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Princess Lumine of the Abyss Order studied the unconscious alchemist before her. Albedo sat up against a wall of the Abyss, eyes closed. A few Abyss mages had brought Albedo to Lumine, saying he bore the same diamond mark on his neck as her. Eyes narrowed, Lumine knelt down to Albedo’s height. His artificial pontil mark gleamed faintly in the light of purple will-o-wisps. Lumine ran a thumb over it, casting a spell. The ancient Khaenri’ah magic fell away, revealing an inkblot diamond mark, the exact same as Lumine’s mark. A soulmate mark.
Elbow on her knee, Lumine propped her chin on her hand. Interesting. How ironic the divine forces of Teyvat include me in their number. When the soulmate mark appeared on Lumine when she first arrived on Teyvat, Lumine paid it little attention. After traveling across galaxies, a mark was hardly the strangest thing she witnessed.
Muttering under her breath, Lumine recast the illusion magic over Albedo’s mark. Seems Rhinedottir didn’t want her pet creation to be distracted. And neither should I be.
Lumine stood, about to call for Abyss mages to return him to Dragonspine. After this there’s listening to the reports from our Abyss spies, studying the wreckage of my amplification device at the Chasm firsthand, and I still have yet to repair all the Ruin Guards which have broken down. Brows furrowed, Lumine clutched the front of her dress. A chill radiated off the rock walls. When was the last time I spoke with a human being? It’s been decades…
Lumine eyed Albedo. The mark which signified her soulmate and his other-humanness. Well, if nothing else, this should be highly amusing. I can always wipe his memory afterwards. Lumine pulled up her scarf, covering her mark, and pressed two fingers to Albedo’s forehead. She sent a spark of Abyss magic through him.
Gasping, Albedo awoke with a jolt. Mouth agape, he scanned his surroundings. They stood in an underground dungeon. Glowing red streaks ran through the dark walls reminiscent of veins. A smooth protuberance of rock extending from the wall served as a bed. A dusty bucket sat in the corner. No exit in sight.
Albedo asked, “Where am I?”
“The Abyss.”
Albedo snapped his head up. Lumine stood before him in a black dress with red trimming and a star motif pattern. Slightly wavy hair reached past her knees. Albedo’s eyes went wide. “You… you look exactly as Aether described. You—!” Albedo leapt to his feet and held out his hand, trying to summon his sword. Nothing appeared.
Exhaling, Lumine tossed her hair over her shoulder. Examined her nails. “The Abyss mages who captured you turned in your sword and Vision to me. But even with them, you’d pose no threat against me.”
Albedo narrowed his eyes. After a moment, Albedo lowered his arm. “Why have you taken me? If you’re as capable as you claim, you could have abducted me at any point in the past 500 years. What has changed?”
Lumine leaned against the makeshift bed, bracing herself with her two hands beside her. “Figure it out yourself. Aren’t you a genius?”
Albedo held his chin. “Perhaps Aether has disturbed your plans? He mentioned sojourning into the Chasm recently investigating why Hilichurls would venture into the Chasm to suffer and die. He looked upset so I imagine you or the Abyss were involved in some manner. But why would the Abyss concern themselves with Hilichurls? What is their goal? No, think from another perspective…” Humming, Albedo paced. “The Abyss order was founded 500 years ago, shortly after the fall of Khaenri’ah. Also around that time, Hilichurls and other monsters first appeared and plagued the land with their sheer amount of numbers.” Albedo stopped. “Could the citizens of Khaenri’ah have become monsters?”
Lumine’s nails dug into the bed.
Frowning, Albedo crossed his arms. “Master created Rifthound monsters before, but she wouldn’t… would she? No, no, this is transmuting an already existing creature to another form so—”
“It’s a curse.” Lumine pushed herself off the bed. She turned towards the direction of the throne room. Despite the cavern walls and tunnels in-between, Lumine could sense the mass of chaotic space and corruption in the petrified tree behind the throne. “I will undo it and free them from its shackles. No matter how long it takes. Even if there is only a fraction of a fraction of a percent chance they can be cured, then I must do it.” Lumine summoned an array of glowing stardust floating above her hand. “Absolutes are rare in nature. You can say the sky is always blue, but I can show you a hundred planets where the sky is different.”
“Fascinating. I thought the Abyss Order was only motivated by their hatred of humanity. I didn’t realize that all this time, they were led by someone with noble intentions.” Brows furrowed, Lumine turned back to Albedo. He gazed at her with almost a ghost of a smile on his face. After a moment, Albedo’s face hardened like stone. “But you’d pursue it even if it means suffering on their deathbed?”
