Happy new year.

Here's a new year gift from me. It was supposed to be a complete chapter of the Lumine's mirage fic which still incomplete, but i still need time for it, sadly :(


Prologue

There is something strange about Liyue that Lumine couldn't understand.

She is a hundred percent sure that she had never set her foot on the land of Geo even once before her first time traveling there to attend the Rite of Descension where the god of Geo, Rex Lapis, would descent into the world to meet his people. A one in a year chance that Lumine definitely wouldn't want to miss in order for her to hopefully find some answers about her missing brother's whereabouts if he has any. And yet, by the time she met one or two people who came from the said nation, all that she met was this weird looks that everyone gives her. A look that spells... Familiarity, or something...

The first time this happened is just a few weeks ago, during one bright sunny day in Mondstadt.

At that time, Lumine and her traveling companion, Paimon, were taking a stroll on the outskirts of Springvale, visiting the place for the first time since their arrival to Mondstadt. And their once planned peaceful stroll would turn into quite an adventure of hunting, searching, and cooking when a certain chef from Liyue pulls at her hand all of the sudden.

The young girl from Liyue who introduced herself as Xiangling was out in Mondstadt hunting wild boars for her cooking. Her eyes sparkles brilliantly while drools coming out from the corner of her mouth as she's staring at her prey.

But the lights in her eyes sparkles even more by the time she looks at Lumine properly, up and down from head to toe. She looks surprised, amazed even.

"You know, I've been meaning to ask you something..." Xiangling stared at her in wonder and curiosity. "Are you... A cosplayer?"

"A what?"

Lumine looks back at the blue haired chef. Finding her question confusing, not just from why she asked her that, but also by how alien the word is to her ears.

"You know, people who loves to dress up in costumes of someone they idolize?" Xiangling asked, while also explaining the topic that Lumine is unfamiliar with. "I heard the people in Inazuma likes to do cosplays. Usually to dress up as a character from their favourite light novels. Are you one of those too?" The chef from Liyue asked again.

Lumine furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. This is her first time of hearing such thing. To dress up in costumes of someone that you idolize? What makes Xiangling thinks that? Is it because of the dress she's wearing? It is pretty strange-looking if you were to compare it to the likes of what the Tevyatian's are wearing.

Nonetheless, she's interested in this, and so she asked.

"I'm afraid I have no idea of what you're talking about." Lumine said while scratching the side of her head. "But what makes you think that I'm "cosplaying" right now?" The blonde girl asked with a raised eyebrows.

"Huh? So you really don't know?" Xiangling asked back with widened eyes. "Alright then, allow me to tell you a popular story from Liyue..."

~o~0~o~

A long time ago, a bright shining star descended into the lands of Liyue...

The star that descended took the form of a beautiful and majestic young maiden...

With her bright golden hair that shines like the illumination of a morning sun, and her pristine white dress as white as the moon's surface, the maiden came down to the people suffering below, reaching out her dainty white hands to the people, offering them her help.

Settling down to the earth, she blends in with the humans, giving everyone around her her gentle smiles, her plentiful of help, and her infinite amount of generosity, until eventually, even the gods came to notice her.

She did not falter, nor she is afraid, she approached the gods who ruled over the land, the mightiest of all, and she offered them her smiles and kindness, until they eventually fall to charms no better than the humans that they rule.

The gods, the illuminated beasts, and the humans alike all loved her. She was a blessing to the land, a treasure, a brilliant gem to everyone around her.

But alas, even the most precious gem aren't vulnerable to destruction...

For the maiden would be mercilessly slain by an enemy, and she sacrificed her life to protect the people that she's not related to, the place she's not belong to, yet she view them as one.

She was a treasure of Liyue, and she shall live forever in everyone's memories.

For an angel in human form like her only deserve that much.

~o~0~o~

Xiangling explained to her the story that is very popular in Liyue. A story that a mother would told to her children, a story that a child would tell to their friends, and a story that an elderly would tell to the youngsters. In short, it is something that the people of Liyue has been passing down from generations to generations.

