The light of the morning sun stole gently through the heavy velvet curtains of the room and danced in golden dust motes across the parquet floor, Mondstadt slowly awoke, the distant echo of market criers and the rhythmic beating of the windmill sails forming the background music for this new day. Lumine blinked against the bright light, her mind feeling heavy, still half trapped in the misty dreams of golden fields and a laughing brother but as she sat up, her gaze immediately fell upon the figure at the window. Noxira sat on the wide windowsill, her legs neatly drawn up, her back perfectly straight.
She was still wearing her dress, yet in the soft morning sun, the fabric seemed less like an invincible barrier and more like the fragile shell of a cocoon. She was staring at the bedside table, where the Windwheel Aster stood in a simple glass of water.
>>"You were in a state of cellular regeneration for seven hours and fort two minutes. In other words... you were sleeping,"<<
Noxira said softly, without turning her gaze away from the flower. Her voice was clear, but there was an undertone of deep contemplation.
>>"Your breathing rhythm changed three times. Twice you whispered a name and once... you smiled."<<
Lumine rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed.
>>"Have you been sitting there all night, waiting?"<<
Noxira turned her head, and the blue light of her eye shimmered gently.
>>"Waiting implies the expectation of an event. I... I have been... observing. In the archives, sleep is described as a necessary evil but the way your face lost all tension while at rest... it contradicts logic and efficiency. It almost looked as if you were in a place where pain could not find you."<<
She lifted a hand and cautiously touched one of the red petals.
>>"Lumine... the edges of this plant are beginning to discolor. They are losing their structural integrity, does this mean that the affection the child gifted me is also decaying...?"<<
Lumine felt a lump in her throat. Noxira still viewed the world as a system of cause and effect. If the flower died, she feared the feeling behind it died with it.
>>"No, Noxira"<<
Lumine answered softly, stepping toward her at the window and she placed a hand on Noxira's cool shoulder.
>>"Flowers are like moments, they fade so that there is room for new ones but the feeling that girl had when she gave it to you? That is a part of you now. It's stored in your memory, not in the petals. Never forget that affection doesn't just vanish overnight."<<
Noxira looked at Lumine, her features appearing so young in that moment, searching for the meaning of affection.
>>"Memories are my purpose, but until now, they were only cold images in a dark room. This one... this memory feels like a fire."<<
Noxira answered uncertainly and looked over at Lumin and she closed her eyes for a moment and leaned her head almost imperceptibly against Lumine's hand.
>>"I want to collect more memories like this, Lumine, even if they are heavy and even if they fade. You have also triggered so many feelings in me that I do not understand... like when you hold my hand, or when you are so close to me. So... caring."<<
Lumine's heart softened at the confession and she moved her hand from Noxira's shoulder to gently cup her cheek, her thumb brushing just below that glowing azure eye, it was a reaction to Noxiras leaning against her hand and explained Noxira.
>>"Those feelings... they are what it means to be alive, Noxira. It's not a calculation, It's a connection and as for the flower..."<<
Lumine reached over to the bedside table and picked up a thick, leather bound book her travel journal and flipped through the pages filled with sketches of slimes, maps of the wild and notes about her brother, until she reached a blank page in the middle.
>>"We can't stop time but we can keep pieces of it."<<
Noxira watched with wide, curious eyes as Lumine carefully took the Windwheel Aster out of the water, following Lumine's lead, the Guardian used her delicate fingers to straighten the petals against the parchment.
>>"If we press it between these pages."<<
Lumine explained as she slowly closed the book, applying gentle pressure and continued.
>>"It will stay with us, It won't be fresh anymore but it will never truly leave. Just like the memories you guard."<<
Lumine smiled gentle and looked at Noxira
Noxira placed her hand over the cover of the book, feeling the weight of the paper.
>>"To preserve the physical form to protect the intangible... it is a logical compromise. Thank you, Lumine. I will... protect this book with my life."<<
Lumine laughed but the warmth in her eyes said otherwise.
>>"Hehe, you don't have to go that far! It's just a journal, what matters is what you carry in your heart. Memories are also carried in the heart."<<
Suddenly a loud and dramatic yawn erupted from the corner of the room a small, floating figure emerged from a pile of oversized pillows on the armchair, stretching her tiny arms so wide she almost tumbled over.
>>"Mmm... Paimon smells... pancakes?"<<
Paimon mumbled, her eyes still half closed but she floated over to them, sniffing the air like a bloodhound.
>>"Lumine! Noxira! Why are you two up so early? Is it breakfast time!? Please tell Paimon it's breakfast time!"<<
The serene silence of the morning was officially shattered and Noxira straightened her posture, the shy girl retreating behind the mask of the elegant Guardian once more, though she didn't move away from Lumine's side.
>>"Paimon's internal clock is remarkably consistent when it involves food"<<
Noxira remarked, a tiny, almost invisible trace of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, she Paimon has already taken to heart.
