Chapter Text
Nilou sits silently, processing what you’ve just told her. "That's.. quite the story."
You sigh. "Yep."
"Well, I agree with you about exposing the Akademiya." Nilou's eyes burn with determination. "They can't get away with that."
You nod. "Unfortunately, we can't do anything right now. I could ask some old classmates, but I don't want to drag them out of their lives into this mess. Especially since I haven’t been around to help them.”
Nilou hums, her hands fiddling with her hair. "We don't need to do anything right now. The Sabzeruz Festival is tomorrow, so let's enjoy that."
The redhead stood up, leading you to a room connected to the living room. "You can stay here for the night. Leave your dirty clothes outside the door and I'll wash them. I'll also get night clothes for you."
You peek inside the room, viewing a medium sized bed with a nightstand next to it. The bed was already made, with deep blue blankets on it. You nod approvingly and turn back to Nilou. "Thanks. I really appreciate it."
Nilou smiles. "It's no problem! Good night!"
She closes the door and you can hear her footsteps walking over to where her room is. You turn towards the bed and sit on it, reaching your hands down to pull your shoes off. You glance at the closed door in the room and get up to open it, revealing a bathroom with a shower attached. "Fancy."
You took your time in the shower, enjoying the warm water washing over you for the first time in who knows how long. By the time you're done, Nilou has already placed your night clothes outside the door. You grab them and put them on, tugging the waistband of the pants to adjust to your slightly bigger frame. With clean clothes acquired, you flop into the bed, ready to sleep.
《♤♡◇♧》
You're warm all over, for once. That's the first thing you sense when you're stirred from sleep. You hum, attempting to burrow deeper into the warmth. Skirk must have skinned another abyssal beast to make an extra blanket. A smile makes its way onto your face. You allow yourself to sleep in, to relax, if only for a little longer.
Minutes pass. You flit in and out of consciousness, slowly becoming more aware of your surroundings. Like how the blanket covering you feels like an actual blanket instead of the coat of a beast. You hear birds chirping and recognize their sound. You groan, wondering how the Akasha is playing sounds from the mortal realm if it’s still broken.
And suddenly, you snap back to yourself. Memories of what occurred flooding your brain. You breathe deeply, taking it all in. You glance at the window and pull the covers off you. Hopping off the bed, you walk over to the window and open it, allowing the sunshine to cast what little rays there are into your room. You sit there, feeling the sun warm your face for the first time in a long time.
You move to the bathroom to do your business. As you’re washing your hands, you look in the mirror. Long gone was your youthful face full of relative innocence. Now, you have stitched over scars on your chin and lip from fights with Skirk and creatures of the Abyss. A burn mark rests on your upper forehead. You touch it gingerly, remembering how a fire breathing creature had shot the flame at you. You dodged it enough to not cause serious damage, but it still strayed right above your ear and burned off your hair there. You lift your arms, turning them over to see more scars, each with their own story. You smile softly at the memories. Despite being in a dark place, those moments made it seem like an enjoyable (and very dangerous) training camp.
Eventually, you remember that there is a festival today. One that you are attending with Nilou. You move away from the window and open the door to the guest room, finding your washed clothes sitting outside the door. You pick them up, feeling their dampness. You allow the power of your vision to flow through you and into your hands, heating them and your clothes. Once they are dry, you put them on, making sure all the belts and buckles are clasped properly. As you do this, your mangled Akasha terminal falls out of the clothes, making a small noise as it hits the floor. You pick it up, turning it around in your hands. The once-familiar leaf symbol now only reminds you of Azar and the corruption he has spread into the Akademiya. With almost no hesitation, you crush the Akasha and burn the bits that remain. Already, you feel as though you’re doing something rebellious. You smirk darkly at the thought.
You make your way to the kitchen, wiping the ashes from your hands. As you open cupboards and cabinets, you hear the city around Nilou’s home waking up. You pick up feet hitting the ground and the huffing of breath as someone walks by. Further off, there's the sound of a cart clattering as someone pulls it somewhere. You take it in, glad that the people of Sumeru haven’t changed much.
Finding items to make breakfast with, you begin cooking, losing yourself in the familiar motions. Skirk had taught you the basics of cooking and had you prepare food for the two of you most days. You smile fondly at the thought. She really did prepare you for everything.
When Nilou comes in, you greet her and place a plate full of food at the table. She thanks you, grabbing her utensils as you sit down with your own plate across from her. The two of you eat in a comfortable silence for a while before you inquire about today’s plans.
“It’s the Sabzeruz Festival, Lesser Lord Kusanali’s birthday. I’ll be performing the Dance of Sabzeruz at the end of the day.” Nilou smiles at the thought. “Before that, I’ll probably be helping Mr. Zubayr around the theatre. You’re more than welcome to join me, Y/N.”
You nod. “I’ll probably wander around the festival stalls a little and retreat to you if it gets too much.”
Nilou smiles. “Sounds like a plan! Let’s finish eating and then we can head out.” She gasps suddenly. “Also! The Traveler is coming back today! They want to meet the Lesser Lord, so I’m sure they’re interested in the sages and might have some information on them.”
