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“BLAH!” She boomed before laughing like a madwoman at the girly scream she coaxed from the two.
“Ah, you scared the crud out of us!” Paimon yelled, face puffed in anger in contrast to the travelers annoyed glare. Yet this only made her chuckle just a little. “Ah... so she speaks?” Hu Tao gestured to the latter. “I was under the impression she was one of few words”
“Of course she can speak, it’s just... I usually answer for her” Paimon explained. “A-Anyway is scaring us all you wanted to do or is there something you want?!”
“On no just my way of greeting, I’m quite busy after all so toodleoo~” she spoke and walked her way, humming to an unknown tune. Leaving to chat about that encounter before going their own way.
They met her again at dinner with friends, jovially regaling an adventure she recently had when-
“My that sounds like quite the tale” she commented, scaring the two again. And after an acknowledgement of her existence was swiftly invited to join the table. “So please continue you piqued my curiosity” she asked, Paimon rolling her eyes and continuing where she left off.
They’d see her a lot more often after that, even when they talked with Zhongli. Always finding new and creative ways of saying hello, and a lot of those hellos ended with spending some time together:
Wether it was going out for tea, doing some commissions together, going on ghost hunts, or just aiding in her mischief they enjoyed it all. In fact the moment traveler started talking with her own voice, she felt just humbled.
And, she’d want to hear more of it.
Just like the risks she took using her vision, she one night risked it all.
It was during a previous Lantern Rite did she make her move
“Ruby Red in Golden Shell”
“Burns my skin, warms my heart”
“Just like you”
The traveler looked at the card confused, while Paimon glazed at the chocolates. “Who’s it from?” she asked popping one into her mouth. “I... don’t know” she fibbed, looking at the doodle of a plum blossom her thumb covered, ignoring how Paimon gagged after eating a chocolate.
The last thing she remembered was the world crumbling around her, voices begging her to come to the other side and voices asking her to stay. Her head was a riptide, waves of color and blur splashing against each other. Even through all of that she was sure her hesitancy was her downfall, since the choice was made for her as the world around her snapped to darkness.
“I’m flattered, I really am but I can’t stay here”
They sat upon a set of wooden swings atop a hill, supported by an old tree. “I know you travel a lot but that wouldn’t bother-”
“No, I can’t stay here” she reiterated.
“I’m not asking you to, I know what I’m getting into. And I’d never ask anyone to choose between family” she explained, giving a couple creaking swings.
“I just want to experience more of you, even if it means us burning till the last ember”
“... you’re... okay with that, this?” she asked. “Yes”
“Lumine... my name is Lumine”
“Lumine... my... I feel honored” Hu Tao smiled, letting herself swing in excitement.
Creaks and knocks resounding as the heavenly light that was her smile welcomed her, blinding her.
“I thought I’d let some light into here... is it too bright?” she spoke before closing the blinds on one side away from her. “Ugh... what happened?” Lumine asked, looking around to find herself not in the stars or clouds but a room she was all to familiar with. “You fell from the sky... and fell asleep for... a month?” Qiqi spoke looking into her notebook.
“A month?” Lumine asked. Attempting to get out of the bed before grunting as she fell back on.
“Yeah Baizhu says you hit your head hard... before you hit the water hard...”
“Shouldn’t I be...?” Lumine pondered aloud. “Baizhu says you should be dead... but you’re not dead”
Qiqi leaned close. “Qiqi’s glad... you’re not dead” Lumine smiled. “Thank you”
“You know I was almost considering planning your funeral” she jested. “Wow that’s really considerate of you” Lumine barked back. “Comes with the job I suppose”
“But I could tell it wouldn’t be your time anytime soon, don’t know when though”
“Well I mean we can die but not for long, sooner or later we reform and are free to go on as we please”
“Tch, to be immortal I suppose” Hu Tao rolled her eyes. “Such is the will to explore” Lumine replied.
“Don’t tell anyone this but I’m glad death didn’t come for you” Hu Tao whispered as she inched closer. “I mean I know I preach that everyone should accept that death will come for them and their loved ones...” Hu Tao swallowed her throat. “I... w-when they fished you out of the harbor... everyone was appalled at how calm I was, telling me how I should feel about you”
Lumine inched herself up to sit, interest piqued.
“I-It was only when I was in my bed about to sleep, d-did I let that mask fall...” She admitted with a crestfallen face, completely unlike her cheery self. “It was the first time I cried ever since my grandpa died” she darkly joked with a forced cheery voice that shook and cracked.
“It was only then did I realize how much you meant to me. You’re as family to me as how the countless widowers I’ve consoled felt about their departed spouses” She spoke another hard truth.
