Ren pushed the heavy, existential dread of his dream into a small, iron-clad box in the back of his mind and turned the key. He took a deep, steadying breath, performed his morning ritual of washing his face with cold water to chase away the lingering shadows of the void, and dressed in a fresh set of Liyue-style clothes.
When he walked out into the sunlit living room, he forced his face into a mask of bright, unruffled cheerfulness.
"Good morning, Lady Ningguang. Good morning, Lisa," he chirped, his voice a perfect melody of youthful energy that betrayed none of the cosmic terror he had just felt.
The living room was bathed in the soft, filtered green light of the morning sun, which streamed through the leaves of the Divine Tree. Lisa was lounging on a divan, a scroll in one hand and a cup of tea in the other, looking every bit the relaxed, vacationing scholar. Ningguang sat opposite her, her posture impeccable even in leisure, sipping a cup of fragrant, dark Sumeran coffee.
"Good morning, Ren," Ningguang said, offering him a warm, affectionate nod over the rim of her cup. "Did you sleep well? The beds here are surprisingly comfortable, though the humidity takes some getting used to."
"Like a log," Ren lied, with a practiced, disarming ease.
He moved to join them at the table, but stopped short. His gaze was drawn to their ears.
Attached to the side of Lisa's head, and resting elegantly against Ningguang's hair, were strange, glowing devices. They looked like stylized green leaves, pulsing with a soft, rhythmic light that seemed to sync with a heartbeat.
The Akasha Terminals.
"Ah, you've noticed," Lisa said, catching his stare. She tapped the device near her ear with a long, elegant finger. "A marvelous little invention, isn't it? A direct, neural link to the Akasha System—the collective knowledge of the entire Akademiya. And, conveniently, a rather sophisticated way to contact anyone in the city without having to send a runner."
She gestured to a small side table near the door, where another, identical device lay dormant, its green light dim.
"The Scribe of the Akademiya stopped by earlier this morning," Lisa explained, a hint of amusement in her voice. "A rather… intense young man named Alhaitham. Very stoic. Very efficient. He barely said two words, just dropped these off on behalf of the Grand Sage and vanished. One for you, and one for the Tianquan."
Ren looked at the terminal on the table. He knew exactly what it was. In the game, it was a tool for information, a quest mechanic. But here, in reality, staring at the pulsing green light, he saw it for what it truly was: a leash.
It was a connection to the hive mind of Sumeru, a repository of wisdom, yes, but also a tool of absolute control. It was the mechanism by which the Sages harvested dreams, manipulated information, and kept their own god, Lesser Lord Kusanali, trapped in a cycle of ignorance.
His dream… the voice of Nicole Reeyn… the warnings about his existence being an affront to the world… the thought of plugging his mind directly into a system controlled by the people who were likely plotting with the Fatui sent a shard of pure, cold revulsion through him. He could not risk it. He could not let them see inside his head.
"While the concept is fascinating," Ren said, keeping his voice polite but injecting it with a firm, unyielding resolve, "I think… I will pass."
Lisa raised an eyebrow, her emerald eyes curious. "Oh? It's quite useful, cutie. Instant answers to almost any question."
"I know," Ren said, offering a small, shy smile that hid his paranoia. "But… I like finding answers in books. It feels more… real. And having a voice in my head feels a little… crowded."
Lisa stared at him for a moment, then let out a soft, appreciative chuckle. She reached up and deactivated her own terminal, the light fading.
"Suit yourself," she said with an easy, non-judgmental shrug. "As a librarian, I can hardly fault a preference for the written word. Besides, relying too much on the Akasha makes the brain lazy. Just look at half the scholars in the city."
She picked up the spare terminal from the table and tucked it into a drawer. "We'll keep it safe, just in case you change your mind. Now," she said, standing up and smoothing out her purple dress, her eyes sparkling with a familiar, playful light. "Are you ready for your grand tour? The City of Wisdom awaits its newest, and most adorable, scholar."
"I am," Ren replied, his own, genuine excitement now bubbling to the surface, pushing back the morning's dread.
"Excellent," Ningguang added, setting her cup down. "I shall depart for the market district shortly. Enjoy your day, Ren."
The tour of Sumeru City was a sensory overload of the best kind. Unlike the vertical stone majesty of Liyue or the open, wind-swept freedom of Mondstadt, Sumeru was a city of organic curves and vibrant life.
Lisa acted as the perfect guide. She led Ren down the spiraling ramps that wrapped around the colossal tree trunk, the city unfolding beneath them like a blooming flower.
"The architecture here is bio-luminescent," Lisa explained as they walked across a bridge formed from a massive, interwoven root system. "The trees are grown, not built. It's a harmony between Dendro energy and human engineering."
