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Moon-Prayer Night's Nasha Town was bathed in cozy light and more muted joyful sounds as night fell. The air was filled with the sweetness of incense and festival treats, music drifted between stalls, and lanterns shone above the streets. Under the shining moon, laughter was soft and slow, rising and falling like a tide.
"Lumine?"
"Hm?" The Traveler turned around, having just finished the last of her sugar sculpture stick. She watched Columbina do the same while waiting for a reply.
"Just now..." the black-and-red-haired goddess of the moon began sheepishly — which, at this point in their friendship, did feel a bit unusual. "You seemed a bit flustered. Why was that?"
Lumine had to think back for a moment before replying. "When? What do you mean?"
The blonde gently reached over, taking the time to dispose of both sticks as they continued walking down the festival street.
When she turned back toward Columbina, she found her already facing her. "Just now, when we tried each other's sugar candy. After I tasted yours, and let you taste mine. Was... there something wrong with that? Is sharing not meant to be an act of kindness between two people?"
Hearing those words immediately resulted in the same situation Lumine had found herself in just minutes ago: her face heating up, her breath and heartbeat quickening, and... avoiding looking at the person in front of her.
"I... I don't know what you mean?" She figured that playing it off was probably the better choice here, rather than... explaining herself.
Lifting a finger beneath her lips, Columbina seemed thoughtful. "No, I definitely sensed something different that time. We have known one another for a few months now, and I have not seen you act like that since we first met." Her finger lowered as her closed-eyed gaze returned to Lumine. "Perhaps it was like the time I frightened you? Were you worried about accepting my offer to try mine? It truly was fine, or I would not have offered it."
As much as her expression could convey, the Traveler noticed that Columbina was taking this far too seriously. Since she didn't want to worry the goddess — especially not on her last day in Teyvat — she had to spare her from that concern. Quickly.
"Oh—no, really, that wasn't it, that—" Only now did she notice that she had practically admitted there even had been an issue in the first place. Her breath caught.
It had been nothing. Really nothing to concern herself with on her very last day, anyway...
"Ah?" Columbina moved so quickly that Lumine had no time to react. Her hands were suddenly grasped by the other woman's, given a gentle squeeze meant to comfort her. "I promise, I did not intend to make you uncomfortable with that exchange. I only thought it was something sweet..." Her voice softened. "I apologize if that is not something people do." The squeeze became a little more insistent.
"Oh—no, please, it was nothing of that sort. I did like us doing that, and it also is something that people do..." She really did not want to go into details, but at this point, she would have to scramble for a believable explanation.
"I'm glad, but... then? What was it?"
A sigh of relief washed over Lumine like a soft winter wind, Columbina's breath carrying the mingled scent of both of their candy flavors. Exactly that was what brought her back to reality — and to the real reason she had grown flustered.
Glancing around, she decided that if she was going to reveal this particular 'secret,' it would have to be somewhere more... secluded.
"Follow me," she said, gently taking the Moon Goddess's hand and leading her up a narrow, half-hidden path she had discovered while doing commissions. It ended between the backs of unused storage shacks atop a cliff, overlooking the wide ocean below. Having never encountered a single soul in this spot before, the Traveler finally felt safe enough to admit what she had been trying to hide.
"Sorry for dragging you along like this, but... if you really insist, then I suppose I'll explain." Lumine's voice sounded more jittery than she had intended — at least to her own ears.
A small chuckle answered her, and Lumine turned to look at the Moon Goddess beside her. "It is nice to have a little breather away from the festival, anyway." Columbina smiled at her. "But yes. Please, enlighten me."
For someone as supposedly brave as the Honorary Knight, a member of the Adventurers' Guild, and a Descendant — among many other titles — Lumine now felt awfully uncertain. Awfully small, too, standing next to Kuutar. Not that such titles had ever meant much to her. She had always preferred people for who they were, regardless of reputation or station. Archons, gods, ordinary folk — to her, there was little difference. She would rather come to know someone herself than allow rumors or secondhand judgments to shape her thoughts.
