Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

AU of Chapter 32

Lumine could see Sir Pouncelot, lying along the fenceline, watching them with interest, but in fact listening for anyone approaching the dorm.

They had been especially vigilant these last few nights, sleeping during the day so that they could keep watch while she slept. If she was sleeping at all. She hoped Kageroumarou was taking a good rest right now.

Come to think of it, it is a bit odd that he's not out here begging to join the fun.

The ninja hound thrived on training and work as much as he did food and water. The sparring she had been doing with Jack would normally get him to come out. With that thought, Lumine trilled a summons in Domestic Cat that made the orange tabby pad over to her, blueish eyes blinking up at her.

“Where is our dog friend?”

She inquired simply. The reaction she got was unexpected. Sir's eyes dropped away from her and his tail curled around his haunches. Deliberate silence. Lumine didn't like this.

“Sir. Where is the Bladepup?”

His whiskers twitched and the cat finally answered.

“He dug himself a den near the trees. He wished to remain close to the trouble.”

Jack came up beside her as Lumine's conversation with her cat continued. She had to fight to keep anger out of her words as they would alter her tones and the meaning of what she was saying.

“How much trouble has there been?”

His ears twitched.

“Some others come to the border during the day to try to watch our territory. When you come and go. Who visits. We have chased them away with the Dead Ones help. But now there is more than one.”

She really didn’t like hearing that. Kageroumarou was trained to operate as a support to an Inazuman shinobi. Part of the Shumatsuban that was funded, controlled and trained by the Kamisato clan. This made him fiercely independent on top of being smarter and better trained with weapons than most people would ever be. Her greatest concern was that he was taking his duty to guard her so far that he wasn’t coming to her when he needed support. Which meant he was at a greater risk for injury.

“Jack, I’ll be back in a moment. I have to check on Kageroumarou.”

“Would it be alright if I came along?”

Lumine considered his request. Whether he realized it or not, Jack was trying to find his place in the new pack he was in. Make a name for himself in the new social structure and learn its rules. He had been very respectful of both Sir and Kageroumarou even before realizing that these animals were unnaturally intelligent. He had actually asked if they were her familiars.

 And one thing she was sure he had internalized about how Ramshackle worked was that they helped each other. That was what had made him sit through quizzing Grim on their magical history homework, no matter how bored the direbeast was or how loudly he complained. That was why he offered Paimon some of his food. That was why he was asking to come along now, because he could tell that something about this visit wasn’t normal.

“I think so. Just keep some distance until I say.”

“Right.”

Sir Pouncelot started off with a flick of his tail to signal they were to follow him. Lumine and Jack did so and within a few minutes, they were at Kageroumarou’s den. Per the shumatsuban’s standards, the shelter was innocuous and easy to miss. A shallow den had been dug out under an overgrown shrug that had a surprising amount of clearance between the bottom branches and the hole. Lumine glanced within with elemental sight and saw the familiar shape of her canine companion. Her fellow freshman took a few whiffs before baring his teeth.

“I smell blood.”

Three ominous words made Lumine’s heart rate spike. A gesture made Jack pause a short distance away and Lumine settled on the ground, just outside the opening of the den.  She didn’t reach inside, and didn’t call until she saw the shiba inu shape shift slightly. He knew she was there.

“Come out, please.”

He hesitated, but not for long. He had decided to accompany her and that meant listening to her commands.

Kageroumarou looked smaller without his woven straw hat. His dark fur was a bit dusty as he crept out of the underground hollow he had created, the broad white patch of his chest and underbelly dyed a light brown. If she hadn’t been watching for it, she’d have missed the slight limp he showed on his front right paw and the faintest hint of pink in his pale fur on his side. He bowed his head, not meeting her eyes in a very typical guilty fashion. Considering how shameless her bladepup usually was about getting his needs met, this was concerningly out of character.

Lumine switched to Domestic Canine, doing her best to keep her tone level and not dip into a stressed growl.

“Where are you hurt?”

“My paw, my side.”

“Who did this?”

“There was a young bull, a snake and an alley cat. All running together. They shared some scent with the wolf even now, though it is old and faded.”

This was said with a flick of dark eyes towards Jack and the hint of bared teeth. She considered the information and the situation.

Beastkin were found in every dorm. But Savannaclaw, as far as she had observed, had a notably high population of them compared to others. Human, or human presenting students, were in the minority. Added that to the fact that the assailants had apparently smelt a little like Jack after the time he had spent in Ramshackle...

“Jack, did you have roommates in Savannaclaw?”

There was a pause before she heard his answer from behind her.

“I did. Why?”

“Would you say ‘a bull, a snake and an alley cat’ fits their description?”

“Yeah, that could work. Plaki’s some kinda buffalo, Karson’s says his great, great grandfather was some important snake advisor in the old country. Simon’s a smooth talker and likes to push people around. The other two follow him- Are they the ones that hurt Kageroumarou?”

And he didn’t even stumble over the name and the outrage was palpable in his tone. Her ninja hound’s ears swiveled towards him and his tail moved low and slow in confusion.

“It seems like it. Come here and let me see.”

She instructed, beckoning him forward. The dog did as she asked, his pride still making him hide his limp as best as he could. He inspected the paw and saw that it was bloody from something cutting between his paw pads. The short fur around it was slightly damp, telling her that he had been trying to lick it clean. She could hear now that his breathing was labored. With a warning, she touched over his back, side and belly and felt the warmth of a bruise on his right side. It was larger than her hand. She growled at him in Canine, unable to alter her angry tone.

“Why hide this from me? I allowed you out of our home to help guard me, not to be stupid for my sake. Your injuries are mine to mend.”

The chastisement made his ears drop and a low whine sound at the growling edge that entered her tone. The correction hurt to deliver when it made him look like that, even if it was necessary.

“It was foolish, but I wished you to not need to worry about them. They could not best me, so they did not earn the right to impose on you.”

This was said with a small snap of his jaws for emphasis. Determination in his eyes as he looked up at her. Silently challenging her on this point. Lumine wanted to hug her silly, stupidly honorable dog, but since he might have broken ribs, that would have to wait. And she did have to scold him for not coming to her right away.

“I would not have denied you your right to defend us from those who come at us from the shadows. But this does not happen again. You will come to me when you are injured. No hiding when you are hurt.”

He dipped his head gravely, acknowledging her order. Then he leaned into her with a sigh. That alone told her that he was feeling more pain than he wanted to admit. She could easily serve him plenty of food and let him rest to recover. He was a hardy creature and would doubtless bounce back soon.

But Lumine was more furious that some arrogant, stupid Savannaclaw students hurt her dog.

She stroked Kageromarou’s ears as she looked back at Jack, still waiting a polite distance.

“I don’t suppose you happen to have experience in veterinary medicine?”

“I know a little. Just bandages and stuff to wrap his paw. Having someone who actually knows what they’re doing would be better but I can’t think of anyone.”

“How about it, Bladepup? Can Jack put a bandage on your paw until we find a professional?”

A slow blink of assent made Lumine give Jack a nod. He came over and looked carefully. Lying half in her lap as he was, the bruising on his pale underbelly was evident. As was the blood still slowly leaking from his paw. Jack grimaced, carefully lifting the paw.

“Looks like some kind of thorn. That’s Simon’s favorite trick.”

“Is it his Signature Spell?”

