Chapter Text
Despite Tighnari’s words that they will see each other soon, he and Lumine hadn’t met for the next few days. He seemed to be like a ghost - arriving in the village only to instruct the Rangers and pass Collei the medications for Lumine. After doing that, he was disappearing into a dense forest, without exchanging a word with his patient personally.
Lumine wasn’t sure why he was avoiding her. Was he still mad at her for saying those awful words? Did she cross the line with that kiss on the cheek during their last meeting?
She sighed heavily, barely paying attention to a game in front of her.
“You’re distracted,” stated the obvious Cyno, looking at her from above the TCG cards in his hand.
He was visiting her oddly often for being a general who just came back from a long journey. Lumine would expect someone like him to not have time to play cards. But she was glad he was there. At least she had a companion for long days without Tighnari in sight.
Lumine was ashamed of that, but she held a little grudge against Cyno for messing up her peaceful time of recovering. But she knew it wasn't his fault. He didn't know she was here, and he didn't ask her to fall in love with him. And him being Tighnari’s best friend was an unfortunate coincidence.
“Yeah, sorry,” she muttered, attacking with her active card without even checking the action ones. The move didn't do any damage to the opponent.
Cyno leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. Despite not changing the expression on his face, he seemed a bit upset.
“You won't win against me without paying attention,” he pointed out. “What's bothering you?”
Lumine looked to the side, searching for pointy fox ears within the bushes. Of course, she didn't see any.
“Tighnari...” she finally said quietly. “Have you talked with him lately?”
Cyno went silent for a moment. She felt his careful eyes on herself.
“No, I haven't. Is he avoiding you?”
Lumine nodded, looking at the man.
Regardless of how she enjoyed his company, she now wished gentle green-hazel eyes were staring at her instead of serious red ones.
The thought of Tighnari caused a dull pain in her chest.
At first, she considered the forest watcher a close friend - someone she could always count on in a need of information or recovery. Tighnari never asked more than was needed, and although he often scolded her for being careless or getting into trouble, she felt safe around him. His sassy nature wasn't bothering her either. It was even quite refreshing after meeting so many people who were oddly nice to her. At least she had no doubt that his sharp words were honest.
Later, the surgery for hanahaki took place, after which Lumine was genuinely happy to see Tighnari by her side after waking up. She was in good hands, no matter how severe her condition was. He was there and his presence was comforting, so much so that she didn’t hesitate to ask him to live together.
Maybe that was the moment she made a mistake. A mistake of getting too attached to him.
Living with him allowed her to get to know him even better. To see what a good and selfless person he was, helping her and others without expecting anything in return. To listen to him passionately talk about plants, fungi and other things he had learned at Akademiya. To laugh at him taunting Paimon, after the fairy annoyed him by talking too loudly. To experience his weaker side during a thunderstorm, the one that made her want to protect him as well.
Lumine didn't expect that the separation from him would be so heartbreaking. She longed for his presence beside her. For his soothing scent. For his teasing smirk. For his sharp words. For his care-filled gaze.
“I miss him…” she said quietly, noticing her voice slightly trembling. Tears began to gather in her eyes. She quickly turned her face away, trying to hide them from Cyno. “I'm not sure why he is avoiding me, but… I need to find him and ask to go back.”
The man tensed up upon hearing this. His brow furrowed.
“You're not planning to go into the forest, are you?” he asked, with worry in his voice. “You are still too weak, Lumine. Even a Shroomboar would be able to hurt you.”
She looked at the man, feeling the anxiety that had been gathering inside her for days reaching its peak.
“Then what am I supposed to do?! Wait for him, for archons know how long until he’ll eventually show up?!” she called much more forcefully than wanted.
Cyno didn’t answer, only staring at her with slightly widened eyes. Lumine immediately felt ashamed for unleashing her frustration on him.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, wiping her tears. “I know you’re worried about me. And I know that going to the forest could end badly for me at this moment, so I won’t do it. I just... want to see him again.” She sighed heavily, counting in her mind to calm down. Then she looked at the table with cards. “Nevermind… Let’s finish the game, shall we?” Her lips curved into something that was meant to resemble a smile.
