Chapter 5: Complementary Goals

"So, tell me! Is the Scourge himself intrigued yet again by a brave, dangerous and slightly snarky lady?"

An amused snort left the taller male, Alec musing, "Maeili was a whole lot less snarky and far more feisty. Not to mention had a temper that I don't think Lumine is capable of manifesting, if her current demeanor is anything to go by."

He quickly shook his head, ridding himself of ancient memories before stating, "Not what we're talking about, Venti. We're busy with something else entirely right now."

"You could just say that you don't want to talk about it anymore."

"And would you leave it alone if I did?"

A grin from the smaller male was answer enough, hands lacing themselves behind his head as he remarked, "Isn't this kind of fun though? Embarking on an adventure together, going to steal things that originally belonged to us in the first place…"

"A pain in the ass is how I would describe it but hey, what do I know?"

The duo had left Mondstadt's main gate behind and were fast approaching the Church of Favonius, well-illuminated as night descended and cast into an orange glow of warm firelight via scattered torches, a soothing sight considering that the sky and winds were tinged with an ominous black from Dvalin's wrath, never mind the fiercer than normal gusts that wracked the city.

"Alright, you ready?"

"Yup, just say the word~! Heh heh, isn't this just like old times?"

"Not really. It just isn't the same without you and Morax arguing with each other every ten minutes."

The words were dry but the mood was nonetheless upbeat between the two, the whole scenario - despite its annoying necessity - very much like some of the olden adventures they had ended up embroiled in, a bit of nostalgia that they were both happy to partake of.

Coming to a stop beneath a small, unassuming window located high above their heads Alec gracefully gestured towards Venti, stating, "At your leisure, master of winds."

"Don't lose your lunch now~!"

An inaudible, mostly invisible vortex aside from the faintest tinges of green carried them upwards on a column of winds, the duo calmly alighting upon the narrow windowsill that would have had trouble supporting a bird's nest, never mind two mostly full grown adults.

They managed just fine.

"Alright, and now for my next trick…"

So saying Alec let his eyes drift closed, extending his pointer finger towards one of the panels of glass before letting out a quiet breath-

-and from aforementioned finger streamed a white cloud of frozen air, impacting the glass before slowly frosting and then freezing it.

"Wish I could do that."

"I'd say you could ask Tsaritsa for a hand but it sounds like you rather definatevely betrayed her trust."

"Well if I'd known how remaining silent would turn out…"

Ignoring Venti's sullen grumbling Alec instead cut off the flow of chilled atmosphere, gesturing to the cracked pane with an impatient motion.

"Anytime today, this ledge isn't the widest and not all of us are as slim as you are, Venti."

"Yeah, maybe you should lose some weight, Alec."

"I'd push you off this ledge if you weren't able to float like most other people walk."

"Eh heh heh~!"

Nodding to his partner after a moment's concentration Alex launched his palm towards the frozen glass-

-and Venti's control over wind muffled much of the noise, glittering shards floating midair before being neatly deposited on the ledge instead of clattering noisily against the tiled floor far below.

"Nice. Looks like we're in."

Both slipped through the window, Venti slowing their descent yet again as they softly alighted upon the polished surface with nary a squeak.

"So that's your old mainstay, hmm?"

Quietly murmuring as he pointed to the enshrined lyre not far from their position Venti settled for a happy nod, stepping up the slightly raised podium in order to firmly grasp his instrument of choice-

-and Alec's hand snapped upwards, catching a sparking and crackling knife that would have otherwise struck the bard directly in his back, the man's glove nullifying the electro infused metal.

"Well that's rude. Looks like we've got company, pal."

Appearing supremely unconcerned about his close encounter with sharpened steel Venti merely affixed the woman that steadily approached them with a lazy gait with idle curiosity, her voice flirtatious and endlessly confidant as she purred out, "So nice of you boys to open up a window for me, it made sneaking in so much easier…"

Garbed in a black and purple ensemble that included body stocking alongside a concealing robe Alec dryly murmured, "Friend of yours, Venti?"

"Nope, not sure who they are. Trust me, I'd remember being cozy with a femme fatale."

"Ah. Knock her out then?"

"Naturally-"

The woman burst into motion the moment Alec did, both charging towards the other in a burst of speed that she quickly proved superior in, lines of electro energy accelerating her movements far faster than the male could hope to match as a pair of knives struck towards his neck...and were promptly guided aside by gentle but insistent winds, steel missing its target entirely as eyes widened behind a concealing mask.

