Chapter Text
Paimon almost always awoke way before Lumine. The girl was most definitely not a morning person on the weekends, and today was Saturday. So it was quite a surprise to Paimon, when Lumine’s cot was empty, with only what Paimon assumed was a pillow. That was, until the pillow moved. Paimon screamed, and grabbed a small knife, that Lumine had gifted her, incase Lumine wasn’t there to defend her. Paimon was one hundred percent sure this was one of those times, she grabbed the knife in both hands, in a way any warrior would’ve judged. Heavily. Lumine’s head poked up from the blanket, her big eyes round. Paimon breathed a sigh of relief before screaming, yet again. Instead of the young adult looking warrior, there was toddler, with chubby cheeks, big round golden eyes, and short little blonde hair. Her wore a tiny version of Lumine’s dress, and two oversized hung from her hair. Paimon gapped at her. she steadied herself. She needed to remain calm, as to not worry the child that most likely held the answer to most of her problems. ‘’ w-whats your name?” Paimon stammered.
‘’ Lumine…’’ the little girl said, her eyes burrowing through Paimon’s soul. ‘’ Where’s Aether?” She asked, eyes welling up. ‘’ I want my brother!” She cried. Paimon’s mind was whirling, this child was Lumine! The traveller was a child?! Paimon lowered herself to mini Lumine’s level, wiping away her tears.
‘’ Hey its’ okay! Your brother will come back soon!” She lied cheerfully. ‘’ let’s go see auntie Jean!’’ She smiled, grabbing lunies hand. She realized it might be a bit hard to hover so close to the ground, they might get stepped on, she grabbed leather belt, and a rope. She tied the belt around her waist, and looped it around the belt, leading Lumine out.
Lumine made grabby hands and squealed, ‘’ hungry!’’ While looking at the kitchen. Paimon considered not giving her anything, as they where going to Jean, and Jean often gave out food to children. But she didn’t want to have to drag along a kid screaming.
‘’ Stay here.’’ Paimon instructed. She looked her dead in the eye, making sure she understood. She then ran into the kitchen and grabbed two pancakes, from the day before. She stuffed hers in her mouth, ‘’ hwere.’’ Her muffled, food stuffed voice said. The little girl took the pancake, taking a bite. Her eyes lit up, and she took another bite. Paimon led her across Mondsadt. Strangers gave them storage looks, at the farie leading the young girl to the acting grandmasters office.
She snuck by the guards, making sure they didn’t see Lumine. She quietly knocked on Jeans office door, and she peered in. Lisa was in there, an Paimon gulped. Lisa was scary, and Lumine knew it, In Paimon’s panic, she had dropped the rope, and mini Lumine ran in, “Auntie Jean! Auntie Lisa!” She squealed, running to them, Lisa froze and Jean stared, Paimon gasped, and paid her apologies.
‘’ Paimon woke up, and the traveler was tiny!” She cried out, as Jean picked her up, and Lumine grabbed her hair, and smiled happily. Jean winced, and Paimon huffed, ‘’ are you going to listen to Paimon?” She yelled, and Lisa and Jean stopped dotting over Lumine, Lumine was not happy with the sudden stop of attention, and crossed her arms angrily.
‘’ Ahem. Yes. We do need to return the traveler to their original state.’’ Jean stated, Lisa nodding in agreement. ‘’ I’ll go get the knights ready for a search, and perhaps a small group should go to Liyue, and see if any Adepti have answers.’’ Jean got up, setting Lumine down, and starting to walk out. A sudden tug on her dress, and she stopped, turning around.
‘’ A-Auntie Jean, where are you going?” Lumine asked, twirling her dress, Jeans heart melted, and came to a conclusion.
‘’ I’ll assemble a group myself, to take the traveler to Liyue.’’ Jean said. ‘’ it’ll be better than a random group of knights.’’
‘’ Sure you just don’t wanna babysit?’’ Paimon whispered, grumbling. Lisa shot them both a look, rolling her eyes.
‘’ I’m sure cutie will be fine.’’ Lisa yawned, walking out. Jean sighed and picked up Lumine, holding her in one arm.
‘’ So, who are you thinking of joining us?” Paimon asked, curiously. Looking her with bright eyes.
‘’ Not him!!’’ Paimon whined as they approached Venti. Jean rolled her eyes, still carrying Lumine. Venti was singing to a crowd, playing on his lyre. Jean set Lumine down. ‘’ Venti?” Jean asked calmly
‘’ Well Hello Jean!” Venti the bard smiled, bowing politely. ‘’ to which may I owe this honour?” He joked. he noticed Paimon but no Lumine, ‘’ is Lumine falling behind?” He asked. Paimon coughed, choking on the juice Jean gave her. Lumine squeaky voice rang out.
