Silaya had noticed something strange about the Akademiya lately, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
She had always disliked Grand Sage Azar, but recently her aversion had intensified for some reason. Every time she saw him at the Akademiya, she felt deeply uneasy.
Several scholars had approached Silaya, inviting her to join various projects.
Silaya rejected them all. The scholars returned multiple times, each time offering increasingly enticing terms, which only deepened her suspicions. She refused them again and again.
Eventually, the recruiters seemed to lose patience and stopped inviting her.
Silaya told her teacher, Alhaitham, about the matter. He approved of her actions and then promptly prepared to send her into the Rainforest.
"Teacher, you said you wouldn't make me go on expeditions..." Silaya protested weakly.
"This isn't an expedition. You know Tighnari from Amurta Darshan, right? Weren't you dying to touch his ears? This time, you're going there to study and will need to submit a research paper upon your return."
Alhaitham handed Silaya a letter. "Give this to Tighnari, and he'll understand."
Silaya's eyes widened. How did Teacher know I wanted to touch... cough, never mind, I'm getting off track.
"Teacher, I don't want to go to the Rainforest! There are so many bugs there."
"Then how about the desert instead..."
"No! Actually, the Rainforest isn't so bad. I'm not that afraid of bugs..."
Leaving Alhaitham's house, Silaya sighed. Damn it! Why do I have to write a thesis? I'm not even from Amurta Darshan! Why make me write their kind of paper?
Hmph, fine, I'll write it. A life lived with cheats needs no explanation!
Still, she had originally planned to wait for Lumine and Paimon in Sumeru City, but now she'd have to leave a bit earlier.
This time, she wouldn't be the first person the Traveler met.
Well, there's no point in running away. I'm heading to the Rainforest tomorrow anyway. I'll just go home today, pack my things, and get a good night's sleep.
I hope I dream of Lord Kusanali tonight...
The next day, Silaya shouldered her pack, bid farewell to Teacher Alhaitham, and set off alone for Vanarana.
She had been there before, though it was long ago. Still, she remembered the path perfectly.
As expected, she dreamed of Lord Kusanali last night. Silaya asked about the recent strange happenings at the Akademiya, but though the Dendro Archon knew the truth, she didn't reveal it.
Silaya guessed that Lord Kusanali thought she lacked the ability to make a difference, so telling her would be pointless.
Come to think of it, Silaya had been dreaming of Lord Kusanali since she was very young, perhaps even when she was scavenging for scraps.
She wondered if her Vision had been granted by Lord Kusanali, or perhaps by the Dendro Archon?
This morning, Silaya had carefully prepared some food to bring along for the journey.
Just as she left Sumeru City, she encountered a strange man:
The Fatui Harbinger Second Seat—"Doctor" Dottore.
Of course, Silaya had no idea of Dottore's true identity.
Dottore stood in Silaya's path, his hands clasped behind his back, facing away from her as if he had been waiting specifically for her.
Sensing her arrival, Dottore turned around. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Silaya. You may not recognize me, but that doesn't matter. It's enough that I know you."
"Silaya, the youngest genius of Kshahrewar. I've studied your work, read your papers—you truly deserve the title 'genius'..."
Dottore continued speaking to himself, completely unconcerned whether Silaya was listening.
"What a pity your talent is so constrained. You shouldn't confine yourself to Kshahrewar. The world's knowledge is vast and boundless, yet few ever glimpse true understanding. I am one of those few. If you listen to me and study under my guidance, you too can join their ranks."
"My arrival may seem sudden to you, but it is perfectly timed for me. I won't pressure you for an immediate answer. Those of us who think like this have our own ways of processing things. After experiencing a few more trials, you'll see the true nature of things. Then you'll make the right choice."
"I will patiently await your decision."
With these words, Dottore left without waiting for Silaya's reply.
Silaya stood frozen, her travel pack slung over her shoulder.
Who was that guy?
What was he trying to tell me?
Silaya slowed her pace, pondering the man's words.
It was clear he wanted her to study under him, but...
If I can't figure it out, I won't bother thinking about it. Silaya refocused on the present.
The Sumeru Rainforest teemed with diverse plant life. She could easily gather a few specimens to fulfill Teacher Alhaitham's research paper requirements.
But Silaya wasn't one to settle for "easy." She preferred to do everything thoroughly.
For her, mastering one task often yielded greater rewards than completing ten half-heartedly.
The distance between Sumeru City and Vanarana wasn't particularly far, but Silaya kept stopping along the way, deliberately pausing to admire the scenic views.
As a result, she didn't reach Vanarana until dusk.
Following her memory of the path, Silaya located the village residents.
A quick inquiry led her to Tighnari's residence, where she immediately went to pay her respects.
Upon arriving, the first person Silaya saw was Collei.
"Hey, Collei."
Hearing her name, Collei turned toward the voice. When she saw Silaya, her mind raced frantically.
Yet, she still couldn't quite place her.
"I'm Silaya! Don't you remember? The researcher who came to Vanarana a year ago to conduct a survey!"
Silaya was wearing her student uniform at the time, and she was accompanied by several others. Besides, girls of that age change so much from year to year.
Although Silaya and Collei had been close in the past, it had been so long since they last met that it was understandable Collei didn't recognize her.
After Silaya introduced herself, Collei finally remembered. She touched her head, apologizing, "I'm so sorry, Silaya! I didn't recognize you at all."
"It's nothing. We haven't seen each other in ages. I'm here on a mission from Teacher Alhaitham. Collei, is Teacher Tighnari inside?"
"Yes, he is. I'll go get him for you."
Silaya waited briefly before Tighnari himself came out and invited her in.
"Teacher Tighnari, this is a letter from my teacher, Alhaitham, for you."
After reading the letter, Tighnari pondered for a moment before saying to Silaya, "I understand. You seem to be close to Collei. Why don't you two share accommodations tonight? I'll find you proper lodging tomorrow."
Tighnari turned to Collei. "Collei, is that alright with you?"
"Yes, Teacher."
Silaya followed Collei out, as Tighnari still needed to treat someone who had accidentally eaten a poisonous mushroom.
"Collei, it's been so long! How have you been?"
"I've been doing great! Everyone in Vanarana is doing really well too..."
The two had always gotten along well. Now, reunited after so long, Collei was initially a bit shy and awkward, but Silaya's encouragement gradually helped her relax.