She had golden hair and a youthful figure, exuding an unusual mix of innocence and confidence that blended seamlessly.
Clenching her right fist, she felt a pure current of Anemo energy gather within her grasp. Though it was weak, she sensed that she could nurture and strengthen this power over time.
Perhaps, one day, she could regain some measure of self-defense.
Although it wasn't as powerful as the abilities she once wielded, it was still something.
Thinking back on her journey so far, Lumine couldn't help but complain to Paimon, "Paimon, are you sure there are other people in this world? Why is it that all I've encountered are monsters? The villages we passed through were empty."
"Could this be some kind of primordial abyss? Or has the world been overrun by monsters?"
Paimon shrugged, looking just as puzzled. "Paimon doesn't know either. This is Mondstadt's territory. Sure, there are usually some monsters around, but the Knights of Favonius and the Adventurers' Guild always keep them in check."
"At least, last time Paimon was here, Mondstadt wasn't like this!"
Lumine gave Paimon a skeptical glance. At first, she had assumed Paimon was just a peculiar kind of human native to Teyvat, but now she wasn't so sure. Could she be some kind of sentient creature unique to this world?
Still, Lumine felt a strange sense of familiarity and warmth around her. She didn't know why, but she chose to keep this self-proclaimed guide by her side. Perhaps by staying together, she would uncover more of the truth.
"How long ago was the last time you were in Mondstadt?" Lumine asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Uhh... Paimon kind of forgot!" Paimon admitted, scratching her head guiltily.
Lumine sighed but didn't press further. Right now, she needed to focus on adapting to the new power she'd gained.
The large expanse of Starfell Lake stretched out before her, and she realized she would need to swim across. Fortunately, her clothes were crafted from a material that wouldn't get soaked or damaged by water. Convenient.
Summoning a small sphere of Anemo energy in her palm, she found the element surprisingly easy to control.
After crossing the lake, she came across a small Hilichurl encampment with about a dozen of them. That number didn't pose much of a challenge for her. Even without her elemental powers, her combat skills and sheer physical strength would be enough.
Since waking up, she had discovered that, although her elemental abilities had been stripped away, her physical resilience remained intact. It was almost as if she had retained some measure of durability from the battles she had fought in the past.
Aiden: "After all, she's been through countless battles with gods and demons. Her body wouldn't be so easily injured."
"Paimon, stay here. I'll take care of this quickly," Lumine instructed before dashing toward the Hilichurls with her blade.
Like a panther, she moved swiftly, catching a Hilichurl archer off guard and striking it down before it could react. Then, shifting her focus, she targeted a Samachurl, gathering Anemo energy into her hands to unleash an attack.
However, what happened next shocked her.
The moment she summoned the wind, an immense surge of Anemo energy rushed into her body, far beyond what she had expected. The tiny wind sphere in her hands rapidly expanded, growing to nearly a meter in diameter. The Samachurl before her was instantly torn apart by the sheer force of the winds.
The surrounding Hilichurls were caught in the violent currents, unable to escape as sharp wind blades shredded them into nothingness.
Lumine stood there, stunned.
"What... just happened?" she muttered.
Where had that enormous amount of Anemo energy come from? Why had she lost control of it?
As she tried to comprehend what was happening, yet another surge of power flooded her, causing the wind sphere to expand even further—this time to a massive five meters in diameter. The entire Hilichurl camp was engulfed by the storm, leaving behind nothing but debris.
From a distance, even Paimon was dumbfounded. "Whoa! The Traveler is THAT strong?! This isn't what I expected at all!"
She scratched her head, trying to make sense of it, but ultimately came up empty.
Little did they know, their actions had been observed by Aiden and Barbara.
"What an incredible Anemo power... so pure. Perhaps even stronger than my sister's!" Barbara gasped. "She doesn't even have a Vision, yet she can wield the wind like that? And she appeared just as Mondstadt needed help… Lord Barbatos… could that be you?"
Aiden raised an eyebrow, unable to hold back a chuckle. "Good grief, now Lumine's being mistaken for the Anemo Archon."
[Jean: "Ahem. My apologies. I'll make sure to educate Barbara on common sense later."]
[Venti: "Ehe~ If I were in her shoes, I might think the same thing!"]
[Diluc: "The Anemo Archon being a woman? That would be a new one. Still, if this person brings change, perhaps they could be a herald of something greater."]
[Aiden: "That aside, I'm actually more interested in that floating elf next to her. It's not fair that the Traveler gets a companion like that while I don't have one!"]
[Zhongli: "Actually… you do. You just may have forgotten."]
Aiden paused, glancing up toward Celestia. He sighed in exasperation.
Great. Lumine's floating companion was Paimon, while his was the very Arbiter of the Heavenly Principles herself.
Lumine would soon join the group, but not just yet. After all, such a cute and formidable Traveler deserved a grand entrance into the story.