if it feels like some of these chapters are getting longer...it's because they are! i considered breaking this one up into 2 parts bc it's a bit longer than what i'm used to, but the flow was nice

"That's just about everything," I added one last stroke of chalk on the board as I finished the timeline of events. "Any other questions? Diluc, you look like you want to say something."

He was frowning again. "It's unnerving to find that my memory has been tampered with. If you hadn't pointed it out, I don't think I ever would have noticed the identity of last year's Champion was completely missing from my mind. Whoever has the power to do such a thing—we should be careful with how we proceed."

"I have to agree," Childe piped in. "Especially since I was planning on winning the Grand Tournament this year, we can't have me disappearing into thin air. You wouldn't forget me, right Lumi?"

Kaeya pressed his lips together. "Winning or losing the Grand Tournament shouldn't be a priority, not until we figure out a way to stop the Abyss Order from succeeding in their goal—Lumine. As unfortunate as the monster attack was, we should be grateful they didn't take you by force straight away."

Wiping the chalk dust from my hands, I walked back to my seat and sat down with a sigh. "That's true. It looks like they want me to come willingly, but I don't know how long that will last. Enjou made it seem like I was their last hope."

"But there's another Source, isn't there? The one that went missing," Thoma reminded. "If we find that person, then maybe you won't be the Abyss Order's target anymore."

Diluc shook his head sternly. "This is the Abyss Order we're talking about. Even if the other Source were to suddenly appear again, I have no doubt Lumine will still be on their radar. Obtaining two sources of power and using the surplus energy to wreak havoc as a means of getting revenge is not an unlikely outcome."

"I don't know." I squeezed my fingers. "Based on how things looked in the Abyss, I never caught any hints of anger. There was just…empty sadness. Enjou and the other Abyssal creatures are just trying to live."

Diluc persisted. "If this 'Enjou' really had good intentions, it would have at least mentioned the other Source. By highlighting you as their sole savior, it was trying to corner you—to trick you into thinking there was no other choice. I don't care how human that thing may have looked, it is still a monster and will forever lead with an agenda that benefits the Abyss Order."

I sighed. "You're right."

I had to remind myself not to be swayed by Enjou's words. No matter how nonchalantly he reasoned, no matter how friendly he looked, I couldn't let myself be tricked into falling for any of it. If I did, that would put the lives of everyone in Teyvat at risk. A stronger Abyss Order meant a stronger presence of monsters popping up all over our world causing more chaos.

"What worries me," Kaeya leaned in. "Is that Enjou may be right about one thing—this link you have with the Abyss. Dreams, projections, whatever you may call them—they're very real, and they're very dangerous. Have you thought about the reason why you were able to suppress it for so long?"

"I guess it does seem silly that Almond Tofu had any power against the mighty Abyss Order," I blushed. "Enjou mentioned confidence, so it could have something to do with my state of mind. By simply believing I would be protected from the Abyss, the dreams go away."

"So, when there was no more Almond Tofu, what was it that made you feel this same protection?" Kaeya tapped a finger on the table.

I closed my eyes, trying to think. There was nothing I'd done during the day to affect how I would sleep that night, nor was there anything special about my sleeping arrangements. Because it had only been a couple of nights where I was Abyss-free, there wasn't much to go off of. Protection…protection…safety? Comfort? If I were to tweak the meaning of protection, one thing did stand out to me. In the nights that followed after Kaeya and Childe visited my room, I'd held onto a certain someone's scent that lingered on my pillow right before falling asleep. Eventually, it faded away—the same night when I dreamt of Enjou.

"What is it?" Thoma tilted his head. "It looks like you realized something."

"Nope," I felt another blush creep up my neck. "Not a clue."

Thoma frowned. "You gasped, though."

Did I? I was too wrapped up in the embarrassment of knowing that it was Kaeya's scent that brought me comfort. The reminder of him put me at ease, but saying that would surely result in his flirting being increased tenfold—not to mention how the other three people in the room would react to this news.

"Ah," I laughed. "It must have been the, um, the…"

"You're avoiding eye contact completely," Kaeya observed with a growing smirk. "Could it be that it involves one of us?"

How was he so spot on?

