#dansleif x lumine

[kumeko]

A/N: For the Fleurette zine! My second favourite ship in Genshin, just the sheer angst of Dainsleif and Lumine (either with her as the traveler or as the abyss twin ahhh). It’s interesting to see how definitely I write Lumine now compared to here. Or maybe that’s because this is Abyss Lumine as opposed to Traveler Lumine?

Btw, leftover sales are happening right now! check @genshinflowers on twitter!

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i. Lilies

The first time, Dainsleif was caught unawares. His mind had been preoccupied, considering his new travelling companion Lumine, considering why he was even journeying with her in the first place. Home was far behind, their destination unknown, and for a man who liked facts and control, this was an unusual situation for him.

He had never been a man of passion, let alone one that followed his gut instincts.

He still didn’t know what possessed him to take her hand and follow her across the world.

“Watch out!” Lumine barked, her small hand wrapping around his arm. Despite her short stature, her grip was firm, and she jerked him back.

It was the suddenness of it more than anything else that halted Dainsleif’s steps. He glanced at her white-knuckled grip, at her slowly relaxing expression, and then at their surroundings. They were walking through a field, the sky as clear as can be. Dainsleif could see for leagues and there wasn’t so much as a hilichurl here, let alone an actual danger. Certainly nothing to provoke such a panicked response.

“What is it?” he asked, perplexed.

Ignoring him, Lumine let go and crouched down. Her white skirt trailed on the ground, collecting dirt, but she didn’t seem to mind. “Oh, that was a close one,” she sighed, her expression softening.

“Close?” Her response made even less sense. Dainsleif lowered his gaze, following her line of sight until he spotted a small, white lily blooming on the road. “The lily?”

Lumine rolled her eyes and wrinkled her nose at him. “Don’t act like it’s worthless.” She reached out, running a finger across its petals. “Isn’t it cute?”

That wasn’t a word he would have used. “It’s a sturdy plant. It would have survived.”

“Or it might not have. Better safe than sorry, right?” She smiled softly, getting up. Lumine swiped her skirt, shaking off the dust. “Aether would have agreed with me. When he wakes up, I’ll show him, and you’ll see.”

He didn’t doubt that. From what little he had seen of her brother, they had seemed like two peas in a pod. They were both far too naive for this world at war. Even this place, as untouched as it was, would see the battle fires. The idea of this place surviving as is was preposterous.

Dainsleif scoffed, “It might die before then.”

Lumine pinched his arm and glared. Her nails dug into his skin. “Don’t be such a downer. It’ll have kids. Just you wait, next time we come here, there’ll be a field of flowers.”

He shook her off. “We’ll see.”

ii. Cyclamens

The second time, Dainsleif was prepared. You couldn’t travel with someone for months without learning their idiosyncrasies and what he had learned about Lumine was she had a penchant for spotting and protecting flowers. Despite how sharp her tongue was, her heart was soft.

“Careful,” Lumine warned, her hand resting on his arm. The fact that she didn’t yank him meant she had learned something about him too.

It was an oddly pleasant feeling.

Dainsleif had already noticed the red cyclamens on the path. They swayed in the breeze, their blooms reaching for the sun. In this forest, the sunlit path was the only place for them to do so, the massive trees lining the dirt road barring the sky from small plants otherwise.

That didn’t make it any less of an annoyance. “They shouldn’t grow on paths.”

“Plants grow where they want,” Lumine chided. Despite her playful tone and mocking smile, her eyes were distant. She had barely looked at the plant, her eyes already on the faraway exit and, further than that, the distant horizon.

“Lumine?” he broached tentatively, not sure how to handle her new, pensive mood. It came and went, these days, and Dainsleif had yet to figure out the right words to say. Or if there even were any—it was hard to wipe away the things they’d seen.

Her eyes flicked to him, then the flower. There was something bitter, something exhausted about her expression. Quietly, she asked, “How long do you think we’ll be travelling?”

Dainsleif frowned. What response would relax her? What would make her smile? He felt as tongue-tied around her as he had when they’d first met, though for the opposite reason. Before, he hadn’t wanted to talk. Now he did but had no idea what to say. “As long as you want to.”

