The Traveler (Chinese: 旅行者; pinyin: Lǚxíngzhě), alternatively known by their canonical names Aether (EE-ther; 空; Kōng; 'air') or Lumine (loo-MEEN; 荧; Yíng; 'light'), is the main protagonist of the video game Genshin Impact, developed by miHoYo. The Traveler has been playable since the game's September 2020 release. In the game, they travel with their guide Paimon across the world of Teyvat in search of their lost sibling while becoming involved in local political conflicts and the conspiracies of the antagonistic Abyss Order. As an interstellar traveler from outside of Teyvat, the Traveler possesses the ability to manipulate elemental power without a Vision, which is an external magical device that is normally required in order for most characters to control the elements. As the story progresses, they unlock the ability to use each element. The Traveler's characterization has long existed in tension between that of an independent character and a vehicle for player self-insertion. Their dialogue is very limited, and their personality is conveyed mostly through their actions, prompting discussion among critics about their marginalization and their role as a silent protagonist. At the same time, the game's emotional storyline between the Traveler and their sibling has been regarded as one of its more deeply-developed narrative driving forces.
Development and background The Traveler is the main protagonist of Genshin Impact. They appeared in the game's beta trailer in June 2019, and made their debut when the game launched in September 2020. At the start of the game, players must choose between two twin siblings: either Aether (the older brother) or Lumine (the younger sister) may be chosen as the playable Traveler. The developers have stated that the two Travelers are completely identical in terms of gameplay and story. The choice between them depends entirely on the player's preference; miHoYo indicated that there is no "official" or "canon" version of the Traveler. Even so, Aether appears more frequently than Lumine in the game's promotional materials. Players can choose to name the Traveler themselves at the beginning of the game, but this custom name does not affect the story's development. Their birthday is also set by the player. In the game, nearly all characters refer to the Traveler as their custom name or by certain titles (such as "Honorary Knight" in Mondstadt, or "Tumaini" in Natlan, for example); only Aether and Lumine themselves call each other by their real name. Unlike most characters in the game, the Traveler can use multiple elements. miHoYo created different attack animations and rhythms for Aether and Lumine. In version "Luna IV" released in January 2026, the development team introduced a new outfit for the Traveler along with additional enhancement effects, which players can obtain after completing certain quests.
Voice acting
Aether is voiced in English by Zach Aguilar, in Chinese by Luyin, in Japanese by Shun Horie, and in Korean by Lee Kyung-tae. Lumine is voiced in English by Sarah Miller-Crews, in Chinese by Yanning, in Japanese by Aoi Yūki, and in Korean by Lee Sae-ah. In an interview, Horie approached the Traveler from the perspective of their "weakness", indicating that the depiction of them as "suppressed" and at a disadvantage breaks away from the limitless amplification of a protagonist's plot armor. He believed that the premise that there are still enemies they cannot defeat after years of traveling makes the protagonist more realistic and human. He said that he did not think the Traveler's sibling to be a bad person, and that the sibling's tenderness and care toward the Traveler have never changed; instead, those feelings are not understood. This conflict in emotion, he said, was the deepest impression he gained while portraying Aether. Yanning revealed that she used the metaphor of a jigsaw puzzle to describe her understanding of Lumine: because Lumine was a character built from nothing, she was gradually pieced together through each story chapter and through her encounters with Paimon and several other characters. Luyin believed that as an older brother, Aether naturally shows tolerance and protectiveness when facing his younger sister Lumine, regardless of whether or not they stand on the same side of things. Yanning said that at first, the director asked her not to make the performance resemble a little girl too much, but instead more neutral, distant and cool. She also said that as the game's versions have been updated, the frequency with which she records for Lumine has increased, suggesting that the Traveler's participation in the story has grown.
Appearances
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