The descent into Sumeru City was a silent, breathtaking spectacle. The Eclipsing Star, a shard of polished Liyue night against the vibrant green canopy, glided downwards into the very heart of a living, breathing forest. From their aerial vantage point, Ren saw that the city's beauty with a close-up view. Walkways spiraled around the colossal trunks of ancient trees, houses were nestled into the crooks of massive, arching roots, and rivers of turquoise water flowed through natural canals, their banks lined with glowing flora. It was a city that did not conquer nature, but embraced it, a perfect, harmonious fusion of architecture and life.
Ningguang handled the controls with a fluid, precise grace, her expression one of calm, professional appreciation for the city's unique beauty. She guided the Eclipsing Star towards the grand, sprawling complex of the Akademiya, which sat at the mid-section of the colossal, divine tree that formed the city's core.
With a soft, near-silent whisper of its propellers, the hovercar touched down on the wide, open plaza directly in front of the Akademiya's grand gates. The landing was a spectacle. The scholars and students who milled about the plaza, from various Darshans, stopped in their tracks. They stared, their faces a mixture of awe, envy, and pure, academic hunger, at the impossible, flying machine from another land.
The door on the driver's side opened with a soft hiss, and Ningguang stepped out, her elegant, Liyue-style traveling gown and her regal, confident bearing an immediate, undeniable statement of power and authority. A moment later, the passenger door opened, and Ren hopped out, his quiet, otherworldly beauty and his glowing azure eyes a stark, beautiful contrast to the earthy, vibrant greens and browns of Sumeru.
A small, formal welcoming party was already waiting for them. At its head was a man with a stern, imposing presence. He wore the tall, jackal-headed helmet of his office, and his face, what little was visible of it, was a mask of stern, unyielding judgment. His voice, when he spoke, was a low, resonant tone, devoid of any unnecessary pleasantry. It was the General Mahamatra, Cyno. Beside him, two of his elite Matra guards stood, as still and as silent as statues.
And beside Cyno, with a familiar smile on her face, was Lisa.
"Lady Ningguang," Cyno began, his greeting a formal, respectful, nod. "On behalf of the Grand Sage of the Akademiya, I welcome you to Sumeru. We received your envoy's message. Your… vehicle is a marvel of engineering. We are honored to witness its arrival."
"General Mahamatra," Ningguang replied, her own voice a smooth, polite melody of equal authority. "We are grateful for your welcome."
Cyno's gaze then flicked to the Eclipsing Star, a flicker of genuine, professional respect in his crimson eyes. "We have been instructed to provide the highest level of security for this technology. A space has been cleared for it on the upper platform of the Sanctuary of Surasthana. It will be under a 24/7 guard detail, personally overseen by my Matra. It will be perfectly safe."
His next words were a testament to the value he placed on their creation and the power of its owner. "The Grand Sage, Azar, is most eager to meet with you. He is currently in a… lengthy meeting. He will summon you when he is available."
Ningguang simply gave a calm, knowing smile. The Grand Sage was not just in a meeting; he was scrambling, trying to formulate a strategy for how to deal with the sudden, powerful, and technologically superior, personal that had just landed on his doorstep. She was happy to let him squirm for a little while.
It was Lisa who broke the formal, slightly tense, atmosphere. "Well, now that the dreary, official business is out of the way," she purred, gliding forward with a lazy, familiar grace. "I will escort our esteemed guests to their lodgings. Cyno, do be a dear and make sure no one scratches the Tianquan's lovely new toy, won't you?"
Cyno just gave a curt, almost imperceptible, nod, his expression unchanging.
Ningguang turned to Ren, her expression softening into a warm, affectionate smile. "Go with Lisa, my little advisor. I will handle the parking." She gave him a small, conspiratorial wink. "I wouldn't want to miss the looks on the other Sages' faces when I glide past their office windows."
Ren just giggled and, taking Lisa's outstretched hand, he began the long, scenic walk down from the heights of the Akademiya into the vibrant, living city below.
The walk was a journey in itself. They descended on walkways woven from living roots, they crossed bridges that arched over sparkling, turquoise canals, and they passed by markets filled with the scent of exotic spices and strange, delicious-looking fruits.
"I must say, cutie, your timing is impeccable," Lisa said, her voice a low, amused one as they strolled. "My own dreary research was reaching a rather… anticlimactic conclusion. I was planning on returning to Mondstadt tomorrow. But then," she gave his hand a gentle, affectionate squeeze, "I received your delightful little letter. And I thought to myself, a few more weeks in the land of endless books and questionable coffee couldn't possibly hurt, not if it means I get to spend them with my favorite little genius."
She looked at him, her emerald eyes sparkling with a genuine, happy light. "I have decided to extend my stay. At least until after the Sabzeruz Festival. It is a wonderful celebration. You will love it. Consider it a… research-oriented vacation. I would be more than happy to assist you with the… tedious, and very boring, patenting process at the Akademiya."
Ren's face broke into a wide, brilliant smile. "Thank you, Lisa! That would be amazing! But… I don't think I'll start the patenting for a day or two. I have a lot of work to do." He then looked around at the beautiful, vibrant, and utterly new, city around them, a pure, childish excitement in his eyes. "Tomorrow… tomorrow I just want to explore! I want to see everything!"
Lisa let out a soft, delighted laugh, the sound a warm, welcome melody in the bustling, green city. "Then it's a date," she looked at him, her smile as warm and as inviting as the Sumeru sun. "Tomorrow, my little genius, I will show you the city of wisdom."