"What?!"
Hearing Lumine's words, Dunyarzad, Dehya, and Nilou stared in absolute shock at the pristine, snow-white sphere resting in the Traveler's hand.
The sudden outburst instantly drew the attention of several onlookers nearby.
"Shh..." Always on high alert, Dehya immediately realized that this was a secret that absolutely could not leak out; otherwise, there would be hell to pay.
"Come with me!" Dehya commanded, quickly leading the girls to a secluded corner. Once they were hidden from view, she pulled off her Akasha Terminal.
"Miss Nilou, please remove your Akasha as well," Dehya requested earnestly.
"Right..." Swallowing their shock, Dunyarzad and Nilou recognized the gravity of the situation and swiftly took off their Akasha Terminals.
"Lumine..." Every eye locked onto her.
"This is a Source of Life. It can bring back the dead, heal any wound, and cure Eleazar," Lumine explained, lifting the glowing orb slightly higher. "It actually saved a little girl named Collei once, and she's completely healthy now."
"I've heard of Collei. I believe she's a Forest Ranger," Dehya nodded, crossing her arms. "I recall hearing she was an Eleazar patient."
Lumine smiled brightly, a trace of pride slipping into her voice. "But what I really want to tell you is that this artifact is formed from the energy of my husband, Akira."
"Akira?" Dehya frowned, thinking over the name for a moment before her eyes suddenly went wide. "Lumine... could your husband be the new deity of Inazuma?!" she asked, completely dumbfounded.
"Yes, that's him!" Ying (Lumine) nodded happily.
"Dehya... who is Lord Akira?" Dunyarzad and Nilou asked, looking back and forth between them in confusion.
"A few days ago, a new god ascended in Inazuma named Akira. He is a Lord of Inazuma, holding the exact same status as the Electro Archon herself," Dehya explained, her voice tense.
"A... a god?" Dunyarzad's eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
"Yep, my husband is the strongest god out there. To him, Eleazar is nothing but a trivial ailment. He could cure it with a mere wave of his hand," Lumine boasted proudly.
"So that's how it is..." Dunyarzad murmured.
"So, Dunyarzad, you should absorb this Source of Life right away," Lumine said, stepping forward to hand it over.
"Hold on..." Dehya suddenly stepped in, stopping Lumine in her tracks. She eyed the Source of Life warily, a gut feeling telling her to be cautious.
"What's wrong, Dehya?" Paimon asked, looking at her with a pout. She couldn't understand why Dehya would stop them when this could literally save Dunyarzad's life.
"I'm sorry... as wonderful as your words sound, I cannot allow my Lady to hastily try something so mysterious." Dehya shook her head firmly. "I don't know who this Lord Akira is... I've never seen him before."
"Furthermore, Eleazar has always been deemed an incurable disease in Sumeru. Neither the Akademiya nor Lesser Lord Kusanali have ever been able to solve it..."
Lumine fell silent for a moment, observing Dehya's anxious expression. She understood Dehya's hesitation. They had only known each other for a single day, and suddenly, Lumine was claiming that a glowing ball of light could cure an incurable plague. Anyone would be skeptical.
"Uh..." Paimon scratched her head, looking anxiously from Lumine to Dehya.
*Oh boy! This is awkward. We brought this to save her, but are they going to reject it? This is a matter of life and death! What do we do if they won't take it...?*
The alley fell into a heavy silence. Nilou stood to the side, not daring to speak up, feeling it wasn't her place to interfere.
"Please, you two, take this back..." Dehya said.
She was a mercenary who lived life on the edge of a blade, always vigilant and naturally suspicious. If she hadn't been, she would have perished in the unforgiving desert long ago.
"Wait..." Just then, Dunyarzad interrupted Dehya with a gentle smile and reached her hand out toward Lumine.
"Um... Dunyarzad?" Lumine looked at her, surprised.
"It's alright, I want to try it~" Dunyarzad said softly.
"My Lady..." Hearing this, Dehya panicked, stepping forward as if to protest.
Dunyarzad simply shook her head, her smile reassuring. "It's really fine, Dehya."
She took a breath and continued, "I am just an ordinary person wasting away from a disease. There's no reason for a renowned traveler like her to plot against me. I feel safe around her; she isn't a bad person... Dehya, let me try."
