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— Dain, calm down. It's just a shadow, not a hillichurl, — Aether said anxiously as his companion destroyed the ancient statue from which crystal clear water flowed without the slightest hesitation. — We're alone here. You can't be nervous, remember?
— The old habit, — Dainsleif again sank into the water, ignoring the hellish pain in his shoulder. Leaning against the side, cold blue eyes cut through the darkness and absorbed the curse reigning in the air. — I'm just worried about you. You are too valuable to this world.
— You've said that twenty-fifth time in a row. I see no reason to return to that conversation.
The Keeper of the Branch only breathed painfully and plunged even deeper barely touching the bottom with his feet. Now the words of Traveler were cut no worse than a combat katana and somewhere in the bins of his mind he felt bitterness. But only quite a bit. The twin of the Princess was the last ray of grace, a spark of blessing that the Gods of Celestia could take from him.
He always hated the quiet Abyss with its sharp, flat slopes. It was a place that encouraged his tendency to be afraid. No, fear for himself long ago receded on the very day when he vowed to protect his people from any calamity by covering his shoulder. Twilight Sword perfectly remembered how excited his partner Halfdan looked, but thanks to joint training, everyone who brought up warriors from men seemed too colorful. The palace walls appeared to them as a home, and the royal nobility as a family.
Probably, Khaenri'ah were too callous to the eyes of the Supreme Order of Celestia. Or maybe an unknown sharp jump in robotics and technology prevented the Archons' plans to control their Vision-mad subjects. In any case, it happened a long time ago. The current and past Guardian were distinguished not only by their views on the world, but also by ideals. At the moment, for some reason, he no longer wanted to be fueled by a sense of revenge, but instead to expose the blade and obscure the firebird from the hypnotic breath of chaos.
The feet have long been rubbed to the blood because peace and calm family life did not exist for such a fallen sinner as Dain. Inazuma, Mondstadt, Liyue, Sumeru, Natlan, Fontaine, Snezhnaya.. Seventh kingdoms of the gods, despite the beautiful wrapper, never impressed the petrified heart of the wanderer. The air was poisonous, so he had to go deep underground, hiding like a mole. The stars constantly lied with their deceptive glow, until the roar of monsters shook the mountains, which caused two moons to fade and hide behind the silhouette of a soaring Celestia.
When the gates of the prison were closed behind him, he saw that someone was waiting for him. Centuries passed before he realised who.
The meeting with Travelers made the first indelible impression and gave some incentive to fight on. Their faces, manner of communication, luminous wings convinced everyone that no one else arrived in Teyvat as great spirits on the other side of the Universe.
He did not believe in fate, but having gone a long way with the Sun and the Moon, it was more difficult for him not to show curiosity.
Time went differently here: a viscous, almost sticky layer of matter mixed together, causing abnormal cracks. Apparently, two strangers came out of them with pretentious robes. They did not age, and therefore many mistook twins for teenagers, although those brains were clearly much older than the world.
However, did it have power over him? The presence of Aether always treated those wounds, those painful points that Dainslеif himself could not heal.
— Are you angry with me for nearly killing your sister?" the man asked the question with a note of indifference as he stared at the ceiling, causing the blond to sit up sharply and frown. Drops of water rolled lazily down the elephantine skin and fell onto the smooth surface, causing ripples. A perfect and sometimes harsh fellow, thought Twilight Sword, always manages to look attractive even if his face displays irritation or anger.
— Yes, — the companion looked away. It seemed that Aether could recall what happened in the smallest detail. — Especially since you almost took her head off her shoulders.
— I'm sorry," his voice shuddered slightly, but maintained an unshakable stubbornness. "However, I had no choice. She was going to hurt you. You yourself saw that nothing remained of her. We don't have much time already.
— I said: I do not support her choice, even if Luminе finds the key to solving the curse of your people. But that doesn't mean I'll let myself or anyone hurt her.— having bitten his lip, the young man with a loud splash got out of the tank and put on the usual costume for wandering. The clothes managed to suffer in full: from small slimes to formidable vishaps here and there you could notice pieces of missing fabric, and somewhere the seam spread.
As if the shadow of the Twilight Sword was already at the ready and only wet strands gave out a recent bathing in the spring. Aether always impressed the ability of the new guide in as far as that is able to move and turn into combat readiness quickly. As if he is the disguised Guard Ruin, but not the person.
