A/N: This chap worth 2 chap
Eula ran as fast as she could, clutching Etoma tightly in her arms.
Behind her, Diluc, Kaeya, Lumine, and Paimon followed without hesitation, trusting her to lead the way.
They burst through the forest and finally reached a wide, open clearing.
Eula slowed to a stop, breathing heavily."Huff… huff…" She steadied herself before looking down. "Etoma… are you alright?"
Etoma, who had been burying her face in Eula's chest, slowly lifted her head. Their eyes met—and Eula's heart clenched.
Tears streamed silently down the girl's face.
"Eula-nee…" Etoma's voice trembled. "That person's gaze… it's terrifying…"
"Don't worry." Eula gently stroked her hair, holding her closer. "I will protect you. No matter what."
Etoma buried her face against her again."Un… thank you, Eula-nee…" Her tears soaked into Eula's clothes.
"Don't worry, Etoma!" Paimon chimed in. "That tone-deaf bard—I mean, Venti—is fighting that guy right now! He's really strong!"
"Venti… is strong?" Etoma looked up, a faint spark of hope in her eyes. "How…?"
"Eh? Umm…" Paimon faltered, glancing around nervously.
"Your friend Venti," Kaeya spoke calmly, "is actually the Anemo Archon—Barbatos. Isn't that right, Diluc?"
Diluc gave a firm nod.
Etoma's eyes widened. "Venti… is Lord Barbatos!?"
A breath of relief escaped Eula. "Then… we're safe…"
But before that comfort could settle—
BOOM!*
A massive explosion erupted near Mondstadt. Everyone turned sharply toward the city.
"Is Mondstadt… okay?" Etoma whispered, fear creeping back into her voice.
"Trust in Venti," Diluc said firmly. "He would never allow Mondstadt to fall."
"Master Diluc is right!" Paimon added. "That bard may be weird, but he's still the Anemo Archon!"
"I see... I will... also trust Venti- ah, I mean in Lord Barbatos's power." Etoma blushed. She's still can't get used on her friend's new identity.
Eula chuckled softly. "You're too stiff, Etoma."
"T-that's because—"
Suddenly—
Everyone froze. A suffocating, sinister aura crept into the clearing. A voice followed.
"Hoh? Did I interrupt something… pleasant?" A tall figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees. Aurelios—the Mask of Doom.
Even with one arm missing, his presence alone crushed the air around them.
"If so, I apologize," he said calmly. Then his gaze locked onto Etoma. "Now… hand over the white-haired girl."
Etoma flinched violently, clutching Eula tighter.
"Over my dead body!" Diluc charged forward, claymore blazing.
Clang!*
"…Still haven't learned?" Aurelios stopped the attack—with a finger.
"Kgh—!" Flames surged wildly from Diluc's blade.
"TIME, FOR, RETRIBUTION!"
A massive phoenix of fire roared toward Aurelios. He stepped back—just in time.
"Too slow." Kaeya struck from behind. A wave of frost crashed into Aurelios, freezing his arm solid.
From above— Lumine descended, blade spinning. From the front—Diluc attacked again.
"Haah—!!"
Just before impact—
Snap*
A golden barrier erupted. Both attacks slammed into it—stopped cold. Inside, Aurelios calmly shattered the ice on his arm.
"…Impressive," he muttered. "For weaklings."
After that, he start glancing at the group. Looking at his gaze, Paimon hurried away. Hiding behind Lumine.
All of them now gathered in one spot, with weapon ready. While Eula a little bit further back still carrying Etoma.
"I must say, I'm surprised. You weaklings could manage to do this..." Aurelios began his step forward slowly.
The group tensed.
"But, I have no more time left to play. So I will end this quick." He then snapped his finger again.
The barrier expanded violently, forcing everyone back—
Everyone except Eula. She tried to escape—
—but collided with the barrier. Etoma slipped from her arms.
The realization hit too late. Eula and Etoma were trapped inside.
"No—!" Diluc unleashed another blazing strike. It did nothing.
Kaeya and Lumine attacked—again and again. The barrier didn't even tremble.
Aurelios walked forward. Slowly. Each step heavier than the last.
Etoma trembled uncontrollably. Eula dropped to shield her, wrapping her body around the girl. He stopped before them.
"You're in my way."
