Chapter 3: Mondstadt, Part 1

A/N: So, I'd just like to say this now: my update schedule will be-

Actually, scratch that. I have never had, do not now have, and very likely will never have an actual schedule for my updates. I basically write chapters when my sister nags me about it, and then post them as soon as I finish writing them, so... no schedule. At all. :)

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying Lantern Rite! Honestly, the shadow lantern puzzles are so fun... strangely enough, though, every single time I try to do the web event 'The Great Banquet of the Adepti,' it doesn't load. At all. It just stays at '0% Loading' no matter how long I stare at it, and it makes me VERY ANNOYED. Does anyone else have that problem?

Oh well, whatever.

~Golden out~

Lumine ran after Venti through the winding streets of Mondstadt, trying desperately to keep his teal cape in sight as they twisted and turned, trying to lose the two Favonius guards who were chasing them. Venti seemed to know the city streets like the back of his hand, and it was all she could do to keep up with him, so surely the knights had lost track of them by now, right?

Wrong. In fact, the sound of pounding feet behind them was growing louder, and Lumine was extremely glad that she'd thought to wear a thick, black cloak over her clothes to conceal her identity.

She put on an extra burst of speed and rounded the next corner, but Venti was nowhere in sight.

"There!" Paimon yelled, pointing to a building nearby. Its front door was swinging closed as if someone had just entered. She went for it in a flat-out sprint and managed to make it inside and close the door behind her just before the knights came within view.

Lumine leaned back against the door, letting out a long sigh of pure relief. Then, she heard Venti's voice from a few feet in front of her.

"Hi, we'd like a seat at your, uhh... least conspicuous table."

Very subtle, Venti... Lumine opened her eyes, and groaned.

He'd brought them to a tavern.

"Umm... the second floor has fewer customers," a voice replied, and something tickled at the back of her memory. The voice sounded familiar, somehow. She looked up. "You'd be less conspicuous up... there..." the man trailed off as her their eyes met, and Lumine gasped.

It's the man from the cave!

"Your eyes look very... familiar," he mused, gazing into her eyes as if they would reveal the secrets of the universe! - or maybe just where he'd met her before.

In response, she reached up and let the hood of her cloak fall, revealing her face and hair. His eyes went wide, comprehension - and surprise - dawning on his face.

"Shouldn't we be heading up now, Traveler?" Venti asked in a would-be-casual tone. "Or... am I interrupting something?"

"You are the illus- I mean, the Traveler?" The man said in surprise.

"Well, yes...?" Lumine told him.

"Great, then let's go!" Venti said. She wasn't sure if he had actually thought she was talking to him, or if he was just being annoying, but either way... she had a better idea.

"Venti, wait!" She said quickly. "Here, take my cloak and hide upstairs with Paimon! They won't suspect me, and you'll be better disguised," she explained.

Venti smirked at her but did as he was told. And not a moment too soon: seconds after he and Paimon whisked up the stairs, two knights burst into the tavern, breathing heavily.

"Ah, Master Diluc - and the Honorary Knight as well, even better!" One of the knights exclaimed. "Actually... what are you doing here?" He asked, sounding slightly suspicious.

Lumine opened her mouth to reply, but the red-haired man - Master Diluc - cut her off. "The Traveler and I have been discussing the Stormterror crisis. Is there something you need?"

The knight ignored his question. "But it's past midnight, why are you here so late?"

"Is it that time already?" The man said, turning to her with a look of surprise as he pulled out a pocket watch and checked it. "My sincerest apologies for keeping you so long. If you'd like, I can escort you to your lodgings to make up for it? The streets of Mondstadt aren't as safe at night."

He's a good actor... She realized.

The second knight - who was somewhat fat, and still slightly out of breath - cleared his throat. "Actually, Master Diluc, there is something we need. Have either of you seen two thieves around?"

Master Diluc turned back to the two knights, a look of interest on his face. "What happened? Why have you mobilized so many guards?"

"Haven't you two heard? Two thieves were trying to steal the Holy Lyre!" Lumine forced her face to stay blank.

"Oh? How... odd," Master Diluc replied, shooting a quick side-glance at her, which she ignored.

