Chapter Text
There she was. Lumine, the one who he had been looking for all these years. The only one who he felt a true connection with now. Especially having found out their kingdom was destroyed after they were separated. Searching desperately, for not only his sister. But the only other remaining survivor of their homeland. Reaching out a hand only to feel a sting. A burn... yet he was still reaching out...
"Are you stupid? Or trying to die... Your time is up. And yet you still persist to try and bring me where, home?" She had scoffed, hopping off from the golem she rode. With a single sway of her hand, the 3 abyss mages that guarded her moved to the side. "Don't you get it? These false gods, archons as you call them. They destroyed our home, killed our people and so many others! And for what?! How dumb can you be?!"
"Please, Lu, it was for the best, to defend and protect-"
"Quiet! You spurt nothing but obscene lies! Excuses!"
His face stung, not only from the cuts and bruises that marked his porcelain face, but from the tears leaking from his eyes. Her words...
"This is not you! Please Lumine! Don't let these creatures manipulate you! Please, don't let them alter your choices!"
"They aren't! They rescued me, brother! Unlike your virgin eyes mine are opened! I've experienced the horrors of this world! The creatures are the true victims! The people blind and ruled by imposters."
He shook his head. Feeling as if walls were not only closing in on him, squeezing him until he could not breath, but crumbling so he could never catch his breath. Become buried alive, and frankly, he wasn't sure if he would object at this point. His own becoming crushed at the site of his sister. His heart more in pain than any of his broken ribs or fractured bones, or gashing cuts combined.
"No, no! This isn't you! Don't make excuses for them! You're not them! The archons did not destroy our kingdom Lumine! Please, we can fix this, just please, come back..." He reached out once more only for this time Lumine to smack his hand away. The mages giggling at her actions. Only for her to raise her hand at them.
"Silence." She glared back at them before looking at Aether. Who looked as if he were about to faint, spare hand holding his side as if to try and support himself. Already limping on one leg. A pitiful site. "Pathetic... Tell me brother, do you only defend and stand up for them because they have helped you once? Whilst I have stayed by your side many a times. Yet you still side with them? Are you not my brother? If you are then join me! Avenge our kingdom! Then we may rule over a new Teryvat together. Show them the error of their ways."
"Why, why would you say that..? Of course I'm your brother..!" He sobbed out, raising his voice as he did. Only to wince in pain, unable to stop the coughing that surged through his whole body, making it spasm as he coughed out blood onto the ground. "These people... are innocent... They do not deserve another war-"
"It will not be a war. But an execution-"
"No-!!" Before he could finish he felt a rash harsh kick to his guts, invoking another spur of coughs as he stumbled back. Feeling the harsh ground below him. His whole body throbbing as the dirt and must on the ground intruded into his wounds. Hissing slightly at the pain.
"Where are your gods now Aether? Or your companions you hold so dear..? You know nothing of what you speak. Stay out of my way or else you will share the same fate as your so called archons."
He felt his head swimming now as his adrenaline rush died down. Vision blurring as he felt himself slowly begin to lose consciousness.
Yet before they could do anything more, he saw a flash of light, and warm arms wrapping around him.
"Aether..!"
Someone calling his name... yet, why did he reach out towards his sister still..? Despite what she has done, what she has said.. he still reached out.
"Lu-...mine-..."