Though unless you will call two of them people?...
— Of course, — having professionally smiled, Dainsleif still didn't give up on the principles, and on the contrary tried to cover the cruelty with the moral tale. — Who comes to us with the sword will die by the sword, Aether. I am the tool in your hands, but not the preacher with a psalm therefore I solve difficult situations in this way.
Oh, Traveler already saw what the way is. Keeper of the Branch like Kaeya didn't shun dirty receptions and from his hands fell a great number of monsters and members of the Award of the Chasm from small to big. And he ignored own scars, the bleeding wounds (sometimes even changes) beating out from any who dared to attempt upon the blonde all nonsense. Repeatedly only intervention of the last helped to bring out the heat of passion.
Judging by shouts, Dainsleif often resorted to the learned scheme: he broke resistance of the enemy, without giving the chance to creep away far away. If the opponent with high intelligence came across I used interrogations in a classic language. Generally, I squeezed out data as a lemon exactly till the moment when that became unnecessary. Aether wasn't allowed to be near the satellite at such moments and it was necessary to guess where remains of the victims were dumped.
Friends couldn't help them in any way: Lumine "kindly" disposed that any exit from the Chasm was sealed at any cost not to miss the brother and the traitor. Ubiquitous Paimon remained outside when there was a trap therefore only who thoroughly studied the slightest branches and I could help — the Twilight Sword. Stocks in a backpack quickly came to an end, as well as the potions received earlier from Albedo for the done help. The dampness affected it isn't good for the health of the fellow why later week walking on the remains of the destroyed city Traveler was in fits of coughing. The crystal was not working smoothly, as it was not possible to recharge the light immediately or at the first attempt. The absence of any normal person in the radius also took its toll on the mind of the honourable Knight Ordo Favonius. Every time he fell asleep, he imagined the faces of those who had shed light on his adventurous life. Kazuha, Jean, Diluc, Zgonli, Venti, Klee, Keqing...the list could go on and on, but the most important lesson had long been learned - having good connections is very useful. And sometimes that also includes having a nice leisure time.
Sure, the Treasure Hoarders have always rained on parade., but the battles have succeeded in spewing out all the unnecessary and simply release the extra energy. Here, in the realm and the claustrophobe's worst nightmare, Aether was more likely to pick up some sort of contagion or wallow in darkness. Despite Geo's strength, the robots managed to penetrate the defences and leave terrible burns. He had to remove his cloak and use scraps of white cloth to dress the wound (the slime of the slimes helped to cool the skin).His head buzzed with the sound of bells ringing after the battle, so Traveller accustomed himself to a lunchtime nap.
— Defenceless chick, — Dainsleif smirked faintly, covering the boy with his star cloak and crunching his fingers as he pondered what to do next. Essentially, there is no way to restore the house, the former companion cannot be brought back, isn't it better for Traveller to abandon his plan? From the outside it is clear that he and the twin will not succeed in overthrowing the higher celestial order with a wave of the hand. The companion's obstinacy was beyond the companion's comprehension, perhaps because he was an only child. Travelers from other worlds had their own rules, but those of the Twilight Sword had the forgotten laws of Khaenri'ah. Betrayal was a major sin, punishable by death. Granted, it wasn't a pacifist method, but it gave the villagers little incentive to consider cooperating with outsiders. It was also disconcerting that, having been through many acquaintances and situations, Ethier still behaved too trustingly. Sometimes excessive kindness had taken its toll, and Lumine's story was no exception. The Abyss is a dead organism, a parasite sucking on an already imperfect shelter, so it is imperative to get rid of the princess at all costs. As long as there is a higher intelligence (though its full potential is blocked) the flames of rebellion will erupt. This cannot be allowed to go unchecked.
As Guardian of the Branch, he will not allow anyone to harm the Tree. Or its object of intense interest. They are better off believing in the Archons, whose prayers will not save them even in deep sleep.
Maintaining a fire in a place close to a void was incredibly difficult. No, they had no shortage of wood, but maintaining consciousness was akin to crossing a river with steep rapids. Running his eyes over the almost completely destroyed walls the man deliberately delayed any sign of entering the rapid phase of sleep. A simple touch at first alerted and aroused animal instincts, but, as it turned out, in vain.
