Unleashed: The Seven Deadly Sins - Gluttony

by Naughty Tome

Something's wrong is happening in the desert, her friend went missing and someone is after both of their lives. But much worse than that... A growing darkness churns and boils down in the pit of her stomach, waiting to be given an offering... (Rated M for violence)

Sigh... last week has been especially tiring for me, so many things to do every day that I couldn't even have a time for myself.

And so, I need to work out all of my frustrations somehow. By writing a fanfic... Yeah, this story is just me throwing out some dark thoughts in my head, so for those who don't really like dark stuff, I warned you.

---

"Shiruyeh is Khorramdin." Thus says the man in the brass mask. "There will be no heirs to your name. I will do away with the many idols in your temples. I will consign you to your grave, for such does one as despicable as you deserve."

Says the man in the brass mask.

Through the Jinni's entranced eyes, she bear witness to Gurabad as it is engulfed in darkness...

The city of Gurabad has long been a reservoir of water, but now its inhabitants scatter like a torrent.

The Jinn, devoid of intellect, pour out from cold machine husks, from the soldiers' weapons... And the scarlet wine, the juice of the pomegranate, bursts forth...

The pomegranates are crushed and cracked, and they are trampled into a mass of mud... Plump or withered, rich or humble... The scarlet fruits, with hue and cry, tell of the Khorramdin's coming — the joy of life and the joy of vengeance.

The juice tastes as sweet and mellow as sweet wine, and flows through the city, turning the reservoir into a vast red sea...

The sea first drowns the slaves, and then their masters howl as they flounder amidst the roiling waves of night.

Finally, the brass-masked king. He flees into the shadows — into Shirin's arms...

Her face is old and dim, all traces of life and reason having vanished from it like dust in the night's wind.

And then there is King Kisra, who turned into a dark monster... they all are her flesh and blood, yet she rejoice, and she exult in that retribution.

~o~0~o~

Lumine opens her eyes, and all she could see around her are nothing but darkness. She found herself floating amidst the void of emptiness, with nothing exist within her sight, nothing but a small floating bottle in front of her that emits a small but brilliant light.

"I think remember where this is..." The girl with short blonde hair muttered, her golden eyes stares at the floating bottle before her, the almighty Jinn who calls herself Liloupar, a powerful being who had formed a contract with Lumine as her servant and companion, only for their journey to the Eternal Oasis at least. "Is there something you wanted to tell me personally again? Is that why you brought me here?"

"Yes... There is something important that I wanted to tell you." Liloupar said as she rotates herself in place, now facing Lumine instead of looking away. "My master... I'm sorry that this is too sudden, but I'm afraid that I couldn't stay by your side any longer, and that I could not have more time to get familiar with you."

Lumine's reaction is not exactly what the Jinn had expected. She was neither shocked nor does she has any hint of surprise. Her face remains blank as it always has, though Liloupar is glad that she is at least able to see her face, her true face, without those blindfold covering her eyes.

"You're leaving?" The blonde girl asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Shirin, Kisra, and Shiruyeh... They may have the blood of that wretch running through their veins. But still, they are my flesh and blood." The Jinni said somberly, the feathers of her bottle dropped down, looking sad. "It was my wrath and desire for revenge that causes them to take on the path they walked, the reason why Gurabad were gone."

Lumine stayed silent, there are no visible changes on her expression, giving the impression that she has nothing to say for the matter.

"From Gurabad I came, and to Gurabad I returned. It's time for me to go there to face it's retribution, and my children as well. She and Shiruyeh... they must be lonely after so long..." Liloupar silently muttered.

"I understand." Lumine finally replied, nodding her head at the Jinni as she cross her arm. "I wish for you the best of luck on finding your way there, thank you for being my companion, Liloupar, it was short, but I thoroughly enjoyed it." The blonde girl said, with a little smile on her face.

Liloupar chuckled at her in response, seemingly amused at what she said.

"My master, you are certainly the most interesting individual that I've ever seen. I have not a single shred of doubt that I have made the right choice to choose you. For you possess the kindness and might that I once believe Ormazd have." Liloupar said, the light inside the floating bottle start to flicker.

"You're leaving now?"

"Yes. I shall waste no longer. But before that... Allow me to do something for you once more. Hold me close... And let me whispers to your ear..."

~o~0~o~

Even with her vision covered in darkness, she could still know that she is finally back judging from the sensation of someone shaking her motionless body with all her might. She wakes up with a jolt, causing the person beside her to yelp in shock.

"Oh, you're back! Thank goodness. Hey, are you okay?"

Lumine looked around for a few times, feeling the sensation of her legs standing on a solid ground, and the dry and crisp wind of the dessert to brush against her exposed skin.

"So, I'm back."

"Yeah, you're just standing there motionlessly for a while that Paimon is pretty worried." The white haired floating fairy who calls herself Paimon lets out a big sigh of relief, shaking her head slightly. "Anyway, it's good that you're back, but we got a problem here, something is wrong with Liloupar!"

Lumine turned her head to look at the floating bottle beside her, it's appearance is still the same, but...

"Paimon doesn't understand what happened. But while you were out, the light of her bottle starts to flicker, before going out completely! Paimon tries to tap it several times for the lights to turn on again, and while it does turned on, she isn't responding! What happened to her?" Paimon asked a little frantically, looking shocked and scared to what happened to the Jinni that has been their companion for a while now.

Lumine looked at the seemingly unchanged form of Liloupar, remembering the words the Jinni has whispered to her. The words she spoke, and the warning she gives her.

"It's okay Paimon. She is fine." Lumine shook her head, and although the blindfold she wears hid her expression, from her furrowed eyebrows, it is clear that she's looking somewhat concerned. "She has simply return back to where she belongs... Deep underneath the sands."

~o~0~o~

"So what are we doing here Lumi? You wanna pay Jeht a visit?" Paimon asked her blonde haired traveling companion as the two trek through the sands, the dry and hot winds of the desert brushed against their hair.

"Yeah... There's something really important that I need to talk with her." Answers the girl with a blindfold over her eyes. The extreme climate of the desert nor her apparent lack of sight could stop her as she continues on walking on the sandy pathway that leads to the base of the most powerful tribe on this part of the region. "And I need to do it quickly if I have to..."

"Geez, what's with you rushing all of sudden? Is it because of Liloupar? Do you wish to tell Jeht of what happened to her?" Paimon question again, crossing her arms across her chest as she stares at Lumine curiously.

"Yes... But that's not the most important thing that I want to talk about with her." Lumine nods her head once before shaking it.

"Look, Paimon is not against the idea of having to meet our friend again, but can we at least stop to eat for a little bit? Paimon is very hungry..." The tiny fairy wailed, rubbing her belly with one hand as an audible growl could be heard.

"Believe me Paimon, you're not the only one." Lumine replied back, with a growl of her own empty stomach.

They've been walking for hours nonstop since this morning, without eating or taking a break. And while Paimon does take breaks every now and then by retreating to her pocket dimension, Lumine doesn't, and the blonde girl just keeps on walking without a care for any other things, which prompt the pixie's concerns for her best friend.

This odd yet not unusual act started ever since the night before, when the almighty Jinni Liloupar unexpectedly parted ways with them so suddenly. At that time, something had happened to both the Jinni and the Traveler. The moment that Lumine touched the last of the scattered fragments of Liloupar, she lost her consciousness and left her motionless body to stood in place, unresponsive to anything. And it was only after a little while later that the girl finally came back to her senses, and it was after that that this journey to the Tanit camps began.

From what Paimon could gather, Lumine had a little chat with Liloupar mentally during that period of unconsciousness. It was during that chat that the Jinni bid farewell to her new and last master, where she decided to leave this world and into the open maw of the Abyss where the punishment for the crimes that she has committed to the many people of the past and to her own kin awaits. However... That's not the only thing that Liloupar told her. The Jinni had told Lumine something else, and that something is what made her do this.

"We're here."

Lumine stopped in her tracks as she announced, through her bandaged eyes, she took a look at the familiar sight of the valley before her, the destination that she had in mind.

"Ah, it sure feels like it's been awhile since we last been here. Paimon hopes Jeht and everyone else are doing fine." Paimon release a relieved sigh as they finally reached their destination. The Tanit tribe doesn't look like it changed much from the last time they were here, but they can't conclude just yet before seeing things for themselves more closely.

Without wasting anymore time, the two heads down to the valley. Though they're here for Jeht, it's only appropriate that they announce their presence to the one in charge of the tribe first.

Lumine glides down to the giant platform where the matriarch can usually be found every time they were here. And sure enough, as the traveler slowly descent from the sky, the familiar appearance of the tall red haired woman could be seen down there. Arms crossed below her chest and eyes looking towards blonde haired traveler above as she landed before her mere seconds later.

"Ah, greetings, esteemed Master of the Jinni." The Tanit woman with light red hair spoke up, greeting them with a small nod of her head which Lumine returns back while Paimon waves her hand at her. "Is there something you need? Or perhaps are you here looking for Jeht?"