Cyno didn’t answer, keeping his careful gaze on her.
Even though his face seemed to express no emotion and his lips were tightened, Lumine saw concern and softness in his eyes.
As well as an overwhelming sense of guilt.
Tighnari groaned, sitting on a protruding root near the river. He finished patrolling the forest for the day, seeing nothing worthy of his investigation or attention. Which was bad news, because he couldn't occupy his mind with anything else than Lumine and Cyno.
His ears picked up that the general had visited her again that afternoon. Didn't that guy have other duties? He seemed to be in the area almost every day.
The forest watcher knew he shouldn't blame his friend for coming. After all, he had allowed it himself. But the thought that with every visit, Cyno and Lumine were becoming closer to each other made him anxious.
Tighnari sighed and closed his eyes, leaning his head on his hands. He felt tired. When was the last time he slept through the night? It must have been before finding out the truth behind Lumine's hanahaki.
Lumine…
How much he wished to be by her side again. To hear her adorable giggle. To smell her otherworldly scent. To listen when she talked about her adventures. To feel her warmth when she was embracing him in her sleep.
He missed her so much…
“Can I join you?”
Tighnari twitched and opened his eyes immediately. The sudden voice from behind reached his ears from much closer than he would expect it to. He turned around and saw Cyno approaching him.
“You didn’t hear me,” said the general, raising slightly his eyebrows. “You must have been in deep thought. Did I disturb you?”
Tighnari wasn't surprised to be found, nor did he make any special effort to lose his trail. Cyno, after all, was an expert at tracking people down.
“It's fine.” He patted a place next to himself, inviting his friend, who sat there a moment later. “Have you seen Lumine today?”
The general nodded.
“She's getting better with each day. Your medical treatment is for sure the best in Sumeru.”
Tighnari hummed in appreciation of these words.
Cyno continued:
“She mentioned you had been avoiding her lately.” Tighnari’s heart skipped a beat as his body tensed up. “Do I assume correctly I am the reason?” The red eyes were observing him carefully.
Tighnari looked away, staring at the river flowing in the distance. His teeth clenched in frustration.
He hoped that separating himself from others would help him organize his thoughts. That he would figure out what to do next with himself and his feelings. However, despite several sleepless nights and meditations in the forest, he still didn't come up with anything. The lingering pain in his chest didn’t make it any easier.
“I just…” He started after a moment of silence. “Don’t know what to think or feel at this point. This whole hanahaki thing… Lumine’s inability to love… about which I’m not sure anymore… you being the one she once loved… I, who got involved between you two, yet being an outsider…” A tired sigh left his lips when he made a short pause. “I care for you… both of you. I wanted to give you space to settle things up without getting in the way.”
“But it's getting too hard for me,” he added in his thought.
Tighnari was already aware of his love for Lumine, but he didn't expect that even a few days without her would be so difficult. He missed her smile, her voice, and her soft hands wrapping around his body. He missed her lips on his skin, even if they were there only for a brief moment.
After seeing her from afar while patrolling the surrounding of the village, he barely restrained himself from running to her. He wanted to take her into his arms and whisper apologies into her ear. And kiss her so hard, they both would forget she couldn’t love him.
What held him back was his certainty that avoiding her was the right thing to do. He wouldn’t be able to enjoy the presence of his beloved, knowing he was hurting his friend. His sense of fairness was strong enough to stop him from returning to the village and pretending that what happened between Cyno and Lumine didn’t matter.
Cyno was staring at him carefully with a serious expression. He was analyzing his words and face, seeming to notice all his struggles and concerns.
“Why wouldn’t you get in the way?” he finally asked.
Tighnari looked at him in confusion.
“Huh?”
“Tighnari, you have feelings for the Traveler, don't you?”
Tighnari bit his lip, feeling a blush arriving on his face for being called out so directly.
