They did not speak much on the way back to Mondstadt and the path from Brightcrown felt longer than it should have, the path seemed much longer than before. The sky had cleared, insultingly blue, the wind light and harmless again as though nothing had happened at all.
Lumine carried Noxira and she adjusted her grip often, careful not to jostle her, not to let her head fall back, not to loosen her hold even when her arms began to ache. Noxira was light too light but cold in a way that had nothing to do with the air, this made Lumines arms ache and Paimon hovered close and silent the whole way her eyes was fixed on Noxira's face.
Jean walked ahead as always setting the pace, her posture full of responsibility as always and she often glanced back, checking and not commanding, as if sheer attention could keep Noxira connected to the world.
Venti followed last but on the back from Dvalin, he calls for them and let Dvalin land near them.
>>"Come on up, Dvalin will fly us back to Mondstadt, as thanks and to help he know that Noxira need to get back fast ."<<
After Jean climbed Dvalin and helped Lumine, Noxira and Paimon also helped where she could. Dvalin Then he flew everyone to Mondstadt and dropped them off there.
Mondstadt's gates came into view and far that fast the guards straightened when they saw them and get a bit nervous because of Dvalin, questions already forming
but one look at Lumine's expression after she get down from Dvalin and the way she held Noxira unconscious they stepped immediately aside without a word.
The city went on around them and that's how it's planned the civilians can still laugh without fear or worries and they can still hear footsteps on stone and the wind chimes singing softly above storefronts.
The group went straight to the Knight's headquarters and Dvalin can enjoy his freedom, while Venti goes somewhere else.
Lisa was already waiting for Jean unaware of what awaits her, Jean quickly entered the room and pulled Lisa out of her thoughts. She looked surprised to her because of her boisterous behavior, and then looked at Noxira one look at Noxira was enough and the smile slid cleanly from her face.
>>"Oh, No... That's not good..."<<
She said quitly while she thought:
>>"That poor girl..."<<
Jean laid Noxira down on one of the tables in the meeting room, clearing maps and documents away with a sweep of her arm. Lisa moved in immediately, fingers already glowing faintly with Electro as she hovered her hand just above Noxira's chest.
Paimon floated anxiously from side to side.
>>"Is she... is she going to wake up? She's breathing right? she is breathing, right?"<<
>>"Yes, she is. But that's not what worries me."<<
Said Lisa with a thoughtful expression while she looked at Noxira and examined her.
Lumine stiffened and steps closer.
>>What does? What worries you ?"<<
Lisa's brow furrowed as she tilted her head, listening to something no one else could hear. >>"It's like… the space where her consciousness should, be isn't empty, you know what I mean? It is... occupied."<<
Jean's jaw tightened.
>>"Occupied? Occupied by what? "<<
Lisa withdrew her hand and sighed.
>>"That's the problem, dear Acting Grand Master. I can't tell... I don't know it."<<
Barbara arrived shortly with Venti and Barbara
goes beside Noxira without hesitation, her hands glowing with gentle Hydro energy as she checked her pulse, her breathing, the faint signs of life that should have been reassuring but weren't.
>>"There's no physical injury, no internal damage, no elemental backlash like I've seen before. She should be waking up."<<
Barbara said, confused and don't understand what Noxiras problem is.
>>"But she isn't, why ?"<<
Lumine said a bit too sharply but unintentionally.
>>"I mean, why isn't she waking up, I'm sorry Barbara"<<
Barbara looked up her eyes soft and understanding.
>>"Everything is okay, I can understand. It's stressful for you and it is like she's… not here to wake up, not in this room. Physically yes but not mentally."<<
The room fell silent and Paimon's wings fluttered erratically while she asked.
>>"Y - You mean like when people faint?"<<
Lisa shook her head and answered.
>>"No. When people faint, they fall inward. Noxira feels like… she went somewhere else, like she left her body."<<
Venti finally spoke and corrects Lisa.
>>" You are right but she didn't go anywhere, she was pulled."<<
Every eye turned to him and Jean stepped closer.
>>"Pulled by what? When you know something, please let us know too."<<
Venti's gaze lingered on Noxira's still face.
>>"By something old, something very old and far before our time"<<
They tried everything and gather information where they can while Barbara prayed softly, her healing light washing over Noxira again and again without resistance and without effect.
Lisa traced sigils in the air, probing carefully and withdrawing each time as if she'd brushed against something sharp but she didn't have up.
Jean stood watch, refusing to leave the room and tried to gather information out of books even when the hours began to stack.
Lumine never let go of Noxira's hand not once, she was a fried that her hand could get cold and whispered: >>"She's still warm"<< Lumine said at some point, more to herself than anyone else. >>"That means she's still here."<< added she relieved.
Lisa heared that and glanced at her.
>>"Or it means the door hasn't closed yet."<<
That was worse and everyone turned instantly to Lisa with a stern look.
>>"I'm just honest..."<<
Everyone continues working and Lisa knows that it was a bad thing, but she didn't want everyone to get their hopes up about being able to help Noxira, only to be disappointed when nothing helps.
Night fell and Mondstadt is quieted, Candles were lit, their flames steady are steady and the wind did not stir them but Noxira still did not move not a twitch not even a breath out of rhythm. Just stillness, unnervingly perfect.
Barbara wiped her eyes with her sleeve, she's frustrated and became emotional.
>>"I don't understand, If she's hurt, I should be able to help. Why can't I help ?"<<
Lisa rested a hand on her shoulder, trying to comfort her and said gentle.
>>"You can't heal what isn't broken and you can't reach someone who isn't listening."<<
Lumine swallowed hard and squeezed Noxrias hand gentle, as if it could wake her up.
>>"Then where is she?"<<
No one answered and Venti closed his eyes.
>>"The wind can't find her, not the way it should."<<
He shakes his head and crosses his arms.
Jean puts a book down in frustration and grip the back of her chair and tightened the grip.
>>"Meaning?"<<
>>"Meaning that wherever she is… it's not a place meant for living minds to linger. She should wake up soon."<<
Venti said, voice barely above a whisper.
Lumine squeezed Noxira's hand tighter and looked determined.
>>"Then we don't let her linger and help her, somehow"<<
Lumine's grip on Noxira's hand tightened. She was so determined, her focus so sharp, that a faint, pulsing Anemo energy began to gather in her palm and it didn't push away this time. Instead, it reacted violently with the fracture beneath Noxira's skin, white light bleeding through the cracks and Lisa's eyes widened in realization.
>>"Lumine, let go! The resonance is..."<<
Lisa rushed towards them, her hand outstretched to separate them, but she was too slow.
The air in the room didn't just vibrate, it buckled and a silent explosion of light swallowed the room. Far beyond Mondstadt, somewhere no one could see, something stirred in response... and began to observe.