Her head bowed slightly, and he knew that wasn’t the answer she was looking for. “That’s not what I meant…It’s just…” Lumine gripped her dress, wrinkling the cotton fabric. Her knuckles turned white. “Aether hasn’t woken up and we haven’t found a potion or a spell to do it. Instead, we’ve…”

She trailed off, curling into herself. Something in him ached at the sight. With every step they’d taken away from her slumbering twin, with every Archon and secret of the world they’d uncovered, Lumine’s smile had dimmed. Dainsleif could barely remember how she’d smiled when they’d encountered that lily long ago, the bright innocence of it.

“There’s still a few places left to check,” Dainsleif murmured reassuringly, his hand curling at his side into a tight fist. “You never know.”

“We’ve looked a lot,” she mumbled, sounding defeated.

He had never been one for false hopes, but they crowded his throat, almost choking him. Hesitantly, he reached out to touch her. “Maybe he’s awake now.”

“Maybe. It’d be funny if he kept waking up when I was gone, only to fall asleep when I got back.” Despite her words, Lumine didn’t laugh.

Dainsleif didn’t know what to say. His hand fell to his side, limp and useless. Glancing down at the plant, he said, “I’ll transplant it.”

That caught her attention. She jerked her head up, staring at him confused. “What?”

He gestured at the red blooms. “The flower. You want Aether to see it, right?”

“Oh.” She smiled weakly. “Thanks.”

iii. Purple hyacinths

The next time, Dainsleif waited for Lumine to say something. A purple hyacinth sprouted tall in the center of the road, dozens of flowers curling into one another until it looked like an elaborate hair bun, the kind royalty used to wear. It was impossible to miss.

Lumine said nothing. She didn’t even show any sign of stopping. Before she could step on it, Dainsleif shot out his arm, barring her from going forward. It was a jarring reversal. “There’s a flower.”

“Oh.” Lumine looked down blankly. Her expression remained flat. “There is.”

He didn’t like her response. He hadn’t liked it for a while now. There were many things Dainsleif had expected on their journey, but Lumine changing or his feelings on that matter hadn’t been one of them. They should have stopped journeying a long time ago. They should have turned back when the darkness crept in.

And now it was too late. They would see this to its end, whatever it might be.

Still, just like those flowers reaching hopelessly for the sun, he couldn’t help but try one last time to bring back her smile. “I’ll transplant it.”

“Is there any need?” she asked bluntly, watching him with tired, dark eyes.

He couldn’t read her. Not anymore, not for a while. Had he ever been able to understand her? Sometimes, Dainsleif wasn’t certain they’d ever connected, if they weren’t just two ships in the night, passing each other by.

The ache in his chest spread. He pushed the feeling down, smothering it. Dainsleif had never been one for false hopes, but he clung to them now like a lifeline. If they saved her brother, she’d smile again. If they finished their journey, they could rest.

If. If. If.

Quietly, he tried again. “For Aether.”

“For Aether.” Lumine laughed, a jagged thing.

And then she stepped on the flower and walked on.

iv. Lilies

The last time, Dainsleif had been caught unawares. There was a familiar hand around his arm, a familiar tug to keep him in place. It was sunny, the sky above them clear, and the field was as broad as the eye could see. If he closed his eyes, he’d be at the beginning of his journey, still confused and uncertain, still naive and hopeful.

Yet, reality beckoned, forcing him to put away those childish thoughts. The hand on his arm was masculine and broad. The voice calling him was deep and excited.

“Look!” Aether chirped, his eyes bright as he pointed at the path in front of them.

The only thing he shared with his sister was the innocence in his expression.

Dainsleif looked down. A small flower poked its way out of the dirt. Even without seeing its leaves, he knew it was a lily. Even without seeing the bud, he knew it was white.

History, he found, had a way of repeating itself. There were only circles, repetitive and unending.

“That was close!” Aether sighed, relieved. He didn’t seem to notice Dainsleif’s silence. “You almost stepped on it!”

“What’s it doing all the way out here?” Paimon chirped, hovering low on the ground as she studied the tiny plant. “Doesn’t it know it’ll get stepped on?”

“Plants like to grow wherever they want to.” Aether chuckled, crouching on the ground. His cape trailed in the dirt, but he didn’t seem to mind. “It’s so cute. I wish Lumine could see it, she really likes flowers.”

Dainsleif could only stare. Truly, he was too much like Lumine. Even worse, he was following her footsteps across Teyvat, meeting Archon after Archon as he searched for her.

How long would it be till he lost his smile?

