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"Lumine..."
Why?
"Lu...Lumine..."
What did I do to deserve this?
"Lu...Lumi...Lumine...why?"
"I'm sorry Aether. I can't let this go on. It had to be done."
Aether looked at her with dead eyes. Every sparkle of life had dissapeared. He looked down at himself. He looked down at the sword that pierced right through his chest.
The Traveler coughed. His hand touched his lips and pulled back. They were covered in crimson blood.
He coughed again, blood flowing from his mouth and trailing down his chin.
"Why?" Aether whispered one last thing before he crashed down onto the battlefield, blood pooling underneath him at an alarming pace.
Behind him, a certain Adeptus watched in horror. His eyes grew in shock as anger consumed him.
"Aether!" Xiao yelled
It was a very peaceful day in Liyue. The sun was shining high in sky. There wasn't a single cloud. A soft breeze went through the beautiful landscape of the region.
The Traveler was at Wangshu Inn, enjoying a pleasant day off. He and Paimon had finally come around to it. And especially after an Invitation from Verr Goldet to try the new menu.
Aether could feel a pair of eyes on him. A soft smile appeared on his face as he exactly knew who they belonged to. He took another bite of the improved recipe for Almond Tofu.
"Xiao, please come try this. It's amazing!" Aether called up to the roof, where a familiar face appeared just a moment later.
"Hmpf. Only because you asked." Xiao answered, face expresionless. He jumped from the roof and landed next to The Traveler.
The blonde patted the seat right next to him. He grabbed a bit of Almond Tofu and held it out for the Adeptus to try.
Xiao sighed but took the bite. A pleasant look popped onto his face. Aether couldn't help but chuckle.
The many wonderful dishes that were brought out slowly began to dissapear. The two ate to their hearts content until everything was gone.
Bot the Traveler and Adeptus ended up by the railing. They were shoulder to shoulder, watching as the sun began its descend down the horizon.
Aether was humming a sing he loved, while Xiao was listening carefully. Not a word needed to be said between the two. They naturally fit together perfectly.
"Its a wonderful evening." The blonde said as the sky turned into various pinks and oranges. He looked up at Xiao, who merely nodded.
The blonde bit the inside of his cheek. He felt a little dearing. He slowly raised his hands and wrapped them around Xiao's arms, huffing it tightly. As Aether noticed Xiao wasn't pulling back, he took it a step further. He slowly laid his head down on Xiao's shoulder, a content hum leaving his lips.
The Adaptus could feel a blush creeping onto his cheeks as he watched the Traveler wrap his hands around his arm. A deeper blush appeared on his cheeks as he felt Aether's head on his shoulder.
The Adeptus was bad at expressing emotions, but even he knew what they were becoming. He know how close they were, far closer than any pair of 'friends' he had seen. He felt a warmth enter his body. Xiao watched Aether for a moment before he laid his head to rest against Aether's.
The two stayed in that position while they watched the sunset. The sun was almost down when Xiao turned his head a bit to address the Traveler.
"Aether, I..." The Adeptus started but was interrupted with a loud explosion and screaming coming from Liyue Harbor.
The two looked at eachother, nodded, and immediately left for the Harbor.
The scene before them was awful.
No, horrifying.
The Traveler and the Adeptus arrived quickly, Xiao having taken both on them on the wind.
They arrived in an almost destroyed Liyue Harbor. Buildings were being burned to the ground. People were screaming everywhere, running for their life. The Millileth was all around them, fighting monsters and Fatui.
But the most heartbreaking part? Many of the Millileth and inhabitants of Liyue Harbor were on the ground, either dead or wounded.
Aether was shocked. Nobody could have expected this. How did this happen? Why was there an suprise attack of this might?
"Traveler!" A voice called out. The blonde looked up and was mere seconds away from being decapitated had it not been for Xiao warning him. He quickly nodded at the Adeptus, thanking him before they both ran off to fight.
The Traveler summoned his sword and began to hack and slash all the monsters around him. To his surpise, the blonde had a hard time defeating the enemies crowding him. It seemed like they were stronger, far stronger than before.
Aether looked around him after he had killed the few monsters around him. Fear and anger consumed his body as he saw what was happening around him. This wasn't just a suprise attack. This was a war.
The Traveler looked around and quickly spotted two familiar faces. It was Zhongli and Ningguang. The two were fighting side by side against multiple Black Serpent Knights and Fatui Mages.
Aether fought his way by there side. He quickly killed every enemy on his way to them.
"Mr. Zhongli! Lady Ningguang! What happened?" He called out as he obliterated the monsters around him.
"We don't know. Suddenly there were explosions and the whole of Liyue Harbor was overrun by monsters." Lady Ningguang explained as she swiftly defeated some Fatui Mages.
Zhongli spared the Traveler a quick glance before he slashed a Black Serpent Knight with his spear. "An declaration of war by the Abyss Order." The former Archon added.
The Traveler looked at the Archon in shock. "The Abyss order? Does...does that mean that she is here? My sister?" Aether asked, hope in his tone.
Zhongli quickly got rid of another Fatui Mage. "I don't know. I'm sorry Aether. We were discussing something before we were attacked." He answered before focusing back on the fight.
The Traveler nodded. He turned to the side when he heard growling. The blonde immediately went back to fighting. Together with the Geo Archon and Lady Ningguang, they were quick to defeat the enemies on their side.
Aether quickly assessed the situation. The enemies were finally starting to lower in numbers.
"Go on!" Lady Ningguang started. "Go to the others side and help there!" She added.
Aether quickly nodded and ran off, making sure to kill every enemy in the way.
Xiao had dissapeared onto the opposite direction of his Traveler. He hadn't seen war like this in a very long time. Together with his trusty spear in hand, he began his fight.
The Adeptus immediately noticed how the enemies were far stronger. They actually gave him a challenge this time around. The Adeptus made sure to kill every enemy on his way to Ganyu and Shenhe, who were also fighting side by side.
Not a single word left his mouth as he began to clean out the area. Xiao didn't know how long he had been fighting for. Slow minutes turned into excruciating hours. The Yaksha could feel himself getting exhausted. This was getting to much.
A sudden blow to his back made the Yasksha cry out in pain. In his exhaustion, a Mitachurl had been able to sneak up to him and strike him in the back with its shield.
Xiao jumped up in anger and stabbed his spear right through the eyes of the Mitachurl. The Adaptus stared in the distance as the monster turned to dust right in front of him.
Coming his way was an army of Fatui Agents, Mages and Harbingers. A horde of Black Serpent Knights and different other monsters, like Hilichurls and slimes were following.
Right in front was a blonde girl accompanied by two Abyss Lectors. Xiao Immediately recognized the girl in front. There was no mistaking it. This had to be Lumine, Aether's sister.
Lumine stopped a few faces from everyone. She had a deadly glare in her eyes. The girl pointed her sword To the sky and screamed a dreaded word.
'Attack.'
The Adeptus growled and grabbed his spear. This was bad, really bad.
The Abyss Lectors were the first enemies he encountered. The two Lectos immediately began to attack Xiao from every advantage point they could find. The young Adeptus was quick to finish one of them off, but to no avail. Two new Abyss Heralds appeared and slashed at his leg and back, making the young a
Adeptus fall to the ground in pain.
Xiao groaned out in pain as he felt the wounds on his body. He grit his teeth together and planted his spear on the ground. The Adeptus used the ground to slowly try and stand up.
The Yaksha was able to turn his body to stand up, only to be met with a terrifying sight. Before him, mere inches from his body, was Lumine. She had a look of absolute rage in her eyes. Her sword was raised high up in the sky.
And that was the moment Xiao knew.
This would be his end.
The young Yaksha closed his eyes and prepared himself for the blow.
"I'm so sorry Aether." He whispered for the sky to hear, awaiting a blow that never came.
Xiao opened his eyes slowly, onky to be met with a sight that would crush him.
