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

Windblume, Part 9

Windblume, Part 9

"Don't be so sure. I have yet to meet the higher-ranking Harbingers and Nahida once told me Dottore is stronger than her. And that's the Dendro Archon we're talking about," Lumine said.

"Will you count my new-found divinity as a strength?" Alhaitham slid his hands from her shoulders to her wrists.

Lumine shrugged. "Still, you shouldn't be reckless. Please be careful..." She squeezed his hands. "I don't know what possessed Childe. He's not usually like that. He only fights people according to his mission as a Fatui."

"Jealousy, I suspect," he offered. "I've read of anecdotes of people acting irrationally in the face of a potential love adversary. This behavior is not entirely unheard of."

Lumine wanted to argue against it but was too tired to say more. So, she suggested to return to the ball to pick up Paimon and finally leave to get some rest.

He agreed and they headed back to the entrance. They were at the huge, studded door when Alhaitham halted suddenly. The Traveler had to look back to see why. The Scribe gave her an inquiring look.

She didn't have to ask to know what he was thinking: 'do I really have to?'. She understood his reluctance to re-enter the ball stems from his aversion to social interactions, so she took his hand and rubbed his arm to comfort him. "I'm with you, Alhaitham," she said softly. "I won't leave your side."

It reassured him, so he let her pull him back to the ball room.

When Lumine re-entered, feeling anxious that she's coming in with another man different form the one she arrived with, she saw a few people left. Majority had gone home as Windblume had officially ended.

She spotted Cyno and Tighnari having a serious talk at the corner of the hall. Klee was gone and so were the other younger attendees like Fischl and Collei. Eula was sitting next to the luncheon table, observing with Amber, both of them holding glasses of dandelion wine. Jean seemed to have sobered up although her cheeks were slightly flushed. Kaeya stood next to her. The man said something that made her do a double take. The Acting Grand Master eyeballed the hall and when her eyes met the Honorary Knight's, she gazed at her meaningfully. The Traveler had no doubt that Kaeya had just reported their recent scuffle with Childe.

Mona emerged from one of the doors lining the hall followed by Albedo. He grabbed her arm and she halted as he whispered something to her ear. Lumine wondered what he was fumbling at the back of Mona's dress until she realized he was pulling up the zipper. The astrologist was all red in the face while the alchemist looked smug as he fixed his own tie.

Paimon was dozing on the luncheon table with a huge belly and Lumine sauntered to her while holding Alhaitham's hands. They walked across the hall without a care that people were giving them curious looks.

"Have you eaten yet?" Lumine asked him after stopping next to Paimon.

The Scribe shook his head.

"You should eat something before we leave."

She led him to one of the tables, sat him down, and asked what he wanted to eat so she could fetch some for him. He ate slices of the Sweet Madame she served him quietly then the Traveler went to Mona who had waived at her from the table beside them.

The astrologist gazed at her scry glass while occasionally glancing at the man wearing a casual outfit rather than a formal suit. "Traveler... That seems to be a different person from the one you came with a while ago..." 

"That's Alhaitham. He's a good friend of mine. He's a bit... shy so he didn't show up early." Lumine sat comfortably next to her as the Scribe ate his food.