Chapter 10: Sudden Reunion

Tales of creation always follow the primordial chaos, of order and meaning born from madness and meaninglessness.

Or at least that was what the Outsider had always been told by those born after the stars had coalesced, life stumbling free from burning oceans and volcanic landscapes.

It had been present long before such tales existed and deferred to their judgement on such matters, as they were creatures defined by life, rather than simply existing alongside it.

The stars wheeled, consciousness flourished and the Outsider came to a world one indeterminable time later, its travels as everlasting as they always were.

This planet had drawn its attention more than any other in its inexhaustible life, such was the brilliance of its presence amidst the cold emptiness of the inbetween.

Yet, much like in all of its other sojourns across the cosmos the Outsider was treated here as...something different, something to be feared.

That which called itself the Heavens recoiled at its touch, jealously holding onto the notion that eternity and immortality were its divine providence alone and not a privilege that may be stripped at a moment's notice.

Those that dwelled below in pits of darkness and everlasting twilight also fled from the Outsider, their hatred and envy of the Heavens something that they used as a means of sustenance, of purpose. To be confronted with an end to that purpose was more than the underworld dwellers could bear.

While saddened the Outsider was not surprised, for this paradigm was not something new to it. Those that came to be after the genesis of life more often than not recoiled at its touch, frightened or wary of that which they were intrinsically opposed to.

Traveling to the realms between the Outsider came across something it had not yet experienced...a welcoming hand.

The frozen ground and snow-capped mountains glacially offered respect to the Outsider, no stranger to its presence. After all, every warming of the seasons took it to the brink, erased its very presence before Winter brought it forth yet again.

Raging thunderclouds that snapped and snarled with voltaic fury laughed and welcomed the Outsider, for what did it have to fear? Their existence was but an eyeblink of brilliance, measured in a lifespan that was brief even to the Outsider's perception.

On and on it went. Flames that extinguished themselves after burning bright, waves that dried up once they were isolated, greenery that shriveled and bloomed with the change in seasons, rock that was inevitably weathered by encroaching time and capricious wind that ebbed and flowed with every breath of the planet.

All welcomed the Outsider, for they were longtime friends of it.

And yet, the Outsider remained uncertain, curious of what this world had to offer. For nature upon this world also gifted those with brief lifespans a fraction of their power, coexisted and influenced the realm beyond mere existence.

The Outsider decided to do the same.

It set its sights on a young member of the species that was most prolific, approached it and offered up a deal.

On that day, the Outsider began its first ever mortal life.


"Ugh...did I hit my head on an astrolabe last night? That would certainly explain the pain…"

Waking up to excruciating agony in her skull wasn't how Mona had planned to spend her morning but that seemed to be the hand she had been dealt and was summarily stuck with.

"...And why am I naked?"

If she didn't just fall asleep fully clothed after a day of intensive study then she at least had the presence of mind to adorn some simple nightwear, this was something new entirely and she wasn't sure she liked it all that much.

Gradually forcing her aching arms to lift her off the bed she was currently occupying the astrologist blearily gazed at her surroundings, a simple but tasteful room with a calmly flickering candle that provided a soothing but unnecessary bit of illumination as the sun gently rose high into the sky, warming the room with its natural brightness.

It also felt like someone was ramming a recently sharpened writing utensil into her eyeballs.

Groaning in discomfort the young woman tried to locate where her clothes had likely been carelessly tossed aside or perhaps even stuffed away, grimacing at the laundry she was going to have to no doubt perform-

-and the sight of a freshly pressed and clean-smelling set of attire resting on a nearby chair caused her mind to kick into overdrive, memories cascading through her brain in a sudden deluge of information that caused a look of horror to spread across the girl's face.

"Oh...oh gods, did I...did we…"

Throwing back the covers - and wincing at the sharp jostling sensation that sent a lance of agony through her skull - Mona examined her bare loins, looking for any sign that she may have lost her first time while boozed to the Abyss and back.

Not that she had the experience to tell in the first place but she wasn't about to admit that to herself, swallowing nervously only to grimace as her throat felt very dry indeed.

Greedily drinking from the pitcher thoughtfully placed on a nearby nightstand she shakily stood, gathering and adorning her articles with trembling motions before stumbling through the door to a simple sitting room, trying not to dwell on all of the terrible decisions she may have just made last night-

-and found the potential source of those terrible decisions calmly seated on a couch, eyes closed and seemingly asleep as Mona felt her stomach drop the last few centimeters to her toes.

