Lumine sat on the docks of Dorman Port, staring out at the vast horizon where the sea met the wind barrier that surrounds all of the region of Mondstadt, allowing no one to enter or escape. A barrier she and her brother had tried to pass through so many times and were thrown back with such terrible force. She despised Mondstadt, it's ever strong winds and forcing them to remain here. It made matters worst when Aether, decided that he would deal with this on his own. He left during the night without a sound, only a note to say he was going to get to the bottom of this.
Letters came and went between the two of them for months. In her hands were a worn letter from her brother, Aether. The ink had faded, but she had memorized every word. Stay put do not leave the port. It is too dangerous, he had written. She was annoyed by this request how could he go off on his own and leave her in this failing port town alone. They always did everything together.
As she sat on the docks looking out at the sea, she was forming a plan in spite of her brother's letter because weeks had turned into months, and no more letters came. Lumine was not one to be so easily tied down, and her brother's silence weighed heavily on her. She sighed she could fight; she wasn't going to stay put. She was not going to be abandoned. She would find her own path, one that led to the heart of Mondstadt—the Knights of Favonius. They should have the answers to where her brother might be or even what had happened to him.
Her journey began under the haze of a bright sun, as far as she could tell with the barrier. She walked along the path avoiding any monsters she might spy in the distance. These monsters ravaged the areas outside of towns. She and her brother, later just her earned money protecting the port town from encampments that blocked the way to Mondstadt proper. The hair on the back stood on end she being watch. She put her hand at her sword, surveying the area but nothing stood out. She continued her approach to the Whispering Woods. Her mind fills with the rumors she heard as she entered these woods, but with any moment she is quickly alerted ready to strike down any foes. She had heard how these were sacred to some beings and evil spirits lurked in the shadows. As she journeyed deeper the sun became more hidden and the weather shifted dramatically. For once was fair now fierce winds and a sudden snowstorm battered her, their howls mingling with the distant echoes of battle. The clash of swords and the guttural snarls of wolves added an eerie undertone to the tempest. She fought against the storm, clutching her cloak tightly stumbling along, but soon she lost her way. She stubbled falling onto the ground, pulling herself up with effort. She was exhausted, she hobbled into a clearing where she spotted a small, glowing white creature with fluttering, translucent wings. It chirped softly, its form shimmering like the winds themselves, a stark contrast to the chaos around her. Lumine hesitated, fear prickling her skin as she recalled tales of mischievous sprites who delighted in leading travelers astray—or worse. But the cold seeped deeper into her bones, and desperation overcame caution. Swallowing her fear, she reached out to it.
The creature tilted its head, a flicker of hesitation crossing its luminous features, before it darted toward a nearby cave, beckoning her to follow. Lumine hesitated for a moment, her fear whispering that this might be a trap she grabbed the handle of trusty sword letting it calm her fears, as the biting cold left her no choice. Inside, the cave was dry and sheltered, a reprieve from the storm's fury. Lumine collapsed by the fire she hastily built, her shivering hands struggling to coax life into the flames. She glanced at the glowing being, which hovered cautiously near the entrance, its translucent wings quivering.
The creature chirped softly, its sounds an almost nervous melody. Lumine, still wary but grateful, pulled out her lyre, her fingers plucking soft, comforting notes. The music filled the small space, chasing away the oppressive silence. The creature's eyes widened, a mix of curiosity and delight transforming its expression. Slowly, it began to flit around the fire, its movements tentative at first but growing more animated as the melody continued. Its chirps harmonized with her tune, creating an unspoken dialogue between them—a tentative bridge of trust.
"I'll call you Zephyr," Lumine said, her voice soft but steady, her smile cautious. The creature paused, then chirped again, a sound that seemed to echo with approval and relief. Lumine smiled and gestured to herself "I'm Lumine." The creature made a chirp that almost sounded like it repeated her name. She grabbed her bag and made a makeshift bed. She was done for the night. She feared she was not going to be going anywhere any time soon.
When Lumine woke in the morning the storm was still raging. She sang songs to Zephyr who happily enjoyed each one. Lumine paused to examine the storm but it was even worse than before. She told Zephyr about herself and her brother. The creature would chirp at her. While the storm raged on and cold crept in, her spirits never faltered with this unexpected companion. Lumine looked in her bag she knew she had to ration her food carefully, the once-simple journey transforming into an arduous ordeal as the relentless storm stretched a planned week into two grueling ones. Every day, Zephyr would vanish briefly, returning with a single apple or even a few twigs to help with the pitiful fire. Despite her dwindling supplies, Lumine would slice the apple and share it with Zephyr. These quiet exchanges of trust and kindness surprised them both, forging a bond amid the storm's fury.
As the days passed, their companionship deepened. Lumine played her lyre, her soft melodies blending with Zephyr's chirps to create an otherworldly harmony. During quieter moments, they sat side by side, the howling wind outside their cave failing to penetrate the warmth growing between them. Each shared meal and note of music brought them closer, their friendship blossoming in the harshest of conditions.
When the storm finally weakened, Zephyr led Lumine back to the path. She thought they made an odd pair traveling together on the path. Zephyr floating beside her or sometimes resting on her shoulder. The trees started thinning and the sun was slowly starting to break through the clouds. She knew she would soon see the familiar silhouettes of Mondstadt's windmills and towers come into view. The city got closer Lumine looked over to Zephyr who hesitated, its anxious chirping halting Lumine in her tracks. Reaching her hands out to her luminous companion, Zephyr rested in them as she smiled gently. "I'll come back in a few days," she promised, her voice steady and resolute. "Right here."
Zephyr chirped again leaving her hands, its sound a tender mix of trust and farewell, before flitting away into the wind.