Chapter Text
The Kamisato estate bustled with activity as housekeepers, shrine maidens, and guards roamed the estate grounds as the trio stepped inside its premises. The freshly trimmed grass sparkled with morning dew and the calm waters of the pond reflected the thin wisps of clouds in the clear blue sky above on its tranquil surface.
His eyes wandered the bustling scene, sidestepping a guard who brushed past him with a curt “Excuse me, lad.”
The young guard continued on his way, rounding a corner near a small shrine. The girls led the way to the estate’s bulletin board, where a young man greeted them with a friendly wave. He noted the smallest of relieved sighs that left his lips as they stepped closer.
“Good morning, Mr. Madarame,” Lumine greeted warmly.
“Ah, Lumine! Good morning. And a good morning to you too, Paimon. Don’t give me that look, it’s a nice day out!”
The tiny floating girl huffed as she eased up a little, having just folded her arms across her chest with an annoyed pout.
“Ohh, Paimon’s…” she let out a long yawn, stretching her arms up high above her head, her fingertips barely touching the pointy crown perched on top of it.
“It’s way too early for Paimon…,” she complained.
With a fond shake of her head, Lumine turned her attention to the Yashiro Commission representative.
“Do you have any bounties up for grabs? We’re a little short on Mora.”
He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes to think. After a moment, he nodded.
“Of course. Now that I think about it, there is one thing we could really use your help with. Normally we’d let you have your pick, but… our men have been spread thin as of late and can’t spare the manpower or resources to handle it.”
“Really? What do you want me to do?”
Mr. Madarame scratched the back of his neck sheepishly with a nervous chuckle. Kazuha raised his brow at his behavior. Whatever it was that they needed help with, he was certain it was going to be no easy matter to resolve. He folded his arms over his chest as his eyes poured over the announcements and memos tacked onto the bulletin board to glean information about their task.
“Animated, shadowy suits of armor have been reported to roam the shores of Nazuchi Beach. They’ve injured quite a multitude of soldiers who patrol the area, innocent passersby and traveling merchants, as well as a few unlucky bandits in the area,” he explained with a furrowed brow.
Lumine’s eyes widened as she and Paimon shared matching worried and puzzled expressions.
“Animated suits of armor…? Wait! That sounds like…!”
Paimon’s hands flew to cover her mouth, as she stiffly leaned her body back.
“The Black Serpents,” Lumine finished, eyebrows sloped down in serious contemplation.
Black Serpents? He could recall no organizations or creatures who bore that name, but it seemed to be something that the girls next to him were very familiar with.
“Mr. Madarame, can you describe more about their physical appearances?” Lumine asked.
“Of course, but I can assure you, they’re no serpents. They seem almost human… but they’re not. They’re like walking suits of armor with the power to harness the elements,” he whispered conspiratorially.
Lumine groaned as Paimon shot forward, tiny hands curled into fists behind her.
“So it is the Black Serpents! But… what are they doing all the way out here?! We’ve only ever seen them in Enkanomiya and down in the Chasm.”
The pale blue feathers tucked into Lumine’s hair rustled in the wind, as it grew colder, making all of them shiver, as if nature itself feared the seemingly foreign entities they spoke of. She contemplatively put a finger to her chin as she asked Mr. Madarame another question.
“When did you start receiving reports on their attacks?”
“About… two weeks ago. We’ve sent five groups of soldiers and scouts to the incident sites but almost every single one of them has been injured by those abominations. One group hasn’t even returned yet. Every day that passes, more and more injuries and casualties are reported. We’re at a loss on what to do here. Please, Lumine. We desperately need your assistance, especially now since you seem to know what these things are. We’ll reward you handsomely.”
She glanced at Paimon in a silent question, who nodded her support vigorously, then met his eyes with a concerned frown.
“Are you sure you still want to come with me? This isn’t gonna be an easy in and out like I originally thought it would be.”