"That's right. Lumi here wanted to meet with Jeht so badly that she hasn't even ate anything since this morning, and not mention Paimon too." The white haired creature groaned, scratching the side of her head.

"She's right, this is very urgent. Is Jeht here?" Lumine asked, behind the layers of bandages that covers her eyes, she's glaring at Babel intently, watching every subtle moves.

"My deepest apologies, but I'm afraid she isn't here at the moment." Babel shook her head as she puts one of her hand on her sides. "Jeht is still outside fulfilling some duties I've given her a while ago, and it will took some time before she comes back."

"Oh, what a darn shame, Paimon was kinda hoping that we could hang out and chat while having a meal." Paimon wailed shaking her head in disappointment.

"Hmm... Then I guess all I need to do is to go after her then." Lumine said with a little sigh before asking the tribe leader again. "Where did you sent her? I wish to follow and help whatever mission she's doing."

"I'm sorry Traveler, but I can't allow you to do that." Babel shake her head, putting a hand on her chest.

"Oh? Why so?" Lumine raised an eyebrow at her.

"This mission that I wished for her to fulfill is strictly personal to the Tanit tribe. Even though the two of you are her friends and acknowledges you as such, an outsider like you cannot interfere with the personal matters of our tribe." Babel explained, although she forbid them from giving their friend a helping hand like this, there's seemingly no ill intentions laced in her voice, she spoke professionally as if it's in matter of business where personal feelings are of no use.

The rolls of bandages that covers her eyes hid her true expression, but Lumine is glaring sharply at Babel. Every word that the woman spoke just adds more to the pile of thoughts inside her head. If only the Tanit woman didn't hide her eyes behind that blindfold of hers, then Lumine would've been...

"How about this..." Babel spoke up after a while of silence between them. "While you're waiting for Jeht's return, why don't go and talk to Yuften down in the valley? I heard that there's something he really needs help with."

"Yuften? Isn't he that guy that raises the Spinocrocodiles on the spring below?" Paimon question, tilting her head to the side.

"That's correct." Babel nods her head in confirmation. "Go give him some helping hand would you? And once you were done, I'll treat you for a meal."

"Woah, really? You really going to do that for us?" Paimon's eyes immediately starts sparkling the moment meal was mentioned. And to be perfectly honest, Lumine's tummy has pretty much the same reaction as well. She is hungry.

"Why of course, we're going to have a feast this evening. And as the esteemed master of the Jinn, we'll be honored to have you join us." Babel said with a smile on her face.

"Well, in that case. Let's hurry up Traveler! Let's get this done quick so we can join the feast!" Paimon urges her, tugging at Lumine's hand to drag her away.

Lumine releases a sigh before nodding her head in agreement to fulfill the tiny creature's request. Before she heads down to the bottom of the valley to talk to the Tanit farmer, she threw a quick glance to Babel once more, mentally contemplating whether or not she should tell the matriarch about Liloupar's departure, before ultimately decided against it as she feel there's no need to do so.

~o~0~o~

After hearing all of the stammering words that came out of the farmer's mouth. Lumine and Paimon once again head out far into the desert to investigate the case of a shipment that went missing after only two of the three arrived in the Tanit camp.

They went to investigate in an area somewhere in the Passage of Ghouls region which is the last known location of the caravan.

Once they arrived there, they immediately began their investigation, trying to find the stolen goods, or at the very least, deduced what happened to it. Their first finding is a cracked empty jar, not yet swallowed by the sands, and appears to be thrown aside not too long ago. Not much of a clue since it could as well be just some random person accidentally dropped it to the ground.

Their next evidence is an empty broken box of crate, the type that normally used to store items, further inspection reveals that the box also has the Tanit tribe symbol scribed into it, proving that this belongs to the caravan. The box doesn't look that old, the fact that it just lays here broken down could alude to the idea that the caravan was ambushed by bandits or some wild animals, supported with the place they were in which is deserted enough for treasure hoarders and the like to maul an easy prey. But that doesn't explain one thing though... Ambushes like this were usually done by several people, so how can they move all the valuables but not the containers? Unless if this is a trap... To lure them.

A few meters away from the area and they found a Hilichurl's camp nearby. Paimon guesses that it was the Hilichurls' doing for the missing goods, granted that their camp is near the investigated area. So after fending them off and let them scattered away, the two went searching for the camp to find some other clues, and while they do find another set of broken boxes that was marked with the Tanit tribe symbol, something doesn't adds up.

Lumine realized that the boxes weren't destroyed by the Hilichurls, nor did the raid happened there, because there is no carts around there, nor is there any wrecked parts of it if it truly is being destroyed by them.

Deciding to follow the road a while longer, they soon met with yet another stunning yet weird evidence. They find a rolled carpet that's still in good condition with the symbol of the Tanit tribe is stitched into it.

The rug looks like it made of an expensive material, which would've been a good catch for some treasure hoarders to take, yet strangely they don't, which may suggest there was a struggle over it that results in the wrongdoers to forget about it and just leave it here.

"Allow Paimon the great detective to present you with her deductions." Paimon said confidently as she began her explanation. "From everything we had gathered, the caravan and the robbers had a fight here. Some goods got damaged during the battle, while other perfectly fine ones were left aside in the ensuing chaos. And then, the caravan and the robbers fought while running all along the way... fighting and running and fighting... That's why all these boxes and jars are scattered everywhere." The floating creature finished with a hump, putting both hands on her sides and raising her head high.

"That's Very astute, Paimon. But most of them doesn't make any sense." Lumine replied back blankly, causing the fairy to seemingly forget how to fly, sending her plunging down halfway to the ground.

"Paimon thinks that's a good deduction!" The floating pixie yelled at her, crossing her arms. "What's your idea then?"

"Hmm... If my theory is correct,the trashed goods should have been discarded after the bandits got to them, but they decided to leave them behind to ensure they moved fast and light to escape further confrontations." Lumine deduced, rubbing her chin with one hand.

"You really think so?" Paimon asked curiously to which Lumine nods her head.

"There are no clear signs of a struggle along the way, and on top of that... There's something wrong with all our findings." Lumine hummed in thought as her mind think about all of their discovery so far. "I can't help but feeling like these clues are too neatly laid out. It's like they were placed in a line to lead us over somewhere..."

"Ehh, don't you think you might be a bit too suspicious?" Paimon asked, giving the blonde haired girl a look. "It is a possibility, but we don't have enough evidence for that."

"Hmm..." Lumine hummed in thought for a while before she walks away suddenly. "I've got an idea. Please wait a moment."

Stepping a distance away from Paimon, Lumine crouch to the ground and place her palm on top of the sand's surface, plant roots made of Dendro Energy came out of her fingertips and bury itself to the ground. She stays in that position for some time while Paimon waits. A while later, Lumine stood up and point her fingers towards a direction.

"Right there." She announced before heading there.

"What is it? What did you find?" Paimon asked curiously as she flew following her companion.

"The evidence." The blonde girl simply replied.

They ran towards the pointed direction until they eventually stopped when they saw what they were looking for.

"Hey! Look, the cart's right there!" Paimon pointed out as they saw the wreckage of the caravan's cart they were searching for. "Paimon can barely recognize it though the Tanit marking's there, it looks a bit blurry."

"Hmm, it seems to be damaged just recently. If we connect all the dots, this should be the main evidence we need to know." Lumine hummed in agreement, as she take a look at the wreckage carefully.

"Alright. We can close this case now!" Paimon jumped in the air in joy. "It's elementary: What happened was that the caravan was ambushed and the goods were all stolen. Let's go back to Yuften and tell him what happened!"

"Right, let's head back." Lumine nodded, dusting off her dress from all the sand that sticks on it.

"Hehehe, Paimon can't wait for the feast tonight! Paimon is super hungry!" While rubbing her legs together in excitement, the pixie follows after her friend as they prepare to head back to report their findings.

"Pardon me, but I beg you both to still your stride."

Lumine stopped on her tracks as her brows furrowed. A group of people approached them, and they are all desert dwellers that is unmistakably belong to the Tanit tribe. The one who spoke up is the leader among them, standing in front of the others and facing Lumine head on.

"Huh? Who are you?" Questioned Paimon, just a precaution in case for trouble, Lumine raise one arm to protect her.

"Don't worry, we belong to the Tanit, and we are friends of Jeht's." Explained the leader to them.

"Oh, really? Welp, Jeht's friends are also our friends! We were just finishing up! Let's head back together!" Paimon smiled upon being told so, but Lumine on the other hand has other ideas in mind.

"Wait, I have a question for you." The blonde girl raise her other arm as she asked. "If you really are her friends, can you tell me where is she now? There's something important that I need to tell her."

"Haha, no need to be so hasty. And guests shouldn't be so harried to depart." The leader of the group unsheathed his sword from the belt on his waist, with the other men behind him followed. "Jeht requested that you stay in the desert for a time... She commissioned us to come here and give you the "hospitality" you deserve. It would be cruel of you to disappoint her kindness."

