今でもあなたはわたしの光

by ship:

chilumi chilumi fluff alphabet

chilumi series (a series of non-chronological, canon compliant childe/lumine drabbles and headcanons, casually written) - promises (fluff, pre-sumeru meeting at northland bank)  - take the pain away (fluff, h/c, lumine comforting an injured ajax. post inazuma) - ajax (fluff, lumine gets used to using hey best friends real name) - snezhnayan mornings (fluff with some character introspection, lumine’s first morning in snezhnaya has ajax yearning for normality) 

chilumi month  - soulmate au 

chilumi as series (a series of chilumi as aus and tropes that are fun) - ‘you’re my muse’ prompt  -  highschool au

"and how are you since your mother and father's passing, dear? and your poor brother's, too, of course."

lumine is asked this question a hundred times a day, by every well meaning, concerned-looking patron crossing the threshold of her family home. or at least, the building that she grew up in, surrounded by relatives and magic and light and laughter and hope. now, it's just the fragile bones of what it once was, what it should have always been - just bricks and mortar.

the accident happened not long ago, and to be honest, lumine is glad that the details of the circumstances surrounding their deaths are hazy. she was meant to be there, that day, but father had entrusted her to look after the business. "you have a gift, lumine. it's time."

it was almost like he knew.

teyvat is a world full of individuals that believe in the power of gods; and the power of the stars over their fates, because the universe grants divine powers. the very divine powers that allow archons to be born and create life and land from within themselves. the answers can always be found in divination, no matter the question. one such question is maybe the most human of all - the desire to reconnect with ones other half. soulmate.

there's nothing too complicated about the basic concept of a soulmate. everyone has one. they may be romantic or platonic, make no mistake - lumine is always quick to reiterate this to people. even if you have no interest in finding a husband or wife, that name that appears on the inside of your wrist when you engage in the process of revealing your soulmate could just be the person you are meant to share something special with. a true friendship is every bit as valuable, and lumine's services are for everyone, those seeking any kind of special someone. every soul was once tethered to another soul - back when those souls didn't belong to a human body, but were cosmic forces, stars in their own right. they are born to this world at the same time, but often lose each other through chance and bad luck. it's fates job to reunite them during their short, precious lives - which is where lumine's bloodline comes in. just lumine now. the last living practitioner of seelenwissen.

an ancient celestial magic known as seelenwissen involves a few spells and potions, and a lot of conversation (it could honestly pass as therapy), but the details aren't too important. the end result is that, after those who want to know come to her door and begin the process, a name will appear on the inside of their left wrists. lumine is always very clear that this thing is like a permanent tattoo, it will not wash away, even after you connect with your soulmate. it's irreversible. for most people, that's a small price to pay.

today is a day like any other day, except it's not really. the clients are the same, the concern for her recently orphaned self is the same, but something is very, very wrong.

lumine's own soulmate mark is beginning to fade.

"what in the name of celestia...," she stares at it that morning. she only unveiled it a week ago, allowing herself some me time to undergo the process, and it appeared on her skin clear as day - ajax. she knew no one by this name, never had a client by this name, but he had to exist, because there he was, the name was proof enough.

lumine isn't sure why she picked then to find out her soulmates name; maybe the loneliness was beginning to get to her, maybe she couldn't stand living in an empty house with no one for miles; no one to speak to but the clients who would travel for her services, free services, of course - they always brought food as an offering, though, lumine never went hungry - and thus, she began been idly thinking about how to approach finding this ajax boy. her village lay just west, nestled between the borders of mondstadt and liyue, so she knew ajax wasn't a common name from these nations. clients came to visit from sumeru and fontaine, too, but they didn't quite sound right either. he had to be of this world, though. natlan or snezhnaya? or just a person landed with an uncommon name?

now she's doubting everything she thought she knew about the divine art of seelenwissen, because the ajax is fading. and none of the ancient texts stored in her parents old room seem to allude to a reason that this could be happening. this has never happened to anyone in the history of their bloodline, at least not according to written records.

