Chapter Text
Natlan: One Journey, Three Companions
Natlan.
A nation of war finally seeing its first era of peace in five whole centuries, ending the generational suffering of its people at long last.
Mictlan, like the rest of the other tribes, was also undergoing massive overhauls, with its inhabitants seeking to broaden their worldview past their scrolls.
It's impressive to think how quickly Mictlan’s hermitic legacy was being put behind them.
What was even more impressive however, was that all this change was made possible by a mysterious gold-haired outlander and her flying companion, who've been exploring every inch of the tribe ever since.
Speaking of our legendary duo, I wonder what other grand exploits they're chasing after right now…
“ —Paimon’s being serious! Isn't it bad for us to indwell a Qucusaurus and release it afterwards in a completely different area? It's almost like sauriannapping but barely legal!”
Way to break the immersion Paimon.
“Relax, I'm sure the Qucusaur is fine being spirited away… it gives it a sense of adventure it'll never have if it stays within its own borders!” Lumine chuckled lightheartedly as she readjusted the gifts in her hands, her smile unblemished.
“Besides, they always seem to know their way back home. I even give them some treats as thanks for their trouble~”
“This again?! Saurus Crackers aren't enough as compensation! If a stranger gave you a lollipop after kidnapping you, you'd still sick Yanfei on them wouldn't you!?”
“I mean…”
That wasn't fair. Victim of kidnapping? With Yanfei's doubtless litigation expertise behind her? Who wouldn't sue?! It was practically free Mora — provided that she could get kidnapped to begin with. Maybe she should start fearing for a Saurian legal team.
“...Well regardless, I don't see you talking to Qucusaurs. Clearly I still have the high ground here.”
“That's… Ugh. Paimon bets Chasca will have a few words to say about this…” the white fairy grumbled, moving to help her partner lighten her load.
The duo were currently making their way down a graffiti streaked path while hefting stacks of light novels in their hands. Their destination you ask? A quaint looking house embedded in the nearby mountainside. Wrapped in cliffs and barely overlooking the tribe, it was objectively a prime location for isolation.
Lumine took in the familiar view, carefreely running her fingers through the Monetoos by the pond. It had already been half a year since the Pyro Nation's war against the Abyss concluded, during which she spent most of her newfound holiday lounging about with a certain immortal fan of Inazuman novels. Like… a borderline concerning amount of time. And before you start judging, slaying an gigantic abyssal dragon from hell typically warrants a nice long break.
“We're finally hereee!” Paimon’s sudden remark jolted her out of her thoughts. Sweating heavily, the haggard looking fairy stumbled forward to prop the carefully wrapped books on the stool outside. “Paimon really could go for a nice cold drink right now…”
Lumine smiled gratefully as she produced a fan for her companion.
“Hey, at least we made it here in record time. Five minutes shorter than last week!”
“Record time?” Paimon echoed, fanning herself furiously. “This time makes it the fifth delivery this month! And that's if we don't count the mail we helped Chief Biram send… You're really spoiling her aren't you Traveler?”
“Heh! What can I say, maybe I just have a soft spot for her like I do for you.”
“Awww that's so sweettt… Wait, you just said that to distract Paimon, didn't you!”
Lumine laughed as her hand fished around in her bag, unfazed by the travel guide currently punching her shoulders in protest. She really was getting sharper by the day — next thing she knew she'd start talking in first-person for once.
Drawing out a feather adorned key alongside a lavender scented handkerchief, the Traveler shook her head and unlocked the ornate door facing them with practiced ease. Despite her last visit barely being a couple of days ago, Lumine was already longing to spend more time with her… much to the death throes of her Mora pouch. Ritualistically buying books every week did take a toll on her finances after all — she couldn't just trouble Citlali all the time without some form of compensation. Come to think of it, the extra income was probably why Yae had been pulling less pranks on her lately.
Lumine wearily exhaled, shooting the local chatterbox a mildly amused look.
“Citlali's probably still asleep now sooo… be quiet alright?”
“Paimon's lips are zipped, thoughhh Paimon needs a moment to mentally prepare herself for the mess inside…”
With that quip, she nodded and gently inched the heavy-looking door open.
The first thing they noticed was that her place didn't reek of alcohol like it normally did.
The second thing they noticed was the Great Shaman herself, wide awake and frowning deeply as she desperately paced about her living room.