He wasn't surprised that Cyno knew. Probably half the village already figured it out. Lumine could be aware of it too. But it didn't change the fact that he wanted to be fair to her and Cyno. His friend was the first to her heart, after all.
“What about it?” He asked more harshly than wanted.
Cyno didn't say anything for a while, keeping his careful gaze on the forest watcher. Finally, he sighed, standing up and facing Tighnari directly.
“You’ve always been like that. Doing everything you could to help others. Placing people's well-being before yours. It’s admirable,” he said with a hint of tenderness in his gaze. But then his eyes squinted and eyebrows drew together. “Admirable, but not in this circumstance. You are clearly unwell, Tighnari.” There was anger in his voice. “I know a thing or two about the descendants of Valuka Shuna. You find one partner for life. You suffer greatly when you are separated from them. Your condition indicates this is happening to you right now.” He briefly examined Tighnari’s silhouette. “Paleness, dark circles under eyes, sunken cheeks, slight underweight… And I've never seen your tail so neglected, even during the most difficult exam sessions at Akademiya.” He shook his head in disbelief.
Tighnari peeked at his tail from the corner of his eyes. Indeed, the fur seemed matted and messy, and there were even a few leaves stuck in the tangles. It made him realize that lately he hadn't thought about taking care of it at all. But this wasn't the time to worry about the tail, was it?
“So what? Don’t make it sound like I'm dying.” He snorted with annoyance. “It's nothing I can't handle. I can…”
“I know you can,” Cyno interrupted him harshly. “The point is, you shouldn’t. You should stop neglecting your own feelings, Tighnari. You should listen to what they’re saying.”
Tighnari felt his body tensing up as frustration and fatigue made his blood boil. His fangs emerged, but he didn't care to stop them.
He stood up while staring into Cyno's red eyes.
“Listen to what my feelings are saying?” he repeated with a voice shaking. “What do you think they’re telling me? How do you think I feel watching what's happening? Seeing you taking care of Lumine, trying to regain a lost relationship, and spending every free moment by her side? Do you think my feelings are pure and friendly!? That I separated myself because I wanted to!?” A growl left his throat as he bared his canines. Cyno seemed frozen in place, staring at him with widened eyes. “No, Cyno. If I were to listen to my feelings.... my instinct... then we would be fighting to the death right now! My feelings tell me you are trying to claim my mate and only rationality stops me from attacking!” His sharp nails dug into his clenched fists, despite the thick gloves.
The general was silent and stood still as if wanted to avoid provoking anything with his movement. Finally, he opened his mouth.
“Tighnari…”
“Shut it,” interrupted the forest watcher harshly. “I know what you’re going to say. You either want to apologize or say I'm wrong. Whatever it is… it doesn't matter.”
At the last words, his voice cracked. His throat, which had been clenched until that moment, finally let go, causing a singular sob to escape his lips. Frustration and fatigue turned into something else - sadness and hopelessness in front of a situation in which he saw no way out. He turned his face from Cyno, trying to hide tears gathering in his eyes.
“Because I know I’m wrong,” Tighnari continued so quietly, it was nearly a whisper. “I shouldn't feel that way. Not only because you are my friend and I would regret hurting you. But also because…” He gulped. “Because Lumine is not my mate.”
His gaze lowered, directed at the ground at his feet. He could barely stop his body from shaking.
“No matter what we went through together… No matter how she acted toward me... No matter how painful it is to see her being so close and friendly to you, even without her memories…” His vision became blurred by tears. “I have no right to interfere. I am just someone who took care of her during her long journey, while you…” he whispered, unable to say it aloud. “You already had her heart once... So… Even if she can’t love anymore…” His voice completely cracked.
Tighnari could no longer keep his tears from falling. Drop after drop, they fell down his cheeks, hitting the ground and slowly soaking into the forest undergrowth.
He closed his eyes, knowing he must have looked pathetic, but he couldn't hide his true emotions anymore.
