The Adventures of a Mushroom | Genshin x Child!Reader

Chapter 34: The Holy Lyre Returns

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You and Albedo exchanged a glance, and he shoved you towards the Adventurer's Guild. "Hide," he hissed.

"Ad astra abyssosque, little one," Katheryne beamed. "Would you like to join the—"

"No time!" you blurted. You climbed over the side of the booth and hid behind Katheryne's green dress. Curious: she had a lock on her neck. No time to ponder that, though. A familiar figure was approaching.

Lumine stalked into Mondstadt, golden hair rippling, a little longer than the last time you'd seen it. Her face was expressionless, her eyes hollow, and your heart sank. Whatever moment of clarity Lumine had had back in the forest, it was clearly gone now. To your horror, she sauntered right up to Katheryne.

"Ad astra—" Katheryne repeated, but the Traveler slammed a list of completed quests in front of her, interrupting her yet again.

"Thank you for completing today's commissions," said Katheryne, unfazed. She placed a box of rewards on the table, and Lumine snatched them up without a word.

You huddled under the counter until Lumine had turned away. Only then did you notice the three people following her.

Lisa? Amber?! Kaeya!!!

But they looked different than the last time you'd seen them. Lisa had an unbandaged cut on her face. Amber was limping on one leg, and Kaeya was supporting her from the other side. His usually sleek hair was ungroomed, his smile grim, like a gambler on his last coins.

With an Outrider's keen senses, Amber was the first to notice you. Her eyes filled with terror, and she nudged Kaeya.

Kaeya's eyes found yours, and his smile faltered. He shook his head almost imperceptibly. A warning sign to you: get out while you still can.

But you shook your head back at him. You were done running. You couldn't give up now, not with Lumine so close.

Bravery... it's about facing your fears. Isn't that what Mister Albedo said?

So even though every part of you was telling you to stay behind Katheryne, you clambered out from behind the booth. Staying close to the sides of buildings, using flower planters and wine barrels for cover, you followed Lumine and the three weary knights behind her.

You didn't have to follow her far. At Good Hunter, Mondstadt's most popular restaurant, you witnessed an unlikely event: the all-powerful traveler, cooking up a storm at the stove. Kaeya, Amber, and Lisa sat at a table, conferring in quiet voices. They quickly stopped talking when Lumine approached with platters of food.

She set down a plate in front of each knight. While the knights wolfed down their food, Lumine paced back and forth. Abruptly, she seemed to lose her patience, and turned to leave. Kaeya, Amber, and Lisa rose to their feet, too, though none of them had finished their food.

And then, without warning, they all vanished.

No one batted an eye. The waitress from Good Hunter continued wiping the countertop as though nothing had happened, and none of the other customers paused mid-bite. It was like they hadn't just seen four people disappear in front of them.

Where'd she go?! How could she just... oh! She must have teleported away using a Teleport Waypoint. But to where?

"System, use Windtrace." You needed a better view.

This time, as you felt your body melt to a light breeze, you wasted no time, turning your attentions skyward. You rose high up into the gusty skies above the City of Wind. But to your surprise, you weren't alone.