Chapter Text
Fontaine, nation of justice and calm waters, one of the most technologically advanced in Teyvat, brimming with knowledge and history, where nothing could disturb the peaceful sea around it and the people that lived there. Or so, Lumine thought, until the prophecy had happened and wrecked everything, leaving the nation without an Archon, and instead a dragon Sovereign as its leader, and its Gnosis in the hands of a Harbinger yet again, as well as Tartaglia's Vision. This situation had been a mess from start to finish, but there was something Lumine could at least get out of this. Justice worked in strange ways, and most of them weren't pleasant, but it still somehow led to Fontaine rebuilding itself from scratch. And after that... nothing. Fontaine was as calm as the summer breeze and the gentle crash of the waves against Romaritime Harbor's shoreline. Nothing had stirred up the populace, apart just a few opera shows here and there and fixing the aftermath of the flood of Primordial Seawater in Poisson. Which... Lumine hadn't received news of. Apart from helping out Navia grieve over her late team members and being the subject of the usual rumors circulating the nation, it was Akasha silence from all her other friends.
The traveler sighed and stretched, Paimon having flown off to somewhere else in the Harbor, probably looking for a food stall to indulge in. Lumine contemplated the vast expanse of water before her, and the livelihood of the people there. Romaritime Harbor was a lot different from Liyue, in a way that it didn't seem like everyone was close friends or family, and there was much less hustle and bustle, and more refined negotiations along with idle chatter. What in Teyvat could she do today? There wasn't much left to explore in Fontaine, and she had dealt with her Adventurer's Guild commissions. However, her musing was quickly interrupted by the ruffling of feathers right next to her. Lumine turned to the source of the sound, and noticed a little red bird standing there, quickly hopping over to her and dropping a small paper it contained in its beak on her lap, and promptly flew away towards the Palais Mermonia. The traveler inspected the sheet of paper thoroughly before opening it, to check whoever could have sent it. The sender didn't leave any recognizable markings on the outside. Strange. Lumine opened the note, and she instantly smiled looking at the handwriting the small text was written in.
"Hello, Lumine! It's been a long while since we saw each other, and I'd love to invite you to Poisson today to meet up with my siblings, since we have a bit of time on our hands. I hope this message reaches you, and I hope to see you there soon!- Lyney." The slip read, and it even featured Lyney's signature and a doodle of a cat in a top hat with sharp teeth, and there was no doubt left for Lumine as to who the sender was, as she immediately headed for Poisson. She closed her eyes and focused, letting all the noise around her blur away into nothingness, and finally stepped forward, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline course through her as she landed directly in the water at the bottom of Poisson's center, leaving behind a visible trail of energy behind her. She shook the water off herself, looking back up at the hole she came from. Lumine could've worked on the aiming a little, but it wasn't easy looking around when she was basically just a meteor going full speed, which would have probably been terrifying to the Poisson residents, seeing a glowing ball of golden light crash straight into their city. Luckily, the traveler didn't damage anything.
"And here I thought I knew how to make an entrance, but it turns out you're the real magician here, Lumine!" A voice chimed from one of the rusted metal platforms, and as the traveler glanced up again, noticing a familiar smirk and teasing face she knew so well. She waved at Lyney, her hand still soaked from her landing, almost spraying him with the water. The magician just shook his head and helped her out from her puddle, bringing her onto the rusted platform with him.
"Long time no see, Lyney. How have you been?" Lumine greeted him, drying herself off with a towel he somehow took out of his hat. This thing really could contain anything and everything.
"Yeah, that's true, we haven't seen you in forever, Paimon was starting to miss your tricks!" Paimon suddenly appeared with a "pop", the traveler almost jumping back. Paimon had the annoying habit to appear out of nowhere, and whenever Lumine was speaking to someone, she'd make her way in the conversation as if she didn't just morph in front of said someone.
"Ah, thanks Paimon, but I'm not here for a magic show, unfortunately. Things got a bit... complicated on the home front, so "Father" arranged us a place to stay at for the time being." Lyney sighed, his mood not as great as before. Judging by his expression, Lumine could see that the situation wasn't great for him ever since the chaos in Fontaine had subsided. After all, the Fatui still had to help out in Poisson, and, even with that, their reputation was never the best wherever they went, so it was safe to assume that all of the Fatui currently present in Fontaine would have been badmouthed at some point, which made Lumine's blood boil, but she'd have to deal with that later.
"You mean Lynette and Freminet are here too?" Paimon asked, the smile on her face still ever-present despite the mood being the exact opposite of something to smile at.
"Along with most other members of the House of the Hearth, yes. That's why Poisson looks a lot more crowded now. It's also been quite the heavy subject for the press, Charlotte does at least a daily back and forth between here and Fontaine City. She's keeping everyone else updated on the situation in her own way, so to speak." Lyney explained, pointing at another platform, where Charlotte was indeed scribbling away on a notepad, as a Fatui member was speaking to her.
