Warning: Angst & Tragic ‖ Characters: You x Dainsleif
(traveler in the story is not the reader but either Aether or Lumine)
(X﹏X) read at your own risk, follow me for more of these <3
"I am yours. For now." Dainsleif mutters, purposely trying his best to make it almost inaudible with a neutral face. You followed him as he takes a step up on a big smooth stone before looking far into the sunset, golden and beautiful with raging flames.
Both of you had always visited this specific mountain, covered with god-woven quilt of bright green grass that swayed at the slightest blows of invisible magic and sometimes golden under the sun's glowing warm touch. It's soil with bountiful splashes of colors that blotted the undergrowth became attraction to butterflies cheerfully hopping after the other. The trees above stones stood tall only to crane their necks when the mischievious fingertips of the wind decides to bend them. A harmonious background noise of chirping birds and buzzing insects accompanied the scenery adding a naturely atmosphere. You caught his words despite the wind that whistled to your ears and a cloud of worry took form in your head, quick enough to make your heart beat faster. "What does he mean 'for now'?"
"Dain?" You called him. He only stared at the sunset. Eyes never meeting yours. "Dain." You say, adding slight intensity as you say it. His gaze meets your confused expression, only to look back at the sunset when he calmly answers. "I don't know when I will have to go. Khaenri'ah is still before me and the closer their revengeful spirits reach us, the more closer Teyvat is to its doom. When they make their first successful and deadly move, I will have to step up. By that time, it's best to not get involved."
Your heart sank. What was he talking about? You had done everything to understand the history of Khaenri'ah and Teyvat, burying your head between dusty pages and listening to your beloved's reminiscing during sleepless nights. You tried to understand it for the both of you. What more could you not understand?
"Why wouldn't I get involved? What more couldn't I understand?" You ask him, your cheerful mood disappearing as your heart turned fragile.
"It's best not to. You're... too... innocent." He says, apologetic and yet his face showed no sign of emotion, his eyes focused directly on the sunset.
"Why? But you're innocent too. Or you think I can't fight? Is it because I do not have a vision?" You ask him, the rising heat of offense settling within your questioning heart.
"It may be that." He admits. You feel yourself stabbed in the gut.
"But I want to fight alongside you." You tell him. A plead, a way to convince your lover.
"I... won't allow it." He replies, this time, a hint of worry across his face. Sometimes you felt envious of the traveler. Having no vision and yet being able to manipulate the elements at their own will and having to accompany your lover in most of his travels.
"Look, I know I'm important to you but-"
"You're not helping." He says, cutting you off.
That's the last thing you wanted to hear at this state. Broken. Fragile. Hurt and hopeless. At the verge of crying.
"I..." Your mind went blank. Your body felt out of control, frozen. You feel speechless, not knowing what else to do next because you had never anticipated it to come at this point.
"You will never be able to help. My feelings cloud my judgements and worsen the outcomes of my actions. With that, comes regret." He tells you, not holding a word back. You felt so hurt, you want to clutch your clothes with tight fists.
"Then why did you agree to be with me?" You ask, tears coming down your cheeks but he doesn't glance at you. Not once.
"Because you pleaded and I considered it. I did not regret any of it. Loving you is a granted wish and so I spent days with you to experience what it is like being loved. But those days are coming to an end, because the memory of being with you and being loved by you is enough for me. We have played our parts, it's about time I close my heart and you open yours for others." He answers,
"I will never be the man enough for you, my loved one. I, unlike those that put you first, have bigger priorities than you. I will love you until the end but I am afraid I will never be there for you in the future because that is not the man that I am. This world is a splendid place but being together forever won't be suited for us here. I am afraid that there are answers I seek and I am not content not knowing them. If I was a different man, I'd accompany you even after death."
It was at that moment that you faltered, an unbearable pain swelling within your chest. Thorns of anger, betrayal, and sadness pricking your already bleeding heart. You left him angrily but he didn't follow and that alone made your disappointment for him to burn you down. It hurt so much you wished you had never loved him.
