The midnight air over Guili Plains was so still, one could almost hear the blades of grass breathing. A gentle breeze whispered through the window lattice, leaving a soft rustling in its wake.
Lumine curled up on a pallet of soft, dry hay. Her consciousness, as if pulled by invisible threads, gradually sank into a dream.
Lydia materialized from a darkness so thick it felt impenetrable.
The hem of the girl's snow-white dress was stained with inky blotches. Pitch-black chains bound her wrists and ankles, clanking coldly with every slight movement.
She lifted her head, her once-bright eyes brimming with tears. Her voice was a shattered sob. "Lumine... save me... The chains are so hot... It hurts so much..."
Lumine's heart felt as if it were being squeezed by a ruthless hand, each breath a sharp pang of pain.
She ran toward Lydia with reckless abandon, her fingers nearly brushing the girl's sleeve.
Just then, Lydia snapped her head up. Her familiar eyes had turned into crimson blood-pupils, and a strange, twisted smile curled her lips. Her voice grew hoarse and raspy. "You've finally... arrived."
-
"Ah!" Lumine jolted awake from the dream.
Cold sweat trickled down her cheeks from her temples. Her chest heaved violently, and even her fingers trembled slightly.
She subconsciously reached out beside her, but her fingertips suddenly brushed against something cold and hard—the intricate patterns of a sword!
Lumine's body froze instantly. She snapped her head down to look.
Festering Desire lay silently beside her, its blade glinting coldly in the faint morning light. The patterns on its surface seemed to retain a faint elemental fluctuation.
"How could..."
Her voice trembled. She hadn't intentionally summoned it. How could it have appeared beside her on its own?
She cautiously extended a hand and gently touched the blade. There was no reaction. She then tried gripping the hilt; Festering Desire remained still.
Lumine stared at the sword for a long time, her brow furrowed tightly as she replayed the scene before she fell asleep.
She clearly remembered stowing Festering Desire safely in her Elemental Space. It couldn't possibly have just fallen out.
But as she looked at the seemingly normal sword and recalled the terror of her dream, Lumine gradually relaxed.
Perhaps I was so tense from the nightmare that I subconsciously summoned Festering Desire, she mused.
She sighed and stowed Festering Desire back into her Elemental Space.
By the time she stepped out of the small earthen hut, dawn was breaking.
Lumine rubbed her throbbing temples. The terror from her dream still lingered in her heart, but the specific scenes were shrouded in a thick fog, impossible to grasp. All that remained was an inexplicable unease that made her clench her fists.
"Lumine, you're awake!" Yunqin emerged from the hut, yawning. Her hair was messy, with a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks, and her eyes were still hazy with sleep.
"I went around back earlier and found a tree full of Sunsettias. Let's pick some for breakfast!"
Paimon floated out after her, flapping her wings weakly. "So hungry... I wish we had something to eat."
Yunqin and Lumine exchanged a smile.
When they reached the fruit tree, Yunqin scrambled up it with nimble movements, as agile as a monkey.
She picked the three plumpest Sunsettias and handed them to Lumine and Paimon. "Go on, eat! These are especially sweet!"
Lumine held the Sunsettia, the cool touch on her fingertips sending her into a daze. Back in Mondstadt, Lydia's favorite thing to do had been picking Sunsettias.
A sudden sting pricked her nose. She quickly lowered her head to hide the redness in her eyes. Paimon froze for a moment, clearly remembering their time with Lydia as well.
"Why aren't you eating? Is it not good?" Yunqin asked, scratching her head with concern when she saw them staring blankly at the fruit. "If you don't like it, I can go look for something else."
"No, no!" Lumine snapped back to reality and quickly took a large bite.
The sweet juice burst in her mouth, carrying the warmth of sunlight and gradually dispelling the gloom in her heart.
Paimon followed suit, munching loudly and mumbling with her mouth full, "Delicious! Even sweeter than the Sunsettias in Mondstadt!"
They tacitly pushed aside their sorrow and focused on filling their stomachs.
On the road to Liyue Harbor, Paimon flew beside Yunqin, circling her curiously. "Yunqin, you keep mentioning your Master. Who is she, anyway? Is she some super-powerful expert like in the novels?"
Yunqin's steps faltered. She hesitated for a few seconds before whispering, "My Master... is one of Liyue's Adepti, Cloud Retainer."
"An Adeptus?!" Lumine and Paimon exclaimed in unison, stopping in their tracks.
Before coming to Liyue, they had heard countless legends about the Adepti. They had always assumed the Adepti were mythical figures, never imagining they would meet an Adeptus's disciple in person.
Paimon's eyes instantly lit up. "What does the Adeptus look like? Does she wear flowing ribbons and look really majestic? Can she fly by stepping on clouds?"
The barrage of questions left Yunqin a bit dazed. She couldn't help but laugh, revealing two small canine teeth. "My Master's appearance... I'm not very good at describing it. If I had to make a comparison, she's kind of like... a big goose?"
She paused, then added, "My Master is very strict, but sometimes she makes me delicious food as a 'reward for my training.'"
Lumine and Paimon instantly pictured an imposing big goose, cloaked in radiant light, with a piercing gaze, holding a plate of Almond Tofu.
Paimon excitedly grabbed Yunqin's arm. "You have to take us to visit the Adeptus next time you're free! We want to see what she looks like too!"
