I closed my eyes for a breath. The world blinked out, heavy and dark, then came back sharper, stranger. When I opened them again, we were no longer standing in the familiar broken chamber—we were inside a vast, shimmering space that pulsed like it was alive. The realm of Rukkhadevata. The Irminsul itself loomed in the distance, but the air was thick, almost choking, as though the entire place had been steeped in grief.
Greg shifted on my shoulder, tail curling around my neck like a scarf. He flicked his tongue, giving the place a suspicious look. "Yeah, buddy, I feel it too. Not exactly vacation vibes."
Paimon drifted a little ahead, eyes wide. "Huh... this sure seems very different from what Paimon imagined. Shouldn't Irminsul be in this realm of consciousness?"
Nahida floated beside us, her gaze soft but troubled. "Yes, that is our destination. But I didn't expect the remaining consciousness of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata to be as polluted as this."
Polluted. The word rolled in my mind like an echo. I exchanged a glance with Lumine, whose lips pressed into a frown.
"Polluted? Surely not... It must be due to forbidden knowledge," Lumine said quietly.
Forbidden knowledge. Even hearing it made the air feel colder. Nahida tilted her head, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Forbidden knowledge? Hmm, it seems you know about a concept that even I don't completely understand. Could you tell me what you know?"
I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "Well, it's complicated. Imagine knowledge as soup. You want soup, right? Delicious, warm, comforting. But then some genius decides to throw in... uh, battery acid, and rotten eggs, and maybe a whole desert scorpion for flair. That's forbidden knowledge—except instead of upsetting your stomach, it tries to erase your mind, your world, everything you care about."
Nilou covered her mouth, looking horrified and a little amused at my description. Lumine groaned, cutting me off before I could make it worse. "What Shigeru is trying to say is that we've seen its effects in the desert. It corrupted people, drove them mad. It lingered even after King Deshret sacrificed himself."
"Hey, my analogy was perfect," I muttered under my breath. Greg flicked his tongue like he was agreeing with Lumine instead of me. Traitor.
Nahida nodded, her expression sobering. "Your inference seems logical enough. Forbidden knowledge once polluted the desert thousands of years ago, but was successfully repelled thanks to King Deshret's self-sacrifice and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata nearly exhausting her power. Then a second instance occurred during the Khaenri'ah cataclysm five hundred years ago."
Her small hands tightened. "But I'm afraid it is much more serious this time, with Irminsul itself already in danger."
The weight of her words pressed down on all of us. Even Paimon's usual floating wiggles stilled. She whispered, "So if we're in the remaining consciousness of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and it's also been affected by forbidden knowledge pollution, then does that mean, in order to save us, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata..."
Nahida closed her eyes. "Yes. It is very possible that she sacrificed her life in the fight against forbidden knowledge. She didn't completely eradicate it, but if it weren't for her actions, the pollution would have been far more rampant over these past five hundred years. The way that everyone, including me, has forgotten everything about forbidden knowledge may very well be due to her restoration of Irminsul."
Her voice faltered. For the first time, she looked her age—small, fragile, too young for this kind of burden.
Nilou stepped closer, her hands folding over her heart. "That's... so tragic. To fight until the very end, even when no one could remember her sacrifice."
Something sharp twisted in my chest. "Sounds familiar," I muttered. "Heroes who fight until their names are erased. It's not fair." My fists clenched. "But if she left something for us—if she fought this hard—then the least we can do is not waste it."
Greg nudged my cheek with his head, like he was agreeing but also telling me not to spiral too much. Fair point.
Nahida glanced up at me, a quiet gratitude in her eyes, before looking back ahead. "She even used her last remnant of lucid consciousness to leave a clue for us to follow."
"The words... 'World... Forget me...'?" Lumine asked.
Nahida nodded. "Yes. Her words were distorted by forbidden knowledge, so that's all we could hear. But now we have a chance to find the answer to this mystery. We can cross the polluted consciousness until we've found the right path to meet with her lucid consciousness. And then... we'll let Greater Lord Rukkhadevata tell us the truth in person."
Lumine's voice softened. "I hope we can use that truth to save everybody."