He felt so terribly tired…
Suddenly, strong hands were on his shoulders, supporting him. He raised his head and saw Cyno staring at him closely.
“It seems you've thought a lot about it,” said the general with an oddly gentle voice. “This makes me even more amazed at how far from the truth are your conclusions. ‘Just someone who took care of her’? Do you really believe Lumine thinks of you that way?”
When Tighnari didn't respond, Cyno continued:
“You mentioned I had her heart. It is true, I had it. But not anymore.” His face twisted in grief as he lowered his gaze. “My indecision issued a judgment on me by taking Lumine away and forcing me to live with the knowledge that she almost died because of me.” He sighed and looked at Tighnari. “I accepted my punishment and am trying to live with it, seeking to regain at least some of what I lost. But I already know I won't get all of it back. Not when Lumine's heart is already occupied by someone else.” His eyes squinted a little. “By you. You, who torture yourself by staying away from your beloved because of me, a wasted case. You, who mourn over things that could have been resolved if only you had talked to her or me. Tell me, Tighnari, when did you become so unreasonable?” He shook his head in disbelief.
Tighnari was only staring at Cyno, speechless.
He had taken a place in Lumine's heart? Did that mean... she loved him? Should he even believe that? After all, hanahaki was supposed to make that impossible…
However, deep down, he wanted to believe that. Her smiles, gentle touches, warmth in her eyes, and the last goodbye kiss were giving him hope that his feelings weren’t one-sided. That his love had a chance.
“Why are you so sure about it?” he asked after a moment. “That I am the one who takes a place in her heart?”
Cyno withdrew his hands from Tighnari's shoulders, crossing them over his chest instead.
“Your absence makes her constantly distracted. She bumps into objects and things fall out of her hands. She was willing to go to the forest just to find you and bring you back.” He made a short pause. “She was almost on the edge of tears when I asked about you,” he finished in a severe tone.
Tighnari's eyes widened. The thought of Lumine crying felt like blades stabbed into his heart.
When she shed tears because of her nightmares, he couldn’t bear it. Being the cause of that was ten times worse. The sense of guilt overwhelmed him.
Cyno watched him, seeming to understand what he was experiencing.
“Lumine needs you, Tighnari. You, not someone who can cure her.” A small, sad smile appeared on his face and his gaze filled up with care. “So don't be like me. Don't hesitate, or your chance may be gone too,” he finished gently.
Tighnari didn’t answer for a long moment, thinking about what he heard.
If Cyno was right... If Lumine really longed for him... If his absence was hurting her…
Then what the hell was he doing in that forest instead of being by her side?
Tighnari sighed, placing a hand on his forehead.
He really was an idiot, wasn't he?
The tension that had been gathering inside him finally escaped. Single tears fell from his eyes again, but this time they weren't tears of anger or desperation. These were tears of relief.
A short choked chuckle left his mouth.
“She wanted to go to the forest in her condition? That lummox…” he said, wiping droplets from his face. “It seems she needs someone to take care of her all the time.”
Cyno nodded with a slight smile.
“Fortunately, a good candidate is right in front of me.” Then his expression became serious, and he straightened up, like when commanding his subordinates. “So go to her. Love her with all of your big and caring heart. In the way that only you can.” He loosened his stance and again his gaze became filled up with care. “And I'm sure everything will turn out as it should.”
“I…” Tighnari was speechless for a moment, staring at his best friend in silence. Finally, he took a big breath and smiled weakly. “Thank you, Cyno.”
Go to her. It was easy to say that to Cyno, who wasn't one of the dumbest people in the Avidya Forest. Tighnari felt like one, and the vision of meeting Lumine after letting her down so much was daunting.
On his way to face her, he wondered how he was supposed to do it. Just go back as if nothing ever happened? Drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness? None of these ideas seemed to fit him and the situation...
He slowed his step as his gaze fell on the flowers growing in the meadow beside the path. Giving flowers as an apology was a common concept. Perhaps as if he composed a bouquet expressing his feelings...