Paimon's eyes widened when they suddenly unsheathes their weapons. Then her eyes shrink and start shaking as she glanced towards Lumine.

"Uh... Lumi..."

"Paimon. Hide."

The little pixie disappears in a spark of light as she retreats to her own pocket dimension, just in time as the men screamed and charges towards Lumine with all of their weapons pointed towards the blonde haired girl.

Her lips turned down into a scowl, Lumine opens her palm as her sword materialize into existence which she gripped tightly.

Few seconds later, blood splatter all over the golden sand.

~o~0~o~

"Yuften's caravan got raided by some of your traitors."

Lumine reported to Babel after successfully returning back to Tanit camp alive that evening.

Prior to that however, she had reported to Yuften first about their investigation. The brown skinned man looked shocked to death upon seeing them stroding to his tent. A clear shock and confusion are visible in his voice when he strangely asked why they're back, as if it was not normal. His abnormal reactions almost tempted Lumine to use her eye on him, but she ultimately against it as she figured out that there might be some other alternative way for her to answer this question that's been lingering in her mind for a while day now. And not to mention that she's very hungry too... She hoped with all her heart that tonight's feast would be fulfilling.

"Hmm, it appears so..." The leader of the tribe muttered, scratching her chin with her fingers. "Well, it's not that unexpected. The northerners from the snowlands have long tried to push into our lands. The treacherous amongst our number fell prey to their words and turned against us. These traitors have been causing havoc for quite some time. Sporadic but persistent raids and robberies have been happening since a few months ago..."

"Is the Fatui really are that adamant in getting into the bottom of Desert of Hadramaveth?" Paimon asked curiously, looking somewhat concerned and confused.

"Perhaps." Babel shrugged before turning her head to look at Lumine. "By the way, please continue."

"The traitors seem to have also taken an interest in us." Lumine stated, crossing her arms across her chest. "They specifically went to assassinate me, using Jeht of all people for their reasons in doing so. How strange... I would think that seizing control over Liloupar and the Eternal Oasis would've been a better reason for attacking us, and yet they don't."

No visible changes in expression nor body movements came out of the Tanit tribe leader. If only she could go there and rip that blindfold over her eyes so that she could-

"Yeah, that is really strange. The bad guys that jumped us seemed to know us! Paimon thinks they might be from the tribe." Paimon exclaimed, her eyebrows furrowed, looking pretty disturbed.

"It's not impossible... But it matters little. It appears that... with Aderfi and Azariq both gone, these wild dogs see this as high time to bare their teeth." Babel clicked her tongue in annoyance, shaking her head a little. "Well, whatever happens, happens. With your privileges as esteemed guests, you will be protected... So long as you stay here, no one can hurt you. If anyone of the Tanit seeks to trouble you, whoever they are, they will face judgment at my hands, under my authority as Matriarch. I'm sure that Jeht would want to do the same as well"

"Aww, you're too kind! Thanks a lot, Matriarch Babel." Paimon smiled happily, nodding her head in respect.

"The courtesy is unneeded." Babel shook her head before looking at Lumine again. "Before you ask, Jeht still hasn't returned yet. I will notify you the moment she returns, and I will have her work alongside you to get to the bottom of this matter."

"IF she manages to return that is." Lumine replied back.

There was a growling sounds appeared, and Lumine looks down to see that it came out of her own empty belly. Another similar sound appears, and this time, it came out of Paimon.

"Fufu, well, you two seems to get a little worked up from the task today, just in time for the feast as well."

"Wahoo! Paimon's gonna eat a lot of food tonight!" The little pixie jumped in the air in delight.

And so the feast began. Every member of the Tanit tribe all gathered at the bottom of the valley that night. A mat spread out to to make a long line on the ground with various dishes placed on top of it. Several torches were placed and lit up to illuminate the area from the darkness of the night. All the tribesmen sat on the ground to make a pair of long lines as they ate their own respective dish of food, their chatter and laughter filled the air.

Lumine was one among them, sitting down on the ground with her legs crossed, one elbow resting on her knees while she rested her chin on the palm of her hand. Beside her, there's Paimon, whose eyes are shining brightly from excitement and delight with all the food presented to her, mumbling over to which dish she should taste first.

And although Lumine is tempted as much as Paimon to taste the food, with her stomach achingly begging her to do so too, her mind is too preoccupied to let her move a limb. Thoughts like today's investigation of the missing caravan, the group of Tanit traitors that ambushed them, Yuften's odd reaction to their return, and the fact that Jeht still hasn't yet to return, all mixed up inside her mind. Her suspicions just kept growing bigger and bigger, yet there's still not just enough evidence to prove it. And if things keep on going this way, then she has to find Jeht as soon as possible before things going further south.

"Hey, what's wrong? You look pretty bummed out."

Lumine raised her head to see one of the tribesmen approaching her, an empty glass in one hand and a jug in the other.

"Come on, drink up. You're our esteemed guest here, no need to be shy." He smiles as he pour the content of the jug into the empty cup, filling it nearly full before handing it over to Lumine, who slowly (and a bit hesitantly) takes it.

"Thanks." She muttered out a small response.

"Anytime." He replied back before going out his way to the other members.

Lumine looks down to the cup in her hand, it was filled with what it seems to be grape juice, judging from the smell and the colour of the substance. It looks pretty normal to her, and by glancing around, she sees that the man who poured out her drink also do the same with the other people. Paimon who floats beside her has also starts to dig in, currently, she's busy eating the pile of fruits that's been laid out on top of the mat. Eating the dessert first before the main dish it seems.

Everyone around her has started eating, it will be rude to not join them as their esteemed guest. Exhaling a breath, Lumine raised the cup into her mouth and took a sip of the grape juice...

Thump

All eyes turned to look towards Lumine. The blonde girl stood there motionless, one hand is raised near her face with her palm open and fingers relaxed. Letting go of her drink and let the grape juice to spill all over the ground before her. No sound came out of her, not even her breathing.

"Lumi what's wrong? Hey, are you okay?" Seeing Lumine suddenly act so strange, Paimon quickly approaches her, waving her tiny hands in front of the blonde girl trying to snap her out of her daze.

"I... I'm fine Paimon. It's just..." After a moment, Lumine is finally out of her daze, shaking her head, she put one hand over her forehead as she winced. "Suddenly... I feel a little unwell."

"Huh? Are you alright? Do you need some rest?" Paimon asked in concern, looking at Lumine with full of worry.

"Yeah... That sounds like a good idea." Lumine nods her head. Standing up, she glanced at everyone present on that feast, and before anyone could say anything, she opens her mouth first. "I'm sorry everyone, but I'm feeling a little unwell today, so I guess I should head for home soon. But, it would be a waste if I don't at least show some appreciation for what you've done tonight. So... May I please have another glass? Oh, and some of the dishes too, if you don't mind, I'll eat it up later."

There are some whispers between the members of the Tanit, perhaps questioning her sudden departure or something else. But, they don't seem to disagree with her request. So, they let her take some of the presented dishes that night, and then, a man came to her bringing a new cup of grape juice for her to drink...

As expected...

Smiling at the drink, the blonde haired Traveler chugged the whole drink in one motion as the all of them watches. And once that finished, she bid them all farewell before heading out into the desert with Paimon in tow. And just before she left the Tanit camp, she glanced back towards them who are whispering among themselves as they leave.

~o~0~o~

Several minutes later, after they walk away from the Tanit camps for several distance and arrived in a safe place. Lumine stopped walking before releasing a heavy sigh.

"What's wrong Lumi? Are you still feeling unwell? Maybe we should go visit Tighnari and ask him to check on you." Paimon muttered in concern, placing her hands on Lumine's shoulders to give them a tiny massage.

"Paimon..." Lumine began, her words became serious all of a sudden. "You're not gonna like what I'm about to say."

Paimon backs away from Lumine a little, surprised and confused with her companion's sudden change of behaviour, from her who looks all sickly just a second ago to looking dead serious in the next. Wordlessly, Lumine turns around to face the fairy, the dishes that she brought from the feast in the Tanit camp materialize on her palms... And then she dropped it to the ground.

"Wha- What are you doing?! All that food is a waste now!" Paimon complained loudly, hovering over the spilled food.

"They've been poisoned." Lumine stated, causing Paimon to stop.

"What?!"

"Here." Lumine placed her hand on the spilled food, and with some gesture, she made all the ingredients that made up the food afloat, separating one from another, the meat from the vegetables, the water from the oil, and the poison from the rest...

A dark purple colored substance is among the other ingredients in the dish, it has an ominous dark aura and has an awful smell.

"Consecrated Scorpions' venom, they laced it into our food and drink. Just a perfect dose of this could kill us." Lumine explained, eyeing the substance closely.

"Eeek! How terrifying!" Paimon screamed loudly, eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "Does... Does that mean... The Tanit are trying to kill us? Why? A-And... How did you know the food is poisoned?"

