A dream where everything she had and has now actually belongs to Aether and that she is the one that was lost. It was as if all of the things that had happened is just an illusion and she wasn’t meant to be here but her brother. She couldn’t help but let a small gasp escape from her lips as she sits up abruptly from her bed with sweat running down her forehead.

“Lumine?” Paimon called out sleepily, rubbing her eyes to clear up her vision.

She looked at her dear friend, companion and sister with worried eyes. The traveler seems to had a bad dream and now there are tears rolling down her cheeks. She slowly floated near the bedside to gently pat on Lumine’s shoulder. It startled her to suddenly look to at her floating companion.

“Oh…Paimon. Sorry, did I wake you up?”

The floating like childe reached out to wipe a bit of the tears still flowing from the traveler’s golden eyes. It doesn’t look like Lumine was aware of the tears herself until she also touched it. She wanted to stop crying but somehow can’t. She didn’t want to worry Paimon especially since both of them had been so tired from this week trying to prepare everything for the festival.

“Do you want to tell Paimon about the dream?” Paimon tilted her head to get a better look on her dear friends’ facial expression. In which, Lumine smiled at the action.

“It’s alright Paimon, I just had a bad dream about some scary hilichurls.” Lumine tried to laugh it off so that Paimon won’t try to pry anymore. She honestly isn’t comfortable to talk about that dream she had to her. “It was just a silly dream, I just over reacted.” She gave out a small smile and wiped out the remaining tears on her cheeks. Thankfully it stopped.

“But you were screaming and crying, Paimon thinks it’s not silly at all!” Pouting she crossed her arms. Whatever is making Lumine feel this way, she wants to know so she can help even a little bit.

Lumine lifted her hands and gently patted the white-haired girl on her head. “This is nothing. So, why don’t we get back to sleep, we need our energy for the festival.” Paimon wanted to argue that she’s not sleepy but a yawn is coming out of her mouth and her eyelids suddenly feels heavy.

“Fine! but Paimon is here to listen, okay?”

It’s been a few months since both of them met and having someone there for you gives Lumine a good feeling in her heart, after all she has been alone for sometime and it’s nice to know someone is there for you even if that someone is your so-called emergency food. This brings a smile to her lips.

“Yes, I know. Thank you Paimon, for everything.” Lumine said but it seems the little companion was too sleepy to be able to reply back and after few seconds of lazy floating she disappeared to wherever she goes to. She’s always curious to how Paimon does this and where does she actually go but it wasn’t something that bothered her. I mean she does travel world after world before this, so it isn’t really that surprising to her.

Lumine tried to sleep again but no matter how many times she turns in her bed, sleep doesn’t come. It doesn’t help she keeps remembering about that dream. “Was I really not supposed to be here?” She whispered silently in her pillows while closing her eyes trying to remember her memories about her brother. She missed him so much it hurts her heart. Maybe she doesn’t deserve to be here and instead it should be Aether. The thoughts kept filling her head and she took a small peek to see if Paimon is around.

It seems that the little companion is sleeping heavily. Lumine gave out a sigh and decided to take a walk outside to clear her mind. She silently slid off her bed and grabbed her boots. Not wanting to be noticed by Paimon, she tip-toed towards the door and gently shut it as she walked away gracefully.

========

The thing she adored most while staying in Wangshu Inn is the view of Liyue. She didn’t know why but her feet suddenly took her at the top balcony of the Inn which isn’t too bad because the view is spectacular. And now she’s leaning against the handrail of the wooden balcony while taking a deep breath of the fresh air of the night.

“No matter how many times I see it, it’s so beautiful.” Letting out a satisfied sigh Lumine closed her eyes slowly trying to overcome the heartache she felt awhile ago. “Aether…. where are you?” Maybe because she was too engaged with her thoughts, she didn’t notice another presence beside her until it talked.

“What are you doing up here?” A deep and boyish voice suddenly whispered near her ear and giving her a startle that almost made her slip off.

“Wha-!? Xiao?” Thankfully Lumine managed to maintain her balance and turned her head to the boy who caught her off guard. He stepped back a bit to give her space and crossed his arms while raising a single eyebrow. She wanted to scold him for almost giving her a heart attack but then remember this is Xiao. This is originally where he stays at also.

“Don't sneak up on me like that. You almost had me fall off.” Lumine pouted. In which Xiao replied with a scoff and turn his eyes towards the view she was looking at awhile ago.

“I was not. I was standing here for quite awhile but you seem to be too distracted to notice me.” He sneaks a glance to see her face and it somehow had a pink tint on that pale cheeks of her. Xiao also noticed how adorable she looks with a puffed cheek as if this little girl hadn’t just faced an ancient god a few months ago. Lumine feels embarrassed because somehow when it comes to this handsome adepti, she cannot help but be a bit more conscious with everything. She doesn’t want to do anything that might make Xiao feel troubled or discomfort, she wants to get to know him, to be his friend.

“I’m sorry if I didn’t notice you sooner. I was just ... thinking” Lumine looked down and gripped the wooden rail. She doesn’t want to trouble the last yaksha with her dreams. She knows that Xiao is already going through so much for thousands of years and compare to that, her troubles are nothing.

“Something is bothering you.” He didn’t ask, he proclaimed it. Even without looking directly at her, he can hear that the wind around her is in despair. “I wouldn’t pry if you do not want me to but I am free to listen if you share.”

“I had a dream that I wasn’t supposed to be here…. That it was my brother who should be here and not me.” Lumine can feel the tears starting to form around the corners of her eyes, threatening to fall any moment while she keeps looking down her hands gripping the railing.

“It felt like an illusion…everything that had happened to me since I woke up. That I was the lost twin instead of my brother.” By now there are few tears trailing down her cheeks, if Xiao noticed he didn’t say a word but rather he stepped bit closer to the girl.

“And then?” Xiao gently asked.

“Then I realized how selfish I would be if I was sadder if everything I had was just an illusion rather than my brother being safe. I…was so happy meeting everyone.” Lumine said and then she slowly turned to face Xiao and stare directly at his beautiful amber eyes. “And meeting you, Xiao.” At that moment, both of them stayed silent and just continued to gaze each other.

And then Xiao lifted his right hand and slowly reach out for Lumine. She didn’t know what he’s doing but when she saw this, she couldn’t help but stay still, anticipating maybe a pat on her head. Lumine closed her eyes to expect a soft pat on and yet “Ow!” a sharp pain on her forehead instead. Rubbing the sore spot, Lumine frowned and pouted at the one who caused it.

“Xiao! Why did you do that for?” still pouting Lumine tried to glare at Xiao but failed miserably in which he finds it quite amusing to see.

“Did it hurt?” His voice cool and calm, but his gaze is soft and caring.

“Yes” Lumine said while still rubbing her forehead. Then Xiao suddenly tilted his head slighty giving her a small smile that is a rare sight to see in this handsome adepti. “Then that’s your answer. This is not an illusion and you are standing right here beside me. Not your brother, but you.”

Hearing Xiao said all those words made her want to cry again. “Xiao… I ..”

Suddenly, a gentle hand pats her head this time. “It’s okay if you want to cry.” And she did.