Alright, so there we were, strolling like some kind of mismatched parade toward the Sanctuary of Surasthana. Nilou clung to my right arm, Lumine to the left, both smiling like they'd just won some kind of cosmic lottery. Me? I looked like the prize they regrettably picked up at the clearance aisle.
Paimon, floating with that permanent frown of hers, crossed her arms. "Seriously, you two. Paimon's happy for you, but Paimon didn't expect it to be this bad. You guys are even worse than him."
I squinted at her, pretending I didn't hear, but Nilou just chuckled, stuck her tongue out like a mischievous kid, and said, "You're just jealous, Paimon."
"Was not!" Paimon snapped back immediately, puffing her cheeks. "Believe Paimon, that guy is chaotic. Your life will be miserable but… happy, I guess."
"Hey!" I pointed at her dramatically. "Stop badmouthing me with facts, floaty!"
The three of them burst out laughing, and even I couldn't help but grin. Sometimes, I swear, the only way to win with them is to lose.
Greg flicked his tongue twice, almost like he was laughing too. Which, frankly, was insulting. My own lizard siding with them? Betrayal 101.
Nilou leaned closer, her voice soft enough that only I could hear. "You know… I don't mind this chaos. It's warm."
My idiot heart skipped like it had just tripped over a stair. Lumine, catching the expression on my face, muttered, "Unbelievable. He's going to faint before we even get to the Sanctuary."
"I'll have you know," I said proudly, "this heart is battle-tested. Been crushed, stabbed, and emotionally roasted. Still running like a champ."
Greg smacked my chin with his tail, as if to say, "Barely."
By the time we reached the Sanctuary, the atmosphere had mellowed, the laughter still lingering like an echo. Standing before us, the grand hall shimmered in the sunlight, calm and serene. I felt Nilou's grip tighten, Lumine's soft warmth on my arm, and my idiot heart thought: yeah, I could get used to this.
Then, with a big grin plastered on my face—actually, more like a full-blown idiot grin—I spotted Nahida. "Radish cutie! We're back again!"
Her emerald eyes lit up, and she spread her tiny arms. "Oh, Shigeru! Lumine, Nilou, and Paimon as well!"
Her gaze shifted, and she noticed Greg perched smugly on Nilou's shoulder. "And you as well," she added with a gentle smile.
Greg puffed up like royalty being acknowledged by the Archon herself. I swear, if he had a crown, he would've tipped it.
I wasted no time. I scooped her up like my own daughter and spun her around. "Look!" I shouted, practically glowing. "I'm engaged!"
Nahida blinked, then her smile softened. "I know. I can see that you're very happy."
Nilou giggled and raised her hand, showing the ring again like she hadn't already shown it a hundred times on the walk here. "It still feels like a dream, Nahida. But… it's real."
Paimon swooped in dramatically, hands on her hips. "You should've seen them a while ago, Nahida! Paimon was so embarrassed being with this lovey-dovey trio! Paimon feels like Greg feels the same way."
Greg, that traitor, nodded in solemn approval.
I clutched my chest. "Greg! You too?! I fed you, carried you, defended your honor against pigeons, and this is how you repay me?"
Greg licked his eye. No remorse. None.
Nahida chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. "Alright, alright. It seems like you have some questions to ask me, right?"
"Correction," I said, holding up one finger like some kind of genius lecturer. "They do. I'm just here for moral support. Still basking in my success, you know?"
Nilou laughed so brightly it made my chest hurt. Lumine, however, pressed her palm to her face and muttered, "Right. After being serious for so long, I almost forgot he's still an idiot."
"Told you so!" Paimon sang, pointing at me. "Don't tell Paimon she didn't warn you."
Greg chose this moment to smack me in the cheek with his tiny claw, a silent but effective insult as if saying, "You fucking donkey."
I rubbed my face. "Stupid jealous lizard," I muttered back at him. He blinked like he understood.
Lumine sighed again, the kind that sounded like she'd been carrying me for decades instead of months. "Actually, I want to ask about the Akasha."
Nahida's eyes turned thoughtful, her voice soft yet steady. "After recent events, the Akasha can no longer function as it used to. I've given it some thought and have decided to shut it down permanently. But this is definitely not a bad thing. Even from the beginning, I've been planning to shut it down."
