III.
"My apologies for inviting you here once again, Traveler." Spoke Diluc, offering her a glass of grape juice. "But before I begin, did things go well with the Sister?" he asked, and the Traveler blushed, looking away, trying to hide a small smile forming.
Diluc was confused, and Paimon merely sighed. "It went well, at least that's what Paimon thinks." She says.
He nodded. "Very well, let's move on to the reason I called you here." He then continued, as the Traveler sat down.
"The Knights of Favonius have been made aware of your run in with this…Abyss Herald that paid Mondstadt a visit on a stormy evening, which was last night." He spoke, and both Paimon and Lumine were wide-eyed.
"The Knights did?!" exclaimed Paimon. "Jean knows…?" asked Lumine, and Diluc nodded. "She was the one who personally approached me regarding this matter, told me to help her investigate alongside that Lawrence girl." He added, and the two's eyes widened even more.
"Eula?!" then exclaimed, again, Paimon. Diluc nodded again.
"She's on her way to talk to the Sister about her clash with the foe you speak of. If it goes well, then we'd know where it went to, but we would still need your help." He continued, and Lumine was worried.
But she was hoping that the Sister would cooperate, even if it's only for a while.
"Hey, why do you need our help anyway?" she asked, and Diluc looked at her. "I heard you have an ability that could allow you to track elemental traces." He spoke, and the Traveler nodded.
"So that's what you want us for, huh! Elemental Sight!" spoke Paimon, beaming. She looked over at Lumine. "We can beat that Herald again to teach him a lesson!"
"Paimon, I don't know…I think my wound would open up if we ever do fight again." Spoke Lumine, and Diluc sighed. He went over and pat her head, surprising both her and Paimon.
"If you fought with it last night, and succeeded in defending, then surely the Herald's weakened now, hm?" he spoke, and Lumine was stunned. 'But of course! Why wouldn't he be weakened? And he did look like he had no intention of retreating…' Lumine thought, as Diluc crossed his arms again.
"Then I am assuming you'd lend us a hand?" he asked, and the Traveler merely stood, nodding vigorously. "That's a yes for Paimon too!" her companion added.
"Then its settled. Let us meet at the city gates at dusk." He spoke, and Lumine nodded in acknowledgement. She thanked him for the juice as she and Paimon went out of the Angel's Share.
"Halt! Come to me, ye burdened and weary Traveler, as I shalt take upon the liberty to restoreth thine vestige of strength!" then spoke a familiar voice.
"What mein Fräulein means is she wishes you well and is asking if you would like to rest and recuperate with her." Then spoke Oz, the raven who's always by the Prinzessin der Verurteilung's side.
"Huh…?" spoke Paimon, and Lumine smiled. "Hello, Fischl." Greeted Lumine.
The Prinzessin gave a hearty laugh. "A bland greeting! But alas, such are the manners of the common folk! However, thy manners are most humbling indeed! You hath…uh…um…" she spoke again, but this time she seems to be struggling.
Oz was about to speak but he, too, wondered why the Prinzessin stopped speaking.
She was blushing.
"Huh?" muttered Paimon again, and Lumine tilted her head, wondering as well.
"Oz, for a moment please…" she then told Oz and the two huddled, while Paimon and the Traveler were still confused.
Paimon scratched her head. "Hey, what should we do?" she asked, and Lumine shrugged her shoulders, as she walked towards them.
She tapped Fischl on her shoulder, and she shuddered, turning around immediately. "W-What is it?! Ah!" she asked, and then covered her mouth. 'T-That's not what I should've said!' she internally screamed.
Lumine smiled at her and took her hands. "Are you perhaps worried for me, mein Fräulein?" she asked, and Paimon was in awe at how the Traveler was almost charming her.
"Wait, is she charming her…?" asked Paimon to herself.
Fischl blushed. "Hmph! W-What farce! A bold declaration! M-Mince your words, measly Traveler, as t-this transgression will not go unpunished!" she spoke, and Oz was about to butt in, but didn't do so. "W-What she says!" he merely spoke.
Lumine sighed. "I suppose you're curious about these bandages on me." She spoke, and Fischl looked at her with…a sad expression. "I-Indeed I am…" she replied. Oz, reading the situation, chuckled softly and vanished from sight, for a while.
"I-I saw you earlier in the morning, eating at the Good Hunter, and w-wanted to approach you and ask you about it…but you seemed to be in a hurry." She softly spoke, just enough for the Traveler to hear.
Lumine smiled. "We can talk about it later, if that's alright with you?" she asked, patting her head before going back to Paimon, as they both rushed towards the city gates.
Fischl watched the two of them go out and she sighed. Oz reappears by her side once more. "Was that alright, milady?" he asked, and she shook her head. "I forgot to tell her it's my birthday today…"
The raven looked at her with pity and rested on her head. "Fret not, milady. We still have plenty of time." He spoke, cheering up the Prinzessin.