“Absolutely. I did tell you that I will assist you in completing your bounty. These unusual circumstances do not change that.”
With a strained smile, she gives Mr. Madarame a thumbs up.
“Where were they last seen?”
“Yesterday, at Nazuchi Beach.”
She nodded seriously. Looks like they were gonna be pursuing these Black Serpents.
He released another relieved breath with a thankful nod. Silently, they retraced their steps back to the estate’s gate.
“Let’s go, then. They should have left some traces behind.”
Paimon darted off in the direction of Chinju Forest with Lumine following close behind her, he ruminated on the information they currently had. They had seemed well-acquainted with these Black Serpents, seeing as they were able to name the unknown entities described almost instantly. They mentioned seeing them in the Chasm’s depths, but… Enkanomiya? He hadn’t heard of such a place before. He was quite sure he hadn’t heard or read about any place being called that. If they were to be pursuing these entities, he needed to hear the information that he was missing.
“Hold on.”
The girls halted in their tracks as they turned to look at him curiously.
“You mentioned the Chasm but I have not heard of Enkanomiya before. You seem to know the place.”
Lumine chewed the inside of her cheek as she eyed Paimon curiously. She merely gave her a shrug, leaving the decision up to her.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lumine finally offered him a much-needed explanation.
“It’s underneath Watatsumi Island. Kokomi tasked us to help out with the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri ritual. It’s to help prevent the Holy Soil phenomenon which causes the soil to bleach and erode. We encountered quite a few of them there and in the Chasm. They’re affiliated with the Abyss Order.”
Most curious. Neither Gorou nor Kokomi had mentioned this to him during his time in the Resistance not too long ago. He wondered how many people knew about the place, as it didn’t sound like it was common knowledge.
After a moment of silence, he nodded at the two of them.
“I see. Then let us make haste. The sooner we resolve this issue, the better.”
In agreement, Lumine stepped forward at the head of their small group.
“Let’s go. I docked my boat on Amakane Island. It’s going to be a long trip to Nazuchi Beach.”
The sun hung high above them as they trekked the path to Amakane Island. His eyes focused on the ever-shifting shadows they cast on the golden grains. Judging by their height and the way their shadows pointed towards the west, he’d say they had about… three hours until noon. The wind picked up as small waves crashed against the sand as they walked.
“So, where have you moored your boat?”
“At the back. It’s not much farther.”
With a nod, they resumed their silent hike. Amakane Island grew ever closer as they slowly approached. Small festivals and gatherings were usually held here. The pink sakura petals fell and dotted the green grass while others drifted down to the sand where more of them had gathered. Others flew away, carried by a gentle gust of wind, scattering them.
As they approached a bend, an alarmed cry rang out, shattering their peaceful quiet. Three hilichurls made a mad dash toward them, hissing and snarling while brandishing flaming clubs with reckless abandon.
Before he was able to draw his sword, Lumine leaped back, twirling in the air as Electro energy manifested into fizzling blades whooshing in the air as they sailed into their rushing adversaries. They made contact with their flaming clubs and a small explosion sent them flying back with pained screams as they crashed into the sand. Their charred remains lay still as she sheathed her sword.
“You made short work of them.”
She beamed at him proudly as Paimon clapped her hands.
With the threat dealt with, she continued to lead the way, arms held behind her back casually as she hummed a tune, stopping behind a small boat that bobbed along the water’s surface.
A small lantern dangled behind it and a small, green box was secured to the small vessel by two sailor’s knots. Above the chest were three little flaglets that flapped idly in the breeze. Lumine chuckled nervously behind him.
“Sorry, it’s on the small side. It’s gonna be quite cozy in there.”
He patted her on the shoulder with a kind, reassuring smile.
“I don’t mind at all. Let’s not waste our daylight shall we?”
As they settled on the wooden floors of the modest boat, Lumine rolled out a map on top. He scooted closer to her to get a better look at the course they were plotting. There was no ignoring the hitch in her breath as he leaned in closer, slightly brushing her shoulder.
