"Phew, finally back!"
"This Chasm is not a place meant for people to live in."
"I'm starving, Lumine. Let's go grab something to eat, okay? We didn't have a single proper meal down there!"
"My stomach's practically flat!"
Two weary figures emerged from the docks of Liyue Harbor.
As the delicious scents of street food filled the air,
Paimon clutched her empty belly with a miserable face.
"Fine~"
"Let's head to Wanmin Restaurant first," Lumine said softly, her tone showing a trace of fatigue.
She was hungry too.
They had been running errands in The Chasm for two whole days.
The mission had somehow completed itself—no one quite knew how.
But the exhaustion was real.
Still, this trip had its value—
she'd earned a chance to meet with the Liyue Qixing.
But first things first: food.
Her stomach was starting to rebel.
"Lumine, you're the best!"
"Come on, hurry—if we're late, it might close!"
Paimon cheered and zoomed off toward Wanmin Restaurant.
As far as she was concerned, food ruled the world.
"Paimon—slow down."
Lumine shook her head but followed anyway.
After eating, they would stop by the Adventurers' Guild to hand in their report.
Then head to Yuehai Pavilion to meet the Qixing and claim their reward.
After that… what was next again?
She'd figure it out once things went smoothly.
If all went well, she could meet the Qixing—and maybe even the Geo Archon.
She might finally ask about her brother.
If, like Venti, they knew nothing,
then she would just have to keep searching through Liyue on her own.
And if not here—then in the next nation.
She only hoped things would go smoothly.
"Oh right, Lumine!"
Paimon suddenly stopped midair, as if remembering something,
and hurried back to whisper:
"'Meeting gifts' are part of Liyue's culture, right? Shouldn't we prepare one?"
"I heard everyone who goes to see Ningguang brings a gift."
"If we don't, won't we seem rude?"
Meeting gift?
Lumine's eyes narrowed, her expression helpless.
Paimon was too innocent.
That wasn't "etiquette"—that was outright bribery.
Still…
her ultimate goal was to meet a god.
Not bringing something would indeed look bad.
"Then what do you suggest, Paimon? What should we give?"
Lumine tapped her chin, completely blank.
She didn't understand Liyue's customs at all.
Gift-giving was an art—choose wrong, and it could be an insult instead.
Better be cautious.
"Hmmm~"
Paimon scratched her head. "I'm not sure either."
"How about we ask Katheryne when we hand in the quest?"
"She'll know what to do!"
Ask Katheryne?
That might actually work.
"Alright then."
"Let's eat first," Lumine nodded in agreement.
The Liyue branch's Katheryne was practically a local expert.
At least she understood things Lumine didn't.
Though… Paimon really was getting less reliable these days.
So much for "the best guide in Teyvat."
Now she was just "emergency food."
Tap, tap.
Her footsteps echoed—then her heartbeat quickened suddenly.
A dizzying wave surged through her mind.
Lumine froze.
Before she could grasp the feeling, it vanished completely,
as if it had never existed.
"Brother…?"
She looked around sharply.
The streets bustled with people,
but the one familiar figure she longed to see was nowhere.
The fleeting sense of familiarity faded too fast—
so fast it felt unreal.
But she knew that was no illusion.
That was his presence.
Just now—he'd been nearby.
"Lumine, what's wrong?"
Paimon flew back at once, worried.
"I… just…"
Lumine hesitated, her heart sinking with loss.
"…It's nothing. Maybe I'm just tired. My mind's playing tricks on me."
A delusion, perhaps.
"Don't scare me like that!"
Paimon patted her chest in relief.
"Lumine, maybe we should see a fortune-teller or something later."
"What if you caught something weird down in The Chasm?"
"We can always turn in the quest tomorrow."
"I'm fine."
Lumine smiled faintly, shaking her head.
"Thanks, Paimon. Let's just eat first. I'm probably just hungry."
"Right! Food first!"
"Can't think straight on an empty stomach," Paimon declared.
Lumine nodded.
But just as she started walking again—
A sudden, sharp pulse ran through her.
Her unfinished words froze in her throat.
She raised her head, eyes locking on the far side of the street.
A figure had appeared out of thin air—
then walked straight toward a three-story building.
He had simply manifested, yet the crowd around them didn't react at all.
As if they couldn't see him.
Or maybe they'd long grown used to such sights.
"Lumine, what are you staring at?"
"Is there something special over there?"
Paimon followed her gaze but saw nothing beyond the busy crowd.
"Over there—fifty meters ahead.
The three-story building.
A man in a black longcoat."
By the time the figure stepped inside, Lumine turned back to Paimon.
That feeling returned—
faint, but real.
"Huh?"
"What are you talking about?"
Paimon blinked, confused.
She looked again—nothing.
"Too late now," Lumine murmured, rubbing her forehead.
"You really didn't see him?"
"Nope~"
Paimon shook her head quickly.
"Lumine, you're not seeing things, are you?"
Two incidents in a row—something was clearly off.
If this continued, she'd have to drag Lumine to a healer.
"I'll check it again later when we pass by," Lumine said quietly.
She memorized the building's location, eyes narrowing.
She'd walked through this area many times before.
Never once had she sensed anything unusual.
But right after feeling her brother's presence—
she'd seen this strange phenomenon twice in a row.
Were the two events connected somehow?
Whatever the case, she would investigate later.
"Let's go, Paimon. Time to eat."
"Okay!"
And with that, the two headed toward Wanmin Restaurant—
though Lumine's mind was far from calm.
(End of Chapter)
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