“Nah. If he’d figured that out he wouldn’t have been able to keep that quiet. He just likes using Flora magic to mess up the ground you’re standing on. It’s a dirty trick. He’s used it in Savannaclaw once.”

“And no one clocked him and punched his teeth in for it?”

Jack gave a brief grin, eyes gleaming.

“Like I said. Once.”

Lumine suddenly had the mental image of Jack chasing a cat-eared beastkin up a tree and leaving him there to yowl in panic as Jack paced and snarled below. Ramshackle’s wolfish guest took a careful bit of fire magic and the troublesome flora thorn was removed. It did make the blood start to flow again, but Jack conjured a bandage with a deft motion and started to wrap it up.

“That looks practiced.”

 Lumine noted the dressing, secure but not too tight. She knew medics in Teyvat who couldn’t have found fault with it, even if they might consider it cheating that he created it seemingly out of nothing.

“I’ve got younger siblings. They’re always getting bumps and scrapes.” He gave a gruff explanation, taking a closer look at the bruises on Kageroumarou’s side. “I don’t know enough about big injuries to help with this. Any ideas on how to get a hold of a vet?” 

Probably better if we find a mage instead.

Kageromarou would resent being laid up longer than he had to be and he despised taking painkillers. It was always a battle in the past to persuade him to take them for any reason. And he was smart enough to know whenever she tried to sneak them into his food. The ninja training he underwent included extensive poison detection training, which had made his already sharp nose even sharper.

The few times that he had been hurt or in need of a check up, Lumine simply took him back to Inazuma and the Kamisato clan saw to whatever he needed. Whether it was a vet visit, or a restock of his personal fighting supplies. Lumine had never felt the frustration of her inability to travel with the Waypoints so much as when her dog couldn’t put weight on his legs without suppressing a flinch.

“I don’t know anyone, but let’s see if someone else does.”

She would handle business with Jack’s former roommates once she could verify that Kageroumarou would be alright after his boneheaded, prideful stunt.

-vVv-

Walking back towards Rashackle carrying an injured dog proved to be too distracting to Ace and Deuce. The blunette slipped into full delinquent mode. She had never seen him so angry before. This tirade had nothing on the Egg Incident. Or so Lumine assumed because she only caught one word in five of what he was saying in a scathingly angry tone. What she did understand sounded like incredibly colorful language cursing out anyone who hurt animals, dogs in particular. Paimon and Grim were likewise worried, with Grim climbing up Lumine’s pant leg to sniff at the dog with a wrinkled face at the scent of his blood. The pixie looked like she was only a few breaths away from bursting into tears.

While Deuce was doing that, Ace was tapping away at his phone, doubtless to connect with Cater about her question. The answer came back with a string of tiny sad oand crying faces in response to the news that ‘the poor danger pupper’ was hurt. He actually had information for them right away. Apparently, Professor Crewel owned dogs. The betting pool was still out on what kind exactly as the man was intensely private. The Alchemy Professor seemed to be their best bet at getting the ninja hound medical attention.

She never saw the man move that quickly as when she walked through his office doorway and he saw a wounded animal in her arms. His desk was cleared of everything that was on it, and a thin pad was laid down on it without him saying a word. Two waves of his pointer and it was clear and ready. She had never heard his voice ever sound as soft as he addressed Kageroumarou in Domestic Canine, asking permission to look him over and help him. After permission was given, a quick inspection, performed with magic, made him confidently say that the bruise was not covering any broken bones. Any softness vanished when he dismissed Jack’s conjured bandage on his paw.

“This came from a magical thorn.”

Lumine chalked his quick identification up to experience and didn’t try to deny it.

“Jack recognized it and removed it.”

This made Crewel through a quick glance over at the three freshmen, Ace and Deuce had come along and were waiting with Jack just outside the door.

“All three of you, come in. Howl, what dismissal spell did you use to remove this?”

“It’s one my uncle Bjorn taught me. He said it was good for flora based magic and plants because it doesn’t target anything else alive. I don’t remember the name exactly.”

“I am familiar with it. Did you clean the wound after you bandaged it?”

“I did. With the Sterzi spell.”

"Good boy."

Crewel actually gave a nod of approval to the wolf, who took the compliment for the high praise it was and stood a little straighter.

“What’s ‘stirzee’?”

 Grim asked, wandering over and stretching up on his toes to sniff at Kageroumarou, who shifted slightly to lick the direbeast on the nose, making him shake his head and sneeze. Crewel grimaced for a second but his face quickly smoothed.

“A mage can find a place in most any field. There are hundreds of ways magic can make life easier and safer for others. The idea has always been to have new young mages be trained in basic first aid, just as Howl here demonstrated. The practice has not been implemented as mandatory, however, so there are very few pups you could find in this school who have even the basic knowledge of what to do in this instance.”

In Lumine’s estimate, that was more because the stubborn pride of the average Night Raven College student made them certain that they could walk off or overcome whatever issue they were facing. It was something Nurse Spiegal had shared with her during one of their talks pertaining to the mysterious accidents.

“But Kageroumarou’s going to be ok, right?”

“As I am not officially supposed to diagnose animal injuries, I have sent a message to my . But yes, pup, in my estimate your friend should make a swift recovery with time and rest.”

Paimon sighed in relief, as did Deuce. Ace did as well, but he was quieter about it. The Heartslabyl boys had come in with Jack.

“Do you know who did this?”

Lumine gestured at the dog, still lying on his side of Crewel’s desk. 

“Kageroumarou’s said that there were three students. Some other details still need to be confirmed, but I suspect it was Jack’s former roommates in Savannaclaw.”

 Crewel’s tone was not merely frosty, but frigid.

“See to it that they learn to not make such a mistake again, Viatrix. Peace is kept between the different dormitories depending either on the number of their students or the merit of their housewarden. Anything less than a sufficient reprisal for this attack will only make you and yours even less safe.”

It went without saying that Lumine intended to send a message to whoever thought they could hex her dog and get away with it. Even if the crime had only been trespassing, it would have merited reprisal in her mind. As Crewel said, the first offense would be a gateway to further trouble unless she nipped things in the bud quickly.

“Oh they are not getting away with squat!”

 Deuce swore, cracking his knuckles and his eyes going hard once again, though a hasty elbow from Ace reminded him to moderate his tone.

“Curb your thirst for vengeance, pups. You’ll only embroil Heartslabyl in the conflict as well if you are involved. In this respect, it lies solely on Viatrix to defend herself. And I believe that showing your teeth for this correction will be well warranted.”

Lumine stroked her ninja dog’s shoulder, who laid his head down with a sigh, closing his eyes in contentment. He felt safe right now, otherwise he would have been wired with tension and remaining alert.

Oh they are not gonna get away with this.

AU of the end of chapter 39. Anyone who ships Malleus x Lumine, enjoy your treat!

The beginning of the Halloween festivities was coming on, and Lumine wanted to try and catch a little shut eye. But the potent presence of elemental energy, colored with a dragon’s power woke her up. Lumine didn’t grumble or groan as she slipped out of bed, using her handbook to don her dress rather than try and climb to the roof in her pajamas.

Horns was already up there, but oddly obscured from her plain vision. She paused, able to identify him easily by his silhouette but still unable to get a good look at him...

“Horns, what are you doing?”

She could tell he turned towards her, and his voice was warm even if his expression remained a mystery.

“I...wanted to see you after the tournament. And show you my costume.”

