Time passed quietly.
That day, Cael followed his usual routine—
dropping by Cat's Tail to pet cats and give Diona a few suggestions,
then heading to Stormterror's Lair to spend time with Dvalin.
Yet for the entire morning—
He didn't see Lumine or Paimon at all.
"…That's odd," Cael muttered.
"No new task? They didn't even come looking for me."
Normally, if Lumine had anything going on, she'd pull him in immediately.
But after a moment, he understood.
Dainsleif.
That man was… special.
It made sense Lumine wouldn't want Cael involved.
If that was the case, then his role in Mondstadt was basically finished.
It was about time to return to Liyue.
As that thought settled—
He saw Lumine and Paimon walking back through the city gates, both looking utterly dejected.
So it's over.
Cael walked over with a smile.
"Hey. What's with the long faces? Come on—smile a little."
Lumine forced a smile that looked worse than crying.
"…Never mind. Don't smile."
Paimon floated closer and asked slowly,
"Hey, big pervert… if you were reunited with a family member you'd been separated from for years—
but found out they were now on the enemy's side…"
"…What would you think?"
Cael answered instantly:
"Huh? No idea. I don't have any family. All dead. Ashes scattered."
It was the truth.
The Cael from Earth had always been alone.
Paimon and Lumine froze.
Oh Archons—he's even more miserable.
Paimon panicked immediately.
"I—I didn't mean it like that! I was just giving an example—!"
Cael waved it off casually.
"It's fine. Anyway, judging from that question—
you met your brother, didn't you? But he's on the opposing side."
Paimon nodded and explained everything.
It matched the game almost exactly.
Still—
Cael frowned.
She looked too devastated.
"At least you know where he is now," Cael said quickly.
"That's a good start, isn't it?"
"It's not good at all!!"
Lumine suddenly shouted.
"…Huh?"
Her eyes were red, her voice trembling.
"We finally met—and he barely talked to me before leaving!"
"And everything he said was riddles! I don't understand any of it!"
"Why do people insist on being riddle-speakers?! I hate it!!"
Cael nodded seriously.
He agreed completely.
Mysterious riddle people should all perish.
Lumine continued, voice breaking.
"And the way he looked at me—he wasn't gentle anymore."
"My brother used to look at me like I was his whole world…"
"…That brother is gone."
Cael stared at her.
"…Wait. Lumine," he said slowly.
"Are you… a bit of a brother-complex?"
Paimon kept eating sunflower seeds beside them, equally heartbroken.
Watching Lumine spiral, Cael sighed.
Why is my version of Lumine both shameless and dumb…
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed her cheeks.
"Mm?! Mm—!!"
Lumine froze, completely stunned.
Cael stretched her cheeks while chanting seriously:
"Smile. Smile. Smile…"
Paimon immediately landed on Lumine's head.
"HEY! You pervert! Stop taking advantage of Lumine!"
"Oh?" Cael laughed.
"If you don't let me, then I'll take even more advantage."
Lumine finally reacted and slapped his arm.
"O-Okay! Stop pulling! It's going to break!! This is inappropriate!!"
Cael casually produced 60 Primogems.
Lumine instantly pocketed them—
then leaned forward obediently.
"…Please proceed."
"WHAT—?! Lumine, you sold yourself again?!"
Cael released her cheeks and asked calmly,
"So basically—you think your brother doesn't care about you anymore?"
Lumine nodded quietly.
"…Do you think he might abandon me?"
Cael burst out laughing.
"Don't overthink it. There's no such thing as a brother who doesn't want his sister."
"Probably just your imagination."
"…I hope so."
...
...
"WHAT?! You're leaving Mondstadt already?!"
Diona stared at Cael in shock.
He gently patted her head.
"Don't worry. I'll come back."
"There are still plenty of things I haven't finished here."
That was true.
Festivals. Events.
He'd return.
Diona nodded reluctantly.
She knew she couldn't hold him back.
Helping her weaken Mondstadt's alcohol industry was already more than enough.
After a moment, she said seriously,
"Crouch down."
"…Huh?"
"I said, crouch."
"…Okay."
When Cael crouched, Diona took a deep breath and leaned forward—
His cheek was pressed by something soft.
For a split second—
Then it was gone.
She kissed me.
Cael froze.
Diona's face was burning red.
"That's it! We're closing! Go already!"
She shoved him out of the tavern.
When he finally left—
She exhaled shakily.
"…We'll meet again."
...
...
Stormterror's Lair
Dvalin looked at Cael calmly.
"You're leaving."
Cael smiled and nodded.
"I'm heading back to Liyue. Then—Inazuma."
Dvalin understood.
He never stayed in one place long.
Except Liyue.
She stood up, walked over, and opened her arms.
Her face was slightly red.
"Then… let's have a farewell hug, Brother."
Cael hugged her gently.
"Until we meet again, Xiao-Lin."
...
...
Windrise
"So you're leaving, old friend."
Venti sprawled lazily on the grass.
Cael sighed.
"Look at you. You really should start doing something productive."
"Hehe."
Venti scratched his head.
"You're rushing back for the Rite of Descension, right? Not waiting for the Traveler?"
"No need," Cael replied.
...
...
After saying goodbye to Fischl, Jean, and the others—
Only Lumine and Paimon remained.
"So soon…?" Paimon asked softly.
"You're really going back to Liyue already? Not coming with us?"
Cael shook his head.
"I've got things to do."
"I've seen enough of Mondstadt for now."
"And remember Xiangling? She was shouting at me to come back."
Lumine didn't try to stop him.
She nodded.
"…Alright. I understand."
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