Chapter 1: Xiao and Lumine - Part 1: Before I go
"I can't believe it's been two months already!" Paimon said. Lumine smiled. She couldn't believe it either. Two months had passed since they fell down into the Chasm. They had spent the time doing commissions for the Adventure Guild in Liyue, saving up Mora for their travels to Sumeru. Now they finally had enough to make it there, and it was time to leave. But before that Lumine wanted to make one last stop at Wangshu Inn.
"You're really worried about him, aren't you?" Paimon's voice was full of concern, and Lumine nodded. "He went through a lot down in the Chasm. I just want to check in before we leave." Paimon smiled. "Then let's go!"
The trip to Wangshu Inn took two days. If it wasn't for the merchants they met on the way, Lumine had no idea how they would get any sleep. The two merchants were heading towards Mondstadt, and they offered them a place to sleep. They said goodbye to the merchants at Wangshu Inn after offering them some Mora for their troubles.
"Mmm, I'm starving," Paimon said and smelled the food from the kitchen. Lumine chuckled. "You're always hungry," she said. Paimon crossed her arms. "Paimon gets very tired of flying around. It's very exhausting." Lumine smiled and headed for the kitchen. "Let's eat first, then. Come!"
They ordered the Almond Tofu, and when the food arrived at the table, Paimon immediately dug in. "Mmm. So good," she said and rubbed her belly. Lumine picked her food, not really interested.
"What is it?" Paimon asked. Lumine sighed. She didn't want to admit it, but she was worried for Xiao. They hadn't seen each other in two months, and when they left him, he seemed so down. She wondered how it might affect him if she told him she was leaving.
As if Paimon read her mind, she said: "Xiao will be fine. And it's not like we will be gone forever, right? He will still be here when we come back."
Lumine sighed. She hoped Paimon was right. Xiao had suffered so much throughout the years, and she knew that it wouldn't be easier in the future. Even if she was afraid to admit it, she wanted to help him. To be there for him. But she also knew she had to continue her travels to find her brother.
She stood up, leaving the half-eaten dinner for Paimon, who happily dug in and ate the rest of the food. Lumine went to pay and rent a room for the night. She came back to the terrace to get Paimon, and together they went up the stairs to the balcony where they had first met Xiao.
The stars were blinking down at them. The sun had already set, and the night sky was like an endless dark blanket over them. The mild breeze made her hair dance, and she stroke it away from her face.
"Where is he?" Paimon asked. Lumine shrugged. Who knew where Xiao was or what he was doing. He was probably out there hunting monsters, keeping Liyue safe. "Why don't you try to call for him?" Paimon suggested. Lumine smiled when she remembered his promise to her. He had promised her that he would come if she called for him.
"Xiao." Lumine said his name in a whisper, so low it got carried away in the wind. Paimon looked around. "Did you call for him?" she asked. Lumine nodded. They waited a couple of minutes, but still no Xiao. "Maybe try and call for him again? Paimon can't see him anywhere."
Lumine was about to call for him again when he appeared right in front of her. He had his spear in his hand, leaning heavily towards it. Without thinking, she rushed to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Xiao, are you okay?" Her voice shaking with worry, and when she saw the pool of blood underneath him, she cried out. Xiao sat down, his breath heavy and his chest rising and sinking quickly. "I'm fine." His voice was low and raspy. Lumine took a step back, remembering how he always wanted to keep a distance. She motioned towards his wound, but he shrugged. "It's nothing."
Lumine wanted to believe him, but when he collapsed after trying to stand up, she quickly rushed back to him, and took his hand. He let her hold it. Either he was too weak to move away, or he wanted her there. "What happened?" Paimon asked with panic in her voice, just now realizing the blood came from his wound.
"I was out fighting some Ruin Guards that came too close to the roads. When I thought I had killed them all, more showed up. They just kept coming. And then I got ambushed by Abyss Mages." He started coughing. Lumine stood up and rushed down to the kitchen for some water. She ran back to the balcony and gave the cup to Xiao. He drank everything in one go.
"Thank you." He leaned back towards the rail of the balcony and closed his eyes. After a while, he said: "I'm fine. You don't have to worry." But when he looked into Lumine's eyes, he knew she didn't believe him. "I'm going to go and get some rest," he said and stood up. He ignored Lumine's worried eyes as he turned around and disappeared in a green cloud of mist.
Paimon and Lumine headed to their room. Lumine sat down on the bed. "We can stay here for a bit," Paimon said. "Paimon doesn't mind." Her last words got caught in a yawn, and before Lumine had time to reply, Paimon was already asleep.
She laid down on the bed and closed her eyes, but she couldn't sleep. After tossing and turning, she finally managed to fall asleep, but it was a restless one, and she woke up before the sun the next morning. She was tired from the travel the day before, and the lack of sleep, but she knew that she couldn't rest. Not until she knew that he was okay.
Careful not to wake Paimon, she headed back up to the balcony. When she walked up to the railing, she could see Xiao standing there. The morning sun was bathing him in a golden light, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Good morning," she said. Xiao turned around but he didn't say anything. Lumine walked up to him. "How are you?" She looked at his arm, it was bandaged now, but red spots were shining through the cloth. "I'm fine," he said. Lumine smiled. "I know. You'll always say that you're fine, but…" Her voice cracked and she turned away.
She froze when she could feel Xiao coming closer, then turned around to face him. "I'm leaving," she said. Xiao looked her in the eyes, waiting for her to continue. "I have to go to Sumeru. My brother… The scholars might know something."
"I understand," he said. She could feel the pain in his voice, and it pained her too. Leaving him like this was the last thing she wanted, but she had no choice. Finding her brother had to be the first priority, and she couldn't let anything stay in her way.
"I understand," Xiao repeated. Lumine took his hand. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Lumine could feel him getting tense when she wrapped her arms around him, embracing him. But he didn't move away. He just stood there, let her hold him.
"I'll come back," she promised.
"And I'll be here waiting."
Paimon and Lumine waved goodbye to the people at Wangshu Inn. When they walked onto the road towards Sumeru, Lumine turned back. She could see Xiao looking down at them from the balcony, his posture cold and troubling. She waved to him, but he didn't wave back, just turned around and disappeared in a green mist.
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