"What are you afraid of?" Apep asked, watching Lora.
"Don't even try it. You think I'll fall for that?" Lora snorted, making it clear she would not let a few words provoke her into exposing herself.
Apep did not press further. She turned to Nahida and asked, "Buer, do you know Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata... the giant tree that covered Sumeru in ancient times, right?" Nahida answered instinctively.
Hearing that, Apep let out a quiet laugh.
"Is something wrong?" Nahida looked at her in confusion.
Apep turned toward Lora and said slowly, "That depends on how Lady Egeria intends to explain it."
There were no direct records of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata left in Irminsul, but Apep had found a conversation between Lora and Lumine. The Traveler herself was not recorded there, while Lora's words had been preserved clearly.
Apep was no fool. Just from what Lora had said in that conversation, she could tell their memories had been altered. What she cared about most now was what Rukkhadevata actually represented, and why those memories had been changed.
When Lora heard the way Apep addressed her, she shuddered for no reason and quickly took a step back. "Apep, can you act normal for once? I'm usually the one who uses this trick on other people, and now you're using my own trick against me!"
Nahida looked at her again. "Lora, what does Apep mean?"
Lora had been about to make something up, but when she saw Nahida's gaze, she sighed helplessly and said, "Ah... it's nothing much. It's about Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
"What does this have to do with her?" Nahida frowned.
Apep said, "Our memories have been altered. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is not some giant tree that covered Sumeru. As for what she truly represents, only Egeria and that Traveler from beyond the stars should know."
If Nahida had lived long enough, she would have understood as well.
In the past, there had absolutely never been such a tree in this land.
Lora looked between the two of them. In the end, she could only sigh. She turned to Nahida and asked, "Nahida, if Forbidden Knowledge were to contaminate Irminsul again, could you guarantee that you could purge it completely?"
"Forbidden Knowledge... contaminating Irminsul again?" Nahida frowned and looked at her blankly, not understanding what she meant.
"You only need to answer me. Can you guarantee it?" Lora asked, her expression serious.
Nahida also realized this matter might not be simple. After a moment of silence, she said, "I can't. That kind of thing is impossible to predict, so I can't give you a definite answer."
"What if I help? Can you give me a rough probability then?"
Nahida looked at her, then answered, "With your help, there is a very high chance we could contain it. Your power has already merged with a mighty force from beyond Teyvat. It would be enough to have a tremendous effect on Irminsul."
For Lora, affecting Irminsul was not difficult. The hard part was maintaining its stability.
After all, she was not the Dendro Archon and had no authority over it. Her influence relied more on forcing her way in with raw power, which would inevitably affect Irminsul itself.
But if she worked together with Nahida, that would no longer be a problem.
Lora paced back and forth in front of them. Only after thinking for a long time did she say, "All right. I'll tell you about Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. Once I say these things, it will have a huge impact on Teyvat, and it cannot be undone. Do you understand?"
Nahida and Apep exchanged a glance.
Then both nodded.
"We're ready."
Lora took a deep breath and slowly told them everything.
As she spoke, all memories and records related to the former Dendro Archon returned to Teyvat once more and were written back into Irminsul.
The land of Sumeru gradually began to shake, and The Withering, which had already vanished without a trace, showed signs of returning to life.
...
Far away in Liyue, Zhongli was preparing the supplies needed for Lantern Rite together with Xianyun when he suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Xianyun frowned when she saw him freeze in place.
The more powerful a person was, the more clearly they could sense what was happening at that moment.
It was like an invisible wind sweeping across all of Teyvat.
All memories revived once more.
Only after a long while did Zhongli sigh and say, "It's nothing. Let's continue. Where were we just now?"
Xianyun looked at the list beside her. "The bowls, chopsticks, teacups, and the like are all ready. Only the couplets and red envelopes are left."
"Leave the couplets to me. As for the red envelopes..." Zhongli looked at her and paused there.
Understanding what he meant, Xianyun nodded helplessly. "I'll prepare the red envelopes."
...
Sumeru, Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Lora had finished telling them everything, and all records about Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had been written back into Irminsul.
Nahida and Apep were still immersed in the story, unable to pull themselves out of it.
"She was originally the incarnation of Irminsul, yet she submitted herself to the order of the Heavenly Principles. By all rights, I should despise such a choice. And yet, even I have to admit that she truly was a god worthy of being called great."
Apep sighed, giving her evaluation of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Lora looked at Nahida and asked, "Can you accept this?"
"So when I erased the Forbidden Knowledge before, does that mean I personally erased my mother's existence?" Nahida raised her head and looked at her, her eyes gradually reddening.
"That was not your fault, nor was it mine. It was a choice this world was forced to make." Lora had known Nahida would think this way. She sighed and tried to soothe her.
"I just... can't accept it right away..." Nahida rubbed her eyes, her voice a little choked.
Apep suddenly closed her eyes, then opened them again. "Now is not the time to grieve. I have already sensed Forbidden Knowledge reviving throughout Sumeru. We must enter Irminsul and erase it."
"Aunt Lora," Nahida said, her eyes still red. "Let's go."
For a brief moment, Lora froze.
Then she smiled softly and nodded.
"Mm! Let's go."