Chapter Text
I don’t know where I’d go at this rate. The weather is just brutal and there’s a blizzard happening in Snezhnaya一a big one, never happened before. It’s like there was a blasphemy happened and the Gods decided to bring destruction in Teyvat. My body was worn out, my feet numb because of the cold and there’s pain in every inch of my body. I don’t have shelter, not anymore. I was running from home, unable to bear the pain that caused my family to shatter. Anthony, Teucer, Tonia… I’m sorry. I’d rather die than watch them suffer.
I kneel to the ground, my breath was heavy. Both of my arms were powerless. There’s no warmth, and there’s no use trying to light a fire. Because the hurricane is like a madness. I hug my body, eyes closed, preparing myself for the worst that can happen. Let me suffer no more. Just take my life already…
The icy-cold wind pierced my body once. I stumbled down, my face sunken into the pile of snow. Slowly, I can feel my whole body covered by snow. Leaving me no choice but to accept my death. My failure in life. My catastrophic self.
I once heard that if someone is going to die, they will see a replay from their memories. It can be the happiest or saddest memories, depending on their deeds in life. The Gods must be very generous to me because all I can see in my subconscious is the happiest moment in my life. I realized all of my happy moments were related to my family, especially my siblings. Was I being a good person all my life? I don’t know. But at least, before I go, I can reenact those memories that I treasured deep down in my heart.
When the last memories have finished playing, all I know is everything becomes pitch black and still. Quietness fills my ears.
But suddenly, there’s a loud ringing sound along with a bright light coming right towards me.
***
Where am I? Why am I here?
I heard the bird chirping and the gentle breeze brushed my skin. I opened my eyes and I can see the beautiful scenery around me. I then look over my body, there’s no scars, traces of blood or even ache in my body. Which brought me thinking, am I really dead? Or this is just another dream before I face my true death?
I walked through the grass field. It is beautiful and feels magical. The flowers are colorful and have a faint glow around them, each corresponding the base color of the flowers. Sometimes I can also see butterflies flying amongst them, doing their jobs. I bring my eyes to see far ahead and my eyes catch a shiny clear water flowing from the hill toward the narrow river which branches off to other parts as well. I have never seen something like this before.
If death was this beautiful… I don’t think I also deserve being dead. Thinking about my other siblings that now probably suffer from hunger and cold makes me blame myself even more. It brings me to the conclusions that I don’t belong anywhere. Best if I disappear from this world. A burst of tears streaming down my face. I resent myself so much I could kill myself now. My body started to tremble, and a round of guilt filled my empty heart. It’s my fault. It’s my fault. It’s my fault. There is sound in my head, the side effect of this constant fear, constant stress I live with. It echoed in my ears, telling me that I can never be strong. I’m weak and vulnerable. I’m a coward and that’s what makes me choose to do that and end up here in the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen which I don’t一and will never deserve.
Now I know.
This place acts like a punishment for me. It torture me with its beauty, slowly killing me with the thoughts of my siblings, my most precious human being. I should’ve known. I should’ve been there for them. I should’ve.
I clutched my clothes as I tried to stop myself from crying. But I can’t even though I tried so hard to do that, I can’t. Another wave of guilt struck my mind, haunting me with the sound of wailing. Sound of depression. Sound of my three little siblings I left at our house because we were poor and I don’t have any Mora left to buy them something to eat.
Just at that moment, I sense a presence coming near me.
“Young one, how did you get here?” It was the melodious voice I’ve ever heard.
I looked up and saw a princess-like woman, dressed in white, with a symbol right in her abdomen, now looking down at me with her golden eyes. “Come, get up.” She hands out her arms.
“W-who are you?”
“I should ask you first, because you’ve come to my territory,” She helps me get up. “Who are you, young one?”
“I’m Tartaglia.” I said while wiping off my tears.
“Tartaglia…” She hummed my name. “What a unique one.”
“Who are you?”
“Me? Oh, just call me Lumine. I’m the ruler of this place,” She tells me. “Welcome to the Abyss.”