Outside the Akademiya
"That's good."
Hearing Alhaitham's confirmation, Cyno nodded slightly.
Everything was ready.
Now they only needed the final trigger.
At a moment like this, he had to stay absolutely focused.
Alhaitham glanced toward the Sanctuary of Surasthana high above Sumeru City—
Then shifted his gaze to the Light Screen.
"Inazuma has stepped into a new chapter," he murmured.
"It should be our turn soon."
Sanctuary of Surasthana
"It's finally about Greater Lord Rukkhadevata… and me!"
Nahida's small face lit up with excitement.
Since her birth, she had always admired Rukkhadevata.
She wanted to become a god just as wise, just as kind.
But she had never met her predecessor.
Never known how to follow that path.
Now—
Through the Light Screen's evaluation—
She could learn.
Just as the two Raiden sisters' ideals of "Eternity" had been clarified.
"I'll learn properly… and then go out and govern Sumeru well."
She clenched her small fist in determination.
As for how to leave—
She already knew.
Alhaitham and the others had contacted her.
Through subtle signals.
Through the Akasha.
She had faith.
Now—
She only needed to watch and learn.
Chat — The Spark Ignites
At first, it was admiration.
Praise for Rukkhadevata.
Sympathy for Nahida.
Then—
The Akademiya.
Five hundred years of imprisonment.
Anger spread like wildfire.
Klee cried at the thought.
Alice snapped.
This time—
She wasn't joking about explosions.
Alice: Inform your Grand Sage. Release Nahida after this evaluation.
Alice: Or else.
Then—
One by one.
Lumine.
Paimon.
Venti.
Ei.
Furina.
Neuvillette.
Even Zhongli, smiling gently:
"By universal reason, gods should not interfere in other nations' affairs."
"But I am merely a wandering citizen of Liyue."
"Hu Tao, perhaps we should expand the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor into Sumeru."
The implications were unmistakable.
Four Archons.
A Sovereign Dragon.
The Traveler.
And Alice.
All implicitly threatening the Akademiya.
Sumeru's chat members began sweating.
This was no longer criticism.
This was mobilization.
Panic in Sumeru
For the first time—
Sumeru truly understood.
The Akademiya had angered all of Teyvat.
Imprisoning their own Archon for five centuries.
This was not an internal matter anymore.
It was a matter of divine dignity.
Fortunately—
Alhaitham stepped in calmly.
"We understand your position."
"We will inform Azar."
Cyno followed.
"If he does not understand… then we will help him understand."
The tone was cold.
Alice finally relented.
"One chance."
Sanctuary of Surasthana
Nahida read the messages.
Her heart felt warm.
In Sumeru—
She was neglected.
Forgotten.
But here—
She had friends.
People willing to stand up for her.
She bowed lightly in the chat.
Thanking each of them by name.
Venti requested wine.
Zhongli approved.
Ei asked about desserts.
Furina declared neighborly visits.
Even Neuvillette dryly joked about desert climates being part of a murder plot.
Laughter returned.
Tension eased.
But the message had been sent.
The Akademiya's fate was sealed.
Back to the Evaluation
Luo Chen continued calmly.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata:
First Dendro Archon.
Creator of the rainforest.
Protector of Irminsul.
Fallen five hundred years ago during the Cataclysm.
Nahida:
Youngest of the Seven.
Born after the Cataclysm.
Imprisoned under the pretext of "protection."
Forgotten by her people.
Yet she never resented them.
She blamed herself instead.
Studied.
Searched for ways to save Irminsul.
Guided lost citizens quietly.
And then—
Luo Chen paused deliberately.
"Their relationship," he said,
"Is not like the twin gods of Inazuma."
"I'll leave that as a mystery for now."
He displayed their images.
For many outside Sumeru—
It was the first time seeing Rukkhadevata.
Graceful.
Divine.
Serene.
And Nahida—
Small.
Innocent.
Radiant.
The contrast hurt.
Five hundred years.
A child.
Alone.
Public anger surged again.
The Akademiya was now the villain in the eyes of the world.
The Final Shift
The mood transformed.
What began as anticipation became political pressure.
What began as evaluation became reckoning.
Four Archons ready to intervene.
A Dragon Sovereign ready to judge.
The Traveler ready to act.
And within Sumeru—
Reformers already in motion.
Azar's position was crumbling.
Not because of force.
But because the world was watching.
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