Sumeru.
Three days after their last visit, Lumine and Paimon returned.
Though only three days had passed, so much had happened during that time. The Abyss truly deserved to die!
"Lumine, where do you think people go after they die?" Paimon asked, her voice suddenly somber.
Lumine turned to look at the little creature, who seemed uncharacteristically deep in thought. She patted Paimon's head reassuringly.
"I don't know," Lumine replied. "But I'm sure Qingge and the others are doing well wherever they are. And besides, fragments of Rola and Qingge's souls are still embedded in my weapon. They're traveling with us too, you know?"
Paimon nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly brightened. "Qingge said there are seven people like her in total! We've met Rola, Qingge, and Yuna already. It seems likely that each nation has one, and their elements are probably all different!"
She continued, "Lumine, we haven't found Sumeru's Person of Pure Soul yet. Yuna is under the protection of Yae Miko and Ei, so the Abyss hasn't discovered her yet. Should our next mission be to find Sumeru's Person of Pure Soul and protect her?"
Lumine looked at Paimon, opening her mouth but saying nothing.
She shook her head. "Paimon, let's find Chu Xi first."
"Oh, right! We haven't found Chu Xi yet!" Paimon exclaimed.
Lumine and Paimon went straight to the Sanctuary of Surasthana and found Nahida there.
"Nahida, are you here alone? Where's Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
"Traveler and Paimon! Hello! Mother... Greater Lord Rukkhadevata has gone deep into Irminsul and may not return for some time."
Nahida told Lumine and Paimon about the changes in Sumeru over the past few days.
First, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had reclaimed her authority over Sumeru. Then, she purged the Akademiya of those involved in the "God Creation Plan." Grand Sage Azar had been exiled to the Desert, and the Eleazar plague had vanished from Sumeru.
The selection process for the new Great Sage had already begun, and Alhaitham, due to his previous merits and outstanding achievements, had been nominated.
Cyno had been reinstated to his original position, while Tighnari had returned to Vanarana. Decisions regarding the Desert's affairs would await Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's return.
"By the way, Nahida, has the Doctor contacted you?" Lumine asked.
Since Angie and Tartaglia had failed to obtain the Dendro Gnosis, the Fatui would certainly not let the matter rest.
The Doctor, Second Seat of the Fatui Harbingers, would naturally appear given Angie and Tartaglia's departure. There was no reason for him to stay away.
Nahida shook her head. "I haven't seen the Doctor. Perhaps he knows the Dendro Gnosis still serves a purpose for Sumeru, and that Greater Lord Rukkhadevata wouldn't relinquish it easily."
Lumine asked, "Nahida, have you seen Chu Xi?"
"Chu Xi?" Nahida stroked her chin thoughtfully. "I saw her before you and Paimon went to the Desert to watch the battle, but not since then. I've been moving around Sumeru quite a bit lately, and I haven't seen her anywhere."
Lumine and Paimon were visibly disappointed.
"Then we'll let you get back to work, Nahida. We're going to look for Chu Xi."
"Eh? You're leaving already? Nilou and the others entrusted me to bring you to the Grand Bazaar when I saw you. Everyone wants to thank you properly."
Lumine paused mid-stride, then resumed running. "We'll find Chu Xi first, then visit everyone! We'll come back and get you when we're ready!"
After Lumine and Paimon left, Nahida fell deep into thought.
She had been feeling an emptiness in her heart, as if something was missing. At first, she thought it was because she hadn't properly thanked the Traveler, but now she realized that wasn't the reason.
Strange... then what could it be?
-
After leaving the Sanctuary of Surasthana, Lumine and Paimon searched Sumeru City for Chu Xi, but their efforts proved fruitless after a full day of searching.
During their search, they also encountered Dunyarzad.
Compared to their first meeting, Dunyarzad's complexion had improved dramatically. Her Eleazar had been completely cured, and she radiated vitality.
Dunyarzad invited Lumine and Paimon to her home, but Lumine declined. It wasn't that she didn't want to go; she simply had more pressing matters to attend to.
Chu Xi's disappearance was too strange. She hadn't even said goodbye, and Lumine was deeply worried.
After resting in Sumeru City for a day, Nilou came to find them the next day.
Dehya was returning to the Desert tomorrow, so they wanted to gather everyone for a farewell dinner tonight.
This time, Lumine accepted. She also wanted to use the occasion to ask everyone about Chu Xi's whereabouts.
The dinner was held that evening, and the attendees included Alhaitham, Nilou, Cyno, Dunyarzad, Dehya, Nahida, and even Kaveh.
Alhaitham: "This is my roommate. He just returned from the Desert. When he heard about the dinner, he insisted on coming along."
Kaveh: "You jerk! You took the key with you, leaving me stranded outside all day! I nearly starved!"
Alhaitham: "Why didn't you just grab a meal at a nearby restaurant?"
Kaveh coughed. "Ahem, you need Mora to eat..."
Lumine discreetly studied Kaveh. Is this Silaya's guardian?
She had met him before, but only when he was a child. Kaveh was practically Silaya's closest family in Teyvat, and now even he had forgotten her...
"You must be the Traveler. Nice to meet you! You can just call me Kaveh."
Kaveh greeted Lumine politely.
A sudden wave of sadness washed over Lumine. Silaya had done so much and sacrificed so much, yet everyone had forgotten her.
Little Paimon, oblivious to the situation, didn't even recall Silaya's existence. She was worried about Chu Xi, but that didn't stop her from devouring her meal with gusto.
At the table, Kaveh sat in a corner, nursing a bottle of wine and drinking alone.
Alhaitham approached him, frowning.
"Did you take a hit in the Desert?"
Kaveh looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. "I... I don't know what's wrong. I suddenly feel so sad, as if something terrible has happened to someone I care deeply about."
Kaveh wasn't much of a drinker, but he'd heard wine could ease sorrow. Right now, his heart felt suffocatingly heavy.
Alhaitham sat beside him and poured himself a glass as well.
Lumine had asked around, but no one had seen Chu Xi. She decided to take Paimon to search outside Sumeru City tomorrow.
-
That day, Lumine and Paimon arrived outside Sumeru City. They had accepted a quest and were also looking for Chu Xi.
At a certain location, Lumine spotted a young Forest Ranger being besieged by a group of monsters.
After rescuing the Forest Ranger, Lumine and Paimon learned that her name was Rana...
(spy- 8+ hour aranara questline ptsd...)
-
Sumeru, Desert.
The black-robed figure had been recuperating for several days, finally recovering slightly.
Truly worthy of being an Original Archon, he thought. I almost fell at their hands.
The backlash from his self-detonation had been immense. He had spent the past few days recuperating, his current strength less than one percent of his peak.
The souls of Mondstadt and Liyue are already in my grasp. The soul of Sumeru remains elusive. Next, it's time to pay a visit to the Electro Archon...
(Spy- I still can't get over this being flame reaver, drip is immaculate)