You frown. “The.. Traveler?”
Nilou looks at you, her expression confused for a moment. Then her eyes widened. “Oh! You haven’t heard of them since you were down… there. The Traveler is an outlander that has been wandering around Teyvat looking for their sibling. They are famous because they’ve helped every nation they’ve come across in some huge way.”
You sip your drink, humming appreciatively. “Huh, guess that is pretty impressive… I hope they have some information.”
Nilou smiles. “I’ve heard they are very knowledgeable, so they should have something. But, one more thing before we go.”
She places down her utensils, folding her hands in her lap. Nilou pauses, thinking over her words carefully. “If the Grand Sage tossed you into the Abyss… who’s to say he won’t do it again?”
You frown. “True.. where are you going with this?”
“I think we should come up with a cover story for you. We keep your true identity between us and the Traveler when you tell them.” Nilou places her hands in a placating gesture. “O-only if you’re comfortable with that after all! We could always come up with a cover story for why you want information on the sages…”
You shake your head, thinking it over. “No no, that sounds reasonable. It is likely that Azar would throw me in prison if he found out I was alive. And that’s the best case scenario.”
The dancer nods, tapping her chin. “How does this sound for a cover story? You’re an adventurer curious about Sumeru and I am letting you stay with me for the Sabzeruz Festival. That’s believable, right?”
You nod, cracking a smile. “Very. Especially considering how kindhearted you are.”
“Haha, thank you!” Nilou takes a bite of her food. “You should also think of a fake name.” She dabs her mouth with a napkin.
You barely have to think about it. “I like Qiang a lot. It’s a Liyuean name I found in a book.”
Nilou nods. “Sounds lovely. Well then, let’s finish eating and then we can get going.”
《♤♡◇♧》
The two of you walk through Sumeru, on your way to the Grand Bazaar. Despite it being Lord Kusanali’s birthday, no one seems to be too excited. Students are still walking briskly through the streets and merchants are still selling their wares to customers. You sigh.
“Sumeru City hasn’t changed at all…” You turn and meet eyes with Kathryne. She waves, mouth opening to give the Adventurer's Guild motto before her eyes widen as she recognizes you. You dash over and shush her quickly.
“Y/N? Is.. that really you?” Kathryne places her hands on the counter, eyes darting across your face. You smile, a little surprised she can recognize you, considering your scarred face and more muscular build. But then again, Kathryne always was mysterious like that.
“Yes, it’s me. I’m back. But listen, I discovered something strange with the Akademiya. I’m trusting that you won’t tell anyone else, as you aren’t affiliated with the Akademiya.” You meet her eyes to confirm this. Kathryne nods, something like hope settling in her gaze. “You have my word, Y/N.”
You focus on her face for another moment, trying to remember if Kathryne ever showed an emotion so strongly. You chuckle at yourself. Distance really does make the heart grow fonder.
“The Akademiya built a portal to the Abyss to help the Abyss Order. Whatever they said happened to me is not true. They tossed me in because I discovered their plans. I’m not sure if they’re still working with the Order, but one thing is clear.” You narrow your eyes. “The Akademiya is corrupt. We need a change.”
Kathryne nods. “I don’t have any ideas on how to do that… yet. I will, however, keep an eye on the Akademiya and their activities.”
You nod. Even if Kathryne couldn’t get much information, that would be better than no information.
“Thanks Kathryne.” You smile at her, turning as Nilou tugs on your arm. “Hey, let’s get going! I need to check in soon.”
Kathryne chuckles slightly. “Ad Astra Abyssosque, Y/N.”
“To the stars… and the abyss.” You mutter this to yourself as Nilou drags you away.
The two of you move quickly through the streets, arriving quickly at the doors leading to the Grand Bazaar. The two of you push through them and enter a completely different atmosphere. Here, you feel the excitement and joy emitting from everyone on their god’s birthday. Children run through the streets, laughing with their friends and pointing at stalls with things they want. The parents trail behind, slower than the children, but no less excited.
Nilou stops and takes a deep breath. “Ahh… It’s wonderful to see everyone so happy.”
You nod slowly, taking it all in. “I can’t believe I never attended in past years… it’s beautiful.”
Nilou giggles, her eyes crinkling. She gasps and waves excitedly. “Dunyarzad!”
A woman with a long blue dress and purple top approaches quickly, outstretching her arms. “Nilou!”
The two hug tightly, squeals coming from both of them. Eventually, they draw back.
“I’m so glad you could make it!” Nilou is smiling big, her face a little flushed. “You aren’t in trouble with your parents, right?”
Dunyarzad shakes her head. “No, no. Dehya managed to convince them that I would be safe.” The woman turns to wave at a dark skinned mercenary who had been standing a ways off.
“It’s nice to see you again, Nilou.” Dehya smiles casually as she approaches. She turns her head towards you, her face falling into a suspicious expression. “Who’s this?”
You settle for a neutral smile. “I’m Qiang. Nilou is letting me stay with her for the Sabzeruz Festival.”
Dunyarzad smiles sweetly at you. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Qiang!”