Aether stood before him with a sword planted deep inside his body.
Aether had been running. He had been running and fighting for his life. Monsters left and right were being killed by his sword.
He had only one goal in mind. He had to find Xiao and make sure he was okay.
The number of monsters and Fatui was slowly but surely going down. In many of the places of Liyue Harbor, uninjured soldiers or townsfolk where helping the survivors. Aether couldn't help but feel a little happy that the people were so quick to help eachother.
As the blonde made his way to Yujing Terrace, a terrifying sight met him. He could see a horde of Fatui, Hilichurls and other monsters make their way to a certain Adeptus.
The Traveler watched as the Abbyss Heralds attacked Xiao. He watched as Xiao managed to defeat one, only to be attacked by two Abyss Heralds. He watched as the enemies from the Abbyss where able to overpower Xiao.
Aether's heart pounded in fear as his sister suddenly appeared before Xiao, sword raised up high. He watched as he saw Xiao'sfacee change. How he was accepting his fate, accepting his death.
With every last ounce of power left inside of him, Aether sped up. He needed to reach them before Xiao could be killed. He watched as time seemed to slow down as he ran over.
Aether watched as Lumine started to bring her sword down to strike Xiao. Right before she could hit him, the blonde jumped before his Xiao. A pained gasp left his lips as he felt the sword pierce his chest and come out his back.
Aether slowly looked up at his sister, who had a satisfied smirk on her face.
"Lumine..."
Why?
"Lu...Lumine..."
What did I do to deserve this?
"Lu...Lumi...Lumine...why?"
"I'm sorry Aether. I can't let this go on. It had to be done." Lumine had answered. There didn't seem to be an ounce of regret in her voice.
Aether couldn't help but stare at the person who was once his sister. His heart broke in a million pieces at that moment. Life and hope vanished from his eyes.
Everything had been for nothing.
He looked down at himself. He looked down at the sword that pierced right through his chest.
The Traveler coughed. His hand touched his lips and pulled back. They were covered in crimson blood.
He coughed again, blood flowing from his mouth and trailing down his chin.
"Why?" Aether whispered one last time before be fell to his knees.
The blonde watched as his sister took a step towards him. The tip of her finger touched the sword, pushing it as deep inside of him as she could.
Aether screamed one last time before he collapsed onto his side, sword still deep inside of him.
"Goodbye, Aether." She said gently. She grabbed the sword tight in her hand and pulled it out of her brother. She turned back to her Abbyss Heralds and Lectors.
"Come. Our job here is done. The monsters will handle this." She said and snapped her fingers, dissapearing away from them.
Xiao couldn't help but stare in horror at what was happening.
His Aether, his Traveler, had sacrificed himself for him. His Traveler had saved him from death.
The Adeptus could hear his ears ringing. Anger and fear took over every part of his body as he watched. Xiao could only focus on the twins before him. He couldn't hear or see anything else. He couldn't even see Shenhe and Ganyu fighting around them to protect them. His focus was only on Aether, who had now collapsed before him in a bloody mess.
"Aether!" Xiao screamed and stumbled to the fallen warrior's side. He gently lifted the blonde's head and slid his lap underneath to provide some comfort from the cold, harsh ground. Cold, harsh rain began to fall from the sky. As if it was crying
Xiao watched in fear as Traveler's blood began to pool everywhere. Aether couldn't survive this. There was a gaping wound in his chest. Xiao bit his cheek and moved his hands to press against the wound, hoping to slow down the blood flow, but a shaking hand stopped him.
The young Adeptus slowly moved his head. His Aether was looking at him, a soft look in his eyes.
"It's no use, Xiao." The Traveler whispered.
Xiao shook his head. "No...no...Stay with me Aether." He mumbled and pressed his hands over the wound.
Aether groaned in pain as he felt Xiao's hands. His eyes flicked down to his chest. Blood was flowing all over Xiao's hands. Aether could see how harshly they were trembling, trying to stop the blood.
