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“This…seems a little excessive for gathering a few flowers,” the Traveller says.
Paimon and the Traveller stare at the new commission they’ve just picked up from Katheryne.
Quest: Tame a Wild Heart
Objective: Gather Mondstadt flowers (0/5)
Reward: 120 Primogems
“Maybe it’s just someone who really likes flowers?”
“Then why is it called ‘Tame a Wild Heart’?” the Traveller shoots Paimon an unconvinced look. “That sounds less like flower delivery and more like conflict resolution.”
“That does sounds concerning,” Paimon says, “And it’s paying 120 Primogems. No one pays that much just to get flowers.”
The Traveller folds their arms. “If this goes south, or, when it goes south, I’m the one has to defend the both of us.”
Paimon shifts her eyes at the commission title.
“Could still be someone trying to court…” She says slowly, “A feral person?”
The Traveller raises an eyebrow at her choice of the word, but says nothing.
Mostly because, unfortunately, that doesn’t sound entirely impossible.
Still, being able to teleport across the world does make commissions like this much easier. Following the quest navigation, they quickly gather the requested flowers.
“Cecilia, windwheel aster, small lamp grass, calla lily…” Paimon reads off the list, ticking each one off. “They also ask for dandelion, but how are we supposed to collect it without blowing all the seeds away?”
“Hmm…” the Traveller pauses to think, then takes out the Kamera, “We can take a few pictures, and just bring back some seeds instead?”
Paimon’s eyes light up. “Oh! Good idea! See? Easy! Paimon knew this commission would be simple.”
The Traveller gives her another look.
“Okay, okay.” Paimon adds quickly, “Simple so far.”
With everything collected, they return to Nod Krai.
The navigation leads them to a shop above the Adventurers’ Guild.
A woman with the name tag reading ‘Richeza’ brightens the moment she sees them.
“Welcome to Vesnici Praleca Greenhouse! Come have a look at our flowers in full bloom! They’re perfect as gifts, or to brighten up your rooms!”
“Hello!” Paimon greets, “Are you the one commissioned Mondstadt flowers?”
“Oh, yes! You must be from the Adventurers’ Guild.” The florist clasps her hands together, positively glowing. “You were much faster than I expected. Wonderful! This should make things much easier.”
Paimon visibly relaxes,
“Unfortunately——”
And then narrows her eyes immediately.
“——I’ve run out of white irom chunks. Would you mind gathering some for me as well?”
The Traveller exchanges a glance with Paimon.
“I told you this is not going to be easy,” the Traveller whispers.
Still,
120 primogens is 120 primogems.
And compared to commissions involving hostile ruins, confusing multilevel mazes, and ancient inexplicable puzzles, gathering a few extra materials hardly seems like the worst thing in the world.
Or at least that’s what they originally think.
First, Richeza refuses to accept the white iron chunks already sitting in Traveller’s bag.
“No, no,” she says, waving them away, “I need fresh ones.”
The Traveller and Paimon even try teleporting away and coming straight back with the exact same chunks, but she insists.
Paimon stares at her in disbelief. All iron chunks look identical, fresh or not. How she can tell they are not fresh, neither of them will ever know.
So off they go.
And then come back.
And then leave again.
Because apparently, white iron chunks are not enough. She also needs pigments for colouring, a new hammer for the right petal texture, and several Nod Krai specialities for reference and inspiration.
Which is how the Traveller and Paimon end up collecting local plants for a commission that was originally supposed to involve exactly five flowers and nothing else whatsoever.
By the time they return again for maybe the fifth time, Paimon is staring at the Winter Icelea and Pine Amber in the Traveller’s hands like she has personally been betrayed.
“Paimon is starting to regret taking this commission. Paimon thought this will be an easy one, and then we can have lunch early for once…”
“At this rate, Richeza is going to ask us to bring her lunch next.”
“Oh, please don’t jinx it!”
Fortunately, Richeza finally seems satisfied.
She inspects the materials with a critical eye, turning them over one by one like she is appraising gemstones rather than the remains of Paimon’s patience.
Then, at last, she nods.
