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Aether stood alone, underneath the giant tree in Windrise. Christmas, it was not a tradition that Teyvat shared with his and his sister's homeworld.
Although it did have something similar, well you could kind of call it similar. Although it did resemble the new year a little bit more than Christmas, but this wasn't about that.
He had left Paimon with Venti, back at the statue of the seven near here. Of course that took some convincing, still though Aether couldn't help but care about the annoying fairy floaty creature.
She was his guide. Paimon was basically the only person truly helping him find his sister, well as much as someone without a weapon could. Aether chuckled at his own comment, as he felt the wind pick up. Darker clouds formed overhead, and yet he couldn't help but picture Lumine in his head.
His sister. She should be the one standing here. Not that Aether wanted her to have to go on a journey through all of Teyvat mind you, but that he wished she wasn't taken by the unknown god.
He missed Lumine. You weren't supposed to be lonely on christmas.
Yet he was. Sure two of his friends were near by him, but that wasn't the same. Aether knew it was somewhat illogical to feel so lonely despite not being alone. Maybe he should give Paimon another hug.
He could remember the sound of her voice, a long time ago. When Christmas morning came and he gave her that flower. Part of the reason they had even come here anyway.
Her face had lit up, and he was sure his had too. She was his sister. He wasn't sure why at the time, but he asked her to promise never to abandon him.
Aether could only laugh at the memories as he looked up at the tree, the same tree where Venti had once told him the story of Vanessa.
A hero of Mondstadt, one of two to ascend to Celestia. Venti refused to share what happened to her after that, well if he even knew, Aether noted.
"I miss you, Lumine."
Aether was quite. He mostly kept to himself and let Paimon do all the talking, he was somewhat reserved and yet his emotions were still readable.
This was not the first time he had screamed, not by a long shot. He often cried out during battle, after all grunting was natural.
But for once, Aether wasn't quite. At first he said almost silently, then he repeated it. Then it almost sounded like he screamed it.
"I miss you Lumine"
It was a sob, a choke, a plea and a beg, not truly a scream. Of course he did, how could Aether not miss his sister.
Although he heard footsteps to follow his outburst. Aether wiped his face, expecting it to be Paimon and Venti worried and came to check on him.
Instead when he looked up he saw her face.
Years ago Aether could remember that he and Lumine had been in a different world. Long enough ago now that Aether couldn't remember where, but they were going shopping on Christmas.
This world had Christmas, just like their original one. Although the place they were residing in didn't celebrate it the same way as they did. Aether remembered at one point they got mistook for a couple.
Aether attempted to laugh it off, while Lumine was annoyed. To calm her down they went to buy food that they had never tried before. Once they had ordered and eaten, Aether would never forget that look of surprised delight on his sister's face.
Mostly because what followed was him falling over, hitting someone called Tsuaka who also fell over and being caught by Tsuaka's friend Rui. That's not an event you just forget, because well it's embarrassing.
Even so when Aether looked up, he saw that same surprised delighted look on his sister's face.
His sister. Lumine. Aether took a breath, no she wasn't there. That was not possible. Or maybe he wasn't there, or a ley line memory. Aether knew Lumine wasn't in front of him, that wasn't possible.
"Merry Christmas"
Lumine, she spoke. This time there was no Dainslef. There was no enemy, there was just them. Under the Windrise tree.
Aether rushed at his sister, wrapping his arms around her. He hugged her. Something he hadn't been able to do for 500 years.
"Yeah I missed you too."
And she hugged back. While the wind seemed to pick up. Aether knew despite how much he wanted it too, this moment would not be forever.
"We will be reunited."
Lumine began. Those same words from all that time ago, Aether shushed her.
"I know. But that's then, and this is now. At least, at least stay for Christmas." Said Aether, his emotions getting the better of him with a tear falling from his eyes.
Lumine didn't respond. Instead she chose to nod. And so that was how they stayed, and eventually they started chatting.
It was a good day. And as Lumine left him once again, Aether realised he should have asked questions. But it was too late, so he decided to return to Venti and Paimon.