Dehya nods, suspicion lessening but still present. “Hm. So, you’re also here for the festival?”
You nod. “Nilou says she’s going to dance. I don’t want to pass that up.” You smile at her and laugh lightly as she flushes.
“A-anyways! Have you seen the Traveler?” Nilou swiftly changed the subject. Dehya nods. “We met up with them yesterday and agreed to meet around here today.”
Nilou claps excitedly. “That’s great! Y- uh, Qiang here wants to meet them.”
Dunyarzad turns to you, just as excited now. “Are you a fan of their adventures as well? They’re amazing, right?”
You step back, unused to such excitement. “Uh.. You could say that. I’m mostly interested in what people they’ve met.” Not a lie, but not quite the truth either.
“Well, you can go ask them right now. Here they come!” Dunyarzad begins lifting her arm up to wave before wincing and bringing it back down again. You spare her a glance, but leave it alone as it’s not your business. Instead, you turn your attention to the famed Traveler.
They have golden blonde hair, cut short so it frames their face. Their eyes are golden as well and set in a neutral gaze. You can tell that they could quickly cast a cold glare that would chill most people to the bone. Right now though, their face breaks into a smile, walking faster over to the group. Behind them, a fairy thing floats after them, pointing at the group.
“Hi everyone!” The fairy behind the Traveler grins at them. “Sorry that we’re late…?”
Dunyarzad shakes her head and grabs the Traveler’s hand. “No no, we just got here as well. I think Nilou and Qiang were here first.”
The Traveler casts their imposing gaze on you. Their eyes narrow slightly. “You’re Qiang?”
You nod stiffly. “Yep.”
Nilou quickly interjects. “They're staying with me!”
The Traveler glances at her. “So they just arrived, considering they weren’t here when we first met.”
You and Nilou share a glance. You aren’t sure why the Traveler is so suspicious of you, but you can already tell you don’t want to be on their bad side. “I did just get here. It was a bit of a last minute thing.”
The fairy beside the blonde claps her hands. “Oh! So you’re here for the Sabzeruz Festival as well?”
You nod. Dunyarzad grins. “You’re welcome to join Lumine, Paimon, and I. I’ll be showing them around the festival.”
You glance at the Traveler and shrug. “As long as we’re coming back here to watch Nilou’s dance.”
The fairy (you assume that’s Paimon) scoffs lightheartedly. ”Of course! That’s the crown jewel of the festival!”
Nilou covers her face. “Hehe, now you’re making me nervous! I’ll be sure to do my best for you all!”
You smile at her. “Don’t stress too much. I’ve never seen you dance before, but I know you’ll do amazing.”
Nilou grins and brings a hand to shoo you and the other off. “Alright, alright! You guys go enjoy the festivities, I’ll see you back here in a bit.”
Dunyarzad nods and turns to you and Lumine. “Let’s get going!”
《♤♡◇♧》
The first stall you stop at is one selling foods from the Haft-Mewa feast. A man named Amal welcomes you to it.
“In older festivals, people would set their tables with 7 different types of food.” Dunyarzad tells you all. Paimon gasps as she realizes something. “If Sumeru has a vegetable festival, won’t that mean Natlan will have a meat festival? We have to head there as soon as possible!”
Lumine sighs loudly, seemingly annoyed except for the small, fond smile on her face. “Sure Paimon.”
You chuckle as you all move to the next stall. This one is an alchemy stall with a Spantamad student running it. They explain that they are doing alchemical divination and ask for two alchemical items to perform a random transmutation.
“But won’t that fail?” You had dabbled in Elementalism momentarily and knew enough about alchemy to get by. The student nods. “That’s what we’re counting on. Once it fails, I’ll interpret the results.”
You look at the Traveler, leaving it up to them if they want to try. Sure enough, she steps forward. “I’ll give it a shot.”
They hand the student an electro crystal and a butterfly. The student quickly transmutes them. He hums and looks at mangled results. "It seems to be… the moon. Which, um. Ah, one moment…"
The student turns to the back of the stall, grabbing a book. You snort, realizing he's looking up what the moon means. Finally, the student gives an answer. "The moon symbolizes illusions and lies."
Dunyarzad frowns. "That's a little ominous.."
The student shrugs. "The book says to 'trust your instincts and overcome fear'."
"Huh… well, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!" She smiles and begins walking to the next stall. You and Lumine follow, sharing a confused glance.
The next stall your group heads to already has children gathered in excitement around it. A tall man dressed in colorful clothing clears his throat. You recognize the outfit and realize he is dressed as the Knight of Flowers. You smile, a memory of Alhathiam and Kaveh coming to mind. The three of you had been helping each other study and you had suggested using flowers to Kaveh for his project. It quickly delved into research onto the Goddess of Flowers and those associated with them. You chuckle, remembering how Alhathiam had threatened to leave the two of you by yourselves if you didn’t refocus. Speaking of which, your attention is called back to the present by the actor speaking again.
"Attention! Children- ahem, I mean, Soldiers! Fall into line if you want Yalda Candies!" The children follow the instructions with a swiftness that surprises you. They all hold their hands out, their faces glowing innocently.
