Work Text:
A Thousand Years of Unchanging Season
The war had finally ended, the war is the continuation of the wars before but for sure it had ended now. I ended up being the one who end the war once and for all. I risked everything, I did everything it takes to end that stupid war. I am tired to fight my whole life after all. The cost of war itself was not cheap. I ended up losing the dearest to me, the one I’ve been looking for anywhere. I ended up losing my brother but, what can I do about it? It’s not like he can pay the cost of the sins he made, I was just trying to release him. I love him so much, but I can’t stop his death anyway. Weak and coward, I know I am. But people thought otherwise. I was a hero because I am an outlander defending a foreign land, even ended up involuntarily sacrifice my brother for that. I did not mean that, no matter how deep he had fallen to the abyss he is still my brother.
But time passed and season changed. Now a bright future is waiting for this foreign land I don’t belong to. And maybe a slightly brighter future is waiting for me as well. I followed my legs wherever it brought me again, to find a place I can call my own. I went to Liyue, but it seemed that the wind is not so kind to me, so I go back to Mondstadt again. At least they accept me as I am. And then my journey begins again.
For years I worked for the knights. The gentle breeze in Mondstadt seems wanted me to stay here. I found a new life, and a new happiness in this foreign land at last. What first started as just a partner, a relationship between an alchemist and his subject now bloom into something else. It was so sweet that I couldn’t forget it even after thousands of seasons had passed. Started with some dates and silly chit chats, at last Albedo is on his knee asking for my hand on marriage. I said yes, we started a family at last. Two outlanders in Mondstadt falling in love deeply is probably a fairytale that people wanted to hear.
We lived happily, we have a daughter we called Cecilia and she is a great alchemist like her father as well. But one day I realized something bad happening to me. I don’t age the same rate as people in Teyvat did. I didn’t know what I am supposed to do about it. Albedo told me that it was probably because time is relative. My times did not go in the same tempo and rhythm as people in Teyvat. And my fear at last happened, I was forced to see everyone around me dead. Be it the death because their time had ended or because other forces that wanted to claim their life. At last, I lost both Albedo and my dear Cecilia too while I am here standing and remain unchanged.
* * *
Lumine couldn’t stop staring at the grave of her beloved ex husband and daughter. What a life she had been through, it’s a shame that she simply cannot die from any natural force and she did not want to die from anything unnatural. She had gone through so much, yet she can’t free herself from the life she started to think of how dull it is. She had enough of this, but she cannot end it, the way she ended her brother life to set him free.
“Time is such a cruel master to everyone who did not have immortality, wasn’t it?” A familiar voice said like a gust of wind passed by. Lumine was surprised to hear that voice, and she looked back to see the owner of the voice.
“Xiao? What are you doing in Dragonspine?” The ex-female traveler blinked in surprised. He never went far from Liyue after all.
“Well, aren’t you the one who supposed to come to Liyue? And that anemo archon told me you are troubled again.” The Yaksha Adeptus sighed. She sent him a letter, yet she never came.
“I’m sorry, I guess…” Lumine sighed.
“You’re a week late. I know your time didn’t match our time but that’s not an excuse.” Xiao sighed. Even after that long time passed, he still cares about her. He even still remembered the moment they spent together and the moment he saved her the first time. If only he knew that she is just like him earlier, her life might not end like this.
“I’m truly sorry, Xiao. I just… still had a hard time to adjust.” Lumine forced a smile. She simply did not want to make him worried. She cared about him after all. If only the last time she wanted to stay with him and he never rejected her, her life must turn differently now.
“I can understand that though. But you need to go, Lumine.” Xiao mumbled softly. He moved closer to her and holding her hand gently.
“But where should I go? I had traveled every corner of Teyvat… I can’t move from one world to another one because I never regained my power. What’s the meaning of traveling to another world anyway, I had lost Aether too.” Lumine sighed. She felt like she had no purpose anymore.
“Lumine, I’m here now. How to put this but… I never traveled the world before.” Xiao said softly. He had lost his purpose of living too after Rex Lapis ended their contract. But Xiao wanted to move on, probably seeing the rest of the world he never seen before could help him regaining his will to live again.
“Xiao, aren’t you just wanted to stay in Liyue? But you rejected me before.” The female sighed. The very reason she ended up in Mondstadt is because she can’t stand his rejection after all. Though she is lucky that she found someone else to fill her again.
“I’m sorry about that. I thought you’re just like the others, I don’t want to hurt you.” Xiao took a step back from her. He did not mean to rejected her like that.
“I don’t blame you though. My life was amazing in Mondstadt anyway. Albedo and Cecilia are truly my treasure until the last breath they took.” Lumine sighed again. She wanted to move on, yet it seems so hard to do and easier to say.
“Okay then so… do you still wanted to go for a few adventures like what you wrote on that letter?” Xiao asked gently. He did not want to force her, but he did not want to let her hand go again just like the past mistake he had ever done.
“I—I don’t know. I want to move but it’s hard.” Lumine shook her head slowly. The pain of losing people around her is unbearable for her now.
“We can do it slowly. How about staying in Liyue for a while?” The Yaksha suggested. He hated seeing her hurt like that.
“Maybe that’s a nice idea.” Lumine nodded. Maybe all she needs is going somewhere that did not remind her of her past memories.
“Good. Let’s leave now, Dragonspine is so cold and no wonder you’re frozen in time here.” Xiao said softly, a little smile appeared on his lips. He offered her a hand and she gladly took it.
“Sure, I miss Liyue so much after all.” Lumine smiled softly. She then walked beside him, moving to Liyue to start a new life.
Probably all I need to go through the cruel time who took away lives that are not immortal is an accompany of someone who can go through the time like I do. Maybe this is the life my destiny had written for me, not to move from one world to another world but to move from one chapter of my life to another chapter.
Fin.