On the other side, inside the Alcor's cabin, soft light filtered through the window lattice and spilled over a slightly disheveled bed.
Paimon opened her eyes groggily, just waking from a sweet dream.
At the same time, Lumine stirred gently, her eyelids fluttering before she slowly opened them.
There was a trace of confusion in her gaze, as if she hadn't yet fully emerged from the dreamscape.
She lazily stretched out her hand to feel around the bedside, only to discover unexpectedly that it was empty.
This discovery prompted Lumine to murmur softly.
'Where did he go?' Her tone carried a hint of confusion and puzzlement.
Hearing Lumine's murmur, Paimon sat up straight, rubbing her still-drowsy eyes, and curiously asked, "Who are you talking about?"
Lumine didn't answer right away. Instead, she clutched the quilt tightly, turned over lazily, and replied, "Shao Yun… slept with me… and then vanished. Seriously, hmm…"
There was a slight tone of complaint and bewilderment in her voice, clearly dissatisfied with Shao Yun's sudden disappearance.
However, Paimon seemed to catch something shocking. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she screamed, "AH!!!"
The high-pitched shriek instantly shattered the cabin's tranquility, prompting Lumine to cover her ears in annoyance.
"What the heck, Paimon? You're so loud…"
Realizing her outburst, Paimon quickly tried to regain composure, though her tone still betrayed her excitement.
"Lumine, what did you just say? And… your…?" She wanted to ask where Lumine's clothes had gone, but the words caught in her throat.
Clearly exhausted, Lumine tightly shut her eyes and cut her off.
"Paimon, I'm so tired. Let me sleep a bit more, okay? Shao Yun and I didn't fall asleep until really late last night." Her voice was filled with fatigue, showing she had no interest in continuing the conversation.
Even so, Paimon's curiosity remained undeterred. She gently nudged Lumine's back, asking once more, "So what exactly did you two do last night?"
But Lumine had no intention of elaborating. In a sleepy mumble, she replied, "Don't ask. I'm going back to sleep." Then she drifted off once again.
Paimon stared at Lumine's fair and tender skin, her mind racing with less-than-innocent imagery that left her young heart thoroughly rattled.
"This is, like, way too much…"
…
Lumine ended up napping until noon. Sunlight streamed through the window, warming the room with a gentle glow.
Paimon sat beside her, eyes wide with curiosity and doubt, spending the entire morning trying to digest the spicy revelation.
When Lumine finally stirred from sleep, she opened her eyes to find Paimon's very close face hovering above hers.
Startled, Lumine's eyes flew open. Paimon's round cheeks were almost pressed against her nose—an overwhelming sight that jolted her awake.
She sat up abruptly, clutching the blanket as she shouted, "Paimon! What are you doing?! You scared me to death!"
Startled by Lumine's reaction, Paimon pouted and asked, "Lumine, what exactly did you and Shao Yun do last night?"
Lumine's mind was instantly pulled back to the tender moments of the night before, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
She raised her right index finger to her lips, making a "shh" gesture, and whispered sweetly, "That's a little secret…"
Seeing this, Paimon's mind raced with wild speculation. 'Oh no… Lumine definitely got "plowed" by Shao Yun!'
But her train of thought was soon interrupted as Shao Yun arrived, shifting her attention entirely.
Shao Yun entered the room with a bright smile, holding a box of exquisite pastries.
"Lumine, Paimon, I brought you some treats from Liyue Harbor. Thought you'd like something sweet."
The moment food was mentioned, Paimon's worries evaporated. She zipped over to Shao Yun, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Wow! What kind of treats? Let me see!"
Lumine yawned, sitting up slowly while still clutching the blanket. Her lazy gaze fell on Shao Yun.
"What did you buy?" she asked softly.
Shao Yun gently placed the pastry box on the table and replied, "Just some delicious cakes. Xiangling made them, but I'm not sure what exactly."
Lumine glanced down at herself and quickly urged Shao Yun to turn around.
"Shao Yun, turn around right now. No peeking while I get dressed."
He obediently turned his back and even playfully covered his eyes. "Alright, I'm not looking."
Lumine gently lifted the blanket and stood up carefully, one hand on her belly, clearly still feeling a little sore.
Paimon quickly flew over, concern in her voice. "Lumine, let me help you change. You don't seem too steady."
Lumine nodded, gratitude in her eyes.
"Thank you, Paimon…"
With Paimon's help, Lumine changed into her "Outland Traveler" outfit—a blue and white ensemble with exotic flair.