The man seems to be surprised as well, but quickly recovers and hands out candies to the waiting children. He catches sight of Dunyarzad and his warm smile grows bigger. "Miss Dunyarzad!"
The children turn towards the woman, immediately smiling and clamoring around her. Dunyarzad takes it in stride, smiling back at the children and patting some of their heads. She turns to the tall man. “Hallowed Knight of Flowers, I’m surprised you know my name!”
The man chuckles sheepishly. He calls the children to attention, thanking them for their contribution to the Sabzeruz Festival. He then sends them on their way before turning back to Dunyarzad. Paimon rubs her head, confused. “What the heck…?”
Dunyarzad laughs and opens her mouth to speak. You quickly cut her off. “I have this one. Farris, the Knight of Flowers is a popular icon in the Sabzeruz Festival. In past festivals, he would sit in a flower carriage.”
Dunyarzad looks pleasantly surprised. “Seems like you did your research! Heh, you really are excited for it, huh?”
You smile sheepishly. “Yeah, um.. It was an interesting topic to research.” It is true. When you were still at the Akademiya, you were curious about the Goddess of Flowers and it led to a whole deep dive into the topics related to her.
The man, named Vihar, provided another fact. “Farris would also toss Yalda Candies to the crowds surrounding the carriage. Here and now, I have these containers for people to choose from! Each container has a different flavor of candy.”
Paimon squeals, her eyes bright. “Now we’re talking! So, what kind of flavors are there?”
Vihar hums, thinking. “There’s Sunsettia, Harra Fruit, Lavender Melon…”
“Ooh, sounds yummy!” Paimon’s basically drooling now.
“And also Lizard Tail and Onikabuto.” Vihar finishes with a smile that grows ever so slightly at Paimon’s shock.
Paimon recoils. “Nope, nope, nope! I don’t want those! That sounds icky, yeugh…”
You shrug. “I’ve eaten worse.” You shiver slightly, remembering how you had eaten abyssal elk once. (Apparently, elk, deer, and moose existed in a more twisted form down in the Abyss. Unfortunately, all three tasted like shit.)
Vihar laughs. “Choose from boxes 1 through 5. We’ll see if you get Sunsettia or not.” Lumine steps forward, eyes raking over her options. Paimon anxiously peeks over her shoulder, praying for her companion to choose Sunsettia.
Finally, Lumine points at the green box closest to Vihar. He looks down at it. “Oh? You choose this one?”
Lumine nods, confident. Vihar chuckles. “A person of few words, I see! Well, you chose well! Box 4 is indeed Sunsettia.”
Paimon cheers, tiny hands pumping in the air. “Yes! Nice going Traveler!”
Lumine smiles as Vihar hands her the open box. She offers it to Dunyarzad and you. “Might want to take one before Paimon eats them all.”
Paimon doesn’t even have the decency to argue, simply nodding along. Dunyarzad laughs and takes one. “Thank you.”
You grab the offered candy as well, popping it into your mouth. The sweet flavors of the Sunsettia easily shine through and you hum in enjoyment. Dunyarzad finishes the candy before gasping sheepishly.
“Oh uh. I forgot something behind. Would you mind coming with me to get it?” You nod, glancing at Lumine and Paimon for their responses. Both of them agree and the four of you head off to where Dunyarzad is staying.
However, as you’re approaching her residence, a band of eremites step out and block your path. Dunyarzad steps forward, her voice cautious. “Who are you? I don’t think my parents hired you.”
The leader laughs. “Nope. But.. I wonder how much they would pay for us to bring you back to them…”
Paimon gasps in fear. “Uh oh, they’re gonna kidnap Dunyarzad! Traveler, we gotta protect her!”
The Traveler and you step forward in unison. She looks at you, confused. “You can fight?”
You grin, allowing some of the bloodlust you acquired in the abyss to show. Your dual blades spin into existence, resting comfortably in your hands. The Traveler nods, but before either of you can move, an angry voice calls out to the eremites.
"Hey! I thought you would have known that the Homoyami's already hired a merc that outclasses you!" Dehya is practically snarling at the eremites. The leader of the gang takes a step back, shocked. "D-Dehya? Dehya the Flame-Mane?"
He suddenly laughs, cold and cruel. "No wonder we haven't heard of you in a while! You sold your mane to the highest bidder." Now it's the leader's turn to snarl, contempt swimming in his stance.
Dunyarzad angrily steps in. "Don't you dare disrespect Dehya like that! My family has paid her well for her kindness!"
Dehya spares you all a glance. "You two, take Dunyarzad and run. I'll deal with this bunch of mora-grabbing prey."
Paimon stomps the air fiercely. "We can help though!"
Dehya turns her attention back to the Eremite gang. Lumine, meanwhile, nods in understanding. "C'mon, this way."
She grabs Dunyarzad's hand and begins jogging off. Paimon glances between the face off and her companion running off before floating quickly after the Traveler. "Be careful Dehya!"
You begin walking off before pausing to turn and glare dangerously at the bunch. You don't say a word, simply backing away, taking pride in the way you can see them shiver. Once you're satisfied, you quickly hurry after your guides.
The four of you finally stop running in the area in front of the Adventurers Guild. Dunyarzad stumbles her way over to a bench, sitting down heavily on it. She pants, her face pale. The Traveler sits next to her, concerned.
"Are you alright?" Paimon speaks before the two of you can. Dunyarzad smiles weakly. "Yeah, this always happens when I exert too much energy."
She breathes deeply, looking up at the sky. "I just need to rest for a bit. We should be more worried about Dehya."
You shake your head. "She'll be fine. I've barely met her and I can already tell she's a fighter."
Your words comfort Dunyarzad, as her face seems to relax. The Traveler joins her on the bench, while you choose to lean against it. All of you wait patiently for Dehya in a comfortable silence.
Finally, she shows up. "Found ya."
Paimon immediately rushes over to her. "Dehya! You're all right, right? Kicked those jerks butts?"
Dehya laughs. "Sure did. Did anyone follow you guys?"
Lumine shakes her head no. The Flame-Mane sighs in relief. "Phew.. that's good."
Dunyarzad slowly stands up, concerned eyes zeroed in on her bodyguard. "Your arm… "
Dehya brings the bandaged arm up. "Eh, it's fine. Typically, small fry like them wouldn't be able to hit me at all, but I'm still adjusting to my new greatsword."
The mercenary shrugs casually. Dunyarzad, meanwhile, has a thoughtful expression on her face. One that quickly turns to shock. "Dehya… what happened to your old greatsword..?"
Dehya avoids eye contact, rubbing the back of her head. Dunyarzad narrows her eyes, putting things together. "The anonymous donation… you sold your greatsword?"
Dunyarzad gently grabs Dehya's hand as the taller woman chuckles sheepishly. “I could see how much you wanted the festival to happen. I knew you needed the money, so I decided to sell my greatsword! The money made your dream come true and that's all that matters.”
Dehya smiles softly at Dunyarzad even as the young lady berates her on selling her weapon and getting hurt. Somehow, you feel as though you’re interrupting something by just being there. You shift uncomfortably, meeting eyes with Lumine who looks just as uncomfortable. Both of your attention is drawn back to the two when Dunyarzad begins coughing. Dehya is immediately concerned.
“My Lady, your condition…” Dehya glances around. “You two, stay with Dunyarzad. I’m gonna walk around and make sure it’s safe.”
With that Dehya walks off. Dunyarzad takes a seat at the bench, Lumine sitting beside her. Paimon for once is speechless. Dnyarzad breathes a deep sigh before beginning to speak.
“I was born with Eleazar. It’s terminal now.” She smiles sadly as she unwraps the bandages from her hands, revealing grey-black scales. You inhale sharply, clarity striking you hard. The Traveler and Paimon have similar responses.
“Eleazar… of course.” Lumine mutters this bitterly, her expression shadowed.
“Oh. You already know about Eleazar.” The young woman stares at her hands, slowly rubbing them together. “The current healthcare in Sumeru hasn’t found a cure. All anyone can do is slow the disease with environmental therapy.”
Paimon places a hand on her chest sadly. “Dunyarzad…”
“Hey, there’s no need to be sad. I’ve lived with it for a long time.” Dunyarzad sighs. “I know my family loves me dearly and has done their best to provide a stable life for me. But.. I want to be able to take the limited amount of time that I have and enjoy it.”
She meets your eyes and smiles. “Lesser Lord Kusanali saved my life when I was horribly sick once. That’s why I helped organize this festival, to pay her back.”
Dunyarzad smiles wistfully. “The point of living is not to leave behind any regrets. Organizing this festival to celebrate our god… it’s a way for me to make sure I’m remembered.”
You slowly move to where Dunyarzad is and take her hand. “I won’t forget you.” You squeeze her hand gently. “Not ever.”
Paimon and Lumine nod as well. “We’ll make sure people remember you, Dunyarzad. Because you’re an amazing person… an-and you deserve to be happy!” Paimon rubs at her eyes, tearing up a little.
Dunyarzad laughs quietly. “Hey.. Don’t cry. I’m sorry for bringing the mood down.” She suddenly gasps and stands up slowly. “Oh! It’s almost time for Nilou’s dance!”
You look at the sky, seeing how the sun is setting. You link arms with Dunyarzad and glance at your other companions. “Well then, we better get going! We can’t miss the grand finale of the festival you worked so hard to make happen.”
With that, your group begins walking towards the Grand Bazaar. Paimon eventually pushes back her tears and begins speculating about Nilou’s dance, bringing the energy of the group back up. Soon enough, you are passing through the doors to the Bazaar, laughter and warmth present in you all.
That warmth is quickly diminished once you see who is on the stage with Nilou.
“Were you not aware that the law prohibits this type of performance without prior permission?” A woman with deep blue hair waves a hand at Nilou, an uncaring expression on her face.
Your gaze, however, isn’t on Nilou’s nervous posture or how the woman is berating her. You are laser focused on the old man in blue robes next to her. Your fists clench as you try not to let your anger leak into the air too much.
Lumine cast a suspicious look at the two. “Who is that?”
