"If I were not like this, how would I be any different from those youngsters?" Apep shot back.
Hearing that, Lora gave her a thumbs-up. "Amazing. Here, have a big thumbs-up."
"It's all right. Even if Apep doesn't help, I can find a few more people, promote them, and have them share Alhaitham and Faruzan's workload." Nahida shook her head, perfectly calm.
Sumeru still had capable people.
They could be found.
Lora said, "If I weren't afraid Neuvillette would beat me up, I'd lend him to you for a few days. With him around, the Akademiya's affairs would probably be handled much faster."
The skill he had honed through more than five hundred years of high-intensity administrative work might not compare to Zhongli, that old hand with several thousand years behind him, but it was more than enough to help.
Nahida shook her head. "There's no need to trouble Neuvillette. I think he's already tired enough."
"Then do you already have someone in mind?"
She hummed and named a few people. "Tighnari from Avidya Forest, Candace from Aaru Village, and Dunyarzad from Sumeru City. Oh, right, Dehya is already helping handle some matters in the desert too."
"Not bad. They're all reliable people," Lora commented.
In any case, they were far more reliable than the people of Fontaine.
After several hundred years of theatrical education, there were honestly very few people there who could help Neuvillette.
Pitifully few.
Most Fontainians had already become the sort of people who lived for entertainment.
Nahida looked at Lora and Apep. "Let's change the subject. What did you two come here for? Did you come to see me?"
"Apep wanted to take a look at the city." Lora glanced at the dragon beside her as she spoke.
Hearing that, Nahida said, "I thought you came because you missed me. Speaking of which, ever since the matter in Fontaine ended, you haven't visited Sumeru once!"
Because the current Nahida believed herself to be Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, she also regarded the past relationship between the Mistress of Amrita and the Lord of Verdure as her own friendship with Lora. That was why she said this.
"Uh... well, I was busy this time. Sorry. I'll make sure to miss you next time," Lora said with a carefree smile.
Nahida could not help laughing. "Can that really be saved for next time?"
"Egeria isn't thinking straight. Don't mind her."
Apep mocked her from the side, then turned to Nahida. "Buer, I originally only wanted to come here and see how these humans live, but now I have something else to discuss with you."
Not thinking straight?
Her?
Lora frowned and tilted her head.
"What is it?" Hearing the seriousness in Apep's tone, Nahida put away her smile and looked at her properly.
"I want to access Irminsul," Apep said directly, without the slightest attempt to soften it.
"Hm?" Nahida froze on the spot and looked at her in confusion.
"I need to confirm something. My authority over Irminsul has already been stripped away by the Heavenly Principles. If I want to come into contact with it now, I can only rely on you."
Nahida did not immediately agree. Instead, she looked at Lora and asked, "What do you think?"
"Huh? What does this have to do with me?" Lora was stunned.
"Of course it has something to do with you." Nahida nodded. "You once served as the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, so I want to know whether allowing Apep to access Irminsul will draw their attention."
After thinking for a moment, Lora said, "Logically speaking, their power is constantly weakening. Right now, they can't even maintain the Sustainer anymore. They have fallen into slumber and are gradually dying.
"So even if Apep accesses Irminsul, it probably won't draw their attention. Of course, if you still don't think that's safe enough, I can make a trip back to Celestia. If they or the Sustainer really wake up, I'll find a way to press them back down?"
"Fighting the Heavenly Principles? Count me in," Apep said.
"That's too risky."
Nahida shook her head and rejected Lora's suggestion. "Since you said they won't awaken because of this, then I have no problem with it. Apep, come inside with me."
Compared to Lora's last visit, the Sanctuary of Surasthana had changed quite a bit. It now had much more of a lived-in feeling, and even the enormous lotus platform had been covered with soft cushions.
Nahida stood before Apep and said seriously, "You are the Dendro Dragon Sovereign, so I do not think I need to remind you too much of Irminsul's importance. Please be careful."
"Rest assured. When I governed it, you did not even exist yet," Apep said with a nod.
Under Nahida's control, the entrance to Irminsul appeared before the three of them, and Apep walked straight in.
Only after she entered that space did Nahida look at Lora and ask, "What exactly is going on? Why did Apep suddenly want access?"
Lora spread her hands. "This matter... is hard to explain. All I can say is, if you know, you know. If you don't, then I can't explain too much. The water runs very deep here..."
Nahida simply stared at her in silence.
Then a question mark appeared above her head.
"Uh..."
Watching Nahida form a question mark above her head with Dendro elemental power, Lora blinked, nearly unable to keep a straight face.
Before the two of them could say much more, Apep had already walked back out.
She saw the question mark above Nahida's head and said, "What are you two playing at now?"
"Children shouldn't ask," Lora replied instinctively.
Apep walked forward, raised her hand, and struck her on the head.
"Ow!" Lora clutched her head and took a step back.
The Hydro Archon has been attacked! Seal off the Sanctuary of Surasthana! Hurry!
Nahida looked at Apep and asked, "Did you find what you were looking for? Can you tell me what exactly you needed to search for inside Irminsul?"
"Memories," Apep answered simply.
"Then did you find them?"
Apep looked at Lora.
After a moment of silence, she nodded. "Mm. More or less."
Noticing that gaze, Lora shuddered. She suddenly felt as if something truly terrifying had locked onto her. Quietly stepping back, she said, "Just talk if you're going to talk. Why are you looking at me?"