Chapter Text
As they reached Caravan Ribat the next day Dehya spilt up with them returning to her crew. Jeht looked at Lumine.
Lumine noticed and thought for a second as she remembered a little something she had promised they'd do.
"How about we find your crew first. Before leaving Dehya did tell us we can find them at a tavern here so let's go"
Jeht slightly smiles.
"In that case. I'll wait here and restock on some supplies and maybe get Collei a souvenir"
"Paimon will join you!"
Lumine nodded heading over to the tavern with Jeht, spotting the other eremites. As they approached they looked up and as they spotted Jeht they got up.
"Jeht! Yo-youre alive! Where are the other two? You should sit down we'll buy you a round. How's that?"
Jeht was a little suprised at their reaction but that didn't stop the sadness in her eyes from showing as she looked down into the ground lowering her head. The group now looked confused and slightly concerned. The group thought of each other as brothers so losing someone in the group might completely break them and Jeht knew that better than anyone.
"They...didn't make it...I'm so sorry...I should of have saved them but I failed. I was too weak!"
The head of the group put his hands on her shoulder.
"It's alright. I'm sure they sacrificed themselves and at least you survived so it wasn't all in vain. I'm sure that is they saw you right now they wouldn't blame you at all. That said how about a proper grave for our fallen brothers? And after that we can have a drink!"
Jeht chuckled.
"For sure"
Jeht turned around facing Lumine.
"Hey. I'll be back later you don't have to wait for me just give me some time"
Lumine nodded as she went around the stalls and regrouping with Tighnari.
Jeht followed the men out of Caravn Ribat and behind the wall protecting the rainforest where the head of the group stuck his weapon into the sand jamming in and then tying 2 blindfolds onto the weapon.
"To the fallen Brothers who died honorably when most eremites would sacrifice others! And to king Deshret who will help guide their souls into eternal paradise!"
Everyone slightly bowed their heads as silence took fmover for about 3 minutes before the head of the group turned around.
"Now then. How about a drink? These two wouldn't want us sulking around at their grave when there are entire barrels of booze to be drunk!"
"YEAH!"
Jeht didn't respond but smiled and nodded instead.
Lumine Paimon and Tighnari found Jeht sitting at the bar with the Eremites mostly passed out with the exception of one of them who was, like Jeht, sober and laughing at the site of his friends flat out drunk.
"Jeht! Ready to leave yet?"
Jeht turned around as the eremite looked up as to who was calling her.
"Your friends?"
Jeht nodded.
"Yeah! Let me just say my good byes!"
"I guess you haven't changed your mind about leaving huh? That's alright. I'll let boss know. And don't worry about leaving. We agreed to it, besides you are and always will be a part of our group so even if you leave you're always welcome to come back."
"Thank you"
With tears in her eyes she hugged him and headed off and out of Caravan Ribat.
Lumine and Paimon were smiling at Jeht all smug.
"What are you two smiling at?"
"Oh nothing...just you making a few friends"
"Yeha yeah. You know Paimon. Not everyone can be as social and you and Lumine"
Lumine rolled her eyes which earned her a slight punch into the shoulder coming from Jeht.
"Hey! I didn't even say anything!"
"But you still had it plastered all over your face!"
They all laughed as Tighnari burst their bubble.
"As much as I hate to ruin this moment. I think we have a bugger problem to worry about."
Everyone went quiet as the air got slightly heavier. Jeht then nodded.
"Yea..those things. What even were they?"
"No idea. But we should find the answers in Sumeru city. I'll meet up with Cyno Kaveh and Alhaitham to see if I can get some answers"
"In that case Paimon Traveler and Jeht will go ask Nahida for help. I'm sure she'll know something"
"Who's Nahida?"
"Oh right Paimon forgot Jeht never met her. She's the dendro Archon"
"Ah...how nice..can't wait to meet her? Them?"
Tighnari nodded.
"Then it's settled. For now though, how about we just focus on getting there"
Everyone nodded and walked in silence for a bit longer untill the friendly chatter picked up again.
"Lumine?"
"Hm?"
"I know we haven't seen each other in a while so I was wondering if you could share some of you stories from your adventures"
Tighnari cut in.
"I'd like to listen in on that aswell, if you don't mind"
Lumine sighed as it was 2 to 1 and agreed to their request.
The way to Sumeru city lasted for 2 days. Meaning 2 days of nothing but stories before finally arriving in Sumeru city.
"Wow! It all looks so nice! And there's so many different shops. Can't wait to look around a little more-"
"Ahem. I know how excited you must be, but we have to keep focused on our task. Anyways. I'll go talk to Cyno and see if I can find Alhaitham or Kaveh. We can meet at the Grand Bazaar in around an hour? See what we got"
Everyone nodded and split up.
Heading up the large tree to Nahidas 'chamber's Jeht got more and more nervous. She came from the sand but she had blood of a researcher going through her so she didn't fit into either worlds and her one concern of how the Archon will see her started daunting on her as a heavy weight on her shoulder.
"Jeht. What's wrong?"
"Huh? Oh it's nothing. Are we there yet?"
