"Oh! I get it! Since the Akademiya can predict Cyno's movements, then the safest place for them would be..." Paimon looked at Cyno's confident expression and suddenly realized something.
Lumine picked up where she left off. "A place Cyno has already passed through!"
"Exactly! The places I've already been through are the safest places for them!" Cyno nodded, agreeing with Paimon and Lumine.
"The sages only used the Akasha to analyze my movements. They didn't analyze Alhaitham or any of you. That means they could only predict my individual actions, not the movements of our whole group. I'm leaving right now to catch up to them!"
"Let's all go together. That way we can look out for each other!" Paimon stopped Cyno, who was about to set off alone. "If you go by yourself, the Akademiya will definitely predict your movements again, and something unexpected might happen!"
"I have no objections." Alhaitham shook his head and said, "We can't let one person ruin everyone's plan."
Lumine looked at Lora. "Lora, what do you think?"
"Me? I'll watch while I drink." Lora pointed at herself, then pulled out a drink.
Lumine: "..."
Alhaitham: "..."
"There's no time to waste. Let's go!" In the end, it was Nahida who stood up and spoke to everyone with a serious expression.
Lumine suddenly realized a very sobering truth. When things turned desperate, Lora could be trusted without question. But under normal circumstances, Nahida seemed to be the more reliable one...
The group left Aaru Village and followed the route Cyno had previously taken.
Everyone was serious during the pursuit. Only Lora looked like she was out sightseeing, actually drinking as she walked.
In the desert, they found items discarded by the Akademiya. Dehya noticed footprints off to the side and said to the others, "I'll go after them first! I know the desert better than any of you!"
Then, without waiting for anyone else to respond, Dehya ran off on her own.
"Hey! Dehya! Why is she suddenly so fired up?" Paimon frowned as she watched Dehya run off.
Lumine added, "We should hurry after her too! Otherwise, she could be in danger."
Everyone quickened their pace. Lora sighed and muttered, "I really wish I had a pack beast to carry me."
"Auntie, when we get back, I'll give you a pack beast," Nahida said, tugging gently on Lora's hand. "But for now, let's hurry and catch up."
Lora sighed and had no choice but to move faster too.
Following the direction Dehya had gone, the group soon arrived at a place where the Eremites were stationed. Before they even got close, they heard arguing from inside.
Paimon listened carefully, then said to Lumine, "That's Dehya's voice. She's arguing with someone!"
"She's in danger!" Lumine immediately concluded.
Paimon rushed forward and shouted, "Dehya, don't be scared, we're here to help!"
"Uh..."
Lumine followed right behind Paimon. Cyno and Alhaitham stepped out as well. Only Lora and Nahida still stood where they were. Watching the scene, Nahida said to Lora, "Traveling with them must be very interesting, right?"
"It is pretty interesting." Lora nodded.
Then Lora and Nahida slowly walked into the Eremite camp.
Rahman looked at the group gathering behind Dehya and burst out laughing. "Dehya, are these your helpers? Honestly, instead of sticking with them, you'd be better off becoming my helper. You can see it yourself. I have the means, and my ideals are far nobler and more glorious than theirs!"
"You should know I'm not the kind of person who's easy to sway, Rahman." Dehya crossed her arms and stared at him.
Standing beside Dehya, Cyno looked at Rahman and asked in a low voice, "Are you one of the people behind the disappearance of the mad scholars?"
"So you're the Akademiya's famous General Mahamatra? You do look the part. Pretty intimidating. No wonder those people are so wary of you," Rahman said coldly after glancing at Cyno.
But he quickly changed tone and continued, "It doesn't matter who you are. None of you can interfere with our great cause of awakening King Deshret. When the ancient king returns to this land, everything can begin again!"
Hearing Rahman's rant, Lumine and Paimon instinctively turned to look at Lora behind them.
At that moment, Lora had just finished one drink and taken out another from her personal space. Noticing their gaze, she asked, "Want something to drink?"
Dehya shouted, "Wake up, Rahman! You know better than I do that this is impossible! You've been a mercenary for years. Do you still believe in rulers?"
"I am a child of the desert, a follower of King Deshret. Whether I live a life stained with blood or one of peace and comfort, that faith will always remain in the depths of my soul," Rahman said slowly, looking at Dehya.
Dehya continued, "Rahman, there's still time. Let those mad scholars go. They cannot bring King Deshret back!"
Rahman laughed. "You still don't understand! Pursuing our faith is the wish of our entire lives. Even if there's only a one in ten thousand chance of success, we still have to risk everything on it!"
"Even if that means working with the Akademiya? Even if they end up destroying the Eremites, you'd still do it?" Dehya demanded.
"Yes!" Rahman answered without hesitation. "We've waited a long time for this day! With the help of these mad scholars, we'll gain the power to resist the Akademiya! We'll let the sandstorm blow beyond the Wall of Samiel!"
"You're too naive! Do you really think the Akademiya is that easy to deal with?" Dehya pointed at Alhaitham and Cyno. "These two are also standing against the Akademiya. You can ask them just how terrifying it really is!"
"Hmph! The stench of lackeys... Why should I speak to the people of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?" Rahman snorted and rebuked them. "You lowly, crude traitors. Your god betrayed King Deshret and abandoned righteousness. The people of the desert will never trust the people of the Dendro Archon again!"
With that one sentence, Rahman had insulted all the people of the rainforest, and Greater Lord Rukkhadevata as well.
Nahida clenched her fists, but she had no idea how to refute him. She knew too little about those ancient stories.
Lora, however, had no such reservations. She looked at Rahman and said slowly, "Say that again."