1001

あ九世す派ス↓

The flames beneath the pot flickered weakly as Lumine stirred the soup. She had made this dish countless times before, but tonight, the familiar recipe brought no comfort. The rhythm of cooking usually calmed her, helped her forget the weight of the world. But tonight, each motion felt heavy, each sound too loud in the quiet inn kitchen.

"Paimon always liked this dish…"

Her voice was barely a whisper. It had been days—weeks, maybe—since she had last heard her companion’s cheerful chatter. Paimon had a way of making even the hardest days feel lighter, her endless enthusiasm infectious. But now, that lightness was gone, leaving only the heavy silence in its place.

Lumine glanced at the empty space beside her. How many times had Paimon hovered there, offering unsolicited advice or taste-testing her food with eager anticipation? The memory brought a pang of sadness to her heart, and she quickly turned her attention back to the simmering pot.

Cooking had always been something they did together. Even when the ingredients were scarce or the recipe a mess, Paimon would find a way to make her laugh. But without her, the act of cooking felt… empty.

She took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling. She needed to stay strong, to keep going. Paimon was out there somewhere, and Lumine couldn’t give up hope. But the longer the silence stretched on, the harder it became to hold on to that hope.

As she ladled the soup into a bowl, the aroma filled the small room. It was warm and familiar, a reminder of better times. But when she tasted it, the flavor was off—too bitter, too salty. She set the spoon down, frustration welling up inside her. No matter how hard she tried, it just wasn’t the same.

“Maybe… maybe I’ll get it right next time,” she muttered, though she wasn’t sure if she believed it.

Lumine sat down at the table, the single bowl of soup in front of her. She stared at it for a long time before finally picking up her spoon again. The meal felt like a ritual, a way to keep moving forward even when everything seemed to be falling apart.

And as she took her first bite, she whispered into the empty room, “I’ll find you, Paimon. I have to.”

The taste of the soup lingered on her tongue—bittersweet, like the memories she held onto.

1002

1014

Lumine the Businesswoman

The skyscrapers of Liyue gleamed in the morning sun. Inside one of those towering buildings, Lumine sat in a sleek conference room, reviewing the documents for her next business deal. She had quickly made a name for herself as one of the rising stars at Teyvat Consulting, a leading firm in the region.

Dressed in a tailored suit, her sharp gaze scanned the tablet in front of her, assessing the data with the same precision she once used on the battlefield. The Lumine who once traveled as an adventurer was now a businesswoman, but the keen observation and calm demeanor that defined her remained unchanged.

“This new business proposal carries too much risk. The profit margins look tempting, but the supply chain is unstable, and there's no long-term sustainability…”

She closed the tablet and turned to her assistant seated next to her, giving precise instructions. “We need to reassess this from a risk management perspective. Don’t just focus on the numbers—take sustainability into account as well.”

Her assistant nodded and quickly began revising the data. For a brief moment, Lumine allowed her gaze to drift towards the large window, overlooking the calm and beautiful harbor of Liyue. But her mind was already focused on the upcoming presentation.

"It’s almost time."

She took a deep breath and stood up, ready to face a room filled with top executives from one of the largest corporations in Teyvat. The stakes were high, but Lumine thrived under pressure. As she straightened her jacket, a flicker of memory surfaced—her days as an adventurer. "Back then, too, every decision was crucial," she thought to herself. Now, instead of wielding a sword, she fought with data and negotiation skills. But the core of her spirit remained unchanged.

The door to the meeting room opened, and Lumine walked in with a confident stride. Eyes turned to her, but she remained unshaken. Her mind was already several steps ahead, calculating the next move.

“Let’s begin.”

Her composed voice echoed through the room, signaling the start of a new challenge.