Her words rang clear, like a teacher laying down the truth. "The Akasha's centralized administration of knowledge has always restrained people's curiosity and curtailed the number of paths available to them. I don't think this is good for Sumeru. Although people may initially feel a little uncomfortable with the loss of the Akasha, they will soon understand that this life is more suitable for them."
Nilou nodded softly, her eyes shining. "It's a little scary, but… also exciting. Like Sumeru can finally dance freely."
Paimon bobbed her head. "Hmm, Paimon gets it. People are like… uh… like birds, right? You can't make them fly in a cage and expect them to be happy."
I gasped, pointing at her. "Wow. That was actually poetic. Did you hit your head?"
"Shut it!" Paimon snapped, cheeks pink. "Paimon can be wise sometimes!"
Greg blinked slowly at me, like he agreed with Paimon's newfound wisdom. I've never felt more betrayed in my life.
Nahida's little hands folded together. "As for the future of Sumeru… I'm preparing to regain control of the Akademiya. The former sages have received their punishment, but the new sages have yet to be selected. I will oversee the process personally. I hope that the new Six Great Sages will be more focused on academics. Sumeru needs such leaders more than ever."
Nahida's eyes grew soft, tinged with determination. "The other big issue is the people of King Deshret — all the residents of the desert, in fact. They have been mistreated for far too long. I've already taken some measures to address this. It will take some time to rebuild everything, but no matter if it's culture, friendship, or trust… we will rebuild it."
Lumine nodded firmly. "That's good. They deserve it."
Nilou clasped her hands together, almost like she was praying. "Thank you, Nahida. For caring for everyone."
Then she turned to me, a little smirk curling on her lips. "And as for what happened after you fell asleep, Shigeru can explain it to you."
Lumine's shoulders slumped immediately. "I guess it's time to listen to his weird analogies again."
I grinned so wide I thought my face would split. "Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves."
Nilou patted Lumine's shoulder with a sympathetic smile. "There, there. We can't do anything about that anymore. Let's just accept it."
Paimon groaned like she'd just lost a bet. Greg turned his head dramatically away, pretending he wasn't associated with me at all.
And I? I stood there like the absolute champion I was, still grinning, still basking, because let's face it—I'd already won in life. Twice over, if you counted how many times Greg had slapped me today.
***
"Hear out the greatest mind speaking—yes, me, Shigeru! Time for another lore dump!" I puffed my chest out like I was about to reveal the secrets of the universe, which, let's be honest, I totally was. Nahida chuckled softly, the way you'd laugh at a child who just tripped but somehow insisted they meant to do it.
"So," I began, waving my hands like some half-baked professor, "while you guys thought I was collapsed on the ground like a tragic hero, something big was actually happening. The Doctor, this cutie here, and I… we struck a deal."
Lumine's head snapped up. "Wait, wait, wait. You collapsed. We all saw you. Don't tell me—"
I grinned. "Acting! Best performance of my life. They didn't even notice!"
Paimon slapped her forehead dramatically. "Paimon knew it! You were just playing dead again, weren't you?!"
Nahida shook her head, smiling knowingly. "We noticed from the beginning, Shigeru."
"Shhh," I wagged a finger at her, still grinning like the smug idiot I am. "Just stay still and be cute, Little Radish. Let me have this one."
Nilou giggled, covering her mouth. "I think he just wants to feel like the main character again."
"Correction," I shot back, "I am the main character. It's in my contract."
Greg, perched on Nilou's shoulder, smacked his tail twice, like even he was fact-checking me. I pretended not to notice.
"Anyway, the Doctor. That guy's got power on par with a god. And you know what? Even Nahida here wouldn't stand a chance in a straight fight against him. But compared to me? Pfft. He'd crumble in an all-out match. Total mismatch."
Lumine groaned. "Oh Archons, not this again…"
Paimon crossed her arms. "Paimon swears, one day your ego's gonna create its own nation."
I gasped dramatically. "Nation of Idiocy. Population: me. Our national animal: Greg."
Greg flicked his tongue and blinked slowly, the exact look of a creature wondering how he ended up in this circus. Nilou stroked his back, chuckling. "Don't worry, Greg, I think you'd make a very cute mascot."
