Arriving here had only seemed like a fever dream for him - as if this place was nothing more than just another domain he had found himself tangled within. Another place created by 𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑪𝑬 herself for mere amusement. Just another 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐚, another 𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐦 𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, or maybe even another 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐨. And if that was the case, that's how he planned to treat this place; Nothing more than another summer spent doing yet another adventure within another limited domain, another lesson he was suppose to learn about. That that was the whole point of this; Of being here, of being by himself this time. With Paimon left behind in Teyvat, waiting eagerly for his arrival back.
Or maybe the actuality of this place was truly nothing more than dream. A desperate dream that he's been searching for, yearning for, ever since he woke up along the beachshore a few years prior, on a planet he has no recollection of. A dream that's he's been chasing the remnants of, still, after all this time. Even now while fingers clutched tightly around the compass that was hidden within the palm of his hand, his heart coming to a halt. Afraid that if he was to let another breath go, this dream would come to shattering halt that would end up leaving him empty once more when he woke up again. And there in his dream are the same matching golden hues that he's only seen glimpses of, momentary moments that they were able to be in the same space as the other. Fingers continue to clutch tightly onto the same compass that had been lying beside when he first woke up here. The same compass he decided on a whim to follow today. ' A compass that always points to your hearts desires ', a voice hold him before waking up. A compass and a dream that had lead him to the very same cliffside, the fading sun and welcoming twilight painting the current scene for them.
"Lumine...?" comes out croaked, in a broken tremble, not sure if his mind is just playing illusions on him once more, was this nothing more just a mere dream, or if this was real for him. How many times had he wishes to be reunited with his twin again? How many nights had he spent wishing away to a false sky, and false lords for that chance while knowing he would go unanswered, unheard. Is this the lesson he's supposed to learn this time? Is she the lesson? "Lumine... what are you doing here?" emphasizes on the here, because he himself is still not too entirely sure where here is, truthfully.
The air between them thickened, as if even the wind held its breath. Lumine’s gaze didn’t falter, but something within it shifted like light catching on cracked glass. She hadn’t expected his voice to tremble like that. She hadn’t expected it to hurt so much to hear her name spoken by him. She swallowed, almost imperceptibly, before finally speaking. Her voice was gentle now, softer than it had been in years, like memory folding back in on itself. The one she’d left behind in a half-forgotten moment of hope, or maybe weakness. A wish she couldn’t allow herself to keep.
Her lips parted again, something unspoken trembling behind them, but she let out a small breath instead slow and careful, as if trying not to shatter whatever fragile thing had brought them back to the same place. ❝ Living life. In the plainest terms. Like Teyvat I cannot leave, and like you my powers are for lack of better term- limited. ❞ She took a step forward. Not the cold, calculating kind she'd made so many times in battle, but one grounded in familiarity. In longing. In the unbearable weight of almost.
❝ I don’t know what this place is either, Aether. I thought maybe it was a trap. Another illusion. Another lie dressed in mists and deceit. But… then you came. ❞ The golden dusk painted across her face made her look almost like she did before before the war, the silence, the decision that had drawn them down different stars. Her voice broke slightly at the edges. ❝ I’ve spent so long trying to forget how it felt to hope we'd again- without the loom of fate bewteen us. Because if I held onto it too tightly… ❞ She reached toward him then not quite touching, but close enough for warmth to pass between them. ❝ So maybe this is a dream, ❞ she whispered. ❝ But it’s one I don’t seem to hate. ❞
A pause. Her expression so carefully composed until now. Finally softened into something unmistakably sisterly. Ache, love, apology all knotted into one impossible look. ❝ I missed you, Aether. ❞