How long would it be before he broke too?

Was there any point to it all?

“I wonder what stories it could tell us.” Aether patted the top of the plant, smiling happily. “Staying here by the road, watching people travel…”

“Plants can’t see,” Paimon pointed out, scoffing at the entire idea. She threw her hands in the air. “Next you’ll be asking about its grandparents!”

“I wouldn’t go that far!” Aether held his hands up in defence. Finally noticing Dainsleif’s silence, he turned to him worriedly. “Dainsleif?”

The words were the same. The eyes were the same. A familiar ache spread across his chest. Dainsleif forced himself to speak. “It’s nothing.”

“If you say so…” Aether bounced to his feet, interlacing his hands behind his head. “I wonder how it got here.”

Your sister, Dainsleif didn’t say. Would Lumine laugh or cry that her wish came true?

The path ahead led to tragedy. He knew that, had already gone through it before. Still, there was one final act before their story ended, one final play he had to make. A last try to fix everything.

And maybe next time, Lumine and Aether would both be tugging him, reprimanding him for the flowers crushed in his wake.

[heaven-s-black-box]

File- NSFW

One night, you stumble across a locked file in the archives. A warning appears when you try to open it. It would be wise to head the warning, but no one's around to stop you and the head researcher knows that telling you off isn't going to do anything. (She knows, she was in your shoes once too)

Back to directory

Positive Reinforcement- Ganyu x fem!Reader

Includes- fluff, slight plot, praise, fingering, one mention of panty gag

Pleasurable Destruction- Phantyla!Tingyun x afab-enby!Reader

Includes- slight plot, non-con, sadistic!Tingyun, slight blood, biting/scratching, dacryphilia, wrist restraint, fingering, choking, overstimulation

Stress relief- Agent Washington x fem!Reader

Includes- slight plot, cumming in clothes

Desecration- Dainsleif x fem!Reader

Includes- No plot, public sex, voyeurism, sacrilegious, creampie

Do it Better- Dansleif x fem!Reader

Includes- No plot, ambiguous relationship, masturbation, a dildo, fingering, eating out, slight voyeurism, overstimulation, creampie

How to Date Fuck a Dragon- Ganyu x fem!dragon!Reader

Includes- plot, mentions of heat, half-dragon form, ripping of clothes, mention of breeding

Home- Zhongli x wife!Reader

Includes- plot, half dragon form Zhongli, slight angst(?), oral (f receiving)

Homecoming- Dan Heng x boyfriend!Reader

Includes- slight plot, bottom Dan Heng, Imbibitor Lunae Dan Heng, blow job, anal

Sparks- Lisa x Diluc (valentines event)

Includes- very little plot, blow job, public sex

Blurred Lines- Sunday x fem!Reader (Valentine's event)

Includes- slight plot, not much smut (sorry), office sex, fem receiving oral

Unwinding- Lumine x fem!Reader

Includes- plot, fluff, bath sex, fingering, oral (reader receiving)

Pact- Dainsleif x fem!Reader x traveler!Lumine

Includes- plot if you squint, FFM Threesome, NO DAIN X LUMINE (Do not read this expecting DainLumi), Oral (both F & M receiving), voyeurism, Reader gets called brat, talk of punishment, abyss!Aether x Reader at the end

Embarrassing- traveler!Aether x fem!Reader x Xiao

Includes- plot if you squint, FMM threesome, relationship up to interpretation, Oral (both F and M receiving), established tap out, awkwardness/shyness, some overstimulation

Notes

General- Miyuki, Kuramochi, Mei

Turn ons- Miyuki, Sawamura, Furuya

Mine- Okumura, Haruichi, Miyuki

General- Masamune, Sanada, Jun, Shirakawa

Kawakami NSFW Headcanons

[kalims]

how genshin characters kiss you.

fluff, established relationship, kisses, physical intimacy.

diluc — kisses you tenderly like he's handling yet another glass of wine. the embrace he has you in is enough to make you melt against his touch. gentle, yet passionate, he always gets lost in the moment. the feeling of your lips against his makes his cheeks warm, this intimate gesture was a feeling he'd never thought that was this addicting. when he pulls away, expect him to look like his breath was caught away. red cheeks, messy hair. how endearing he looks.