"You may want to stop by the bathroom before we chat, it sounded like you quaffed quite the bit of water in there."

The astrologist jumped at Alec's sudden comment, despite the fact that he'd seemed to be deep in slumber and completely unresponsive to outside events as she opened her mouth to ask what he meant by that...and instead hurried to the restroom, feeling her bladder strongly protest the sudden influx of water as she unleashed a mortified blush at how accurately the man had called things.

It was with a walk of shame that she went and took care of business, returning to the room a few minutes later with shuffled steps and an averted gaze, despair percolating deep within her gut as she resignedly took a seat across from Alec, eyes downturned as the man watched her with an inscrutable expression.

"Here, this should help with the aftereffects of your hangover."

He handed her a decently sized mug of some kind, dark and muddy liquid sloshing about within as the astrologist warily eyed the concoction, hesitantly asking, "Last night, after the bar...what happened?"

She laced her hands together, clenching them so hard that the woman feared her knuckles would crack and break.

"Did...did you and I, erm...sleep together?"

Fearing the answer even as she forced herself to look upwards and meet Alec's gaze Mona braced herself for any manner of response-

-and was left blinking at the disappointed expression upon the male's features.

"What a low opinion you must have of me, to assume that I would go ahead and take advantage of a young lady that way."

"E-eh?! No, that's not what I was implying at all! It's just that, well, you know…"

She awkwardly twirled a strand of hair in her fingers, blushing as she realized she hadn't had time to style it and was in a snarled mess...well, that and the whole subject that was currently on the table.

"I woke up confused, in a strange place and completely nude in a stranger's bed while my clothes were freshly laundered beside me."

"And they're usually far more scattered and haphazardly placed?"

Grimacing at the slip Mona nonetheless nodded, Alec idly shrugging as he explained, "Apologies if that gave you the wrong impression but I don't think you wanted to go to sleep wearing a bunch of vomit-splattered textiles."

A deep, bereaved groan left the astrologist as she realized she had let herself entirely go, gazing sullenly at the offered drink as she distantly asked, "Just what is that brew, precisely? It looks...odd."

"You can say disgusting, that's what it is. And that's the perfect blend of hangover cure and disgusting breakfast. Coffee powder, fruit juice and water all mixed into one horrifying elixir."

Mona warily stared at the revealed potion, swallowing her trepidation and taking a swig of the stuff, eager to be done with the pounding within her head.

It was just as Alec said it would be. Disgusting.

But she forced down the sweet and bitter brew, pinching her nose as she did so while coughing at the horrific aftertaste, thankfully noting that she did indeed begin to feel a bit better almost right away.

"Works, doesn't it?"

"Just so."

Mona awkwardly stared at an impassive Alec-

-and dropped her head into her hands, unleashing a deep and distressed groan of embarrassment, complaining, "I...I can't believe how much of a drunk fool I acted last night!"

"Maybe. Or maybe it was just the fact that you seem the type to repress yourself a great deal and finally let it all out in one, self-destructive burst."

"Well don't you have it all figured out…"

Something that might have been amusement flashed across Alec's features, tone light as he replied, "I'm rather accomplished at discerning and divining people's uneasiness, even more accomplished at getting them to work past it."

Amusement turned to a sort of distant nostalgia.

"I did get no shortage of practice in doing so…"

"More experiences unique to being an Adeptus?"

"Unique? No. Plenty of time to fail over and over until you get it right? Yes."

Silence fell between the pair, Mona nervously picking at the edge of the provided mug before releasing yet another titanic sigh.

"Honestly, what was wrong with me yesterday? Leaving a traveling companion to die while only thinking of myself, attempting to drown my sorrows and relying on someone else to care for me when I would otherwise be lying covered in my filth or in a stranger's bed."

"To be fair some of those latter decisions were on my recommendation. And you make it seem as if we're perfect creatures incapable of failing and falling, needing the help of others to sometimes get back on our feet."

The man's midnight eyes carried with them a surprising amount of understanding and mild humor.

"And if it makes you feel any better you were quite the adorable drunk. Temper and vocabulary to match, as well."

Mona unleashed a noise that was halfway between growl and whimper, dropping her head into her hands as Alec more seriously stated, "Seriously, Mona. What you did last night was good for you. Repression and constantly bottling yourself up works for some people, not all of them. And believe me when I say the former example are extremely rare."

