There was a faint trace of the World Tree's aura lingering mysteriously from an unknown place.
However, it felt like the World Tree wasn't particularly active.
Seeing the look of anticipation all over Nahida's little face, Ryen didn't say anything more. He quickened his pace and swiftly passed through the narrow cave.
After enduring the brief sting of transitioning from darkness into bright light, everyone soon took in the view before them.
On one side of the cave was the Chasm, heavily excavated, its terrain full of rocky features. On the other side was Sumeru—
lush and vibrant with thriving greenery.
The breath of life permeated the air, leaving everyone slightly enchanted.
In Liyue, towering trees that reached to the heavens were a rare sight.
And if there were any truly large trees, they were famous landmarks—
such as those near Wangshu Inn, or at Nantianmen.
But in Sumeru, such massive trees were commonplace.
The forest canopy blotted out the sky, allowing only scattered rays of sunlight to trickle through,
creating a dappled, dreamlike effect—
as if they'd stepped into a fairy tale.
Looking into the distance, they could see a statue of a god standing atop a solitary peak.
Yet this statue wasn't like those of Venti or Zhongli, which exuded majestic solemnity—
Instead, it resembled a cute little loli squatting curiously, gazing out at the world with wonder.
Ryen picked up Nahida and examined the statue carefully for a moment before nodding in satisfaction.
"No doubt about it! This statue really captures the spirit of our Nahida!"
It was Nahida's first time seeing her own statue in person, and she happened to be surrounded by Ryen and the others. She couldn't help but feel a bit shy.
"Ryen!"
She grumbled in embarrassment, burying her face in his chest.
But her big eyes still gleamed with curiosity and joy.
Unlike Zhongli and Venti, who had memorized every inch of their lands,
Nahida had been locked away for five hundred years.
She'd never had the chance to freely roam and admire her own nation.
Her gaze wandered everywhere, overflowing with excitement.
"Brother Ryen, Sister Nahida and the Dendro Archon look so much alike!"
Klee spoke in her soft, cute voice as she pointed at the nearby statue.
Ganyu crouched down and lovingly patted Nahida's head.
"That's because Nahida is the Dendro Archon."
"Huh? Really?"
Klee widened her eyes in surprise and stared carefully at Nahida.
After a moment, she lowered her head in slight distress.
"What's wrong, little Klee?"
Ganyu asked curiously.
"Umm…"
Klee bit her finger, then whispered,
"Then… should I call her Sister Nahida or Archon Nahida from now on?"
With a playful "Heave-ho!", Nahida leapt from Ryen's arms and gently hugged Klee.
"No matter what title I have, Klee will always be my little Klee!"
"Yay! Sister Nahida!"
Klee happily returned the hug, wrapping her arms tightly around Nahida.
Ryen gently embraced Ganyu and Hu Tao from both sides, a warm, fatherly smile on his face.
This kind of life… truly felt like paradise on earth.
"Hey! Friends over there!"
Suddenly, a shout broke the peaceful and joyful moment. Ryen looked up and saw a cute young girl standing on a vine not far away, waving her hand.
"Don't stay in Avidya Forest! It's really dangerous here lately, hurry and—"
The girl paused mid-sentence, then rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
"Huh!?"
"Klee!"
With the crisp sound of wind gliders unfolding, the girl quickly landed in front of the group.
She gave them a careful look, then said in surprise and delight:
"It is little Klee! Klee! Why are you in Sumeru? Where's Acting Grand Master Jean? And Amber?"
"Um…"
Seeing that Collei was about to start a barrage of questions, Ryen quickly stepped in:
"Jean is currently in Liyue for negotiations, and Amber is still stationed in Mondstadt. We just brought Klee and Nahida here for a little trip to Sumeru."
Only then did Collei notice Ryen and the others. She gave them a curious once-over and then said a bit shyly:
"Hello, I'm Collei, a trainee forest ranger from Gandharva Ville. I've never seen you all before. Are you from Liyue?"
"In any case, since you're visitors from afar, why don't you come with me to Gandharva Ville first?"
"The Avidya Forest hasn't been very stable lately. The Withering Zones are spreading, and it's dangerous here. I'll take you to see my teacher first."
"By the way, you haven't been affected by the Withering, have you? That would be great. Otherwise, my teacher would need to make you some medicine."
On the way back to Gandharva Ville with Collei, both Hu Tao and Ganyu—who were quite good at reading people—had already figured out most of Collei's personality.
She was an enthusiastic and warm-hearted girl, but for some reason, seemed… a bit shy around strangers?
She clearly wanted to show her generosity, yet the timidness rooted in her nature couldn't be hidden.
In short… she was adorably awkward.
But from what Ganyu and Hu Tao could tell, Collei was definitely a kind girl at heart.
The path to Gandharva Ville wasn't far. Before long, they saw a cluster of treehouses built around a giant tree.
Rather than disturbing the natural environment, the structures complemented it beautifully, giving off a very harmonious vibe.
Nahida squinted happily, a bright smile blooming on her face.
"This is Gandharva Ville. I'll take you to see my teacher first. He should be…"
Collei pointed toward a nearby treehouse and was just about to say something when her eyes suddenly widened in surprise.
"Teacher? And… the Grand Acting Arbiter?!"
~~----------------------
To read 55 future chapters head over to patreon:
patreon.com/Dreamer20