Genshin Impact: I'm a dad?

The sun barely peeked over the horizon, painting the room in soft hues of gold and orange. A small figure stirred in bed, tangled in a nest of blankets.

"*Yawn*... What time is this?" A sleepy voice broke the quiet, muffled by the pillow. She rubbed her eyes lazily, glancing toward the clock but too groggy to focus. "Maybe it's still earlier... 'cause stinky dad not wake up me yet." Her voice trailed off, a yawn escaping her lips again. She giggled faintly. "Huhuhu... time to sleep again..."

She buried her face back into the pillow, ready to drift back into her dreams. But something tickled at the back of her mind—an oddity she couldn't ignore. "Hmmm? Weird... why stinky dad not wake me up?" she mumbled, sitting up slowly. The usual hollering or playful shaking hadn't come. It was strange enough to rouse her completely.

"Dad?" she called, hopping out of bed and padding across the room in her mismatched slippers. The house was quiet—too quiet. She poked her head into the living room. Empty. The kitchen? Nothing. Her heart picked up speed as she checked every room. "Where is Dad?" Her voice trembled slightly. "I can't find him anywhere in this house..."

A thought struck her, and her small fists clenched. "Did stinky dad go outside without me?! Did he have fun without me?!" she exclaimed indignantly.

Her stomach growled suddenly, breaking her train of thought. "I'm hungry..." she grumbled, stomping toward the kitchen. "At least stinky dad not forget about the food."

Sure enough, the table was set, piled high with a feast fit for a Kaslana—scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fluffy pancakes stacked to the ceiling, and her favorite, fresh fruit drizzled with honey. Her eyes sparkled as she beamed. "As expect of Dad!" she declared triumphantly, grabbing a plate. "He really make a lot of breakfast for me!"

The girl plopped into her seat and began devouring the meal with gusto. Between bites, she muttered, "As Kaslana family, we can eat more than this! Hehehe..." Plates emptied one after another as she polished off her feast.

Leaning back, satisfied and full, she placed her hands on her hips with a nod. "After eating, imma go outside and ask neighbors if they saw my stinky dad."

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Luna pushed open the heavy door of Angel's Share, the scent of oak barrels and faint traces of wine filling the air. The bar was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered about. Behind the counter, a tall man with striking red hair polished a glass, his sharp eyes glancing toward her as she approached.

"Good morning, red hair uncle!" Luna greeted cheerfully, waving as she marched up to the counter.

The man raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "Red hair uncle? Luna, my name is Diluc, not red hair uncle. Did your dad not teach you to avoid giving people strange names?"

Luna tilted her head innocently, tapping a finger to her chin. "Yeah? Oh! Yup, stinky dad did say that before." She gave him a sheepish grin.

Diluc let out a sigh, setting the glass down. "Then what is it, Luna? Why are you here this morning at my Angel's Share bar?"

"I came here to find my stinky dad," Luna declared, puffing out her cheeks in frustration. "He suddenly disappeared this morning, and I thought if there's one place he'd go first, it's here to drink that bitter water!"

Diluc blinked at her bluntness but couldn't hide a faint smirk. "Well, you're not entirely wrong. He did come here earlier this morning."

Luna's eyes widened, lighting up like the morning sun. "Really?! Where is Dad now?"

Diluc rested a hand on the counter, thinking for a moment. "He came, bought a few drinks, and left in a hurry after that. As for where he went... I don't know."

Luna furrowed her brows, tapping her chin again. "Hmmmmm…" she mumbled, trying to piece together the information.

Seeing her lost in thought, Diluc spoke up, "Maybe if you ask around, someone else might've seen him. With his white hair and blue eyes, he's not exactly hard to spot in Mondstadt."

"That's true!" Luna beamed, her determination reigniting. "Thanks, Uncle Diluc! I'll go ask the others now. Bye-bye!"

Diluc gave her a small nod, his expression softening slightly. "Take care, Luna."

With a quick wave, Luna dashed out the door, leaving the bar as lively and cheerful as she'd entered.

The bar fell silent once more as Luna's energetic footsteps faded into the streets of Mondstadt. Diluc, still standing behind the counter, cast a glance toward the shadows of the far corner.

"...You can stop hiding now. She's already left," he said dryly, crossing his arms.

From the dimly lit corner, a man stepped out. His white hair shimmered faintly in the soft glow of the bar's lanterns, and his piercing blue eyes carried a mix of relief and tension.

"Did she?" Lucien asked cautiously, peeking toward the door as if to double-check.

"Yes, she's gone," Diluc confirmed with a sigh. "Mind explaining, Mr. Lucien, why you're hiding from your own daughter?"

Lucien chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Ah, it's... hard to explain."

Diluc raised an eyebrow, his patience wearing thin. "Hard to explain? What exactly do you mean by that?"

Lucien hesitated for a moment, then gestured vaguely with his hands. "Well, you see... if I meet Luna, something *may* happen. And I really, *really* don't want that something to happen. The only thing I can do is stay out of her view."

Diluc blinked, his expression unreadable. "...What?"

"Exactly!" Lucien exclaimed as if that clarified everything.

Diluc pinched the bridge of his nose. "No, it's not 'exactly.' What you said makes no sense."

"See?" Lucien said with a small grin. "Even you don't understand what I'm talking about."

"Of course I don't! Who *would* understand that kind of convoluted explanation?" Diluc shot back, his frustration evident.

"Exactly. No one." Lucien leaned casually against the bar, completely unfazed by Diluc's reaction.

Diluc stared at him for a long moment before his lips twitched into a small smirk. "...Should I call Luna and tell her her dad is here?"

Lucien froze, his relaxed demeanor vanishing instantly. "?! No! Why would you do that?!"

"Exactly." Diluc's voice carried a faint hint of amusement as he mirrored Lucien's earlier tone.

Lucien narrowed his eyes at the red-haired bartender, muttering under his breath. "...You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

Diluc merely shrugged, pouring himself a glass of water. "Perhaps."

The room fell into an odd silence again, with Lucien fidgeting nervously and Diluc calmly observing him. Neither said a word, but the unspoken tension was enough to make even the bar's oak walls creak in discomfort.

Lucien leaned against the counter, letting out a heavy sigh as he avoided Diluc's sharp gaze. "I really can't meet her," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that even Diluc hadn't expected. "I hope you understand, Diluc... as an old friend." His piercing blue eyes locked onto Diluc's, seeking some semblance of understanding.

Diluc studied him for a moment before giving a small nod. "I see."

"Thank you for understanding," Lucien said with a faint smile, relief flickering in his expression. He straightened up, brushing off his coat. "In the meantime, can I ask you to take care of her? Of course, I'll provide the money to cover any expenses."

Diluc tilted his head slightly, his expression neutral. "Hmm…"

"And," Lucien added quickly, "a favor."

At that, Diluc gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Alright. I'll take care of her on your behalf."

Lucien exhaled deeply, as though a weight had been lifted. "Good. Then I'll take my leave."

Just as Lucien turned toward the door, Diluc's calm yet firm voice stopped him in his tracks. "Before you go, I hope you'll put an end to this hiding game with your daughter. Don't let her feel the pain of searching endlessly for her father."

Lucien froze for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Hahaha... I will. The sooner this problem is resolved, the sooner I can be by my daughter's side again."

Diluc nodded subtly, his crimson gaze unwavering. "Hmm."

Without another word, Lucien pulled his hood up and stepped out into the quiet streets of Mondstadt. Diluc remained behind the bar, deep in thought, before turning his attention back to the glass he'd been polishing earlier. Though he didn't say it aloud, he hoped Lucien would keep his word—for both their sakes.