Taking another swig of the nasty brew the astrologist eventually asked with no small amount of hesitation, "Last night, did I...did I proposition you for, well...you know…"

"You're asking if you wanted to have sex?"

Blushing furiously at the blunt statement the astrologist nonetheless nodded with awkward and nervous motions, Alec responding, "You did."

Feeling a swell of shame at how uninhibited she'd been acting Mona quietly whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Hmm? What for?"

"What do you mean 'what for'? I drunkenly asked you to sleep with me, damn the consequences! And, and everything else as well!"

"Which, may I remind you, was a direct result of my advice to you? Mona, you didn't do anything wrong or inappropriate last night that I didn't suggest for you to do."

Mona didn't immediately respond, tucking her legs up against her chest with a silent motion of uncertainty, eyes staring sightlessly at nothing before she suddenly inquired, "If...if I was in possession of my wits and had asked...would you have?"

"Is such knowledge important to you?"

"W-well obviously, I've never been in such a situation that could have lead to, erm…"

The astrologist blushed slightly, Alec thankfully not laughing into her face as he waited for her to put matters into words.

"It's just...I've never let my guard down around someone like that, like what I did with you. And you don't seem interested at all."

Sensing the source of her unease the male offered a reassuring smile, responding, "Ah. Well I can assure you, Mona Megistus, that my reticence to sleep or woo you has nothing to do with your personality or imagined defects and everything to do with the fact that I'm immeasurably older than you, enough so that you may as well be a child in comparison...and I do not much approve the idea of laying my hands on a child who needs a sympathetic ear more than she does night of passion."

"So in short I lack womanly charm, even in my most honest state?"

Alec chuckled, simply replying, "Not enough to overcome several thousand years of experience, no. Although I would wager that's a tall order for even the most perfect and lovely of men and women. You have nothing to feel bad for, young lady. Or did you forget the endless list of suitors at the Dawn Winery?"

There was a tender silence between the two of them, Mona listlessly staring at the older man-

-and regained some of her usual pride and confidence, archly asking, "Several thousand years? Really? I was under the impression that you were merely pushing a few hundred years of age."

"Are you calling me immature?"

The woman blinked, catching onto his jest a moment later as she smiled, archly commenting, "Does the proverbial shoe fit?"

Both shared mutual grins before Mona's features shifted into something resembling soft affection, mumbling, "Thank you, old man, for helping me last night. I do indeed feel...more assured, I suppose is the word."

"I would much prefer the term 'daddy' if you're going to be calling me old."

The astrologist's features wrinkled in distaste as the male smirked, asking a moment later, "So what's your current plan, then?"

Drawing herself upright with a grimace Mona replied, "For now I shall need to search out some manner of residence or place to stay, I have less than zero intention of returning to that old hag so that she may become aware of my knowledge regarding her more…"

A tinge of green colored the young woman's skin that Alec doubted had to do with any lingering effects of the hangover.

"Adulterous misadventures."

"Sensible. Need a hand searching for it? I've been politely told to keep my hands to myself for awhile until my companions are confident I won't fall apart like so much fragile glass so I have time to myself."

Sending him a small smile before gracefully placing her hands on her hips Mona easily responded, "While appreciated I feel that some time to myself would be for the best. And I have some money leftover from my duties performed for the knights, going destitute won't be an immediate concern...although I'll have to transport my lab materials to Mondstadt, so there will be a shipping and freight fee. That or I shall have to purchase entirely new equipment so that must also be taken into consideration…"

Already crunching numbers and estimating costs Alec chuckled at her quickly shifting mindset, rising to his feet and wincing at the collection of pops and cracks that accompanied the motion.

"Dammit. Maybe she wasn't too far off in calling me old, never used to have this problem."

"Erm, Alec?"

"Yeah?"

An odd little movement halfway between a bow and nod left the woman, tone soft as she said, "Thank you. For helping me through yesterday, that is. I dare not fathom how long it would have otherwise taken for me to come to terms with events had you not been present."

"Pleasure was mine, young lady. I'll see you around."

Without further fanfare Mona departed, leaving Alec to idly stand around within the interior of the hotel room, mood contemplative.

"Hmm...been awhile since I've been able to carry out my old job like that."

Shaking his head and casting aside those scattered and random thoughts the man stretched his arms high overhead, musing, "Well, if I've got time to myself might as well read up on what's transpired the past few decades...it should prove to be an interesting read."


"Left!"

