I stretched my arms, feeling the tension in every joint, and scooped Nahida into my arms. She was small, trembling, her tears soaking into my shirt. I gave her what I hoped was a reassuring squeeze, though I wasn't sure my hands had any strength left.
She looked at me with wide eyes but said nothing.
I tilted my head, forcing a grin even though my throat was dry. "Hey, don't look at me like that. If you keep crying, Greg's gonna think I made you upset, and trust me, he'll never let me live that down."
Greg flicked his tail hard against my side like punctuation, his version of a you already made her cry, idiot.
"See? Already blaming me," I muttered, trying to lighten the air.
Lumine's voice broke the silence. "...Are you alright?"
Nahida blinked, as if waking from a dream. "Ah, Lumine, Shigeru, Nilou, Paimon, I—I'm all right. I'm just a little confused..."
"What are you confused about?" Lumine's voice was gentle, but I could hear the fear in it.
Nahida wiped at her eyes clumsily. "We've just saved the world, right? So why... why am I crying?"
Nilou leaned forward, her hands clasped in her lap, eyes shimmering with concern. "Maybe... maybe it's relief? Sometimes when you've carried too much, the body doesn't know whether to laugh or cry."
Paimon floated closer, chewing her lip. "But Paimon feels the same way... it's like something's missing, but we don't know what."
Lumine's lips parted, but no words came. Her eyes said enough though—she was starting to realize.
Nahida continued, her voice barely steady. "I don't know where this feeling inside of me is coming from, but I feel very sad..."
Lumine swallowed. "Do you still remember... what happened just now?"
"Just now? We used the power of two Gnoses to successfully connect with the Irminsul consciousness from five hundred years ago... Then, we removed the remaining pollution from Irminsul." Her voice faded into a whisper.
I felt my jaw clench. So close... but still, not everything remains. They don't remember her. Only I do.
Lumine drew breath to press further, but I placed my hand on her shoulder and shook my head. The weight of my hand was enough; she understood immediately. Her eyes softened, widened. She knew. She realized I hadn't forgotten. That I remembered the Greater Lord too.
Greg shifted on my shoulder, his claws tightening slightly into my clothes. A silent gesture, like he was grounding me. Reminding me not to let it show.
Paimon and Nilou still looked lost, searching for answers. I bent down slightly and whispered to Lumine, low enough only she could hear. "That's right. Because we're not really from this world."
She stiffened, but said nothing. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.
And maybe silence is all we have left.
Then came the sound—the sudden buzzing, sharp enough to cut through the fragile quiet. My skin prickled. I set Nahida gently down.
"Finally," I muttered, though my chest sank. Trouble never waits.
The others—Lumine, Nilou, Paimon, and even Greg perched smugly on my shoulder—collapsed into slumber. Greg gave one last annoyed flick of his tail as if to say, you had one job, and now look what happened, before falling still.
Except... not quite still. His claw twitched. Just barely. Subtle. If I hadn't known him for so long, I'd have missed it.
Wait a second... Damn this lizard. He's pretending too? I almost wanted to snort. Here I am, playing dead with all my heart, and even Greg's in on the act. Unbelievable. At this rate, he's gonna steal my role as the main character.
I let myself drop beside them, slowing my breathing, feigning unconsciousness. The stone floor was cold against my back, and every bone in me ached, but my mind refused to rest.
Play dead. That's the only move for now.
I closed my eyes, and in the darkness, my thoughts came.
So this is what it comes down to, huh? We fight, we bleed, we win. But the moment we think it's over—someone new crawls out from the shadows. And me? I lie here pretending to sleep, listening to every word, waiting for the right moment. It almost feels ridiculous. Almost.
But I can't let them know I'm awake. Not yet. Nahida's still vulnerable, and I promised myself... never again. Not on my watch. No one else is going to be sacrificed just to save the world. Not if I can stand in between. I don't care if I burn for it.
Nahida's voice trembled. "Huh, that sound... Lumine? Paimon? Shigeru? Nilou?"
Another voice entered the air, smooth and venomous. "I've been waiting here far too long... But finally, I have the chance to be alone with you. All the precious time I wasted has finally paid off."
I didn't need to open my eyes to know who it was. The tone was enough. The Doctor.
