VII.
At Windrise
The early morning sun dared to peek through the shade of the large and mighty oak tree at Windrise. A few of its rays entered, providing a beautiful sight to any early bird that may be passing by.
As fate would have it, however, there are only two people underneath the tree's shade.
One being a frequent visitor.
The early morning winds were chilly, but they are comforting. Lisa held onto her hat as the winds picked up. She watched as the Dandelion Knight gazed at the tree, seemingly deep in thought, almost as if in prayer.
Her admiration for her ever grows. The love she feels only intensifying.
The excitement and nervousness all coalescing together into one chaotic internal turmoil, and yet it is a feeling she is more than welcome to accept.
She already has an answer. Lisa only needed to be prepared for it.
But she wasn't hasty nor was time running out. She understood as to why Jean wanted to go here. She knew that in times of doubt and being troubled, Jean would go here to clear her mind, asking for guidance from her predecessor, the one responsible for planting this large oak tree.
Naturally, for someone like Jean, replying to a confession needs much deliberation.
The matters of the heart are a tricky thing indeed, and yet Lisa felt restless. Alas, all she could do now is wait and observe. To silently gaze at the woman that her heart has been screaming out for.
The one she has been longing for. One she's been looking for all her life.
'That's just silly, Lisa. An exaggeration, even~' she then thought to herself, as she giggled. But there is truth to her own musings.
She is indeed in love with Jean, and would want nothing more than to have her feelings accepted.
She then noticed that Jean has begun to move again. It seems she has calmed down.
She is now ready to give her answer. The Dandelion Knight turned towards her, and while it was obvious that she, too, was nervous, she showed her a smile nevertheless.
"I should get used to seeing you smiling so genuinely." She remarked once Jean was in front of her. Jean softly laughed. "I suppose that is true." She replied.
A moment of silence, as the winds continued blowing. Lisa noticed that Jean did not avert her gaze, and was looking directly at her.
'She's serious. Be still, my heart…' Lisa thought to herself.
"I'm sure you are aware of how meaningful this place is for me." Jean then began. Lisa indeed knew: this place, the tree in particular and Jean have had some sort of shared history together, in a sense.
"I have always looked up to Lady Venessa, and yet even now I have doubts regarding my position as both the Acting Grand Master, and as the Dandelion Knight. It is the greatest responsibility that was handed down to me indeed, and often do I find myself overexerting too much that coming here to calm myself down is the only way to give me my peace." She said, as she then reached out for Lisa's hands.
Lisa smiled at her as she accepted. Jean gently held her hands.
"It was also here where I got my Vision, yet another reminder of how I am needed, more than ever. I remember how the entire world seemed to stop, and the feeling of the wind blowing around me vanishing and transferring to my hand." She said, as she closed her eyes.
"That moment reminded me of my family's time-honored motto: for Mondstadt, as always."
She then went a bit closer, still holding onto the librarian's hands.
"I continue to uphold that responsibility to the best of my abilities, but now, I come to Windrise for…an even more personal matter." She said, looking at Lisa.
"Long and hard have I thought about it. It took a while to converse with my knightly predecessor, wondering whether what I'm feeling is right, or if I am merely being selfish."
The winds began to blew again, chillier than the last. Lisa broke away from Jean's gentle caresses of her hands to keep her hat from flying away.
The morning winds then calmed down, and Lisa took both of Jean's hands again. "Your touches…they're warm." She remarked, and Jean laughed softly as she blushed.
She continued. "These winds are the answer that Lady Venessa has given me. It is not so bad to be selfish most of the time, and indeed, if it is the heart that speaks, I am only allowed one option: that is to let it free."
She pulled Lisa in closer. The librarian began blushing, too.
"I am here in Windrise now not because I am in doubt about my own capabilities of continuing my responsibility, but because I am here to answer the most important question that was given to me by, rightfully, the most important person to me." She spoke, as she let out a long, relieved sigh.
"I answer not as the Dandelion Knight, nor as the duty-bound daughter of House Gunnhildr, but simply as…a little girl named Jean." She then said, as she lowered both of their hands, still holding unto them dearly.
Lisa braced for her answer, but in her heart, she already knew.
"Yes, Lisa. What I told you during my birthday…are my true feelings. I do not just like you: I am in love with you."
Lisa had anticipated to hear those words, and it felt all the sweeter now that it came from Jean directly.
