The voice rose for a single second, then blew away on the wind and was gone.
Time slipped by in quiet threads.
Kairo's party left the bounds of Wolvendom and stepped into broader country. Night fell; a clear sky surfaced, spattered with stars like a thousand distant eyes. A cool breeze moved through the grass, carrying the scent of wet earth. Moonlight spread over the ground like a silver carpet.
By a waterfall, the three paused to take it in. Water clapped the rocks—hush, hush—throwing a fine mist that turned to soft haze in the moonlight. Mountains and trees settled deeper into shadow. Now and then, a night bird crossed the scene and the world felt like a dream stitched in dark silk.
Lumine tilted her head over the map and murmured, "Once we pass the stone gate on Mondstadt's border, we'll hit Wangshu Inn by tomorrow. That's Liyue territory."
Excitement brightened her eyes. So fast. In barely two days they'd crossed almost all of Mondstadt.
Paimon practically bounced. "Then, Kairo—let's hop back to Mondstadt, sleep like kings, and set out early tomorrow!"
Kairo shook his head. "Can't."
"Huh? Why not?"
"There's no ley-line node nearby strong enough to use. Other than the one in Wolvendom at noon, this whole stretch is thin," he said. "If we return now, tomorrow we'll only be able to reappear at Wolvendom's node, not here. We'd lose an entire afternoon and night's worth of distance."
"Eeeeh?" Paimon scratched her head, deflated. "So… we're camping out in the wild again?"
"Sleeping here isn't ideal either," Lumine said, studying the terrain. "Waterfall and trees are nice, but there's no good shelter. We should push a little farther."
Paimon scanned the foot of a nearby slope and pointed. "What about there?"
Kairo nodded. "An old wooden stall—looks abandoned. We can make do."
Even though last night they'd warped home, Kairo had already planned for nights when they couldn't. He hadn't expected to hit one so soon.
"In that case, let's rest properly and set out at dawn," Paimon said, rubbing her hands. "Please let it not be freezing."
They crossed to the little lean-to. Up close, it was just a weather-worn counter under a slanted roof.
Lumine immediately pulled a sleeping bag from her compact alchemy case and set it down. As she glanced up at Kairo's empty hands, a faint blush blossomed on her cheeks. She cleared her throat. "Kairo… you didn't, um, bring a sleeping bag, did you?"
"Oh! Sleeping bags," Paimon blinked and looked at him too.
Kairo gave a small, apologetic nod. "Didn't pack one."
He'd only gotten Albedo's portable storage rig the night before departure—and then been wholly distracted by Fischl's enthusiasm. Last night's quick return to Mondstadt had made the lack irrelevant. Out here? Not so much.
Lumine bit her lip, the pink on her face deepening. "Then… you can share mine? It's, uh, big enough for two. We can squeeze."
Kairo's eyes warmed. He arched a brow. "If you insist."
Paimon snorted a tiny laugh. "Hehe, someone cares a looot about Kairo. Fine, fine—just don't leave me to freeze out here!"
They laid out a simple camp. No cave to ward off the chill, but the grass was dry. Kairo spread his coat and cloak beneath for extra warmth; Paimon bundled herself tight, hovering nearby like a sulky dumpling.
Lumine slid into the sleeping bag and patted the open side. Kairo slipped in beside her without ceremony. Her ears went pink; the moment felt strange and natural all at once. Seeing him so calm settled her nerves, and soon both of them were asleep.
The night passed quietly.
Morning. Pale sun spilled across the world, the air rich with the smell of damp earth. Lumine blinked awake, fighting a drowsy ache, rubbed the corner of her eye—then realized she was nestled against Kairo, arms looped around him, cheek near his shoulder.
Her mind went blank. Heat rushed to her face.
How did I… again?!
She tried to gently peel away. The sleeping bag made movement awkward; she eased her arms back with all the stealth of a thief, then rolled to give them space. Breathing out, she sat up, smoothing her hair, the blush still stubborn on her cheeks.
"Too bright…" Paimon's voice chirped. She yawned wide on the makeshift bench. "Mornin', Lumine."
"Morning," Lumine replied, voice a touch small.
Kairo's eyes opened to find Lumine's a handspan away. He smiled. "Morning."
"…Morning." She sat straighter and pretended to fix a strand of hair.
"No boar steaks at sunrise? Tragic," Paimon sighed. "Yesterday's breakfast spoiled me."
"We bought plenty of roasted rice balls. We can warm them," Lumine said.
Paimon slumped. "I wanted sizzling meat…"
Their bickering carried the minutes along. After washing up at a nearby stream, they headed out. A little ways on, Lumine stopped, gaze snagging on the view ahead.
A wooden bridge arched over a narrow river, its deck carved with old patterns. Trees flanked the span; flags hung beyond on the far path, and a line of stone-set pavers led onward.
"Could be a market?" she wondered. "Or some kind of camp?"
"A camp?!" Paimon lit up. "Our luck's amazing! We just started walking!"
"Let's check it," she declared, already swooping forward. Kairo and Lumine shared a look and followed. Today the Everwinter Shade took rearguard, its silent presence frosting the air behind them.
They crossed the bridge and climbed wooden steps. The higher they went, the more the path turned to full timber—old boards creaking underfoot yet holding true, with fresh rope braces tied here and there. The tree line thinned; rock faces showed. Eaves peeked from the cliffs, buildings clinging to the slope in stacked tiers like an old, hidden hamlet. Faded lanterns hung from railings, ticking softly in the breeze.
The walkway became all wood, springy underfoot, with gaps showing the hillside below and more wooden platforms terraced across it. No people… but not abandoned either—more like a place deliberately kept quiet.
"Waaah!" Paimon halted, eyes round. "There's a tea stall out here?!"
At the end of the bridge, tucked by the path, sat a simple stand: a long wooden counter with a few clay kettles and little cups. A tattered banner flapped above, its writing blurred by years—some name long washed by wind and rain. Behind it, a broader platform held several tables and chairs, worn but neatly arranged. Down below, the river curled along, catching the sky.
"In a spot this remote… someone really set up shop?" Lumine murmured, scanning for an owner. No one. No smoke, no steam, just the stall waiting like it had been left for a traveler who might never come.
Paimon circled, thoughtful. "Feels like an old caravan stop. Maybe a resting post for a village that used to be here. People probably paused for tea, then moved on. Now… not many come through."
"But still…" Lumine said, eyes on the silent kettles.
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