If Only

1

Lumine sat on the bed in a small room with green wallpaper, where a small chandelier cast a soft white light over her. The room was quiet except for Paimon's gentle snores and the low hum of a crowded street outside in Sumeru. She pulled out a photograph of a man, herself, and her brother. Her nose turned red, and tears began to form in her eyes. She grazed the tips of her fingers over her brother's image. A few tears fell onto the photograph, which she quickly wiped away to keep it safe and pristine.

She wondered why only the man was smiling in the picture and not the two of them. She questioned where the picture had come from and why she had no memory of it. Whenever she met Dainsleif, she was always left with more questions than answers, but ironically, it seemed to bring her closer to her brother. As she sniffled and wiped tears from her cheeks, Paimon woke up and glided towards Lumine anxiously. Placing her tiny hands on the Traveler's shoulder, Paimon's eyes fell on the photograph. She gasped and asked Lumine when the picture was taken.

The little fairy floated in front of her companion, wiping her own tears while asking why Lumine had kept this from her. "Paimon's always here for you, Astrid. You can share anything with Paimon," she said kindly. Lumine placed the mysterious photograph beside her on the bed and embraced her closest friend, who returned the hug. "This picture... it's recent. I met him, but I have no memory of it," Lumine replied with a cracked voice. Paimon continued to comfort Lumine and eventually suggested they head to the tavern to grab some food and take their minds off sad thoughts. Astrid laughed, saying Paimon knew her all too well. The fairy placed her hands on her hips and smiled proudly.

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The girls bit into their chicken shawarma, savoring every bite. Paimon rubbed her belly and declared it was the best wrap she had had in a long time. "Food is the best part of traveling, especially for you, Paimon," chuckled the Traveler. As more food was served, Lumine began filling Paimon in on the day's commissions. She explained how frustrating it had been to clear multiple withering zones from the roads and how she had delivered love letters from Aaru Village to Gandharva Ville. Paimon commented on how romantic it was to stay in touch despite the distance. The conversation flowed, but they carefully avoided mentioning the eventful commission Katherine had given them two weeks ago.

The tavern where they sat was charming, filled with the aroma of Sumeru's cuisine and the sounds of friendly conversation and cutlery clinking. The hall was illuminated by warm light, creating an inviting atmosphere. However, despite the comforting ambiance, Lumine found it difficult to relax. With all the food gone, her thoughts drifted back to the commission. "Could the photo have been from there?" she wondered to herself. Noticing the change in Lumine's mood, Paimon suggested they leave the restaurant for some fresh air.

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The Traveler stood on the balcony overlooking the Vanarana Forest. She took slow, measured breaths to calm her mind and keep negative thoughts at bay. Resting her hands on the railing, she opened her eyes to take in the breathtaking view of the tall, lush, green trees in the distance. Paimon gently placed her hand on Lumine's shoulder, encouraging her to open up. "Paimon agrees it was a crazy quest. A shared memory of a person who never existed, Dainsleif fighting with your brother, memories being altered!"

Lumine turned to Paimon, her brow furrowed with concern. She wondered if her own memories had been altered to forget that crucial moment with her brother. It seemed significant that the Abyss would go to such lengths. Paimon nodded in agreement and suggested, "Maybe Nahida could help you figure out what's going on. She can look through Irminsul, after all."

With a glimmer of hope in her eyes, Lumine thanked Paimon and quickly hurried back to their room, with Paimon floating closely behind.

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Nahida smiled as she looked at the photograph the Traveler showed her, and asked why none of them appeared happy. Lumine proceeded to explain the situation, and Nahida quickly understood what the blonde girl needed. With a serious expression on her face, the Dendro Archon assured Lumine that she would search Irminsul for any relevant information. "It'll take time to find information in Irminsul. Will you be able to wait here until I return?" Paimon and Lumine nodded their heads in unison.

A week had passed since their last conversation with Nahida. To pass the time, the girls wandered through the Bazaar and spotted Alhaitham and Kaveh from afar. They were near a flower stall, where Kaveh appeared deeply engrossed in selecting the perfect flowers. Paimon gasped loudly upon seeing Alhaitham showing interest in the flowers Kaveh was examining. Suddenly, a hand grabbed the Traveler by the elbow, pulling her to the side. The boy leaned in, shushing Lumine, and pointed towards Kaveh and Alhaitham. Lumine recognized him as none other than Sethos.

Noticing the confusion on Astrid's and Paimon's faces, Sethos explained why he had pulled them aside. "I didn't want you to draw their attention. Their guards are down right now, and you would have ruined it," Sethos said in a hushed voice. He pointed at the pair again, and their gazes followed his finger. Their jaws dropped when they saw Alhaitham smiling softly as he carried the flowers Kaveh had bought. "Something's going on, but they'd never admit it. I've noticed they're friendlier when they're alone but tend to argue a lot around others."

Paimon stared at Sethos, shocked and confused, while Lumine simply giggled. She told Sethos about how Alhaitham had kicked them out of their house so he could have dinner alone with Kaveh. She mentioned that she thought they might have feelings for each other. Sethos laughed and agreed, "Now that you mention it, they do argue all the time. Paimon also noticed they can't seem to stop talking about each other." Sethos and the Traveler burst into laughter, while Paimon pouted, asking what was funny about being in love.

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Astrid paced back and forth in her room, her arms crossed around her body as if hugging herself. Paimon floated near Nahida, urging her companion to calm down. The Dendro Archon remarked to Paimon that some people cope with such news by pacing. While Paimon understood, she remained concerned about the Traveler.

"I'm so sorry, Astrid. My friend and I searched every possible source for information about that image, but we couldn't find anything," Nahida said, stepping closer and offering her hand to Lumine for comfort. Lumine accepted the gesture and sat on the bed, tears streaming down her face as she expressed her frustration about being so close yet so far from her brother. Nahida gently patted her back while Paimon fetched tissues for her to wipe her tears and blow her nose.

"This is a lot to take in, Astrid. I think you should leave Sumeru for a while. It might be for the best," Nahida suggested calmly. Paimon agreed, listing the benefits of leaving Sumeru temporarily. She proposed visiting friends in Inazuma, Liyue, and Mondstadt. The blonde girl nodded, wiping away her last tear. She pulled her friends into a group hug, her face lighting up with a placid smile as she felt the warmth, friendship, and care surrounding her. After a heartfelt two minutes, they parted, and Lumine decided they would head to Liyue.

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End of part 1