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"Are you sure, Lumine?"
Her lips stretched in a tired smile as her gaze softened at the floating pixie, "I'm positive Paimon. I'll be careful, I just...really want to clear my head."
Paimon nibbled at her bottom lip in worry, her eyes gazing sadly at her blonde companion. As soon as the two had left that horrible place, they had made their way directly back to the City of Freedom. Lumine had been silent the whole way, a silent fury emanating from the short traveler; fists clenching tightly, brows furrowed, and golden eyes flickering between anger and deep sadness. It had been a shock to Paimon, to see that the brother she'd heard so much about, was the leading force of the Abyss Order.
"Please, Paimon?"
The floating girl's heart broke further hearing the sheer desperation in Lumine's voice, usually firm and clear, now shaky and softer than she had ever heard. Paimon floated closer to her friend's face, hands placed on either side of her cheeks, gently lifting her head and placed a kiss on Lumine's forehead, "Okay, but you've got to promise to Paimon that you'll return before nightfall!"
A quick nod from Lumine was enough to satisfy her as she began to float away, "Okay then Paimon's gonna head over to Amber's. Be careful Lumine!"
The two waved at each other. Once Paimon was out of sight, Lumine turned heel and headed back out from the main entrance to the city.
There was no goal in mind, no particular direction she cared to go, as long as she just went. With Paimon no longer there, she let herself think back on everything that happened with the Herald and her brother.
It hadn't even registered that he'd blocked the attack against the Herald. He was there. He was alive. And all she had felt was relief. Her search hadn't been in vain. He hadn't been on some other world entirely. He was within reach, they could be together again.
But then he asked about Dainsleif.
She felt anger well deep within the pit of her stomach. After all that time, separated, alone; he had asked about Dain? Her fury doubled at the thought of the tall blonde man. Dain had known who Aether was. He had known who she was. He knew that she was looking for her brother. The time from when she hired him, he must have known, the companion he had mentioned several times had been Aether. He knew and he said nothing.
There was so much information he threw at her at the moment. Dain being from Khaenri'ah, the Abyss Order being the people of Khaenri'ah, the destruction of those people 500 years back. A part of Lumine didn't care. Her brother was right there in front of her, they could leave together...home. She had pleaded with him, to go home, together.
He refused.
A million pieces. That's what her heart felt like it'd shattered into. Each word he said that was not what she wanted to hear, a further tear, another crack, into her very soul.
Then as he turned to walk away, she tried to reach out, tried to grab hold of him. She didn't care where he was going, as long as she could go with him. As long as they would be together.
But yet another scar was left upon her heart as she saw Dain pass her by into the portal.
Without her.
A hollow feeling engulfed her as she stared at her empty hand.
Paimon was talking to her but all Lumine could think of was that Aether had left her. Dain had left her.
Alone.
Lumine's gaze snapped up to where she'd ended up. She stared down on Starfell Lake, the blue light of the Statue of the Seven glowing softly in the daylight. She was high upon the cliffs, a clear view of Mondstadt in the distance. She turned to take in her surroundings. No enemies about. Good. She really didn't feel up to fighting at the moment.
She sighed before bending down, sliding her legs to dangle over the cliff as she sat down at the edge.
She breathed in, eyes looking up at the clouds that rolled by, seeking some sort of answer in their ever changing shapes.
If she were to see her brother again, down the road of her journey, would anything change? Was there any point in asking him to come home with her when he would not come when she pleaded with him, directly to his face? He told her to continue her journey. That she would see in time. She had no clue what he could possibly mean.
Aether.
He had...looked so sad. Almost...broken. Her once bright, outgoing, sweet brother now looked burdened. Distant.
Cold.
Lumine's gaze lowered to her hands. She felt so powerless. Seeing her brother that way...she wanted to help. She didn't know what was going on entirely, but Aether was still her brother. She was still his sister and she wanted to take away whatever pain he was seemingly going through.
But again, how could she reach him?
"Aether, what can I do?"
"Lumi, can you sing for me?"