It was a simple reason, and spoken in Sylvan, though that seemed to be more reflexive on his part. Lumine smiled, moving over the roof shingles with ease until she was standing almost level with him thanks to the slope of the roof.

“Then please drop the illusion and let me see.”

The invitation was made and Horns complied, not moving, but the spell faded as though he were stepping forward through dark curtains. He was wearing a robe that would have fit in perfectly in Liyue, flowing dark sleeves edged with a broad band of gold and an underrobe of teal with scale patterns that were obviously reminiscent of a dragon. His high collar was trimmed with red that contrasted the rest of the look and red tassels further accented his look. The horns that she had named him for were visible above the brim of his hat, which was also red on top. A dark shifting figure behind him drew her eyes and she spotted a dark scaled tail with three fronds on the tip.

That’s his real tail.

She was slightly surprised he would show that as his usual appearance didn’t include it at all. But overall, it was a stellar outfit that used his existing features rather than trying to hide them.

“You look stellar, Horns! And is that a little gargoyle motif on your hat?”

The tail moved a little faster, not quite a wag, but definitely movement. He was smirking and preening slightly, but she would let that slide. He did look marvelous in this outfit.

“It is. I should have expected you to notice.”

He said that, but she still got the impression he was incredibly pleased that she had.

“Well it is right up next to the reason why I call you ‘Horns’ so it’s hard to miss. Now, I’ve seen this form of dragon before in Teyvat, but what do they call it in Twisted Wonderland?”

If Lumine was pressed, she would say Malleus reminded her of Rex Lapis, or the Exuvia at the very least, albeit with a profoundly different color scheme.

“It is called a long. Diasomnia will be playing the part of the ghosts of a long. You have seen one in person?”

 He stepped up a little, closer, head inclining towards her with interest, bright green eyes keen for further information.

“Only briefly. And only the one. His name was Rex Lapis. The dragons I know are profoundly different in shape, or took near human forms.”

 Given that Dvalin and Azdeha were profoundly different in their elements and natures, Dvalin having six wings for better mobility in flight and Azdeha not having wings at all but being able to burrow through the earth with ease made perfect sense to Lumine. And Neuvillette was an oddity in that he had never had a fully dragon form. Given what Lumine knew of Focalors, she would wager she had known something about why, but it wasn’t as though the Last Hydro Archon would be questioned about that.

Horns was still interested, but her words seemed to catch him off guard.

“You know other dragons?”

Was he disappointed or pleased at that revelation? Maybe he himself didn’t know. She couldn’t help but cover a smile at the comical expression.

“And if I was not already sure that you were one yourself, or close enough that it makes no difference, then that phrasing would have given you away.”

A flicker of something that might have been embarrassment crossed his features. The air fluctuated in odd ways, warm and cold colliding around them.

“You...You have surprised me again, child of man and Halloween has not even truly begun.”

Maybe it was a little bit of vulnerability to ask, but she wanted to make sure all the same.

“And it’s just a surprise, right? You’re not upset that you’re not my first dragon?”

He considered that with full poise and grace before nodding.

“If you show me your Halloween costume, I shall bear no ill feelings.”

Lumine had to wince a little at that.

“I...don’t have one.” She confessed and the haughty poise Horns was recovering vanished under a vaguely appalled and concerned look. Her explanation came quickly and maybe with a hint of an apology. “Teyvat doesn’t celebrate Halloween. We only see ghosts when something is deeply wrong with the Ley Lines in a given area. And seeing monsters around isn’t special either. That’s a hazard of everyday life.”

Horns absorbed that, glancing down at himself, then at her.

“Have you no other attire but what you don for school?”

“No. I have some other things, but they were gifts and I don’t want to risk them in daily use when I don’t have the liberty to repair them.”

"I see. I will have to choose another means of recompense then lest I put you in an awkward position."

That did make a thought spring into her head. Something that she wouldn’t have thought of unless she was reflecting back on things that she owned that couldn’t be broken.

“Wait...I think I might have something that could be used as a Halloween costume. Give me a moment. Actually, please come in to wait. I don’t want to leave you out here while I put it together.”

Horns accepted her invitation and she settled him in the guest room to wait while she hurried upstairs to the Teapot to put together her hasty idea. It wasn’t as though it was a complex look and it was half completed anyway. Tubby heard her quick explanation out, and quickly set to work completing the hooded shoulder cap from white silk, reinforcing the rim of the hood so it would stand up and not droop into her field of vision.

As the faithful teapot spirit set to work on that,Lumine pulled out several artifacts from the Archiac Petra sets that she owned and carried with her. Not the quality ones she had carefully selected for her Geo Vision using friends, but those that weren’t as good at strengthening them. She resonated with Geo and set to work reshaping the artifacts to suit her purpose.

 The sundial of the set was altered into a broad, dark belt that crossed her dress almost like a corset. The feather became a jade pendant hanging from it, a Geo emblem in cor lapis the focal point against the white fabric of her skirt. Her inteyvat pins were joined with the golden Flower of the Creviced Cliffs, its leaves shaped into dark beaded tassels. The goblet, bright and golden as well as stark and black, was reshaped into a bangle. She took one of the masks that were meant to represent Morax’s unyielding outlook towards his enemies and reshaped it into a headband that had a few subtle golden ornaments on it, meant to give the suggestion of the exuvia’s four golden horns.

Since Horns is dressed like a long, it makes sense to dress to make him. At least for right now since Halloween is still a few days away, there should be no problem with changing outfits. If I think of it like that, just the artifact sets alone would give me a lot of options!

Lumine completed her look with Tubby's work, a silk robe that she had quickly used dye made of Cor Lapis to freehand paint Geo symbols on the cloth. She left the hood down for now, but tugged and let the finch housekeeper pin everything in place. The addition made it look as though her dress suddenly had sleeves. Combined with her removal of her arm guards, and the new accessories, Lumine felt like she looked sufficiently different. Especially with the makeshift Geo horns on her head and the subtle shimmer that the cor lapis in her outfit took on, responding to the elemental energy within her as she shifted it strongly towards Geo.

Horns was still standing when she returned, examining the fire in the heart that she had settled to give warmth to the room, holding his hand out to the flames with a soft, thoughtful look on his face. He turned towards her and then froze, looking her over head to toe. Lumine held her arms out to her sides.

“This is as close as I can get to a long costume. But we can at least sort of match the scenery.”

His eyes were fixed on the small horns in her hair, all four of them. He seemed to have forgotten what speech was so Lumine plucked up the nerve to keep talking even if it felt like she was rambling.

“Let’s take a walk. I want to see what the dorm finished up since I was entertaining a guest while they were still working.”

They walked in silence down from the porch to the main appearance. Since the purpose of the exhibit was to avoid people intruding on Ramshackle, the walk way was not highlighted. But they had decorated the place beautifully. Horns set out a controlled flow of magic that made the lanterns, placed carefully where they were meant to be, rise into the air and glow. For a moment, Lumine was pulled back to the last Lantern Rite. The golden light, the red gates. The chill in the air was autumnal, but if she closed her eyes she could pretend it was the chill of spring instead. She only allowed the indulgence for a moment. Holding onto past beautiful experiences. Then she turned her mind back to the present.

“Do they celebrate Halloween like this in your home?”

Her question went unanswered and she looked up at Horns to see he was still watching her with wide, slightly dazed eyes.

“Horns?”

He shuddered slightly, coming back to the present.

