Work Text:
“Standing here, it’s almost as though my body’s telling me not to leave,” He spoke quietly, overlooking the large building in front of him with a frown.
It was a curious thing, having the constant ache that came with his curse be dulled the closer he got to those upside down ruins. His arm no longer felt sore, the side of his face no longer stung and complained with each turn of his head. It was a pleasant feeling after centuries of becoming used to constant pain.
“That’s… Good, right, Dain?” Aether asked from behind him, his eyebrow raised.
Even though they were clearly alone and out of harm’s reach, he still refused to put her guard down. It was quite admirable to him, to say the least. Aether’s too similar to Lumine for his own good, it’s dangerous.
“No. If the Abyss Order has their eyes set on this location, that feeling is a bad sign.” He narrowed his eyes at the building, thinking hard to himself, “They couldn’t be planning what I think they’re planning.”
“Planning what?” Paimon’s loud voice startled him out of his thoughts, causing him to step back.
“Nothing. Let’s keep exploring and see what we find.” There wasn’t a moment of hesitation before Dain started walking down the slope leading towards the ruins, leaving Aether to trail behind him.
Lumine. I’ve warned you once before. This won’t work.
It was a curious phenomenon to see ruins not so dissimilar to Khaenri’ah’s architecture in such a state. Upside down and distorted, dying hilichurls surrounding it, plagued by the malice that came from the black mud poisoning the area. Through their walk, Paimon kept floating around him, speaking into his ear about curious things she wanted answers to.
“Why are the hilichurls like this?” She’d ask upon their first look at the poor, hopeless monsters.
“Why are the knights protecting the hilichurls?” Paimon would point towards the empty husks of haunted armor, holding tightly onto his cape from behind as a means of protection from them.
Seeing the Black Serpent Knights still protecting them with such fervor put an ache in his heart that wouldn’t falter. Five hundred years, and they’re still following his last orders to them. Watching as their armor clattered to the ground, Aether standing victorious above them, he couldn’t help but think death was a mercy.
At least they no longer had to bear the weight of the curse.
He didn’t answer Paimon’s questions, only watching in silence. Had he still considered these monsters his people, maybe it would have been a different story.
Maybe he would’ve tried to protect them.
But there was no reason to, not when they couldn’t remember who they once were. What they once were. Death was a mercy to them, a luxury he wished he had some days.
Not until he saves Lumine, he reminds himself.
“The center of the ruins is most likely where this “feeling” is coming from.” Dainsleif looked towards the center building, just up ahead now.
He could even hear voices, murmuring amongst themselves. Preparing for something. It left a deep feeling in his gut that told him this was wrong. Coming here was wrong. He should run, escape while he still could.
He wasn’t one to particularly run from danger.
“Let’s go then. Come on, Paimon!” Aether called to his companion, dragging them along.
The view of the center of the building was breathtaking. Light coming down upon them from a pool of water above, pristine and pure in nature. Every so often, a drop would fall onto the ground below, dampening the stone of what should’ve been the roof.
And in the very center of the room, stood Lumine. A device in front of her, designed to do exactly what he feared.
“Dainsleif.” At first glance towards him, her gaze was sharper than his sword.
“Lumine.” His frown deepened, arms crossed in front of his chest.
She circled the device, running her fingers gently over the edge, “Do you remember what I said to you, all of those years ago?”
“You know as well as I that this isn’t going to work.” He approached her, backing away before she could slice at him with her sword.
“Even if it’s a one percent chance, I have to try. I can bring back the homeland. I can save them, I can save
you
,” She emphasized, gesturing towards him.
The electro Abyss Lector behind her was chanting something, Aether was quick to strike against him. It was a matter of time now. He needed to stop this.
“Do you remember the times I’ve tried curing the curse with you? It was agony. Each minute, I felt like my body was trying to tear itself from the inside out. You’re only going to hurt them. You’re going to make the people you want to save suffer,” Dain was quick to argue back, clenching his fists.
Aether turned away for a second, a split second, “Lumine, please!”
And that was enough.
The Lector finished his chant, the mechanism started with a beam of light bright enough to blind him, and the splitting pain that came shortly after was excruciating. He was on the ground in minutes, his hands gripping his hair tightly.
Aether’s hand was on his back, his face towards Lumine, who looked down at them apologetically. He was saying something, but he couldn’t hear. It was blurred, muffled.
He wished he’d never have to feel this pain again.
She was walking away, through another portal. Away from him. Lumine faced Dain, a saddened gaze towards him.
“I’m sorry, Dain. I really wish you’d understand. I’m doing this… Because I love you. I wish I could save you, too.” She whispered, disappearing shortly after.
Aether stopped the mechanism. The pain stopped, and his cheek hit the stone floor just as quickly. He was down, and Aether was fumbling with him, trying to figure out what to do.
It wouldn’t hurt him to sleep a little while.
Just a little while longer.