“MASTER TIGHNARI!”
His heart jumped when he suddenly heard Collei's call. His apprentice ran to him as fast as she could with her face pale with horror.
He momentarily forgot about the flowers. Something bad was happening.
“Collei?!” He rushed toward her so they could meet faster. “What is going on?!”
When Collei finally reached him, she bent in half, trying to catch her breath.
“L-Lumine…” she managed to say, still staring at the ground. “I gave her the medicine. Then she suddenly started choking. A moment later, she lost consciousness and…”
Tighnari felt his heart stop. Fear overpowered his entire body.
Lumine couldn't catch her breath? She had lost consciousness?
“AND YOU LEFT HER LIKE THAT?!”
Without waiting for a response, he ran toward the village as fast as he was physically able. But it was still too slow.
If Lumine was not breathing after passing out, it was too late to save her.
How did that actually happen? Did he make a mistake while preparing the medicine? Did it all happen because of him?
“No, Lumine, you can’t do this to me! Don’t leave me!” he thought desperately. “Not now! Not when I know I’m free to love you! Lumine, please!”
Tears obscured his vision, but Tighnari didn't let them slow him down.
Using Four-Leaf Sigil, he was leaping as fast as he could and finally landed on the path leading to his home.
“LUMINE!” He barged into the building.
“Tighnari?”
Tighnari froze in place.
For a moment he thought he had hallucinations because Lumine was… absolutely fine.
She was sitting comfortably on his bed with a book in her lap. The color of her skin was warm and healthy, besides dark circles under her eyes. Her breathing was calm and regular. She was just clearly surprised to see him.
“What happened? You look terrible.” She stood up and approached him, watching closely with worry in her eyes.
Tighnari didn't know what to answer, trying to calm his heavy breathing. He felt the protests of his muscles, tired after a frantic run.
“Collei… She said you fainted after suffocation…” He panted out, staring at her. “I thought you were dying.”
“Oh…” A blush appeared on Lumine's cheeks as she looked away with shame. “So that's why… it’s a bit extreme…” she said quietly.
Tighnari groaned and placed a hand on his forehead.
“Lumine, what the hell is the meaning of that?!” he called harshly, feeling exhaustion mixed with frustration. “If it's a joke, it's in very poor taste!”
The Traveler looked around as if seeking an escape, but without seeing any, she sighed and started:
“Well, you were avoiding me, and I couldn't go to the forest to find you.” She shifted her gaze to him with furrowed brows. “I asked Collei to tell you a little lie that would get you to see me. Something about my health, for example, since I know you care a lot about it.” Her hands folded in an apology. “I’m sorry. I didn't think she would say I was dying.”
Only now Tighnari realized Collei didn’t follow him after she had passed the information and was nowhere around. Normally, he would probably notice the lie in her tone, but she found him in a moment of weakness. The talk with Cyno was exhausting enough and the stress of the upcoming meeting with Lumine didn't make him feel any more careful.
He sighed, lowering his hand and looking at the Traveler.
“I have no idea what popped into her head, but she won't get away with that.” He squinted his eyes. “You too. Maybe you didn't want it to that extent, but asking my apprentice to lie about your condition is distasteful.”
Lumine kept her gaze on his. After a moment, her lips tilted into a small smile.
“At least it finally worked,” she said softly. “I regret nothing.”
Before Tighnari had time to answer, her arms had been around his waist, hugging him close to her body. At first, he froze, too surprised to react, but soon he melted into her touch, feeling it calming his senses.
How he longed for her warmness. For her otherworldly scent. For her soft touch. For the sound of her heartbeat.
Tighnari couldn't believe he had avoided it for so long.
“I missed you,” he murmured into her ear, holding her closer.
Lumine didn't respond, only gently squeezed him. After a while, however, she moved away enough to see his face.
“You missed me, yet you came here only after hearing I was dying?”
He twitched, noticing exactly what Cyno had told him about. Sadness. Longing. Hope he denies it. It was all mixed in both the tone of her voice and the golden eyes staring intently at his own. The sense of guilt once again overwhelmed him.
