The sun had begun its descent, painting the sky in hues of bruised purple and fiery orange, casting long, dramatic shadows across the winding ramps of Sumeru City. Ren and Lisa were making their leisurely way back down from the House of Daena, their minds pleasantly full of ancient engineering and ley line theory.
As they reached one of the main thoroughfares near the Treasures Street, a familiar, high-pitched voice cut through the ambient city noise.
"Ren! Lisa!"
Ren turned, a bright smile instantly lighting up his face. Making her way towards them, looking a little travel-worn but undeterred, was Lumine. Floating beside her, waving enthusiastically, was Paimon.
"Lumine!" Ren called back, hurrying to meet them.
"I didn't expect to see you here!" Lumine said, her golden eyes wide with genuine surprise and pleasure. "I thought you were back in Liyue, building the future."
"I am building the future," Ren grinned. "Just… legally protecting it first. I'm here for the patents."
"And for the sights," Lisa added, gliding up beside them with her usual elegant grace. "Hello, cutie. And hello to you too, little Paimon. Still floating, I see?"
"Paimon is flying!" Paimon corrected indignantly, crossing her small arms. "And Paimon is surprised to see you, too, Lisa! Aren't you supposed to be in Mondstadt, drinking tea and napping?"
Lisa chuckled. "Usually, yes. But when a certain adorable inventor writes to say he's coming to the City of Wisdom, one makes exceptions. I've extended my stay. At least until the Sabzeruz Festival." She glanced at the calendar in her mind. "Which, tragically, is still some weeks away. But the anticipation is half the fun."
"And," Ren added, dropping his own bombshell with a casual shrug, "Lady Ningguang is here too. She's with us."
Lumine stopped dead. Paimon's jaw dropped.
"Ningguang?" Lumine repeated, disbelief coloring her voice. " The Tianquan? Here? In person?"
"Yup," Ren confirmed. "She's handling the diplomatic side of things. And probably buying half the city while she's at it."
Lumine shook her head, a bemused smile forming. "Only you, Ren. Only you could turn a patent trip into a summit of nations."
They found a quiet sitting area near a fountain, away from the main flow of traffic. The water bubbled gently, a soothing backdrop to their reunion.
"So," Ren asked, leaning forward. "You said in your letter you were heading here. How was the trip?"
Lumine's expression grew serious. "It was… strange. After the Chasm… after seeing Dainsleif again…" She paused, a shadow passing over her face, before shaking it off. "When we first arrived in Sumeru, in the forest… something happened. I passed out. And I had a vision."
She described the experience: the scent of incense, the feeling of floating, and then, standing before a colossal, glowing tree that seemed to stretch into infinity. "It felt ancient. And sad. And I heard a voice."
"A tree?" Ren asked, feigning ignorance though his heart pounded. "Like the one the city is built on?"
"Bigger," Lumine said. "Different. More… spiritual."
"Irminsul," Lisa breathed, her voice hushed with reverence. "You saw Irminsul. The World Tree. The root of all ley lines, the repository of all the world's memories and knowledge." She looked at Lumine with a new, intense curiosity. "For a traveler to connect with it so directly, upon first arrival… that is unheard of. The Dendro Archon must be watching you closely."
"The voice," Lumine continued, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It said… 'World… forget me'."
The phrase hung in the air, heavy and cryptic. Ren felt a chill that had nothing to do with the evening breeze. He knew what it meant. He knew the tragic, self-sacrificial history of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. But he couldn't say. Not yet.
"World forget me?" he repeated, tilting his head in confusion. "That sounds… lonely. Why would anyone want the world to forget them?"
"I don't know," Lumine admitted. "But I feel like it's important. Like it's a message I need to understand."
She then launched into the rest of her journey. She spoke of waking up in Gandharva Ville, of meeting Tighnari and Collei. She described the Withering Zones—areas of decay and death that were plaguing the forest—and how she had helped clear them.
"Tighnari suggested I come to the city," she explained. "To find a way to meet the Dendro Archon, Lesser Lord Kusanali. He said the Akasha might have information."
"And now?" Lisa asked.
"Now," Lumine sighed, standing up and adjusting her sword. "I'm on my way to find a Matra. Or maybe a researcher. Someone who can point me in the right direction. I've got a list of people to talk to, favors to ask, and probably a hundred errands to run before I get a straight answer."
Ren watched her, a sweatdrop forming mentally. The Hero of Mondstadt, the Savior of Liyue, the Liberator of Inazuma was once again back to square one: the glorious, tireless errand girl of Teyvat.
"Good luck," he said, his voice full of genuine sympathy. "Take care of yourself, Lumine. Don't work too hard."
"I'll try," she laughed. "It was good seeing you, Ren. Lisa."
"Take care, cutie," Lisa waved.
They watched as Lumine and Paimon disappeared into the crowd, heading towards the Citadel of Regzar, ready to start the next chapter of their long, arduous journey.
"She carries the weight of the world on those shoulders," Lisa mused softly.
"She does," Ren agreed. "But she's strong."
They stood up and began the walk back to their temporary home. The stars were coming out, the city lighting up with bioluminescent glow. The story was moving. The pieces were in motion. And Ren, walking beside his mentor, felt a quiet resolve. He would play his part. But for tonight, there was dinner, and the comfort of friends, and the safety of a secret kept a little longer.