Brow raised, Lumine smirked. She strode up to Albedo, invading his personal space. Sweating, Albedo narrowed his eyes. Squirmed away, bumping into the wall. Mere inches separated their faces. Lumine purred, “Wouldn’t you do the same if Klee lay dying?”
“No, not if it meant prolonging Klee’s suffering. And… even if she would survive, how could I call myself her brother when I hurt her?”
Lumine studied him. At this distance, she could see every blue fleck in his green eyes. How his eyes broke as he spoke. Lumine whipped around, heading towards the wall and the exit. I was wrong. Supposed “soulmate” or not, this was a waste of time. The Abyss mages can wipe his memory and return him—
“Surely you know Aether misses you. How much your separation from him pains him. Why must you go at it alone? If you explained your mission, then perhaps together you can devise a better method.”
Exhaling, Lumine slumped her shoulders. Aether… Eyes closed, Lumine took in a deep breath before raising her chin. “Aether must discover the truth to this world on his own. Actually…” Lumine turned back, a twinkle in her eye. “Are you interested in pursuing some answers yourself? Do you know the Khaenri’ah language?”
“I do. Why?”
Lumine chuckled. “So you will be useful after all.” At the snap of her fingers, a doorway appeared in the wall. “Follow me.”
Lumine led Albedo through a series of narrow hallways. Three-pronged candle sconces lit the dim underground space. Murals outlined with glowing runes covered the walls. Without looking back, Lumine spoke, “The Abyss is a maze. Its hallways and rooms shift at my command. Any foreigner who tries to navigate their way through would be lost in an endless maze. And if you’d stumble across any of my patrolling Abyss mages, they’d kill you on sight. So don’t even think about running. It would be the last thing you’d do.”
Albedo stiffly nodded.
Not that he would. If any of her Heralds learned of him, they might injure or kill Albedo out of their hatred of humanity. After this, Lumine would have to order them to keep their distance from the library under the pretext she was working on a potentially dangerous experiment.
“Here we are.” Lumine pressed a hand to the wall and whispered a spell. Runes appeared briefly. A portion of the wall slid back. “All rooms are sealed shut with spells. Unless you’re familiar with the spell, there’s no leaving or entering. Now come; this is the library.”
Lumine and Albedo entered. The library was a massive cavern made up of sections of ancient ruined walls. A series of terraces circled outwards whose walls were filled with books. The oval ground floor had stone tables, benches, and will-o-wisp candelabras. In the gaps between crumbling walls, bare rock and glowing red veins showed through. The mix of ruins and natural rocky landscape was reminiscent of Enkanomiya.
Lumine gestured with an arm. “These are ruins and books I preserved from Khaenri’ah after the cataclysm. It’s only a fraction—”
Albedo darted forward. Holding his chin, he scanned titles. “Are these organized in any fashion?”
“No. I can’t make out much on my own. Traveling amongst worlds, I’m quick at picking up languages, but I wasn’t in Khaenri’ah long enough to grasp more than the basic vocabulary.”
“I see. I’m familiar with the ancient tongue, but not entirely fluent. Your knowledge of linguistics should be helpful in puzzling out terms I’m ignorant of.” Albedo snatched books off shelves and all but tossed them on a table before returning for more books.
Brow raised, Lumine shook her head. He’s a kid in a candy store. Lumine held her chin. My Heralds will be expecting me soon, but being able to translate these texts is the highest priority. They could contain secrets on how to undo the curse. If his translating skills are sufficient after my help, then I can return to business as normal. Lumine nodded to herself. She strode forward, scarf billowing behind her. “Careful with the merchandise. Now, let’s start decoding.”
Hours later, Albedo and Lumine sat at a table in the library stacks of books and papers around them. Albedo flipped through a book. “This is some ordered list of… dogs? Different kinds of animals.” Sighing, Albedo set it aside in a growing pile. He turned around, fetched a few books, and returned. Albedo scanned the titles. “Something with a ‘sword’ in the title, this one says ‘clay,’ and—Oh! This one has ‘guide’ in it!” Albedo flipped through the book. His eyes darted over the pages, before he turned the pages so fast Lumine feared they’d rip.
“Albedo, slow down.”
“I’m scanning for any alchemy terms. I don’t… Hold on, let me peruse more. There’s ‘love’ and ‘marriage’ I see. Is this a guide on relationships?”
“Albedo, the first page.”
“Yes, yes.” Sighing, Albedo turned back. “‘I have a lot of experience in…’ Um. Is that…?” Frowning, Albedo brought the book closer to his face. Cheeks burning, Albedo tossed the book aside. Cleared his throat. “Ah, that’s erotic.”
Smirking, Lumine rested her chin on a fist. “How do you know such vocabulary?”
“I don’t! I used context clues.”
“I didn’t think someone created from chalk could go so red.”