Lumine stood up, stretching her limbs as she gave the leather bound journal a final, affectionate pat.
>>"Alright, alright, Paimon. We heard you loud and clear let's go."<<
Noxira followed them out of the room, and she floated beside Lumine as they descended the stairs, the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans and sizzling bacon filled the air and for Noxira, whose existence had been defined by the absence of scent and sound, the sensory input was almost overwhelming again but this time, she didn't flinch. She simply stayed close to Lumine's and grabbed her Sleeve.
The three go back to Good Hunt and Paimon practically dove into a chair at a corner table, her eyes sparkling at the thought of food.
>>"One of those! And some of those! Oh, and the pancakes with extra jam!"<<
Paimon chirped, pointing frantically.
As the food arrived, Lumine noticed Noxira staring at a small cup of steaming tea, Noxira picked up the porcelain cup with a precision that made it look like a sacred ritual. She took a tiny, hesitant sip, her brow furrowing slightly.
>>"It is bitter"<<
Noxira observed, tilting her head and added.
>>"Yet, it possesses a lingering clarity. It is... Yummy, I like it."<<
Lumine smiled, stirring her own drink. >>"That's a very deep way to look at a cup of tea, Noxira but I'm happy to hear that you like it, you are a Tee person"<<
Before Paimon could respond with her mouth full of toast, a person comes near the table a tall man with navy-blue hair and an eye patch stepped inside, his presence immediately drawing a few curious glances from Noxira.
He looked at the three with practiced ease a smirk played on Kaeya's lips as he sauntered over, the gold coins on his outfit jingling softly.
>>"Well, well. If it isn't our Honorary Knight and her... enigmatic companions"<<
Kaeya said, his voice smooth as silk and he pulled up a chair without being asked, his single visible eye lingering on Noxira for a second too long.
>>"I heard rumors of a Star Lady appearing in the plaza yesterday. I must say, the rumors didn't do you justice, My Lady."<<
Noxira set her tea down, her expression cooling for moment into a mask of regal indifference, while she looked at him and she literally studied his face.
>>"Kaeya Alberich. Captain of the Knights of Favonius, your speech patterns suggest a high probability of redirection and hidden intent."<<
Noxira tilted her head and smiled gentle
>>"Why are you here? You probably want to commission us for something or something like that."<<
Paimon choked slightly on her juice.
>>"Gah! Noxira! You can't just say that out loud!"<<
Kaeya let out a hearty laugh, leaning back in his chair.
>>"Direct and perceptive. I like her already, Lumine, where did you find such a charming treasure? Why didn't you introduce her to me sooner?"<<
Lumine took a sip of her tea, trying to hide her amusement behind the porcelain rim of her cup, she knew Kaeya well enough to know he wasn't offended and, Noxira's directness only made him more interested.
>>"She has a way of seeing through things, Kaeya."<<
Lumine said, her voice light but protective and she added.
>>"And as for where she came from... let's just say she's been traveling with me for a while now. She's my Guardian."<<
Kaeya's smile didn't falter but his eye sharpened. He leaned forward, resting his chin on his gloved hand.
>>"A Guardian, hmm? A heavy title for such a delicate lady. Tell me, Noxira since you're so good at reading hidden intent what do you think my intent is right now?"<<
Noxira didn't blink, she reached out and touched the sleeve of Lumine's dress, a small gesture of grounding herself, before answering.
>>"You are curious"<<
Noxira stated calmly and continued.
>>"But it is not the curiosity of a friend It is the curiosity of a gatekeeper, you are measuring if I am a threat to this city... or perhaps, if I am a ghost from a place you recognize."<<
The air at the table grew suddenly still even Paimon stopped chewing her pancake, looking back and forth between the two.
Kaeya's expression remained a mask of cool charm, but for a split second, the jollity in his eye vanished, replaced by a cold, ancient depth.
>>"A ghost, you say?"<<
Kaeya chuckled, though the sound didn't quite reach his eye.
>>"You're quite the philosopher but Noxira is right, Lumine. I didn't just come here to admire the scenery. Acting Grand Master Jean has requested your presence at the Headquarters It seems some unusual energy readings have been detected near Stormterror's Lair."<<
He stood up, adjusting his fur mantle with a flourish.
>>"She wants the Honorary Knight's perspective and of course, she's very eager to officially meet our mysterious Star Lady."<<
Noxira looked at Lumine, her blue eye pulsing with a soft lavender light.
>>"Energy readings... they are looking for a source that does not belong to this world. They are looking for me, Lumine."<<
Lumine reached over and squeezed Noxira's hand under the table.
>>"Then we'll go together, don't worry, I won't let them treat you like a specimen."<<
Paimon stuffed the last bit of Fisherman's Toast into her mouth and wiped her face.
>>"Yeah! If they want Noxira, they have to deal with Paimon first! And Paimon is very cranky when her breakfast is interrupted!"<<