Capitalizing on the intruder's broken guard Alec rammed his knee deep into her gut, the force of the blow and their opposing charges causing a spray of air and spittle to fly free from her lips, body lifted into the air-

-and a brutal elbow to the back of her head smashed the woman against the floor with a dull THUMP, a sharp stomp to the skull finishing the fight rather convincingly.

"Well, looks like we have a convenient patsy to pin the theft on."

"Heh, you're just as brutal as I remember, Alec~!"

"I prefer the term efficient."

The pair prepared to leave, Venti smirking as he mused, "Ahh, the perfect crime~!"

"I don't know if stealing from yourself can count as a perfect prime. No matter, now for the coup de grace…"

Picking up one of the mystery woman's knives he chucked it at a nearby display case, a loud crash of broken glass no doubt alerting everyone in the vicinity to what just happened. Except with a gust of inaudible wind the duo exited the way they came, leaving only a sudden influx of guards to discover both the scene of the crime and its prime suspect.

Alighting upon the ground outside the church Venti enthusiastically remarked, "All right, let's go save Dvalin! I'm surely going to be able to reach his heart with this, after all it's how I met him in the first place!"

"No complaints here, the sooner we have this finished up the sooner I can get to figuring out everything that's happened in the past few decades."

Venti perked up-

"In non-singing form, please."

"Aww, that's no fun."

The pair continued to banter, leaving Mondstadt in favor of their new destination...all the while unaware of a dark purple raven that watched them from far above.


Lumine was very much coming to appreciate Amber's view of the glider and all the little tricks and tactics one could employ when making use of it. Minor shifting of the shoulders, swaying of the legs to use like a rudder, streamlining of the body to increase or decrease drag...and the most important part not being sucked up into a dragon-made cyclone that removed all but the most basic elements of control.

In fact the traveler would go so far as to say she was having a blast.

Grinning to herself as the shifting winds far below carried her and Fischl upwards she allowed her lithe form to twirl and dance like a graceful leaf on the wind, enjoying the sensation of directed weightlessness like it was second nature to her.

"Oh yeah, this is definitely an activity I could grow used to."

Feeling a childish grin drag her lips upwards Lumine waited until they reached the apex of their upwards journey and snapped the glider wide, catching the last bits of current that allowed her to float downwards towards an outcropping of stone that might have once been an ornate stairway but had long since fallen into disrepair...much like the rest of the temple they were traversing, she figured.

What had once been a grand feat of engineering was now little more than a desiccated wreck, grandeur turned to disrepair as she and her companion alighted upon their destination with athletic grace.

"Thy free-spirited nature leaves my most royal self suffering a bout of palpitations most unconducive to a long and healthy reign!"

Smiling at Fischl's puffed cheek and aggravated stare the traveler replied, "Sorry, but I'm really starting to like these gliders. It reminds me of being able to fly freely through the skies."

"Thou could sprout wings and soar uncontested through the ether?"

"Yup. It's a trait of my people, alongside a number of other things. Before much of my power was stripped from me I could move around as freely as Paimon."

The sprite popped back into existence with a smug laugh, commenting, "Paimon certainly is the queen of the skies, none may contest her reign, mweh heh heh~!"

"A claim of dubious veracity, this prinzessin's familiar is without contest a king of currents and winds."

"N-no fair, Oz can already do so many different things, let Paimon have this!"

Chuckling at the interplay Lumine curiously asked, "Speaking of Oz, how's his scouting of Alec and Venti going?"

Closing her eye and dramatically placing fingers upon her eyepatch Fischl let loose a mysterious hum-

-and coughed in surprise, blinking in rapid succession before hesitantly responding, "Friend Lumine, perchance is your traveling fellow a scoundrel of ill repute and partaker of foul darkness?"

"Oh, so he and that bard managed to steal the Lyre?"

"Y-you knew about this?!"

Grinning at yet another adorable slip of character Lumine nodded, the trio approaching their target destination at an unhurried pace as they could see Kaeya prowling around the edges of their latest objective, chin in hand.

"Of course. Don't worry, much like what we're doing they're also trying to solve Dvalin's rampage. Two hands are better than one, right?"

Fischl dramatically sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in a manner that made the traveler want to pull her cheeks as the investigator mumbled, "When one's right hand wields cloak and dagger care had best be taken that the luminous left not be implicated in skullduggery and ill happenings."