just as she came across something she didn't know how to handle, it was too late to ask. she was alone now. "mother, father, aether...," she sighs at night, laying in her backyard, staring at the moon and the stars. "please, please impart your infinite wisdom to me, because i'm struggling here. dad... you said i was ready. i fear i'm failing you. i'm letting our legacy down. i wasn't ready, dad, so you have to come back to me, okay?"

tears are falling down her cheeks but she pays them no heed. it's the first time lumine has allowed herself to cry. she's terrified of what this means - will her final day signify the final day that seelenwissen can bring people together? how can she pass on this art to her children if she doesn't fully understand it herself? is everything she's worked for since she was a child meaningless now that her family are gone?

lumine is lonely. lumine knows she needs to find the answers to her questions, questions that may have never been asked before, before the mark fully disappears. because if it's gone, so is any hope she clings to.

she shuts up shop for a while. letters to her current clients, an apologetic note on the door, and a backpack filled with essentials - food, a weapon, a blanket, some savings. she's going on an adventure, leaving her home behind for the first time in her life, with the sinking feeling that she may have nothing to return to at the end of her journey. no family to miss her, no clients to rely on her.

her first stop is sumeru. the nation of wisdom, the akademiya, it's as good a guess as anywhere.

here, people are helpful. they want to impart their knowledge, they're intrigued by lumine's own knowledge of magic. the akademiya try to recruit her as a student, with the promise of a research post upon graduation. she declines, and is pretty sure they don't take kindly to it.

knowledge is a hot commodity though, and a mysterious person in port omos grills her brain about divination and in turn, shares information from the akademiya he is privy to - namely, student records. there have been students named ajax, though a long time ago, and probably not the boy she's looking for. however, what he does know, is that they all came from snezhnaya. her soulmate is likely from the cryo archon's nation. coincidentally, a ranger stationed in the avidya forest has a deep fascination with botany, and might be interested in lumine's use of plants in her potions.

well, lumine knows how to read between the lines. this ranger may have more information, so she heads there next. battling her way through thick overgrowths and fending off one or two large beasts that are completely unfamiliar to her, she finds the forest ranger. a genius in disguise, really. he is fascinated with her offer of samples of rare herbs, and tells her about a group of snezhnayan officials who had travelled from sumeru city to liyue, crossing through the forest under his watch. they had been talking about someone named ajax and some sort of unnatural affliction.

"to be honest, they weren't speaking too kindly of him," he adds, before lumine gets ready to leave. "it was very much in the vein of - well, they were mocking him, really."

"what did they say?"

"why should we have to busy ourselves looking for a cure for this idiot?" "the tsaritsa's orders aren't to be questioned." "why she has a soft spot for that child i'll never know. poor little ajax-," "hold your tongue. despite the personal grievances we all have with him, he has shown nothing but loyalty to the tsaritsa. the same cannot be said for all of us. plus, a cure to slow down the adverse effects of...,"

the forest ranger trails off. "i believe they realised it best not to continue speaking like this in front of a stranger. well, it didn't sound too good, whatever this ajax is going through - and cures, it sounded like it might be somewhat in my expertise. we have a lot of unique medicines available in sumeru. i travelled to the city for the first time in a long while to meet with a contact at the akademiya and find out their business, see if i could be of any help. but there was no record of their visit, at least, not that my master knew of."

lumine is stumped. could this be her ajax? could a terrible affliction or illness cause such suffering to the core of his being, his soul, and explain the fading name on her wrist?

even though she does not know him in this life, she knows in her heart that that is exactly what is happening. a lump forms in her throat, her heart is pounding, all she can feel is heat and pain radiating throughout her body, but it's not her own pain, it's his - she can feel him breaking into a million little pieces, from the inside out.

whatever this mysterious affliction is, lumine knows it's not of this world. not of the natural world. nothing in their universe has the power to tear apart the fabric of what makes someone human.

should she even continue her journey? she couldn't possibly help, and the last thing an individual suffering with a horrific ailment needs is an ambush from some crazy blonde girl proclaiming that she's his soulmate. what if he looks down on the divine arts? what kind of person is this ajax? hasn't he been through enough?

hasn't lumine?

she can't turn off her internal monologue. it plagues her. she needs to visit snezhnaya and find the ajax that works for the tsaritsa.

