Lumine already knew about the Abyss Order.
Back in Stormbearer Mountains, they had encountered an Abyss Mage, which Jiang Chen and Diluc had defeated.
"So the ones behind the dragon disaster really are them?"
Lumine sheathed her Favonius Sword and asked,
"Where do they come from?"
Since this bard didn't seem to know much about the Anemo Archon, she decided to ask about Stormterror instead.
After all, she was still the Honorary Knight.
And Jiang Chen had promised Jean that he would help solve the crisis.
Lumine wanted to help Jiang Chen.
If she could earn some praise from the Knights…
A small trace of expectation appeared in her heart.
But Venti shook his head.
"I'm not entirely sure either."
"I only know that these non-human creatures harbor deep hatred toward the human world."
"They can even command the Hilichurls roaming the wilderness."
"Before coming here, I was also being corroded by their curse—just like Dvalin."
"Ah?!"
Lumine and Paimon were startled.
They instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.
Would this guy suddenly lose control and attack them?
Venti chuckled.
"But the place we're standing now…"
"…is the symbol of Mondstadt's hero, and also the origin of Mondstadt itself."
"The wind between these branches is wonderful."
"It carries a scent I like."
"Staying beneath this tree with you two—"
"It's just like when you purified the dragon's tear earlier."
"The poison in my body has already been dispelled."
"So there's no need to point your sword at me."
Hearing that, Lumine finally lowered her weapon.
Paimon asked curiously,
"Then how did you get poisoned in the first place?"
"Well…"
Venti looked at them with a strange expression.
"It happened when I tried to communicate with Dvalin."
"But I was interrupted."
"Not only did I fail to remove the curse from him—"
"I ended up getting infected by the Abyss's corruption myself."
"?"
Paimon froze.
She and Lumine exchanged a glance.
Was he talking about the time they interrupted him in Whispering Woods?
"That's right. Exactly that time."
Venti crossed his arms as if he could read their thoughts.
Lumine blinked her bright eyes in confusion, looking slightly embarrassed.
She didn't know what to say.
"So as compensation, Honorary Knight…"
"Come with me to Mondstadt Cathedral."
Venti said.
"What for?"
Paimon asked.
"To retrieve a harp called the Holy Lyre der Himmel."
"Holy Lyre… that sounds impressive."
Lumine said skeptically.
"But what do you need it for?"
"The Holy Lyre is Mondstadt's sacred treasure."
"It was once played by the Anemo Archon Barbatos himself."
Venti explained.
"With the Holy Lyre, I can awaken Dvalin's true nature from the nightmare."
"Will that really work?"
"Of course!"
Venti widened his eyes dramatically.
"I'm the greatest bard in the world!"
"There's no song—past, present, or future—that I don't know."
He leaned closer.
"Look into my eyes."
"Don't I look trustworthy?"
"…Suspicious."
Lumine answered cautiously.
Venti laughed.
"Hehe."
Then he continued,
"The Holy Lyre is said to be kept deep within the cathedral."
"I'll go scout the situation first."
"If you're interested, you can come watch."
With that, he headed back toward Mondstadt.
Returning to Good Hunter
"Should we follow him?"
Paimon asked.
But Lumine shook her head.
"Let's go back to the restaurant."
She wanted to hear Jiang Chen's opinion.
That bard had felt suspicious the whole time.
She couldn't be sure whether anything he said was true.
"I've heard that when people lie, they mix nine truths with one lie."
"The lie is always hidden in the most critical part."
"We can't just trust him blindly."
Lumine murmured thoughtfully.
"Wow… that's deep."
Paimon said in surprise.
"So what should we do?"
"Ask Jiang Chen."
Lumine replied as if it were obvious.
"Oh! Good idea!"
Paimon suddenly understood.
By the time they returned to Mondstadt, it was already noon.
They had only just finished days of training yesterday.
Now they had run back and forth all morning without resting.
Lumine was starting to feel exhausted.
The blazing sunlight made her slightly dizzy.
Paimon was yawning nonstop.
Shaking her head to stay awake, Lumine returned to Good Hunter.
Just then, Jiang Chen came downstairs from the attic, stretching lazily after a good sleep.
He was planning to visit the Adventurers' Guild soon to pick up a map.
"Jiang Chen."
Lumine called out as she walked toward him.
But she didn't notice the step beneath her feet.
She stumbled forward.
Jiang Chen's sleepy expression instantly vanished.
He moved quickly and caught her.
After thinking about the timing, he sighed helplessly.
"Why didn't you rest under the oak tree for a while?"
"The wind there carries the blessing of the Anemo Archon."
"Even a short rest would restore a lot of energy."
"We heard something important."
Lumine said softly from his arms, her cheeks slightly red.
She retold everything Venti had said.
But the sense of safety beside Jiang Chen made her fatigue impossible to resist.
Her eyelids kept drooping.
Seeing how tired she was, Jiang Chen lifted her in a princess carry.
"The Holy Lyre really is inside Mondstadt Cathedral."
"But borrowing it requires a document signed by the Grand Master of the Knights, the Cardinal of the Church, and representatives of Mondstadt's citizens."
"So if Venti wants it…"
"He can only steal it."
"And something like that can only happen at night."
"You should just rest."
Jiang Chen placed Lumine gently on the bed.
He carefully removed her brown boots and tucked her white-stockinged feet under the blanket.
"Mhm…"
Lumine nodded obediently, her cheeks slightly flushed.
At least this trip…
hadn't been wasted.