The sunset washed over Lumine's face, tinting her golden eyes with an even softer light. She looked like someone standing on the edge of a new journey — excited, but afraid you'd say no.
"Kairo," she said, pressing her lips together, then finally blurting it out, "will you come to Liyue with me?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it was steady — and full of hope.
"...It's really, really easy when you're with us," she added, a little faster, a little shy, like she was afraid he'd refuse. "I can do anything — commissions, errands, fighting — as long as it's with you."
She even tugged gently at his sleeve.
Paimon zoomed in immediately, eyes starry. "Yeah yeah! Kairo, we're totally waiting for your answer! You're from another world too — if we travel together it's way more convenient!"
The forest fell quiet.
Even the wind through the leaves seemed to quiet down so it wouldn't interrupt the moment.
Fischl and Klee both looked over.
Klee was just curious.
Fischl… her purple eyes flickered — it was surprise first, then something close to panic.
And Kairo…
He wasn't actually staring at Lumine.
He was looking at the virtual panel only he could see.
[You assisted the Trailblazer on Belobog and helped the Astral Express seal the Stellaron.]
[But all journeys end. After half a month of repairs, lower city and upper city are fully connected, and Belobog has returned to order. The Astral Express decides: it's time to depart.]
[Before leaving, the Trailblazer remembered your reliability… and invited you aboard the Express, to become one of the Nameless.]
[Faced with the Trailblazer's invitation, you choose…]
[Option 1: Chase the Stars, Chase the Dream.
Accept the invitation and board the Astral Express, becoming one of the Nameless. You will travel with those who inherited Akivili's will, crossing the galaxy, advancing along the path a certain Aeon once walked. New civilizations, new companions, unknown miracles — you will open an unprecedented adventure between countless worlds. The answers you seek will appear under the guidance of the stars.
Reward: Path of Trailblaze — the Path opens to you; you truly become a Pathstrider.]
[Option 2: Stay and Rule.
You do want to go, but you're tired of drifting. Belobog is peaceful, and you have connections both above and below. Why wander the cosmic sea again? Becoming a hidden leader, enjoying status and food, is better than drifting among the stars.
Reward: Shadow of Destruction — a star-soul projection of the Trailblazer after stepping onto the Destruction Path. Grants temporary Destruction power… at a price.]
[Option 3: Partner of the Express.
You don't board, but you don't cut ties. You become the Express's surface contact, an ally they can trust. They can still call you, and at special times, they can even ferry you.
Reward: Nameless Memory Bubble (Dream of the fallen Aeon Akivili).]
Kairo narrowed his eyes.
So it finally showed up.
The real thing — the Path itself.
Option 1 was obviously the main line: board, walk the Path, become a true Trailblazer.
Option 2 was tempting in that "I can be a comfy boss" kind of way, but the reward screamed "strong but cursed."
Option 3… he had no need for a dream bubble, even if it belonged to Akivili.
He lifted his head.
Lumine was still watching him, nervous.
Paimon was even holding her breath.
Kairo smiled. "I was planning to head to Liyue anyway. Since our routes match, let's go together."
Just one sentence.
But for Lumine and Paimon, it was like boom — thunder in their heads.
"YES!!"
Paimon spun in the air, tiny fists clenched. "Kairo's coming to Liyue! This trip is gonna be soooo easy!"
Lumine's smile lit up her whole face. "Then it's settled. We go to Liyue — together."
Klee blinked… and then suddenly reacted. "Ehhh? Kairo-gege is leaving Mondstadt? Then… then Klee can't use super-duper explosions anymore?! Only normal ones?! That's so sad…"
She started counting her bomb stock with a tragic face.
Fischl, however, fell silent.
He's… leaving?
Her fingers tightened slightly.
She wanted to say "bring me," or "the Princess of Condemnation shall march alongside you to Liyue," or even just "don't go too fast."
But Lumine and Paimon were there.
So she swallowed it.
(I must find a chance to talk to him alone.)
Meanwhile Kairo was frowning at his invisible screen.
"…Weird. Why didn't it trigger?"
He'd clearly said yes. Why didn't the reward drop?
So it really needs actual action — not just a verbal promise?
Or… does he have to start the Liyue journey to be considered "continuing to open up new worlds"?
He didn't overthink it. "Alright, let's head back to Mondstadt. Hand in the commissions, then eat."
Anyway, the reward couldn't run away.
Everyone returned with mixed moods.
They turned in tasks at the Adventurers' Guild like usual, then — with Barbara, who'd been waiting — went to Good Hunter.
Inside, the light was warm, the cooking smell was rich, and the table was soon full.
"So, Kairo, when do we leave?" Paimon asked the moment the food was ordered. "If we miss it, we'll have to wait a whole year — that's way too long!"
"...Huh?" Barbara had just picked up her cup when she froze.
Leave?
Go to Liyue?
Kairo… is leaving?
Lumine tilted her head, thought for a bit, then said, "Let's go the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we stay in Mondstadt, stock up, say goodbye."
Barbara lowered her eyes and stirred her soup slowly.
So… this is goodbye.
She'd thought this warm, silly, free, no-image-to-maintain kind of daily life could last a bit longer.
Waiting for them at the city gate in the evening.
Joining their table at Good Hunter.
Listening to Klee talk about bombs.
Watching Kairo press his hand on strange relics and make them shine.
But she wasn't someone who could say, "Don't go."
She didn't have that position. Or the courage.
Kairo thought a moment. "Then we'll do that. Tomorrow I still have to go to Albedo — he owes me that alchemical storage gear."
"Yaaay!" Paimon threw up her hands. "Then tomorrow we eat everything Mond has! Just in case we can't eat it in Liyue!"
Lumine nodded happily.
And right then —
A soft gold interface slid open in front of Kairo's eyes.
[You chose: Chase the Stars, Chase the Dream.]
[Congratulations. Reward granted — Path of Trailblaze.]
[The Path is now open to you. You have become a true Pathstrider.]
"—!"
It was like the universe itself poured into him.
A vast, starry, unending power crashed down from nowhere and flooded his body.
Bones, blood, muscles — even the soul — were re-forged.
His senses expanded.
His mind cleared to crystal.
And in front of his inner sight… a road appeared.
A road that didn't exist in Teyvat.
A road that cut through starfields.
A road on which countless figures were walking — some alone, some in teams, some carrying civilization's fire, some leaving footprints on dead worlds.
The Path.
The real Path.
He finally understood.
To walk the Path, you must keep opening.
Keep going to "places that don't have you yet."
Every new world, every new "anchor," every new frontier — would deepen your connection to the Path, and in return, the Path would make you stronger.
Power in exchange for exploration.
That was the bargain.
Kairo slowly exhaled, eyes bright.
"So this… is a Pathwalker."
No one at the table noticed.
To them, he was just… pausing.
But Barbara and Fischl sat there, each with her own quiet loss.
Barbara lifted her spoon, smiled like nothing was wrong, and took another sip of soup.
It was warm.
But it tasted… light.
Because she knew:
Tomorrow would be Mondstadt.
The day after tomorrow… they would go.
And she couldn't say, "stay."
Kairo glanced outside — night was falling.
"Alright," he said with a smile, standing up, "that's it for today. Go get some rest."
He still had to go back…
…and test how far this Trailblaze Path could actually go.
Cliffhanger.
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