"..."

kaeya — kisses you like you're the most delicious thing he'd ever tasted. an arm wrapped around your waist while the other is carefully wrapped on the side of your face, these are the rare moments that kaeya let's his inner soul to be loved. you'd be suprised on how nice the kiss feels. It's just the right amount of deepness, to him. kaeya, knows exactly what things that get you like, sloppy kisses or fast ones. he uses his tall physique to tower over your body.

"ah, ah, ah.. I'm not finished with you yet."

tartaglia — kisses you like he's been wanting to even though you already kissed a while ago. tartaglia never gets enough of your lips, he finds the startled look on your face when he captures your lips in his own simply thrilling. with both his hands resting on your hips, tartaglia likes to get you in the moment with fast and sloppy kisses. he doesn't necessarily care for audience but there's just something about getting caught making out in one of those alleys.

"just one more."

zhongli — kisses you like you're a fragile doll that even the slightest touch may break your skin. old traditions have practically imprinted zhongli's mind, he's a complete gentleman. asking for your permission for a simple embrace, including kisses. he likes the feeling of your body pressed firmly against his. with his height, he sometimes has to lean down so he can capture your lips better. with his thumb rubbing soothing circles om your palm, and the other gently cupping your chin. zhongli cherishes these intimate moments.

"you are something else.."

xiao — kisses you like he doesn't know to. frankly, he actually doesn't. however he does have to admit that he first thought that the way mortals spoke so highly of a small interaction like 'kissing' a waste of time. the first time you both kissed though, xiao found himself sitting on top of wangshu inn looking at the starry veil that covered the sky with a finger over his lips. he felt literal tingles cover his body in a way it hadn't before. xiao is stiff but he will get the hang of kissing after a few times, he could've been a fast learner if he wasn't so nervous. (yes, you noticed.)

"how foolish, do it again."

venti — kisses you like he knows there'll be moments like this again and he couldn't wait for it. venti likes the feeling of your arm wrapped around his neck while his embraced your waist tightly. he likes to tease you by lighty pecking your lips then pulling away with a wink that makes your heart race, sometimes. he would pull you off your feet and spin you around. you still don't know how he does this though. probably because of the fact that he makes you lighter with anemo.

"how fun!"

albedo — kisses you like it's everything he'd ever needed. relationships are a hassle according to albedo. but when you get together he finally sees why every couple does everything they can to keep themselves together, he will drop everything and approach you if you asked for a kiss. don't worry, he isn't desperate. just curious as to why he feels so warm and loved in your embrace. albedo likes to take things slow, processing the tingles he feels each second.

"that was a new experience, do you mind if we do it again?"

scaramouchs — kisses you like he doesn't want to. that's actually an act of some sorts to look superior and all. the roll of his eyes and the strings of insults and denial that spill from his mouth makes it seem like he doesn't want to kiss you, you also laughed at the way he stiffened up when you actually pressed your lips against his. you've got to say. the red blush coating is cheeks in either embarrassment or anger was very cute. scaramouche likes to take things fast. RlRough and fast kisses are just in his nature so expect them when he's in a particularly good mood to pull you into a heated kiss.

"you want a kiss? no." (his last words before he actually kissed you later on)

dainsleif — kisses you like it's something he wanted to do but just hasn't gathered the courage to do so. he's a mysterious man, wanting to keep his thoughts to himself rather than speaking. however when he's with you, his quiet demeanor was quickly reduced to a fool completely in love with you, dansleif kisses you while leaning down seeing as he's quite tall. he doesn't know why but the sight of you trying to reach him on your tippy toes elitists a soft and gentle smile out of him.

"if you let me. may I?"

kaedehara kazuha — kissss you like he's overcome with love. perhaps it's the way he'd steal fleeting glances at your form so carelessly that even the crew had noticed. even so, he's a carefree soul looking for the true peace of his heart. when he notices his heart rate speed up along the way his face blooms in a soft shade of barely traceable red. he concludes that you are his eternal peace and happiness. when Kazuha first kisses you. It's like he's been waiting for this since forever. If it was you then he will wait forever.

"simply beautiful, no?"

lumine — kisses you like she's never done it before. it's actually true, she'd never gone this far. In a relationship atleast. to you, it's kinda amusing to see the headstrong and confident lumine reduced to a shy and flustered mess. ahe isn't sure on what to do so she just follows your lead. this is your downfall, cause she will get used to this and not be flustered anymore. the tables turn, she will sometimes suprise you with a kiss then walk away.