Nahida's voice rose. "The Doctor... What have you done!?"
He laughed, soft but sharp. "Just a type of sound wave that can quickly put defenseless people into a dream. As I expected... it doesn't have any effect on gods. This is the only thing of interest I found among the sages' research. I thought I'd take it for a little spin."
His words slithered like snakes across the chamber. My hands curled into fists against the floor. I kept still.
"Don't worry," he continued, mockingly light. "I know you would never forgive me if I actually killed them. I'm here to negotiate with you. Naturally, I won't do anything dangerous that could potentially damage our relationship."
Relationship? I almost snorted. Some "relationship" this was.
Greg twitched on my arm, his little lizard body tightening like even he wanted to leap at the man's throat. I gave the faintest nudge with my elbow. Not yet, buddy. Let him talk.
Nahida steadied her voice. "Negotiate with me? I heard you had already left Sumeru. Why are you here again now?"
"'I' left Sumeru," he said, "but 'I' also stayed in Sumeru. Even the God of Wisdom is restricted by the habits of cognition. How disappointing."
So he was really doing it. Playing his hand. Showing off his little party trick—segments of himself scattered across time like broken mirrors. I felt bile in my throat.
You think splitting yourself makes you stronger? No—it just makes you hollow.
I wanted to move. To stand. To cut him off. But I forced myself down, listening. The more he spoke, the more rope he gave himself. Rope I'd use to strangle his arrogance when the time came.
Nahida pressed, her voice harder now. "You mean... there are many different versions of you in this world?"
"An astute guess," he said, smug. And then he rambled—about time, observation, splitting himself into endless selves. Every word was poison, and every sentence made me want to gag.
This is what obsession looks like. Not wisdom, not knowledge. Just a man who cut himself into pieces because he couldn't stand being whole. And yet he calls this science.
I breathed slowly, controlling myself. I had to wait.
The conversation wound on—his arrogance, her rebuttals, his twisted ideals. I heard her voice tremble when she called him crazy, but she held her ground. She was stronger than she looked. Stronger than most gave her credit for.
Then came the shift. The real reason he was here.
"For example... the Gnosis," he said.
The silence that followed was louder than his words. I could almost feel Nahida stiffen.
He pressed further, arrogant as ever. "Lesser Lord Kusanali, you're an intelligent archon. I'm sure you understand the disparity in our combat abilities at this time... Besides, you have no way to use that Electro Gnosis in battle."
Nahida, sharp as a blade now, shot back. "Didn't you say you were here to negotiate with me? Somehow it's starting to seem like you intend to take it by force now."
They clashed words, logic twisting back and forth like swords in the dark. But then she dropped it. The word that cut through everything else.
"Gamble."
I could almost hear him choke on his own surprise.
Gamble. From the God of Wisdom. It must've tasted bitter in his ears.
And then came his laugh—forced, brittle. "The word 'gamble' is the last thing I expected to hear from the God of Wisdom. And you as well, Hero, you can stop pretending now, we've known since the beginning."
Greg's tail smacked against my arm. Busted.
My lips curved into a grin. Damn it. So much for the act.
I opened my eyes and pushed myself off the cold floor, brushing imaginary dust from my shirt like I'd just woken from a nap. My joints popped as I straightened, and I let out a laugh.
"Now, now..." My voice cut into the silence. "Why don't you let me join this negotiation as well?"
I cracked my neck as I stood, Greg perched like royalty on my shoulder. His tail flicked lazily, but his eyes burned sharp, just like mine. I took one slow step toward the Doctor, each one deliberate, heavy. The sound of my boots echoed across the stone, and though I said nothing at first, the pressure in the room shifted. It was the kind of silence that spoke louder than words: one wrong move, and I'd pin him to the ground before he had time to blink.
The Doctor smirked, as if the weight pressing down on him was nothing more than a breeze. "It seems like a lot has changed in the short while we haven't seen each other, Hero."
I matched his smirk with one of my own, though mine carried teeth. "Yeah? Then I guess you understand now. You don't have any advantage in this negotiation, do you?"
For a brief moment, his gaze sharpened, like he was sizing me up. Then he chuckled, cool as ever. "It seems that is the case. The current you could actually beat me if you tried hard enough... not to mention that pet on your shoulder."