She looked over at him from her bedroll. They always slept right next to each other, ready to protect the other should danger cross them while they rested.
They had just left another world. One that was riddled with war and strife. Villages burned, cities destroyed, families slaughtered. Loss and bloodshed. Horrors that no being should have the misfortune of witnessing.
Aether's caring and open personality made him susceptible to these horrors. Plaguing his mind when everything was calm and quiet. She could see these nightmares flashing through his eyes. Bright golden eyes that were now dulled and haunted.
She shifted in her bedroll, turning to her side as she reached both arms across to him. He immediately turned to face her as well, stretching out one of his arms, nestling his hand between her waiting ones. She began to stroke her thumb across his knuckles, smiling gently at him.
"Close your eyes."
He did so without hesitation, focusing his hearing to his sister.
"Picture the blue of the sky. Feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. Listen to the breeze of a thousand winds rushing past you. Smell the clean air."
Flying. Aether always felt so at home above the ground, high above the clouds, letting the wind carry he and his sister to places unknown.
Seeing his countenance finally relax, she smiled. Breathing in deeply, she sang.
Lumine no longer remembers where she had learned the song, nor what long-dead language it was in. All it invoked now was the memory of the sun dipping into the horizon where the sky met the sea, blending together in a confluence of dazzling rainbows. It was a song of freedom, a song of flight, a song of respite, a song to souls long forgotten.
When her gaze landed on Aether, his face was no longer contorted in pain or anguish. His brows arched gently as he slumbered peacefully. A tear silently gliding down his cheek.
Lumine stood up. Her eyes unfocused on the view in front of her as she relived that memory. She blinked.
Perhaps that song would reach him. At the very least, she hoped it would.
"Venti?"
A cool breeze brushed past her. She turned around, following the direction of the breeze as the green-clad archon touched down gracefully onto the ground. A gentle, warm smile gracing his lips.
"Ehe~! Well hello there traveler! How can I be of service to the most esteemed Honorary Knight?"
There was so much she wanted to ask him regarding Khaenri'ah, but right now, she only wanted to focus on Aether. Answers could wait a few days.
"It's my brother..."
"I see. Well my dear Lumine, allow me to guide your song to him. No matter where he is, the wind will carry your voice to him."
The well of emotion gripped Lumine's chest at Venti's willingness to help. She swallowed and turned back toward the cliff and stood a few feet from the edge.
"Let your song take over your mind Lumine, I will accompany you."
She nodded. Immersing herself in the distant memory of when she first learned that song, when she sang it to Aether on multiple occasions to calm the chaos in his heart and mind. She heard the first notes plucked on Venti's lyre. And from there, she let the melody fill her thoughts as she closed her eyes and sang.
Venti could hear the melody in his mind. Lumine's feelings and emotions intermingled so deeply in the melody that he had no trouble accompanying her. He could see a vast-less open blue sky, a calmly waving sea, an uplifting breeze.
Freedom.
Truly a melody he would remember for millennia to come.
Lumine felt the gentle push of the breeze against her back as it carried her song across the lake. She saw the wind spread far, farther than her eye could see. And all she could think was: Please reach him. I am here, brother. I will always be here.
She felt the lump building in her throat but she would not let it interfere. For once, this song was meant not only for Aether, but for her as well.
Her vision blurred little by little, tears falling and being wiped away by the gentle wind that brushed against her face. She continued to sing, shutting her eyes, pressing on for the final notes of her song, putting all the anger and hurt away so that only the warmth would reach her brother.
She opened her eyes at the feeling of warm hands wiping away the remaining tears that marred her face. The soft emerald glow of Venti's eyes caught her own. His smile nurturing and understanding.
"It will reach him."
She felt her lips tremble before the bard brought her into his arms, guiding her head onto his shoulders as he stroked soothing circles on her back as she cried out in anguish.
Atop the remains of ruins, under a lone tree, a gentle breeze tickled long strands of blond hair, and upon the wind, a melody holding memories of solace and comfort. Golden eyes slowly closed as feelings of warmth enveloped his raging mind. Small tear drops landing on empty gloved hands.