Chapter Text
THE RICH LAND OF Teyvat, the harmony between seven nations, and the friendship of the archons that has been going on since the beginning of time. With the archons and their successors in line, everything is all going according to the prophecy of the Land of Wisdom, Sumeru. With all the sons and daughters finally born, the children will soon inherit their archon’s position.
My mother was neither an archon nor a queen. She was a divine being that transcended the existence of an archon and a mortal. A celestial. I, unlike my twin sister, was never close to her. She was ruthless, a mother who birthed children for the sake of power. My sister was a prodigy, and when I was delivered, I was immediately considered a disappointment.
A boy who’s smaller than his sister. With hair darker than she. I do not resemble my mother at all. My sister is strong, at age 3, she can wield a sword bigger than her. While I can only watch from being frail and small. When we reached 6, I overheard her talking to our mother. “You will be married to the strongest heir of the archons.” Those words never left my brain. My sister deserved it, to be a wife of the strongest. Meanwhile, I, a boy who can’t do anything, will never be wed to anyone.
EVERY YEAR, there is a traditional annual battle between the archons, and now that their heirs have reached the age of 7, appropriate to start their battle training, they will be the stars of the show. This year, it is my mother’s turn to host the battle. As a celestial being, my mother also participated in these events. And this year, my sister will partake in her stead.
It was not unexpected; my sister can do better than I am. I can only serve food, I can’t even help with the preparation because they are afraid I will ruin things.
Everyone gathered in Celestia, together with their family dragons that led them here. For the first time in years, it felt lively in here. There are a lot of people unlike the usual where there are only I, my sister, and mother together with other servants who can’t even speak when they aren’t told. It was quiet and gloomy. It felt like a prison and I haven’t even seen one.
Everyone looked excited for the event, they gathered and greeted each other. It’s only in times like this they can have the chance to interact with other nations. I do not understand the rules of battle training at all, that’s why I don’t even listen to them. I like observing people better. Seeing unfamiliar faces, observing the archons and the differences in the way they act. We were forced to study the history of this world, from the archons, their nations, and their way of governing. Seeing them in person makes me feel giddy, as I have only seen their photos in books, taken from a very blurry and non-colored kamera.
The archon of Inazuma is indeed really pretty, she has this long purple hair that wasn’t captured in the books. She has this fierce gaze that reminds me of my mother, opposite to the lady with fox ears smiling beside her. A kitsune! I remember reading about their kinds too.
The game and the training have begun. Looks like a race on who can reach the end faster. Seeing children my age being able to participate with their visions makes me envious. I wish I could join and enjoy the games like they do. To have a vision or a power bestowed upon me.
From where I sit, I can see the son of Inazuma’s archon leading the race with his electro ability that enables his body to move like a light, much faster than the others. He has this wide grin on his face, mocking the other young kids behind him. Despite that, no one paid attention to him and did their best to outdo him.
My eyes caught the dark-haired boy in second place, I switched places in front beside my mother to look at him better, it’s green. His hair was green, with a lighter shade of the same color in front. His eyes gleamed, the sun shined in front of him like everyone was being forced to look at him. The sunlight made it easier for me to notice his face. He looked serious; his eyes glimmered the same color as I have. A golden-like shade, like a sunset behind the horizon. He looks so beautiful.
Like my mother noticed my stares. She spoke, “The son of Mondstandt and Liyue’s archons. He is different, having two archons as his parents.” She smiled, “A full-blooded God.” The way her voice showed enthusiasm reminds me of what she said to my sister a year ago. You will be married to the strongest heir of the archons.
Is the son of Mondstandt and Liyue’s archon going to be the strongest heir?
I scanned my eyes around the field. The Mondstandt and Liyue’s archons. It is easy to spot the archon of Liyue. He is tall, with dark long hair flowing behind him. His face resembles his son. Both look so serious. Unlike their archon and his heir, the people of Liyue are all smiles, cheering for their prince.
I looked back at the Prince of Liyue, he won second place. There is no sign of dejection on his face. It was the same as he always wears during the game. Someone joined and hugged him, the archon of Mondstandt. Looking at them, no one can deny their resemblance.
He is shorter than the other kids, he looks much younger as well. He might be a year younger than I am. Six and already this strong. The unwanted feeling of envy is slowly creeping up inside me again.
I do not remember how long I kept my eyes on him. I remember seeing how he accepted the silver crown he got from winning second place. How Mondstandt and Liyue congratulated him separately. Their archons never exchanged glances. Not even a simple greeting. It looks like they are not on speaking terms. I wonder what happened between them. Despite their indifference towards each other, they still managed to congratulate and celebrate their son’s first win of today.
