-Once again, thank you for accepting my sudden request. -Faruzan couldn't help but gratefully say, as she was watching the god repair Tamimi. The mechanical lifeform that her colleagues made a hundred years ago and the only memento she has of them, her family and friends. Which reminded her...-Lord Rhadames, you should know well that it was my own fault for getting trapped in that Temple for a hundred years. I was simply not careful enough while conducting my research.
She said in as much seriousness and reassurance that she could muster,
As she knew full well that for whatever reason, the "reincarnated" god before her was blaming himself for what happened...
*Even though it was her own decision to research that particular ruin, while failing to take the necessary precautions.
...
And what happened due to her lack of insight was...
...
"That ruin was crawling with traps and coded inscriptions from wall to wall.
I did all I could to decipher the code and deactivate the traps to escape the ruin, but there was no way out.
I lost track of time, and I ran out of pen and paper. In the end, I had to use stone shards to write on the walls and on the floor to decipher the code.
Then, before I realized it, I ran out of space on the walls and floor. I had to calculate all the possibilities in my mind.
After that, my memory started to become fuzzy, and my cognition slowed down."
...
Due to that mistake of hers, that...Experimental error,
For a decade her body's clock was frozen and in the span of those long years...
*She should have made the necessary preparations before rushing off into...
-It might indeed be your fault for getting trapped, as you have said. But you must know well that I am no better. -The familiar voice of Lord Rhadames interrupted her thoughts, its tone eerily calm with a tint of sadness. -...Knowing how hardworking you are, Miss Faruzan, you must have already read Tirzad's research paper on the Golden Slumber. You must also know about the many other mistakes I made before and after that..."Experiment". Yet, it doesn't seem like anyone really hates me now and there are even people, including Nahida, who are trying to help me overcome my guilt. I know well why that is, yet still, I can't help but feel perplexed. -He sadly told her before audibly sighing, soon getting completely quiet for a few seconds, as he continued to work on Tamimi. -...You might not have any ill will for me due to what happened, yet seeing as it was one of my temples, I cannot help but feel responsible. -He admitted upon finishing the repair, a small smile soon appearing on his face. -...But it's alright. I will try not to blame myself for what happened anymore. Instead, would a small upgrade to Tamimi suffice as an apology...? -He asked while putting the tools back into his "Hammerspace", taking a step back from the Ruin Cruiser and motioning for Faruzan to come near, which she soon did, though she looked slightly confused. -Tamimi, show me Faruzan's past loved ones.
-Kalu! Kalu! -Tamimi excitedly yelled out as its core shone, from it a hologram suddenly started to appear, soon getting bigger and bigger, until...-Kalu!
-T-this is...? A-are those...?! -Faruzan couldn't help but mumble in shock, as she looked between the half transparent forms before her. -A-are those really...?
"There you are, Faruzan, after disappearing for a hundred long years! Do you even know how worried I was when you suddenly went missing?!
...It's actually not the best way to meet again, but I can't really complain, now can I...?"
"It's nice to see you again, Madam Faruzan. I am your past student...In a way.
…This way of meeting, is this truly okay...?"
"As long as it can help my most exceptional student, then it is no trouble. Isn't that right...?"
"It is. I am just grateful to be able to see her again.
My Dear Daughter, I am glad to see that you are doing well. Live well for all of us, alright...?"
The holograms soon told her, upon changing their voice tones and expressions,
As if they were actually alive...As if they were actually...
*But everyone she knew a hundred years ago was long dead, so how...?
...
-It's a little hard to explain what I actually did during this upgrade. But you should know that those holograms are the people you knew, yet not quite fully. -Samir soon told the frozen-in-shock woman, looking and sounding quite serious. -At first I planned to install a simple recorder of sorts into your mechanical friend, but then decided otherwise. Instead, I took a peek into your memories of a hundred years ago and got an "image" of all the people you held dear. Next, I made sure to extract any "Human Soul Essence" that remained in Sumeru City using the left-over Sigils of Permission that Barbatos had...-His words were interrupted by a sudden tackle, as not even a moment later, the god felt a pair of fairly delicate arms envelop around his body. -...Faruzan, what are you...Currently doing...? Are you feeling…Well…?
He couldn't help but soon ask in rising confusion and surprise,
Upon quickly realizing that he was just enveloped into a hug...
*Why would this human...So suddenly...?
Was she really that happy about his small gift...?
...
Even interrupting his explanation midway...
*Normally, she would be more calm and composed,
So for her to suddenly act so…Energetically…
...
…
…
Being hugged like this and by a human, again...
*The first time was Jeht a few months ago,
Which was less surprising due to her usual character...
…
…
This particular action didn't feel bad, but,
Considering how everyone acted towards him in the past...
*As no one "dared to" do something "so disrespectful" to him,
And people even made rules about the appropriate way of touching him.
...
...
Truthfully, their current position felt kind of weird,
And he wasn't certain what to do about this…
"K-Klee will stop Klee's plan to blow those grown-ups! I promise!
I am going to be a good girl, so please don't abandon Klee...B-Big Brother Venti!"
This was what Klee promised him a few minutes ago and thankfully, she stood by that promise...
*Looks like she loved spending time with him way more than she wanted to "Punish" those Former Sages...
...
Speaking of which, he did check out how, frankly pitifully, they were now living,
And he also made sure to take a few photos to remember the occasion~
*He might have helped them survive, yet he still didn't feel any compassion for those...People,
Since they helped Azar in his diabolical plans, he actually found their sufferings to be quite amusing...
...
