As the Heart of Oasis revived, countless monsters were born from the filthy power spilling out around it.
Those monsters tried to attack Nahida and Lora, but before two powerful gods, they could not stir up the slightest trouble.
When everything was over, the Heart of Oasis erupted with pure emerald light, turning the surrounding space into the color of life. It could now release pure elemental power on its own to heal Apep.
At the same time, the elemental beings that had entered with Nahida and Lora also merged into Apep, returning to their homeland.
But they still remembered Lora. They still remembered Nahida.
"Buer, Egeria... I have not felt this light in a very long time."
Apep's voice sounded once more. She said slowly to the two of them, "I thought that once my power returned, my anger would swell along with it. But at this moment, what I feel is an emotion I had long forgotten: peace."
Nahida continued, "That was because Forbidden Knowledge had been amplifying your hatred and anger without you realizing it. Now that its effects have been healed, this is the real you."
"...There is no denying it." Apep sighed. "Though I despise that visitor from beyond the world with every fiber of my being, destroying the Seven Nations upon this land has already lost all meaning. Whether it is you, Buer, or you, Egeria, you are merely pitiful beings bound by your circumstances."
"Even so, I will not change my stance or involve myself with you," Apep said, changing the subject.
"So you're going to stay in Sumeru's desert forever?" Lora asked. "The other Dragon Sovereigns have already blended into the Teyvat of today. Don't you think living like this is terribly lonely?"
"Lonely? Heh... For beings such as us, this is simply the norm." Apep showed no particular reaction to Lora's words.
"The norm doesn't mean it can't be changed," Lora said. Then she brought up Neuvillette again. "Take my dutiful Chief Justice, for example. He has changed a lot."
"Yes... He is already far removed from the Hydro Dragon Sovereign of the past. He no longer even has the form of a Dragon Sovereign." Apep sighed helplessly and did not argue.
"But there is no denying that he is still the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, the heart of the Primordial Sea."
Lora said to Apep, "Even though I still exist, strictly speaking, I am only an artificial heart."
"No... Compared to the other so-called gods on this land, Egeria, you and Buer belong more to Teyvat."
Apep continued, "Though I do not accept it, the fact is beyond dispute. In order for you to truly bear the duties of the heart of the Primordial Sea, the one created by the Heavenly Principles, you are no different in essence from the Hydro Dragon Sovereign."
"So we can more or less count as natives of Teyvat, then?" Lora laughed and continued, "In that case, as one of the few remaining natives of Teyvat, let me give you a suggestion. How about coming to see Sumeru as it is now?"
"Hmph. Do not think I don't know what you're planning, Egeria!"
Apep snorted coldly, seeing straight through Lora's intentions. "Governing the Sumeru of today does not require my power! Although you also belong to Teyvat, you have received the rank of gods. I will not help you. I am going to recuperate..."
"Wait, Apep. Before you recuperate, there's one more thing I want to ask you..."
Nahida stopped Apep, who was about to leave, and asked, "I want to know why you were affected by Forbidden Knowledge."
"That is a long story..."
Hearing this, Apep sighed and slowly said to them, "In the distant past, we all believed it was the only power that could defeat the Heavenly Principles. The Dragon Sovereign obtained dark power from beyond the world and led us in resisting the order defined by the outsiders."
"An unprecedented war unfolded across Teyvat. The fighting was so devastating that the entire world nearly collapsed. The victor gained the right to shape the world, while the defeated could only turn to ash..."
"But even after the Dragon Sovereign perished, I never gave up searching for a way to reverse the situation... At the edge of a world on the verge of breaking apart, I tried to obtain more Forbidden Knowledge, only to be stopped by a giant nail that descended from the heavens."
"The upheaval that overturned Sumeru seemed to be telling me that the age of dragons had already passed..."
"That's true. Dragons of the past had pride in their bones, and dragons today work nine-to-five." Lora nodded, looking like she deeply agreed. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... What a disgrace to dragons."
Apep: "..."
After that, Apep told Lora and Nahida how she had made a deal with King Deshret — that is, Al-Ahmar — hoping to obtain more Forbidden Knowledge, only to be schemed against by King Deshret instead.
Lora forced out a sigh. She knew laughing in this situation would be inappropriate, but she still almost could not hold it in.
The poor Dendro Dragon Sovereign had been schemed against by Amon. No matter how she thought about it, it was hard not to laugh.
Apep seemed to notice Lora's reaction. She stopped telling the story and said slowly, "Little Buer, and you... hateful Egeria. Go back. I will keep watching to see how far a life cherished by the Heavenly Principles can go..."
As soon as Apep finished speaking, Nahida and Lora were wrapped in green light and sent out of the cave.
Nahida landed steadily, but Lora once again dropped onto the desert flat on her backside.
"Hiss..."
Lora rubbed her backside, looked back at the cave, and muttered, "Did she do that on purpose?"
Nahida smiled and said, "Maybe it was just because what you said earlier made her unhappy."
"Next time, I'm calling Neuvillette and Zhongyue over to talk to her! Was anything I said wrong?" Lora complained helplessly. "If that doesn't work, I'll call Dvalin over and show her what the most miserable dragon looks like!"
"If you really do that, Apep will probably hit you..." Nahida retorted from the side. "Let's head back first."
Lora glanced back at the cave, then followed Nahida out of the desert.
After the two of them left, an Abyss Herald accompanied Aether to this place. He gazed at the glowing cave, lowered his head, and said softly, "Prince, the ancient Dragon Sovereign is deep within this place..."