Surprises for Idris didn't end there.
In his mind, the system chimed:
[Congratulations. By forcing Il Dottore to withdraw, you've altered the original storyline.]
[You also obtained the Doctor's "segment" cloning method.]
[The technique is too complex; the system will upgrade it for you.]
[New skill unlocked: One Qi to Three Pure Ones.]
[Effect: Create two avatars that share the original's consciousness and have identical strength.]
One Qi to Three Pure Ones?
Idris's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected the system to refine the wool he'd just pulled off the Doctor—nice.
The slice-and-segment method was useful, but studying it would take ages, and the different-age slices all had minds of their own—too fussy. One Qi to Three Pure Ones was much cleaner: summon on demand, near-zero restrictions, and—at a pinch—combine the power of all three. Practical to the extreme.
This time, comprehending the skill took a while. He sat motionless at his desk for a full four hours before he fully mastered it.
Seeing him slip into that meditative rest again, Nahida stayed quiet by his side. The longer the diligent Grand Sage slept, the better, as far as she was concerned.
Four hours later, afternoon light slanted in. Nahida teased, "Finally awake. And you say you're not tired—you can nap four hours just sitting there. Sweet dreams?"
"More or less," Idris said, rubbing his brow.
Comprehending a top-tier avatar art in a "dream" certainly counted. Stiff from sitting, he stretched, grabbed the coat on his chair, and stood.
"I'm going out for a walk."
"I'll come along."
Unseen in her spirit state, Nahida drifted after him as naturally as a shadow.
What Idris didn't know: because Lumine hadn't let herself be distracted on the road, she had practically sprinted to Sumeru City—and now, by perfect coincidence, Idris was about to go out incognito.
…
In a little over a month of Idris's tenure, his shadow had begun to spread across Teyvat.
After signing trade contracts with Liyue, Sumeru goods started selling worldwide, massively boosting the nation's—and Idris's—profile. Closest buyers were naturally Liyue and Fontaine: portable music players, and Sumeru-made pills.
The newly formed Alchemical Sect could only recruit beginners and refine basic elixirs—Rejuvenation Pills and the like—but even that gave Sumeru's economy wings.
Which is when Keqing snapped.
Originally, she was slated to lead the diplomatic mission to Sumeru—Keqing plus Ganyu was the perfect pair. Then Ningguang snatched the portfolio with impeccable justification: those rumors from earlier gave her every reason to "clarify matters" in Sumeru with Idris.
They returned… with Beautifying Pills in their sleeves.
"Huh? You all go to Sumeru and come back… younger?!"
"What did you give Grand Sage Idris to score those?"
Day one—Keqing held it in.
Day two—Ganyu greeted her with a smile somehow even softer, prettier than before; Keqing held it in.
Day three—Ningguang "accidentally" showed off in front of her. Keqing exploded.
I'm going to fight you, Ningguang!
Ganyu, mortified, apologized. She'd wanted to wheedle a few more pills out of Idris, but his mouth was shut tight; she couldn't.
Ningguang only fanned the flames. "If you want them, you can go to Sumeru too. Honestly, your temperament would mesh with the Grand Sage."
"Idris is a peculiar man—reveres gods, yet believes people shouldn't need them. Isn't that much like you?"
"Also, he's handsome. If you take a liking to him, perhaps our nations will renew ties through a marriage alliance."
Plainly, Ningguang's opinion of Idris sat very high.
"Ningguang, don't you 'profit while talking pretty' me," Keqing grumbled. "If you hadn't stolen my diplomatic trip last week, I would be the one with a Beautifying Pill!"
Ganyu coughed gently. "Miss Keqing, there's no need to fret. The Grand Sage said that once the Alchemical Sect grows, these pills will go on sale. For now—because Eleazar is a pressing issue in Sumeru—the sect will focus on curatives for deadly illnesses."
"It may be a few months, perhaps a year, before Beautifying Pills are released."
Keqing's lip twitched. Endure Ningguang's glow-ups for months? She knew her own temper—she'd crack.
Ningguang smiled. "Then go. Our two nations have warmer ties now. Take a small entourage if you like—just don't bring an army."
"You said it," Keqing replied. "Don't blame me when I dump my workload on you for a few days."
"Before Sumeru, maybe it would've strained me," Ningguang said. "After seeing a nation with more contradictions than ours—yet a Grand Sage shouldering them alone—I realized I may not measure up to him… but I'll try."
"When you meet Idris, you'll understand—and grow."
Keqing nodded and began planning the trip. She wasn't going alone…
—
At the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao hummed along to her new Sumeru music player:
"big hilichurl sick; two hilichurls check; three hilichurls pick herbs; four hilichurls—stew…"
"Hehe, tweak the melody and even a silly song turns super spooky. The Director approves!"
"Mr. Zhongli, you said Sumeru's Grand Sage Idris is a very interesting person. Now I'm curious."
Zhongli smiled. "If the Director wishes, invite friends and go. I'll keep an eye on the parlor."
"Hehe—then I'll pack my bags!"
Tourism boomed on the back of catchy songs and miracle-pill legends. Nor was Liyue the only beneficiary: Sumeru's Bayda Port in the north faced Fontaine, and traffic swelled.
—
Fontaine — Opéra Épiclèse.
High in the gallery, Furina stifled a yawn as proceedings droned on below.
"Ugh, another boring case. Can't we just fast-track these and be done?"
Only Neuvillette below the dais could clearly hear her mutter. He ignored it, as ever. Evidence wasn't optional; not one trial could be skipped.
With no one to banter with and the case a slog, Furina plucked up the gift she'd received days ago—a Sumeru portable music player.
"I hear the songs are good. Since I'm bored… random play, go."
She slipped on the headphones and tapped the shuffle button.
A bright tune—sweet on the surface, threaded with a faint ache—bloomed in her ears. A clear voice sang, in lilting Fontaine tongue:
"Come and see the show-stopping finale—
In justice's name, I speak the oracle;
the goddess of a hundred marvels…
Wave after wave, tide and cheer rise;
the sea itself joins the ball.
Each day sparkles in the bubble I live in—
a life that seems perfect.
Raise your glasses, raise your hands—
be proud to have crossed my path.
Come and see the end of the spectacle—
in justice's name, I cast down the mask;
a false goddess of a hundred broken pieces…
Will I at last deceive—or decide—my fate?
I am afraid, yet still I step forward;
in tears, yet still I leap;
on the stage, I lead the dance once more."
When the last note faded, Furina stared ahead, dazed.
For a heartbeat, she had the strangest feeling—
—this song was about her.
She jabbed the playback button to check the title.
"Daughter of the Sea."
Why… would a song like this be circulating in Sumeru?
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito