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Chapter 38: An [Acting] Great Sage's Hope (to get Demoted)
P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c
Out of all possible outcomes in the 'Grand Crisis of the Sages and Sumeru', Alhaitham had not expected for this to actually impact him as meaningfully as it did. He had enjoyed being a mere Scribe for a long while, he was not bothered by people and... then the hilichurl threw things in the air for many people.
The way that thing easily breached the Akademiya, got to Lesser Lord Kussanali and successfully escaped guards and forest rangers was outrageously 'hilarious' for someone like him. But the reason why he wasn't snorting at the idea was because he had been struck by the ramifications of such a move.
The peculiar beast not only kidnapped the God of Wisdom, but had actually shut down the Akasha System. No one had ever managed to achieve such a massive move, to the point that none of the experienced scholars that were to act as technicians over the System knew how to 'fix it'.
What ensued was a crisis that had been stirring for decades now, and that aired a lot of dirty laundry that caused for some severe changes from the usual status quo: The Grand Sage Azar and four of the six Great Sages had been slowly using the Akasha System to indoctrinate, experiment, and then 'siphon dreams' from Sumeru Citizens. Such a concept was perplexing, but not as horrible as it was the fact that their ultimate goal, in conjuction with the Fatui's Dottore, was the creation of a New God.
Such a concept was intriguing, but the cost was horrifying even for someone as detached from others' lives as Alhaitham. The use of people's dreams as energy to attain a connection with Irminsul, the source of all Wisdom, the use of expensive material to create an 'augmented body' for something that was meant to harness the power of a Gnosis.
The idea was perplexing to say the least, even more when it became apparent to Alhaitham and even Cyno, the General Mahamatra in charge of the Matra, that the ideal gnosis was one relying on Electro instead of Dendro. The diplomatic repercussions were, indeed, massive considering the current period of strife and isolation Inazuma was going through, especially with the implications of such a item being expected to be claimed by the Fatui.
Then again, this was the least impressive considering the other problems raised by the Grand Sage. A trial ensued, with Alhaitham forced to take over as Acting Grand Sage due to his position being the highest as of the time which didn't involve a takeover from the remaining Great Sages, many elements came to public awareness.
From the effort to have a 'dream-siphoning' experience through the upcoming Sabzeruz Festival, to their last ditch attempt to escape justice by trying to run for Liyue. Ironically so, without the Akasha Terminal's presence, they couldn't have used the system to produce the 'documentation' needed to pass through the Forest Rangers.
After the Hilichurl's escape, the Rangers had been far more active and quite swift in securing the rogue Sages. Azar was condemned to life in prison, same for the higher-ups involved in the conspiracy. And through the trial, new information was revealed.
The King Deshret had been one of those issues, with the Sages admitting that they had relied on fake rumors to further turn Desert Nomads and mercenaries into 'foes' of the Sumeru Civilization while also uncovering and tainting society with the Forbidden Knowledge that was meant to be kept away.
The trial unveiled the kind of chaos no one could have expected, and, as much as Alhaitham didn't want to have any of that, he knew he was in the best posture to currently deal with this. He managed to avoid a permanent role by coercing the other Sages to agree with his view of the Acting Grand Sage role as a 'temporary provision to stabilize the government'.
Nothing more, nothing else.
Two months went by swiftly, with efforts made to actually root out the full proof of the Grand Sage's treachery in unveiling one of King Deshret's old towers in the desert. The nomads hired for the job were quick to spread rumors, allowing for this religious zealotry to be handled swiftly.
Yet, there was no sign of Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Agents were sent, but Liyue had gone through a brief period of crisis as their God died. Alhaitham was baffled by this turn of events, yet the most concerning novelty was as the second month of his painful task above his previous Scribe-only role came around and he got a letter.
From Lesser Lord Kusanali.
The sigil was imbued in an unique Dendro essence that books confirmed being the best verification method behind the God of Wisdom's messages. In the past, this was actually how Greater Lord Rukkhadevata would spread her edicts before the Akasha Terminal was set up.
As Alhaitham read the letter, he couldn't help but feel his head go numb with the information that was relayed to him. The perspective offered by the God of Wisdom allowed him to answer some questions of the trial the Sages were unable to answer themselves in regard to why they decided to sideline Kusanali, and why the Akasha System was 'best to be put to rest permanently'.
This last claim, he could wholeheartedly agree too. Further analysis of the terminal had confirmed the use of laws that, by Sumeru's own legal system, should have not been passed at all. And the more he read about Lesser Lord Kusanali's own views on how things went and what were her plans for her planned return, Alhaitham felt relief.
First off, Lord Kusanali intended to revisit the general governance of the Akademiya as she defined as 'far too flawed after so many centuries of changes and progress'. This notion was reasonable as she spoke of 'slow reformism' to 'favor change without rushing things for her subjects'.
Next was the matter tied to the desert as she intended to 'bring enlightened to her neglected children'. Another good concern considering that this would further expand the efforts of the Akademiya in patching things up with the nomads.
Yet, the last bit was the most intriguing.
While I have told you much, Acting Great Sage, it is best for me to relay the most crucial information through private conversation. I understand that you may feel left in the dark with this request, but I had the unsavory experience of knowing the Fatui have set up ways to monitor important individuals in their respective countries. I suggest you restrain their capacity to create trouble in the country.
The Dottore was already out of the country, so Alhaitham had thought that would have been enough. But if Lesser Lord Kusanali was of the understanding that the entire organization was to be monitored, then Alhaitham had no issue in seeing that done.
The last sliver of paper contained a peculiar line that stuck to him, however.
P.S. It's Lord Kusanali or God of Wisdom. I am not 'Lesser' as I stand at the same potential of my predecessor, and I refuse to be called 'Short' with smart talk.
He actually bit down an amused snort at that. It never hit him that the adjective, which may be used to determine the age of the two deities, could be seen in such a light. Nonetheless, he was given a sketch of the vehicle Lord Kusanali was going to use and...
It was time to prepare a feast in Port Ormos. Officially, for Lord Kusanali's return- unofficially for his long-wanted demotion!
AN
Alhaitham, the only guy that appreciates to be a clerk than a leader and would be willing to screw a nation due to his dislike for social situation.