Eula didn't move. Her body shook—but she didn't move.
"…Please…" Her voice broke. "I'm begging you…"
For a moment, silence. Then—
He grabbed her collar. And threw her out of the barrier.
"Eula-nee!" Etoma cried, reaching out—but Aurelios' shadow fell over her, making her flinch. She froze, eyes widened. Slowly, she turned to the massive figure in front of her.
"YOU BASTARD!" Diluc slammed the barrier in a frenzy, fists cracking, blood spilling. "DON'T TOUCH HER!"
"Etoma!" Lumine shouted.
Etoma couldn't move. Her legs gave out. "P-please…" she whispered. "Don't… kill me…"
A golden ring formed around her neck, and lifted her into the air.
"—ghk—!" She choked, clawing at it. "I—I can't—breathe—!"
"ETOMA!!!" Eula screamed.
Her small body dangled helplessly. Her vision blurred. Still—
she looked toward them. She reached out.
"Good bye..." She spoke, smiling as her tears slipping out before—
—CRSHLK!!
Everything stopped.
Etoma eyes widened.
And so the group...
Aurelios' hand pierced through her small body.
Straight through.
Time slowed.
And in that frozen moment—
memories bloomed.
.
"Paimon… you really are a big eater, aren't you?" Etoma giggled, poking Paimon's round, bulging stomach. "Where does all that food even go in such a tiny body?"
"Hehe~! Paimon's stomach is like a black hole!" Paimon puffed out her chest proudly. "You can throw anything in there, and Paimon will still have room for more!"
For a second, Etoma just stared—then suddenly burst into laughter.
"O-oi! Why are you laughing?! Paimon is being serious here!"
"Yes, yes…" Etoma wiped the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. "Our Paimon is truly amazing~"
"Humph! You just haven't seen the full greatness of Paimon yet! One day, you will!"
Etoma's laughter softened.
"Yeah…" she murmured, her voice quieter now. "I can't wait for that day."
She leaned forward slightly, smiling.
"And when it comes, Paimon… I'll hug you so tightly you won't be able to breathe."
"H-Hey?! That's not something to look forward to!"
Etoma laughed again.
.
"Kaeya-nii!" Etoma's voice trembled as she ran up to him, her face already wet with tears.
"Etoma?" Kaeya immediately stepped forward, concern flashing in his eyes. "What happened?"
"S-someone said you're ugly… and that you have a bad temper…" she sobbed, wiping her tears. "So I told him that's not true—but he pushed me… and said bad things to me too… hic*…"
For a moment, Kaeya said nothing. Then he pulled her into his arms, one hand gently patting her head.
"Who was it?" His voice dropped—cold, controlled.
"Sniff*… the black-haired guy at the park…" she mumbled against his chest.
"I see. Then I will—"
Before he could finish, Etoma suddenly tightened her grip around him. She crazily shook her head.
"D-don't, Kaeya-nii…! I'm not hurt, so it's okay…" Her voice broke.
Kaeya just silent.
Etoma slowly lifted her head, her teary eyes meeting his.
"I'm just... worried... if you confront him... I..." Etoma paused. Her tears began to fall again. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you…"
She buried her face on his chest again.
"After all… you're my beloved brother" She muttered.
Kaeya let out a soft breath—then chuckled.
Etoma pouted.
Kaeya tightened his embrace, resting his chin lightly against her head.
"Thank you, Etoma. You're my beloved sister too."
.
"Lumine…" Etoma and Lumine lay side by side on the same bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Hm?" Lumine turned her head slightly, surprised. Etoma usually called her Traveler, and rarely called by name
"On your next journey…" Etoma hesitated, fingers fidgeting with the blanket. "Can you… take me with you?"
Lumine blinked. "Hmm… what about Diluc? I doubt he'd allow it."
Etoma shook her head, determination flickering in her eyes.
"I'll convince him!"
Lumine let out a soft laugh. "Why do you want to come with me so badly?"
Etoma went quiet. For a moment, only the faint night breeze filled the silence.
"I… like adventuring," she said at last, her voice small. "My dream is to see the whole world… to travel everywhere."
She let out a faint, self-conscious laugh.
"It's kind of stupid, right?" Etoma buried half of her face with blanket.
"Everyone else dreams of becoming something great… but mine is just… wandering around."
