"Jiang Yan, um… I…"
Lumine twisted her fingers together.
Her delicate cheeks were burning red, her head feeling faint and fuzzy.
Being caught in such an awkward situation filled her with overwhelming embarrassment—so much so that she couldn't even organize her words properly.
The cool night breeze of Mondstadt brushed past, yet heat seemed to rise from her body instead.
Seeing this, Jiang Yan didn't press her about why she'd lied about booking an inn earlier.
Instead, he simply reached out and gave her a gentle pat on the head.
Paimon, however, was not a mascot burdened with shame.
Or rather, this had been Lumine's decision alone—Paimon had nothing to do with it.
She crossed her arms and huffed,
"Hmph! Paimon isn't some kitty or pet, you know!"
"Oh?" Jiang Yan asked with interest.
"Then what are you?"
Paimon's true identity had always been a mystery.
"Me?"
She was immediately stumped and fell into deep thought.
Unfortunately, her limited brain capacity failed to produce an answer.
"Forget it!" she declared, puffing out her cheeks.
"Anyway, I'm definitely not a cat or a dog!"
Jiang Yan led the two of them back toward the Good Hunter.
Suddenly, he stopped short.
Lumine, distracted, walked straight into his back.
He didn't mind. Instead, he flicked his wrist and tossed several dozen Mora into the nearby fountain.
"Wah—!"
Paimon chased after them in midair, trying to catch even one—
and failed completely.
She was furious.
"Jiang Yan! Even if you're rich, you shouldn't waste money like this!"
"I heard people who waste Mora have terrible luck!"
She stomped in midair, seething.
That was dozens of Mora!
If she'd saved them, she could've bought snacks again soon!
"It's not a waste," Jiang Yan said calmly.
"That fountain is Mondstadt's wishing pool. If you make a sincere wish, it might just come true."
"So… sincere wishing means throwing Mora in?"
Paimon looked confused.
"What does wishing have to do with Mora?"
"Wishes need rituals," Jiang Yan said smoothly.
"Throwing Mora is just one form of ceremony."
Pure nonsense.
In reality, the Church sent nuns to clean the fountain regularly to keep the drain from clogging.
Recently, a fellow named Anthony had even been sneaking over every night to pick up coins.
The Church didn't mind—at most, it was only a few dozen Mora a day. Hardly worth worrying about.
Paimon circled back from the fountain, still puzzled.
"Won't the wishing pool get filled up like that?"
"Legend says Mora carrying wishes gets taken away by the wind and delivered to the Anemo Archon," Jiang Yan continued his fabrication.
"As for whether he grants the wish… well, that depends on his mood."
"And what did you wish for?" Paimon asked.
"I wished for little Paimon to become smarter," Jiang Yan replied.
"Hmph! That's more like it!"
Paimon nodded proudly, completely missing the insult.
She tugged on Lumine's sleeve and pulled her toward the fountain.
"Then Lumine, let's make a wish too!"
"Wish that Lumine finds her brother sooner!"
She was unusually enthusiastic.
"…Mm."
Lumine took out ten Mora and tossed them in.
Hands clasped together, she made her wish earnestly.
Afterward, her mood seemed to settle.
Only a faint blush still lingered on her lovely face.
Jiang Yan's attempt to distract her had worked.
When Mona saw them, she was clearly surprised.
Weren't these two travelers supposed to be staying at an inn?
"Something came up," Jiang Yan said briefly.
He tasted a spoonful from the pot—
still needed about half an hour.
So he led Lumine and Paimon up to the attic and opened the door to the only empty room.
The room was small—barely ten square meters.
Inside was a neatly made bed, a simple wooden desk, and a wardrobe. Nothing more.
A cool breeze drifted in through the open window, stirring the dark curtains into gentle waves.
"This room's for you and Paimon," Jiang Yan said.
"Wow!"
Paimon dove straight onto the soft bed, bliss written all over her face.
"Master Jiang Yan is so generous!"
Even her form of address changed.
"The bathroom's at the very end. You can use it," Jiang Yan added.
"I'm going to sleep."
Paimon yawned without a care.
If the inns in Mondstadt hadn't been closed, she'd have been asleep ages ago.
Lumine closed the window and tucked her in, her gaze unconsciously turning gentle.
"Jiang Yan… thank you."
She turned to him, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek, face slightly red.
"Um… I'd like to use the bathroom…"
"I'll be downstairs," Jiang Yan replied, signaling her not to worry.
He waved and went back down to the second floor.
Mona, having used the spare time well, was already drafting a manuscript with a quill.
She was always busy.
As she liked to put it—fulfilling.
"Mona, help me use hydromancy," Jiang Yan said suddenly from the stove.
"Divination doesn't work well on gods," Mona explained,
"Nor on their chosen—Vision holders. And it's even less effective on outworld travelers."
Then she asked,
"Who are you trying to divine?"
"Fischl," Jiang Yan replied.
"No need for details—just a location. That should be doable, right?"
"The Prinzessin?"
Mona nodded. She knew her.
Climbing up through the cold chimney with practiced ease, she spread Hydro energy into a mirror beneath the star-filled sky and began her divination.
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