Mondstadt, Knights Headquarters
It's quiet.
So quiet that the only sound is the tweeting birds out of the window as well as a snoozing voice.
It's warm.
The feeling above her body is soft yet warm, giving her a chance to rest more.
But that's not what she's there for.
"Mmn…" Moaning, Lumine is awake.
She can feel the stinging pain all over her body while pulling herself out of bed, until she reveals herself to be covered in bandages and wears a different dress.
Although she didn't care as Lumine stands on her two feet and limps her way out from the bedroom and leaves through the door.
Now she's left in a corridor as she walks through an empty hall while the morning sun rises, warming her up which causes her to cover her eyes.
No matter where she goes, her legs are still shaking as they're weak.
But she made it to the door.
Opening it, the only person in the room is Jean, the Acting Grand Master of the knights.
"Huh? Oh, you're awake, traveler. Shouldn't you rest in your room?" Jean turns around with a calm expression as she sets her eyes on Lumine.
"Ngh…" Lumine grunts, then takes a seat as she stares at Jean warily.
"So it's a no then." Jean closes her eyes and turns around, looking out the window as she sees the morning sky. "I was reported that you're gravely injured by the Stormterror. I also heard about their first impressions of you. As far as I can tell, you're the type that never speaks to others most of the time, especially when you focus on killing and search for something that is very important."
Lumine lowers her head while staying quiet and looks straight into Jean's blue eyes that are serious.
"Tell me, Lumine, what is important to you that you're searching for? No use avoiding that question." Jean calmly asked.
Lumine is now stuck after she was forced to answer the question towards the assumed Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius.
It's a huge misfortune for her to answer her reason to a person that is 'never' related to her brother.
On the plus side, it's just Jean in the office with Lumine.
"I guess… I have no choice." Lumine speaks out which had Jean raising her eyebrows.
"I was right. You do speak at a certain time."
"There's a reason why I don't talk, but let me explain." Lumine takes a deep breath and then looks straight towards Jean. "It all started with my brother. He and I are always together on our adventures, until one day, we split off and a lot just happened afterwards, but… I can't explain. It's too much to talk about."
"And all this killing because you lost your sibling?" Jean squinted her eyes out of curiosity, thinking that Lumine had more than a reason for doing so.
"Actually, it's more than that, but I don't wanna talk about that." Lumine lowers her head deeper after thinking about the events that happened before she entered Teyvat.
With Lumine explaining about her brother without revealing his name, Jean closes her eyes and then opens them, seeing as Lumine is hellbent on getting her brother back.
Looking at the reports, Jean can confirm as she can tell why all the bloodshed happened.
"I see. So you really missed your twin brother, I bet he's a good person to you."
Lumine nods.
"There's another question. It's about the Stormterror."
Lumine jolts up with surprise.
"You know a lot about him. Tell me why?" Jean asks sternly.
"You'll see for yourself. There's a reason why he's not what you think." Lumine answered while staying calm.
In Jean's case, Lumine is telling the truth as she's been hiding her truth from her and the knights.
"Then let us sort out the Stormterror's situation before we'll find your brother. I know you don't want us to help you, but doing this by yourself is a risk to your livelihood. Let me help you." Jean raises her hand and offers her some assistance in searching for both the Stormterror and Aether.
Slowly, Lumine is seeing a noble knight offering help for an outlander that is watched under suspicion.
"But…"
"I told you, I know, but it's an offer that you cannot refuse. We knights may have our work, but we never back down on anything, no matter how desperate you are. As a knight, we must be vigilant and never let anyone get involved." Jean explains which is, in Lumine's case, too difficult to follow.
Lumine is now tied up after realising that she's stuck with the knights until the Stormterror situation is over.
"It's okay, young traveler, we got your back." Jean said as she smirks.
As Lumine had no choice but to accept, a door crashed open which surprised both Lumine and Jean.
"Who's there?" Jean calmly called while holding her sword.
"Wait! Don't raise your sword at us!" Paimon exclaimed, only to show herself with Amber, Kaeya and Lisa.
"Paimon? Everyone? You've been spying on us the whole time?" Jean gasps while putting her sword back and looks straight at the trio.
