"Hey! Lumine—Lumine! What's wrong with you?" Paimon panicked as she collapsed, darting down to shake her.
Lora noticed the strange energy swirling around her. "Don't shout. Her consciousness has been pulled somewhere else. Stay here and watch over her—I'll go check."
"Huh? I'm the one watching her?" Paimon blinked in surprise, but before she could say anything else, Lora had already released her power, her consciousness slipping into the illusion Lumine was trapped in.
A colossal pink tree towered over everything.
"Lora—you came too?" Lumine stood before it, calling out in surprise.
She lifted her gaze. From the tree, she felt an aura—familiar, gentle… almost intimate. It reacted to her presence, and in the next instant, fierce winds surged, tugging at their clothes.
"...It's... you… Long time... no see…"
"Please... don't let the world... forget me..."
"I heard something… Was that the tree speaking?" Lumine turned, unsettled by the faint, broken voice.
Lora stepped forward, placing a hand lightly against the trunk. "If I can… if I make it in time… I will…"
"No… you… don't… take… the risk…"
As the fragmented words faded, the tree forced them out.
Back outside, Lora opened her eyes.
Paimon rushed over. "How is she? Why isn't she waking up?"
"She's fine," Lora said calmly. "She just needs a little time."
Paimon still looked uneasy, but she let out a small sigh of relief.
As long as she's okay…
Lora glanced around. "We need to get her somewhere proper. We can't just leave her on the ground."
"You're right! Then you carry her!" Paimon nodded.
Without hesitation, Lora lifted her in a princess carry and kept moving.
They hadn't gone far before they ran into Collei and Tighnari coming their way.
"Lora, look—there are people ahead!" Paimon floated beside her, pointing excitedly.
"I can hear you. No need to shout," she replied with a sigh.
Tighnari stepped forward with Collei, his gaze briefly settling on the unconscious girl. "What happened? And where are you from?"
"We're from Liyue!" Paimon quickly explained. "We just got to Sumeru, and she suddenly fainted. Is there somewhere we can rest?"
"Of course. Follow me." He nodded and led them toward Gandharva Ville.
As they walked, he added, "It's actually quite common for travelers from other regions to faint in the rainforest. We Forest Rangers end up picking up quite a few unconscious visitors."
"So it's basically a local specialty?" Paimon muttered.
Once Lumine was settled on a bed, Tighnari said, "I'll prepare some herbal medicine for her. You can rest here for now—if you need anything, just ask Collei."
"Yes! Just let me know if you need help!" she added with a nod.
By the time Tighnari returned with the medicine, Lumine was already awake. She looked at Lora.
"Lora… what we saw just now… was that real?"
She gave a small nod. "Yes. It was."
"Just now? Did you see something while you were unconscious?" Tighnari asked, clearly assuming it had been a hallucination. "Did you inhale any of the scholars' incense in the forest?"
"No… that's not it." She shook her head.
"Then can you tell me what you saw?" He sat beside her, watching her condition closely.
She nodded and described the enormous tree and the crimson sky.
"A massive tree… and a crimson sky…" He fell silent for a moment. After urging her to drink the medicine, he said, "It was probably a hallucination. There's never been a plant like that in Sumeru."
"A hallucination?" Paimon scratched her head. "But even Lora said it wasn't! If she says so, then it definitely isn't! Maybe there are places you don't know about?"
"Oh?" Tighnari glanced back at Lora. "From the way you speak, she must have quite the background."
Paimon immediately puffed up with pride, hands on her hips.
"Hmph! Standing before you is the renowned Liyue Adeptus—the Adeptus of Purifying Water and Judgment! She once suppressed the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, and his wife Beisht! She's lived for ages, so if she says it's not a hallucination, then it absolutely isn't!"
"A Liyue Adeptus…" Tighnari and Collei both looked at her.
"I've heard of the Adepti of Liyue," he said thoughtfully. "They fought alongside the Geo Archon in ages past. I didn't expect her to be one of them."
"Oh, it's just a title. Nothing worth mentioning." She waved it off.
He continued, "As you said, the giant tree and the crimson sky may not necessarily be hallucinations. In fact, quite a few people in Sumeru have had similar dreams. However… I'd advise you not to spread this around."
"Not spread it? Why?" Paimon asked.
Tighnari sighed. "Because of the Akademiya. The Sages have forbidden anyone in Sumeru from discussing dreams, fairy tales, or legends."
"Why would they do that?" Lumine frowned.
"That… is an old matter in Sumeru," he replied. "Not something I can explain quickly. For now, you should rest. When there's time, I'll tell you everything."