"There's definitely something bothering you so just spill it"
Jeht sighed in defeat.
"It's just that..I don't know if the Archon would wanna talk or look at someone like me given you know...my origins?"
Lumine put her hand on her shoulder.
"Nahida isn't like that. I can assure you"
"Yup! Paimon thinks you should meet her for yourself and then you will be sure of it. But you can take our word for it. Nahida is an amazing Archon who cares for everyone no matter who they may be!"
"Hearing both of you say that...does make me feel a bit better.....Alright! Let's do this."
Lumine and Paimon both smiled at her as they turned the corner to see Nahida standing there waiting.
"Ah you're finally here. I could sense you approaching. Do you need something?"
"Hey Nahida!"
"Hello there Paimon, Traveler and?"
"Ah I'm Jeht it's a pleasure to meet you"
"No need to be so formal just call me Nahida"
"Alright then Nahida"
Nahida giggled.
"Now what brings all of you here? Did something happen?"
Everyone got serious as Lumine and Jeht explained what had happened to them in the past few weeks.
"I see...that's certainly not something I've heard of before, but I can search through Irminsul"
Nahida focused and used the power of dendro to connect to Irminsul seeking out answers as fast as she possibly could. As she opened her eyes she looked towards Jeht Lumine and Paimon and gave them a firm nod telling them she found what they have been looking for.
As Lumine Jeht and Paimon arrived at the Grand Bazaar they found everyone waiting for them in a group. As they got closer Cyno noticed them.
"Hello again. Did you manage to figure out anything?"
Paimon spoke up answering his question.
"Yep. Nahida told us quite a bit actually, but I doubt you'll like what you hear"
"It doesn't matter. You should speak up and don't leave anything unsaid."
Lumine nodded as she started to tell everyone what she had found out.
"The creatures have a name 'dudat alshaytan'. They were found during King Deshrets time 500 years ago. They were prejudice towards the people so they were hunting them down in hopes of driving them to extinction. Apparently the one we fought was a female and there's another one. A male twice this one's size but it's location is unknown. The one we killed stayed alive as they used her as some kind of an executioner while keeping her captive but as civilization fell the security of dudat alshaytan did aswell. Well we figured out how they hunt on our own and that's about all there is we have knowledge of"
Alhaitham spoke up.
"In that case we should write about it and make a record of it aswell as warn everyone in the academiya. Noone is to research this subject any further unless with permission from the grand sage and Cyno. I'll make a record right away."
"In that case I'll join in"
Alhaitham nodded as Tighnari followed behind him.
"I'll go and inform dehya. We need to warn people of the sand and mercs aswell though not sure how many will listen"
Lumine nodded as Cyno left the 3 of them on their own.
"Paimons gonna guess Kaveh didn't care to join then? Anyways. How about we get something to eat inroder to celebrate your safe return?"
Jeht stopped the celebration before it even began.
"No.."
Lumine and Paimon looked at Jehts frustrated face that was now facing the ground.
"How can you guys be so calm and happy knowing that, that...that..THING is still out there? Seriously how many has it already killed? My comrades are dead and now that we know another one is out there all we do is send a bunch of warning letters and pretend that everything is ok?"
"Jeht listen-"
"NO! Lumine you saw that thing! If something even bigger and even more dangerous roams the sand then we have to find and exterminate it for good. And if you don't wanna do it with me then I'll do it on my own"
As she was walking away Lumine grabbed her wrist.
"Wait! Listen. I know you are angry and you wanna avenge your fallen comrades but you can't do it on your own. IT'S SUICIDE."
"If I won't then who will? Do you really just expect me to lay down and relax knowing THAT still roams the desert? Because I don't know about you but I won't be taking any chances of someone dying the way they did."
Paimon backed away and excused herself saying she's gonna go find some food for everyone to calm down and floated away without an answer or glance.
"And when you find it what will you do? Die? Do you not see how badly hurt you came out of the battle with that creature? You almost DIED right in front of me! I can't risk losing you! And you losing your life because if vengeance is simply not worth it!"
"So then what just WHAT am I supposed to do? Sit on my ass and pretend NOTHING is wrong? Because IM SORRY but I CANT do that!"
"Oh so you wanna run in there and get yourself killed? Is that what you want?"
"And what if I DO?"
Lumine looked at her shocked sadness filling her eyes.
Jeht then realized what she had said.
"Lumine I- I didn't mean it I'm sorry-"
Lumine hugged her.
"Then don't say things like that. Listen to me. We fill find that thing and kill it. Putting an end to what the people from 500 years ago couldn't. But not now. We aren't prepared yet. You're still injured and we are all tired. But I promise one day I'll visit the desert again. And when I do I'll come look for you and we will go out there. And kill that thing once and for all together. OK?"
Still in Lumines embrace Jeht nodded as Lumine slowly let go of the hug.
"Good."
Lumine put both her hands on each of Jehts shoulders.
Paimon floated towards them with a bag of food.
"Are you guys done arguing now? Because all this made Paimon supeeerrr hungry! Let's go eat!"
Jeht looked towards paimon with a slight smile.
"Right!"