"About saving Irminsul?!" Paimon gasped, her tiny mouth agape. Silaya's thesis topic was actually that ambitious?
"Irminsul..." Alhaitham took a deep breath, struggling to compose himself.
I asked you to write a thesis on Amurta Darshan. We both knew it was just a standard paper. You could have slapped something together and submitted it...
But you're actually researching the salvation and maintenance of Irminsul?!
Dehya: "Wow, Silaya sure has a big appetite, huh?"
Alhaitham said gravely, "The Akademiya has failed for centuries. Though Silaya is a genius, achieving success in this endeavor will be incredibly difficult. She's also incredibly stubborn—I worry she'll get tunnel vision..."
Cyno: "It's rare to see you so concerned about someone."
Alhaitham: "She's my student."
Seeing the others fall silent, Chu Xi decided to reveal everything she knew. Since she could no longer keep Silaya's secret, she might as well tell them all. Perhaps Silaya was in danger, and her revelations could help them rescue her.
"Silaya can communicate with Irminsul through her consciousness. She's different from the Scholars who rely on Spirit Borneol. She can enter Irminsul at will, whenever she wants..."
"At will? Did Silaya tell you this?" Alhaitham asked again, his tone uncertain. He knew Silaya could communicate with Irminsul, but previously it had only happened occasionally in her dreams.
"Yes, according to Silaya, it seems she gained this ability when she met the Traveler."
Chu Xi continued, "The night before Silaya went to conduct her experiment, she said something I didn't understand."
Alhaitham: "What did she say?"
Chu Xi: "It was something like... 'Irminsul is ill, the Ley Lines are disrupted, and Rukkhadevata... she's failing.'"
"Lord Rukkhadevata?!"
Nilou never expected to hear news about the Dendro Archon in her lifetime. Alhaitham was equally perplexed. The Dendro Archon... isn't she already...?
What exactly is this girl hiding from me?
Alhaitham suddenly realized he didn't know Silaya as well as he thought. He turned to Chu Xi. "Why did Silaya ask you to keep it a secret?"
Chu Xi stammered, "S-Silaya wanted to show you the finished experiment and... and give you a big surprise..."
Alhaitham: "..."
That's definitely the Silaya I know.
Angie chuckled, "Saving Irminsul? That girl has quite the audacity."
Alhaitham remained deep in thought, completely tuning out the subsequent conversation between Chu Xi, Lumine, and Paimon.
After a long silence, Alhaitham finally looked up. "That's all for now. Remember tomorrow's plan and stick to it. I'll take my leave first."
After Alhaitham left, Cyno and Dehya also departed.
None of them believed Silaya could complete her thesis, and with so little information about her current whereabouts, they couldn't do anything to help.
The most pressing issue remained rescuing Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Once everyone had left, Chu Xi turned to Lumine and Paimon. "Traveler, Paimon, would you two be willing to go to Vanarana and look for S-Silaya?"
Lumine and Paimon readily agreed. Without wasting time, they found a Teleport Waypoint and immediately teleported to Vanarana.
Meanwhile, after leaving, Alhaitham searched several places Silaya frequented but couldn't find her. He then went directly to her home.
The door was locked from the outside. Confirming no one was inside, Alhaitham left.
On Jnagarbha Day:
Lumine, Paimon, and Chu Xi met Alhaitham outside the Akademiya. He reiterated the plan:
Their target was Grand Sage Azar's office. Everyone inside the Akademiya knew that his office contained a control console reserved for Great Sages throughout history. Many confidential orders and operations were executed through this console, and it likely held the commands related to Lesser Lord Kusanali's release.
Led by Alhaitham, the four of them strode boldly through the main gate of the Akademiya.
As Alhaitham had said, this was merely the public plan.
After entering the Akademiya, the group encountered Scholar Vahrav. Alhaitham exploited the scholar's characteristic arrogance and self-confidence to shake him off, and the group proceeded to the Library.
Alhaitham: "This is the Akademiya's House of Daena. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it Teyvat's largest repository of knowledge."
Paimon: "There seem to be a lot of students coming and going. Is it really okay for us to waltz in like this?"
Alhaitham: "The Akademiya operates at a rapid pace even on ordinary days. Today is Jnagarbha Day, so everyone is even more preoccupied with their own affairs. Let's move quickly."
"What's that platform up ahead... what's it for?"
"That's an internal elevator, used to reach the higher floors."
Paimon: "The Great Sage's office is on an upper floor, right? Should we take the elevator?"
Alhaitham: "No. We can't rule out the possibility of running into the Great Sage just yet. Let's observe the area from the side first."
The group moved to a reading area for scholars. As expected, no one noticed them.
Looking around, Paimon pointed to a door and asked Alhaitham, "Do you think the Great Sage might come out of this door? Then... we could sneak past? It feels so risky..."
Alhaitham replied, "Who knows? But if we can confirm Azar's current location, the safety of our operation will instantly improve."
As they discussed their plans, the Great Sage's voice suddenly echoed from behind them:
"...Then I'll give you a hint: if you want to know my location, just look behind you."
Lumine's face darkened. "Damn it! He saw through us?"
The group turned around and saw... the Great Sage sitting in a wheelchair.
Pfft~ Paimon stifled a laugh.
Back during the Sabzeruz Festival samsara, when they were trapped in the loop, she and Lumine had vented their frustration by giving the Great Sage a thorough beating.
Azar glared coldly at Paimon, who immediately clamped a hand over her mouth.
Chu Xi also stared at Azar's knees. This must be Silaya's handiwork, she thought. I remember Silaya really putting her heart into those blows. If it's still not healed after all this time, she must have hit him hard.
Azar was furious. The two petty thieves had escaped capture, and no one had seen their faces, making his beating a complete waste.
Accompanying Azar were soldiers from the Corps of Thirty, each armed and closing in on the four travelers.
Alhaitham clicked his tongue.
"Did you really think the Akademiya would still trust you completely after your prolonged absence... Scribe? Your movements were reported to me long ago. That's why I came to greet you personally."
"Great Sage, I never imagined you would show me such concern. I'm truly honored."
After a few brief exchanges, Azar invited the group to his office.
Alhaitham had intended to accept anyway.