“Perfect. This should be everything.”
Paimon drifts a little closer, clearly no longer interested in pretending not to pry.
“So,” she begins, trying and failing to sound casual, “Who is exactly is this for?”
“Oh, the client?” Richeza says, “A rather interesting one, actually.”
Paimon perks up immediately.
“He’s not local, judging by the accent, and seems to be some sort of knight, though not in standard uniform.”
“A knight of Favonius?” Paimon says excitedly, “We might know him, then!”
“Ah, of course. Adventurers.” She smiles, “You must know all kinds of people.”
She hums, thinking. “He knows quite a lot about flowers, actually,” she adds, “More than I expected.”
The Traveller pauses.
That…narrows it down, slightly. Still, given Mondstadt’s flower trade, that doesn’t mean much on its own.
“But at the same time,” Richeza continues, amused, “He says metal flowers would be more practical.”
“Practical?” Paimon echoes.
“He asked if they could be made sturdy enough to withstand…rough handling,” Richeza says, gesturing vaguely. “Said the fresh bouquet didn’t survive the trip.”
That narrows it down further. Someone in the mobile team?
The Traveller does not like where this is going.
“It’s not very romantic, if you ask me,” Richeza chuckles, “But I suppose there’s a certain charm to it. I do hope the recipient understands the sentiment.”
“Oh, and,” she adds, as if remembering at the last second, “he asked whether the stem could be sharpened.”
There’s a brief pause.
“Sharpened?!” Paimon and the Traveller exclaim at the same time.
Richeza tilts her head. “Yeah, I thought it was an odd request too.”
The Traveller is no longer even trying to pretend this sounds normal.
“He was very particular,” Richeza continues, entirely unbothered, “But very generous with the fee. He’s actually the one who set up the commission through the Adventurers’ Guild.”
Of course he is. But the Traveller has a very bad feeling about this.
“Speaking of which,” Richeza says, clapping her hands lightly, “I don’t actually have your commission reward. You’ll need to wait until he returns.”
Oh, no.
“He said he’ll be back in two days,” she adds cheerfully, “And I should have the first draft ready by then!”
Richeza refuses to offer further information, only asks them to come back in two day. No matter how Paimon tries to pry.
So, apparently, they can do nothing but to come back in two days.
The Traveller exhales slowly.
Isn’t this just great?
Two days later, the Traveller and Paimon return far earlier than necessary.
“Just to be clear,” the Traveller says, “We are only here to collect the commission reward.”
“Uh huh,” Paimon says, “And definitely not because Paimon wants to know what kind of person commissions sharpened flowers.”
Richeza is behind the counter, bent over a worktable with a pair of pliers in hand. The bouquet isn’t close to finish, but several completed flowers already lie beside her.
Even unfinished, they are unmistakably beautiful.
Tinted petals curl around polished centres, each one shaped with enough care to look almost real and alive.
Paimon hovers closer.
“…Oh, Paimon gets it now,” she admits, amazed, “They are really pretty.”
The Traveller eyes one of the petals.
“And definitely lethal.”
“Paimon was trying to be optimistic!”
Richeza looks up and smiles when she notices them.
“Oh! You’re early.”
“We’re just here for the reward,” the Traveller says.
Paimon nods very quickly. “Yep. Definitely just the reward.”
Richeza gives them a look that suggests she does not believe either of them for a second.
“Well,” she says lightly, going back to her work, “He should be here soon.”
That is somehow the most ominous sentence the Traveller has heard all week.
So they wait. And wait. And wait a little longer.
Paimon starts fidgeting after the first ten minutes.
After fifteen, she leans closer and lowers her voice.
“What if it’s someone really weird?”
The Traveller gives her a flat look. “Paimon, we already know it’s someone weird. Still, it’s a Favonius Knight, so he can’t be that bad.”
That is when the footsteps get close.
Paimon and the Traveller both turn at the sound.
A knight in blue steps into vision.
For a brief second, the Traveller only registers the familiar colours and the easy way he carries himself——
And then recognition hits.
“…Lohen?” Paimon blurts out.