Greg hissed, the sound low and venomous. I swear the little guy even flared his throat like he was about to spit acid. I scratched his chin. "He doesn't like being called a pet. Try 'business partner.' He's the brains of this operation."
The Doctor's smirk didn't falter, but his eyes narrowed. He carried on with the negotiation, but I could see it—every word he spoke, every move he made, was measured. Because he knew. One misstep, and it'd be his end.
He spoke about clever moves, principles, the respect of possibilities. His words were all polished glass, reflecting the image of a man who thought he was untouchable. I listened, but I couldn't resist slipping the knife in where it'd hurt.
"You talk too much," I cut in with a grin. "Seriously, man, I've fought gods, dragons, even bureaucrats. They all had one thing in common—they didn't waste my time with speeches this long."
He chuckled, unbothered. "Words are the foundation of knowledge."
"Yeah? Funny. Because the only knowledge I'm getting from you is that you're compensating for something."
Greg flicked his tongue like punctuation, and I almost lost it trying not to laugh.
Man, Greg's got better comedic timing than half the people I've traveled with. If he starts doing stand-up in dragon form, I'm finished.
The Doctor pressed on, laying out his little philosophy about segments, time, erasing versions of himself. Nahida challenged him, sharper than any blade, and for a moment I let the two of them trade barbs. But every time he got too smug, I made sure to cut him back down.
He sneered. "Segments are extraordinarily difficult to make. They require extremely rare resources and enormous amounts of time and effort. Requiring me to destroy them all here and now... Bravo, a suitably wise decision on your part."
"Aw, poor baby," I said, tilting my head. "Did I just hear the great Doctor complain about how hard his homework was?"
Greg snapped his jaws once, a sharp clack that echoed in the chamber. If lizards could laugh, that was it.
His eyes twitched. Just a little. But I saw it.
Nahida demanded he erase them, and eventually he agreed. The voices echoed through her consciousness—young, old, angry, helpless. All gone. Erased.
I looked at Nahida, and she gave me a tiny nod. That was all I needed.
The Doctor asked, almost coy. "Well? Have you confirmed that it's complete?"
Nahida hesitated, then extended the Electro Gnosis. "Here, take it. The future of Sumeru City will be in my hands alone. I will shut down the Akasha and let curiosity and the thirst for knowledge drive the realm of academics once again. There won't be any further gaps for you to exploit."
He accepted her words with mock tragedy. "It truly pains me that my academic achievements have never been appreciated in my homeland. Of course, I have no interest in being rejected by this city for a third time." He glanced slyly. "Another chess piece... And where is your Dendro Gnosis?"
I stepped in before Nahida could even answer, my grin sharper than a blade. "Hey, greedy much? You already got your prize. What's next, you want Greg too? Forget it. He charges by the hour."
Greg arched his back dramatically and spread his little claws as if to say damn right I do.
The Doctor ignored me and pressed further, but Nahida shut him down. And then, as if to twist the knife, he threw out his little "truth bomb."
"Have you in all your mighty knowledge ever heard the rumor... that the skies of Teyvat are fake?"
Nahida froze, wide-eyed.
I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Oh, for the love of—bro, really? You're dropping spoilers now? Next you'll tell her Santa Claus isn't real."
He blinked at me, caught off guard. "This is not—"
"Yeah, yeah, Irminsul secrets, the world is fake, big scary Celestia, we've all seen the trailer. But here's the deal, Doc. You don't get to spin this however you want." I took a step closer, the space between us shrinking like the noose tightening. "If you want to leave here alive, you're going to do two things for me."
For the first time, his smirk faltered. "...And what would those be?"
"First, before I reach Natlan, we talk. You and me. No running, no sending one of your knockoff versions. The real you."
He stiffened at the name, his tone dropping. "Natlan, huh... That would likely involve the Captain."
I grinned. "Oh, so you do know things. Knew you'd be useful."
His jaw clenched, but I didn't give him room to breathe.
"Second. You pause your experiments. All of them. Unless it's something that actually helps in dealing with Celestia. No more creepy side projects, no more nightmares for kids to find in their basements. You push it, and I'll erase you myself."