"I wouldn't worry about that, as an honorary knight I can probably requisition all sorts of resources and outside help."

"And just how sure are you of that, if you don't mind me asking?"

Lumine blinked, belatedly realizing that she and Fischl had continued their walk towards Kaeya while not bothering to lower their voices.

"Oh, umm...I actually don't know, can knights do that?"

The dark-skinned male crossed his arms, archly commenting, "In certain circumstances, yes. But do explain the part where you had aforementioned outside help steal a priceless cultural artifact, I'm sure your reasoning is quite sound."

The blonde blinked, Paimon stuttering, "W-well, you see, Paimon was just, umm, eh heh...it was all Lumine, Paimon was forced to help!"

Giving the sprite a wry look Kaeya continued to wait for an explanation as an awkward silence ensued...and Fischl came to the rescue, stating, "The emissary from distant stars heard the plight of the dragon of the east, measured options and tools before electing to maximize both chance and effectiveness in freeing the terror of winds from his curse. Malice and mistrust were not at the forefront of this noble scheme."

Kaeya stared at Fischl for a moment before turning to Lumine, eyebrow raised in expectation.

"She says that me deciding to have a friend help steal the lyre is to increase our chances of calming Dvalin down. Which is right, actually."

The eye-patch wearing knight huffed out a breath, rubbing his temples as he grumbled, "I believe you, if not for your previous trustworthiness then for the fact that no halfway competent deceiver would so blatantly speak of their schemes in the open."

Lumine smiled, happily replying, "Thank you for the backhanded compliment!"

"Umm, Paimon doesn't think that was a compliment…"

"It wasn't, but I'm taking it as one anyways."

The brief distraction taken care of and put aside for the moment they returned their attention to the egg-like object placed in the center of a stone clearing, spewing cursed wind that set the hairs on Lumine's body standing straight. They'd already dealt with one of the things in Amber's company before making their way here, Kaeya gesturing with his hand while asking, "I will defer to your expertise in dealing with this matter, seeing as how you've already neutralized one such source of Stormterror's strength."

Giving Fischl the go ahead Lumine and Paimon stepped back slightly, the investigator manifesting her bow and nocking an arrow that sparked with electro energy, a precise and accurate shot impacting the cursed object dead center and destroying it in a burst of arcing electricity as Kaeya nodded in satisfaction.

"Excellent, that makes another one down. All that remains is Lisa's location and we'll have gone a long way in reducing Stormterror's ability to continue his rampage."

Lumine nodded in agreement, preparing to depart with both Fischl and Paimon in tow-

-and blinked, finding the other blonde with her lips pursed in concentration, eyes closed and no doubt continuing to view things through Oz's eyes.

"Fischl?"

Snapping out of her remote viewing the girl frowned, remarking, "My most royal apologies, we spoke of cloaks and daggers not more than a minute past yet it seems Mondstadt has fallen befoul of such villainy at a speed which outstrips our own. A Fatui assassin crossed paths with scoundrels of a more intimate relation."

Lumine tensed, hurriedly asking, "Alec and Venti are alright, though? And what are the Fatui?"

"Be at ease, friend Lumine. Our thieves with hearts of gold remain unscarred and free to traverse the shadowed lands, the assassin may traverse only darkened stockades and midnight manacles."

Kaeya managed to understand that bit well enough, turning to Lumine while explaining, "The Fatui are the political and military arm of Snezhnaya, the land ruled by the Cryo Archon."

His expression took on a distasteful twinge.

"They are fairly unpopular with much of Teyvat, known for their heavy handed and borderline arrogant dealings, as if they had the might of the heavens at their back."

Lumine tilted her head, inquiring, "So why was one also trying to steal the lyre, or at least something that was close to it?"

"Who can say? Either way the matter is currently out of our reach, if the other knights have the assassin in custody then they will decide on the best course of action, let us focus on our own task at hand."

Finding Kaeya's suggestion to be perfectly sensible the trio prepared to move on to their final destination, ensuring that the source of Dvalin's power was well and truly neutralized, Lumine's mind elsewhere the entire time.

"And he accused me of being a magnet for trouble. Who goes to steal a musical instrument and runs into an assassin from a nationwide organization instead? I just asked Oz to watch over them out of simple curiosity and instead I hear about this...oh well, guess that just gets added to the list of strange and interesting things I'm going to have to ask him about at some point."