They visited the Treasures Street, a bustling marketplace that smelled of exotic spices—cumin, turmeric, cardamom—and roasting meats. The colors were a riot of vibrant fabrics, intricate carpets, and gleaming brass-ware. Ren's eyes widened at the sight of the strange, wonderful fruits: the bulbous Harra Fruit, the sweet Zaytun Peaches.
Lisa bought him a "Panipuri," a small, crispy hollow ball filled with spiced water and potatoes. "Open wide," she teased, popping one into his mouth. The explosion of flavor—spicy, tangy, sweet—was a revelation. Ren laughed, his cheeks puffed out, delight dancing in his eyes.
They wandered down to the docks, where the river wound its way through the city roots. Small, flat-bottomed boats ferried goods and scholars alike. It was a slower, more languid pace of life compared to the frantic commerce of Liyue Harbor.
Eventually, their path led them to the Grand Bazaar. It was a cavernous space located beneath the Akademiya, a subterranean world of art and theater. But unlike the scholarly silence of the upper levels, this place felt suppressed.
Ren scanned the large, wooden stage in the center of the bazaar. He looked for the vibrant red hair and the graceful movements of Nilou, the star of the Zubayr Theater. But the stage was empty, gathering dust. A few performers sat nearby, tuning instruments with subdued expressions.
"The Akademiya… frowns upon the arts," Lisa whispered, noticing his gaze. "They consider it a frivolous distraction from the pursuit of wisdom. It's a shame. Knowledge without art is a body without a soul."
Ren nodded solemnly. He took out his Kamera and snapped a picture of the empty stage. It was a melancholy shot, a reminder of the cultural war being waged quietly in the city's underbelly. He hoped that soon, with Lumine's help, that stage would be full of life again.
They spent the rest of the afternoon wandering the residential districts, taking photos of the unique architecture, the street cats, and the lush greenery that seemed to grow from every crack and crevice. Ren's album was filling up with green and gold memories.
As the sun began to dip, casting long, amber shadows through the canopy, they began the climb back up towards their lodgings.
They were passing near the Citadel of Regzar when a figure emerged from the shadows of a large archway.
It was a man of striking, intimidating presence. He wore a black, jackal-headed hood that cast his face in shadow, revealing only glowing crimson eyes and a shock of white hair. His chest was bare, adorned with golden ornaments, and he carried a polearm with an air of absolute, lethal authority. The aura around him was heavy, the weight of judgment made manifest.
It was Cyno, the General Mahamatra.
Most scholars would have frozen in terror at the sight of him. But Lisa's face simply broke into a warm, genuine smile.
"Cyno!" she called out, waving a hand. "Fancy meeting you here. On your way to terrify some poor student who plagiarized a thesis?"
Cyno stopped. He looked at Lisa, and the rigid, terrifying posture relaxed—just a fraction. He walked towards them, his movements silent.
"I am off-duty, Lisa," he stated, his voice a low, resonant monotone that betrayed no emotion, yet held a distinct undercurrent of familiarity. "There are no judgments to be passed this evening."
His crimson eyes then shifted to Ren. He didn't glare; he observed. It was an intense, analytical gaze that felt like it was weighing Ren's soul against a feather.
"And this is the advisor from Liyue," Cyno said.
"Ren," Ren introduced himself, offering a polite bow. "It's nice to meet you, General Mahamatra."
Cyno nodded slowly. "I have heard… much about you. The device in the sanctuary… it is secure."
"Thank you," Ren said.
"Where are you headed, Cyno?" Lisa asked, tilting her head. "You rarely wander without a target."
"I am going to the Avidya Forest," Cyno replied. "To Gandharva Ville. It has been some time since I visited Tighnari and Collei. I intended to check on… certain matters."
Lisa's smile widened, a brilliant idea sparking in her eyes. "Oh, that's wonderful! It's been ages since I've seen my little sprout."
She turned to Ren, her hands resting on his shoulders. "Ren, darling, this is perfect. You absolutely must meet Collei. She's a Trainee Forest Ranger now, but she used to be… well, she's a sweet, brave girl. And Tighnari is the premier botanist of the Amurta Darshan. If anyone can tell us about the local materials for your patents, it's him."
She looked back at Cyno, her expression shifting into a gentle, persuasive plea that few could resist. "Do you mind if we tag along, Cyno? It would be a lovely detour for our tour, and I'm sure Ren would love to see the forest."
Cyno looked at Lisa, then at the small boy with the glowing eyes. He seemed to consider the logistics, the security, and perhaps, the social implications.
"The forest is safe at this hour," Cyno said finally. "And Tighnari would likely appreciate the company. He complains that my visits are… strictly business."
"Wonderful!" Lisa clapped her hands together. "Then it's settled. To the forest we go!"
Ren smiled. The dread of the morning felt miles away now. He was surrounded by friends, old and new, heading into the heart of the wild woods. The game's story was moving, the pieces were shifting, but for now, he was just a boy on an adventure, walking beside the most feared judge in Sumeru, ready to meet the girl who had survived the fire.