“It is somewhat different. I find I enjoy how Night Raven College celebrates the holiday. It is a slightly more solemn occasion in Briar Valley...”

Lumine listened as he started in on the explanation of his home’s traditions. The faint smile that came to his face grew brighter as he recounted more recent years when he was able to celebrate with his guardian. She noted the word choice. ‘Guardian’ rather than parent. The current topic of conversation was not going to let her in on every detail of her newest dragon friend's life. But it would let her know a little bit about him. And for tonight, that was enough.

Chapter Text

Crowley Has a Say AU.

 She did recall Deuce reminiscing about carving pumpkins with his mother for this holiday. For that reason alone she had considered it, to invite him and Ace over and let them share the tradition. Then she had seen the prices the things were going for and decided against it. Crowley’s phone let out a few small clacking sounds as he typed something on it. Lumine’s phone buzzed again.

“I’ve placed an order for a sufficient number of pumpkins from the school store for you. Sam will keep them for you. Make sure to pick them up. I believe Mr Silba will even excuse you from part of your kitchen duties to prepare them.”

Compared to the evasive words Crowley had been using before this seemed fairly direct: Get Jack o’lanterns in place, soon. Lumine nodded, somewhat perplexed. Crowley wasn’t finished however.

“Did you know that before candles were commonly available, Jack o’ Lanterns were illuminated by fairies? A little bit of sweet bread and fuel in each and they will stay there all night without the issue of candles burning low.”

That seems a little weird.

“I think candles would be a bit easier to come by.”

“Not so, there are a number of fire fairies on campus that tend to our furnaces as the days and nights grow colder. Speak with them about it with some of those delightful pastries you can make and they’ll comply right away.”

The Traveler memorized these instructions, but was still a little confused and wary.

“If I have time around the other commissions we discussed then I’ll speak with them.”

“Consider this your commissions for the morning then, Lumine Vairtix.” Crowley turned back towards her, face somber and serious. “Retrieve the student schedules. Prepare jack o’lanterns. Prepare offerings for the elemental fairies. Finish your costume. Complete these, and the payment we agreed on will be yours.”

Ok, he’s absolutely worried about something.

She gave him a searching look.

“Headmage, you are not telling me something.”

“Given the roles we are playing, Vatrix, there are certain things my students should not have to worry about. Regardless of your capabilities, this is the contract I uphold.”

“...I understand.”

She might not respect Crowley that much. But she had profound respect for Zhongli. And this was the sort of answer he would give if he were genuinely unable to share. It was the answer he had given when a question she asked moved too close to protected subjects. He definitely couldn’t say more about that.

Crowley vanished in a dark flurry, leaving her standing in her doorway, recalibrating what she was supposed to do. She turned back inside, raising her voice slightly.

“Cal, Hugo, Picks.”

The three ghosts surged up out of the floor before she even finished calling them. Paimon was floating in the doorway, rubbing her head as the sounds of Grim finishing the rest of the breakfast scramble Lumine had assembled drifted through the kitchen door. The Traveler took a deep breath before gesturing back out the door.

“What in the stars was that all about. I’ve never seen him behave like that?”

Cal, often the spokesperson of the trio floated forward.

“Well, following what he wasn’t saying was a little tricky. But as for why he’s basically demanding that you have jack o'lanterns, they’re to ward off spirits."

“Won’t their presence here disrupt you?”

Lumine was hesitant for that reason. This building had been the ghostly trio’s home for decades before she showed up and she found the idea of making the place hostile for them to be in abhorrent.

“We're tied to Ramshackle. And Ramshackle is still directly under the purview of the school. The cafeteria crew and ourselves will have no issues. Anything else, on the other hand, will.”

“And all the pumpkins and lanterns outside won't be enough?”

“They aren't powered by fairy lights. And they aren't inside the threshold of the dormitory.”

Caldrius answered this as though it explained everything. Lumine decided arguing wasn't worth the effort. Crowley wanted her to fortify her living area against ghosts. Or that was what she was concluding. As for the first part of what he had been saying while not saying anything. Lumine thought back, massaging her temples.

“Alright, that part I read loud and clear. The rest of it though...I think I get it.”

-vVv-

Dire Crowley was not sleeping tonight.

He was monitoring the school, perhaps more closely than he would have in years past. But previous years had not brought such a surge of undead activity with them when Halloween rolled around. He stopped by Ramshackle and was pleased to see the windows were occupied by fairy lanterns. Which meant that the premises would be well and truly secure for the night.

 He felt a distant snip of loss when Lumine passed through the Dark Mirror to the Spectral Realm.

Oh that girl.

He mused with fondness that he had long since stopped resisting. The surprise of the century had changed how Night Raven College was run. The exact opposite of the average student. Selfless, brave, thoughtful and kind with a knack for reaching and connecting with others. Heartslabyl had claimed her first after her intervention on their housewarden’s behalf. Savannaclaw had seemingly been conquered over the course of the last month. He still wasn’t sure when Lumine had forged such a deep connection with Diasomnia, but Lilia’s actions said loud and clear that he was placing additional protections around her place of refuge. Moving his dorms’ stamp tour to Ramshackle, thus allowing him to have his student protect it for half the day.

He teleported to the Mirror Chamber.

“Who passed through?”

He inquired of the Mirror. The mask-like face emerged from its depths, replying in a solemn tone.

“The Traveler sought the Spectral Realm.”

The Traveler...just how much traveling has she done for that to qualify as a Name?

“Keep the way open for the Traveler’s return.”

He could sense gathering power circling Ramshackle. The force the wards of the school had been able to hold back was now powerful enough to manifest. It was quite fortunate that Lumine was absent. Otherwise, there would have been a witness to the night’s events. The fairy lanterns placed in Ramshackle had done their job and held the invading force back long enough for him to arrive.

Dire Crowley flexed his fingers over the hilt of his cane as he stepped onto the field outside of Ramshackle, the authority of the school behind him as he wove a domain around the incoming hostile spirit. Acting within his rights to defend the school and his students from outside forces, it was complete in seconds. A copy of Ramshackle loomed behind him as the visitor took shape.

 The woman might have been lovely in life, but all that was left of her here and now was a raging, furious creature of fire, a crimson moth-like mask concealing her eyes. Her skirt glowed with heat and the designs followed the same theme, a fluttering, fragile creature that was permanently caught in perpetual flaming torment. Minutes before her demise.

“We at Night Raven College are often open to entertain visitors. During proper hours that is.”

 Crowley moved forward, his walking stick tapping the chilly ground of the domain as he did. The woman whirled towards him, teeth bared.

“Where...where is she...?”

She flinched and Crowley was graced with an echo of Lumine’s voice, ringing clear and distinct compared to the warped sound of the unwanted visitor..

“I challenge you to a duel before the throne.”

Crowley’s laugh followed the words. Spoken in a bold, firm fearless tone. Not a defensive shout, but determination crystalized into resolve.

“Oh my dear Lumine. You never cease to amaze and delight me.”

The woman rounded on him, her anger surging along with the heat.

“You find flames to be amusing?”

“They have a place as does all magic.” Crowley tossed his cane into his hand, ready to use the magic pen as it was meant to be used rather than as a decorative and attractive prop. “You, however, do not have a place here. Your fight ended long ago. And you lost, no doubt to Lumine. As headmage of this school, and the guardian of all its students, I will have to ask you to depart.”

“Not until that insignificant worm is seared to ashes....!”

Crowley rolled his shoulders.

“Fire is your choice then? Very well: Ice that may Imprison even the passage of Time.”

Cold air swirled around him, lifting the blanket of oppressive heat and Crowley swept into a bow at his opponent, a delight that he had long since been denied bubbling up inside of him.

“Let us dance, my lady. I’m sure I will be a more than adequate partner in Lumine’s absence.”

Spectral Realm Meet Up AU

The rocky terrain was fairly hard to identify on sight without touch. The entrance had let them into a wide ravine with tall cliffs on the other side. Tall, spindly spires of rock were scattered between one side and the other forming a loose, functional bridge to a large plateau. It was familiar but there was only one true test of whether this was mimicking where she thought it was. Lumine knelt in the grey landscape and touched it; she felt a hint of familiar warmth.

Phlogiston

This section of the Spectral Realm was apparently based off of Natlan. Given what she knew about the Lord of the Nights condition, Lumine gave everything a careful look, as well as conducting a more in depth examination of the leylines in this place.

“Why'd we stop?”

Grim asked from her back, whiskers tickling her ear. 

“Just getting our bearings.”

Lumine could use phlogiston. Crudely and mostly on instinct, but she could do it. Unfortunately, the Natlanese style of fighting and using elemental energy, the Nightsoul state shared by their Ancient Name bearers, was beyond her skill to intimate.

I killed a lot of Abyss creatures in the last battles.

If those were the types of enemies that awaited her, Lumine would be hard pressed to keep herself, Grim and Paimon safe. Better to avoid conflict if possible.

“Those rocks look familiar...”

Paimon mused, circling the outcropping in question.

“They should.”

Lumine pointed to the large plateau.

“Picture a big stadium up there in red stone and wooden bridges connecting those spires into a single path.”

The pixie gasped.

“It's the place where the Stadium of the Sacred Flame is built! Only without the stadium and the town around it. It looks so sad and different without all of its colors.”

Lumine had to agree. Natlan's landscape did not look right cast in the greys of the Spectral Realm. And given that the place looked deserted there wasn't any sign of graffiti anywhere either, which only added to the strange feeling she had looking at it. Grim tugged at her scarf to get her attention.

“What's this about fire?”

He asked, eyes sparkling at hearing his favorite element mentioned.

“The Stadium of Sacred Flame is basically the heart of Natlan. It's where the Nightwarden Wars take place. A bunch of super strong warriors from all over Natlan fight in a tournament. Those that win get to go on an excursion to fight off the Abyss.”

The direbeast made a disgusted sound.

“That's it? No cool prize? No awesome food?”

“Don't mock it Grim. Victors of the Nightwarden Wars are a vital part of Natlan. Without them, no one would be able to challenge the Abyss at all and their whole country would be overrun.”

“So why is it a prize to go fight for your life then?”

Lumine wondered if she had the time, or attention to spare explaining the details of the Laws of Natlan as she understood them. Or whether she could afford having Paimon chatting away about them and increasing the likelihood of falling to an ambush. It was harder to detect noises when there was close, persistent sound.

“Because having the best warriors on the team means it's more likely that everyone who goes to fight comes home. Paimon, can you take over explaining it? I've got to stay alert.”

There fastest way out of the deep gorge would be to climb. So she would be occupied making her way up the cliffs safely. Paimon, since she could fly, would do an excellent job of keeping Grim entertained so he didn’t flail and slip out of his backpack. There were not any of the connecting bridges that Lumine was used to seeing, so she would be doing a lot of climbing to exit this domain. She ate a few specially prepared macarons to give her a bit more staying power before starting to climb. It said a lot about how distracted Grim was that he didn't demand a snack of his own.

“Sure thing, Lumine!”

Grim was told everything they knew. About the Ode of Resurrection. About their experience with the Nightwarden Wars and going to rescue Kachina. The direbeast was suitably impressed. Lumine was just keeping careful watch for any sign of tenebrous mimesis. The peculiar Abyssal monster mimicked a real Teyvat creature’s form to devastating effect and was incredibly difficult to damage. At least until you cracked through its defenses with elemental power or Nightsoul fueled attacks.

It was hard to not recall the expedition into the Night Kingdom to save Kachina. Even as she was focused on moving forward Lumine was drawn back into the memories of that tumultuous few days.

The Nightwarden Wars took place every few months, with some variation, depending on the results of patrols and surveys of Abyssal activity, and the state of the Sacred Flame. Given the uptick in Abyssal activity prior to the large-scale invasion, the waiting period between each had been growing shorter. The chosen champions, the victors of each tournament, could spend days in the Night Kingdom fighting the Abyss, or just a few hours.

 The whole team had spent two days in the Abyss in real time. And Kachina had been in it for even longer due to the corrosion of the underlying laws of Natlan that enabled those who died against the Abyss in the Nightwarden Wars to come back with the support of the Sacred Flame and the faith of the tribes.

She lived up to her Ancient Name in ways that those jerks never could have.

The Ancient name Uthabiti translated to ‘resilience’. Lumine would like to think that even with the protection of the Lord of the Night, the naysayers that had been making problems and tearing the young warrior down since she began to participate in the Pilgrimage would not have survived the ordeal of prolonged time in the corroded Night Kingdom as well as she had. Kachina had bounced back within hours of her rescue, despite the presence of hostile spirits and monsters coming at her non-stop, without a team to back her up. 

She was noticeably better at fighting after that. I guess the time served her well even if it shouldn’t have happened.

Lumine saw some movement and made a small sound, a hiss that told Grim and Paimon to quiet down as she slipped behind a rock for a bit of cover. There was the sound of movement down here. Not ghosts, but something that was actually making the ground stir and rattling the bushes where she had recently been.

Another living being?

With Grim pressed tightly against her back, Lumine peered out cautiously.

She glimpsed something bright orange moving through some of the foliage and heard a grumble of an unmistakably human voice.

“Ow...”

Her heart stopped at the familiar tone. And she called out, scarcely able to believe her ears.

“Bennett...?”

There was another flurry of grey leaves and the young Mondstadt adventurer stumbled out of the bushes, some grey leaves in his pale hair, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

Paimon was almost vibrating with disbelief beside her, but Lumine held her back and used Elemental Sight to verify the identity of the person she saw.

Bright with elemental energy that was always extending outward, continually reaching for others to draw on their strength and feed his own. The bright, jaunty glare of a Pyro vision. The boy paused with a sigh.

“Am I hearing things again...?”

It is him.

Lumine released Paimon.

“Bennett!”

He turned towards the pixie’s cry and barely managed to catch her as she flew at him in an exuberant hug.

“Paimon! I thought you were lost- wait, Paimon, where’s Lumine?”

The cheerful boy's greeting warping quickly into urgent concern was strange considering his usual temperament. But Lumine found the worry endearing, even knowing her as well as he did. 

“Here.”

She slid down the cliff face she just climbed and was greeted by a grin.

“I can't believe I found you!”

Bennett's grip was as tight and exuberant as ever. He did up squishing Grim who yowled in protest, making the embrace rather short lived.

“Hey, what gives!?”

Bennett released Lumine hurriedly, peering over her shoulder.

“What-? Oh, you must be Grim! Sorry about that. I guess I got a little excited.”

Any flaring temper on the direbeast's part was instantly mollified by the recognition.

“Hmph, at least you recognize greatness when it's before you. Hang on, if Lumi and Paimon know you, but I don't, that means you have to come from Teyvat.”