The event went on. From one-on-one battles, shooting training, capturing boars, it was fun to watch. Everyone looks happy, with smiles on their faces. Win or lose, they still showed fairness with the way they accepted every outcome.
“Your child is very strong. You must be proud.” It was one of the things I heard time after time, during the duration of the event. It was no doubt about my sister. Even when they glanced at me sitting next to my mother, no one seemed to pay attention to who I was. No one questioned, nor placed an interest in me. I waited for my mother to introduce me as her child, or to at least tell others my name, but it never happened.
Seeing the archons and their children jump and shout joyously made me smile unconsciously. The Archon of Anemo and Geo’s son, the Electro Archon’s son who won the first gold, smiled at his mother, boasting about his wins in front of her, which only earned a nod from her, the Dendro Archon with the lesser lord. The Lord of Fontaine, land of hydro, with her daughter, who resembles her a lot, also the Pyro Archon, who has her sister as her heir. They all seem to enjoy their time with their parents, something I always wish to have.
The Land of Snezhnaya never attends this kind of event, their archon is different from the others. I do not know much about them, aside from the fact that they run the organization, Fatui. I learned it from one of our lessons. Despite their absence from Archon conjunctions, they still send some of the members of their organization to participate and partake.
“See that boy, Scaramouche. He’s going to be his own mother’s demise. The prophecy told us he would be exiled and grow up with hatred in his heart. Tell your sister not to engage with that boy.” My gaze shifted to the boy my mother was talking about. Picturing the boy he’s about to become based on the prophecy, how can I ever imagine that a boy my age, barely ten years old, is about to experience something that would cause him hatred?
My mother, already passing on her judgment over a boy she doesn’t even know. Looking back at him, I wonder how rigorous prophecies can be. With that thought in mind, my eyes shifted back to the son of Mondstandt and Liyue. If the prophecy is right, then this boy would be the strongest, and Inazuma’s prince would be an exile. How can the prophecy be so cruel, dictating your life at birth? Dreading for the day it will finally happen. Accepting it as it unravels. Does my mother also know how my life unfolds?
AFTER THE EVENT, I do not remember much. My thoughts were filled by the boy who caught my attention. The prophecy’s strongest. Secretly, I used my knowledge about mortal observations. Using an artifact older than I am to see and observe movements in Teyvat that only celestial beings can perform. It was like some kind of mirroring portal from Celestia to the lands of the mortals.
As a kid, I finally found something to pass the time when we were not studying. I do not have physical training like my sister, our mother thought it was just a waste of time and energy that needed to be focused on her. I feel grateful, now I have an excuse to be alone and use my free time where there is no mentor to bind me.
With the use of the artifact, I learned that the boy lived with the Liyue archon in their harbor. He trained every day with others. I have also learned that he has what he refers to as older siblings, the adepti, he was the strongest of them all despite being the youngest. He is a full-blooded God after all. From his birth, he was already named as the strongest.
Times passed and it became my routine to watch and observe the full-blooded prince. It makes me want to train just like him even more. He is dedicated, he wastes no time to train, and gives it his all.
This went on for almost a year, I might have been observing him still if I wasn’t caught by my sister. Before I could even plead with her not to tell our mother, she’d already done it. Not even a chance to beg and explain myself to her.
Our mother was furious; not like I’d ever seen before. It was not forbidden knowledge; however, it was an act my mother opposed strongly. I wouldn’t know. She never told me. She never told me anything, not words of wisdom, not words of affection, not anything. I was almost nine, and all that I ever knew was how to read and write.
My sister, my twin sister, who I always believed I could confide in. Who I thought would understand me best. Seeing her slowly turn like our mother scared me the most. My sweet little sister who followed me everywhere when we were younger, is not the same sister who looked at me with the same looks my mother always gave me. Disgust. Disappointment. Sardonic.
I can never look them in their eyes. I lowered my head, hoping to not feel their looks towards me. It was a good thing they never knew what exactly I was looking at. How am I to explain why I am looking at Teyvat’s strongest as written in the prophecy? I avoided my gaze the entire time, my throat felt dry from swallowing nothing. I had not felt like this before, feeling cornered, wronged, and the feeling of not having a single person listen to what I might say.
Maybe that is why I learned not to say anything to anyone at all. To keep any thoughts hidden. How can I pray when the Gods are my mother’s companions? Who do I pray for when my mother is the Celestia herself?
MY MOTHER’S FURY was strong. It was like she had waited for the moment I would wrong her. For days after I was caught using the artifact for mortal observation, she never conversed with me again. Not only her, but my sister included. I wasn’t invited for study sessions, I wasn’t called for meals, it was like my very existence vanished.
It went on for months until it was I and my sister’s ninth birthday. There will be a big celebration, not for us two, but a celebration exclusively for our mother’s daughter. No one knew Celestia’s diving being even have a son. It was her one and only precious princess, the pride and joy of Celestia.