it's easier said than done. you see, snezhnaya is a nation in the far north of this world, a freezing cold endless landscape of snow and ice. villages are dotted around mountains, each one further away from the next. the city of kolyma is the biggest settlement, the only place where you'll find real hustle and bustle, and where the tsaritsa's palace of pechal stands. it's said that her inner circle, the harbingers, are the only diplomats allowed to enter the palace.

why would the tsaritsa care so much about ajax's health condition to send some clearly very important people all the way to sumeru to research a cure? couldn't they just have written to the akademiya? perhaps ajax is the son of an important snezhnayan figure who made a request to the archon personally to help his son. maybe it's a personal interest, which lumine would understand, considering the illness must be other worldly.

whatever the case, lumine has an in. she knows what the tsaritsa wants, after all - and maybe she could be her answer.

"so, how do you go about requesting an audience with the tsaritsa?"

lumine blurts this out to the first friendly looking face she sees when she reaches kolyma. she had ducked into a cozy tavern for something warm to eat, and to try suss out the locals. the boy at the table next to hers had been smiling the entire time she was there, stealing glances in her direction. he had an almost childlike innocence to his grin, and she could tell he was about her age, 20 or 21 at most - but there was something about him that seemed off. he was pale, and he carried a tiredness in his eyes, eyes that she imagined had once been a brilliantly bright blue. still, the smile never left his face, not even when she asks that ridiculous question.

"You want to meet Her Highness? As fate would have it...," he trails off, though, as if catching himself. "Her Highness rarely meets with outlanders, though, I'm sorry to say. She is an extremely busy lady... in demand, as usual, but she rarely shows her face in public. Her Harbingers, and the Fatui, they take care of the Tsaritsa's needs."

"Could I maybe talk to one? It's important."

"Maybe you could. But first, I must ask you to join me." The boy gestures towards the empty chair opposite her.

"Why so?"

"Firstly, because you are strikingly beautiful, and I'd be a fool to not try and make your acquaintance," he laughs at the pause that ensues. Lumine doesn't know where to look, what to do with her hands, what to say, but she's pretty sure she's blushing. "I'm sorry. You can relax, I promise, I just... well, I had nothing to lose."

"You're funny," she says, finally. "What's the second reason?"

"Huh?"

"You said, firstly...,"

"Oh. The second - you're an outlander. You've probably never been to Snezhnaya before, because you aren't wearing a proper winter coat."

"This is a winter coat!"

"A foreign one. Don't worry, I'll tell you where the best in town are sold - but I digress. I ordered far too large a portion of my favourite hometown specialty, and I'd like to share it with you. It's almost like my mother used to make, you know, when I was a kid."

"You're talking like an old man," Lumine scoffs, but accepts his offer of a seat. It's closer to the fire, if anything. "What are these?" She points at the plate of dumpling-like snacks.

"They're called pelmeni - dough with meat fillings. Try one."

Aside from the soup she'd just had, this is the first proper food Lumine has consumed in a week; her travels from Sumeru to Snezhnaya featured only cuisine that she could find and cook on an open campfire (she had never been great at hunting). The pelmeni are mouthwatering. "Wow. Pretty awesome."

"Right? Mom's are better of course, but I guess everyone says that about their childhood meals. Right?"

She nods. "I'm from a village right between Liyue and Mondstadt, so I grew up with different foods around me, and my Mom used to mix ingredients all the time. I don't think I could replicate one of her special dishes if I tried."

The boy smiles, fondly. "That sounds really nice. But what would bring someone like you all the way here? What can Her Highness help you with, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well...," Lumine bites her lip. Is it wise to trust this guy? On one hand, it's not like she was doing anything illegal or morally wrong. She's just looking for someone, someone who she now knows is ill, and she happens to be an alchemist from a bloodline of astrologists - maybe she really could help.

On the other, she has no idea what she's getting herself involved in. Ajax could be anyone. "I'm out of my depth, to be honest. I'm searching for someone. Someone I don't know... I just have a first name. I happened to find out that he has an ailment of sorts, and that the Tsaritsa's people may have been looking for a cure. I overheard them talking about it while I was in Sumeru. I don't strictly know that these two things are related, but I kind of do, because... well, it's a long story." She makes sure to cover for the ranger who gave her the information, just to be safe.

