Somewhere in the Abyss.
A fractured dimension.
Skirk's blade froze mid-swing, the edge humming with a dying resonance.
Something was wrong.
How could the Skyfrost Nail atop Celestia absorb the power of the Abyss to repair itself?
If Celestia truly possessed the ability to devour the Abyss, then the Abyss Order's entire crusade was a joke. They weren't conquerors... they were just snacks waiting to be eaten.
"No wonder they chose Aether to lead the revenge against the Heavenly Principles."
"Their own power must be incapable of actually shaking Celestia."
"Either that, or the power Kael used didn't come from the Abyss at all. It was his own."
Skirk replayed the battle between Kael and Aether in her mind, searching for a detail she had missed.
Kael had only mentioned that he needed a power capable of countering Aether.
Aether was the light.
Kael was the dark.
He had never explicitly confirmed that his strength originated from the Abyss. It simply looked the part. It was a mirror image, a twin shadow that shared the same aesthetic but a different soul.
"I can feel it... the world is changing."
"Have the laws themselves already been shattered?"
"Then, Kael..."
Skirk's mouth parted in a small, silent gasp of realization.
To her eyes, Teyvat had already shifted on its axis. The world was no longer what it once was.
And the catalyst for this transformation was the man from the stories... the Reincarnator.
"A Reincarnator..."
"It has to be."
"Kael has been saving Teyvat, over and over, through every Cycle."
"To be so powerful, yet so selfless... I truly wish I could see what kind of man he is in person."
[Celestia.]
[Kael stood amidst the silent ruins, exhaling a long, weary breath as the pieces of the puzzle finally clicked into place.]
[He knew how fragile Celestia's power had become.]
[At this rate, the island would crumble into dust before the new Heavenly Principles could even arrive.]
[If that happened, Teyvat was truly beyond saving.]
[As for the Abyss Order...]
[Kael didn't give them much thought. In his eyes, they were likely just pawns in a cosmic game of tug-of-war between Celestia and the Abyss.]
[The Abyss pushed Aether to devour the Throne of the Gods and change Teyvat, but whether that change would be a salvation or a nightmare was anyone's guess.]
[Celestia, however, had chosen Lumine to succeed the Heavenly Principles and create a fresh Teyvat.]
[Kael trusted that vision more. The Heavenly Principles had created this world... how could a creator bear to watch their own masterpiece burn?]
[The Cycle...]
[Kael stared at the massive, ornate gate before him.]
[He hesitated for a moment, his mind racing.]
["Let's check Lumine's fate first," he murmured.]
["Health and longevity."]
[Lifespan: Over tens of thousands of years...]
[Kael: "???"]
['Tens of thousands of years?']
['No wonder she was picked as the candidate for the new Heavenly Principles. With a lifespan like that, she's practically an eternal monument.']
Lumine: "Huh?"
Venti: "Ooh! The Traveler's lifespan is tens of thousands of years? That's wonderful!"
Zhongli: "Over tens of thousands of years... and fortunately, she shows no signs of erosion."
Azhdaha: "Hmph!"
Raiden Ei: "Tens of thousands of years... perhaps that is the true form of Eternity."
Yae Miko: "Oh my, our adorable little Traveler is suddenly the heir to the Heavenly Principles? I'm starting to feel a bit intimidated."
Lisa: "You should be. You're the one who keeps teasing her. If she remembers that when she takes the throne..."
Eula: "This vengeance... I'll let her take it for me."
Lumine: "..."
Lumine: "Hey! Everything is falling apart, and Kael still has the energy to play around? What is he even doing? He needs to get off Celestia right now!"
Paimon: "He's literally reading her fortune while the world ends."
Kamisato Ayaka: "It feels like... Kael's final moment of peace."
Lumine: "Don't say that! Don't make it sound so scary! He just needs to finish playing and come back to Teyvat!"
["Romantic luck..."]
[People destined to cross her path...]
[The list was long. Far too long.]
[Kael: "???"]
["What!"]
["Fine, fine. Is this girl's social circle really this explosive?"]
Lumine: "I don't! I'm not even from Teyvat, the Heavenly Principles' calculations are wrong! They're completely inaccurate!"
Paimon: "Calm down, Lumine!"
[There were men, women, foxes, spirits...]
[There were...]
[Kael: "....."]
['Sigh. I originally just wanted her to remember me. Just me.']
['But this...']
['Ignoring gender is one thing, but she's crossing species boundaries now?']
Lumine: "Bullshit! He's doing this on purpose just to annoy me!"
Lumine: "The Heavenly Principles is just listing everyone I've met on my journey! They're just people I have a connection with, not 'romantic luck'!"
Lisa: "My, Lumine is getting quite defensive."
