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Normal. It was all very normal. Besides the air being heavy with the scent of imminent rain, everything was perfectly fine.
Even when it had started sprinkling, she was fine. She carried on with her commissions, like nothing was wrong, because nothing was wrong. As the wind howled through the trees, their branches creaking and swaying in protest, she still didn’t think much of it until a large crack of lightning made itself known, illuminating the dark sky.
The jagged bolts danced across the horizon, painting fleeting streaks of brilliance against the inky blackness. Each flash was followed by a pregnant pause, an anticipation that hung in the air, before the thunder roared in response, rattling the earth with its power.
Heavy raindrops began to fall, at first just a sporadic patter against the ground, but soon transforming into a steady downpour. The droplets collided with surfaces, creating a symphony of percussion as they drummed upon rooftops, windows, leaves, and Lumine herself. The rhythm of the rain became the heartbeat of the night, a relentless cadence that echoed through the atmosphere.
The wind intensified, whipping through the streets and alleyways, carrying with it the scent of petrichor—the earthy fragrance released as rain kissed the ground. It seemed as though the elements themselves were engaged in a tumultuous dance, colliding and converging with unrestrained passion, or the archons themselves had gotten into a petty argument.
And Lumine felt sick.
It was all at once. Her breath became short, she desperately tried to make sense of her surroundings, but her thoughts were fragmented, disjointed. The familiar sights and sounds that once brought her comfort now seemed overwhelming and threatening. Everything appeared distorted, as if viewed through a haze of anxiety.
A rush of fear surged through her veins, an overwhelming sense of impending doom that gripped her whole being. It felt as though the walls were closing in, suffocating her, and she struggled to find a way to escape the invisible grip that held her captive.
Her breath came in short gasps, shallow and inadequate, as if the air itself had become scarce. The room felt suffocating, the once-familiar space now a labyrinth of menacing shadows and looming objects. Her body trembled uncontrollably, a physical manifestation of the turmoil consuming her mind.
She clutched at her chest, trying to alleviate the pressure that threatened to crush her. Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision even further. Thoughts raced through her mind, an avalanche of worries and catastrophic scenarios that played on an endless loop, each one more terrifying than the last.
Time lost all meaning as she battled against the rising panic. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes like hours. She desperately sought an anchor, a lifeline to reality, but it seemed to slip further and further away with each passing moment.
In the midst of the chaos, she yearned for a reprieve, for a moment of respite from the suffocating grip of her panic. She tried to remind herself that it would pass, that she had weathered these storms before. But in the grip of the panic attack, logic and reason seemed distant and unattainable.
Paimon was frantic, shouting her name, feeling more helpless than any battle she had faced with the traveler. She shook her arm, anything to get her to snap out of it, just like a small child, knowing that something was wrong but not having the power to be able to fix it.
Paimon’s face lit up with a sudden idea. “Paimon’s sorry Lumi, I hope you’re not mad,” she whispered. “XIAO!”
Within the blink of an eye, he was there. “You called?” His gaze settled upon Lumine, her whimpers and tears, the hands over her ears. His eyes, usually filled with a melancholic intensity, softened when they met Lumine's. It was as if he understood the unspoken fear that plagued their heart.
“It’s Lumine!” the fairy wailed. “Paimon didn’t know what to do!”
Within seconds, both Lumine and Paimon were whisked away to his room at Wangshin Inn, placed just outside the threshold. Paimon looked around, flying down the hallway, most likely to get food for her favorite companion.
“Hold on, I’ll get you some tea,” he said, turning away, but being caught by Lumine’s trembling hand grasping on to his garments.
“Please don’t go,” she whispered, finally able to form words.
He’d never seen her so scared, vulnerable, or fragile. She held out another hand, and he took it, letting her gather herself from the floor.
The moment Lumine had stood and crossed the threshold, she found herself enveloped in Xiao's embrace. It was a tight, warm embrace that transcended words and offered solace beyond measure.
Lumine buried their face in Xiao's shoulder, feeling his steady heartbeat against their cheek. They let out a shuddering breath, their body trembling from the residual fear brought by the storm. Xiao's presence provided an anchor, grounding them amidst the tempest.
As the thunder boomed and rain continued to lash against the window panes, Lumine found comfort in the rhythm of Xiao's breathing. In that moment, the world outside faded away, replaced by a sanctuary where Lumine felt shielded from the wrath of the storm. The storm still raged on, but within Xiao's arms, Lumine found a tranquil haven.
Time seemed to stand still as Lumine clung to Xiao, her grip gradually relaxing as the storm's intensity waned. The thunder grew fainter, eventually reduced to a gentle rumble in the distance. The rain transformed into a gentle patter against the window, a lullaby of sorts, lulling her into a sense of calm.
“Did something happen?” he asked, gently.
She nodded, slowly. “In Inazuma,” she said. “I almost died.”
He did his best to hide his feelings in his eyes.
“A friend… He was in trouble, the Shogunate was about to take his vision and I got it back, but… I met her in a duel, in a different world of sorts.” She shuddered. “I felt so weak . And I wasn’t prepared, and I lost, and now…”
“Now?”
She adjusted some of her clothing, and turned around.
His breath caught in his throat. A long scar ran from just under her left shoulder downwards, he assumed to the deepest part of her back.
“She did this?”
She nodded. “And now, I just… The thunder-”
He cut her off, taking her in his arms again. “Next time,” he said. “Just call my name.”
“Even if I’m not in Liyue?”
“Even then.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for coming, Xiao.”
“Always.”