"Would it be easier to start with who you're looking for? The name?" His expression has changed. He's still smiling, but he's hesitant; there's a weary look about his face that Lumine can't quite figure out.

"Uh, it's... well, like I said, it's just a first name. Ajax. According to records, it's a Snezhnayan name, and then the conversation I overheard confirmed it-."

"Yeah. Uhm," he scratches the back of his neck, fidgeting with the collar of his shirt as he does. Nerves? "You're looking for Ajax Morozov."

"Ajax Morozov... who is he? What's wrong with him?"

"Shouldn't you know who he is if you're looking for him?"

"I'm sorry," she shakes her head. "I must sound insane. Look, my name is Lumine. My whole family are astrologists - we study the stars and have been granted psychic intuition from the divine. Our bloodline in particular reunites lost souls."

"Lost...souls?"

"Yeah. Like soulmates. People come from all over Teyvat to find the name of their soulmate so they can be reunited with the person that knows them the best. We all have one, one that's been with us since we were nothing but cosmic dust, a star that was sent to earth at the same time as us."

"Wow. Divine matchmaking?"

"Not quite," she narrows her eyes, but quickly realises it was a joke. And even if it hadn't been... he wouldn't have been entirely wrong. "Look, look at my wrist. I found out my soulmates name a few weeks ago and it's almost illegible - that's never happened, never in the history of our craft! When I heard that there was an Ajax who seems to have an affliction that no modern medicine can fix, it made sense. His soul must be affected by this horrible sickness, and that's why he's fading from me - because it's ripping apart what makes him human. You have to help me. I want to find a way to save him; I want to meet him before it's too late."

"Oh, Lumine...," he closes his eyes. "Uhm. Do you wanna come on a walk?"

"Huh?"

"Take my coat. I'll... I'll tell you everything I know."

And so, they leave. The boy gives her his coat; he's so much taller than her, it reaches her knees and swamps her arms, but braving the outside world is much easier with it on. He doesn't seem to shiver as they walk in silence, side by side. He must be used to it.

"Where are we going?" Lumine whispers.

"To the lake. I just... it's quiet, there, especially at dusk. It's a nice spot to talk. Come on."

After about twenty minutes, they reach a spot the boy seems happy with - just under a frozen tree, overlooking a wide lake with ice so thick, you could probably skate on it. "This is Lake Baikal," he says as they sit down, leaning against the trunk. "Biggest lake in Teyvat. My dad used to bring me ice fishing here. You ever been?"

"No."

"It's a shame. It teaches you patience... something I sorely lacked as a child. I don't think it helped hugely, but I enjoyed the quality time no less. You take what you can get when you're the middle child."

"Time spent with family is always precious," Lumine says, softly. "Especially as a child, before you're aware of... well, everything."

"You know what I'm talking about, then."

"I lost my parents recently, you know. And my brother. Horrible accident... I still talk to them, at night," she points up to the stars, just beginning to appear in the darkening night sky. "It's not the same, but I have nothing else."

"I'm so sorry."

"You sound choked up. Did I upset you? I apologise, I didn't mean to dump a load of -,"

"Hey," he waves her off. "You didn't. I just... my heart is aching a little. I know I don't know you, but hearing you talk about your pain, it's so... you're too young, too gentle, to know that kind of hurt."

"I've had to grow up quick. That's part of the reason why I finally wanted to know my stupid soulmate... it probably sounds dumb to someone who doesn't know much about it, but what my family do - well, what I do, now - it's rescued so many people from loneliness. I just want to be the one I help for a change."

"And you think this Ajax is your soulmate? The one with the affliction? I mean, it's not an uncommon name."

"I felt his pain." she sighs. "When those people were speaking about him, it's like it unlocked a memory, or an... empathetic link? I guess it makes sense, our souls are intertwined, and now that I know he's experiencing something dark, I can't ignore it. Maybe the dread and horror I've been feeling all this time isn't just grief and loneliness."

"How do you reveal someone's soulmate?"

"Hm? Oh... it depends on the person. The further away your soulmate is, the more time it takes. It takes mental therapy to re-attune someone with their core so they can make that connection. If your soulmate was, say, in the same village, or just around the corner, the potion itself would do, because your soul will already know that they're close. Separated souls are like magnets. They find each other eventually, I just help guide the process, sometimes I speed it up."

"I'll tell you what, Lumine," he says. "In exchange for a sip of some of this magic potion, I'll tell you where to find Ajax Morozov."

"Ah," she raises an eyebrow. "Looking for some love, sir?"

"No time for that," he shakes his head. "Just wanna know if he or she is nearby. Call it a personal interest."

"Your wish is my command. I know not to expect intel for free, after all - but if this doesn't work, and you still want to know, you'd have to make an appointment to see me at my home."

"No problem, Lumine."

"Hm."

She's a little bit suspicious; like maybe this guy is trying to make off with her potion and learn the craft for himself to turn a profit or something, but it's unlikely. He wouldn't have much luck, anyway. What harm could it do? More than likely he's just curious. She reaches into her satchel and produces the small vile of baby blue liquid. "It tastes nice, kind of like icy water," she promises as she hands it over.

He doesn't hesitate anyway, popping the lid out and drinking it in one gulp. "Oo, it's delicious," he agrees, laughing. "Compliments to the chef."

"Hey, I wouldn't go that far! I'm good with potions, but cooking...," she gently reaches out to hold his left wrist. The boy lets out a relaxed sigh. "Good," she mumbles. "It should make you feel calm. I can feel your skin warming up, so that's a good sign...," the familiar tingly-prickling sensation, like popping candy, is spreading across the boys hand and wrist. It makes him giggle; and Lumine can hardly suppress hers. After about a minute, the static fades, and she drops his hand.

"It worked. You can look now. You don't have to show me, if you don't want to, by the way."

The boy nods, lifts up his arm, and stares at the inside of his left wrist. "If that isn't written in the stars...,"

"Hm? Good news?" Lumine tries not to sound eager, but she can't help it, she loves her job.

"I don't know. I don't think so."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Uhm, can you show me yours again?"

Lumine obliges. The barely legible Ajax.

"Well, Lumine, I think you were right about Ajax Morozov."

"Why?"

He faces his wrist to her. Lumine.

"What?" She blinks. She doesn't understand. "You... you're...?"

"Yeah. It's me."

"But... but... oh. Oh. Oh, Celestia. What? You're Ajax? My Ajax?"

"Looks like it."

"But what's... wrong? Your name. It's fading. I can barely see it, Ajax. And the people -,"

"Her Highness sent some of the other Harbingers to pressure the Akademiya into releasing some research," he begins. "That research had been spearheaded by a Harbinger himself, actually, but he left on bad terms, so his name was removed from the credits, and thus they had no intention of letting us see any progress made since he was kicked off the project."

"And it was research looking for a cure for your illness?"

"Not just me. But yeah, it was time sensitive because of how fast I'm deteriorating. Have you ever heard of a delusion?"

"No...,"

"It's a horrible thing. A weapon of war. A man made vision, allowing it's holder to access elemental power even if they haven't been granted this by the Gods. We all have one - the Harbingers - we wear them like badges of honor," he scoffs. "I was so proud of mine. All I wanted to do was adventure and fight and become strong enough to protect my family and get everything we ever wanted. I was saved from the Abyss as a child, but not before I learned to fight. My prowess was impressive, and being bestowed with a delusion and invited to join the Harbinger's was proof that I had finally acquired the strength I was seeking. But - was I satisfied?"

"I guess not."

"No. I still wanted to get better. I was the 11th Harbinger; and we're ranked by strength, apparently, anyway - so it meant there was room for improvement. When my hydro vision wasn't enough, I'd use my delusion. It gives me... so much more power. I feel invincible when I use it. Until I use it. Afterwards is a different story."

"Ajax. What makes it so horrible?"

"I think you can guess. It destroys you, from the inside out. Using it causes internal injuries, some that can be fixed with medicine, some that cannot. No one understands it, but the research... it leans towards a thought quite close to something you said."

"It's tearing away at what makes you human," Lumine nodded. "Gotcha."

"It's a wonderful night, right?" Ajax smiles. "I had my favourite food in my favourite tavern; where I met a beautiful girl who told me that we're soulmates. I took her to my favourite spot in the world. And we talked. And I was honest with her about something I can't even tell my family about."

"Ajax...,"

"It's better this way," he says, quickly. "I don't want them to be dreading it. There's nothing anyone can do to save me."

"There has to be. Maybe I can find something in my books - this is about souls, after all."

"Lumine," he takes her hand, squeezing it tight to stop her fingers from shaking. "Lumine. I believe with my entire heart that you are magical. Okay? You found me, you travelled through each and every nation looking for me, all because you knew we had to meet. You didn't know if you could save me, but you had to try. That's enough."

"Ajax-,"

"Lumine, let me finish," he flashes that childlike grin again. "Lumine, you can't help me. Selfishly, I'm glad you found me tonight, because I got to meet you. I feel at peace when I look into your eyes, like we've truly been reunited after a long time. It's something i didn't know I was missing...,"

"Until you found it. A lot of people say that."

"I wish I weren't selfish," he continues. "Because you're looking at me like all you want to do is save me. You're looking at me like I'm someone worth getting to know and having in your life, but I'm not. I've done bad things, I'm not a bad person, but I'm not a good person either. You seem far too precious and wonderful of a human being to be stuck with me as your other half."

"Don't talk like that."

"I have to. I don't have much time to say what I need to," he closes his eyes. Lumine wants to shake him, but she can't bring herself to. His shoulders slump, and his face seems to age before her eyes. The tiredness. It's getting to him. He's still beautiful, with his soft, swooping reddish hair, the freckles on his nose, the playful upturned lips. "When I return to cosmic dust or whatever, I'll wait for you, so we can return to earth together once more. In another life, we have longer. I know that."

"Ajax. Let me help you!" Lumine sits up onto her knees, begging, pleading. "There has to be something. Can't you hold on?"

"I've been holding on for so long. I thought it might be because there was a cure, or good news from Sumeru, but... I think it was you. I think I had to meet you, at least once."

He reaches out and presses his hand against her cheek. "Lumine, if I could stay, I would love you for ten thousand years. Please don't be lonely." His shallow breaths leave wisps of fog hanging in the air.

This can't be happening. Lumine gasps as she tries to hold in an ungodly sob; it hits her like a tonne of bricks out of nowhere. This boy who was so full of life in the tavern is fading in front of her, and there's nothing she can do. "Please," she prays, as quietly as she can, leaning her cheek into his hand, longing for his touch to stay warm, because warmth means blood, blood means life, and Ajax has to have a chance at life, because she needs him. "God of the Wind, God of the Rocks and the Earth, God of Nature. God of Fire, God of Water; God of Ice, almighty Celestia, Mother, Father, Aether, my Stars, I pray to you in this time, please guide me, please help me find a way out of the darkness, for both I and this innocent soul...,"

It's like falling asleep. Lumine is last aware of her weight collapsing in on itself, and her head sinks into Ajax's lap where he lay, and then there's darkness. And warmth. A sense of security. A voice.

"Child," the unfamiliar woman speaks in a tone devoid of all emotion. "I cannot make any promises, but I can allow you to wield the power of my nation, the power of ice and frost. Even if his last hope is nothing but a fleeting moment, you shall find your purpose."

Lumine opens her eyes. A bright white light surrounds her. What is happening? Was that truly the voice of the Cryo archon? She instinctively puts her hand to her head, to the flower she wears in her hair, a gift from far away. In the center, she can feel it. "A vision?"

"A vision," the woman's voice fades away as she comes to realise what has happened. When she returns to reality; she is still kneeling in front of Ajax, who is still breathing, but barely. He looks tired. So tired.

"I'm supposed to try to save you with this...?" Lumine doesn't know how to use a vision! She's never really known a vision holder. What's she meant to do? How does she discover her powers? Won't that take too long?