Huffing, Albedo turned away. Lumine chuckled.
Albedo’s expression soured. “Those tomes over there are fairy tales, these are poetry, and that’s fictional novels. There doesn’t appear to be any alchemy related books. Perhaps they were deliberately destroyed during the cataclysm.”
Lumine leaned back and crossed her arms. “Don’t you have Khaenri’ah alchemy books from Rhinedottir that you’re studying from?”
“Yes, I… I had.”
“Had?”
Exhaling, Albedo lowered his head. The flickering of will-o-wisps cast changing light and shadows over his face. “Master left me, taking most of her materials with her. It’s been six years now. I haven’t…” Albedo swallowed. “Haven’t seen or heard of her since. She entrusted me with the mission of showing her the truth and the meaning of this world. But I’ve barely made any progress.”
Lumine silently studied Albedo. He and Aether have the same goal.
Exhaling a laugh, Albedo looked up. Flashed a tight smile. “I suppose if you were asking me such, you haven’t seen her?” Lumine shook her head. “As expected.” Sighing long, Albedo dipped his head. Clenched and unclenched his fists in his lap. “I don’t want to request her aid in fulfilling her mission; I want to discover the answer myself. But I…” Albedo’s teal eyes swimmed with tears like green ocean waves. His voice choked. “I’d give anything just to speak with her again.”
So he’s alone like me. From her brief encounter with Rhinedottir in Khaenri’ah, Rhinedottir seemed cold and her experiments cruel. And I am as well. Lumine looked down. Even so, Albedo misses her. Does Aether feel the same about me?
“Ah, apologies.” Albedo rubbed his eyes with a fist. “I don’t normally lose my composure like that. Don’t know what came over me. Something about this place…” He shook his head. “And here I am talking about myself when you haven’t seen your brother 500 years. I can’t imagine how difficult that must be, given you have traveled worlds with Aether for presumably longer than my lifetime.” Albedo narrowed his eyes. “Actually, how do you travel between worlds? Aether refused to speak on the subject. Is it some device? An elemental power you share?”
Lumine’s lips quirked upwards. “Tell me, mortal. How does one transverse the skies?”
Albedo blinked. “For humans, transport balloons or…”
Eyes closed, Lumine pressed her hands over her chest. In a flash of light, six wings materialized behind her back. The sheer gold wings glittered like stars.
Gasping, Albedo’s eyes widened. Face alight, he beheld her wings in quiet awe like a child before a Christmas tree. “That’s… I… I have never beheld a more breathtaking sight in all my life.”
Lumine stilled. Her face warmed.
Albedo launched from his seat, hands out. “How do they function? What are they composed of?” His fingers brushed one of the wings.
Squealing, Lumine stepped back. Face aflame, Lumine grasped her shoulders. “Wh-what are you doing touching me?”
“I simply must investigate you. You can’t expect to show me such a wonder and not let me study it.” Frowning, Albedo held his chin and leaned to the side to see behind Lumine. “How peculiar. They aren’t even attached to the body.” Albedo reached out a hand.
Lumine fisted the front of Albedo’s shirt and pulled him close. Summoning a sword, she held the blade to his throat. Eyes narrowed, Lumine flared her nose. “Touch me again. I dare you.”
Eyes wide, Albedo slowly raised his hands. After a long moment, Lumine dematerialized her sword. Albedo lowered his hands, fingers brushing against her arm.
Growling, Lumine pinned Albedo to a wall, arm behind his back. She pressed him into the wall hard.
“Ugh! I-it was an accident, I swear. I didn’t intend—”
Lumine leaned in close. Purred in his ear. “Do you enjoy being touched against your will?”
Sweating, Albedo looked over his shoulder down at her. “T-technically you did dare me—”
Lumine wrenched on his arm.
“Ow, ow, ow, that’s my bad shoulder!” When Lumine eased up a smidge, Albedo panted hard. He wheezed a laugh. “I think I need a relationship guide book because I made a wrong turn here. Can we start over? If I cannot study your wings, may I sketch them?”
Sketch? I never been sketched before. Seems befitting for a princess such as myself. Brow raised, Lumine tilted her head to the side. “So you’ll behave now?”
“You have my word.”
After a moment, Lumine released him. Hissing, Albedo shook out his arm. Massaged his shoulder. He retrieved a quill and paper from the table, before sitting down. “All right, pose for me.”
Lumine stood stock still, expression etched in stone. She looked to the left, right, then at Albedo.
“Here, let me.” Albedo rounded the table and approached her. When Albedo raised his hands to position her, Lumine glared. “Right, right.” Albedo turned to the side, hands crossed over his chest. He stooped over slightly, head bowed and bangs falling forward. “Try this, please.”
