Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there exist the sun and moon twins. Of course, one commands the power of the moon, while one wields the authority of the sun. Hopping from world to world, with a resolution to seek, and find a suitable hometown for their selves.
However, an unprecedented calamity happened. This calamity caused the twins to fall apart. One has vanished into the darkness, while the other is left, battling an unknown goddess with golden, starry eyes. Upon witnessing the fate that had befallen their twin, they tried to persevere their way to defeat the goddess.
But every story is not complete without a conflict.
The twin who fought against the goddess lost. Forced to retreat by being trapped inside a dark-red cube, having to see the goddess' smirk before getting thrown in a completely different world they know almost nothing of.
It's already cruel. But nothing could be more cruel when he was left almost nothing about the memories of his origins, except for the last battle with the unknown goddess.
"Ouch."
Aether glared at the crab who pinched his skin. It was turning red and swollen pretty fast. Aether swiftly grabbed its pincers, stood up to put it in boiling water and soften its shell— also to punish it. Aether rubbed the swollen part, huffing in irritation.
He sat beside the cooking pot, waiting for the crab. Aether curiously narrowed his eyes at the small blue spiraled shell, before picking it up.
There's a lot of it on the shore, though he never gave it a thought to try and cook it.
Maybe because it doesn't look edible. Meanwhile, crabs are, he got a feeling that crabs might be edible. How did he know? Aether didn't, but he usually trusts his instincts.
He picked more blue shells but stopped ASAP when he spotted a creepy floating creature with blue fur and a shield. There are those masked creatures with brown fur and wooden shields around the floating thing too.
They seemed to be preaching about something too, like a cult.
He ran. He stopped by the cooking pot, sitting quietly while murmuring to himself. Total creeps.
He checked the crab and after ensuring it was cooked enough, he blew off the fire. Maybe he'll wait for it to be cooler enough to be eaten.
-
Xiao valued Rex Lapis as he valued contracts. Being the last of Liyue's five yakshas left him with karma he's struggling to endure. He watched as Liyue grew and prosper, he witnessed the epic tales of the past that are now being told to the younger mortals.
He donned his mask before summoning his polearm after hearing the odd and eerie enchantments of the monsters near Yaoguang Shoal. It's the nighttime, monsters appear often during the night.
He jumped tree to tree, spotting the monsters, then plunged until no ashes of the monsters remained. Xiao glanced everywhere, seeking more.
Of course. What can he do? He can't stop.
After sighting those wicked monsters of the abyss, he didn't hesitate to plunge and plunge and plunge even after hearing their irksome shouts of pain and misery.
He dashes through, plunging repeatedly until they turn into ashes. He pulls the mask out of his face, then gasped. Xiao coughs, forcing himself to breathe.
If this would continue, he would end up like them. And if he did, he might have to be killed by his Lord, for breaking the contract.
"He's no different from me, then, Alatus? Killing you—"
"Shut up."
His old master's voice, dragging him unto the pits of his despair. That mocking, irritating laugh...!
"Come join me, Alatus! After all, there's no guarantee that you'll redeem yourself even after saving them—"
Xiao hissed. "I said shut up."
"You are, after all, Alatus, the devourer of those sweet, sweet dreams. A killer, a demon, a MONSTER—"
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
What answered him back is silence. He nearly cried in relief until the corruption, the karma festering inside him began spiraling on the surface once again, an attempt to finally consume him.
"Urgh..!" He groaned. Xiao gripped the nuo mask, almost breaking it into half due to the unbearable pain and agony slowly dragging him back into the darkness he once endured with his old master.
Until he heard a gasp from nowhere.
Xiao's breathing halted, a haunted look etched on his face. He darted his eyes towards the voice, as the only faint rustling of leaves registered back to him.
They're escaping.
Despite the pain, Xiao instinctively summoned his polearm back, immediately putting on his mask. He dragged his pitiful body up from the rock, finding the source of his shameless witness.
"Who's there?!"
-
Aether can't prevent the gasp from spilling from his lips as he watches the young man struggling from something.
He covered his mouth, scrambling to get away until he crashed with the cooking pot earlier. A loud clang! transpired, making his breathing hitch, before slowly drifting his eyes towards the masked man. He gulped, clenching his fists.
"Who's there?!"
Aether froze, and within less than a minute, he swiftly picked up the blue shells he found earlier and flee.
He runs quickly, ignoring the remains of the cracked shells getting buried on his feet. The smooth sand makes it harder to escape, his feet getting swallowed deep in the sand. He clutched the shells in his arms, ignoring how some of it spilled out.
Aether can finally see the exit, the green trees to the middle of the white sand—
Not until someone tackled him from behind.
-
Xiao tackles the mysterious blonde, making them drop some of the starchonches. He heard a yelp from the stranger.
Xiao covered their mouth but shortly jerked his hand away when they bite him. The stranger turned around, glaring at him with the most beautiful amber eyes he has ever seen.
His lips are pursed, cheeks puffed out. But it didn't make Xiao drop his guard. Instead; he sharpened his senses more. This... mortal, feels otherworldly. His aura particularly similar to the stars.
He's peering down at the stranger. The blonde feeling the same thing, gaping at him, too. Xiao shook his head, looking away from those awfully distracting eyes.
Xiao stood up, then grabbed the stranger's arm, glaring at the blonde suspiciously. He pointed his spear at the outlander. "Who are you, and what did you see?"
The outlander sits up, with Xiao standing in front of him. Xiao watched, checking if there's any suspicious movements. Based on their body shape, Xiao could assume that he's a boy.
He glared back, dusting sand off his exposed midriff and pants. Xiao pointedly stared at him, suspicious.
"Aether," the outlander stated. Xiao raised his eyebrows, staring at 'Aether'.
Aether. Not a local name of Liyue, and surely not from the other nations too. Then what is he from?
"Aether," Xiao lets his name roll on his tongue. His grip tightened on the polearm, raising it just above Aether's neck.
"State your business, outlander."
Aether blinked, tilting his head.
Xiao groaned. "Aren't you going to answer?" He crossed his arms.
And for some strange reasons, the budding corruption threatening to overwhelm him earlier completely faded.
Aether continues to stare confusingly as if Xiao's an anomaly.
"Don't you know how to speak?" He asked again. Aether didn't say anything, looking at Xiao with those wide, bright amber eyes of his.
After a while, the outlander has finally spoken.
"...Aether?"
Xiao facepalmed, groaning out of frustration.
What did he just get into?