She made no other response to their physical contact, focusing on the parchment in front of her, tracing it with a finger.
“Seems like the fastest way to get there is to sail directly southwest of here and moor right behind the Kujou Encampment,” she suggested as her finger landed on the said island, where she had scribbled the words Kujou Encampment in elegant, swirling writing.
“It’s going to be quite a trek if we choose to go that route. And we might be delayed by any stray hilichurls or passing Ronin and bandits along the way,” he offered.
Her eyes scanned the map carefully. He could practically see the gears in her head turning as she plotted another course. He did the same, carefully looking over the islands and where they currently were, before he pointed to a small patch of brown land.
“We could also sail northwest and start sailing directly south after we pass through this small island here. Then we sail the rest of the way southwest. We’ll be out at sea longer, but it will take roughly the same amount of time to get there,” he explained.
She traced the two routes with her fingers, eyes sharpened in concentration before turning to their companion, who seemed to be in a confused daze as she followed the routes they had marked out.
“Paimon, what do you think?”
“Uuh… Paimon’ll let you guys decide!” she said frantically, waving her arms in front of her as if warding off the decision.
With a bemused groan, she rolled her eyes before taking a moment to mull it all over before her expression relaxed into that of a confident grin.
“Okay then. Let’s go with your route, Kazuha. We should conserve as much of our energy as possible. These guys put up a good fight so the less tired we are, the better.”
Plan made, she crawled up front to the wheel, sitting cross-legged in front of it. In no time at all, the boat swayed gently as it lurched forward.
While Lumine was occupied with setting sail, Paimon hovered over a small bag set aside in a corner of the boat behind them, digging her hands around as she rooted through its contents. Eventually, she pulled out a Tri-Colored Dango.
Letting her enjoy her treat, he approached Lumine at the front by the wheel, who was looking at a familiar strip of paper. Her expression scrunched up in confusion as her eyes darted through it over and over again.
He didn’t have to read what was on it to tell what it was. It was the haiku he had written for her. Noticing his attention on her, her head snapped up to look at him. Her cheeks tinged with a lovely shade of pink, her empty hand clutching the side of her dress as she frantically hid the paper behind her.
He grinned at her cheekily as she hesitantly craned her neck to peek at it before giving him a perplexed smile as she brought the paper back in front of her. Her eyes narrowed at him before the tension melted away. She rushed to bury her face in her hands, hiding a light, muffled squeal as the pink spread to the tips of her ears.
He simply chuckled, light and airy at her reaction. The mighty and illustrious Traveler, the girl who defended Mondstadt, the hero who defeated Osial and survived the Raiden Shogun’s Musou no Hitotachi, all of a sudden seemed… well, normal. That is what she is, but the many fabled tales that spread through the nations made her seem more distant, for the lack of a better word. He enjoyed the thought that he was getting to see a side of her that the rest of the world wasn’t getting to see. It was special to him.
Her fingers slowly spread apart, allowing her room to peek at him from behind her hands before she took a composing breath. Finally, she allowed her hands to lower and rest at her sides. Her head followed as she whispered indignantly.
“You’re unbelievable.”
He giggled as he reached his unbandaged hand out towards her shoulder before raising it and resting it on the top of her head instead. His fingers brushed through silky smooth, cottony soft, golden hair as he gave her two delicate pats, tilting his head to the side to meet her eyes.
She relaxed significantly upon seeing his warm and mischievous grin. She playfully shoved his shoulder in turn and the both of them laughed warm-heartedly. Their banter drew Paimon’s attention, taking the last bite of her Dango as she floated over to them, scratching her head.
“What’s so funny? Paimon heard the two of you laughing.”
“Nothing, Paimon. Don’t worry about it,” Lumine waved her away with her hand as she returned her attention to the wheel.