"Remember the drink one of them are offering me? I admit that I was reckless to think that they have no ill intent and didn't check the drink more closely. But the most clear evidence is the fact that they bother to give me another cup instead of using the one I just dropped, turns out, those aren't empty cups at all. They've already placed the poison inside before pouring the drink, cleverly choosing grape Juice due to the almost similar color that easily blends the poison with it."

Paimon gasped at the buzzare explaination. Before turning to look at Lumine with a horrified expression.

"B-But... But, but Paimon saw you drank the whole thing before we leave! A-And... Paimon eats some of them too, does that mean..."

"No Paimon, I don't think they poisoned the fruits. By sheer luck, you managed to avoid death." Lumine shook her head, to which Paimon lets out a big sigh of relief. "And as for the poison in the drink... Don't worry, this poison aren't strong enough to kill someone like me. Though I admit, I kinda regret it to not taste some of the food... I'm very hungry."

Both of them took a moment of silence to think over the fact that they just avoided certain death, especially Paimon who is stressed all over it and can't keep herself calm in contrast to Lumine who is perfectly calm despite the odds.

"Traveler... What are we gonna do?" Paimon asked the blonde haired girl in both confusion and fear. "The group that we had thought to be our ally suddenly turn on us. Paimon thinks we should just get out of here and never return."

"...You're free to go do that Paimon. However... I will go after my initial plan." Lumine said with a small shook of her head. "Now that my suspicions are proven true... I need to hurry up and find Jeht to get her out of this mess as quickly as possible."

"Ehh! You wanna go back there?!" Paimon exclaimed in shock. "No, you definitely shouldn't go there! What if what they said was true? What if Jeht really is trying to kill us? She is one with the Tanit." Paimon said with a violent shake of her head.

"I highly doubt it." Lumine replied with a shake of her own head. "There's a reason why Jebrael decided to leave the Tanit, and now we know why, it seems like they were trying to kill him as well, but luckily he managed to get away before they can, but unfortunately however... It seems like he never told this info on Jeht." Putting a hand on her chin, Lumine hummed in thought. "I think Babel's goal is to seize the Eternal Oasis for herself, now that we have opened up the path for her, she no longer saw any use in us, and thus tried to assassinate us and take Liloupar away, which luckily for our side, is no longer here. This also explains why Jeht hasn't returned yet. She is either lost in the desert, or... Is already dead."

Just the mere thought of her desert dweller friend being dead is enough to make Lumine grit her teeth, anger seethes from her fangs as she tries to hold back the dark feelings inside her head.

"Either way, I won't stop until I find Jeht again. If things gone my way, I predict that that woman would probably gonna come up with some excuse and reasons if I show myself up tomorrow, shattering their expectations that they have successfully killed me. By luck, perhaps I could also gain information about Jeht's whereabouts from her."

"But Lumi, that's way too dangerous!" Paimon protested, glaring at Lumine sharply. "Going back there is just like entering wolf's den. You're gonna get yourself killed!"

"Which is why I need you to do what I said, Paimon." Turning around, Lumine faced the white haired fairy, and though the bandages that wrapped around her head hid her expression, Paimon knows that Lumine is glaring at her in the eyes right now, dead serious. "You said that you can preserve your energy as long as you stayed in your pocket dimension, right? Then, I want you to stay there, and never go out until I called you out. I will handle things here myself, you can come out once things are safe, okay?"

"B-But..."

"Don't worry, these Tanit got nothing one me." Lumine said with a smile, one that turned into a grin. "Even if they tried to do things the hard way... I can just simply eat- I-I mean... defeat them."

Slip of the tongue, Lumine covered her lips with one hand, cutting off the rest of her words. Paimon looks at her confusedly, but doesn't think much about it. Taking her hands off, Lumine realize that she's drooling...

This isn't looking good.

~o~0~o~

Lumine returns to the Tanit camp the next morning after spending the whole night secretly scouting their camp in secret to see if Jeht returned to them, and she did not. Though feeling stressed over the fact that she just spend the whole night scouting without rest or eating for nothing, her hunger is nothing compared to the thought of her friend's in danger.

Calmly, she stride around the campsite, heading to the altar where Babel usually waits, and while doing so, some shocked gasps and stares did not go unnoticed as the tribesmen saw their target is still pretty much alive despite after witnessing for themselves how she just chugged down a poison worth of killing multiple men.

And there, she met her. Though she masks her expression with that blindfold, Lumine knows inwardly that she is shocked, scared half to death even, to see the blonde girl is still alive, and is now slowly, approaching her.

"Esteemed Master of the Jinni! There is an urgent matter that I need to inform you of!" After some moments of when they see each other again, Babel immediately runs towards Lumine with a mixed of shocked and panicked expression, though the blonde girl knows better to not trust this woman anymore. "I was so shocked when I first heard about it... Oh, where should I begin..."

"What is it?" Lumine asked, plain and simple.

"Jeht... Jeht, she's... I hate to say it, but she... could very well be a traitor to the tribe."

Oh she's a traitor alright. But it's better to believe a traitor than a power hungry backstabber.

"Hmph, and do you have any proof?" Lumine asked again, raising an eyebrow at her.

"Some time earlier, we caught a northerner who knew Jeht. He told us... that Jeht had revealed to them the location of all our outposts. If all our outposts are exposed, the actions of the entire Tanit tribe in the desert will be utterly restrained... What's more, according to him, Jeht has already sent out several batches of assassins, her very target being you... who possesses the Jinni." Babel explained, sounding concerned.

"Huh, I wonder what her reasons are..."

"I-I... I don't know." Babel stuttered, shaking her head. Looking totally not suspicious. "But, if his confession is true, Jeht should be active in their camp. And according to our recent reports, the northerners are indeed closing in on our tribe. They have bypassed our sentries and set up camps at a dangerously close distance."

"Those are signs, not proof." Lumine retorted, just how far will this woman going to continue spout out lies she wonders.

"In the desert, no one should take any ominous sign lightly. The excessive speculation of "Jeht is a traitor" is just the worst inference I have made based on the existing signs... Plus... She hasn't been back for a long time. I'm really worried about her. Please forgive me for making such a speculation... But I genuinely think of her as my own daughter. No matter what she might've become, it is the consequence of my own mistake... Therefore, esteemed Master of the Jinni, I beg you, regardless of the path she has chosen, bring her back to me... Whether she lives to prove her innocence, or has paid for her missteps."

Heh, lies, all of it. She has heard enough.

"Tell me where she might be so I can deal with this." Releasing a sigh, Lumine took out her map and handed it over to the matriarch of the tribe.

"I'll mark the location of the northerners' forward operating base on your map. Just keep looking in this direction and you won't miss it." Babel said as she finished marking the location and handed the map back to Lumine who immediately turn her back on her.

"I will find her, and bring her back, I promise." The blonde girl stated before heading out.

"Sorry, it all happened so suddenly... It's hard even for me to accept such a twist. Please bring her back to me and let me talk to her, will you?" Babel said, but her words fell on deaf ears.

~o~0~o~

By heading towards the location that Babel mentioned, Lumine did managed to find a Fatui camp stationed there. But she couldn't find neither Jeht or a group of Tanit traitors that should've been there. Instead however, she find an evidence that further proven her suspicions of the Tribe. A document she found nearby mentioned that the Fatui had made a deal with the tribe, by giving the Northerners a specimen of a young girl for experimentation, and Lumine's empty guts tells her that this is none other than Jeht.

Further down along the road resulted in her encountering another groups of Fatui skirmishers. And after easily defeating and interrogating one of them, she gained the information that Jeht is still alive and she is being held prisoner by them, but luckily though, she managed to break out by sheer force and is now running amok, her only goal now is to find her.

After dealing with more of the Fatui and scavenging through their documents, she finally found the potential location where Jeht is being held. She heads there as quickly as possible, taking some time inspecting the trails of chaos and destruction that she passed by, likely caused by Jeht. Further down the road, some familiar voice rings through the air, and Lumine instantly could make it out to be Jeht's. She's shouting and screaming, throwing cursed words to someone, likely to the Fatui who is responsible for her capture.

She arrived inside a giant room underground, standing on top as she looks down below to see the girl she's searching for is down there. Breathing heavily and coughing, blood and sweat mixed up to cover her skin, as multiple bruises are visible even from the distance Lumine was in.

"Jeht! Look, is that Jeht over there?" Paimon pops out into existence when Lumine finds the person she's looking for. Her eyebrows furrowed in worry as she saw the state Jeht is in. "Quick, let's go!"

Lumine nodded, jumping down to the same ground level with Jeht, landing on the floor with a thud, alarming Jeht of their presence as the blue haired girl stiffen, before slowly turning her head to look towards Lumine.

"You're here, Lumine..." Jeht softly muttered, releasing a heavy sigh as she fully turns her body around to face her. "Sorry, I might have lost my head a little back there... And sorry for getting caught as well."

"That's not important! Are you hurt? Is it serious?" Paimon shook her head as she slowly float towards her friend.

