aimed their weapon at her. With no other choice in hand, Lumine steels herself.
“Aether … Mother … grant me strength.”
And with that, she rushes into battle. Lumine swings her sword ferociously, taking out the smaller ones first. Her anemo attacks succeeded to push them away, thinning their numbers, but the real problem were the shields. There were no explosive barrels nearby nor a pyro user accompanying her—There was no way she could overpower them when that damned shield protected its body.
Think Lumine, think! She tries to out-speed it, rushing behind them and striking their exposed back with her sword. Alas, it worked for a spilt second before they caught up and placed the shield between them again.
“Agh!”
Pushed back, Lumine gasps as she saw both large hilichurls rushing to her at the same time. Frozen, Lumine’s head struggles to catch up with the situation at hand and could only prepare herself for the impact—
Bam!
“Attacking the city at the dead of the night … how unsightly.”
Red, flames, pyro, red hair. Black and red, decorated with a regal gold. Lumine gasps, just in the nick of time, the unsung dark knight hero of Mondstadt had saved her life. Master Diluc now stands before her with his claymore, releasing his flames and overpowering the hilichurls’ shield.
With grace as fierce as fire, he defeats the remaining hilichurls with a fell swoop, the moonlight making his figure seem unreal, ethereal. Lumine wonders if she was dreaming, the grip on her sword weakening.
Turning to her, he presents a curt nod. “It looks like you made it even before me, traveler. I applaud you.”
Snapping out from her trance, Lumine replies with her own version of a curt bow. “Master Diluc.” She greets. “Thank you for coming to my aid.”
“I just did what I had to.” Always so dismissive. He looks at her strangely and suddenly she feels strange. “Why are you awake at this hour?”
“I could ask the same for you.”
He clicks his tongue. “I’m used to it. With the amount of work I have to handle and protecting the city in the dark.” Somehow, his ruby eyes seem to look somewhat gentle when he looks at her. “While you should be resting.”
Lumine frowns, feeling as if he was treating her like a child. “I could say the same for you.”
“Is it a habit of yours to repeat your own words over and over again?”
“Perhaps.” Lumine sighs, sleepiness suddenly taking over. “If you would excuse me, I would like to return home now.”
“Wait.”
To her surprise, he takes off his mask and stands beside her. “I shall escort you home. It is dangerous at this hour.”
Lumine looks at him strangely, but she begins to walk. “Aren’t you worried your identity as the Dark Night Hero would be exposed?”
“There is barely anyone awake at this hour.” Diluc matches his pace with hers. “You are quite the exception, Miss Lumine.”
“Well, I am a traveler, Master Diluc.”
“Just because you are a traveler, it does not mean you have to be an exception.”
Somehow Lumine feels like those words hold more weight than it intended to have.
“Perhaps.”
They arrive in front of her house and Lumine turns to the red-haired man to give her gratitude. But before she could open her mouth, he offers her a small envelope.
Curiously, she looks up to the man. “What is this?”
“An invitation to the annual dawn winery gathering for Mondstadt citizens.” Diluc replies flatly.
She blinks. “I’m not a citizen of Mondsatdt.”
“It does not mean you have to be an exception.” He repeats, his eyes staring into hers. “As the owner of Dawn Winery, I ask you to come and attend.” A hint of displeasure briefly washes over his face, but it was gone as fast as it came. “If it brings you any comfort, the Knights of Favonius will also be present. You are friends with those useless bunch aren’t you?”
Again, Lumine blinks. Friends. She never had friends before she was trapped in this world. Now she has. How strange.
With Diluc still waiting for her reply, Lumine decided to receive the invitation with the most diplomatic response she could give. “I shall consider it.”
He nods. “That is all I ask.”
With that he gives a court bow, like a true gentleman he was, and looks to her with those piercing red eyes. Fire and flames, a passion that burns behind them.
“Goodnight Miss Lumine.”
Lumine softens, gripping the envelope. “Goodnight Master Diluc.”
She enters the house and locks the door. She hears Diluc’s footsteps, slow and steady before they slowly disappear.
The candle lit, the envelope rest on top of the table. Lumine stares at the white flower her Mother gave her, eyes glassy as a lone tear quietly fell.
Not an exception. She wondered if it was true. She didn’t belong to this world after all.