"One of us?" Diluc's contemplative frown shifted to a confused frown. "I was under the impression that this influencing factor is something present with you before going to sleep. No one else is with you at night, so—" His nostrils flared as he turned his attention from me to the three guys in the room. "Which one of you pricks is sharing a bed with Lumine?"

"Diluc!" I gasped. "I haven't—nobody has—"

Kaeya was laughing. Childe looked like he didn't know whether to be as amused as Kaeya or alarmed like Diluc. My face was growing hotter by the minute. Did Diluc really think I was spending the night with someone? I pictured how that might go with either of them, and it wasn't a terrible idea. I only became more flushed as I realized how much it tempted me. If something as simple as Kaeya's scent was enough to assure my subconscious, having the actual person with me would be…

"I don't think that's what's going on here," Thoma cleared his throat. Somehow, he looked just as flustered as I felt. "We're all friends with Lumine. While the degrees of friendship may vary, something like that would be out of line."

Pretending like I wasn't just entertaining the very out-of-line suggestion, I went along with Thoma's input. "Yes, exactly. Thank you, Thoma."

"For now, at least," Kaeya winked. "Later down the line…who knows? Winters here are cold, and Lumine might need someone to help keep her warm."

"By that logic, you're out of the picture, Cryo Vision," Childe smirked.

"I think I prefer it when you call me 'pirate boy.'"

"And I think I prefer it when you're not talking," Diluc grumbled. "Lumine, I'm sorry to have jumped to that conclusion. After giving it some thought, it's obvious that none of these idiots would ever get the chance. No offense to you, Thoma. We've only just met, but I have gleaned at least some sense of honor from you."

"None taken," Thoma replied curtly.

"Are you looking for a fight, Ragnvindr?" Childe pushed up from his chair.

I grabbed his arm and yanked him back down. "Nobody is fighting."

He looked down at my hand with indignation for only a moment before quirking into his usual composure. "I guess I can't do much with you holding me down, girlie. Just don't let go."

With a fluttering heartbeat, I dropped his arm and pulled my hand away, but the movement was jerky. "Anyways, back to the point."

"Right," Kaeya drawled. "The point being that you haven't been using us to reinforce your mind along with your heart. It seems I still have much work to do."

"Enough, Kaeya," Diluc cut in. "Can't you be serious for once?"

"I am serious, Diluc," Kaeya hummed back. "I can't afford to not be."

At least they were talking.

"Actually," I took in a slow breath to steady my thoughts and prepare to face Kaeya at the height of smugness. "I slept well after going over details with Kaeya and Childe one night."

Diluc narrowed his eyes. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"For whatever reason, Kaeya was hugging my pillow the entire time," I began to explain.

"It smells like you," Kaeya interjected. "Like rainbows and sunshine."

I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore the stutter in my chest. "Rainbows and sunshine? Really?"

He shrugged with a teasing grin. "You'd have to come a little closer for me to give a more detailed account. There's no room left on this chair, but my lap is feeling rather empty."

There was no mirror for me to look in, but I didn't need one to know my face was bright red. As red as Diluc's hair, in fact. Diluc—with his stormy frown. Not just stormy, downright murderous. The last time I saw him this upset was when that drunkard was bothering me in the tavern.

I did my best to steer us back on track. "What a coincidence. Kaeya thought my pillow smelled like me, and I thought my pillow smelled like Kaeya. He hugged it so much that his scent sort of stayed for a bit, and I found it to be comforting. Moving on—"

"You can't be serious," Childe gaped. "Kaeya? Girlie, the next time I go to your room, I'll be borrowing that pillow."

Diluc shifted his glare. "Bold of you to assume there'll be a next time."

"Kaeya," Thoma mumbled softly to himself. "Interesting."

"Oh, but Childe, it's been proven that I'm the one who keeps the monsters at bay—at least in her dreams. Why don't you leave the bedroom magic to me?" Kaeya's grin grew wider, and there was a lightness to it that suggested this was more than just teasing to him. Kaeya seemed genuinely elated.

"I'm beginning to think bringing you all together was a bad idea," I grumbled. "If we can't work together after all, then my plan B would have to be asking Enjou for more information. Maybe he and I could work something out."