"Isn't it? The Holy Lyre is a treasure that was played by the Anemo Archon himself," the fatter knight said earnestly. "Such a precious piece of cultural heritage-"

"Why would one want to steal something they couldn't sell off?" Master Diluc interrupted him. "Would pay better to steal from my cellars..." he mused.

"Huh?" The knights looked at each other blankly.

"Sorry, off topic. Patton mentioned seeing two suspicious-looking people rush past a few minutes ago, and the Traveler and I caught glimpses of a black-cloaked figure running off that way," he gestured to the window beside him, and Lumine quickly nodded in agreement.

"Understood. Thank you, Master Diluc, Traveler!" The knights saluted them and left.

There was a very awkward pause, which Lumine finally broke. "Thank you for covering up for me," she told the man gratefully. "And also... for saving me that night, in the cave. I never thought I'd have the chance to thank you properly, so... thank you, truly," she told him.

"I was simply... doing my job," he replied firmly, but Lumine could've sworn he seemed the slightest bit flustered by her earnest thanks.

He cleared his throat and changed the topic slightly. "You weren't able to understand our language before, correct?" She nodded. "So, what's changed?"

"Well, a few weeks after our encounter, I met Paimon - my floating companion - and she taught me the language of this world," Lumine explained. "Now, she's sort of my... tour guide, as I travel across Teyvat."

"Are you... are you still looking for that man?" Master Diluc asked, and she nodded.

"His name is Aether, he's... my twin brother. We were separated when we came to your world, and now I'm trying to find him again," she explained sadly.

"I'm... I am still struggling to comprehend that there are other worlds out there that you've traveled to," he said - although Lumine wasn't quite sure it was what he was planning to say at first. "And if you've lived long enough to see them all... well, destroyed, that must mean you're..."

"A lot older than I look?" She finished.

"That's one way to put it," he said, smirking.

"Sooo, do you two know each other from somewhere?" They both turned around in surprise to see Venti leaning casually against the counter, smirking at them.

Master Diluc looked caught off guard for a moment, but then he glared at Venti and said, "you can put down that bottle you stole from behind the counter." Venti just laughed.

"Right, well, I want answers," he said, his tone changing. I just heard about some thieves from the guards, and-"

"Wait, wait, what's even going on here?! Paimon feels like she's missing something!" Paimon interrupted.

"Oh, I suppose you want to know who this is, am I right?" Venti asked her. "He is Master Diluc, the boss of... ah, the owner of this tavern."

The boss of... what? Lumine wondered.

Master Diluc cleared his throat and went on as if he hadn't been interrupted. "For the record, I like your guts for trying to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel. Even if you are fools... but we don't often get to see people like you."

"It wasn't us that stole it!" Paimon protested, glaring at him. "The real thief is still out there!"

Venti laughed. "Why would someone as aspiring as the hotshot of the Knights of Favonius steal Mondstadt's sacred treasure?" He asked innocently.

"Yes, the Honorary Knight... despite only being a passing traveler - and not to mention your mission to find your brother - you offered your help to Mondstadt in its time of need," he told her. "A shame you joined the knights..." he finished in a darker tone.

"I didn't join them, though," Lumine protested. "I just got... Honorary Knight-ified... by the Acting Grandmaster...?" She explained feebly. "That... made a lot more sense in my head."

He just smirked. "Ah, I see." Then, his face hardened again as he sighed. "The Knights of Favonius... Inefficient right from beginning to end. Especially towards the Fatui - they're too weak and conservative."

"The Fatui... that's who those people were, in the cave, right?" Lumine asked hesitantly.

"Yes," he said darkly, "they were. But... forget it. I don't feel like talking about it."

"Heh, seems you don't really like the Knights of Favonius," Venti said.

Master Diluc frowned and crossed his arms. "Just differences in approach is all. I have my own hopes for this city." Lumine looked at him curiously.

"Now, answers," he said abruptly. "Why did you steal the Holy Lyre?"

"You sure you want to know? It could implicate you in the affairs of the Knights of Favonius..." Venti wheedled, trying desperately to get out of it.

"That's fine, I somehow always end up implicated in their affairs," he said, shrugging dismissively.

"If I tell you the story with a performance, will you believe me?" Venti asked.

