In the animation, everyone saw Nahida's bright and cheerful smile, softly saying:
['She says she just had a dream, dreaming that Nahida's birthday is today.']
The scene's filter became dreamlike and illusory, with obvious glows at the edges giving a clear sense of recollection or dream.
Nahida sat cross-legged on the grass, a bird perched on her finger, curiously and gently treating this unfamiliar world to her.
At this time, the sunlight was just right.
Nahida: ['In the dream, the Knights of the Flowers and their attendants found her.']
A group of Sumeruans walked over; Nahida tilted her head, looking at them curiously.
The leading Knight of the Flowers knelt halfway and extended a hand.
['"O Archon, we've finally found you—everyone is looking forward to meeting you."']
Nahida smiled very happily; she placed her little hand in the Knight of the Flowers' outstretched hand.
The scene cut to inside Sumeru City; everyone held hands in a circle, with Nahida and the Knight of the Flowers at the center.
Nahida danced joyfully, petals scattering around.
['The festival of the birth of the Lord of Flowers began, with people happily circling around her.']
Today was the day of the Dendro God's birth, Nahida's birthday, so people held the festival of the birth of the Lord of Flowers to celebrate.
Finally, Nahida boarded the flower cart, smiling and waving goodbye to everyone.
['Until Nahida boarded the flower cart, waving goodbye to everyone.']
The screen darkened, falling into brief silence.
This bright and warm scene made everyone unconsciously smile—this was truly too wonderful.
Yes, truly too wonderful; the wonderfulness nearly made Dunyarzad say 'goodbye.'
But her will kept telling her: watch! You must watch! The court's disaster relief grain has finally been distributed—you have to eat even if it chokes you!
The other readers also watched with smiles on their lips; Nahida's image was that of a child, so when she happily played, everyone unconsciously showed auntie smiles.
As expected, children should play like this.
Moreover, watching the whole thing, all the dialogue was so rhyming; it was the same feeling when watching Fischl's 'The Princess's Sword Chronicle' on the island before—one word—rhyming!
Thinking of this, everyone remembered something: Nahida kept saying she had a dream, and linking it to the authority on that island back then—could it be that the mysterious person at that time was Nahida?
The book had no sound, so everyone couldn't judge by voice and could only continue watching—surely it couldn't be this short?
As expected, the screen lit up again, but the story seemed to hit rewind, repeating the events and words that had just happened.
Nahida was still sitting on the flower cart with her eyes closed; after opening her eyes, she still joyfully recounted something, gesturing the shape of a flower crown with her hands.
['The flower cart jostles along, Nahida opens her eyes.']
['She says she just had a dream, dreaming that Nahida's birthday is today.']
This time, Nahida's dream was still awakening in an open wild area, surrounded by flowers, grass, and birds; she looked around curiously, the sunlight slightly blinding.
And under the blinding sunlight, the approaching person had golden hair brighter than the sun.
['In the dream, the Knights of the Flowers and their attendants found her.']
This time, the ones appearing were no longer the Sumeruans from the previous story, but the Traveler and several unfamiliar Sumeruans.
Lumine and Paimon stood at the front, extending a hand to Nahida; behind them stood several people—precisely Cyno and the others.
Everyone was relatively unfamiliar with these people; aside from the Traveler and Paimon, one could say not a single one was recognized, and the Sumeruans familiar with them couldn't see this story anyway.
This led to no one recognizing Cyno and the others' identities; everyone was more curious about the relationship between these people and the Dendro God.
Why did the Knights of the Flowers and attendants become them?
Why was it different from the first story?
These people Dunyarzad originally didn't know, but by a twist of fate, these people were now all by her side.
Dunyarzad's heart chilled, sorrow welling up.
Everyone was there, but I wasn't... at that time... did I miss it...
"Young lady..." Dehya's tone was worried.
Dunyarzad shook her head, forcing a smile: "I'm fine."
As long as the Dendro God is fine, I'm fine.
In the animation, Lumine placed the flower crown on Nahida's head; countless hands reached out around, pulling Nahida up—so harmonious.
['"O Archon, we've finally found you—everyone is looking forward to meeting you."']
Back in Sumeru, everyone still celebrated for Nahida; the crowd circled around Nahida and the Traveler.
['The festival of the birth of the Lord of Flowers began, with people happily circling around her.']
['Until Nahida boarded the flower cart, waving goodbye to everyone.']
Unsure if it was an illusion, the readers always felt like the people celebrating for Nahida in this story seemed fewer?
Having read so many stories by Lucian, everyone vaguely had a bad feeling.
Shikikan the prophet usually loved writing sad stories; he didn't write many cheerful ones.
Among the stories written by the 'gloomy' Shikikan, even the island one counted as cheerful.
Shikikan, this is a heartwarming story, right? Put it in writing!
No time to put it in writing—the animation continued playing; after a brief black screen, Nahida's sleeping face appeared again.
But this time, many places were different; Nahida's expression seemed somewhat pained, eyes tightly closed, brows furrowed, little mouth slightly open as if breathing uneasily.
Even the background music had changed—not the previous cheerfulness and joy; the music now carried some heaviness and suspense.
['The flower cart jostles along, Nahida opens her eyes.']
This time, besides Nahida's words, there was an additional line of subtitles—in Teyvat script.
The suddenly appearing subtitles drew everyone's attention; everyone was a Teyvat person and naturally could read it.
It read: ['The flower cart jostles along, Nahida opens her eyes.']
This made everyone feel strange: this was the same as Nahida's words? Why specially add subtitles? There weren't any before?
If there were subtitles throughout, everyone wouldn't think much of it; the strangeness was that the subtitles only appeared now.
Nahida in the scene opened her eyes; she pitifully shrank her body, hands placed in front of her chest—this was a motion lacking security.
And this time, Nahida in the scene actually 'spoke'!
Before, although the voice acting had always been Nahida, Nahida in the scene actually hadn't 'spoken' aloud; Nahida's voice was more like narration.
This time was different; this time, Nahida really opened her mouth!
[Nahida: "She says she just had a dream, dreaming that Nahida's birthday is today."]
The art style abruptly changed; after several flashes, it turned into black-and-white with red accents, even the white glow around the edges turning black.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Lines · Cyno: About 'Happy Birthday'
"Sixth sin offender number three—judgment is at hand, by my own hand!"