The Traveller

"This Lumine is at the plain outside Mondstadt with the Outrider." Souei stands with a rigid posture, his eyes focused on Kazuki. His face is expressionless, betraying no emotion as he speaks.

"Ah, I see. Thank you for letting us know, Souei," Kazuki said gratefully. He turned to Gray. "Let's go find Lumine and Amber."

The trio left the city and headed towards the plains outside of Mondstadt. As they walked, Kazuki couldn't help but admire the beauty of the landscape. The green hills and fields stretched as far as the eye could see, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of flowers and grass.

After a short while, they spotted Lumine and Amber in the distance. They were chatting and laughing, seemingly oblivious to their surroundings. Kazuki approached them with a smile. "Hello, Amber. It's good to see you."

Amber turned around, and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw Kazuki. "Captain Kazuki! What a surprise!" She quickly got up and bowed respectfully. "Is everything alright?"

Kazuki nodded. "Yes, everything is fine. I just wanted to check up on you. How have you been?"

"We've been good, thank you for asking," Amber replied with a smile. "We were just taking a break from our duties and enjoying the scenery."

"This is?" Kazuki had a curious expression as he looked at Lumine, with his brows slightly furrowed. He leaned forward slightly and shifted his weight towards Lumine, giving him a friendly and inquisitive smile. His tone was casual and light, not betraying any knowledge of who Lumine was. "Amber, do you mind introducing me to this lady?"

"Oh, sorry for not introducing her earlier," Amber said, turning to Lumine. "This is Lumine. She's a traveller who's been helping me out with some of my tasks. Now I am going to show her Mondstadt."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lumine. I'm Kazuki, the leader of the 'Peaceful Tree' mercenary group." Kazuki nodded in acknowledgement and turned to Lumine.

Lumine's delicate pink lips curled up at the corners, forming a supple smile. She had a soft voice, and she used it sparingly. "Nice to meet you too, Kazuki."

"Hey, don't forget about me! I'm Paimon, Lumine's trusty companion," Paimon chimed in, floating up to Kazuki's eye level. "Paimon may be small, but Paimon is always up for an adventure!"

Kazuki smiled at the tiny creature. "Ah, my apologies, Paimon. It's nice to meet you too. You and Lumine seem to be quite the adventurous pair."

Lumine has a captivating beauty that radiates from her delicate and youthful features. Her pale skin is bright and illuminated, her fiery-gold eyes sparkle with excitement and intelligence, and her pale blonde hair frames her face perfectly. The two light-blue Inteyvat flowers pinned to the right of her head add a delicate splash of colour, while the two pale blue feathers tucked to the left of her head give her an air of grace and sophistication. Lumine looks more beautiful than the game version, with an enchanting aura that draws others in.

Kazuki signed at the duo before him to come forward as he stopped admiring Lumine's ethereal beauty. He cleared his throat and gestured to the two figures behind him. "This is Gray and Souei, two of my subordinates," he said, introducing them to Lumine and Paimon.

Gray stepped forward, "It's nice to meet you both," he said. His black eyes were lazy, and he seemed to ignore everything around him.

Souei bowed respectfully but not submissively. His expression was friendly, but his eyes were inquisitive as he looked over Lumine and Paimon. "Hello," he said sternly.

"Nice to meet you" Lumine smiled politely, her lips curled up in a gracious arc and her eyes twinkling. She nodded her head gently, her ever-shining hair swaying with the gesture. She exuded an aura of class and grace as she spoke, her voice gentle yet confident.

"Nice to meet you both!" Said Paimon cheerfully

Kazuki gave a polite bow. "As I said, meeting you both is a pleasure. You can ask our mercenary band if you have any requests."

Lumine smiled at Kazuki's offer and said, "Thank you, Kazuki. It's good to know that we have allies in Mondstadt."

Amber chimed in, "Speaking of allies, have you heard about the new trouble brewing in the Stormterror's Lair? The hilichurls have been acting more aggressively lately, and we're worried that something big is coming."

Kazuki nodded, "Yes, we've heard the rumours. We were actually planning to investigate that area soon. Perhaps we can join forces and deal with the problem together?"

Amber's face lit up, "That sounds great! We could use all the help we can get. Let's meet at the Stormterror's Lair entrance tomorrow morning."