“T-Tao...” Lumine spoke shocked as the grip on her hand tightened. That tightened grip pulled her into a kiss, a longing open mouthed one. Where they climbed into each other’s laps and let their hands roam, their mouths hotly connected. Venturing further and further until-
“Ah so you’re awake I see?” Baizhu walked in. Meanwhile Changsheng stared at them unmoving.
“Yeah just getting some blanks filled in” Lumine replied pushing her off. “Haha well at least the director here is seated and not chasing Qiqi about” He jested. “Hey!” Hu Tao replied.
“Anyways glad to see you’re awake, though I have to ask: Do you agree you’re prepared to handle some good and bad news regarding my professional diagnosis?”
“Yeah I should be fine, let’s hear it” Lumine spoke placing her feet onto the floor.
“Now as we know you’re perfectly healthy even after all the trauma your body has endured. For example countless broken bones and a sizable dent in your head, must have been your abilities that have done so which is remarkable” Baizhu spoke. “Yeah me and my brother can handle mortal wounds fine”
“Now I have a rather odd question: How important did you consider your internal organs?”
“I have those?” Lumine asked. “Okay noted, and I apologize if this is rather invasive and feel free to not answer but: Do you know the function of your Sexual Organs?”
Their blushing faces was a suitable answer.
“Alright now we can move onto the bad news...” Baizhu flipped his notes. “I’ve noted an irregularity since your last visit, as we know you don’t exactly have a heartbeat due to your celestial status”
“I’ve investigated this with the help of a scientist from Monstadt, who’s words helped with this investigation. And what we’ve discovered is distressing...”
“Your powers, they’re gone. Which means, you’re as human as us all” Baizhu spoke, shattering the world all over again. “N-no... nonononono you’re joking, you’re lying!”
“I can’t be mortal, I’m not from here, I’m not human, I’m not!”
She kept whimpering madly, tears streaming as she was held tight. Attempts were made to soothe her madness, but little could be done to calm her down aside from keeping her calm until she eventually passed out. Though this was part of a long, long road far different from a normal journey.
In all her journeys she had faced many roadblocks, each one stopping her but ultimately she’d eventually get over that hurdle. So why can’t she get over this one?
She tried and tried again and again yet nothing could be done about it. Every time she tried she’d fall short, needing to catch her breath. This time she didn’t falter going as deep as she could, before finally reaching that door and stepping throu-
Before she knew it she was coughing, before gagging as a heavy pressure settled in her chest. Flailing her arms violently trying to shake off her attacker, punching and kicking until she could suddenly hear herself shouting. “Calm the fuck down!”
It was only when she stopped for breath did she do so, only did she realize the surroundings around herself. The wind blowing around her was cold, and she was wet all over. It wasn’t bright it was dark, and the stars were out. The grip on her chest relaxed, and only realizing now who it was.
“The fuck were you thinking Lumi!? You nearly made me join you in death!”
“Tao?” she asked.
“No seriously what were you thinking there? That you’d find everything at the bottom of the ocean, huh? If we hadn’t gotten here in time you’d have drowned Lumine! Drowned!”
“Do you not know the meaning of your life!? So much so that you’d risk it for nothing!? You know how much that pisses me off, people who try and subvert their lives only to throw it all away!?”
“Is that what you want? To die, do you want to die that badly!?”
“NO!” Lumine screamed.
They both were panting, heavily. “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to...” she whimpered.
“Nobody does, and I am no exception to that” she started to explain. “We never worry about death when we’re young, we only ever do so if we’re introduced to it early and even then we only ever worry about it as we grow older” She combed her wet locks. “What takes about a year was even shorter for me, but I don’t place that expection on others. I know it hurts to think about it, but one day you’ll come to terms with it. But until then don’t throw it away all willy nilly like now”
Her head hurt but she nodded, resting her chin on her arms. “I-I won’t...” she promised. They could relax now upon this starlit night, as her tugboat sailed across the sea.
The morning sun rose upon the world, a giant ball of energy ever burning to sustain life upon worlds around it. Much like life itself it too could one day go out, she knew about that first hand after one universe she had revisited suddenly vanished. The people of this world could take solace though, it’s been proven that an event like that would take an amount of time larger than life.
And much like that size, it’s rays certainly covered her face.
Mumbling she turned her body away from the nourishing rays to welcome the lifeless shadows behind her. Sleep wasn’t exactly a problem for her back then, she could go days and go through countless ventures without so much as a nap if she wanted to. But there did come situations where she’d decide to sleep and be out like a light, either after a brutal adventure or if she had nothing better to do. So not exactly that different from ordinary people...
Sighing her sudden line of thoughts ultimately woke her up, resigning to wipe her eyes and yawn as she got up from bed. Forsaking the comfortable mattress and it’s items in favor of open air.
She’d reach the cold flooring of the bathroom to take a look at herself in the mirror.
