EN | An encounter she will never forget | ᴄʜɪʟᴜᴍɪ

27 - The best toy salesman

Lumine and Zhongli escorted the little boy, Teucer, whom they had just met, to the Northland Bank where his brother, Childe, was supposed to work in the toy industry. They had to make many stops to exterminate the many monsters that were in their way, but they arrived at the harbor soon enough. Teucer had grabbed the Traveler's hand so he wouldn't get lost and was exclaiming about everything and anything, which was very funny to watch. Once in the city, the inhabitants began to give them sidelong glances while whispering among themselves.

Was it the fact that no one had heard from the Traveler in about a month? Was it the fact that she was wearing Childe's mask on her head, which could indicate a certain affiliation to the Fatui? Or was it the fact that she had disappeared for a month and was walking with Zhongli, who, despite his youth, gave off an aura coming from another time, and a little boy who was holding her hand? She hoped that it was not the last hypothesis, otherwise many rumors could circulate very quickly...

Once they arrived in front of the bank, the young boy got rid of Lumine's hold to push open the doors while running inside.

"Teucer, it's rude to run in places like that!" the young woman shouted as she hurriedly followed him, then followed by Zhongli.

"It's just as impolite to shout," she heard the member of the Fatui posted at the front desk, Ekaterina, mutter but loud enough for the young woman to hear. Lumine glared at her, immediately returned by the masked woman who seemed to like the Traveler as much as she liked her.

However, Ekaterina immediately stopped glaring at her when she noticed the object in the Traveler's hair that she had been used to seeing on her master's head for many years. After a sigh, the secretary walked over to Lumine while bowing to her.

"Forgive my rudeness, my words went beyond my thought."

These words seemed to deeply cost her, but Lumine didn't dwell on it.

"It's no big deal."

"May I be of service to you in any way?" inquired Ekaterina as she straightened up and put on a professional expression.

"Could you tell your master that the Traveler has arrived, please?"

"I'll inform him right away."

Ekaterina straight away turned on her heels and headed for the private offices upstairs. 

_________________________

While Childe was busy reading and signing numerous documents, he heard someone knock on his door.

"Come in," he said loud enough for the person to hear.

"Sir, the Traveler has just entered the bank," stated Ekaterina after entering his office.

"Well, tell her I'll be right there," he replied without looking up from the document in his hands.

Ekaterina bowed to him before exiting the room and closing the door behind her. As soon as she left, Childe dropped his pen.

She's finally here! I thought something had happened to them on the way...

He hurriedly got up from his chair to get out of his bucket, but he stopped with his hand on the handle.

If I run to her right away, it will be obvious that I've missed her... I just need to calm down and act naturally. Simple, right?

At this thought, he took a deep breath before walking out the door.

"Hello, Ojou-chan!" he said to her as he walked down the stairs. While he expected to hear the young woman's voice in response, it was the voice of a little boy he knew all too well that answered him.