Chapter 17: If I Hadn't Met Them…I Probably Would Have Become the Enemy. (Rewrite Version)
Mondstadt is in flames..... with celebration. A grand bonfire was made in the heart of the town square, its flames dancing high as the people gathered to honor their hard-won victory over the Abyss.
Just a few hours earlier, that same square had held a solemn ceremony led by the Church of Favonius to offer prayers and silence for the brave souls who had fallen in the war, their sacrifices honored into the city's heart.
Now, the air is filled with the sound of lively music and the mouthwatering scent of food and wine drifting through every corner of the city.
Children run playfully between the crowds, their laughter can be heard through the streets. The men and women who had returned from the war shared tears of joy and bursts of laughter as they clinked glasses, hugged their family, passing around plates piled high with warm meals.
In the square, people danced freely, spinning and laughing to the rhythm of the joyful tune.
Laughter can be heard through every corner as the people of Mondstadt celebrate with full hearts.
Near the central bonfire, Kiana and Lumine could be seen laughing with children, occasionally pulled into spontaneous dances by the townsfolk.
Elysia, ever the memory keeper, busied herself snapping photos and recording moments until a few children, with Kiana & Lumine's help, dragged her into the fun.
"Come on, big sister!"
"Join us, join us!"
"Quick! Before the white dango sister catches us!"
"Wait! wait! I'm documenting history!" Elysia protested playfully, before giving in with a laugh. "Fine, but only one dance! No spinning!"
"You little rascals, get back here!!" Kiana shouted in mock anger, sprinting after the kids with a wide grin.
"Kyaa~! She's coming!!"
"Ahaha, run run run! Big sister's chasing us!!"
"Ahhhh! Not me! Get him instead!"
"Nooo~! She's right behind us!!"
The kids scattered, squealing with exaggerated panic, all wearing the same bright, joy-filled smiles.
Kiana laughed as she gave chase, her steps light. "I'm gonna catch the ticklish ones first!"
One of the children turned and screamed through giggles, "Not me!! I'm not ticklish!!"
"White Dango Sister's too fast!" another cried as they weaved through the crowd, trying to escape.
The entire square rang with their laughter, swirling around the bonfire like sparks in the night.
Meanwhile, Lumine can be seen among a group of young women, observing the way their feet moved in rhythm with the music.
"The steps are easy," one of the girls said brightly. "Just like this—step here, turn, then swing back. Then repeat!"
"Like this… and this?" Lumine followed along, copying the motions with a bit of hesitation.
"Yes! That's it!" the girl cheered, clapping. "Wow, Ms. Lumine, you're learning so fast!"
Another girl chimed in with a grin, "At this rate, you'll be leading the next round!"
Lumine smiled shyly but kept moving with the music. "I'm still learning… but this really is fun."
And of course, Elysia wouldn't miss a chance to eternalize the moment.
"Hehehe… cute girls dancing~ This is precious!" she grinned, snapping photo after photo of Lumine and the Mondstadt girls twirling under the bonfire's warm glow.
But she didn't stay for too long. With a cheerful skip, she darted to other corners of the celebration, capturing fleeting moments from every angle.
"This is nice," Elysia murmured to herself, scrolling through the shots she'd taken.
Kiana chasing kids with a wild smile, adventurers raising mugs of wine, Lumine swaying in rhythm with the locals, townsfolk cooking side by side, knights offering food with proud smiles… and Venti, who is drunk, playing his lyre with one foot on a crate while church officials in the background looked ready to faint.
In every frame, there was joy.
Everyone was smiling. Alive. Whole.
"This victory, this life… this very moment… it's truly meaningful," Elysia whispered, her fingers resting lightly over her camera lens.
Not far from the bonfire, Noah sat with a cup of apple cider in hand.
He watched as Kiana, Lumine, and Elysia enjoyed themselves, laughing, dancing, playing with the children. On his head, still slightly crooked, rested a flower crown gifted earlier by those very same kids. He hadn't bothered to fix it.
