"You're spacing out," Arlecchino said, snapping Luna back to reality.
The candle flame still flickered. Luna pulled her thoughts from a distant memory and smiled faintly. "I might be a little tired."
"That's understandable. You can sleep for a while if you want."
It wasn't the first time Luna had fallen asleep on her lap, and Arlecchino didn't mind.
"No need..."
Luna straightened up. If she leaned back down, she'd probably fall asleep for real.
There was still plenty of time, but she didn't want to waste it on sleep.
"I suddenly remembered the first time we met."
Arlecchino responded softly, "Those were indeed memorable times. But let's finish discussing the main topic first. We can reminisce later."
"Alright."
Arlecchino crossed her legs. "Since you were spacing out earlier, I'll reiterate: the reason I attacked Hydro Archon Furina was to seize her Gnosis."
"You're aware that the Fatui Harbingers' primary objective is to collect Gnoses for the Tsaritsa."
Luna nodded.
Arlecchino wasn't entirely clear on why the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya was collecting Gnosis. However, she was certain it was part of a plan with the potential to reshape the world.
"But as you've likely sensed yourself, Furina is more like a being who resembles a god than an actual Archon."
She never displayed divine power.
Moreover, she was easily swept up in events driven by the will of the people, forced to act in accordance with the desires of her "audience."
"The Gnosis isn't on her, and I sensed the aura of a curse emanating from her."
"A curse?" Luna asked.
Arlecchino nodded slightly.
"As for the nature of the curse, I can't determine."
What kind of curse could it be? Luna pondered. The power of curses undeniably existed in Teyvat.
Yet Furina had never encountered any such misfortune thus far.
If Furina wasn't an Archon, then what kind of curse was she bearing?
With so little information, drawing accurate conclusions was impossible. Wild speculation would only cloud her judgment, so Luna deliberately stopped her train of thought.
"Once I realized this, I decided to withdraw."
And then Luna appeared.
Arlecchino took a sip of red wine, swirling her glass as she said, "Since you couldn't extract the truth from Furina and don't intend to pursue that angle, do you have any other intelligence to offer?"
Luna pondered for a moment.
"Lyney visited the Oratrice's core chamber earlier, and I went to check it out myself. There was definitely a sound, and... it sounded like someone was calling my name."
"Not 'Phantom Thief White Cat,' but 'Luna'?" Arlecchino frowned.
"That's right."
"Intriguing..."
It seemed the true heart of the matter, the key to this entire situation, might lie not with Furina but with the Oratrice itself.
But forcing an investigation might only stir up unnecessary trouble.
Arlecchino simply filed this away for later.
"I've had the children searching for traces of the past. The Prophecy emerged long ago, and the ruins might hold clues we haven't uncovered yet."
"Also, Childe—his recent communications have dwindled."
"Something might be brewing in the Fortress of Meropide. Don't worry, the Fortress operates outside Fontaine's laws, but that also means it isn't necessarily on Fontaine's side."
"That's why we can always find ways to satisfy each other's needs and get what we both want."
"Let's hope we can uncover the secrets of the Fortress of Meropide."
Afterward, Arlecchino and Luna exchanged updates on the current situation, withholding nothing.
There was no need for secrecy.
Setting aside their personal feelings as family, objectively speaking, continuing to hide things from each other in the face of this crisis would be a terrible mistake.
The candle still burned, but the wax was dwindling.
"It seems our time is up. It's time to end dinner," Arlecchino said.
"Mm..."
Though reluctant, Luna nodded in acceptance.
Sensing her hesitation, Arlecchino added, "We can still take a stroll and talk about anything else you'd like."
Luna's face lit up with a joyful smile. "Okay!"
The two strolled through the night-lit streets of Fontaine, chatting about various topics. But "chatting" was a bit of a misnomer. Luna did most of the talking while Arlecchino listened intently, occasionally offering her own thoughts.
This had always been their dynamic, and none of the children from the House of the Hearth found it unusual.
Of course, if you asked who spent the most time with Arlecchino at the House of the Hearth, the answer would undoubtedly be Luna.
It wasn't uncommon for the other children to feel nervous when speaking to Arlecchino. Luna, however, was unique in her ease.
"That's far enough. Let's part ways here," Arlecchino said, stopping at an intersection.
Just ahead lay the House of the Hearth.
"I imagine you're not quite ready to return for a proper visit yet. When you sent me the ticket earlier, you probably just came for a brief glimpse before leaving again, didn't you?"
Luna nodded.
Arlecchino gazed quietly at her, and Luna returned her gaze.
For a long moment, they stood in silence, locked in each other's eyes.
"I want to uncover the truth behind the prophecy and resolve this crisis. Luna, I know you feel the same way. If I find any new clues or information, I'll share them with you, and I hope you'll do the same."
Arlecchino stated her resolve clearly.
Luna responded with a smile. "So, does that mean we'll have dinner together again?"
"Of course. And if you prefer, we can find other ways to communicate."
Arlecchino stepped closer to Luna and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Good night, Luna."
As Arlecchino withdrew her hand and turned to leave, a familiar warmth crashed into her arms. Luna threw her arms around Arlecchino's torso, pressing her palms firmly against her back in a tight embrace.
Luna clung to Arlecchino, savoring her scent and warmth.
"Is there something else?" Arlecchino asked softly.
"...No."
Arlecchino remained silent.
"I just wanted to do this. Does it bother you?"
Arlecchino raised her hand and gently pinched the back of Luna's neck. "It's time to say goodbye, Luna."
Luna didn't reply, simply holding onto Arlecchino in silence.
She neither refused the embrace nor returned it.
Arlecchino quietly accepted Luna's affectionate embrace, a hint of nostalgia flickering in her eyes. After all these years, Luna was still the same as before.
"You probably think I haven't changed," Luna murmured suddenly, her breath warm against Arlecchino's ear. "But I want you to know..."
Luna gently kissed Arlecchino's neck. "I'm not a child anymore."
The damp touch left an invisible mark on Arlecchino's skin.
Silence followed.
A lingering gaze.
And then... Arlecchino's tender caress of Luna's cheek.
"But to me, you'll always be a child of the House of the Hearth."
"Goodnight, Luna. I'm glad I got to see you again."
Luna blushed and smiled. "Me too. Goodnight, Arlecchino."
Arlecchino didn't react to Luna addressing her by name, merely nodding slightly. Luna held her hand one last time, as if trying to preserve its warmth in her palm, before slowly releasing it.
Under Arlecchino's watchful gaze, Luna gradually receded into the distance.
Arlecchino: "..."
Her fingertips lightly traced her neck, but they couldn't erase the invisible mark her child had left behind.