After all, their current situation was well deserved for what they did to Nahida and Sumeru.
...
...
And then he remembered about his short talk with Tighnari...
...
"So, let me get this straight, you want me to tell you how to make Dog Treats...Since I am a descendant of the Tighnarians, a humanoid, foxlike race…
…My parents have a very bad naming sense, I know that well, Cyno. Don't even think of joking about this!
Anyway, me being a Tighnarian descendant apparently puts me into the same family as dogs...? Is that it…?
...Cyno, I see that smirk you are trying to hide. Don't you dare laugh about this!
But yes, I do know what kind of treats dogs like and even came up with my own recipe. This is an important part of my knowledge as a Forest Watcher, Cyno. Nothing else.
...Let me write a copy of the recipe for you, Lord Barbatos. Seeing as you are an animal lover yourself, I am certain it would be put to good use."
...
…
After which they were invited to Mahavanaranapna by the Aranara,
Who arrived at the location together with the recently returned Rana and Arana.
*They told him and the others that it's to thank them for making Klee spare Old Varanara,
But something told him that this wasn't the full story...
...
...
"The Wind Spirits and the Aranara like to gather up together and have fun!"
Nahida's previous answer to him.
*Was this why they were invited here specifically...?
Into the dream version of Varanara, the Aranara's current home...
...
...