— Get some rest. You can barely stand, — Aether yawned widely, wrapping himself more tightly in his cloak. Judging by the sleepy quiet intonation, Dain accidentally woke the blond man when he tossed a couple of dry twigs. — It's my turn to keep watch. You need the energy, don't you?
— No. It ended sadly last time. Besides, you're sick.— Dainsleif touched the half mask, sighing as he felt his uneasiness growing in his soul. — I'll wake you in case there's any danger nearby. Don't worry about me. I'm used to it.
His own hungry rumbling of his stomach was heard in response and, confused, Dain turned his attention to the grotto, not noticing Traveller clumsily snuggling up against him in search of warmth. Time was passing quite differently in separate corners of the cave, so their first priority was the portal. Scratching an encrypted message on the wall, it was necessary to set traps and throw off the trail before the Order of the Abyss did. In short, they had to be very careful or they would both be on a single ticket. A very grim and frightening end. Getting free sounded very reassuring.
The tempter on his left shoulder whispered exactly the opposite, hinting at the possible escape of an accomplice. Then it would be too late to apologise for a broken nose or broken collarbone due to a possible conflict of interest. He couldn't confess his feelings for the blond boy on the fly! They'll get out of this hole, and then what? It was obvious that Aether's friends would try their best to put the incident behind them and take him to the bar for a drink of grape juice. Except that Guardian was unwilling to share the lad with anyone else. Sitting behind the bar he could see the undisguised adoration of outsiders for the newly elected knight of the Ordo Favonius. Whispers of approval echoed and there seemed to be some sort of special magnetic field around Traveller. Something Dainsleif had lost when they tried to put an obedience collar on him.
For some reason, while listening to the bard's song, the guard caught himself drinking his third cup of Evening Hour. Milk was unpleasantly bitter on his tongue and Ithar shifted his attention to the red-haired tavern-keeper. His fingers gripped the fragile glass dangerously and it seemed ill-timed that Charles had noticed that Ragnvindr had decided to expand his already big business in Freedom City. Of course, a rich single man with a rich pedigree is far more attractive to the hearts of young girls and boys than a native of a decimated nation forced to sleep in cheap motels. Had it not been for the terms, the guard would have simply snatched the knight of honour away from prying eyes, but he had to endure. And leniency was usually limited to a couple of flimsy fences.
Thankfully, the little companion chimed in just in time about a couple of fish sandwiches and the Traveller politely interrupted the dialogue and headed towards Dain. The way the lad relentlessly apologised for the wait was endearing, especially that nervous nibbling of delicate lips. Surrounding objects and people receded into the background and Twilight Sword admired every curve of the lean body, imagining the boldest pictures in his mind. He felt like a sinner, fallen, unworthy of tarnishing the purity of the angel before him, and he didn't want to let anyone touch him either. Yes, he would strangle anyone who did.
"Control, keep control. Otherwise it will burn more than just your arm,"— the Guardian whispered to his subconscious as the vile redheaded fathouse patted the blond on the shoulder in a friendly manner. The demon's mask looked rather theatrical: in the case of the guardian, the entity itself was ready to change from harmless to chaotic. — "They are only friends. He doesn't know Traveller's true history or his secret."
After all, he loves the excitement. What a nice smile the latter will have when these unsophisticated children realise their mistake: Dainsleif met the twins before the rivals even showed up in Teyvat. With Lumine they shared common aspirations, but her older brother is far more intelligent and handsome in appearance. The young knight has a future ahead of him, and who knows if he has enough strength to ascend to the throne of Celestia. Then they'll create a realm where they don't have to worry about equality.
And immortality. How many fun things can be realized without fear of death...Travelling, dreaming, making Iter scream his name drowning in pleasure as he tastes the juices of such a ripe cherry first. Tasting his neck, his collarbones, his thighs just so no one could give such pleasure a second time.
A perfect plan.
The sound of a fallen stone drew the attention of the seemingly sluggish behemoths and they tentatively headed that way, a little away from the surviving pillar. Relying on the effect of surprise, the two warriors unsheathed their sword blades and began to fight off the fierce magical interference and crossbows. The battle was taking place in rather extreme conditions: the walls were vibrating from the blows so that at any moment someone risked being trapped under rubble. The ground was cracking under their feet in earnest and Twilight Sword was barely able to hold his ground. Thankfully, there is excellent body reaction.
