"I understand..." Seeing how serious Lora looked, Idyia nodded to show she understood.
But soon, Idyia asked again, "After we find Rhodeia, should we bring her to Sumeru to see you?"
Lora shook her head. "No. You should stay in Fontaine and take good care of Furina for me... That is Focalors's current name. As for everything else, don't tell her too much."
"Everything else? What can't I tell her?" Idyia asked curiously.
"Everything. Hide your identities. Do not reveal that you are Oceanids, and do not tell her that I exist. Just tell her you are Lora's attendants, sent there specifically to protect her."
Lora carefully instructed Idyia.
Idyia did not really understand why they had to do this, but as an Oceanid, she would trust Lora unconditionally!
"I understand, Lady Egeria. I'll set off for Fontaine right away!"
Only after watching Idyia leave did Lora withdraw her gaze. She turned and left Vourukasha Oasis, heading toward Sumeru City.
When she stepped into Apep's domain, Lora felt a surge of pure elemental energy nourishing her body.
After a brief moment of surprise, Lora understood what was happening. She murmured, "Thank you, Apep."
There was only sand and dust in the wind, and no reply.
That foreign deity had also withdrawn her gaze.
After returning to Sumeru, Lora felt very tired and wanted to rest for a while. Nahida had sensed the immense divine power coming from deep within the desert, and she knew what Lora had done there, so she did not disturb her and let her rest properly.
Lora slept for a very long time.
She dreamed of many things. She dreamed of the distant past, when the Heavenly Principles shaped her from the Primordial Sea. She had been ignorant and unaware, yet she was made to bear the duty of suppressing the Primordial Sea and keeping the Hydro Dragon Sovereign in check.
She saw the first Oceanid on the continent of Teyvat leap from the tears she had left behind, tears called Compassion.
She answered the wishes of her followers, stole water from the Primordial Sea, and created the new Fontaineans, thereby committing the sin of overstepping her bounds.
Having stolen the authority of creation, she was sealed away once more by the Heavenly Principles. She lost her freedom, and a prophecy was cast down upon her. The Fontaineans she cherished would one day dissolve into the waters of the Primordial Sea.
She saw the heavens send down a flood, washing away the nation that had existed before Fontaine.
She saw the Lochknights lead the people in making a solemn vow.
"We swear in the name of Egeria that we shall recover the Cup of Pure Water and welcome her back to her realm."
She saw the Lochknights' journey. With kind and pure hearts, and with the Cup of Pure Water won through countless sacrifices, the Mistress of All Waters finally returned from her ancient imprisonment...
That was after an even earlier kingdom had collapsed. Because of the needs of the Archon War, she was released once more by the Heavenly Principles, granted the status of a god, and became the Hydro Archon who ruled Fontaine.
In the end, the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm erupted, and the Heavenly Principles remembered her again. She was summoned and ordered to go forth to fight the Abyss.
She saw herself lead her Oceanid followers across mountains and seas to Sumeru to hold back the calamity.
In the end, she died in Vourukasha Oasis.
The Mistress of All Waters, compassionate Egeria, Great Mother Goddess of the Oceanids, turned her divine body into pure water. One final time, she burned herself away for the lives of Teyvat, eternally resisting the Abyss's corrosion amid endless pain and chaos.
Lora woke with a start.
"You're awake?"
Nahida stood beside the bed, looking at her with worry. She said to Lora, "You slept for ten days. I thought something had happened to you! Thank goodness you woke up."
"I had a very, very long dream. I dreamed of my past." Lora sighed and rubbed her slightly heavy head.
The joy of the past seemed to have vanished, and Lora's thoughts were drawn toward matters far more distant.
"Don't be sad. Venti sent you an invitation." Nahida took out a letter. It was marked with patterns of wind, and Venti had delivered it to the Akademiya by name, saying it had to be handed to Lora.
Lora opened the envelope. There was only a single sheet of paper inside.
[Lora, Zhongli and I talked it over and decided that things have been far too boring lately, so we're going to hold an event. Come join us! This event is guaranteed to cheer you up a little! There's a surprise, too~]
"An event held by Venti and Zhongli together? To cheer me up?" After reading the letter, Lora laughed helplessly.
It seemed Venti had seen what happened at Vourukasha Oasis.
He wanted to cheer her up?
"Then I'll go and take a look..." Lora put the letter away.
Nahida continued, "There are still some matters in Sumeru that I need to handle, so I can't go with you this time."
"That's fine. We should have other chances in the future." Lora got out of bed, stretched, then asked, "What about Lumine? Have they still not come back?"
Nahida shook her head. "Lumine and Paimon seem to be with the Aranara. They've been running all over Sumeru during this time."
"Hmm... They've had it hard." Lora nodded, not seeming surprised at all. Back when they saved Rana, Lora had already realized this would happen.
This was reality, not a game. It was not as simple as clicking on a few Teleport Waypoints and arriving instantly. Sumeru's rainforest was vast, and covering it all would take no small amount of time.
Since they were still busy with Aranyaka, Lora set off alone for the event venue prepared by Venti and Zhongli.
The event was being held at Wangshu Inn, but when Lora arrived, Zhongli was not there. Only Hu Tao and Venti were standing there waiting for her.
"Oh my, Miss Lora, we finally managed to wait you out!" As soon as Hu Tao saw Lora, she smiled and came forward to greet her.
"Yoo-hoo~ Long time no see, Lora." Venti waved from the side.
Lora said helplessly, "Didn't we see each other not long ago?"
"Hehe, that's the most normal greeting between old friends, you know."
Venti smiled and walked up to Lora. He noticed her looking around and immediately understood what she was thinking, so he said, "No need to look. Old... Zhongli isn't here."
"He isn't? Where did he go?" Lora asked, puzzled.
Hu Tao spread her hands. "Him? He said he couldn't handle such a lively occasion, especially with so many juniors present. So after he prepared the venue, who knows where he ran off to? Sigh, I even talked to our consultant about it, but he still wouldn't come."