Mona was devouring the delicious food with such fervor that tears almost welled up in her eyes. Growing up in poverty, she had never tasted anything this exquisite, especially food meticulously prepared by Xiangling using rare ingredients from both the sea and mountains.
Gulping down the food with a satisfied expression, Mona let out a contented smile.
"Hey, are you just using astrology as an excuse to freeload?" Paimon hovered nearby, holding a small bowl of soup, her face full of suspicion.
"After all, Paimon clearly heard your stomach growling earlier. Who exactly are you?"
"Ahem, ahem!"
Caught off guard, Mona choked on a piece of spicy fish due to Paimon's sudden remarks, leading to a fit of coughing. Tears streamed down her face as she struggled to recover.
Seeing Mona's flushed face and recalling her own painful experiences with spicy food, Paimon panicked and started flying frantically around the room, desperately looking for water.
With a firm grasp, Lumine caught the frantic Paimon and handed Mona a box of coconut milk. Mona gulped it down quickly, feeling the fiery sensation in her throat subside. Finally able to breathe, she wiped the tears from her eyes and quietly pushed the plate of spicy fish away.
Looking up at Lumine, who was smiling warmly, Mona whispered, "Thank you."
Clearing her throat, Mona addressed Lumine and Keqing. "Although I briefly introduced myself earlier, since you're asking again, I'll formally introduce myself now. My name is Astrologist Mona Megistus, which means 'The Great Astrologist Mona.'"
With a serious expression, she explained, "I practice hydromancy, a form of astrology that interprets the illusions reflected on water by the stars. Through these illusions, I can glimpse the truths of the world."
"My master assigned me a task to come to Mondstadt and seek the heir of her former friend and rival, to retrieve a 'fifty-year-old promise' held by them."
Pointing at the stunned Lumine, Mona confidently declared, "While comparing destinies through the river of fate, the false heavens, and the stars, I not only discovered fragments of that person's destiny but also glimpsed yours intertwined with theirs."
Raising her hand curiously, Lumine asked, "Miss Astrologist Mona, what exactly did you see about my fate? And who is this person you compared with me? Why is my destiny entangled with theirs?"
With a smug smile, Mona folded her arms and traced a circle on the table. "That person, though an heir of great knowledge and lineage, cannot surpass me, the most talented astrologist!"
"From their destiny, I saw a golden sun, brimming with vitality and boundless fortune. Among their interwoven fates, I also caught glimpses of other elements: the protected young lion of the wind, a cat of black and white stripes, a hand of five colors, a flame in the sky that brings eternal light, and the chalk-white earth."
"And, of course, you."
Mona smiled at the surprised Lumine. "You, the twin star from another world."
"So, you're not just freeloading!" Paimon exclaimed, quickly flying over to Mona with a look of amazement.
"At first, I thought you were just hungry and tagged along when you heard we were coming to Wanmin Restaurant," Paimon added, "and then used Lumine's destiny as an excuse to fill your stomach."
"You little…!" Mona's face flushed with anger as she glared at Paimon.
"While I may be hungry, I would never misuse astrology to demand payment!" Mona declared seriously, crossing her arms. "Compared to true destiny, nothing in this world can equal its value."
"Besides, I had no idea what Wanmin Restaurant was!"
"What?!" Paimon was stunned. "You don't know about one of Liyue's most famous restaurants, Wanmin Restaurant???"
"Of course not," Mona replied with a proud tilt of her head. "For astrologists, a frugal lifestyle is part of our training. Filling our stomachs with simple, cheap vegetable salads suffices. Using precious Mora to buy luxurious food just to satiate hunger is the ultimate waste!"
Speechless, Lumine silently placed another piece of fish into Mona's bowl. Initially, Lumine had only brought Mona along because she heard the girl's stomach growling and decided to help this seemingly foreign girl find food. Lumine even considered using her connections in Liyue to find Mona a job.
But now, seeing Mona's genuine insights into her fate, Lumine felt that feeding her well was the least she could do.
"Mona, let's eat and talk," Lumine said with a gentle smile. "Otherwise, the food will get cold, and that would disrespect the chef's hard work and waste the food."
"Oh, okay," Mona replied, her resolve faltering as the aroma of the food before her became irresistible. She sat back down, picked up a piece of fish with practiced ease, and savored it with a blissful smile.
"Lumine, just call me Mona," she said between bites. "As for your destiny, I can only see fragments because you are from another world. It seems you were sealed for a long time and recently awakened. Your goal is to find your sibling, the other twin star."
As Lumine's eyes lit up slightly, Mona continued, "I hope you can accompany me to Mondstadt to find the heir. Once I retrieve the tools from them, I can study your fate further and uncover your sibling's destiny. That way, you'll reunite sooner."
"Will you come to Mondstadt with me?"
Lumine looked at Keqing, her face showing a hint of hesitation.
"Go ahead," Keqing encouraged with a gentle smile. "This time, you might really get some news about your brother. You should take a break from work to do this. If my schedule weren't so packed, I'd go with you."
Lumine shook her head slightly and grasped Keqing's hand. "Then I'll leave everything here to you, Keqing. I'll return from Mondstadt as soon as I can to help build Liyue together with you."
Looking out at the rising moon, Lumine smiled softly. "After all, this place has already become my home."
Following the Vortex War, Lumine, the Honorary Knight of Mondstadt, the Slayer of Gods, the Traveler from Another World, and Secretary to the Tianquan Star, received accolades and invitations from Liyue's officials and chose to settle in the city.