𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 | 𝐱𝐢𝐚𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐢

VII

In the past week, there was talk around Liyue about a certain adventurer who managed to complete almost every single commission available to them. Be it hilichurl clearings, food delivery or transporting hot air balloons, they were able to accomplish the job the day they were given it. And contrary to everyone’s expectations, Lumine was not the adventurer.

Alatus was the rising star and hot topic of the harbour. He first gained attention due to his identical appearance to the Guardian Yaksha, but soon he was able to establish his own presence and quickly flew to the top of the adventurers' leaderboard for the month. Donning just shoulder pads, minimal clothing held together by red strings and highlighting a streak of his hair maroon (to which Lumine knew Xiao would absolutely detest), it was impossible to not turn in his direction and gaze at him, then be enthralled by his outgoing, bubbly charisma.

Currently at Wangshu Inn, Alatus was downing jug after jug of alcohol, completely immersed in his happy hour, while Lumine sat beside him and watched this doppelganger waste away.

“You.. should’ve seen! How I killed those… imbeciles!” he exclaimed, punching the air with his fist. “Vanished…with one slice. Ha! Pathetic!”

Lumine smiled wryly. Seeing him get drunk was bothersome, but the thing that irritated her the most was her position as top adventurer being replaced by some short guy in less than a week—and what’s worse, he’s spending all that commission payment on alcohol.

“You and Venti would be best friends,” she muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes when Alatus rounded an arm around her shoulder, swaying her from side to side like they were on a rocking boat.

“I will… kill! Every single one of them!” he burped in between, “so I’ll always! I’ll always be on… on top! Of the leaderboard!”

“Okay, that’s it!”

Lumine slammed her fists and stood up suddenly, startling the patrons around, and even drunk Alatus. 

He blinked. “You’re angry?”

She shot him an incinerating glare. “Yes.”

“Oh… sorry.”

He dropped his head. For a moment, Lumine was tempted to go soft on him, but her ambition and quick thinking made her come up with an idea.

“Alatus, if you’re really sorry, make it up to me.”

The yaksha looked up. “What?”

“Let me join you on your next commissions. We’ll do them together. Deal?”

It was probably obvious to anyone who was in a clear state of mind, but for booze-bamboozled Alatus, the only word he could comprehend was ‘together’.

“Yes! Deal!” he giggled, raising his jug. “Lumine and me together!”

“You are seriously so out of it,” she sighed, sitting back down. As the intoxicated adeptus yanked at her sleeve every five seconds, Lumine started to formulate a plan that could get her rightful status back.

—

The next morning, Alatus and Lumine arrived at a waterfall north of Qingce village, dressed in proper combat attire—though Alatus still sported light clothing.

“So we’re supposed to enter this cave?” he asked, gesturing towards the entrance next to the waterfall that was veiled by overgrown creepers.

Lumine checked the map again, then nodded. “I’m sure. The three Ruin Guards should be in there.”

Alatus stretched and yawned. “Right. Let's get this over with. It’ll be way quicker with you around.”

He slid down the grass and disappeared behind the curtain of greens. The young traveller followed in his footsteps, but not before noting the width of the cave’s opening, did she slip into the dark.