"Come here. I've something to tell you two." Taking a deep breath, Jeht releases another sigh before suddenly unsheathes her weapons. "...Tell me, that you still remember my mother's name? If so... prove it with your sword."

"Wh—What are you talking about?" Paimon asked in shock, Lumine steps forward and uses her arm to protect her.

"Tell me, straight to my face, that you aren't despicable traitors — and then prove it!"

Without warning, Jeht charges straight towards Lumine. She pushed Paimon away to safety as a dagger went flying straight in the place where she used to, another one is aimed towards Lumine's head to which she successfully dodged.

"You need to calm down." Lumine spoke up, ducking down as Jeht attempted to stab her in the face.

"I am calm. Draw your sword!" The blue haired girl urges, trying to cut Lumine into pieces as she slashes her multiple times, all of which Lumine successfully avoided.

"I'm not a traitor." Lumine retorted, backing away, she snapped her fingers to cause Dendro vines to sprout from the ground and wrap themselves around Jeht's limbs, restraining her. "It was Babel, she's trying to kill us!"

"Lies!" The desert-born roared, with an impressive might, she tore away the vines that restraint her, not caring that it causes her some muscles pain, she stood up, before charging towards Lumine again with a scream.

"Stay your hand! Jeht, Babel is the one who betrayed us! She tries to poison both Paimon and Lumi! Please, just listen to us!" Paimon begged, unable to do anything but to watch anxiously as the two girls fight.

"These northerners... If it wasn't you who told them about the Eternal Oasis, why are they targeting Tanit? Matriarch Babel told me everything! She asked me to track you down because Yuften saw your deal with the northerners! And Masseira..."

How awful... To think think that that wretched woman is heartless enough to lie to Jeht despite how much the girl has put her trust in her... The one figure she saw as family aside from her late ones...

"Jeht, please calm down! It was Babel! Babel told us to look for you!" Despite the odds, Paimon still tries hard to snap the girl out of her frenzy.

"Lies! Lies!"

"It's true! She... she also told us..." Paimon gulped the lump in her throat, before speaking up again. "She told us that you may be colluding with the Fatui, and that we were to take you back!"

"...!"

An opening!

Using her temporary shock that paused her body movements. Lumine charges towards Jeht with a speed of light, the brown skinned girl could barely register what's happening before Lumine reaches up and takes a hold of her throat, choking her and lifts her up off the ground.

"Sleep."

With a simple spell, Jeht stopped squirming in her hand, and her body went limp as she fell unconscious. Sighing in relief, Lumine put the unconscious girl down now that she has calmed her down. Paimon approaches her slowly, worried about Jeht, the two exchange glances before looking down at the sleeping girl. They have a lot to explain.

~o~0~o~

Lumine placed Jeht by the side of the campfire she built. She took notice of the the various wounds that marred her body, and decided to treat it while she's still knocked out. Lumine had sent Paimon away to scout outside if there's any other members of their Tanit or the Fatui following them. It's a little lonely without her as Lumine is alone with only an unconscious person, surrounded by dead bodies, but deep inside, Lumine thinks she made the right choice.

It's all thanks to Liloupar that they've made it this far.

"I wish to apologize to that girl..." Liloupar whispered to Lumine's ear as the blonde girl held her close.

"That girl... Are you referring to Jeht?" Lumine asked, there is no other person that the Jinn had a close contact with aside from Lumine, Paimon, and Jeht, so it should be obvious.

"Jeht... Yeah, that's her name." Liloupar moves in her palm, a gesture akin to a nod. "Perhaps I've been a little too harsh on her throughout our journey together. I admit that it's not because I disliked her personally, but it's more like that I disliked her because she came from the very same kind of that man that I used to fell for."

The Jinni confessed, to which Lumine nodded in understandment.

"Looks like my still existing resentment towards him have clouded my judgement. I should've known better to judge anyone individually, not by their race or families." Liloupar shakes her bottle. "Though she's born from the same place as Ormazd did, I can feel that she is... Different, somehow."

"Different?" Lumine raised an eyebrow.

"She is far from ideal, that's for sure, but still, she deserves better than the fate that has befallen her." Liloupar sighed, the light inside her bottle flicker, signaling her nearing departure. "My master, before I leave, may this humble servant of yours made a request to you?"

Lumine nodded, listening closely to her request.

"I still don't trust the desert dwellers. And the family to which that girl belongs into count is one of them."

Liloupar began, to which Lumine mentally agreed with her, these past few weeks has been spent centering around the Desert of Hadramaveth, and by extension, the Tanit tribe to which her friend from the desert, Jeht, belongs to. Although their tribe leader Matriarch Babel stated that they view themselves like a big family. The way they work and the methods they used are... Sometimes very morally questionable. One such example are the fate that had befallen the Falcon, Tadhla... Lumine had genuinely viewed her as a friend, and would continue to do so if it wasn't for that day, when she suddenly attacked them. Even though Lumine had managed to defeat her and stopped the fighting... The woman had chosen to take her own life instead, claiming that a Falcon cannot live, as long as it has wings that bent by their friendship.

Even now, Lumine still holds on to her feather, a silent pledge to never forget her, as her friend.

"You saw it for yourself of their questionable methods of working. So before the same fate would one day befell her, I wish that you could grab her by the hand and bring her out from that madness as quickly as you can. For her and your own good."

As Liloupar's final words continue to rang in her mind, Lumine quietly glanced to the unconscious girl she held close to her.

Jeht sleeps peacefully by in her arms. The mixed odors of blood from the corpses in their surroundings, the sweat from her overworked body, and the burning poplar branches cannot fully mask the scent of spices she carries. And all of it drills madly into Lumine's nose.

Is this Jeht wearing perfume? Lumine is not against her decision to wear one. But what she minded however, is her choice of smell.

The scent of spices... Just inhaling it made Lumine remembers the scent of Sumeru's dishes... Their tantalising looks, their wonderful smell, and their delicious taste... Just thinking about it makes her stomach growls hungrily, impatiently.

Lumine looks carefully at Jeht's face. Her eyes closed and her mouth parted with each breath she takes. As if in a daze... Lumine parted her lips, barring her fangs, her face approaches Jeht's and...

"Lumi, I'm back!" Paimon announced as she came into view, snapping Lumine back to reality as she pushed Jeht's face away from her while using one hand to cover her mouth. "Paimon don't see any Fatui or the Tanit out there. Looks like we're truly safe."

"I see... Thanks for your hard work Paimon." Lumine nodded, uncovering her mouth after a while, gaining a look of confusion from Paimon.

"Urkh..." A voice came out from between the two, and they turned their heads to look at Jeht who finally opened her eyes. "Where... Am I?"

"Jeht! You're finally awake!" Paimon exclaimed in surprise, smiling happily upon seeing her wake up.

"Gah!" Not two seconds later, the moment she saw both Lumine and Paimon in her line of sight, the brown skinned girl immediately backed away, attempting to unsheathe her weapon, ready to engage in combat again, but unfortunately for her, Lumine had taken all her weapons before as a precaution. "Y-You! You traitor! What the hell are you doing to me?!"

"Calm down will ya? We're not gonna do this again." Lumine shook her head with a tired sigh, putting both hands on her sides. "I was just treating your wounds, that's all."

"Huh?" Jeht take a moment to check on herself, finding her body being bandaged in places where it hurts, and since there's nobody else here (that's still alive) aside from them, there's no other explanation. "Tsk, what the heck are you up to? Treating my wounds like this when you could've just killed me?"

"Well, it's because I don't want to kill you, obviously." Lumine sighed again, putting one hand over her chest. "We're here to save you."

"Save me? From what?" Jeht asked, a bit confused.

"From your "Family," take a look at this." Lumine threw her a rolled up paper, to which Jeht catch. Silently, the blue haired girl unroll it and read it's contents, which is the combination of all the documents the Fatui had left behind, about their dealings with the Tanit, their transfer of a certain young girl for experiment, which is none other than Jeht herself. And little by little, her expression changed.

"Matriarch Babel... Why? Why would she do such things?" Jeht gritted her teeth, her hands clenching tightly that it rips apart the paper she held. "I... I can't believe it!"

"Babel wanted to pit us against each other, see who between us who would survive. Though after what happened yesterday, I personally think that she wanted us both gone." Lumine said with a shake of her head.

"So, she set the trap up long ago, and was just waiting for us to walk right into it?" Jeht asked, to which Lumine and Paimon nodded.

"It's very likely that she wanted to seize the Eternal Oasis for herself, eliminating those of whom had no other use for her. And that includes me, and you."

"Ugh..." Jeht heavily sighed, putting a hand on her head as she shook it. After a while, she raise her head and looks at Lumine apologetically "Lumine... I'm... I'm sorry. You were right, perhaps I should've calm down and listen to what you're about to say before. I could never forgive myself for not trusting my one true friend like that. Thank goodness you're alright..."

