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Lumine knew he’d try to kill her once he realized what she was doing, but it’s not like she’d give him a chance.
Her eyes narrow as she spots a mop of ginger a few meters from the bush she was hiding behind. The harbinger stood atop a small boulder, right next to the shores of Luhua Pool as the moon’s reflection framed his silhouette. A row of Fatui diplomats lined valiantly in front of him, dark masks covering half their faces. The weapons slung across their uniforms made the traveler speculate on what the gathering was about. ‘New missions?’ she thought.
After the turn of events not too far back, starting from her battle with the harbinger up until the trade involving the Geo archon’s gnosis, she has been on edge. Contradictory to how the people of Liyue have taken in these abrupt occurrences, Lumine somehow knew that what she has gone through is only the tip of Teyvat’s iceberg. It seems as if she has been accidentally involved in very eventful circumstances during her travel across the nations. Accidents as these may look like, they all seemed too close for her comfort. She has only begun and she is well aware of how big Teyvat can be, how much more she would be facing. Maybe spying on the harbinger brought her peace of mind, something she hadn’t had since the war with the ancient god. Childe, the easygoing persona she first met, gave her a major surprise after she and the entirety of Liyue Harbor suffered under Osial’s disturbed imprisonment. Not to mention, their ‘sparring session,’ as he liked to call it, in the Golden House for Rex Lapis’ gnosis making her realize who the eleventh Fatui harbinger really is. It seems like yesterday when he saved her from the Millelith.
Then again, maybe it’s just her. She couldn’t deny that she enjoyed the occasional glasses of cider she had with Childe.
“Are we going to do this sneaking thing all night?” Paimon said, their fists resting on their hips. “Paimon’s getting hungry,” they said, groaning. They floated above Lumine’s head, setting crossed arms on top.
“Shut it, Paimon,” she said, waving the fairy away. They sighed, disappearing into a cloud of starry dust.
Lumine jerked right up once she heard a loud, unified stomp from the distance. The recruits dispersed by groups, leaving to man their respective posts. The harbinger handed the clipboard he’s been holding to a cicin mage next to him, the latter vanishing after saluting to her superior. As the members of the Fatui left, Childe was left fiddling with the tips of his double-ended blades, having them impaled through a couple of falling yellow leaves. The end of the red fabric draped over his shoulder tickled the water, creating ripples from where they meet. Lumine shrugged, grabbing a small dagger from under her dress. ‘Now’s a good a time as any,’ she thought, throwing it across the distance. The blade caught the tip of the fabric as it ran through the sand, pulling the redhead down onto the river’s edge.
“You’ve been doing better,” Childe chuckled, turning around to face her. He retrieved the blade, tossing it back to the blonde. Lumine caught it gracefully, the dagger narrowly missing her shoulder. “You better not have been listening earlier.”
“I was waiting for a grand speech about kitemaking,” Lumine snickered. “You disappointed me.”
Childe grunted. “I told you to not bring that up again.” He willed his hydro blades away. “They’ve kept Teucer under close eye since he returned.”
Lumine snorted, to which the ginger only shrugged, going along as well. Laughter then slowly faded into the air, the chirp of crickets seemingly much louder than they usually are. It never really bothered her as much. Though she dearly enjoyed the many practice fights Childe instigated or the random midnight missions they did for small treasure hoarder loot, watching him fiddle with the tips of his arrows doesn’t really bore her at all. She then proceeded to play with the end of her sword’s tassel, waiting for a word from the other.
Soon enough, the water’s subtle serene sound was cut as Childe spoke, snickering. “Hey, wanna go back to the Institute of Toy Research?” Lumine frowned, smacking the underside of his head with her palm.
“Let’s go.”
The duo stood in front of the pile of rocks that concealed the entrance. She had no idea when Childe discovered this, nor would she want to know how, but Lumine sure is glad he did. She tapped the end of her sword’s hilt on the top of the pile, causing a few pebbles to stumble down. “Open it,” she said, nudging at him.
Childe activated the mechanism as simple as how one would use a key to a locked door, but she was almost used to it. With the many secrets he kept, a new one revealed barely fazed her anymore. She didn’t think much of the place the first time she’s been there since Teucer was quite a handful. The kid made sure of that. “This place looks bigger than the last time.”
“Come on,” he said. “Follow my lead.”
Lumine scoffed. “I’m not going to get lost, you know.” She jogged, matching his stride.
He laughed, raising a brow at her. “I’m willing to bet you won’t even reach the end of the workshop on your own.”
“I bet you a few handfuls of Mora and..” she paused, thinking, “..two extra glasses of spiked Sunsettia Cider that I would, even with you stopping me.”
“Mondstadt’s Honorary Knight betting with a Fatui harbinger.” Childe only laughed harder, crossing his arms at her. “What would the Knights of Favonius say?”
Lumine tilted her head. She almost forgot about the harbinger knowing that small detail about her. While she was flustered at all the sudden attention she got in Mondstadt, the people of Liyue paid her nothing of the sort. Though Mondstadt’s warmth holds a dear place in her heart, it was refreshing to roam around the city without anyone recognizing her. The first welcome she got from Liyue was a force of armed Millelith, whom she was saved from by the exact same man picking on her right now. Still, her pride was on the line here.
“Tell me if it’s too much for you, Fatui,” she said, taunting.
“Or you,” he said, chuckling. “You’re such a good little girl, sometimes I wonder if you’re even scared at all.”
“Of what?” she asked, stepping closer. “Of you? Please, don’t make me laugh.”