"But..." Dehya grit her teeth, her voice cracking. "My Lady, what if something goes wrong? How could I ever face your father and explain that?"
"Hehe~" Dunyarzad let out a soft giggle, shaking her head. "I have suffered for so long and tried every cure under the sun. I'm not afraid anymore."
"Dehya, you know it too, don't you? Lately, I can feel my body reaching its absolute limit."
"I think... I don't have much time left." As she spoke of her own mortality, there was no fear on Dunyarzad's face—only a peaceful smile.
"Let me try. Even if it ends badly, I don't want to live with the regret of what could have been."
"Dehya, I know that life will always bring pain and disappointment." Dunyarzad's voice was as soothing as a spring breeze. "But I also know that we live our lives so that we don't have to carry regrets, right?"
"So, let me give it a shot~" Dunyarzad looked at Dehya with pleading eyes.
"I..." Dehya's eyes welled with tears. The usually iron-willed mercenary looked at Dunyarzad's frail form and wanted nothing more than to break down and cry.
"I will never forget you, my dear friend~" Dunyarzad took a step toward Lumine, looking at her with deep gratitude. "Please... convey my utmost thanks to Lord Akira~"
"You should thank him yourself, in person." Lumine smiled warmly. She gently pulled Dunyarzad closer and pressed the glowing orb of light directly into her chest.
"Ah..." Dunyarzad's eyes flew wide open as a sudden gasp escaped her lips, looking as though she were in intense pain. A radiant light burst from her body, and the black, scale-like patterns on her skin began to melt away, turning into a dark mist that dissolved into thin air.
"My Lady!" Dehya instinctively lunged forward but forced herself to stop, watching Dunyarzad in Lumine's arms with a tense, pained expression.
"Lumine! When Collei absorbed the Source of Life, she didn't seem to hurt this much..." Paimon noted, hovering anxiously.
"It's fine, trust him." Lumine nodded, holding Dunyarzad firmly to offer comfort, even though she didn't fully understand the difference either.
"I'm... I'm okay... It hurts immensely, but... I feel so much lighter..." Dunyarzad managed to stammer out.
"Dunyarzad, don't talk just yet. It'll be over soon..." Lumine urged.
"Mmh..." Dunyarzad closed her eyes as cold sweat beaded on her forehead. Her body trembled as the energy ran its course.
Fortunately, the ordeal was brief. Within a few dozen seconds, the black aura enveloping her completely dissipated, and her trembling body finally calmed down.
"I'm cured... I'm really cured..." Dunyarzad gasped in sheer astonishment, feeling a profound lightness in her body that she had never experienced before.
"Dehya! Look at me!" Dunyarzad pulled away from Lumine, eagerly rolling up her sleeve to display her smooth, flawless, porcelain skin.
"Nilou! Look! I'm completely fine... *Wahhh*..." As she spoke, the overwhelming emotions finally crashed over her, and she burst into tears.
At the end of the day, she was just a young girl. No matter how strong she tried to be, she had carried the crushing weight of a death sentence for far too long...
"My Lady!" Dehya wrapped her arms around Dunyarzad's still-weak frame, shedding tears of pure joy.
Lumine and Paimon exchanged glances and shared a satisfied smile.
After a long while, Dunyarzad finally composed herself. Slipping out of Dehya's embrace, she walked over to Lumine and threw her arms around her.
"Thank you... thank you so much, Lumine..."
"There, there, I'm just glad you're okay." Lumine patted her back gently to soothe her. "But don't thank me. You owe your thanks to Akira."
"Yes! Exactly! I want to thank Lord Akira! He gave me a new lease on life, a second chance!" Dunyarzad nodded vigorously. "Lumine... I don't know Lord Akira yet. How should I thank him?"
"Hmph, no need to rush. He'll be coming to Sumeru in person quite soon." Lumine smirked playfully. She tapped her wrist guard, and a holographic photograph projected into the air.
"Here, you can look at Akira's picture first~" Lumine offered, handing the physical print to her.
Dunyarzad eagerly took the photo from Lumine's hands and stared at it.
The moment her eyes locked onto the image, her gaze turned completely dazed.