After a second, Lumine mimicked him. Her wings glowed in the dark cavern. “Good, thank you.”
As Albedo sketched, Lumine watched him in the corner of her eye. The basic form of her body came to life on the page. He’s surprisingly skilled. She studied Albedo’s features. His thin noble nose and high cheekbones. The light playing across his pale skin and setting his flaxen hair aglow. Eyes narrowed, Albedo leaned in as he stroked the quill across the page. His nose crinkled. Then he leaned back, smiling. How cute. Kreideprinz, right? He really does look like a prince. We would look good together standing side by side as prince and princess. Lumine tensed. Stop. Remember why he’s here. She glanced at Albedo’s soulmate mark. Her whole face heated up.
Albedo pouted. “Why are you scowling? Where did your beautiful smile go?”
“Sh-shut up and draw.”
“As you wish, Princess Lumine.”
Huffing, Lumine looked away. The scritching of a quill against a page filled the room. The will-o-wisps bobbed in the air like dust mites in sunlight. Their light ebbed and waned. Lumine breathed in the smell of old books.
After a while, Lumine broke the silence. “Since Rhinedottir left, have you grown as a person?”
Albedo blinked. “I’d say so, yes. Under her tutelage, I was discouraged from forming bonds with humans, and, admittedly, I saw little value in doing so. But such has changed. I have a sister in Klee, a home in Mondstadt, and a friend in your brother.”
Lumine lowered her head. “I see.”
“Even so, I don’t understand why she had to leave.”
Lumine froze.
Not looking up, Albedo continued drawing and speaking. “Why did she feel the need to withdraw completely, severing our relationship? Even if she wanted me to find my own wings, so to speak, I still long for her presence. To share the events and discoveries of the day with her. To…” Eyes misting, Albedo lowered the page. His voice quieted. “To behold the sunset together, eat a good meal, and share stories long into the night. After all, we’re still a kind of family, aren’t we?”
“That sounds…” Lumine’s gaze clouded over. Memories of beholding a sunset on a planet with a binary star system. Standing next to Aether as the wind whipped through their hair. The whole sky appeared as if aflame but Lumine recalled how brightly Aether smiled the best. And yet her most recent memory of Aether was his face twisting with horror when he discovered the suffering hilichurls in the Chasm. He must think I’m a monster.
Jaw set, Lumine clutched her dress. “I am not the person I once was. Aether wouldn’t want to see me like this.”
Frowning, Albedo opened his mouth, about to speak. He rose, only to stumble back onto his seat. Grimacing, Albedo held his head. “Why do I feel so… drained? Earlier I had that swell of emotion as well…”
Lumine kept her gaze forward. This is the Abyss. A chaotic space, where even time is warped. A month spent here is only a week for Teyvat. No human can withstand the corruption here. Eventually, it will drive them mad. And my purification effects from being in my presence can only last for so long. Lumine shook her head. It’s not my concern.
Dematerializing her wings, Lumine straightened. She strode towards the wall where an opening appeared.
Albedo raised a hand. “Wait, I haven’t finished my portrait.”
“I have a kingdom to restore.” Lumine stepped aside to show a small room. A bed against a wall. “Rest here. Attached is a restroom. Food will be provided shortly. I expect a report on your progress at translating the books when I check on you weekly.”
Albedo paused. Then, expression blank, he set aside the drawing. “Understood.”
Lumine’s chest clenched. She summoned another opening and walked through, leaving him behind.
In the weeks that followed, Lumine found herself stopping by the library a few times a week, whenever she had spare time. Given the vast number of books and their slow pace, translating any significant amount would take months. To keep Albedo sane, Lumine gave him Liyue and Inazuma novels to read and supplied him with paints. It made Lumine chuckle every time she visited and saw there were more easels with paintings of her. However, Lumine drew the line at giving him alchemy supplies. She didn’t need him trying to cook up escape routes. After helping him translate, Albedo would often wheedle her into joining him for dessert. Over cake, he’d share about his life in Mondstadt and current research topics.
One afternoon several weeks after their first meeting, Lumine approached Albedo in the library. Breaking from translating, he was touching up a sketch. Albedo didn’t look up at her entrance. Lumine frowned. Just like Aether ignoring me after I win an argument. Lips quirking upwards, Lumine pressed a finger to Albedo’s cheek, turning his head.
Albedo raised a brow. “Do you mind?”
“I don’t, do you?” She squished his cheeks. “Ooh, they’re soft. Like really, really soft.”
“I’m glad you’re amused.”
Lumine smirked. “Yes, keep me amused and I may yet let you live.”
“How generous, my liege.”
Chuckling, Lumine sat on the edge of the table. Glimpsed Albedo’s drawing. In it, Lumine soared through a boundless expanse of sky, her wings sparkling. Face flushed, she beamed wide. Lumine looked away.