Childe went nearer, shoving the bow slung across his back away. “You always pick fights, Traveller,” he said. “A bit too trusting of the ‘enemy,’ don’t you think?”
“I wouldn’t call it trusting the enemy,” Lumine said, sliding her sword out of its scabbard. “More like, scouting.”
“You’ve been warned by everyone,” he scoffed, chuckling. “Everyone believes in the ‘bad Fatui’ narrative.”
“And yet–” he continued slowly. “–you’re still here. Alone at night, in an abandoned workshop, with a member of the Fatui. A harbinger, no less.”
“Typical,” she said, slashing her blade until it was mere inches from the side of his neck. The latter grinned, only glancing at the metal. “This all sounds suggestive coming from you, Childe.”
“Just tell me what you want, Lumine,” he sneered. “I’d be willing to squeeze you in for recruitment, the Fatui are always accepting new members,” he remarked, setting the blade aside. Lumine could already hear Paimon chiding her in her mind. The little fairy absolutely loathes the Fatui. They were always the first one to be sour towards anything or anyone even remotely close to the Snezhnayan organization. Then again, Lumine couldn’t blame them. They’ve both been involved in enough dirty Fatui work to hold a grudge against them.
She turned her attention to Childe again, who now has seemingly gotten closer for a few more inches, or so she thought. “So?”
“I’m not interested, as you might’ve already expected,” she snapped. “Though that bad boy façade has to go.” She leaned the blade closer, bringing it back to where it was before.
“You wound me,” he said, mocking a hurt tone. “That paints me like some kind of rebellious teenager.”
“Are you not?” she replied, smirking back at him. “That’s how you act, anyways.”
“I assure you, I’m more than just that.” He pulled the tassel dangling at the end of the sword sideways, redirecting the blade far from him. Pulling it down made Lumine’s grip loosen, the sword finally clattering on the iron floors.
“I don’t buy it, you know.” Lumine rolled her eyes, bending down to pick it up.
“This–” she stepped away, gesturing to his entire figure using the tip of her blade. “–does not seem like the kind of guy you are.”
“Really?” he said amused, following her step.
“And even if you are,” she continued. “You still spend your precious time with me.” Lumine finished, now noticing the smaller distance between them. It feels much closer now, but she doesn’t feel the need to back away.
Childe, however, did. “I’m a Fatui Harbinger,” he said as he stepped away. Turning his eyes towards hers, he sneered. “We’re here in Liyue once and suddenly, we’re the villains.”
Lumine opened her mouth to reply but dropped the idea as soon as Childe continued. “It’s like I kill people every night,” he said, smirking at the thought.
“Don’t you?” Lumine challenged, leaning on the hilt of her sword. “I don’t think the Fatui has done anything to ease that thought.”
“Hey, I’m here with you now, aren’t I?”
‘Sly bastard,’ she thought, laughing at his response. The nights she spent roaming around Liyue were enough to see through that lie hanging by the edge of his teeth. She used to get real surprised each time she passed treasure hoarder camps barren of any inhabitants, but she eventually realized why there were drenched tent coverings and torn journals usually scattered at the sites.
Childe sat on the railing of the iron platforms, grinning at her. “I’ll understand if you’re mad at me.”
“Yeah, no kidding, ” Lumine said, jeering at him. “You weren’t the friendliest you’ve ever been back at the Golden House.”
The ginger laughed. “That’s as friendly as how a welcoming gesture would go in Snezhnaya.”
“Hearing the nursery rhyme from Teucer about pinkie promises, I figured as such.” The blonde sheathed her sword, taking a seat beside him.
Their atmosphere remained quiet for a few moments, save for the clanking of their soles on the iron floors. The deactivated ruin guards lined up hanging behind them would be a horrifying sight any other day, but Lumine thought none of it. She was more fixated on how near he was beside her. ‘Perhaps I sat too close?’ His gloved hand clung tighter onto the railing, just barely touching her own.
Breaking the ice, she spoke. “So, that bet? The Sunsettia Cider’s not gonna buy itself.” Lumine stood up, kicking the redhead’s leg.
“Is this your way of asking me out on a date?” Childe asked, standing up. “By buying me drinks?”
Lumine smirked. “Dream on, Fatui.” She stepped backward, creating distance between them. “That’s only if you win.” She ran off, her heels rattling the iron surface.
Childe laughed, grabbing his bow with him as he chased after her. “As you wish,” he whispered under his breath.
The abyss mage came out of hiding, scurrying away from the distant pair. It vanished into thin air, a flurry of glowing symbols left in its wake. Reappearing at Stormterror’s lair, it made its way towards a boy sharpening his double-edged sword, gold glinting against dawn rays. Around him, small piles of iron chunks scattered. The mage bowed, along with its subordinates trailed behind it. “Your Highness.”
“Anything of note?” He said as he walked towards them. “I expected your report later rather than sooner, so I’d guess this is important,” he snapped.
The mage gulped. “Your Highness, your sister has encountered the 11th harbinger.” The blond furrowed his eyebrows as the abyss mage went on to relay what they have seen. Moments later, the abyss mage conjured up a longsword tassel fallen on the floor just a few hours earlier and handed it to the boy, who then scoffed. “A prototype rancour, huh? I see she’s reached Liyue.”
“We await your command, Your Highness,” the mage asserted. The others leaned in, anticipating the boy’s word.
“I suppose the battle would be quicker if the other opposing forces are-” he paused, sheathing his sword. “-crippled. ”
Walking towards the mage, he spoke. “Whatever way you choose to do it is beyond me, do what you must. One thing is certain,” He enclosed the tassel in his palm. “You must rid of the harbinger.”