Lumine's doubts weren't entirely dispelled, but Paimon's explanation seemed the most reasonable for now.
She tried to "connect" with the light screen using her mind, just like she did in Sumeru. The light screen indeed changed, displaying several options: [Group Announcement], [Group Members], [Group Functions].
"It seems to be a device similar to the 'Hollow,' but with some differences." Lumine's curiosity got the better of her. "Do the Natlan people communicate this way? I wonder if the functions are the same…" She tried tapping on [Group Members].
The list unfolded:
[Administrator · Galaxy Baseball Man] - Status: Offline / Do Not Disturb (In deep sleep)
[Administrator · Lumine] - Status: Online
[Administrator · Belle] - Status: Online
"Eh, such strange names. Why am I called Lumine? It sounds a bit fierce, I'm not that terrifying." Lumine was a bit puzzled.
Paimon: "Uh, if we haven't been wanted in Liyue, Inazuma, or Sumeru, then this name really is a bit unfitting."
Lumine turned around, hugged Paimon, and poked Paimon's face, saying, "Whose side are you on? You should be agreeing with me that this name doesn't suit me, not complaining that it's actually fitting!"
After some playful bickering, Lumine continued looking at the chat group, "Galaxy Baseball Man? That sounds a bit like a Liyue-style name. Belle?" Lumine murmured the name in confusion.
She turned to Paimon, "Paimon, have you heard of a profession or title called 'Belle' in Natlan?"
Paimon scratched her head: "Belle? How strange, it sounds like it's related to ropes. But we have so little information about Natlan, we've never heard of it."
Just then, a message popped up in the group.
[Administrator · Belle]: "Hello everyone? Excuse me… can you see this? This blue light screen, does anyone know what it is? It seems like something's wrong on my end, it keeps blocking my vision! Also, where is this? And what is 'Cross-Dimensional Chat Group'?"
Lumine: "Huh? Someone's talking in the group, but it looks like this person doesn't understand what's going on either."
Lumine immediately focused, trying to send a message in response, just like she operated the Hollow in Sumeru.
An input box with a blinking cursor appeared at the bottom of the light screen. She used her mind to input text.
[Administrator · Lumine]: "Yes, I can see it. This light screen appeared as soon as I stepped into Natlan. Paimon says this might be Natlan's 'Hollow' system. Are you from Natlan?"
The moment the message was sent, Belle's reply was almost instantaneous, filled with obvious confusion.
[Administrator · Belle]: "Natlan? What place is that? Another surviving region? And what is the Hollow?"
[Administrator · Belle] "I'm not from Natlan, I'm in New Eridu, a city plagued by Hollow disasters, and this thing is definitely not our technology. My brother checked it, it's not a malfunction of my device, but it just suddenly appeared. Who are you? And… who is Paimon?"
Lumine fell into thought; her previous "Natlan Hollow" guess was instantly overturned.
And those strange terms made Lumine realize that this was not a simple group; it seemed to genuinely connect people from other worlds.
After all, Lumine and her brother, Aether, were once world Travelers, having experienced many worlds, so it wasn't too difficult for her to understand. She then turned to Paimon and explained it to her.
"New… New Eridu? Hollow disasters?" Paimon's voice was filled with disbelief. "Lumine… that [Belle] probably… isn't from the continent of Teyvat, right?"
Lumine's heart beat a little faster, an indescribable feeling welling up inside her. Having traveled across the stars to Teyvat, she thought this was already an incredible journey.
But now, someone from an unknown place called "New Eridu," calling herself "Belle," was actually talking directly to her through a mysterious light screen? This tool called the Cross-Dimensional Chat Group must be extraordinary.
[Administrator · Belle]: "@[Administrator · Lumine] Why aren't you speaking? I was a bit nervous just now and talked too much, please forgive me. But can you help explain what's going on?"
[Administrator · Lumine]: "I'm here, I'm here. No need to be so polite, I was just a bit shocked so I didn't reply in time, I'm not blaming you."
[Administrator · Lumine]: "Also, New Eridu? Hollow disasters? Sorry, I've never heard of that place."
[Administrator · Lumine]: "I am [Traveler · Lumine], not some [Lumine]! Giving a girl such a name is really impolite!"
[Administrator · Lumine]: "By the way, I'm a Traveler from the continent of Teyvat, preparing to explore the Seven Nations, and Natlan is one of them. And Paimon is my good partner."
[Administrator · Belle]: "You said the continent of Teyvat? The Seven Nations? I've never heard of them…"
[Administrator · Lumine]: "It seems we've both encountered something we can't understand. But I think this light screen… might connect different worlds."
[Administrator · Belle]: "Wait, different… worlds?! Oh my goodness… this is too crazy! Even more bizarre than the Hollow!"
[Administrator · Belle]: "By the way, my name is Belle, not 'Belle,' that's just a username, calling me 'Belle' always feels weird."
"Brother! Brother! She said her name is Lumine, she's a Traveler exploring the Seven Nations on the continent of Teyvat, and she… she's from another world!"
Belle's voice trembled with shock.
Wise was equally surprised, but also wondered if there really was something that could connect people from different worlds to communicate with each other? It was hard to imagine how advanced the technology would be to create such a tool!
After recovering from his shock, Wise said to Belle, "Stay calm, Belle. This is indeed unbelievable, like a sci-fi movie, an otherworldly place full of new things."
Calmed down, Wise said, "Let's continue talking to this 'Traveler · Lumine' and see if we can learn more about the other world of Teyvat and the other functions of this 'group.'"
Hearing about the possible existence of another world, Belle was a little excited: "No problem, leave it to me, Brother!"
Looking at the excited Belle, Wise couldn't help but think: 'I can't tell if this group is a blessing or a conspiracy. I can only let Belle communicate with the people in the group to get some information. I don't know if it's good or bad, I just hope Belle doesn't encounter any danger.'
On the other side, a shocked Paimon suddenly said to Lumine excitedly: "If there are other worlds, then Paimon can travel to other worlds with the Traveler, right?"
"And I can taste the delicacies of other worlds, this is really great." Paimon had stars in her eyes.
Lumine teased: "Travel? I think Paimon is more concerned about the exotic delicacies afterward."
Paimon looked embarrassed: "Ehe, you found me out. I, Paimon, am determined to eat all the delicacies, and the thought of exotic delicacies is really hard to resist."
Then, as a matter of course, she added, "Of course, traveling with you is more important."
Lumine felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. Indeed, traveling still required a good partner.