A sharp CRACK and tingling of her skin coincided with Fischl firing off an Electro-charged arrow that lodged itself in a Hilichurl's throat, the creature spasming and gurgling until it pitched forward, very dead indeed.

The shot also drew the attention of two of the monster's comrades, the creatures unleashing bloodcurdling howls of rage as they sprinted towards the eye-patched girl with shields and clubs raised aloft-

-all while ignoring Lumine, a fatal mistake the Traveler was all too happy to capitalize on as she swiftly surrounded herself in Anemo energy, the winds parting before he as she charged towards the distracted beasts, blade unsheathed and held close to the ground as she tilted her waist forward, moving almost parallel to the ground as she passed by the two monsters, arm moving in a liquid motion that caused the two Hilichurls to pitch forward, bellows of challenge quickly shifting to grunts of confusion as the slight blonde skidded to a halt amidst a gust of air.

It was rather difficult to fight properly when one's guts had been rather cleanly sliced open.

Neither of the young women - in appearance, at least - dallied after that, Fischl firing off a final arrow that put one of their opponents out of its misery while Lumine promptly stabbed her brain through the final Hilichurl's head, the tough blade cracking skull and scrambling brain matter as the duo watched their surroundings for any final surprises, relaxing only when the gently blowing wind was all that remained of the camp that had been purportedly guarding one of Dvalin's Tears.

"Wow, Paimon thinks you two make a really good team!"

Fischl proudly puffed out her chest, commenting, "But of course, the plots and predations of these simple beasts could never hope to stand up against-EH?!"

Lumine had promptly engulfed the woman in a grabby and extraordinarily affectionate hug, cooing, "Aww, you're just so adorable when you're sweet talking me like that, FIschl~!"

"W-w-what? This Prinzessin was merely making an observation, no words of needless or false flattery were uttered!"

"And that's why you're adorable!"

Luxuriating in her cute little companion's flustered reaction to simple observation and a bit of physical comradery Lumine let the hug continue until she had her fix of cuddles, sighing in contentment as Oz amusedly remarked, "My lady, it seems that friend Lumine has rather definitively figured out how to expose weaknesses that have hounded you in social situations for the past-"

"Cease your blathering, Oz!"

Grinning at the interplay she motioned with her head, taking a mental snapshot of Fischl's pinkened cheeks and red ears before stating, "C'mon, let's go see if that chest has what we're looking for. I'd hate to have come all the way out here just for the thing to be a dud."

Quietly sighing to herself the investigator settled for a defeated nod, silently following in the more outgoing girl's wake as she skipped towards the sealed chest located amidst a sprawl of bodies that had been neatly perforated by Fischl's opening assault, hauling back a leg and promptly kicking the thing open and shattering the ancient wood.

"Found it! Looks like Lisa's prediction was right on the money."

Peering over Lumine's shoulder as the shorter blonde plucked the sparking and crackling gem from its confines as if it was the easiest thing in the world Fischl couldn't help but wonder just what strange ability her newest companion held, that she could so freely interact with something that had an accomplished mage like Lisa recoiling just by getting too close.

She had even more questions about how Lumine could - with only a slight narrowing of her eyes and slowing of her breath - drain the rancid and corrupted energies from the gem as if it was the easiest thing in the world, leaving behind only a soft and comforting blue.

"Thy esoteric abilities to cleanse and filter what would otherwise be evil of the most cruel order never ceases to amaze, friend Lumine."

"Trust me, I surprise even myself sometimes."

Pocketing the gem Paimon observed, "Is Paimon the only one who finds it strange that a bunch of Hilichurls were keeping something like that in a chest somewhere, instead of just lying about?"

"No, that's definitely strange. I think. Is it strange, Fischl?"

Boldly ignoring her own ignorance on the matter Lumine turned to the Guild member, Fischl frowning in thought as she stated, "For Abyss and Hilichurl to be joined in unholy matrimony, such grim tidings would indeed be of dire import, for there has never been tales of conjoined maliciousness extending behind scattered warbands and ill entrepreneurs of foul intent."

Lumine idly tapped the tough surface of the gem sequestered away within her dress, distantly remarking, "Well, there's a first time for everything...would have been nice if that first time could have been at some other time, though."

"On that I believe we agree, Traveler."

