Dragonspire
•Lumine's POV•
I blinked as an other flake of snow found it's way onto my face. It's chill adored my face just like the snowflakes from before had. The white speckles sprinkled down from the grey sky above. It was never ending. Each one that fell on me melted, only to be replaced by another.
How long had it been since I had been alone? Paimon was off in Liyue, trying to find someway for us to get to Inazuma. Despite her company there were times her companionship could not hide the hole in my heart.
"Are you sure this is a good idea Aether?"
"Do you not trust me Lumine?"
"You know, you'll get a cold like Lumine?" A voice snickered behind me.
I didn't need to glance behind me to tell who interrupted my thoughts. The voice was lighthearted and made it seem like evil did not exist. However, underneath it, you could sense something different. A second meaning to the words at times, other times, it hid lies.
"What are you doing here Childe?" I answered coldly, turning to face him," Are you on another mission now?"
I recounted the Fatui generals I had seen roaming Dragonspire. It was already troublesome dealing with them in Liyue but here, in the sub-zero cold, it was painfully difficult. They could've at least sent the fire sniper up here to warm up the air as I fought. Perhaps I should've brought Amber out here to help me. She was always ready for an adventure. Not mention, she had a pyro vision with her.
The Fatui Harbinger just laughed. His breath turned visible in the air around him as the chuckling kept from his throat.
"You always think the worst of me don't you?" Childe sighed.
I turned away from him, setting my eyes on the peak in front of me. I did not answer for a moment. I folded my arms, feeling the hair prickling on my bare elbows.
"Your a Fatui Harbinger. I can't trust you," I said," I have already learned that."
Snow crunched underneath his feet as he walked beside me. I was wary. He was right by side, close enough to strike me with his blades, yet far enough that I could summon my sword if he tried to strike.
"I have already told you. I am nearly a pawn in the game," Childe smirked.
"You never know when a pawn can sneak up on you and come a knight," I answered in a monotoned voice, still not paying him any mind.
"Oh," Childe laughed," Am I your knight in shinning armor then?"
I mearly brushed some snow out of hair that had been collecting there for a couple minutes. I knew only ignoring him wasn't going to last forever, but I felt if I engaged further into the conversation we would end up like we did in the golden house. In other words, a fight. One I was not in the mood for. I had come up here to do something.
Suddenly, a breeze blew. The already cold air cut through my skin. I couldn't help but react to it. My skin crawled as my goosebumps became more defined against my skin. I began to re-think my idea. I no longer had my powers of old. Only the powers I had recently gained had given me enough power to not freeze immediately.
"What's wrong Lumine? Are you cold?" the Fatui interrupted my thoughts.
I quick glare is all I gave him. The snow shifted as I turned on my heel and started walking away, hopefully to find a fire nearby.
"Hey! I'm not finished talking to you," Childe called as he followed me.
"Well I am," I replied quickly picking up the pace.
"Come on," the Fatui harbinger smirked," How about if you beat me a battle, I'll leave you alone?"
"What it I push you down this mountain?" I gritted my chattering teeth.
Childe roared with laughter," Are those fight words I hear? Alright. Come a prove you can do it!"
I ignored him as I spotted it. A fire plate, already lit and blazing. I kept my pace the same. Childe following me around was enough, I didn't want any more of this words. I could already feel the cold seeping past my bones and I wouldn't have been surprised is ice was starting to form on my skin somewhere.
"What are you doing? I, your opponent am ready to face you," the hydro user taunted.
I stopped mere feet from the fire. I could fill the heat as I formed a small barrier between the cold, providing me with some comfort against the snow and frost.
"I don't want to fight you. Now leave," I demanded turning around to face him.
Childe's face was not adorned by his well known smirk, but rather a set of thin lips, neither dipping up or down. I tensed. Childe was not in a mood to play. I flexed my frost bitten fingers, ready to swing my blade if needed.
"What has you in such a sour mood Lumine?" He blankly asked.
My eyes widened with an eyebrow higher than the others. Why would he ask me that?
"Don't think me stupid,Lumine," Childe chucked," I have always been able to tell if someone is hiding something. You have many secrets. I want to know them." Number 11 grind," However, that can wait. Something is bothering you here and now and I want to know what.
I narrowed my eyes, trying to find any thing in his. Deceit, pride, curiosity any emotion I could use to figure out what he was thinking. Alas, the Fatui Harbinger was trained well and I was still rusty in skills I had once mastered. I could not tell what his thoughts were... or his plan.
