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Now that the Wanderer has found a new home in Sumeru, Lumine feels a sense of satisfaction. Ever since they met back in Liyue and Mondstadt when those strange meteors fell, she felt a certain sadness behind him. As Scaramouche, he was vile and cruel, seemingly taking pleasure in hurting those around him. All that anger seemed more like a shield, a defense mechanism, to protect himself from the world, rather than genuine outrage.
For now, he acted as the Dendro Archon’s right hand. Next to Alhaitham, Wanderer was the closest to Nahida. He would run errands, essentially. Though he would admittedly deny such an accusation. Fulfilling a god’s will is so much more than a simple errand.
Occasionally, Lumine would cross paths with the Wanderer. Sometimes it was a simple wave from across city streets, other times they battled together. Both of them were always on the move, so no real conversation was ever had.
Which is why it was a pleasant surprise when the Traveler spotted the lone puppet in Gandarva Ville. He stood on one of the many platforms built upon a large tree overlooking the river below.
“Wanderer, hey!” Lumine smiled, calling out to the other, who stopped and turned with his signature frown.
“Oh. It’s you.” He greeted, tilting his head up slightly. Despite how humble he’s become, Wanderer still tries to act as if he’s superior to those around him.
“I’ll take that as a ‘hello’.” The Traveler couldn’t help but be amused at how non-threatening the puppet is now. “What are you doing here? Doing something for Nahida?”
“Not at the moment, no.” He replied with a sigh, seemingly accepting the fact he’s been pulled into a conversation. Though other people tire him, the Traveler was somewhat of an exception. “In fact, Buer has given me some free time as of late.”
“And you’re in Gandharva Ville for your vacation?”
“No. This is just one stop.”
There was a sense of longing as his voice trailed off. Lumine followed the other’s gaze, landing on a young woman down by the river below. No longer did she wear academic robes. At least, not of the darshan she belonged to previously. There was now a dark green color to the clothes she wore. She was with a group of forest rangers, taking notes as she followed along.
“Haypasia?” Lumine mused. “What are you doing watching her?”
A sneer grew on his face, irritation bubbling up in his chest. After all that’s happened, it’s only natural that there would still be mistrust between the two. And yet he still finds himself offended by it.
“What? You think I’ll do something to her? I would-!”
“Never, I know.”
The response catches him off guard. Lumine smiles gently.
“You care about her. I never doubted that.” Sitting down, she hangs her legs over the edge, swinging them gently as she watches. “It was through her I learned a bit about you, Wanderer. And even when we wanted each other dead, I could tell you wanted the best for her.”
Violet eyes examined the outlander for a while, considering her words carefully. He turned back to the group as they moved up the river, fixated on Haypasia. His first follower. At least, in another life…
“Can you tell me what it was like? What you felt?” Lumine softly asked. There was silence for a while, Wanderer’s gaze distant yet soft.
“She connected with Irminsul while I was still being deified. It was unexpected. When I felt her presence…I was scared, for a moment.” There was hesitancy in his voice. How shameful of him to express such fear and weakness.
“Scared?” Lumine gently pried.
“I wasn’t ready. She saw every part of myself that I hated and more. No one could know who I used to be, but…” His head lowered, glancing away from Haypasia and Lumine as his hat now hid his eyes.
“She accepted me….” Those three words were spoken as if they were something fragile.
“Rather than discard me as I had been countless times before, she accepted me. Everything that I was. In her eyes, I was worthy of praise.” The last word was spoken with a laugh, as if it was something inconceivable for him to ever have. The puppet takes in a breath, gripping his sleeve slightly.
“It was everything I had ever wanted…”
Lumine wouldn’t move to investigate, but it sounded as if he was holding back tears.
“After Buer took hold of the gnosis, and I tore myself from the Shouki no Kami, it felt as if the world was ending. To me, it might as well have…”
Again, a moment of silence between the two. The group Haypasia was in had long since moved on, no longer within sight. Small breaths were heard coming from the Wanderer, sharp and light. Again, he tried concealing his pain.
“What do you want now?” Lumine asked.
“I came here simply to make sure Haypasia had recovered.” The answer came quickly, and the Traveler made no comment at how his voice sounded shaky at best as he tried to recover. “My connection to her has long since faded, even before I erased myself from the world.”
They sat in silence once again, a common occurrence between the two. Both hated idle conversation, only speaking when needed. Softly, Lumine pats the space beside her, inviting the other to sit. There was a huff, and then Wanderer lowered himself next to the other.
“Do you miss her?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you miss Haypasia?”
Wanderer opens his mouth, but quickly shuts it. He wanted to make some kind of snappy response. To tease and lead the Traveler in a circle with his words.
‘Oh, were you jealous?’
‘I would have had many more followers, if it weren’t for you.’
‘There’s nothing to miss.’
“Yes.” He finally answers, spoken almost in a whisper.
“You know…” Lumine began, pursing her lips as she thought for a moment. “You could just…talk to her?”
Her suggestion is met with a shaking head.
“No. I don’t…” Wanderer’s hand reached up, fingers wrapping around his vision. As if clutching his heart. He takes a deep breath. “I don’t think that’s what I need.” Another pause, and he sighs. “Besides, I really did…just want to make sure she recovered.”
Lumine examined the puppet, before a smile found its way to her face.
“You know, all things considered, I think you wouldn’t have been half bad as a god.”
“Pardon?”
The offended response caused a laugh to bubble up from the outlander. From the corner of her eyes, she could have sworn that the Wanderer’s face was turning red.
“I don’t need you mocking me-”
“I’m not, I’m not!” Lumine swore, wiping away tears. “I mean, the god you would have become through the sage’s actions wouldn’t be good. But I don’t think that really would have been you, you know? But right now, if you could become a god…” Finally calm, looking up at the blue sky past the overhanging tree. “I think you’d be a pretty good one.”
Wanderer stared as if she grew a second head. How dare she? It was her fault he wasn’t an archon right now. If it wasn’t for the traveler, Sumeru would have been his. Yet, his mind wanders back to Pardis Dhyai. When Lumine tried to sway his previous incarnation away from going through with the sage’s plans. How she sounded genuinely concerned for his well being. He truly believed it was a trick. But…could it have been genuine?
“Hm.” Wanderer pushed off the platform. Before he fell, the winds gathered around him. His hat transformed into a halo floating at his back, and he floated midair. “Is that your attempt at gaining favor?”
Seeing that cocky grin on his face made Lumine happy to see again. There was so much she wanted to know about this person. And she couldn’t help but look at the vision on his chest. Venti said that a vision is merely a primitive gnosis. That those chosen by the gods have a chance at ascending themselves.
“Maybe~” She teased, standing up. “Who knows? Maybe you will be a god someday.”
Rolling his eyes, Wanderer extended his hand. “I assume you’ll be following me, knowing how you like to butt in.” Despite the accusatory tone, it felt like an invitation. Lifting her hand, Lumine stepped forward.
“Ah yes, what else would there be for me to do?” She smiled back, her hand now resting in the other’s. Suddenly, his grip tightened, and he yanked her off the edge. But she would not fall. He would never let her fall.
Soaring forward, Lumine laughed as she held on. Wanderer’s grip was tight, but not painful. Delicate, even. For a moment, she had her wings again. Flying all on her own.
“The littlest things make you happy.” Wanderer mused. “How childish…”