Aether didn't know if she was imagining things, but she always felt that Lumine seemed to be more enthusiastic towards her than usual.
When she saw her today, Lumine even took her arm, looking very intimate.
Although Lumine in the past would also be affected by her constitution, she would always act very reserved, even seeming to deliberately keep her distance, and had never been as proactive as today.
The two of them were now sitting on a public bench in front of the Anemo God Statue in Mondstadt City, with Lumine sitting very close.
Aether could even feel Lumine's softness pressed against her arm, making her feel a little uncomfortable.
She wondered if Lumine had been stimulated by something.
"Aether, where did you go so early today? When I went to look for you, neither Amber nor you were home." Lumine couldn't help but ask Aether.
"Eh? Uh, this morning I… went to see Jean, for some small matters." Aether rubbed her head, unable to find a suitable excuse for a moment, and could only speak half-truths.
"You went to see Acting Grand Master Jean?" Lumine's expression immediately changed.
It seemed this answer did not satisfy her.
"Wha-what's wrong?" Aether looked at Lumine in surprise.
"Nothing… It just feels like your relationship with Acting Grand Master Jean seems to have become very good." Lumine didn't ask what the small matters Aether mentioned were, but just looked at Aether with a hint of resentment.
"Jean is a good person." Aether thought for a moment, then nodded very seriously.
Although she had done things like a night raid, office play, and even a sister sandwich, she was indeed a good person.
Aether even felt that with her relationship with them, if it were anyone else, she might have been 'chopped with an axe'.
Who would have thought that Jean not only didn't mind but even actively arranged a dinner party and called everyone over to clear things up.
"I also think Acting Grand Master Jean is a very good person, she even treated us to a meal!" Paimon said with a smile, completely unaware of the deeper meaning in Aether's words, and nodded in strong agreement.
"Yes, yes…" Lumine echoed, her expression a bit unnatural.
From other perspectives, Acting Grand Master Jean was indeed perfect, a very good person.
But when it came to Aether, Lumine only felt that she was terribly bad.
"Speaking of which, do you two have any plans for today?" Aether turned to Lumine and asked.
"We don't have any plans either. We had originally planned to go to Dragonspine, but for some reasons, we didn't go later." Lumine answered truthfully.
Mainly because Aether's mental state wasn't good at the time, Lumine didn't invite her again, and it wasn't fun if she and Paimon went alone, so they went to do some other work.
Like being used by Kaeya for fishing and such.
"Aether, do you want to go explore Dragonspine with us again?" Lumine looked at Aether with renewed hope. This time, Aether's condition was good, so she shouldn't refuse her, right? Lumine felt a little nervous thinking about this.
"Dragonspine, huh? Okay." Aether thought for a moment, then nodded and said.
She had been to Dragonspine once before for the Cryo Hilichurl Armor King commission, but it was just a quick trip; she hadn't really explored the mountain.
This time, going with Lumine, she would treat it as a trip and have a good time in Dragonspine.
"However, before you go, I think you need to make some preparations. It's very cold there." Aether, speaking from experience, earnestly told Lumine.
"I know that. We already asked very clearly when we planned to go before." Paimon quickly raised his hand and said.
"Lumine has made a lot of hot dishes, hehe…"
"Those are important heat sources, you can't just take them out and eat them." Lumine rolled her eyes at Paimon, a bit speechless.
"Mhm, as long as you're clear." Aether nodded.
As a Pathstrider, she wasn't afraid of the cold at all, but the two of them clearly didn't have that constitution.
"However, before we set off, we need to tell Jean, I don't know when we'll be able to return." Aether rubbed her chin, then added.
If they couldn't find her, they would most likely worry.
"…" Lumine didn't speak, just pouted a little unhappily.
Jean wasn't Aether's anything, so why did Aether need to tell her everywhere she went?
However, although Lumine thought this in her heart, she didn't say it out loud.
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Aether and Lumine temporarily separated. They both needed to go back to the Knights of Favonius dormitory to make some preparations, get what they needed, and also help Aether tell Acting Grand Master Jean about their departure for Dragonspine.
After all, it was Dragonspine; its danger level was incomparable to other places in Mondstadt. Even if Lumine was strong, she wouldn't blindly and arrogantly go empty-handed.
As for Aether, she was entrusted by Lumine to go to the alchemy shop to buy some things for her. The two agreed to meet at the Mondstadt City gate.
"Huh?" However, Aether, upon reaching the alchemy shop, tilted her head in surprise.
This wasn't her first time here; she often brought materials dropped from monsters to sell here.
Usually, the man named Timaeus stood here, but today his figure was nowhere to be seen.
Standing beside the alchemy table was a green-haired Damselette wearing glasses.
Aether didn't rush closer, just observed from a distance.
This Damselette was very special; others might not notice immediately, but Aether noticed her distinctly unusual ears at first glance.
They seemed to be beast ears, somewhat different from Diona's cat ears.
Could it be another unique Mondstadt race?
Aether stood in place and watched for a long time, then finally took steps towards her.
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