What met her was a different her, unlike the one that woke up here. Throughout their adventures across many, many worlds they’d be recognized as they were. Though it took many lightyears for them to appear as they are now, they weren’t exactly as tall as they were now. And her own hair used to be long, and her brother’s hair used to be short.
“So why do I look so different now?”
The answer to that question was a simple one that scared her, proven by the input of key figures across all of Teyvat. “All traces of her origins and powers were gone, the organs of the body she was sculpted in were functioning, and information related to herself was recorded within Irminsul” So in essence that meant she was now fully human.
She stared at her golden yellow eyes, known for how brightly they shined. But now the shine they had was gone, much duller than what she remembered. She could only sigh at that, yet another reminder that she was going to-
“Yo, yo yo...” a tired but cheery voice spoke.
Her thought’s were broken by a small frame of arms wrapped around her neck, before their owner dropped their petal eyed face onto her shoulder. “What’s chilling my girl?”
“Oh nothing, just thinking” Lumine answered half-heartedly.
Hu Tao hugged her a little tighter. “You still thinking about the diagnosis?”
“I know Tao, it’s natural and-”
“Hey... I get it Lumi” She interrupted. “You’ve never had to worry about death, and even when you died it wasn’t forever” “But now that your frozen state of immortality is over... well it’s okay to be scared” Hu Tao squeezed her hand. “So don’t worry one day you’ll be at peace with it, and when that time comes I promise you that you won’t be alone in it’s embrace”
Her silence was broken as it was replaced by sniffles. “T-Ta-Tao...” She whimpered as her eyes brimmed with tears, before breaking down and crying into her chest. She would be wrapped in a strong grip, who whispered nothings as she combed her soft hair.
“I’m just worried about Aether...” she vented. “I left him all alone, he doesn’t know what happened to me. Wh-What if he comes back and I-I’m...?”
“Do you... know how to reach him?” she asked.
“No...” Lumine answered her own concerns. “O-Oh...” she replied. “Well you don’t know when he’ll visit, maybe you’ll still be here when he returns and you could tell him then?” she suggested.
“Yeah by the time I’m an old lady” Lumine bitterly croaked.
This is all to familiar to Hu Tao. Countless times she’s had funerals for solitary souls or one’s who thought they had all the time that suddenly perished, and no one would be the wiser or realize that for years to come. Relatives far away coming to visit, only to see their new home in the ground. She could say all the right things, yet those words were all part of a script spoken time and time again. That however didn’t make her cold she could empathize with the departed family, she’d be just as downcast as them.
“Did I ever tell you about my grandpa?” she asked.
Lumine nodded. “Yeah, you went to look for him for about a week, and nearly passed yourself”
“Yeah well... during the funeral I was so sad I didn’t get so see or hear him one last time. But later on I would sneak out to go to Wuwang Hill to reach the border, it took me 2 days at the time compared to now. I would have gone faster but I told myself, that he’d be there to meet me and that I could take my time...” Hu Tao scoffed at herself. “When I got there all I found was a bunch of old folk and an old lady who chastised me and sent me back on my way after I waited for 3 whole days for him”
“I’d only figure out after that he couldn’t be there to meet me, he’d accepted and moved on the day he died...”
“We won’t truly meet again until it’s my turn to pass on, but until that day comes I’d do my best to help others find their peace...” Hu Tao spoke as she looked over to her hat on the counter.
Turning over to meet her. “The best we can do is just live as we are, and hope he remembers to visit. And if not we can always leave behind a last message and will... I’m sorry if that sounds wrong”
Lumine could do nothing but sigh heavily and hold her tight. “It’s okay... it’ll be alright...”
“Just take the time you need, I’ll be here...”
No powers meant no accelerated healing, and the doctors healing could only do so much. Hence why her arm was in a cast and a doctors demand to not do any adventuring, even if she didn’t listen the guild wouldn’t offer her a commission... even the simple ones.
So she was left to wander about the harbor, surveying the city and how much it grew compared to years ago. While the city did expand since then, it was kind of difficult to notice. Her focus was soon replaced by the sky above, a perfect orange violet. She reached into her bag to pull out a device called an astrolabe, being a birthday gift from a good friend from Monstadt.
It was rather difficult to understand and she knew it, but after a visit that turned into a lecture she had enough understanding to operate it. Though she only knew how to operate it because she only ever tried to locate one specific constellation. And much like every time she tried to do so, she could never find it.
“BOO!”
“Aw shit!” Lumine yelled as she dropped the item. Only for Hu Tao to catch it before it crashed to the ground. “I believe this is yours?” she grinned with a forced smile. “Tao you jerk!” she punched her shoulder. “Hey, hey I’m sorry!” she complained.
Grumbling she put the fragile item back into her bag. “You’re so lucky you caught it”
“Or what? Whack me with your dominant arm, oh wait it’s broken” she teased.
