Before I Go ~ A XiaoLumi Story

Chapter 8

LUMINE YAWNED AND stretched. Sitting up, a delicious aroma filled the air. She turned to see Paimon humming off-key, bent over a crackling fire, cooking something.

"Potatoes, peeled and smashed," Paimon read off the list quietly.

Lumine grinned. But where's Xiao? she suddenly thought to herself. She stood up and glanced around until a bright glint caught her eye. She reached up into a crook of a tree and pulled a small bundle down.

Lumine unwrapped the small package and a few crystals fell out. The paper wrapping had something scrawled across it.

                   Call out my name if you need me.

                                                                                              - Xiao

Lumine smiled. He has terrible handwriting, she thought, making a mental note to tease him about that as soon as possible. She put the crystals and the note into her pack and walked over to Paimon, who had continued to hum Barbara's song in what was probably the most off-key tune ever.

"Breakfast smells good," Lumine noted, ruffling Paimon's hair as the young guide tended the food.

"Yep! Paimon is the best chef around!" Paimon exclaimed. "Except you, of course," she added modestly.

Lumine giggled. "I'm going to pack up camp, and we'll be off to Guyun Stone Forest as soon as we're done eating."

About an hour later, the two friends had begun their trek across the Liyue landscape. They'd been walking for nearly three hours before Paimon spotted something in the distance.

"There!" she called. "Paimon sees it! Guyun Stone Forest!"

Lumine nodded. She found the nearest Waverider Waypoint and summoned a boat. "Come on, Paimon. Hop in!"

Carefully Lumine navigated her way around the craggy peaks of Rex Lapis' old weapons. She thought back to Zhongli's old tales of the Archon War, remembering how he fashioned great weapons out of stone to aid in his battles. The weather has really done a good job of eroding this, Lumine thought. I can hardly imagine these forming spears now. 

Once they reached the largest island, Lumine docked the Waverider and helped Paimon clamber out of the boat. "Paimon will meet you at the top!" the floating tour guide exclaimed before whisking off to explore.

Lumine shook her head and laughed softly. That floating thing never stopped moving.

Lumine made her way up the mountainside to a domain. Huh, never knew this was here, she thought to herself, promptly marking it down on her map.

Walking towards the water, something caught Lumine's eye. A ship!

Lumine suddenly heard angry shouts, echoing as they bounced off the rocks. They were heading towards her! Lumine quickly jumped behind a large boulder

Suddenly a tall woman dressed in red came into view. She was yelling at a tall, muscular man who appeared to be a sailor. Walking beside her was a small boy wearing a short-sleeved kimono and sporting striking white hair.

"What do you mean, the packages aren't here? We're on a tight schedule as is!" the tall woman yelled. She sighed and rubbed her temples. The sailor looked panicked, as though he were unsure of how to answer. "One week," the woman muttered. "One week is all I can guarantee."

The man grumbled, clearly aggravated. "Captain, that brings me to another issue. Are you even sure that this Crux Clash is a good idea? Giving someone a Vision?"

Lumine's eyes widened. A Vision? These people were giving away a Vision?

Suddenly the boy in the kimono looked up at the boulders from where Lumine was hiding. He caught her eye. Lumine ducked down, trembling. She knew she'd been discovered. If they'd had a Vision, they were powerful people. Dangerous people, too, Lumine reminded herself, concern setting in. What would they do when they found she'd been watching them?

"Greetings," a voice said. Lumine stood up and peered over the boulder. She was met with the face of the boy she had seen with the captain and the burly man. "I am Kaedehara Kazuha. A pleasure."