"What are you doing?!" Lumine cried out.
Fidelle, writhing in agony, couldn't speak. Gripping her Battle-Axe tightly, she swung it down on her right arm.
The limb fell with a thud. Fidelle finally exhaled in relief, the searing pain of the severed arm a welcome relief compared to the Black corruption ravaging her body.
Her taut mind plummeted, darkness swarmed her vision, and she collapsed unconscious.
Lumine swiftly caught her, reaching for a bandage, but found that the severed arm was already regenerating under Rukkhadevata's divine power. Within mere moments, Fidelle's arm had completely healed at the stump.
The severed wooden puppet skeleton, however, had been utterly corrupted and could not be salvaged. To restore the arm, a new one would have to be crafted.
Lumine noticed a trickle of golden blood at the corner of Rukkhadevata's mouth and asked worriedly, "Are you... alright?"
"I'm fine. I'm sorry I couldn't stop her," Rukkhadevata replied, wiping the blood from her mouth.
"It's not your fault."
When addressing Rukkhadevata, Lumine always used formal honorifics. The goddess evoked a different kind of respect in her than Venti or the others; she instinctively felt the need to show greater reverence in Rukkhadevata's presence.
Supporting Fidelle, Lumine said gravely, "I know Chu Xi. She wouldn't be this strong normally. Her current performance... it's beyond, no, far beyond my expectations. Could it be because of the Forbidden Knowledge?"
Rukkhadevata: "I believe so. The power from beyond this world has not only strengthened her physical form but also greatly amplified her offensive capabilities. While the Doctor has modified her body, even he couldn't achieve this level of enhancement."
Lumine's expression was crestfallen, and her breathing quickened.
When they had first arrived, there were five of them. Now, only two remained standing. Paimon lay unconscious, and Chu Xi... after learning the truth about her origins, had become a completely different person, consumed by Forbidden Knowledge and lost her sense of self...
Even Fidelle had suffered grievous injuries...
Rukkhadevata: "The Electro Archon's puppets are of excellent quality. She'll awaken soon. Rest assured."
Lumine nodded, her gaze drifting involuntarily to the spot where Chu Xi had stood moments before.
The memories of their time together weren't just Paimon's; Lumine shared them too.
Having endured so much, Lumine understood that grief and anger were futile. Now that her trio had been reduced to just herself, she had to rally!
If only we'd known what was coming, we never would have embarked on this exploration.
This expedition has been a disaster!
But... how many if onlys does life truly allow?
The memory of Chu Xi's eyes just moments ago filled Lumine's heart with anguish. She turned to Rukkhadevata for help: "Chu Xi's eyes are now blinded by Forbidden Knowledge. Is there still a chance to save her?"
If there was anyone Lumine knew in Teyvat who truly understood Forbidden Knowledge, it would undoubtedly be Rukkhadevata, the Dendro Archon who had battled it for five centuries.
Rukkhadevata pondered aloud, "To save Chu Xi, that may have been our last chance. She's become volatile and dangerous, making it difficult to approach her. Even if we could get close, re-entering her Consciousness Space would be nearly impossible..."
Hearing this, Lumine lowered her head in despair.
Rukkhadevata continued, "Five hundred years ago, she purged the Malice and calamity from the Forbidden Knowledge that hadn't been completely erased. Perhaps she might have a solution."
"But she has vanished completely from Teyvat," Lumine protested. "Even if she had a solution, how could it help now?"
Rukkhadevata shook her head, stating her view, "Traveler, you may not fully grasp the meticulous habits of a scholar. A true scholar, after daring to hypothesize, approaches the verification stage with utmost rigor. This habit grows even stronger in those of greater intellect."
"For her, the possibility that Chu Xi might uncover the truth was not an impossibility. Since such a possibility existed, it would have been essential for someone like her to prepare contingency plans."
"But what if time ran short?" Lumine pressed. "What if she didn't have time to prepare those plans?"
Rukkhadevata: "Since 'she' has already reached that stage—having completely mastered Irminsul's Authority and even possessing the ability to erase herself—the timing of her self-deletion is entirely at her whim. A day sooner or later wouldn't make much difference."
"Observing Chu Xi's affection for 'her,' they must be very close friends. She wouldn't stand idly by... However, this is merely my conjecture, my intuition. To know for certain, I still need time..."
Lumine pondered carefully, realizing that Rukkhadevata's reasoning held merit. Among her friends, whether it was Alhaitham or Tighnari, both were extremely meticulous in their academic pursuits.
But... Lumine then thought of Silaya's personality. This was a girl who had dared to strike the Great Sage with a club! And at the time, she was only eighteen. Not considering these things back then... perhaps that was normal?
Lumine vigorously shook her head. Of course, she hoped Rukkhadevata was right, but this possibility... only a fellow scholar like Rukkhadevata could roughly estimate it.
After a moment of silence, Lumine continued, "Chu Xi has already left this place, and we can't track her movements. With her immense power, if she were to lose control in a city..."
Lumine's concerns were justified. The cannon Chu Xi had just fired, if not for the protection of the Rukkhadevata, would have easily left a massive crater in the desert, possibly even obliterating the nearby Mausoleum of King Deshret.
One could only imagine the devastation Chu Xi could wreak if she unleashed such a blast in a place like Fontaine.
Rukkhadevata: "This is indeed an extremely unstable factor. I will consult with the other gods to explore possible solutions."
Lumine clenched her fists, feeling powerless. She was still too weak to change anything.
I need to find Venti and ask for another small flower, she thought. If Venti and the others had been here, they would never have let Chu Xi escape!
With the situation urgent, Rukkhadevata bid Lumine farewell and returned to her duties.
She needed to confirm her suspicions about Silaya and consult with the other gods to discuss how to deal with Chu Xi.
Only Lumine and Fidelle remained behind.
Fidelle, perched on Lumine's shoulder, opened her eyes and whispered weakly, "Traveler, don't be too hard on yourself. No one could have predicted this. Bringing Chu Xi here isn't your fault."
Lumine turned her head. "Fidelle, how are you feeling?"
Fidelle's voice remained frail. "I'm fine..."
She took out the Serenitea Pot and brought Fidelle inside.
The bed where Paimon lay was wide, usually shared by Lumine and Paimon. Seeing Fidelle's frail state, Lumine helped her lie down beside Paimon.
Fidelle was clearly weaker than she had claimed. As soon as she settled on the bed, she closed her eyes.
Paimon was still asleep. Lumine silently tucked her in with the blanket before quietly leaving the Serenitea Pot.
Taking one last look at the Mausoleum of King Deshret, Lumine departed for Mondstadt with the Serenitea Pot.
-
Venti was at Windrise, still drinking when Lumine found him.
"Venti, do you still have that flower you gave me last time?"
"Has something happened?" Venti asked, his sharp eyes noticing the concern in Lumine's expression.
Lumine recounted the recent events to Venti. After a moment of silence, Venti retrieved a large handful of flowers from his Storage Space and handed them to her.
"If you ever encounter something like this again, don't hesitate to call for me!"