Bright golden hair and a pristine white dress that glows as white as the moon...

That... Does kinda describe what she's looking right now. But what are the odds, having some figure who coincidentally looked like her.

"Huh? So it's really a coincidence then?" Xiangling asked while slightly tilting her head.

"Yeah, I mean, this someone is probably from a really long time ago, not to mention that they're already dead. And I've only been around here for a few months. This information is all new to me." Lumine nodded, rubbing the back of her head.

"I see... I get it." Xiangling nods her head in understandment. "Still though, coincidence or not, you really portray the legend of the "Lunar maiden" perfectly, I even thought of you as one when I first take a good look at you, you are amazing!" The chef from Liyue stated, her eyes glimmering.

Lumine only chuckled at that. If this story is true, then it truly is a truly amazing coincidence. However, no matter how much she reassured herself that, something keep bothering Lumine in the back of her mind.

Xiangling remarks about her were only the start. And things were escalated the moment she stepped foot into the nation of contracts itself for the first time.

After learning about the Rite of Descension that came soon, the Traveler and her companion departed from Mondstadt and into it's neighboring nation of Liyue, where the rite will be held. The main city of the nation, which is called the Liyue Harbor, is located on the far east of the nation, and traveling there from the stone gate on the north side would take some time, a few days to be precise.

During those days of traveling to Liyue Harbor, Lumine has met a few locals while on the way, and just like Xiangling, they too have a comment or two about her appearance.

For one, there is a child that saw her, and thought of her as the "Lunar Maiden" that he reads from a storybook. He asked her a few questions regarding it, many of which she could not answer, and he even brought his parents to meet her to show them of how the legend is real.

It's cruel to break an innocent child's dream of meeting a figure he's so idolized, but someday, he'll grow up and learn to accept the bitter truths of this world. So patiently and carefully, Lumine explained to them of how it was nothing but pure coincidence that she resembles a figure of a well known story, that she has zero knowledge of it. An explanation that she found herself repeatedly told to a few other people with similar questions and remarks about her.

Her encounter with Xiangling have went over her head before she properly step her foot into Liyue, but now that she has met with people and getting their reactions like this, Lumine began to worry of how things will be once she enters Liyue Harbor. Expecting that a big crowd will surround her, asking lots of questions, or at the very least, stares at her in shock in awe from the distance without getting in her way.

And that is what ended up receiving, most of the times at least.

By the time she arrived in Liyue Harbor, it was already the day of the Rite of Descension. Thousands of people have come to Liyue in order to celebrate and witness the once in a year event of having a god descended into the mortal realm in the form of an almighty beast that once roams over the skies and the mountains. And thanks to that, everyone's attention are mostly focused on the events that's about to happen instead of to some random person walking around looking like a legendary figure from a fairytale.

Though she does gets some looks and surprised gasps from some people, it doesn't bother her in the slightest, and Lumine continues on as she ascend the steps into the Yujjig Terrace where the lord of Geo, Rex Lapis, is said to descend. Slipping through the large crowds of people and eventually stood made her way to the front of the gathering people.

A woman with a long white hair clad in luxurious dress of gold, brown, and gold stood on the middle of the platform, preparing to formally start the ceremony. Both Lumine and Paimon as well as all the people around them are all looking at her. Anxiously and excitingly waited to see for themselves as god came down from the sky.

And came down from the sky he is, unmoving and lifeless.

A giant brown scaled dragon crashed into the platform, ruining everything that's already prepared down below. Everybody gasped in shock, some recognized the form of the dragon as their god. The almighty lord of Geo that has ruled and guarded Liyue for thousands of years. Now lying dead right in front of their eye, quickly spreading waves of panicsg among the people present.

The lady with white hair declared Rex Lapis to be dead, quarantining all the people present in Yujjing Terrace for a throughout check up in search for the murderer of their god, and forbidding anyone to leave until every single one of them has been investigated.

Well this is a bad situation for her, if the authorities were to investigate her, they'll surely asked where she came from and any other questions that might reveal her identity as an outlander, something that she's definitely not gonna allow many people to know of.