The photo captured a moment at the Grand Narukami Shrine, where Akira was reading a book beneath the sacred Sakura Tree—a perfect moment immortalized by Lumine's camera.
A soft, ethereal light bathed the entire photograph. Amidst a flurry of falling cherry blossom petals, Akira sat lazily under the tree, the breeze gently ruffling his clothes as he turned the pages of a novel.
He wore a magnificent black robe draped with a soft white shawl over his shoulders. His long, snow-white hair cascaded gracefully behind him, and his golden eyes held a faint, mesmerizing smile.
It was a divine, otherworldly beauty—a visage that didn't seem to belong to the mortal realm at all!
"He's so... so beautiful..." Dunyarzad murmured, her eyes growing misty as she stared at the photo.
She wanted to say he was incredibly handsome, but 'handsome' felt like an insult to his ethereal appearance. He possessed an absolute, peerless beauty!
At that moment, Dunyarzad's mind went entirely blank, leaving room for nothing else but the divine figure sitting beneath the sacred tree.
Seeing her reaction, Lumine and Paimon chuckled internally. This was Lumine's absolute favorite photo, and she had shown it on purpose.
*If you want to help your husband charm some girls, you have to show them his absolute best shot, right?* Though every single picture of Akira was stunning, this one was a masterpiece. Looking at her now, hadn't the girl's heart already been stolen?
Paimon nodded to herself. Even she occasionally got dazed by the photos Lumine took! Dunyarzad stood absolutely no chance against Akira's charms!
Curiosity getting the better of them, Nilou and Dehya leaned in to peek at the photo.
The moment Nilou saw Akira, a vibrant blush bloomed across her fair cheeks. Her reaction mirrored Dunyarzad's; she had never imagined a human—or a god—could look so breathtaking.
Dehya fared slightly better. She stared for a moment, paused, and then forcibly cleared her throat, looking away. Glancing at Dunyarzad and Nilou, she muttered, "Sure, he's good-looking, but there's no need to gawk like that..."
However, the sharp-eyed Lumine and Paimon didn't miss the faint crimson tint dusting the tips of Dehya's ears. It was only hard to see because of her rich, sun-kissed complexion.
"Lumine, look, Dehya's still trying to act tough..." Paimon whispered into Lumine's ear.
"I see it," Lumine replied with a mischievous grin.
Dehya clearly overheard their whispering. Her face flushed deeper, and she remained silent, though her eyes helplessly kept drifting back to the photo in Dunyarzad's hands...
It took quite a while for Dehya and Nilou to completely snap out of it. Catching Lumine and Paimon's teasing smirks, their faces turned bright red, burning with embarrassment.
They never could have imagined they would lose themselves staring at a photograph of a man... but truly, this Lord Akira was devastatingly handsome!
"Um... since Lord Akira is my savior," Dunyarzad began, looking at Lumine with a subtle, pleading gaze, "Lumine, could I please keep this photo...?"
"Of course." Lumine nodded easily. She had plenty of negatives and could print as many copies as she wanted.
"Thank you, Lumine!" Dunyarzad cheered, clutching Akira's photo to her chest like a prized treasure.
Now freed from the torment of Eleazar, the Source of Life had also thoroughly revitalized her depleted constitution, finally bringing a healthy, rosy color back to her previously pale face.
Nilou looked at the photo in Dunyarzad's arms with a hint of envy. She secretly wanted one too, but she couldn't find a valid excuse to ask for it.
"But Lumine, I've never met Lord Akira before. Why did he choose to save me?" Dunyarzad asked, looking up curiously.
"Well..." Lumine tapped her chin thoughtfully, then leaned in and whispered a few words directly into Dunyarzad's ear.
Dunyarzad's face, which had just cooled down, instantly flared into a fiery crimson. Her small mouth parted in shock as she stared at Lumine, completely at a loss for words.
"My Lady, what's wrong?" Dehya asked, bewildered by the reaction.
"Are you okay, Dunyarzad?" Nilou inquired anxiously.
"Ah... I'm fine..." Dunyarzad shook her head frantically, her face burning hot. "It's nothing, really... I just understand the reason now..."
"What is the reason?" The two women were dying of curiosity, but Dunyarzad sealed her lips tight, refusing to utter another word. However, her eyes shone with the warmth of a spring pool.