"Each of us need to be mindful of the state of our own consciousness while we are here," Nahida warned. "Even with the Gnosis' protection, we must always keep a clear mind. Otherwise, we could go mad at any moment."
Paimon squeaked, throwing her arms in the air. "Eek! That's so scary!"
"Don't worry," Nahida said gently. "It should be easy enough for you to keep that mind of yours clear, Paimon. Let's go."
The scenery shifted as we entered a cavern. Suddenly, the ground vanished beneath us, and my stomach dropped. "Okay, not liking this déjà vu of falling. Don't suppose this comes with seat belts?" I muttered.
Paimon gasped. "Are we... in the air? And why is there a huge boat!?"
Nahida pointed toward it. "That's the Boat of Consciousness, which symbolizes reason here. Its course is the direction our consciousness is traveling towards. If we lose control, we will fall into madness. So let's make sure the boat stays on course."
"Right. No pressure," I said. Greg flicked his tail against my cheek like he was mocking me.
We weren't alone. Shapes formed out of the polluted mist—monsters twisted and unnatural, their eyes glowing with something worse than hunger.
Paimon yelped. "Wow... What are these? The monsters seem to have been affected by them—"
"Yeah, yeah, floaty, enough commentary." I cracked my knuckles. "Time to beat 'em up before they make us part of the décor."
Nilou drew in a shaky breath, steadying herself. "Then let's not let fear take hold of us."
Lumine unsheathed her blade, determination burning in her gaze. "We'll handle this together."
Greg leapt from my shoulder onto my head, puffing up like he was declaring himself commander of this operation. I sighed. "Great. General Greg has spoken. Let's move."
We charged forward. The polluted Riftwolves lunged, claws raking through the air. I spun into them, my elements crackling at my fingertips—Anemo winds whipping me into speed, Geo solidifying beneath my feet, arcs of Electro flashing against their twisted hides, Dendro vines lashing out in tandem. Lumine danced beside me, her blade catching light. Nilou's steps traced arcs of water that crashed against the beasts. Even Paimon buzzed around, shrieking directions that nobody listened to.
When the last wolf fell, Four-Leaf Sigils blossomed overhead like green stars.
Paimon flitted higher. "Look, Four-Leaf Sigils have appeared in the sky!"
We rode them to the boat and fought our way across, the polluted creatures clawing until the helm came into view.
Paimon pointed urgently. "To control the Boat of Consciousness, we need to find the helm first!"
I threw myself against it, spinning the wheel until the boat shifted. "Come on, big brain boat, don't make me regret this."
The direction corrected, and Nahida smiled faintly. "Mm-hmm. Judging from the current route, the Boat of Consciousness will soon take us out of here. We'll be arriving at our destination soon. How are you feeling? Are your minds still intact?"
I exhaled slowly. "Some weird thoughts here and there, but I'm holding it together."
Nilou nodded. "Me too. The darkness whispers, but I won't let it in."
Lumine's voice was firm. "I can still think clearly."
Paimon twirled. "Huh? Everything's been completely normal for Paimon."
"Shocking," I muttered. Greg tapped my forehead with his tiny claw, like telling me to behave.
Nahida's expression softened. "Hopefully, there won't be any more interruptions. This time, we should be able to meet Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
Paimon blinked. "Are you saying you've never met Greater Lord Rukkhadevata before?"
Nahida shook her head. "No. It seems that my birth and her death took place at the same time. Otherwise, I think she would have given me a little more guidance, and I could have done a better job."
Nilou's eyes glistened. "Nahida... you've done so much already."
Paimon puffed up. "Yeah! You've done a great job, Nahida! Let's get out of this creepy place and go meet her!"
I smirked, raising a brow. "Aight, time to meet the dendro Mommy—wait. Right. She's in your form here. What a bummer."
Lumine snapped her glare toward me like a blade. "Keep your ulterior motives in check, please."
I shivered dramatically. "R-right! Chaos contained, ma'am!" Greg slapped his tail against my head for extra emphasis. Perfect. Just what I needed.
We pressed forward, toward the heart of the realm.
***
The air in this place feels heavy, like the silence is alive. I keep my hands tucked behind my back, trying to play it cool, but inside I can feel my chest squeezing. Irminsul rises before us, roots sprawling out like veins of light. Paimon hovers close, eyes darting nervously.
Paimon whispers softly, almost like she's afraid of waking the tree. "So is this the place you were talking about...? The base of Irminsul..."
I step forward slowly with the others, Greg clinging to my shoulder. His tail flicks against my neck, almost like he can sense what's waiting for us too.
Nahida breathes in deeply. "Well, this is the place."
Lumine nods, her eyes fixed on the glowing trunk. Her voice is low, but I can hear the weight in it. "Yes... it's the same place from my memories."
Paimon's wings flutter nervously as she turns toward Nahida. "Uh... we're here to find Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, right? But the one standing over there is..."
Nahida's eyes widen as her own form stares back at her, standing by the tree. Her voice trembles. "Is that... me...? She looks exactly... like me..."
She takes a shaky step forward. "Are you... Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
The figure smiles gently, calm in a way that makes my throat tighten. "Yes, that's me. Are you surprised by my appearance?"
Lumine stares, disbelief etched across her face. "I can't believe my eyes... The two of you look almost exactly the same..."
I can't stop myself from muttering under my breath, "Told you so." Greg gives me a sharp flick of his tail across my cheek, like he's scolding me for talking at the wrong moment.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's voice echoes like wind through leaves. "Irminsul and the surrounding lands have been reproduced here as they were years ago, but this is just a realm of consciousness. We are manifestations of the same nature, hence why we would appear exactly the same."
Nahida grips her chest, confusion filling her eyes. "Hmm? We're... of the same nature? Why?"
Rukkhadevata tilts her head, her voice tender. "Because you are me, and I am you. You are me in the new samsara."
Nahida repeats it softly, as if tasting the words. "The new samsara..."
Rukkhadevata continues, "As Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, I'm the avatar of Irminsul, and you are the purest branch snapped from Irminsul. Imagine it this way... even if a tree dies, its branches will eventually take root and grow, continuing the tree's life in another form. I'm merely the remaining consciousness of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. The real me has presumably died a long time ago. Hmm... judging from your appearance, I've probably been dead for five hundred years. But you're finally here, my new 'self' in this samsara."
My heart sinks at the sound of it, but I keep quiet, clenching my fists behind my back. This is the connection between them... Lesser Lord Kusanali and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, one born from the other.
Nahida swallows hard. "If this is true, then am I... going to be a great archon like you someday?"
Rukkhadevata shakes her head softly. "Though we share the same nature, our fates are bound to be different. All things have their own fate. When a branch grows into a mature tree, it won't be the same as the original tree."
Nahida whispers, "That's why fate is the ultimate knowledge, isn't it?"
A small smile graces Rukkhadevata's lips. "That's a great insight. Yes, very good. It's also precisely why you won't become like me. But perhaps, you may become an even greater archon than I. I already see a determination in you that I didn't possess in my time, and the future that it leads you to will be yours alone. Along with the blessings from your past experiences. Don't worry. The growth of wisdom is like that of a plant — you only need to wait quietly for the flower to bloom."
Lumine steps closer, her eyes steady on Nahida. "We have faith in Nahida, too... She will definitely become a great archon." She looks toward me, Nilou, and Paimon.
Nilou clasps her hands to her chest, her voice trembling but full of warmth. "Yes... Nahida, I believe in you with all my heart. You've already given us so much hope."
Paimon nods frantically, tears shining in her eyes. "Yeah! You're gonna be the best archon ever! Way better than those stuffy sages!"
I bite down on my lip, trying to play it off with a crooked smile, but my throat burns. "Yeah... what they said. You'll outshine them all. Heck, maybe you'll even get a statue with a better nose than Venti's someday." My voice cracks, and I cough to cover it, blinking back tears. Greg pats my head with his tiny claw like he's mocking me for crying.
Nahida turns, eyes glassy. "Thank you... Nothing makes me happier than discovering that the archon I always admired was in fact myself in another fate. It's so nice to speak with you, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. I've always wanted to meet you..."