Amber, Lumine and Paimon then said their goodbyes one last time, leaving the three of them alone.

After the three of them had travelled out of Kazuki and the others' view, Souei confronted him, asking, "What was the point of you pretending not to know them?"

Kazuki shrugged, "Wouldn't it be strange if some strangers who haven't been introduced suddenly started acting like they know the other person? Besides, I wanted to ensure they would trust me enough to join forces with me."

Gray chuckled in mockery, "She probably would have thought you were a scam artist."

Kazuki flashed Gray a smirk in response, "At least she wouldn't have called me a pervert like someone else."

Souei nodded in understanding, "I see. Well, as long as it doesn't cause any misunderstandings, I suppose it's fine."

Souei nodded in understanding, "I see. Well, as long as it doesn't cause any misunderstandings, I suppose it's fine."

Kazuki nodded, "Exactly. Anyway, let's focus on tomorrow's mission. We must be prepared for whatever lies ahead in the Stormterror's Lair."

"I will prepare for tomorrow, Captain." Said Souei.

"Thanks, Souei", Replied Kazuki.

Souei strides away from the rest, his steps confident and directed. His silhouette is accentuated by the shadows of the night, flickering in and out of view as the trees around him sway in the gentle breeze. The soft crunching of dried foliage is the last reminder of Souei's presence, gradually fading into the night air until all that remains is the tranquil sound of rustling leaves.

Then he looked at Gray, "Just don't make any trouble again. And remember to show up at the meeting point tomorrow. Or else I will ask Artoria to drag to there!"

"*gulp* ... Okay!" said Gray fearfully. He then murmured, "...why every woman in a knight uniform is scary?..."

Hearing that, Kazuki just chuckled and walked towards the house, a stout two-story building with a steep roof, where their mercenary band operated. As he approached, he saw Artoria waiting for him at the entrance, her face illuminated by the warm glow of a single torch. She wore a navy blue knee-length skirt and white shirt with a baby blue string tie, emphasizing her slender figure. Despite the darkness of the night, she had an unmistakable presence -a comforting figure against the backdrop of the night sky.

"Artoria," he called out, his voice carrying a mixture of surprise and delight. "Why are you standing outside the house? Is everything alright?"

Artoria turned her attention to Kazuki, her expression softening as she locked eyes with him. "Kazuki, I wanted to speak with you about our recent missions and the future plans for our mercenary band. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch you before you entered."

Kazuki nodded, appreciating Artoria's dedication and foresight. "I see. I'm glad you're taking such an active role in our band's affairs, Artoria. Your insights have always been valuable."

Artoria's cheeks lightly flushed, a subtle sign of her appreciation. "Thank you, Kazuki. I believe that together we can accomplish great things. Our teamwork and unity are crucial to our success."

Kazuki's eyes sparkled with admiration, captivated by Artoria's unwavering commitment. "You're absolutely right, Artoria. It's through our combined efforts and shared vision that we can overcome any challenge that comes our way."

There was a brief pause, a silence that seemed to hold unspoken words between them. Kazuki couldn't help but sense a more profound connection beyond their roles as captain and vice-captain.

The star-studded sky sparkled above them as Kazuki stepped closer to Artoria. "Artoria, I'm so grateful for all the hard work you put into our band. Your resilience, trustworthiness, and commitment are qualities that I truly admire."

Artoria's gaze met his, a mixture of surprise and curiosity dancing in her eyes. "Kazuki, you've always been an exceptional leader. Your determination and compassion inspire us all. I'm grateful to serve under your command."

Kazuki's heart seemed to skip a beat, a tangible pressure filling the air around them with a meaningful tension. His gaze met Artoria's as he spoke, his voice holding an emotion that seemed to linger in the air. His words were gentle and sincere, filled with appreciation, "Thank you, Artoria. Your support means a lot to me. I feel fortunate to have you by my side."

The conversation continued, drifting between mission strategies, personal anecdotes, and shared dreams for the future. As the evening turned into night, the bond between Kazuki and Artoria grew stronger, their connection subtly weaving together in unspoken harmony.

And so, beneath the starlit sky, Kazuki and Artoria revelled in the comfort of each other's presence, a profound understanding blooming between them. Though the romantic undercurrents remained unspoken, their shared moments spoke volumes, nurturing a bond that had the potential to transcend their roles and evolve into something more.