Before Paimon could open her mouth to express her surprise, the young-looking lady within practically threw herself at the duo, glaring at Lumine with amethyst tinted eyes.
“Traveler! Great timing, do you think I’m a wackjob loner?”
”... sorry say what?”
“Yeah Paimon was confused too.”
“No one asked you Paimon, now answer the question Traveler!” Tossing Paimon aside, Citlali clutched Lumine’s shoulders with a manic look in her eye, her grip tightening by the second. Yeah. Not exactly the warm welcome she expected.
“..okAyyyy. Let's start from the beginning shall we?”
Lumine nervously inched her way out of the death grip and reassessed her situation. The shaman's one madly twitching eye certainly didn't project ‘A-OK’ in large bold letters… and the frost covering her feet spelt a preeeetty bleak future if she really had to comment on it.
Rather unsurprisingly, the cheerful, upbeat background music wasn't helping either. Strange how your life being in certain danger negates the whole ‘enjoying your hobbies’ part. If they really insisted on playing tunes, boss music would've been far more appropriate.
Then her eyes flickered over to the shaman’s empty dining table and decided she'd much rather postpone the problem. “...Why don't we chat over some food? I'm sure you have a lot on your mind right now.”
Willfully ignoring the indistinct muttering that ensued, Lumine gingerly steered Citlali over, careful to ensure she didn't trip on the way there.
Lumine snuck a glance at the powder snow the shaman left behind. Judging from how she didn't try to rip her hands free just now, this situation was still…… salvageable. In any case, they'd definitely walked in on her having worse existential crises before — last time was when one of the idol book series she was following ended badly. Really badly. She was inconsolable for weeks.
Lumine sank deep into thought. Considering that there weren't any bottles scattered on the floor, at least it wasn't an alcohol problem — besides, she only ever drank from mid-afternoon onwards. Maybe it was a hangover again.
Hold on a second.
Lumine blanched, turning back to stare at the unopened pile of books at the entrance. If it wasn't drinking, that'd mean something else caused her to miss the piles of novels she'd typically throw herself immediately towards. You know, the same things that would cause her to trigger a total house lockdown for days?
This… might be worse than she thought.
“So… what exactly happened?” Paimon bravely initiated as her partner obediently brought out an array of snacks, delicately sliding a coaster towards the groaning shaman. “It's not exactly everyday that we see you so worried about something.”
In response, Citlali popped a can of Quenepa Berry Cider open and took a huge swig.
“……I've been repeatedly insulted by the tribe”, she sadly pronounced, taking a nearby Citlalin pillow and hugging it to her chest.
“Ever since the Night Kingdom was healed and Natlanese were allowed to travel elsewhere, the youngsters have been increasingly badmouthing me about my ‘seclusion habits’... even when I've been stepping out of the house at least thrice a week!”
“...You guys understand me, don't you?”
“Badmouthing?” That wasn't what she expected. Lumine's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
“Even when you go to the market?”
“Especially when I go to the market!”
“But… that's crazy! Paimon would've at least given you a one year grace period given how long you've been like this!” Paimon shook her head in exasperation before gently patting Citlali's head in consolation. “Kids can be so mean at times…”
Lumine took this time to raise her eyebrow in disbelief.
“More than anything, I’m surprised by their bravery to speak so casually about their infamous Granny Itztli.”
Citlali slumped on the table defeated, listlessly sending the now empty soft drink can clattering onto the floor.
“I don't even know anymore… I’m pretty sure their fear towards me started wearing off after you insisted I go out more often to help the tribe.” she groaned while tilting her body to the side. “That's the end of Local Legend, Creator of Nightmares Granny Itztli I suppose. The only downside is that even the kids are calling me a NEET or Hermit Lady!”
“Heheh-aUGH”
Lumine nodded understandingly, signalling her to continue despite the disgruntled protests of the friend she just shoved under the table.
“...... As I was saying, even Ororon is starting to take their side! I'm so mad I could put the whole tribe into a coma for a month!”
“You know what, since Paimon knows that you could probably do that, that makes her even more scared…” Dusting off her clothes, Paimon flew out from under the table and urgently yanked her adventuring buddy closer.