Rukkhadevata's expression softens, and she steps closer. "The feeling is mutual. From the moment I snapped the branch off Irminsul and created you, I've also looked forward to talking with you."
Nahida's voice wavers. "Could you tell me... why you wanted to create me? And what exactly happened when you died..."
Rukkhadevata looks up at the glowing branches. "Ah, I see. You're here seeking answers, right? Everything that day, even the sky itself, changed into a color like this..."
Above us, a twisted purple glow spreads across the branches of Irminsul. Lumine's eyes narrow, her voice heavy. "I knew it... the Khaenri'ah cataclysm." She glances toward me, her gaze sharp. "And so does he. Perhaps he knows even more than me."
I meet her stare, and for once I don't deflect with a joke. I just nod quietly. Because she's right.
Rukkhadevata's tone darkens. "At that time, The Seven were all summoned to the nation of Khaenri'ah, except for me. I had a more important task to attend to... I had to protect Irminsul. The disaster occurred together with the pollution of forbidden knowledge. At that very moment, with my consciousness connected to Irminsul, I sensed something was wrong. The pain started to torment my mind. By the time I reached Irminsul, it was already displaying signs of corruption. Had I not repelled the pollution of forbidden knowledge with King Deshret thousands of years ago, I might have felt even more hopeless and lost."
Nahida trembles. "So what exactly is... forbidden knowledge?"
Rukkhadevata closes her eyes. "It's a kind of knowledge that doesn't belong to this world, and a form of 'truth' that can't be understood. It came from the very bottom of the Abyss. Even I could never understand it. The world is constantly rejecting it, leading to all kinds of bad phenomena. If we allow forbidden knowledge to pollute Irminsul, I'm afraid the entirety of Teyvat could fall apart."
Paimon gasps, clutching her head. "So there's knowledge that even the God of Wisdom can't understand..."
Rukkhadevata nods. "At that time, I knew I couldn't repel the forbidden knowledge with my strength alone. Which is why I created a device that compiled human wisdom, and named it 'the Akasha.'"
Nahida's lips curve into a sad smile. "It's truly the world's most amazing invention."
Rukkhadevata chuckles faintly. "Hehe... thank you. For a long time, I thought dreams were the fruit of human wisdom. Though it was selfish to do so, I borrowed people's dreams using the Akasha. Then I compiled their wisdom and all of my own power..."
Paimon leans forward, nervous. "Well, did it work?"
Rukkhadevata's gaze drifts. "Thanks to the wisdom of the people of Sumeru, almost all the forbidden knowledge was cleared from Irminsul. But... things didn't go as smoothly as I thought. I had a terrible headache, which gave me an uneasy feeling... And then, I remembered that my consciousness was also connected with Irminsul. It brought me knowledge and wisdom, but vile corruption as well. From the very beginning, my existence had been polluted by the forbidden knowledge."
Paimon clasps her hands. "Oh no... How could that happen..."
Nahida shakes her head, voice breaking. "I've experienced that pain in your consciousness. It must've been a horrible experience."
Rukkhadevata's tone is calm, but heavy. "Yes, but my feelings weren't important. The important thing was that... Even if I died, my existence and everything related to me would continue to exist in Irminsul as memories and knowledge, meaning that the forbidden knowledge couldn't ever be permanently eradicated. And... there's no way for me to eliminate myself. It would be a sort of paradox. So, I took the purest branch of Irminsul as my incarnation in the next samsara, and left a trail of clues... All in hopes that you would come here and remove me and my pollution from Irminsul forever."
Nahida stumbles back, clutching her chest. "...W—Wait. No... I can't!"
Rukkhadevata tilts her head sadly. "Hehe, so you realized what that implies? You are very smart, indeed. Irminsul has all the knowledge and memories of this world. And as you've realized just now... removing me from Irminsul means... I essentially will never have existed in this world. But... this is the only way to save Irminsul."
Nahida's voice breaks, tears streaming down her cheeks. "People love you so much and... and they've missed you so much over the past five hundred years. I... I am exactly the same. So how... How can we just... forget you like this? Is there really no other way? There must be something else I can do!"
Rukkhadevata's eyes glisten, but her smile remains. "You're the God of Wisdom, Buer. You should know that there is no other way."
