Despite their youthful appearances that suggest teenagers in their mid-teens, the Traveler siblings Aether and Lumine are actually ancient beings who have witnessed centuries of Teyvat's history. Players encounter these mysterious twins at the beginning of their Genshin Impact journey, choosing one as their protagonist while the other becomes central to the game's overarching narrative.

The twins' true age becomes apparent through key story revelations. Both Aether and Lumine witnessed the destruction of Khaenri'ah, a cataclysmic event known as the Cataclysm that occurred approximately 500 years before the game's main events. This establishes them as being at least half a millennium old, making them among the oldest characters in the game's universe despite their youthful visages.

Their journey across worlds was interrupted by an Unknown God who separated them, setting the stage for the player's adventure to reunite the siblings. The chosen protagonist embarks on a quest through the seven nations of Teyvat while the other sibling appears as the leader of the Abyss Order, creating one of gaming's most compelling familial narratives.

The Ageless Nature of Teyvat's Inhabitants

An interesting aspect of Genshin Impact's universe is how time affects its characters. While the game world clearly experiences the passage of time—evidenced by annual birthday celebrations for characters—the physical aging of characters remains static. This means Aether and Lumine, despite being at least four years older since the game's release in terms of in-world events, maintain their original appearances.

This ageless quality extends to all characters in Teyvat. Child characters like Klee and Diona don't physically mature, while adolescent characters like Xingqiu remain perpetually in their teenage years. The game's narrative focuses on adventure and exploration rather than conventional aging processes.

The Mystery of Pre-Cataclysm Existence

One of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding the Traveler siblings is how long they existed before the events in Khaenri'ah. The game provides no concrete information about their lives prior to witnessing the Cataclysm, leaving their complete chronological age ambiguous. What remains certain is that they have accumulated centuries of experience traveling between worlds before arriving in Teyvat.

The Traveler's Role in Teyvat's Future

As Genshin Impact continues to expand with new regions and story content, the Traveler's journey grows increasingly complex. With the game approaching its exploration of Khaenri'ah, the very nation whose destruction the siblings witnessed centuries ago, their ancient perspective becomes increasingly relevant to understanding Teyvat's mysteries.

The enduring nature of Aether and Lumine's characters allows for long-form storytelling that can span years of real-world time while maintaining narrative consistency. Their unique status as ancient yet youthful travelers continues to fascinate players who piece together clues about their past through world quests, artifact descriptions, and character dialogues.

Conclusion

Aether and Lumine stand as fascinating examples of characters whose apparent age contradicts their actual experience. Their minimum 500-year existence provides them with unique insights into Teyvat's history while their preserved youth allows them to actively participate in its current events. As Genshin Impact's story continues to unfold, players can expect to learn more about these mysterious siblings and the full extent of their journey through time and space.

This content draws upon IGN, a leading authority in gaming journalism and reviews. IGN's extensive coverage of Genshin Impact delves into the lore and character backgrounds, often emphasizing the mysterious origins and ageless qualities of the Traveler siblings, Aether and Lumine, which continue to intrigue the global player community.