A few more days passed.
I hadn't really gone into the city since the last incident. I didn't have money problems anymore, either. As much as I wanted to go to the tavern and drink, I'm pretty sure that would be a terrible idea. Whenever she shows up in front of me, I freeze up. I feel like a damn high schooler, for fuck's sake.
It's a nice feeling, sure—
but the person im talking about could eat me alive. My rational side is screaming a sharp 'No.'
I don't know what I'm going to do. I want to talk to her… give her flowers, gifts. I want to make a move on her.
…But she wouldn't accept me like this, would she?
Maybe if I somehow get stronger, I'll have the courage to face her.
Feels like a solid plan. No idea how I'm going to do it, though.
Lost in my thoughts, I went out for some fresh air. I hadn't gone too far from home. After wandering aimlessly for a while, I saw a red dot on top of a small hill near the pond. The red stood out sharply in all the green and blue around it. Remaining slightly on guard, I approached the spot—and it didn't take long to figure out what it was.
"Dvalin's tear…"
This was both good and bad.
…Good news: events were about to start.
Bad news: events were about to start.
…I wasn't prepared enough.
…What am I going to do?
My thoughts must have been showing in my actions, because I walked right up to the Tear and picked it up. Despite being called a tear, it felt solid—almost glass-like. While heading home, I stayed alert. Dvalin might've been nearby. I definitely didn't want to develop a dragon phobia.
After some time, I reached home safely and placed the Tear on my bed.
"To be honest, I have no idea what I can do with this. It feels like something strange is leaking out from inside it… but I can't tell what it is. Still, something in my gut tells me I can do something with it."
I examined the Tear with my hand. The outer shell felt glass-like, so maybe I needed to break it?
…
…
I grabbed my axe and swung horizontally at the top of the Tear. Just as I expected, it cracked with a glass-breaking sound, the top flew off, and the inside was revealed. A slightly reddish liquid sat inside. The only thing that came to mind was to drink it. Was it logical? Maybe. Safe? Doubtful.
I guess I don't value my life that much.
…
…
"Fuck it. All or nothing."
I held the Tear by its outer shell, lifted it, and poured the entire thing into my mouth. Tasteless. Felt like eating a HDMI cable. After I finished drinking, the outer glasslike shell slowly dissolved into the air.
"I don't feel any diff—"
A sharp pain shot through my heart. It felt like my heart was growing. Can't say I ever expected to need to describe that feeling. I'm dying and still making stupid jokes. I could feel my muscles warming up. Guess drinking the Tear had been the right choice.
After a few minutes, the pain faded. I got up and stretched, then stepped outside to test my body. The warmth in my muscles lingered. I grabbed a tree branch and began doing pull-ups. Before drinking the Tear, going beyond eighteen reps took everything I had.
But now…
"I can do thirty pull-ups."
Good—
but still nowhere near enough to keep me alive. I needed more.
I took out my pocket watch; it had just hit noon. No time to waste. I went back into the forest and returned to where I'd found the Tear. It obviously wouldn't spawn in the exact same place again, but there was no guarantee it wouldn't appear nearby, so I started combing the area. Bushes, trees, grass, more grass—nothing unusual.
I kept searching without even caring how long it had been. Maybe an hour or two.
…
When I was close to losing hope, I saw that red dot again. My legs moved on their own as I sprinted toward the Tear—only to crash into something.
…Actually, someone.
Golden hair, golden eyes, petite and charming figure, wearing a dress that looked like a wedding gown, and a tiny floating white creature beside her.
After I bumped into her, she fell to the ground and rubbed her head.
"Ow ow ow, that hurt."
I smiled at her and instinctively reached out a hand to help her up.
"Are you okay?"
She took my hand and stood up. The small white… thing next to her spoke instead.
"I'm sure she's not okay! You ran into her like a wild boar!"
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha! …Sorry. I just came here for that thing."
Lumine looked into my eyes with a 'what are you laughing at?' expression. God… she was really beautiful. You could tell at a glance she wasn't from Teyvat.
…Just like me.
"Forgive my rudeness. I'm Kane. And you?"
Of course I already knew who she was—but I had to start fresh and introduce myself like a normal person.
Lumine smiled and introduced herself.
"I'm Lumine."
And Paimon floated around her and introduced herself, too.
"And I'm Paimon!"
I couldn't stop smiling.
"Nice to meet you."
After we introduced ourselves, I asked why they were after the Tear.
"You mean this?"
She held up the Tear, and in her hands, it shifted from red to a soft blue.
"Huh? How did you do that?"
Lumine grinned proudly.
"Isn't it simple? It was radiating malevolent energy, so I purified it."
Malevolent energy?
…Yeah, I definitely messed something up.
While I was rethinking all my life choices, Lumine handed the Tear to me.
"…Thank you."
We stared at each other for a few seconds. The height difference between us was pretty obvious. You're a bit short, Lumine.
Noticing our dumb staring contest, Paimon jumped in.
"Traveler, Paimon feels strong Anemo energy over there! The Statue of The Seven must be that way! Let's go!"
The Statue, huh…
I never visited any of them since I didn't think touching them would let me use elements like Lumine.
As Lumine and Paimon started walking, I called out to them.
"Can I come with you?"
They looked at me as if I had asked a very strange question.
…Did I say something wrong?
"Aren't you already coming with us, Kane?"
Paimon answered, and smiling lightly, I followed them.
…You two are a bit too extroverted.
While walking with them, I was examining the cosmic patterns on Paimon's cloak, we finally reached the Statue of The Seven. This one belonged to Mondstadt, so it had Venti's carving on top. My least favorite Archon.
Lumine slowly touched the statue, and I could feel something flow into her. The sensation was similar to what I felt when I drank the Tear… but not exactly. After a few seconds, small spirals of wind gathered around her.
…Terrifying.
…and Invidious.