Genshin Impact - The Sustainer of Worlds

Part 4: ...There's A Savior

A/N:

This part contains two subplots of each perspectives.

...

...

<September 23, 2023>
<??:??>

Lumine, exhausted and covered in mud from head to toe, is sitting by the large tree washing her hands and face, with her savior, Sergei Vasilyev, kneeling close to her. In the nick to time, he managed to save her as he throws the noose for Lumine to grab on and heaved her out from the mire and on to solid ground before she could drown. She is beyond grateful for Vasilyev for saving her life.

After washing the mud off from her face and her hands, the man offers her another bottle, this time, it is filled with a different substance. After introducing themselves, Lumine picks up the bottle from Sergei.

"What is this? And the smell... is that orange juice?" she asked.

"Helps you hydrate much faster, it'll get back up to your feet so i can take you to my camp for some rest," he said as he hands down his small bottle of orange juice, and Lumine, initially suspicious and hesitant, drinks the bottle. The sweet and sour tangy taste that calms her nerves and hydrates her body at the same time, Lumine feels much better.

"My name's Sergei Vasilyev... Nice to meet you..." he said smiling as he pulls Lumine back up on her feet. "What's yours?" Lumine emptied what remains of the bottle and said her name, rather bashfully:

"Lumine...."

After recovering enough of her strength, she tries wiping off the mud from her clothes. However, her dress is still stained with dark gray mud.

"So where were you going? And what are you doing at this time of night?" the man asked. Lumine replied while still trying to wipe the mud off around her:

"I'm trying to find Montauk as quickly as possible; I saw from the sign way back out there. Was hoping to find shelter from the rain, and to ask anyone for directions and look for my brother, he's my only family I have..."

"Well, you're not going to find that village this way..." Sergei sighed and nodded. "This wet and wooded trail leads straight towards Oyster Pond and beyond that, it's just Atlantic Ocean and the Block Island Sound, and the banks of the pond, it's full of more quicksand... Also... you may need some change of clothes unless if you want to go to Montauk looking like that,"

"Do you have any extra clothes?" Lumine asked gripping her hands on her muddy clothes. Sergei replied:

"I have a few on my campsite, and a raincoat, I heard some storm brewing,"

"O-okay, just don't look at me while I'm changing, okay?" said Lumine grumbling at the fact she was about to change her clothes right near a man...

"As you wish, Signora..." Sergei chuckled and nod his head down. "Follow me, hurry, before the rain comes" Sergei treads through the trail for his camp, with Lumine following him in the distance. However, his thick accent and the way he mentioned "Signora", that sets off alarm bells.

"Where the hell, or who the hell have I heard this from before? Who the hell is he? Don't tell me..." she thought to herself.

It wasn't long before the two finally reached his camp. The campsite was just a single large orange and blue diagonally striped tent, with the door hole open, and there is a firepit close by, lined with concrete blocks and logs made in a way to resemble an actual camp stove. The firepit is still alight and Lumine could hear the crackle of the twigs and wood snapping and burning and feel the warmth of the fire.