Her eyes darted between the both of them suspiciously before settling her gaze on him sharply. He simply gave her a lighthearted shrug, much to her annoyance. With a huff, she turned her back on him and took her place at Lumine’s side. Before long, Lumine drew their attention as she pointed to an empty, small, sandy island.
Paimon jumped up high in the air at the sight of land, flipping in the air in delight.
“That felt much shorter than I expected. We’ll only be going in one direction for the rest of our little voyage. How about we get some more snacks and relax before we get into the nitty-gritty later?”
Lumine’s suggestion was met with an exuberant cheer from Paimon and an accepting nod from him. The group settled back down into the center of the boat, with Paimon dragging the food bag with grunts of effort. When she finally managed to bring it to them, she was huffing and puffing tiredly.
They formed a small circle, passing food and sharing stories as the boat cruised the calm, crystal blue waters to land, buoyed on by the wind.
The boat rocked gently as Lumine guided it to a full stop. Standing on the tips of her toes, she looked through their surroundings, their destination now right in front of them.
“The water is too shallow to bring the boat in any closer but still deep enough that we’d have to swim the rest of the way to shore,” she informed them. Well… him, to be exact.
Paimon and he gathered behind her as she led the boat behind a large outcropping of rocks, making sure to hide it completely from the sight of the island. Once the job was done, she nodded to them. It was time to get off.
They hopped out of the boat and into the water with a resounding splash. He heard Paimon let out a high-pitched shriek, whining about almost getting wet. With Paimon hovering in the air, they made the quick swim to shore and waded out of the water, feet sinking into the wet sand with a sticky squelch.
His eyes roamed over the landscape, keeping an eye out for the fabled animated suits of armor. In the distance, a large shipwreck caught his eye, its torn sails flapping meekly in the breeze. Many smaller shipwrecks dotted the shores of Nazuchi Beach. There was a distinct lack of ronin that patrolled the area—probably driven out by these Black Serpents.
Beside him, he heard the distinct, sharp hiss of a sword being unsheathed. Paimon had huddled closer in between them as he too readied his blade.
“Let’s patrol the area. Maybe our quarry has still left a track to follow,” he said.
The girls nodded their agreement and began their search, silently treading the sandy terrain. The lack of ronin presence was odd as their small campfires and stashes of stolen goods would have been spread out through the beach. But they had found neither a bandit nor their goods as they continued their trek.
Paimon had resorted to flying just a little bit higher, her big worried eyes darting around the perimeter warily.
They approached the largest shipwreck, the shadow it cast on the ground bathing them and the surroundings completely. His ears pricked up to compensate for their vulnerability. If the Black Serpents were anywhere around them, they wouldn’t be able to see them coming until it was too late. The salty breeze continued to blow around them, making the leaves on the vines that snaked along the wood rustle and dance.
Lumine stepped closer to the gap that split the ship into two, sword drawn closer to her as her head turned, looking to either side. She released a tense breath as she turned to the two of them.
“Nothing.”
Thud. Thud. Footsteps. Heavy ones, from the sound of them. They were faint, but he could easily determine them coming from the left. He held out his hand, gesturing for silence. Lumine’s grip on her sword tightened as she waited for him to say something.
“I can hear two of them approaching us from the left. They don’t seem aware of our presence yet. It is an optimal opportunity for an ambush, no?”
He pointed to the ship, and in an unspoken agreement, darted to the opening, hiding in the shadows. She had positioned herself right next to the entrance, while he was deeper in, nestled into a tight corner not too far from where they came in. Paimon had clamped her tiny hands over her mouth as the footsteps got closer.
The pounding thuds of their steps were accompanied by the sharp rattling of metal armor. He gripped the sword in his hand tighter, waiting in anticipation as their approach got louder and louder. As one approached, its towering form blocked out the light from their tiny opening, bathing them in black darkness. It stopped in its tracks, its companion not too far behind. It paused in front of them, peering in their direction.
“Now,” Lumine whispered.