Nahida cries out, shaking her head. "But this... this is so... cruel. I don't want to forget you!"
Rukkhadevata reaches out, her hand brushing Nahida's cheek. "No need to feel so sad, Buer. As someone who delights in wisdom, you should feel joy at finally finding the answer. These are the words in their entirety... the answer you've been seeking all along. 'Let the world completely forget me.'"
The moment those words echo, I feel my chest shatter. My tears finally spill, burning my eyes. I clench my fists until my knuckles ache, grit my teeth, and mutter through the trembling in my voice. "One of the inevitables..."
***
The world feels unbearably quiet. Not the kind of quiet you get in the desert at night, where the sand swallows every sound. This is heavier, thicker. The kind of silence that makes your chest tighten, like even breathing might disturb something sacred. I stand with the others in Irminsul's shimmering glow, but my eyes are fixed on Nahida—Lesser Lord Kusanali—her small frame trembling, her tears falling like broken starlight.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata walks to her. Every step she takes looks both graceful and unbearably fragile, as though the light that makes her form could vanish at any second. She lifts Nahida's face with such tenderness that I feel something in my chest twist. Her arms wrap around the younger Archon, and the sight… it hurts. More than I expected. Because I know what this embrace means—it's not a greeting. It's a farewell.
I clench my fists. My heart whispers, Not again. Not like this.
Rukkhadevata speaks softly, her words flowing like a hymn.
"We all nestle under the great tree of wisdom. Peering out to perceive the world. From the earth, and from the rain, we perceive its wonders until we become a white bird… to perch atop a branch, and finally snap off the most important leaf."
Her voice is steady, but it feels like each word is etching itself into stone. The others listen in silence, Nilou holding her hands tightly together, Lumine with her lips pressed into a thin line, and even Paimon hovering lower than usual, as if she doesn't trust her wings to keep steady.
Greg flicks his tongue against my cheek and crawls a little closer to my neck. Even he feels it—the weight of goodbye.
I think to myself, If gods can vanish this way, what chance do people like us have? And then I push that thought away because that's exactly why I can't let this cycle continue. I won't.
Rukkhadevata continues, "Once upon a time, I alone dreamed in this world. In my dreams, everybody would also dream after they fell asleep."
As she speaks, an image flickers before us—a memory, or maybe a dream. A branch of Irminsul tossed into the air, caught by another version of her, pressed to her chest. And then, like a mirror, Nahida being held in the arms of her fading self. My throat tightens. Even as a bystander, I feel the sting of loss. For Nahida, it must be unbearable.
Wild thoughts, she says, tumbling, floating, connecting all things into one dazzling net. Her words weave the vastness of existence, painting it not as order or chaos, but as something beautiful because it is both.
Nilou whispers beside me, her voice fragile. "It's… so beautiful. But it hurts too."
I glance at her. Her eyes glisten with tears, but she doesn't look away. She's braver than I give her credit for. Lumine's hand brushes Nilou's shoulder briefly in comfort, though her own eyes are heavy with sorrow.
Nahida's sobs pierce through the silence as she clenches her fists, then opens them, her Dendro light blooming like fragile flowers. She returns the embrace, her cry carrying the weight of a child losing their mother. The green light consumes Rukkhadevata's form, scattering her into petals that rise into the air.
I close my eyes for a moment, forcing my breath steady. Petals. Always petals. Why is it always something so beautiful when it's about loss? As if the world wants to remind us that even goodbyes should look pretty. But pain doesn't care for beauty.
Rukkhadevata's voice lingers even as her form fades. "I gradually understood… that these indescribable and constantly changing things are the most profound things in the world. Only they can repel the madness. Only dreams can awaken consciousness from the deepest darkness."
Her words flow with finality. Nahida crumbles to her knees, her small body wracked with sobs. The petals drift upward, carried by a gentle wind that brushes against my face. I watch them scatter over Sumeru, over the land and the people—curing, restoring, returning dreams. It's breathtaking, yes. But the ache in my chest doesn't loosen.
I whisper in my head, Is this the price of wisdom? Always losing something you love?