His composure cracked, even if only for a moment. "H-how did you—"
I cut him off, leaning in close enough for Greg's tongue to flick in his direction. "Don't question it. Just know this. The Fatui steps out of line, disrupts the peace, or hurts the people I swore to protect? I'll burn every single one of you down. This isn't a threat. It's a promise."
The air went cold. Even the Doctor couldn't laugh at that.
I turned back to Nahida, scooping her up in my arms like the tiny child she was. Her small fingers clung to my shirt, trembling. I smiled down at her, softer now. "He's actually right about one thing though. The Gnosis is useless now."
She nodded, eyes wet but resolute. "Don't worry. I'll tell you everything. And if he misuses it again..." My gaze slid back to the Doctor, sharp as steel. "...I'll deal with him myself."
Greg puffed his throat, a silent promise of backup.
Nahida agreed, then, after a breath, handed the Gnosis over. The Doctor accepted it, his smirk returning as if nothing had happened. But before leaving, he paused.
"Tell me... will something happen to the Captain?"
I froze for a beat, then sighed. "Yeah. Something will. But I'll try to prevent it. That's why I'll need your aid. As much as I hate the idea... you'll be useful."
I pulled a device from my pocket and tossed it to him. "I'll contact you, creepy scholar."
He caught it neatly, his grin sharp. "The pleasure is all mine, Hero."
He turned, cloak swirling, and vanished into the shadows.
Nahida nestled against me, her voice quiet. "Is this really fine?"
I chuckled, ruffling her hair gently. "Yup. And just like I promised, I'll tell you everything I know."
Greg flicked his tail, curling smugly around my neck like a scarf. Yeah, everything, his gesture seemed to say. Or I'll make sure you regret leaving me out of the details.
____________
End of Chapter 152
Quests Completed:
*Play dead like a professional actor, even though Greg outshined you with his method acting.
*Withstand the Doctor's arrogance, biding your time until the moment to strike with words sharper than blades.
*Stand as Nahida's shield, making clear that no sacrifice will ever be allowed on your watch again.
*Force the Doctor into erasing his own scattered segments, unraveling his twisted obsession piece by piece.
*Negotiate the exchange of the Electro Gnosis, ensuring Sumeru's path forward remains Nahida's alone.
*Share an unspoken understanding with Lumine — both of you carry the memory of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, while the world forgets.
*Turn the weight of silence into a weapon, letting the Doctor know that one misstep would mean his end.
*Proclaim two unshakable conditions: a meeting in Natlan, and a pause to his grotesque experiments.
*Greg gains recognition as "business partner," not "pet." (The Doctor almost got bitten for it.)
*Learn of the forbidden rumor: that the skies of Teyvat are fake — and immediately ruin the Doctor's dramatic reveal with sarcasm.
Rewards:
*Mora ×500,000 (You'll never see it — Greg probably buried it already)
*Knowledge Capsule ×1 (Fragments of "The Fake Skies" Conspiracy)
*+300 Nahida Affection Points (She felt your steady arms when she trembled)
*+200 Lumine Trust Points (You carried the memory she could not put into words)
*+100 Nilou Affection Points (She saw your grin even under despair — a fragile strength she admires)
*Paimon's Confusion +1 (She still doesn't get it, but she's worried in her own way)
*Greg's Tail Flick ×3 (Each one says: "Nice job, idiot.")
*+1 New Passive: "Negotiator's Threat" – Enemies hesitate when your grin shows teeth
*+1 New Condition: "Natlan Rendezvous" – You owe the Doctor one meeting with the real him
*+1 Heavy Debuff: "Carrying Too Many Promises" – The more vows you make, the heavier they get
*+1 Imaginary Degree in "Fatui Psychology" (Still more useful than an Akademiya PhD)
*+500 Sarcasm EXP (You weaponized humor against a Harbinger — again)
*+1 "Greg's Silent Approval" (Worth more than Mora)
*+2 Sleepless Nights Incoming (No cooldown, stacks infinitely)
Achievement Unlocked:
"The Smiling Negotiator"
-Face down a Fatui Harbinger not with fists, but with silence, smirks, and words sharp enough to wound. For the first time, the Doctor measured his tone with you — and that silence spoke louder than battle.