"No matter how dark the sky and land may get, as long as your spirit emits warmth like a golden sun, there will always be hope."
...
What a beautiful description this is...
*"There will always be hope", huh...?
...
...
...
𝔊𝔬𝔡 𝔬𝔣 𝔚𝔦𝔫𝔡, 𝔉𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔡𝔬𝔪, 𝔖𝔬𝔫𝔤 𝔞𝔫𝔡 ℌ𝔬𝔭𝔢
...
...
He wasn't going to scare his people to death again, would he...?
...
Ĥ̵̠̌̂̀̔͊̀̄̚͘̕͠e̶̞̳̦̠͉͈̥̠͋͑̒̀͝ ̴̹͎̌͐̈̍̏̈̈́̇͗̔̈̄̃͋̏̂͗͛̂́͗͆̉̔̕w̶̡͔̯̖̱͔̹̺̝̱͈͇̟̲̜͖̏̍́̑̌͋̀̋̅̄̇̃̚̕̚̕͝͝ŏ̷̢̝̞̹̦̫̗͊̇̆̕͝͠ũ̸̡̲̅̏̉̇̓̐̎̅̏̀̅͋͝l̵̢̢̛̼̗̮̫͉̠̘̻̲͎͕͚͙͈̲̘̺͖̭̝̥̑̂̀̍̀̓̊̈́̆͛̉͋͑̎̈͛́͂̏͒͒͒͛̽̆̋̍̋͜͝ḏ̸̡̡̛̙̳̫̤͉̥̟̠͓̞̯͕̮̌͐̋̃͛̈́̀͆̅̋̀̕͘͝͝͠ͅͅ,̷̰̹̖̥͚͈̙̘̼̩̀͊͋̃͆̑͆̃̉̏̍̓̽̎̿̋̀̑̉̉̍̈̔̕̚̚͜͝ ̸̨̛̫̤̘̜̹͉̣͂̍̒͆̓̽͗͊̌͛̒̆̾̏̉̈͐̊̐̌̅́̀̿̀͘͝b̴̛̛̛͎͓̳̥̭͈̙̝͍̞̰͓̟̟̹̥̺̲̠̟͉̫́̏̿́̒̔͂͋̀̐̈́̒͐̏̈́̏̕͜͠ų̶̨̨̢̨͓̫̻͓͔͔͕̙͖̜͍̭͈̣̯̟̗̼͔̋͋̑̿̆̓́̏͂́̈̌͌̉̐̏̉̈́̉̈͘͝͝ͅt̸̡̮͍̱̭͎̮̹̞̳̖̿̒̀̌́ ̷̲̏w̸̡̛̺̺̃́̆̓͗̐͆̓̊͐̏̀͐͌͐͊̄̋̓̀ĩ̶͇̜͆͒͂̄̆͂̋̋̒̓͂͛̕͝ţ̴̨̨̨̨̼͈̻̮͔̞͍͑͂͒͌͆͐́̈́̾̈͛̈́̑͒̔̾͋͛̆̈́̓̕̕͝͝͝ͅḩ̴̧̨̨̹̤̮̞͍̬̤̯̬̺̪̤̼̰̦̩̹͇̹͙͚̰͓̪̔̊̔͘ ̷̛͓̖̯̍̀̈̔̉͐̒̑̏̔́͂͛̃̾͂́́͑͌̕͠͠ñ̴̛͇͍̳͑́͆̓̾̏͆̕͠͝͝͠ǫ̸̢̨̛̜͓̳̝̱̳̱̥͎̮̟̪̼̮̞͈̩̭̖̝̦̒̽̉͋̄̋͌͊̒͋̏͗̑̔͗̉͂̕͘̕͘͜͠͠͝͝ ̵̧̛̙̞͉͉͙̔́̈́͑͗̽̈́̊̀̂͛͗̂͒͘̕̚͝͝f̷̧̢̡̤͚̜̟͚͎̮̜̭͓̤͙̹̜̩͈͖͉͎̖̲̠̟̩͉̺̑̀̓̑̓̍̈̐̚ą̶̢̘̙͉͙̮̱̫͚͎͉̤̻̪̣̯̼͍̭͓̝͎͙̓̓̌̃̽͑̏͑̋̏̂̑̏͐̍̍̄͒̑͐̅̚̕͜͝͝͠u̴̧̧̲̹̳͈͈̙̬̯̞̪͍̪͇̭͕͙̖̝̤̯͔̘̲̞̭͆͛̏͛̐̀͑͜͠ͅl̷̡̢͎̮̟͕̲̰̗͙̞̮͔͉̮̝͎͇͓̩͌̓͌̉̎̅̋̅͑͐͌̔̌́̏̾͋̈̍̕͜͜͠͝ͅt̷̨͉̣͔̫̽̑̽̀̔͊͒̽͂̕͘ ̵̨̰͓̝̳̠̗̫̱̲̦͓̠̟̭̤̩̺̟̘̠̬̫͇̈́̐̀̎̎͝ͅơ̸̡̻̮̙̬̲̰̫̼̜̱̩̬̗̂͐͐̓̑̒̾̋̇̀͘̚͠ḟ̷̼̦͎̝͎̮̱̙̱̎́͗̉ ̷̼͓̟̾̔̍͐̂̇͑̌̊̏h̷̛͈̫̫͆̔̿̊̄̈̓́̎̀͗̎̈́̎̄͆̈̇́͝͠͝ȉ̶̡͉̣̠̳̝̥͓̟̹̜̯̫͉͙̹̱̫͓͐̑̀́̓̆͌̒̿̂̒̓̈͆͊̈̏̈̑̅̚s̴̢̢̡͎͇͖͍̱̟̱͓̰̐̏̀̅͌͘ͅ ̴̧̢͔̥͔̮̣̯̞̼̠̝͓̩̮̝̓͌̂̍̿̇̏̓̾͌̓̈́̔͛̿̓͌͜͝ͅȍ̶̲̻͇͔͕̦̬̮̻̰̏͆̏̌̇͑̿̍̒̇͛͛̀͂̈́̓͑̐̚̚͜͝w̷̻̼̝͎̪̫̘̥̦͈̘͙̘̍̎̉̆̂̓͒͋͆̊͑̌̂̐̓͌̈́̀̓̊͋̃͂̚͘͠ͅn̴̡̧̧̢̨͎͕͖̺̥̼̲̰̗͍͈̖̬͎̪͓͔̥͔̫̈́͂̿̚͜ͅ