And so she tries to sneak out of there, hiding from the views of the Millelith as she gets near to the exit. Only for her to accidentally draws out their attention by making a noise that have dozens of them chasing after the Traveler who tries to flee, and eventually has her backed into a corner.

The soldiers would've received a good beating from her if it wasn't for the "fortunate" help of a certain ginger haired man who jumps out of the bush to take care of them swiftly. Knocking them out so easily and escorted her out of there into a safe place to hide, for now.

Later on, she would find out the man to be one of the Fatui Harbingers, the elites of the elites of the Fatui, a certain organization that got on her way not once, but twice, back in Mondstadt. From what she heard from Acting Grandmaster Jean and Master Diluc, they are a force to be aware of, for they have declared war against the whole world.

As much as she disliked it for working with the bad guys, their interest is aligned for now. Lumine came here to Liyue specifically to meet with the lord of Geo to ask for information regarding her missing brother's whereabouts, as well as some information regarding what she saw 500 years ago... The fire that engulfed that nation, decimating it to the ground. But now, Rex Lapis is dead, and the Fatui is keen to figure out the cause of it, or at the very least, finds out the culprit behind his death. For no God could die of any other way except for being killed by someone.

While the Harbinger and his goons continue on their own investigation in the city. Lumine was advised to visit the Adepti in Jueyun Karst to inform them of the terrible news about their god's death.

From the story she heard from Xiangling and other Liyuean local she met, Lumine learned that the Adepti are a race of illuminated beasts that originates from Liyue. They were the close companions of the lord of Geo during the Archon War, serving as his loyal vassals that together with him, brave the dangers of the war and protect the people of Liyue together.

For beings who were once stood by his side as they together take on the brutal war... Lumine can't imagine how they will react to the info.

It took her all day, but eventually, by the time it was late at night, she arrived at the place. Even from the distance, she already sees how sacred this ground was. Not just because of how almost mystical it looks by appearance, but also because of the high concentration of elemental powers in the air.

Once she stepped foot on the sacred grounds, Lumine began to think of how to approach the divine beings, how to properly explain the tragedy that befell the nation of Liyue without offending them, or how she could contact the illuminated beasts in the first place.

Thankfully though, the last of her questions were already answered, when she found them grouped together, talking among themselves about something. Something that involves the words "she" and "her." And somewhere in the back of her mind, Lumine got the feeling of how things will turn out...

The sounds of her footsteps stopped them from their conversation. And all eyes are turned to look at Lumine. Opening wide upon looking laying their sights on her.

There's a total of five Adeptus in front of her, a large deer with glowing brown fur, two large cranes with blue-white and brown-red feathers, a boy with short dark green hair with a demonic mask dangling on his hips, and lastly, a young woman with long flowing light blue hair with two red horns protruding from her head.

"You are..." The boy with green hair muttered, his voice is so low that it almost sounds like it's not even there.

"Uhm..." Feeling the weight of their stares, Lumine gulped the Lump in her throat as she tries to gather her voice to speak. "Excuse me, I'm here speak to all of you about something, I was hoping that I could-"

Whilst Lumine is speaking, before she could finish her sentence, the girl with the horns broke off from the circle, she walks over to Lumine with hastened steps, until she stood right in front of the blonde girl, staring at her directly to her eyes with an expression she could not describe.

Lumine is stunned to mutter up a word, the blue haired girl raise her hand, reaching out to to touch Lumine on her face, her glove covered hands is slightly trembling, as if it was shaking with hesitation and disbelief. Lumine stays silent, opting to wait for any room for her to speak.

"It was so long ago... I was but a child, but... I could never forget..." The Adeptus in human form muttered softly, as her hand came to rest on the side of Lumine's cheek. "Miss Ying... Is that really you...?"

The horned girl asked, asking questions that Lumine doesn't know the answers of. What is with their reaction, why her is wrong with everyone here? Or rather... What is wrong with her?!

"I'm sorry... Who... Are you?"