The traveler smirked, inwardly musing, "Be mysterious all you want, Alec. I'm unable to leave well enough alone and you've piqued my interest."

Returning to the current quest she was embroiled in Lumine followed Kaeya and Fischl as they repeated their sweep of the surroundings, just to make sure that nothing had been missed or overlooked despite the seeming success of their mission. It never hurt to be careful.

It was during this examination that Lumine caught a brief flare of light from behind a large effigy, what might have the sound of a swishing cloak and then silence, a glance to the side revealing that Fischl had noticed the exacts same thing as both girls calmly and smoothly moved closer together, the traveler ensuring her hand remained loose and ready to grab her blade if it required manifesting while the investigator was careful to keep a clear line of fire so she wouldn't run the risk of harming her companion.

For a few seconds nothing happened, the duo still unsure if what they had heard was merely a figment of their imagination or perhaps an innocuous leftover of the realm they were exploring-

-and two things happened at once.

A cloaked and masked figure dashed around its concealing bit of construction, closing in on the trio with what was almost certainly a fair amount of lethal intent...and a redheaded man was there to meet it with a powerful swing of a fiery claymore.

Caught off guard by the male's abrupt ambush in response to its own the cloaked newcomer unleashed a high-pitched cry, thrown to the side in a flaming and broken heap as the redhead wasted no time at all in yet again rushing forward, bringing the point of his blade down on the creature's chest while igniting it once more, putting an end to the short bout with a rather convincing sizzle of meat and stoking of cinders that used to be living tissue.

"...A friend of yours?"

Lumine's general question was answered by a slow, sardonic clap from Kaeya, the tan-skinned male languidly striding forward as he remarked, "A sometime ally, even if he would prefer us to never refer to him as such. Quite the brilliant and impressive showing, master Diluc!"

Dematerializing his flaming sword and matching Kaeya's approach the man's lip curled in idle distaste, Lumine noting that he was quite the looker. Strong and noble features, flaming red hair groomed to perfection while fashionable but durable clothing gave him an air of sophistication that wasn't gaudy.

"Actually, now that I think about it a lot of the people I've met in Teyvat are pretty easy on the eyes. If I'm going to be staying here for a long time at least I'll have plenty of attractive individuals to keep me occupied."

So saying her eyes drifted towards Kaeya's aforementioned posterior, rather snuggly defined by his pants...and the way Fischl's groin was hugged by her ornate clothing was nothing to sneeze at either-

"Ooooookay I think that's enough fantasizing for the moment. I must be getting pent up and stressed out with all that's happened recently."

Kicking aside her libido for the moment in favor of refocusing on the rather charged conversation taking place between the two men Lumine carefully listened as the redhead retorted, "Hardly reassuring to see the Knights of Favonius so susceptible to ambush. Have standards really dropped that much?"

Not missing a beat Kaeya merely pointed back to where Lumine and Fischl had their weapons at the ready, the traveler frontlining for the ranged fighter.

"While your assistance is most appreciated I feel such comments do a disservice to the famed investigator and our most recent addition to the fold."

Lumine met the newcomers gaze with an even stare, neither backing down so much as a millimeter-

-and the man's expression softened slightly, tone professional as he said, "I heard rumors of how a stranger to Mondstadt was accepted as an honorary knight after they helped fight off Stormterror, in more accommodating circumstances I would have offered you a drink from my best stock."

He gave Kaeya a more dismissive glance that was returned with a bland and pleasant stare.

"If only you were representative of the organization you were recently accepted into."

"And in any other circumstance I would have happily taken that drink...but I take it you and the Knights aren't on the best of terms?"

Kaeya snorted, musing, "That's putting it lightly...but rest assured, as much distaste he may have for us Diluc Ragnvindr is as committed to Mondstadt's safety as any of us...even if he may have an antihero chip on the proverbial shoulder as large as Stormterror."

"I'd appreciate it if you held your slander in check."

"I make no promises."

Shaking his head Diluc offered his attention to the pair of girls and a curious Paimon, stating, "Apologies, where are my manners? As Kaeya said my name is Diluc Ragnvindr, I'm the owner of the Dawn Winery-"

While Lumine instantly perked up at the mention of a winery - she didn't have anything against a good bit of alcohol - it was Fischl who interrupted, expression giddy as she squealed, "The pleasure is the providence of the prinzessin de Veirurteilung, oh Darknight Hero! To cross paths with one who is as well versed in the arts of the midnight wiles and Dämonen hunts as my most royal self, twilight crusades and starry escapades abounding between our professions!"