"Wait, so nearly your entire organization has moved here to Poisson? Then, the situation is a lot more than just "complicated", Lyney!" Paimon pouted, wanting an explanation almost immediately from the magician, until Lumine heard something soft in the background. A soft click of a heel against the metal, probably inaudible for Paimon and Lyney. The traveler tensed up, and she was ready to turn back and fight whoever was sneaking up on them, but the unnatural heat that wafted from the presence behind her told her everything she needed to know, and so she stood still, completely zoned out.
"Since the two of you are so curious, perhaps I can fill in the gaps." Arlecchino spoke up, Lumine seeing Lyney's mood shift again as she spoke up, the traveler shooting her friend a glance that said "she's right behind me, isn't she?", and Lyney giving her a small nod. The magician nervously cleared his throat, to try and regain his composure a little.
"Father", you're here." Lyney awkwardly said, Lumine staying as still as a statue of the Seven. What even was it with this Harbinger that made her so tense and stressed? She had no problem facing off and befriending Tartaglia, battling against Signora and help Scaramouche with his past, so why was Arlecchino making her act like that? Was it her inherent calmness and cold air she always had? Was it the fact she wasn't afraid of talking down a believed-to-be Archon? Or something else entirely, that Lumine couldn't pinpoint? She didn't know, but after the recent events in Fontaine, the traveler had seen no hair nor feather of the Harbinger, so her last impression of her wasn't exactly the warmest one. Sure, Arlecchino wouldn't mean her any harm as long as they were on good terms, and that right now, there was nothing to be afraid of, but Lumine still couldn't shake off the apprehension she had around the woman.
"Y'know, maybe on second thought, maybe we don't actually need to know. It's probably super confidential stuff just for House of the Hearth members... we're not trying to be nosy or anything..." Paimon blubbered out, taking cover behind Lyney, equally scared of the Harbinger.
"No need to be so nervous, I could sense your genuine concern from your conversation just now. Though, I can understand your confusion, as sending so many Fatui here to Poisson, some might look for any "ulterior motive" to be at play." Arlecchino stated, finally facing Lumine, her stare still as impassible. The traveler felt a shiver run up her spine, as she was directly looking at her, trying her best not to break into a cold sweat. Arlecchino's stare ran up and down the shorter woman's body, Lumine standing as still as possible, as if maybe, if she didn't move, she'd disappear somewhere else far away from here. The Harbinger simply let the shadow of a smile show on her face, before going back to her neutral stare. Did Arlecchino just size her up? Lumine couldn't know, and she would have rather not have thought of that possibility.
"We still have our reservations about your organization." Lumine just managed to say above a whisper, Paimon looking at her with wide eyes, surprised she had even dared speak in the Harbinger's presence.
"I'm well aware you've had your fair share of confrontations with the Fatui in the past, and I can't exactly that guarantee that we'll remain on good terms in the future. As of right now, however, I would say we have little reason to be at odds, wouldn't you agree? The House of the Hearth could stand to be more open with those who have worked so closely with us in the past." The Harbinger said, directing her gaze to both Paimon and Lumine, the traveler managing to relax a bit, feeling her throat finally let go of the knot it had before, now fully believing that there really was nothing to be all wound up about with Arlecchino. Still, the traveler had to stand guard around any member of the Fatui, no matter how poised, calm or friendly they might seem, if her first encounter with Tartaglia had taught her anything, it was most certainly that.
"As for the issue at hand, well... It hardly relates to any ulterior motive. To be frank, it all stems from a certain rumor around the House of the Hearth. It's an internal matter." Arlecchino explained, Paimon coming out of her hiding spot and properly talking to the Harbinger now. It seemed that with just a few words and a businesslike tone was all it took for Paimon to let her guard down.
"What sort of rumor? Is it something scary?" Paimon asked, visibly thrilled at the idea. Now it was as if Arlecchino was like any of their acquaintances in Teyvat, which made Lumine internally sigh. Not much needed to be done to have Paimon completely trust someone, just hyping her up was apparently enough.
"It is considered as such by many. There have been rumors surrounding a certain "phantom child" is hiding away in the House of the Hearth." Arlecchino spoke calmly, the subject of this "phantom child" not seeming to phase her one bit, her expression unreadable as usual. Lumine raised an eyebrow in confusion, trying to make a logic behind this. Sure, ghosts and apparitions did exist in Teyvat, the projections in Enkanomiya, the Yokai of Inazuma and the ghosts of Wuwang Hill could be seen as such. However, none of them were a direct threat to living people. So then... why would Arlecchino move almost the entirety of the House of the Hearth's children to Poisson? The House was powerful on its own and trained particularly skilled Fatui soldiers, and the children would have been surrounded by other powerful Fatui either way, so unless the phantom was a real threat to them, there would be no reason for doing that. Perhaps the oddest detail would be that, if this rumor was going on inside the House of the Hearth, why didn't Arlecchino do something there directly about it? She was a Harbinger, and she could've easily gotten rid of the ghost whenever she wanted. Unless there was more to it than met the eye, much like Arlecchino herself. The traveler tried to not wrap her head around this too much, as Lyney was going to say something to her to snap her out of her reverie.