Lumine asked back. This world is full of unknown mysteries, and this will perhaps be one of the biggest of them all.

~o~0~o~

She went back to meet with the Fatui Harbinger again the day after that. Learning about how the authorities that rule over Liyue are now hiding the Exuvia away, due to still not being able to find the assassin who killed Rex Lapis, it is both of the Fatui and Lumine's interest to find both the assassin (if there are any) and the dead body of the Geo Archon. But with how things are right now, they couldn't do much.

And that is when he proposed to find someone that could help them to get out of this stalemate, someone who is very knowledgeable when it comes to funerals and traditions.

With the Geo Archon passed away, Liyue will now be helding what's called the Rite of Parting, a ceremonial funeral held for the deceased God.

If helping this someone will be of help for them to unravel the truth of the mysteries surrounding this matter, then Lumine agrees to lend her helping hand.

A meeting was arranged between them the next day. Lumine meet with Childe on the streets as he waited for her, waving his hand towards the traveler, the two briefly discussed about the person that they're about to meet, revealing that it's not just one, but there will be two people that they're going to meet inside. Lumine sees no problem in that, so she followed him.

They arrived at the place of their arranged meeting, a restaurant called the Liuli Pavilion, even from the outside, Lumine could already tell that this is a place of high standards.

"Alright, I'll go in first, and then, you come in and introduce yourself after. Okay?" Childe turned to look at her, to which she simply nodded her head.

The Harbinger goes in first, while she waits outside. She hears voices talking inside, the voice of Childe, plus another male, with a much deeper and manlier voice, and then, a sweet and gentle voice of a girl. Is this the two people they're going to meet?

"Hey, why don't you come in and introduce yourself already?" Childe's voice gestured for her to enter, and with a gulp, Lumine opens the door.

She stepped inside, and stood in the view of the occupants of the room. And the moment they see her, they look like they've just seen a ghost.

The girly voice she heard from outside belongs to the young girl sitting on one the chairs beside the long table. She has short grey hair on her head, with long side buns and a rat tail behind her head. Dressed in an elegant white dress, the girl has both her eyes and mouth wide open, as she stares at Lumine.

Meanwhile for the other person in the room, he is a tall handsome man, with dark blackish brown hair and bright amber colored eyes. Dressed in a dark outfit that barely shows any inch of his skin, the man looks elegant and majestic, and it puts Lumine in awe by just staring at him. His amber eyes are also wide open, as he stares at Lumine.

"H-Hi..." Feeling extremely nervous under the weight of their gaze, Lumine could only wave her hand awkwardly at the two of them, while offering a faltering smile.

Not a second after she did that, a chair moved, and Lumine looked as the tall majestic man stood up from his seat. His eyes remain fixated on her, as he slowly approaches the blonde girl, closening the distance between them, until he stands right in front of her.

As he stood mere centimetres away, Lumine finds herself staring back at him. Finding his refined and cool appearance even more appealing this up close, with the man seemingly paying it no mind as he only stood there motionlessly.

After a few moments passed with only silence, the man suddenly raised his hand, offering it to her to take it.

"Greetings. It's nice to meet you." The man spoke up, with that deep and alluring voice of his. "My name is Zhongli. May I have the pleasure to know yours?"

He introduced himself in name, and asked for hers in return.

"Me?" Lumine asked, pointing at herself, to which Zhongli nodded his head.

He looks at her in a strange way. It's not just surprise like most people from Liyue that she met. It's similar to how the Adepti look at her, but there are still some differences. There's a lot more... Deeper meanings, behind his, as well as from the grey haired girl on the side of the room, she noted.

But still, despite her lack of understanding, she takes his hand into her nonetheless, and offers him a smile.

"Lumine. My name is Lumine."

She introduced herself, the beginning, of the relationship that will be forged between them.

To be Continued...


Okay, so everyone has been begging me to write a sequel of my Zhonglumi time travel fic which I originally doesn't have any plans to, but for the sake of appeasing my readers, I decided to give it a try. Mostly to answer some of the question regarding "What happens after." hope you'll enjoy the rest of this story.