After thinking it over, Paimon found it made sense.
After all, she wasn't human. With that kind of power, something like this was only natural.
"Why do it yourself when water can do it for you? Any flowing water—I can turn it into the purest form of purification. Using it against the Withering… now that's efficiency," Lora said.
Lumine glanced at the damp ground and nodded. "Yeah… that really is efficient."
"Alright, let's go." After stabilizing the underground flow, she motioned for them to follow and headed toward Sumeru City.
The city was built around a colossal tree, which also housed the Akademiya. The people of Sumeru called it Irminsul, and held it—supporting both the city and its scholars—in deep reverence.
When they reached the entrance, they were stopped by an Akademiya official named Panah.
He immediately identified them as foreigners, which startled Paimon. She leaned in and whispered, "Are we really that obvious? He could tell we just got here!"
Panah overheard and smiled. "Not at all. It's just that your identities aren't recorded in the Akasha."
"Akasha?" Both paused at the unfamiliar term. Paimon tilted her head. "I think Tighnari mentioned it before… something about an Akasha Terminal…"
"Oh, so you know Forest Ranger Tighnari."
Panah smiled. "The Akasha Terminal is a device that connects to the Akasha. It was originally issued only to Sumeru natives and long-term residents, but recently the Akademiya decided to make it available to visitors as well. The three of you can receive one."
She accepted the device and put it on. In an instant, her consciousness flowed through it and into the network, taking in the entire system at a glance.
The Akasha was built upon the Dendro Archon's Gnosis—a system that uses divine power to coordinate human wisdom. Though originally created by the Archon, the moment her consciousness connected to it, she took control almost immediately.
If it were still under the Archon's direct control, it wouldn't have been so easy. But a system run by humans had no hope of blocking a god's will.
Even Nahida could project her consciousness through it to possess others—let alone her.
When Greater Lord Rukkhadevata first established the Akasha, she had even consulted her—so she was already familiar with how it worked.
In an instant, she sifted through the information she needed—and fell silent in thought.
According to the data, the Akademiya and Dottore were still carrying out their plan.
In other words… they were still creating a god.
So that was it. "Mining" alone was no longer enough—the Akademiya needed more minds. That was why they were distributing terminals to everyone entering Sumeru, using their mental energy to help construct a god.
But the Electro Archon's Gnosis was already in her possession. So what would Scaramouche use to bear that power?
Unable to find an answer, she shifted her focus to something else—the Akademiya using the people of Sumeru as a resource to process divine knowledge.
They wanted to use her mind?
Then she'd give them a taste of what that really meant.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon exchanged uneasy glances.
"Lora, are you okay?" Paimon called anxiously. "Why haven't you moved since putting on the Akasha Terminal?"
She snapped out of it and shook her head. "Relax. I'm fine."
Seeing that she really was, Paimon finally let out a breath. "I thought that thing fried your brain! Imagine traveling with a Liyue Adeptus, only for her to lose it the moment we reach Sumeru—I was already wondering how I'd explain that to Zhongli!"
"…"
"Hehe, never mind that. That guy said we can find answers to anything in the Akasha! Let's ask how to meet Lesser Lord Kusanali!"
The two began searching for answers. Soon, Paimon got a response—and her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Hey! Why did it tell me, 'A clumsy flying dummy isn't allowed to know the answer to this question'?!"
Lumine instinctively glanced at her.
She blinked, expression unchanged. "Maybe even it understands your true nature."
At that, Lumine immediately realized who was behind it. She sighed. "I didn't get an answer either. Looks like it doesn't have much information on Lesser Lord Kusanali."
"If even it can't answer, then this 'Lesser Lord Kusanali' really is mysterious…" Paimon scratched her head, then suddenly turned to her. "Hey, do you have a way to help us meet her?"
"Me?" She blinked, surprised. "Why would you think that?"
"Because you're a Liyue Adeptus!" Paimon spread her hands. "I just feel like people like you must have some way to bypass official channels and meet her—like that bard who somehow shows up everywhere and still gets caught!"
"Are you suggesting I break the law in a foreign country?" she asked, tone turning serious. "I'm a law-abiding citizen."
"Huh? Really? Doesn't look like it…" Paimon blinked.
"…"
"Anyway, let's ask around first and see if anyone knows how to meet her," Lumine said, stepping in to defuse the situation.
"Oh right! Tighnari recommended someone to us. Let's go find them," Paimon added, finally remembering.
She didn't follow them. The group split at the city gates, and she headed alone toward the Akademiya.
The outer areas were open and unguarded, allowing anyone to enter. But when she reached the upper levels and tried to go further, toward the Sanctuary of Surasthana, she was stopped by members of the Eremites.
"The Sanctuary of Surasthana is the residence of the Dendro Archon. Without permission from the Grand Sage, no one is allowed to approach," one of the mercenaries said sternly.
She didn't force her way in. Instead, she simply smiled and turned to leave.
To anyone unaware of the truth, it might seem the Grand Sage held Lesser Lord Kusanali in high regard.
How utterly laughable.