The blonde could feel something wet land on his cheek. His eyes looked back up again. To his shock, it wasn't rain that had fallen on his cheek. It was a tear. Xiao was above him, sobbing his eyes out.
A sweet smile appeared om his face once more. A slow, bloody hand reached up and cupped Xiao's cheek, pulling the boy from his panicked haze.
"Xiao...Why are you crying?" He asked gently.
Xiao didn't answer. His sobbing only got worse. The teats trailed from cheeks to his chin, before dripping on Aether's cheeks.
"Please don't waste your tears on me. I don't deserve them." Aether added. That made Xiao only cry harder and harder.
Xiao again didn't answer. He pulled Aether up and pressed his face to his chest, sobbing his heart out.
"Xiao...please don't cry. I don't want this to be the last memory of us." Aether whispered. His voice was growing slow and sluggish. More blood trailed down his chin.
"Xiao...please say something." Aether whispered. He needed to hear him one last time.
Xiao was still a crying mess. "Don't leave me. Please. I cannot live without you." The Adeptus whispered.
A soft chuckle followed by a wet cough came from the Traveler. "Xiao..." he whispered but Xiao silenced him.
"Please Aether. I can't. Don't leave me out here alone. I cannot live without you. Please, take me with you if you cannot stay, but don't leave me alone." Xiao cried openly. His sobbing and crying almost made him not understandable to the others around him, but Aether could hear him just fine.
"Xiao...please take care of Paimon for me? She won't be okay without me. But I know you'll take care of her." The blonde whispered, Speech slurring terribly.
Xiao nodded. "I'd do everything for you. Please don't go." He cried and cried.
A new smile appeared on Aether's face. One that was only for Xiao. It was filled with as much love and warmth he could muster.
"...I.....Love.....You.....Xiao..."
Aether said before his body fell lfellin Xiao's arms. The light left his eyes as they fell shut to the world.
A scream of heartbreak left Xiao. He screamed and screamed to the Skies above. He begged and pleaded for his Aether back. All he could feel was anguish. He buried his head back in Aether's chest and cried for his lost love.
Unknown to Xiao, everyone had gathered around the duo. Shenhe sitting on her knees next to Xiao. In her hand was an umbrella given to her by Ganyu. She had opened it and held it up over the two, shielding them from the rain.
Ganyu was standing before them. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she held her bow in hand, protecting them.
Zhongli stood by Xiao's side. He had a solemn look on his face. His head was bowed in mourning.
Ningguang was there as well. She stood a bit off the side. Her head was looking at all the damage and death. A peculiar duo suddenly grabbed her attention.
A certain doctor and zombie appeared from the stairs of Bubu pharmacy. Baizhu was being dragged by the little Qiqi, making sure the zombie knew he was confused as to where they were going. The little zombie didn't say a word until they arrived by the Traveler's side.
Baizhu stared in shock at the Traveler in Xiao's arm. A shaking hand covered his heart.
"Oh my. Poor Traveler." Baizhu whispered, but was interrupted by Qiqi.
"Still alive..." He said quietly. The young zombie immediately grabbed everyone's attention, except from Xiao, who was still grieving audibly.
"What?" Baizhu said, in fear he hadn't heard her correctly.
"Still alive...barely." Qiqi said and placed a gentle hand in the Traveler, trying her best to heal him with what she could.
Baizhu immediately sank down and grabbed the blonde's wrist, despite Xiao's protest, and kept silent. Qiqi was right. There it was. A very slow, irregular hearybeat.
"Qiqi is right. We need to get him to the pharmacy. Now!" Baizhu said. He tried to take Aether from Xiao, but was met with a Heartbroken Adeptus clutching the big tighter to himself.
Xiao hadn't heard anything from the conversation before. "Don't you dare touch him." He growled, teats still steadily trailing down his cheeks.
Baizhu held up his hands. "Adeptus Xiao. Aether is still alive. We can save him." The doctor explained.
A wet laugh left Xiao's lips. "You discovered my weakness already. No need to lie to me to kill me. Let me join him in death, for I could finally be happy with the one I love." Xiao said, voice completely emotionless.