"I'm... what..?!"

[kalims]

Abyss mom!reader? Absolutely! Yes please! Would love to read!

What would the twins reactions be?

✉ ⋮ late response *sad face* my schedule is absolutely STACKED, and I hate math so bad, I don't have much time to relax so me answering the rest of your asks would be more... late

angst.

hmm... let's see it as this, yeah? the twins travel worlds right? so in this universe, you'll also be joining them soon... basically a whole cute family traveling together, living their lives happily until the unknown god stuck you down and took you away from the twins. forced to make the journey the twins will soon embark upon.

in this case, lumine and aether always felt a lingering prescence. familiar with a touch of cold, they can't explain it but the presence was always.... there, in the horizon, in the shadows, wherever it was. it looked after them anonymously.

dansleif was unusual to them. and it only made him all the more suspicious in their eyes. at random times, no matter how composed he was. he always seemed to daze off with a foreign glint in his eyes. paimion might have never noticed it, but they certainly have.

imagine their shock when you stepped out of that portal, lightly gripping the handle your weapon while staring them down as they shook with happiness.

both of them rejoiced, shouting out along the lines of 'let's go home!'. with their initial goal at reach, there was no more need to stay in tevyat any longer. they were grateful to the companions they met, really. but they were only there for you, not to mingle and solve problems that weren't theirs.

but their joy was replaced with confusion when you glanced at dansleif's way and hardened your gaze.

"why are you with that man? you shouldn't mingle with the likes of him." your icy tone made instantly silenced them, they gazed at you with confusion but you merely disregarded them coldly. it was like looking at a hollow shell of what used to be.

lumine took a step forward, the herald behind you tensed. ready to attack and protect. "mom.. we've been separated for so long! why are you asking about something that doesn't matter?" she mumbled and shook her head.

she stretched an inviting hand forward, reaching out but it froze in mid air as the words of dansleif rang through her ears.

"[name] we meet again."

your eyes narrowed sharply. "I'll say this again, my darling's. you shouldn't associate yourself with him." it was as clear as a day, you were with the abyss order, you were with their enemy but maybe trying to force the thought out of their minds would switch the true reality. "he is my enemy, you know what that means. don't you?"

aether furrowed his brows, similar to when you heard a price that clearly was a scam. lumine reminisced. "wait.. what are you talking about? you don't make sense, mom.. stop this, please."

you sighed. "I've taught you better than this. tsk... don't try to stop me nor the abyss. I will strike you down, I'm sorry but I will."

what?

the truth was horrifying, even when you explained it all.

after that they'd be devastated, all their hard work. saving nations only to find out you're with the 'enemy'? honestly, lumine is so done. unlike aether who harbors a compassionate heart she's more of a realist. now that she knows you're really here in this world, the only goal she has in mind is to convince you to go home with them.

she does have a point when she says that the only reason they were in tevyat was because of you. they weren't here to become some hero that'll be written on books of history, they didn't want to fight a dragon nor blood thirsty harbingers. aether admits that you're growing more and more far as they venture more in their journey.

freinds or not, blood is always thicker. you've been with them from the day they were born, countless days and years were spent together with you while they've only been acquainted with their tevyat freinds for a measly month or two.

soon, the fate destiny has already planned will be inlaid for the world to see...

[kalims]

Imagine if the twins mom is dating Dainsleif. I can see him dealing with a lot of side glances especially from the traveler's sibling and mom trying to step in to manage awkward conversations😂 poor guy. I think that he is really nice and caring, but he has little no experience with relationships (is it alright if I request headcanons?)

oh my... mom reader is getting shipped a lot lately, not that I'm complaining ( I first added some pre-relationship headcanons to show how his feelings felt and escalated ;) )

fluff, angst, established relationship. spoilers for archon quest: bough keeper and backstory.

my man dansleif is honestly a quiet man, and if you've done the quests where he's included in and thinks otherwise I will fight you.

he knows he's less... talkative than most individuals but perhaps that's because he just doesn't see a reason to speak unless needed. after all the centuries he's lived through, blending within the shadows and speculating from it is practically his moto.

dansleif greatly appreciates and even admires the times where you can easily twist conversations into your advantage, with a relaxed demeanour and a coy smile. victims come barrelling in your trap, simply by your talent with words.