...
...
Well, that sounded quite,
And after he promised...
*Just what was going to...?
...
C̵̥͕̣̬̏ȩ̷̭̜͔̝͇̬͍́̏̕͜ļ̶̛̛̩͇͍̫̻̫͓͈̭̘̲̫̯̪̦̹̪͙͉̫̣̬̣̖̪͇̌̿̈́͛̄͂̊̈͆̈́̓̈́̇̑͐̊͌ͅè̴̠̥̬̮́͌̆͂́̃̏͒̃̌͑̇̔̓̾͋̋̄̀̈͗͒̍̀̒̕͝͝͝s̷̢͇̺̠̠̻̅̈́̌́͝ṯ̶̨̡̲̻̘̞̲̝̝̹̩͈̯̬̹͙̪̮͉̠͎͌̽͆̓̒̒͝ͅȉ̵̮̓͛̅́̊̀̉̊̌͒̍̓̂̕͠͝͝͝͝a̸̪̟̣̞͙̝͔̳̘̞̩͕̻̮͎͈̟̖̦̝̿̈̍͑͌͗̈̕̚͠ ̵̨͔͙̩͎̙͌͆n̸̨̢̛͍̪̝͉̞̗͇̣̞̫̥̰̜̣͕̘͔̳̳̈͒̓̀̏͒̋̊̎͐͂̎̃͋̌̋͋͒̃̚͜͝͝o̶̱͉͕͐͐̏͛̽̎ţ̵̡̧͖̠̙̞͉̺̝̞̫͉̺̥̲̤͖̾̑̏̓̃̐̉̈̒̀̑̋̽͘͘͜͠͝í̵̟̪̟̒͋̅̍͒̀͋̂̿̕͝c̴̨̨̨̧̢̢̛̙̪̩̬͉̼͓̰̘̲̝̙̱̦̱̬͔̦̻̰͙͚͕̒̔̓̂̓͒̎̐͂̑e̵̬͈̤̙̱̗̱̜̭͐̈́͐̀͋̒͆̄͗̍̇̀̂̅͘͜͝s̷̡̧̢͍̘͙͇̩͕͍̤̞̼̼̺̩̦̼͔͎̙͕̩̯̘̭͙̣̟̲͋̎͋̔̎̅̐̈́̄͌̄̈̈́͂̾̎͐̀̑ ̶̛̬͈̭͔͈͂͊͊́̉̎͌̒̀̒͒͊̾͌̿̅̉̏̚̕a̸̺̩͉̜̤̳̰̟̜̹͇͔͍̻̭̹̘̋͆̂͌̋͊͑̓̽̓̉͊̈́͋̕͠ͅn̷̡̢̡̧̛̳͓͔͚̟̬̹̘̮̬̫͖̩͙̖̫̺̻͑͒́͌̎͛̾̿̐̄͂͜͝͝ͅd̴̛͔̅̊͑͒̀͛̋͑́̑̐̒̐͊̎͑̔̋͗̅͝ ̶̧͇̬̩̯̠̦̗̭͙͆̋̈̕ţ̵̡̧̙͓̮̯̮͓̺̩̤͖̘̙̩͉̫̜̖͙͚̥͓̯̈́̀́̃̐̄͒͐̎͆͗̽͝ͅh̴̢̨͈͍̺͕̫͇̩͇̠͔̥̺̳̯͓͔͍̓͊̈́̽͆͋̚̚͝e̷͙̮̪̱̲̺̣͚̪̲̯͐͛͒͊͝ͅ ̴̛̛͚̅̿̐̓͌̓́͑͊̌́͂͊̽̾̿̅̂̍͊̕͘̕͝Ș̸̨̡̢̡̨̖̳̺̫͙͕̘̹̤̘͎̹̮̅̽̆̌̓̓̉̓̈́̉̔̌͑͛͆̅̓̾̇̎́͋̇͝͝͝͝u̵̻̪̥̪̠͙̽̆͋̑̋̈̄̉͋̌͆̈̀̔͊̇̀̔̀͂̆̑͘͝͝ş̵̤̼̯̹̯̭̖̐̊̓̋̅͐͂͜t̶̢̛̛̟̖̫͇̣͕̩̣̩͈͎̜̭̹̹͎͙̀͊͒̍́̈́͊̂͊̓̏̿̋̂̐̌̀̄̆̚ͅạ̸͓͆̄̾̈̾̒̕͝i̶̲͓̺̓̀̌̇͗́̂̈́̀̉̀̃̆͌̚͘͝n̴̜̣̣̙̪̽͌̃̇͆̄̋̓͐̈́͗͌̎̓́̏̽̆͋̓̽̍͘̚̚ë̵̡̢̫̞͉̭̠͉̰̦̘̙͇̔͐͛̇͊̎̋̿̃̔͊̃̀̒̎̔͋̀̓̏́͐̓̇͘͘͘͠͠r̶̲͚͙̖̪̦̬͉̜͓͚͍̜͕͉͈̍̊̕ ̸̡̖͕͉̖́̎͆͛͂̔̕͘͝͠͝a̶̧̛̛̳̫͔͎͔̻̙̳͚͕̫̖̗͈͈̟̺̐͒̈͌̓̃̂́̏͂͆͆̒̅́̄͂̿̆̋̽͑͜͝r̵̨̨̘̩̯̻͚̖̯͕̮̥̝̹̣̮͙̙̣̾̊ͅŕ̷̡̖̲̗̣͚̳̼̳̼̹̘͉̫̖͖͒̀̍̑̃̋̆̈́͂͘͜͠ỉ̸̡̧̢̜̝͖̥̜͚͈̺̺͙̗̞͕̘̞̭̮̠̈̀̿̂͐͐̌͜͠ͅv̵̳̜̣̱̘͙̦̪͇̹̳̯͔͉̪̳̞͖̝͕̝́̌͋̔̕͜ͅͅë̴̗̪͖͉̻̬̘̪̙̜̯̦̥͔̪͕̩͚̘̲͕̮̺͈̺̮̘̦́̋͌̾̀̆̄̅̐̓̄̓͒͊̀̄͘͝s̴̨̨̢̫̩̖̭̦̦̪͚͕͓̙͉͙̰̼̭͖̖͇̹̘͙̻̩̲̓̀́̌́̓͛̏͐͜
...
...
Huh...? But wasn't he being very careful now...?
*Why would they suddenly...?