Lohen stops mid-step, clearly surprised to see them.
“Honourary Knight? Paimon?”
Now everything makes sense. Which, somehow, only makes this entire commission more concerning.
“Oh!” Richeza says brightly, looking between them. “So you do know each other.”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Paimon says immediately.
“We were the ones who took your commission,” the Traveller explains.
Lohen glances at the unfinished bouquet on the counter, then back at them.
“I see,” he says, “I was wondering if I’d run into you two at some point.”
“You commissioned metal flowers?” Paimon says, still sounding deeply unconvinced.
Lohen blinks once, then looks mildly puzzled by her tone.
“Yes?”
The Traveller is not familiar with archery too well, but…
“Just making sure, but…these are gifts, right? You’re not using them as crossbow bolts?”
Lohen stares at them for half a second.
Then he laughs.
“Hah! No, these aren’t weapons.” He pauses, then adds, entirely seriously, “Though it would be fun to watch to Birdie used them as weapons.”
The image Lohen describes does not make the situation better.
“It’s a pretty unconventional gift,” Paimon says slowly.
“The flowers I brought from home last time didn’t survive the trip,” Lohen says simply, “Metal ones suit a lightkeeper better anyway.”
“And this time,” he adds, “He can’t put them in soup.”
There is a beat of silence.
“…In soup?” Paimon repeats.
Lohen shrugs. “They got crushed.”
“That does not explain anything!” Paimon stomps in mid air.
“Quite a lot of Mondstadt flowers are edible, like small lamp grass and calla lily,” Lohen explains, as if that settles the matter, “Didn’t expect to ever find out what Cecilia tastes like though.”
Paimon and the Traveller stares at him.
Most people, the Traveller is fairly sure, would have made pressed flowers. Or dried arrangements. Or, at the very least, tea. Just, anything but soup.
Lohen, meanwhile, seems entirely unbothered.
“He even eats mandragora,” he adds, “Offered me some once.”
Paimon goes still.
The Traveller feels something cold settle in their spine.
“…Isn’t mandragora full of kuuvahki?” they repeat carefully.
“Neither of us knew it’s not usually…safe for consumption.”
He continues, far too casually, “Not until I passed out from kuuvahki intoxication.”
“Oh no!” Paimon says in horror.
He waves a hand dismissively. “I was fine.”
“That is not the point!”
“But he was worried sick,” Lohen says, quieter this time. For a moment, the amusement drops into something softer.
“…So I figured I should get him something that wouldn’t accidentally poison anyone this time.”
H says with a shrug, like that’s the most obvious thing in the world. But there is something unexpectedly fond in the way he looks at the unfinished bouquet.
For once, neither Paimon nor the Traveller has anything to say.
Lohen, meanwhile, seems entirely unaware that he has just made this whole situation significantly worse.
His gaze lingers on the unfinished bouquet for another second before he finally seems to remember why the Traveller and Paimon are still standing there at all.
“Oh, right.” He reaches into his pocket and hands them the commission reward. “For the errands.”
Paimon takes it automatically and they leave not long after.
It’s only once they are a fair distance away from the greenhouse that Paimon finally speaks.
“Do you think Birdie is who Paimon thinks it is?”
The Traveller says nothing.
Because there is exactly one lightkeeper for that entire story to make sense.
And thinking about how the said lightkeeper got so distracted by clearing the Wild Hunt, he didn’t get his own investigation mission done, the two together suddenly seems convincing.
Unfortunately, there is only one way to find out.
Two days later, the Traveller and Paimon are crouched behind a bush.
In hindsight, this is probably a terrible idea.
Paimon had said as much five minutes ago. And ten minutes before that. And at least twice on the way here, while they followed Lohen from Nasha town all the way to Cliffwatch camp in Ashveil Peak.
The more they wait, the worse this plan feels.
Mostly because this was no longer accidentally running into someone while collecting commission rewards.
This is just stalking.
On a knight.
To a military camp.
On purpose.
Lohen, meanwhile, appears entirely unaware that he is being followed.
Or at least, the Traveller hopes he is.
He has been waiting for a while already, when another figure finally approaches.
Illuga looks like he has absolutely no idea why Lohen insisted on meeting him all the way out here.
The Traveller and Paimon exchange a look.
Oh, this is absolutely what they think it is.
The moment Illuga spots the bouquet in Lohen’s hands, he slows.
And then stops.
“…What is that?”
Lohen looks down at the metal flowers as if the answer is obvious.
“Flowers.”
“I can see that,” Illuga narrows his eyes. “Why are they made of metal?”
Lohen holds them out.
“For you.”
There is a brief pause.
Illuga stares at him. Then at the bouquet. Then back at him.
“…You’re serious.”
“Very.”
Illuga reaches out carefully, still very confused.
“They won’t wilt,” Lohen explains, “Or get crushed…or consumed.”
Illuga glances up at him.
Lohen shrugs, “You cooked my flowers.”
“They were crushed already.”
“That does not justify anything.”
From somewhere behind the bushes, Paimon nods in violent agreement.
“You’re really bothered by that, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little. They were yours, so deal with them however you want. Just wasn’t what I had in mind. That’s all.”
“Speaking of which,” Lohen adds, “Please don’t turn these into cooking utensils.”
“Who knows, dandelion looks like it would be really a nice honey wand”
“Birdie.”
Illuga chuckles. He turns the bouquet in his hands, brushing a thumb over the petals of cecilia and winter icelea.
Metal breathes a different life to these flowers.
Not fragile, but forged. A harsher kind of beauty. Like broken glass catching the light. Sharp, cold, but dangerously breathtaking.
“…Thank you,” Illuga says quietly, “They’re really beautiful.”
Lohen’s mouth curves, just a little more.
“Even better,” Lohen adds, clearly unable to help himself, “You can poke someone’s eye out with them.”
Illuga looks up sharply. “What? No! I’m keeping them safe in my room!”
Lohen‘a expression shifts instantly into something deeply entertained.
“Oh, are you?” he asks, far too sweetly, “By your bed, maybe? On the nightstand?”
Illuga goes very still.
Lohen waits just long enough for that to sink in before he adds, quieter this time, “Seeing them, would you think of me before falling asleep?”
“…Or,” Illuga says, cheeks warming despite himself, “I can use them to poke your eyes out instead.”
Lohen chuckles softly, “I look forward to that.”
Then, before Illuga can decide whether he’s actually going to follow through on that threat, Lohen lifts one of Illuga’s hands and turns it just enough to press a kiss to the exposed skin at his inner wrist, between glove and sleeve.
It’s brief. Casual, almost. And devastatingly unfair.
Illuga stops breathing. Whatever he’s about to say vanishes completely.
The warmth lingers exactly where Lohen’s lips had been. Too noticeable, too deliberate.
When Lohen pulls back, he doesn’t move far. Just enough to look at Illuga properly. Which makes it so much worse. Illuga’s cheeks burn and the heat crawls all the way to the tips of his ears.
He doesn’t say anything. Because he can’t.
And then Lohen smiles at him, way too pleased with himself——
——and that’s it. That’s the last thing Illuga can take.
He grabs Lohen by the collar and pulls him close just enough to press a kiss to the mouth.
It’s abrupt. Unsteady. Over before it can become anything else.
Lohen blinks.
Illuga lets go immediately, like he hadn’t just done that.
“…Come on,” he mutters, voice is anything but steady, “Before I actually stab you with them.”
For once, Lohen actually looks caught off guard.
Then he smiles.
And lets himself be dragged away without resistance.
But just before they disappear around the corner, Lohen turns his head, and looks directly at the bush where the Traveller and Paimon are hiding.
Both of them go rigid.
There is no expression on his face. Which is somehow worse.
“Do you think——” Paimon whispers.
“Yep, definitely,” the Traveller says immediately.
They watch until the two figures disappear fully from sight.
Maybe, the Traveller thinks, they should probably avoid Nod Krai for the next few days.
Possibly weeks.
Inazuma seems nice. At the very least, it’s difficult to reach by horse.
“You said you’ll defend the both of us right, Traveller?”