Yae Miko: "She's probably afraid Kael will get jealous. Look, he's gone quiet."
Lumine: "He's doing it on purpose!"
[Kael brushed off his clothes.]
[Even though there wasn't a speck of dust on him.]
[He stretched his arms toward the sky, a slow, languid movement.]
[He stood there in silence for a long time.]
[Then, without further hesitation, Kael pushed the gate open.]
[He stepped into the blinding, white radiance.]
['I really wanted to walk beside you for a long, long time...']
['But this is where my path ends.']
['I suppose I can only blame the Heavenly Principles for fading. The remaining power isn't enough to keep the laws of this world turning.']
['At least with the protection of Order, you should be safe.']
The Price of a New Order
["I hope that this time, you can successfully reach the high heavens and take your place upon the Throne of the Gods."]
["When that time comes, we will finally meet again..."]
["..."]
["Just kidding. Once I've turned into power, I won't have a consciousness anymore."]
["When you step onto the Throne of the Gods, you will initiate a new order."]
["Good luck, Lumine."]
[.....]
[Celestia fell into silence once more.]
The audience in the live stream was baffled. They stared at the screen, trying to process what they had just witnessed.
What did Kael do?
They didn't understand the words he spoke after crossing the threshold. According to the legends of Celestia, the one who crosses the gate becomes the new god of Teyvat, a protector of humanity.
But Kael's crossing felt different. It felt like an ending.
Zhongli: "Did Mr. Kael sacrifice his own power to maintain the operation of Teyvat's order?"
Venti: "He was likely worried that Teyvat would collapse prematurely."
Jean: "Mr. Kael is so noble."
Paimon: "Kael was afraid that if Teyvat collapsed early, it would hurt Lumine. He didn't want the Abyss to swallow the throne. Lumine is the only thing that matters to him."
Nahida: "So everything was just to hand all the initiative over to Lumine?"
Alhaitham: "I believe so. Only by ascending the Throne of the Gods can she be one hundred percent safe. Mr. Kael feared that if the Abyss succeeded, it would harm her. As long as Celestia's power remains and the order stands, all of Teyvat will remain in a constant Cycle to provide her with opportunities."
Lumine: "He... that idiot..."
Dainsleif: "Aether, give up on your plan."
Aether: "....."
Forget the plan. How could he even execute a plan while watching this?
Besides, a Reincarnator had landed in Teyvat. In the first episode, Kael's power was a complete mystery. Who knew how strong he actually was?
Kael was from another world. If Celestia and the Abyss combined weren't enough to face him, what was the point? The only plan that mattered was whatever was inside Reincarnator Kael's head.
Aether: "@Kael, I only have one thing to say. You better not bully Lumine."
Kael: "It's a good day if she doesn't bully me. She has thousands upon thousands of 'destined partners' after all (laughs)."
Lumine: "Liar! You... you're making me so mad... *sniff*..."
Paimon: "Oh boy, Lumine's crying. You're in big trouble now, kid (laughs)."
Kael: "I was just making a joke to lighten the mood."
Lumine: "That doesn't mean you can misunderstand me like that."
["So..."]
["You're travelers from beyond the stars?"]
["But when you tried to leave and head for the next world, a mysterious deity blocked your path?"]
[And just like that, the Sustainer took my brother away.]
[I was sealed, my original power stripped from me.]
[We, who once crossed countless worlds, were trapped here...]
["I don't know how many years it has been."]
["But I will find out."]
On the beach, Lumine clenched her small fists. Her resolve hardened, her knuckles turning white.
She turned her gaze to the floating creature beside her. "I've been wandering alone since I woke up... until I met you two months ago."
"Yeah! It's a good thing you were there," Paimon said, nodding vigorously. "Otherwise, I probably would have drowned."
"So, I'll do my best to be a great guide."
"Lumine..."
"It's time to go."
Led by Paimon, the blonde girl set out on her journey to find her brother. They crested a high cliff, the wind whipping through Lumine's hair.
A few Hilichurls caught her eye. She stared at their tribe, her gaze lingering on the strange, masked creatures.
For some unknown reason, her heart gave a sudden, sharp throb. It was a phantom ache, deep and hollow.
A single tear escaped the corner of her eye and rolled down her cheek.
A gentle breeze brushed past. It wasn't a cold gust, but a soft, lingering caress. It felt like a pair of invisible, tender hands wiping away the trace of her sorrow.
"Lumine..."
Paimon's voice snapped her out of the trance.
"What's wrong, Lumine?"
"Nothing." Lumine forced a smile, though her eyes remained distant. "The wind just got in my eyes."
"Let's keep moving."
~✦~ End of Chapter ~✦~
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