“Nicely reasoned! You're spot on! Grim, this is our good friend and travel buddy Bennett! He's an adventurer like us, as we've worked together with him a ton! He's amazing!”

The White haired boy chuckled, green eyes curving in a bashful smile.

“Aw, geeze, Paimon.”

“Every word deserved and no arguing, Captain Bennett.”

Lumine wasn't ready to pass up on another hug and gave her friend another tight squeeze before her brain caught up with reality.

“Hold on, just to be sure you're not a ghost trying to prank us: What was in the first chest we found together?”

“Oh, right! Good thinking!”

Bennett's expression grew serious before he lightened at the memory.

“The first chest we found had 15 different weapon enhancement crystals of different sizes, 3 large, 4 medium and 8 small, some adventurer's notes about the domain puzzles, a Adventurers Relics and my best sword! Which I still think you should have kept.”

“Not a chance.”

Lumine shot back, relaxing before shooting Bennett an amused look.

“I'd have accepted you just saying ‘my sword’ but you remembered all of that?”

The boy shrugged awkwardly.

“Well it was the first time I worked with you, and the first time I actually found treasure. It was a big deal to me.”

Lumine couldn't argue with that. Bennett's luck was infamous in Mondstadt. Some people avoided him as though his ill fortune was contagious. But even more people loved the genuinely kind youngster. It was hard to dislike someone who worked so diligently to care for his aging parents, old time adventurers who had retired due to age.

“OK, as happy as Paimon is to see you, Bennett. How did you get here? We're in the Spectral Realm. The place where ghosts literally live.” The pixie gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth, eyes wide. “You didn't-”

“Not a ghost Paimon. His Vision would have gone white.”

Lumine hoped that her intervention nipped any potential jinx in the bud. Something always seemed to be listening around Bennett and making the worst possible thing happen to him. Bennett hurriedly waved his hands.

“Oh no, no Paimon. I'm not dead. Pretty sure I'm not at least. Like maybe 90% sure. As for how I got here, I don't really know-”

The groan that filled the air made both Lumine and Paimon looked back at Grim who scowled.

“That wasn't me this time!”

“M-my bad. That was me.” Bennett looked embarrassed, patting his stomach that let out another loud growl. “I was traveling with the contingent of the Knights of Favonius to Natlan to deliver some disaster relief supplies after their war with the Abyss. It actually was going super well! My luck was totally turning around! I even helped rebuild some of the houses in the Children of Echoes settlement. None of the tools broke when I tried to use them. I was underground for weeks and there wasn't even a single cave in!”

Oh Bennett.

The fact that he counted these incidents as signs of good fortune spoke a lot about his life. And what was worse, Lumine knew it was true. If there was a thunderstorm brewing within ten leagues of Bennett, he would invariably be struck by lightning at least twice before the storm passed unless he took shelter in a domain or some form of shelter he did not make by himself.

Grim looked more like Lumine expected, slightly dubious.

“That's...that's lucky to you? Wow, I almost feel bad for you.”

“No need for that Grim. I'm just glad my luck decided to turn when it did. The Natlan tribes people had enough on their plate without dealing with my problems.”

And this was said with another cheerful, optimistic smile. Grim’s ears pricked and he cocked his head, looking at Bennett assessingly...then he patted Lumine's shoulder.

“Well, Lumi? The guy's hungry. Let's stop and have a snack.”

“Just let me tell Kanna and Ruu we're going to be taking a break first.”

-vVv-

Bennett continued to tell his story once they had found a relatively sheltered place and handed out some food. Bennett ate his food at a controlled pace, and thanked her for it before even starting to eat. It was such a profound difference from what Lumine was used to in the NRC kitchen she almost got emotional over it. They also updated Bennett on their purpose here.

He had been traveling with a company of workers towards the Scions of the Canopy settlement. They had been discussing a number of topics, ranging from Bennett's unusual good fortune, to Lumine’s own disappearance. Some of their guides were warriors Lumine had fought alongside during the invasion, so they had been more than happy to swap stories with the young adventurer.

“-one of the bridges was out because some trees fell on it, which would have cost us days to find the next ascension. But then I saw that if we moved one of the trees, we could climb up close enough to use the sigil to grapple the rest of the way there! That way, we could rig a pulley to get our materials to the top without wasting time.”

Bennett wiped his mouth and took a few careful swigs from his water bottle with a satisfied sigh.

“Man, your food hits the spot as always.”

“This guy knows what's up.”

Grim muttered through a mouthful of squirrel fish. Paimon was still floating between Lumine and Bennett, clearly focused on getting answers.

“Thats great and all, Bennett, but that doesn't tell us anything about how you got here. Twisted Wonderland is completely separate from Teyvat. Not even the Archons can reach us here!”

“I know Paimon. I just don't really get the details either. One moment I was helping haul the building materials up, then the ground was crumbling underneath me. I thought for sure my bad luck had caught up to me. But then I landed on those bushes down there and walked it off without a scratch.”

“Paimon thinks falling so hard you reach the afterlife is pretty bad luck. But you know better about this sort of thing.”

Bennett shook his head with a laugh, an aura of warmth and vibrance radiating around him.

“Come on Paimon. My luck turned around so much, I managed to find you two! Three if you count Grim, and I wasn’t even trying to meet him!”

Lumine was sure part of her must be melting from the sweetness in Bennett’s smile. He reached forward and gripped Lumine and Paimon’s hands, gloves worn but sturdy and his grip steady and his eyes bright.

 “Everyone's been so worried about you both. There are people all over Teyvat trying to find you. Archons, adepti, all these super smart amazing people. There’s not much a guy like me can do to help, so I decided to just head to Natlan, you know? If I couldn’t help you, I wanted to at least help someone who needed it. And look what happened because I did?”

He looked around the grey landscape with a rueful chuckle.

“Yeah, falling into a place like this probably is pretty bad. Especially if it’s as serious as you said that we could get stuck here. But running into you always seems to make my day better. And I was already having a really good day. So now it’s up to some good old fashioned work to make it the best!”

Chapter Text

Discarded Halloween Angle: Malleus has it bad.

Malleus had been more than happy to put his voice behind Lilia's suggestion to relocate their exhibit to Ramshackle. It was the place where they had set up their exhibit in years past. The only difference now was that rather than the old ruin drawing him there with its promise of solitude, it was the idea of companionship that greeted him now.

Is it companionship? Is that all that it is?

Lumine

Lilia had shown him the picture shared by Cater Diamond. Lumine grinning at the camera with her pixie hovering close by, Grim in her arms. Golden eyes aglow with life.

He could understand wanting to treasure the sight. He could not abide those who would try and invade her home uninvited to claim it.

It is likely a good thing that I cannot keep my phones intact long enough to be on these social networks.

Malleus mused, taking a walk through Ramshackle's decorated grounds and inspecting for any hint of damage from the Magicam Monsters. Lilia assured him with a laugh that the bright girl was suitably punishing those that tried to force themselves into her life by denying them her attention completely. Going about unseen while seeing all of them.

From what he could see, it was causing no small amount of frustration among the entitled mortals trying to get a bit of Lumine’s time. He only wished this did not also mean he did not get any time with her.

Which left him wandering the grounds of her dormitory, hoping she would be awake and come out to see him.

The housewarden paused, the hem of his robe rustling as he turned his keen senses on Ramshackle itself. Though it looked far less run down than its name might imply Lumine had opted to keep the name and make it mean something else entirely.