"No need to apologize. It's not your fault." Lumine shook her head, before a scowl formed on her lips. "It was her fault, it's Babel's. She's the reason why your father left the Tanit for targeting his life, and now, she's after your life too."

"Right... You're so right. I have to get to the bottom of this. I need answers from her." Bawling her hands into fist, a look of determination appears on Jeht's face, mixed with anger and hatred. "Let's go. Let's find Babel and have her explain everything to us."

"Uhh, are you sure? Those wounds aren't fully healed yet." Paimon asked in concern.

"My wounds? Where? Pfft... These things won't hold me back even a bit! Come on let's go!" Jeht huffed in amusement, putting her hands on her sides pridely.

"You're right. Let's go Paimon, let's go confront that witch." Handing Jeht back her weapons, the three exit that cave and into the desert outside.

~o~0~o~

They arrive at the entrance to the valley later that night, where Matriarch Babel happens to be waiting for her subordinates.

However, instead of the trusted assassins that she had sent out to eliminate both the half-Tanit girl and the Traveler. It was instead her targets of assassination that appears before her. Paimon floats anxiously on the left, while the blue haired girl of the desert is on the right, with her weapons already drawn out and held by both hands. And then, standing in the middle of the two, is the blonde haired Traveler, wearing a pristine white dress and rolls of bandages that wrapped around her head to cover her eyes.

"...It's you, Jeht! You're... You're back." Babel spoke up, falsely sounding surprised and concerned. "It does my heart good to see you return safely... You must be in need of some rest. Come, let me see what I can do-"

"Enough with all of your lies, Babel!" Jeht cuts her off before she could finish her sentence. "I have learned everything from Lumine. All of your crimes and truth behind your lies!" Inhaling a deep breath, she grits her teeth as she asked. "Why did you lure me into the northerners' trap? Why did you send other members of the tribe to kill me? Why do you want me dead?"

Babel went silent, as if she has run out of words or lies to cover up the truth anymore. So instead, she lets out a heavy sigh before starting to explain.

"Do you remember what I told you? Of how the Eternal Oasis is the Tanit's hope, and how it will bestow a prosperous homeland upon us? It is exactly for this cause that you pledged your loyalty to me, no?" Babel asked, causing Jeht to raise an eyebrow. "Now that the door to the Oasis is open to the Tanit, we must keep it a secret from outsiders. We must ensure that the Tanit are and will remain the most beloved children of the Queen of All Oases. Only thus can we guide the other wandering desert tribes to gather by the Oasis. And when they do... Just think about it, faith will allow us to reunite the scattered peoples of the desert and their resources. Under the guidance of the Queen of All Oases, we will rebuild a nation of oases in this desert with our own two hands, and once that is done, none of us shall ever have to bow to those city ilk ever again." Babel explained, raising her arms up. "We will be able to build our own palaces, develop an academic system unique to us. We shall even challenge that god who's naught but a mere caged bird! Of all those things that I told you, have you not listened to a single word?"

"And I told you that it was impossible! The Queen of All Oases is long gone. She's not in the Oasis, and there's no way we can resurrect her!" Jeht retorted, swaying an arm to the side as she glares at Babel sharply.

"Preposterous! Even as my most beloved daughter, how dare you spout such nonsense!" Babel glares back at Jeht, pointing a finger at her. "Whether she is alive or dead, whether she can or cannot be resurrected... As long as the Eternal Oasis is under my control, all such things will be mine to decide. I shall be the sole Prophetess of the slumbering goddess, the Tanit's law shall be divine edict, and the prosperity of the Tanit shall be the pre-ordinance of her divine oracles."

"I think this guy lost it." Lumine muttered silently with a shook of her head. Power really has an incredible ability to turn one into such delusional like her.

"But before all that comes true, Jeht... It's not yet too late to repent. You are my most beloved daughter, and I wish to set you back on the right path." Babel spoke up after a while, her gaze suddenly got soften than before.

"I—I don't understand. What do you mean?" Jeht asked confusedly.

"I've made my point clear: The one and only oracle demands absolute obedience. The only ones who haven't been blinded by the truth of the Oasis are you and your outsider friend." Babel turned her head to look at Lumine, her expression immediately changes into a sour one. "And this outsider remains the Master of the Jinni. Though the Jinni herself has long gone silent, we can gain control over her as long as we get rid of her master. Of the two of us, it is I who respects her ancient wisdom and the power to rebuild the Oasis. It is more fitting, therefore, that we gain mastery over the Jinni. You dodged the question last time... and that is understandable. But today, you must make a choice: Tanit, your home, or this outsider, this friend of yours." The leader of the tribe said before looking back at Jeht.

Lumine too turned her head to look at Jeht, giving her a raised eyebrow.

"Wait. Are you saying that you discussed how to get rid of me previously?"

"I mean, how could I? You are the most important person to me aside from my father and mother." Jeht shrugged, saying it so casually like it was normal.

"Heh, maybe you should've accepted it. I would like to see you try-" Lumine spoke up, but is cut off by Paimon who shuts her mouth with her hands.

"I'm sorry, my child, but sacrifice is necessary... I shall not let her noble blood be shed in vain. On that, you can have absolute faith in me." Babel shakes her head, placing her palm on her chest. "As for you, Jeht, you will become my successor, and one day, you will be the Tanit's new Matriarch and Nabu Malikata's Prophetess. Please, consider my offer. The future of our home lies in your hands, my daughter. Merely ask it of me, and I will give you time and one more chance."

There's a silent hangs in the air, as nobody speaks. Only the sounds of wind carrying sands and dust enters their ears. A sigh escapes from Jeht's lips, as she shrugged her shoulders.

"There's no need. I've made up my mind." The blue haired girl stated.

"Um, you sure you don't want more time? This situation's, like, super tense!" Paimon whispered, full of worry and anxiety.

"Babel, I appreciate your help all throughout this time... Though I'm well aware of the fact that I'm the daughter of a traitor and an outsider. I couldn't be more grateful... for your arrangements." Jeht spoke up, lowering her arms down to let it hangs on her sides. "...The things that I've done for you, the voices I've silenced for you, the elders who disappeared..." Out of the corner of her eyes, Lumine saw Jeht tightening her grip on her blades. "Elder Bleda, the one who liked crocodiles... surely you remember him? He treated you like his daughter, and he doted on me as well... That's why I could plunge a poisoned dagger into his chest."

Babel raised an eyebrow, looking confused at what Jeht is saying, Paimon has the same reaction as well. But the same thing couldn't be said to Lumine however...

"Elder Gwaffah was such an eyesore to you, and you were that to him, too. And sadly, it was me in the end with a Sumpter Beast's jawbone. Again, and again, and again, and again... That was the first time I had ever been scared to tears. I was so afraid of myself. I still remember how you wiped my tears away..."

"Wait. Why are you bringing this up? Why do you have to bring this up in front of them?" Babel asked full of confusion, she glanced around to look at the group, and there she saw Lumine, standing motionlessly, with no facial expressions whatsoever. Only blank.

"Ah, and there was also Elder Teyya. She was young and beautiful, and she was the head of the hunting party... a more capable competitor than you. She thought I adored her, but I was loyal to you, for I believed that you alone were my true family. I believed that you could wipe my tears away once more and give me a home." Jeht lightly chuckled, but it was dry, it was lifeless. "So I made her disappear in the desert..."

"And what is the point of this meaningless talk?" Babel asked once more, she slowly backs away from them.

"You are the "sole oracle of the goddess" and my "mother." Why should there be any secrets between us?" Jeht asked sarcastically, the grip on her blades tightening even more. "If you wish to hear more, I can spell every one of my deeds out to you, and to all the Tanit. Everything I've done for you, my mother, and for this family. I've done enough, and I'm fed up with it!"

Raising her hands, Jeht steps forward and points her weapons towards Babel, the tribe leader's bodyguards points their spears at her in return, protecting Babel.

"Lying and trying to kill me is one thing, but I will never, EVER, forgive you, for trying to hurt Lumine!" Jeht yelled, barring her teeth in anger.

"You're mad... How dare you slander me, your Matriarch! You've forgotten your mother's name! Silence, I bid you be silent now, before it is too late!" Babel yelled back, clenching her hand in anger.

"You are never gonna be my mother." Jeht lightly shook her head, as a look of determination burns in her eyes. "I already have a mother. My mother's name is Ufairah, Ufairah Hindi. And She was an honest person, unlike you."

Babel was silent for a moment, hanging her head as her gaze dropped to the ground. And then... She chuckled, her lips turned into a smile as she continued to snicker, a hand came to rest on her face as she shook her head lightly.

"Ah, so it was true, then. The traitor's daughter could never be anything but a half-grown mongrel... just like her father." Letting out a sigh, Babel glares towards Jeht, sending daggers of pure enmity towards her. "Jebrael and that outsider woman have already paid the price for the unforgivable things they did, and now, their daughter repeats their errors. I should've seen that coming!"