‘’ Big brother venti!” She squealed and clapped her hands, laughing happily, grabbing into his leg, clinging onto it. She looked up at him, big golden eyes eyes bright and cheerful.
Venti burst out laughing, trying not to fall onto his back and accidentally hurting her, he started hiccuping after about five minutes of laughing and Jean trying to calm him, and Lumine looking incredibly worried. ‘’ So. You’re telling me, Lumine’s a child!” He laughed, ‘’ that’s a first!” He looked her dead in the eye, smiling, ‘’ so. What do you want?” He didn’t say that in a demanding or rue tone, more of a playful tease.
Jean sighed. ‘’ As you can see, Lumine, is a child, and we are planning to travel to Liyue, to talk to some Adepti.’’ She said in a formal tone. ‘’ we where wondering if you would accompany us?”
Venti pondered it for a moment, ‘’ sure.’’
Paimon gaped at him, ‘’ really? We thought you where gonna have to bribe you or something-‘’
’'nah. I need to visit an old friend that might be able to help anyways.’’ He laughed, ‘’who else is joining us?” Venti smiled.
Soon they neared the tavern, and Venti looked at them, and sighed, ‘’ Diluc? Really?’’ he asked.
‘’ We need protection and I doubt a child, a singer and I will do. One more person after this.’’ She said, still in completely formal mode, arms now free as Lumine sat on Venti’s shoulders, holding onto his braids. It was nearly night by then, and little Lumine was falling asleep.
‘’ Ah- you would think a child her size wouldn’t be so heavy!’’ He smiled
‘’ You would think a person your age wouldn’t be so weak.’’ Paimon growled. ‘’ we should wait outside, I doubt Diluc would want a child in his tavern.’’ Paimon wasn’t very happy wiaiting with the bard, but, for Lumine’s sake, she would oblige. Jean nodded, wishing a goodbye to Lumine, ( no one else) and walked in.
All the people in the tavern froze as the acting grand master walked in, talking and joking stopped, and Diluc’s breath caught in his throat. ‘’ hello jean.’’ Diluc simply stated. His stoic expression was twisted into a small frown. ‘’ what would you like.’’
‘’ Outside now.’’ Jean commanded,
Diluc, not wanting to get arrested, and having and to stay in the knights of Favonius headquarters- overnight- was unthinkable. He walked out and instantly demanded, ‘’ what’s your problem?!’’ He said begrudgingly.
‘’ Diluc!’’ A small voice squealed, and the annoyingvoice of that insolent bard scolding the young child rang out afterwards.
Jean picked up Lumine and held her out. ‘’this. this my problem.’’ Lumine squirmed, making grabby hands at him.
‘’ Okay? Whats your problem with me?’’ He clarified.
‘’ You will accompany us to Liyue, to help find a cure for her.’’ Jean commanded
‘’ What?! No!’’ Diluc growled. He was Not going to do this.
Jean raised an eyebrow. ‘’ maybe a week in the knights headquarters will change your mind?” she said. Diluc’s panicked face, said it all. He was going on this mission, as long as he didn’t have to go to the headquarters of the knights of Favonius. Jean laughed quietly to herself, she smiled. ‘’ perfect’’ she smiled
Diluc followed them to the headquarters, and panic silently flashed across his face and Venti snorted. ‘’ you don’t have to go in, we leave tomorrow and we’re just informing Kaeya he’s coming. You can hold Lumine while we’re in there.’’ Venti thrust Lumine into Diluc’s arms, causing him to almost drop the poor girl. He steadied himself and got her in a comfortable position.
‘’ Kaeya?!” That headquarter punishment was starting to sound pleasant to Diluc.
Venti went in with jean and soon came out to find Diluc leaning against the wall a sleeping Lumine in his arms as he quietly sang, when he noticed them he abruptly stopped and stood. Jean nearly died of laughter as did venti. Diluc’s face was a cherry red. Jean took the sleeping Lumine and brushed the hair from her face.
Lumine woke up really early and immediately woke up Paimon, who hadn’t woken up as early as usual, frazzled from the day before. ‘’ Paimon! Paimon!” She squealed, ‘’ Diluc, Jean!’’ She squealed, ‘’ Kaeya and Venti!” She jumped on Paimon’s cot. She shook her yelling loudly, more lively than the day before.
‘’ urmph. Okay…’’ Paimon grumbled, getting ready and getting Lumine’s makeshift leash on her. Lumine squealed and happily started running towards the Favonius headquarters. She smiled happily, skipping. Jean met them halfway, Diluc and Kaeya in-toe.