Dunyarzad looks nervous. “That’s.. The Grand Sage of the Akademiya, Azar.”
You nod, still attempting to stay calm. “Let’s listen in and see what’s happening.”
On the stage, Nilou is pleading her case to the scholars. “The Dance of Sabzeruz is a key part of the Sabzeruz Festival! If we can’t perform it-”
“The Sabzeruz Festival? The law also prohibits large scale religious celebrations unless hosted by the Akademiya.” The woman’s voice has taken a haughty tone. She is now glancing around suspiciously at the theater. “If you continue to resist, we will investigate every event organizer. The Grand Sage has granted you much leniency already. I advise you to exercise tact.”
The Traveler begins moving up the stairs to the stage, stopping behind the Sage and the researcher. At Nilou’s heartbroken expression, you feel another flash of anger at the Sage. Dunyarzad seems to share your feelings.
“The Akademiya were the ones who started this tradition, but they’ve failed that responsibility. I need to speak to them-” She moves to shout some sense into the two, but the traveler stops her before she can.
“Wait. We don’t want this to get ugly.” She looks just as angry as you. “Unfortunately, they have the power in this situation.”
You nod, standing next to them. “Lumine is right. We don’t want to be arrested… or worse.” You think of how Azar tossed you into the Abyss with no remorse bitterly.
“Art… Dance.. Aren’t you ashamed to practice such frivolous and meaningless things in the land of knowledge and reason?” Azar’s tone is devoid of any emotion aside from haughty confidence. He sighs. “Our archon created this land for scholars … pursuers of validity and truth. People like you defile this land.”
“Oh he did not just fucking say that.” You hiss in anger, imagining punching his old face in. Fortunately, Nilou has a strong comeback.
“Our archon did not reject the arts.” The dancer's voice is strong and full of belief. “If she did, why would the Goddess of Flowers dedicate a dance to her?”
The Grand Sage pauses, taken aback. “With your lack of intellectual credentials, I do not believe you are qualified to debate with me. Instead, you should be finding workers to tear down this ridiculous eyesore.” He sneers at her, boasting his prestige as a deflection technique. “In fact, maybe tearing this down will allow you to open your eyes to a profession that is more respected here.”
Nilou flinches, hurt. You quickly move next to her, placing a hand on her arm. Azar and the researcher pause momentarily, orders being passed on. He glances back at the group and meets your eyes. You hold his gaze, narrowing your eyes at him. Unconsciously, your vision flares up, causing your eyes to glow. Azar’s face remains impassive. He mutters something that you are barely able to catch as he walks off.
“The Sabzeruz Festival… go celebrate the birth of that god to your heart's content.”
You turn this over in your head, even as Nilou and the others discuss alternate options for the dance. Eventually, they realize that it would be too risky to attempt to host the dance. Nilou promises to make the next Sabzeruz festival happen, all the way to the end. Dunyarzad pauses, an unreadable expression flashing across her face. She forces a smile, promising that she’ll be there. You and the Traveler share a look, realizing what the young lady’s pause meant.
She’s not going to live for another year.
This thought haunts you along with the Grand Sage’s words as you and Nilou walk back to her home. The two of you are disappointed and you go through your nightly routine in a slight daze.
“Tomorrow,” Nilou begins, leaning against the doorframe of your temporary room. “Tomorrow, you tell the Traveler what happened to you. And we’ll figure out how to take Azar out of power.”
You smile, happy to see that Nilou is not at all deterred by the Grand Sage’s words. “Tomorrow.” You answer in kind, bidding your… friend, goodnight.
You lay in the bed, pulling the covers over you. Staring up at the ceiling, you allow yourself to submerge fully in your thoughts, thinking everything over. What meaning hid behind Azar’s words? Was Dunyarzad really not going to last a year? Why did so few people believe in the Lesser Lord?
Thoughts like these and more exhaust your consciousness, pulling you into sleep. And for the first time, you dream.
《♤♡◇♧》
You’re walking through Sumeru City, heading up one of the ramps leading to the Akademiya. You are aware of people passing you, but you can’t focus on their faces. You don’t want to, anyways. You have a destination and a goal in mind. The doors to the Akademiya open with a flourish. Your stride doesn’t hesitate as you walk through the halls. Eventually, you stop in front of a door. A plaque on it reads “Scribe”. You push it open, revealing Alhathiam sitting at his desk full of papers. A pen is in his hand as he writes things down.
You move to stand in front of him. A desk is the only thing that separates you two. You reach out your hand, waving it in front of his face. He looks up, and your heart jumps.
“Alhathiam.” Your lips move, you can feel them move. You know you called his name. Yet no sound echoes in the room. You try again. “Alhathiam, it’s me. Y/N.”
The silver haired man squints slightly, staring right through you. Your arm drops as he gets up without a word and closes the door before casting his intimidating gaze across the room. “Who’s in here?”
You move back in front of him, hopeful. “Alhathiam!”
He seems to see you, if only for a moment. Then, a sigh. “Guess I’m pushing myself past my limits if I’m seeing things…”
Alhathiam moves back to his desk and signs his name on the paper with a few flicks of his hand. You bring your arm back up again, trying to grab him. “Alhathiam, please!”