“No,” he shook his head while keeping his gaze locked with hers. “In fact, she found me when I was heading to you... I need to talk to you.”
Lumine pulled a little more away from him. Her hands moved from his back to gently hold his ones.
“Then I’m listening,” she said in a soft, encouraging tone.
Tighnari realized it was the moment he needed to admit his mistakes. However, the very presence of his beloved calmed him enough not to mind it too much.
“I’m sorry for leaving you,” he said after a moment, staring into her eyes. “I reasoned it with some pretty words about wanting to give you and Cyno a space, but the truth is…” He gulped. “The truth is, one part of me wanted to be fair to you and Cyno while the other one… wanted you all to myself.” His body slightly trembled. He looked away from her, ashamed. “I was disgusted by my own thoughts and feelings. I hoped that staying away from you would somehow resolve that. But I was an idiot.” He let out a short bitter chuckle. “Leaving you didn't make you or me or even Cyno happy. It only made everything worse.”
He felt his hands gently squeezed, causing him to look at Lumine again. Her eyes were filled with severity, but also with understanding.
“Tighnari…” she started quietly. “You love me, don't you?”
Tighnari froze, staring at her speechless. He felt a hot wave reaching his face.
But that wasn't a moment to lie or avoid answering. He had enough of that already.
“I do,” he admitted with his heart pounding hard. “I do love you.”
He had used these words before, trying to heal Lumine from hanahaki. They were dishonest then, only used as a tool. But this time he was sincere. Saying his true feelings aloud made him feel like a weight left his chest.
“I love you, and I’m tired of hiding it,” he spoke again more confidently, staring right into Lumine’s eyes. “I don’t even care if you don't reciprocate my feelings. Maybe you're not able to do it, but…” He gulped, feeling his throat dry. “Please let me just stay by your side. What has been between us is even more than I could have expected and…”
“Tighnari,” Lumine interrupted him, furrowing her brows. “You really are a lummox.”
A short gasp came out of his mouth when he was pulled by his arms.
A world seemed to stop when he suddenly felt Lumine's lips on his own. Soft and warm, brushing against him gently as if they were only wanting a taste of him. Such subtle touches still managed to send shivers down his spine. His nostrils became filled with her scent, and his ears caught the rapid beating of her heart. Her closeness felt so good. He was already getting addicted to it.
But then it was over. Lumine pulled away, while still keeping their hands joined. She stared at him with her face red from blushing.
“It’s quite rude…” she started with a slight resentment in her voice. “...to imply I don't love you after how badly I missed you when you were gone.”
Tighnari blinked. His mind was still hazy after the kiss.
“But… hanahaki…” he said, feeling dumbfounded.
Lumine sighed and shook her head. Then she smiled at him warmly.
“You are the one who said I'm special and the rules of this world don't apply to me,” she reminded him in a gentle voice. “You are the one who said I can fall in love again if I find a person who deserves it.” Her hand lifted, gently caressing his cheek. “And I found them. Someone who cares about everyone else more than about himself. Someone whose passion is contagious. Someone who can make me laugh or scold me if needed. Someone with whom I feel safe and happy.” She sighed slightly, closing her eyes. “Someone so wonderful that I wanted to fall in love with him despite that ability being removed from me...” She raised her gaze at him and smiled. “It's you, Tighnari,” she said softly. “I love you.”
Tighnari felt a wave of warmth flooding over his heart. A weird sound that was a mix of a sob and a purr escaped from his throat as he caught Lumine in his arms.
His lips quickly found hers, capturing them almost desperately, wanting to make up for that time when they were separated. Tighnari just couldn’t get enough of her. He loved her taste, reminding him of the sweetest fruits. He loved her tiny sighs when she was catching her breath between kisses. He loved the warmth of her soft body clinging to him as he was drawing her closer.
Oh, how he wanted to keep kissing her. Not only her tasty lips but also her soft cheeks, her forehead hidden under bangs, her neck behind her shawl… and all other places which would assure him that she really was his.