“I’ve still got a functioning left one” she pointed out before flicking her nose. Causing her to snort and complain, while laughing at her expense.
“So what brought you to find me?” Lumine asked.
Hu Tao groaned before leaning on the railing. “Just near relatives nagging me on like: Oh you’re growing older Hu Tao you should start thinking about marriage, you should consider finding a sucessor” She speiled before putting on an exaggerated voice. “I’m only 25 like let me enjoy my young years, I only have so much time”
“Huh, yeah...” Lumine replied.
“Well enough of that I’m starving, how about you my treat?” she pepped up. “Well if you’re offering it can’t be that bad” Lumine agreed. “Then let’s go!” Hu Tao spoke as she locked her arm with Lumine’s only functional one.
“Ugh I don’t think I have room for desert...” she groaned. Only now realizing that the only reason she was able to consume so much food in the past was because she never really needed to eat. “Guess your star belly is gone now huh?” Hu Tao spoke going through her leftovers. “Actually now that I think about it where did the food you ate go anyway?” Hu Tao questioned.
“I... actually never thought about it, no matter what I ate I never really needed to go as I do now...”
Their line of questions would soon stop upon remembering where they were. “... sorry...” they both spoke.
Tired from dinner their night soon took them back home, resting outside and drinking tea. The taste and aroma exquisite and warm, a contempt sigh escaped her mouth. “Hu Tao?”
“That’s my name”
“Is there... something you want to talk about?” she asked. “Well what do you mean?”
“You only bring the expensive tea out when it’s important, so what’s troubling you?”
“Oh nothing just, It’s not exactly important but uh here” Hu Tao reached into her pocket-
Pulling out a familiar teal bauble.
“Found this by the bed, guess you never found it so here you go” she answered before tossing it over. Catching it she took a look, the frame was far different than the other regions but it was unmistakable...
“Anemo huh...?” she muttered, staring hard at it’s shape.
“How do you feel... about that?” Hu Tao asked.
“...”
“I would have said like a caged bird long ago... but now it feels like, this world has accepted me...”
“Like... like I’m home...”
“We’ve never had a place to call home, we never had a reason to. But after everything I’ve done here, I think... I think I’ve found it. And I know Aether would say otherwise, that I’ve forgotten our rules...”
“It’s going to hurt I know it, but I can’t just spend everyday waiting for him” Lumine’s cheeks were red. “W-What I’m getting at is that... do you want to... I don’t know... get married or something?”
“Fuck yeah” Hu Tao eagerly responded.
Half a century later
Past a lonely bend she went, cross a field of stagnancy. Over the rotten tree’s atop a path few mortals dared to tread. A deathly silence was unbroken, lest they disturb the peace of the departed.
Whispering solemn words before opening the rusty gates, and stepping into a land of silence.
Speaking her peace to the departed as she walked, repeated long enough to become a song. Past the tombstones and their wilting flowers, she figured she should replace them soon.
The end of her song would soon arrive as she reached the end of the branch, no doubt she would be joining them at some point. But nonetheless she took a seat atop cold pavement, gazing longingly at the tombstone’s in front of her...
“Hi mother’s it’s been a while, hasn’t it?” She took of her hat, adorned with a black lily. Revealing her brown, short and choppy hair with one lock longer than the other half. “Haven’t settled down with anyone yet, I’m sort of okay with that... at least Mr Zhongli still talks to me so that’s nice”
“I tried talking to that guy I told you about, but it didn’t go well”
She shook her head. “It’s been really tough living alone. I-I’ve never had to worry about that when you were still around, j-just you being there caring for me was enough”
She took a wavering breath and sniffled. “I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just needed to talk...”
“I discovered a neat trick with my vision though, that’s cool. Yeah I can make a fake copy of myself to do the work for me, hehe” She looked over to a particular stone. “Yeah I can go wherever I want and the copy can work just fine... no I don’t use it to perform funerals relax mum”
“Farthest I’ve gotten was Inazuma with that trick... yeah I met a bunch of cool people there. Though this one girl with blue hair wouldn’t leave me alone, no matter how much I told her she’d always want to hear more...” she sighed. “Okay yeah she’s pretty cute... no way she’d be-”
Harsh whispers soon assaulted her head. Which she answered with a groan. “Alright I gotta go mothers something came up at the parlor” she rose up, putting the hat on with gusto. “It was nice talking to you again, I feel much better now. I’ll be back to bring you all some flowers”
“Love you mothers” she spoke before walking off into the full moon distance. A shooting star shining across the sky as the graves were revealed in the moonlight:
“Here lies the 77th Director Hu Tao, a sterling practitioner with odd business practices”
“Here lies the Traveler of Teyvat Lumine, a hero of the seven regions”