Everyone's heads snapped to look at me with alarm.

"No," they all said in unison.

I was stunned by how quickly they agreed. "No?"

"Not a chance," Childe set his mouth in a grim line. "I don't care if it means you hanging out with Kaeya more, exposing yourself to that Enjou guy is bad news."

"It could corrupt your mind," Diluc said. "Or lull you into a false sense of security over time."

Thoma nodded. "We've got your back."

"Under any other circumstance, I doubt the four of us would have ever found ourselves teaming up to work together," Kaeya leaned back in his seat. "Because it's you and the fate of many others, you can trust us, Lumine. Extraordinary powers and extensive planning aside, trust is what will get us through this."

I looked at them individually. Though they were entirely different people, and though clear tensions hung in the air, one common variable remained present in their gazes—unfaltering loyalty. Without a doubt, I believed in the trust Kaeya talked about. I wouldn't have confided in them if I hadn't.

"Thank you," I smiled tightly. "If I'm being honest, when Enjou said something bad might happen to the people I cared about if I didn't comply…it scared me. It's a relief knowing that I'm not alone, but worrying about myself is one thing—I don't know what I would do if someone got hurt because of me."

"The Abyss Order won't be using anyone against you," Diluc said. "Not if we can help it."

Kaeya shrugged. "As a member of the student council, it's my job to make sure everyone is safe and attended to. Once this is done and over with, I should ask Jean for extra benefits. It's the least she can do."

"If it makes you happy, I'll keep an eye on everyone. I can't promise to save Bennett from himself, though," Childe grimaced. "That kid really is something."

"I didn't invest my Pyro talents into a shield for nothing," Thoma smiled at me. "If there's one thing I pride myself on, it's looking out for others."

Filled with relief, happiness, and overall appreciation, I couldn't help but smile brightly at the group. There was still much to get through, but I didn't need to depend on hope anymore. These guys were enough to reassure my heart, to convince me that things might just turn out alright after all. I did my best to hold back happy tears.

"Right then," I sniffed. "Onto the next matter. I still need to show Diluc my Anemo ability. Thoma too, but I have to prove that I haven't lost my mind."

"My kind of crazy," Childe openly grinned.

I ignored him. Partially. There was only so much I could set aside for later, and Childe's blatant heart-eyes were so different from Kaeya's strategic flirts. Really—how did I not see it before?

"Kaeya, do you mind if I rustle a few papers?"

"Use these," he gathered sheets that hadn't been sorted and slid them across the table.

"Thanks. Now, watch carefully."

I reached out to the cluster of papers, not to grab them, but to direct the Anemo. This time, I was aiming for a more extravagant display. A simple show wouldn't do, not when I had four pairs of keen eyes trained on me. I wanted to impress them, even if I felt a bit drained after.

Wisps of Anemo carefully picked up the paper to float in the air like leaves in the wind. Instead of letting them hover, I twirled my wrist with a flourish and the Ameno spun into a small whirlwind that was visible by the sheets fluttering in a circle above our heads. Taking a peek at Diluc, I smiled with satisfaction once his eyes slowly widened in awe. Thoma's mouth was agape—not surprising. Even though he'd said he believed me, seeing it for himself had its impact. Gradually, I let the papers fall back to the table, and I even conjured Anemo currents to sweep inwards so none of them slipped to the floor. A weight settled over my arms once I'd retracted the power, but it wasn't as intense as I expected it to be.

Diluc was the first to say anything. "Seeing is believing."

"Do you think you could do that to the leaves outside?" Thoma asked. "Blowing them into one neat pile, oh how convenient that would be."

"She's not a groundskeeper," Childe grumbled.

"I know that," Thoma's cheeks tinted. "I was just thinking out loud, that's all."

"I can try when there's no risk. It'd be a good large-scale practice."

"Practice for Anemo is good and all," Kaeya said. "What about Geo? Have you figured out a way to harness that energy?"

Childe sat up. "Hang on, Kaeya. Are we sure that's a good idea? Lumi, you broke a wall the last time you used Geo."