While the guardian used his dark power through agony, Aether fought back against a threat so desperate that Fate herself would weep at such a pitiful attempt. The poor scarf had been torn to shreds, and it was too late for the hero to realize that he should save the mark from its deadly claws. As luck would have it, the battlefield was a swampy slough, and his feet became bogged down in a terrifying blob of negativity. Clutching onto his wooden staff, the boy clung to it like a kitten, trying to keep himself dry and unharmed. Mud baths are not hot springs, especially since there was no opportunity to clean his clothes.
Suddenly the chains clanked, and the giant-looking lizard opened its broad mouth to devour any moving creature. With a roar the infested Basilisk gained speed and the ceiling trembled violently, the massive crystals that illuminated the path were cracked and shattered. He took a right turn and saw that he was nowhere to be seen but hollow walls and darkness. Wait a minute... this could work! Two elements burst from his hot palms, and the boy leaped onto the scaly backdrop, pushing off the surface. Holding on like a rider he tugged at the plates on his cheeks and steered the uncontrollable straight at the obstacle. The obstacle immediately shattered into a myriad of stones and caused the reptile to lose its coordination and balance. The incisors nearly bit into its head and only a blunt sword could save it from the horrific consequences. Iter shrieked, but not because he rolled down the carcass, but because he lost his faithful friend. How many times had this miracle of Mondstad forging come to the rescue in trouble when the prototype melted Old Zhang into Liyue. Jagged like a battle-hardened veteran, it continued to radiate bravery despite its cracked shaft.
Nowadays, it was only the shattered shards of a dream. Apparently with Lumine's departure, not only the moon had gone, but the sun as well. They were stuck in a dimension without light.
Slipping down, he rolled over and for a second consciousness drifted from under his feet. Blood flowed under his right side and the wound opened. The smell of autumn leaves and chirping birds came to mind, but a sharp clap quickly brought the illusion out of his thoughts. Reflexes and constant battle have taught a wanderer to come to his senses even in the most difficult situations. Abilities were barely audible to his inner guidance now, so hand-to-hand went into action.
Aether noticed the familiar glint and grabbed a silver dagger lying nearby his skull; he rubbed it with his fingers, testing the sharpness of the weapon. As expected, the blade was perfectly sharpened, and the young man delivered a crushing blow to the samachurl's eye. The stunted foe, however, saw this blow as a perfect opportunity to weaken the already weary traveler. The blond hero felt an electric shock run down his back and screamed furiously. Dendro's magic poisoned the already stinky air, and the wooden stick pounded fiercely on his spine.
Oh, I wish the wretched monster, cursed by the Archons, hadn't done that.
Anger, fear, worry and seething hatred flashed in his icy blue eyes. His hands clenched into fists and a growl erupted from his throat. The veins in his strained arm swelled and ached, but the strength in him burned like a spark. Like a whirlwind, Twilight Sword snapped the mage's neck. His body dropped to the floor like a rag doll, and Dain covered his eyes with his palm. An eerie chuckle burst treacherously from his throat as the thick, viscous liquid dripped from his palms and sprinkled drops on the stones. What he had held back for too long was fulfilled by foolish fate.
It was his former comrade-in-arms. Perhaps even a defender like him. But somehow that didn't matter. The priority was not to let such an unusual lad with wings pass away, not an echo of the past.
The footsteps were moving away. To save his life, he had to commit violence. To turn his enemy into a shapeless mass, to break his bones with a distinctive sound, to gut his internal organs and soak in the remains. Conscience cried error, subconsciousness cried victory. The pure gold stained inky and the pupils narrowed like those of a ravenous wolf. Dain believed he had died in the very period when the Celestial Order danced while innocents gave their lives for the homeland. He wasn't sure he could live alone for even a month.
He needs light in a realm where the rays have never reached.
— What is it? — Twilight Sword tried to loosen Traveler's fossilized, slender fingers, but he struggled mightily. — Hey, look at me, don't faint!
Honey eyes were getting cloudier by the minute and Dainsleif was unsure of how to proceed with the obvious excitement. A distraction? Yes, that would be the only way not to lose him. The wanderer is not a sadistic man who enjoys fighting speeches and swimming in rivers of blood.
Leaning over, Twilight Sword pressed the young man's back against the hard support, licking the moisture protruding from his veins with his tongue. Aether's eyes widened in fright, and he squeaked, but did not move away or resist. Obediently he directed his gaze to the ceiling and waited until the corpse was out of sight. Then he was slightly roughly turned around and grabbed by the cheeks. Before Traveller could mutter anything uncertain, his mouth was actively managed, demanding an answer. His lashes trembled, and with a quiet groan he yielded forward and simply surrendered.