Rukkhadevata's last words linger like the final notes of a song. "I'm the one who posed this question… yet also the one who sought a solution. Saving the world with the dreams of the people used to be my answer. And now… you've also found your own. I shall return all the dreams to the people. Goodbye, people of Sumeru. May you be blessed tonight with the sweetest of dreams."
Silence follows. Heavier than before. The petals vanish into the crown of Irminsul, and the night is lit with emerald light.
I exhale, the sound shaky. My voice slips out, quiet but firm. "Not on my watch. Never again."
Nilou turns to me, her lips parting as if to speak, but no words come. Lumine's eyes flick toward me, and for once, I don't look away. Paimon sniffles and rubs at her eyes, muttering, "It's not fair… It's just not fair…"
Greg taps his tail against my collarbone, a strange little gesture like he's agreeing.
I swallow hard and keep my gaze fixed on where Rukkhadevata had stood. The image of her embracing Nahida is burned into my mind. I can't erase it. I don't want to. Because remembering matters.
I whisper, almost to myself. "I'll carry it. I'll carry her memory too. If the world keeps demanding sacrifices, then fine. But not from them. Not from the ones who've already given too much. If someone has to stand there, it'll be me. So the rest of you can live. So you can dream."
No one answers, but I don't need them to. The resolve has already settled in my bones.
Later, when the glow fades and we're returned to the Sanctuary of Surasthana, I tilt my head back and close my eyes. The ceiling blur overhead, and I let out a faint chuckle—dry, almost bitter.
"I guess I can still remember her as well… Farewell, oh Great Archon."
The words drift from me like a prayer. And for the first time, I hope someone out there is listening.
_____________
End of chapter 151
Quests Completed:
*Reach the innermost chamber where Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's final consciousness resides.
*Witness the final farewell of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, ensuring her last wish is carried out: to return all dreams to the people of Sumeru.
*Witness Nahida embrace the last fragment of Rukkhadevata's being, and share in her sorrowful parting.
*Guide Sumeru into its new era under Lesser Lord Kusanali, as the people awaken from the lies that bound them.
*Witness Nilou's heart resonate with the God of Wisdom's sorrow, sharing her strength through dance and tears.
*Forge an unspoken vow: never again will he stand idle as others fade away.
*Lumine learns a fragment of Rukkhadevata's truth, deepening her connection to Sumeru's fate.
*Stand by Nahida as she carries the merged legacy of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—comfort her in grief, and strengthen her resolve.
*"Every ending plants the seed of a beginning." Something in Irminsul stirred when Shigeru made his vow.
Rewards:
*Mora ×1,000,000 (Heavier than it looks in this moment)
*Knowledge Capsule ×1 (The Last Memory of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata)
*Nilou Affection Points +200 (She saw you grieve without hiding behind jokes)
*Paimon's Respect +1 (She actually didn't interrupt. A miracle.)
*Greg's Silence (The rarest blessing of all)
*+1 New Passive: "Petalbound Resolve" – Shigeru can no longer turn away when someone bears a burden alone.
*+500 Emotional Damage (Unhealable, no cooldown)
*+1 Imaginary PhD in Grief Management (Earned instantly, not recognized by Sumeru Akademiya)
*+5 "Don't Cry" Attempts (All failed)
*+1000 Simp EXP (Even gods fade, but Nilou still smiled at you once today)
*+1 New Weak Spot: "Petals" – You'll never look at flowers the same way again
*+3 Silent Tears (Shared) – Even if you didn't shed them, they were there
*+1 Bottle of Greg's Rare Blink (He blinked once. Historic.)
*+1 Mental Breakdown Recovery Item (Automatically consumed)
*+200 Lumine Trust Points (She saw you stand serious, no jokes this time)
*+1 "Not Even Archons Are Safe" Realization (Heavy debuff to optimism, permanent)
*+1 Burden Slot Unlocked (Congratulations, you've chosen to carry more weight you shouldn't have to)
Achievement Unlocked:
"Witness of Eternity's Bloom"
- Witness the passing of a god and choose to endure the sorrow without running, joking, or turning away. This moment marks the beginning of Shigeru's truest resolve.