Lumine's gaze softened. "I don't think that's stupid at all."
Etoma blinked.
"People just have different dreams. And yours…" Lumine smiled gently, "…sounds wonderful."
Etoma's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Hehe… Lumine said my dream is wonderful… I'm so happy…"
Lumine chuckled quietly at her reaction.
"So?" Etoma leaned closer, her eyes shining. "Will you take me with you?"
"If that's what you want," Lumine replied softly, "then of course I will."
"Yay! Lumine is the best!" Etoma immediately wrapped her arms around her.
And for a brief moment, everything felt simple.
.
"Etoma?"
"Hm? What is it, Eula-nee?" Etoma sat on a bench near the Knights of Favonius training grounds, watching quietly.
Eula shifted slightly, releasing her claymore as she approached her.
"Don't you… get bored?" she asked, cheeks faintly flushed. "Watching me repeat the same movements over and over…"
Etoma shook her head without hesitation.
"Not at all. The time I spend by watching you, is the same as the time I spend being with you. Why would I feel bored when spending time with my beloved Eula-nee?" Etoma tilted her head in confusing gaze.
"I-i see…" Eula's face turned even redder, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Etoma stood from the bench and approaching her. She then gently took both of her hands.
Eula immediately became flustered. "E-Etoma, I'm sweating—"
"Did you forget what we talked about at the lake?" Etoma raised an eyebrow.
Eula silenced.
"No matter how much time passes," Etoma continued, her voice gentle, "I'll never get bored of being with you."
Her smile softened.
"Even when we're old… even if you're just sleeping… I'd still stay by your side, watching you and won't feel bored."
"E-Etoma… that's too much…" Eula covered her mouth with her closed palm. Trying her best to hide her eccentric grin while flustered beyond words.
Etoma pouted slightly.
Then she rose on her tiptoes—
"Chu~"
A soft kiss landed on Eula's cheek.
Eula completely shut down, steam practically rising from her head.
"What do you mean 'too much'?" Etoma teased, smiling brightly. "There's never such a thing as 'too much' for my Eula-nee."
She leaned closer again, this time blushing slightly.
"So… will you stay with me too? Until we grow old?"
Eula slowly sank to her knees, hiding her face.
"…Un. I will…"
.
"Diluc-nii…" Under the moonlight by Cider Lake, Etoma sat quietly on the wooden bridge, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.
"What is it?" Diluc asked, his gaze fixed on the shimmering reflection of the moon.
"Why did you… accept it so easily?" she murmured. "Our… bond…"
Diluc let out a low chuckle.
"Etoma… I've always wanted a younger sister." He turned to her, a faint smile forming.
"And right in front of me was a shy and adorable girl… waiting to be chosen. How could I possibly refuse?"
Etoma's face turned red.
"I-I'm not adorable… and I'm… dirty…"
Diluc's expression changed instantly. "Who told you that?"
"E-eh? N-no, I just—"
Before she could finish, Diluc pulled her into a firm embrace.
"W-wah—!" She flailed slightly in surprise.
"Etoma…" his voice was steady, unwavering, "I have never once thought of you that way. So what if your clothes are dusty? Dirty? Clothes can be cleaned."
He held her a little tighter.
"But your heart, Etoma. There's no dirt at all. Not even a spec of dust."
Etoma went silent, staring down.
"When I accepted this bond, it's not just mean I want us to become sister and brother. It wasn't just about becoming siblings. I also mean, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
He pulled back slightly, meeting her eyes.
"So tell me again, Etoma… Do you want to stay with me… for the rest of your life?"
Etoma hesitated. Then, slowly…
She nodded.
"Un…" Her voice was barely a whisper.
Her arms clumsily and gently wrapped around him in return. Diluc closed his eyes, a quiet smile on his lips, savoring the moment.
"Diluc-nii… I love you."
"Mm. Me too..."
.
.
"I will be taking your soul,"
CSHLK––!*
Aurelios pulling back his hand as white orb suddenly appeared on his arm.
"ETOMAAAA!!!!"
Beneath the cruel winds,
a radiant candle fought to keep its glow—
before it was gently, mercilessly,
blown out.
.
.
A/N: I must say... I still have alot to learn. Well, its my first time writing this kind of fic so, I hope you guys could forgive me if I made some mistake and missed something.