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Xiao’s fingertips brushed his wrist.
There was a heart wrenching scream from the yaksha and he slipped from his grasp.
Wind howled against his ears, pleading and begging him to fly, just fly again, save yourself, please.
He was falling. Falling. Falling.
Until suddenly-
Pain shot up his spine. The blades of his shoulders contracted and stretched. Skin tore and the feeling of blood and sweat alike ran down his back. A bright light sprouted from the base of his back all the way up to the tips of his shoulders, and suddenly he felt light. And just as the oncoming waves licked the ends of his disheveled braid, the traveler flew.
Not just flew, though. He soared. He danced through the air like he had been born among the stars, bruised and battered body twisting and turning like a ballerina as his wings pulsed with the wind, carrying him higher and higher.
Aether broke into a smile, and for a millisecond, the danger Liyue was faced with had left his memory entirely. Lumine was by his side, and they were flying through the cosmos, searching for a new, thriving planet to seek refuge. They were playing hide-and-seek in black holes, and making friends with young stars. They were witnessing supernovas of their mother figures, and human destruction of their father figures. They were meeting new creatures, cooking new meals, traversing new terrains. They were free.
Aether flipped once more in the air before landing heavily onto the Jade Chamber’s stone platform. Blood dried to his skin and his shoulders fell when the heavy weight of reality was exchanged for the blissful pair of wings he once traveled with. Each glassy feather fell to the floor, fragment by fragment, and disintegrated into stardust.
He stood up, righted himself, and rolled his shoulders. Those around him were staring in awe, surprise, and a little bit of horror. All, except for Ningguang. She held a hand to the Traveler, desperation lacing her voice.
“Traveler, lend me a hand.”