I sighed, my body laying down on a random beach. I was stuck in a random world without my brother, Aether. I tried to remember what happened to him, but when I try, all that comes up is a void, and then being sucked into this world. All I know is that he is not with me now and that I cannot leave this world like I used to.
I got up, dusting the little grains of sand off my legs. The sky was a perfect shade of blue, but I could not help but continue being dejected. 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyyyuKdf0R
Oh brother, where are you? I feel so alone without you.
With another sigh, I was walking next to the endless ocean I had spawned in. My ears pricked--someone was in trouble.
My head scanned the area quickly, could it be Aether? It took me a moment before realizing the voice was too high-pitched to be my brother, although he has an extremely high falsetto. I saw a small, white creature that seemed to be close to growing in the sea several feet away from shore, a sheet of dark blue fabric covering their body. I instantly looked around the shore, finding a random fishing rod that seemed to be abandoned. Looks like this is all I have.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZmv6wDVQB
I held the rod with both hands; I was not one to fish, although I had some basic survival knowledge. I swung the fishing rod around and released the line into the water. Not sure how, but the creature's blue cape got caught in the hook and, with a mighty tug, I managed to pull them to the shore. Truly, I pulled them into the air, because after they were out of the water, the thing began to float midair.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiHG0gExM6
What kind of...?597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZZLEpAMP2
I quickly pulled out my sword, keeping my distance from the thing. Who knows, I may have just pulled a mini God out of the ocean or something. Up close, I could tell the creature was mostly white, the blue fabric becoming a weird cape; they also had unique metal detailing and a crown-looking object above their head. It looked like a big toddler in a weird costume.
"What are you?" I questioned the being.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFALXXjPCQB
It looked at my sword before responding, "I'm Paimon. Now, could you put the pointy sword away?"
With some reluctance, I complied, putting the sword back into its sheath. "Now, what exactly is a 'Paimon'?"597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4Ha4tevkY
The creature, Paimon, gave me a smile, "It's a name, silly! Now, what's yours?"
I shrugged, I might as well be friendly. A companion could be helpful, especially if they could fly; emergency food is a thing too to think about.
"It's Lumine."
Paimon smiled once more--I was sensing a pattern, "Well, Lumine, thank you for saving me! I was swimming and my cape flew in front of my face!"
I gave her a commonality nod, but she was not done, "And, as payment, I am now your servant--and friend--for life."
She did a sort of bow, and became serious for a moment, before jumping back into her cheerful self. I guess this is life-bonding now.
"You do not need to do this, I was doing what anyone would do...."
She shook her head, "Nonsense! Paimon is your buddy now and friends stick together."
I shrugged, seems she meant her word with this service.
"Well Paimon, how about you show me around...?" I had no clue where I was or what this world was called.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVstU5yBLoW
"This is the land of Teyvat, made up by the seven cities! We are actually close to one city now; Mondstadt."597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoeDDRlNPf
+ + 000 + +
After our meeting at the beach, Paimon helped me with the geography of "Teyvat". Seems it is a simple world to spell out; one big nation with seven smaller cities each different from the other. As Paimon said, she was leading me to Mondstadt, also known as "The City of Freedom".597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCGIcsuQQN
"And that is how I learned that my food was my weakness!" Paimon was blabbering along the trail as I could not stop thinking about my brother.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Sc1WJJooe
Where did you go? Why cannot I remember you? Are you safe?597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUSc6dySHB
"...Lumine?" 597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVwzaRmhWx
I looked up from my feet; Paimon had a concerned expression on her face.
"Yes, Paimon?" I tried to smile, but it was more of a grimace.
"You seem lost in thought; what are you thinking about?" After a second of silence, she added more words, "If you are okay with sharing and all." Another awkward smile that matched my own.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSk6OTmaCC
"It's fine to ask; I was thinking about my brother, Aether."597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQFMdpst0S
Paimon's face lit up with wonder at the mention of my brother.
"Ooh, you have a brother?! Do tell!"
I was at a loss of words and memories then--I did not know where to begin if I was to tell someone of Aether. He was always with me and I was always with him. And without him, I felt like a shell of myself.
"Uh, well, for starters... he is my older brother, and we are twins."
I could not remember anything else at that moment. Thankfully, Paimon saw something new that changed the subject completely.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvIsJk58Up
"Oh! Oh! Come over here, Traveler!"
I looked in front of where Paimon was floating; there was a small island that had a tall statue-looking thing on it. I jumped into the water and swam onto the island as Paimon came up to the statue.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwawg9G8JK
"Come quicker!" Bossy Paimon much.
I saw the statue's details much better up close. It was of a woman who wore a hood holding her arms out as if she was waiting to accept something, or possibly send something into the wind as an offering.
"This is the God of Mondstadt, Barbados."
Oops, not a woman then.
"In Teyvat there are special people who are blessed by the Gods and have things called "visions" that grant them unique powers!" She looked at me, sizing me up and down, "Wanna touch it?" Smile.597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGfMa7A6ke
I shrugged, might as well I guess. I placed my hand on the stone statue and the wind started to pick up around us. I looked into the sky above me as I could feel a sort of power run through my veins.
After I took my hand away, Paimon was all in my face.
"Wow Lumine! Did you feel that?" Of course, I did, but I still nodded my head, "I think the Gods just blessed you!"597Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvYwI05z53
I gave another shrug as I looked at my hand. My brother and I were powerful beings before we... I was trapped here alone. It was nothing for me to gain new abilities, although I had never had my powers taken away all at once.
Paimon grabbed my hand away from me, "Come, Traveler, we still have more for us to explore!"
And with that, our adventure, friendships, bonding, and traveling only continued onward...
ns 15.158.61.48da2
