"Super Invincible Tyrannosaur Warrior — yeah, you, hold this and stand right there."
Early the next morning in bustling Port Ormos, Ye Luo handed a cardboard sign to a passing man and pointed him to a spot some distance away. He then took an old instant camera from his coat, set it on a tripod, and fussed with the angle.
"Me?" the man asked, bewildered.
"Yes, you. I know your old handle in the Akasha — Super Invincible Tyrannosaur Warrior, right?" Ye Luo waved a hand impatiently.
"Hey!" the man leaned in and hissed, "Don't shout that. I don't want everyone to know." Then, as instructed, he stood there dutifully holding the sign while Ye Luo adjusted the shot.
You're wondering how Ye Luo knew the fellow's net handle? Don't ask — just shout it and see who answers. Bros have their own unspoken code even across worlds.
Why was Ye Luo doing this? Remember: he wasn't jobless. He had a title to maintain — the honorable Water Archon's scribe. And it was nearly time for his monthly report to Furina. The letters always went off into the void with no reply, but Ye Luo liked to believe the Hydro Archon was shy rather than indifferent. He simply wanted to share the little things he'd seen in his travels — after five centuries spent in Fontaine, he figured she might be lonely.
Also… you don't need a reason to miss someone you like.
"Aah," Paimon yawned, bleary-eyed as she drifted out of the house. If it weren't for the contest practice she wouldn't be up this early — Mora doesn't earn itself.
"Ye Luo, what are you doing?" Paimon's tiredness vanished the second she saw him fiddling with the camera; curiosity lit her face.
"Taking photos to remember life," Ye Luo replied without looking up. "We won't always have days like this."
Paimon blinked and didn't know what to say. Lumine, curious, walked over and read the sign aloud.
"I miss you in Sumeru.
The wind that misses you has blown all the way to Sumeru."
Lumine's expression went blank. What was this trend? Was this some new poetic fad she didn't know about? Why was he doing this? Was his brain acting up again?
"You two came at the right time — help me take a few pictures." Ye Luo's eyes brightened. Why pose if people were right there? He handed the instant camera to Paimon, they lined up for a few snapshots, and once the prints came out he smiled satisfied and skipped back to his little room, leaving the two of them standing there utterly confused.
They exchanged a look. Something about Ye Luo had gone past "odd."
"Lumine, don't you think Ye Luo is acting strange?" Paimon scratched her head.
"Maybe… Is it because of the photos he just took?" Lumine guessed. Clearly the pictures were meant for someone important.
"No — not just a little. He's really strange."
A voice behind them startled Paimon into Lumine's arms.
"Oh — look who it is, Layla and Faruzan. How come you two are so quiet when you walk?" Paimon puffed out her tiny chest. Lately she'd gotten spooked more often than before. What was going on?
"What did you say?" Faruzan folded her arms and squinted at Paimon. "Say that again — old ears aren't what they used to be."
"Call me Faruzan-senpai," Layla reminded softly.
"Right, right. Faruzan-senpai! What are you and Layla doing here?" Paimon bounced.
"Oh, nothing," Faruzan smoothed a strand of hair. "Layla and I have been here a while — you just didn't notice." Layla looked worriedly at the pair.
"About the senior's behavior… uh, he does this almost every month," Layla admitted. "I'm worried…"
Layla had noticed Ye Luo's behavior growing stranger and wanted to investigate. If she didn't, she couldn't rest. As an experienced scholar, Layla felt better if Lumine took the lead on sensitive stuff.
"Can you help us look into where he goes during those nights?" she asked. "And if he left any letters behind, Faruzan and I will check them."
"Okay — let's go!" Paimon brightened. She'd always found Ye Luo mysterious: odd, but with an inexplicable charm. Maybe this little mission would reveal the truth about him.
Lumine and Paimon pretended to tame mushroom-beasts but instead slipped to a hidden spot to wait; Faruzan and Layla stayed inside to watch for his departure.
Ye Luo, oblivious, went about his morning like normal. After checking the time, he rose and left his room.
"He's out!" Paimon whispered and tapped Lumine. "Let's go."
They followed discreetly. Ye Luo stopped at a closed tavern, glanced around, produced a key, and slipped inside.
"How do we get in without a key?" Paimon fretted, staring at the lock.
"No problem. Watch me." Lumine produced a thin hairpin and fiddled for a moment.
"How do you know how to do that?" Paimon's eyes widened.
"Heh, just a trick I picked up along the way," Lumine said, a little embarrassed under Paimon's gaze. In a minute the lock clicked and the door swung open.
Thankfully the tavern was tucked away; nobody noticed them slipping in. Lumine signaled Paimon and they crept toward the back.
Strange. Lumine thought. If this was some secret organization, one would expect heavy security. But the tavern was quiet. Maybe there was a cellar. Lumine stayed alert as they moved deeper.
They heard Ye Luo's voice before they saw him.
"If you don't let guests touch things, business won't pick up," he was saying, feet propped up as he lounged on a chair. "We're in the profit business, after all."
"Make money, don't be stingy," Ye Luo sighed with mock solemnity. "I'm disappointed in your attitude. You can't fall in love with customers — don't forget to charge them. Last time some poor boy tried to sell everything to get someone back — I handed him a coin and sent him away. He went back to the street anyway."
His tone had grown sterner. "Honestly, you do this work and pretend to be pure? Who rescued you off the street and gave you a home? Me."
The next line was on his tongue when Lumine and Paimon, who had been listening too long, burst through the door.
"Ye Luo!!! I was so wrong about you — I didn't expect you to be—" Paimon darted forward, then stopped and gaped.
Lumine finished for her, smiling: "—so kind-hearted!"
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