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The frosty air hit Lumine’s skin like a swarm of little needles. Her breath came out in visible puffs of white as she trudged through the deep snow, following Ajax's footprints toward the sea ahead. She pulled her thick cloak tighter around herself, grateful for the layers Ajax had insisted she wear before she set out this morning.
He'd left a note telling her he'd gone out to fish for his family’s dinner. He’d left her some slices of a brown rye bread with butter and some sweet berry preserves, all of which had been made by his mother. She and Paimon had scarfed it down, then Lumine had set out to find him, leaving Paimon behind to play with Teucer and Anthon in the snow.
Lumine found him exactly where she expected—out on the frozen part of the sea, sitting on an overturned bucket with his fishing line disappearing into a hole he'd carved through the ice. His breath formed small clouds in the frigid air as he stared intently at the bobber floating in the dark water below. He looked so peaceful in this moment; she felt bad that she was about to disturb him.
The crunchy snow beneath her boots turned into slippery but solid ice. She made her way across the frozen surface, careful to step where the sheet looked thickest.
Ajax's head turned at the sound of her voice, and his expression brightened immediately. "Myla! I was wondering when you'd come find me," he called out, his tone warm despite the cold surroundings.
"Catch anything yet?"
He gestured to the hole in the ice with a gloved hand. "Not yet, but I can feel something big down there. I just have to be patient."
Lumine smiled and carefully made her way closer, settling down on the ice beside him. She glanced at the fishing line, then back at his face, watching the way his eyes tracked every tiny movement of the red and white bobber with the intensity he usually reserved for battle.
“If you want to fish, I have a spare rod,” he said, eyes focused on the ice hole.
"I'd like that," Lumine replied.
“There’s another hole that my father drilled a week ago. I don’t know if it’s closed back up, but you’ll just have to check."
Lumine took the spare rod out from his pack and a jar of bait. She unscrewed the jar and baited the hook with a singular worm. Having spent enough time fishing across Teyvat, she knew the motions by heart. Taking a bit of bait with her, she carefully made her way out to where Ajax had said the hole was.
Sure enough, a thin layer of ice had formed over the opening, but it was fragile enough that she could break through with the butt of the fishing rod. The dark water below rippled as chunks of ice floated away, and she carefully lowered her baited hook into the frigid depths.
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence, the only sounds the whisper of wind across the ice and the occasional creak of the frozen sea beneath them. Lumine found herself relaxing despite the cold, lulled by the peaceful rhythm of waiting for a nibble. She glanced over at Ajax, whose eyes remained fixed on his bobber with unwavering focus, and couldn't help but smile at how focused he looked.
"You know," Lumine said softly, breaking the silence, "I never imagined the Eleventh of the Fatui Harbingers would be so happy to just sit on the ice with a fishing rod."
Ajax's mouth curved up at that, though his eyes never left the bobber. "There's more to life than battle, myla. Sometimes the best victories are the ones where you help make sure your family eats dinner."
Before Lumine could respond, her bobber suddenly dipped beneath the surface. Her hands moved instinctively, gripping the rod and giving it a sharp tug to set the hook. The line went taut, and she could feel something pulling back—something substantial.
“I got a bite!”
"Need help?" Ajax called over, already moving to stand, but Lumine shook her head.
"No! I've got this," she said, bracing her feet against the slippery ice as she began to reel in the line.
The fish fought hard, pulling the line first left, then right, testing her strength and patience. Ajax watched with an approving grin, ready to jump in if needed but clearly enjoying watching her handle it herself. After what felt like minutes but was probably only seconds, a silvery form broke through the surface of the water—a massive fish that looked similar to a salmon, its scales glinting in the pale winter light.
“Nice catch!”
Lumine grinned triumphantly as she hoisted the fish up with both hands, its weight pulling at her arms. She carefully unhooked it and held it up for Ajax to see properly, watching his eyes light up.
“Wow, that’s a decently sized taimen. I’m surprised you managed to get it out from that tiny ice hole.”
“Decently sized? This thing is about as heavy as Paimon.”