Baizhu looked pained. The Yaksha looked really broken. The doctor gently grabbed Xiao's hand and guided his fingers to where they could feel The Traveler's heartbeat.
"Feel." The green-haired man ordered gently and pressed Xiao's fingers to the pulse point. Agonizing seconds passed until the Adeptus could indeed feel a fsint heartbeat.
"A...Aether..." Xiao called out gently. The Traveler was whisked from his grasp by Baizhu, who sped off with the blonde to his pharmacy.
Xiao wanted to get up and follow. He tried to lift himself, but couldn't. The battle and losing Aether had drained every ounce of energy he had. A pair of strong hand grabbed his arm and helped him up.
The Adeptus slowly turned his head to look at the person who helped him. It was Shenhe. The girl had her own bond with the Traveler. He was her first real friend.
She gave Xiao a determined look. "Let's go." She said, earning herself a nod from the Adeptus.
Bubu Pharmacy was deadly silent. Baizhu and Qiqi had dissapeared with the Traveler behind a door.
Shenhe had been helping an extremely exhausted Yaksha walk to the pharmacy. She helped him sit down in a fluffy chair. The beautiful woman ran off for a moment to find something for the Adeptus to eat and drink. He needed some energy.
Both Zhongli and Ganyu had followed as well. Ningguang however, stayed behind to help her people clean up and tend to the wounded.
Ganyu stayed outside, bow tightly in her hand incase someone would come and try to hurt any of the others.
Zhongli entered the pharmacy as well. He watched as Shenhe guided Xiao to sit down in fluffy chair. The former Archon shrugged off his jacket and wrapped it around Xiao's shoulders, hoping it could provide some comfort.
Hours ticked by at a snails pace. Xiao was still in his chair. He had his legs pulled up with his head resting against his knees. His eyes were closed, but he wasn't sleeping. He couldn't, but Shenhe had encouraged him to at least get a little bit of rest. She had argued that Aether would need him at his best when he would wake.
Zhongli and Shenhe were in chairs as well. Shenhe was the only one really awake. She was sitting on the floor next to Xiao's chair, polishing her polearm.
Zhongli was in another chair. The older man had exhausted himself as well. He desperately needed some rest and was luckily able to get some.
It was deep into the night that the door finally opened. Xiao immediately woke himself up as he saw Baizhu enter. He got up from the chair and walked to the doctor. The man had an amazing poker face. Xiao couldn't read anything off of it.
Baizhu stood still in the middle of the room. He had gigantic bags under his eyes. It was obvious that this gad been tough. He finally turned to the three after taking a minute.
"He is allright." Baizhu said gently.
An immense load fell from Xiao's shoulders. He fell back into his chair and couldn't contain his tears. Soft sobs of relieve filled the room.
Both Shenhe and Zhongli sighed in relief. They both placed a gentle hand on the Adeptus.
Baizhu scarped his throat. "You can see him. He's awake." He said gently.
Xiao looked up on shock. He wiped the tears from his face. "He's awake?" He asked.
The doctor nodded. "Yes. He refused to rest without seeing you first." The doctor said with a gentle chuckle.
Xiao immediately got up and quickly thanked Baizhu. He practically flew into the room his Traveler was staying in.
Aether had been through hell. And he could feel it. Ever since he woke up, he had been in pain. Every single move, even breathing, hurt.
"Welcome back." A voice said, immediately getting Aether's attention. It was Baizhu.
"Baizhu? What....aarghhn." Aether responded, but even talking hurt quite a lot.
"Im guessing you want to know what happened?" The doctor asked, which earned him a nod from the Traveler. "Your sister attacked you. And you almost died. We were able to bring you back to the land of the living." The man explained.
Aether nodded. "I remember." The blonde answered after gathering the energy. He looked around the room, noticing he was alone.
Baizhu noticed his movement. "They never left your side. Especially not Adeptus Xiao. They are waiting for news from me. I'm glad I can tell them the good news. But for now, I need you to rest." The green-haired man explained.
