After explaining their next destination to Lora, Lumine and Paimon said their goodbyes and set off toward Port Ormos.
Back in the Grand Bazaar, Lora continued calling out to passersby, selling Padisarah as if nothing had changed.
It didn't take long for trouble to arrive.
An Akademiya official approached with two Eremite mercenaries at his side. He stopped in front of her stall, looking down at her with clear authority.
"As a foreigner, setting up a stall here without permission from the Akademiya is a serious violation of our regulations. Miss, pack up your things and come with us."
"…?"
No one had ever mentioned that rule to her.
Still, she didn't resist. She let the Eremites dismantle her stall, even adding a casual reminder, "Those flowers are expensive. Be careful with them. If they get damaged, I'll hold you responsible."
As she followed them away, she turned and waved cheerfully to the people of the Grand Bazaar, including Nilou.
"I've got something to take care of. I'll be back soon. Don't worry."
It didn't look like she was being taken away at all. More like she was stepping out with acquaintances.
Nilou watched anxiously as Lora was escorted off, but the look she received before Lora left eased her heart for reasons she couldn't explain. It was as if everything was already under control.
…
The Akademiya brought Lora to a detention cell and locked her inside.
"We will investigate your unauthorized commercial activity in Sumeru City," the official said. "A verdict will be issued once the investigation concludes. I suggest you prepare yourself for expulsion."
Lora simply nodded. "Oh, I see. That makes sense."
The man frowned slightly. "You do realize you're being detained by the Akademiya, right? Do you understand what that means?"
"Of course I do," she replied with a bright smile. "That's why I understand."
It wasn't her first time, after all. She had experience. Plenty of it.
Her oddly cooperative attitude left him perplexed. After double-checking her identity through the Akasha, he finally left with the Eremites.
…
Once they were gone, Lora tilted her head, thinking.
Break out directly?
Or leave behind a decoy?
A decoy would mean dealing with Akasha synchronization… which sounded like a hassle.
She paused.
Then her eyes lit up.
"…Am I overthinking this? I can just issue my own pardon through the Akasha."
A faint grin curved her lips.
"They wouldn't question the Akasha anyway."
With that, she closed her eyes. Her consciousness surged outward, slipping into the vast network of the Akasha. With precise control, she altered her status.
Pardoned by the Akademiya.
Moments later, she opened her eyes.
She reached out, pulled open the locked door with ease, and walked straight out.
No one stopped her.
…
Outside, she paused and looked up.
High above Sumeru City stood the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
After a moment of thought, she bent down and plucked a Padisarah from the roadside.
Soft ripples of water gathered around it, flowing gently, wrapping the flower in a shimmering veil. Under that quiet, fluid glow, the ordinary bloom began to feel… different. Elevated. Almost sacred.
This time, no Eremite stood in her way.
She arrived at the entrance of the Sanctuary.
Then hesitated.
"…What should I even say?"
She wasn't exactly close with Nahida.
After a brief pause, she exhaled and stepped inside anyway.
…
The Sanctuary was vast and empty.
A hollow stillness lingered in the air. Not a physical cold, but something that seeped into the mind, a quiet loneliness that settled deep in the bones.
Too cold.
Her gaze lifted.
There, suspended within a cage of light, was Nahida.
Lora drew in a breath, then raised her hand and lightly knocked in the air.
"Knock, knock… Delivery for you. Your Padisarah has arrived."
The small figure stirred, and Nahida slowly opened her eyes. Surprise flickered across her face.
"It's you… But how did you…"
"Oh, I'm just that capable," Lora said with a smile.
She stepped forward, reaching toward the barrier—
"Don't!"
Nahida's voice sharpened instantly.
"If you touch it, the Grand Sage will notice. You mustn't interact with it."
Her eyes softened as they fell on the flower in Lora's hand.
"I don't know who you are, but… thank you. Truly. But your safety matters more than anything. You need to leave. Now."
Lora shook her head lightly. "I told you, didn't I? I'm pretty strong."
A trace of confusion surfaced in Nahida's eyes.
She knew this person was unusual, different from anyone outside. She had even seen through the presence controlling Katheryne.
And yet… she couldn't identify her.
She had never met another god—nor had she ever met Lora.
Lora let out a soft sigh.
"Alright, let me introduce myself properly."
She met Nahida's gaze.
"My name is Lora. You may not recognize it… but you should know my other name."
A brief pause.
"Egeria."
…
Nahida froze.
Her small, delicate ears twitched unconsciously.
"You… are Egeria? The God of Amrita… the one who perished alongside Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
Lora nodded.
"That's right."
Nahida's expression shifted, urgency replacing her surprise.
"Then… what about Greater Lord Rukkhadevata? Has she returned?"
That was the first thing she asked.
Lora's gaze softened slightly.
She shook her head.
"No. Not yet."
The light in Nahida's eyes dimmed.
She lowered her head.
Lora continued gently, "I came to take you out of here."
"I was close with her. I'm not going to stand by and watch her successor be treated like this."
Nahida hesitated.
"But if I leave… the Grand Sage will notice. And there's something else…"
Her voice lowered, growing grave.
"Deep within Sumeru City… the Akademiya is doing something dangerous. Something… wrong."
"I know," Lora replied calmly.
"They're trying to create a god using human means."
Her gaze sharpened faintly.
"But it doesn't matter. He's not a threat to me."
She lifted the Padisarah slightly, the water around it shimmering.
"And as for the people of Sumeru… you don't need to worry about the Akasha draining their mental energy."
A faint, confident smile touched her lips.
"With you and me here…"
The Hydro Archon.
The Dendro Archon.
Two of The Seven, both unmatched in support and control.
"…handling something like that isn't exactly difficult."
If they couldn't even manage that—They might as well bury themselves.