"Hey, Shajin, I've been meaning to ask—what was that thing you used just now?"
Holding the crystal Shajin had given her, Lumine asked with curiosity.
She examined the mysterious object closely, trying to comprehend the power it contained. The crystal felt like a treasure cradled in her hands, radiating endless secrets.
"Oh, that?" Shajin chuckled. "That's a power from beyond Teyvat. It's called Imaginary."
"This substance possesses immense assimilative and disintegrative power—it can turn anything into part of itself."
"But using it requires caution. Mishandling it could lead to… unexpected consequences."
His voice was soft, like a breeze brushing past Lumine's ear, carrying an air of mystery.
Lumine gently ran her fingers over the crystal's surface, sensing the energy pulsing within.
"I see…"
She nodded thoughtfully, silently marveling at the power.
"If that Albedo guy manages to accomplish anything with it, that's good news for me too. I mean, it's a power from another world, after all~" Shajin rubbed his chin, a hint of expectation in his smile.
"Huh? Shajin, are you from another world too?!"
Startled, Lumine looked up, her eyes sparkling with excitement like fireworks suddenly bursting in the night sky.
"Nope."
Shajin sighed and spread his hands in resignation.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm a born-and-raised Teyvat native. I only know about Imaginary because the information just… came to me when I acquired it."
"I see…"
Lumine lowered her head, visibly disappointed. Her elation wilted like a flower in sudden frost.
If Shajin is such a kind person, then why was he branded as the cause of Liyue's turmoil and exiled…?
The question surfaced in her mind, drawing a subtle frown to her face.
But she didn't voice it. Instead, she buried the thought deep in her heart.
The two continued chatting casually, the atmosphere light and pleasant.
Before long, they returned to the carriage.
"What took you two so long? I was about to fall asleep," Rosalyne complained, clearly irritated.
She had changed out of her combat outfit and removed her mask, now wearing the pure white robe Shajin had given her.
The Crimson Witch of Flame had reverted to the form of a girl who once loved to sing.
"We ran into someone Lumine knew, so we stopped to catch up a bit~" Shajin explained with a smile, then helped Lumine onto the carriage. He turned to the soldiers ahead. "Let's move."
"Yes, Lord Gambler!"
…
"So this is the Skyfrost Nail, huh?"
Shajin looked up at the massive spike above.
"Rosalyne, are you ready?" he asked, glancing toward her.
"Mhm… I'm ready." Though her voice trembled slightly, Shajin placed the glowing green orb in his hand onto the Nail without hesitation.
As shimmering light rippled out, the ley lines began to surge—and a spectral figure slowly emerged.
"Ro… Rostam?"
"What's going on…?"
"Rostam" looked at his translucent hands, then at the feet tethered to the ley lines, and realization dawned on him.
"So that's it… I'm dead, huh~"
There was no sorrow in his eyes. Instead, he looked at the girl before him, whose tears were streaming down like broken pearls, each drop striking the ley lines and scattering like crystalline petals.
"Sorry, Rosalyne. I didn't keep our promise."
"No… I don't blame you, Rostam."
Shajin handed her a handkerchief—it fluttered through the air like a butterfly, landing gently in Rosalyne's hands.
Wiping her tears, she forced herself to speak, voice still trembling.
"I should be the one to say sorry, Rostam. I've turned my back on Mondstadt and become the Fatui's Eighth Harbinger, La Signora."
"Oh… I see."
Rostam's tone carried no blame. He raised a hand, instinctively trying to pat her head, only to remember he could no longer touch the physical world.
Still, he said gently, "That's alright. It was your choice. As long as you're happy, that's enough for me."
Rosalyne looked up at him with teary eyes. "But… I'm not happy."
Her voice was filled with anguish and helplessness, like a mournful wail wrapped in a whisper—enough to stir even the coldest heart.
Rostam gazed at her with aching tenderness. "Maybe we all have our reasons… but no matter what, you must stay strong and keep moving forward."
She nodded, and fresh tears flooded from her eyes like a dam giving way.
"And you don't need to apologize, Rosalyne. This is your path. In fact, I'm proud of you for finding your own way."
Then Rostam turned to Shajin, Lumine, and Paimon.
"And these three are…?"
Paimon perked up. "I'm Paimon! And this is the Traveler—Lumine. And this guy is—"
Before she could finish, Shajin took off his sunglasses and placed his hat over his chest, bowing with the grace of a gentleman—or perhaps a flamboyant peacock.
"I am the Fatui's Twelfth Harbinger—Gambler. An honor to be colleague to La Signora."
Rosalyne shot him an annoyed glare. Typical—he just couldn't be serious for once.
"I see."
Rostam's expression softened with understanding. His gaze shifted between Shajin and Rosalyne, and he smiled kindly.
"I'm glad you've begun a new chapter, Rosalyne."
He looked down at his fading body, a wry smile on his face as if laughing at his own helplessness.
"Please don't resent Lord Barbatos, Rosalyne. He had more pressing matters back then."
"And one more thing… please take care of La Signora, Gambler. This is the last request of the Wolf Pup."
"Tch, who needs his protection!?"
But no one responded to her.
Rostam turned his gaze fully to Shajin, his eyes firm and resolute—entrusting her future to him without a single word.
Shajin didn't reply. Instead, he pulled out a Mora coin from his coat and casually tossed it into the snow.
It rolled and tumbled, striking a stone and spinning rapidly—like a lone dancer in a frozen ballroom.
Finally, it stopped.
"Tails, huh?"
"Heh…"
Shajin chuckled, a smile blooming on his lips like a plum blossom in winter.
"Alright then, Young Wolf. You have my word~"
Rostam smiled in relief. He bowed deeply—ninety degrees, full of solemn gratitude like a devout worshipper before a god.
"Thank you… so much."
A gust of cold wind swept through. Rostam dissolved into shimmering motes of light, vanishing like a shooting star—brief, but brilliant.
"Hahahah… hahaha…"
Lumine and Paimon looked on with concern as Rosalyne wept and laughed at once, about to go to her side.
But Shajin gently stopped them.
"Let her have this moment alone~"
_
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