Chapter Text
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Story Quest Accepted
Read the mysterious letter:
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The letter slipped through the mail slot early in the morning. The coldness of the envelope immediately seeped into Lumine's skin, carrying a piece of the howling blizzard into the comfort of her room at Podvorye Restaurant.
The paper smelled of snow and salt. No sender. Neatly folded. And right in the centre, a seal in the shape of a... whale?.
Of course it would be him. But what did he want?
And why did her lips curve upwards upon seeing his surprisingly neat handwriting?
My dearest comrade,
I'd been waiting for ages for the day you'd finally come to my homeland, so when I spotted you with Odette and Sandrone yesterday, I nearly thought I was dreaming.
Is it just me, or have these frozen lands suddenly become a little warmer since you got here? I'm quite confident I already know why.
I would've already taken you on a proper tour, as I'd promised you long ago in Liyue, but unfortunately, duty calls. These past few days I've been busy with a maximum-priority, top-secret mission in my hometown: Teucer's birthday party.
You remember him, don't you? Ever since I told him that we'd met in Snezhnograd, he hasn't stopped asking about you. I'm beginning to suspect he might be even more excited to see you than he is to see me.
A heartbreaking betrayal, really.
Since I know you must've missed me, I've already taken the liberty of assuming you'll come. But you're free to prove me wrong if you take joy in my disappointment.
Inside this envelope, you'll find a ticket for today's train. Try not to keep me waiting too long at the station, though... freezing to death is not the way I'd imagine the strongest Fatui Harbinger to go out.
So, please come to Morepesok.
I'd really hate to think you made me write all of this so many times for nothing.
Your favorite Harbinger
Childe 🐋
"Your favorite Harbinger"
Lumine rolled her eyes and chuckled. How could this man be so cocky?
According to what Sandrone had told her the previous day, Childe had become kind of a big-shot in the Fatui (not that he wasn't before), since he'd become the new head of Capitano's troops. This letter seemed completely innocent, but if there was one thing she'd learned while dealing with Tartaglia, that would be "never trust appearances".
So, if he'd written to her, he must have an ulterior motive...
She wondered if maybe...
No. No, no, no. She didn't let her brain go there.
This definitely had something to do with Project Stuzha and that meant she definitely couldn't pass up the occasion to know more about it, especially from a certain Harbinger.
Lumine was still staring at the last line of the letter when a small floating hand appeared in front of her.
“More…pesok?” Paimon was holding the train ticket between her fingers. “Are you going without Paimon?”
Lumine's expression softened. "Paimon, you're awake already?"
Her little head shook sideways as her eyes fluttered shut. "Paimon couldn't sleep."
“I’m sorry..." the traveler started "You should rest today."
“Oh," Paimon lowered the ticket into her companion's hand "Alright, Paimon's going to wait for you here then.”
"It's just going to be a quick visit, I promise. I'm going to find out more about Project Stuzha from Childe, say hi to Teucer and come straight back. I need to know what’s happening in Snezhnaya... and what’s happening to you.”
"But then why does it feel like I want to go for an entirely different reason?" she mentally added.
Paimon hesitated before nodding. “Okay. But you better bring Paimon something from Morepesok.”
“Deal.”
“Something edible!” Paimon squealed enthusiatically like she always did when she talked about food.
Lumine tucked her floating friend back into bed, the covers now enveloping her in a soothing embrace.
It felt relieving to know she still held her usual bubbly mood somewhere under the weariness that Snezhnaya had caused her.
“Of course, only the best for Paimon.”
The traveler's gaze wandered outside the window as she waited for her companion to drift back to sleep. The snow had been ceaselessly falling for days and it showed no sign of relenting, as if it wished to bury every last secret under its pale cloak.
On second thought, she'd better ask Alyosha to lend her one of his jackets, otherwise she'd risk becoming a Jack Frost even before reaching Morepesok.
Lumine knew it wouldn't be easy. Sneznhaya was the nation of love, but feelings here seemed encased by thick icy armors and infinite layers of classified information.
Still... she hadn't survived ancient dragons, famished Narwhals, abyssal monsters and entitled Gods just to be intimidated by a little cold, had she?
She glanced down. Her hand was gripping Childe's letter more roughly than she'd thought, slightly crumpling the once immaculate paper. Immediately Lumine folded it back and carefully placed the envelope inside her adventurer's bag.
Whatever feelings and secrets she was planning to investigate... she'd better start with her own.
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Quest progess saved