Her hand held out, and their clothes started to flap and rustle as the wind picked up, gathering into her palm in a swirling vortex, their clothes rustling in the currents. The figure was flung back into the sand with a heavy thud as the vortex dissipated and light streamed through the opening again. She took advantage and dashed towards its prone form, both hands around the hilt of her sword as she jabbed it into the sand, missing it as it rolled away from her.
He remained in the shadows, waiting for the second one to join them. It dashed past his hiding spot to aid its companion.
He burst from the shadows, sword slicing through the air towards the armored figure's neck. But the knight had anticipated his move, leaping back with surprising agility, a lance raised defensively as they circled each other.
His sandals sank into the soft, damp earth, heart thundering in his chest as he focused on the strange, new foe before him. With a metallic clash, his blade met the thrusting lance, each movement calculated as he pushed against the imposing figure before him.
The lance whistled through the air, narrowly missing his head as he ducked and spun, his every sense heightened in the heat of battle. Every clink of its armor as it moved, the smallest adjustments to its posture, he noticed them. Hacking at the knight's exposed flank, a triumphant smirk crossed his lips as his blow connected with satisfying force.
A sudden blow to his abdomen sent him hurtling through the air, crashing down onto the gritty sand with a painful thud. Gasping for breath, he barely had time to react as the knight loomed over him, blade poised to strike.
Hastily, he rolled aside, feeling the scrape of sand against his skin and the crisp sound of metal cutting the air next to him as he regained his footing. Each movement was instinctual now, he parried, dodged, and struck back with all his might, heart slamming against his chest.
His relentless assault was met with equal ferocity, the knight's lance narrowly missing him multiple times as they exchanged blows in a deadly dance. But as the armored figure closed in, the lance morphed and extended into a rattling chain, striking the sand with explosive force and engulfing them in a cloud of swirling dust.
He had to focus. As he recentered himself, steeling his nerves, he listened. He could make out the knight’s heavy footsteps to his right and circled in the opposite direction, hairs standing on end waiting for a strike.
As the dust gradually settled, he caught a fleeting glimpse of the turquoise accents adorning the knight's armor and lunged forward, his blade scraping against its surface as the adversary deftly evaded his strike.
Amidst the chaos, the crackle of electricity and the resounding echoes of crumbling rock and clashing metal drew his attention to Lumine, who was gracefully evading a swing of the lance as Paimon cheered her on. Their eyes briefly met amidst the chaos, and she threw an amused question his way.
“Hey Kazuha! How are you finding these friends of mine?” Lumine's voice rang out above the din of battle.
The sound of clinking metal striking the sand brought his focus back on his opponent.
"Quite the pleasure to cross blades with," he replied, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement despite the intensity of the fight.
With each strike of the knight's chains, he danced nimbly out of harm's way, his movements fluid and calculated. Though the adversary's attacks were relentless, their sluggishness provided him with a crucial advantage.
“Pity you hadn’t introduced us sooner,” he quipped as he waited for his moment to strike.
As the knight raised its arm once more, he seized the opportunity. With a swift spin and a graceful leap, he narrowly avoided the sweeping arc of the chains, one thrash after the other, the force of their impact sending vibrations through the sand beneath his feet.
As the knight lashed the chain towards him again, he leaped back and into the air with a whoosh, landing on the wooden frame of the shipwreck, panting as beads of sweat glistened upon his brow as he surveyed the battlefield below. The knight's onslaught continued unabated, the chains splintering wood and sending splinters flying in all directions.
He barely had time to catch his breath as the knight resumed its assault. With lightning-fast reflexes, he leaped from the shipwreck to a nearby tree and stood on one leg as he landed before launching himself at a nearby tree, narrowly avoiding another lash.
Leaping out of the tree, he swirled in the air, bringing his sword down and around in one fluid slash across its torso, angling his body forward as he returned to his guarding stance.
With another quick motion, he slashed down and up again and the armored knight collapsed to the sand in an unmoving heap. He sheathed his sword with a weary sigh. It was over.