"Well…" Before Lisa explains, Amber hastily bow while pushing Kaeya down to bow.
"Oomf!" Kaeya exclaims.
"We're sorry! We wanted to know Lumine's secret! That's all!" Amber yelled.
Lumine grunts after being heard by the rest of the knights after being caught.
"Sorry, Lumine. Paimon tried to stop them, but they let me join in on listening to your story." Paimon apologised.
"Why you!" Gritting her teeth, Lumine tried to raise a weapon.
But she ended up unarmed.
"Huh!?"
"Oh, your armoury and clothes are being washed after what happened earlier. It seems that you're stuck with us." Jean chuckles, causing Lumine to drop down to her knees in despair.
"N- No…" Lumine pants in shock.
"Relax, Lumine, at least you got a place to stay!" Paimon laughs nervously.
"Isn't it awesome!? That means we can hang out together, even gliding together and…"
With so many things Amber said, Lumine couldn't process that much from Amber's blabber mouth which is causing Lumine to feel dizzy.
"You should be happy that you're with us. I recommend we spar someday." Kaeya chuckles while patting Lumine's shoulder.
This makes Lumine giggle uncontrollably after dreading the very day that she's no longer working alone.
"And you can ask your big sister for help if you need one." Lisa giggles.
Maybe Lisa's offer isn't half bad but the rest? That's Lumine's worst fears that she's going to have to go through for the rest of her weeks, months or years of staying in Mondstadt.
Then she crashes down on the ground, causing the knights and Paimon to worry as they witness Lumine uncontrollably giggling while lying on the floor.
"Oh crap. I think she's broken." Amber squeaks.
"Oh dear. Maybe we should put her back in her room." Lisa sighs.
"Indeed." Kaeya agreed.
"Give her a few minutes. She's overwhelmed, that's all." Said Jean.
Nothing she could do about it until she succeeded her task as a part of the Knights of Favonius.
Later.
Jean sits back down on her desk while looking at a disgruntled traveler, who is already frustrated which is something she has to deal with.
"I know it's hard, but bear with it. Although, since you're new here, I recommend going to the Mondstadt Cathedral, just to help you with our Lord Barbatos' blessings."
"Ngh…" Lumine grunts, remembering who Barbatos was and what type of Archon he is, avoiding revealing his identity.
Lumine turns around and makes her way out of the office, only for Jean to call.
"Lumine. I know it may be tiring for you, but don't feel down because you lost something important. At least we're here for you." Jean concluded.
What Lumine couldn't help is the fact that doesn't want to go into detail about her past as she's lowering her head down and opening the door out of depression. If only she's not foolish enough to put herself in danger because of Venti and the Stormterror.
With that out of the way, Lumine closes the door as she leaves Jean all alone.
To Jean, Lumine has something way more than just losing her brother, which could possibly be the root of her distant behaviour. This leads to Jean writing the report.
Church of Favonius
Standing outside of a fairly large building, Lumine is seeing a familiar church that Jean recommends.
Knowing how badly it will end, Lumine lets out an exasperated sigh and walks forward all alone.
At least Paimon isn't around to pester her.
While setting foot on a church, a twin tailed girl stops as she sees another person arriving.
"Ah. Welcome to the Church of Favonius, miss. If you would like to share your prayers, then let us pray for Lord Barbatos." A blonde girl, Barbara greets Lumine while praying.
Lumine stares at Barbara while sighing and approaches her.
"Hm? Oh! You're that girl that Master Kaeya carried. I heard what happened to you. I hope you're better, okay, miss?" Babara asks with surprise, only for Lumine to raise her eyebrow. "Anyway, you know Lord Barbatos too? He's our lord and saviour that keeps Mondstadt in its rightful order. Ahh… If only I met him in person."
Considering Barbara doesn't know who Barbatos truly was, Lumine kept her mouth shut from exposing Barbatos.
"Anyway, I'll bless you with Lord Barbatos' wind of light. If that makes you happy, then I'm glad!" Barbara cheerfully drags Lumine into the church, only to make Lumine not only nervous, but uncomfortable.
In Lumine's case, being in Mondstadt is a mistake.