But the bright streamers of natural energy that flowed through Lumine, separated into their purest elements, was not in Ramshackle. 

He turned more fully towards the building. Then his senses roved further still. He could sense the faint presence of her loyal hound, willing to bare his teeth against any intruder for his master. The unusual aura of the orange feline that changed as no normal beast could. But there was no burning warmth from Grim. No starlight flicker of Paimon the pixie.

The strange phantom light of Lumine's presence, neither cool nor warm but sufficient to stand up to his presence without being overwhelmed, was gone.

Ramshackle was empty and dark. And in that moment, so was he. A hatchling caught in a cold storm of his own making and finding nothing. But this stung in a way that was different from missing Lilia during his childhood.

Malleus frowned at the silent walls. His open staring garnered him a visitor. One of the ghosts he had become familiar with while visiting this place.

“Evening your highness.”

The small ghost bobbed and tipped his hat to Malleus with only the barest modicum of respect and a great deal of welcome.

“Ghost. Where is the master of the house this evening? I cannot sense her within. Nor Grim and Paimon. She would not go far without them.”

An unusual trait he had noticed from mortal ghosts: They were usually honest when questioned even if they wished to be otherwise. Picks was no exception, rubbing the back of his head, then swiping at his brow under his hat.

“Well, as you can tell, highness. She's not here. Don't know where exactly she is.”

“Then what are her general whereabouts?”

Picks was a clever spirit, but Malleus was a fey. Ambiguous wording was no match for him. The ghost gave him a look that said he wished he could say something else.

“She's in the Spectral Realm.”

That did give Malleus some pause. It was fast approaching midnight. Soon Halloween would be over and all the borders would seal themselves again.

“Even at this late hour?”

“She’s been in there all day.  She's trying to find a way back to her world. was convinced she could get a lead of some kind in the Spectral Realm. She ain't gonna come back til she has to. But...we're worried truth be told.”

He knew she sought a way home. Teyvat held a large part of her heart. Speaking of it and its people made her glow. Yet, despite the thought of distance, Malleus had never come away from those discussions feeling as though Lumine returning to Teyvat was a one way trip. It would make her happy to go back, as surely as it would delight him to hear still more of her stories.

"I heard from my dormitory members that they saw her."

 The ghost shook his head.

"No. That was one of us. Lumi asked Rosa for help so no one would worry about her being gone."

Malleus had known right away that the blonde masquerading as Lumine was not in fact her. But Halloween was a time for ghostly mischief, and Lilia had been unbothered by the stranger, so Malleus let it pass by without comment. It was not as though it was common knowledge that he and Lumine were even acquainted, let alone friends who interacted almost every night.

The dragon fey prince caught that thought with the odd realization that ever since properly meeting Lumine Viatrix, he had barely gone a day without her impacting his life in some manner. Even on the nights he did not visit her at Ramshackle, he was often researching stonework, practicing spells and techniques to fulfil the contract she had proposed to repair the details of the building exterior. During the day Sebek would rant about her besting him in PE once again with her athleticism. Silver would listen with a faint crooked smile, traces of her elemental energy clinging to him from his own time spent with her as a sparring partner. Lilia had been speaking Sylvan more and more, his tones resonating with delight and happiness at Malleus's fledgling friendship with her.

The ghost looked around the grounds, well lit by glowing carved pumpkins and the lanterns Doasomnia had crafted. Typical wards to both welcome friendly spirits and ward away hostile ones. He didn't seem to have noticed Malleus's drifting thoughts.

“You lot have done a fine job here. But the ghosts that have been trying to knock on our door to get at Lumine...they ain't all been friendly. Our housewarden’s tough, no doubt but-”

Malleus had stopped listening. He was already putting together the situation.

Lumine should have been safe from any haunting in Ramshackle due to the heightened presence of living people, and their decorations serving as additional deterrents. But she was not reaping those benefits because she had gone into Spectral Realm. The ghosts' home. They would be much stronger there.

“Was Lilia aware of this?”

“I think so. She wanted to make sure her friend had someone to have her back.”

“Thank you for your assistance.”

Finding Lilia’s energy was easy. Malleus could have done it across miles with his eyes closed. He had spent many long hours of his childhood letting whatever the tutors were saying pass him by and focusing his abilities throughout Briar Valley to detect Lilia’s magical signature. While he was still very small, his attendants had managed to keep them apart.

 Nothing could keep them apart now however. Malleus was comfortable in being able to locate Lilia, Sebek or Silver at a moment’s notice anywhere on Sage’s Isle.

Lilia was in the Mirror Chamber.

Malleus teleported there, feeling time slip by. His mentor was pacing hurriedly, one ear constantly trained on the Dark Mirror. It’s mask-like visage watched the room and the worried fey impassively.

“Lilia.” He looked up at the sound of his voice, crimson eyes taut and tense. “Where is Lumine?”

“She is still in the Spectral Realm. If she doesn’t come out before midnight, she’ll be trapped in there for at least a year.”

There was a tightness in Lilia’s voice that Malleus didn’t like. A tension that he could not relate to. The idea of helplessness. Of being a slave to time.

“Can no one go after her?”

“Rosalyne already has.”

The Spectral Realm was the home to mortal ghosts. Thus, it was subject to an ancient law of hospitality. Without invitation, neither Lilia nor Malleus would be able to enter to search for Lumine. They would be trapped here, powerless and waiting until some spirit came that was amenable to giving them access.

Time was the enemy in this instance.

Night Raven College did not have a clock tower, but he didn't need one to tell time. He rarely ever did. He could feel each second passing by, pulling the memory of a golden Traveler who saw dragons as friends, and who listened when he spoke about the composition of different types of granite with a smile.

Midnight drew closer, one step after another. Time would cost Malleus his friend.

No...

Years had been spent figuring out what to do with his instincts. The desire to hold what was precious close to him and spit fire at whatever dared to try and take it. To hold himself in check so that his power wouldn't freeze the capital city of Briar Valley. Frost spread over the floor of the Mirror Chamber and thunder boomed overhead as the natural world responded to his denial, and his rage that time would have the nerve to steal her from him.

No. I will not lose her!

“We cannot have that.”

 Malleus’s own voice sounded distant in his ears as he focused on the immense font of magic power within him, a vicious satisfaction rearing up in him at the chance to use it for a friend. Lumine had called him her friend. He did not have so many of those that he could allow time to steal one.

Twisting time around Night Raven College felt so simple. It wasn’t truly stopping it. But it was taking a single moment and stretching it, putting as much strength as he had to behind it to ensure that the door to the Spectral Realm would stay open for as long as it took.

“I have not finished the gargoyle restorations Lumine commissioned me to perform. And it seems she missed attending all the Halloween celebrations.”

The words rang in his ears. They were truthful, yet covered depths that he did not yet understand. But he knew that there was business left unfinished between them. Words unspoken. What those words were, he did not know. But he was certain of this:

Until he saw Lumine standing safe before him in Twisted Wonderland, he would not permit Halloween to end.

Scenes that I wrote for Playful Land Travel Log chapter, but that ended up being discarded from my draft.

-vVv-

“This sort of thing is supposed to be a thrill for you people?”

Lumine asked, looking at the sizable track and the lengthy line of people waiting to board. Overhead, a linked row of cars with passengers screaming both in delight and some in fear whipped by. Ace seemed like he was about to argue, then thought better of it.