That was how she ensured closeness was built without prejudice — if any at all. When she had heard the subtle warnings from two friends and her former Fatui colleagues, she had believed caution was necessary when first encountering Columbina. That was why she had startled when the flowers in Silvermoon Hall turned red, nearly betraying her own belief in seeing for herself first. The fact that nothing of the sort had happened again had only reaffirmed her intuition.
Even people she had once been wary of — Arlecchino, for instance — had more often than not proven themselves to be valuable allies.
In this situation, however — standing next to someone who had seen and endured so much over the course of a long lifetime — the matter at hand felt incredibly small.
A small issue that had nonetheless been enough of a catalyst to leave Lumine flustered in the first place, to the extent that they now stood apart from the others after leaving the festival area.
She replayed the last few months in her mind — the ups and downs they had experienced together, and how they had slowly, almost imperceptibly, grown closer.
It had begun with Columbina keeping to herself like a timid deer, withdrawing into her chambers by choice.
Only with time had she started to open up, as certain people earned her trust through actions rather than the empty words she had known in the past — words that had so often only served others' interests rather than her own.
Lumine would not claim she had been the catalyst for that change, but seeing how their shared experiences had nudged Columbina's life in a more positive direction, she was glad it had happened all the same.
And now she was about to depart for the moon — an impossibly uncertain journey, with an even more uncertain return.
So what did Lumine really have to lose?
"You know, what we did... sharing the sugar sculptures like that." She hesitated, warmth creeping up her face. "Since they... touched our own lips before passing them to the other person, who then touches them with their lips..." She swallowed, then blurted it out. "That's called an 'indirect kiss'!"
Part of Lumine wanted to look away immediately. Another part wanted — needed — to see Columbina's reaction.
It came in the form of the Moon Goddess's lips parting slightly, her brows lifting as she leaned in without realizing it. "Indirect... kiss?" The term seemed to captivate her. "Lips touching... and then..." She trailed off, gazing at her hand as though it still held the sugar sculpture, before lifting a finger to her mouth. "Hm. Yes... that does make sense."
The Traveler, meanwhile, grew flustered all over again. Why was she troubling her with something so small, on such a special night? They should be wandering the festival, enjoying more of what it had to offer — not hiding away because Lumine didn't quite know how to handle these unfamiliar feelings.
"Y-yes, but don't worry about it now. It... just caught me in the moment. Nothing negative," she explained quickly, before her friend could even begin to think she hadn't liked the experience itself.
"Hm." Columbina took a few steps toward Lumine, who subconsciously stepped back — only to find her back against the storage shed. "So it truly is all right with you? That we did that?"
The Traveler's heart softened at that. She was such a precious thing — always worrying about others, setting her own needs aside...
... and it really shouldn't have to be that way.
"Yes, I..." Lumine began sheepishly, glancing past the Moon Goddess toward the ocean before meeting her gaze again. "I actually thought it was lovely." She hesitated, reluctant to add the next part. "But... if it's something that might bring you bad memories later, just because it flustered me, then... we can forget it ever happened."
"Hm?" The slightly taller, dark-haired woman tilted her head, the winged decorations there swaying gently in the breeze. "No, I don't believe that will be necessary, then. Unless..." Something flickered across her face — a subtle tightening at the corners of her lips, a faint crease in her brow. Something close to... sadness. "...you want to forget it."
That fleeting look lodged itself painfully in Lumine's chest. Even Columbina's hands — now loosely clenched, as if bracing for impact — told a story of expectation, of waiting for a negative outcome even when none should come.
A warm smile spread across the Traveler's face as she reached out, cupping Columbina's hands in her own. "Never."
The small gasp that escaped the Moon Goddess as her posture visibly relaxed made Lumine's heart skip all over again. The smile that followed only worsened it. She felt the tension leave the hands she held, fingers uncurling, thumbs moving to hold onto whatever part of Lumine's hands she could reach from that position.
Fearing she might not have clarified herself enough, the Traveler rambled on under her breath.
"Besides, it wasn't even a real kiss, anyway..." She lifted one hand to the flower in her hair, a nervous habit she sometimes used to calm herself.
After that, neither of them spoke for a few seconds. Seconds that, for no clear reason, suddenly felt tense to Lumine.
"A kiss... hm..." Columbina's soft voice finally broke the silence — layered over the dull rush of ocean waves and the distant sounds of the festival.
Lumine's eyes strayed to the Moon Goddess's lips without meaning to. Her own parted slightly before she caught herself and forced her attention elsewhere. Right — the hand in hers, still and unmoving, yet holding on all the same.
"I have no memory of ever having done anything like that before," Columbina continued, having evidently taken a few more moments to search through her recollections. There was no sadness in her voice — it was simply a statement.
A mix of emotions stirred in Lumine's stomach. Most of all... "So... that indirect kiss was your first... kind of kiss?" The words left her with an oddly fuzzy sensation that spread through her like Pyro in her veins, warming her even in the cool night air.
"I suppose so, yes," Columbina replied. Her expression remained unreadable, but her hand in Lumine's loosened, fingers shifting to hold hers more deliberately — as if grounding herself in a way.
The blonde sucked a small breath in through her nose — the fiery feeling from just now having reached her chest, where it boiled over into something new. "Then I feel... honored, in a way?" Her face had grown noticeably warmer now, too.
The Moon Goddess let out a brief, gentle giggle into her free hand before pausing. Then she lifted it, placing her palm against Lumine's cheek. It felt relatively cool against her heated skin — not unpleasant, just unexpected. Lumine was still wondering at the touch when Columbina spoke again.
"To be honest, I would not even mind having my real first kiss with you."
Lumine's heart instantly skipped a beat as her eyes widened, sharply inhaling through her nose, after which she held her breath.
Suddenly, the meaning of 'butterflies in your stomach' revealed itself like a discovered treasure — because that was exactly what was happening inside her.
Had she really heard that correctly?
Her lips parted to ask, but no sound came out. Could she have misunderstood?
Columbina, however, helped her out. "I trust you with everything..." There was a pause, along with her gaze pointing up at the false sky. "... And with where I am going now, who knows if I will get the chance again."
Something akin to a stone dropped in Lumine's throat at that last thought. She was leaving, possibly indefinitely, yes... but... what exactly was she asking about now?
Tentatively, she spoke. "A kiss?" She had to be sure — to know they were thinking of the same thing.
"Yes," the Moon Goddess in front of her replied.
She was suddenly very close — close enough for Lumine to feel the warmth between them, close enough to notice the soft hand still resting against her cheek. The thumb there had begun to move, brushing her skin in tiny, almost hesitant strokes.
Lumine's gaze drifted back to Columbina's lips without conscious thought. "I..."
Those lips parted. "We do not have to," Columbina added quietly. "I'm only saying that I would like to." She turned her head slightly aside before meeting Lumine's eyes again. "It does not have to mean more than that."
The Traveler swallowed, giving herself a moment to take it all in. That she would like to kiss her. She bit her lower lip, then licked it, noticing how dry it had become in the night air.
At the same time, Columbina had given her an out. She could laugh it off, call it sweet, treat it as nothing more than a gentle compliment — and leave it there.
But did she want to?
Lumine knew she would have to listen to her heart. To what felt right.
One thing that did feel right was the soft hand still resting against her cheek — now offering a subtle warmth and a faint, unfamiliar tingle. Lumine closed her eyes for a moment, leaning into the touch and letting the sensation seep through her skin. When her amber eyes opened again, her free hand lifted almost on its own, hovering near Columbina's cheek. She didn't touch — unsure whether the gesture would be welcome.
THe Moon Goddess however surprised her by simply leaning in herself to meet her palm with that soft cheek of hers. Just leaning at first, followed by a soft sigh, and a more relaxed-looking face. Then came a second surprise: Columbina began to move her face slowly, pressing into Lumine's hand as though gently nuzzling it.
The effect was immediate. Lumine's heart leapt in ways she hadn't felt — not in a positive sense — for an impossibly long time. There was something profoundly precious about this woman, this companion she had grown closer to over the past months through hardship and shared familiarity alike. They had endured so much in such a short span of time for the Traveler, yet it already felt as though they had known one another for an eternity already.