Only when Lumine let out a quiet groan of pain after he squeezed her especially strongly, Tighnari reminded himself about her condition.
“Sorry…” he murmured, releasing her from his arms and taking a step back. He felt his face burning.
Lumine checkled shortly. Her cheeks also were covered with dark blushes.
“It’s okay. I love this rough side of you too,” she sent him a teasing smile. “Maybe we can explore it a bit more when I recover.”
Tighnari huffed.
“This doesn't give me the right to…” he stopped, realizing something. “Wait, after you recover... don’t you plan to continue your journey?”
Lumine blinked, and her smile turned into a slightly sad one.
“Of course, I plan to. My journey won't end until I’m reunited with my brother. But…” She lowered her gaze, starting to play a little nervously with her fingers. “...it doesn't mean I can't come back here, right? I already think of Gandharva Ville as my home.... or rather…” She raised her eyes shyly at him. “...being by your side is my home.”
Oh, archons, how could she be so cute? Tighnari barely stopped himself from crashing her into his body again.
He gulped, trying to calm down.
“I’m… happy to hear that.” His lips curved into a smile. “Your absence won’t be pleasant, but probably not as much as when I didn't know about your feelings for me.”
Lumine clenched her hands into fists with a determined face.
“I will visit as often as possible! I'll even put up a temporary teleport closer to the village so I don't have to fly from the statue every time and…”
Tighnari groaned, placing a palm on his forehead.
“Please don’t. That thing is buzzing as hell. I have headaches from the very thought of it standing closer to my home.”
Lumine pouted a little, but her expression changed when another idea came to her mind.
“I can also create a realm in my teapot. One to which only you and I will have access,” she said with sparkles of excitement in her eyes. “We will be able to see each other there, no matter where I will be.”
Tighnari’s ears twitched with interest at hearing this. A realm to which only she and he would have access… Meaning…
“...our home,” he said, as his heart grew warmer.
“Yes…” Lumine took his hand and squeezed it slightly. “A place just for us.”
Tighnari raised their connected hands and gently kissed the top of her palm, without taking his eyes off her. Lumine let out a short gasp, and her face turned even redder.
“This all sounds wonderful,” he admitted. “But for now, I would like to enjoy you being here and not going anywhere.”
“Yeah…” Lumine’s shy smile widened. “I'm all yours.”
Tighnari liked the sound of that.
Paimon leaned in the air over the page, wrinkling her forehead with all her might as if it could help her think better.
“Paimon once heard the word ‘salubriousness’ in the context of health. Maybe you can use it somehow?” she asked uncertainty.
Collei groaned and leaned her head in her hand.
“Maybe I could, but how do you spell it?!” she called, almost desperately.
Tighnari smirked, looking at them from a bed. Collei and Paimon were using his desk, executing the punishment he came up with for his apprentice.
He had a conversation with her earlier, intending to make her realize how irresponsible it was to lie to him about such an important matter.
“I know,” she had said with a blush on her face, avoiding his gaze. “But I saw you coming from a distance and you looked like you wanted to resign from returning to the village. I panicked and said the first thing that came to mind. I’m so sorry, master.”
Tighnari sighed, crossing his arms over his chest.
“It almost gave me a heart attack.” He squinted his eyes. “I know you had good intentions, but you won't escape punishment.”
Collei nodded and then raised her head.
“Well…” she hesitated a little, peeking at his house behind his back. The house where Lumine cheerfully chatted with Paimon about her reconciliation with Tighnari. “At least everything ended as I hoped it would. I’m so happy for you, master.” She grinned at him.
Tighnari felt a little blush arriving on his cheeks. He smiled as well.
“Thank you, Collei.” Then his face turned more stern. “Now, about your punishment…”
The punishment was to write 50 times the sentence ‘I will not lie about the health of patients.’ But the condition was that each sentence had to be different, yet retain the initial meaning.