“Oh...Yeah I guess your life is exciting enough without adding rollercoasters into the mix. That just means you gotta take the opportunity as it comes! Part of the fun is that you get to go super fast!”

The Traveler chuckled.

“My average day includes hang gliding, cliff diving, rockclimbing, and occasionally fighting for my life. Or at least for profit. I’m pretty sure it would take more than this to even raise my blood pressure.”

The ginger scowled at her for a moment.

“You know, because it’s you, I can’t even call you a wuss. You’d make me pay for it.”

“Damn straight.”

Lumine knocked Ace’s feathered hat so the brim tilted over his eyes making him grumble in protest and straighten it. The pixie floated by her side hummed and nodded.

“Yeah, Paimon flies all the time. Being afraid of heights or going fast doesn’t really happen so long as she’s with Lumine.”

“Well I wanna go! So suck it up and come on!”

Grim proclaimed, a bright grin on his face. Lumine gave him a raised brow, then turned towards the other members of the group, raising her voice.

“Hey, Cater, I’ll brew you a batch of chilibrew if you take Grim on this ride for me.”

“Sold~”

“Hey, how come we’re not on the list for Lumine bribes?”

Lilia asked, giving her a look of mock offense.

“Depends on what you’re willing to offer?”

Lumine teased back, aware that Ernesto and Gino were close enough to listen and were watching like a hawk. She ignored them, propping a hand on her hip as she looked at the three junior and single freshman. They were all sizing each other up. Except for Trey who adjusted his glasses like he did when his nice-big-brother act was about to lift.

“I’ll take Grim on any ride I’m already going on, all day, in exchange for the floral pudding and custard trio you made for me while I was injured.”

He was referring to the mint jelly, rose custard and padisarah pudding she had gifted him as a subtle means of nursing him back to health on an accelerated time table.

“I think I’ve got some back at the dorm, or would you want something made fresh?”

 If he just wanted some desserts, Lumine was more than willing to oblige. The Vice housewarden worked incredibly hard for his dorm. Since most of their sweets came from him, he rarely got to enjoy something homemade from someone else.

But Trey had also figured out that her gifts had helped him recover from a sprained ankle faster than normal. He could also be asking for these specific treats because he was hurt in some way. His hazel eyes crinkled behind his glasses, the shrewdness he often kept hidden softening as he looked at her, giving a tiny nod.

“There's no need for that. I want to see how you make them.”

That made her relax a little. He was telling her that he wasn’t hurt. He just wanted to learn some new recipes. But this rapid exchange between them did not pass without comment.

“Woah woah, Trey, talk about raising the bar! Cay-cay needs his capsaicin fix.”

But no one else made a counteroffer. Trey had already swooped in with the the very most.

“Do you actually want to babysit Grim through all the rides? You didn’t even hesitate!”

 Ace’s remark made the Heartslabyul vice chuckle.

“One Grim vs all my younger siblings? Should be about an equal trade. Besides, the point of the day is to have fun, and if Lumine and Paimon want to go somewhere else, then they should be able to. We’ll rendezvous at the food court area once we’re done.”

Lumine gave a decisive nod and stuck out her hand which was received with a firm shake from the taller boy.

 “Always a pleasure doing business with you. Grim, if I hear that you didn’t listen to Trey, your tuna privileges are revoked for a week.”

“Fgna! Not my tuna!”

Playful Land: Ramshackle locking in to cause problems for Ernesto Foulworth during NRC's visit.

-vVv-

“He’s coming!”

Paimon hissed at Lumine in Ades, keeping watch from the doorway. Lumine set down her pool cue, which she had been given as a largely decorative gesture given how Ortho and Jade played the game, and threw Grim a look.

 The direbeast’s ears twitched then a scowl spread across his face, drawing every eye to him. He huffed, tossing down his cue in a comical gesture of frustration and proclaiming loudly.

“You all suck! I’m outta here!”

“Grim!”

The direbeast bolted out the door with Paimon close behind and Lumine followed, dodging around Ernesto and Gino as they stepped away from a well hidden door. Paimon flew between Ernesto and Gino making them both jump. They were both clearly attached to one another, so being forced apart would put them both off balance. It would shift Ernesto’s attention onto Gino rather than what else was going on around him. Lumine took the moment to dart past him, her coup de grace poised and ready in her hand.

“Pardon me, rogue cat on the loose!”

 The gesture was quick and Lumine even played up the moment with a cheeky tip of her hat. As she did so, her Adventurer’s Handbook made light contact with the card that was still in Ernesto’s hand just as it was about to disappear back into his pocket. This was delicate as she had to strike just as it was leaving his hand so he wouldn’t feel its departure. She felt its magic take hold with a shiver of elemental energy of it even as she chased after her wayward charges.

Don’t look back. Don’t let him see.

Lyney, Lynette and the House of the Hearth were her mentors in the area of sleight of hand and pickpocketing. Most children played games like tag and hopscotch. But those kids practiced pickpocketing and making poison. One lesson that had sunk in deeply though: Don’t let the target see you checking whether you had been noticed. Trust your spotter. In this case, Paimon who was twisting and turning around others in the street in such a way that let her glance back. She wasn't giving one of their warning signals, so she assumed they were still in the clear for now.

Lumine’s heart was racing with adrenaline even as she turned a corner into a narrow ally between some food stalls. Her co-conspirators were waiting for her. The direbeast looked up at her expectantly.

“How about that? Pretty darn near perfect for making that shady fox jump!”

“Paimon thinks the perfect part was you storming out of the pool hall! Best Actor in the sore loser category! That’s pretty much exactly how you behave!”

Paimon offered with a thumbs up and a grin. Grim preened under the praise and completely missed her dig. She was sure it had been unintentional. Lumine gave a small sigh, quickly glancing around with Elemental Sight to verify that Ernesto was nowhere close by nor following them.

 His faint aura was still several hundred feet back just outside the pool hall.

Looks good.

 She opened her Adventurer’s Handbook and flipped to the reading material section.

 Playful Land Manager’s ID.

 Her chuckle was dark and satisfied as she pulled out the card with a flourish.

“It’s always so nice when a plan comes together.”

Flipping to her archive, Lumine stored the card within it. She started with a trickle of power, then a flood when she felt the need for more. Within seconds, she saw that a copy was available. Approaching one of the hidden doors in this alley, Lumine tapped her handbook on the disguised handle and it opened without a sound, the magic of the card now fully integrated into her key adventurer’s tool.

 Few adventurers would have the elemental energy to pull off this sort of dupe with their guild issued handbooks. But Lumine’s unusual constitution was good for a number of different things. She hadn’t been sure that it would work, but it looked like it had. But the longshot had paid off and Lumine was grateful that it had.

 “Oooh this is getting good!”

 Paimon cheered, wriggling in midair with excitement, her eyes bright. Lumine didn’t bask in triumph for too long, the blonde was back on business in a heartbeat. They had an opening and now they had to see how far they could take it in the scant hour before they had to meet at the grand stage.

“We gotta drop this where Ernesto could reasonably have missed it. He’ll notice if it’s gone for too long.”

 Ernesto was street smart and careful. He would guard the key card if it was as important as she suspected. He would panic when he missed it, retrace his steps and be relieved upon finding it. Since he wouldn’t expect her to have the capacity to make a dupe of its abilities, that should firmly put the possibility of her causing trouble with his level of park access firmly out of his mind.