Taking a slow sip, he glanced up at the night sky and smiled.
"See, Abyss… this kind of life? Definitely not worthless."
"CAPTAAIN~! I'm back!! I brought food!!"
He turned to the side and saw her—Miss A, or rather, Alice—balancing over with two plates in hand and a proud grin on her face.
"Thanks, Alice," Noah said, reaching for a plate.
The moment the name left his lips, Alice froze mid-step, blinked, then choked on her own breath.
"Ghk—! H-Hold on, what?!"
Noah blinked, confused. "You okay?" He quickly handed her his cider, which she downed in one gulp.
"I thought I was gonna die...not from the Abyss, but from shock…" she muttered between coughs, then shot him a sharp glare.
"…What?"
"You suddenly called me by my name!" she accused, pointing a finger at him dramatically.
"Well… Alice is your name, isn't it?" Noah replied with a raised brow, taking a bite from his plate. "Seemed proper."
"Y-YES, but I told you to just call me A! Or A-chan at least!"
"It's just the two of us right now. Isn't that fine?"
"Mou!! You're so frustrating!!" she pouted, then unexpectedly jumped forward and gave him a big hug. "You're lucky you're cute!"
Before he could react, she spun on her heel and stomped off in Elysia's direction, mumbling something incoherent.
"…I didn't even do anything..... I really don't understand girls," Noah mumbled, looking at the untouched plate she left behind. "Also… weren't you going to eat?"
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Lumine returned to their table, with light sweat on her brow from all the dancing. Her eyes are still shining with excitement that can be seen through the glow of the bonfire.
"Welcome back, Lumi~ Those were some impressive moves out there," Noah said with a soft smile.
"Ahaha, I'm back," Lumine chuckled shyly, picking up a cup of apple cider and settling beside him.
After a sip, she leaned against his shoulder, her voice barely above a whisper. "...I'm glad."
"Hm?" Noah glanced at her, slightly puzzled.
"I'm just glad we made it… and that we got to see something like this," Lumine said softly, her eyes drifting over the glowing square.
Noah chuckled and took a sip from his cider. "I think that's what everyone's feeling right now."
He swirled the drink gently in his cup. "They're grateful for the ones who fought, and for the ones who didn't make it back. That's why they'll cherish this peace… and fight just as hard to protect it next time."
A gentle breeze swept past them, lifting their hair slightly, as if the wind itself was listening.
Noah looked up toward the sky and spoke with a quiet smile, "Don't you agree, Lord Barbatos?"
"Ehe~ I do, but could you not say that so loudly?" Venti chuckled as he casually sat down beside Noah and Lumine.
Noah smirked while Lumine sat up a little straighter, her gaze settling on the Anemo Archon now sharing their table.
"Thank you for your help this time. Mondstadt and I owe you all a great debt," Venti said, raising his cup slightly before taking a sip.
"We just did what we could," Noah answered with a small shrug, his smile wry. "Anyone would've done the same."
"Perhaps. But it was you and your companions who fought along with us," Venti replied with warmth.
Noah let out a breath and shook his head slightly, unconvinced. Venti raised his cup toward them once more.
"So~ what's next on your journey?" Venti asked with his usual mischievous smile, leaning forward on the table.
"We plan to visit Liyue next," Noah answered calmly. "Then after that, we'll see the rest of the other nations."
"Oh~ then you're in luck," Venti grinned, prompting Noah and Lumine to exchange curious glances.
"Why?" Lumine asked.
Venti leaned back dramatically. "Because the old man next door will be descending soon~ You might just catch him."
"Descent?" Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Yep! Rex Lapis has this once-a-year tradition," Venti explained. "He descends to offer guidance, wisdom, and direction on how Liyue should move forward for the year."
"...Glad to know there's at least one god who still shows up for work even if it's just once a year," Noah muttered with a deadpan expression.
Lumine almost nodded in agreement but stopped herself, hiding a smile behind her cup.
