Before I Go ~ A XiaoLumi Story

Chapter 1

LUMINE PANTED, TRYING to catch her breath, leaning on the hilt of her sword. Her blonde hair drifted across her face aimlessly in the cool breeze.

"Paimon just scanned the area!" a small voice squeaked from behind a bush. A few moments later, a floating . . . fairy? Nymph? Emergency food? Lumine hadn't quite figured that out yet.

Lumine's friend and traveling companion, Paimon, shoved her way through the bush. The floating girl smiled proudly. Lumine, although exhausted, had to stifle a giggle. Paimon looked ridiculous with her bloated outfit and twigs and leaves all in her hair.

"Paimon has surveyed the whole ruins! There's not a single hilichurl to be found. We did a great job!" Paimon declared excitedly.

Lumine rolled her eyes. 'We' meant mostly her. Paimon had simply floated there, screaming occasionally and declaring that she was hungry in the midst of battle.

Lumine stumbled over to rest in the cool shade of a tree. "Paimon, I need to rest here for a few moments . . . I'm feeling drained . . . ."

Paimon didn't seem to have heard. As always, she was rambling about food as Lumine felt her eyes begin to close. ". . . those peppers were really spicy, weren't they? But I really want to try . . . ."

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LUMINE EVENTUALLY CAME to when the moon was high in the sky, casting a misty glow around the ruins.

Lumine looked to her left to see her little Teyvat guide curled up in a ball, letting out short quick breaths in her sleep.

The traveler gazed out over the rocky landscape of Wuwang Hill. The ruins here are beautiful . . . I suppose they were always too dangerous for me to appreciate their true nature, Lumine thought to herself.

The blonde-haired girl sat quietly, meditating in the night air. Soon, her mind began to wander. She thought of her brother, Aether, taken away from her. Only recently had Lumine discovered her precious twin had chosen to betray her and stayed with the Abyss Order, who would help him wage his war with destiny . . . whatever that could mean.

We've always had enough time, Aether had told her.

Lumine soon felt hot tears sting her cheeks. She sniffled. Oh, Aether . . . where have you gone . . . .

The night air was still for a few more moments until . . .

Click-click. Whirr. Click. Ching.

Lumine stiffened and rose to her feet. Slowly, she spun around and screamed in terror.

Published October 10, 2021