Chapter 23 A Journey to See the Light
Lumine's POV

The next day, I was outside the house with Childe and his siblings.

"Now remember to listen to brother Ajax everyone", their mother said to them.

"We will, Mom", Teucer replied.

"Don't worry, Mom", Childe reassured her. "I'll take care of my siblings. You can count on me!"

"I know I can", Childe's mother said, before kissing his forehead. She then went to give kisses to her other children.

"Childe", Mona started as she walked up to him. "Thank you so much for agreeing to take us to see the lights."

"It's not a problem, Mona", Childe reassured her. "I mean, I was going to take my siblings anyway."

"Are we ready to go yet", Kaze asked impatiently.

"Let me check", Childe said, before turning to his siblings. "You guys ready to go?"

"Yeah", Childe's siblings replied enthusiastically.

"Then what are we waiting for", Childe asked. "We wanna make sure to get the campsite before it gets dark, so let's get going!"

After traveling for a bit, we came across our first obstacle; which was a large river.

"We need to cross here", Childe revealed.

"How", Paimon asked. "If we try swimming across, we'll freeze to death!"

"You can just float across", Kaze pointed out.

"Okay, good point", Paimon said. "But what about everyone else? Especially the kids?"

"At times like this, you need to use the environment to your advantage", Childe said.

He then looked around, until his eyes landed on a tree.

"Perfect! We can just use that tree!"

After Childe said this, he walked to the tree, summoned his water blades, and started slicing into its trunk."

"Great", Kaze said sarcastically. "At this rate, the tree will be knocked down by the time it's dark out."

"Childe", I said after I had an idea. "Can I try something? I think I know how to knock this tree down quickly."

"Go ahead", Childe said, before stepping away from the tree.

I then used Geo to summon a boulder, and slammed it right down next to the tree. The force from the impact caused it to fall over; making a bridge across the river.

"Nice thinking, comrade", Childe said to me.

"Thanks", I said.

"Okay", Childe started. "Everybody across the bridge. Kids go first."

With this, Childe helped each of his siblings cross the tree bridge.

"My turn", Mona said. But just as she was about to walk onto the bridge, Kaze suddenly picked her up!

"Kaze, What are you doing", she asked him as her cheeks turned bright red.

"It'll be faster this way", Kaze replied. Then, he flew Mona across the river.

"Ladies first", Childe said as he gestured to the bridge.

"Thanks", I said, before crossing over it. Childe followed shortly after.

"Yay, we all made it", Paimon exclaimed happily.

"We sure did, Paimon", Childe said. "Come on. Let's keep going!"

We had been traveling for quite some time. It was now mid afternoon, and everyone was getting a bit tired.

"Brother Ajax, can you carry me", Teucer asked as reached up to him.

"Paimon wants to be carried too", she revealed. "She's getting tired after floating for so long."

"Maybe it's a good time to take a break", Ajax suggested. "While you guys do that, I'll catch us some dinner!"

"Catch", Paimon asked in confusion. "How do you catch dinner?"

"See that frozen lake over there", Ajax asked as he pointed to what he was talking about. "It's the perfect spot for ice fishing!"

"Brother Ajax, can I ice fish too", Anton asked enthusiastically.

"Sure thing, Anton", Ajax replied. "Let's go!"

It took Childe and Anton a while before they caught enough fish that could be used to make a meal for all of us. After they were done, we continued with our journey. And by the time the sun was beginning to set, we had arrived at a cave like structure that was by the side of a mountain.

"We're here", Childe said. "Once it gets dark enough, we should be able to easily see the lights in the sky from here!"

"How did you find this place", I asked.

"My older brothers used to bring me here", Childe revealed, before changing the subject. "Anyway. While we wait for it to get dark, we should start setting up camp in the meantime."

By the time we had finished setting up our camp, it had gotten dark out.

"Traveler, look", Paimon suddenly said excitedly.

I then turned around, and saw that the sky had been lit up by bright, colorful lights.

"Wow", Teucer said in awe, before rushing forward with his siblings to get a better look at the lights.

"They're so pretty", Paimon said in awe.

"Amazing", Mona said in awe. "I wonder what causes these lights appear?"

"Nobody knows for sure", Childe revealed. "But there is one popular theory about it amongst the people of Snezhnaya."

"What is the theory", Mona asked.

"According to Snezhnayan legend", Childe started. "The lights are made up of the souls of our loved ones."

"The souls of our loved ones", Paimon asked.

"Yes", Childe said. "According to the legend, even when someone is gone, as long as your love for them remains in your heart, you will be able to see them in the lights that appear in the skies of Snezhnaya."

"Really", Paimon asked. "That sounds really sweet!"

"It sounds like a bunch of garbage", Kaze stated.

"Kaze", Mona scolded him. "It is not polite to say things like that about other people's cultures!"

"Mr Hat Guy", Teucer started. "Is there someone you would wanna see in the lights?"

"No", Kaze replied. "Because I don't have a heart to have any love in."

"Huh", Teucer said in confusion.

"What do you mean by that, Mr Hat Guy", Tonia asked.

"It's a long story", Paimon replied.

"You may say that, Kaze. But, I believe that, somewhere out there, someone has love for you within their heart."

When Mona said this, Kaze looked at her in shock. Then, he let out a scoff, and turned away from us.

"Anyway", Childe started, trying to change the subject. "The fish should be done cooking, so let's eat while we continue to look at the lights!"

A couple of days later, Mona and Kaze were ready to leave Snezhnaya.

"It was so nice to get to see you again, Traveler and Paimon", Mona said.

"It was nice to see you too, Mona", Paimon said. "And I guess you as well, Hat Guy."

"Mona", I started, before taking a letter out. "When you get back to Mondstadt, could you deliver this letter to Diluc Ragnvindr?"

"A letter for Diluc Ragnvindr", Mona asked in shock. "What's it about?"

"It's just some information he wanted me to get for him", I replied.

"What kind of information", Childe asked.

"Um…", Paimon started, trying to come up with an excuse.

"He wanted me to tell him what types of alcohol is the most popular up here", I lied.

"Is that so", Childe asked, before smirking. "So, out of all the things you can do, you're now adding market researcher to that?"

"There really isn't anything you can't do, Traveler", Mona stated. "Anyway, we should get going. Farewell, Traveler and Paimon. And you as well, Childe."

"Farewell, Mona and Kaze", Childe greeted. "I hope you two have a safe journey."

"Later", Kaze greeted.

"Later", I greeted.

And then, Mona and Kaze left.