Genshin Impact | "The Last Night in Aaru Village" | Alhaitham x Lumine

The Calm Before the Storm, Part 3

The grass pressed under their boots as they trotted down the path that led to a dirt road. Alhaitham's cape and Lumine's dress flapped with the wind which blanketed the mountains and hills north of Sumeru city. Darkness engulfed the skies but the fat moon and twinkling stars illuminated their path along with the occasional lamp posts they passed by.

"Where are we going?" he asked. They had left Lambad's Tavern after bidding goodbye to Cyno's group, walked northward, passed by the Treasures street and entered the small village in the outskirts. Lumine led him to a path going to a stream that bordered the City without explaining anything. They had to remove their boots to cross the river and now they resumed their journey outside the City.

"It's a surprise. There's a place I want to show you," she said.

"Not to burst your bubble, but I'm pretty hard to surprise. I can easily deduce where we're going just by looking at the path we're taking."

Ugh. This guy. "Then why did you even ask?"

"Because I want to hear your confirmation that I made the correct deduction."

"Alright, let's hear your prediction."

"Deduction," he corrected her.

"Fine. Deduction," she emphasized.

They reached a fork on the road next to a waypoint. Alhaitham stopped and so did Lumine. He faced her and said, "we exited north of Sumeru City. We could've rounded the border of Chatrakam Cave which is also north to the city, but instead you chose to cross a stream and enter a dirt road in between a valley to the east of the Cave. We continued further north and now we've reached a fork on the road. I can see The Palace of Alcazarzaray to my left and to my right is a path that leads deeper into the forest. There's nothing really notable in The Palace, so I doubt that's where you're taking me. On the other hand, turning right leads to Mawtiyima Forest, which is a beautiful place for a stroll. So that's where you're taking me."

"Bravo," she said dryly. "Your deduction is correct, Mr. Scribe, but now you spoiled my surprise."

"It's fine," he said while looking smug. "I'm glad you dragged me out of the city. The last time I traveled outside the Avidya Forest was when we had to prepare for Lesser Lord Kusanali's rescue."

They turned right and the path began to deepen as the sound of crickets chirping filled their surroundings. Soon enough, they saw the breathtaking trees of Mawtiyima Forest. Trees scattered the area with trunks spanning a few feet wide and hundreds of feet tall. Gnarled branches stretched to the sky but instead of leaves they tapered to massive overgrowths that looked like rough funnels coalesced to each other. The tops of these overgrowths were flat while the undersurface glowed blue in the dark. Light overflowed and filtered down from these surfaces to the ground, making the hike into the forest an easy one despite journeying at the dead of night.

Alhaitham held his breath. "This is impressive," he said.

"I know right? Have you been here before?" she asked.

"As a researcher, I have. But that was a long time ago. I forgot how beautiful it is."

She took his hand and they trudged down a path that led to a creek close to a strong wind current. They wore their wind gliders and launched up into the air, the current carrying them to the tops of one of the trees. Their feet landed smoothly on the grassy surface and Lumine walked to a pack resting at the center, opening it and pulling out its contents.

Alhaitham followed her behind. "You left your things here?"

"Adventurers do that often in the wild. And it doesn't rain much in Sumeru except in the Apam woods, so I don't have to worry that my stuff could get spoiled." She pulled out a large blanket and laid it on the ground.