We stared for a good moment before I turned back to the fire. I took a few good steps towards it. The heat was flowing back into me much faster that the cold had entered it.
"If you need to warm up before you talk to me you just need to say so."
Before I could open my mouth to respond, I felt a piece of heavy cloth hit my shoulder. I quickly grabbed it as gravity started taking hold around it. My eyes once again rested on Chide. He smiled as purely has he could. I rolled my eyes at his attempt to look nice before staring down at what he had tossed to me.
A long white jacket spread out in my hands. A hood rested along the neck along with a smaller coller. Silver fur lined the inside of the coat and the same colored buttons lined the front. Along the jacket's edges gold accents danced on its pale background.
"What is this?" I simply asked.
"It is a gift from Teucer and Tonia. Teucer cannot stop writing about how you promised to come by in Scheznya," Childe began," Tonia wanted to make sure you had something proper to wear when you came to visit us, so she made you this."
I finally released a smile. Swiftly I put the jacket on and buttoned it up. The blowing wind did not dig into my skin and the chill it brought lessened. The jacket fit perfectly. It made me wonder how he knew what size I was.
"You didn't come up here to give me this did you?" Not quite asking the question.
"Well, I heard a strong warrior was here taking out some of our generals we just sent up here," the Fatui harbinger answered," I knew it was you and while I am not up to full strength, I thought about a re-match."
I shook my head," Not today Tartaglia."
I rubbed my cheek, wiping away the collected snow and small hairs that clung to my skin. All in one motion, I started up the path I was on.
"Are you going to tell me what you are doing up here," Childe asked, walking with me step by step.
"No."
"Please," he smiled," I promise I won't tell."
I ignored him as I came across the spot I was looking for. I sighed sadly as I grasped the sight. The water was freezing cold but alas it was water. Blocks of ice floated on top and even they were thin despite the cold weather that created them.
"You were looking for a frozen lake," Childe said," Why was that?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," I sighed.
The memories of a previous life come flowing through me. Maybe, doing what we did however long ago when we were together would make this heartache fade for a while. Even if it hurt more afterwords.
"Must you always dance on the ice sis."
"Oh, your just mad because I have fallen on my butt less than you brother."
Pain dug in my heart. I never really enjoyed the cold that much. The only thing I like about I was was the snow it brought and the memories it would let us have. Our favorite had been skating on the ice. Racing, dancing or just sliding around it was fun.
It was so long ago.
"If this was a battle, I would've won in an instant. You are to distracted," Childe once again called me out of my thoughts.
I hardened my face," I am aware of my surroundings whether I am completely focused or thinking about something else," I glared at him from the side.
"Ah really," he smiled," Think fast."
I saw the strike long before he sent out his warning. A familiar purple blade formed in my hands and blocked the water blades aimed at me. A air shuddered a second latter, causing the snow to suddenly change direction, as the impact hit.
"Is that a new sword I see Lumine," Childe smiled, his vision turning off.
"Don't try taking it. I am the only one that can wield," I smiled, the sword vanishing from my hand.
"Oh and why is that?" The harbinger asked like a curious little child.
"It's cursed," I stated.
"Really now?"
"I would hand it to you to figure it out but I don't want you dying because you lost your mind."
"So you do care for me?" Childe laughed.
Another role of my eyes was my only answer. I glanced upwards to the peak above us. The snow still fell from the grey skies and collected on my hair and now clung to my new coat instead of my skin. I quickly switched to my elemental sight. A soft glow originated from the peak. One I had seen before running into Childe.
"You know. I heard there is a temple full of treasure on the peak. It is said to be full of powerful items," The Fatui Harbinger said.
"Are you wanting to go up there?" I raised an eyebrow.
"You keep staring off into space while looking at it," Childe shrugged his shoulders." It seems you want to go up there."
I smiled," Perhaps. Something is up at the top."
"How about this? We train for our next battle," Childe said.
"By fighting each other while we climb the peak?"
I asked.
"No. We fight with each other until we see the treasure up top. I heard strong enemies roam the top of the mountains. It will be a great challenge," he laughed.
I rolled my eyes," Alright. Up we go!"
"This will be fun," Childe chuckled," Let's get to know each other better. Wanna ask me a question?"
"Actually, yes," I answered.
"Oh, and what is it?" Childe asked a little too happy.
"How did you know what size I was in?"
Hi everyone. Here is some Genshin Impact fanfiction for yall. I have had this written for a while now. I wrote this on the theme for winter with the ideas of snow, Schenniya, winter clothes, cold or something along those lines. This was the result. I hope you enjoy this and future one-shots.
~Karnia
