EN | An encounter she will never forget | ᴄʜɪʟᴜᴍɪ

10 - Bickering

Lumine returned to Liyue Harbor after saying goodbye to Childe. On the way, she kept repeating to herself the words the Harbinger had said to her on the beach. "Be more careful. I don't want to lose you." She felt her cheeks turn crimson again just thinking about it.

Is there something wrong with me or what? Childe said it himself, he's only living in anticipation of our fight. So he wants me to avoid getting hurt so that I'll be in top shape when that time comes. Yes, yes, that's it, for sure...

The young woman decided to chase these thoughts away before arriving in town. Unfortunately for her, between her unsuspected nap and the discussion, the sun had time to rise high in the sky now, alone in the middle of a pristine blue expanse.

No chance Paimon's still sleeping. Damn.

In the main street, she saw this little fairy fussing, looking for something—or more exactly, for someone. When their eyes met, Paimon shouted her name and rushed to meet her, causing the passers-by to stare at them.

"LUMINE! Where the hell have you been?! Paimon has been looking for you everywhere!"

"Sorry, I was out for a walk..."

"A walk? Paimon thought you had been kidnapped or left..."

Hearing the dreadful assumptions Paimon had thought of, Lumine became aware of the worry she had caused the little fairy. She was about to answer when she heard Zhongli's voice who was approaching.

"Ah Miss Lumine, you have returned! I am relieved to see you back safe and sound. Miss Paimon was so distraught at your sudden disappearance that she came to me for help."

He had his brows slightly furrowed from worrying for a moment, and the relief was obvious in his voice.

"Sorry to both of you. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble."

"The main thing is that you are well! Come on, you have to go back to bed."

Paimon had already turned towards the flat, expecting Lumine to follow her without reluctance for her to rest for Archons-know-how much time again. But the young woman wasn't fond of this idea.

"Paimon."

Lumine interrupted the fairy in her impetus, who turned around upon hearing her name.

"Yes?"

"I know you care about me, and I thank you for that. But I am healed." She removed the bandage from her arm to reveal the scar where the wound was. "I'm tired of being cooped up. If I don't exercise, I feel like I'll lose my purpose."

She added in a whisper, "You worry too much."

Zhongli stared at her, seeming to understand that the 'you' included a third person in addition to Paimon and himself: a certain Harbinger. But to Lumine's great relief, he didn't raise it.

Paimon, for her part, seemed to be conducting an internal debate entitled: "For or against the release of Lumine?". To cut short her reasoning, Lumine tried what was successful in ninety-nine percent to divert the attention of her first-day friend: food.

"Would you like to go and buy us some food? I'm starving!"

Which was true since she hadn't eaten anything since the day before. Paimon seemed reluctant to let her out of her sight again, so she added: "I'll stay with Zhongli, you don't have to worry."

Paimon's attitude changed dramatically and her eyes began to shine.

"Let me do it! I'll bring you the best breakfast ever!"