"So here's the deal," I said, holding up an imaginary contract. "In exchange for handing over both the Electro and the Dendro gnosis, the Doctor has to delete all his little segments. Total reboot. Poof. Gone. And after that, he's at my beck and call. My little personal minion. And let's face it—we'll need him in Natlan."
Lumine pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is going to end terribly, isn't it?"
Nilou tilted her head. "But if what Shigeru says is true, then maybe this will help us. We'll just… have to trust him."
"Yeah!" I pointed at her like she'd just solved the universe. "Listen to Nilou. She gets it."
Paimon tugged at her hair in frustration. "You're all crazy! Paimon's surrounded by lunatics!"
Greg slapped me on the forehead with his tiny claw, like he was casting his vote in Paimon's favor. I rubbed my head. "Et tu, Greg?"
I looked down at Nahida still in my arms. "Little Radish, the Hat Guy's still in a coma, yeah?"
Nahida's expression grew thoughtful. She nodded. "He's still in a coma. I've hidden him like how one would hide a feather. I know you have many misgivings about him, but as someone who had once become a god, he has retained a number of very useful features. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't do any evil. In addition, there are still some mysteries left in him. Some things may be very clear from my perspective, but he has yet to understand them himself. His future will be determined by fate."
I nodded sagely, like I understood fate better than anyone else alive. "Yeah, yeah. He's just another victim in the end. There's still a chance for him, I just know."
Nilou's smile softened, almost hopeful. "I'd like to believe that too. Maybe… maybe he can change."
Lumine crossed her arms, frowning. "Still hate him," she mumbled.
"Wow," I said, clutching my chest. "And here I thought I was the vengeful one. Lumine, you're supposed to be the responsible one!"
She shot me a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "I am responsible. I'm responsible for not letting maniacs hurt us again."
Nilou, ever the peacekeeper, gently touched Lumine's shoulder. "Now, now, Lumine. Who knows? He might become a good person someday."
Paimon zipped around, throwing her arms up. "Paimon doubts that! But fine, whatever! If he even tries anything though, Paimon's not holding back."
Greg whipped his tail against my cheek this time, clearly signaling, "Wrap it up already, moron." I pointed right back at him. "Don't give me that look, lizard. You just want more screen time."
He blinked. Guilty as charged.
And thus, my lore dump continued. The crowd might not have asked for it, but hey, when the greatest mind speaks, you listen.
"And for our next destination!" I spread my arms like I was announcing the birth of a new god. "The Land of Water and Drama Queens!"
Lumine deadpanned so hard I swear I felt my soul leave my body. "You mean Fontaine."
"Yeah, that." I nodded like I'd just gotten the answer right on a test I didn't study for. "See? My memory works sometimes."
Paimon squinted. "Only when it comes to nonsense."
Nilou laughed softly behind her hand. "Drama Queens… I can already imagine the performances there."
"Exactly!" I pointed at her like she just solved world hunger. "You'll fit in perfectly. Imagine it, Nilou—your dances on the grand stages of Fontaine! People crying, fainting, throwing Hydro tomatoes or whatever they eat there. You'll be their queen in two days flat."
Nilou blushed lightly. "You exaggerate too much, Shigeru."
"Exaggerate? Never. This is prophecy." I tapped my temple proudly. "Chief Justice will probably adopt you as a national treasure."
Greg flicked his tail from Nilou's shoulder, as if seconding the motion. National Treasure Nilou. Approved by reptile law.
Paimon groaned. "Oh no, here we go again…"
I ignored her. "So yeah, Fontaine! Land of Justice. They have this Hydro Archon who's all about judgment and fairness. Courtrooms, trials, probably dramatic spotlights every time someone sneezes. The Chief Justice—big guy, fancy coat, probably shouts 'Order!' when he wakes up."
Lumine sighed, rubbing her temples. "Fifty percent nonsense, forty percent lies, and… maybe ten percent actual truth."
"Thank you, I take that as a compliment."
Nilou tilted her head, curious. "But… doesn't justice sound admirable? I mean, trials, fairness… it could be wonderful."
"See, that's the difference between you and me." I raised a finger. "You hear 'justice,' you think balance and fairness. I hear 'justice,' I think some guy in a wig screaming at me while I stand trial for accidentally blowing up someone's soup pot."
Nilou covered her mouth with both hands to stop herself from laughing, shoulders shaking. Greg slapped his tail against her arm like he was laughing too.