Heaving a sigh, Albedo set aside the sketch. “My apologies but I haven’t quite finished this week’s written report. While alchemic books still elude me, I have amassed quite a bit of knowledge on their traditions and cultural values and—” Albedo swayed in his seat. He rubbed his forehead. “Sorry. These bouts of fatigue are weighing heavily on me. And now I’m regularly hearing voices in my head.”
Lumine fought to keep her voice neutral. “It’s the Abyss. It has that effect on people who aren’t corrupted.” As I thought, my purifying aura may be slowing down the rate he’s affected, but it’s not… Nothing is going to stop it.
“I figured as much. Ugh.” Albedo held his head in his hands.
Lumine placed a hand on his shoulder. “Take a break. Sleep. I’ll come back tomorrow.” She pushed herself off the table.
Albedo grabbed her wrist. “Wait, please.” Eyes wide, Lumine turned back. His teal gaze smoldered, boring into her. “Please stay a little longer. I don’t want you to go.”
Lips parted, Lumine stared at him.
“Perhaps you could tell me stories of other worlds? Or… or not.” Sighing, Albedo let Lumine go, his hand sliding down hers. “Never mind.”
Huffing, Lumine tossed her hair. “For a little bit. Only if you promise to rest afterwards.”
Albedo flashed a smile.
“And even though Aether and I usually act as mere observers of worlds, we couldn’t let the bandits sell off the innkeeper’s wedding ring. Not after she had been kind enough to help treat Aether’s wounds.” Tense, Lumine smoothed out her lap. Facing so many thieves I was nearly injured myself. I always counted on Aether to watch my left but he was gone…
Exhaling, Lumine gazed out across the room. The circular king-sized bed protruded into the middle of the small room. Above their heads a will-o-wisp candelabra hung amidst a painted starry galaxy. Along one wall a preserved mural showed the Khaenri’ah throne room.
Lumine looked to her left. Albedo lay on his back beneath the gold trimmed red covers. He had doffed his coat, gloves, boots, and socks, leaving him in his indigo shirt and shorts. Albedo rested his arms across his abdomen above the blanket. Lumine sat by his head with her feet tucked underneath her dress. Despite using her purification powers, Albedo’s lucidness was touch and go. “What about you? What was traveling with Rhinedottir like?”
Humming, Albedo gazed at the ceiling. “She was… a cold woman. Strict. Kept her distance. Even so, I have many fond memories adventuring through domains with her.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Love, huh?”
Brow raised, Lumine glanced down at him. The will-o-wisp light ebbed. After a long moment, Albedo spoke, his voice low. “Master had a habit of playing with men. Anyone that captured her interest, she’d egg them on, then leave them broken like a discarded toy. Looking back, I wonder if she lost her soulmate in Khaenri’ah. One time I interfered when someone flirted with her. Master called me a stick-in-the-mud and left me for a year, telling me to learn more about human relationships and leave her be.”
Lumine mouthed a “wow.”
“At the time, I hadn’t any interest in humanity. So I couldn’t fathom what drew Master to others. People in Teyvat have soulmates they dedicate themselves to, but I alone had none. The only relationship I valued was with Master and she…” Albedo swallowed thickly. “She left me for strangers she was only going to dispose of. Desperate to understand, to feel something, I gave myself away to someone. But afterwards I only felt… dirty. Worthless. I had never felt more isolated and alien compared to everyone else.” Albedo lapsed into silence. Frowning, Albedo nodded to himself a couple of times, thinking. “That was… that was one of the lowest moments in my life. Never told anyone about that time before. Hmm. I don’t know why I thought of it now.”
It's the Abyss. It brings your darkest memories to the forefront. Lumine gazed down at Albedo’s pale, wan face. His unbraided hair fanned out across the pillow. Without his usual coat and his bare arms, Albedo looked like a shell of himself.
Voice soft, Lumine cupped his cheek. “As creation and son of Rhinedottir, a citizen of Khaenri’ah, you, too, are one of my subjects. And as your princess, I will not abandon you.”
Albedo clasped her hand. Kissed her knuckles. “Mm, my princess angel.”
“I’m… I’m surprised you’re not calling me your captor.”
Albedo beamed up at her. “Yes, you’ve captured me in more ways than one.”
Lumine’s breath caught. Face flaming, she opened and closed her mouth like a guppy fish. “I… I…”
“Ahaha… haha… ah…” Wincing, Albedo settled back against the pillows. Sweat slid down his face. His breathing became more labored.
Fists balled, Lumine clenched her jaw. Curse the Abyss. If only… wait.
“Close your eyes, Albedo.”
