When Zhongli and the others saw Ping'er, they were filled with emotion all over again.
However, after seeing her restored to the appearance she had in years past, Xianyun, Jiehu, and Houzhang began thinking of gathering together to reminisce about the old days.
After that, Lumine came to find Lora.
Seeing Lumine without Paimon beside her, Lora was a little surprised. She asked, "Why are you alone? Where's Paimon?"
"Paimon went out with Ei to look for food. I came to see you." Lumine looked at her, then glanced around and said, "Let's find somewhere quieter to talk."
Seeing how serious Lumine looked, Lora was a little confused. She followed her to a relatively quiet corner, then asked, "What is it? Why so serious?"
"...Do you still remember Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?" Lumine looked at Lora. After a moment of silence, she got straight to the point.
Lora froze. She blinked, her mind racing, then replied, "Greater Lord Rukkhadevata... is? Who's that? I don't know..."
"You gave yourself away, Lora," Lumine said suddenly, staring into her eyes. "Did you forget? The first time I asked you in Sumeru, you said Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was a giant tree from Sumeru's legends. Now you're saying you don't know her."
"Uh..."
Lora blinked and tilted her head. "Well... ask me again, and I'll answer again."
Lumine looked at her, frowning. "Why didn't you tell me you still remembered Greater Lord Rukkhadevata? Everyone forgot her. I thought I was the only person in this world who still remembered she ever existed..."
Looking at Lumine, Lora sighed and said, "For this world, the most correct outcome is that I don't remember Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. So just think of it as you being the only one who still remembers her."
"Why?" Lumine frowned, looking at Lora in confusion.
Lora said, "Because of Irminsul. The fate of every life born in Teyvat is recorded by Irminsul. Those whose destinies have been captured by Teyvat will also appear within it. Among us, you are the only one who does not belong to Teyvat at all, so you are the only one who should remember Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
"But you remember too..." Lumine looked at her and said in a low voice.
Lora smiled. "That's why I'm an exception, and also a mistake."
Lumine still wanted to ask more, but Lora stopped her.
"Lumine... don't keep asking. The answers you're searching for will be revealed to you one by one at the end of your journey. Perhaps that is a future I won't be able to see, but you will find it eventually."
"And when the time comes, I'll tell you everything about myself too."
Hearing those words, Lumine fell silent. She could hear how calm Lora's voice had been when she said them.
Lumine did not keep pressing. Instead, she said, "Lora, we're friends, aren't we? So if there's ever anything you need from us in the future, you have to say so!"
"Mm... I will." Lora nodded slightly, then continued, "So please keep Greater Lord Rukkhadevata in your heart as well. This world will no longer have any trace of her. As the witness, you are the only proof that she ever existed."
...
After Lantern Rite ended, Makoto and Ei took Yae Miko and Scaramouche back to Inazuma, while Lora's group also prepared to return to Sumeru.
Before leaving, Lora looked at Venti, who was standing beside Zhongli, and asked, "Want to come visit Sumeru?"
Venti smiled when he heard her. "No need for that. After some time passes, I'll be going to Fontaine for a visit!"
Understanding what he meant, Lora smiled and said, "Thank you."
Paimon, on the other hand, looked completely lost. She asked in confusion, "Lora, what kind of riddle are you and Venti talking in? Why are you thanking him for going to Fontaine? Is there... something wrong with Fontaine?"
Hearing Paimon's question, Lora smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing. Fontaine is fine, and it'll be fine in the future too."
Lumine tugged Paimon aside, stopping her from asking more.
Everyone set off from Liyue and headed toward Sumeru.
Zhongli turned to look at Venti beside him and asked, "Well? Will you be staying in Liyue for a while?"
Venti smiled and shook his head. "Oh my, do I look like the kind of person who stays in one place for long? Someone like me has no home, and I don't know where I'll end up either. I'll just drift wherever the wind takes me."
"If you need anything, you may come to Liyue," Zhongli said. He did not try to persuade Venti further, only leaving him with those words.
"Mm, I will."
Venti nodded. After saying goodbye to Zhongli, he left Liyue. Once he stepped out of Liyue Harbor, he turned into a light breeze and vanished without a trace.
After returning to Sumeru, Lora and the others passed by Gandharva Ville. At the entrance, they came across a girl surrounded and attacked by Fungi. Seeing this, Lumine and Paimon followed the Adventurers' principle of helping whenever they saw someone in trouble and immediately stepped in to save her.
"Oh my! Thank you all so much! My name is Rana. Without your help, I would've been in serious trouble!" the rescued girl said, thanking everyone.
Everyone introduced themselves as well. Paimon asked curiously, "That was really dangerous. How did you end up fighting those Fungi?"
"I'm a Forest Ranger. I was originally heading to Vimara Village, but I didn't expect to run into these Fungi here. It really was dangerous..." Rana said helplessly.
"It looks like Vimara Village is still some distance from here. What if you run into even more Fungi on the way? Are you alone?" Paimon looked at Rana, who was holding a Dull Blade and did not have a Vision, and asked with a frown.
Rana nodded. "Yes, it's just me. The Forest Rangers are a little short-handed these days..."
"Then Lumine and I can escort you to Vimara Village! We're Adventurers, after all!" Paimon suddenly suggested.
"Eh? Really? But... I don't have much Mora to commission you..." Rana looked at Paimon and Lumine in surprise.
Lumine shook her head. "It's fine. Vimara Village isn't that far from here anyway, and we don't have anything else to do. Lora, what do you think?"
Lora, who had been standing silently beside Nahida the whole time, froze for a moment after Lumine called on her. Then she nodded and said, "I have no objections!"
She had already remembered what happened with this Miss Rana in front of her. She smiled at Lumine and said, "No rush. After you escort her there, you can look around Vimara Village too..."
"Okay. Let's go, Rana." Lumine nodded, then looked toward Rana, who was standing there.
Rana could not stop thanking Lora and Lumine. Escorted by Lumine and Paimon, she left the area and headed toward Vimara Village.