Ajax laughed, standing up from his bucket and making his way over to her. "Here, let me help you with that," he said, taking the fish from her hands with ease. He examined it closely, turning it this way and that with an appreciative eye. "My mother will be thrilled. This will feed the whole family tonight, with enough for you and Paimon too."
Lumine carefully placed the fish in his bucket, wiping her cold hands on her cloak. The wind had picked up slightly, carrying with it the faint scent of snow and salt from the frozen sea.
"We should probably head back soon," Ajax said, glancing up at the darkening sky. "It'll be getting dark before long, and my mother will want time to prepare this." He patted his pack affectionately, then turned back to his own fishing hole with a sigh. "Though I hate to leave without catching anything myself."
As if on cue, his bobber suddenly jerked downward, disappearing beneath the dark water with a sharp splash. He sprang into action immediately, grabbing his rod with both hands and setting his feet firmly against the ice. "Looks like I spoke too soon!"
Lumine watched as he worked the line. The fish on the other end was clearly putting up a fight, making the rod bend dramatically with each pull. After several tense moments of careful reeling and letting out line when the fish pulled too hard, Ajax finally hauled up another taimen, slightly smaller than Lumine's but still impressive.
“Where are these even coming from?” He asked, holding the fish in both hands. “They’re supposed to be in the rivers of Snezhnaya, not the sea.”
Lumine shrugged, watching as he carefully placed the second fish into his bucket alongside hers. "Maybe they swim out to the sea during winter? Or perhaps the rivers connect to the ocean somewhere nearby."
"Hm, could be," Ajax mused, gathering up his fishing rod and bucket. "Either way, I'm not complaining. Two big fish means a plentiful dinner."
They packed up their equipment and began the trek back across the frozen sea toward the shore, their boots crunching against the ice with each step. The sky had turned a deeper shade of grey, and the first few snowflakes began to drift down from the clouds above. Lumine glanced back one more time at the fishing holes they'd left behind. Likely they would freeze over again in the bitter cold, and they’d have to re-drill the holes later, when they needed to go fishing again.
As they reached the snow-covered shore, Lumine could see smoke rising from the chimney of Ajax's family home in the distance, a welcoming sight against the grey winter sky. The warmth that awaited them there seemed even more precious after the biting cold of the ice.
"Race you back?" Ajax suggested with a playful glint in his eye, despite the heavy bucket of fish he was carrying.
Lumine laughed, shaking her head. "With that bucket? You wouldn't stand a chance."
"Oh, you underestimate me, myla," he said with a grin, already picking up his pace.
They made their way through the snow, not quite running but moving faster than a walk, their laughter echoing across the frozen landscape. By the time they reached the house, both were slightly out of breath, cheeks flushed from exertion and cold.
Ajax's mother greeted them at the door, her face lighting up when she saw the fish. "Oh my! What a wonderful catch! Come in, come in, both of you. You must be freezing."
Inside, the warmth of the hearth enveloped them immediately. Paimon zoomed over, eyes widening at the sight of the fish. "Wow! Those are huge! Paimon can't wait to eat!"
The harbinger handed the bucket to his mother, who took it to the kitchen. Teucer and Anthon crowded around to see the catch, asking a dozen questions about how they'd been caught.
As Lumine removed her cloak and settled into a chair near the fire, she caught Ajax's eye across the room. He smiled at her—not the battle-hungry grin she so often saw, but something softer, more genuine. On this trip, surrounded by his family and the simple joy of a successful fishing trip, she’d been able to see a different side of the Harbinger entirely.
Perhaps it was this—the quiet moments between the chaos, the simple pleasure of providing for those you care about—was what he used to live for.
The dining table was crowded but cheerful, filled with the warmth of family and the mouthwatering aroma of freshly cooked fish. Ajax's mother had outdone herself, preparing the taimen they'd caught in a traditional Snezhnayan style—breaded and pan-fried as patties, served alongside roasted root vegetables and thick slices of warm rye bread.
