24: We Shall Meet Again

"I want to make up for my mistakes. I want to protect the people of Mondstadt. I want them and Stormterror to understand one another... and find peace," Lumine shouted over the howling wind, clinging tightly to Saphir's icy hand. The gusts were too strong—she feared her voice wouldn't reach.

Saphir didn't respond. Maintaining the chain was already pushing her to the brink. She heard Lumine's declaration but lacked the strength to offer encouragement. Right now, just holding on was all she could manage.

Stormterror thrashed wildly, trying to break free. But the chain, as if alive, coiled tighter and tighter, snaring him like a beast in a hunter's trap.

Saphir tried to speak, to tell Lumine to destroy the purple crystal embedded in Stormterror's spine. But the moment she opened her mouth, a metallic taste of blood flooded her throat. Her expression contorted with pain. This wasn't just a battle against a corrupted dragon—it was a struggle of pure endurance. And she… had no chance of winning it alone.

"Damn it! Where's the opening? Barbatos, you bastard, if you don't show up now, I swear I'll let it all go to hell!" Saphir cursed in her heart, her grip tightening on the chain, crimson eyes locked on the purple crystal embedded in Stormterror's spine.

Just then, a familiar voice rang in Lumine's ears—soft, familiar, oddly calming.

"Traveler, do you see the purple crystal ahead? Destroy it. It's the only way to bring Stormterror back to his senses."

Lumine spun around, alert. No one was there. The voice was disembodied, yet unmistakably familiar.

Her gaze returned to the crystal. No time to hesitate.

Trust… or not?

"I…" Lumine let go of Saphir's hand and began climbing forward across Stormterror's scales. "I have to try. Even if it ends in failure. I have to do something."

She unsheathed her dull-edged sword and pressed on. When she finally reached the crystal, she raised the blade over her head, ready to bring it down.

But before she could strike, something shot toward her—three sharp ice lances streaking through the air.

Instinct screamed. Lumine twisted to the side, barely avoiding the deadly shards. They weren't aimed to kill—but to distract.

Why?

Then it hit her.

"No—Sharp!"

She whirled around, just in time to see a chilling scene: one of the ice lances had pierced Saphir's chest. The dark chain dissolved into thin air as elemental energy scattered into the turbulent winds.

"Sharp…! SHARP!"

Saphir, her strength drained, was thrown into the sky like a broken doll—falling toward the ground far, far below.

Lumine wanted to leap after her, to dive and catch her before it was too late. But before she could move, that voice returned.

"You must see through illusion, Traveler. Never lose your composure—panic and rage will undo everything you and your friends have worked for."

"I…" Lumine's heart was breaking. Her journey had only just begun, and yet… her first companion in this strange land had been taken from her. And she could do nothing.

She gritted her teeth, holding back the scream in her throat. Her broken wind glider was useless—if she jumped now, she'd be the next to fall. She turned to the source of this chaos.

On Stormterror's head, a grotesque Deep Abyss Mage danced a mocking jig.

"Give it up, girl! You can't stop the Abyss!" the mage crooned with his warped voice.

Lumine said nothing. Her only answer was a swift slash of her blade, shattering the next wave of ice spears.

She charged.

Her blade struck—but missed. The mage teleported away just in time.

But his hasty retreat had consequences.

His spell's illusion crystal was now exposed. Lumine spotted it immediately and swung at it—once, twice. But no matter how hard she struck, the purple gem remained intact.

Stormterror howled in pain.

Why… why can't I destroy it?

The answer was cruel and simple—she was too weak. Ever since the Heavenly Principles imprisoned her, her power had been sealed. Right now, she wasn't even as strong as a regular Vision bearer.

The realization hit like a hammer.

The Deep Abyss Mage sneered. "Too weak, little girl. Too weak! You're so pathetic I might just leave you here. Yes, watch! Watch how your friend's sacrifice was meaningless!"

He began to cast another spell, raising his staff.

But then—

A hand reached from behind him and gripped his neck, cutting off his spell instantly.

"You—!" The Abyss Mage choked, eyes wide with terror. "Y-You're supposed to be—"

"If you want to die, keep talking." Saphir's voice was cold, steady.

The mage fell silent.

Truth was, Saphir had narrowly avoided death. She'd used one of her rarely employed emergency skills:

"Clone Technique" – Leave a clone at your current position and instantly teleport to a pre-set location. Can also trigger upon taking fatal damage. The clone will explode after a short delay, damaging nearby enemies.

She had triggered the skill just in time to teleport upward, leaving behind a clone to take the hit. The moment the Abyss Mage reappeared—at her clone's original position—she struck.

Her body was nearly spent. Her elemental energy was dangerously low. But she had enough to say this:

"Bring out the Prince. You're not worth talking to."

The mage tried to sneer, but the blood drained from his face as a rift opened atop Stormterror's back.

And out walked a golden-haired youth.

Lumine's breath caught.

Him…? Her brother?

He wore foreign garments, his hair as gold as hers, eyes glowing like starlight. He had a pendant on his ear—the same one as always. Lumine stepped forward instinctively.

"Brother… is it really you? Brother!"

She tried to run toward him—but three more Abyss Mages appeared, blocking her path.

And as if the air itself bowed to his presence, Stormterror calmed. Even the roaring winds stilled.

The Prince turned—not to Lumine, but to Saphir.

"You wanted to see me?"

"I have no quarrel with the Abyss," Saphir replied, casually dropping the struggling mage. "I came here on behalf of a friend—to save one of his own."

She patted Stormterror's wing. "So, Prince. Will you let him go?"

The golden-haired prince gave a dry laugh. "Since when did Barbatos become friends with a Fatui Harbinger? If you're going to lie, at least make it believable."

Lumine froze.

Fatui… Harbinger?

Saphir didn't flinch. She shrugged. "Believe what you want. But I'm protecting Stormterror. You don't want to make enemies of the Fatui—not now."

The prince fell silent. He knew the truth—his true enemy was Celestia, the Heavenly Principles. Making unnecessary enemies in the Fatui would be unwise.

He turned to Lumine.

His eyes softened.

"…I'm sorry, Lumine. This isn't how we were supposed to meet again. But I have a war to finish—with the gods above."

"Walk the path I once walked. Witness the truth. When the time is right… we'll meet again."

Then, he turned away, opened a portal, and vanished.

"I won't grant your request," his voice echoed, "but I'll withdraw. I won't interfere with Stormterror anymore. And you—don't interfere with Barbatos either. Let us both see… if they can save him."

The portal closed. The sky cleared.

Stormterror roared, a cry of liberation. Then, with a powerful flap of his wings, he soared into the sky—free.

Saphir and Lumine jumped from his back as he ascended. By now, Stormterror had dropped low enough that the fall wouldn't harm them.

Saphir caught Lumine on the way down.

"You okay?" she asked gently. She could see how weak Lumine was—her body still sluggish, her strength far from recovered.

Lumine shook her head, eyes full of emotions she couldn't name. Watching her brother vanish again had shaken her.

"He said we'd meet again. But… where is the end of this journey?" she whispered.

Saphir didn't answer.

Because she too wondered—when the time came, what kind of reunion would await them?

We shall meet again. But where will the road lead us... and who will we be when it ends?

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