"I see. I am…very glad, Jean. I…I…" Lisa wasn't able to reply properly as she suddenly burst into tears. "A-Ah, how embarrassing…" she said, laughing at herself as she cried.
Jean embraced her. "I have admired you too, for the longest time. Ever since we first met." She said, as Lisa cried freely.
Still, she wanted to compose herself, and so she tried to lessen the crying, leaning more into sniffling.
"I-Indeed," she began, returning the embrace, "you have always been at my side, and I likewise. I never really thought…that the one I was longing for…" she spoke, as she then raised her head and looked at Jean.
She then wiped away the remaining tears from her face, and they both laughed. Lisa leaned closer.
"…had been you all along~" she sweetly finished her sentence, as she sealed their union with a kiss.
This time, there was no influence of alcohol. It was a genuine kiss, one that definitely came from the bottom of both of their hearts.
Jean held onto her even more, even after Lisa has broken away from the kiss.
"I feel as if a weight has been lifted. A burden dispelled." Lisa remarked, giggling. Jean simply enjoyed her warmth.
"I love you, Lisa." She softly spoke.
Lisa blushed yet again. "Dearest Jean, you can be unfair sometimes…" she remarked, as they kissed again.
"Are they…gone?" softly asked Barbara, as Lumine was peeking from behind the large oak tree.
Paimon was on top of the Traveler's head, peeking as well.
The two of them watched as both Jean and Lisa left. They were now on their way back to Mondstadt.
Paimon floated towards Barbara. "They're gone!" she spoke. Lumine turned and gave her a double thumbs up sign.
Barbara smiled. "That's great and all, but your wounds haven't exactly healed up yet." She then said, as she patted her lap. Lumine giggled as she went and laid her head back on her lap.
"Sorry about this. You had to miss out on your duties early in the morning because of me." Lumine apologized, and Paimon bowed her head. "We're sorry!" she also said.
Barbara simply stroked the Traveler's hair with her left hand, and playfully pinched her cheeks with her right hand. "I already told you that its fine. And why wouldn't I come rushing if you're badly hurt?" she then scolded, and Paimon nervously laughed.
"Right, we may have gotten into real trouble this time…" she admitted.
"This isn't a laughing matter!" Barbara replied. Paimon got surprised. "We know! We know! We're sorry!" she apologized again, bowing down once more.
"I know you are part of the Adventurer's Guild, but that's not an excuse to go out and do dangerous Commissions that can get you killed!" she continued. Lumine then sat up, and cupped her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Barbara. I promise I won't do it again." She then said, smiling.
Barbara shook her head. "I'm not telling you to stop, Lumine. I just…want you to know that you should be even more careful now, considering there's someone always eager to see you return…" she softly spoke, as she leaned closer and pecked Lumine's lips.
Lumine giggled. "Of course, my beloved. Honestly, I think I can hold off Teyvat's threats all by myself so long as you believe in me~" she softly said, and Barbara giggled. "Now you're just being too overconfident~" she replied.
Paimon floated about, but closed her eyes. "Sheesh you two, this isn't the place for this! Paimon's gonna go and enjoy the morning breeze…" she said, as she left the two to their own devices.
"Thank you." Barbara softly said. Lumine was confused, as the girl then held both of her hands.
Barbara smiled at her. "For choosing me." She added.
Lumine softly laughed. "Don't be like that Barbara. You have always been the one, and never have I doubted my feelings for you." She said, making the girl blush.
"I-I see. I'm sorry if I'm still having doubts…" she timidly replied, and Lumine then cupped both her cheeks.
"I love you, Barbara. That will never change." She then said.
Barbara let out a sigh. "I love you too, my beloved Lumine…" she softly spoke.
The two of them leaned closer, wanting to share a sweet kiss underneath the shade of this mighty tree. As their lips connected, Lumine held her by her waists, pulling her closer.
Barbara was always overwhelmed with emotion every time Lumine would do so, enough that she would break away all too quickly.
And yet she didn't, but she was surprised that it was Lumine who did.
"Sorry, I shouldn't get carried away here." She softly apologized. Barbara still looked flushed, but giggled. As she was still being held, she instead went and embraced Lumine.
"Let's stay here for a little while longer…" she whispered at the Traveler's ear.
Lumine returned the embrace, smiling. "Of course." She simply replied.