The tense full-body examination finally ended when Ganyu stood up. After confirming that Indarias hadn't suffered any serious internal injuries, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Still, proper rest was necessary, and alcohol was strictly off-limits.
Once that was settled, Ganyu left to handle the task Rex Lapis had assigned her—spreading the news of Indarias's return.
Another adeptus had come back to Liyue. The people needed to know the general story, and Ganyu only needed to follow Rex Lapis's explanation.
Granny Ping, seeing that nothing else required her attention, returned to the courtyard. She settled into her special rocking chair, sipping tea and enjoying the sunlight.
As for Xiao, Bosacius, and Menogias, they had their own duties to attend to, just like Ganyu. So the task of caring for Indarias fell to Bonanus.
...
Inside Yanfei's Residence
Living Room
Bonanus looked at the empty room, then at Indarias, still unconscious on the sofa. She fell into thought.
What was the first step in caring for a comatose patient?
She rubbed her face with her big paw. Regardless, she should move Indarias to a bed first.
Her brothers and Xiao really should have helped carry Indarias inside before leaving.
Letting out a breath, Bonanus carefully lifted Indarias in her big paws and carried her to her room.
She kicked the door open, stepped into the dark bedroom, and gently laid Indarias on the bed, pulling the covers over her.
"She's a bit heavy." Bonanus muttered under her breath. Indarias really had a great figure—taller than average and quite well-endowed.
Damn. She glanced at her own flat chest and felt a pang of insecurity.
She shook her head. Adepti had long lives. She still had time to develop. Definitely.
Just as she was comforting herself, Indarias stirred on the bed. She wasn't awake—she was afraid. Probably having a nightmare.
Seeing this, Bonanus frowned with concern. She climbed onto the bed, lay down beside Indarias, and gently held her, patting her back softly.
Like comforting a child. She had no idea what the most effective approach was.
She had no experience, so she just followed her instincts.
She could feel Indarias's body trembling. Even in her sleep, her emotions were pouring out.
Fear, dread, loneliness, helplessness, and pain.
"We're all here. We're all here. Everyone just stepped out for a bit. They'll come back to see you." Bonanus brought her lips close to Indarias's ear and whispered.
Her words seemed to help. She didn't know if Indarias could hear her, but she could clearly feel her gradually relaxing.
Seeing that, Bonanus let out a sigh of relief. Nightmares were awful, especially for a Yaksha who had been through so much.
"Sleep well. When you wake, the world's love and peace will embrace you warmly."
Bonanus gently stroked Indarias's forehead with her big paw. She knew she should stay by her sister's side.
Whether Indarias was awake or asleep, after everything she had just endured, she needed a sense of security. And Bonanus was that security.
While staying with Indarias, Bonanus also used the Hydro Moon Ring to absorb karmic debt from her.
Earning "money" while relieving the pressure on Indarias's body at the same time.
Two birds with one stone.
Watching the karmic debt slowly rise, Bonanus's lips curled into a smile. It seemed Guizhong's return wouldn't take much longer.
Before she knew it, Bonanus's eyelids grew heavy from exhaustion. She hadn't slept all night, and she had fought and been burned.
Even as an adeptus, she had her limits.
The two sisters lay together on the soft bed, curtains blocking the harsh sunlight.
This was a peace that didn't belong to the Archon War era. Surely Indarias hadn't slept this well in a long time.
...
Late Afternoon
Indarias's eyes snapped open. She sat up quickly, scanning her surroundings warily.
It was instinct—a reflex from the Archon War era.
Still groggy, her vision was blurry. She couldn't see much at a distance, but close objects were clear.
"Where am I..." she muttered tiredly, rubbing her aching head.
No killing intent. No ominous presence. She seemed to be lying on a soft bed.
What was going on? Had Rex Lapis or another adeptus saved her?
She shook her head, dismissing the thought. The other adepti were out on campaign with Rex Lapis. They wouldn't have had time for her.
She closed her eyes and rubbed her brow, her thoughts racing. She hadn't even noticed the small figure beside her.
"My last memory... the karmic debt was consuming me. To avoid hurting others, I chose to flee..."
She analyzed her own situation. If she had spared even half her attention for the bed beside her, she would have noticed Bonanus long ago.
But she didn't need to—her muttering was enough to wake a sleeping person.
Rubbing her eyes, Bonanus let out a soft, annoyed sound at being woken.
That small noise made Indarias whip her head around.
Seeing that it was her dear sister, Indarias's mouth fell open in disbelief. Was this... Bonanus?
Was this the afterlife?
With that thought, she reached out with her slender fingers and poked Bonanus's cheek. It felt the same as before.
"Hey, stop it." Bonanus swatted her hand away, irritated. She had a short temper when waking up. Who was bothering her?
She turned over and wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, not saying a word.
But then, she suddenly sat up. Wait. Yanfei was out working. Granny Ping usually left her alone. That left only...
Seeing the smiling Indarias, Bonanus was momentarily stunned. She woke up that fast?
"Indarias, you're finally awake." Bonanus brushed the hair from her eyes and spoke with pleasant surprise.
"I guess so. Bonanus, tell me—why are you here? Is this the afterlife?"
Indarias grabbed Bonanus's shoulders and shook her urgently.
"Slow down, Indarias. Stop shaking me." Bonanus laughed, forcing her to stop.
"This is Liyue. It's not the afterlife. You don't have to worry about enemies. The war ended under Rex Lapis's leadership. Our nation is incredibly prosperous now." Bonanus explained patiently while cracking her stiff neck.
Hearing that, countless thoughts raced through Indarias's mind. What? The war was over? Peace and prosperity?
Were post-war reconstruction efforts really that fast?
That couldn't be right. The fighting had been at its peak. How could it have ended so quickly?
Indarias was clearly struggling to process it. Her brain was about to overload.
Seeing her dazed expression, Bonanus chuckled. "Seeing is believing. Come on, Indarias. I'll take you out for a walk."
She extended her big paw in invitation. Her heart was racing, but her expression remained calm.