"I'm sorry, Ajax," she begins to cry softly, placing her hands on his chest this time, trying to feel it's rise and fall, and comfort him at the same time. "I want to know what it's like to be loved by you for ten thousand years. Even though I know that I have loved you for longer than that, and that I only remembered that about ten minutes ago in this life, and I want to take comfort in the fact that I know we'll meet again, my sweet boy, but...,"

"Lumie," he whispers. "You're... I'm... hi,"

"Ajax, rest," she shushes him. "It's okay."

But then she notices something. The color is slowly returning to his face. He's trying to open his eyes, and his breaths... is she kidding herself, or do they sound stronger? Less shallow?

"Ajax?"

"Lumine."

The white glow from before surrounds her hands where they press against Ajax's chest. Slowly, but surely, something is happening. "Healing powers," she mouths. "Ajax, Her Highness... she granted me a cryo vision."

"That's... impossible... why do I feel better? Why... why aren't I lightheaded?"

"How's the pain?"

"I think it's leaving my body," he coughs, and then coughs again, three, four more times. "What in the world...,"

lumine doesn't let ajax live down the fact that he was SO insistent that she couldn't help him. and, well, she couldn't. not without the vision. even the tsaritsa didn't know it was possible, her highness at wits end trying to help the harbinger she saw like her own child, one last ditch attempt to help his love save him. ajax is back to his usual self; embarrassed that he said such cliché things on their first date, and lumine punches him in the arm for suggesting that him dying as he professed his love for her was a proper date. so they do it right, once ajax recovers with a week of bedrest at home. his family love lumine, who is only too eager to act like his nurse, and learn all about this guy - his childhood, what he's like as a brother, how he can cook and does all the chores and spends all his money on presents for his littlest siblings. they seem to be convinced he sells toys for a living; when questioned, ajax just grimaces and says "that's a story for another time."

ayaka, 7:49am: are u guys meeting me for coffee before class? <3

lumine, 7:55am: just aether, i have to get to school early. responsible for the new kids orientation. lunch together? :D

perfect grades, a good reputation, solid extra curriculars and a sensible circle of friends. it was only expected that lumine would be voted as student council president in her senior year - the campaign (which she had been dreaming about since she was a freshman) wasn't quite as exciting as she had hoped, she ran uncontested. still, her best friend ayaka had helped her make signs and got her law student older brother to proofread her speeches. it was good practice for the future, or at least, would make her college applications stand out more. she needed all the help she could get to cinch an ivy league scholarship.

the one teeny-tiny issue was that, despite how good being student council president sounded in theory, it actually took up a lot of time. she was sort of the school's own personal errand girl. maintaining her 4.0 gpa, math tutoring and volunteering alongside these new responsibilities left her negative time for herself. not even for an iced latte with aether and ayaka that morning.

"i'm here," lumine knocked on the door of the staff room, crossing the threshold as the clock struck eight, out of breath from running down the street, heavy book bag in tow. her hair was stuck to her face; she must have been an absolute sight to behold. "sorry i'm late."

"you're not late, miss young" mr porter laughed, like the very notion that lumine could be capable of such a thing was ridiculous.

"in fact, i was early." a tall boy with a cheery voice, reddish brown hair and bright blue eyes stood up. lumine hadn't even noticed him in her hurry to meet her homeroom teacher.

"you're ajax?"

"yes. ajax morozov." he smiled, reaching out to shake lumine's hand. his pale skin felt soft and warm around her own; and she stared up at him, slightly intimidated by how this guy managed to be the most handsome boy she had ever seen, and also the most adorable (she was a sucker for freckles, and he seemed to have millions of tiny ones dotted across his cheeks, sprinkled like powdered sugar).

ugh, lumie, be cool.

"i'm lumine young."

"i heard you're the student council president. and a math tutor. and you do something with... horses?"

great. "mr porter told you all about me, huh?"

"i had to boast our star student! mr morozov doesn't know anyone here, his whole family just relocated from california."

"we move a lot," ajax shrugged. "enough about that."

"you... left california... for ohio?" lumine couldn't hide the horrified look that spread across her face. "you poor thing."

"why don't you give ajax a tour while it's still quiet?"

"yes, why don't i?"