"It depends. I'll make my own judgement."

"Then will I get paid?" Venti asked. It was almost as if he was trying to get Master Diluc mad at him.

"Your reward will range from anywhere between five Mora and the Holy Lyre." The irritation in Master Diluc's voice was almost palpable. "It all depends on your story."

"Very well. Let me put on a show," Venti smirked. Then, he played him the song he'd performed when Lumine had met him under the statue of the Anemo Archon.

"What did I just witness..." Master Diluc said in shock. "This is confidential information. Why did you let me know?"

"Why? Hmm... perhaps the winds are changing," Venti replied evasively. "What say you, Master Diluc?"

"Interesting," was his reply, and Lumine couldn't help but feel like he'd just figured something out about Venti that no one else knew.

After a few moments, he spoke again. "Give me some time. I'll organize some contacts." Then, he looked to Lumine. "Traveler, as the Honorary Knight, you won't be a suspect. Since you hid your face and clothes, there won't be much of a description on the wanted posters. You should be safe." Turning to Venti, his tone changed back to one of irritation. "As for the bard however, it'd be better if you stayed in the tavern."

Venti laughed. "No problem! I like taverns."

Master Diluc glared at him and grunted in annoyance. Then, he turned to Lumine. "Okay. Let's meet back here tomorrow night after the tavern closes. And... it was a pleasure to officially meet you, Traveler," he said, nodding to her politely.

"It was a pleasure to officially meet you as well, Master Diluc," she replied, smiling as she imitated his polite manner of speech. She almost curtsied, but stopped at the last moment.

Lumine could've sworn she saw a glimmer of that real smile of his on his face, but it was gone before she could be completely sure.

"Well, goodbye then!" She waved to him and Venti, and left the tavern with Paimon.

Bonus:

Venti, what are you doing? The knights could see you!" Paimon whispered.

"Shhh, I'm trying to listen!" Venti replied, straining his ears to try and catch Master Diluc and the Traveler's conversation with the two Favonius guards.

"Listen to what?!" Paimon demanded.

Venti put a finger to his lips and shushed her, but pointed at the Traveler and Master Diluc. "I'm trying to hear what they're saying! Don't you think they're cute together?"

Paimon let out a sound of understanding and sat down on the railing to listen as well.

"My sincerest apologies for keeping you so long," they heard Master Diluc say to the Traveler. "If you'd like I can escort you to your lodgings to make up for it? The streets of Mondstadt aren't as safe at night."

"See?!" Venti whispered to Paimon. "It's adorable!"

The knights left, but Venti and Paimon remained where they were, listening to the two talk.

"Thank you for covering up for me," they heard. "And also... for saving me that night, in the cave. I never thought I'd have the chance to thank you properly, so... thank you, truly."

"Wait, when did he save her?" Venti asked Paimon.

"I don't know?!" Paimon answered. "I've never seen that guy; I don't know what she's talking about!"

"Interesting..." Venti smirked. "Paimon, let's go back downstairs. Be quiet about it, though!"

So, they slipped back downstairs, trying to stifle their giggles. They were both extremely surprised that neither Master Diluc nor the Traveler noticed them.

Venti held up a hand, telling Paimon to stay put. Then, he walked up to the counter silently - taking a second to casually swipe a bottle of Dandelion Wine - and leaned against it cockily.

"Sooo, do you two know each other from somewhere?"

A/N: Looks like Venti and Paimon are Dilumi shippers now! Can't you just imagine them sitting on the railing, eating popcorn while they listen in on Lumine and Diluc's conversation? I definitely can XD

So, apparently 'Night' thinks Diluc would've known about Venti being Barbatos from the beginning. I admit, it would fit... so, I added "Lumine couldn't help but feel like he'd just figured something out about Venti that no one else knew" I mean, it's not like Venti tries to hide that he's Barbatos very well (at all). Maybe because he knows nobody would really suspect him of being an ARCHON when he acts like... that.

Also... only two chapters in, and this story already has over 200 views! It makes me happy :)

But, at any rate...

~Golden out~

2/20/2022: I went through and changed all the MondSTATs into MondSTADTs. Sheesh "Night" why couldn't you have told me BEFORE I wrote this chapter instead of AFTER?!