Paimon threw up her hands. "You'd actually get arrested in Fontaine, wouldn't you?"
"Correction: I'd get arrested multiple times. But they'd release me, because who else is going to provide the comedy relief?"
"Oh, and guess who else is gonna be there?" I wagged my brows dramatically. "Our favorite ginger."
Paimon perked up. "You mean Childe?"
I snapped my fingers. "Yes, Ed Sheeran himself!"
Both Lumine and Paimon let out the most synchronized sigh I've ever heard.
"There's also a giant whale," I added, lowering my voice. "Creepy as hell. Imagine a whale the size of a mountain, watching you sleep. Nightmare fuel."
Nahida tilted her head. "He's correct… but also way off. Usual Shigeru. I'm not sure about the whale and the ginger though." She giggled lightly.
"See? Even the God of Wisdom agrees with me—half the time." I puffed my chest.
Lumine pinched the bridge of her nose. "Thanks, Nahida. That'll be all."
But Nahida tilted her head again, her eyes glimmering with something deeper. "Are you sure? Isn't there something else you haven't asked about yet?"
Paimon blinked. "Huh? You mean…?"
Nahida's voice softened. "About… your brother."
I gasped loudly, slapping my forehead so hard Greg almost fell off Nilou's shoulder. "Oh, right! Almost forgot about the whole 'missing brother' arc."
Greg whipped his tail at me with a sharp thwap, glaring like I'd just spoiled the next episode. I pointed back at him. "Don't judge me, lizard, I've got a lot on my mind!"
Nahida's tone grew gentle. "While you were resting when Shigeru took you back, I performed an Irminsul search for information on your brother."
Lumine's eyes widened. "But… we both came from beyond the sea of stars. There shouldn't be any information on him in Irminsul."
"Yeah!" Paimon floated higher. "Isn't Irminsul just Teyvat's memory tree? There shouldn't be anything on the Traveler or her brother!"
Nahida nodded. "That's true in your case, Lumine. Irminsul holds no information about you. However…"
Her voice dropped slightly. "There must be something different about your brother, because as it turns out, this world has recorded information on him after all."
Paimon's jaw dropped. "What!?"
I leaned in, eyes wide, whispering like I was in on a conspiracy. "Plot twist."
Nahida continued. "There's only one possible explanation: he belongs to this world."
Lumine whispered under her breath. "How is that possible…? We traveled the stars all our lives until we came here. How could he possibly hail from Teyvat…?"
"Maybe he just… forgot his passport?" I offered.
Lumine shot me a glare sharp enough to kill a dragon. Or me. Probably me.
Paimon crossed her arms, frustrated. "But none of this makes any sense! Wasn't this our first time in Teyvat?"
Lumine turned back to Nahida. "Do you have any further intel?"
Nahida nodded. "According to the records, your sibling suddenly appeared in Khaenri'ah. After the disaster, he began his journey through the seven nations. But just as his journey was about to reach its conclusion, the Irminsul records on him suddenly became… fuzzy."
"Fuzzy like my memory of math class," I muttered.
Paimon flailed. "What do you mean fuzzy? Did something happen to him?"
"All I know," Nahida said, "is that someone is deliberately obfuscating his fate. Whoever it is… if they can do that, who knows what else they're capable of."
Lumine's fists clenched. "Could it be the Abyss…?"
Paimon frowned. "But even that doesn't explain how he somehow comes from this world."
Nahida nodded slowly. "Something else I noticed… The Fatui have not classified your sibling as one of the Descenders."
"Descenders?" Lumine repeated, confusion heavy in her voice.
Paimon tilted her head. "Paimon's never heard of that! What's a Descender?"
Nahida's eyes softened again. "I imagine you're curious about the intel I received from the Fatui in return for my Gnosis. Part of that information was about this world's Descenders—external beings who do not belong here. Lumine… you are Teyvat's Fourth Descender."
Lumine's voice cracked slightly. "Fourth…?"
Paimon's tiny hands flew up. "Huh!? So there are three others before her? And her brother isn't even one of them!?"
"That's right," Nahida confirmed. "My current hypothesis is that the First Descender was likely what we now call the Heavenly Principles. As for the others… I still need to verify their existence."