"I...what?"

Diluc's bewildered expression caused Lumine to grin, Kaeya clearly trying to stifle a laugh while the traveler cheerfully translated with, "She says she's a fan of your work as a vigilante. My name's Lumine, she's Fischl and this is Paimon."

"Pleased to meet you, mister Darknight? Paimon's going to be honest, she's quite curious about this winery of yours…"

The sprite's comment went unheard as Diluc's features cleared, comprehension dawning as he replied, "Ah, the famed investigator of Mondstadt. You're just as...enthusiastic as rumors suggest. Regardless it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances."

Introductions made Kaeya got to the meat of the matter, asking, "Now if you don't mind me asking what brought you here specifically, master Diluc? You're a busy man and doubtlessly have no shortage of duties to oversee."

Marching to the scorched remains of their mystery assailant the redhead stated, "I heard rumors of the Abyss Order causing trouble near Mondstadt's borders...a couple even coming perilously close to the remains of the Four Winds Temples. I decided to investigate and it seems we both found what we were looking for."

Tilting her head Lumine asked, "Abyss Order?"

Taking up the narrative thread Kaeya explained, "Inhumane creatures much like hilichurls, but much more intelligent. Up until this point they have kept an extremely low profile and not directly antagonized Mondstadt...but the presence of one so close to the site where Stormterror was being supplied with power raises some questions."

The traveler sighed, running a hand through her hair as she mused, "You seem to have a lot of crazy organizations in Mondstadt. Do you think the Abyss Order is acting in conjunction with the Fatui? After all, they were after the lyre, remember?"

Diluc tensed, sharply asking, "The Fatui tried to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel? When did this happen?"

"Not long ago and rest easy, master Diluc. The plot was evidently thwarted by another party, the last I heard of the matter from investigator Fischl's familiar was that the thief was in the knight's custody."

Diluc grunted at that, remarking, "So in other words they won't be forced to talk, only politely asked...no matter, thus far there haven't been any overt signs of cooperation between them and for now that's enough, at least until we get more information."

"Agreed. Excellent work thus far, if the three of you are willing to go and aid Lisa in her endeavors then this matter will draw to a close that much quicker."

Nodding in acceptance of their new task Lumine and Fischl prepared to head out, Paimon stating, "Have no fear, we're on the case!"

"A chronicle most exacting and comprising details both large and small shall be submitted to the guild upon the culmination of this quest, on my most royal pride I swear this."

"That's, erm...appreciated. The knight and I are going to perform one final sweep of this place and go over a few things before heading back to Mondstadt, we might cross paths then. If not, feel free to visit the Dawn Winery at some point, you'll be more than welcome as an honored patron."

"Ooh, Paimon likes the sound of what might be a discount~!"

Departing with a wave the trio began to leave the temple, Lumine finding her eye once more examining the crumbling architecture, fallen into such a state of disrepair that she doubted it could ever be reconstructed, only made anew.

...It left a familiar sense of melancholy in her chest, one that she and Aether had learned to live with.

In their travels they had seen many places, witnessed many civilizations on the cusp of decline or ascension and occasionally even seen the events play out. Factor in their constant wandering from star to star and the inevitable march of time had been a concept hammered into the siblings with exacting consistency.

Ruins like this always reminded Lumine of the fact that she and her brother, until the day their wanderings ended, would always remain untouched by the ravages of passing years and remain...aloof from the people they visited.

She pushed those thoughts away with ease of practice, instead losing herself in the moment and rush of floating through the winds on her glider, Aether's absence never more keenly felt than that very moment.

She sighed, missing her brother's implicit understanding of such an alien and otherworldly scenario that people like Fischl, Kaeya and Alec would likely sympathize with but never understand.

This time she more forcefully shook her head, Fischl noticing the action and asking, "Friend Lumine, do thine thoughts bring disquiet?"

Quickly shaking her head the investigator sent her a sympathetic look, remarking, "The quest for your sibling most treasured hath taken on a tinge most strange and far reaching, has it not?"

Chuckling Lumine sent her companion a wry smile.

"Story of my life. Simple turned adventurous."