II.
"Hey, Lumine! You're not explaining anything to Paimon!" scolded the little floating girl as the two of them walked around Mondstadt, but with the bandage remaining around the Traveler's stomach.
There was a visible smile on her face. "Hey!" Paimon kept on calling.
They both made a stop at Good Hunter, as the Traveler was feeling hungry.
"Ah its you Traveler! Welcome to Good Hunter! What would—my what happened to you?" Sara greeted, then said, as she got worried to see the bandage wrapped around the Traveler's stomach.
"We got in trouble with a dangerous foe last night." Explained Paimon, with Lumine nodding. "Ah that reminds us! Did you see or hear anything weird last night and earlier at dawn?" she asked, and Sara shook her head. "I was sleeping peacefully last night, but I did hear thunder for a while that woke me up."
Lumine pondered over it. Paimon sighed. "I guess that's alright…anyways, weren't you hungry?" asked Paimon to the Traveler. "Oh right, we would like to have a Sweet Madame, Sara." Lumine then told Sara.
She smiled and nodded. "Coming right up!"
As the food was served, the two of them settled down and started eating. "Paimon thinks we should ask the Knights of Favonius for help regarding our search for the Abyss Herald." Paimon suggested.
"Or we could ask Rosaria directly." Suggested Lumine. She drank water as Paimon floated about. "But of course! You're right! And we were going to see if she's doing well anyways!"
The Traveler nodded as Sara approached them with two cups in both hands. "Oh, you were planning on looking for Sister Rosaria? I didn't see her, but I do believe she would be at the Angel's Share, although considering what time it is…wouldn't she be there all too early?"
Lumine stood up and took the cups from Sara. "Thanks for telling us, and its okay: I have a feeling she's there." She said, handing Sara the payment. Sara smiled. "Alright, well then see you! Thank you for your patronage!" she replied. Lumine nodded and waved, as she ushered for Paimon to come along.
"Do you really think she'd be there?" asked Paimon as they were on their way towards the Angel's Share.
Lumine nodded. "I'm sure of it. We have to apologize to her too, you know."
"You're already here even when we're not open yet." Diluc spoke, opening a bottle of fresh Dandelion Wine, and pouring some on the Sister's cup.
"My apologies, but I do need to relieve myself of the remaining stress." She replied, taking the cup and already downing the drink inside.
Diluc poured her another glass. He noticed how rugged she looked, and the bandages on her right arm and stomach.
"Got into something tricky?" he asked, and Rosaria remained silent, drinking the wine in peace.
Diluc did not pry any further. As if on cue, two more patrons entered the establishment.
"What are you two doing here?" he asked, and Paimon was displeased. "Hey, is that how you treat your customers, Master Diluc?" she asked, and Lumine waved at him, smiling. He acknowledged her and let them sit beside Rosaria.
"It seems the Deaconess did her job well." She remarked, downing yet another cup of the wine.
Lumine already knew of what she wanted to say, but she found it hard to do so.
"If you can't do it, then Paimon can say it for you." Whispered Paimon, and Lumine furiously shook her head. Diluc was confused.
"If its about last night, then pay it no mind: I managed to fend him off." She spoke, which gave the Traveler relief.
Diluc was even more confused. "What happened last night?" he asked, looking at the Traveler and Paimon.
"Well…we were overwhelmed by an Abyss Herald that suddenly appeared near the city gates, and next thing we knew…"
Flashes of the fight outside of Mondstadt's gates resurfaced, and Lumine remembered the tremendous pain she felt when the Herald stabbed her in the stomach.
'It was like I was being burned…' she thought, and she shook away the memories.
"The fiend followed us all the way inside the City. We were lucky Barbara was in the Church, if not, then you would've died last night." Rosaria continued, and Paimon floated about in front of her. "T-That's too morbid don't you think?" she asked.
"She's right, Paimon. The wound was…deep, and dangerous." She spoke, her voice lowering as the sensation was still present in her mind.
Diluc then handed her a cup. She looked up and saw that he was urging her to drink. "Warm milk. Hopefully it calms your nerves." He said, as the Sister went to hand him payment for the Dandelion Wine.
Diluc politely declined. "Its on the house." He simply said and looked at the Traveler. He handed another cup of warm milk for Paimon. "The milk is included, too." He added.
Paimon smiled and drank the milk. "Thank you, Master Diluc." She spoke, drinking the milk as well.
Rosaria then went and whispered at her. "Meet me at Windrise." She simply said and went out of the establishment.
"Should we follow?" Paimon asked. Lumine nodded. "Of course, she told us to go after all."
"A moment, please. Before you all go to where you're going, I need to ask who or what this Abyss Herald is." He asked. Lumine and Paimon found it hard to explain what the Abyss Herald is but were able to simplify it.