Tensing, Albedo flushed. “Wh-why?”
“Be silent. Listen to my orders,” breathed Lumine, brushing back his bangs. After a moment, Albedo closed his eyes.
Lumine drew close. Brushed their foreheads together. Inhaling and exhaling, they breathed the same air. Lumine touched his star mark on his neck. Albedo shivered. Their lips hovered each other a hairsbreadth apart.
Wrapping her arms around him, Lumine summoned her Abyss magic. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward.
With her Abyss magic, Lumine transported her and Albedo to Starsnatch Cliff. Lumine stepped back, releasing her embrace. “Open your eyes.”
Albedo complied. He gasped, eyes going wide. “This…” He spun around slowly, absorbing the sight. The ocean lay before them in an endless glistening expanse. Ripples lapped against a sandy beach far below. Rolling hills and plains were dotted with trees, lakes, and crystalflies. In the distance, they could glimpse the red-tiled roofs and windmills of Mondstadt. Birdsong filled the air. Trees rustled.
Albedo blinked owlishly, as if waking from a trance. He stumbled forward a few steps. Sank to his knees. Eyes closed, he breathed in the fresh air.
Lumine stooped to pick up a cecilia. She wandered off a ways, amassing a bouquet of cecilias as she went. She looked back at Albedo. Frowning, he ran a finger across his lips. “How are you feeling?” asked Lumine.
“The… the voices stopped. They’re always whisper things like, ‘Master abandoned you because she hates you.’ ‘No one cares about a fake human.’ ‘You’re a freak.’” Albedo took a shuddering breath. “It’s not true. It’s not…”
Lumine studied him. Albedo’s clothes hung off of his thin frame like he had lost weight. He looked so slight against the vast greenery and ocean. She trudged up the cliff to stand before him. Dazed, Albedo blankly gazed off into the distance. Then when the wind billowed her hair, Albedo reached out and caught a strand. “Your hair. May I braid it?”
Braid? A stab of pain went through her chest. Aether used to… Albedo gazed evenly up at her, his face wide-eyed and open. “If… if you insist.”
Lumine sat down before Albedo, back to him. She placed the cecilia pile on the ground and pulled the scarf’s ends in front of her shoulder, out of the way. Face heated, Lumine played with her hands. She gasped at Albedo gathering her hair. In lieu of a hairbrush, Albedo ran his fingers through her long tresses. He started at the bottom, before working his way upwards.
Lulled by Albedo’s brushing, Lumine closed her eyes. She breathed in the breeze which smelled of Albedo’s earthy scent. Soaked in the sun’s rays. Exhaled. When Albedo leaned in close to part her hair, Lumine tensed. Her heart pounded. Albedo’s breath warmed her head. Lumine could feel his gentle tugs on her hair. She shivered. Felt goosebumps head to toe.
Albedo sighed. After undoing the braid, he threaded his fingers through her hair. “Sorry.” Lumine shook her head slightly. Once again as Albedo started from the top, Lumine felt the light pulling against her scalp. Eyes closed, Lumine inhaled a shaky breath. She kept them closed as he worked, trying to focus on the wind and sun to steady her heartbeat.
Albedo tied Lumine’s braid off with his own hair tie from his shorts pocket. “There.”
Lumine set her braid over her shoulder to view it. Gasped. Albedo had woven a trail of cecilias in it. A memory rushed at Lumine. The starry night sky. Aether’s smiling face as he set Khaenri’ah’s Inteyvats in her hair. “There. That looks lovely on you. Call me surprised,” he laughed, then stuck out his tongue.
Lumine’s jaw quivered. Teeth gritted, Lumine clutched her braid to her chest. “I miss him. I miss him so much…!”
Albedo wrapped his arms around Lumine’s waist. Buried his face in her shoulder. “I know. I…” His voice hitched. “I miss Master too.”
Biting her lip, Lumine bowled over slightly. She hugged the braid to her chest like a lifeline. Albedo held her tighter. Eyes screwed shut, Lumine inhaled and exhaled deeply. The wind carried the sweet smell of grass.
Albedo sagged heavily against Lumine like dead weight. Frowning, Lumine glanced back at him. Brows furrowed, Albedo had his eyes shut. He breathed unevenly.
Humming, Lumine gazed out across the horizon. The snowy peak of Dragonspine lay in the distance. Lumine fingered her flower braid. She looked over her shoulder at Albedo. He shifted, revealing the star-shaped soulmate mark on his neck. Lumine swallowed. Looking forward, Lumine intoned, “Time to go back.”
“Hm? Mm.” Albedo nodded into her shoulder.
Lumine stroked a thumb over Albedo’s hand. Squeezed it. I can’t lose you, too.
