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Lumine stumbles around her house in the Serenitea Pot, exhaustion threatening to overcome her as she tries to reach her bed before passing out. Paimon had already crashed into her own room, which was conveniently the first door to their left when they came in. Hers, however, was on the second floor. The climb upstairs never felt so intimidating.
Today, Fontaine was saved.
There were lots of rebuilding to be done, lots of internal changes to be made as well… but they will live. She wasn’t sure how exactly they ended up living, but that’s for her to ask Neuvillette some other day.
Tonight, she shall sleep. Maybe even until tomorrow afternoon if she decides to indulge herself.
Surprisingly, she makes it to her bed.
Flopping face-down at a velocity that would be slightly concerning to others, she rolls around to feel the softness. It’s been a while since she slept in the teapot. They’ve been hanging around by the Spina di Rosula for a while, and they’ve been in prison prior to that. Basking in the comfort of her own covers, Lumine closes her eyes and allows herself the sleep she so desperately needs.
Then much like a flash of lightning, she sees his face.
And like the thunder that follows, she bolts upright, now wide awake.
Childe…
Everything happened so fast, she didn’t allow herself to process everything in the moment. Between seeing him again (in his Foul Legacy form no less), seeing him unconscious, and being unceremoniously (one could even say disrespectfully) tossed into the void by his master. It was so much in so little time.
She needed answers, but she wasn’t going anywhere in her current state. She needs to rest, that much she knew, but how could she, when he was who-knows-where in who-knows-what shape?
Foul Legacy… oh he’s so damn stupid for-
No. He had no choice from the instant he saw it.
But when did the fighting start? Was her dream late? He had been missing prior to her and Paimon’s arrival, but she had only received the dream twenty days into their sentence…
Taking a deep breath, Lumine folded her legs to her chest and exhaled.
How long had he been fighting the whale? The entire forty-five days? Did he even bother thinking things through before fighting it? Like regaining his strength?
It’s Childe. Versus the whale he swore to her he’d behead in front of her eyes. Of course, he wouldn’t think things through especially if he thinks he can handle it. And he had been getting stronger. His scratch at Neuvillette mid-transformation and while his back was turned is proof enough.
She took out his vision and held it in her hands.
Its bright glow shone as a promise, a hopeful beacon in the confines of her dark room. Yet it still felt so small and fragile as it rested on the palm of her hand.
Visions don’t break, that much Lumine knows. She has never heard of one shattering or breaking or even getting destroyed. But they do lose their glow.
At that thought, she suddenly imagined it losing its glow. Despite it not being real, the room felt much colder. Was this how Kazuha felt as he held his friend’s vision while on the run? She holds it against her heart, takes a deep breath, and mentally resets.
She needed to return the vision to him, no matter what. It may have been malfunctioning but having it beside him was a much better choice than risking him unleashing his delusion or the foul legacy while he hasn’t fully recovered. He pushed his limits further than he ever had… to the point that his armor was breaking off.
No, Lumine. Stop right there. Reset.
Perhaps he’s in a hospital somewhere in Fontaine. Maybe he got sent back to Meropide. Maybe… Maybe he got sent back to Snezhnaya.
She lies back down, stares at the ceiling and raises the vision.
What would Paimon say to skipping Natlan? She’d definitely be hesitant about it, especially if the main reason is to return a vision to a Fatui Harbinger.
Her Fatui Harbinger though.
She shook her head violently. How could she say that? It’s not as if there’s anything going on between them. They barely see each other! Hell, the last time they saw each other prior to Fontaine, she nearly punched him in the face in jealousy. Thank the archons Yoimiya cleared things up afterwards, rambling something about how he mentioned that they were “comrades” but the way she said it in such a tone was quite suspi-
Lumine, reset.
Snezhnaya.
It would be a major risk. There is still so much she must learn before stepping foot into the Tsaritsa’s domain. It would be going there unprepared, without pyro, without further clues on the Fatui’s motives, and generally, without a plan. It would be impulsive and stupid and careless… and… stupid… impulsive…
Thud.
“Oooowwwww,” Lumine winces as she picks up the vision she dropped. “I actually fell asleep.”
She takes a glance at it alarmingly. One of the Snezhnayan spikes could have taken her eyes out, but no cracks on it otherwise. Good. “I’d rather not show up in front of him with an eyepatch.” she mutters as she places the vision beside her pillow.
“I’ll continue thinking about you tomorrow.”
“They say that he’s returned to Snezhnaya to recover from his wounds.”
Surely they’re joking.
“I hear that the recent disaster really did a number on his health.”
They’re not . Okay, keep it cool.
“Well, I guess I can now call him one of my ‘war buddies’.”
Buddies. Smooth, Lumine. Quick, glance at Paimon so she can take over.
“That’s true,” thank you, Paimon . “When you think about it-“Paimon continued their conversation, but at least now she can think of a Plan B while remaining relatively undisturbed.
Snezhnaya. Exactly where she didn’t want him to be. So much for a heartfelt reunion.
Hearing the Knave join the conversation, she looks up and an idea starts.
“Will you keep to your position?” She needs to know.
“That depends on many things,-“
Good enough. Lumine quietly summons the vision and grips it tight. It doesn’t matter if it’s starting to mark on her skin, it should carry her feelings. No, it needs to carry her feelings. If she was able to dream of him through this vision, it should be powerful enough to, for once, carry her ambition with it.
He would not approve of it, she’s sure. But she has no choice. The longer he’s without it, the riskier it gets. Malfunctioning or not, he will be safer the sooner he gets it.
“Actually, I just remembered something… Please help us deliver this.”
He’s disappointed.
Childe can feel its power through the velvet cloth, and he’s absolutely disappointed.
Couldn’t she have held it a little longer? Surely they would have met again soon. He could request another dispatch assignment, maybe make it in time for Lantern Rite? He’s almost close to recovery! Minus his aching shoulders. And his near-continuous migraine. And his- never mind. Recovery isn’t looking to be next week.
He glances at the concealed vision one more time and closes his eyes. He hadn’t noticed it earlier, but there was a different sort of power in it. Faint, but there.
There, and familiar.
He opens the pouch, and takes out his vision, lying on his back as he stares at it for quite a while. He feels his hydro abilities return to him and a part of him feels like it has returned. Childe wasn’t aware any part of him could return.
Closing his eyes, he basks in the moment, feeling the power and refamiliarizing himself with his own vision. And, clear as day, he hears the voice he’s been waiting to hear for so long.
“Til we meet again, in Snezhnaya.”
Thud.