I kept my peace away from the celebration, I stayed inside the palace, where it was quiet, and the servants were also outside, tending to everyone. I have the house all to myself. For the first time, I felt solitude, I did not have to walk around on tiptoe to not disturb my sister’s training. I do not have to hide in every corner to avoid my mother’s sight. I can be by myself, as I like.
“Who are you?” I was startled to see a silhouette of what seemed like a boy coming from the other side, walking towards me. It was dark inside, only the candles outside served as my light.
He did not speak until he reached closer to me. He smelled of almonds, I could not describe him but his scent. I could barely see his face or body; I couldn’t hear his voice for he didn’t speak. “Who are you?” I repeated the question, maybe he did not hear me from our distance just a second ago.
“I apologize for startling you. I am just a visitor from Teyvat. I was roaming around, hoping to see more of Celestia.” His voice is of a child, seems to be my age. It was deeper than I have. Maybe older, I couldn’t tell. “Are you also from Teyvat? From what nation are you?”
It was my time to remain silent. I do not know what to answer. Do I tell him I am from here? But everyone knows the only child here is my sister. It would arose suspicion if I told him the truth. But I am not familiar with any nations from Teyvat. Aside from one.
“Yes, I am from Liyue.” Would he notice I am not telling the truth? From the years I spent observing the prince of the said nation, I’ve also learned about their culture and traditions. It wouldn’t be hard for me to pretend I am one of them.
He seemed astounded by what I answered. It made me anxious. I did not consider that he might be from Liyue as well. He would instantly notice I was lying if he was truly from Liyue. “Liyue is a great place. I’ve been there. I am from Mondstandt if you might ask.” I let out a sigh of relief upon hearing that. Mondstandt is next to Liyue, they are neighboring nations, but it is much better than talking to one of the people in Liyue themselves.
I tried my best to sound as natural as possible, “Mondstandt, I have never been there. What is it like?” I watched my words, afraid to say something un-teyvat-ly.
He stopped for a moment to think, I wish I could see what he looked like. It is like I am talking to some kind of shadow. “Mondstandt is the nation of freedom. My—Our Archon aims for freedom and peace more than anything. How about you, what do you think of your archon?”
My archon? What is my archon? Right, he must mean the Geo Archon of Liyue. Based on what I remember from my observations, “Rex Lapis. He is a great leader. He will do anything for his people, he is not known as Lord of Contract for nothing.” He seemed even more surprised by what I said, did I say something wrong?
“Rex Lapis.” He repeated. It was the name of the Lord of Geo. I wouldn’t be mistaken; I’ve heard it multiple times from Liyue’s adepti, even from his son himself. The books also state that. Before I could ask what might be wrong, the closing trumpet of the celebration blared. I need to go before they notice me.
“I am going.” I need to find a place far from people’s eyes, and somewhere this person in front of me wouldn’t question, I am acting like I am from Liyue, I need to act like I am to go with them. Before I could exit, he seized my arm, stopping me from walking.
I looked back at him, my eyes curious, forgetting he could not see me. “What is your name?” His voice had urgency in it, I noticed the way he faced me and looked back at the ending celebration, everyone bidding goodbyes.
It took me a second to think if I should answer him truthfully or come up with a faux name, thinking that I might never even see him again, there is nothing for me to hide.
“Aether.” It was a name given by our mother before we were even conceived, telling my name felt of a bee stinging my tongue, I realized I’d never spoken my name before. This was the first time I even said it out loud, or even thought about it.
Aether, I remember learning its meaning, the personification of the bright upper sky. My name, Sky. Appropriate epithet for the son of a celestial being. Similar to my sister, whose name meant to make something bright.
He let go of my arm, his hands slowly reached for mine. I felt something in the hands he was holding as he stepped back, about to go back to the people outside. “My name is Alatus.” He introduced before he disappeared into the sea of people outside.
Peering into my hand he was just holding; I heed something like a flower. It was not something I’d ever seen. A flower with white petals, and distinctive blue leaves, not anything like what we have in here. It’s beautiful. It looked like it was shining in the dark room I was in.
I remember keeping it in my room, I changed its water every day, hoping for its beauty to last. If it dies, there is no way to replace it. Not that I have plans to replace it, it was a gift. From his first friend. A friend gives gifts to their friends, right? That makes him my friend. Alatus. When the inevitable happened, and it withered, I kept it in my journal. Where I write the things I learn and the moments I treasure.
There I preserved the flower, plastered it on one of the pages, and wrote its significance to me. Under it, I labeled its name I learned from the book of Teyvat. It’s a flower that only grows in Liyue. The boy must have gotten it in one of his travels to the nation.
Glaze Lily.