Work Text:
It was a new year. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion and yet Lumine wasn't in the mood to celebrate it like last year. There has been no sign of Aether since the Windblume Festival in Mondstadt. And her venture this year in the Chasm with Dainsleif and in Sumeru left her empty.
What did he mean that she would find the truth of this world at the end of her journey? Will she know why Aether is unwilling to be with her once she reaches the "end of her journey" and when that will be? Lumine sighed.
She managed to convince Paimon to accompany Nahida to the Grand Bazaar while she rested at the port for some fresh air, staring at the reflection of the starry night sky on the water. Her boots sitting right beside her while she let her feet touch the cold water of the city port. The coldness helped soothe the pain from all the commissions she and Paimon did that day.
The way Sumeru celebrated the new year differed from Liyue. Fireworks weren't allowed in the land of Dendro for obvious reasons, so all of the festive activities are happening at the Grand Bazaar.
"I didn't know you hated new years," a voice behind her said. Lumine cursed under her breath. Of course, he doesn’t celebrate the new year, but she doesn't want him to join her pity party right now.
"May I?" Wanderer asked. Knowing what he was asking for, she replied: "Sure, knock yourself out."
Wanderer sat cross-legged beside her. No words were exchanged for a while until--
"It's your brother, isn't it?"
"Bingo," Lumine said nonchalantly, elaborating no further. The calmness of the night and gentle yet cold wind brushed past them as the silence lingered more prominently now.
The Wanderer knows why—why she was alone. It bothered her a bit, but as a former Harbinger, he knows a thing or two about Lumine and her journey. Her run-ins with the Fatui weren’t exactly delightful, to say the least, but knowing more about his past, she could relax a bit in his presence. Only for a while.
“What about you,” Lumine asked, turning around to face him. His eyes focused on the water on the port. “Have you decided to travel anywhere outside of Sumeru yet?”
“Not yet,” Wanderer said. “This newfound freedom is something I’m still getting used to. Besides, Sumeru seems like a nice place to be in at the moment. A nice scenery compared to Snezhnaya or Inazuma.”
Lumine turned away and stared at the starry night sky. Even though she was so far into her journey in Teyvat, she couldn’t stop reminiscing about Aether and their journeys through the worlds outside Teyvat. She yearned to be able to enjoy eating Sticky Honey Roast together during the Windblume Festival or light up a lantern and watch the fireworks on Lantern Rite. Maybe Lumine could’ve been more rambunctious—happier if Aether was…
“Are you okay?” Wanderer’s voice cut through her train of thought. Lumine didn’t realize that tears were running down her cheeks. She quickly turned away and blinked away the remaining tears.
“Here,” Wanderer said. Lumine turned to look. On his outstretched hand was a white handkerchief. “I was helping another merchant at Port Ormos just before meeting you three. She insisted on giving me this as a token of appreciation. I have no need for it.”
The embroidery was simple. There was a silhouette of a cat on one of the corners. Lumine couldn’t help but exhale a small laugh. Both the merchant and Nahida thought Wanderer was so cat-like before he could realize it. Lumine thanked Wanderer for this kind gesture.
Lumine let out a small chuckle to herself. “I shouldn’t be sad on a new year. I’ve gone this far into my journey. I can’t back down now, but there’s so many questions I want answers to.”
Lumine let out a small sniffle before suddenly, Wanderer stood up.
“Give me your hand,” Wanderer said, extending his hand out once again. Based on the expression Lumine had on her face, Wanderer continued. “What? No need to be nervous. I’m just taking you to a vantage point.”
Lumine hesitated a bit before taking his hand to help herself up. She quickly dried her feet with anemo before putting on her boots.
“Ready?”
“Ready.”
Lumine barely managed to hold on before Wanderer flew up and up until he landed on the highest point in the city, a lone leafless branch above the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Lumine carefully settled her feet on the branch.
“How is it? The scenery here should be quite breathtaking.”
The moonlight made Teyvat feel soft and peaceful. It was as if the world wasn’t on the brink of punishment by Celestia. The sight was indeed beautifully serene.
“How did you find this, Wanderer?” Lumine had to ask. There was no way Wanderer found this by accident. This was the highest point in the city.
“I see no point in it. I wanted a quiet place from all the noise in the city that’s all.”
Lumine didn’t notice a brief window of vulnerability in Wanderer’s face. She was too focused on the view of Vanarana, a clear outline of the large mausoleum for King Deshret, and the faint outline of Fontaine. The view is no joke; it was indescribable. She wondered and thought of the countless worlds she and her brother had visited. Their visits there were brief. Any lingering attachments to those worlds were simply old faint memories. The longer she journeys in Teyvat, the more reluctant she is to leave. She’ll have to make a decision once she knows the full truth from her brother.
No words were exchanged between them once more. Lumine took in the view and the feeling of the wind around them. The wind was their only companion with them. No sounds seeping from the Grand Bazaar can reach up for them. Alas, the moment as transitory as it was had to end.
“Thank you, Wanderer,” Lumine spoke up. “But, we need to go back.”
As they landed back on the pier once more, Paimon came flying in, her expression deeply panicked.
“Lumine!” A voice called out from behind them. “Thank goodness I found you.”
Paimon puts their hands on their hips. “Paimon has been looking everywhere for you on the pier, but Paimon couldn’t find you. Paimon was starting to get a little anxious.”
Paimon noticed that Wanderer was behind Lumine. “Oh, Wanderer is here too!” Paimon lowered her arms. “Um…was Paimon interrupting something here?”
“It’s nothing, Paimon. Wanderer was just showing me a view just outside the city. Anyways, you need me for something?”
“Oh, yes, Nilou didn’t want you missing out on her performance in the Grand Bazaar, so she asked Paimon to get you.”
“Ok, Paimon. I will be there.” Lumine turned to face Wanderer. “Why don’t you come with us?”
“Are you sure?” questioned Wanderer, a bit skeptical that his presence in the crowd would help the celebration.
“Call it a simple gesture of thanks for that view.” Lumine held out her hand to him. “How about it?”
Wanderer sighed and took her hand as the three of them went to the Grand Bazaar. Together.