but even so, he hesitates with telling you all about the times he and lumine travelled the same journey aether is currently partaking in, you would no doubt be terrified of the fact that she's five hundred years older than the last time you'd seen her. dansleif can see where lumine gets her confidence from, her eyes and playful arrogance were all inherited from you. he knows he can't tell. not right now atleast.

you're just as mischievous as her, and it sends him on a rollercoaster of nostalgia. travelling with you is certainly something... at times, he's a silent man left with his thoughts that just leaves him at a loss because why does his cold face feel warm? there's the feeling of tingles spreading across his skin and the feeling of serenity ever so present when he sees your smile.

dansleif can't help but let himself fall into daydreams of being into your arms. maybe with you wrapping your arms around him like a cocoon he can fall asleep in knowing that he is loved, to further explain: it's like a teenage girl that's afraid of the dark suddenly being brave enough to conquer her fears once her hand is tightly grip onto the one that she loves the most.

he knows he won't be accepted, thrown away and casted aside just like lumine did once she was faced with the heavenly principles that your family simply cannot escape from just as kharen'riah couldn't, like a curse of some sorts. fate had already designed your family's fate and there is no turning back.

the fuck when did I become so poetic, go away sad headcanons. 😿

anyways, you and dansleif huh.. aether just doesn't like this at all, he and dansleif probably made an agreement to not tell you anything about lumine out of worry. plus, he doesn't know whatever happened after dansleif promptly sped through that portal so it's natural that he's suspicious.

in short, aether doesn't trust dansleif one bit. not after he lied about lumine.

hm.. let's make it more lively! in the next featured headcanons are just about after the travelers finally reunite!

ah let's see, as the relationship progresses, it'll become more open? he'll trust you enough to share his own stories and experiences when you've both encountered enough together.

and I totally agree with him recieving side glances from the twins! lumine's being a lot more less since she's known him throughout the climax of her journey, thus she trusts him more than aether. speaking of the other twin, with dain practically being stuck on your hip like a clueless child starved for her mothers love, he's bound to get used to the man.

he's incredibly stiff when it comes to affection, even paimon has to step in to tell him to relax his shoulders and tense statue! you didn't seem to mind so he didn't really notice. :c he's internally beating himself up for not not noticing that he's like a rock when being hugged sooner. 😭

this relationship is basically sakura and sasuke, that's so fucking cute omg. the thing these men have in common is that their lover is really.. scary? when faced with a situation that turns your mind into a desperate jumble, your first instict is to assess before attacking head on.

you might be asking, why did I include sasuke and sakura? that's because I want to show you how dansleif and yours will be like! a strong headed woman who won't hesitant to beat your ass if you mess with her loved ones and her quiet pacific spouse that will absolutely destroy you if you even hurt her.

....yeahhh.... he's the damn twilight sword I will fight you again if you think that he's weak, man literally restrained an abyss herald with a raise of his hand?? and his unknown power that seems really strong depsite it being displayed for like a minute or two

the abyss is no more, so dansleif is basically just a man with nothing to do. he just passes time with your company, he's seen tevyat grow with his own eyes. so he's bound to catch a couple tricks about love!

overall a very wholesome relationship, the trio will eventually learn that even with their distrust, dansleif just genuinely sees you as his home.

even with a couple of ups and downs, both of you will find yourselves seeking out the other. no matter how hard he tries to bury the love within, it will rise once more.

[kumeko]

A/N: For the Fleurette zine! My second favourite ship in Genshin, just the sheer angst of Dainsleif and Lumine (either with her as the traveler or as the abyss twin ahhh). It’s interesting to see how definitely I write Lumine now compared to here. Or maybe that’s because this is Abyss Lumine as opposed to Traveler Lumine?

Btw, leftover sales are happening right now! check @genshinflowers on twitter!

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i. Lilies

The first time, Dainsleif was caught unawares. His mind had been preoccupied, considering his new travelling companion Lumine, considering why he was even journeying with her in the first place. Home was far behind, their destination unknown, and for a man who liked facts and control, this was an unusual situation for him.

He had never been a man of passion, let alone one that followed his gut instincts.

He still didn’t know what possessed him to take her hand and follow her across the world.

“Watch out!” Lumine barked, her small hand wrapping around his arm. Despite her short stature, her grip was firm, and she jerked him back.