Paimon groaned, holding her head. "Ugh, Paimon's brain is gonna explode…"
I patted her head like a big brother. "Don't worry, Floaty. Mine exploded years ago."
Greg tapped my arm with his tail like he agreed. Yes, brainless for a long time now.
Nahida looked at us with sympathy. "Even with this knowledge, I know there are still countless questions. I truly regret that I can't provide more answers as the God of Wisdom. Some of these questions can probably be answered by Shigeru himself."
I grinned ear to ear. "Damn right. But not today. Today we relax, tomorrow we stress. Priorities!"
Paimon groaned again. "You never think unless you have to."
"Shut it, floaty."
Lumine sighed, rubbing her temples. "I'm sorry about them. I'll need some time to process all of this."
Nilou spoke softly, almost hesitantly. "I… I believe everything will turn out fine. We've come this far together. We'll figure it out, step by step."
Her words hung in the air, a small reassurance amid the confusion. I looked at her, at everyone, and thought, Man… she's the heart of this whole team. No way I'm letting anything bad happen to her.
Nahida's eyes softened. "And soon, you'll begin your journey anew, departing from Sumeru. I'll be watching with interest. Your journey cannot be observed or recorded by this world… and if fate is the ultimate knowledge, then your future will be the ultimate fate."
Paimon managed a small smile. "Paimon's glad we met you, Nahida."
"The pleasure is mine," Nahida replied warmly. "I can't thank you enough. That's enough talk for today. If you ever miss me, just close your eyes—and maybe I'll appear in your dreams."
"I'll be doing that every night," I said with a shameless grin. Nilou smacked my arm lightly, Paimon yelled at me, Lumine groaned, and Greg… Greg just slapped his tail again like he agreed with Nahida.
And that's how the lore dump ended—chaotic, heartfelt, and one hundred percent Shigeru-certified nonsense.
______________
End of Chapter 154
Quests Completed:
*Enter the Sanctuary of Surasthana with your mismatched parade of chaos, laughter trailing behind like petals in the wind.*Announce your engagement to Nahida with the enthusiasm of a child showing off a shiny rock, and actually make her smile.*Witness Nilou beam as she shows the ring for the hundredth time, proving happiness doesn't get boring when it's shared.*Stand by as Nahida declares the Akasha's end, watching a nation's cage finally open.*Hear her promise to rebuild trust between desert and forest, and feel the first stirrings of change take root.*Lore Dump Time! Explain (poorly, yet somehow effectively) the deal with the Doctor, confusing everyone equally.*Tease Fontaine with nonsense so ridiculous even Greg considered suing you for slander.*Learn the truth about Lumine's brother—that he belongs to Teyvat—and hear the chilling words: "He is not a Descender."*Gain a glimpse of the truth of Descenders, realizing Lumine is the Fourth, while her brother stands apart.*Share in Nahida's promise: though you will leave Sumeru, her watchful heart will follow you through dreams.*Forge a quiet vow again—never to let Nilou, Lumine, or anyone in your mismatched family bear their weight alone.
Rewards:
*Mora ×500,000 (Paimon already calculated how fast you'll waste it)*+1 "Doctor's IOU" (Questionable usefulness, may expire without warning)*Nilou Affection Points +150 (She laughed at your nonsense again, softer this time)*Lumine Patience +50 (She didn't kill you during your Fontaine speech)*Paimon's Mockery ×∞ (Permanent, non-removable)*Greg's Tail Slap ×3 (Delivered with love, allegedly)*Knowledge Capsule ×1: "Fragment of the Fourth Descender" (Encrypted with riddles, headaches guaranteed)*+200 Nahida Trust (She still let you carry her after all that nonsense)*+1 Imaginary Degree in "Bullshitting Lore While Half-Right"*+1 New Passive: "Lore Bombardment" – When you monologue, reality bends slightly to match*+3 Lizard Side-Eyes (Greg will remember this)*+500 Simp EXP (Nilou smiled softly while disagreeing with you)*+1 Mental Note: "Fontaine = Drama Queens" (Stuck forever)*+1 "Maybe He Can Change" Seed – Nilou planted it in your head about Scara
Achievement Unlocked:
"Dreamers Without Chains"
-Witness the God of Wisdom cut the ties that bound her people, and vow to carry your companions' burdens with laughter and resolve. You turned chaos into warmth, grief into family, and jokes into anchors.