And so "Katheryne" boarded a merchant vessel bound for Liyue.
At the same time, Idris was preparing for another day in the Grand Sage's chair when the familiar chime rang in his mind.
[Detected: You scolded Lesser Lord Kusanali once again, greatly altering the future events that would follow her encounter with the Balladeer.]
[Plot change achieved. Reward issued.]
[Skill: Divine Shield — When activated, you are immune to all harm for one hour, rendering you virtually invincible.]
[Cooldown: 24 hours]
"A self-preservation skill this time?" Idris arched a brow, pleased. Rewards really did come quickly whenever he gave Nahida a tongue-lashing—no guilt required.
A new imprint settled into his thoughts: with a flicker of intent, the shield would bloom, blanking venom, steel, and sorcery alike.
Useful… in theory. He was the Grand Sage of the Akademiya now, and a Vision-bearer besides. Few had both the will and the means to force him to use a trump card like this. Cyno's loyalty had firmed up, and Nahida certainly wouldn't harm him. He had no reason to go monster-hunting himself.
Perhaps it would gather dust.
A rap sounded at the door.
"Grand Sage Idris, may I enter?"
"Enter."
The man who stepped in wore no scholar's robe. Idris knew that uniform well—the diplomatic dress of Snezhnaya's Fatui.
His guard went up. In the original tale, Sumeru's rot was six parts Akademiya, four parts Fatui.
The envoy bowed. "Forgive the intrusion, my lord, but I bring a notice."
"What is it?"
"In three days' time, Lord Il Dottore, Fatui Harbinger and Doctor, will call upon you in person." The envoy's tone was mild. "Please be prepared to receive him."
Idris's gaze went winter-cold.
—
Liyue Harbor — Yun-Han Opera Troupe
Zhongli had—yet again—slipped out of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and now sat front-row as Yun Jin sang beneath the lights. With his old duties shed, his days were unhurried, almost indulgent.
A shadow fell across the aisle.
"Mr. Zhongli. Hello."
"Hm? Miss Katheryne?" His amber eyes glinted—then warmed. "No… it's you."
A thread of gold flickered in his gaze as he caught the familiar aura. He smiled, tapped the empty seat beside him, and gestured for another pot of tea.
"You are a rare guest," Zhongli said, amused. "Five hundred years without meeting the God of Wisdom—and our first meeting is… like this."
"Yes. I didn't expect it either…" said "Katheryne," Nahida's presence unmistakable as she lifted the cup.
She had disembarked, taken in Liyue's face—its bustle, its order, its prosperity that matched Idris's praise—and then sought out the Geo Archon's current abode. She found him quickly.
"Well then," Zhongli said lightly, "Liyue has an old saying: one does not visit the Three-Treasures Hall without cause. What brings you to me?"
"I'm… lost," Nahida admitted, breath fogging the rim of her tea. "In Sumeru, I've been confined for five hundred years. My body lacks freedom, but my consciousness is strong; I can learn anything about the world with a thought."
"And yet," she whispered, "I feel I can no longer see through the world before me."
"Wait—you said you were confined?" A displeased line cut across Zhongli's brow.
He might have set aside his mantle, but his respect for the one who came before—Greater Lord Rukkhadevata—remained. Even if the girl before him was not that predecessor, she was still Sumeru's God of Wisdom, bound to the former by countless threads.
Zhongli's voice cooled. "That is… not a situation I care to hear of."
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