Paimon unleashed a noise of discontent, Fischl resignedly pulling an ornate and fairly malicious looking journal from her pack alongside a glowing quill to write with, Lumine raising an eyebrow as the other blonde somewhat defensively stated, "There exist far too many a tale and legend in this fair land for even this prinzessin's impressive intellect to retain and recall, thus regaling adventures and adversity in the Grimoire of Souls is important!"

Lumine felt her lips curl upwards.

"Grimoire of Souls, huh?"

A frankly endearing pout was sent her way, the Traveler innocently lacing her hands behind her head and merrily whistling as Fischl returned to her record keeping, the slimmer blonde invariably turning her attention to the landscape surrounding them, mind wandering as she didn't have any immediate responses...and felt a familiar twinge in her heart, a meandering trail of worry for her absent friend of perhaps a few days who'd quickly wormed his way into her life.

"Like a suave, kind-hearted tapeworm. Hmm, he probably wouldn't appreciate that comparison."

"Lumine?"

Snapping out of her thoughts she found Fischl staring at her with concern, continuing with, "Is all well? Thine eyes were distant, as if viewing far off stars with grave intent."

Snorting at the uncannily accurate assessment Lumine replied, "Not too far from the truth. I guess I'm still a little worried about Alec, he seemed fine but the way he collapsed wasn't really...natural."

Nodding her head slightly the investigator stated, "Do not mistake my royal words as a dismissal or lack of concern, but Alec seemed to be quite the durable and rugged individual, would he not be a soul most resistant to adversity and strife of such a nature?"

"Yeah, you're probably right, but…"

Lumine poked Paimon in the cheek, the sprite protesting the motion as Lumine affectionately explained, "He and Paimon were the two who first helped me when I ended up in Teyvat with no knowledge of the land and no way of finding my brother...I guess I just owe them a lot and can't help but worry."

"Aww, Lumine…"

Fischl merely replied with a proud smile and utterance of, "Your devotion to your friends and allies shines most brilliantly, Lumine. There exists no shame in fearing the dark and twisted designs of fate that desire to enwrap our beloved companions with their foul embrace...know only that your dedication engenders equal drive from mineself and Oz to beat back the nefarious cruelty of this world."

Feeling a bit of sheepishness at her blunt and open admittance of things Lumine nonetheless nodded in appreciation of her fellow blonde's words, feature shifting into a petulant scowl a moment later as she complained, "But he really needs to come clean about some things, he keeps being all mysterious and cagey about his past and certain aspects of his life. I wouldn't be as worried about him if I wasn't freaked out that he has some kind of super dangerous disease just waiting to strike the minute no one's looking."

Neither of the girls noticed Paimon look away somewhat shiftily at that admittance, so engrossed they were in conversation.

"Is it not natural for some manners of secret to be hidden and kept from prying eyes that may seek to do away with the sanctity of the soul?"

"Yeah, but his secrets are super secret and there's no way I'm letting them go unturned. You're an investigator, surely you know how that feels, right?"

"...Somewhat?"

"Really? You're not even going to pretend to be excited? Not even a little bit?"

The pair continued their banter, Fischl eventually diverting course with, "Friend Lumine, could you not perhaps impart tales of the more fantastical worlds you have visited in the past? Such distant stars must truly hold inspirations countless among their storied pasts, yes?"

"Hmm...well I suppose I could tell you about one or two of them…"

The Traveler had to resist the urge to squeal in glee at how cute Fischl was, whipping out her 'grimoire' as she listened with rapt interest, the smaller blonde quickly caving as she began with, "Okay, so about eight stars back there was this world covered in endless ocean, mist and other things that make life difficult for anything without gills. So instead what people did is ride around on the backs of these enormous, living creatures that they cared and tended to as a means of...living…"

"Lumine?"

Paimon asked after the abruptly silent girl, staring dazedly ahead as if she couldn't believe her eyes, mouth open slightly and gaping helplessly.

The rest of the group followed her line of sight, curious as to what had caused her to go silent so abruptly only to find a male figure that could have very well have been her clone, born simply to a different gender.

A tender, awkward and somewhat haunted smile graced the young man's lips.

"Looks like we meet after all this time, huh?"

"...Aether?"


As much as I appreciate not being forced to wait twenty versions to actually meet with the Traveler's sibling I can't help but be amused at the thought that they're going to have to keep thinking of reasons for there to not be a major confrontation for a LOT of Archon quests to come.

I mean we basically left off with Daeinsleif carrying the key to a weapon of mass destruction and leaping in after the sibling solo. Wonder how long we're going to be sitting on THAT particular plot thread.