In the Abyss, Albedo all but collapsed on the bed. He barely crawled beneath the covers before falling asleep. Lumine headed towards the exit.
“Lumine.”
Albedo rolled onto his side. His hair silky flaxen hair spilled across his cheek. Teal eyes glowed in the low light of the will-o-wisps. His soft voice carried in the small room. “Thank you for today. Aether confessed he was worried the Abyss had changed you. But now I see you haven’t lost to the Abyss. Shown me you’re the kind Lumine Aether always talked about.” He smiled as warmly as butter melting on toast. “I can see why your brother loves you so dearly.”
Lumine opened her mouth, but her throat had completely closed. Her hands shook. Eyes burned. What is this? What is this effect he has on me? I haven’t felt like crying in centuries.
Albedo shifted on the bed before settling in and holding the pillow with one arm. “Will you be back tomorrow? Tell me more stories?”
“I…” Lumine swallowed hard. “Yes. No. I don’t know. Goodbye.” She summoned the exit in the wall and fled through it. Using her magic, she sealed the entrance. Panting hard, Lumine rested against the wall. Clenched and unclenched her fists. Lumine enchanted the exit with a spell, locking Albedo in. Exhaling, Lumine closed her eyes. Craned her head back.
How can you say that when I’m imprisoning you here?
Chest tight, Lumine ran through the hallways of the Abyss. It’s been too long since I checked on Albedo. After taking him to Starsnatch Cliff, Lumine visited Albedo on a nearly daily basis, helping him translate. But as time passed, Albedo withdrew from her. Some days he’d lie in bed, exhausted and barely responding to her stories. Other times, Albedo was too restless to translate. He’d stagger and pace, muttering to himself, and swat her away whenever Lumine tried to touch him. When one of her Harbingers had a breakthrough on breaking the curse, Lumine hadn’t checked on him in two weeks. Her heart pounded. Please, be all right.
Lumine spoke the spell and burst into the library. She froze.
Books had been thrown on the floor, their pages ripped out and scattered everywhere. Tables and stone benches lay overturned. Candelabras smashed. One painting of Lumine looked like Albedo had clawed and ripped it. The rest lay on the ground, paint smeared on the stone. Hands to his head, Albedo stumbled about, stooped over.
Seeing Albedo staggering sent Lumine flashbacking. Hilichurls writhing in the Chasm because of her amplification device. Inhaling, Lumine shook her head. She rushed towards him. “Albedo? Albedo, what’s wrong?”
Albedo’s disheveled clothes hung off him. One side of his braid had come undone, his hair hanging down. Sweat and tear tracks ran down his face. “I’m worthless. I’m just some synthetic creature with no soulmate mark or soul. Worthless, worthless, worthless…!”
“Albedo, don’t listen to the voices. Listen to me. It’s me, Lumine.” She reached out a hand for his shoulder to purify him, but Albedo twisted away.
“I’m a monster.” Teeth bared, Albedo dug his fingers into his scalp. “Master is gone and no one can love me. No one will love me. I’m forever going to be alone.” Swaying, Albedo sank to his knees. His panting reached a hyperventilating rate. Fisting his hair, he pulled it.
“Albedo. Albedo, stop! That’s enough.” Lumine knelt before him. Gently but firmly pried his hands away from his head. Albedo flinched back. Lumine held his jaw and turned him towards her. “Look. It’s me, Lumine.”
Albedo stilled. “Lu… Lumine?” Tears welled in his eyes. His whole body trembled. Hiccupping, Albedo embraced Lumine, head resting beneath her chin. “The… the voices. They don’t stop no matter what I do. I can’t…” He clutched her back. “Make them stop. Please!”
“I-I’m trying! I’ve been trying for weeks but my purifying powers aren’t as strong as Aether’s.”
Albedo clenched her tighter. Voice raw, Albedo cried, “Do something, please! I can’t go on like this.”
“I’m doing all that I—!”
Albedo’s words from earlier flashed through her mind. “No, not if it meant prolonging Klee’s suffering. And… even if she would survive, how could I call myself her brother when I hurt her?”
Lumine went cold.
“I can’t…! I…” Bowling over, Albedo’s head touched Lumine’s lap. His shoulders shook. Head bowed, Lumine’s bangs overshadowed her eyes. Albedo’s shuddering breaths and cries echoed in the cavern.
Albedo in her arms, Lumine stepped through a portal to Windrise. Lumine sat before a rock and carefully laid Albedo down, his head on her lap. He slept, having been rendered unconscious by Lumine’s Abyss magic. Exhaling, Lumine looked away. Gazed out at the view.
A few sisters of the church and researchers were visiting the tree, so Lumine teleported to a cliff some distance away. The Windrise tree’s giant canopy overlooked the rolling plain and river. Cliffs and Dragonspine bordered the valley. Swans honked. Windwheel asters spun in the gentle breeze.
