Aether sidestepped the icy blade swung by the Abyss Herald before him, then countered with a slash of his own. Just as the Herald was about to unleash a surge of Cryo energy, Aether didn't hesitate—he immediately retreated. Countless frost-laden spikes shot toward him, but he quickly assessed his surroundings and began running along the wall, his Dull Blade scraping against the surface and sending sparks flying.
The trajectory of the ice spikes was disrupted by the Anemo energy in his hand, while several Geo pillars erupted from the ground, blocking the Herald's retreat. Aether channeled Electro energy into his blade and leaped toward the Herald, bringing down a massive Electro slash.
A blinding white light erupted through the narrow corridor, forcing Eide to shield his eyes.
When everything settled, Aether was seen crouching, examining the lifeless Herald on the ground.
Strangely, this Herald wasn't an Abyss Herald, but rather...
The text embroidered on its cloak made Eide read it aloud.
"Fate?"
An Abyss Lector? Why did it look almost identical to the Abyss Heralds under Lumine's command?
Aether looked up, his gaze fixed on the radiant white gate ahead. Perhaps all the answers lay beyond it.
...
Behind the stone gate stood two figures—Lumine and a kneeling Khaenri'ahn.
A violet glow enveloped both of them, while at the center, a massive crystal hovered in the air. The nearby boulders stirred as another intruder arrived.
"What trick is the Abyss playing this time?"
Rover quickly scanned the surroundings. Lumine abruptly turned around, her face showing a hint of confusion, but she still drew her weapon.
"Who... are you?"
Rover frowned. The Lumine before him seemed vastly different in demeanor from the one they had interacted with before.
If the Lumine of the Abyss was cold, ruthless, and decisive, the current Lumine could only be described as... inexperienced.
Before he could ponder further, the massive violet crystal behind them began to vibrate.
"O life, why do you kneel? Is it out of fear for the unknown? Or is it greed for power?"
As soon as the words were spoken, Abby emerged from the soundwaves, shielding Rover behind him. His eyes bore an unprecedented solemnity.
"This thing's presence... gives me a sense of danger. Rover, be careful!"
Even Abby was wary. Rover tightened his grip on his sword, the blade now wreathed in Havoc energy.
"Dad... Dad!?"
Caribert suddenly rushed past Rover, running toward the kneeling figure.
A violet light rose from the Khaenri'ahn, but the crystal did not halt its actions despite the interruption.
"O life, why do you kneel? I am no god. I am merely... a sinner."
....
"No! You are no sinner! You are our king, the supreme sovereign!"
Eide slowly stood up, spreading his arms in a delirious frenzy, as if yearning to embrace that power.
"If it can save my child, I will kneel! I will become the antithesis of life itself!"
The surrounding violet mist swirled like eerie threads, coiling around Eide.
"Let's go!"
Aether grabbed Eide's arm and pulled him back. The next second, the stone gate behind them slammed shut, leaving only the echoes of prayers in the dark chamber.
"O flower born of sin, yet untainted... I know your fate."
Aether froze. He turned his head slightly, staring at the radiant violet light.
A burning sensation spread across his palm. Slowly raising his hand, he saw the detestable Abyssal energy swirling in it.
....
Lumine's expression was one of shock. Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
"You... truly know... my fate?"
Her voice trembled slightly. Rover leaned against the sealed gate, swiftly analyzing the situation.
It seemed he had stumbled into some kind of triggered ritual. Without understanding the circumstances, observing quietly was the wisest choice.
"Suppress not your resentment. Tolerate not the lies.
Become something transcendent—surpass all fates imposed upon you."
The voice, laced with temptation, continued to echo. Lumine's eyes gradually lost their usual luster.
...
"Yes, resentment! When the Seven destroyed us, we were furious!
Everything the Seven promised was nothing but lies!"
Eide continued to vent his rage. Aether thought he had truly gone mad, but that damned voice persisted, as if forcing him to make a choice.
Aether's response was straightforward. He stepped onto the railing ahead and thrust his sword straight at the eerie violet crystal.
But all that resulted was a shower of sparks. The crystal, shrouded in thick violet mist, remained unharmed, floating undisturbed.
"I shall weep at the end of time... as I look back upon your journey."
...
"Yes... the end of fate... should not be recorded..."
Lumine turned around, her body now enveloped in Abyssal energy.
Rover's eyes widened. He raised his blade to block—Abyss and Havoc energies clashed, devouring each other. Whenever Lumine seemed at a disadvantage, the massive violet crystal at the center would bestow new Abyssal power upon her.
Rover unfurled a black wing, hurling Lumine away. His weapon transformed into a scythe, which he swung at the crystal.
The dark mist split open. Mid-air, Rover drew a crossbow and fired several Havoc-infused bolts. The moment they struck the crystal, all phenomena vanished, leaving only Caribert weeping on the ground.
Rover landed, glancing at the now-open stone gate behind him. He closed his eyes, recalling everything that had transpired, then opened them again.
"Come out. Whoever you are, your goal should be accomplished by now."
...
Eide gradually calmed down. His expression was no longer frenzied but instead carried a sense of relief.
"What just happened?
The moment I saw that thing, all my emotions settled. All that remained was... an indescribable feeling, whether awe or bliss."
Aether remained uneasy. After a deep look at the still-glowing crystal, he quickly pulled Eide along.
"Let's just leave for now."
The stone gate behind them opened, and the two exited one after the other.
Aether glanced at the Abyssal energy in his hand. Combined with what had just happened, he had a hypothesis to verify.
Returning to the familiar house, Caribert lay on the bed just as before.
Eide walked to Caribert's side, while Aether's gaze fell on the counter—where that box sat quietly.
Aether took out the shattered mirror.
The reflection it revealed made his heart tremble, even though he had braced himself.
The face staring back at him was Lumine's.
....
Caribert had vanished, leaving only a young man before Rover.
"Was all this your doing?"
The man nodded. Rover's expression returned to its usual calm.
"Judging by your reaction, you've figured it out?"
Rover nodded.
"Your ability inserted a false memory, showing me this recollection.
It's obvious—seeing Lumine at first glance, it's easy to deduce this was during her journey in Sumeru.
The so-called kneeling was to save Caribert.
The Abyss, as the antithesis of life, is inseparable from sin and sinners.
The 'untainted flower' is self-explanatory—though born of the Abyss, Lumine had never been corrupted by its power before."
Rover coolly opened a void beside him. The moment Lumine accepted the Abyssal energy, he had already consulted Irminsul, and the information it provided was thought-provoking.
Lumine's traces from centuries ago had been erased in a peculiar manner. The last records in the ley lines coincided with her time before Sumeru.
"If the 'resentment and lies' refer to the Seven's destruction of Khaenri'ah, then 'transcending fate' is about erasing the traces left in Irminsul.
The Lumine in the memory attacked me because I possess a portion of Irminsul's power. So, am I correct... Mr. Caribert?"
The man smiled and applauded.
"Rover, you're absolutely right. But aren't you worried about your companion, Aether?"
Rover sheathed his blade and turned to leave.
"I trust he'll handle it properly—just as he trusts me."
He paused, lowering his head in thought.
"So this is the Loom of Fate? Altering fragments of reality and memory... Truly a troublesome existence."
Caribert was taken aback.
"How did you know?"
Rover didn't turn around, only offering a faint smile.
"The unseasonable heat in Sumeru City, the method of entering this ruin... Anyone paying attention could guess this was the Abyss's initial experiment on you."
Caribert sighed and quickened his steps to block Rover's path.
"It seems you've seen through everything... But since we've reached the story's end, how about... hearing the final fate of poor Caribert?"