'When everything else fell away, there was only one truth left.'
He liked what was happening, he liked Dainsleif. Muttering contentedly, the blond wrapped his arms around his neck, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through his body. If this was the last moment, then at least Asther didn't regret that events had unfolded in this particular direction. Come to think of it, the Keeper of the Branch seemed a rather enigmatic but loyal companion to the wanderer. They had never strayed from the indicated route, and it was as if Dain had the clues all to himself, so Ither was not afraid to trust him with his life. Man, he was willing to give all the mora he had accumulated to repay the man for his kindness. Dain was never rude, courteous, and always offered a helping hand while others labeled Traveller an errand boy. Thanks to Dain, he found his sister and almost persuaded her to take the path. It all came down to one individual who...loved?
They got incredibly hot and a "please, more" came out of their lips. Nodding, man pressed on the cherished points, pulling, biting, caressing with a kind of unprecedented passion. Fortunately, the nights had taught him to give temporary solace and in time Aether nearly choked with excitement. Any sudden movement brought hoarse cries, and any touch sent shivers down his spine.
Why don't they help themselves, after the way he was treated? At least for a moment just to forget themselves. Not to be a hero, but an ordinary mortal.
'Can you take me away and never let me come back? Can you hold me in your arms and promise me that everything will be alright? Can you make all my problems disappear? Can you love me as much as I love you?' — the young man asked mentally as he caressed the spot behind her ear. Raspy sighs sounded like unvoiced confirmation and their lips merged again, stirring the taste of mint. Long gloved hands slid down, stroking her belly. Teasing and biting the skin, he ran a trail of kisses from her belly to her chin, then down to her side.
Having emitted a loud sobering whimper of a knight as if pierced by thousands of lightning. Dain froze, apparently scrolling through what had happened again and again, at the same time seeing the injury. It was fate to meet Traveler, to become an ally - a choice, but to fall in love with him was a hindrance.
— You are my only reason for moving on. Let me be your home. Don't leave. — even now, Aether has managed to capture familiar notes of bitterness in the Guardian's voice. Touching the dark mask, the blonde tried to remember his face as best as possible. What if, after so many years of travel, he manages to forget?
"Do you understand that I am ballast? Without my original power, I will not be able to take us up. We'll finish here as two idiots. Leave me." whispered indifferently, Traveler coughed, ignoring the burning pain.
— Like two idiots, — 'jokingly,' the lover grumbled lovingly, preventing him from finally falling asleep.— But we're together. And don't I care about you?
Looking at the star pupils, Aether smiled slightly. He missed the house, space and kettle where the butler Tubby was waiting for him. He was terrified of small spaces to horror, and she knew. So often Lumine won various games: luring the twin to uncomfortable places for hiding places, the girl was able to bring a seemingly brave boy to tears. However, the guy admitted this fear of emptiness. The inability to show emotion made you scream into the void from realizing how mortal any world was.
They have long grown, and the fun has not lost its original meaning until now: to make you feel pathetic.
He watched helplessly as the door closed behind her. Why did she leave him?... Were their family ties not as strong as Iter had previously believed? No, it's impossible. Then why do you want to challenge her again? Show she's not a princess? What is the Abyss - Underworld? Inteyvat let will also be scattered by dust, however the blonde promised flowers that he will return only with the person close to heart. Whatever it takes, he'll get Lumine back.
Even at the cost of his death. Even at the cost of affection for the former royal guard. "I will find her and bring her home, I promise" . Well, he took an oath with Dain and perhaps everything will come true with his dream.
The entrance to the tunnel was their only exit. Raising his weak body, Dainsleif creaked his teeth and burst forward. Invisible frosty power tore up his star cloak, but he continued to pin down his wounded phoenix, hiding that in his arms promised comfort.
— Are you sure you can survive? Are you fearless? — the wanderer's blond head breathed painfully, gently resting against the guard's chest. Reality crumbled before the ages and only the enchanting voice of the Guardian of the Branch was heard in his ears. Dainsleif whispered something hoarsely, which caused a wave of rampant laughter to sweep through the cave. Darkness consumed both, drawing a pattern of gold feathers on the ceiling.
His light of madness went out.