The ground shook. Pebbles on the beach danced, sending crabs scattering.
"Koji, are these enough?"
Lumine dragged several birch logs back, panting and drenched in sweat, her beauty sharpened by exhaustion. She missed her sealed power—without it, even simple labor left her breathless. For now, she was only a bit stronger than a normal human. With strength sealed, she had nothing but the Dull Blade for basic strikes.
She had traveled countless worlds, but never felt so constrained.
Thump, thump, thump.
"Plenty. Thanks."
Koji expanded their seaside hut, pausing to look at the timber Lumine brought. She had volunteered. She hauled the wood; he built. Clear division of labor.
"Whew… I'm dead tired."
She collapsed onto a rock. For straight birch, she had climbed cliffs, nearly falling.
Koji quickly finished. The new hut opened to the sea, breezy and not fully enclosed. Two beds, facing the endless horizon.
"So, we're living together now?"
Lumine stroked her chin seriously. Sharing a roof counted, didn't it? She was a sealed, vulnerable girl. What if Koji lost control and pounced? Could she fight back? Would screaming help? Would it hurt the first ti? Was this… outdoor play?
Koji darkened, flicking her forehead. "Lumine, think healthy thoughts."
A hopeless case. But understandable. She was old, worldly, surely not naive.
Her cheeks flushed, recalling her own indecent fantasies.
In the Abyss
The Abyssal HQ reeked of corruption. Air thick with toxic power that twisted creatures into mindless beasts.
"Prince, news. Your kin has awakened."
The Ice Abyss Mage bowed. Before him, a blond youth—Aether, Lumine's brother—now Prince of the Abyss.
"…Lumine."
Gentleness crossed his face, out of place in the abyss. Only her na could soften him.
"Also, Prince… beside your kin, there is a man."
"…A man?"
Aether frowned. So soon, she had a male companion? Odd.
"Describe."
The mage explained: Lumine hauling wood to the beach, chatting with a stranger in foreign clothing. Not Teyvat-born.
Aether rubbed his chin. An otherworlder? He recalled the golden-haired witch Alice, who once nearly buried bombs in the Abyss. His face darkened.
"I see. Keep watching. If noticed, withdraw."
Still… his sister wasn't young. Yet no suitors. Worse, she spent more ti with pretty girls than n. He had suspected her preferences leaned only one way.
If this stranger proved decent and strong, he wouldn't mind a brother-in-law. It would free him to spend ti with won without his sister barging in.
"Prince." The mage vanished into frost.
"…Lumine. We will et again. I can wait."
The softness vanished from his eyes. Once more he was the Abyss Prince.
Mondstadt's crisis? A re dragon. Good practice for Lumine. He knew Venti wouldn't act unless Stormterror was killed.
Unaware of her brother's role, Lumine fished at the shore. It reminded her of traveling with Aether. She had confidence.
But as dusk ca, her haul was pitiful. Small hand-sized fish. Koji's basket overflowed with big catches.
This man was cheating, surely. Sa rod, sa bait. Yet his results dwarfed hers.
"Koji, you're incredible at fishing."
It was beyond luck. Almost like he picked fish directly from the sea.
"Cast the line, wait, reel. You're the biggest catch I've had, Lumine."
"Hey! Don't compare to fish!"
Her face darkened. A world-crossing Traveler, caught with a rod. If Aether learned, she'd never live it down.
She thought of him again, worried.
"You're thinking of your brother?"
She nodded. "Together we couldn't match that white-haired god. I fear he's imprisoned, starving."
Koji nearly laughed. Aether, Prince of the Abyss, hardly starved, surrounded by servants. If Lumine knew, she might disown him.
"Don't worry. Maybe he's like you, waking sowhere else."
Lumine smiled faintly. If so, that would be best. Aether was strong. He'd manage.
(End of Chapter)
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