"No, it's not because of the divination." Lora shook her head, her voice steady. "Someone has entered the Sanctuary of Surasthana… and is speaking with 'you.'"
"With me?" Nahida froze for a brief moment before realization struck. "Then we need to find somewhere secluded. Quickly."
They left the street at once, slipping into a quiet corner hidden from view.
Lora closed her eyes, letting her consciousness sink into the "Nahida" she had created within the Sanctuary.
When she opened them again, she stood within a sealed field of energy.
And before her… stood a man.
Not unfamiliar.
The Fatui Harbinger, Second of the Eleven.
Il Dottore.
He stood below, gazing up at the "Nahida" enveloped in power. The Akademiya had already begun harvesting dreams through the Sabzeruz Festival. With the plan in motion, he had come to Sumeru personally.
Yet something had unsettled him.
The Akasha appeared normal. Sumeru showed no obvious disturbances.
And still… his instincts insisted otherwise.
Something had changed.
That was why he had come here.
"To finally meet you, Dendro Archon," he said, his tone polite, almost courteous. "I am Il Dottore, Second of the Fatui Harbingers."
"A Harbinger of the Fatui… What is your purpose in Sumeru?" Lora's voice, wearing Nahida's form, was calm but cold.
"How unfortunate," he mused, almost with pity. "The God of Wisdom, yet unaware of what transpires within her own nation."
His gaze sharpened as he studied her.
The energy was immense. Undeniably at the level of a god.
No flaw. No inconsistency.
"Unfortunate?" Lora let out a quiet, mocking laugh. "The truly unfortunate ones are those in the Akademiya who've been deceived by you."
"Oh?" His interest piqued. "So you know something. Tell me… did the Akasha inform you?"
She ignored the question.
"If you have nothing else to say, you may leave. The Sanctuary of Surasthana does not welcome the Fatui."
A soft chuckle escaped him.
"Since this is your domain, I won't linger."
To him, the current Dendro Archon was nothing more than a hollow title. A vessel. A source of energy.
Nothing worth concern.
Finding nothing amiss, he turned and left.
Only after his presence faded did Lora withdraw her consciousness and return to her body.
Her eyes opened.
Three pairs of eyes were already fixed on her.
"Well? What happened?" Paimon leaned forward, barely able to contain herself.
Lora exhaled slowly.
"Can I breathe first?"
Paimon immediately clamped her mouth shut.
"It was Dottore," Lora continued. "Second of the Fatui Harbingers."
"What? Dottore?" Paimon's eyes widened. "I remember Jean saying the top three Harbingers have power comparable to gods… What is he doing here?"
"He's here for the Dendro Gnosis." Lora sighed, then clapped her hands decisively. "Which means we're leaving. Immediately. Lumine, Paimon, we're getting out of Sumeru."
"…Huh?" Both of them blinked.
Lumine tilted her head. "You can't beat him?"
"That's not the point," Lora replied, spreading her hands. "Why would we fight him right now? What do we gain? Mora? Food? Anything useful? No? Then why waste the effort?"
Nahida nodded thoughtfully.
"…That does make sense."
"See?" Lora grinned. "Even the God of Wisdom agrees with me."
"That sounds a little like you're making excuses…" Paimon muttered.
"I trust you," Lumine said without hesitation. "We'll leave tomorrow."
Nahida nodded as well.
"If he's truly that dangerous, then leaving Sumeru for now is the right decision. And… I also want to see the world beyond the city with my own eyes."
"Perfect!" Lora clapped once. "Then it's settled. Let's head back and pack."
There wasn't much to pack, in truth.
Lora's residence wasn't exactly empty, but it held little of value. Taking themselves along was more than enough.
The next day, they gathered at the gates of Sumeru City and set out toward Gandharva Ville.
There, they ran into Haypasia.
Lumine and Paimon had met her before while delivering food for Tighnari, so the recognition was immediate.
Seeing them, she lit up with excitement.
"Traveler, Paimon! I have wonderful news!" Her eyes shone. "I've seen a god within my consciousness!"
"…What?" Paimon blinked, instinctively glancing at Nahida.
"Are you certain it was a god?" Lora asked.
"Of course!" Haypasia nodded eagerly, her voice trembling with reverence. "To share this moment with you… what a blessing. That instant, when my consciousness connected with the divine… it was beyond anything words can describe."
"Wow… is it really that incredible?" Paimon asked.
"Yes! If you'd like, I can help you connect as well." Haypasia extended her hands. "Would you like to try?"
"I'll go first," Lora said calmly. "Safer that way."
"Eh? Be careful…" Paimon said, worried.
But Lumine and Nahida remained completely at ease.
Lora took Haypasia's hands.
Following her guidance, she reached out… and connected with that so-called "divine" consciousness.
A scene unfolded before her.
Like a film slowly playing out.
It was Scaramouche's life.
Every fragment.
Every memory.
Yet Lora stood apart from it all, nothing more than a silent observer, untouched by the vast tide of consciousness.