Collei heard from inside information (asking Lucian) that there would be another book about Tighnari's story later, so she had no choice but to read it.
Although Master Tighnari's story hasn't been released yet, this story also features Tighnari, so Collei happily took out the book, planning to read it.
Lucian didn't tell her that she actually appears in this story too—it was meant as a little surprise for her.
Speaking of which, Lucian was a bit hesitant about whether to run away; he was afraid that Collei might 'suddenly lash out' in a moment.
The story's opening naturally features our cute and lovable, beloved by all of Teyvat's succubus—Lumine.
She came to Sumeru with Paimon, planning to meet the Little Auspicious Grass and inquire from the God of Wisdom about intelligence on her brother.
Upon entering an unfamiliar country, one naturally has to ask someone for directions ahead.
Tang Seng did exactly that back in the day—whenever he arrived at a place, he'd find someone to ask.
At that time, Lumine could just ask a Sumeru person: 'Wasn't Sumeru ruled by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata before? How did it become the Little Auspicious Grass?'
The person would probably reply, 'It was indeed the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata before, but now it's the Little Auspicious Grass.'
Highlighting utterly useless dialogue—the answer is the same as no answer, just repeating the question.
But there's no helping it, because the people of Sumeru really don't know why.
And at this moment, a passerby actually appears in the story.
That passerby might also be a prophet; she anticipated the possibility of such useless dialogue and directly ignored the Traveler and walked away. This person is none other than Haypasia.
Lucian drew an illustration for Haypasia. In the illustration, Haypasia clearly notices the Traveler and Paimon, but she doesn't speak and chooses to ignore them.
This is the second time many readers are getting to know Sumeru—the first was 'Happy Birthday.'
It can only be said that Sumeru's current impression on everyone is very poor; they all feel that Sumeru people aren't very friendly.
Unfriendly to their own god, and unfriendly to outsiders.
This is preconceived bias—who made the first impression not a good one?
If anything, Inazuma is the truly unfriendly one, targeting the Traveler everywhere.
But the first person everyone met in Inazuma was Thoma; he was very friendly, and the good brother paid too much, so everyone's impression of Inazuma is still okay.
If talking about friendliness, it has to be Mondstadt. Amber's entrance is still fresh in everyone's memory, even influencing their impression of Mondstadt to some extent.
Mondstadt? Hospitable Shandong! Friendly, good drinkers, wanting to take the civil service exam (join the Knights)—what else is this but Shandong?
Ahem, not talking about Mondstadt—talking about Sumeru.
Collei, however, recognized Haypasia. She's probably in the midst of training at this time, which is why she ignored the Traveler; she's actually quite nice.
In the book, Paimon and the Traveler feel a bit helpless. Even though the other party doesn't want to pay attention to them, they can only follow from afar, hoping to find where people live by trailing her.
No choice—the two girls don't know the way. New to the area, they don't recognize anything, so they naturally have to get some intelligence from this one human.
Without some intelligence, they wouldn't even know how to get to Sumeru City.
So what has Paimon been guiding as a guide?! She doesn't know the way at all!
Guide for guiding—where did the direction go? Only guiding left!
The real-life Lumine also realized this point. Her guide doesn't know the way! Not reliable at all!
Lumine said to Paimon, "As expected, just emergency rations..."
Paimon stomped her feet in the void: "I'm not! I'm Teyvat's best guide!"
"Teyvat's best guide doesn't know the way? Teyvat is doomed," Lumine sighed.
"Uh..." Paimon was choked speechless. "Hmph, I'm ignoring you!"
Paimon crossed her arms and turned her head to the side. Lumine blinked, then calmly turned her head and started reading the book.
"You should coax me!!" Paimon grabbed Lumine and shook her. "Lucian, look at her!"
After coming to Sumeru with Lucian, they had no plans to go back, so during this time of adventuring in Sumeru, they'd naturally treat Lucian's home as their own.
Lucian: "You want me to say it? You sure?"
Paimon then remembered that Lucian's skill at roasting her surpasses even Lumine's.
Usually, it's Lucian bullying her, and then Paimon going to Lumine to act spoiled. This time, it seems it won't work.
Lumine—can we reconcile?
Whether they can reconcile with Lumine or not aside, Lumine is currently focused on reading the story.
In the story, Haypasia doesn't go to a place where people live; instead, she arrives at a cave, a desolate, uninhabited area.
Left with no choice, the Traveler and Paimon can only try to communicate to get information, even though the other party doesn't seem keen on engaging with them.
However, before they can even start talking, the Traveler catches a whiff of an incense scent.
The scent itself is very fragrant, but for some reason, after smelling it, the Traveler's consciousness gradually blurs, and she finally closes her eyes.
The real-life Lumine has experienced this too—not long after arriving in Sumeru with Lucian, she passed out.
Fortunately, Lucian was there; otherwise, just relying on Paimon, she couldn't drag Lumine, and they'd probably 'leave a corpse in the wilderness.'
When the Traveler in the story opens her eyes again, the scene before her has changed, seemingly to some otherworldly space. What catches the eye is a striking big tree.
This matches the scenery the Traveler saw after fainting upon first arriving in Sumeru.
Pale purple roots, pink-purple leaves, gorgeous and dreamlike—it's too beautiful.
This illustration is one of the few that can make readers stare blankly even when it's not a character portrait.
The Doctor: "Oh?"
The scholars of Sumeru are shocked—this isn't exactly what they've always wanted to see? The Traveler saw it so easily?
Comparing people is truly infuriating. Her inspiration is too high, isn't it? Are you this sensitive—does your family know?
It's also because her inspiration is too high that the Traveler easily gets knocked out by such things, so in Sumeru, it's best to wear a mask to avoid accidentally inhaling incense and falling asleep.
If that's not possible, you can borrow from Kuki Shinobu; her face mask looks good. I'm not talking about the one on her chest—that would be too greedy. A nearly new rare item would do.
The Traveler who entered the otherworldly space is also a bit dazed. What is this place? Is this still Sumeru?
But she has no other path to take and can only walk toward the tree roots, gradually approaching the big tree.
Then, Lumine sees a light shining before the tree, and a voice emerges.
["The world... forgets me..."]
Nahida sits up in shock—this must be her!
But... 'The world forgets me'? Why do that?
As the God of Wisdom, what Nahida likes most is questioning and seeking answers, so she falls into thought. Various possibilities are constantly created and rejected in her mind.
Unfortunately, she currently lacks key information and finds it hard to speculate on the true reason.
Nahida couldn't possibly know about the forbidden knowledge, this key information, and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata wouldn't let Nahida know either.
No matter what, she absolutely cannot.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Line · Nahida: About 'The World Forgets Me'
"It must be the Tree King's words, but... why? The world shouldn't forget her."