"Ufairah Hindi, that's her name... And it will be mine as well." Hey silently muttered before preparing for a fight as she took a stance with her weapons in hand.

"Traitor! All my teachings were for nothing! May the desert mark your treachery!" With that, Babel raised her hand and commanded her army to attack. "Enough! My kin, you know what to do. She has angered... and saddened me. Kill her!"

Without another seconds, the Tanit warriors charges towards them, pointing all their spears and swords towards Jeht. The blue haired girl only grinned in response, and charges back at them, holding both blades on her sides, she slice and diced all of her enemies, blindly slashing towards every direction where her enemies are and tanking all the damage she receives in the process, not bothering to even try to dodge them.

"H-Hold on! Don't get so worked up! Didn't you just say that you see Jeht as your daughter... Besides, Lumine has helped you so many times... A—Anyway, there's still gotta be a way to come to an understanding, right?" Paimon starts to panick as she sees the fight happening before her, fruitlessly trying to defuse the situation that is already cannot be avoided.

"Paimon, hide yourself. Keep your eyes closed... and don't dirty your white clothes." Jeht said to the floating pixie, warning her to stay out of the bloodshed that's about to take place.

Several minutes later, all that is left of the guards is their lifeless body, as Jeht stood over them, breathing heavily, blood dripping down from her blades.

"Y-You... You lying cur! Tanit will never stop pursuing you and the outsiders who collude with you!" Babel exclaimed, pointing a shaky finger at Jeht.

"I'd shut up if I were you, Babel! Save your energy for your last words!" Jeht retorted, readying herself to take down Babel next.

"Gah! Protect me! Protect me! You're going against all of Tanit! Do you think we'll ever forgive you?" Fear crept out to Babel's spine as she quickly turned her back on Jeht and scurried away from her, running back to the Tanit camp for her life.

"I don't want your forgiveness!" Jeht yelled back at her, she was about to give chase when she remembered that there was another person standing behind her.

Looking back behind her, Jeht finds Lumine, standing there motionlessly, like she was an expensive life-like statue. Paimon was beside her, trying to snap Lumine out of her daze.

"Hey, the bitch got away! C'mon, Let's chase her down!" Approaching the unresponsive girl, Jeht took Lumine's hand and pull, urging her to follow.

"Jeht..." Lumine spoke up after a long moment of only silence from her. She raised her head to look at Jeht. Though her expression is unreadable, Jeht knew she was being serious right now. "Do you think... That the Tanit's actions are unforgivable? That they all deserves judgement? That the people you've killed... Do not deserve it?" Lumine asked, it's almost impossible to make out any emotions from her voice, she talks... Like she's thinking of nothing right now.

"Heh, I don't really know whether they deserve it or not, but they were decent people." Jeht shakes her head before an angry frown appears on her face. "And for the Tanit? Don't even bother asking about it. They all deserves to die!"

There's no response from Lumine for a little while. But then, a while later, she smiles, which then turns into a grin, a big wide grin. She lets out a chuckle that sounds rather darkly. Her chuckle then turn into a small laugh.

"That's all I needed to hear."

Reaching up, Lumine tugged at the blindfold she's wearing over her eyes. The rolls of bandages smoothly slides down her face and shoulders and into the sands below. She slowly opens her eyes, unleashed the boiling hot blood red gems behind them, glowing ominously in the dark of the night.

"Come on then, let's kill 'em!" Lumine said with a hungry grin.

"Onward!" Jeht nodded, and without wasting anymore time, the two girls run after the escaping Babel.

"Hey wait!" Paimon who is left behind could only helplessly reach out in vain to stop them, but it was already too late.

"Come out, Babel! Watch closely how I tore your tribe apart! I hope you wallow in your self-pity!" Jeht screamed into the night air as she continued pressing onwards, towards the waves of the Tanit people who tried to stop her.

"Heh, I don't even need my sword for this." Lumine threw her sword away, opting to use both her hands instead. Light green colored energy coats her arms, and then, vines start to grow on her skin, covering both of her arms and turn them long and flexible, a pair of tentacles made out of Dendro vines replaced her hands, giving everyone who witnessed it a pause.

"Wha- What is this?!" One guy exclaimed upon seeing the unbelievable sight, but his question goes unanswered for he was sliced in half in the next second after he asked the question.

"Eeek! Monster!"

"Somebody, help!"

"I knew they're both monsters! Doomed! We're doomed!"

Their cries of fear and for help is the sweet song that filled that night, as both Lumine and Jeht tore away through waves after waves of the Tanit tribesmen that all fall under their power. Blood and chunks of meat splatter all around the campsite, dyeing the walls of stone crimson, and fill the dry desert air with the smell of iron from their littered corpses. Until eventually, all that is left is Babel herself.

Cowering on the floor of the altar, with two monstrous girls towering over her, the matriarch has never looked so fearful for her life like this. Just seeing this makes Lumine turn on, with her stomach agreeing, growling hungrily.

"Tanit... My tribe... my people..." Babel silently whispered, despair and sadness... All kinds of emotions are all mixed up in her voice. "...Look upon us... The Tanit... ruined... by a single traitor..." She wailed, shaking her head as her body shook from sobbing, tears raining down from her eyes. "My... tribe... my kin... my Eternal Oasis..."

"You Say goodbye to them, while you still have time for some final words." Jeht huffed, standing over Babel with her hands placed on her sides.

"Why! ...I once... loved you so much... Why did you... betray me... and the Tanit..." Babel asked, punching the floor beneath her once.

"Why? Because you're evil and I'm not. I see no reason why I must explain myself to you." Babel's only response is silence for that. "Alright... Babel, let me tell you. It's because Lumine is my best friend! She is the one that I truly see like a family to me. She is strong, she is dependable, but most importantly, her kindness has no limits, unlike you."

Lumine threw Jeht a side glance, her eyes, which are once red, are gradually receded back to its normal gold coloured ones.

"You wanted to get rid of her, but I refused to be part of it, and so you decided to get rid of me too. But that's not the worst part, you're more despicable than that... You wanted to pit us against each other!" Jeht spits out, anger and hatred seethes in her voice. "Only then did I realize that you are no "Prophetess," nor do you deserve to be favored by the Queen of All Oases. You're just a despicable schemer."

"You're... the foolish one... An outsider... You did all this, for an outsider!" Even near death, Babel still has the energy to retort, she raises a finger to point at Lumine. "Don't you see what she has done? Don't you see just what kind of a monster she is?! She is not human! I... We're your real family! You've destroyed everything. You destroyed... the hopes of the Tanit... the hopes of all the tribes who wander... amidst the gilded sands!"

"Stop bigging yourself up. I just pushed your tiny sand dune over, that's all." Jeht bats away the hand that points towards Lumine, glaring at Babel even more sharply. "Really, I'm the one with the questions here! What kind of mother would force her daughter to kill someone she views as her own family, anyway? Answer me!"

Again, only silence met her question.

"Tch, Some family you are. You tried to take my life! Abyss take your idiotic dream of being a prophetess. Well, someone might fulfill it in your stead... But I'm sure they'll keep their hands cleaner than you did."

Babel cast her head down upon that statement. They thought that maybe she's finally done with all her crap, but it's not. A little unexpectedly, she let's out a chuckle, a small one but audible.

"But I've already sent scouts to inform all the tribes of... your betrayal..." Babel spoke up, causing Jeht to stiffen. "Soon, it'll be known... that you're a traitor who tarnished her family's name... all across the vast desert... Very soon... No one will ever accept you again... Never again... will you find a safe place to lay your head..."

Jeht went silent, she paused to think about what she just heard.

"When did you do that?" The blue haired girl asked.

"Right before... you came back..." The red haired woman answered weakly.

"Hmph, So you've always wanted her dead, then. I expect as much" Lumine muttered, unimpressed.

"But you said before that you wanted to give me a chance to repent... Was that also a lie?" Jeht asked, her voice dry and hoarse.

"I thought... you'd soften... it'd make it easier to get rid of you..." Babel, who were once the leader of the Tanit tribe, muttered, sealing her fate with this last words.

Jeht's expression went blank, she took a deep breath before glancing at Lumine on her side, a silent signal. And with that gesture, Lumine snapped her fingers, tree roots sprouts from the ground, entangles Babel and lifts her up off the ground to Jeht's level, kindly offering the woman to be her prey.

"You disgust me. All of you."

With a single slash, Jeht sends blood to splatter at every direction on that platform.

~o~0~o~

"It's... It's all over... Isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is."

The group of three reached the entrance to the valley once Jeht has sorted out her feelings. Leaving the Tanit camps behind, and now, only the vast golden desert lies before them.

"Sorry... I don't know what to say..." Jeht said after releasing a heavy sigh, turning around to face both Lumine and Paimon, who each gave her a look, of concern, of pity, of sympathy.

"We... We didn't think it would turn out like this either..." Paimon says somberly, eyes narrowed like she was about to cry.