The moment of peace didn’t last long as Paimon’s panicked voice rang out.
“Kazuha!”
She frantically pointed at Lumine, pressed against the sand with her opponent on top of her, its lance inches away from her. Her arms trembled under the strain of holding it back.
“Lumine!” he cried out.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he unsheathed his sword as he ran. She was too far! He might not make it in time! He willed himself to go faster as her feet skidded against the sand and the lance slowly pressed against her, groaning with effort.
She wouldn’t be able to overpower it, he needed to go faster, he had to be faster. His vision flashed with light as the winds propelled him forward. He leaped the rest of the distance, sinking his blade deep into the gap of its armor, and twisted - its limp body fell limply as he shoved it to the side and yanked his sword out harshly, landing next to her with a heavy clang.
He extended his hand to her, face knitted with worry as she grabbed hold of it. He pulled her up to her feet, the both of them letting out matching relieved sighs.
Paimon zipped over to them questions spilling out of her one after the other as she circled her frantically.
“Lumine, are you okay? Are you hurt? Do you need anything? Paimon’s so worried!”
Reassured that she had no visible injuries, she flung herself at her much bigger companion’s shoulder, her tiny frame trembling as she wrapped her little arms around her shoulder.
“I’m alright, Paimon. I didn’t get hurt,” she whispered soothingly.
His arms crossed over his chest as Paimon continued her assault of fussing, Lumine’s placations doing little to soothe her. His hands clenched into fists as he took a steadying breath, ignoring the way his heart slammed around. That was way too close.
For a moment, it was like he was back at the gates of Tenshukaku, with Gorou at his side and the Resistance behind them. He had stepped in to help her then, too. He could still see the glowing purple blade, and hear the crackle of electricity and the feeling of adrenaline as he dashed up to protect her from the Raiden Shogun’s Musou no Hitotachi.
She might have been thinking of the same thing as she fixed him with a gaze, steeled with resolve, yet shaken nonetheless.
“Are you certain you’re alright?” he asked.
Wordlessly, she stepped closer to him and wordlessly dipped her head on his shoulder.
His body stiffened in reflex before easing up with light pats on her head, running his fingers through her hair.
“Yeah. Just… stay here for a sec,” she whispered.
He nodded quietly, and gently wrapped his arms around her. He could feel the way her heart rattled and hear the way it thumped as she continued to lean on him.
“Thanks…”
He replied by rubbing soothing circles on her back. Her shoulders slackened and her breathing slowed as the tension in her started to dissipate. He chanced a glance at Paimon and… of course, she gawked at the two of them before hiding her chuckling behind tiny hands.
Unfortunately for her, they were noticeable in the quiet din of their battle’s aftermath. Lumine groaned as she stepped back, holding a hand out to Paimon as she opened her mouth.
“Not. A word. From you.”
“Paimon wasn’t gonna say anything,” she mumbled.
She rolled her eyes with another sigh, red rushing to her cheeks and on the tips of her ears. Her cheeky grin earned her a glare from the Traveler and she shrugged in kind.
“Shall we check with the Adventurers’ Guild?” he asked.
“That’s a good idea. They should have heard or gotten news of these things being up here,” she replied way too quickly.
Decided, they returned the way they came, gathering in the small waverider and setting off, the shores of Nazuchi Beach disappearing behind the horizon as they sailed away.
With Lumine and Paimon by the wheel, he took the opportunity to root through their bag for something to eat. He shifted through containers of Sakura Shrimp Crackers and a few boxes of Katsu Sandwiches before taking three sticks of Tri-Flavored Skewers from its box.
He glanced behind him to see Paimon gesticulating wildly, hands swishing and zooming all over the place, nearly getting tangled up in her little crown while Lumine listened on idly, stretching her arm out. Setting the bag aside, he approached them, catching parts of their conversation.
“...earlier, too. Paimon doesn’t know. She just thinks it’s weird.”
“Weird…?”
“Yeah!” she nodded her head enthusiastically.