"A phantom child? That gives Paimon the creeps..." Paimon shuddered, as anyone would when presented with a ghost story. Though, Lumine didn't quite share the same sentiment, only looking at the Harbinger with a perplexed stare.
"A spirit that should have long ceased to exist is roaming in the shadows of the House of the Hearth, which is why I brought the children to Poisson before investigating the situation. I should be able to track down the spirit fairly quickly. After that, it's just a matter of "resolving" the situation, if you will. It shouldn't be much trouble at all. If you're still curious, or just have some concerns, it might be advisable to stay around for a few days. I'm sure the children would be exceedingly pleased to welcome some visitors." Arlecchino turned around to leave, but not before stopping in front of Lumine, the traveler nearly jumping back as she saw Arlecchino tower over her.
"Of course, if you wish to help, you're welcome to do so as well. Having another skilled fighter to track down the phantom would make things much easier, and your Elemental Sight could be of great value." Arlecchino suggested, Lumine not having the time to look at her expression that she was already talking to Lyney, telling him that she'd be busy for the rest of the day, before glancing at the traveler again, and finally leaving. Lumine had mixed feelings about this, the thoughts running around in her had like mad. Should she go forward and join Arlecchino in tracking down the phantom child, or stay away from any potential danger? That would give her the chance to learn more about her, and maybe find out more about the Fatui in general... but Arlecchino could handle that herself, as she had made a point of it not being difficult for her. Then, why ask Lumine to even go with her at all? The traveler shook her head, forcefully distracting herself to not overthink about this question, as Arlecchino vanished from her sight completely, taking a deep breath. Suddenly the atmosphere was a lot less stressful, the traveler feeling her muscles relax. That unnatural tension around Arlecchino, it was as if she was intimidated by her, like she was entirely exposed, completely weak in her presence. And Lumine couldn't figure out why.
Arlecchino's suggestion to stay for a few days was equally as strange, but she wouldn't dwell on that any longer, instead focusing back on Lyney, who seemed to have caught on Lumine's distress, and gently rubbed her shoulder as a means to comfort her.
"Ah, don't worry, Lumine. Father can be... quite intense when it comes to making an entrance. I can understand why you're a bit shaken up." Lyney said, Lumine's expression not getting any calmer.
"I know, it's just that... with other Harbingers, like Childe or Signora, I didn't feel this intimidated and stressed, like I was being sized up to be eaten later or something. But Arlecchino and Dottore make me feel like I'll end up on tomorrow's breakfast table." Lumine explained, Lyney giggling at her explanation.
"Ah, I see. It's normal that you'd feel like this. You see, "Father" is the fourth of the Fatui Harbingers, while Dottore is the second." Lyney spoke, the traveler's jaw almost dropping. So that was why she was tense around Arlecchino. She didn't know if that feeling was due to her elemental affinity, but now she was fully convinced that Arlecchino was a force to be reckoned with, not only because of her status as a Harbinger, but also because of her strength. Even if Lumine had fought Harbingers in the past, most of them were lower ranked and she had help on the side, but if she had to pick a fight with Arlecchino, she'd have to do it alone. And she wasn't sure if she'd manage it. Wait, why was she even thinking of picking a fight when she hadn't even done anything to trigger one yet? The traveler got lost in her thoughts, but Lyney gave her a nudge with his elbow, shaking her out of her reverie.
"Come on, we should get going. Wouldn't want to make the others wait too long for me to come back, or they're going to start thinking I disappeared for good." The magician started walking towards a secluded corner in Poisson, where a rusty ship was standing. It wasn't technically a ship, but all the homes in Poisson had the shape of one, and the smell of one, the pungent odor of fish never leaving the confines of the small city.
"The others? You mean, Lynette and Freminet are here too? Hmm... and since we're guests now, that means we'll be treated to delicious food, right?" Paimon chimed in, Lumine raising an eyebrow as she had forgotten Paimon's presence.
"Of course, Paimon. Now, hurry along, or else said delicious food will all be gone if you take too long to get there." Lyney winked at Paimon in the hopes to tease her, which worked, as the floating being just frowned back at him.
Lumine didn't know what to think, so she just walked with Lyney, hoping to get some answers to all her questions. Who was that phantom child? Why did Arlecchino offer her to join her? The traveler sighed, knowing she'd have to make light of all this in the future, whether she liked it or not. But, on the bright side, it meant she could learn more about the Fatui and their plans, and maybe, just maybe answer other questions she had about Teyvat...