The events of the morning still had her head in a tailspin — merely feeling solid ground under her feet after the stormy misery of the sea was a miracle. Then there was meeting her first contact in a foreign land, in equal parts bright-eyed and wary. The lively blonde fellow who called himself Thoma had a way of smiling and yet gazing at her with an assessing, expectant undertone. He was happy to explain this and that, yet had a habit of leaving out anything that might betray too much about the masters he served.
Franky, she wasn't sure how much she might have retained even if he was the loose-lipped sort. Between the registration papers for entry, the haphazard introduction to the country's Tri-Commission government, the residency process, and — no, the unforgiving start of a headache was already making it all worse.
"Kurisu, the International Trade Association, some Commission making my life miserable in every possible way… Gods." Lumine rubbed at her forehead with the heel of her hand, pausing in her stride to regain her bearings on the street. "What was it the Association needed again from some merchant? Crystal… Crystal something…"
"Crystal marrow! Didn't sound very tasty." Paimon's voice felt particularly shrill, though the annoyance in it was very much shared. "What I don't get is how the guy expected us to find that merchant! 'Under a tree by the coast?' There must be a hundred, no, a thousand trees down there!"
Lumine chuckled despite herself, gazing down the winding road with a burgeoning sense of listlessness. "It does seem to be away from the docks, at least, which should narrow down the number of merchants idling around by the shore. It's… a bit of an odd, out of the way sort of place for someone to peddle such necessary goods, isn't it?"
"Paimon smells trouble!" The impish little girl nodded emphatically to herself. "They better pay us double if there's an ambush!"
Lumine couldn't help her growing smile, finding a tired sort of comfort in Paimon's usual antics. "The Association isn't going to pay us regardless. It's a favor so Thoma can help us get an audience with the Shogun, remember? Granted, the more I think about it, the less likely it seems. When something sounds too good to be true…"
"…It usually is." Paimon finished the phrase with a sigh. "But we don't have a choice, just like you told Thoma earlier. And… Paimon does feel kinda bad for the people of Ritou."
"Tackling a corrupt Commission as a complete foreigner who has only just gotten her feet on solid ground… that does sound like my usual sort of absurd. If I could just offer up a prayer and have a god listen for once…" Lumine let her voice trail off, following Paimon's sigh with a deeper one of her own. "Maybe that's enough for now. The crystal marrow problem isn't going to go anywhere while we get a bite to eat, right?"
Paimon lit up like a pyro slime that'd just caught the scent of a treasure hunter. "Yes! Food is the best idea! Paimon noticed several stalls on our way up from the docks! Let's go, let's go!"
"Easy there, Paimon. Don't go flying off without me." Lumine flashed a wry smile as Paimon floated excitedly off, though the adorable sprite was never prone to drift too far.
The moment her mind started to move away from the host of Inazuma's problems and her own brother related worries, she could feel the sharp edge of tension nagging at her head and neck dull. Ritou really was quite scenic now that she had a moment to appreciate it, the flutter of bright red leaves against old stone at once striking and familiar.
Ritou wasn't her first visit to a port town by the sea, but the difference between it and Liyue was profound. Beyond its sprawling size and scope, Liyue's bright banners trailed into the water like streaks of a sunset printed on silk, its golden boughs and lilies was worn like a crown atop an already impressive mountainside. Ships and caravans of all sizes could find a temporary home in the city's sprawling docks and shops, which glittered like a thousand tiny stars during the night.
On the other hand, Ritou was not only smaller but devastatingly quiet by comparison. Lumine had heard of the Sakoku Decree diminishing foreign trade across the whole of Inazuma, but the silence went beyond a lapse of business. The locals about town cast her suspicious, furtive glances and the crimson trees encroached upon the streets as if trying to snuff out a candle. Even the air had more weight to it, settling like a cold blanket below the oppressively grey sky above.
Yet it was beautiful in its own way, this Ritou. The stark shadows of fanciful arches bloomed over pristine partitions of paper and bamboo. Draped over the scenery was the scent of the sea mixed with maple leaves and flower gardens, the whole of it undisturbed by large crowds and the usual city bustle. Unspoiled was perhaps the right word for the outer shell of Ritou, this place where the citizens let the gorgeous autumn colors pile up along the roads.
Soon enough, Lumine and Paimon were both drawn in by the scent of fish and warm spices from Ritou's modest market. They ended up at a curious kare pan stall first, where Paiman was squealing over balls of dough being freshly fried up. The poor stall owner was barraged with all manner of questions about what he was cooking and how, and as usual Lumine saved the day with softly spoken thanks and a handful of Mora.
Her own rescue came soon after — in the form of perfectly crisp, buttery pastry dough practically melting in her mouth. She very nearly moaned, suddenly reminded of the hunger and discomfort she'd shoved aside in all her efforts to acclimate to Inazuma. The hot, savory flavor of curry exploding on her tongue made her forget it all in one perfect moment, the texture changing from crisp to full and chewy as steaming chicken and vegetables escaped from their pastry prison.
"I'll take whatever she's having. It looks divine." A voice right beside Lumine startled her away from the delight of her curry bun, soon followed by a laugh smooth as the pour of warmed merlot. "Truly, I haven't seen a smile so radiant in a good while."
