Great Pretender | Chilumi

flowers

She was right, the view was something else. But Childe never knew that even amidst all the golden flowers and glaze lilies, Lumine's color popped out more.

"So pretty." Lumine smiled brightly, crouching down to hold her hand out to the flower.

"Should we buy some?" Childe asked.

"No, I'd rather they stay planted than pluck them out." Lumine said. "Flowers can be admired even without having to cut them off to keep for yourself."

Childe laughed a little. "You do know that it'll still wilt down even if you dont pluck them out right?" He said and crouched down beside her.

"I know. I just think it's a shame to cut it off the source just because you want a moment with the flower." Lumine explained. For a second, she had a sorrowful look on her face as she looked at the flower.

"It'll have to come off the source eventually. Dont you think it's more of a shame that it'll wilt while at the source?" Childe argued. "Flowers would be better admired in a bouquet, along with the other flowers."

Lumine's lips curved to a smile, but her eyes remained sorrowful. "Of course you'd think that." She muttered to herself.

She turned to him and stared for a moment. "I guess you're right. Flower bouquets wouldn't be as popular as it is if people didn't like them." She said, a little defeated.

"Still though, seeing a huge field of flowers like this would beat a thousand bouquets." Lumine stood up and admired the view.

"I guess you're more the gardener type." Childe chuckled before standing up.

"But you can still prolong a bouquet's life you know." Childe said.

"How?" Lumine raised an eyebrow.

"That's what vases are for." Childe pointed out. "You'll just have to keep it watered right?"

Lumine looked at him a little dumbfounded. It was a simple obvious answer, but in the midst of her pessimism she couldn't think of it.

"I guess." Was all that she could answer to Childe.

"The view would be better up the hill, come on." Childe offered his hand.

"Okay." Lumine took it and the two walked hand in hand.

As they walked up, Lumine kept her eyes on the field of flowers. Them not talking highlighted how peaceful it is on the country side, how in the high noon everyone in this tiny village are either in their houses or lazing around under the shade of the sun.

Noon was break time, some were having their iced tea, some were simply napping. There were kids running around playing tag.

It was a peaceful sight that Lumine thought she'd never see in Qingce Village again.

"You weren't just talking about the flowers earlier, weren't you?" Childe spoke up.

"What?" Lumine asked, her train of thought being interrupted.

Childe just looked back at her and smiled. Lumine looked away and turned her attention back to the flower field.

"Would you like to get some flower seeds?" Childe asked.

***

Their stay at Qingce Village was short and the walk back to Wangshuu Inn was longer than they anticipated.

Perhaps it was because they kept stopping at random places to pick up trinkets, or perhaps it was because they found themselves trying to fight off random enemies along the way. Either way, it was still enjoyable nonetheless.