~“Travelerrr, Paimon still kinda likes this tribe — so before Citlali explodes the nation with a sleeping spell, THINK OF SOMETHING!!”~ Paimon frantically whispered while tugging at her companion's ear. ~”Something related to booze should do, she'll be out of it in no time”~
~“Come on Paimon… there's no way that she'd —— hmm.”~
An image of Citlali angrily raining down icicles on Huitzilin’s students popped up in her mind. Despite all the vandalism they caused, Lumine couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor youths. She did end up pelting them all the way to the Stadium after all… Therapy sessions in Mictlan were even booked full the whole month after. And that was when she wasn't drunk!
Lumine hastily swallowed the bite of Tatacos in her mouth. On one hand, she couldn't suggest that Citlali go out by herself more often — she was already pushing herself getting groceries every week for Archon's sake. On the other hand, destruction of everyone's consciousness within several kilometres of her house wasn't such an enviable prospect either…
Wait. Am I not just overthinking this?
“... How about we take a trip together?” Lumine said after a long pause, reaching out to cover Citlali's hands with her own. It was so simple. Why solve the downstream issues if she could just stamp out the root cause? Case in point, a vacation would take away the children's way of toying with her and prevent the Master's of the Night-Wind tribe from collapsing. Not to mention how it was a perfect excuse to spend more time together. It was a win-win no matter how you looked at it.
“A trip? Oh, like to the Stadium to drink all my troubles away?” Citlali perked up in surprise, secretly thanking the alcohol she drank earlier for flushing her face. She really could only hold in her bashfulness from touching hands for so long.
“I could do with tha-”
“Maaaybe something a little less personally destructive. I was thinking about a trip together round Teyvat!” Lumine let go of her blushing friend to vaguely gesticulate the different nations with her hands. “That'll solve your problem won't it?”
Huh. A trip round Teyvat? That would show those rascals these old bones can still move… Doesn't that mean I'll be away from home for a whi– wait a second.
Citlali flared her nose in realisation.
More importantly, isn't that basically a week long date?
“... Won't it be t-too much trouble? Plus, I'm pretty comfy at home and I don't rr-really want to change that.” she managed to stutter out, channeling all her willpower to stop herself from agreeing so readily. “In any case, don’t you have commissions to do daily?”
Lumine resisted breaking out into a grin. She really was too pure — caring about her (honestly unstable) finances even when she'd benefit. It almost made her want to tease her even more.
On the other hand though, she wasn't about to take that half-hearted refusal seriously.
“Oh come on, it'll be fun!” Lumine starts, channeling all her energy into honeyed words. “Don't forget we're stopping by Inazuma… You know, where Yae Publishing House is based?” Citlali's ears pricked up. Mmm, she's hooked.
Lumine cleared her throat. “It’s a shame that you won't accompany me there. I was just thinking of buying you that signed, limited 1st readers edition of Eminence of Darkness. Or maybe that copy of……. Citlali?”
Lumine stared at the now empty seat in front of her. Paimon did a double take as well.
Yup, still no brightly coloured shaman in sight. In fact, the only indication that she was there before was a faint wildflower scent left hanging in the air.
As they were taking a moment to question reality, an invigorated voice suddenly chimed behind the two.
“What are you two doing just sitting there! When do we depart?”
The duo whirled their heads around instantly. There Citlali calmly stood, fully geared up with an oversized sun hat, round sunglasses, a small fanny pack and apparently a knapsack that was twice the size of Paimon herself. …She really did look good in anything.
“......I like your sunglasses.”
“That’s what you got from all of that?! That was way too quick for Paimon’s eyes to catch!” Paimon screeched and started frantically looking around for hidden trapdoors. “Where did you even get the fully packed knapsack from? IT WASN'T EVEN IN THE LIVING ROOM!”
“Don't worry about it.” Citlali laughed lightly as if lightspeed packing of fully kitted knapsacks were a perfectly normal occurrence, tapping Paimon playfully on the nose. “So, are we heading off now? I hear Sumeru is wonderful this time of year.”
“......I guess we're heading off now… Traveler, you decide where to go, Paimon's brain is shorting out trying to figure out how she did that.”
“Oh just one thing, let's *not* go to Snezhnaya. I kinda got banned from there for deferring payment on one of Regrator's pillow businesses.” Citlali winced and shrugged her shoulders.
“Long story, I'll tell you both later. Besides… I don't think you'd like to go there either right?”
Lumine cupped her jaw as she quickly summed up each Fatui she killed or whose plans she had foiled. She didn't get past 200 before hastily agreeing. A vacation admittedly normally didn't entail getting chased after by a whole nation for being a genocider. Besides, given her track record against the Harbingers lately, she was pretty confident that she'd get bodied easily without external help if she entered the Land of Cryo now.