Lumine glanced up toward the voice and gaped. How had she failed to notice the man's approach? He was arguably the radiant one between them, the very picture of noble elegance. His hair alone was a striking color, silvery as moonlight with an echo of pale, yet indistinct blue. It framed his face perfectly, each strand of his bangs styled in a messily debonair fashion. Even the confident set of his shoulders was relaxed in equal measure, as if he were among friends and not completely out of place next to a cheap kare pan stall.
Because he was definitely out of place. He had to be. His coat was a quality of pure white that only belonged to freshly fallen snow, every edge of the fine garment accented with the glint of golden embroidery. How he managed to eat without staining such long, draping sleeves (styled in what she could only assume was traditional Inazuman fashion) she'd never know, but a single flick of his graceful hand was all she needed to be convinced.
"I… uhm…" Lumine's eyes were so busy it was hard to make her mouth work. Trying to meet his gaze proved a fatal mistake — the color of his eyes was just as striking as his hair, a tender tone of blue so soft it near melted into lavender. She unfortunately forgot his question in lieu of dumbly trying to figure out if she was gazing into a pair of blue or purple eyes.
"You're not from the Kanjou Commission, are you?" Paimon promptly interrupted the mounting awkwardness with uncharacteristic nervousness toward the stranger. "We're just getting some dinner, promise!"
The man chuckled, his voice the perfect mix of soft yet firm that betrayed no feeling at all. His eyes, however, held a muted sharpness that was unmistakably condescending. "You must be exceptionally far removed from Inazuman affairs to mistake me for a member of the Hiiragi Clan. I'm almost jealous."
"How was Paimon supposed to k—"
Lumine averted the oncoming disaster with a sharp tug of the little devil's arm. Placing one hand over her chest, she bowed her head with the politest tone she could muster. "Sorry, Paimon just meant that you seem like a very important person and we didn't want to get in your way."
"It's quite alright." Was it just her hoping, or had the tenor of his voice warmed just a touch? "You must be newly arrived to Ritou, yes? Unless the rumors are terribly far from the truth, I couldn't help but notice that you look remarkably like the hero of Liyue, the one they call Traveler."
Just like that, Lumine felt her cheeks warm up fiercely. "Is that what the rumors say? But y-you're not mistaken. I'm Lumine. A-And this is Paimon, my companion."
"Lumine. That's a very fitting name for one with such a luminous smile. Granted, you do have a little something on it." The man raised a gloved finger, eyes narrowing at the corner of her mouth. Then he lowered just enough to set her heart into a panic. Was he just trying to make her squirm, or was he taking his time so as not to startle her?
The thought of talking to such a man with food on her face was mortifying — really, she had just admitted to being a hero! Her brother would've just smiled and wiped the crumbs from his face. Instead, she reflexively closed her eyes, tilting her head up simply because his hand had implied she should.
He was close enough that she could hear amusement in the puff of his breath. The cool touch of silk followed shortly after, sweeping off the offending crumbs in a single stroke. A chill that had nothing to do with fear ran up her spine before tingling its way back down again. Embarrassed, she opened her eyes but kept her gaze pointedly away from his face.
"Thanks. It's been a while since I've eaten in front of anyone that isn't Paimon. Now that I'm here in Inazuma, it seems like I may have let my guard down a bit too far." She smiled, aglow with sheepishness and warmth squeezed out from the knots in her stomach.
"Please, this is street food. Enjoying it while it's hot and fresh is the most important thing." The fellow turned away from her long enough to accept his own curry bun and nodded toward a nearby alcove sporting a table. "Speaking of which, such snacks are best enjoyed in a more relaxed setting, wouldn't you agree? If I'm not imposing, of course."
"N-Not at all!" Lumine winced — it was hard to think of a worse time to have her voice rise to the point of squeakiness. "I mean, it's a perfect chance to talk to one of the locals. Most people here seem to avoid travelers like me."
"Don't take it too close to heart. Between myriad decrees and the rebellion of Watatsumi Island, tension has managed to sink in most everywhere. An endearing traveler like yourself is sure to make a good impression given time." He sounded so amiably certain she couldn't help but believe him. Less gracefully received was the hand he gently brought to the small of her back.
The base of her spine was all pins and needles as he encouraged her forward, every point of contact between them making her knees weak. She couldn't say it was unpleasant so much as it was surprising to be led toward a table like a proper lady.
"Hey! Paimon is still here, you know!" Paimon pouted, waving her arms impatiently at the pair.
True to form, the man flashed the dictionary definition of a polite smile, not so much as batting an eye at the adorable plight. "But of course you are. My apologies for the negligence. Perhaps another curry bun could soften the slight?"
"Another curry bun?" Paimon's eyes practically popped out of her little head. "W-What, you think you can buy Paimon with food?"
"Well, if it's an offensive gesture…" His voice was almost sing-song as he let his voice trail off.
Lumine had to cover her own grin with a hand.
"You're pushing it, Mister, but Paimon will forgive you this time. For two curry buns!" Paimon held up two fingers emphatically, to which he nodded without a moment's hesitation.
Paimon practically squealed as her dreams were realized in the form of the gentleman exchanging his mora for more fried deliciousness. Though Paimon was so small she struggled to hold on to her gifts, the man didn't seem to mind. In fact, one corner of his mouth threatened to turn into a smirk as he shared a look with Lumine. Without a mote of effort, he'd already Paimon's weakness, and as his gaze lingered on her, Lumine couldn't help but feel that he'd found hers, too.