“Paimon’s noticed you being all mushy with him. Paimon knows what she saw.”
“I’m surprised you have any amount of brain juice left after talking my ear off this morning,” she quipped.
“H-hey! Paimon’s smarter than she looks! And Paimon’s telling you, the two of you have been acting weird.”
She smacked her hand to her forehead with a groan.
“Paimon, I swear one day I will turn you into emergency food- ah, Kazuha!”
She narrowed her eyes at him as a smile crept onto his face.
“...How much did you hear?”
He shrugged, pointedly ignoring the glare she was giving him as he handed her a stick of Tri-Colored Skewers.
“I thought you might be feeling peckish after the skirmish we had earlier. And I have one for Paimon, too.”
He passed the second stick over to her, keeping the last one for himself. Paimon bit into the treat giddily, munching happily.
“Thanks, I was just about to ask Paimon to bring some over.”
Her usually sparkly eyes were dulled by fatigue as she fell quiet, save for the munching.
“You seem tired. Why don’t I take over the rest of the way?”
She shook her head softly as she swallowed.
“No, no it’s fine. You’re on my boat, I shouldn’t be making you-”
“I’ll take care of it. Don’t push yourself and rest. I insist.”
It took some more coaxing but eventually, she agreed, albeit reluctantly, to let him take over the wheel. Satisfied, he returned to his food. When they finished, he took over at the wheel while Lumine got everything cleared up. Paimon was dozed off, snoring as she slept in the air. When her task finished, she joined him by the wheel.
She may have agreed to let him pilot the boat, but she hadn’t agreed to rest. Her eyes remained glued on the wheel and the blue waters outside as they cruised. Her eyelids drooped ever so often and she rubbed at them before continuing to stare outside with fidgeting fingers.
“You should rest. We’ll be there in the morning.”
She waved him off as her eyes focused on the sky above, stars slowly dotting across the sparse landscape.
“I will. But not yet.”
“The view is beautiful from here,” she said after a long pause.
She scooted closer, lightly brushing his shoulder as she continued to gaze up at the darkening sky above.
“Every time the stars come out, I can’t help but think of Aether.”
A half-hearted chuckle rippled out.
“It was a habit of his, waking me up in the middle of the night just to look at the stars. No matter what world we are in… We will be reunited. Eventually. No matter how long it takes.”
She clenched a hand into a tight, trembling fist.
Aether… her brother, he assumed. Her twin brother. He couldn’t imagine how lonely she must have felt, traveling without him, all by herself these past few years.
The rustle of clothes and another brush against his shoulders brought his attention back to her. She had brought her knees closer to her chest and wrapped her arms around her stockings. Her golden eyes glinted in the moonlight, gazing far away. As if seeing things he couldn’t.
She looked… vulnerable. No. She was vulnerable. This wasn’t the legendary Traveler the stories described. She was just a lonely girl who missed her brother.
He debated on whether he should say something or not. If he should offer her words of comfort or… anything. He tensed up when he felt a weight lean on his shoulder and cottony soft hair tickle his cheek and huffed an affectionate sigh as her tense and downtrodden posture started to ease. He decided against saying anything at all and returned his focus to the calm sea.
They shared the companionable silence, just soaking in each other’s company. Eventually, the peaceful sound of snoring drifted to his ears.
“Lumine?” he whispered.
The little waverider was filled with the soft, lulled snoring of both of his traveling companions as it cruised over the sea that glittered like gems. He watched her, at peace but vulnerable, leaning on him.
He shook his head fondly. Best to let her rest. He hummed a soft tune as Amakane Island grew larger the closer they got. Paimon had woken herself up, drifting groggily toward them as she whined.
“Lumiiiine, you’re supposed to sleep next to Paimon-”
He hushed her with a finger to his lips, cocking his head slightly at the dozing girl. She gaped at the both of them, eyes darting between her companion and him before a wry grin spread on her face. She brought her little hands together and made smooching noises to which he shook his head at her with a raised brow and an indignant groan.