A warm smile spread across Lumine's face before she spoke. "No, I... actually wouldn't mind..." She paused, her thumb brushing lightly — just once — over the seam where Columbina's cheek met her lips. Even from that fleeting touch, she could tell they would be as soft as they looked. "With you, not at all..." Her hand stilled, her gaze dropping. "It's just that... it's been a while. A long while, actually... Maybe too long to remember anything..."
At that, Columbina's expression softened noticeably. Lumine could feel it even in the hand against her cheek — the way it tilted just enough for a brief brush of lips against her palm before lifting again, as though seeking her eyes with her own closed ones.
"If that is the only concern, then..." Columbina took a slow, deliberate step closer, leaving only inches between them. "...then we will remember together. If you will have me."
Lumine almost asked what she meant by 'remembering together', especially after Columbina had admitted she'd never kissed before. But the question dissolved when the hand on her cheek slid down to cradle her jaw and neck instead, while the other lifted Lumine's hand, their fingers intertwining. The dark-haired woman leaned in just a bit more, close enough to notice her candy-flavored breath. It danced over Lumine's skin like a gentle breeze, patiently waiting for her to make the last decision.
Warmth bloomed through Lumine's body once more, born equally of anticipation and adoration. All those gathered feelings drew her forward, almost irresistibly.
She remembered just in time to tilt her head to avoid their noses bumping — only to notice Columbina doing the same.
When their lips met, they slotted together just perfectly.
The first touch was an electrifying, but exciting sensation for both of them, and they lingered in this position for a few seconds.
Only then did a thought surface: What kind of kiss had Columbina meant? A brief peck? Something soft like this? Something more — or something else entirely?
Rather than asking, Lumine chose to let the Moon Goddess decide where this was going, so she slowly pulled away — but only barely. She stayed close enough for their lips to still barely touch, eyes half-lidded and waiting .
A soft sound escaped Columbina, her breath puffing warmly against Lumine's now-damp lips. The sensation sent a trail of pleasant goosebumps along her skin.
She was just about to speak when she noticed Columbina leaning in again, closing the distance once more.
Understanding dawned, a smile curling at the corner of Lumine's mouth. She welcomed the feathery-soft lips back, parting before meeting them again moments later. Their kisses were gentle, sweet, and soft — exactly as she might have imagined.
What she hadn't expected, however, was the sudden glow from their intertwined hands. A distinct, resonant warmth spread through her as Columbina bestowed her the Moonsign blessing. Their joined hands lifted, guided by the Moon Goddess, who gently pressed Lumine's arm back against the wall behind them.
Her lips never left Lumine's, the action feeling less like restraint and more like reassurance.
To stay.
And so she did.
It was then that Lumine realized how effortlessly Columbina kissed. There was no awkwardness, no pause in rhythm, just smooth, natural motion that was almost flawless as they moved and tilted their heads in between kisses. Then again, she had no idea what gifts or instincts came with being someone like Kuutar.
Either way, she had no complaints.
Every kiss felt wonderful.
Only now did Lumine remember that she still had a hand free — the one resting against Columbina's porcelain cheek. Speaking of soft — she had long wondered just how soft that silky-looking hair might be. Carefully, she let her fingers move upward, slipping beneath the edge of the Moon Goddess's headpiece. From there, she felt the silky strands move under her fingertips as she slowly traced a path downward.
"Ah..." The other woman's reaction was a soft sound against Lumine's lips, as well as a squeeze of their intertwined hand. When she didn't pull away, Lumine took it as reassurance. She let her hand travel upward again, this time combing her fingers lightly through the soft, multicolored locks.
"Mmh..." a soft sigh left Columbina's lips, causing a wave of tingles to erupt throughout Lumine's body.
Now she also felt the hand from her neck wander around it and up into her own blonde hair, which she gently started brushing. Since it was much shorter at the back, the Traveler was not sure how it would feel for the long-haired goddess. Certainly different, perhaps even unusual... She smiled to herself at the thought; there was something charming about the Moon Goddess's inquisitive exploration.
Still, the way the curious fingers danced through her golden locks quickly left her with pleasant goosebumps. Now it was she who parted her lips to sigh softly, enjoying the sensation at her sensitive scalp.
Just then, a new sensation was added when Lumine felt something warm touching the tip of her tongue. Since it didn't feel like Columbina's lips, she could only add two and two together...
Lumine made a tiny sound of surprise when a tentative, gentle brush was made, but she did not retreat. Instead, feeling confident, she pulled Columbina slightly closer with the hand at the back of her head, reciprocating the gesture.
This time, it was Columbina who gasped softly, the sound melting into a quiet sigh. "Mmh..."
Hearing that, in this moment, sent the butterflies in Lumine's stomach into a frenzy — the good kind. Her thoughts felt hazy now, overwhelmed by unfamiliar sensations and emotions. She wondered briefly how Columbina was feeling... but the fact that she wasn't retreating told her enough. If anything, she seemed to be guiding things forward.
This kind of kiss definitely felt more intimate — especially as Lumine caught the faint sweetness of their shared candy lingering on the other woman's tongue.
They were closer now, bodies nearly pressed together after Lumine had drawn her in.
Columbina took the initiative once more, exploring with gentle curiosity, lingering as though savoring both the closeness and the mingled sweetness. Her hand slipped from Lumine's hair to her shoulder, then down her arm, until it found her other hand. Their fingers interlaced again, lifted together and pressed lightly against the wall as well.
Lumine found herself fully pinned there — and she realized, distantly, that she didn't mind at all.
For a moment, she forgot about everything beyond the warmth pressed against her and the quiet rhythm they were falling into together. The world shrank to the gentle certainty of Columbina's presence, the faint sweetness they shared, and the tender brush of lips and tongues.
Her mind was disorganized, but not in a frightening way; rather, it made her feel lighter, as if she had entered a current and chosen to give up fighting it. Columbina's cautious movements drew her closer, and every tiny sound she made sent a spark through her chest.
She became conscious of the Moon Goddess's intentional kissing, which was neither hurried nor demanding, as though she was learning Lumine as much as Lumine was learning her.
Something warm bloomed behind her ribs at the realization. This had nothing to do with expectations, experience, or perfection. On a night that already seemed like a farewell, it was about being here, together.
Lumine was certain that she wouldn't regret carrying this with her after tonight. She moved in closer to respond to what was already being offered rather than to request anything more.
Time seemed to blur as they stayed there, trading soft kisses that grew less tentative with each passing moment. Lumine lost track of who moved first — only that every time their lips met again, it felt easier, more natural, as though her body had quietly decided this was something it wanted to remember.
Columbina kissed with a surprising attentiveness, as if she were listening closely to every small reaction — the hitch of Lumine's breath, the way she leaned in just a little more, the faint sounds she didn't quite mean to make. The awareness made Lumine's chest feel tight in the best way, warmth pooling low and steady instead of rushing ahead.
She allowed herself to linger, to experience the gentle guidance of hands and the press of lips, until the world once more narrowed to intimacy and shared breath . At some point, though, there came a moment in which she even realized how easily she could lose herself completely.
Thus, she slowly started pulling away. Still, there was one more thing she was curious about trying.
Columbina's lower lip was carefully caught between her own, and she gave it a gentle, playful tug, just enough to feel it.
At that very moment, cheers erupted.
Both of them broke apart immediately, glancing around to see if they had been discovered...
... only to realize that the cheering had another cause entirely
"Must be nearing the start of the big fireworks... It's... almost time, then." Lumine huffed softly, remembering Aino mentioning them earlier that day.
She didn't dare look at Columbina at first.
For some reason, she worried they might have gone too far.
Before the thought could linger, a soft hand found hers, fingers closing gently around her own. Lumine turned to face the Moon Goddess— and nearly forgot how to breathe.
Columbina's expression glowed with unmistakable happiness, her lips parted in a soft smile — noticeably more flushed and swollen than before. Lumine had no idea how long they had been kissing, but it had clearly been a good while...
Speaking of which...