Thanking Citlali internally for that assist, the golden haired traveler leapt to her feet, ignoring whatever quip Paimon was handing Citlali for her business misadventures.
“…To Sumeru!”
“To Sumeru!” The group cheered in unison, setting off for their journey ahead.
Remember how I said that they were excited for the journey ahead?
Yeah, that didn't last long.
— 1 hour later —
“You know… ughh, I'm starting to regret this trip already…”
Citlali panted with visible exhaustion as she trekked up yet another sand dune, kicking away a floating serpent intent on biting her ankles. She read about the aridness of deserts in books, sure… but nothing could've prepared her for the heat wave blasting her in all directions here. Or the sand that grated against her heels. Or the scorpions trying to stab her EVERY FRIGGING MINUTE. Did they ever get bored of chasing after innocent travelers here? Maybe they thought it was fun to torment people. She almost wanted to torment them herself. Safe to say, she was missing her non-stabby, cooling bed right this moment.
“How do you y'all.. do this.. all the… time?”
“Honestly… mostly with a lot of grief and smacking into invisible walls..” Lumine rubbed her chin stiffly before summoning her sword from hammerspace.
“Don’t worry too much thoughhh.” The blonde Traveler effortlessly sliced open a scorpion attempting to grab Paimon before turning around to meet her eyes. “We’re reaching soon — It's just another 6 dunes across and a lil’ sandstorm area before we hit Sumeru!”
“EhHHuugg Paimon hates the desert tooooo”, her flying compadre moaned, seeming unusually unworried about how all the local wildlife thought she was a quick snack. “With that spirit, Paimon thinks you'll definitely love Neuvillette when you meet him in Fontaine.”
Fontaine. Right, the city composing of almost 70% water. Water was wonderful. Fontaine was wonderful. With her heat rash starting to kick in, Citlali almost wanted to ditch Sumeru and head there ASAP.
“And where… exactly is that?”
Lumine scratched her cheek lightly.
“… Across another three mountain ranges with knee-deep dry quicksand.”
“Son of a… FFFUU–”
If any camper was parked in Vissudha Field that day, they'd first notice the cool breeze coming from Nostoi Region to the North, then a slightly unpleasant hot draft coming from the huge swathes of desert commonplace in Western Sumeru.
On that day in particular, they'd also notice a pink haired lady and a strangely clothed white child face-planted in a nearby pool, taking in water like they never tasted it before.
“Ooo Paimon's so glad that water existsss…” The cherub lookalike stated resolutely as she chugged down water by the bucketful.
The desert really didn't need all that sand and heat and disgustingness did it? The pyramids were interesting but it sure would've been nice if the devs just made it all forest and cool shade…
“You okay Citlali?” Lumine gazed down worryingly at the head of galaxy-coloured hair reflected in the water's surface. This wasn't exactly what she had in mind for the start of their trip. She'd have to introduce more breaks in the future. “We can stay here for a while longer if need be.”
Said head rose out of the water in little bouts, struggling in protest, “... Paimon you… I'll… ~gurgle~ …all they had there in their village were Candied Ajilenakh Nuts and Aaru Mixed Rice! You said it wasn't dehydrating!”
“Alright alrighttt Paimon apologises! Paimon really didn't think that you'd be so affected by it…” Paimon said with some manner of awkwardness as she clambered out of the shallow water. “In fact, you should be blaming the Traveler for not giving you more water!”
Oh sure, make me the scapegoat.
“Citlali needed a whole oasis to cool off Paimon, in case you didn't notice, my control over Hydro is only enough to make small droplets shoot towards others like a dysfunctional Supersoaker.” Lumine retorted, stretching out her hand to spray a small stream of water towards the nearest tree — the best she could muster up without spamming Xiao Lanterns. It was frankly pathetic. And quite sad.
“Besides, the desert was so arid there was barely any water in the air to fill a single glass!” Lumine shook her fist in frustration after helping Citlali out of the water. “I wouldn't be able to use Anemo if I was in the vacuum of space would I?”
“Fair point… though Mona and Kokomi can create water whenever they want so Paimon still thinks it's a skill issue.”
Citlali stretched her back before resigning herself to squeezing out water from her skirt, having only one question in her mind about the whole ordeal.
“... What's a Supersoaker?”