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Killing demons was part of the duty he was assigned to. It was the calling he received from Morax all those years ago, and he continues his job to this very day. No threat must come to Liyue, the land his master took care of for millennia. If a threat did rise up, it was up to him to strike them down.
The corrupted soul of his beloved was no exception.
Lumine, the starlight that brightened his life, now turned dull to the musings of the Abyss that was led by her twin brother, the very reason behind her travel across Teyvat.
His heart ached at the sight of her now teaming up with the common enemy of this world. Part of him was angered that she let herself go like this, but the other half knew the desire to be reunited with her brother was most likely stronger than her feelings for Teyvat or any of its inhabitants. With that in mind, he in all honesty could not blame her for any of this. Just like she could never blame him for doing Morax's bidding just like he told her all those moons ago.
Her eyes that used to shine like golden orbs now glazed matte and appeared lifeless. She stood beside her kin, staring right at him with sword dark as her soul in hand. The abyss herald by their side loomed over him like a guard protecting its master.
I’ll be the one if you want me to. He saw the karmic binds at the corner of his eye. Of all the times it could have happened, it had to be now when Lumine needed him the most.
Anywhere I would have followed you. If only he had said all that he needed her to know. That he loved her, that she was the only one he thought of be it day or night, that anywhere she went he wanted to go with her, that he was willing to relieve himself of his duties just to be by her side. Maybe if he said any of it, none of this would have happened.
I’m feeling so small. Standing beside Aether, Lumine felt a jab right through her chest. In front of her was Xiao, his name ringing in her head like a mantra, never letting her forget. Not like she wanted to.
So here she was, joining forces with the Abyss. She understood her brother’s reasons, of course. She always trusted him more than anyone in the nine realms. But seeing Xiao now, and realizing she will face him because of her decision, made her doubt her brother for once in her life.
Xiao used to be under the care of Morax. The latter was a god, one of whom Aether blamed for the despair the Khaenri’ahns have felt five hundred years ago. This was a man she loved, who turned out to be her supposed enemy from the start. But as much as she loved him, she always put Aether first.
I know nothing at all.
I’m still learning to love, just starting to crawl. Aether said so himself that he traveled Teyvat longer than she has. If there’s anyone to know whether Xiao or Morax or literally anyone she’s met so far on her journey were to be trusted, it’s Aether.
I’m sorry that I couldn’t get to you. He started to approach her and the enemy, his weapon held tightly as his mask appeared on his face. The karmic binds were to be dealt later on after this. That woman with the sworn enemy may be his beloved, but he knows that even she expects him to do what is right for Liyue, the country she has helped numerous times.
His hands are shaking, his heart begging him to stop, but his mind is made up, and he makes the first move.
You’re the one that I love,
and I’m saying goodbye.
A broken demon mask lay on the floor when a blue hand picks it up. It’s stained with blood and shreds of blue and white petals.
Say something…