She merely giggled before spreading herself out on their food sack, dozing off again.
Now that their destination was close at hand, he felt at ease with letting the boat drift along the currents. He was unsure how he was going to be able to sleep comfortably. They weren’t leaning against a wall, and he didn’t want to wake her for them to do so. He could easily imagine her staying on the opposite end of the boat once she realized she had dozed off on him. He’d rather deal with that in the morning.
Carefully, his arms wrapped around her head and gently guided it to his lap. No sense in making both of them uncomfortable. He could deal with one night. She might wake up the next day sore, but alas that is the price to pay for sleeping on the floor. She stirred as he adjusted her position, but remained deeply entrenched in her slumber.
The reflection of the moon rippled in the tranquil waters as they continued to drift and the stars continued to glimmer in Teyvat’s night sky, like scattered jewels in a treasure trove. Watching her, a wave of inspiration hit.
“ The moon shines brighter
Rippling image in the sea
As the captain dreams.”
“Sleep well, Lumine,” he whispered, gently combing his fingers through her hair.
The sound of chirping birds and rolling waves, as their boat rested on the sandy shores of Amakane Island, woke up their party of three. His eyes snapped open as Lumine jolted awake. Paimon floated over to them, no bed hair in sight with a peppy “Good morning!”
He slowly sat up, returning her greeting before apprehension roiled in his gut as her innocent smile morphed into a mischievous and smug grin. He narrowed his eyes at her but it did little to dissuade her as she started laughing, clutching at her stomach as she progressed from giggling to wheezing and gasping for breath in her hysteria.
Lumine rubbed at her eyes sleepily and groaned as Paimon continued her peel of mirth.
“It’s too early for this Paimon, what now-”
She paused before a light seemed to tick and her head snapped to the side to meet his eyes.
“Good morning?” he greeted tentatively.
“Archons…” she mumbled, and promptly turned her back to him as she buried her face into her hands.
He wasn’t sure what to do with himself either as he felt the heat rise to his cheeks. He sheepishly rubbed at the back of his neck, fighting against the urge to stare at her. It was a futile endeavor and it only earned them more laughter from Paimon as she fell to the floor in another fit of giggles before regaining her composure enough to catch herself.
“Paimon, I am so cooking you for breakfast today.”
She only brought her hands to her mouth in an unsuccessful attempt to stifle her laughter as Lumine’s focus shifted to their food sack and passed packed meals around.
Breakfast went on peacefully as the awkwardness between the two of them dissipated and Paimon had managed to calm herself down. After breakfast, they were going straight back to Inazuma City.
The city was alive with people going to and from different stores advertising and selling their wares, adventurers catching a late breakfast, and children who chased after each other through the streets.
As they approached the stall of the Adventurers’ Guild, Katheryne waved them over with a smile.
“Lumine, Paimon, it’s good that you stopped by.”
“Hey, Katheryne!” Paimon waved.
“A new commission for us?” Lumine asked.
Katheryne nodded her head.
“You are correct. The commissioner has requested for your aid specifically.”
“Oh? What is it about?”
“The request came from Sangonomiya. The Divine Priestess has asked for assistance for an expedition. She wished to discuss further details in person, but said that you’re already familiar enough with the task.”
The three of them shared concerned looks. Talk about convenience.
“We’ll take it. We were gonna head over there anyway, right, Lumine?”
She nodded in confirmation. Katheryne smiled at them warmly.
“Thank you. Rest assured, you will be well compensated. I shall allow you to continue on your journey then. Ad Astra Abyssosque.”
They left Katheryne with warm smiles and gather around the outskirts of the city.
“I have a bad feeling about this. We should get to Watatsumi immediately,” Lumine said.
He nodded.
“Well, to Watatsumi we go then!”
The three of them made the journey back to Lumine’s waverider in unease. He had a feeling that Kokomi calling on them was no mere coincidence.