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"̶̧͓̩̱̗̟̦̳̥̳̝̦̝̳̻̞̫̺̼̠͖͇͎̩͚͍̘̥̰̗́̓̔͌͐͛̒̉̄̄͑̈́͛̌͑̂̓̆̽͛̓̿̽͒̚͠͝͝͝.̵̧̡̤͙̘̦̜̜̹̟͚͔͈̞͍̗̰͎͔̺̭̯͍̼͕͕͙͚̩͆̈́̄̀ͅ.̸̧̮̫̜̫͈̰̳͎̬̻̩̰̤̩̚ͅ.̴̖̘̟̫̪̪͓̟͖͕̩̺͚̭͉̩̫̪̱̜̻̄ͅŸ̸̡̨͕̳͔̹̟̼̻̩̹̜͓̞͇͉͍̩̥͇̟͖̦̫̱͎́̏̂̓̌͋̋̐̉̓͒̅͊͑̄̈́̾̀̊̇o̷̦͕̍̈́̓̉̐̃̾̾̓͗̇͝ū̶̡̜̤̙̞͔͊͛͐͐̆̎̉̆̏̆̕͠ ̵̡̡̤͕̙̟̫͚̙͙͈̼̻͔̙̱̱̩͉̼̒̓̇ͅw̵̨̢̬͎̗̪̯̬̘̯͎̮̣̩̯̤͚͔̥͍̥̖̭͎̞̽̋̔̓͛͜ò̴̥̗̣̝͙̣̙̬̫̜̝͎̲̜̋̄̃̆͒́͋̓̃́̐̔̿͛̊͂̿̓͑͘̕̚͝͠͝ư̷̧̨̨̧̧̘̼̠̜̣̪͍͖͔̱͎̦̮͔͉̫̤͙̭̟̤̤̻̠̽̀̈̏̒͊̇̇͋͜͝͝l̸̛̫̟̺̦̻̦͖̙̮̩̥͋̊̾͐́̓͑̍̃̇͗͘͘͝d̷͓̰͙͉̬͔͈͖͕̙̞͓̻̖̩̞̮̹̮̩͖͚̥̳̈́͗̈́͐̆́̑̂͂̈̃̈́̀́̃̓͂͑̇̀̌͐̊͛͘͜͜͠ͅͅͅn̸̢̨̝͇͉̖̭̯͙̬̟̜̙̞̦̰̝̈̅̂̈́̀̑̈́̉̄̐͌͗͘͜͠͝'̷̳̹̤̾̊̔̋̉͌̇̒͋̈̌̂̑̇̍͆̔̍͘̕͜t̷̡͚͍̝̼̱̝͓͔̰̗̯̣͖̲͈̲̟̆ ̸̢̛̖͚͐̈́̉̄̍́͐̽̈̐̇͛͆̌̂͂̀͊̈́͒̓̀̕̕̚͠͝b̸̡̥̜͔̥̄͛̔̎́͌͌́̌̾̾̓̀͒̾̓̆͐͒̕͘̚͝͝͝ȩ̵̢̛̫͓͖̖̜̜̳̫̪̮̪̜̣̤̲͉̤̳̍͐͂̾̃̏̊̅̃̈́̂̍̊̇̌͛̒͛͝͝͠͝͠ ̵̧̢̗̟̳̜̼̯̣̫̙̖͍͕̝̟̪̗͙̫̱͍̻̦̮̟̥̙͇͆͋̑̋́͊̏́̚͜͠a̶̧̢̨̛̪̬̮̠̣̬͈͎̙̠̫̙͈͙̫͖͔̭̻͎̰͍̻͖͋̿͑̾̅̈͆͗̒́̾̑̈́͜͜b̷̧̙̽̐͑͘̕ļ̶̲̫͈̒̅̀͂̑̑̓͌̋́͂͘͠͝ḛ̴̡̟̘̙̻͓̪̰̭̲͉͙̪̼̺͈̘͚͕̬͈̳̞͉̪̘͇̐̔͐͋͆͆̊͊͗̀͛̈́̓͂͛̆̚̕̕͘͜͝͝ ̴̨̢̢̨̢͙͓̘̼̻͈͖̞͉͖̣̻̣̳̥̲͔̤͈͈̹͕͙̒̅́͐͜ͅt̷̨̡̞͙̘͓̗̫̪̜̻̣͍̜̣̗̰̥͉̯͊͋̋̌͂̏́͐́̒̈́̃͂̍͑̃͋͆̃͑͊̾́̍̀̚̕ŏ̴̟̤͈̳̯̈́͊͊̏̒̌̇͑̔̈́̍̔̕̕͝ ̵̧̡̡̲̦̼̫̝̼̰̫̳͎͍͕̯̻̤̠̳̳̒̒̆̔͂̾̓̒̉̽̚͘͜͜s̸͖̯̻̩͍̲͙͈̟̖̝̩̠̫̲̙̻͉̰̫̮̠̬̹͇͖̭͚͙̗̆̐̂͂͆̒̉̒̈́̍̿͛͒̐̈́̍̇̃̾̍̽̍̍͂͘̚͝͝t̴̡̛̙͓̙̝̺̰͕̤̪̳̰̮͈̝̥͉̔͛̏̏̃̏̎̈́͋̔̂̅̌̌̋̿̅̒̉̇͐̈̐͊͑̀̕͜͝͠ͅā̷̢̡̧̢̙̭͕̦͍̩̱̠͕̟͇̣̰̣͎̠͎̭̲̩͚̽́̎̀̒̈́͐͋̓̈̈̅͆͗̅̈̈́̔̌̂̃͋͘ͅy̸̛̘̣͔̤̪͙̝̬͓̣̤͍̝̑̀̈́̄̈̂̿̽́͊̓̔̽̓̑́͐̓̋̀͜͜͝͠͠ͅͅ ̴̧̧̹͈̦̥̟̜̫̪̩̪̻̖̲̪͙̝̯̭̺̖̮͓̑̈̈́͗͆̃̈́̈́̾͘͜͝͝ͅͅų̶̡̣̼̯̞̖̤̙̮̦̺̱̺̳̺͍̹͇̮̰͙̌̈́̂͐͌͆̄̂̎͗̾̾͒̋̋̉̾̊̄̔̀̌͂̋̕͝͝͝ņ̸̨͚̯͍̻̣͚̠̩̬̪͚͍̜̖͓̯̮̯̥͓̝̩̆i̷̢̛̘̩͇̞͙͔͖̺̪̣̹̠̭̿͂́̓̒͑͠ǹ̶̛̖̱͌̃̎̓̈́́͛̌̿̎͑͌̾̅̐̓̍̈́̈́̓̀͝͝͝v̸̢̫̳̮͍͚̣͉͙̳̩̟̗͓͎̩̰̯͚̣͕̜̈́̏̑͂̏̍̋̚͜o̴̢̤͚̼̝̮͒̿̍̈́̊͂̏͑͛̀͋̋́͗̂͊̇̔͋̀͋͜͝͝ļ̷̨̢̛̲̦̙̘̪̬̦̭̞̾̽̏͋̾́͑͗́̽͐̈́̀̒̍̔̈͊̂͌̊̌̚͘̕͝͝͝͠ͅv̴͍̯̦̓̌̂͌̌̏̚̚ͅę̴̨̲̥̹̮̠͇̥̗̭̝͇̫̰̜́̏̓̇̊̏͂͂̾͆̓̇̀͛̐͑̒̃̕͘̕̚͘̕̕ḋ̸͚͇̺̪͖̗,̵̛̪̈́̈́̃͑̎̀̓̌́̆̎̃͊̽̕͝͝ ̸̪̮̼̝͈̯̆͆̈́̒̀̎́͛́́̅̇̓͒̀͗̊̑̈́͒̚̕͝͝Ḇ̷͕̠̩̝͍̻̲͖͈̃͂̈́̔̈́͑̍ą̶̛̬̮̩̱͇͙̟̔͗́̉̋̾́̀͛̇̎̔̄̈́͛̅͑̅̆̌̍̑̾́̈́̂ŗ̸̡̡̨̨̦̟̮̩̳͈͍̖̥̮͎̫̺̠̲̠̜̬̞͕̬̭̿̽̌̐͊̅͑̅̕̕͘b̷̢͖̣͇̫̦̣̝̺̲̞̝̼͖̻̙͎̘̼͔̹̟̯͎̫̥̞̙͙͖̓͐̊̀̒̌̊̎́̓̂̈́͑̃̉̊̉́̇̀̾̓̿̀̕͝͝͠a̴̛̝͇̱̟̯̹̾͋̍̅̆̌̉̑͑̓̽̑͌͐̇̓̑̒́̚͝͝t̴̛̠̞͕͉͌̑̒͐̓̊̾̑̑͛̒̈̎̾̃̋̈̑̕͝ơ̵̢̫̇́̆̽͂͊͂́̀̊̿͌̒̓̂͋̓͑̓̏̀̄͠͝ś̶̡̨̡̡̙͇̻̯̪͚̯̲̪͎̙̮͍̺̞̝͉̥̟͎̓͊̅̓̑̂͛̋̃̾͋̋̓̈̽̌̇̉̓̽͆̾́̐͜͝͝͝ͅ.̸̧̧̹̟͕͙͍̗̠̙̙̓̉̆̀̓̎͒̓͂̒͒̏͋̂̀͛̏͑͐̎̈́͐͑̎͘͠͝͝͝"̶̡̧̧̲̫͕̪̘͖̗̝͎̲̠̩͓͙͓̺̩̩̥̭̝̂͛̿͆
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'𝔇𝔦𝔢 ℌ𝔬𝔣𝔣𝔫𝔲𝔫𝔤 𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔯𝔟𝔱 𝔷𝔲𝔩𝔢𝔱𝔷𝔱'
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P̷̡̛̛̜̰͓̬̦̗̟͕̜̳̳̣̟͙̓̎͋͆̓̑͗̿̈́͛̆͑̈́́̒̓́͌̚͝ͅę̷̐̃̽͒͛͊r̴͉͖̠̙̦̈̏͗͑͂̽̀̅̉̉́̊́́̋̐̅̊̀̕͜͜͝h̴̨̨͚̥͓̭̜̖̲̞͍̳͍̳̮̩̀ą̶̛̛̛̹̄̈́̃̉͌͒̋̅̉̓̓̈́̿́̍̋̊̑̎̚͝͝p̵͎̪̪͉͍̥̜̻̹̳̭͎̺̘̜̠͇̫̉̐̔͊̂̔̓̽͋̓̾̌͒͘̚͝͝͝s̷̛̥̓͗̄̃̈́̀̎̃̃͠,̶̨̡̢̖̘̳͍̮̤̖̻̰̙̜̺͓̮͎̜̩̲̼̲̪̗̣̝̱̗̊̃̈̆̈̄̽̕͘ ̶̩͎̗̟̞̜̙͉̬̥̼̩͔̫̝͖̠̲̓̐̃̌̋͛̀̂͊̐̐́̌͌̑̈̾͛̿̈́͗̈́́͗̿̔͜͝͠e̶̢̻̟͉̯̱̱̺͖͎̳͊͊̾͐͌̀͗̈́̋̈̈́̅̋̏͐͛̈́̉̆̃͂̄̽̐̈̕͠v̶̢̨̫͙͎̈͛͌͋̾̊͗̓̕ȩ̴̠̼͇̠̘̥̱̞͍̯͇̻̬́̉͆̾n̶̡͓̳̥͚͖͍̪̣̖̠̾͒́̓͆̊̓̀͐̈̽͊̌͗̀̓̓̂̆̚͘͜͝͝͝͝͠͠ͅ ̸̧̢̛̰̲̥̱̲͙͇̻̫̻̰̱̲̹̰͕̮̄̽́̄̓̂̏̿̆́̈̽̇͒̂̋͗̒͋̚͜͝i̶̢̧͍̗̳͚̻̥̗̦̫̤̦͖͕̲̟̘̤̦̻̜͕̲̯͕̰̤̹̐̽͂́̈́̈́͐̃͒͒̆̒̓̍̍̾̑͝͝ņ̴̡̢̛̱͉͉̯̹̰͎̱̺͕͖̯̮̾̂̎͌͗̀̀̎̍͐͂̋̿͊̒̃͛̾̓̌̓̑͌̇͘͠͝ͅ ̷̢̧̛͍͉̳͓̥̟͔̟̩̖͖̥̟̥̲̜̗̇̎̾́̆̌̈́̀̚ṯ̷̡͎̲̲̪̼͙̺̟̙̙̲͚̻̞̌̽̈́̎̎̊̈́̅̈́́̿̈́́̏́͐̀͊̑͌̐́͂̕͘̕͠ͅh̵̢̧͈̜̻̲͔̖͙͈̝̲̫̰̱̱͚̤̹̯͈͎͔̮̲̘̲̫͇͒̈́̋̅̿̀͋̊̂́̊͊̎̐͜͠͝į̸͎͎͓̝͍̰̲̏̋̒͌̌͂̒̑̿̈́͗͑͋͛͗͌̾̈́̔s̵̨̧̨̺͇̰͉̞̬̮̮̩̟͇͍̠̲͓̦̬̦̬̩̣̠̠͇͂̇̎̃̀͋͜ͅ ̵̙̋̈́̍͆̍͌̔͛͛͒ư̵̛̳̝̭̒̋̓̍͐͆͑̓͗̄̇̂̂̈́̋̾̄̓̈̀̕͘̚n̵̡̨̤̭̳̱̺͎̟̤̹̭̠͇̲̪͈̥̯̼̞̯̱̑͋̒͂͜ç̶̧̨̬̦̭͔̪̜͉̝̞̝͖͉̣̳̟͙̘͍̟͖̠̪͍̫̺̪̉͐́ę̶͖̘̺̬̫̯͍̝̅̅͒͂͋̾̌̉͆͗̓̈͒̌̏͐͘͝r̸̨̡̩͉̞̤͈͙̰̫̠̘͎̠̖̱͇͉̽̾ͅͅt̶̡̢̩̫̳̱̦͕̣̗͍͑͐̂̽̀̏͂̇̃̐̑̉̍͆̃̾̑̽̓́̀͌͗͛͊̚̕͝ͅa̸̡̝͍̬̱̖͔͇͎̣̪̫̭̦̳̮̱̦̼̟͙͈͍̓́̓͋͒̃̌͒̆͒̑́̊̀̍͂͂̒̐̈́̓̓̍ǐ̴̧̝̟̻̮͑̂̾̀͒̏͋́͆͊́̄̎̈͛͠n̶̪͎̠̺̦̭̮͙̩̥͌̅̈́̒̀̓̅̄̃̎̈̍̔̆̇̉̀͛͑̒̉̒̚͘͝͝͝ͅ ̷̧̢̢͓̥̗͍̖̤͈͇̟͍͖̹̲̰͈̗͕̗̩̲̻̲͌̎͗ͅf̸̨̥̠͕͓̠̝̮͓͈̰̟̯͎͂̀̾́̓̂͐͗̆̔͒̐̏́̈́́͛̈́̽̏͑̑͘̕͜͝͝ư̴̡͇͕̫͊̀́̑̋͆͊̉̃̊̃̽̽̍̍̾͐̽́̍̚̚̕̚͝͝ͅt̷̨̪͔͔̫͉̱̗͇͙̝͓͖̠͙̞̰̤̳̪͚̩̙̱̤̯͓͌̏̎͒̈͗̇̽͌͗̓̿̍̽͒͐̄͛́̄̈́̀̄͗̊̓̔̈̐͜ͅù̶̡̖̙̻̲̬̱̭̜̖̲̞̓̏͊͝ŕ̴̨̛̛̼̗͔̫̦̳̻͇̺͕̣̯͎͚͖͑̈́͂̓͒͋͆͛̊̂̋́̐͐̀͋̄̀́͒͘͘͝ͅͅë̸͓̖̫̦̮͍͈̤̬̼̒̈͆͂̏͂̊̇̀̇̋̉́͜͝,̵̡͔̩̺̟̼̣̹͉̙̒́̒͌̈́̈́̓̕͜͜͝ͅ ̴̟̩̉͆́͑̎́̇͝ḥ̴̢̨̘͕̦̪͓̤̳̞̲̮̘͓͉̔͛̌̂̑̀͐̓̍̀͋͌͂̋̀̑̈́̋̔̚̚͠e̵̡̥̩̙͇͍̦̥̹̩̝̣̙͍̝̪̺̮̠̗̝̝̩͕͈͈͆̓̓͆͑͐̒̕̚͜ͅ ̴̨̭̖̫͙͙̝̮̝͉̤̲͍͎̤̹͎̖̐͗̈́̐̈́̅̋͒̒̈͘͠ͅͅͅẁ̸̧̩͚̯̪̱̖̦̱͉̝̦͚͗͆̌̅̅̈́̑̿̊̈́̀̆̈̚͠i̷͕͙͎̰͍̬̬̬̬̹̮̬̘̱̤̮̯͕̻͎̯̙͇͆̈́́̂̏̈̉̇͂̄̅̌̊́̊̃͊̐̏̕͜͠l̷͉͉̟͚̘̔͊ͅl̶̨͖͕̱͕̟͙̘͈̙̞̫̠̜̘̲̼̼͚̟̒̀͐͑̃̍̅͊̃̓̏̚͜͠͠ ̵̧͓̟̠̫̹͍̥̣͈̂̎̈́͐̈́̅̄́͐̽̋̇̇̍́͒̓͘̚͜͠s̸̡̺̺̼͕̻͚͚̻̮̺̝̼̘̿͒̅͌̉͆̀̔́͑̂͊̓͒͊́͑̕͝t̴̗̘͓͇͍͉̏͠ȋ̶̢̡̖̼̦̪̗̭̪̳̝͖̊̇͝l̴̨̲̪̺̫̭͍̗͉͍̯͚̟̞͕̜̫̩̮͚̯̻̮̺̣̫͉̃̃͒̇̈̽͜͜͠ͅl̷͍̗͙̠̗͖̪̄̈́̀̋̂̚͜ ̵͍̘͇̤̰͉̣͉͉͆̉̈́̽͊̄͌̃̏̉̆̈́̄͗̆̒̚͜ͅb̵̧̡͇͕͔̥͈̜̫͕̲͎͇̜̋̃͌̈̇̓̂͐̈́̄́̕͜͝͝ȩ̸͈͇̣̮͈̜͓̼͍̳̪̹̦̪̣̦̖̲͔̦̬̼͔̻̖͚̓̏͊̇͆͐̕.̷̡̘̯͔̳̼̩͓̳͍̳͇̺̖̦̹̤̮̤͇̖̟̼͙̩̮̜̋͒́̆̋̔͋͑͆͒́͋̋͋̀̓̑͂̈̋͊́̇̕̕͜͝ͅͅ.̷̛̛̮̫̻̰̠͔͔͊̍͗́͂̓̽̂͑̊͋͂̂̆̊͊͒̿͗̽͠͝.̴̰̦̪͚̺̲̱̫̫̮̟̖̱̬̦̻̰̠̍̋͒̔̇̒̾͠͠
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-Venti, look! The Aranara made flower crowns for everyone and even showed Klee how to make one! This one is for you and...! -A familiar voice was soon heard from nearby, as the usually energetic child appeared in his line of sight, looking at him in some worry. -...Big Brother Venti, is everything okay...?
