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Amber wasn’t going to cry. She already told herself that much as she opened the door to Lumine’s room.
The blonde haired girl looked up at the sound of the door being opened, the smile that made Amber’s heart turn upside down making its way onto Lumine’s face as she saw who had arrived.
“Amber,” Lumine breathed out from her spot sitting on the wooden floor, an open bag sitting in front of her. Amber forced herself to mimic the smile and reminded herself of the promise she made with herself right before she walked through the door. She would not cry.
“Hey, I just wanted to catch you before you finished packing,” Amber said as she walked into the room, letting the door close behind her. Lumine let out a small laugh before responding.
“I would’ve found you before I left you know.” Lumine still kept her cheery expression on Amber, almost as if she wasn’t going to be on her way to leave the country in a few hours.
“Of course I know that.” Amber crossed her arms over her chest and looked anywhere that wasn’t Lumine. Of course she didn’t know that. How was she supposed to know if Lumine wouldn’t go up and running without a word? She seemed pretty keen on stealing a holy lyre with a god and taking down a dragon without saying a word to Amber.
The two fell into a calm silence, letting Amber turn her attention fully to her own thoughts and observations. One observation included the amount of things Lumine had accumulated in her time in Mondstadt, or rather the lack of things Lumine had accumulated. Amber shouldn’t have been surprised, she really shouldn't have. Lumine had only been in Mondstadt with them for about a month, even less time dorming in one of the rooms in the Knights of Favonius HQ. Any person with common sense could assume someone wouldn’t have a lot of items to bring with them in a place that was just a temporary stay. It seemed like Amber was lacking common sense lately.
The realization still stabbed Amber right in the heart. The realization that Lumine was never going to stay. The realization that Lumine had priorities much higher than Amber. Amber should have known this day was coming, yet she still told herself that maybe Lumine could still stay a little longer. Maybe Lumine could have stayed long enough to talk a little more with Amber, to tag along with Amber more on her knightly ventures, to be able to learn more cool tricks to do while gliding that they never teach you in the handbooks.... to do anything other than leave. To do anything other than run to where Amber couldn’t follow.
“So… Liyue.” Amber spoke, desperate to put an end to her thoughts now. There was no reason to think of the what ifs. The situation still stood the same as always: Amber was a knight who had her own duties tied down in Mondstadt and Lumine was a traveler from lands unknown who had a brother to save and a god to find. Their paths were meant to part away some day. And that day was now. If only Amber could have known it would be that soon. She could have spent more time with the girl, said more things to her, told her how she actually felt, told Lumine that she l-
“Yeah, I’m a little nervous. I’ve been to so many places but I’ve never been in such an urgent situation before. Venti said I should make my way to Liyue as fast as I can or else I’m going to have to wait for an entire year until I could go to the Rite of Decision. So I’m just going to hope that Paimon and I make it in time.” Lumine flashed a nervous smile, breaking Amber out from her thoughts once again. Amber needed to get a grip on herself. She was never the one to have endless thoughts, so why was her mind running rampant now?
“You’ll be fine, Lumine. In the time you’ve been here in Mondstadt, you’ve achieved more than many of us could have ever done in years,” Amber replied, genuine with her words. Amber wasn’t lying. As much as she valued her position as part of the knights, it was true that Lumine could accomplish much more than them with whatever otherworldly powers she had.
Lumine suddenly closed the bad before setting it over one shoulder and standing up.
“I think I’m all packed up,” Lumine commented, taking a quick survey around the room to make sure she didn’t miss anything. Amber was almost tempted to tell her that she was not missing anything since she barely was there to accumulate much in the first place, but decided against it. Amber wasn’t going to make this sad. Lumine was only here for a month, it was Amber’s fault for getting attached to someone who would most likely not remember Amber as time went on. It was also Amber’s fault for getting attached to someone who she would most likely not be able to forget for a long time.
“I’ll walk you to the gate,” Amber said, forcing her usual excitement into her voice. This was no time to get Lumine concerned. She had other duties to do that were much more important than entertaining Amber’s time. Amber knew that much too well with her position in the Knights of Favonius and the amount of her time that called for.
“Thank you,” Lumine gave off another gentle smile, making the ordeal that much more difficult for Amber.
“Of course! I wasn’t going to let you leave by yourself.” Amber ignored the way her heart beat against her chest, not knowing if it was from Lumine or from the anticipation that their goodbye was near.
Then the two were walking out through the door, Paimon following close behind up in her own world. The room looked almost more bare than before Lumine moved in, almost as if no one was there to begin with. That Lumine was just a fever dream Amber had. She wouldn’t be too surprised if that was the case. If only Amber could slow down time. Take the few minutes they had left before Lumine left the city for good and turn them into an eternity.
But alas fate was cruel and before she knew it, they were at the gate.
“Well, looks like this is where you head off at,” Amber spoke, willing with everything in herself to keep her voice steady. Lumine nodded, a flash of melancholy lighting across her face before disappearing so quickly that Amber thought she imagined it.
“You said goodbye to everyone, right?” Amber asked, feeling stupid for not thinking of the others much more earlier. God, if she wasn’t so focused on Lumine.
“Yeah, of course. I just wanted to see you last before I go.” Lumine replied quietly. Amber wondered for a moment if Lumine could possibly be feeling as sad as her right now but quickly smothered that thought out. Of course Lumine wasn’t feeling the same way. There were many things Lumine didn’t feel towards Amber that Amber felt towards Lumine. She traveled all over the place. Where? Amber never found out. It was just one of the many mysteries that Lumine carried with her. But she could be sure that Lumine met many different people in her life that she had to say goodbye to. Amber wasn’t special, as much as she wanted that look flashing through Lumine’s eyes to mean otherwise.
It was Lumine’s arms quickly wrapping themselves around Amber and pulling her in for a hug that brought back Amber’s attention. Amber opened her mouth to say something but opted not to. As much as she liked to talk, once in a full moon Amber could realize when she should just shut her mouth. This was one of those moments.
Amber decided on wrapping her arms around Lumine, instead, basking in the silence that would have to be interrupted soon. It was right then that Amber found herself wishing for the power to freeze time once again. She had a feeling that she would not be experiencing a moment as comforting as this for a while.
Amber came to the reality of the situation and that she didn’t have time freezing powers when Lumine pulled away from her.
“I’ve got to go now,” Lumine said as if her words were standing on fragile ground. Amber nodded.
“Yeah, of course!” Amber flashed one of her joyful smiles, hoping the cracks weren’t starting to show. “I’ll see you later after all this business is sorted through!” Amber didn’t believe her words for one second and she knew that Lumine didn’t either. But maybe it would be easier to live in a false reality where she could believe that Lumine would come back one day. And maybe Lumine was willing to live in that false reality too. Sadly, Amber wasn’t a mind reader either.
“Yeah, see you later, Amber.” And with that Lumine gave a wave before turning around and walking away from the city. It was when Lumine was out of her sight that Amber reminded herself of her promise.
Amber wasn’t going to cry.
The tears that finally escaped her eyes said otherwise.