Your hand grips him momentarily before slipping through. Alhathiam pauses, glancing at his arm with a forlorn look. “She’s gone. All you can do now is continue living your life and honor her memory.”
Alhathiam walks out of the room and the door shuts with a loud thud. You stay there, shock still. You feel your eyes pricking and blink a few times, pushing the tears back. You breathe deeply, calming yourself down. You are now aware that you are dreaming, somehow. If it’s a dream, maybe you can send yourself elsewhere. After all, a dream is still part of your consciousness.
You imagine yourself in a peaceful place, someplace where you can find answers to your questions instead of a place that hurts you. As you’re imagining this, you feel a tug on your consciousness, as if something is trying to get you to turn towards it. Curious, you follow the tug, watching as the dream-world around you changes. You are now standing in the Bimarstan, Sumeru’s outdoor hospital. As you’re gathering your bearings, you hear-
“Oh! Well this is a pleasant surprise.” You turn around, seeing the Traveler, Paimon and… a little girl?
“Hello Y/N!” The girl waves, her voice cheerful. “We have something we need your help with.”
Paimon frowns and you mimic her expression. “Uh.. what? Isn’t their name Qiang?”
The girl giggles. “People can have many names. Shouldn’t you have realized that by now?”
Paimon chuckles sheepishly. Your frown deepens. “What is happening?”
The Traveler’s eyes widen. “Wait. Y/N? That’s your name?”
You narrow your eyes. “What if I am?”
The Traveler waves her hands. “We know Tighnari. He mentioned a Y/N that was killed in a research accident a while ago.”
You relax, a sigh leaving you. “How.. how is he doing? Did he manage to leave the Akademiya?”
Paimon nods. “Yep yep! He’s a Forest Watcher now! Always trying out these weird mushrooms too.”
You chuckle fondly. “Sounds like Tighnari.”
The girl clears her throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but we are running out of time. May I explain why we need you, Y/N?”
“Sure. But first..” You crouch down to the girls level. “Who are you? How did you know who I was?”
The girl is unfazed and places a tiny hand on your head. “My name is Nahida. But you’ve always known me by another name, right?”
You frown, confused. Nahida giggles. “Cmon, you can figure this out! You participated in an event dedicated to me!”
Your eyes widen, the puzzle pieces falling into place. The girl standing in front of you, was Lesser Lord Kusanali herself. You’re stock still, unsure of how to react. “Huh?”
Paimon nods. “Pretty strange, right? Apparently, since this is a dream world, Nahida can place her consciousness in the dreams.”
You try to wrap your head around this. “So… your physical body is in the Sanctuary of Suresthana, but you can put your consciousness in dreams?”
Nahida nods. “Mhm. I was locked up there. Dreams are the only way I can learn about the world.”
“Locked up… by Azar?” You narrow your eyes, angry at the injustice. “That bastard…”
“Language, hehe.” Nahida giggles, surprisingly calm about this. “You can worry about that later. Right now, we need to break this samsara cycle.”
You recognize the term, eyes lighting up. “That’s what’s happening?”
Lumine nods. “We’ve been repeating this day over and over again. We can’t break out because our Akasha’s are on our physical bodies. Our best chance is to find the dream host and wake them up.”
You nod. “Understood. Any guesses so far?” The Traveler shakes their head. “Right, then let’s walk around a bit. Maybe we can find some clues in the Bazaar or someplace.”
Paimon bobs her head. “It’s getting to be around the time of the Dance of Sabzeruz…. maybe we can make something different happen?”
Nahida shrugs. “Try your best. I believe you can figure this out, especially with Y/N with you now.”
You nod at her and turn to the Traveler. “Let’s go.”
The three of you move quickly to the Grand Bazaar, the pressure of what could happen if you fail weighing on all your minds. As you enter the Bazaar, you scrutinize the area, looking for anything that could show who’s the dream host.
Your eyes wander to the stage area, watching as Azar and his accomplice approach Nilou. You narrow your eyes. “Hey Traveler, if this is a dream, what we do here won’t have any effect in the real world, right?”
The Traveler nods, before fully processing your question. She turns to face you as you begin walking up the theatre steps. “What are you planning?”
You grin at her, just slightly manical. “Nothing much.” With that you move in front of Nilou and punch Azar directly in the face. He stumbles back, a hand moving up to protect his face. Nilou gasps and grabs you. “Y/N! Ah! I-i mean, Qiang-”
You cut her off. “No need to hide it. The Traveler knows what’s up. As for Azar, he deserves it but it won’t do anything because this is a dream.”
Nilou blinks, processing this. Instead of denying this she simply asks “How do you know?”
“Imagine that Azar and that Researcher aren’t here.” Lumine moves to stand next to you, a thoughtful expression on her face. Nilou looks confused, but nods. She closes her eyes, lips moving as she mutters something to herself. You turn to look at where Azar and the researcher… were.
Paimon gasps. “They’re gone! Nilou, look!”