**

ajax talked a lot. not in a bad way - he had questions, he was interested in everything lumine was saying, and really seemed to want to get to know her, too, not just interested in finding out where he was allowed eat and pee. it was a little bit embarrassing, though, having to talk about how she lived on a ranch with her parents and her twin brother and had to live up to all the amazing things mr porter had told him about her. like, sure, her qualities all looked good on paper, but her haircut was kind of lopsided (she was never going to forgive aether for being distracted while trimming it last week) and her breath was bad in the morning and she had a lot of dry skin in weird places. she was not perfect. but ajax, by god, ajax was. he had to be. he looked like he just stepped out of a fairy tale. he was a prince, high royalty, handsome and wealthy and well travelled (he told her he spoke five languages fluently, which made lumine's a+ in french look meaningless) and kind. all the boys at her school were kind of jerks, so she couldn't imagine how he'd fit in with them.

lumine had never been interested in looking twice at a guy in her class, but now she couldn't tear her eyes away from ajax. so unprofessional! this was meant to be about pointing out the fire exits and giving him tips on what foods to avoid in the cafeteria, not securing a prom date before the rest of the seniors realised that there was finally a hot guy in their midst.

"i'm still quite hung up on the fact you live on a ranch. that's so...,"

"it's exactly what you expected when you moved to ohio, right?"

"yeah," he laughed. "los angeles is a different world."

"i spent the summer mucking stables and teaching kids to ride ponies. not exactly hot girl stuff, but my parents paid me well."

"you worked at horse summer camp?! you're a weird horse girl!"

"hey!" lumine punched his arm. "it's not my fault! i was born into it!"

"yeah, i know all about that."

as a comfortable silence fell, she led him to the last stop on their little orientation, which was their homeroom. "so, we have to be here by 8:45 every morning. we can chill at lunch, too, but most people just sit out or go for a drive."

ajax nodded. "got it."

"come on, there's a seat next to mine that isn't assigned yet. i'll show you."

"it's definitely under the teacher's nose, right?"

"you think you know me?" she grinned. it was actually at the very back of the classroom, hers by the window, and the one that would now be ajax's in front of it. "i prefer a view. just love staring at the parking lot."

"you can stare at the back of my head now if you get bored of cars."

"noted. can i have a look at your schedule?"

"be my guest."

they took their seats and ajax reached into his pocket. "here. do we have any classes together?"

"yup. you're taking all ap?"

"moving around a lot doesn't leave me much time to make friends, so i study instead."

"well, stick with me, then. i'll make sure you don't get lost." lumine paused for a minute, unsure if it was appropriate to pry. "any reason for all the moving?"

"it's a long story."

"we have about ten minutes before everyone piles in if you feel comfortable telling it. you don't have to, though. just curious." "oh, i don't mind at all, it's just... ugh, it's boring. i always look super mysterious when i transfer schools," he shakes his head. "but it's nothing fun. my dad is a business man and his offices keep expanding, so we travel so he can help with the set up and transition period or whatever, and then it's usually onto the next one within six months. he promised that we wouldn't leave her til i graduated considering i'm a senior now, but if duty calls... well, no big deal. i'll get my credits from wherever and finally settle down when i get into college."

"that sounds rough," lumine said, gently. "do you have any siblings?"

"yeah. three younger, none of them have started high school yet, and two older ones i haven't seen in a while. it's pretty tough on the kids, i don't mind so much, but they haven't learned to not make friends or put down roots yet."

"hm. i get you. what's the point, right?" "exactly. dad says it'll be different every time, but it never really is."

"i have a proposition for you."

"really?" ajax raised his eyebrows.

"yeah. you and me. we'll be friends. no questions asked if you disappear tomorrow. i won't cry or make you feel guilty for being a terrible bestie, so you don't have to feel bad. but if you fancy riding a horse or studying for the sats together, then i'm your girl. you can even come for coffee with me before class. me, my twin brother aether, and my best friend ayaka usually carpool to starbucks and then to school because we can't survive without iced lattes. if you're down, you're welcome."

"that... sounds great."

lumine was chuffed with herself. what a great student council president she was. now, the only job remaining was to not develop a crush on ajax morozov. getting attached would be against the rules.