"It seems we didn't need your help in tracking the enemy, Traveler." Spoke Diluc, who was currently blocking the blades of a…weakened Abyss Herald.
The Knights guarding the main gates, Swan and Lawrence, had their swords drawn.
"You two, get inside and lock the gates." Then ordered the Captain of the Reconnaissance Company.
"Yes ma'am!" the two Knights spoke, showing the Knight of Favonius salute before doing what was told.
Diluc grunted and broke the Herald's stance, kicking him and utilizing his Pyro Vision, engulfed his claymore in flame, slashing at the ominous foe horizontally.
The Herald cried out, and attempted to stab him, but was met with yet another strike from Diluc. He continued with his attacks, blocking and parrying any incoming blows from the Herald.
The Traveler watched, but has her own blade drawn, as a hand then tapped her on the shoulder. Before she could even look, Eula had already rushed in to help Diluc.
"Hey, Lumine, shouldn't we be rushing in too?! The Abyss Herald may obviously look weakened, but Master Diluc's struggling too!" exclaimed Paimon. Lumine hesitated, as she clutched her bandaged stomach.
She didn't want to risk it opening again, but she doesn't want to be deadweight.
"Rest your little head assured, Traveler." then spoke Eula, as she leapt into the air, and using the power of Cryo on her claymore, slashed at the Herald's back, and froze him in place.
"Despondent humans!" the Herald cried out. The blades on his arms glowed dangerously, and he spun around, utilizing the abyssal energy within him, removing the ice on his feet and hitting both Eula and Diluc.
The two of them blocked the strike, but it hit them nonetheless. Diluc's arms bled, and Eula had her legs wounded.
Lumine rushed in just in time to use her Anemo energy to throw the Herald off balance. The blade that was about to strike at Eula was now blocking strikes from the Traveler.
Paimon floated frantically, not wanting to be hit.
The Abyss Herald kept grunting and was being held back. The two of them now clashed on the bridge.
Eula was down on her knees, her legs still bleeding, while Diluc pressed on, holding his weapon tight.
He ran, and leapt, and dealt an effective overhead strike that cleaved the Herald's shoulder.
The fiend screamed, and releasing abyssal energy, blew the two of them away.
"I am clearly at a disadvantage. Were it not for last night's scuffle, I would've leveled this entire city." The Herald spoke, as the sun has fully set.
"Talking big, for someone who was bested by a Sister of the Church." Taunted Diluc, which obviously angered the Herald.
"Oz!" then shouted a voice.
A dark raven flew overhead, dashing, attacking, and electrifying the herald.
"Useless familiar!" he spoke, about to stab the raven. Right on time, Oz vanished, and an arrow, instead, pierced the Herald's arm.
Lumine looked behind and saw the Prinzessin der Verurteilung in all her…majesty.
Diluc was confused, and Eula was struggling to stand up.
She looked at the Traveler, who was now standing firmly.
She beamed. "Accursed trespasser! On my honor as the Prinzessin der Verurteilung, mine blow shalt sever thine connection to this world! Rest now, and never return, for this shalt be your finest, final hour!" she spoke, readying another dark arrow to be launched at the common foe.
The Abyss Herald has gone mad, but was severely weakened, and with the renewed vigor of the Traveler, she was able to fend off whatever strength remained within the Herald.
Diluc then concentrated Pyro energy onto his claymore and hoisted the blade on his shoulders. Gripping the handle with two hands, and with the Pyro energy overflowing, he opened his eyes and shouted "Return…from whence you came!"
He released the Pyro energy, that took the form of a fiery bird; a phoenix, and the two girls jumped out of the away.
Fischl fired a volley of Electro charged arrows, and called upon Oz. "My most loyal Servant! Ride with the feathers of flame! This blow shalt be our last!" she commanded, and Oz sparkled. "As the Prinzessin wishes!" he declared and flew with the fiery bird.
The Herald tried to block, but the blow dealt proved to be effective, and he was crippled as he was burned.
He screamed in agony and was about to release a large amount of abyssal energy: a final attempt of destroying his target.
Lumine pushed Fischl, the wounded Diluc, and Paimon with Anemo as she then concentrated all her energy on containing the dying Herald. Using the power of Geo, she encased the Herald with layers upon layers of rock and crystal, hoping that it would be enough.
"Lumine! That's reckless!" cried out Paimon, and Diluc stood up. He was about to rush in and cover the Traveler, but as he looked back, he saw that Eula was still badly bleeding, and decided to help her instead.
Fischl called upon Oz once more.
"Do what must be done." She softly spoke, and Oz merely nodded.
Channeling enough Electro energy, she launched her raven through an arrow, striking at the opening in the Geo cage that the Traveler made.
She hit the Herald's core, or heart, and the overwhelming Electro energy covered the release of abyssal energy.