*So that's how it is... Lord Akira saved my life. Even if I dedicated my entire life to him... it still wouldn't be enough to repay him, would it?* Dunyarzad thought. While Dehya and Nilou playfully bickered beside her, a similar, unspoken thought began to bloom in all of their hearts.
Time flew by, and soon enough, an early morning arrived where the entirety of Inazuma was bathed in vibrant, celebratory red.
Ordinarily, when a common family wed in Inazuma, they would visit the Grand Narukami Shrine to pray for the Archon's blessing, hoping for a happy and fulfilling life.
Throughout the wedding ceremony, a shrine maiden would lead the proceedings, including purification rituals, and the bride would wear a traditional pure white *Shiromuku* kimono.
However, since this was the first time a god was hosting a grand wedding, Akira had personally requested custom-made bridal gowns for his fiancées, refusing to use what he jokingly considered the overly solemn, funeral-like traditional attire.
Besides, in Akira's opinion, they themselves were gods. Why would they need to pray to a higher power for blessings? Naturally, they bypassed the tedious, archaic rituals.
Inside Tenshukaku, Akira sat surrounded by the most beautiful women of Inazuma. Everyone was incredibly nervous. Even Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei couldn't stop fidgeting, an unusual sight for the powerful Archons.
Each of them wore a uniquely stunning wedding gown that perfectly accentuated their flawless beauty.
There were quite a few brides in this grand wedding—thirteen breathtaking women in total: Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, Raiden Shogun, Yae Miko, Kitsune Saiguu, Yoimiya, Kamisato Ayaka, Kuki Shinobu, Hiiragi Chisato, Kujou Sara, Hanachirusato, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and Murata Himeko.
Guizhong and Havria bustled back and forth, helping the women adjust their dresses.
"Guizhong... does my dress look alright...?" Ei asked, her voice trembling slightly with uncharacteristic nerves.
"It's perfect! You look absolutely breathtaking! Just relax," Guizhong reassured her with a warm smile.
The other girls bombarded Guizhong and Havria with similar questions, constantly asking to tweak their veils or skirts. They were terrified of the slightest imperfection—after all, this was the most important day of their lives!
Guizhong and Havria smiled happily as they helped. Originally, Akira had wanted to include both of them in this ceremony, but the two goddesses preferred to wait and wed Akira alongside the beauties of Liyue.
Hailing from ancient Liyue, they believed a wedding ceremony alongside the Liyue group would be a spectacular spectacle of its own!
Before long, a shrine maid hurried into the room, bowing deeply. "General, ladies, the auspicious hour has arrived. His Majesty is already waiting outside."
The women exchanged glances, nodded to one another, and stepped out together.
At the entrance of Tenshukaku's main pavilion, Akira stood waiting for his beloved brides. Not far away, in the grand square where the ceremony was to take place, countless citizens of Inazuma waited with bated breath. It was a magnificent divine wedding, a legendary event where thirteen brides were marrying their Lord.
Given the esteemed status of each bride, the people of Inazuma looked forward to this grand event with immense excitement and reverence!
Hearing the approaching footsteps behind him, Akira—dressed in his finest formal attire—turned around. As he watched his beautiful brides walking out side by side, he fell into a momentary daze.
Thirteen gorgeous women, each clad in an exquisite gown, looked like an array of the world's finest flowers. And they all belonged to him.
A brilliant, loving smile broke across Akira's face, and he extended his hands toward them.
The women walked gracefully to his side, their eyes overflowing with profound affection and happiness as they gazed at their husband.
Approaching Akira, they curtsied elegantly, offering a gentle, reverent greeting to their husband.
Akira turned, taking his wives' hands, and led them toward the heart of the Tenshukaku courtyard!
"A divine wedding! His Majesty and the ladies are wed! What a joyous day for our Inazuma!"
"Yes! Inazuma will surely flourish and grow even stronger from this day forth!"
"May the household of His Almighty Majesty remain blessed for eternity! May Inazuma live on in peace, prosperity, and boundless light!!!"
The moment Akira and his brides stepped into view, the gathered crowds erupted into thunderous applause, the air filling with fervent prayers, cheers, and endless blessings for Akira and his family.