"Ehe~" Venti winked, taking a slow sip of his wine. "Some of us prefer a little flair in our timing."
Noah let out a low sigh, leaning back in his chair. "So… when exactly is this 'descent' supposed to happen?"
"In about a month," Venti answered casually, swirling his cup. "Just enough time for you guys to travel and enjoy some of Liyue's sights before the big event."
"A month?!" Noah raised a brow, deadpan. "That's cutting it close, oi."
Venti let out a carefree laugh. "Ahaha~! Come on, Captain. If it's you and your companions, it'll be a breeze."
After a while, Venti glanced at Lumine, his usual cheer giving way to a serious, thoughtful expression that caught her off guard.
"By the way," he said softly, "there's something I've always wanted to ask you, Lumine."
Lumine blinked. "...What is it?"
Venti offered a small smile, almost hesitant. "Do you… hate us?"
"Huh?" Lumine tilted her head, genuinely confused. Even Noah looked at him with a slight frown.
"I mean, I'm grateful—truly—for what you did for Mondstadt," Venti began, voice calm but sincere. "But… don't you hate us? The Archons. After all... we were the ones who destroyed your nation. You, Princess Lumine of Khaenri'ah."
Lumine drew in a gasp, while Noah's expression hardened beside her.
Venti let out a small sigh, eyes drifting toward the lively celebration around them. "Even if it was an order from Celestia… it doesn't change what we did. We destroyed Khaenri'ah. We buried a nation, along with its people."
He swirled his drink slowly, watching his cup. "So if you hated us… if you refused to lend a hand for Mondstadt, I would've understood. And yet you still chose to fight."
Lumine stared down at the cider in her cup, her thoughts jumbled. A moment later, she felt a warm hand cover hers. Even without looking, she knew whose it was. She closed her eyes, sorting her thoughts and feelings inside her, the resentment, sorrow… and more.
After a few moments of silence, she raised her head and met Venti's gaze.
"…I think… it's not really hate," Lumine said. "It's anger."
Her voice was low, filled with pain she had long kept buried. "Why us? Why did the heavens punish even the innocent? Why curse them with immortality, even after the Abyss to corrupted and turning them into monsters? Why was it necessary to sacrifice an entire nation… just to save others?"
Noah gently tightened his grip on her hand, offering support. He didn't interrupt her, knowing she needed to let this out.
"...And honestly…" Lumine glanced at him. Her voice wavered slightly. "If I hadn't met Noah… Kiana… and Elysia…"
Noah turned to meet her eyes.
"…I probably would've become the enemy of all seven nations."
She took a long, deep breath. Her hand clasped tightly in his, placing their joint hands on her cheeks.
"But I hate the Abyss more than Celestia… more than the Archons," Lumine said, her gaze drifting toward the stars above. "Because it's the Abyss that took everything. It's the reason the reality I once knew… no longer exists."
Venti was silent for a moment, then chuckled softly before taking a sip of his wine. Noah and Lumine turned to look at him.
"Then I'm glad you met them," Venti said gently. "Not just for you, but for Teyvat as well."
"Yes." Lumine's lips curled into a smile. "Because of them… I found a path to redemption. I learned how to feel again. To love, to forgive… even myself. I finally faced the guilt I carried, the guilt of abandoning the people who once called me their savior, their princess. Those who hoped I would lead them against the heavens."
Venti and Noah simply listened, giving her space to speak from the heart.
"Even if it sounds selfish… I was able to be myself," Lumine said, voice calm and honest. "Not a princess. Not a symbol. Just Lumine." She looked at Venti and gave a small, determined nod. "So please don't worry. Like Kiana always says—let's fight for everything beautiful in this world."
Venti blinked at her words, then burst into laughter—bright, genuine, and full of emotion. He lifted his cup high with a grin. "To that… I'll drink happily."
Noah and Lumine smiled and raised their cups as well, the three of them under the starlit sky.