"No." The Traveler was quick to answer.
"No?" The doctor answered with a raised eyebrow.
"I need to see Xiao. Please." Aether answered quietly.
Baizhu couldn't help the smile that appeared om his face. "Allright. I think I can allow that. I'll go get him." He replied.
Xiao stopped by the closed door. He didn't know why, but he was scared to enter.
Baizhu had warned him that it was not a pretty sight. Xiao didn't care about that. He was scared that it was all a dream. That Aether, his love, was actually dead. That it was all a cruel nightmare.
Another hand opened the door for him. This time it was Zhongli. The man kept silent as he opened the door and almost pushed Xiao in.
The Adeptus finally gathered the courage and entered, closing the door behind him. He looked up at the bed. And there he saw him. Aether. Alive and well.
Without saying a word, he quickly moved to Aether's side. He immediately began to check him up and down. The Traveler looked bad, but alive. His upper torso was completely bare, except for the thick white bandages that wrapprd around his chest. His body was cleaned from the blood, but some spots of pale skin still had a red tint.
Xiao finally grew the courage to look at the blonde's face. Golden eyes stared right back at him. And a smile that could light up the world made it all real. Aether really was alive.
A lone tear trailed down Xiao's cheeks. Aether's face immediately fell.
"Xiao?" He asked gently.
"You're alive." Xiao whispered and sank down the chair next to the bed.
Everything immediately clicked for Aether. He slowly moved his wrist to Xiao's side and held it up.
"I am. I promise. Feel it." The blonde whispered.
The Adeptus immediately grabbed the blonde's wrist and held it. He could feel the heartbeat beating steadily. Another sigh of relieved left his mouth.
Aether couldn't help the soft chuckle leaving his lips, even if it turned into a coughing fit.
Xiao was immediately ready to get Baizhu, but the Traveler held up a hand.
"I'm fine. I promise." The Traveler said after his coughing fit ended. He looked at Xiao with deeply loving eyes.
Xiao stared back at Aether. He quickly wiped the tears away from his own cheeks. He slowly leaned over and intertwined his fingers with the blonde's, who let him.
"You know this means that I am never leaving your side every again." Xiao said, hoping to get a special message across.
Aether chuckled. "I wouldn't have it any other way." He answered softly, clutching their hands together with what little strength he had.
Xiao nodded. "Good. Not scoot over." He ordered the blonde, who did the best he could. The Adeptus laid himself down on the small space provided. He burrowed himself against the pillows.
Aether watched with a curious look. He waited until Xiao was done and gently rested his head against Xiao's shoulder, just like they had done before.
"Please don't ever do that again? Okay? Promise me." Xiao whispered after minutes of comfortable silence.
Aether nodded against his shoulder. "I promise." He whispered.
Xiao gave him a soft smile. "Good." He said before they fell into a comfortable silence again.
The Yaksha eventually began to notice how his Traveler was starting to doze off. He made sure that the light blanket was tucked in around Aether.
A loving look appeared on Xiao's face. "Sleep well Traveler. I love you so much." He gently confessed.
Aether buries his head against his Adeptus. "I love you to." The blonde answered before he fell into a deep slumber.
Baizhu walked in hours after Xiao had gone into the room with the Traveler. The doctor was followed by Shenhe, Zhongli and Gayu. The three had to hold back their chuckled at the scene before him.
Both boys were fast asleep. Aether was drooling on Xiao's shoulder while Xiao was snoring above the Traveler. Their hands were firmly linked together between them.
Shenhe pulled out Aether's camera, something they were able to save, and snapped a picture to preserve this moment in time.
She printed it from the camera and laid it down on the nightstand before pulling the others with her.
"Let's give them some privacy." She had said with a gentle tone.
Xiao, who had woken from the moment they entered, hummed in content and fell right back into a peaceful slumber.
He would look at the picture later, and keep it close to his heart, protecting it from harm.
Just as he vowed to do with Aether.