She asked him while holding a wreath of unfamiliar looking flowers in her hands...
*Those flowers were growing in the garden that they were currently at,
A place that the Traveler called "the Vanarana Nursery"...
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Viparyas flower:
A flower without seeds.
Once the earth remembers, the Viparyas will bloom.
The Forests of Sumeru are the Seedbeds of Dreams, and the children of the forest spend a part of their lives walking in dreams. Some of them will later leave these forest dreams behind, but the forest will not forget them.
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So this is what those flowers were...
*The description was so...Beautifully Philosophical...
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And while the Aranara were making the flower crowns for everyone,
Amber, Collei and Rana left to gather the ingredients for the dog treats...
*He wondered when...Wait.
...
...
-Sorry for suddenly getting distracted, Klee. Recently I have had so many things to think about that I keep losing track of time. -He couldn't help but soon tell the still-waiting child, as moments later he lowered his head so that she could put the wreath on top of it. Klee surely worked hard on it and yet he had her wait...-...Thank you for making this crown for me, Klee. Do I look pretty?~
-Of course, Venti! You are always pretty, but now you are even prettier! -Klee told him right away, looking and sounding way happier now, as she soon took a Kamera out of her Vision's "Hammerspace". -...All of this time, Klee's been taking a bunch of photos for Big Sister Emilia. Don't worry, I also took some for myself! -She soon said, looking a little sheepish. -Since Venti looks so pretty, can Klee take a few photos of you...? And when Klee's taking photos, I can tell you a funny story Klee heard from the Aranara!
-...Sure, I don't mind. -The Archon answered her a moment later, looking and sounding more amused than anything, before getting a little thoughtful. -...It's not the first time people have taken photos of me and not the last...It's also, thankfully, way less embarrassing than what kept happening during the "Grand Welcome"...
He couldn't help but mumble, his words too quiet for the child to hear,
As soon enough, Klee started taking photos of him in great enthusiasm...
-So, one of the Aranara, Klee doesn't remember the name since they're so similar. The Aranara said that the Golden Nara(that's how they call the Traveler!) wanted it to join them on their adventures, but Chief Ara...Gaja(?) said "no". So then the Traveler reminded them about Rana, who they call Narana...-The Pyromaniac soon started recalling, looking and sounding quite happy, before her words suddenly trailed off. -...Klee is a little confused, did they mix "Rana" and "Aranara"...? Do they see Rana as one of their family...? Is that why instead of calling her "Nara" like the Traveler, they call her...?
-Wait, Klee. It seems like we have company. -The Archon suddenly interrupted her, upon feeling a familiar presence. Or rather, familiar presences...-...The Sumerian Wind Spirits...? Why do you feel...A little weird...?
"We apologize for interrupting you, Barbatos, but there is a message we must convey.", the Wind Spirits soon said, upon appearing before him, all of them looking and sounding quite serious, "...You have been summoned to attend the upcoming Banquet at the Hanayomi Estate."
At the same time, at the entrance of the Homayani Estate,
A group of people was gathered around in a circle, in the middle of discussion...
-We are truly grateful for the Grand Welcome, both the Parade and the recent Performance. -Jean was currently saying with as much appreciation as she could muster, as her expression soon turned a little confused. -But I have to confirm something, the Banquet still has not officially started, is it...?
-I agree with the Acting Grandmaster's words. Seeing how impressive, as well as highly embarrassing to some, the previous parts of the welcome were...-Vennessa started, as she looked between the gathered Sumerians in suspicion. -...Currently we are having another type of an intermission, are we not...?
-During the events up to this point, I noticed Barbatos constantly getting embarrassed. -Dvalin added in thoughtfulness, as well as some concern. -What is going to follow is going to be nothing of the sort, I surely hope.
In reaction to this, Sheikh Zubayr, Shahzaman Homayani and Dori turned to look towards Nahida,
As the Archon looked caught off guard for a few seconds, before her expression turned a little sheepish...
...
-When Samir and I were discussing it, we decided on holding the Grandest Welcome possible at this point in time. We thought that Big Bro...Barbatos would get embarrassed at first, after which he would soon feel the "Festive Cheer" and start enjoying himself. -She finally said, sounding a little apologetic now. -...From my understanding, being revered by the people and everything that comes with it is part of the duty of being Archon. And as for Samir, he experienced the same both in the distant past and in current times. So we didn't account for the possibility that Venti's reaction could be so much different...-Nahida explained in some sadness and regret, before deeply sighing, as moments later she glanced between the other three Sumerians. -Sheikh, Shahzaman, Dori, you have my deepest thanks for the help that you provided until now. Thanks to you, both the Parade and the Play were splendid. And as for the Banquet...-She gratefully told them, before turning back to look between the Mondstadtians. -I apologize, but until now it was indeed more of an "Outdoor Buffet". And by this point, it's too late to do a change of plans, as everything had surely already been prepared for the Banquet.