Nilou opens her eyes, a shocked expression appearing on her face. “They disappeared…”
“Which means Nilou is the host.” Lumine crosses her arms, a relieved smile on her face. Nilou waves her hands around. “Wait, what? Someone explain.”
“We’re in a dream, called a samsara cycle in this case, that’s repeated the day of Sabzeruz over and over again. This is possible through the Akademiya’s manipulation of the Akasha. This cycle is draining people’s mental energy and consciousness in the real world, which is why we need to stop it.” You pause, looking at the Traveler to confirm your summary. They wave their hand from side to side, signaling that you got it, more or less.
Nilou brings a hand to her chest, looking down. “The Akademiya is hurting the people it’s supposed to protect… all for what?”
You shake your head. “We don’t know. But I want, no need, to find out.” Lumine and Paimon nod, showing their agreement with you. Nilou sighs.
“The Grand Sage already stopped the festival in the real world. So…” She moves to the center of the stage, her eyes brightening with resolve. “I want to perform the Dance of Sabzeruz here. That way, everyone who wanted to see it can enjoy it, even if it is in a dream.”
You smile and begin walking off the stage. The Traveler follows you as you make your way to the viewing area in front of the stage. Paimon gives the dancer a quick hug before floating to her companion. With the stage clear, Nilou begins her dance.
She brings her hands close to her chest, a blue glow emitting from her cupped hands. She spreads them out, a blue wave of light mist spreading around the area. As you watch in awe, you realize this is the first time you’ve seen Nilou use her vision. As the wave ripples across the theater, decorations appear as Nilou wills them to. People begin turning towards the stage, their excitement growing.
“The wait is over everyone!” Nilou smiles brightly as music begins to play. “I dedicate this to our god… The Dance of Sabzeruz.” With that, she begins flowing back and forth with the music. Her arms wave in an elegant manner, almost decorating how the rest of her body moves. As she spins, little sparkles of light accompany her. She spreads her arms out to the audience and a golden dome of light descends from the top of the Bazaar.
Nilou’s arms roll around each other before spreading around her as she spins. The sparkles grow, spreading in the direction Nilou moves her arms in. One zooms right past you and your eyes follow it, watching as the dream world begins to dissolve around you. You hear a gasp from the Traveler and turn to see a ghostly Dunyarzad smiling up at the stage. Her eyes are full of love as her hands clasp around each other. The Traveler smiles, sadness and happiness both present in their face.
You turn back to the stage as Nilou spreads her arms to the audience one last time before placing a hand on her chest, letting the other drop. She smiles before closing her eyes, letting the dream fade away completely.
You wake up in your bed, blinking the remains of sleep from your eyes. You sit there for a moment, processing what happens. All of a sudden, you are out of the bed and running out of the room. “Nilou?” Your worry is present in your voice. Heading to her door, you knock on it. “Nilou, are you alright?”
You wait anxiously outside the door, listening to the muffled sounds of shuffling sheets. Finally, footsteps sound from the room, growing louder the closer they get to the door. It opens to show a slightly disgruntled Nilou staring at you. “I’m okay.”
You sigh in relief. “Good.”
Nilou giggles, leaning against the doorframe. “That was quite the dream, yeah?”
You smile back at her. “Sure was.”
《♤♡◇♧》
It’s been a day or two since that night. You and Nilou had taken to enjoying daily walks around Sumeru and appreciating the nation’s rainforests. You also became familiar with the dancer's way of fighting and her efficiency with slaying monsters. The two of you had often joked about adding a dendro user to your party so you could create more powerful elemental reactions.
Today, the two of you were enjoying your walk as usual. You were steadily approaching the outskirts of Sumeru City, talking casually to each other.
“So it’s a little difficult to defeat them without any fire nearby. Hence why domains are hell.” You bow slightly, a bit of your childishness slipping through. Nilou giggles, enjoying your dramatics.
“Ah- Y/N!” You turn at the call, seeing the Traveler, Paimon, and… TIghnari?
Both you and the foxes' eyes widen at the same time. Paimon claps a hand to her head. “Nahida, they want their identity hidden!”
You look around, confused. “Where-”
“Ah- sorry. Deal with that later, right now we need your help!” The Traveler (Nahida??) waves their hands before grabbing you and tugging you along with them. You glance at Nilou who is just as confused as you are. You get the feeling that you won’t see her for a while and wave goodbye at her.
“I might not be back for a while! I’ll write though!” This seems to be enough for Nilou as she nods, waving back. “Good luck with whatever happens!”
With your farewells over, you turn your focus to running along with the three. You can see Tighnari is biting back questions, understanding that now is not the time. Finally, you all stop. You sigh and cross your arms, a serious expression on your face. Tighnari looks you up and down before moving to give you a hug. You stiffen in shock, before hesitantly hugging him back, gaining confidence after a bit. Tighnari releases you and smiles cruelly. “Tighnari- I can explain- oof. ”
“You deserve that.” Tighnari declares this, shaking out his fist. Behind you two, the traveler groans. Paimon is at their side immediately. “Ah- Traveler, you’re back!”
They blink, sluggish. “Huh… Y/N? What are you doing here?”
You look around at the group. “Guess we all have some explaining to do.”