Good Evening Traveler

Chapter Nine: Oh Yeah- It's All Coming Together

The three all had a slightly uneventful dinner. Xiao and Lumine did their best to not argue, and it was even successful...to some degree. Paimon did her best to start up some sort of argument between the two- all she had to do was bring up the recent travels. "Traveler! Remember when we fought the abyss and almost died? Oh! Oh! How about when you got po-"
"Paimon, that's enough. Xiao, how has Wangshu Inn been?"
"Hm. Nothing to complain about. There have been more miners stopping by due to the opening of the chasm. I don't understand how they can take the value ores from the earth for their own personal gain."
"Well, maybe the others want to share the beauty of all the sparkly gems and jewels that lie below the surface. Zhongli always says 'you can't judge a stone until you see its gem.'"
"Who is this...Zhongli? If I am allowed to ask that is," Ayaka smiled, happy that everyone was enjoying themselves.
"Oh! He's...a...worker at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! Very wise, very nice, and also has a fondness for the earth. And tea!"
Ayaka giggled before responding, drinking tea of her own, "Wonderful! It's quite a special drink. Perhaps we can meet sometime!"
The group continued to talk, jumping from topic to topic. Soon it was time to return back to the estate. Ayaka had successfully made Xiao and Lumine walk side-by-side, though they refused to acknowledge it. Lumine longed to hold Xiao's hand for just a moment, but he didn't seem to be the type for physical affection - or affection in general.

There wasn't much time to do anything else when they returned. Everyone went to their rooms for the night after bidding farewells. Lumine almost instantly fell asleep, but it would soon reveal to a very restless one.
It was around midnight that Xiao heard whimpers coming from Lumine's room. Instantly, he silently went over to take a look. Paimon was fast asleep with a lettuce-patterned blanket, but the traveler was curled up in the fetal position. "Aether...please..." she spoke. Xiao knew this was her brothers name. What she was thinking of was all a mystery. Continuing to be silent, he carefully sat beside her. Lumine kept showing much fear, even beginning to cry. But Xiao didn't move. He sat beside her and mustered all his strength to just grab her hand. That small gesture was all that was needed to calm Lumine down. Her breathing slowed, and the crying stopped. "Aether..." escaped her mouth before she was snoring softly. A small sense of victory led to the impossible - Xiao smiled. Maybe he did love Lumine...then again, what is love? (Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more) He did his best to try and go back to his room, but there was an impending sense of responsibility for him to stay there. Plus Xiao had to be there. If he left, who knows if the nightmares would continue. Wait a moment...the nightmares...Wouldn't Xiao cause them? His karma was a powerful thing, but it didn't seem to affect the traveler. It was almost as if she were from another world entirely. Nevertheless, he stayed with caution, investigating every noise he heard wether it came from Lumine, Paimon, or outside.

While Xiao was sitting beside Lumine, the abyss got word of what was happening. Through their headquarters, a hydro mage instantly looked for the one they called "The Prince."
"Sir! Sir!" The mage called, nearly tripping over his own robes.
"What is it?" Aether grumbled, looking over sheets of paper.
"Your sister! She...She...She..."
"Spit it out Kevin. We don't have all day."
"She has a boyfriend!!" The mage, who was most likely named Kevin, said quite nervously. It was common knowledge that 'Prince' Aether was very protective over his sister. After all, he was the eldest between the two twins. He looked up from the papers and stared into Kevin's eyeholes. "What?" He glared.
"I was doing a routine check up on your sister, as requested. She was having another nightmare or something, and this random dude was sitting next to her! He was holding her hand and didn't appear to be wanting to move!"
Aether turned around and walked in the opposite direction. He had to see this for himself. There was one spot where the abyss could look upon anyone they pleased using their magic. Aether instantly shoved the heralds out of the way and looked for Lumine. Upon seeing his sister, he had the sudden urge to beat - whoever that was - with his own hands. Lumine didn't need any distractions. She just had to keep adventuring if she wanted to prove her worth to the rest of the abyss. "You are all orders to routinely check up on both Lumine and this...other thing. Failure to bring any news or updates will result in one meeting the same fate as the one who dares to fall in love with my sister. Understand?"
"Yes sir!" The nearby heralds and mages all said in sync. Yet only Kevin continued to speak.
"Wait...isn't that a yaksha? He looks familiar..."
Aether was silent and merely walked away. He didn't care for any of this. He just wanted to have his sister back on her way. It was his duty as an older brother to keep her safe from heartache. There were other much more important things than this. Finishing off, Aether returned to the room he often resided in.
On his desk, there was a small vase of flowers. These flowers weren't any flower though. They were the same ones that Lumine had in her hair. The same flowers from Khaenri'ah. The same flowers he longed to see in person, sitting atop Lumine's golden hair. Although he had to prove his loyalty to the abyss, he had to get revenge for the destruction of Khaenri'ah. He had to make sure that Teyvat would suffer. All of it, besides Lumine. She was the only one that had to be kept safe, and was the only one that mattered. Plus Kevin of course.