The outfit radiated elegance and charm. The bunny-eared ribbon, white sleeve cuffs, and platinum-accented wooden boots added a playful, agile touch.
Golden diamond-shaped ornaments sparkled at the hem of her skirt, gleaming under the sunlight.
The split white scarf around her neck fluttered gently in the breeze, making her look like a noble princess from a faraway land.
Once dressed, Lumine, with Paimon's support, sat down at the table.
She opened the pastry box and admired the neatly arranged sweets.
"These look really good," she remarked with delight.
Shao Yun turned around just in time to see Lumine in her familiar starting outfit and couldn't help but smile.
"Haha, my gunslinger girl's back in her 'princess' gear. You're looking more beautiful than ever."
Lumine picked up a raspberry mille-feuille and took a delicate bite. The flavor was sweet and refined.
She gave Shao Yun a meaningful look and said, "Stop teasing… Just try the pastries. They're really good."
…
After enjoying the delicious treats, the three of them—Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon—felt particularly content.
Shao Yun suggested they go for a walk on the deck to get some fresh air and feel the sea breeze.
Lumine agreed readily, though there was a subtle oddity to her gait. Paimon noticed, but wisely chose to stay quiet and simply kept her company.
On the deck, the breeze carried a salty tang, refreshing and invigorating.
Just then, Beidou's familiar and hearty voice rang out as she directed the crew, who were busily preparing for departure.
Seeing Shao Yun, Lumine, and Paimon, Beidou beamed.
"You came at just the right time. The Alcor is about to set sail for Inazuma. It'll take about three days. Do you have anything left to take care of?"
Shao Yun gave a light smile and shook his head.
He turned to Lumine, who looked to Beidou and replied with a nod, "No, we're ready."
Beidou nodded approvingly, then shouted with confidence.
"Then let's set sail for that storm-wrapped land of 'eternity'—Inazuma!"
Her voice was powerful enough to stir even the sea breeze.
Paimon cheered excitedly from the side, "Let's go!"
…
At Beidou's command, the Alcor sprang into action. The anchor was hoisted with a deep metallic groan, and the giant sails rose slowly under the wind's power, propelling the massive vessel toward the distant nation of Inazuma.
Shao Yun stood beneath the mast, his back against the sturdy wooden pillar, gazing thoughtfully at Lumine and Paimon beside him.
He calmly began to recount what he had learned earlier from Beidou and Kazuha, his tone laced with gravity.
"When we reach Inazuma, Miss Beidou has arranged for a friend named Thoma to meet us. Still, nothing is ever certain. We must be fully prepared for any unforeseen trouble."
Lumine nodded softly. Planning ahead never hurt.
"Shao Yun, go ahead. We're listening."
Shao Yun turned to her with a gentle look and continued, "Our first mission is to help you recover your lost power. Remember? You once regained elemental energy through contact with a Statue of The Seven. So, we'll start with reclaiming your strength. Then, we'll find a way off Ritou and face the Raiden Shogun."
At this point, he pressed his lips together briefly, a trace of reluctance in his eyes, before firming his resolve.
"Honestly, I never wanted to be anyone's errand boy. But since Venti and Zhongli were good to you before, I'm willing to help them too. As for what we say to the Raiden Shogun—that's less important. What matters is getting an audience with her. After that, whether we continue exploring Inazuma or head to the next nation, we'll decide then."
After hearing his plan, Lumine nodded again in agreement.
"Alright, Shao Yun. We understand."
Seeing Lumine so agreeable, Shao Yun leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.
"Inazuma is even more dangerous and unpredictable than Mondstadt or Liyue, but as long as we stay together, there's nothing that can stop us. We can go anywhere. No one can defeat us."
But the heartwarming moment was soon shattered by Paimon's sudden shout.
She pointed toward the horizon, her face full of alarm. "Shao Yun, Lumine, this is my first time on a ship, but those clouds over there… something's off!"
Both turned toward the direction Paimon indicated. In the distance, a dense cluster of dark clouds had gathered, thunder and lightning crackling ominously—signs of an approaching storm.
It stirred an uneasy memory in Shao Yun. Don't tell me… is the Alcor going to sink in this storm, and we'll all end up on some island called Guarma or something?!
"All hands on deck, return to your cabins immediately!" Beidou's firm and commanding voice rang out. "We're heading into the storm zone outside Inazuma waters!"