The Geo cage exploded, and the Traveler was blown away, but was caught by the Prinzessin.
Parts of the bridge were destroyed, with some chunks littering the lake below.
Paimon then floated over to the two.
"Lumine! Are you okay?!" she asked, and saw that her bandage was colored red.
"Foolish Traveler, your wound has opened up again!" exclaimed Fischl, as she looked behind, seeing that Diluc had carried Eula with his arms. The wound on her legs were now bandaged using cloth from Diluc's coat.
Fischl merely focused on the Traveler instead, as she took out some cloth that she brought with her.
"How embarrassing. To be assisted by none other than a man of Ragnvindr is a transgression I will not let slide." Eula spoke, crossing her arms as Diluc, whose own wounds were also bandaged using his coat, walked towards the opened city gates.
"I suppose the feelings are mutual then." He merely replied.
Lumine was back at the Church, being healed up by the Deaconess once again. "What did I just tell you yesterday…" she spoke, and Lumine apologized. Paimon then floated over to Diluc and Eula, who were also recuperating in the Church.
Rosaria was outside, saying she did not want to be part of "this rowdy crew".
"Thankfully, your wound is almost healed." Barbara spoke, and as the wound was closed again, she sneaked in a kiss on the Traveler's cheek.
Lumine smiled. "Thanks again, Barbara." She replied, and the Deaconess gave her a small smile.
Diluc and Eula eyed the two of them. One was confused at the Deaconess's actions, and the other…interested with the Deaconess's 'relationship' with the Traveler.
"I heard the Acting Grand Master would be here shortly, to congratulate you three for the successfully repelling the threat, and for checking if you all are safe." Barbara then told everyone present inside the Church.
Diluc shrugged his shoulders and waited. Eula sat on a nearby pew and did the same.
"Before that, I have something to do." She said, as she then hurried out of the Church, with Paimon following suit. "Ah, wait a minute, Lumine!" she called out.
The Church doors opened, and Jean was about to enter when she was met by a Lumine eager to come out.
"Ah, Honorary Knight!" she spoke, but fell on deaf ears as Lumine continued running.
Jean felt something, something that made her look downcast, but shook her head, wanting to forget such a sensation.
Over at Galesong Hill, the Prinzessin der Verurteilung gazes up towards the darkened sky, observing the thousand twinkling stars as a raven then perched on her shoulder.
"Milady, your most awaited visitor has arrived." He spoke.
Lumine stood by a tree, and Paimon was on top of her head, looking at the melancholic Prinzessin.
"O retinue of Eternal Night, have you come to offer your blessings to the Prinzessin at the twinkling of this sacred star? Rejoice, for today is the Prinzessin's Day of Destiny!" she then declared, as she was now standing.
She then looked behind her and stared at the Traveler. "I thus allow you the honor of bathing in the grace and glory of my Holy blessings." She added, as Lumine now approached her.
She offered her hand, and thus declared: "Hmph, Ritter der Verurteilung, let us forget about "reality" and "fate". I, the Prinzessin, shall allow you to follow me in performing the ritual of blessings!"
Lumine took her hand, smiling, and Paimon was once again confused.
Oz then appeared on top of Fischl's head. "What mein Fräulein means is that it's her birthday today. She would like to invite you to dinner tonight if you are free."
Fischl blushed, as Oz disappeared. "Y-Yes! Dinner! Dinner indeed!" she spoke, and Lumine giggled. "We're over here at Galesong Hill, mein Fräulein. Pray tell, what are we to eat?" she asked, and Paimon now floated beside her.
"Hey, Lumine, aren't you enjoying this a little too much?" she asked.
Oz then showed up again from behind a tree, carrying a picnic basket with him.
"I-I prepared for tonight, y-you know…" softly spoke Fischl, as both Oz and Paimon set up the picnic mat.
Lumine then took her hand and kissed the back of it. "I am most honored, my lady." She spoke, and Fischl merely blushed further.
"Y-You can cut that out you know…" she then added, as she then embraced the Traveler.
Lumine embraced her back. "Thank you, Lumine…" she softly spoke, enjoying the warmth she's feeling.
She looked at the her, and blushed. "I-If you don't mind, I-I want something from you." She said.
"A gift…?" Lumine asked, and Fischl nodded.
She leaned in closer, giving her a peck on the lips. Lumine giggled, and Fischl pouted. "W-Why are you laughing?" she asked, softly, wanting to pull away from the embrace.
Lumine held her closer. "You really are cute, mein Fräulein~" she spoke, as she returned a full kiss.
"Ah not this again!" cried out Paimon, closing her eyes in embarrassment. Oz laughed. "Tonight, indeed is a wonderful night! Happy birthday, my lady." He remarked.
I'm not proud of this chapter, like the Rosaria one. Anyways, happy birthday mein Fräulein.
- The Void Sprinter