Lumine looked around for venti, where was her friend? She looked around more, before Jean comforted her, ‘’ he’ll be coming soon!” She smiled.
Lumine nodded before running to Diluc. ‘’ Diluc!” She made grabby hands in the air, wanting Diluc to pick her up. she squealed happily once he picked her up. and wrapped her arms around his neck. Diluc tried to keep his face cold as stone, he had to admit on the inside, the little girl was melting his heart.
‘’ Im hereee!’’ Venti called, a bit of singsong in his voice. He caught up quite easily, and smiled, ‘’ someone’s got a soft spottt!” He teased, and Diluc tensed.
‘’ Let’s get onto the road hm?” Jean said. Subtly rolling her eyes. She passed a bag to each person, and she smiled at Lumine. Lumine clapped her hands, asa she sat in Lumine’s arms.
Venti smiled, and clapped his hands. ‘’ I’ll sing a song for the little lady!” He strummed a song on his lyre, before Diluc snatched the lyre.
‘’ No songs.’’ Diluc commanded. He sighed, when the bard pouted. Lumine wrapped her hands around Diluc’s neck.
‘’ Down?” She asked. Her eyes looked up at him, round and gold, but a sweet smile on her face.
‘’ Time for little Lumine to go back to bed!’’ Jean smiled.
Lumine woke up really early and immediately woke up Paimon, who hadn’t woken up as early as usual, frazzled from the day before. ‘’ Paimon! Paimon!” She squealed, ‘’ Diluc, Jean!’’ She squealed, ‘’ Kaeya and Venti!” She jumped on Paimon’s cot. She shook her yelling loudly, more lively than the day before.
‘’ urmph. Okay…’’ Paimon grumbled, getting ready and getting Lumine’s makeshift leash on her. Lumine squealed and happily started running towards the Favonius headquarters. She smiled happily, skipping. Jean met them halfway, Diluc and Kaeya in-toe.
Lumine looked around for venti, where was her friend? She looked around more, before Jean comforted her, ‘’ he’ll be coming soon!” She smiled.
Lumine nodded before running to Diluc. ‘’ Diluc!” She made grabby hands in the air, wanting Diluc to pick her up. she squealed happily once he picked her up. and wrapped her arms around his neck. Diluc tried to keep his face cold as stone, he had to admit on the inside, the little girl was melting his heart.
‘’ Im hereee!’’ Venti called, a bit of singsong in his voice. He caught up quite easily, and smiled, ‘’ someone’s got a soft spottt!” He teased, and Diluc tensed.
‘’ Let’s get onto the road hm?” Jean said. Subtly rolling her eyes. She passed a bag to each person, and she smiled at Lumine. Lumine clapped her hands, asa she sat in Lumine’s arms.
Venti smiled, and clapped his hands. ‘’ I’ll sing a song for the little lady!” He strummed a song on his lyre, before Diluc snatched the lyre.
‘’ No songs.’’ Diluc commanded. He sighed, when the bard pouted. Lumine wrapped her hands around Diluc’s neck.
‘’ Down?” She asked. Her eyes looked up at him, round and gold, but a sweet smile on her face.
Diluc obliged, and Lumine ran up to Venti, making grabby hands. Venti picked her up, ‘’ well hello!” He smiled. Diluc felt twinge of jealousy, but he pushed jt down. Venti ruffled her short bob of hair, and grabbed his braids, as he heaved her onto his shoulders. She smiled, and everyone was looking at her like she was doing the cutest thing to do in the world. Diluc had to admit is was hella cute, but he didn’t dare to utter those words out loud.
Lumine hopped down and started walking near Paimon. A hilichurl noticed them, but not before Lumine noticed it. She smiled happily and squealed and, of course, ran to it. Paimon was the first to notice, and shrieked. Jean responded next, trying to catch her. But little lumine was fast, and ran to the Hilichurl, looking at it. She suddenly latched onto its leg, it vigorously shook its leg trying tp shake it off. It finally got her off by throwing her to the ground. As she hit her ground she scrapped her knee, and started to wail.
Dilucs eyes narrowed, and the hilichurl was surrounded by two men and a very feminine boy. They beat it to a pulp, and rushed to the crying girl. Jean was wrapping up her leg, and she hung onto her. Venti sung her a song, to calm her, and Kaeya ruffled her hair. Diluc stood back, but the girl started crying for him. He gently came closer, bending down to her level, ‘’ you okay?” He smiled
She sniffled quietly, ‘’ yes..’’ And Diluc smiled.
‘’ That’s good little Lumine..’’