"What are you doing?" Apep looked at the thing Lora had pulled out in confusion.
She had almost never left the desert. Ever since the laws of the Heavenly Principles had spread across Teyvat, she had not even stepped beyond its sands. Because of that, she knew even less about Fontaine's inventions.
"I'm recording what you just said!"
Lora put on a serious face and said, "Once I have that line recorded, I'll make a few copies and send one to each of those dragons, so they can go home and slowly listen to your teachings."
Apep was greatly surprised. She immediately leaned in and stared at the recorder in Lora's hand. "Such a thing exists? This little box can preserve my voice? Is this another one of Fontaine's marvelous devices?"
Lora tapped her on the chest. "Step back a bit. You're too big!"
Apep straightened up and looked at her strangely.
Lora pursed her lips and said, "Yes, it's from Fontaine. If you want one, I can bring you one later."
Apep shook her head. "No need. Human creations like this look delicate, but they break too easily. It would not last long in my domain. A waste."
"It could be preserved if you really wanted it to be," Lora muttered, then asked, "So, can we set off now?"
"Of course. Let's go." Apep nodded and followed her out of the inner space and into the outside world.
What greeted them was a vast expanse of orange-yellow desert. The footprints Lora had left when she arrived had already been swallowed by wind and sand. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but endless dunes in every direction, with no path or destination in sight.
"Uh... well, Lady Apep, you do know the way, right?" Lora scratched her head and smiled.
After hearing that question, Apep fell silent for a moment before saying, "You don't know the way?"
"No! I was just testing you," Lora said quickly, shaking her head.
"Heh... Egeria, you are truly desperate to save face." Apep seemed to see right through her. She chuckled and said, "Follow me. I know this desert better than anyone."
She had lived here for thousands of years. In the past, she had existed in her true form, her gaze sweeping over the desert and the rainforest countless times. Every path and every corner of this land was etched into her heart.
Lora followed behind her. Seemingly trying to defend herself, she said, "Actually, if I were in Fontaine, finding my way would be very easy! I never get lost in Fontaine!"
"If you could get lost even in Fontaine, I would suggest drowning yourself," Apep said without looking back.
"Drown the Hydro Archon? Lady Apep, do you even hear yourself?" Lora frowned.
Apep snorted. "Is that any less shocking than the Hydro Archon getting lost in the nation of water?"
Lora sighed helplessly, and the two of them set off toward the rainforest.
...
After they left the area, Aether appeared behind them, his gaze fixed on Lora's back, his expression filled with confusion.
Khaenri'ah lay beneath these lands, and this was also the headquarters of the Abyss Order. As early as when Lora returned here, Aether had already sensed her power.
But why?
"Wasn't she already dead?" Aether murmured, staring after her.
He had once paid attention to what happened in Fontaine, but after Lora resolved its crisis at the cost of her own death, he had withdrawn his gaze.
On top of that, the Abyss Order had not been active in Fontaine, so he had no idea she had come back to life.
An Abyss Herald appeared behind Aether and asked, "Your Highness, do you need us to investigate?"
Aether shook his head. "No need. I can sense a power in Egeria that is even stronger than before. I don't know what happened, but it should be connected to her resurrection.
"You would not be her match, and neither would I. But there is no need to concern ourselves with this. We have already obtained part of the Primordial Sea's authority from her. There is no need to provoke her again."
"Yes!" The Abyss Herald nodded, showing no rashness.
"How is my sister?" Aether then asked.
"Your Highness, as you know, your sister is with Azhdaha, the Geo Dragon Sovereign. We did not dare get too close, but she should be in no danger."
"That's good." Aether nodded. "Let's go. We continue our great undertaking."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The Abyss Herald nodded, and master and servant left the area.
...
Lora followed Apep the whole way, and Apep complained the whole way.
The general idea was that The Seven were truly useless, and that bunch of second-generation dragons was just as useless.
Of course, the road was not exactly peaceful either. The two of them ran into quite a few Eremites along the way.
So, after dealing with those Eremites, Apep's complaints changed into why there were so many of them on this road, why King Deshret's people were so annoying, and how she was going to blow up his tomb.
Lora looked at the endlessly chattering Apep.
This was nothing like her cold and lofty manner as a dragon!
Ma'am, please show a little restraint!
Before they entered Caravan Ribat, the two of them once again encountered Eremites blocking the road.
"No, I cannot stand this anymore. Egeria, step aside!" Apep clenched her fists, ready to give this group a harsh lesson.
Lora tilted her head. "What do you mean, step aside? I've been behind you this whole time!"
Just as Apep was about to act, a pleasantly surprised voice came from the side.
"Miss Lora?"
Hearing that voice, Lora blinked and looked over. She saw Dehya standing on top of a sand dune and said in surprise, "Running into you here? What a coincidence, Dehya."
"It's my honor to meet you here, Miss Lora!" Dehya jumped down from the dune.
Lora glanced at the mercenaries surrounding her and Apep, then asked, "Are these people yours?"
Dehya shook her head. "No. As the Akademiya's authority gradually extends into the desert, and with Alhaitham and Cyno's efforts, the desert is slowly returning to Lesser Lord Kusanali's rule. These people are a group that emerged because of that change... traditionalists, I suppose?"
"They refuse to accept the Akademiya's order and refuse to obey Lesser Lord Kusanali, so they've been causing trouble all over the desert."