“Teucer will only eat fish this way,” his mother had said while shaping the fish meat mixture into round patties, coating each one in breadcrumbs before placing them in the hot pan where they sizzled and turned golden brown. The younger children apparently had quite the discerning palates when it came to food preparation.
Lumine sat between Paimon and Tonia, while Ajax sat across from her, flanked by Teucer and Anthon. His parents sat at the ends of the table, his mother beaming with pride at the feast she'd prepared, his father looking content as he surveyed his family gathered together.
"This looks amazing!" Paimon exclaimed, her eyes practically sparkling as she stared at the perfectly golden fish patty on her plate. "Paimon's mouth is already watering!"
"Don't just stare at it, dig in," Ajax's mother said with a warm smile, gesturing for everyone to eat.
Paimon needed no further encouragement. She immediately grabbed her fork and knife, cutting into the tender fish with enthusiasm. "Mmm! This is so good! The fish is so fresh and the seasoning is perfect!"
Lumine took her first bite and had to agree. The fish was delicate and flaky, the herbs complementing rather than overpowering the natural flavor. "This is delicious, Mrs. Alekseyev. Thank you for having us."
"Oh, please, call me Anya," his mother said, waving her hand dismissively. "And you're more than welcome. Any friend of Ajax's is family here."
"Ajax caught the smaller fish, but Lumine caught the big one!" Teucer announced proudly, as if he'd witnessed the feat himself rather than hearing about it from his big brother secondhand.
"Did not!" Anthon protested. "Ajax said they were about the same size!"
"Mine was definitely smaller," Ajax admitted with a good-natured grin, raising his hands in surrender. "Lumine's catch was the real prize today."
"Well, both were excellent," his father said in a deep, measured voice. "You've taught your friend well, Ajax."
"Actually, I think Lumine here has probably taught me a thing or two about fishing," Ajax said, catching Lumine's eye with a playful smile. "She's pulled more strange creatures out of the water across Teyvat than I can count."
"Paimon remembers that time you caught three boots in a row!" Paimon chimed in between bites, causing Tonia to giggle.
"That was one time," Lumine protested. "And it was in Nod-Krai, because some Lightkeepers got drunk and decided to throw them in the water."
“No way, really?” Tonia asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. "That must have been so funny!"
"It was pretty ridiculous," Lumine admitted with a laugh. "The Lightkeepers felt so bad about it, they made me swear on the blue ghostfires not to tell their Starshyna about any of it."
Teucer cocked his head. “What’s a Starshyna?”
“He’s the leader of the Lightkeepers.”
“Oh.”
The conversation flowed easily throughout dinner, with Teucer and Anthon asking endless questions about Lumine's adventures, Paimon enthusiastically embellishing certain details, and Tonia listening with rapt attention. Ajax's parents asked thoughtful questions about her travels, genuinely interested in the places she'd seen and the people she'd met.
"And you're searching for your brother?" Anya asked gently, her expression sympathetic.
Lumine nodded, swallowing her current bite before answering. "Yes. I've been searching for a long time now."
"Family is important," Ajax's father said, his tone serious. "I hope you find him soon."
"Thank you," Lumine said softly, touched by the sincerity in his voice.
"When you do find him, you should bring him here!" Teucer suggested brightly. "Then we can all have dinner together!"
Ajax reached over to ruffle his younger brother's hair affectionately. "That's a nice thought, Teucer."
As the meal continued, Lumine found herself relaxing in a way she rarely did. There was something comforting about being surrounded by family—even if it wasn't her own—sharing a simple meal and easy conversation. She caught Ajax watching her at one point, his expression soft and unguarded, and she gave him a small smile in return.
"Paimon is so full she might explode!" Paimon announced, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.
"There's still dessert," Anya said with a knowing smile, standing up to clear some plates.
"Dessert?!" Paimon perked up immediately, somehow finding renewed energy. "What kind of dessert?"
"Honey cake," Tonia said excitedly. "Mama makes the best honey cake in all of Snezhnaya!"
As Anya disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a beautiful layered cake, surface glistening with a honey glaze, Lumine couldn't help but think that moments like these—surrounded by warmth, laughter, and good food—were just as important as any battle won.