Chapter Text
Klee instantly squealed in delight as Lumine opened the solitary confinement door, “Can you tell me what the surprise is now?”
Lumine chuckled and moved to the side to reveal. . . Diona, Yaoyao, Sayu, and Nahida! Paimon did a flip in the air and said “Ta-Da!”
Sayu yawned as Klee greeted everybody and jumped around excitedly, she and Yaoyao were making guesses about what they were doing that day, and Diona flicked her tail.
Nahida cleared her throat and spoke, “Lumine and I want to show you all the magical creatures, Aranara, that live in Sumeru.”
“Let’s go then!” Klee bounced around.
“You heard Spark Knight Klee,” Lumine called, “Let's go!” Lumine teleported them to the middle of Vanarana.
“Where are the Aranara?” Yaoyao asked.
Nahida went to a nearby Silapna and took out a vintage lyre, “Just watch,” She whispered. Nahida carefully pressed notes into the lyre to play a lovely simple song.
Around them, the world changed from a green hue to a purple one. The dendro magic in the air enveloped them and breathing it in felt like you were one with nature.
Diona hit Sayu with her tail to wake her up, she’d fallen asleep to Nahida’s playing. Klee almost ran off to explore before Lumine picked her up and turned her back around.
Yaoyao asked, “What song was that?”
“The Rhythm of the Great Dreams,” Nahida answered and used her vision to gently push Araja towards the group.
“Hello Nara,” Everyone turned to face him, “I am Araja, Village chief of the Aranara.”
“I’m Spark Knight Klee of The Knights of Favonius!” Klee shouted and Araja nodded.
Yaoyao said, “My names Yaoyao.”
“I’m,” Sayu yawned, “Sayu. .”
“Thank you, Golden Nara, for bringing in such fine young Nara,” Araja addressed Lumine.
Paimon answered, “We just wanted to let the kids play here!”
“Can we play now? Can we, can we?” Klee begged.
Nahida smiled, “Of course, play nice.”
Quickly, Klee ran down the path leading to Aranara village, with Diona walking after her. Sayu stayed with Lumine and Yaoyao talked with Nahida.
Off with Klee, she skipped around Varanara, accidentally scarring most of the Aranara away. Happily, she noticed several Aranara trying to ‘play hide and seek with her’ by attempting to blend into their surroundings. Laughing, she ran up to them, “I found you!” she shouted.
A mischievous Aranara poked their head from behind a Rukkhadevata Mushroom. “Hello!” they said, faking confidence against the pyromaniac.
“Hi, I’m Spark Knight Klee of The Knights of Favonius! It’s my turn to hide now right?” She asked excitedly. The Aranara nodded. “Okay! How long should I count?”
“How about. . . to thirty?”
“Alright!” 1. . 2. . 3. .” Klee rushed away. She climbed up a house and hid in the leaves protruding from it.
Diana couldn’t keep up with Klee, so she wandered off alone. After walking for a few minutes, she saw Hydro Slimes circling a reckless Aranara.
Instinctively, she pulled out her bow and shot the slimes, freezing them in place and making a shield for herself and the Aranara. She continued shooting at the slimes until they exploded in a blast of water, effectively drenching them.
Diona hissed at the contact of the water. The Aranara used the leaves at the top of their head as a fan to help dry off Diona.
“Thanks, I guess, anyway are you hurt? How did you even manage to get yourself into that mess?” Diona crossed her arms.
“I’m okay! I was running from The Elf Nara.”
“That was probably Klee, where’d she go anyway?”
“Just this way”
Sayu, Lumine, and Paimon walked around in a comfortable silence with no destination in mind. “There's music coming from somewhere... Could it be Aranara?” Paimon mentions. Everyone stops walking to listen.
“We should follow the sound,” Lumine suggests. The party made its way over.
“Let’s join in!” Paimon squeaks as they approach the music-loving Aranara. Lumine takes out a vintage lyre and begins to play a familiar tune. Sayu sits on a nearby mushroom as Paimon hums along. Somehow a mini symphony starts. It lasts for a few magical minutes. Sayu fell asleep amidst the soft music and rested her head on a giant leaf.
"Lumine look! Sayu fell asleep," Paimon squeaks. Carefully Lumine picked Sayu up and carried her in her arms. They waved goodbye to the Music-loving Aranara and returned for The Tree of Dreams.
Nahida spent her time telling Yaoyao anything she wanted to know. Eventually, they ended up wandering around Aranara Village calmly taking in the scenery.
Their comfortable conversation was cut short by a Material-collecting Aranara, “Dendro Naras, can you give Aranara a Viparyas, and a Nilotpala Lotus too?” Yaoyao and Nahida looked at each other and nodded.
“Should I get the Nilotpala Lotus and you get the Viparyas?” Nahida asked.
“Sure!” Yaoyao replied, ”I saw one back here.” Yaoyao started retracing her steps and Nahida went to a nearby pond. It proved to be an easy task when both of them came back. They handed the flowers to The Material-collecting Aranara.
“Hehe, Dendro Nara picked these. Thank you!” the Aranara walked with them, carrying the items in their arms.
Shortly after everyone met back up at The Tree of Dreams. “Did everyone have fun?” Lumine asked. ‘
“Klee loved it!”
“It was alright.”
“I got a good nap in.”
“I had fun!”
“It’s time to go back now!” Paimon said, “Say goodbye to Nahida and Araja.”
“Bye!” They all said at the same time.