"We're not really sure, but it's a powerful being of the Abyss Order, who seems to be serving directly under their so-called Prince." Paimon explained, further adding that they were only able to fight an Abyss Herald once, and it proved to be a challenge indeed.
Diluc pondered over everything they said. "A lackey of the Abyss Order…very well. I'll see to it that he is destroyed, or if not, then at least admit defeat and retreat."
"But we don't even know if he's gone or not, we were supposed to ask Rosaria that…" Lumine said, feeling downcast seeing that Rosaria doesn't want to talk about it.
"Then go ask her. She's waiting for you at the place she wants to meet you." He casually said, and Lumine found reason to smile again. "Of course, thanks again, Master Diluc. Let's go Paimon!" she spoke, exiting the place. "Ah, y-yeah!" replied Paimon, as she hurriedly followed her.
Seeing as the two have left for good, he crossed his arms. "They're gone. I still find it peculiar that you're involving yourself directly in this." He spoke, and from within the tables located further inside, the Acting Grand Master revealed herself.
"I'm worried about her...I only caught wind of it when one of the Knights reported that they saw her wounded and walking towards the Church last night, while the rain poured heavily." Jean spoke, sighing. "The Honorary Knight has done so much for us, it is only natural we return the favor."
"You didn't even ask your sister about the Traveler's well-being..." Diluc casually said, and Jean went silent, sad as well. "I know…" she softly spoke.
"Whatever, that isn't our concern. You assigned me a partner for this particular case, didn't you?" he asked, and Jean nodded.
"Yes, and I believe that she would be a capable partner for you as you hunt down this Herald. She is the Captain of the Reconnaissance Company of the Knights of Favonius and is called the Spindrift Knight."
At this, Diluc got interested, and somehow knows who she was talking about.
"She'll be here soon." Jean then added.
Rosaria has her back leaned on the massive tree at Windrise. She remembers the fight that happened last night and clutched her bandaged arm and stomach. She gritted her teeth remembering how challenging her foe was.
"I wasn't strong enough…" she sneered at herself, her left hand turning to a fist.
She sighed, calming down. "No, if I wasn't strong enough, then the Traveler and Barbara would've died last night…" she softly said. It was reassurance, but she nonetheless needs to improve.
"Rosaria…" she heard a voice speak. She saw that the Traveler and her companion were approaching her.
Before she could speak, Lumine went in front of her. "I'm terribly sorry for what happened last night." She spoke, and Paimon floated around her, apologizing as well.
Rosaria sighed. "I thought I was going to die last night. Thankfully, I was able to drive him away." She spoke, placing a hand on the Traveler's shoulder. "And if I wasn't fighting because your life was at stake…" she added, but trailed off. Lumine then looked at her and saw that her cheeks were tinged pink.
"What?" asked Lumine. "Pay it no heed, I'm just glad you're safe." She spoke, and she leaned down, pecking the Traveler's lips.
Paimon was shocked. "H-Hey! W-What's this all of a sudden?!" she asked, surprised, and feeling secondhand embarrassment for some reason.
Lumine stood still, surprised as well, and was blushing.
"Hmph, h-how unsightly." Rosaria commented, and Paimon nodded. "I-Indeed! Whatever that was, Paimon found it weird!"
"What…was that for?" Lumine found herself asking. This annoyed the Sister.
"Tch, oblivious aren't we…?" she spoke, and Paimon was even more confused.
"Ah jeez, Paimon's getting confused here!" she blurted out, and Lumine composed herself.
"A-Anyways, I'm glad you were able to fend the Abyss Herald off, Rosaria. I'm very thankful." Lumine then said, taking both of her hands.
"…promise me you won't do that again." Rosaria then softly spoke. Lumine smiled at her. She must mean not to have her recklessly launch herself at danger like that. 'Just like what Barbara wishes for me not to do, huh?' she thought.
"I promise." Lumine replied, holding her hands gently, still.
Paimon floated around and was eyeing the two of them closely.
"Why did you want us to meet here?" Lumine then asked. Rosaria, letting go of the Traveler's hands, leaned her back on the tree again, crossing her arms.
"I heard the Acting Grand Master often goes here whenever she feels stressed and wants to relax." She answered. "I…merely followed her example, and hoped to rest here with you…" she then added, and the Traveler noticed that the blush was back on the Sister's cheeks.
She then moved closer, the smile not fading from her face. "Well, I'm here now." She says, and Paimon floated beside her. "Paimon too!" she spoke, beaming as well.
Rosaria then sighed, but managed a small smile. She then leaned in closer, and this time, she gave the Traveler a proper kiss.
"Ah you're doing it again!" Paimon yelled, blushing, covering her eyes and turning around.