"Hey," Lumine teased lightly, a smile tugging at her lips. "I thought you said you were new to this?"
"Oh." The Moon Goddess glanced down for a moment. "I suppose I should admit that I have watched people quite a lot... especially lately."
At that, Lumine's smile faltered just slightly. She had been gone for a long time — lost somewhere in limbo until they'd finally been able to bring her back. The worry had weighed on all of them. "These past days?" she asked quietly.
Columbina noticed the shift at once. Her grip tightened reassuringly before she lifted Lumine's hand to her lips. "Yes..." she murmured against her skin, pressing a gentle kiss there. Then she lowered it, her gaze drifting toward the sea. "...and in the past." A small, almost sheepish chuckle followed.
The tension melted from Lumine immediately. "Up to no good, I see..." she replied with a soft laugh, lifting a hand to rest atop Columbina's head. "But I understand. Given your situation..."
It clicked then — that this calm, careful curiosity of hers hadn't been learned through closeness, but through distance. Through watching, never touching.
The goddess kept her gaze on the ocean, though she still held onto Lumine's hand. "I simply walked through cities and towns and happened to notice things."
That made sense. She must have seen couples here and there — some people were far less reserved with public affection than others.
Then Columbina added, almost as an afterthought, "Some people also do not seem to close their windows or curtains when they—"
Lumine's mind took a beat too long to connect the dots before realization hit her all at once.
She turned sharply toward the other woman. "...Wait."
Columbina, meanwhile, seemed genuinely thoughtful. "But that appeared more complicated than this," she continued, brows knitting slightly, "and perhaps not intended for outdoors..."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—okay!" Lumine cut in quickly, holding up a hand. "I'm very glad you're back now and can spend your time in other ways again."
If nothing else, the message seemed to land.
"Sorry..." Her face fell, but the blonde beside her quickly lifted it again with a kiss to her cheek.
"Don't worry about it." Lumine paused, then added with a faint grin, "Outdoors, well... usually not," punctuating it with a wink.
"Usually?" Columbina echoed thoughtfully. "Hmm..."
Before that particular piece of food for thought could turn into anything more than something to ponder during her eventual stay on the moon, Lumine gave her hand a gentle tug. Columbina yielded easily, letting herself be led a little farther up the hill — to a spot that offered an even better view of the fireworks now blooming across the sky.
They watched in silence for a while before Lumine finally spoke. "We should head back soon, before the others start looking for us."
She was just about to turn when she noticed Columbina still standing there, gaze lowered.
"Hm..." the Moon Goddess murmured, then lifted her eyes slowly to meet Lumine's. "So... how did I do, then?"
At that moment, a particularly large firework burst behind her, bathing Columbina in shifting hues of gold, violet, and soft blue. Lumine found herself momentarily speechless, simply taking in the sight before she managed to answer.
"It was perfect, Columbina Hyposelenia. Thank you."
She spoke with the warmest smile she could muster — one filled with genuine adoration and all the feelings that had quietly accumulated over the past months. Emotion swelled in her chest, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, though she blinked them away quickly.
A soft chuckle escaped Columbina as she stepped closer once more, until barely any space remained between them. "I feel the same," she replied gently. "So I suppose I should thank you, too." With that, she leaned in, confidently closing the final distance between their lips.
They remained like that for a long while — hands tightly intertwined, as though afraid the other might dissolve into mist if they let go. The world around them faded: the thunder of fireworks, the cheers drifting up from the festival below, even the looming goodbye waiting somewhere beyond the evening.
In that moment, it was just them.
When they eventually had to part, it was the Moon Goddess who spoke up first. "... So, if I manage to come back one day..."
"When you come back, " Lumine corrected her softly.
"...When I come back," Columbina amended, a hint of shyness slipping into her voice, "could we perhaps..."
The Traveler caught it immediately and smiled. "If we still remember how to," she said warmly, "then absolutely."
Columbina's face lit up brighter than the fireworks overhead.
"Then," she said softly, "we'll just remember together again."
With that, they finally made their way back down toward the festival, soon rejoining the others amid lights and laughter.
All the while, their intertwined hands never once parted...