"No problem!" Yunqin agreed readily. Then her expression turned serious, her eyes pleading. "But you have to promise me you won't tell anyone I'm an Adeptus's disciple."
"Only my closest friends and a few special individuals know about this. Ordinary people aren't privy to such information."
Lumine froze for a moment, then smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "So, do you consider us close friends, or special individuals?"
"Close friends, of course!" Yunqin nodded emphatically, her eyes brimming with sincerity. "I can tell you don't have any ill intentions. You're clearly good people!"
"Besides, Paimon looks so... goofy. I love making friends with people like you—no scheming or backstabbing!"
"Who are you calling goofy?!" Paimon stomped her feet in mid-air, reaching out to poke Yunqin's cheek.
Yunqin laughed and dodged, and the two continued their playful banter down the path, their crisp laughter echoing along the way.
Lumine followed behind, watching the lively scene unfold. The gloom in her heart gradually dissipated, and a faint smile touched her lips.
-
Soon, the trio arrived at the site of the Rite of Descension.
The plaza was already packed with people.
Yunqin pulled Lumine and Paimon through the crowd to the Wishing Area.
Rows of wooden racks stood there, adorned with countless small wooden plaques inscribed with wishes. When the wind blew, the plaques clinked together, creating a gentle chiming sound.
"Let's write one too! Maybe Rex Lapis will see it!" Yunqin picked up an ink brush and wrote on a plaque: Hope Master makes me train less and sleep more.
The characters were scrawled and crooked, yet charmingly cute.
Lumine hesitated, her brush hovering over a plaque. Finally, she wrote: Find my brother and go home with him.
Paimon, gripping the brush with her tiny hands, clumsily scrawled: Want to eat lots and lots of yummy food, forever and ever.
After finishing her wish, Lumine noticed Yunqin staring at the plaque in her hand. She explained softly, "My brother and I were separated during a catastrophe. I've been searching for him ever since."
She didn't elaborate, omitting any mention of the unknown god. She kept it brief, her voice laced with an undeniable longing.
Yunqin's expression softened instantly. She gently patted Lumine's shoulder, the pressure just right—not too light, not too firm.
"Don't worry! I'm sure you'll find your brother!"
"When I have time, I'll help you search too. And this isn't just a simple promise—it's a contract between us!"
Lumine smiled and thanked her, just about to say something more.
Suddenly, Yunqin's eyes lit up. She pointed to a spot not far away. "It's Hu Tao and Mr. Zhongli!"
She pulled Lumine and Paimon along, carefully weaving through the crowd as she ran toward the pair.
Zhongli was observing the lively scene in the plaza, while Hu Tao stood beside him, occasionally shouting at passersby, "Interested in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's services?"
Spotting Yunqin, Hu Tao immediately waved, her voice bright and clear. "Yunqin! You're here!"
Yunqin quickly pulled Lumine and Paimon forward to introduce them. "Mr. Zhongli, Hu Tao, this is Lumine and Paimon, new friends I met in the Guili Plains! They're here for the Rite of Descension too!"
Zhongli's gaze fell on Lumine, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
Though Yunqin appeared carefree, she was usually wary of strangers. He hadn't expected her to become so close with the Traveler in just one night.
He gave a slight nod, his tone gentle. "Welcome, Traveler. It must have been a long journey."
The group quickly warmed up to each other, their laughter blending with the plaza's clamor, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
Just then, the plaza suddenly fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the high platform.
The Tianquan, Ningguang, ascended the platform step by step.
In her hand, she held a jade tablet. Her voice, as clear as a bell, rang out across the entire plaza. "The auspicious hour has arrived! The Rite of Descension now officially begins!"
As her words faded, two ritual attendants stepped forward with incense burners and lit the incense within.
Wisps of fragrant smoke curled upward, carried by the wind straight toward the heavens.
The clouds in the sky began to gather, and the once-boisterous wind softened, as if welcoming the arrival of the Archon.
Suddenly, a mournful dragon's roar tore through the sky, so sharp it made everyone's hearts tremble.
Before the crowd could react, a massive dragon's body plummeted from the heavens, crashing heavily onto the bronze cauldron at the center of the Rite of Descension.
The cauldron shattered instantly, sending fragments flying. Gasps of shock erupted across the plaza.
Zhongli stood his ground, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. He gave a subtle nod, as if he had anticipated this very scene.
Yunqin, however, discreetly rolled her eyes. Staring at the chaos before her, she couldn't help but start ranting internally.
She mentally screamed for a while, but received no response from her main self. Even the other nations' personas, who occasionally chimed in, remained silent.
Yunqin frowned and tried again to ping her main self's "communication channel" in her mind. The channel, which usually responded instantly, was now completely silent, as if muted.
What the hell? Are you ignoring me on purpose? Yunqin's confusion slowly turned into annoyance.
She refused to give up and mentally called out again, Main self? You there? Still, her call vanished into the void.
Only then did Yunqin belatedly realize that her consciousness seemed to be cut off by an invisible barrier, completely severing her connection to her main self and the other personas.
No way! Did they block me?! Yunqin instantly bristled.
If not for the crowd of people in the plaza, she would have screamed out loud right then and there.
In the end, she could only grit her teeth, silently flip off the air, and stomp her foot hard, muttering under her breath, "凸(艹皿艹 )!"