"The Academy was easily able to look past that the first time," Diluc begrudgingly agreed. "Another case of property damage would certainly turn some heads. Is there any particular rush for you to explore these Geo powers? I don't want you to strain yourself."

"I can handle it. Childe brings up a good point, though. Figuring out how Geo works while indoors wouldn't be the wisest decision."

"The gazebo is private, but not private enough for something of that scale," Thoma added. "I'm afraid there aren't any good options."

With the gazebo, there was a shelter of trees and some distance from the main campus to keep things hidden, but Thoma was right. One other location would be the surrounding forest. Not only was it covered with even more trees, but I could get even further from campus to avoid detection. There was just one obstacle in the way.

"Kaeya," I rested my elbows on the table. "With these Sakoku Order protests, how much longer do you think it'll take until the Raiden Shogun finally lifts it?"

"How long?" he rubbed his jaw. "If Jean really pushes for it, which I think she will, we're looking at around a week or two. Worst-case scenario is never, but that won't do. After winter break at the latest."

Diluc tutted. "Vague."

"It's not up to me," Kaeya shot back. "What is up to me is putting these responses together. The faster that gets done, the faster Jean can make the proposal. If all of us chip in, this work could be done by the end of the night."

"Good idea," I brushed back my hair. "I don't mind helping out, then."

"No wonder the student council is slow to produce results," Diluc grunted. "Tasking a single person with a job. Always so inefficient."

Kaeya tilted his head. "Agree to disagree."

"So, you guys in?" I looked to Childe.

He eyed the pile of work. "It couldn't hurt to get through some. Besides, I need to stay and make sure Kaeya doesn't try anything funny."

"Uh-huh," I blushed. "Thoma?"

He looked up from a piece of paper already in his hand. "What's that? Oh, of course, I'd be happy to help."

Then, there was just one more.

"Diluc?"

He crossed his arms, and I was sure Diluc would decline help entirely. He did mention there were other responsibilities for him to attend to, so I could understand that. With the additional fact that he'd continue to be stuck in the same room as Kaeya…now was his chance to escape. It was clear from the look of disdain on his face that student council work was probably the last thing he wanted to be involved in.

"What exactly are we doing here?" he sighed. "I suppose I could stay for a bit if it means moving things along faster."

Kaeya shifted in his seat, and I peeked at him to see he looked just as surprised as I felt. Before Diluc could change his mind, I grabbed a wayward piece of paper and placed it in front of him. Assuming his role as a student council member, Kaeya explained to everyone how to categorize the responses, and my shoulders relaxed. Finally, something normal.

Diluc didn't stay for long. I was still surprised that he stayed at all to sort several dozen responses on his own. He didn't say anything directly to me before leaving, and I could tell having the others here was most likely the reason for that. Despite his aloofness, I felt there was something there—a chance that Diluc could become indifferent to rather than annoyed by Kaeya's presence over time. It was hard to tell what the future would hold, and I switched mental tracks to focus on the task at hand.

I grabbed my first response slip. The student's handwriting resembled chicken scratch, but at least the message was simple.

I like to hunt. No forest means no hunting. This makes Razor sad.

That would go in the freedom-to-explore-the-forest pile.

Her Majesty beseeches you to cease the restrictive ordinance. Should this world capture the attention of such violent beasts, then I shall fell it with my ensorcelled arrows of judgment!

Her Majesty? I reread the slip and tried to make sense of what this student was trying to say. It sounded like they wanted to take the Abyss Order head-on. While I admired their fighting spirit, I highly doubted the Academy would allow it. For now, I put it in its own pile.

Nothing beats looking out over the ocean and drinking a cold beer after a hard day's work. I miss talking with the passing crew, and I want to know if they're doing alright. Let us use the waypoints again.

I placed that in the teleport-usage pile.

I want to eat at the restaurant in town! I didn't even know there was one until my friends brought up it had hot pot. I love hot pot so much and can't wait to toss in my special ingredients.

This one screamed Xiangling. I also put that in the teleport-usage pile, and my stomach growled when thinking about what delicious combinations Xiangling could make if the right tools were available to her. I would have to stop by her room one day to see that stove for myself and maybe convince her to make me one of her specialties.

"Are you hungry?" Childe asked.