Now you're on top of the same mountain, painting the scenery, without the man that loves you. When the memory flashes before your eyes, your fingers curl to a fist, tight around the paint brush you're holding, "Damn you," You curse under your breath. "Dain..." His name felt like wrath on your tongue and you hated him so much but the remnants of your love for him never left and it is so strong despite the curseful hatred that boils your blood.
Now, as the traveler you and Dainsleif knew approaches you, you felt your body turn to ashes. Final words being said by a voice not your own but of a decieved fool by the Fatui. "Tell Dain... Tell Dain I loved him. Tell Dain that I searched for him but I couldn't find him. Tell Dain that I used to be his living lover. Take care of him for me. I wished I was you." You never thought your last words would be about him and revealing your envy for the traveler but in the end, his all you ever asked for. When he left, you lost half your soul, the remaining being chained to a cryo delusion. As you breathed out your last cold air, the traveler before you held theirs, surprised at what you had just said.
The stars and the sky will always have a place for you - Dainsleif X reader X Zhongli
PART 1
AN: heres the break to the lack of content!! its a bit short but i wrote this originally around july but i only ever had the first paragraph but wanted to continue!! im so excited since this will be a series and a very long one as well!! other chapters will be guaranteed to be way longer but just wanna see if people are interested. Written July 24- November 9, 2021
TAGLIST: @prodbyblush @ny-meriaa
'Sucrose and I found her incased in the ice right on the summit of Dragonspine under the Skyfrost Nail.' Albedo said to the group 'she looks dead.'
A young woman laid still on a bed in the middle of one of the many rooms of the Knights' of Favonius HQ. Her skin pale as the snow she was just freshly broken out of the ice. Keaya, Diluc, Master Jean, Lisa, Albedo, Sucrose, Venti-all of them were in the room looking at duo's discovery. It's a miracle that her heart is still beating. Only her breath was giving out any sort of warmth as she laid in the bed.
'Barbatos do you know who she is?' jean asked.
'No.' He lied. He lied. He lied. He lied. He knew full well who she was. His face blank all the memories rushing through his head on that one dreadful day, 500 years ago.
KHAENRI'AH........ 500 YEARS FROM PRESENT TIME.
'What do you mean the gods are here? We've already agreed. No more wars, no more trying to play god. We agreed to obey their Divine rule. What are they here for?' You spoke to Dainsleif.
You were informed the archons arrived and declared war for unknown reasons. You didn't understand- the contracts were laid, read, and signed. with mutual agreement with you and the seven archons.
'I don't know Barbatos was the first one-'
Gusts of wind and chaos emerged. This was only the start. you went straight out and saw the destruction while Dain followed her out.
'this is order' Morax shouted out.
'order?'
A giant meteor appeared destroying the western part of the nation.
'Think you can get away?'
'Barabtos and Morax are here YN, the other five are sure to arrive soon from Teyvat. What's happening? Why are the gods here, and why are they doing this? Don't try to lie because I know something happened in that room.' Dainsleif asked you hurriedly.
'No time to explain, Morax is behind the castle. He's the brains of this I know it. Baal is there too, i'll meet up with you after. Go manage the people to get to Teyvat, its our only choice.' you commanded
'It's too dangerous for you, you are no match for Morax, nor the Raiden Shogun. Bringing the people to Teyvat will only cause more danger, and-'
'Whose orders are you under?'
He looks at you in shock. He knew his position, yes, but why would you still do that? Pulling the royalty card. After everything you two have been through, and you say that? Now all he can do is to sigh and follow.
'promise you'll come back.'
You looked at him not knowing what to say. Morax was indeed strong yet you know he could've never broken a contract not even with the Tsaritsa. The Tsaritsa agreed on keeping peace, they all did. why destroy Kaenri'ah now?
thinking about dainsleif and the traveler's sibling
did our sibling travel around teyvat looking for us the same way we are looking for them? did they try to meet the archons or put up missing person posters? did they take part in the fight between durin and dvalin that happened during that time? did they become knights and build reputations and do random quests for people?
it's a nice thought, to think that we ended up walking the exact same path our sibling did despite the 500 year gap