Lumine rested a hand over Albedo’s chest, purifying him. Between my aura and the natural purity of Windrise, he should soon be cleansed of all corruption. Albedo looked so pale against Lumine’s dark dress. With a hand, Lumine brushed away the tear tracts and sweat. Ran her fingers through his hair before fixing his braid.
Albedo opened his eyes. “Mm? Where…?” Wincing, Albedo sat up. “Windrise? How?”
Looking away, Lumine tucked her hair behind an ear. “Can you tell me your name?”
Groggy, Albedo blinked. “Al… Albedo. Chief Alchemist of the Knights of Favonius.”
“What do you remember last?”
“I… I remember listening to your stories. Worrying about you when you were absent for such an extended period. And oh. The voices. They—” Albedo shuddered.
“Don’t push yourself. How do you feel now?”
Brow wrinkled, Albedo looked out across the valley. Snapdragon petals fluttered in the breeze. Birds tweeted. Orange and pink of the setting sun blazed across the sky like a cozy fireplace. Large cumulus clouds, tinted pink from the sunset, slowly ambled across the sky. Exhaling, Albedo rested against the rock. Closed his eyes. “Quiet. It’s quiet.” A faint smile ghosted over his lips.
I see. Head bowed, Lumine played with her scarf around her neck. She inhaled a shaky breath. “Here.”
“Hm?”
Lumine summoned Albedo’s sword and Vision and laid them in his lap. Eyes narrowed, Albedo dematerialized his sword and affixed his Vision to his front. “What does this mean—?”
“Hold still.”
Leaning in close, Lumine brushed a finger across Albedo’s star mark on his neck. Murmured a spell. A blueish purple mark in the shape of a diamond appeared. “You have a soulmate mark. It’s overtop your artificial pontil mark. Rhinedottir cast illusion magic over it to keep you in the dark.”
Gasping, Albedo’s eyes went wide. “R-really?”
Lumine exhaled a laugh. “Yes, Albedo, you’re not some monster. There is someone out there you are meant to love and someone who would love you. But having said that…” Lumine stood up. The wind billowed her long hair and scarf as she gazed into the distance. “Everyone knows full well not all soulmates are happy. Some choose selfishly or cheat. Others die early. Even if you can’t find your soulmate, you can still lead a happy and fulfilling life with Klee and the Knights.” Meeting his gaze, Lumine placed a hand over her chest. “I promised I wouldn’t abandon you and I won’t. If you need me, I’ll be there. If you’re in danger, call my name. And should I find Rhinedottir, I’ll contact you. I know you can’t forgive me but…” Bangs hid her face from view as Lumine turned away. She breathed, “I’m sorry, Albedo.”
Albedo lunged forward. Tugged on her scarf. Swaying, Albedo caught himself by getting on one knee.
Frowning, Lumine turned back. “What are you…?” She gasped. Albedo had pulled her scarf down, revealing her soulmate mark on her neck.
Eyes alight, Albedo laughed. “I knew it. If I had one, it had to be you.”
Lumine’s eyes burned. “I shouldn’t ask but… is there even a fraction of a fraction of a percent that you love me?”
“No. No, there isn’t.”
Lumine bowed her head. Swallowed thickly.
“You see, absolutes in nature are rare or so someone told me.” Albedo held Lumine’s hand, and, not breaking eye contact, pressed a kiss to her knuckles. He smiled up at her. “Even so, there’s a 100% chance that I love you.”
Face crimson, Lumine covered her mouth with a hand. “Y-you…! How dare you toy with me, a princess, like that, you—”
Laughing, Albedo tugged on her hand. She readily fell into his arms, knocking them back against the rock. Lumine wrapped her arms around Albedo’s neck. Joined her lips to his. Eyes closed, Albedo cradled her face, returning her kisses. Panting slightly, they broke apart. Brushed foreheads together.
Chuckling, Albedo stroked a thumb across Lumine’s cheek. “There’s that beautiful smile I was looking for.”
Lumine huffed, billowing Albedo’s bangs. “Must you always be so coy?”
“Would you have me any other way, Princess?”
Rolling her eyes, Lumine shook her head. Captured that smirk of his with a few more kisses.
When they withdrew, Albedo had a grave set to his jaw. “Will you go see Aether?”
“I… I’ll give it some thought. Right now…” Lumine sat next to Albedo, resting her head on his shoulder. As the sunlight faded, the wind turned cool. Birdsong faded into crickets chirping. Fireflies glowed and danced like a living, moving sea of stars.
I just want to be with the one I love.
Far above their heads, the first stars started to twinkle.