It was the suddenness of it more than anything else that halted Dainsleif’s steps. He glanced at her white-knuckled grip, at her slowly relaxing expression, and then at their surroundings. They were walking through a field, the sky as clear as can be. Dainsleif could see for leagues and there wasn’t so much as a hilichurl here, let alone an actual danger. Certainly nothing to provoke such a panicked response.

“What is it?” he asked, perplexed.

Ignoring him, Lumine let go and crouched down. Her white skirt trailed on the ground, collecting dirt, but she didn’t seem to mind. “Oh, that was a close one,” she sighed, her expression softening.

“Close?” Her response made even less sense. Dainsleif lowered his gaze, following her line of sight until he spotted a small, white lily blooming on the road. “The lily?”

Lumine rolled her eyes and wrinkled her nose at him. “Don’t act like it’s worthless.” She reached out, running a finger across its petals. “Isn’t it cute?”

That wasn’t a word he would have used. “It’s a sturdy plant. It would have survived.”

“Or it might not have. Better safe than sorry, right?” She smiled softly, getting up. Lumine swiped her skirt, shaking off the dust. “Aether would have agreed with me. When he wakes up, I’ll show him, and you’ll see.”

He didn’t doubt that. From what little he had seen of her brother, they had seemed like two peas in a pod. They were both far too naive for this world at war. Even this place, as untouched as it was, would see the battle fires. The idea of this place surviving as is was preposterous.

Dainsleif scoffed, “It might die before then.”

Lumine pinched his arm and glared. Her nails dug into his skin. “Don’t be such a downer. It’ll have kids. Just you wait, next time we come here, there’ll be a field of flowers.”

He shook her off. “We’ll see.”

ii. Cyclamens

The second time, Dainsleif was prepared. You couldn’t travel with someone for months without learning their idiosyncrasies and what he had learned about Lumine was she had a penchant for spotting and protecting flowers. Despite how sharp her tongue was, her heart was soft.

“Careful,” Lumine warned, her hand resting on his arm. The fact that she didn’t yank him meant she had learned something about him too.

It was an oddly pleasant feeling.

Dainsleif had already noticed the red cyclamens on the path. They swayed in the breeze, their blooms reaching for the sun. In this forest, the sunlit path was the only place for them to do so, the massive trees lining the dirt road barring the sky from small plants otherwise.

That didn’t make it any less of an annoyance. “They shouldn’t grow on paths.”

“Plants grow where they want,” Lumine chided. Despite her playful tone and mocking smile, her eyes were distant. She had barely looked at the plant, her eyes already on the faraway exit and, further than that, the distant horizon.

“Lumine?” he broached tentatively, not sure how to handle her new, pensive mood. It came and went, these days, and Dainsleif had yet to figure out the right words to say. Or if there even were any—it was hard to wipe away the things they’d seen.

Her eyes flicked to him, then the flower. There was something bitter, something exhausted about her expression. Quietly, she asked, “How long do you think we’ll be travelling?”

Dainsleif frowned. What response would relax her? What would make her smile? He felt as tongue-tied around her as he had when they’d first met, though for the opposite reason. Before, he hadn’t wanted to talk. Now he did but had no idea what to say. “As long as you want to.”

Her head bowed slightly, and he knew that wasn’t the answer she was looking for. “That’s not what I meant…It’s just…” Lumine gripped her dress, wrinkling the cotton fabric. Her knuckles turned white. “Aether hasn’t woken up and we haven’t found a potion or a spell to do it. Instead, we’ve…”

She trailed off, curling into herself. Something in him ached at the sight. With every step they’d taken away from her slumbering twin, with every Archon and secret of the world they’d uncovered, Lumine’s smile had dimmed. Dainsleif could barely remember how she’d smiled when they’d encountered that lily long ago, the bright innocence of it.

“There’s still a few places left to check,” Dainsleif murmured reassuringly, his hand curling at his side into a tight fist. “You never know.”

“We’ve looked a lot,” she mumbled, sounding defeated.

He had never been one for false hopes, but they crowded his throat, almost choking him. Hesitantly, he reached out to touch her. “Maybe he’s awake now.”

“Maybe. It’d be funny if he kept waking up when I was gone, only to fall asleep when I got back.” Despite her words, Lumine didn’t laugh.

Dainsleif didn’t know what to say. His hand fell to his side, limp and useless. Glancing down at the plant, he said, “I’ll transplant it.”

That caught her attention. She jerked her head up, staring at him confused. “What?”

