In front of the Little Grass God, Idris couldn't be bothered to lie. He stated plainly how much he liked Liyue.
If you had to pick one of Teyvat's seven nations to be reborn in, Liyue was paradise-tier.
Fontaine and Mondstadt were "thrills without disaster," where people could live in relative peace.
Sumeru and Inazuma… were hell difficulty—
—and if you happened to be sitting in the Grand Sage's chair, it was hell within hell.
By comparison, if he were one of Liyue's Liyue Qixing, how many of today's headaches would he even have?
Nahida tilted her head at that, a touch of innocent curiosity softening her face. "Like… envy? What do you mean?"
"Because the land is so rich and good, and the people so tough and tenacious," Idris said. "Because its god—like Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—left a legacy worthy of a thousand years."
"This…" Nahida fell quiet again.
Idris went on. "When I first heard the news of the Geo Archon's 'death,' I assumed Liyue would fall into turmoil, just like Sumeru did when we lost our god. Even now—five hundred years later—we still haven't stepped out of that shadow.
"But the truth is, Liyue accepted it within days. They stood up straighter and stepped into a new age. Faced with a country like that… even as Sumeru's Grand Sage, how could I not admire it? How could I not envy it?"
He had other reasons to like Liyue as well, but those were complicated—and he left them unsaid.
Nahida listened, then lowered her eyes for a long moment. As the one who touched the World Tree, she knew the truth behind Rex Lapis better than anyone. Hearing it from Idris's mouth, though, stirred something else in her.
At last she spoke, earnest. "I do believe you're working for Sumeru's sake, Sage Idris. I'm willing to apologize for my own immaturity before… and I hope you'll release me. Let us govern Sumeru together.
"Perhaps, one day, Sumeru will truly stand shoulder to shoulder with Liyue. As for those who follow me—if they think my release means you were weak, I'll explain it to them myself. I'll carry that blame. I won't let you bear it."
Idris only gave her the kind of look one saves for a hopelessly naïve child, then sat back down behind his desk. "Your Excellency, are you trying to make me scold you to tears again? I've no interest in bullying children for sport."
"You—!" Color flashed across Nahida's cheeks; for an instant she looked genuinely cross. But she smoothed it away and lifted her chin.
"I admit I'm still immature in many ways. If I cried today, it was because I want you to forgive that immaturity. But don't look at me and decide I'm only a child because I look like one!
"If you're displeased with me—if you can scold me into crying again—then that's your skill!"
This time, the little god stood her ground. She knew there was a good chance he'd lecture her again; she believed she could face it without tears. She'd thought long and hard last night. Today she meant to speak plainly: release me or don't—but don't humiliate me by calling me a child.
She might be the gentlest god alive—but she still had her pride.
Seeing the defiance in her posture, Idris settled in, voice cool. "Before I say anything else, Your Excellency, understand this:
"Human lives are short. In Sumeru's history, barring me, most Grand Sages only took office in old age.
"The first and second Grand Sages chose to confine you—that's on them. The more recent Grand Sages committed their own sins—that's on them as well.
"But here's my point: five hundred years have passed. The Akademiya has changed Grand Sages dozens of times.
"Do you truly believe that among those dozens, not one was free of greed for power? Not one was willing to exhaust himself for Sumeru with a sincere heart?"
"Of course that's impossible," Nahida said after a beat. "In my memory, the sixth, the thirteenth, the… several of them had fine reputations and real accomplishments."
"Then why," Idris asked, voice like a blade sliding from its sheath, "has not a single one of them—until me—ever said they would release you and govern the nation by your side?"
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