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Was she seeing things? Was this really real? She didn't believe it, not one bit. There was no way. Lumine dropped her sword and tears started to form on the corner of her eyes.
“Aether?..” her voice was low, barely above a whisper. “Aether!” the second the Lumine called out for him was much louder. A wide smile appeared on her face as she saw that it was really him. The tears started to flow down her face as the happiness of saying her brother finally kicked in. But something wasn't right. Why was he silent? Wasn’t he supposed to be just as happy as she was right now?
She was about to jump on him and hug him as hard as she could but right before she could do anything Aether raised his hand as a sign for her to stop. Just as Lumine saw Aether stopping her from running towards him she looked at him confused.
“Aether, what's wrong? Aren't you happy to see me..?” she smiled nervously at him as she looked straight at him but he wasn’t doing the same. Lumine suddenly got a bad feeling in her stomach like something here was wrong, *very wrong*. But then she was Aethers mouth moving and she was very eagered to hear his voice after so long.
“Lumine..” his voice was low but it was just loud enough for Lumine to hear him call out her name.
“Yes?” she said almost to excitedly. Aether finally made eye contact with Lumine. And right there, the look in his eyes told Lumine that something was indeed wrong.
“I'm sorry but.. We can't have our reunion just yet. There’s still some unfinished business at my end and your journey is not over just yet.” Lumine's eyes widened and her heart sank. It felt like a bomb had just landed on her. Then she chuckled nervously.
“What do you mean ‘unfinished business’?” Lumine looked confused at Aether as he just stared at her with soulless eyes. He sighed as he looked straight at her with a cold stare.
“Lumine, there's many things that are going on behind the scenes with these so-called ‘archons’ that you think are on your side. But in fact they are the ones who you should be stopping, not the abyss order." Lumine looked confused at Aether as if he was talking a different language.
“Y-you’re joking right Aether?.. Hehe.. R-right?” she was screaming in her head begging that what he was saying wasn't true. “A-are you.. Apart of the abyss order?”
Lumine was shaking. Secretly praying that this was all some sick joke that Aether was playing and he was only doing it for a few laughs.
“Aether.. C’mon what's with all these jokes?” she chuckled again as she waited for Aether to just burst out laughing and saying ‘got you!’
“I'm not joking Lumine. Don't try to stop me. Just dont. This is for the greater good.” He said all that like it was no big deal.
“What do you mean it's all for the greater good!? Aether do you even hear yourself right now!” Lumine clenched her hands into fists as she looked at her brother straight in the eyes. But was this really her brother at this point? The Aether she knew would never say stupid stuff like that.
“C’mon Aether, let's just go home!” she reached out her hand, waiting for him to grab it like he used to do.
“Home… You’re right. ‘Home’ is wherever I'm with you.” Aether smiled at her. The very same smile that Lumine adored with all her heart. But it didn't feel the same as it used to. Not right now at least.
“But.. I'm sorry, Lumine but I have to do this. Maybe one day we can go home together while laughing and telling each other stories on our way back. But, now is not the right time.”
Right then a portal opened behind him. ”Goodbye, Lumine. May our paths cross again in the near future” Lumine's eyes widened and her body acted on its own, running towards Aether.
“Wait no, don't go just yet! I still have so many questions!” tears started to form again as she saw her beloved brother disappearing into the black portal. Right when she was this close to stopping him. He was gone. Her hand reached for something that wasn’t there. Tears started rolling down her cheeks as she fell down to her knees. Sobbing.