He gestured at the red blooms. “The flower. You want Aether to see it, right?”

“Oh.” She smiled weakly. “Thanks.”

iii. Purple hyacinths

The next time, Dainsleif waited for Lumine to say something. A purple hyacinth sprouted tall in the center of the road, dozens of flowers curling into one another until it looked like an elaborate hair bun, the kind royalty used to wear. It was impossible to miss.

Lumine said nothing. She didn’t even show any sign of stopping. Before she could step on it, Dainsleif shot out his arm, barring her from going forward. It was a jarring reversal. “There’s a flower.”

“Oh.” Lumine looked down blankly. Her expression remained flat. “There is.”

He didn’t like her response. He hadn’t liked it for a while now. There were many things Dainsleif had expected on their journey, but Lumine changing or his feelings on that matter hadn’t been one of them. They should have stopped journeying a long time ago. They should have turned back when the darkness crept in.

And now it was too late. They would see this to its end, whatever it might be.

Still, just like those flowers reaching hopelessly for the sun, he couldn’t help but try one last time to bring back her smile. “I’ll transplant it.”

“Is there any need?” she asked bluntly, watching him with tired, dark eyes.

He couldn’t read her. Not anymore, not for a while. Had he ever been able to understand her? Sometimes, Dainsleif wasn’t certain they’d ever connected, if they weren’t just two ships in the night, passing each other by.

The ache in his chest spread. He pushed the feeling down, smothering it. Dainsleif had never been one for false hopes, but he clung to them now like a lifeline. If they saved her brother, she’d smile again. If they finished their journey, they could rest.

If. If. If.

Quietly, he tried again. “For Aether.”

“For Aether.” Lumine laughed, a jagged thing.

And then she stepped on the flower and walked on.

iv. Lilies

The last time, Dainsleif had been caught unawares. There was a familiar hand around his arm, a familiar tug to keep him in place. It was sunny, the sky above them clear, and the field was as broad as the eye could see. If he closed his eyes, he’d be at the beginning of his journey, still confused and uncertain, still naive and hopeful.

Yet, reality beckoned, forcing him to put away those childish thoughts. The hand on his arm was masculine and broad. The voice calling him was deep and excited.

“Look!” Aether chirped, his eyes bright as he pointed at the path in front of them.

The only thing he shared with his sister was the innocence in his expression.

Dainsleif looked down. A small flower poked its way out of the dirt. Even without seeing its leaves, he knew it was a lily. Even without seeing the bud, he knew it was white.

History, he found, had a way of repeating itself. There were only circles, repetitive and unending.

“That was close!” Aether sighed, relieved. He didn’t seem to notice Dainsleif’s silence. “You almost stepped on it!”

“What’s it doing all the way out here?” Paimon chirped, hovering low on the ground as she studied the tiny plant. “Doesn’t it know it’ll get stepped on?”

“Plants like to grow wherever they want to.” Aether chuckled, crouching on the ground. His cape trailed in the dirt, but he didn’t seem to mind. “It’s so cute. I wish Lumine could see it, she really likes flowers.”

Dainsleif could only stare. Truly, he was too much like Lumine. Even worse, he was following her footsteps across Teyvat, meeting Archon after Archon as he searched for her.

How long would it be till he lost his smile?

How long would it be before he broke too?

Was there any point to it all?

“I wonder what stories it could tell us.” Aether patted the top of the plant, smiling happily. “Staying here by the road, watching people travel…”

“Plants can’t see,” Paimon pointed out, scoffing at the entire idea. She threw her hands in the air. “Next you’ll be asking about its grandparents!”

“I wouldn’t go that far!” Aether held his hands up in defence. Finally noticing Dainsleif’s silence, he turned to him worriedly. “Dainsleif?”

The words were the same. The eyes were the same. A familiar ache spread across his chest. Dainsleif forced himself to speak. “It’s nothing.”

“If you say so…” Aether bounced to his feet, interlacing his hands behind his head. “I wonder how it got here.”

Your sister, Dainsleif didn’t say. Would Lumine laugh or cry that her wish came true?

The path ahead led to tragedy. He knew that, had already gone through it before. Still, there was one final act before their story ended, one final play he had to make. A last try to fix everything.

And maybe next time, Lumine and Aether would both be tugging him, reprimanding him for the flowers crushed in his wake.