Hearing Lora's words, Nahida fell silent.
"If I'm not there, Azar will order the Eremites to search all of Sumeru City. That's the only thing we need to worry about… What should we do?"
Her voice carried a trace of hesitation.
Right now, Nahida seemed utterly lacking in confidence. As the God of Wisdom and Sumeru's Archon, her sense of self had been shattered the moment she came into being. Or perhaps more accurately, from the instant of her birth, she had endured five hundred years of suppression and manipulation by the Akademiya.
"Nahida, you don't need to worry about anything," Lora said quietly. "The only thing you need to decide is whether you're willing to come with me."
Nahida looked at her, lips parting as if to speak. After a few hesitant murmurs, she nodded.
"Of course! Of course I want to go with you!"
She wanted to feel the earth beneath her feet, to see the blue sky with her own eyes. She wanted to truly smell flowers in bloom, hear people's laughter, and taste the food of Sumeru for herself.
After she spoke, Lora raised a hand and gently drew her forward.
Without disturbing the surrounding energy field, she pulled Nahida out. Then, under Nahida's watchful gaze, she used the Primordial Sea Water to create an almost identical version of her in the original spot.
"This is a puppet to take your place. Its consciousness is linked to mine, so it can respond naturally. Aside from lacking the power of the Dendro Archon, no one will be able to tell the difference."
Then she extended her hand again.
"Come on. I'll take you outside."
"You… Eger… Lo… um…" Nahida hesitated, clearly unsure how to address her. Calling her Egeria felt disrespectful, but calling her Lora didn't feel right either.
Seeing her awkwardness, Lora let out a soft sigh.
"Going by seniority… you can call me Aunt."
Her relationship with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was second only to that of the Goddess of Flowers. While Rukkhadevata created the rainforest, she brought the living waters that nourished all life within it. Like the God of Wisdom, she too once held a revered title in ancient Sumeru—the God of Amrita.
"Aunt!" Nahida called out brightly, placing her hand in Lora's.
Lora led her forward. Without touching the gates, the two simply passed straight through them, walking calmly past the Eremite guards as they left the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
From there, Lora brought Nahida back to the Grand Bazaar.
The moment Nilou saw her return, she let out a long breath of relief.
"Thank goodness you're back! You were gone for most of the day, we were so worried. We thought the Akademiya might have done something to you!"
"What could they possibly do to me?" Lora laughed lightly.
Nilou's gaze shifted to the small girl whose hand Lora was holding.
"Hm? Miss Lora, who is this?"
In all of Sumeru, those who had seen Nahida in this form were likely limited to the Grand Sage Azar and a handful of his confidants. Five hundred years of isolation had severed the people from their Archon. Now, even with their god standing right before them, they could not recognize her.
"She's Nahida. My niece," Lora said.
"Oh? I didn't know you had relatives in Sumeru," Nilou replied, surprised.
"Not exactly. She's the daughter of a very dear friend. After her mother passed away, she was left alone and has been mistreated by her family lately, so I brought her here."
Every word was true. Yet none of it told the full truth.
Hearing this, Nilou's expression softened with sympathy.
"Nahida, you don't have to worry about being bullied here! Everyone in the Grand Bazaar will protect you."
Nahida looked at her and nodded firmly.
"Mm. I believe you."
"Oh, right," Lora added casually, "make sure you put on a proper Sabzeruz Festival. My niece will be watching."
Nilou smiled brightly.
"Of course! With your support, Miss Lora, this year's Sabzeruz Festival will be more lively than ever!"
"It's just… Sumeru hasn't held many of them before, has it?" Nahida said softly. "If I remember correctly, the grandest one was five hundred years ago, when the Grand Sage brought… our Archon back."
"That's right," Nilou said firmly. "Because of the Akademiya, many people have forgotten the Sabzeruz Festival. But just because they don't care doesn't mean we don't. We're devoted followers of the Lesser Lord Kusanali, and we'll make sure to celebrate her birthday properly!"
Seeing her unwavering determination, Nahida smiled.
"Thank you… for still remembering the Lesser Lord Kusanali."
After chatting a bit longer with Lora, Nilou excused herself to continue her preparations.
Once she left, Lora turned back to Nahida.
"There's someone I think you should know. Someone who has engraved the Lesser Lord Kusanali deep into her heart. She might be the most devoted believer you have in all of Sumeru right now."
"…I know her. Dunyarzad," Nahida said, nodding. "But I can't cure her illness. I… I'm not a qualified god."
Lora gently ruffled her hair.
"Don't belittle yourself. I can't cure her either."
"Even you can't?" Nahida looked up, surprised. Lora embodied the very origin of life in Teyvat, the purest form of vitality. If even she was powerless…
"Nahida, remember this. Only you can save Sumeru. And those who believe in you… only you can lead them out of the mire."
Her voice was calm, yet filled with quiet conviction.
"No matter what the Akademiya has told you, you need to understand this. You are a god. You are Buer—the God of Wisdom. You are Sumeru's Archon. You possess boundless wisdom."
"Me…?" Nahida lowered her head again.
"But there were gods before you… and there will be gods after you. That doesn't make you any less worthy. Someone from your era… perhaps she is the one who can truly save Sumeru."
"She is the real sun of Sumeru… and I… I'm just the moon…"
"No," Lora said, shaking her head gently. "You are the sun. Just a different sun from her."
She looked at Nahida, her gaze steady.
"We are gods of the old era. You are the rising sun of a new age. We are not the same."