"Phew, I'm fine. It was that Scaramouche guy," Angie replied, panting.
Tartaglia was furious. He'd never gotten along with Scaramouche, and now the coward dared to attack his sister!
Angie: "He's not even here, yet he can command such immense Electro power with just his consciousness. It seems their god-making plan is nearing its completion."
Lumine and Paimon, drawn by the thunderous roar outside, emerged from the room.
"What was that huge commotion? Are you all alright?"
Angie and the others approached Lumine and Paimon.
Lumine recounted her encounter with Scaramouche and the details of their conversation.
Angie: "That guy's still as arrogant as ever."
Dehya: "Did you notice? Scaramouche clearly resents the Doctor's actions too. He doesn't think the Doctor deserves to stand on equal footing with him."
Angie: "I can't stand that Doctor either. Scaramouche talks to everyone like that, but now that he probably thinks he's become a god, those feelings are likely even stronger."
Paimon: "If the Doctor shows up, will Scaramouche strike him with lightning?"
Dehya: "Based on the Traveler's description, probably. The Doctor leaving Sumeru might be for the best—for all of us, including him."
After their discussion, the group prepared to return to Sumeru City as planned to reunite with Alhaitham and the others.
Tighnari stayed behind to care for Haypasia, but he assured the others he would help in any way he could.
Back in Sumeru City, everyone reported their progress in turn.
Angie and Tartaglia hadn't been assigned any specific tasks. As outsiders, their primary objective was to secure Lesser Lord Kusanali's Gnosis, so they were meant only to assist.
Is this place really suitable for serious discussion? Angie glanced around. Indeed, there were hardly any people around, but... Oh well, let them do as they please.
"Alright, has everyone finished reporting? Then let's adjourn."
"Hey, wait a minute! That's it? Are we just adjourning?" Dehya asked, genuinely puzzled. Shouldn't we be giving some kind of pep talk?
Alhaitham: "If you ask for my personal opinion, I'd rather go home."
Cyno: "..."
"Alhaitham, you're such a... sigh."
Just then, Nilou approached.
She had overheard their conversation and, recognizing many familiar faces, decided to join them.
Nilou was already part of the Plan, and the group had been planning to find her soon. They were surprised to see her come to them instead.
Alhaitham explained the plan for Jnagarbha Day—tomorrow—to Nilou.
Nilou listened in stunned silence, but her shock quickly transformed into anticipation and excitement.
"I... I can't believe my ears! You're the boldest and most inspiring Sumerians I've ever met..."
Paimon coughed loudly twice. Nilou immediately corrected herself, "Ah, right! And the equally amazing Traveler and Paimon, who aren't even from Sumeru!"
Paimon skipped excitedly through the air. "Hehe, that's more like it!"
Alhaitham turned to Nilou. "What do you think?"
Nilou clasped her hands behind her back. "...I... I must admit, I'm a little scared. But for Lord Kusanali, I'm willing to try. If my strength can help you, that would be wonderful."
Cyno: "Believe in yourself."
Dehya: "Remember not to let anything slip."
Nilou: "Understood."
"Preparations are complete. This meeting is adjourned," Alhaitham announced.
"Yeah, tomorrow we're saving a god," Lumine mused, feeling a sense of awe. Just as Silaya had predicted, she always found herself embroiled in trouble wherever she went.
Speaking of Silaya...
"Alhaitham, what kind of paper did you assign Silaya that's kept her so busy?"
"Just a paper related to the Amurta Darshan. Normally, a topic like that would be child's play for her. I wasn't aware of the Akademiya's plan back then; I only sensed something was amiss and wanted to distract her, to keep her from getting involved."
Alhaitham had also noticed something was amiss. When he'd returned home earlier, Silaya wasn't there.
According to Chu Xi, she was busy working on her paper.
But... what kind of topic could possibly take up so much of her time?
"I forgot to ask earlier—has anyone seen her recently?"
Lumine and the others exchanged glances, but none of them had seen Silaya. Could she be in Vanarana?
Chu Xi scrutinized the group, torn between telling them about Silaya's situation or keeping it to herself.
She'd been considering this for a while now.
As she learned more alongside everyone else, Chu Xi felt Silaya's position growing increasingly precarious. The Akademiya had been trying to save Irminsul for centuries, with no success.
Could Silaya truly succeed where they had failed?
Chu Xi wasn't good at hiding her emotions. Her momentary hesitation was glaringly obvious to Alhaitham and Cyno, both adept at reading people.
"Chu Xi, have you met Silaya? Or perhaps you know something about her that we don't?" Alhaitham asked.
Lumine and Paimon turned to look at Chu Xi as well.
Chu Xi's expression clearly indicated she knew something. Lumine, sensing her nervousness, stepped closer and gently patted her shoulder.
Alhaitham: "Did Silaya ask you to keep it a secret?"
Based on Alhaitham's understanding of Silaya, it was entirely plausible she would do something like that. That girl—she seemed to know she was a genius.
After a long moment of hesitation, Chu Xi nodded.
Alhaitham: "I'm Silaya's teacher, and I know her well. She wouldn't disappear like this unless it was something serious. From your expression just now, you probably guessed she's doing something dangerous. If you tell me what you know now, we still have time to eliminate these risks."
Alhaitham had practically watched Silaya grow up. To him, she was more than just a student.
Now that he knew she might be in danger, he couldn't help but feel anxious. He had promised that girl he would take good care of her.
Given the circumstances, Chu Xi couldn't keep quiet any longer. She was also worried about Silaya's safety.
Sighing, Chu Xi said:
"Silaya didn't tell me where she was going. She just asked me to find the Traveler and Paimon and ask for their help. She said she needed to finish her thesis and conduct an experiment. Silaya said it could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, but if the experiment succeeded, it would be a great boon for all of Teyvat."
Alhaitham: "What was the title of her thesis? And what kind of experiment was she conducting?"
Chu Xi: "Silaya didn't tell me about the experiment. As for her thesis... it seemed to be about the salvation and maintenance of Irminsul..."
"What?!" Alhaitham exclaimed, shocked.