"A little," I admitted. "We still haven't eaten any dinner yet, but I want to make sure this gets done first."

Thoma's head picked up. "Do you want me to grab something to eat?"

"I can stop by the dining hall and pick up some food," Childe said at the same time.

"I'm feeling quite peckish myself." Kaeya chimed in. "Any volunteers for me?"

Crickets.

"Ouch," he chuckled.

"I do have two hands," Thoma got up. "Carrying more than one plate shouldn't be a problem."

Childe also stood. "You're too thoughtful. How about I do the honors instead?"

"Four hands are better than two," Thoma smiled. "We can grab the food together."

"Together? How about we see who can carry the most food and get back the fastest?" Childe proposed. "The winner can sit next to Lumi, and the loser is banished to the other side of the table."

"Deal," Thoma said with no hesitation.

With that settled, they made haste in their mission to deliver food. Competing for something as trivial as sitting next to me, surely that was too much, right? The thought of dinner on its way boosted my energy somewhat, and a smile touched my lips as I pictured them in the dining hall. Hopefully, they didn't cause too much chaos.

"And then there were two," Kaeya set down his pen and looked at me with a playful smile. "I will say that I was only joking about what I said earlier—that you were thinking of one of us before going to sleep."

"I can't help what I smell," I mumbled.

"If you want, you can take one of my pillows. The scent has faded on yours, has it not?"

"One of yours?" I shook my head. "No, that's fine. Now that I know what the underlying reason was, I can just think about the subject directly instead of relying on a pillow."

"You mean you'll be thinking of me before going to sleep each night?" he smirked.

My face heated. "When you put it that way, yes. It would also be worth thinking of other…people."

"Other people? Is there someone else who makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside? Who is it, Thoma or Childe? Maybe even Diluc?"

There was an opening there for me to talk about Diluc with him, and I latched onto it. It also allowed me to change the subject. Two birds, one stone. "Speaking of Diluc, I asked him about what happened in your past."

"Did you?" Kaeya's smirk faltered. "And what was his response?"

"That it was for you to say and him to never forgive."

He sighed. "Yes, that sounds like him. You want to know about our past, hm? I would have thought today's quota of serious topics had been met already."

"That's alright," I quieted. "I don't want to force you into saying anything you're not comfortable with."

"No, no, I'm completely comfortable around you," Kaeya insisted. "I am grateful you decided to bring it up now while those two made themselves busy. I would prefer this stay between us, Lumine. I am…not proud of my past, and Diluc has every right to hold the resentment he does." He sighed heavily and rubbed his jaw, looking out the window to where night had just fallen. "As you already know, I was adopted into Diluc's family when I was young. Before meeting his father, Crepus, I was an orphan that roamed the streets of Mondstadt. Some nights, I went hungry, and there was no option to provide for myself other than petty theft. Nobody looked at a defenseless child and thought 'pickpocket suspect,' so I got away with it until the wrong people caught me."

"The Knights of Favonius?" I guessed, having some sense of the authorities in Mondstadt.

"No," he snorted. "I wish. I had come across a band of traveling treasure hoarders, though I didn't know it at the time. All I saw were shiny trinkets hidden in shallow pockets that could earn me my next meal. As swift as I had become with practice, I wasn't quick enough to get away from them in time. The treasure hoarders caught me, dragged me to an abandoned alley, and threatened my life," he paused. "Then, they gave me an ultimatum. I would either pay for my crimes the treasure hoarder way, or they would take me in as one of their own."

I gasped. "You joined the treasure hoarders? I didn't know they let kids in."

"They do if you're a kid with promising talent and no family," he said bitterly. "I couldn't say no to a roof over my head, and I was gullible enough to believe they meant well. The treasure hoarders took me in, gave me a home—a life—and all I had to do was prove myself useful. That arrangement didn't last very long, though. I got caught again."

"Was it the Knights this time?"

He chuckled. "It was Crepus."

Diluc's dad.

"What did he do? Did he turn you in?"

"He was going to," Kaeya stared at the table. "I don't know why he didn't. At the time, I thought all grown-ups were weird and lonely because he decided to adopt me just as the treasure hoarders had. Of course, I knew better than to reveal my alliance with them— thinking he would have thrown me out for sure. In retrospect, it would have been best for me to come clean straight away. I'd come to learn that Crepus wasn't just an honorable man, but a compassionate one. He took me to his manor and gave me a real home with no strings attached. Even better, he gave me a family."

"How did the treasure hoarders respond?"

"They were excited about it, actually," Kaeya grimaced. "They saw me as their 'in' to a bigger job—the ultimate heist. All I had to do was act like a good son while leaking information about the winery's business so they could predict the market, intercept cargo, and fill their pockets. I thought I didn't have a choice. The treasure hoarders were the first to show me kindness, and I felt indebted to them because of it. As time went on, though, I didn't want to be a part of the scheme anymore. I loved Crepus like he was my own father, and I couldn't stomach any further betrayal. My timing in realizing this was…most unfortunate." Kaeya clenched his jaw as a faraway look took over his eyes. "I planned to tell Crepus everything as well as Diluc—another person who had accepted me into his life with open arms," he swallowed. "On that day, I came back to the manor after a personal outing, and what I found was…father had passed away."

The pain in Kaeya's voice carried over into my own heart. I'd never heard of Crepus until today, but it was clear just how much Kaeya cared for him.

"Still, in the height of my grief, even though Diluc was in great agony, I committed to telling my truth. He…didn't take it very well. Father might have been forgiving, but Diluc turned his blade on me in an instant. We fought, and things were never the same."

He finished with that, and it was hard for me to find something to say in response. The guilt Kaeya harbored because of his lies in addition to the immense betrayal Diluc must have felt on the day of his father's death was a lot to take in. I never would have imagined their differences stemmed from something so serious and heartbreaking, and I couldn't blame Diluc for holding on to the hate. Hate was easier to cope with than grief.

"That's everything," Kaeya's lips quirked into a half-smile. "As you can probably tell, trust is something that matters very dearly to Diluc. So please, don't make the same mistake I did."

"You didn't know any better." I pressed my lips together. "You were just a kid."

He looked at me with a weak smile. "Thank you, Lumine. At this point, there is no sense in thinking of what could have been, so your reassurance is refreshing. It's been years since that event occurred, and I'm only bothered by it on occasion. Diluc's new involvement will certainly be interesting, but I'll manage."

"Kaeya…" I wanted to hug him.

The door burst open.

"Did someone make a double order of Golden Crab?" Childe stood with two plates, one in each hand.

Thoma pushed past him, holding another two plates of the same dish, and another two servings were balanced on his forearms. "Why have two when you can have six?"

"Looks like Childe wins by getting here first," Kaeya applauded, all signs of our conversation erased from his composure. "Thoma did bring more servings, though."

"Was Golden Crab the only thing on the menu?" I asked. "Talk about overkill."

Thoma chuckled. "Xiangling piled them on. She insisted we eat only the best in return for the work we're doing."

"She also told us to rescue you from Kaeya's labor." Childe set down the plates. "Your time is up, pirate boy. Now, we feast."

Kaeya laughed at that, and I wasn't sure if it was in response to being called 'pirate boy' again or because of the ridiculous spread of pure crab that now cluttered the table. His reaction was genuine, though, and it warmed my heart to see it. Knowing Kaeya could still smile so brightly even after enduring a past that haunts him even now, I was awed by his strength.

"I call dibs on the Golden Crab," I grinned.

Kaeya scanned the table. "I'll try some of the Golden Crab first and see if I have room for Golden Crab later."

"Good choice," Thoma went along with the bit. "My personal favorite is the Golden Crab."

"Studies have shown Golden Crab is an excellent boost for defense," Childe reported. "If you have a healer with you, the effectiveness of that is also increased."

"Nerd," I snickered. "Since when did you do actual learning at this school?"

He shrugged. "Xiangling once told me that the way to a person's heart is through their stomach, and I believe you deserve the highest quality dishes."

"Less talking, more eating," I ducked my head to hide my blush. Unlike Kaeya, it seemed that Childe didn't even know how his words could affect me—his oblivious smile never wavered. "Then, it's back to work."

"Yes ma'am."

good luck to all ayaka and mistsplitter wanters!🍀