Tighnari liked his idea. Not only did it force creativity and make Collei practice writing, but it also had the chance to implant the rule in her head once and for all. He didn't doubt she would succeed after letting her use a dictionary and Paimon's help.
He was snapped out of his reverie by a sudden sting of pain, which caused him to hiss.
“Ah, sorry!” Lumine stopped the movement of the comb on his tail and looked at him apologetically.
He promised her punishment as well for asking his student to lie to him. When she heard that her task was to brush his tail she laughed that it sounded more like a reward. What she didn't expect was that his tail was so neglected that she had to comb each knot so long her hand began to ache. And Tighnari absolutely refused to cut out even the most tangled ones.
“Hm…” he looked at her with a smirk. “I've heard that kisses dull the pain.”
Lumine rolled her eyes and leaned to him to leave a small peck on her lips.
“How do I know whether you won't start pretending to be in pain to get more?” she asked, squinting her eyes.
“You can give me some right away, just in case,” he answered in a teasing tone, locking his gaze with hers.
“Ugh…” Paimon’s groan interrupted them. “Paimon is already tired of their lovesickness, and it's only day one.”
Collei giggled.
“I much prefer this to what was happening earlier,” she said.
“Yes, that was absolutely stupid. Paimon can't believe that someone as smart as Tighnari was so dumb.”
Tighnari felt a vein of annoyance pulsing at his temples. He turned his head to look at his apprentice and the fairy.
“I don't hear you working on sentences,” he said coldly.
Collei and Paimon gasped and leaned again over the piece of paper.
Lumine giggled, covering her lips with her hand.
“Don't mind them. The most important thing is that everything ended well.” She looked at him with a warm smile.
Tighnari sighed and gently stroked her face with his gloveless hand, enjoying the softness and warmness of her skin.
“Yeah…” he admitted, smiling. “I’m so happy right now.”
His ears twitched when the sound of familiar footsteps reached them.
“Cyno!” he called when the silhouette of the general appeared at the entrance of the house.
Cyno nodded in greeting, looking at everyone present. His gaze stopped for a longer time on Lumine with Tighnari’s tail on her lap.
“Good morning,” he said in a neutral tone. “I seem to have missed a lot since yesterday. Why does Collei look close to tears?”
Collei let out a short gasp and turned back to the sheet of paper.
Tighnari laughed shortly.
“It's true, a lot has happened,” he admitted.
“Tighnari said you found him and helped collect his thoughts,” Lumine spoke up. “Thank you for that.”
Cyno's gaze softened slightly as he looked at her.
“I only did what I thought was right. I'm glad it turned out that way.” He let out a short sigh. “You deserve someone who will take care of you and give you safety, Lumine. Tighnari is definitely the right person for that.”
Collei quickly turned around.
“You’re absolutely right, general!” she said in a serious tone. “I've never felt better and safer than under the guidance of the master! Lumine couldn't have chosen better!”
Paimon crossed her arms over her chest with an uncertain look on her face.
“Well, Tighnari sometimes makes weird decisions, but he is a good person. He always takes great care of Lumine. And he cooks well, so Paimon won't complain.”
Tighnari felt his cheeks becoming red. He hid his face behind his hands and groaned.
“I appreciate your words, but stop it,” he murmured.
Lumine laughed and gently took away his hands, so she could look at his face.
“See? Everyone loves you.”
Tighnari sighed and smiled at her with slightly squinted eyes.
“Maybe they are, but I haven't heard that from you today,” he teased.
Lumine blushed and rolled her eyes.
“You know I love you,” she replied quietly.
“I know.” Tighnari’s arm snaked around her waist to pull her closer. “But it's so incredible I want to hear it again and again.” He kissed her cheek.
“Oh my archons!” Paimon groaned. “Get a room, you two!”
Collei chuckled with blushes on her face and Cyno put on a small smile.
Tighnari ignored Paimon’s complains and leaned his head on Lumine’s shoulder, enjoying her warmness and presence.
After all, now she was his home as well.