"And now, there is no place for me in the desert either. The news will spread quickly along the trade routes. Soon, all Eremite groups will know that I'm a dangerous person unworthy of their protection." Jeht hangs her head, she looks like she's about to cry as well, but she forces herself to hold it back, steeling her resolve, and to not let herself break down. "But I still have you two... I can still trust you, can't I? She asked after a while, looking at her two companions once more, with a little smile on her face.

"Mm, that's right. You can always trust us, Jeht! After all, we are your friends, right?" Paimon asked, a smile also appears on her face.

"I know... It's just that I'm left with nowhere to return to again..."

"That's not true." Lumine shakes her head, gaining Jeht's attention. "You may have lost your home, but right now, you are free. You can call anywhere you wish home. And that includes us." Lumine gestured towards herself. "You said that you view us like your family, yes? Then as your family, I could welcome you with open arms, to my home, our home."

Jeht went silent for a while, but then, she let out a snort, her smile widens slightly.

"If it were me back then, I'd have thought that you were mocking me! But you're right." Jeht said with a nod of her head. "Now, I'm the head of my own house. I'm no longer a servant bound by the name "Tanit." I'm now the master of the name "Jeht." I've reclaimed my mother's name... I'm free. Perhaps "Jeht" will also become the name of a new clan someday... Maybe? I dunno." The blue haired girl shrugged her shoulders. "My mother's name gives me pride, and my father's name also holds many memories for me. As long as I remember them, even in this barren desert... Will that not be the home I was seeking all along?"

"Hmph, I can't wait to see that." Lumine muttered, a smile also appears on her face. "I can see it even now, Jeht, there's a better future lies upon you in this desert or any other places. "Home" is not a place that causes you anxiety and other bad emotions, it is a place where warmth exist, where you could find yourself comfortable in it, a place where you... Accepted of what you are. And I'm sure that somewhere out there, such a place exists, waiting for you to come, no matter how long it takes for you to get there."

Jeht listened closely at Lumine's words. Silently, tears began to fall from the corner of her eyes, and she started sobbing.

"Thank you." She muttered amidst her sobbing, raising her hand to wipe the tears away from her face.

"You're welcome." Lumine said while smiling warmly at her. She reaches forward and took Jeht's hand, putting her palm on top of Jeht's, something materialize in between their connected hands. "Please, take this with you."

"What's this?" Jeht asked, eyeing the object in her hand, it looks like a talisman of sort.

"A realm dispatch. You can use it to gain access to my home anytime you want." Lumine answered, using her hands to close Jeht's finger on top of the object she handed her. "Like I said, my family is always open for you. You will always be welcomed in my house if you want to visit me. Or maybe..." Lumine smiled gently at her. "Maybe you can keep on holding it, and only use it once you have found and become the great leader of your own family, show me how far you have come."

With Lumine's words, Jeht tightened her grip on the talisman in her hand. A look of determination burning in her eyes, her lips quirk up, turning into a confident smile.

"Yeah, I will! It's a promise. I'll show you of how great can I be." Jeht said with a determined nod.

It's time for them to part ways. Lumine and Paimon hug Jeht before she departs. Hugging the dessert girl closely, not wanting to let go, but they know they have to. She holds Lumine tightly, almost as if afraid that a blinding sandstorm would sweep her away. and the blonde girl notice that she seems to be holding back sobs, judging from her quivering body. But she forces herself to smile, for the sake of the Traveler she saw like her own family.

"May we meet again under a lovelier sun." She says, pecking at the side of Lumine's cheek before she pushed her away. "Until we meet again, Traveler." Jeht turns away and leaves, followed shortly by Benben who hurried up to catch up with her.

"Welp... guess it's all over then."

And now, only the two of them remain, standing over the empty valleys, with only the night wind as their company. No other people talk with, no voices of laughter and chatter like before, it's all only silence now. To think that those things were here yesterday, and then all of it vanishes under a single night.

"You know Lumi, let's just go back to Sumeru city, shall we? Paimon thinks she has enough of this desert right now." Paimon turned to look Lumine who stood in place, looking like she was lost in her thoughts.

Going back to the city... To everyone... That sounds nice, but...

"My apologies Paimon, but... Could you please go on ahead? I'll catch up with you later." Lumine muttered, turning her back on the floating fairy.

"Huh? Why?" Paimon asked, confused and surprised.

"...There's one more thing I need to do here."

"But what could you possibly need to do here anymore?" The pixie asked again.

"Something that you definitely wouldn't like." Lumine simply stated before starting to walk away. "Go, now. I promise I'll catch up to you later." She promised before heading further down the road, leaving the white haired fairy alone and confused, as she saw the blonde haired girl disappears down the road, towards the direction of the Tanit camps.

~o~0~o~

Disgusting... Disgusting... How utterly disgusting...

A lone finger of a girl with short blonde hair in a white dress strolls around the broken and damaged beyond repair of the Tanit campsite. Her legs moved somewhat rhythmically, the heels of her boots clacking against the ground that echoes through the now empty valleys.

Her glowing golden eyes kept glancing at her surroundings, as her legs moved on autopilot, taking her body for a tour around the devastated landscape caused by the chaos she just unleashed moments ago.

Dead bodies are everywhere, all of which are corpses of the Tanit tribe, the once great group on this part of the region that has now been reduced to nothing but lambs for the slaughter. Some of their people received enough mercy for their deaths to be a quick one, a slash to one's throat, or a full decapitation of their heads. While others however... They got their bodies damaged so badly that it was beyond recognition.

Her legs took her to that one place, the place where it all began. Stepping over the pool of blood with a wet splat that even caused some of them to stick on her white stockings, the blonde girl kept on walking, as the smell of iron became more and more intense, which sharply inhaled by her nose.

Her legs eventually stopped moving, halting the girl to a complete still, as she finally reached her destination.

She looks down on the ground before her, there, lies the lifeless body of a once great leader of this tribe. The matriarch of the Tanit has met the end of her life at the hands of the person she molds and manipulates, thinking that she would receive everything because of it, not knowing that doing so Will cause her to lose everything instead. Such fate is nothing but deserved, for such karma is only fitting for a sinner like her.

"You kept on blaming the others... Blaming and blaming and never seeing yourself wrong. You think that this happens because she's a monster, when the truth is, it was you, Babel, who caused this to happen."

Lumine muttered softly, eyes narrowed as she stared at the lifeless body of Babel. Her eyes were blown wide open when she exhaled her last breath, mouth went wide open and limbs stiffened as her life fades away, there's a slit on her throat made by Jeht's blade, the one who took her life away, blood was pouring out of it but now, it has stopped and the crimson liquid has began to dried up.

"It was your greed and lust for power that made Jeht do this. After what happened to her father... You were like another light of hope in her life, a person to return to when the child is all alone and suffering in this world."

Lumine releases a sigh, frowning with her eyes narrowed.

"But then, you messed it all up. Breaking the poor child's heart when she was looking up for you for your guidance. You claim yourself to be her mother, but the fact is, you're nothing but a witch, who hungers for power."

The blonde girl closed her eyes, releasing a heavy sigh as she lightly shook her head.

"No man or woman in this world deserves that much power. If only you knew... That power, is not a blessing but a curse... Perhaps things would turn out much better than this."

She puts her hand over her chest, gesturing towards her heart... No... Not her heart, but rather, it was what's inside her heart.

"You do realize that you're talking to a bunch of lifeless corpses, right? They won't listen to you."

Lumine slowly opens her eyes, as she hears the voice that spoke up just now.

"No." She shakes her head, brushing off the voices in the back of her mind. "No, you're wrong. You can talk to dead people just like you're talking to a living one. The only difference is... They don't know how to talk back."

She heard the voice humped, as she crouched down to the ground to reach her hands out and gently placed it on the surface of the skin of the now ice cold body of the Tanit's matriarch, gently tracing her fingers along the smooth surfaces, which triggers a growling sound to come out from the depths of her stomach, which howls hungrily, impatiently.

Now that she thinks of it, Lumine hasn't eaten anything yet for the past three days, all of these events are happening so suddenly that she couldn't even catch a break to sit down and eat. Normally, she shouldn't need to feel worried and scared about the lack of nutrition, for she is an immortal that could survive without having to eat anything.

However... That is not what she fears of...

"..."

Lumine stares at the corpse before her. Something needs to be done with all these corpses that littered the valley, and luckily for these Tanit people (or rather what is left of them,) this Traveler is in need of some sustenance, to quell her hunger, and sated the darkness that grows inside her heart.

"Itadakimasu..."

Grabbing the fallen matriarch's legs, Lumine opens her mouth and digs in...

By the time morning came, nothing was left from the once great Tanit tribe, all that remained was a splatter of dried blood, and a pile of bones that littered the valley where their camps once stood.

---

Still can't believe that I'm writing this, but hey, I've always been a fan of fanarts that likes to potray Lumine as this feral bloodthirsty badass, and I wish there were more :(

Anyway, I gotta say, it feels good after I finished writing this, perhaps I could do another one when I'm feeling stressed out again. :))